Written For: mitchocolatestrawberries as the winner of the Just Desserts Game Night Contest.
Prompt: Any AU Drabble.
Summary: Michonne is having a bout of the Friday night blues.
A/N: Written for the Richonne Just Desserts fanfiction site (richonnejustdessertsDOTtumblrDOTcom)
Michonne was happy to be free of her high heels and business suit as she padded into the kitchen wearing only a pair of black, cotton panties and a thin, white tank top. Her hair was piled on top of her head; skin shining from the cocoa butter rub down after her shower. She thought her mood would get better once she was home, but the irritation at her bosses was still festering. She sighed and opened the fridge for a bottle of her favorite chardonnay. For a second she thought about drinking straight from the bottle, but ended up just topping off her deepest wine goblet.
With the wine in one hand and the remote in the other she laid back on the couch with her feet on the coffee table. She waited for the relaxation to hit as she scrolled through the channels, but still felt wound up. The digital numbers on the TV screen told her it was 8:04 pm. Couch lounging on a Friday night wasn't the same without Rick, but he wouldn't be home from working a double shift until midnight. She missed him. Just being in his presence would help evaporate the mood she was in. She settled for sending him a him a love you text hoping he would have time to message her back soon.
She threw her phone on the couch and started trying to find something to watch. The click from the lock on the front door turning made her jump up; almost spilling the wine on the white couch. She placed the glass on the coffee table and picked up a brass candle stick holder instead. Her heart was pounding as she held it over her head ready to attack whoever came through the door. The first thing she saw was Rick's brown sheriff's hat followed by his long, lean body. He had a small smile on his face that immediately turned into a frown when he saw his wife standing in their living room in attack mode.
"Michonne?" he asked as his hand instinctively went to the Colt at his side. His first thought was that she was in danger.
She relaxed her arms and put one hand on her hip. "What are you doing home so early? I thought you were an intruder. I was about to bash your head in."
Rick chuckled and released his hand from the gun. "That's my girl. Always ready to defend yourself." He hung his hat on the coat rack and unbuttoned the first two buttons of his uniform. "They sent me and Drew home. Too many deputies were scheduled for the shift tonight." His eyes roamed over her as he walked to where she stood. The smile was back on his face. "Aren't you a sexy sight. Nice outfit." He pulled her into a hug and kissed the top of her head. "I missed you."
She wrapped her arms around his waist already breathing better now that he was home. "I missed you too. I just sent you a text before you walked in."
"Must have put my phone on silent." He pulled out the Android from his back pocket and smiled at the message. "Love you too." He kissed her lips softly. His hand caressed her cheek as he tilted his head to the side. He took in her tired eyes and tensed shoulders. "What's wrong, baby?"
She sighed and flopped back on the couch. "I had a day."
He sat too and put his arm around her shoulder. "Again? What did the partners do this time?"
"Just the usual. Giving me the most basic, asinine work and saving the best cases for their favorites. I don't know why I keep putting up with it."
He used his free hand to finish unbuttoning the rest of his shirt. "I'm sorry you have to keep going through that. Why don't you finally do what we've been talking about?"
She shook her head and handed him her glass of wine. "I can't think about that right now. I just want to turn my brain off."
Rick took a sip and nodded. "Okay, baby. Why don't we pop some popcorn and watch some mindless TV the rest of the night."
She smiled for the first time that day. "Sounds perfect."
Two episodes of Supernatural later they sat on the couch with their legs intertwined up on the coffee table and a bowl of popcorn between them.
"This is the silliest show I've ever seen in my life," Michonne said before stuffing a handful of popcorn in her mouth.
Rick leaned back further into the couch. He'd discarded his uniform and sat there with only his boxers on. "It's definitely no masterpiece, but it took your mind off of things for a couple of hours." His hand lingered on her leg as his fingers drummed lightly on her bare skin.
She turned to him and smiled. "That's true. You know I never did ask you about your day."
He ran his free hand over his face. "Not nearly as bad as yours, but I don't know how much longer I can be partnered with Drew. He's not the brightest kid. I really don't know how he made it out of the academy."
Michonne patted his hand. "You poor thing. When's Shane coming back?"
"Another six weeks at least. That is if the doctor agrees." He shook his head and looked up at the ceiling. "I don't what possessed him to go surfing. I told him we were country boys. We don't do well on the water."
Michonne laughed. "You know he was trying to impress that new 20-something girlfriend of his. And now he has a broken leg."
"Yeah, well he owes me we he gets back. I have no sympathy. Breakfast and lunch is on him the rest of the year."
Michonne smiled and shook her head at him. "Kicking your best friend while he's down. Not good, Grimes."
He smirked at her. "If you had to spend hours and hours in that squad car with Drew then you'd understand."
She rubbed her foot up and down his leg. "Aww my poor officer." She leaned in to kiss him.
He licked his lips when they pulled away from each other; still trying to taste her. "So are you ready to talk about that thing now?" he asked.
She sighed. "I spent so much time, money, and energy getting my law degree. Doesn't seem right to just discard it."
He intertwined their fingers together. "But you don't enjoy it anymore, and that job is slowly killing your spirit."
"I know, but thinking about changing careers at this point in life is a little daunting."
"I get it, but your happiness is the most important thing and we both know what would make you happy."
"I could be an aerobics instructor."
"You hate aerobics and think all the instructors at your gym are Stepford Wives."
"I could work at Hal's Pizzeria. My homemade pizza is pretty good."
"You'd spell like cheese all day."
"I could be a zoologist. I like animals."
"You might have to deal with frogs. You don't like frogs."
She sighed. "Or I could just quit the firm and write that book I've been dreaming of doing since college."
He grinned at her. "Or that. You could do that."
She put her face in her hands and groaned. "But what if it's a mistake? Just a pipe dream? Who knows how long it will take me or if it'll be any good. We may have to cut significantly into our savings to pay the bills."
"We won't starve, and Carl's college fund is secure." He pushed the popcorn bowl to the side and pulled her into his arms. "And you are a brilliant writer. The book will be amazing."
"What about the baby we were planning on conceiving in the near future?"
"We'll put it off a little longer."
"But you're no spring chicken. How long can we put it off?"
"Hey!"
Michonne giggled and laid her head on his chest. "You're still sexy though."
He removed her hair tie and twirled a finger around her dreads as they cascaded down her back. "Only because I have you by my side."
She kissed his chest. "I'm really going to quit my job to write a book," she said in awe. She looked up at him. "Are we crazy for even considering this?"
He smiled down at her. "Maybe a little, but you're still going to do it. And it's going to be a bestseller. Then your old man husband can retire and live the good life."
She giggled again, jumped onto his lap, and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I love you."
His smile and eyes shone with the love he had for her. He ran his hands under her tank top. "I love you too." He laid her down on the couch and moved on top of her. "Now if you're planning on having any sex scenes in the book I'm willing to help with any inspiration you may need."
