"I think it happens to everyone as they grow up. You find out who you are and what you want, and then you realize that people you've known forever don't see things the way you do. And so you keep the wonderful memories, but find yourself moving on."
― Nicholas Sparks, True Believer

Lori and I were back in the States. We moved into her parent's rental property in a decent enough neighborhood with sidewalks. They were glad to have us back but quickly realized that things weren't right between Lori and me.

They offered us advice that fell on deaf ears. They offered to take the kids off our hands in hopes that would be a solution for us to find our way back to a better place. Lori and I did not want to spend more time together, alone. We needed the kids to keep us distracted. It was evident to anyone with eyes our marriage had run its course.

It was a random day when I said it. It was the only thing on my mind as we sat on the couch together trying to catch up on an episode of the Walking Dead while the kids were asleep. I was going to be as honest in our neutral zone while sitting in front of the television.

"I can't do this."

"I can't either."

"I found a place three miles away."

I had taken every spare minute I had to scour the area for a place I could afford and remain accessible to my children.

"Good."

"I would say so." I was relieved.

"I won't contest it."

This was Lori's way of saying the ball was in my court to get the papers done.

"Nothing to contest."

It was the truth since we didn't own a home. Our cars were older models and paid for in cash. We only had our children, and it didn't take long for Lori to consider me the best babysitter when she wanted to go out at night.

"I just want it over with as quickly as possible."

"Glad to know we are in agreement," I responded back.

"We are."

She pressed play on the DVR and we continued to watch a show we weren't really interested in now that we were more miserable than ever. We could actually relate to the Zombies if we were to remain married..

That was how our divorce went down. I moved into my new place without incident.

My thoughts may have consisted of day to day routine of job, kids, and maintaining a home but I always had room for Michonne. It seemed like time flew by but the nights dragged on as I dreamt of her, desired only her, longed for her and I regretted not choosing her.

"I'm not ever giving up on this thing between us."

"Thank you."

"I have to get Lori back stateside first."

"I understand Rick." Michonne rested her head on my bare chest. This was officially our last hours cuddled up in a hotel off base before the next day revealed the unexpected upheaval planned and orchestrated by my wife Lori and two other women with enough courage to make an ass of themselves.

"She knows. Lori knows, but she doesn't know it's you."

"Do you think she will find out?"

"I'm not sure how. We have been discreet about what we are doing."

"Discreet has gone out the window with you coming in broad daylight to officer housing looking for me."

I felt an increasing irrational desire to be with her. I was on the verge of recklessness. It was reckless.

"You weren't answering your phone."

"Because we were going to behave. Well, you wanted to behave, after citing your children as good reasons to remain married and I agreed. I had no reason to answer my phone on the fourth ring or the fifth ring or the sixth ring when you said the odds of us working out isn't likely due to your kids need for stability."

"I didn't say that, Michonne."

"You implied that."

"Implying and stating are two different things."

"I know how to use those terms when and if we were doing legal gymnastics regarding a defendant. Trust me when I tell you I am aware of the difference, but my heart wasn't having any more discussion about it when it was breaking in a thousand pieces."

I had gathered right then she was in love with me more than I could ever imagine. Most of her descriptors eluded me but the nuance I felt strongly.

I knew I needed to again make it clear to Michonne what I was doing and why.

"I am going to divorce my wife. I can't stay married to her when I am in love with you. I want to be with you in every way possible."

"Okay."

"I have to get her Stateside, first."

"Okay."

"What about Mike? What's the plan?" I too needed reassurances.

"I am going to tell him in the morning. He should be off the ship."

This worried me.

"How do you think he's going to take it?"

"I don't know. Probably indifferent." She shrugged.

Michonne had actually gone through with her request for a divorce the next morning. It was that afternoon Michonne was jumped by my wife and two other enlisted wives causing everything to come to a screeching halt in my mind once I was told to go and get Lori.

I had no idea why I would want to go get Lori when everything was being told to me in pieces. I was slow to show relief that she wasn't pronounced dead somewhere. Then it soon all came together when I heard over the intercom in the office that an officer's wife was attacked. Every. Single. Thing. Escalated.

Big Navy was involved.

Careers were affected, and wives were deported, flown out, just so happened our flight was scheduled that evening, and we were about to miss it if I didn't hurry.

Lori had an eye that was turning blue and a busted lip. She ran into my arms like I was to save the day, but it was all for show. She was putting on a show for Michonne. I couldn't bring myself to embrace her as she clung to me. Face in my chest. All I saw was Michonne barely answering the interpreter's questions. If looks could kill, I was a dead man based on how Michonne cut me with her glare. I wasn't hugging Lori back was my only defense.

My mind always traveled back to Singapore when Michonne was on the ship being escorted around by her husband. I waited for the moment for him to become distracted to the point he had to leave her side to have a chance to talk to her.

"We are going to have to stop meeting like this," I had said to her.

"Rick?"

"Looks like you are going to need another tour guide. Maybe not here but off the ship?"

I knew her husband wasn't going to leave the ship due to mechanical issues that had to be addressed and he only had Michonne aboard to appease her. The look she gave me told me everything I needed to know. I would be able to have another go around. I wanted her, I dreamed of her, I pursued her and then I soon fell fast in love with her.

"How did you not get in trouble?"

I shrugged and scratched my brow with my thumb unable to fight the mischievous grin. Soon we found ourselves again on a tour of a lifetime.

I climbed on top. I took my time. I entered her slowly. Our eyes were locked. Her walls slowly allowed me to go deeper. Just the feel of her all around me had me inhale her essence that fueled my inability to ever want to stop. I wanted to kiss her, but I didn't want to break the connection we were sharing, right then, right there.

"I don't think I will be able to get enough of you, Michonne. Damn it. This has been on my mind. Right here. Everything I want to do with you, to you." I held her wrists in place above her head. She was a back scratcher, and I wasn't ready to be scratched. Not yet. Not right then.

"Please, do it. Do it all." She moaned.

"Got damn. Move those hips like that. Move them like-fucking that."

Michonne was just incredible in bed. Incredible. Her stamina matched mine. I love a sweaty Michonne.

'Tour guide' was our code language from that point forward.

By the time the ship was dry docked back in Japan, I was utterly and hopelessly consumed with being with Michonne I eventually became sloppy since I had never cheated on Lori before. This was my first time, and I had no idea how it was done without stumbling at some point. I knew of a few military members who had multiple women they were juggling. Even with what I was doing or had done with Michonne I couldn't understand what drove other men to want every accessible woman.

I just wanted Michonne in the worse way. The shit was painful and extreme. Lying to Lori became easier. I had tried to use my job as the excuse for the reason I was gone overnight by using Duty or Watch. It made my absence more plausible.

I just needed more time spent with Michonne, and sometimes I didn't have a lot to spare. I lived for being able to inhale Michonne's scent in the crevice of her neck while only having enough time to embrace her and stealing a few passion driven kisses before having to rush off to a home that became just as foreign to me as the country we were residing. Our time was temporary in Japan, but my heart would forever be altered.

A/N: Corrections 02/03/2019 8:16pm. I am seriously moving at a snail pace.