There's breath—
Quick pants born from shock
As the blood begins to pool.
It's everywhere, clinging in the air to the point
Where you can taste it.
Surrounded in red.
Surrounded in red…

. . . . . .

Two Weeks Earlier

"You're looking quite scruffy," Maggie commented. She and Rick were sitting on a couple of bleach blankets under an umbrella, the baby on her shoulder. Michonne and Glenn were walking along the water, quietly talking.

Rick shrugged. "It's the weekend. Besides, Michonne likes it.

Maggie frowned. "I thought she preferred clean shaven."

Rick nodded. "Oh, she does. But scruff can have its advantages," Rick said, recalling how Michonne would moan whenever his stubble attacked the sensitive flesh of her neck—her spot—heightening the nibbling of his teeth.

"Hmm. You know, they made out once," Maggie said casually.

Rick turned and looked at Maggie in confusion. "What?"

Maggie smiled, getting a bottle out of the cooler. "Seventh grade. Spin the bottle. Glenn told me. We all grew up together, but Michonne and Glenn were a grade ahead of me and Sasha."

"Ah. Grade school romance, then?"

"No, just grade school fun, I guess. They've been best friends for a long time. Michonne said it was mostly weird. I'm glad it was."

Rick nodded. "When did you and Glenn get together?"

"Off and on through high school. And college. Mostly on, though. I knew the day I saw him there wasn't anyone else, and I was right." Maggie looked at him. "Know the feeling?"

Rick smiled. "Yeah. I know it well."

The baby began to fuss, and Maggie placed the bottle to her lips.

"Let me," Rick said, reaching his hands out. Maggie handed Josie over, along with the bottle. "Been awhile since I held one of these," Rick mused.

"In about five more months, you'll have your own bundle," Maggie said.

"I'm ready," Rick said, staring down at the baby, wondering what his would look like. Silently he hoped it was a girl with Michonne's eyes. "A few bundles, if she'll let me."

Maggie playfully shoved his shoulder. "Rick Grimes, you sly dog."

Rick chuckled. "I can't wait."

. . . . . .

"You and Sasha still not talking?" Glenn asked, pausing as the waves of water washed over his bare feet. Michonne sighed, looking towards the horizon.

"No," she said simply.

"It's been two weeks. You guys are like children with this silent treatment crap," Glenn said.

"It's not me who's acting like a child…"

"Yeah," Glenn agreed. "Sasha can be…stubborn."

"Understatement of the decade."

"How are you and Rick?" he asked.

Michonne smiled slowly, warmly. She looked at Glenn. "Wonderful. Seems like a dream, almost." She looked over to where Rick and Maggie were sitting, watching as he fed Josie with ease and care. Michonne downright beamed at the sight, knowing without doubt what an amazing father to their child he would be. "He's a good man, Glenn. I used to be afraid. Wondering if this was the right thing, or…But I look at him, and it's as if I've always known him. I know him. He's it. If the world stopped tomorrow, I'm glad I got to feel this feeling."

Glenn smiled at her, tapping her arm. "Come on. Been waiting to eat some of those chocolate covered strawberries you brought."

. . . . . .

"The milk chocolate, or the white chocolate?" Michonne asked Rick.

"Milk," he said. Michonne grabbed one of the milk chocolate covered strawberries from the box, and held it to his mouth. The way he bit into it was downright suggestive.

"Damn, Rick. You keep doing that, we're gonna have to put you to work on a corner," Maggie joked.

Glenn rolled his eyes. "Can we attempt to keep this PG-13? There is a kid, here."

Michonne smirked, then kissed Rick. He grabbed a white chocolate strawberry, then held it to her mouth. "She's too young to get the joke. She'll be okay," she said, biting into Rick's offering.

Glenn frowned. "I feel like I walked in on something. God, is that what we were like?" he asked Maggie.

"The honeymoon phase. Let them enjoy it. For one day, it'll be a memory," Maggie said.

Glenn shrugged. "I dunno. It makes a comeback. Harder with a baby, but…"

Michonne looked at both of them, her eyes knowing. "Trust me when I say that Rick and I will find a way."

. . . . . .

Michonne and Rick held hands as he drove back to town to Carol's house. She leaned back against the seat, staring at him quietly. He kept his eyes on the road, but smiled, knowing she was looking.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing. Just…you," she said, letting his hand go, moving it to his jean-clad thigh, letting it travel; letting it wander.

Rick swallowed. "…just me, what?" he asked quietly.

With feather-light pressure, she touched his crotch, pressing more firmly with each passing stroke.

"Pull over," she demanded.

"Someone might see," he marginally protested.

Michonne smirked, unzipping his pants. "They won't see me," she said coyly.

"You don't have to—"

"I know," she said, scooting down low. "Now shut up," she said, her voice flirtatious.

Rick obeyed, letting Michonne take him wherever she wanted to go.

. . . . . .

"So glad you two could make it," Carol greeted, giving them both a hug and a kiss. "Come on in."

Carol led them to the dining room where the table was set, with Morgan, Sophia and Duane already seated.

"Hey, Morgan. Hey niece and nephew," Rick said with a grin. Sophia and Duane both got up, giving him a hug. "Jesus, Duane, what are you eating at U of I? I swear you've grown more since I last saw you," Rick said.

"I don't know, but I only grew one inch, Unc," Duane said with a grin.

"You keeping an eye on him out there, Sophia?" Rick asked.

"Of course. Someone's gotta, right?" Sophia looked at Michonne, waiting.

"Damn, my manners. You two haven't met Michonne yet."

"So you're my new aunt," Sophia said with a smile.

"Sophia, don't be sassy," Morgan chastised.

She frowned at him in confusion.

"I was serious."

"We're together, yes," Rick said. "You can just call her Michonne." He looked at her for confirmation. She nodded.

"Nice to meet you—both of you," Michonne said, sticking her hand out for them to shake.

"Uncle Rick's got taste. Good job," Duane said to Rick with a wink.

"She's more than just her looks," Rick said, while Michonne blushed.

"Of course she is," Carol said. "My brother always had taste, but it appears he now has sense," Carol said with a smirk.

. . . . . .

Dinner went well—conversation was amicable, and everyone adored Michonne. Though Rick wasn't surprised. As they sat side by side at the dinner table, eating Carol's homemade pumpkin pie and vanilla ice cream, Rick took her hand underneath the table, interlacing their fingers. He looked over at her, and she looked back.

'We'll have this, too,' his eyes said.

She smiled at him. 'I know. I can't wait.'