Chapter 21:

Michonne felt a horrible atmosphere when she awoke in the house that morning. She had heard Rick's mother shouting at his father the night before, and didn't leave his room after their confrontation. She didn't know how to behave in a situation such as that one.

She couldn't get read on Rick either. She knew he was upset it all, but he wasn't even showing her that.

She had just had a shower and made her way back to her room, when she found him sitting on her bed, his elbows on his knees as he stared off in to space. She closed the door behind her and approached him with caution.

"What's wrong?", She asked gently as she joined him on the bed.

He shook his head, though he didn't look at her, "I'm just, I'm so damn confused right now…"

"I think that's normal… even I'm confused"

"When he asked us if we were going out yesterday… I didn't think anythan' of it? I just thought… he's my dad he's asking… but he really wanted to know where we'd be so didn't run in to us…"

She gazed at him as he spoke, not entirely sure if she should say anything just yet.

"All those times… he'd ask me stuff like that and I'm thinking… was the what he's been doing? I thought he was just showing an interest but… he was really just trying to cheat in peace…", He squinted at the wall in front of him, "I know they've always been lenient with me...I know my mom was because she was hardly around any way but… I don't know if he was because he was guilty for what he was doing or if he just didn't care, he had another life that he was interested in…"

She sighed, resting her hand on his thigh.

"And Mrs Niedermeyer… no wonder she let me get away with so much shit…", He shook his head in disbelief.

"I'm sorry Rick…", She whispered, laying her head on his shoulder, "It sucks…"

"It does… it really does…", He huffed as he finally looked towards her, "I don't think he loved my mom. He said it but… how can you do that to someone you love? I'd never do anything… I couldn't even dream of being with anyone else but you"

Her heart sighed at his words, "Me neither"

"Really?"

Her brows knitted together as she sat up to look at him, "Of course not, Rick?"

He bit his lip as looked down at her with tired eyes.

"I love you. A lot. More than candy"

He smirked, "Well, more than candy, huh?"

"Way more", She smiled as she nudged him.

"That smile of yours", He grinned as he sat up straight. He rested his hand on the base of her neck as he kissed her, brushing his lips against hers.

"Rick… I have work", She urged, attempting to pull away from him but failing miserably.

"We got a little time for some fun", He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at her, "If you go on top, I won't last long anyway"

She giggled as she tried to stand up, but he tugged her towel away, making her yelp in surprise, "Rick!"

"Yes?", his eyes roamed her body as he sat back and pulled his sweatpants down, his erection springing to life.

She frowned down at his member.

"I'm always ready for you", He winked, "Come take seat"

She didn't know who was worse out of the two of them. While it seemed he didn't have to do anything to turn her on, he was indeed always ready for her.

After gyrating her heat against his length and coating him in her passion, she lifted herself off his lap to slip him inside. She swallowed him whole, resting her hands on his knees as she readied herself.

He laid back on the bed, propping his head up with a pillow, "I definitely won't last long"

She brought her feet up on the bed, planting them flat on the mattress. She began to grind on him, rocking her hips back and forth while he gripped her ankles. He felt sensational.

"Where the hell…", He breathed out, "Did you learn this?"

She gave him a half-hearted chuckle, more engrossed in how he felt than what he was saying. Riding him was becoming one of her favourite things to do, and as she discovered from their prom night, she was good at it.

Getting so wrapped up in the moment, she slipped her hand down to her clit and began to rub herself feverishly as she bounced on his shaft.

He groaned beneath her, "This isn't fair"

She felt a familiar tension building with in her, so she shifted her position, leaning forward and resting her hands on his chest. She swirled her hips as she engulfed him, and the new feeling from the new position left her speechless.

She knew Rick was ready to come, as his grip tightened and he breathed out curse words through his gritted teeth. She picked up the pace, bobbing up and down like her life depended on it and his hips soon came up to meet hers. He bit his lip as he emptied himself within her and watching him find his release always excited her even more, so much so that she could feel herself ready to shatter around him, and if there hadn't been a knock at the door, she would have.

"Michonne?"

She froze in horror at the sound of Frank's voice. She tried to lift herself off of Rick but he grabbed hold of her hips and held her down. She looked at him like he was completely inside.

Rick frowned at the door, "What?"

Her jaw dropped open as her eyes bulged.

"Rick?"

"Can we help you?", His tone was cutting and Michonne felt for him, but she couldn't think of a more inappropriate time for him to punish his father.

"I'd like to speak to Michonne before she leaves"

"What for-"

"Okay Frank! That's no problem I'll be down in five!", She called back, covering Rick's mouth with her hand.

"Alright then, thank you"

She exhaled as she heard his footsteps walk away from the door, "What the hell Rick?"

"What does he want to talk to you about?", He pulled a face at her, "You're my girlfriend, my business-"

"I'll find out once you let me off!", She hissed at him.

"You haven't come yet", He shrugged.

She sighed down at him, "I think the moments gone"

His eyes dropped to between her legs, "I can bring it back"

She was ready to protest, but once his thumb found her clit, she was at a loss for words again.

…

"I know you probably feel like you're in an awkward position right now and I'm sorry for that, I've made some terrible mistakes that's torn my family apart and I don't know if I can fix this…"

Michonne sat staring at Frank, feeling unsure of what to say for a second time that morning.

"I'll be staying elsewhere soon, but I'd hope we'd still be able to catch up as I really do see you as the daughter I've never had, and I know Rick wouldn't like that and I don't blame him, but maybe one day he'd want the same for he and I…"

She nodded at the man's request, "I… I wouldn't mind that Frank"

He gave her a sad smile, "I do hope I can fix all this… but I guess I just have to give them space right about now"

"Yeah… it's still raw so, they both just need room to calm down on their own"

He nodded in agreement, his eyes darting around the living room, "Yeah… well I don't want to keep you"

They both stood up at the same time, and he held out his arms for a hug. She fell in to his embrace, feeling a little guilty about her relationship with him, as she knew Rick wouldn't like it developing any further.

"Cha-Cha!"

They broke apart to see Rick stood by the front door, scowling at his father. Michonne held back a groan as she picked up her bag and waved to Frank. Rick opened the door as she quickly walked over to him, and the two of them left the home.

"What did he want?"

She shielded her eyes from the morning sun while they walked to his car, "He just… he just apologised, wanted to make sure things between us didn't change…"

He scoffed, "Well he should have thought about that before he cheated"

Michonne looked over at Rick nervously.

He raised an eyebrow at her, "What is it?"

She made her way around the vehicle, "He asked if we could still catch up…"

Rick looked at her, completely mortified, "You told him to fuck off right?"

"You know I wouldn't say that Rick!", She countered.

He was shaking his head when he stopped, his gaze jumping behind her, "Get in the car"

She looked over her shoulder, and saw what distracted him; her parents were stood in their front yard, both ready to go to work. She huffed, yanking open the passenger door and throwing herself in the seat. The last thing she needed was her parents witnessing them arguing, as she knew they would try to use it against her somehow.

"Why would you still talk to him?", Rick probed as he pulled out of the driveway.

"Rick, please understand where I fall in all of this-"

"I get it, you're in a tough spot, but you don't make it tougher by talking to him", He snorted dismissively.

"I can't just stop talking to him because of what he did, If it was vice versa I wouldn't stop talking to your mom either, they've done a lot for me and I appreciate them taking me in-"

"You don't owe him anythan'-"

"Yes I do!"

"That's my debt, not yours, you moving in was my idea, it was my request-"

"But they didn't have to! That's the point, Rick!"

"So that's going to be your answer to everythan'? You're gonna hold that over your head for the rest of your life?"

She groaned as she closed her eyes, "I don't want to talk about this anymore"

He shook his head as he looked out the windshield, "But you're willing to talk to him"

She squinted as she looked at the side of his face, "You're being ridiculous"

"Oh well", He shrugged, clenching his jaw.

She rolled her eyes as she looked out the passenger window. She knew he was still very angry at it all, but she wished he wouldn't take it out on her. The rest of the journey was made in silence, until they arrived at her store.

"I'm gonna get you the… thang for the thang. I'll come by on your break"

She mumbled an okay as she opened the car door, ready to leave when he took her by her arm.

"I really don't want us to argue about my parents"

"I know", She sighed, staring out in to the parking lot, "I've got to go, and I'm meeting Lori across the street for lunch so… try to come before then"

"Lori? What for?"

"We didn't get a chance to talk…"

He winced as he freed her, "Alright"

"Bye"

…

Michonne's knee bounced as she watched Lori walk towards her in the cafe. She didn't know why she felt so nervous to talk to her, but she knew she had to get over it fast.

"Hey", Lori sat down quickly, tucking her bag behind her on the seat.

"Hey", Michonne greeted back.

"Was everything okay with… you know… and his dad?"

She nodded as she prepared to lie, "Yeah… just a little misunderstanding"

"Oh okay…", Lori sighed, her hands fidgeting, "Should I just start from the beginning?"

"Please", Michonne agreed.

"Well, it was… I don't know, we were talking and I was just babbling on, and he moved and I just leaned in and… I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me…"

Michonne scratched at the wooden table with her index finger, "Do you like him?"

Lori's mouth opened and closed as a few times, before she finally answered, "I don't think I like him… I think I like the idea of him?"

Michonne frowned at her answer.

"I mean… I like how he treats you… he's like this complete jerk to everyone else but, he worships the ground you walk on and I guess that's what I want, but I don't like him… and I'm sorry I've made our friendship weird", Lori leant forward on the table and held her hands, "You're one of my best friends and I don't want that to ever change, and I will apologise to Rick again if you want"

Michonne shook her head, "No don't do that…"

"I saw him run from me yesterday?"

Michonne squinted past her, "Yeah… he just thinks it's best that you two-"

"Oh god, does he think I'm gonna try to kiss him again?", Lori let go of her hands as she sat back with wide eyes.

Michonne almost chuckled, "No, he just doesn't want to make it anymore awkward…"

"Great", Lori sighed, "Well, I guess it's a good think I'm going abstinence camp right?"

This time she did chuckle, "Yeah, I guess it is"

Lori smiled at her first only a moment, before looking down at the table, "I have made things weird haven't I?"

"Yeah", She agreed, her eyes roaming around them, "I don't want to have to worry about things like that Lori… I've always been able to trust you and this… it makes me really uncomfortable"

Lori nodded sadly, "I don't blame you, but I really am sorry"

"I know you are...We'll just see how things go, I guess?"

Lori nodded enthusiastically, "Yeah let's do that"

She didn't know what to expect from her relationship with Lori from that stage. While she did believe that she was sorry for what she had done, she wasn't sure she completely believe that she didn't like Rick. She didn't want to have to keep her friend at arm's length, but unable for her relationship with Rick to work, she'd have to.

She had lunch with Lori and left to go back to work, when she saw Rick's car pull in to the parking lot, followed by Shane's. She hoped he managed to get her the emergency contraception, as they had unprotected sex earlier that day.

He stayed in his car while Daryl got out, Shane and Glenn doing the same. She greeted them all with a wave.

"Hey Michonne, do you know where the security cameras are in the store?", Glenn asked as she approached the vehicle.

She frowned at him, "Uh… not really but I could find out...Why?"

His eyes darted around, "No reason"

She narrowed her eyes at him while she opened the passenger door.

Rick leaned over to the glove compartment and took out the small purple box and handed it to her, "The lady said that's the best one…"

She nodded as she took it out the box.

"How'd it go with Lori?", He queried, handing her an almost empty bottle of water.

She sighed, "Pretty good...I mean… we talked about it"

He nodded as he watched her take the tablet and swallow the last bit of water, "What did she say?"

"She likes the idea if you. Not you"

He frowned at her, "That's what she said?"

"Yeah. Why?"

He shook his head as he looked out the windshield, "Just weird. She's just weird"

She huffed as she sat back in her seat, "What are you planning to do at the store?"

He raised his eyebrow as he looked at her, "Nothing"

"Tell me, Rick"

He shrugged, "I'm innocent"

She shook her head as she looked at her watch, "I have to get going"

"Alright", He took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles, "No Grimes babies for a while"

"Your timing", She smirked as she watched him.

"I was thinking about names today"

Her eyebrows shot up, "Why?"

"I was just thinking. Don't you think about stuff like that?"

"Nope!", She opened the car door and slipped out, "And I don't think you should be either"

"You're no fun Cha-Cha!", He pouted.

She made her way in to the store to prepare for the second half of her shift. Monday afternoons weren't that busy in the grocery store, so she could get away with hanging around at the back. She was almost near the double doors when she collided with someone who was coming around the corner. To her dismay, it was Jessie.

"Oh, hey, you work here?", Jessie asked as she tilted her head.

She gave her a tight smile, "Yeah I do. Sorry I have to go-"

"Oh hey, don't be like that, I don't mean any harm, I know we've gotten off on the wrong foot before but really I'm on your side"

Michonne blinked at her.

"Look, we've all been wronged by Rick one way or another, and it's really our own fault because we know he sleeps around-"

Her face contorted in confusion, "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about the fact that he and Lori made out. It was completely messed up and they shouldn't have done that to you-"

"Jessie, I already know what happened there-"

"Oh let me guess, he told you about it and said she kissed him right? No. She was standing there telling him how much she's liked him since like the ninety grade, and he leaned forward and kissed her and they made out. I know I'm not the only person that saw it happen"

Michonne stared at her.

"He's a dog. He's used to kissing who he wants and fucking who he wants, so you can't really expect him to sit and around and twiddle his thumbs when you're not around, right?"

Michonne stared at her, "Goodbye Jessie"

She stepped past the other girl, feeling a strange. She believed Rick, and she almost believed Lori, but Jessie's story actually made more sense. Neither Rick or Lori had told her what they were talking about when she kissed him, and it would seem plausible that Lori was declaring her liking for him before she kissed him. And it didn't help that Jessie said she wasn't the only person that saw.

Michonne felt sick to her stomach the more she thought about it, and this was turning out to be something she couldn't easily forget.