(I just wanted to quickly thank everyone who has taken the time to review this story, I appreciate your wise words.

I just wanted to explain a few things about why I have chosen to write Rick the way I have in this story. The last season of the walking dead I found Rick's character creepy and to be fair a bit on the crazy side. It was an interesting development for him. So I wanted to explore that potential sinister side to his character and have him come across a bit of a dick!

I found this side to him incredibly interesting in the last season. The way he looks at Jessie, the way him and Carol plot to kill her husband, his speech etc….very dark stuff. That's the side to Rick I find so fun to write! It also made sense to me in a weird way and I will justify his behavior in this chapter.

Also 'focusedOnProsperity' has more or less guessed the plot for this chapter…hope you enjoy.)

Unspoken Boundaries

Chapter 4

The front door flew open with such force that the whole house shook in surprise. Rick stepped inside with determination, a nervous energy controlling his every movement. He was on a mission, his mind was made up.

He searched the downstairs first, for her, the woman who had started this whole thing. The woman who had finally woke him up, the one who his whole world now revolved around.

"Michonne?" He called out into the silence. His strides becoming longer, more desperate as he searched the kitchen, remembering the conversation that had taken place a few days before. The conversation he wished with all his might that he could have over one last time.

There was no response. Rick huffed in frustration. So many words were floating in his mind, edging their way to the tip of his tongue as he fought back the urge to say them, hoping that maybe if he did she would hear him.

He practically jumped up the staircase, striding over three steps or more at a time. He pushed the door to her room open, not bothering to knock.

"Michonne?" He called out again, his voice gaining volume with each desperate attempt.

She wasn't there.

He tired his room, then Carl's, even Carol's, but to no avail. There was no sign of her anywhere. He threw himself against the bathroom door and called out one last time, hoping she was in the shower.

"Michonne, Are you in there?"

Nothing

He made his way slowly downstairs to the front room. He looked up to see her katana mounted proudly above the fireplace. He reminded himself not to mention what Carol had shared with him when he did eventually find her. He didn't want to give Michonne a reason to remove that katana and use it.

He sighed deeply, his attention drawn to a large envelop placed neatly on the mantle. His name written in black ink stood out boldly …RICK.

He tore the envelop open in seconds, as it lay in forgotten pieces by his boots.

His eyes urgently shifted over the letters on the page as a bitter-sweet feeling came over him. When was the last time he had opened a letter addressed to him? Rick couldn't remember.

Rick I am moving in with Maggie and Glenn, it has all been arranged. I've started packing my stuff, you don't need to do anything. I think this is the best thing for both of us. I wrote this in a letter because I think it's easier for us both to accept this way.

Michonne.

Rick looked up in shock. No, he thought, how dare she do this to him. He was so close to speaking to her, to revealing everything just for her. He had the sentences ready, the words that had been going over and over in his mind ever since he had spoken to Carol. He was going to be honest with her, with himself for the first time in ages. He would allow himself that luxury just this one time, only for Michonne.

He stuffed the letter into his trouser pocket, deciding he would go to Maggie and Glenn's house himself.

The intense rays of the sun warmed his face as soon as he stepped outside. He moved slowly, until his steps became jogs, his legs picking up the pace until he was running towards his destination.

"Rick!"

The voice stopped him in his tracks. He sharply turned, following the voices direction, hoping with all his heart that it was Michonne's. Instead he saw a tall figure walking towards him. The sun cast the strangers body into eerie shadows of movement. Rick had to double take to make sure it wasn't a walker that had found its way inside the safe zone, or that he wasn't having another one of his disturbing visions.

The figure started moving quicker, stepping into the light to reveal their identity, it was Jessie's husband Pete.

"Rick wait" There was an awkward smile plastered on Pete's face, the sinister nature of his movements suggested to Rick that he was pissed at something.

He moved aggressively towards Rick one intimidating stride at a time until they were face to face. His eyes looking down at the shorter man with an intense anger, he was sizing him up, challenging him with just a look.

Rick averted his eyes, he didn't have time for this.

"Not now" he said in annoyance, trying to pivot round Pete and continue on his way, until the drunk violently grabbed his shoulder, turning Rick back to face him with such force that Rick felt dizzy.

"What the hell are you doing" Rick snarled, baring teeth.

"What am I doing? What the hell do you think you're doing Rick" Pete pointed into Rick's chest, a harsh poke that could bruise bone.

"Touch me again and I will kill you" Rick warned without a hint of aggression. His words were delivered so matter of fact that he almost had the other man worried for a moment.

Pete staggered on his legs, clearly drunk.

"Would you mind just explaining to me what these little get together's you keep having with my wife are?" Pete was almost shouting, Rick could see people gathering from their houses, he was causing a scene.

"I'm not doin' this now, you want to talk fine, but not now. I have somewhere I gotta be" Rick tried to continue on his way until the punch hit his jaw so hard he saw stars. His head flew back in agony, he could already feel the steady flow of blood trickling from his nose, caused by the impact.

"You son of a bitch!" Rick spat grabbing Pete by the shoulders and hurling him to the ground.

Rick sat astride him, his hands as tight as a pythons coil around Pete's throat, throttling him to death. Pete was chocking as he stared up into the man's crazed eyes, his hands moved from Rick's deadly grip up to his face pushing with all his might to get the man off him.

They shared punches. Pete first then Rick, hitting each other with animal like aggression, neither one of them backing down.

Rick could hear the footsteps and muttering voices of the people that had gathered around them but he didn't care. His blood was up, he was going to kill Pete.

"Stop!" He heard someone yell.

Pete then shifted his weight, his knees came up in one quick movement, managing to tip Rick off and force his body under his. Pete now sat on top of Rick, his strong legs holding him in place as he snaked his hands around his throat.

Pete was squeezing brutally hard. Rick could already feel his air supply diminishing rapidly as he tried with the last remains of energy he had to gain the upper hand once more. Pete's face was now a blurred mess coming in and out of focus as the air- headed sensations made Rick feel as light as a feather.

Suddenly he saw Jessie try and pull Pete off by grabbing both his shoulders. Her blonde hair tight in a ponytail brushed the back of Pete's head as she pulled with all her weight, tears staining her cheeks.

Her attempts only added fuel to Pete's flame, he shoved her off violently, turning quickly to plant a sharp slap on her cheek. Her head jolted to the left from the shock, her hands flying up to hold the wound as she coward in fear.

The action gave Rick the motivation he needed, his blood hit boiling point. He shoved the heavier man off him with one final brutal push. Managing to grab him from behind he gripped Pete's head in his arm as his elbow rested in the crook of Pete's neck, trapping him in a deadly choke hold. A smile played upon his lips as he felt the man beneath him struggle and gasp desperately for air. Rick knew there was no hope for Pete now, he fucking had him.

Rick suddenly felt arms around him, pulling, interfering. He heard the familiar sound of his son's voice "Dad stop, get off!" it pleaded.

Rick just shook Carl off him as he did the questions eating away at his conscious and continued to cut off Pete's air supply.

"Rick stop" The voice cut through his angry haze, jolting his senses, it was Deanna.

"You ever touch Jessie again I'm gonna kill you" Rick whispered ominously into Pete's lifeless ear.

"Damn it Rick, I said Stop!" Deanna yelled, rushing over with her husband.

Rick released Pete's neck, allowing his body to sink lifelessly to the ground.

"Or what? You gonna kick me out?" Rick said mockingly.

A group of the town's men started edging their way nearer to Rick. Their movements only made him panic and he pulled out his gun, waving it around in the air, pointing it threatening at anyone who dared to step closer.

People gasped in horror at what they were witnessing. He looked like a lunatic. Blood spattered on his face, the motionless body of Pete inches away from him, he was almost like a wounded animal defending it's kill.

"put the gun down Rick" Deanna ordered.

"You still don't get it. None of you do!" He yelled into the crowd.

"We know what needs to be done and we do it. We're the ones who live. You! You just... sit... and plan and hesitate. You pretend like you know when you don't! You wish things weren't what they are. Well, you wanna live? You want this place to stay standing? Your way of doing things is gone! Things don't get better because you... you want them to. Starting right now, we have to live in the real... world. We have to control who lives here" He pointed with his gun towards Pete who still hadn't came round from his ordeal.

"That's never been more clear to me than it is right now." Deanna said calmly.

"Me?" Rick scoffed then laughed sinisterly, revealing teeth stained in his own blood, he looked as though he had lost the plot. Glenn stood with Maggie on the sidelines in disbelief at what he was seeing, Carl was in total shook over his dad's behavior.

"You... you mean me? Your way's gonna destroy this place. It's gonna get people killed. It's already gotten people killed. I'm not gonna stand by and just let it happen. If you don't fight, you die. I'm not gonna stand by..." One quick blow to the back of the head was all it took. Rick went out cold, his last words still echoing through the air, haunting Deanna's mind.

Michonne stood over him as she stared straight into Deanna's eyes, her face as hard as stone.

Rick woke in a darkened room, his head was violently thumping. He felt his face and found the many bandages and plasters dotted across his skin. He traced them with his fingers, counting them as he touched.

He let out a forced laugh as he pinched his nose, feeling the all to familiar painful sting from a fist fight.

"What's so funny?"

Rick's head's snapped to attention as he searched the room for the voice. His eyes focused on Michonne sitting in a chair opposite from his bed.

"Have you been here all night?" Rick asked, so relieved that she was here.

"Yep. Deanna asked I come clean you up then watch over you. Carl came by with Judith, Carol and Maggie. What's so funny?"

"Just...this whole situation" he answered honestly. Rick knew it was no laughing matter, if he hadn't laughed he was sure he would have cried.

Michonne sat with her arms folded, dressed in her police uniform. She was staring intently at the man before her, trying to put the pieces together and understand Rick's behavior. She decided she would give him the benefit of the doubt.

She moved her chair closer to Rick's bedside, her intimidating gaze unforgiving as she met his eyes and said "What are you doing Rick?"

He sighed and looked to the floor. He felt like a mess, God knows what he must have looked like to Michonne.

"I was on my way to find you. I searched our house but you weren't there. I got your note" He pulled it from his trouser pocket, surprised it was still in tact.

Michonne's eyes darted down towards the letter. They sat in silence as Rick held the note in his hand, waiting for Michonne's voice to justify her actions. When it didn't come Rick relised he was the one who should be explaining his.

"After reading this I was on my way to Maggie's to find you" He met her eyes, staring into them longingly. "That's when Pete showed up. He was pissed at me for something, he wouldn't let me leave"

"Why was he pissed at you?" Michonne asked, she already knew the answer.

"He thinks I'm sleeping with Jessie" He averted his gaze, closing his eyes, his head was pounding.

"Seems to me he had good reason to attack you then" Michonne stated.

Rick met her eyes. "It's not like that. I was never sleeping with his wife. Me and Carol were worried about Jessie...and her boys safety. Pete was hitting her...still is"

Michonne looked to the ceiling as she sighed deeply. "We've put Pete into another house. If you had just told me we could have dealt with it together"

"I couldn't tell you because I didn't know how you would take it. We stole guns from the armory. Daryl, Carol and I. You wanted this place"

"We needed to stop being out there" Michonne said sternly, emotion evident in her voice.

"Well...now we're here" Rick said opening his arms. "I didn't tell you because you would have talked me out of it" He added.

Michonne's eyes shot to his. "You thought I would stop you?" she snapped.

"Well you were the one to knock me out, weren't you?"

"That was for you not them" Michonne said firmly.

"You could have stopped me, talked me out of it" Rick stated."Your the only one who could of"

After a while he said "Michonne please don't move out" His voice was quiet, almost pleading.

She took a deep breath, wishing they could just go back to what they were before, friends, loyal and together.

"I can't" She said, holding back tears as she avoided his eyes.

"Why not? Look...I'm sorry...for everything. I've been a pig...an idiot...pig"

Michonne couldn't help but smirk at his choice of words.

"It's better for us both this way Rick. It felt awkward at the house between us. I didn't know what you wanted. I can't live like that"

Rick swallowed hard. "Carl and Judith will be devastated" He said cruelly.

"Don't do that Rick, don't bring them into this mess. That's not fair. You had your chance, I told you what I wanted to do" She hissed.

"I was confused...you were distant. Every time I tired you gave nothing back!" Rick barked.

"Don't you dare blame me! You were the one who asked for space! I gave you that space and then what? You made your choice"

"What choice?" Rick asked

"Jessie...and that's fine, you got what you wanted. Pete's in another house" Michonne answered.

"You have no idea what I want" Rick spat, looking away.

"Well then enlighten me?" Michonne said sarcastically folding her arms.

Rick took a moment as he held his head in his hands. He wanted the words to come to him again. She was here, in front of him, waiting for an answer. He promised himself he was going to be honest, to tell her everything that had been tormenting his mind the last week. He sat up straight and edged towards the end of the bed, nearer to her.

"Michonne look I need to tell you this. When we first arrived here I found it hard. Everything seemed too perfect, too easy. We weren't just survivng anymore. It brought other things into focus. Things that I hadn't thought about in a long time"

"like what?" Michonne asked, her face full of concern.

"I thought about Lori. How she would have loved this place. I thought about how my kids don't have their mother. When I saw Jessie at that party I wanted what she had, a normal family, a normal life. Then I relised Pete was hitting her and it made me think, it's all bullshit. Out there, in here it's all the same"

Rick paused, playing with his wedding ring.

"My marriage was over long before all this...but now I know. When I look at you I'm scared"

He met her eyes as he continued. Michonne could see water filling them, making them a sharper blue.

"I'm scared of losing you, that I can't protect you...but what's worse is knowing that you don't need me at all. You never did."

Michonne fought to keep her emotions in check, she wasn't about to start feeling sorry for him.

"Rick I'm with you, I will always be with you" she said softly.

"Remember that day you and Carl were fighting over that chocolate bar?"

"Yeah" Michonne said smiling at the memory.

"Well even though we had lost everything I thought it didn't matter when I saw you and Carl together...That's when I relised. I was falling deep in love with you...I've never told anyone until just now"

His eyes were focused on his wedding ring as he continued to twirl it around his finger. It felt like a great weight had been lifted just to tell her. He knew how vulnerable he must have looked. It was too easy for Michonne to reject his feelings now but that didn't bother Rick in the slightest.

"It's OK if you don't feel the same...but I had to tell you".

He looked up to find her eyes a watery brown, tears flowing freely down her cheeks.

"Your right" she said, wiping away her tears. "You are an idiot"

Rick smiled, his face alive with hope that she too felt the same.

"You told me we can take this slow" Rick said, he crawled from the bed down onto his knees in front of her chair, resting his hands ever side of her legs.

" and we can, starting now" He slid his wedding ring off and held it in front of her, gazing up into her emotional eyes.

"This is all in the past. Me, Lori, this ring belongs in the old world" He put the ring in his pocket.

"I want you home, with me, Carl and Judith. Where you belong"

Michonne smiled, it was impossible to tell what she was thinking.

"I can't" She said, watching as the lines on Rick's face formed a frown of utter disappointment.

She paused as she watched him look to the ground in defeat. He didn't know if he could change her mind now. He had obviously pushed her to her limit. Everything seemed pointless. All he wanted was to show her how much he truly cared, how sorry he was for treating her, this beautiful woman, so shamefully.

Her words broke his thoughts.

"Not before I tell Maggie and Glenn" she smiled uncontrollably, her teeth a brilliant white against her skin.

"Fucking hell" Rick laughed, feeling relieved. He took that beautiful smile as an invitation. He slid up between Michonne's legs, cupping her face in his hands as he softly kissed her.

Michonne could feel the cuts and bruises scattered across his plump lower lip. She traced them with her tounge, pecking his lips now and then with her own.

"Doesn't that hurt?" She asked.

"It's worth the pain" Rick replied.

she could feel his erection jutting out in between her thighs. She looked down smiling.

"See what you do to me" He said playfully.

"I'm surprised you have the energy" she smirked.

"I'll always have the energy for this"

Rick started tugging at her tie to loosen it. He then started undoing the buttons on her police blouse one by one, sliding his hands up and under the material to cup her bra clad breasts.

Michonne moaned into his mouth as he deepened their kiss, exploring her mouth slowly, sensuously, until he was rocking his hips in urgent need.

"God I love your tits" He confessed. Rubbing and squeezing her smooth skin. He watched fascinated as his hand cupped her breast, Michonne couldn't help but mock him.

"Their only breasts Rick"

"No look" He said. "How beautiful does our skin look together" He slid his hand into hers and brought them up to her face to emphasise his point. The deep dark mocha of Michonne's skin was a gorgeous contrast against Rick's white.

Michonne smiled as she watched their hands together, they felt as one. She removed his T shirt staring deeply into his intense blue eyes. She then undid his belt, sliding her hand down, deep into his jeans and rubbed. Rick groaned in satisfaction, closing his eyes from the sensation.

Michonne took her time gently squeezing and caressing his cock until she could feel his juices pooling at the head, ready for release. She stroked him a few more times, enjoying how silky smooth his cock felt in her hand as she watched the moans desperately escape his lips.

She stopped and pushed him back toward the bed, landing clumsily on top of him.

They both got to work on the remains of each others clothing, tearing and pulling in urgent frustration until they were both naked. Michonne guided Rick's cock into her moist pussy, straddling him as her tight walls engulfed every last inch of his thick cock. "Christ" He yelped, feeling the intense strain as his cock was gripped so snug, her juices only adding to his pleasure.

She sat astride him for a moment, adjusting to the size of him until she saw the torment evident on his face. "Baby please" He begged, urging her to move.

Michonne started rocking her hips as she moved up and down, slowly seizing his cock in and out, in and out until she could hear Rick whimpering beneath her. He played with her breasts, pulling her body down towards his mouth so he could taste her nipples. Michonne moaned into his ear as he thrusted with force underneath her, his cock occasionally sliding out of her as he tired to gain more friction.

Suddenly she was being pulled beneath him as he spread her legs, his cock grazing her clit as he searched for her entrance. He felt so deliciously smooth as he rubbed her. Finally his hand snaked down between their bodies as he guided himself into her slick pussy, thrusting into her carefully.

"ummm...yes" Michonne cried.

His mouth was on hers, claiming her as his own. The cut on his lip spilt open from the pressure of their frantic kissing and Michonne could taste his blood in her mouth, only she didn't care. Soon his movements were urgent, penetrating her with a need that turned her on more than she dared to admit.

They locked eyes as she felt the steady build of her climax approaching. Soon he was rubbing her clit with his hand, helping her along as he whispered into her ear " I want to come inside you so hard, God you feel so good...wet...tight" He grunted and Michonne came apart at his words, screaming his name as her walls clenched around him, riding out the pleasure until she was satisfied.

Her body was limp as she lay breathing heavily. Rick pumped into her a few more times before pulling out and spraying his come all over her stomach and thighs. He collapsed on top of her, exhausted and spent. He looked into her dark eyes as his breathing slowed, "I love you Michonne" He said sincerely. She smiled shyly running her hands through his messy hair. "I love you too" She said planting a sloppy kiss on his forehead. She brought his head to her chest and he lay in utter heaven against her breast, thinking how sweet their new life in Alexandria would be.

All he needed was her.