A/N: My contribution for the Richonnefics Summer Prompt on Tumblr.

Popsicle

The protests could be heard throughout the office. Rick was beyond embarrassed and had no idea Judith would react this way with her first dental visit. He makes a mental note to strangle Carl when he gets home for planting these stories in his little sister's head. An attractive woman waltzes into the room and smiles at him as she zeroes in on Judith.

"Hey there. What's your name and why are you so upset?" She asks.

"I'm Judith and my big brother said the dentist is going to take all of my teeth out and throw them away so I can't get any money from the tooth fairy," Judith relays and then firmly presses her lips together.

The woman drops her head to hide the obvious humor she is experiencing then looks back to the little girl. "Well, you tell your big brother he is all wrong. I'm not going to take all of your teeth out and throw them away. You're just here to get them all nice and clean and to make sure they're all ok."

"You're the dentist?" Judith sits up in the patient's chair and gets a really good look at the woman standing next to her.

"I am," the woman relays.

"Carl said you'd be old and fat and wrinkly with bad breath and…

"Judith…." Her dad interjects. "That's enough."

'But…." She notes her dad's expression and turns back to the dentist. "Well, you're pretty and not old and not fat and…."

"Judith…."

The dentist smiles at the dad then looks to Judith and says, "Thank you. How about you let Ms. Denise here clean your teeth and if it's ok with your dad, we'll have a Popsicle afterwards."

"Really?" Judith asks.

"Really." The dentist smiles as the little girl agrees, sits back in her chair and waits patiently. She then looks to the dad and relays, "They're all natural so sugar won't be a problem. Is it ok?"

Rick smiles. "Sure. Thank you."

The dentist moves toward the door but stops when Judith yells, "Wait! What's your name?"

"I'm Michonne. I'll be back to see you in a few minutes, ok?"

Judith gives her a huge smile and says, "Ok."

Thirty minutes later, they are in the small kitchen area of the office and Judith is enjoying a strawberry Popsicle. Michonne likes to be very hands on with her young patients, especially those who exhibit some anxiety with their first visit.

The dad walks over to her, admiring the fact that she is taking the time to make Judith comfortable. He wishes all doctor's visits could go this smoothly. "Thank you for this. I had no idea she'd react this badly."

"It's no problem. I've handled a lot worse."

"I'm Rick." He extends his hand and she accepts it for a brief handshake.

"Nice to meet you and Judith too. So….big brother Carl….I guess he's been here before right?" She asks with a small smile. "I couldn't help but notice Judith's description of Dr. Charles. He retired a little over eight months ago so I relocated and took over."

Rick tries not to laugh but can't help it. "Sorry about that."

"No. One thing about kids…they're completely honest. I'm glad the visit ended well and I hope to see you guys again." She moves over to Judith and gives her more advice about brushing and flossing before telling them both good-bye.

For the next several weeks, Michonne and Rick coincidentally run into each other all over town. The grocery store, the bakery, the gas station…..they always greet each other cordially and move on. She finds it odd that she never sees him with his family, but doesn't want to pry. She had a weakness for a man in uniform but decided she should be concentrating on other things.

Rick is having similar thoughts about her, wondering why he never sees her with a husband or a boyfriend. He doesn't want to make assumptions but maybe it's safe to say she doesn't have one. He ponders if he would even dare get back into the dating game after the fiasco with Lori. He gives himself a shake and dispels those thoughts as quickly as they came.

A week later, he is with the kids and it's time for Carl's visit to the dentist. The teen seems excited to see who Judith can't stop talking about. It is apparently obvious that anyone outside of Dr. Charles is inviting. Of course, Judith insisted on coming as well.

Michonne greets them personally as she recognized the name as soon as she looked at the schedule. She smiles at Judith and asks, "So is this big brother Carl with all the bad stories?"

Judith nods as she looks from her brother to Michonne. "I told him that you didn't take out my teeth and that you weren't fat or any of that stuff. Plus I think he wants a strawberry Popsicle too."

Michonne laughs. "Oh, ok. Well, I'll have to see what I can do." She gives her attention to Carl. "It's very nice to meet you."

The teen gives her a tentative smile. "Nice to meet you too. Sorry for the….drama with Judith."

"It's fine. How about you follow me?"

Carl does just that while his father and sister wait in the lobby area. The end of the visit arrives and Michonne is more than happy to award the children with popsicles. Rick laughs as Carl seems to be enjoying his visit more than Judith enjoyed hers. They all say good-bye to Michonne and her staff after scheduling another appointment for Carl in six months.

That same week, she is stranded on the highway with a flat tire in a heavy downpour of rain. She sighs knowing she will be there for a while. She had called roadside assistance but they informed her there had been several accidents and it would be some time before someone could get to her. All she could do was agree. She rolls her eyes heavenward as her patience is running thin and she can't fathom just sitting there for who knows how long.

I know how to change a freaking tire. Mike was at least good at ensuring that she knew how to do certain things in his absence. She just hates to do it in the rain but whatever. She grabs an umbrella and just as she exits the car, a police cruiser pulls up with flashing lights.

An officer exits, wearing rain gear and a protective cover for his hat. He shines his flashlight her way and asks, "Ma'am are you alright?"

He steps closer and all she can do is smile as she recognizes Rick Grimes. He smiles in return as soon as he sees her.

Forty-five minutes later, her car is parked next to his cruiser at a local diner where the two are warming up to each other while enjoying some coffee.

Road Trip

She watches quietly as Rick drives along the highway, his favorite style of music filling the car. They pass an area completely shrouded in trees that eventually thins out to reveal homes and barns and pastures with grazing animals. She sighs in contentment as she enjoys the lull of the ride. They were on a short road trip from Georgia to Florida to visit their best friends, Shane and Andrea, who'd just become the proud parents of a baby girl. She had started thinking she and Rick would be the odd couple out because they'd been trying for almost two years to conceive with no success. She looks down at the photo lying on the seat in between them. They'd just visited the doctor that morning and had their first sonogram administered. They were having a baby boy. She smiles as she places her hand atop the photo, so grateful for their blessing. Her husband looks over and gently places his hand over hers.

Sundress

Rick watches undetected as she puts the finishing touches on whatever dish she is preparing for Maggie's birthday party. The sundress she is wearing clings to her in all the right places as she works diligently. She stops abruptly and huffs before taking a deep breath to yell, "Rick!"

She is startled as he moves further into the kitchen. "Geez! Why didn't you say anything if you were just standing there? I told you we needed to leave ten minutes ago."

"I'm ready….I think," he tells her.

She looks at him with a frown. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"How can I concentrate on anything with you wearing that?"

"Uh – uh. Don't start. We are going to the party. No detours," she commands.

"Not even a tiny one?" He pleads.

"No." She puts one hand at a hip as she faces him. "You know it wouldn't hurt for us to give each other a simple hug every now and again without it leading to other stuff and thangs."

"That sounds so accusatory. It takes two to tango, you know," he reminds her.

She rolls her eyes heavenward as she gives him a small smile. "Whatever. Well, no tango right now. Ok? But you can have a hug." She lifts her finger as he walks toward her. "Just a hug."

He spreads his arms as she closes the distance between them. They wrap their arms around each other simultaneously as Michonne closes her eyes to relish in the warmth of his embrace.

Seconds later, she is gasping and jerking away from him as he brushes his fingers against her core. He bursts into laughter at her expression and watches as she rushes to the other side of the island, placing a barrier between them.

"I can't believe you did that," she says, trying not to laugh herself. He never ceases to surprise her with some of his antics. Her cheeks are actually flaming as he has made her blush like some teenaged school girl. "We need to go."

"Are you sure?"

Watermelon

Rick searches through the refrigerator, a slight panic starting to roll in the pit of his stomach. He could've sworn they had one more container left which is exactly what she's going to be looking for when she wakes up from her nap. He drops his head as the realization comes to him. She clearly got up in the middle of the night and finished off the last of the watermelon. All he can do is smile, thinking of his wife and the changes they have gone through with this pregnancy.

He moves towards the door, grabbing his wallet and keys from the counter and departs their home, making his way to the nearby grocery store. A little over thirty minutes later, he is standing in their kitchen again, cutting large cubes of watermelon and placing them in her favorite container. He checks the freezer to be sure her bottled water isn't completely frozen and sighs in contentment as all is ready for his one and only.

He smiles as she waddles into the kitchen, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "You have a good nap?"

She stretches then covers a yawn with her hand, blinking rapidly. "I really wanna get back in bed, but somebody's being really active right now and I want…" She trails off as she sees the tray laden with a fruit filled bowl and an ice filled water bottle. She looks to her smiling husband and her bottom lip starts to tremble as she is always amazed at how incredibly good he is to her.

"Thank you, babe."

Cookout

CONGRATULATIONS CHIEF DEPUTY GRIMES!

The words blare out at him on a banner hung high between two trees in their backyard. He looks around at all the people applauding and smiling at him, his eyes zeroing in on her and their kids. They step toward him, Carl throwing an arm across his shoulders, Judith grabbing onto a leg and his beautiful wife looping an arm through one of his and giving him a kiss on the cheek.

Shane is manning the grill, wearing an apron and a chef's hat, a spatula in one hand and a beer in the other. His boss is there, as well as other deputies and staff from work. Neighbors, old friends, new friends, community folk, church members…they're all there to celebrate this moment with him and he owes it all to her.

He looks to his wife and mouths, "Thank you." Everything that she is has somehow rubbed off on him over the years and she has given him the strength and the will and the support to accomplish his goals.

"I'm so proud of you," she relays with a smile then kindly moves away as others crowd in to congratulate him and wish him well with his new career endeavor.

Michonne moves over to Shane. "Thanks for helping me with this. He was so surprised."

"Well you know I don't handle a cookout for just anybody but I couldn't say no. Rick is so proud of himself right now. He really deserved that promotion," Shane offers.

They both look over as Rick keeps a hold of the kids and accepts well wishes at the same time. They celebrate well into the night and once the house is quiet and still, Mr. Grimes thanks Mrs. Grimes in all the ways she loves.