Chapter 37:

'God dammit, Michonne'

"Why do we have to get all dressed up for dinner?"

Rick glanced at his son as they made their way to the dining room at the bottom of the ship, "I don't know son, we just do"

Carl looked uncomfortable in his shirt, and Rick could empathise with him, as he found it unnecessary to dress up also.

"Why do women take so long to get ready?", Gerald queried with a frown.

"They just do, and if you want to live a long and peaceful life, don't ever ask that question again", Jeffrey sniggered as he judged Rick.

"You got that right", Rick sighed, as the four of them entered the lavish hall.

They were greeted by an older male in a black tuxedo, who proceeded to take their details before leading them over to their table. Rick hated to be in situations like this, and it didn't help that his brother, son and nephew didn't like it either. They all sat fussing with their shirt collars, looking around aimlessly and watching other diners immerse themselves in the fine experience.

"...I heard mom last night"

Rick glanced at his son, then looked back at him with wide eyes when he realised what he had said to him, "What?"

Carl nodded his gaze on one of the many plates in front of him, "I needed the bathroom… and heard her shouting…"

Rick scratched his brow with his thumb, his mouth opening and closing as he struggled to form a sentence.

"I think I get why she's upset… but I think she's being really hard on herself…", Carl looked at him with concerned eyes.

He cleared his throat, "She is. But... trying to get her to see that isn't easy at all"

His son nodded, "So what do we do?"

"...We just have to be there for her… take it all one step at a time", Rick span his wedding band with his thumb as he thought about it, "We'll figure it out"

Carl didn't seem bought by his father's plan of action, but he continued to nod, "Alright".

Watching his son worry about his mother was something that always left Rick beaming with pride. He smiled at the teen, resting his hand on his shoulder, "Sometimes I wonder if you're just too good to be true, son"

"Oh my god, dad", Carl snorted, "Not in public"

Rick's smile fell.

"Daddy! Look at my dress!"

Judith ran up to him at the table, wearing a white dress that had a flowing skirt, which she happily spun around in, "Ain't it pretty?"

"You look absolutely beautiful", Rick grinned, "Like a little ballerina"

"I'm not little anymore", She corrected as she tilted her head at him.

He almost gasped in shock, "You will always be my little girl"

Judith giggled, "I know, Daddy... Can I sit next to you and Carl?"

"Of course you can", Rick moved over a seat, allowing his daughter to sit between he and his son.

Lauren and her parents took their seats on the other side of the large circular table, while Sharon and Donald sat next to them. Michonne arrived with his mother, and Rick tried to appreciate his wife's dress discreetly, but he couldn't take his eyes off her.

"God, I'm so hungry", She huffed, picking up the menu from the table.

"So am I", Rick made sure to use a tone that would catch her attention.

Her eyes crept over to him, and she raised an eyebrow, "Don't."

He raised an eyebrow back at her as his gaze fell to the curve in her back, which was exposed in the black dress she wore.

"Stop it", She warned again.

"I haven't done anythan'...", He shrugged, "Yet."

She looked away from him, crossing her legs beneath the table, and Rick had to resist her for the time being.

"So what do you all think so far?", Donald asked as he looked around the table, holding hands with Sharon.

"It's great", Jeffrey answered first, "I don't think any of us will be able to thank you enough"

"It's true. You didn't have to do this…", Rick began, almost flinching as Michonne tapped his leg under the table, "But we appreciate it. And we're touched that you would wanna do somethan' like this for all of us"

"I agree with everythan' my boys said", Susan chimed, "Thank you both so much"

Donald and Sharon smiled at each other for a brief moment before looking around the table at their family, Donald speaking again, "You're all welcome. We're just glad that we can share this with our families, and we feel so blessed to have found each other"

Rick glanced at Michonne, who was hiding behind her glass of water. He rested his hand on her thigh, hoping that her father's declaration wasn't too much for her to hear.

"We are going to have a great week", Donald finished off, and everyone nodded in agreement.

"I need a whiskey or somethan'...", Rick muttered to himself as he looked over the drinks menu.

"What's whiskey?", Judith probed, her little brows knitting together.

"It's a special drink for daddies", He lied, earning him a nudge from Michonne.

"And Uncle's", Jeffrey added with a chuckle.

"So Rick", Sharon called, "Carolyn just started out at their local police force as a deputy. Maybe you can give her some helpful tips?"

Rick wished he had the drink even sooner, "Oh really?"

Carolyn nodded, putting down her glass of water, "Yeah. It was always something I was interested in so I finally took the dive"

He slowly nodded, "Yeah, well it's not always like it is in the movies… it can be quiet for a long time, then next thang you know-"

"Someone blows up their house and you end up in hospital, or you arrest a couple of creeps for secretly recording you and your family, or your chasing up a narcotics case and you get shot", Michonne gave an innocent smile once she finished listing off Rick's recent experiences, "But otherwise it's really quiet. Right Rick?"

He inhaled until his lungs were at full capacity, "Yeah. That's right"

"I remember a house was blown up in Kings county!", Carolyn's eyes were wide with interest, "You dealt with that?"

"Uh, yeah. Fortunately, nobody was hurt-"

"Pete Anderson", Michonne reminded.

"Fortunately, nobody died", Rick corrected.

"And that narcotics case? Did you get the guy that shot you?", Carolyn questioned.

Rick snarled at the memory, "Yeah, his court case is coming up"

"Oh wow. It sounds more like the movies than you think", She joked, "I was working as a secretary at Carters construction firm and the most exciting thing to happen there was if they got an order messed up!"

"Hey, it may not be exciting but it's still stressful", Carl rebutted, picking up the pitcher of water from the table.

Carolyn waved her hand at him and rolled eyes, "Please, tell me more"

…

"Easy there, Grimes".

Rick grinned at Michonne as he pulled his shirt off, throwing it over his shoulder, "You know what's happening now?"

She stared at him with both hands on her hips, "You're drunk"

"Nope", He shook his head, and almost regretted doing such a thing as it made him dizzy, "Now, we consummate our marriage"

She rolled her eyes at him, pulling her arms out of the sleeves of her dress, "Yeah, we'll see how well that works out"

He unbuttoned his pants, "You think I can't perform like this?"

She smirked, "We'll see"

"Don't challenge me, Michonne"

She tilted her head at him, "I'm challenging you"

His eyebrows shot up, "Really?"

"You heard me, Grimes"

"It's Mr Husband Grimes to you", He pointed a wobbly finger at her.

She threw her head back as she cackled, "Mr Husband Grimes? Really?"

"You heard me", He stepped out of his pants and his boxers, and stood with both hands at his sides as he presented his erection to her, "You ready for this?"

She looked over her shoulder at him, and cackled again, "Oh God"

"Stop all that laughing and come here"

She stepped out of her dress, and folded her arms over her chest as she continued to giggle at him.

Rick frowned at her, "You were naked under your dress this whole time?"

She shrugged, her eyes sailing around the room, "Maybe…"

Rick's shaft throbbed at the thought, "I've never been so mad and happy at the same time"

She covered her mouth as she chuckled at him, "Let's make this interesting"

"Go on…", He raised an eyebrow at her.

"Wherever you catch me is where I'll let you-"

Michonne had barely finished her sentence when she squealed, running out the bedroom, as Rick already was half way around the bed. She sprinted around the breakfast table, barely able to speak as she was in a fit of giggles.

"Rick!... Wait!"

"You better get over here", He grinned from the other side of the table, "I know exactly where I want you"

"Okay, okay…", She appeared to be surrendering, but Rick knew better. She tried to run back towards the bedroom but he was quicker, even in his inebriated state, and he scooped her off the floor by her waist, "Fine! You got me!"

He carried her back to the table, "Don't forget you challenged me"

"Oh boy", She muttered as he sat her down on the surface.

"Hold on", He breathed, hooking his hand at the back of her knee, "Now let's just put this here…"

He aligned himself at her entrance, and slowly pushed the tip in. He then wrapped his hand around her waist and pulled her towards him.

"What are you-"

"You better hold on".

She sighed, lacing one arm around his neck, while the other stayed flat on the table. He thrust within her, and her head rolled back, exposing her neck to him.

"Look at me", He ordered, rocking his hips again to her crotch.

Her head tipped forward and she rested her forehead against his.

"You've been a bad girl", He whispered, his lips brushing against hers, "Haven't you?"

"Yeah", She moaned sensually, causing Rick to involuntarily thrust into her again. A high pitched cry left her and he thrust a third time. He was genuinely hoping to start off slow, but his body had other ideas.

"You like that, huh?", He pumped her, deciding to stick with the pace.

"Oh god, yes!", her nails dug into his shoulder.

He lifted her off the table, allowing him sink even deeper into her. A primal growl left him as he drove in and out of her, and she wrapped both arms around his shoulders to hold on.

"Yes Daddy! Just like that!", She howled, her head rolling back again.

Rick groaned, pulling out of her completely with great sorrow, "God dammit, Michonne"

"What? Why did you stop?", She panted, her head snapping back up.

"I'm trying to make this last, so you need to save all that for the end", He carried her to the bedroom, his chest heaving.

She tittered, giving him a kiss on the cheek as she purred, "Sorry"

Her voice sent a shiver up his spine. He climbed on the bed, and laid on his back, making her straddle him. He brought his knees up, and planted his feet flat on the bed.

She huffed, resting her hand on his chest as she straightened up, slipping herself right back on his length, "You're tired already?"

He raised an eyebrow at her. She began to bounce on him slowly, and his eyes rolled back. He cursed in his mind, trying to find the willpower to continue on. He bit his lip, placing his hands firmly on her hips to stop her.

"Rick…"

He slammed into her, causing her to suck air between her teeth, "This is still my round"

He picked up where he had left off, driving in and out her with pure determination, holding her in place above him. Michonne bit her lips together in an effort to keep quiet but a little whimpers still left her. He only slowed his movements so he could pull her down to lay on top of him.

He pressed his lips against hers as he started to move again, leading her to moan into the kiss. He waited until she lost herself in the mood, before moving his hand further up her thigh. He lubricated his fingers with her passion, and waited until he was about to thrust inside her again to pop the tip of his middle finger in her ass.

"Rick!", She looked down at him with wide eyes, "What is your-"

He knew it was a risky move to do it again, but he slipped his ring finger in too. When both fingers were knuckle deep, He returned to the previous pace, and her back arched as new sounds left her mouth. He had never heard her cry in such desperation, resting on her forearms on either side of his head. He saw the opportunity to drive her insane and he took it, latching on to her nipple with his mouth.

"Oh god! Yes, daddy! Teach this bad girl a lesson!"

Rick was glad when only a matter of seconds later she tightened around his fingers and his shaft, her legs quivering on either side of his torso. He wasn't going to last any further either. She cried out, and Rick's was soon drenched from orgasm. He was sure his load shot into her with the same amount of force as a fire hose.

Neither of them moved for quite some time, and he was sure it was because they couldn't. Rick didn't even dare to open his eyes, he was more than happy to just fall asleep with her on top of him.

"And you challenged me-"

"Quiet".

…

"You excited for the kids club, Judy?", Jeffrey quizzed the little girl, who was sat next to him drinking her apple juice.

She nodded, "Yep. The lady said we get to go swimming today"

"Oh, so we'll see you there"

"Are you going swimming too?"

"Nah, us Grimes men don't like swimming"

Michonne threw her hands up in the air as she looked at Rick with wide eyes. The two of them were sat across from his brother and Daughter at the breakfast table, as the other group members had already came down earlier.

Rick sighed, resting his cup of orange juice back on the coaster, "When have we ever gone swimming for me to have to tell you that?"

"It's like I don't even know you", She hissed, her eyes narrowed at him.

Carl snickered beside his mother, "It's funny because I've never cared for swimming either"

"Me neither", Gerald piped up, wiping his mouth with a napkin.

"Well that's fine. Us Parker girls will have the pool all to ourselves", Michonne grinned at Judith, and the little girl nodded in agreement.

"My daughter's a Grimes, and so are you", Rick reminded sternly.

She snarled at him, "On paper"

"And in every other sense"

She rolled her eyes at him, "Come on, let's go get dressed"

It dawned on Rick that there would be a list of things that he would be uninterested in doing, but Michonne would love to do. He was hoping they wouldn't argue during this trip, but he could foresee many disagreements, all in the near future.

The first starting with her choice of bathing suit. Rick didn't consider himself a prude, and he didn't usually care about Michonne's choice of outfit, as he thought she looked sensational in absolutely anything she wore. He was struggling, however, with the outfits she had picked so far in the vacation.

"Michonne, where the hell is the rest of that?"

She rolled her eyes at him as she pulled on a sheer tunic dress, "It's a bikini, Rick"

"I don't care what it is, why the hell is it so small? I can almost see that magic city that I love to visit-"

Laughter burst from her lips, before she put her hands on her hips, and tilted her head at him, "Stop that! What are you afraid of?"

He groaned, "I don't want some little punk drooling all over you. That's my job"

She sighed, stepping over to him, "Can you relax please? When do I ever get to wear a bikini? Or even a swimsuit?"

He pursed his lips as he looked down at her, "Do you have a swim suit?"

Her brow dropped into a straight line, "I'm wearing this. That's it"

She stepped past him, and his eyes followed her, trailing down her back and stopping at her bikini bottoms, "I'm gonna have to walk behind you-"

"I bet you are!"

They left their suite and met up with the rest of their group in the cabins hallway. His eyes focused on Carter whenever he noticed the man staring at his son. He imagined that he wasn't happy to be around Carl for the trip, and Rick could almost sympathise with him, but Carl was still his son, and he wouldn't allow anyone to intimidate him.

"Daddy, are you going to come swimming with me?", Judith asked as they began their walk to the kids club.

Rick inwardly groaned, "I don't really like swimming sweetie"

Her eyes pleaded with him, "Please?"

He wished he didn't adore the little girl so much that he folded like a napkin when it came to pleasing her, "Alright, we'll go swimming sweetie"

A wide smile spread across her face, "Yes!"

"You never took me swimming", Carl called back over his shoulder.

"Well today's your lucky day, I'm killing two birds with one stone", Rick countered, "You want me to put you on my shoulders too?"

Carl gave him his best unimpressed expression, which almost rivalled Michonne's.

Rick gave his son a teasing grin, "Don't worry, I'll only embarrass you around the three of us this week"

"Me too", Michonne giggled.

Carl shook his head at his parents, "I'll just remember this for the therapy sessions I'm going to need"

"That's fine, just don't go to a guy named Aaron. He doesn't do refunds"

Michonne threw her head back as she cackled, and nothing made Rick happier than to make her laugh that way.

They arrived at the Kids Club entrance, and Rick's good mood was put on the back burner when he saw Ryan at the front desk. The young man only seemed to have eyes Michonne during their little tour the previous day, and naturally, Rick didn't like that at all.

"How are you all doing today?", Ryan greeted with a smile, "I'm just need all the parents to sign the register to say that you dropped off the kids and then they can go right on in; the teenagers meet in the blue meeting room and I'll be taking little Judith to the green room"

Michonne stepped forward to sign the clipboard, while Rick picked up his daughter, "You gonna be a good girl, aren't you?"

She nodded, "Yep! No eye rolling…"

He chuckled at her, "We have to remind mama and Carl about that, don't we?"

"She is precious", Ryan commented as he watched the exchange.

Rick's bared his teeth at the man, "She is."

"Rick, put her down and let her go", Michonne issued after giving Judith a kiss, "Go have fun sweetie"

Rick did as he was told, "Remember, Daddy's not far, so if you're not happy-"

"Then call the police", Judith finished proudly.

"You can't do that here, but you can tell Ryan...", Rick sent the man a warning glance, "And I'll be right over, okay?"

"Okie doke"

He turned to Carl, "The same goes for you. We're not far if you have a problem... And remember, you better behave yourself-"

"No sneaking around", Michonne hissed as she interrupted Rick, "I know you're happy that Lauren's here but that doesn't mean you lose mind-"

"Cause I will help you find it", Rick warned in a dangerously low tone.

Carl's mouth fell open as his eyes darted back and forth between his parents, "Okay?"

"Good. Enjoy yourself, son", He patted the teen on his back.

"Bye, honey", Michonne sang as she kissed his cheek.

Rick held his arm out for his wife, and she took hold of it, "Come on, let's run".

She chortled at him, "Stop it"

"I'm just getting started".