"I could not tell you if I loved you the first moment I saw you, or if it was the second or third or fourth. But I remember the first moment I looked at you walking toward me and realized that somehow the rest of the world seemed to vanish when I was with you."
― Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Prince
XXXXX
"If a man is serious he claims you. He ain't ashamed to do it. He will say it loud and he will say it proud."
"I have never felt so insecure in my life." Michonne admitted to her Granny on the outdoor patio of her home.
"I have no idea why? You got a career. You got your own means to an end. I have no idea how a man can make you feel that way unless there is something you ain't telling me. There is more to your story."
"I know it's silly but I feel like every woman, every white woman is my competition. He's only been with white women Granny."
"For sex...He's with you because he is in love with you. How can any woman compete with that?"
"What will happen when the in love fades?"
"You better hope the in love fades quick. Love is what holds two people together. The ups and down. The struggles and successes. In love makes things look easy. Roses...and you hate roses. Love makes things worth fighting for."
"I am the first person he's dated since high school." Michonne shared a part of Rick with her Granny.
"And his last. He's going to marry you Michonne. Trust me when I tell you. You are a strong woman, aint too many men out there that is comfortable with that side of us. I think that is what Rick likes the most about you. You don't need him. You complement him. He's a very successful business man and you are a very successful attorney. Richard needs strength from a partner because there may come a time he may not be able to hold it down or be 100 but if he got you by his side, it balances it all out and vice versa. When you are no longer in love there are no breaks, it is work, and hopefully the labor brings joy in all forms you two decide to share together."
"What has he told you?"
"Never mind what he told me." Granny Mabel waved her hand in the air as if she was swatting away a pesky fly.
"But you told him about Mike leaving me at the Alter." Michonne's tone indicated that she was not very happy that her Granny shared that information.
"That was the must vulnerable you ever been and the most vulnerable he will ever know about."
XXXX
Rick: I really would like you to attend.
Michonne: I have never been on a Yacht before.
Rick: Is that a yes?
Michonne: If I get an official invite. Yes.
Rick: I will snag one from Shane. He hands them out. I have no idea who he invites but I will have a clue about the one that I invited. Smiling yet?
Michonne: You have to give me an invitation first and then...
Rick: Are you smiling or not?
Michonne: I am.
XXXX
Michonne dialed Rick from her house phone because her cellphone conveniently died in the middle of texting.
"Okay, you didn't tell me to leave."
"Are we still just fucking around, Michonne?" Rick asked.
"What are you really angry about? I can hear the music. Did you forget you are having a party on your Yacht or you just cranky when you wake up?"
"Here are my parameters Michonne. I want to spend as much time as I can with you. What ever it is, doing whatever, I don't care. I think I may enjoy cuddling with you and we could have done that if you didn't just take off."
"Cuddling?"
"I didn't tell you to leave. I would ask you but I have no idea why I would do either."
"Seriously, you are having a party."
"I seriously left it."
"Where are you?"
"Outside your front door. I know where you live. I have your home number...now... It seriously can't get any better than this with you can it? If it can I'm done in for sure."
"You are so silly. I am not dressed to go anywhere with you tonight. I'm in sweats." Michonne was walking from the back of her house where her master bedroom was located to get to the front door as she spoke to Rick on her cordless house phone.
"You left the house barely dressed and sweats is a no, no?"
"Karl the designer says a woman in sweats is a woman who has given up. Paraphrasing."
Michonne opened her door to see Rick standing there. He had put his phone away. Michonne stepped aside inviting him in.
"Take your shoes off here."
Rick was surprised.
"Granny knows I have a no shoe policy in my home when you were here for breakfast. She was trying to prove a point that I won't die. It almost killed me the scrubbing I had to do. Take your shoes off here and never under any circumstances walk through my house with shoes."
"Really?"
"I don't have people here. It's a space that I can control. I am sharing this with you. I am particular."
"Granny said..."
"I can just imagine what my Granny told you about me." Michonne wore a half smile.
Rick kicked off his loafers and followed Michonne to the back of her home where her Master bedroom was located.
XXXX
Granny didn't know what to think when she saw the brown loafers by the front door the next morning. They certainly didn't belong to Michonne who only wore designer heels with a rare flat here and there and Nike running shoes on the treadmill. Granny kicked the shoe to the side with her house slippers to see the size.
"Can't get any better than that." Granny remarked aloud as she reached to hold her glasses from falling off the tip of her nose.
"I have an extra toothbrush." Michonne opened the package and handed Rick a blue toothbrush.
Rick reached for her spearmint and baking soda toothpaste and they both began to brush what seemed in unison. Rick's piercing blue eyes meeting the soft deep brown of hers in the mirror as they stood at the double bowled sinks.
"Do you like kids?"
"What?" Michonne hurried and spit. She waited for Rick to finish spitting and rinsing his mouth out before she handed him a towel.
"Maggie is having a baby shower. It's today. I've been invited. Have absolutely no idea why."
"Oh, shit! I forgot! I mean, I didn't forget...I have to find a gift." Michonne hurriedly began to move about inside her closet.
"We will go to my place, first. I need to take a hot shower Michonne and a fresh change of clothes. It is not fair that you can be fresh and I still feel like yesterday."
"Well you did sleep in your clothes."
"That was just in case your Granny came in."
"My Granny knows better than barging in my room. This is my house. If I want company, I will have company." Michonne's closet was the size of a bedroom. Highly organized and color arranged. She had a dedicated shoe shelf collection. Rick peered from the doorway and watched her put her self together.
"You never answered my question?"
"What's that?"
"Do you like kids?"
"I am not really around them."
"Do you see yourself with children one day? Having a kid? Planning baby showers?"
"I don't think I would recognize that version of me."
Rick was silent as he watched the woman that caused him to think about that version of Michonne. He contemplated what that version would look like for a moment as he leaned against the doorway of her closet still holding his rinsed off tooth brush and the towel he dried his mouth off with.
"You are lost in thought over there. What gives?"
"I was just wondering why would I want to attend a baby shower and now I find myself intrigued by the idea."
