A/N: Happy New Year, Dear Readers. Thanks for the tremendous feedback on the previous chappie. I love you all. Let us check on our faves right now.

The heat inside of the small room was almost stifling, yet the young lovers paid it no mind. They were currently occupied. Rick collapsed in a heap on top of Michonne as his orgasm washed over him. He rested his head near the base of her neck and breathed heavily as the culmination of his exertions filled the latex. Michonne stroked his damp hair and waited for him to withdraw himself. Though she had not reached completion, she was happy to be with him.

"Did you finish?" he asked, suddenly concerned with her pleasure.

She shrugged, and gave him a little smile as she glanced up at him.

"Michonne?" he asked. "Did you?"

She shook her head and said, "Not this time."

Rick sighed and then shifted. He withdrew himself and then slid down the bed and parted her thighs.

"What're you doin'?" she asked, leaning up on her elbows and watching as his head dipped low between her legs.

Rick met her gaze and said, "Shhh. Just lay back and open your legs for me."

That directive, delivered in his accent, caused her entire body to pulse. She did as he asked and laid down. He positioned himself so that the back of her legs were resting on his shoulders, and his face was near the meeting of her thighs. Michonne interlocked her fingers and placed them over her tummy. She stared up at the ceiling and wondered what he was doing down there. Suddenly, she felt Rick's mouth kissing her softly where his hardness had just been. The feeling was foreign, and caused her to squirm a bit and let out a little squeak. Rick stopped and lifted his head.

"You okay?" he asked. "You want me to stop?"

She bit her bottom lip, and said, "I'm good. Please, keep doing that."

Needing no further encouragement, Rick brought his lips and tongue back to her center and went about bringing Michonne to her climax. They were celebrating the good news that she was to stay for the rest of the summer. They were also getting closer, and closer. The least he could do, he surmised, was give her the same physical pleasure that he had just felt. He had never kissed her down there before, and was not even sure he was doing it correctly, yet he persisted; he even enjoyed it. Soon, his self-doubt dissipated when Michonne's hips bucked, and she threaded her fingers through his curls before whispering his name.

xXxXx

The solitary candle burned softly in the corner of the room. The sated pair lay entwined on the bed; the warmth of the Georgian night did nothing to extinguish their desire for tactile comfort. Rick laid on his back, and Michonne draped an arm over his abdomen; her head found a favorite place resting against his bare chest. They lay in silence, unable to stop touching one another and smiling to themselves.

"Did your dad get home safe?" Rick finally asked as he smoothed Michonne's hair down.

"Yeah," she replied. "It's not that far away, really."

"That's good," Rick offered. "I kind o' wish I could've gotten the chance to get to know him."

"Uh, nope," said Michonne with a little chortle. "Awkward."

"Ya think so?"

"Yes," she said. "Too weird. Besides, fathers and boyfriends are probably not meant to get along. There's some rule somewhere that forbids it or whatever."

Rick smiled and shook his head, "Ain't no such thing. We'd get on just fine, if he gave me a chance."

"I think you would, too," Michonne agreed. "Everyone loves you."

"Yeah?" he asked playfully.

"Yup," she answered. "You're just that type of guy. Sweet and funny and kind. If my dad did get to know you, he'd love you, too."

Rick gave her a sugary smile and brought his lips to meet hers. The couple shared a slow, languid kiss. When they drew apart, he stared into eyes, before caressing her face. She smiled at him once more, completely enamoured, and feeling safe in his embrace.

"You know," he started. "Even though you're only here for the summer, you can always come back to visit."

"I know," she replied.

"And no matter where you end up, I'll always be here," he proffered.

She searched his gaze and saw a hint of sadness. She knew how badly he wanted to spread his wings and get away from King County. She wanted that for him, too. Yet, somewhere deep inside, she selfishly wished that he would remain in the small town. That she could come back to see him whenever she wanted. That he would always be there, just waiting for her. Soon, guilt from her private thoughts crept in. In all of this, she was concerned with her own feelings firstly; and maybe she had that right, considering all that she had been through. Still, as the young man that she loved promised he would always be there for her, she felt bad for him. She could go home, continue her life, and then return and he would be waiting. It dawned on her she was, unwittingly, putting added pressure on Rick, just like his family did. He was the person that supported everyone else; when did anyone actually do what was best for him? Michonne sighed, and then sat up; Rick mirrored her.

"You don't have to always be here," she said softly.

"What?" he asked, somewhat confused. "Why wouldn't I be? I love you, Michonne. I'll be here for you…"

"That's not what I meant," she countered. "I meant you don't have to stay in this place."

He tilted his head to the side and knit his brow.

"I love that you'll be here for me when I come back to visit," she smiled, taking hold of his hands. "But I don't want that to be your whole life. You should leave the farm. You should travel; see places. Heck, you can start with visiting me!"

He smiled at her, finally understanding what she was saying to him. His heart swelled with so much more love for Michonne. She was sweet, thoughtful, and encouraging.

"When I go home, I still want to be with you," she said. "But I don't want to hold you back."

"You're not holdin' me back," he replied quickly. "I want to wait for you."

"I know," she said, almost sadly. "But I also know that there are things you wanna do. I know you don't wanna stay here forever…"

"But I'll be here if you need me," he replied, as a sinking feeling set in.

"Because you're like, the most amazing guy ever," she offered in earnest. "You have no idea how much you've helped me; how you brought me back. And I know you have things that you want to do in life. I know how much you have to offer the world, Rick. More than what your family's got planned for you; more than…"

"Hey," he said, reaching to cup her face. "There's nothin' more important to me than you."

She smiled, took his hand from her cheek, and then kissed its palm.

"You're the sweetest, Rick," she said. "But promise me, if you get the chance to do something bigger and better than what this place has to offer, you do it. Don't let anything hold you back. Not your family; not me…"

"Michonne…"

"Promise me," she urged, holding his gaze and letting a small, encouraging grin play on her features, even though her eyes were lamenting. "Promise me you'll live your best life."

Rick exhaled. He knew what she was saying. She wanted him to continue to have a life after she was gone. In amidst all of their celebratory lovemaking, they were both keenly aware that she was still going to have to leave him; that summer was drawing closer to its coda. Even with all of their vows to visit, keep in touch, and stay in love, they knew, somewhere deep down, that all things must end. What Michonne was asking of him, right then and there, in that moment, was to accept their inevitable future and to move on, when the occasion called for it.

"I'm livin' my best life right now, here with you," he offered sincerely, his voice cracking a little. "But I get what you're sayin'. And I promise I won't let anything hold me back. I promise. But you gotta swear to me you'll do the same; that you'll keep goin' and live your life, even after you leave this place. I just want you to be happy. Please, swear it to me."

Michonne offered Rick a small, plaintive smile, nodded her head, and then blinked away a tear as she whispered, "I swear."

xXxXx

The red, delicious apple was juicy as Michonne bit into it. She poured cold water from the pitcher, and then placed it back into the fridge. As she walked into the living room, she heard her grandmother end a phone call.

"I'll think about…Shawn, I said I'll think about it. Okay…Yes, and I love you, too."

"You all right?" said Michonne, after Miss Pattie hung up the phone.

"Yes, baby," she said. "Just sortin' thing out with your stubborn uncle."

"It's all good?"

"Yeah," said the old woman. "All good."

"Good," Michonne offered with a smile. "Well, I'm off to bed."

"Okay, sweetheart."

"Love you, Gramma."

"Love you, too," Miss Pattie replied.

With that, Michonne made her way up to her room, placed her glass on the side table, and flopped down on her bed. She took another bite of the apple, and then sorted through the pile of postcards to her left. After choosing one, she got comfortable and began to write.

Mom, I miss you so much. I'm sorry I didn't write to you for a few days. Daddy was here. I know, I should be nicer to him. I do love him & I'm sorry for being selfish. He said I could stay a little while. I'm thankful. I wish you were here. We got on better when you were here. But I'm going to try harder & be better because life goes on, and I have to go on, too.

xXxXx

After a nice, cool shower, Rick made his way down stairs where he found his parents in the kitchen drinking lemonade. His mother asked if he wanted a glass, and he accepted. Sheila was packing away a stack of receipts, while her husband went through a pile of mail. Rick sat at the table with them; he liked it when they were having a quiet moment together.

He watched as his father opened an envelope, read it quickly, and then set it aside. Bills went to his right, letters else to his left; junk mail to the center of the table. The bills stack was higher than the others. He let out an exasperated moan, placed yet another bill to the designated pile, and then tore open another envelope. Inside was a brochure; Gene looked over it and then snorted, tossing it to the middle.

"They got a lot of nerve sendin' these out to people," he scoffed; Rick saw that it was a police academy recruitment brochure. "Especially after those sonsofbitches accused you of beatin' Brett's ass."

Rick nodded his head and drank his lemonade.

"Did I tell you they found out who it was?" Gene asked his son. "Who knocked his ass out?"

"No, sir," Rick replied, suddenly curious about what happened to his father's ex-employee. "Who was it?"

"That red-headed friend o' yours," Gene said. "His own cousin."

"Abe?" asked Rick, absolutely shocked by the information.

"Yeah," said Gene. "I was talkin' to his daddy today. Apparently, Brett's a real asshole when he's been drinkin', and your buddy wasn't havin' it. That Ford boy must have a mean right hook on him, but it'll get him into trouble if he ain't careful and smarter. His old man is sendin' off to ROTC after he's done with high school."

"Abe's going to ROTC?" asked Rick, his eyes wide and mouth slightly agape.

"Yeah," said Gene. "It'll keep him outta trouble. He'll get some skills and an education; discipline, too. It'll be good for him."

Rick nodded his head. Though he was still surprised at the news that his friend had knocked Brett out, he was more shocked by being told Abe was being sent to the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. It was starting already: The next phase of everyone's lives. Somehow, Rick was presently feeling left behind.

Thinking of his own future, Rick glanced down at the pile of bills to his father's right, and let out a sigh. It was a lot of responsibility to for him to follow in his father's footsteps; running the farm would be a lot of work. Work that Rick was not even positive he wanted to continue. He still had time to find real love in the backbreaking labor, he mused; still had time before his father was set to retire.

Gene opened the last envelope, and then placed the bill with the others.

"Here," he said to Rick while gesturing to the pile of junk mail. "Get rid of those before you head on up to bed."

"Yes, sir," said Rick, as he finished off his lemonade.

After rinsing his glass, he bid his parents goodnight, and scooped up the mail to take out to the trash. When he reached the backdoor, Rick flicked through the catalogues and brochures. He eyed the one from the police academy.

Join us! It read in bold lettering that sat under a color photograph of eager looking recruits. Make a difference.

Before stepping outside to throw away the mail, Rick glanced over his shoulder, folded the recruitment brochure, and slipped it into his back pocket. It was not the best option, it was not even one he had considered, but at least it was something to think about for now. Something other than toiling away all day and stacking bills at night.