Stan

A new day dawned.

Rick woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside his window. He smiled. He stretched and rubbed his eyes and looked at his watch. It was six o'clock. He looked up at the ceiling and thought about the day before. He recalled the game he and Michonne played on their way back home. He remembered how happy they were.

The glint of light from his ring on his left finger caught his eye. Then, a sadness came over him.

Michonne woke up early at five-thirty A.M. and went downstairs to make breakfast. She wanted to take Carl something to eat in time for when he woke up. He was still at the infirmary at Denise's behest. She wanted to keep him an extra night for observation to make sure he was well enough to go home. After finding a mixing bowl and frying pan in the cupboard, Michonne washed them. While she stood at the sink, she thought about the drive back home. She smiled to herself as she remembered Rick's smiles as they played her game and the little kitten sleeping soundly on his lap. Then, Rick had said that he was going to give the kitten to Carl, but, by the way he held and stroked the baby animal with so much care, she had a feeling he took the kitten more so for himself. Seeing Rick that way with the kitten melted her heart. She felt a little jealous of the animal and wished she was the one curled up in his lap and being stroked to sleep.

While she dried the frying pan and mixing bowl, for some unexplainable reason, she was suddenly plunged into a state of unhappiness. She didn't know why but the feeling was quite profound. She found it the oddest thing as she was actually having happy thoughts at that very moment, not sad ones. She paused, closed her eyes and sighed. She opened back her eyes and continued what she was doing.

By six-fifteen, Rick had shaved and combed his hair. He headed downstairs and half-way to the kitchen, he was greeted by rich scents of pancakes, eggs and bacon. Smiling to himself, he rounded the corner and entered the kitchen to see Michonne adding the last pancake to a mountain of others on a plate. On another plate next to it were scrambled eggs and neatly arranged strips of bacon. He stood and watched Michonne for a spell.

There she stood before the stove wearing an apron over her tank top and jeans. A beautiful, fearless warrior and skillful swordswoman who could wield a katana that bested any man. A fierce fighter she was, but, underneath it all, she was sweet, caring and nurturing. Her rich, smooth and blemish free skin he wondered if it was as soft as it looked. Her perfectly shaped eyes that seemed to always carry a certain spark in them whenever she looked his way. Those full lips of hers he wondered about them. Were they as sweet as her personality? Petite in stature, she stood at an ideal height four inches shy of his.

There was so many areas of her gorgeous body he found delightful to look at, to study and yearned to know. He gazed at her smooth toned arms, the same ones that embraced him a few nights ago that gave him a warm sense of safety and love. If only he could be in her arms at all times.

He allowed his eyes to move down to her slender waist that gave rise to ample round bosoms, the same bosoms she held him close to. He recalled how warm they felt against his face and hearing the steady beating of her heart. Then, she bent down to place the pancakes, eggs and bacon in the oven. His eyes hovered at her buttocks. They were one of the striking things he noticed about her on the first day they met. Now that they were in his sight, he thought that they were the right amount of roundness for his hands to grab a hold of, to knead and to mold. Never has he seen another quite as lovely as hers. She didn't take notice of his presence right away and he simply enjoyed every moment there was for he loved to watch her. He always did.

The sun rose higher above the trees beyond the walls. It's rays shone through the windows and straight into the kitchen flooding everywhere in it's warm orange glow. She turned and caught him watching her. She smiled. There was something about him that held her. Was it the clean-shaven look he had? Perhaps it was how the early morning light caught his face. Or was it the way how he was looking at her? Perhaps it was a combination of all three that made her plumb forget where she was and what she was doing.

She noticed something else. He wasn't wearing his ring. She looked up, their eyes met and for one small moment, they became transfixed. The kettle began to whistle. It's long protracted and blatant protests brought them out of their reverie. She blinked and turned. She quickly reached across the range and turned off the stove. Bringing her hand back, her wrist accidentally came in contact with the hot frying pan, it's edge burned her skin.

"Oh!", Michonne exclaimed. Snatching her hand back, she sucked in the air sharply. The burning sensation continued on well after she had removed her hand from the pan. Holding it in the other hand, her brows furrowed.

Rick immediately went to her side and gently took her hand in his. Upon close inspection, he could see a dark line starting to form, marring her smooth skin. He felt somewhat responsible for the injury she received. He lifted her hand up close to his mouth, pursed his lips and gently blew on it. Her heart stop beating for a second or two. Then, he kissed her hand lightly. The feel of his hands and his soft lips made her forget to breathe altogether. He looked up and their eyes met. Her pain, forgotten.

**~~OooO~~**

"Thanks Michonne. This was the best breakfast ever.", Carl said while enjoying his meal. He bit into his pancakes sopping in maple syrup. He was practically inhaling everything that was on the plate before him.

"You're welcome.", Michonne said and gave him a broad smile.

She watched him eat and was glad to see him almost back to himself. She looked across his bed and caught Rick looking and smiling at her. Lately, he had been looking at her and being quite bold with it. He was sitting on a chair with Judith in his lap and had just finished feeding her. Michonne's heart skipped a beat. It was hard for her to get used to his stares. She smiled back then looked away and back down on her plate. Just then, Denise came through the door and walked up to them wearing a big smile.

"Hey Dr. Cloyd. Michonne made you breakfast.", Rick said and pointed to a container that was on a table close by.

"Eggs, bacon and pancakes.", Denise said when she picked up the container.

"I could do with a hearty breakfast. I'm getting a little tired of eating oatmeal everyday. This is awesome. Thanks Michonne.", Denise said opening the container. She took a whiff of the food inside and closed her eyes and smiled before covering it back up again.

Next, she walked over to Carl and shone a pen-light in his eye. She measured his blood pressure and pulse rate. After that, she had him do a series of simple cognitive tests. When asked, he raised his hands straight out to the side and touched the tip of his nose while his eyes were closed. He completed the task with flying colors. His vitals were normal. Then, she had him get out of bed and walk. At first he was a bit unstable, but he managed to move around unassisted just fine.

"So doc...can I go home now?", Carl asked with enthusiasm and sat on the side of the bed.

"Yes. You most certainly can. Make sure to take it easy for the next couple of weeks. Don't lift anything heavy. You may have slight headaches from time to time and this is normal. But, if the headaches last for more than an hour at a time, let me know.", Denise said.

"You saved my life. Thank you.", Carl said looking up at her.

"I am glad you are with us.", Denise replied and gave him a wink.

Next, she showed Michonne and Rick how to clean and dress Carl's injuries. She told them that in three weeks he was to return to have the stitches removed.

"Doc. You got anythang for Michonne's hand? She burned it on the frying pan this morning.", Rick pointed out while he gave Judith something to drink.

"Rick. It's nothing. I'm fine.", Michonne said trying to downplay her injury. She insisted she didn't need anything but Denise looked her hand over and said,

"Oh. That needs something alright and I have just the ointment for it."

She walked off and went to the cabinet across the way. While she searched the cabinet, Michonne looked at Rick and thought how sweet it was of him to think of her. She thought back to the kitchen when he held her hand, blew on it and kissed it. She remembered how his breath felt on her skin and how his soft his lips were. She couldn't understand how he made her feel out of sorts and so right at the same time. She found herself looking a his lips. How red they were. How tasty they looked.

He seemed to have picked up on her thoughts and licked his lips. Her heart sped up. From the way he looked at her, she felt naked. As they stood exchanging looks, they were oblivious to Carl standing between them checking them out and grinning away. He looked at them, from one to the next and back. They didn't notice when Denise returned and was also looking at them. Carl watched the young doctor slowly count backward. Mouthing her count-down, 'five..four...three..two..one', she cleared her throat, "Ahem" before the two finally came to. Slightly embarrassed, Michonne blushed. Denise handed her a small tube and told her to how to use it.

**~~OooO~~**

After they all returned home, Carl went straight to his room and was greeted by a box of comics on his bed. At the doorway looking on were Michonne, Rick and Judith. Judith was fast asleep in Rick's arms.

"Comics! No way!", Carl said beeming.

He took some out of the box and looked at the covers. They were in series which pleased him even more. He was elated to have in his possession around a hundred X-Men comics.

"That's from Michonne. She wanted to surprise you when you came back home.", Rick said smiling. He lightly patted Judith on her back and slowly rocked her in his arms.

"Thank you Michonne. Thanks so much.", Carl gushed and stood up and hugged her. He sat back down on his bed and went back to looking at his comics. He held them as though they were priceless gems.

"There is more. Behind that door, in that closet is something from your dad.", Michonne said.

Carl got up and walked over to the closet. He knitted his brow wondering what could be on the other side. Then, he slowly opened the closet door. He gasped on seeing a sweet looking, tiny, black and white kitten sitting calmly and quietly looking back at him.

"He..he's mine?", Carl said surprised and somewhat in disbelief. He couldn't believe his eyes.

"Yes. He is.", Rick replied happily.

"Hey Stan. Aren't you a handsome one.", Carl said to the kitten and held him up in front of him and looked at him proudly.

"Stan?", Rick asked and continued to rub Judith's back. He began to walk towards the crib.

"After the great Stan Lee. Of course.", Carl said.

"Who is Stan Lee?", Rick asked.

"Comic book editor who co-created Spiderman, Hulk...", Carl began.

"Fantastic Four, Thor, X-Men..", Michonne continued.

"Iron man!", Carl and Michonne ended together.

Rick looked at Michonne and Carl and thought how cute that they both were huge comic book fanatics. He smiled. He gently lowered Judith into her crib and stroked the back of her head. Looking on was Michonne, she didn't realize it, but, she was no longer smiling. Carl saw this and understood why. He went up to her and gave her a warm hug. He knew she was thinking of Andre. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him right back. A hug was something she needed. Rick turned around and watched them.

**OooxxxooO**