Disclaimer:

I am not the creator/author of the Walking Dead TV series. I did not create and do not own the names of the characters that are Publicly & Commercially linked to the TV series (Rick, Michonne, Carl, Daryl & Carol). This story is a Conceptual Derivative of the TWD landscape.

I'm a fan creatively inspired by the continual 'What Ifs" born of the moments that are not seen on screen.

The story you're about to read was NOT created for or by the owners of the TV series... THIS story is created by Me and is owned by Me. Some of the names of popular characters may remain (Rick, Michonne, Carl, Daryl, Glenn, Enid, Maggie & Carol). Some characters added as the story progresses are wholly fictitious (Rodney, Bex, Joy & Eddie) and are created by me. Timelines and scenery in this story may also be altered.

Due to sexual content and language, Discretion is advised!

This Is Your Home

What A Difference A Day Makes: The Bedrock of Richonne

(Chapter 3)

When A House Becomes A Home

Description:

This novelette is a re-imagining of the Rick Grimes Crew settling into the Alexandria Community. In this story we get a window-seat view into the shared life of Rick and Michonne after the Safe Zone zombie battle.
The timeline of this story picks up 6 to 7 months after Carl was shot and moves into present days. Over the last few months an even stronger bond has formed, keeping a makeshift family together. But that bound will be tested, rules will be broken and dynamics & relationships will change..
Can an Alpha Survivor and a Dark Warrioress find common ground? Or, will they pass up a chance at finding true happiness?

A lot can Change in 24 hours; the outcome depends on the choices made.

Chapter 3

The moment the door closed the dam broke "Let - me - go." Michonne had never been this angry with the man she'd called her friend, the man she'd shared a house with for months.

Rick kept his arms locked around her waist and partially lifted her down the hall to her bedroom. Kicking the door open he walked in and used the heel of his boot to kick the door shut behind them. The moment they were in the room he released Michonne. Reaching behind him, Rick locked the bedroom door.

"You had no right." She yelled.

"I had every right." He shouted, refusing to back down or break eye contact with her.

"Get out, Rick."

He pushed himself away from the door and walked over to a reading chair in the corner. Picking up the soft bath towel that occupied the seat he said emphatically "neither one of us is going anywhere until we've had a long talk and come to an understanding." With the towel now in his hand Rick took its place in the chair.

Michonne stood staring in disbelief at the man before her who was pretty much holding her hostage at the moment. She knew Rick was brave, strong, a great father and he was even a killer when he needed to be, but this new-found audacity... to think he could take what's hers and then to follow that BS up with telling her where she can and can't go was too much.

Rick sat back and watched her watching him and thought to himself, "Good lord this woman is stubborn."

With a flick of his wrist he tossed the soft pink towel onto the bed close to where she was standing.

"I know that you hate to let the dust from the road linger on your skin, so what I have to say can wait while you get cleaned up."

The sudden softening of the cold hard stare he'd been giving her since she walked in the door was just plain confusing. Michonne threw her hands up in frustration "Now you want to be considerate?" she sneered. "Now you're thinking about what I might feel?" With a shake of her head she asked, "What has gotten into you Rick?"

Rick simply looked at the watch on his left wrist and said, "You've got ten minutes Michonne; unless you want to be uncomfortable while we talk."

Speechless and annoyed, Michonne snatched the towel from the bed with dramatic flare and stomped towards the bathroom.

"Oh...and Michonne," Rick called out, "Don't even think about jumping out of that bathroom window. Carl and Judith will be expecting both of us to be here when I pick them up from their sleepover tomorrow; and, I aim to keep that promise."

Michonne gave him the dirtiest look she could muster before entering the bathroom and slamming the door loudly behind her.

He knew it was a low blow using the kids to make her stay; but right now it was the only option outside of tying her up. With that image in mind Rick smirked as he relaxed further into the chair, crossed his right leg over his left knee and waited. He was grateful for the few minutes alone that allowed him to calm down a bit. Finding out that she had been sneaking off and hunting those psychos on her own for more than month; then watching night fall as he sat for over an hour in the dark, worrying and waiting for her had pushed his nerves, his annoyance and anger to the very edge.

Exactly twelve minutes later the bathroom door squeaked as it opened and Michonne stepped out in her long light-blue shower robe. Rick and Carl had learned quickly in the six months that they all lived together, that cleanliness was super important to Michonne. Heck the woman celebrated toothpaste like it was Christmas. Normally a simple shower or the luxury of a bath would brighten her whole day, however that wasn't currently the case. Although she had emerged from her shower scrubbed fresh, she was far from relaxed; in fact the look on her face indicated that she was more annoyed now than when she went in. Michonne threw the clothes she'd worn earlier into her hamper, folded her arms and sat down on the edge of the bed facing him.

"Do you think that the rules of this community don't apply to you Michonne?"

When her only response was a cold stare, Rick eased forward in the chair, resting his elbows on his knees. "Answer me!"

"Of course they do."

"Hummph" He pulled himself out of the chair and began pacing a small area of the room before he stopped and his gaze locked onto hers. "When were you going to tell me about what you've been doing? Every Tuesday & Friday, Michonne? At least those are the days I know about; you taking off outside the gates, not bothering to sign out, ignoring safety protocols and running solo missions without talking to the Security Counsel about it." Rarely did Rick raise his voice but as he put words to the magnitude of what she'd done his frustration level sky-rocketed and his voice followed.

"To hell with all that... You-didn't-tell-ME. We live in the same house and you didn't say a damn word Michonne." That was the part that really stung. "Why?"

Rick knew that she was careful and could handle herself out there so Michonne didn't see what the problem was. "It was only for an hour and 40 minutes twice a week. I didn't think it would be a big deal. So why are you making it one?"

"If you didn't think it was a problem, if you weren't trying to hide what you were doing Michonne, you wouldn't have avoided signing out. You would have told me what you where planing and you wouldn't have conspired with Carol and Sasha for more than a Got-damn month" he yelled.

Springing up off of the bed she stood and crossed her arms. " First, I wasn't aware that I had to share my every move with you Rick, if you don't know it, I'm grown. And second you're making it sound like...like..."

"Like what Michonne?" He threw his hands in the air in questioning manner "like you've been sneaking off behind my back?" Rick took one small step in her direction, halted a few feet away and bent his head so that their eyes were on level with one another. "Like you have been leaving the safety of these walls to hunt down two deranged killers and placing yourself in danger? Because that's exactly what you've been doing."

It was in that moment that Michonne saw what was driving Rick's anger. It was fear. It happened so fast she almost missed it before anger resurfaced. She had seen that look once before on his face; it was the night Carl was shot and lost his eye. She stood silent, wishing she had taken Carol's advice, but is was too late to go back. "Rick, I should have said... I should have told you but..."

Before she could finish Rick took over. " You're damn right you should have told me! And bringing Carol and Sasha into your little plan makes it even worse." He could hear the harshness of his tone but he didn't care at the moment. "But I'll deal with that at the meeting on Sunday."

Both women had covered for her and Carol had wanted her to tell Rick from the start. Michonne wouldn't let them take any of the blame in this. Softening her tone slightly "It's wasn't Carol or Sasha's idea, Rick it was mine...this was all me." Rubbing her palms together as she explained "Carol wanted me to tell you from the beginning, so you can't blame them for this."

"And what about Sasha, was she on "team Tell Rick" too?"

Michonne's gaze faltered for the briefest moment before she recovered giving him a silent stare.

Her silence was answer enough. Rick began to pace again. "I'm betting they helped you without knowing or asking for important information like, what direction you were going in or how far out you were going. Am I right?"

"I never went out that far Rick." Michonne still believed she did the right thing but she was starting to see his point. "I tried to stay within a five to eight mile radius of Alexandria, I mostly looked for make-shift camp sites or checking areas I though someone could hide in or spy from." She wanted him to understand that even though she hid what she was doing from him, she was always careful. "I only wanted to make sure our runners wouldn't be ambushed again."

"What if something had happened to you?" He asked. "Something you couldn't come back from alone. How would we even know where to start looking?" Rick was practically shaking with anger the more he voiced the questions that had been playing on a loop in his mind. "What if there are more members of the Wolves than the two who got away; the two you've been hunting? What then Michonne? You saw what they did, they murdered and mutilated living people." Shaking his head he added, "I won't even mention the possibility of running into a herd of walkers. No matter how good of a fighter you might be they are still dangerous."

"Did you even take a flare so you could signal if needed?"

"Rick, you know I can take care of myself when I'm out there." Michonne reminded him.

"That's not the point." Turning his back to Michonne in exasperation Rick rested his forehead against the bedroom door. Did she not get the magnitude of what he was saying? Spinning to face her once again, he made it plain.

"Each time you snuck outta here on your one man mission, did you ever think about Carl and Judith?" Rick heard Michonne's gasps of surprise but he didn't stop. "Did you wonder what it would be like for them if you didn't come back?"

"Did you?"

Without being aware of it Michonne took a step forward, pointing a finger directly at Rick. "Don't you dare question my concern for Carl and Judith." She couldn't believe him. " I love your children as if they were my own and you know that Rick. You can question my reasons for not telling you things but you don't get to question my love for those kids?"

The tears swimming in Michonne's eye's shook him to the core. In all the time he'd known her, fought beside her, Rick had only seen her cry once. The day she had to watch her best-friend Andrea die in her arms. "Then why Michonne? Why put yourself at risk like this?"

Running his fingers through his hair in frustration. "You're Carl's best-friend, hell you're like a mother to him; and Judith, she's attached to you at every turn because let's face it, you are the only mother she's ever known." Rick released a heavy sigh.

"What about me?" Do you know how worried I was watching the sky go dark, knowing that you were still out there? You convinced me to come here, that we needed this place. For the kids, for our people and for ourselves." He needed her to understand how important she was to this community, to his kids; to him. "Sometimes I think you forget that you're not alone in this world anymore. You're a part of something Michonne."

"I...I'm sorry that I worried you or the kids. I wasn't supposed to be gone that long Rick; once I realized how late it was I got back to the house as quick as I could." Michonne tried explaining but instead of calming him her words seemed to have the opposite effect. His blue eyes turned to ice as he raked his fingers through his dark wavy hair again. It was a clear sign of his frustration

"I don't want to hear that Got-damn word from you again!"

"What? What are you talking about... what word?"

Before Michonne knew what was happening Rick was standing directly in front of her with a both of his hands gripping her just below her shoulders. "House!" He said with the utmost annoyance. "Every time you talk about this place you say "house..."

Michonne stammered in confusion "I... what's –wrong with..." not only did his words throw her for a loop, but standing so close to him with his body pressing against hers was having a strange effect on her breathing and on her thinking. He was stirring up feelings in her that two years ago she taught were dead. Feelings that over the last few months she had learned to ignore.

Rick pulled her in close as he spoke "this isn't just a 'House' Michonne, it's home. It's the kids' home, it's mine and it's yours." Retaining his grip on her upper arm Rick said with finality "this is OUR home Michonne, ours."

This time she didn't stay silent because she wanted to, she was literally speechless. "I... I..."

"Say it, because I want to know that you understand" Rick demanded, giving her a little shake.

Nodding her head in confirmation as she uttered the words that Rick wanted to hear, words that until this moment she didn't realize she had been afraid to say. "Home" she said, testing the feel of the word on her tongue. "This is- my home, ….. our home."

" Don't forget it."

One moment his eyes were searching her face, reading every emotion and the next his lips were pressed against hers in a firm but gentle kiss. Rick's left hand settled on the curve of her slender waist as his right hand came up to trace the smooth dark column of her throat and rested just below her chin.

The shock Michonne felt at the sudden press of his lips against hers quickly bloomed into an enticing tingling that awakened a dormant desire. The warmth radiating from Rick's body was seeping through the robe she wore. Her pulse picked up an extra beat, tapping out a new tempo excitement. A soft gasping moan whispered from Michonne's lips and into the quiet room "Hu-ah."

Rick eased back slightly letting his eyes caress her face, as his thumb traced the outline of her full lower lip. He liked the way her body melted into his, as if she was born to be there. Rick couldn't count the number of times he'd dreamed about holding Michonne in his arms. "Do you feel that?" he asked as he continued nipping teasingly at her mouth. With his hand below her chin and the pad of his thumb grazing across her soft bottom lip, he tilted her face up intent on tasting more of her.

"Open for me" he commanded.

Instantly her body followed his command, her lips parted allowing his tongue entry.

Michonne's right hand came up to rest tentatively against the corded muscles of Rick's upper arm, as he deepened their kiss her fingers curled, gripping the sleeve of the shirt he wore.

"Umm..." The satisfied rumble that spilled from his throat was one of pure longing.

Rick felt her soft tongue brush against his with an almost shy curiosity, which only caused him to pull her closer as he ate at her mouth. His hand slid from Michonne's waist to the swell of her hip, pressing her against his hard straining cock. The subtle rotation of her hips was almost Rick's undoing; he was two seconds away from ripping the robe from her dark sexy body and making a reality of all those thing he'd been dreaming about for months.

He wanted more of her and now that he had a taste of her lips, now that he had Michonne in his arms he didn't plan on letting her go. Rick just needed one thing; he needed to be sure that she understood what this would mean, that this was what she wanted. Forcing himself to break their kiss, he rested his forehead against hers taking a deep calming breath.

Michonne didn't want to stop "...Rick" she moaned. Her hands found their way into the soft curls at the nape of his neck in an attempt to pull his mouth back to hers.

"Michonne...listen, " Rick said.

Almost instantly, he felt the stiffening of her body as her arms fell back to her sides and she took a small step back. She held her head down to avoid looking him in the eyes. Rick could literally feel her trying to draw that virtual shield around herself again. That was something he couldn't allow, never again; not after getting a hint of the passion she held behind her demeanor of control. With one quick step Rick closed the space between them once more. His left hand snaked its way around her waist while his other gripped her thick soft locks from behind and pulled. Forcing her head back, without warning he took possession of her mouth, giving her no chance to resist.

Raw need laced over every nerve ending in Michonne's body, building like liquid fire and racing its way to the hidden alcove between her thighs.

Rick broke the kiss but kept his tight hold on her body and hair. "You need to know Michonne, that if we do this, there's no going back." Rick's blue eyes locked with Michonne's big brown eyes " You'll be mine!" Bending his head, he let his teeth scrape along the soft skin of her neck before adding a gentle bite just below her ear; inflicting the smallest amount of pain. "In every sense of the word." The subtle shiver that ran through her told Rick that she liked the sensual sting. "You'll be in my bed...our bed every night, in my arms; wet, willing and ready;" moving his lips to her ear he whispered his promise, "and I will never let you go!"

Looking into her eyes once more he asked " Is that what you want Michonne?"

Michonne stood in his grasp trembling and trying to catch her breath, unable to speak. Her passion glazed eyes stared at the man who was making her feel so many things at once and all she could do was nod her head yes.

"Not good enough. Say it!" Rick demanded, slightly tightening his grip on her hair. "Tell me this is what you want."

Michonne hissed at the sting of his firm tug on her locks. "Yes," Michonne answered.

"Yes, what?" He wanted to leave no room for misunderstanding.

"Yes Rick, I want this...I want you."

Loosening his grip on her hair he playfully bite her bottom lip and licked the sting away before stepping back from her. Never taking his eyes off of her Rick walked back to the corner chair and sat down.

"Then show me" he commanded

Michonne looked down at the belt that held her robe closed and began to untie it. She knew that everything would change between them just as he warned. The truth is it already has.

"Eyes on me Michonne." He wanted to look into her eyes and read every emotion.

Holding her head high, Michonne stood unashamed as she pulled the string that would release the last knot. Seeing as how she hadn't had the chance to dress after exiting the shower due their arguing, she was completely naked beneath her robe. There was nothing to hide her body from his eyes. With the belt untied, the robe opened wide displaying the front of her body for Rick's visual examination.

"Good girl."

Michonne had never craved the approval from others before but hearing the whispered praise from Rick had the strangest effect on her. The muscles in her stomach coiled tighter and her pulse raced with anticipation; simply knowing she pleased him caused a gush of moisture to flooded her already damp center.

"Hmmm... perfect." Rick took a moment to admire Michonne's firm breast capped with tight dark plumb nipples. His gaze traveled down over her toned abs, the narrow waist that flourished into the sexy curve of her hips and the secret heaven at the top of her thighs. He uttered his next command as he eased back to pull off one of his boots and then the other. "Take it off!"

With a shrug of her shoulders Michonne let the robe slide over her arms to land in a soft blue puddle at her feet. She watched as Rick stood to his full height, pulled his shirt over his head as he stalked towards her like a tiger who's cornered its prey. Watching him unbuckle the tan leather belt and remove it from the loops of his worn jeans in one fluid motion intrigued and frightened her; because the man she was locked in this room with was 100% Alpha and the feelings he stirred in her were primal.

Suddenly his hands were on her again. Sliding back and over her hips, caressing the soft round swell of her buttocks letting his fingers knead the flesh he had been longing to touch for months.

"Mine" Rick growled

In an unexpected move he wrapped both arms below the curve of buttocks and lifted her high against his body. Michonne let out a squeal of surprise and both of her hands flew up to grab onto his shoulders. His lips latched onto her right nipple, his warm wet tongue teasing the sensitive flesh into a dark hard pebble.

"Rick" she called on a breathy whisper when he used his teeth to pull at her puckered nipple before releasing the hard nub.

Just as fast as he'd picked her, he spun them around a dropped her onto the bed. Michonne scrambled backwards on her elbows, but Rick had something else in mind.

"Where are you going?" he asked with a smirk, the palm of his hand smack the outside of Michonne's thigh in playful punishment

Hooking his forearms under her knees he pulled her back towards him at the edge of the bed. Positioning her body the way her wanted her. "Spread for me." Rick wondered if Michonne knew that it wasn't a request.

Michonne couldn't ignore the nervousness fluttering in her stomach at the thought of being so open; so exposed. She complied, slowly shifting her knees apart, she adjusted her feet on the bed and opened her legs. The tsking sound Rick made and his next words indicated that he was satisfied with her hesitation.

"Wider, Michonne!"

A hint of the of shyness from her youthful days chose that moment to rear its head. Instead of doing things the quick and easy way Michonne ended up having to adjust and readjust her footing until she saw a satisfied smile on Rick's face. His steel-blue eyes examined her exposed flesh, like an artist seeing the potential of his canvas.

"So damn Beautiful" Rick growled as he let his hands roam along the inside of her thighs, admiring the slim toned muscles wrapped in soft dark skin. He took his time caressing and learning every groove and curve of her body; he memorized each tremor and every sigh elicited by his slightest touch. Rick kept his eyes on her face and when his fingers drew closer to the hidden treasure at the top of her thighs, Michonne's full lips parted pulling in a deep shuddering breath.

All nervousness now gone, burned away as rising need filled her mind and body. Waiting for hands to connect with her most secret place was agony. Michonne couldn't hold back the pleading-growl that burst from her lips. "Ahh-ahuuu...Rick touch me already...Please." she pleaded.

"I though I was touching you" Rick teased before informing her; "This is the one place you're not in control Michonne, I am."

The pleading look Michonne gave him accompanied by a stubborn pout was sexy as hell. He wanted to take his time with her body but the bands of his tightly held control were fraying. Bending his head Rick treated first her left nipple to a slow lick, twirling his tongue over and around the raised point before sucking the sweet tip into his mouth, only to release it and do the same to the other.

Michonne's finger tunneled through his hair, holding Rick to her as her back bowed in pleasure. She loved the feel of his mouth on her skin and the feel of his rough hands roaming over her body. There was no way for her to hide the moans pouring from her lips "Yes...oh."

Rick kissed a path from her breasts, over her ribs, kissing and nipping at her abdomen as he made his way down her body. Kneeling, he pushed her thighs further apart, planting a soft kiss at the top of her mound while using both hands to spread her labia. Her dark pink center was drenched in silky cream. When his thumb grazed her clit Rick's gaze went back up to Michonne's face. He watched her long dark lashes flutter as her eyes closed in pleasure and a shiver rolled through her body.

Adding a soft bite to the inside of her left thigh before he whispered, "look at me." When Michonne's eyes found his once more he told her, "I want to look in your eyes the first time I sink deep inside of you."

Michonne felt like her whole body was burning, trapped in a furnace of desire, an invisible fire where the temperature kept rising. She wanted Rick's hands, his mouth, his body on her's so badly it hurt.

Doing what he ordered, she kept her eyes glued to his as he leaned forward and slowly ran his tongue from the bottom of her moist slit up to her swollen clit. He feasted on her dark flower, relishing the taste of her sweet tangy juices. Rick repeated this action over and over to a chorus of moans.

"Ah-ah-ohhh-Rick. Yes, yes." Michonne could barely catch her breath, each stroke of his tongue had her muscles clenching causing more cream to spill from her. The way he used his teeth to occasionally skim over her clit before sucking it into his mouth to be plucked and licked, was pushing Michonne to higher levels of bliss. Suddenly two of Rick's fingers entered her, gentle at first, his fingers stroked and stretched; cautiously widening and testing her depth then those long fingers began sliding deeper and deeper inside of her while his tongue continued its sensual assault.

An airy scream burst from Michonne's mouth, "Goooo-d." Her hands flew towards him; grabbing for his head, pushing, pulling and clawing, as she begged and pleaded, "wait—wait- please Rick; it's too much- it's too much."

Michonne's words seemed to make Rick more determined as he feasted on the fruit of her passion. Using two of his fingers he explored her soft pink center, delving into her warm velvet garden, plunging and testing and relishing every responsive tremor that cruised through her body. Rick felt the tension rising in Michonne, the anticipation that tightened her muscles until her back began to arch off of the bed. When Rick's thrusting fingers slowed in pace and then curled upwards, pressing and teasing the secret spongy button hidden there, Michonne lost all control.

Rick knew she was on the edge and that's exactly where he wanted her.

Her body gained a mind of its own, her feet pushed against the mattress as her pelvis shifted from left to right trying to evade the overwhelming sensation but she was trapped between the mattress and Rick's pleasurably torturous mouth. When his long fingers moved inside of her again, moving faster and repeatedly raking over her G-Spot; her hips came up which only pushed her clit further into his mouth. Michonne's fingers pulled at Rick's hair as a scream ripped from her throat "AHHHA!" Panting she looked down and fastened her gaze with his.

"I-I'm-going to cum"

With one last lick Rick pulled his mouth away from her sweet vagina, but didn't remove his fingers. Using his left hand and forearm as a band to hold her hips steady Rick continued pushing her closer to the edge. His fingers continued thrusting deep and fast, giving Michonne no quarter.

"Oh...I-I'm.." Michonne couldn't hold back any longer, every nerve in her body was bending to his touch. Muscles tightening, readying for the rush of pleasure, her core clenching and spasming as a powerful orgasm rolled through her. Dots danced behind her eyelids as she moaned loudly " oh my god—ah – ah, Ri-iick."

Watching Michonne revel in the glow of her orgasm was damn sexy. Easing back on the thrusting of his fingers he waited for her to come back to the present. When she opened her eyes Rick pulled his long fingers from her trembling center. With a mischievous glint in his eyes he held her gaze trapped in his as he brought his glistening fingers to his mouth and sucked away the creamy evidence of her pleasure. Rick smiled when a new shudder ran over her body and her lips fell open on a silent gasp.

Rising up from his crouched position, he watched the aftershocks dance over her body with a cocky grin."What do you say when someone gives you something nice Michonne?"

"Ahhh...Thank you." She answered, still trying to catch her breath.

"Thank you , who?" Rick demanding as he quickly stripped out of jeans.

"Thank you... Rick."

"Good Girl!"