Chapter Seven is brought to you by thematsaidwelcome and who better to bring the pure sweet memories of the big night of prom than the master keystrokes of fluffy sexiness.

Be sure to check out her other stories on her FF page.

-We're The Ones Who Write


Chapter 7: I took the one less traveled by

May

"Michonne, smile please. It's prom night, you should be beaming from ear to ear."

"Yeah, baby girl show daddy that megawatt smile of yours." Michonne plastered on her best "it'll do" smile and tried not to blink as the camera flashed in her eyes. "There it is. You look beautiful baby girl."

"Thanks daddy. Can we stop with the pictures now though? My cheeks hurt." Her dad lowered the camera and nodded his head slowly. He had taken almost one hundred pictures of Michonne since he'd gotten there a few hours earlier to see her off to the prom. His little girl was growing up faster than he could wrap his head around. No matter what his relationship was with her mother, he didn't want to miss this milestones for anything.

"What time will your date be here?" He asked glancing at his watch. Michonne cut her eyes at her mother quickly, hoping she didn't notice before answering his question, but before she could, her mother chimed in.

"Oh, Michonne refused to go to prom with the most popular boy at school, so she's going stag...actually she's third wheeling it with her friend Sasha and her boyfriend." This time Michonne had no intention of hiding her disdain for her mother's opinion of her prom date, or lack thereof, she rolled her eyes and huffed out a slow breath.

"Don't sweat it babygirl, date or no date, you'll be the prettiest thing there." To her relief a knock came at the door and Michonne rushed to let Sasha in, thankful her friend was always on time, today being no exception.

"Thank god." She whispered when she opened the door to see Sasha in her magenta floor length gown. It was one shoulder and the heavy jersey fabric clung to her small frame, exquisitely, leaving Michonne to gasp at how beautiful her friend looked. "Wow Sasha."

"She looks great right?" Abe's booming voice, drew Michonne's eyes from Sasha and up to his beaming face. He choose to wear his JROTC uniform and looked down right handsome in it. Standing side by side, she could see why the two of them choose each other and wished nothing but the best for them.

"You ready girl?" Sasha asked, wanting to get to the venue as soon as possible.

"Ugh... My dads here and he won't let me go without taking a couple more pictures of me. You get to join in the fun this time." She pulled Sasha by the arm and lead her into the house. The pictures started at the staircase, and didn't finish until they were out the door and driving down the street.

"Man, you're dad is really trying to fill a whole album with pictures, isn't he?" Abe asked her.

"Let's try to forget about all that, he's competing with my mom. Guilt or something."

"Tell him to do it with money next time." Sasha joked.

###

"How do I look Sasha?"

"You look like a 27 out of 10. His eyes are gonna pop out of his head." Michonne sat in the backseat and checked her makeup, making sure it was perfect. She closed her compact as Abe made a right turn, pulling into a vacant parking lot.

"Your chariot awaits, darling." Abe boomed coming to a stop. Michonne held her breath and looked over as her door was opened. Rick reached his hand in to help her out and stood frozen when they were eye to eye. Michonne wouldn't dare go to prom without Rick by her side, but she also didn't want to subject him to her mother's pro-Terry antics either, so they decided that they would tell her that she was going by herself with Abe and Sasha, and they would drop her off where Rick was waiting.

"Hi." She said shyly, biting her bottom lip.

"You look beautiful." He took in her daffodil colored sleeveless dress with sheer cutouts throughout the bodice and long skirt with an enticing split that ran the length of her gorgeous legs. He closed the door and they walked off towards his truck, seemingly forgetting about Abe and Sasha who drove off, not wanting to interfere with the lovesick couple. "I almost don't want to share you with anymore eyes tonight." He opened the door for her and the scent of vanilla wafted out to her nostrils. "I spent all day cleaning it. Can't have you getting your dress dirty."

"Thank you." He helped her climb up into the passenger seat and she finally allowed her eyes to look at something other than his face. His strong jawline and spellbinding lips, usually had all her attention after she had to forcefully make herself stop looking into his eye. She took him in as he stood there with the door still open, his dark navy suit and tie to match her dress, that she bought him, made him look like he just stepped out of GQ magazine. Even his trusty old boots looked good tonight. She moved her hand to his lapel, pretending to fix it, and gently pulled him to her. "You look amazing." He blushed and she moved her lips to his, kissing away his bashfulness. "I hope you can dance in those boots of yours."

"You're about to find out."

###

"Those are some interesting moves you have there Rick. You learn that down at the shop watching YouTube videos?"

"Oh, leave him alone Abe. We're having a great time." Michonne told him, coming to Rick's rescue as they sipped from their drinks at the table. They had been dancing for an hour, every song was Michonne's jam, and she wouldn't let Rick sit down. He figured his average white boy dance moves would be enough for her to put him out of his misery, but in true Michonne fashion, she loved him warts and all and his bad, maybe a little embarrassing dance moves weren't enough to make her tell him to sit down where he could just watch from the sidelines.

"Next slow song is ours, but let's sit out the fast ones for a while, okay."

"No problem, Rick." She smiled at him. "Can't have you hurting yourself before the nights over." They looked up at the speakers as Love is a Battlefield started to play. Michonne looked at Sasha and they shrugged their shoulders.

"I'll bet five dollars that Miss Peletier had something to do with this song." Rick said to the group.

"Not a chance, she's definitely a Benatar fan." Sasha said to him.

"I think I saw one of those headbands in the bottom drawer of her desk."

"You did not, Rick." Michonne laughed then looked at him. "You sure you don't want to dance?"

"Slow one."

"Okay, okay." They watched as Abe and Sasha, got up to dance to the end of the song, and then danced right into the next one. I Wanna Dance With Somebody blasted through the speakers and Sasha danced circles around Abe.

"Are you having a good time?" Rick asked Michonne.

"I'm having the best time. We're at prom, Rick. Dressed up, dancing... and before the nights over, we're gonna have our pictures taken over there by that silly looking photographer in the cheesy suit." She smiled watching him notice the multicolored plaid suit the man wore. "Yeah….can it get any better?"

"Oh it can get better alright." Rick looked at her with that look and she was almost paralyzed to it, until the dj announced that they were slowing things down a bit. She hopped up, grabbing his hand and dragging him to the dance floor. "You don't even know what the song is."

"It doesn't matter. It's a slow one, and that means you get to hold me close." The sultry voice of Otis Redding started and Rick lifted Michonne's arm, spinning her once and bringing her into him as "These Arms of Mine" played. She was contentedly cocooned in his tight embrace, resting her head on his chest with her eyes closed as they got lost in the warmth of their bodies pressed together.

"This is definitely not a Horvath song. He looks more like the classical music type. Drive the old RV around blasting Bach or Mozart." Rick felt Michonne vibrate against him with laughter as she thought about the grey haired man rocking out to a string orchestra. She felt a tap on her shoulder when the song ended and reluctantly opened them to see Sasha's face.

"Can I cut in?" she joked, then she held up the picture that she and Abe took earlier. They both squealed at how cute the picture was. The large ginger haired Abe, couldn't hide his embarrassment at all, so he owned it.

"She makes me look good."

"Yeah she does." Michonne agreed.

"You two need to go and get yours, the lines not that long anymore."

"Oh good. Give me a few minutes to freshen up my makeup. We'll be back." Michonne dragged Sasha with her to the restroom, almost running into Lori when the door swung open.

"Damn girl, watch where you're going." Sasha said to her with a bit more attitude than necessary.

"Oh my bad. Didn't see y'all there." Lori flipping her hair over her shoulder and glanced at her polished nails. "As a matter of fact, I haven't seen you at all tonight. You just now getting here?"

"Why you lying. I saw you staring at her and Rick while they danced."

"I don't know what you're talking about. I've been too busy with my date Terry. He's got great moves...on and off the dance floor."

"That's awesome news Lori. You two have fun okay." Not wanting to listen to her anymore, and not wanting things to escalate with Sasha's attitude, Michonne pushed passed her and walked into the bathroom.

"That bitch is such a hater!"

"Don't worry about her Sasha." Michonne pulled out her lipstick and started to blot her face with a paper towel. "You never told me. Is tonight the night?" Michonne looked at the floor to see if any feet could be seen in the stalls. "For you and Abe?"

"Yeah, I think." Sasha whispered even though they were alone. "We've got a hotel room and everything. He said it's all up to me. He's got a trunk full of board games if I change my mind."

"That's sweet." Michonne swept the color across her lips.

"What about you and Rick?"

"You know what… I didn't plan anything past getting here to prom with him. I guess it'll be a booth at IHOP for us."

"They've got better food than whatever it is they served here."

It was just after 11:30 when they left the prom. Michonne held her and Rick's prom picture in one hand and his hand in the other. He held her heels and his keys in his. He had loosened his tie and undone the top buttons. His threshold for formal wear having reached its peak an hour ago, but since Michonne was still radiant and beaming he held his tongue, not wanting to dampen the night in any way.

"Are you all danced out or do you have a few moves left in you."

"I'm done, and if you suggest anything that requires me to put my shoes back one, it's gonna be a hard no." Michonne answered.

"Noted." They drove off and Michonne rolled the window down, letting the breeze hit her face watching the lights of the county pass by as they drove. She didn't know where they were going until Rick took a familiar turn stopping the truck to open the gate. She turned to him and smiled, grateful that he planned ahead. "Give me a few minutes to set things up." He told her after putting the truck in park after they came to their final stop.

"Okay." He kissed her quickly and got out then she heard him shuffling things around as the truck moved up and down and side to side. She turned her head to see what he was doing back there.

"No peeking!" He shouted, knowing she was trying to.

"I'm not." She laughed out and turned to the front again. It took ten more minutes for things to quiet down and her door to be opened.

"Ready?" He helped her step down and they walked to the back of the truck. He had set up the air mattress again, with the same throw pillows and duvet. This time he covered it in rose petals and a few lanterns for light and effect sat on top of the cab of the truck.

"Rick…" she whispered.

"Thought I'd do a little something extra tonight. Come on." He helped her up and then followed suit, coming to rest on his side next to her as she sat leaning with her hands behind her and her legs stretched out in front of her.

"It's really beautiful here, Rick." She reached out and ran her fingers through his hair, pulling him to her to rest his head in her lap. "All these stars. Millions of them, twinkling and lighting the sky."

"Makes you realize how small we are."

"Not small. Just not as big." She moaned when his hands touched her feet and started kneading the tired skin.

"It wasn't until I met you that I realized my dreams could be bigger than the shop. Now they involve college and professors, getting a degree and making something of myself."

"I don't think you needed me for that. You would have figured it out eventually."

"Well, I'm thanking you for it anyways." His hand started to make its way up her leg, under her dress, stopping when he reached her hips. He raised the skirt of her dress to her waist, kissing his way up her toned calves, delectable knees and lush thighs. He looked up at her and watched as she lowered herself to her elbows, not wanting to miss anything he was going to do to her. His curls dropped to her center and blocked her view, but her sense of touch was in overdrive. She felt his fingers move her panties out of the way, his shoulder widened her leg out and then his wet warm tongue was caressing her folds, lapping at her wetness and sweeping over her slit. Michonne was in bliss. Rick feeling obstructed by the satin she still wore and not wanting to stop to allow her to remove them, simply tore them off with both hands and silenced any scolding by sucking on her clit and inserting his fingers into her tight wet walls.

"Oh...my...I'm gonna...Rick...Rick." Unable to hold herself up anymore she fell to her back, reaching for his head to hold him in place as her moonlit orgasm coursed through her withering body. He continued to lazily lap at her, inhaling her scent and letting her catch her breath. He stopped when he felt her scoot back leaving him to lie on his back. She moved to get his pants off while he unbuttoned his shirt. Her dress came off next once it was unzipped, leaving her in just her strapless bra. She lined up at the tip of his length and sank down slowly with a sigh that echoed Ricks. He rubbed his hands up her thighs squeezing at her waist when she ran out of room to take anymore of him in.

"Fuck...Michonne. You're so beautiful." He reached for the back of her neck, pulling her face down to kiss her. She started to move her hips when his tongue touched hers, he matched her movements thrusting up into her with every downstroke she made. She broke the kiss to moan as he touched the deepest part of her over and over again. "Michonne...that's it baby."

"God, you feel…so…" Her head rolled forward as the warmth washed over her, starting with a tingle in her toes and moving up to a tickle down her spine and finishing with a throbbing in her head. She held onto Rick's forearms exploding around him as he erupted within her, with a satisfied groan. She collapsed on top of him, sweaty, sated and completely enamored by the boy who was lovingly rubbing circles along her back. "Can we just stay here forever?"

"I wouldn't mind that at all." He kissed the top of her head and looked up at their audience of stars, thanking them for bringing her into his life.


"What do you think of this one Michonne?" Her mother held up a bright orange bed in a bag and was quickly given a disgusted look.

"I'm not trying to land planes in my dorm room mom." Michonne pushed the already full cart down the aisle stopping at a large handled plastic bag filled with a lavender and navy blue comforter, deciding that was the one she wanted. She picked it up and tossed it in the cart.

"Oh good. I like that one. Now we just need curtains to match." Michonne sighed, spending all day shopping with her mother was not her idea of a good time, but here she was five hours in, still out shopping, pushing a cart down the bed and bath store. Since graduation, it seemed all her mother wanted to do was spend more and more time with her. It was understandable, being the summer before college, but between her lifeguard job and Rick, spending time with her mother was starting to become a chore.

"I think some simple white ones will be fine mom. I don't know what color my roommate likes."

"You're right. What about a few decorative pillows to match? Maybe a few picture frames. Can't have you forgetting about your dear ole mom when you're up North enjoying the Ivy League life."

"Why would I forget about you mom... how could I forget about you? You're gonna call me everyday, plus holidays don't stop when my freshman year starts."

"I know Michonne." She stood in front in her smoothing her hair back. "I know moving wasn't the easiest thing for you to go through and the divorce was even harder, but you dealt with it like a champ. I'm so proud of you Michonne. All I want is the best for you. For you to spread your wings and find out who you really are before settling down with a boy."

"Mom…"

"Let me finish. I might not agree with who you spend your time with, but I can't argue with the fact that he's a sweet young man. Very respectful, even with how I treated him. And smart. You never told me he was so smart."

"You didn't want to listen."

"Maybe not, but I'm not stupid. I know he'll be up there with you. Make smart choices. Make them for you alone." She pressed a loving finger into Michonne's shoulder for emphasis. "Go to parties and football games. Don't act married before you are. See the world before promising it to anyone else." Michonne took her words to heart, appreciating them, even if they did come at an awkward time. When her mother put her arms around her, she fell into her embrace and they hugged right there in the middle of aisle twelve, in front of the curtains that would please both Michonne and her roommate.


"Are you sure you have to wait a week to come?"

"Yeah, Im sorry. I've gotta handle this thing with my mom. It should take a few days, at least that's what the sheriff said."

"Is she in a lot of trouble?"

"Nothing for you to worry about. Are you settling in okay? Your roommate isn't some weirdo who eats all your food is she?"

"No, she's pretty cool. Her names Maggie. A farm girl or something." She went quiet, sighing thinking about how she would rather have Rick talking to her face to face instead of over the phone, but his mother had gotten into some kind of trouble back home and he had to stay and take care of things before he left. "I miss you Rick."

"I miss you too, baby. Just a few more days and I'll be up there with you. You can give me the grand tour and everything."

"Okay... I can't wait."

Michonne replayed that conversation back in her mind as she read the invitation for her ten year class reunion. A few days turned into many and those turned into months. The phone calls became more infrequent as she got involved with campus activities. She flew back home for holidays, but always seemed to miss him when she was there. He was always out of town according to his mother and Daryl. The last time she checked he was away at the academy. It made her smile that he had found something, even if it didn't include her, he had taken the road less traveled by. She heard from her mother that he was a sheriff's deputy now and she heard through Sasha at her and Abe's third baby shower that he was still single. Michonne had no expectations for a reconciliation, but she did want to see him. Ten years is a long time to wonder about someone. So she checked the box on the invite that said accept, placed it into an envelope and mailed it off.