On Saturday morning Michonne's mother woke her up. Michonne shot up and asked, "What's wrong Mom?"
"Your grandmother took a spill. She's in the hospital and I have to go help her with paperwork. I'll be gone for the night, but only if you don't need me. I will stay if you want me to Michonne."
"No, no, go help Nana. Don't worry about me and André. Please go."
"Are you sure 'Chonne?"
"Of course Mom. I want you to go."
"You can have someone over, keep you company."
"Rick?" Michonne asked hopefully.
Her mother became uneasy, "I mean, if he stays over-"
"Mom, I've already gotten pregnant. Once is enough for me."
Her mother chuckled and said, "Okay. Fine. Just don't be stupid again."
"Okay Mom. When is your flight?"
"In like three hours. I need to pack, but I can barely keep my head on straight."
"You pack, and I'll get André ready so that he and I can drive you to the airport. Okay? We will be fine Mom. Nana needs you. I'll call you three times a day."
"I'll only be gone for two days, honey."
"Then expect six phone calls. I'll also expect a phone call when you land."
"When did you get to be so grown-up 'Chonne?"
"Right around the time I had a baby and had to really start thinking about others."
"I love you so much honey. I'll bring you something back from Chicago."
"You don't have to. Now, go pack! I don't want you to miss your flight!"
"Okay, okay, and remember no-"
"Funny business when Rick comes over. I got it. You put me on the pill anyway. What's the big deal?"
"You're right. I just don't like to think about you being an adult."
"Then don't think. Just pack!"
Rick came over later and they sat on the couch together while André napped in Michonne's room. After an hour of watching Orange is the New Black on Netflix, Rick sat up from where he was slouched by Michonne and paused the show.
Michonne protested, "No! We were just about to find out if Alex and Piper were going to do it!"
Rick shook his head, unamused, "We all know they're going to. Let's address the elephant in the room."
"The fact that you just paused my favorite show?"
"No, I'm talking about last night."
"How's that headache?" Michonne asked with a smirk.
"Fine, since you were sweet enough to leave me aspirin. Thank you by the way."
"You're welcome. Is that it? Can we hit play now?"
"Shush," he insisted. "Tell me about the note you left."
"I wrote it to give you a clue. Now," Michonne reached for the remote.
"I think not."
"My house," she answered triumphantly. "My remote. Hand it over."
Rick raised an eyebrow at her and Michonne leaned in and kissed him. She thought he tasted really good, like he'd brushed his teeth just before coming over. After his initial shock Rick pushed back into the kiss, equal to Michonne's enthusiasm. Her hands were on his shoulders, he had one on the small of her back, just above her ass, and the other holding the back of her head. If she thought he would let her get away again, she had another thing coming. As Rick pushed, Michonne wound up on her back and she cradled his waist in between her legs as his kisses strayed away from her lips, towards her neck and down to her collarbone. She enjoyed his mouth, a lot, but she couldn't stomach going any further, not with her baby from another boy in the next room. This is why when Rick moved to unbutton her shirt, she moved her hands from where they had been entangled in his hair, to push against his chest. He pulled back, and looked into her eyes. His own eyes showed Michonne the emotions of lust, confusion, arousal.
He sat back on his heels while Michonne pulled herself off of her back into a sitting position.
"What's wrong?"
Michonne looked at Rick and stated firmly, "I can't screw the man who is not the father of my baby, while my baby is napping, right there. Not yet, Rick. I'm not there."
Rick sighed and nodded, settling down on the couch, far away from Michonne. She groaned and said, "I'm sorry!"
"I'm just separating from you so that I don't make you feel uncomfortable," he muttered, somewhat annoyed.
"You can still sit next to me. You just have to know that we will not be having sex tonight."
"I can deal with that."
"Then get over here and hug me while we find out what's going on with Alex and Piper," Michonne encouraged.
Rick sidled up next to Michonne and the pair laid down together comfortably, as though they had been doing this for years. Rick's arm settled over her waist and Michonne pulled a blanket over them. She hit play on the remote and watched the turmoil at Litchfield play itself out.
After dinner, Rick said, "Why don't we go downtown? André can get some air. We can get some ice cream. It'll be fun. What do you say?"
"Sure," Michonne smiled. "Feel like putting the stroller in my car?"
Rick nodded and stood eagerly while Michonne cleaned André up. Rick was just closing the door on her car when she came outside and locked the door. She buckled André in and settled in the driver's seat. She reached for the gearshift and Rick grabbed her hand and squeezed it. She looked at him and smiled shyly before moving the car into reverse and shooing away his hand. It didn't matter because his hand ultimately wound up rubbing her knee while she drove.
"You really like PDA don't you?" Michonne asked.
"We're not even in public yet," Rick argued.
"Well then, I guess I'm just doomed for you to have your arm around my waist the whole night, aren't I?"
"Maybe," Rick muttered. "Come on, Lori never let me do this stuff. Always brushed me off."
"It's okay, I'm just not used to it. Mike never was affectionate unless we were in bed. Speaking of dead exes?"
"Yeah?"
"Can we not talk about them for a while?"
"Whatever you want baby."
Michonne parked in the communal parking lot and unloaded the stroller while Rick unbuckled André. Rick was grateful for the growing trust she demonstrated for him with her child.
"Ice cream first or last?" Rick asked, strapping André into the stroller.
"Last," Michonne decided. "I want to take him to the park first. He likes the swings my mom tells me."
"You don't know for yourself?"
"When he was smaller, I was afraid to put him in them. My mom did whatever she wanted when she took him and after a while I stopped asking questions. I trust her. Obviously she raised me and I turned out alright."
Rick chuckled and placed his hand on the small of Michonne's back, protectively. She quite liked the security of it all. It was a nice gesture, not too overwhelming, or underwhelming. They walked to the park and left the stroller with all the others. Michonne carried André over to the swing and strapped him in. She pushed him gently and he let out squeals of glee. Seeing and hearing her baby so happy made her grin, and Rick's response to her radiant smile was to smile himself.
A mother came to put her son in the swing next to André, and as was park protocol both mothers told the other how cute their baby was. The other mother continued talking, quite clueless, "I guess the little guy really takes after his mom."
"Oh no," Rick rushed to explain. "I'm not the father."
"Oh," the other mother said, clearly uncomfortable and embarrassed.
Michonne was quick to intervene, "The father didn't want to be around, it's okay."
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I don't know what I'd do without my husband and I'm 28."
"My mom is really amazing," Michonne said simply as though it explained everything.
"That's amazing you have such great support at home. I don't think I caught your name."
"I'm Michonne and this is André," Michonne introduced. "The tall glass of water standing next to me is Rick. And you?"
"I'm Deanna and this is Spencer."
"How old?"
"16 months. And André is?"
"Almost 14 months."
"Is he walking yet?"
"Only when he wants to," Michonne chuckled. "They're so stubborn."
After a little while longer talking to Deanna, it got dark and the two parted ways. Rick walked next to Michonne, hands in his pockets, while she pushed the stroller. At the ice cream place, he ordered a double scoop of chocolate ice cream and Michonne ordered strawberry. She contemplated getting a kiddie serving for André but he was out cold she decided against it. The cashier rang them up and said it would be $3.50 each. While Michonne was stooped below the stroller looking for her wallet, Rick had already pulled his out and paid for both of them. When she stood with an annoyed look on her face he smiled back at her and took her ice cream in his hand, while nodding his head to the door to signal her to head out with the stroller. She begrudgingly agreed and walked with Rick until they reached an unoccupied bench. She applied the brake to the wheels on the stroller so that André didn't roll away.
"It's been an hour and a half and you're already buying things for me?" Michonne asked.
"We do this because we are friends," Rick defended.
"You know I can buy myself ice cream, right?"
"I know you can, but I wanted to."
"You suck."
"I know I'm terribly wicked. I buy my best friend ice cream when she lets me crash at her place all night."
"Shut up," Michonne muttered. "Thank you for the ice cream, Rick, really."
"You're welcome."