AUTHOR'S NOTES: Thank you for reading and thank you to WalkerHarley, Guest, DarylDixon'sLover, NaughtyNicky, malzateb, clariey and Guest for your comments :)

WARNING: Sexual Contents

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Walking Dead or its characters

Apologies in advance for any spelling and grammatical errors. Thoughts in Italics


The Journey

Chapter 49


Rick was standing at the large window staring down at the street, watching people dressed in their best walking past his building making their way towards town to hit the Atlanta nightlife.

It was a pleasantly warm evening. The women were dressed in pretty dresses, showing a little more skin than normal and the men were in loose collared shirts leaving their dinner jackets behind, it was one of those romantic feeling nights. He sees many couples holding hands and stealing kisses every now and again as they walk past. He stands there watching and envies that it was so easy and carefree to be so free with their feelings. It was such a long time ago that he was able to be like that. Be able to express his affections with just a touch, a kiss, a look that said everything.

He exhales from his nose and moves his gaze over the road to the fourth floor of the hotel. Sinéad and Norman had booked into the swanky hotel suite opposite after the exhausted but fun day they'd all had. He lifts his hand up and gives a slow wave as Sinead appeared at the window. She hesitates at first but waves back without smiling and pulls the blind shut. He presses his palm to the glass as it slides down.

Sinéad hasn't forgiven him or Shane yet but she was sticking around a few days to get reacquainted with Beth and Olly. It was pure luck Norman had business in Atlanta and he holds onto the thought they could spend a few evenings together even if it was just sitting in the same room in the company of others not speaking or just sitting at the same dining table eating dinner and asking to pass the salt or pepper. He suspected the conversations would be initiated by Norman and Glenn to keep conversation flowing throughout the evenings to make sure certain topics never popped up but it was better than nothing, he and Shane needed to sit tight, wait and let time do its course. Something he's having to lean to do again, let time do it's wonders.

Thinking of Shane, looking down the street watching him climbing into his jeep, Lilly couldn't have come at the right time. Shane had volunteered to drop Carol and Sophia home before he was dropping Lilly and Meghan to theirs and would return before midnight. Shane really needed time to unwind and Lilly seemed to be able to offer that, cheer him up and allow him to forget his worries even if it was just for a night. Shane needed this - her - Rick thinks to himself. Lilly would be able to give Shane the comfort and companionship just like all those years ago. She was good for Shane back then and she could be now - bring some stability into Shane's life that was lacking and finally give up the playboy persona to settle down like he knew Shane wanted to. The thought was a welcoming thought if what his mind was conjuring up was to ever come true.

Rick rolls his neck back and forth stepping backwards, something squishes beneath his foot. He looks down and a ghost of a smile tugs at the corner side of his lips as he picks up the Frisbee and drops it into the box with the remainder of the equipment from the tournament that took place in the afternoon. It had been a while since he'd participated in such a tournament - Carl's Junior Fun Sports Day three years ago to be precise. The games had been exactly the same and he was sure Carl had organised the day to remind him the fun they used to have; Frisbee in between the knees, hopping over and exchanging it with the next person without using hands on exchange and then dropping the Frisbee into washing basket. That needed skill and he had become rusty.

The Sack Race had caused a lively commotion and the male testosterone present was running high on challenges and wagers. So much so, after the mixed races, the men had a race exclusively for just the men making the women roll their eyes and let them get on with it as they watched them act like barbarians. It felt good to have Douggie and the guys there because he was beginning to feel part of the team. They had accepted him even as crazy as they thought he was when he first rolled up into town forced to join them, they thought he was a neurotic country-hick-cop from the sticks who was going to drag their well-earned names and reputations down into the gutter. He can't help the laugh escape remembering how they all jumped like maniacs forgetting their ages jumping across the grass to the finishing line. It had felt like an eternity ago to have had that much fun with people. He, Shane and the guys from The Sheriff's Department did this annually just for the officers and their families to get together one day out of the whole year, let their hair down and chill out. Today had felt like that with everyone, Carl, Judith, Olly and Beth - his family.

The game that brings a boyish laugh and smile to his lips is the famous Egg and Spoon Race. Shane had skipped to the finish line without breaking into a sweat entertaining the kids and the ladies who all found Shane highly amusing. He had his suspicions, grabbed the egg and tapped it with the spoon. When the shell crumbled off, they all saw a hardboiled egg. Shane's team wasn't disqualified but lost ten points, Glenn was not happy and gave Shane a timeout.

And the finale game had to have been his favourite. It wasn't anything major but because he saw a glimpse of the girl he fell in love with and that sense of humour, wit and the fun that had caught his eye broke through her guarded exterior today. Trying to run balancing holding a tray with a wine glass filled with orange juice and not spilling a drop had Beth declaring to everyone she had spent the past three years training as a waitress for this very moment clicking her knuckles determinedly making everyone laugh especially Carl thinking she was really funny because she looked so focused and seriously in the zone, you'd think she was competing in the Olympics and then she had won her race. She had accepted her prize with grace, elegance and pride and when she looked at the jar, her mouth dropped open and hit the ground when she saw the heavy jar in her arms filled with strawberry jellybeans. Her favourite which had her unscrewing the lid there and then, digging right in along with the kids who had teeth letting out happy noises as they chewed. Seeing Beth so happy enjoying those Jellybeans like she used to made him warm inside and his love double.

Rick opens up the window when he sees the glass fogging up with his heat. He welcomed any breeze that was out there which could enter and ventilate the apartment of the natural air. He could feel and smell the now familiar air of the city he once loathed to find that it wasn't so loathsome anymore. The very first time he stood there at the window in the same position staring down at the street, he had a million doubts and reasons why he should have just turned back around and returned to King County. He had worried he wouldn't like it or fit in with the crazy city life and people, feeling trapped and out of his depth. Knowing he couldn't return back to King County with everything organised and people counting on him, he decided he was just going to put his head down and focus on work. He had never in his wildest dreams imagined he would be spending any of his free time like this with the people who mattered to him.

Feeling a cool and welcome breeze, Rick relishes in it and closes his eyes enjoying the touch to his face. There was nowhere else he would rather be right now than there. His thoughts are abruptly interrupted as he jolts opening his eyes to look down reminding him why. Judith had grabbed hold of his legs hugging them as she hides dressed in her pyjamas. Rick looks up when he hears little panting and shuffling approaching. Olly comes crawling around the corner in colourful stripy shorts and t-shirt squealing excitedly looking at Judith, he makes his way over.

"Dadddddy…Daddddy!" Judith shrieks giggling circling around his legs.

"Raaaaaaaa!" Carl roars hot on Olly's heals, crawling swinging his head side to side dressed in his Batman pyjamas, the legs of the sleeping trousers were riding above his ankles indicating that he had grown a little more from the last time they had seen each other.

Rick crouches down when Olly tugs hold of his trouser leg. He grabs both Olly and Judith into each arm and they hide behind the couch. Rick presses his finger to his lips to keep quiet but the two were making noises and Olly begins to gurgle so he has to cover their little mouths with his hands, both were blowing into his palms making little ahhhhh! noises liking the way the noise sounds.

"First rule of hiding and taking the huntsman by surprise," Rick whispers to Judith and Olly "Stay completely and utterly still…silent! Let them come to you…not the other way round!" He imparts to them and they both just stare at him and begin to make ahhh! noises again. Rick shakes his head looking forward to the day when they could have conversations and understand one another, there was a lot he wanted to teach them.

"Hey, where'd they go?" Carl wonders aloud to himself, scratching his head and looking around.

"Juju! Olly! Come out, come out wherever you are!" He sings hoping that would lure them out from wherever they had gone and hidden.

When Judith doesn't appear like she normally does, Carl gets to his feet and tiptoes looking under the table, opening up the cupboards and when he makes his way around the couch - Rick jumps up with Judith and Olly in each arm roaring and Carl stumbles backwards onto his bottom with a little shriek making all three of them laugh hysterically. Judith was wiggling herself to get down and Olly was leaning forward stuffing his hands into his mouth laughing seeing Carl's surprised face.

"Hey, that's not fair!" Carl pouts, folding his arms over his chest legs sprawled out in front of him, head bowed down not impressed but the smile appearing saying otherwise.

"Oh, c'mon buddy, this was your favourite game when you were runnin' around in diapers!" Rick says amused putting Judith and Olly down, making his way over to squat down next to Carl to give him a hug and help him up.

"GOTTCHAAA!" Carl pounces up taking Rick by surprise making him fall back landing on his ass.

Carl jumps on top of Rick knocking him down onto his back "Bundle dad!" He orders to Judith and Olly who crawl over and flop on top of their dad copying Carl.

"Awwww, ain't that the cutest…y'all gangin' up on your old man?" Glenn laughs walking past with a bowl full of ice-cream "Cute - just take it easy on him, I don't fancy havin' to help him to the bathroom to wipe his tush when his hips and back go…man is like," He stops to think hard licking his spoon "Forty!" He says shockingly as he goes.

"Oi!" Rick moans watching Glenn disappear back into the kitchen.

"You're not an old man dad!" Carl defends.

"Too right I'm not!" Rick nods agreeably giving a tsk tutt towards Glenn.

He had once felt older than his age but right now he didn't - he was in the prime of his life, thirty-five wasn't old!

"Yea, you're a real spring chicken!" Glenn pulls a face and scoffing walking past with wafer biscuits enjoying teasing Rick especially when he was weighed down by his kids who he'd never fling off of himself to chase and kick his butt.

"Where's ma rent Glenn?" Rick snaps back when he drops his head to the side, he sees Glenn running into the twin bedroom shutting the door behind him knowing that would make him disappear.

"Lives here for free, eats here for free and insults me!" Rick mumbles to himself.

"…You're a dinosaur!" Carl interrupts Rick's mumblings moving away slowly "Run Olly! Run Judy before Dadasauras tries to tickle you!" Carl screeches scuffling away giggling "When he starts, he doesn't stop!" He just remembered.

"Why you little!" Rick snorts as Carl tries crawling away "Just wait 'til I catch up to ya boy!" Rick challenges.

"Challenge accepted if ya catch me Mr Caveman!" Carl laughs shaking his foot when Rick lounged forward grabbing hold of his sock pulling at it.

"Cepted!" Judith says a little too high pitched clapping and Olly sits there clapping letting out high pitched shrieks adding to the noise.

All hell breaks loose and Carl and Rick were wrestling on the floor, Rick was tickling Carl relentlessly making him shriek louder and louder "No dad No! Stop! Pleaseeeeee hehehehe!" Carl was laughing.

"Did, anyone hear anythang?" Rick cocks his head in question to both Judith and Olly as he continues his onslaught of tickles as he mocks yawning.

"Help! Help!" Carl yelps in between his laughs and then Judith is joining in with tickling Carl and Rick winks amusingly at Judith.

Olly feeling left out crawls over and sits there staring dribbling excitedly reaching out but Carl's droopy sock catches his eyes, he reaches over and starts pulling at it making little grunting noises at his attempt when Carl's sock doesn't come off.

Beth comes out of the bathroom freshly showered, dressed in leggings and a big baggy oversized t-shirt. She was running a towel through her long hair until she hears the loud commotion coming from the lounge. She stops to listen and she swore she could hear Rick let out a loud groan. She chucks the wet towel into the open hamper and rushes making her way into the lounge nearly tripping over the toys to find Rick and Carl on the floor wrestling and tickling one another. Her eyes narrow down on them and then move up to see Judith playing with Rick's hair and it looked like he'd been electrocuted as it stands up at every direction and now the little girl moves over to Carl and begins scruffing his hair to resemble their father's. The laughter coming from Rick and Carl snaps her back to attention, she rushes over to break them apart.

"Rick! All their day's foods gonna come back up in one go and you'll be the one cleaning it!" Beth warns and then her eyes move to the right with a full view of the picture, her eyes widen in disbelief.

"Oliver Richard Grimes!" Beth gasps coming to a stop holding her hips when she sees Olly standing with a sock in one hand as he tries to yank off another from a defenceless Carl's foot.

Olly jumps startled, lets go of Carl's foot and plops back onto his bottom taken by surprised. His little eyes had blown huge, mouth open holding up the sock for Beth to take sensing he was in trouble. He gives her an innocent smile which is a carbon copy of how Rick looks when he gets caught doing something he knows he shouldn't be doing.

Beth lets go of her hips, shakes her head marching her way towards the troublesome foursome. She was not going to put up with their ruckus and complaints that would most definitely be coming from the neighbours. She would make all four of them go and knock on everyone's doors to apologise!

Beth picks Olly up removing the sock from his hand and plonks him on the couch giving him a little telling off. He fiddles with his hands watching the chaos in front of him wanting to join back in but knowing he wasn't allowed. Turning around, Beth picks up Judith and plonks her down next to Olly and then she sighs watching Rick and Carl not knowing how to part the two of them and decides she has to just delve in and possibly take a bruise or two whilst trying.

Carl seeing Beth approaching, sees his golden opportunity to escape. When Beth leant down to detach him, he grabs hold of her extended out hands and pulls her down making her shriek. All three of them become entangled. Carl somehow shimmies out with Beth as a distraction and crawls away running to the bathroom slamming the door shut desperate for a pee after all that tickling and laughing.

Rick twists and rolls over, flipping Beth down onto her back as his body covers hers completely whilst pining her hands up above either side of her head. They both lay there breathing in and out heavily. Rick lifts his head up realising this wasn't Carl and glad because his body was pressed down firmly on the body beneath him which felt soft and curvy and moulded and eased snuggly to fit every curve of his body like a jigsaw puzzle, fitting perfectly together.

Rick opens his eyes and just as Beth opens her, they are rooted to the spot staring hypnotized at one another. Beth's chest heaves up and down fast against Rick's broad and toned chest, they feel each other's hearts beating against one another. The smell of vanilla smothered over Beth's body beneath his, transports Rick back in time and the smell of the manly cologne and the hard muscles atop of her, takes Beth along back in time with him.

FLASHBACK

Beth was sitting idly behind the counter flipping through the pages of a magazine left behind by a customer at the Tea Room. The morning was going to be a slow one. There were only two women sitting at the far end of the room engrossed in conversation. There was an event going on at the other side of town so her regulars would be drinking and eating over there. The Lady's Book Club who reserved the corner where the comfy seating area was from 9am to noon every day, had just left after drinking one cup of coffee each and scoffed down scones informing her they were off to see a movie remake of one of the books they had read on their reading list called "Me Before You" and if it was good as the book, they'd let her know so Deputy Grimes could take her to watch it on one of their date nights. She always blushed profoundly whenever they mentioned Rick. The women were really nice and rooting for them and only had good and encouraging words about Rick - that he was a good man who'd make her really happy. And she was happy, more than happy because the glow she walks around with confirms it.

Beth hears the bell at top of the door jingle, she looks up from the magazine turning the page to see who it is, ready to serve. Her face breaks into a massive smile when she sees the silhouette of a hat and a man in uniform through the net curtain and then the light seeps in just as he steps over the threshold highlighting even after a long and most likely tough night shift, he still looked incredibly handsome and a welcoming sight indeed.

Before she knows what she's doing, Beth jumps up from her stool and rushes around making her way out from the safety of her workstation.

Rick takes off his hat, brushing his hair down into place with his fingers as he nods to the only two women customers who smile back and return to their conversation. When Rick turns his face, eyes searching her out, he gives Beth one of his gorgeous and breathtakingly smiles with the flash of his teeth when he sees her making her way towards him surprised and very happy to see him.

Beth swore she could literally swoon as Rick saunters towards her at speed. The way he was advancing, it was like he was moving with one purpose in mind and that makes her feel deliriously happy, like she's one of the most fortunate and luckiest woman in the world for someone like Rick to ever be interested and eager to be with someone like her.

"Hey, baby!" Rick greets tossing his hat down on the counter, pulling her to a side and then wrapping himself and his arms around her body as he leans in and kisses her hungrily on the lips "You're a sight for sore eyes!" He murmurs as Beth drapes her arms around the back of Rick's neck as he proceeds to kiss his way down her jaw towards her neck dipping her backwards letting out a pleased hum as Beth runs her fingers through the back of his hair.

"Ummmm, you're wearing vanilla, you know how much that scent drives me crazy!" Rick growls a little in between her chest and Beth was glad she rubbed the moisturiser into her body this morning. She hadn't anticipated seeing Rick until later once she closed up but this was a lovely and welcoming surprise and she can see Rick appreciated she had put it on, the vanilla was setting off the passionate side of Rick and she has to stop him before things got too hot and heavy with two eye witnesses to report back to everyone what they had witnessed go down in the cute and chick Tea Room.

"Rick!" Beth giggles up in the air quietly when his naughty lips delves further down towards her arched out chest.

She looks down to catch Rick admiring the view of the curve of her chest and lace of her bra in his face, mischief running through his eyes, she covers his mouth with her hand as he goes down but kisses the inside of her palm instead of his desired destination "Rick, I have customers!" She gasps reminding him looking around blushing to see if the women could see them from behind the pillar.

Rick pulls away slightly looking down at Beth dipped back in his arms, he had a pouting frown and looks serious like he was the silliest man in King County.

"Oh Dear Lord!" He says slowly "How completely rude of me!" He continues to smack his head with the palm of his hand as he helps Beth straighten up, he tucks a loose ringlet of hair behind her ear.

"Wait here, I'll just be a couple of minutes," He tells her "How could I forget to give some morning sugar to the customers whose tips will be contributing towards the deposit to our house!" He scolds himself letting go to make his way over to the two women customers and provide them his services.

Rick makes it a step before Beth pull him back throwing her arms back around his neck tightly "Just you try it buster!" She warns him whacking his chest.

"But the customers?" Rick questions innocently staring down into Beth's eyes full of amusement.

"My customers are fine and they have their own husbands to give them sugar! but I'm not fine, I'm pretty deprived and my sugar levels are really low and I need a little somethin' from a certain someone to revitalise me!" She grins shyly closing her eyes with her chin lifted up.

"Can't have that!" He says shaking his head leaning closer "Can't have you bein' deprived!" He states with his lips hovering above hers.

"No!" Beth murmurs feeling the heat of Rick's breath from above.

"Guess it's down to me to revitalize your levels Miss Greene!" He whispers.

"Guess so Deputy Grimes!" Beth shrugs pulling his neck down and Rick captures her lips kissing her slowly and passionately.

When they part, Rick kisses her nose and pulls her into a chest crushing hug "Missed you!" He groans tiredly taking a deep breath inhaling into her hair and releasing a satisfied sigh whilst breathing out.

"You have?" Beth snuggles back and feeling Rick getting comfortable like he was going to fall asleep on her he hums in response.

"Rick?" She giggles trying to move, she just about sees his eyes were closed with a small smile on his lips.

She reaches back and spanks him awake.

"Sorry!" He apologies smiling.

"Rough shift?" She asks softly stroking his back and he nods.

"I love my job majority of the times but I hate night shifts and the catastrophe that comes with it at times!" He frowns, he had to attend a terrible callout "People should be sleeping when the sun goes down and the moon comes up, would make it less rough!" He sighs wishing his job was a 9-5 and finishes on the dot which didn't always happen and to make matters worse, he had clocked off and Beth had just clocked in so they'd miss each other. He just wanted to go home and crawl into bed with Beth curled up into his side.

Beth understood the look and knowing she couldn't leave with him like he wanted her to, she kisses his chest and massages circles into his lower and upper back which he was enjoying when she feels the tension loosening from the muscles in his back. She knew she could do one more thing that would perk Rick up just a little especially when she hears the little rumble coming from his stomach.

"You hungry?" She asks lifting her chin up to look at him, she twitches her nose.

"Always!" He laughs rubbing his nose down onto hers.

"Where's Forest Grump?" She asks.

"I dropped Shane home before coming here, he fell asleep in the car and I had to practically drag the moose into his house." Rick says wrapping his arm around her shoulder as they walk towards the counter.

"I hope you know, we all really appreciate everythin' you and the guys back at the station do for us!" She tells him.

Rick blushes squeezing her and Beth beams happy pulling him to take his stool as she goes back behind the counter to make Rick a Hero's Breakfast with all the trimmings. Rick sits back feeling a sense of peace as he watches Beth dancing around her workstation, he reaches over and picks up the magazine Beth was reading. A slow smirk spreads across his face as he leans on the counter eyes widening in surprise reading the two pages and then looks up at Beth in curiosity.

"So do you have a list?" Rick asks raising his brow after reading the full contents of the article.

Beth looks at Rick confusedly when she places his breakfast in front of him not knowing what he was talking about. She gives him a look to elaborate what he was talking about.

Rick clears his throat, holds up the magazine and reads eagerly from the page "Places women fantasise having sexual encounters, everyone woman has a list, what are yours?" He reads out and looks up waiting for Beth for a response intrigued.

Beth reaches over and grabs the magazine to see what Rick was going on about, thinking he was trying to tease her. Her eyes race across the first couple of lines as Rick shovels eggs and bacon into his mouth as he sips his tea smirking when he sees the pink blush rush up from her neck all the way to her face which tells him, she hadn't yet gotten to the juicy article he'd just read. Beth slams the magazine shut and shoves it away down the far end of the counter. When she dares to look up, she sees Rick grinning at her waiting.

"Eat ya breakfast Deputy and let me get back to my customers!" Beth huffs scurrying off embarrassed, Rick seemed to have cheered up and was in Rick-Teasing-Mode.

"I'll be waitin' for your list!" Rick says over his shoulder.

Beth stops in her tracks, looking around mortified wanting to defend herself to anyone listening to Rick, she didn't have a list and runs away when she sees there's nobody there but Rick teasing her.

Rick looks up ahead into the glass mirror to see Beth talking to the women and occasionally she would look over and look away when he catches her. He smiles to himself. If Beth was to ever make up a list, he knew she'd never intentionally show it to him, she would be too embarrassed and he was fine with that. What they had, he was more than happy with.

Beth comes back with her tray and loads the dishwasher.

But, he thinks biting his toast watching Beth…if ever she had a list, he'd be more than willing to run his eyes over it and make her fantasises into realities and he couldn't deny, it was a turn on to know your girlfriend had a list of fantasises she wanted to experiment and experience them with you. Maybe one day he smirks to himself twirling his spoon in his tea.

Later that afternoon

Beth finishes wiping down the counters and washes her hands at the little sink. Her eyes catch the magazine sitting at the side where she had banished it to. Turning the tap off, she wipes her hands and looks around. Seeing nobody there, she casually strolls over looking around again to be sure and stands there tapping her fingers on the granite surface. Her hand slowly slides over and pulls the magazine back over. She looks down biting down on her lower lip and giving in, she flips the pages to find the article Rick had been reading.

She blushes profoundly at the graphic details, at one point she had to cover her eyes with a cloth because she gets an imagine in her mind of the woman and her husband smiling up at her, they get up to kinky stuff all the time. Rick had sat there reading every details of these women's stories and their lists of fantasies which they've shared with their partners and Rick had asked her whether she had a list. Beth bursts out laughing, she wasn't that experienced and she's never really thought of things like the women in the magazine have dreamed up and made into reality.

"The only list I've made is a shopping list!" She says to herself.

Beth closes the magazine. The article was practically porn for women in The Woman's Weekly and now Rick thinks that's what she reads and is secretly into, she's not thought such detailed thoughts before and to write them down?! She slumps face down onto the counter groaning.

A couple of scenarios flash through Beth's mind and she was shocked standing back up. She had fantasies and things that she wanted to do with Rick?! She grabs one of the freshly washed table cloths and drops it on top of her head stopping her thoughts from manifesting, stopping any of them leaking out.

"I have a list!" She mumbles shocked at herself under the table cloth.

She doesn't dare move, shocked at herself and wonders what Rick's reaction would be if he ever found out. She was just as shameless as the women in The Woman's Weekly that he thought she purchased weekly.

"God, he'd never look me in the face the same way again!" Beth tells herself.

She chucks the table cloth off her head, walks over to the armchair and slumps into it kicking her feet up onto the coffee table. She couldn't just write up a list and hand it to Rick she blushes. She sees her cell phone and grabs it and begins to tap away at it just so she can see what her list would look like and then she could delete it, there would be no evidence and nobody would ever know.

"Rick, who knew, I do have a list and here it is..." She taps away laughing.

Beth reads through her list a second time and shakes her head "I have no shame!…Rick would never do that!" She goes to delete the message, this was a type of list Maggie would make and then she jumps dropping her phone when the bell on the door jingles.

A customer had returned for their jacket. When she closes the door behind them, she makes her way back to grab her bag to go home to Rick's place like they arranged. She picks up her phone and goes to check to see if she had any messages and when she unlocks her phone, her face freezes when she remembers. She scrolls through her phone and she gasps covering her mouth when she doesn't see her "List" in her drafts. She shakily goes to her sent folder and her eyes widen in horror as she lets out a shriek. She had sent her "List" message to Rick. She fills dizzy and retakes a seat feeling her legs buckling beneath her.

"Shit! Shit! Shit!" Beth chants rocking back and forth "He's gonna think I'm a perverted hussy!" She tells herself "I said I wanted him to-" She covers her face.

Beth jumps up, she was desperate so she calls up her network provider.

"I sent a message from this number but I need you to un-send it!" She tells the customer assistance advisor.

"Sorry Miss Greene, the message has been sent, there is nothing we can do!" The customer advisor apologises without any sympathy; this was a constant request by clients.

"You don't understand it has a list!" She air quotes "A list that nobody should ever see especially my boyfriend!" She says.

"You have to! Please!" she begs "Hello?" Beth says into the phone and looks at it, they had hung up on her.

She looks at the clock on the wall, Rick would still be asleep. If she got to his house, she could delete it before he woke up and he would never need to know. She grabs her things, switches off the lights and locks up. She unlocks her bike chain and jumps onto her bike buckling up her helmet and peddles her way to Rick's house.

Once she swerves into Rick's road nearly knocking over a neighbour, she turns around apologising and sees Rick's patrol car parked up the drive. She peddles up the drive and falls off the bike crawling towards the stairs and climbing up fumbling with her keys. She pushes it into the lock and unlocks the door running in towards Rick's bedroom to find him awake running a towel through his hair having taken a shower.

"Hey!" Rick says looking up to see Beth and she rushes over but trips into him "What's up?" He laughs catching her and helping her to stand straight.

Beth was out of breath, clutching her stomach, she had a cramp, she had to sit down and then Rick was kneeling down rubbing her thighs "You okay baby?" He asks seeing the anxiety etched over Beth's face.

"Somebody stole my cell phone and they're sendin' random messages!" Beth blabbers out "...have you received any?" Beth asks trying to read his face.

"Not that I know of, I haven't checked my messages yet!" Rick said leaning over into his trouser pocket and taking his cell phone out.

Beth squeezes her mouth tightly shut and before she knows what she's doing, she smacks her palm under Rick's hand and catches the phone jumping onto the bed running across it.

"Beth?" Rick says getting up.

Beth starts flicking through the phone with her back to Rick who creeps up and snatches the phone back.

"NO!" Beth screams jumping from the bed onto Rick's back trying to grab at the cell phone, he twirls around and Beth latches on trying to reach for it.

"Beth, what are ya doin'?" Rick laughs surprised with Beth's behaviour.

Rick backs up to the bed and shakes his body and Beth loses grip and drops on to the bed. Rick steps forward and taps at his cell. Beth rolls over the mattress onto the floor, rushes to Rick jumping up and down tickling him trying to snatch the phone only making Rick hold it up in the air.

"Rick, please give it to me!" She pleads yanking his arm down.

"Why?" He asks stretching his arm up as far as it would go.

"Because!" She says "Please don't ask me again!" She says and leaps up tackling Rick down onto the bed wiggling up his body to grab the phone and Rick begins to tickle her and she screams laughing warning him to stop.

Beth uses underhand tactics by grabbing him between his thighs and squeezing him to stop tickling and it works, she reaches over and steals the cell phone and flops onto the bed and swipes, finds her message and deletes just as Rick grabs it back.

Beth just giggles hysterically kicking her legs up and down on the mattress and Rick stares at her thinking she had finally lost it. He drops his cell phone aside and tugs Beth down and traps her between his body, grabbing both her hands and restraining them above her head.

"Hey!" She smiles looking pleased with herself.

"What was all that about?" He asks.

"Nothing!" She grins leaning up and kissing him smack on the lips.

Rick hums seeing the gleeful and relived look on Beth's face which tells him he needs to find out what was deleted from his phone.

"Dinner?" He asks.

"Yep, I'm starving!" She says as Rick helps her up.

"Let me grab a shirt and we can go out and grab dinner." Rick suggests.

"Okay, I'll freshen up." Beth slips into the bathroom humming.

Rick throws on a clean shirt and picks up his phone.

"Hey Smithy, I need you to retrieve a text message deleted from a cell phone today!" Rick requests turning to watch the bathroom door "Yes, that would be great, I look forward to hearing from you!" Rick hides the small grin just as Beth comes out the bathroom makeup retouched and hair combed through.

"Who was that?" She asks grabbing the perfume on Rick's dresser and spritzes herself.

"Lost and Found stuff." Rick answers flipping his phone in the air and then dropping it into his jean's pocket "Shall we go?" He smiles at Beth holding out his hand.

"Let's!" Beth beams grabbing his hand and following Rick, relieved and relaxed her embarrassing list was forever gone.

Two days Later

Rick was sitting at his desk buried in paperwork. There was endless reports and crosschecking to do. His phone goes off for what felt like the hundredth time that morning, he picks it up and bark Deputy Grimes!

"Sorry Smithy, drowning in paper and I need a fuckin' break!" He sighs leaning back rubbing her eyes "What can I do you for?" He asks.

Rick stops rubbing his eyes as he sits up and pulls his keyboard close and goes to his emails "Thanks Smithy, I owe you one!" He thanks and replaces the receiver back down on the phone.

"Miss Greene, what are ya tryin' to hide from me?" He says quietly to himself seeing Smithy's name, his eyes move to the subject heading Enjoy! ;-). He stares at it for a couple of seconds and clicks on it.

The email opens up. He reads that the message was in fact from Beth and when his eyes run down the list, it had his full and complete attention. He scoots closer not believing his eyes and jumps covering his screen looking around so nobody could read Beth's List. Shane comes back to his desk and sees Rick acting shifty and fidgety in his seat.

"You got porn up on your screen, you look all aroused!" Shane snaps Rick to look up when he hears the thud of files hit Shane's table opposite him.

Rick looked like he was caught looking at something he shouldn't be looking at but they retrieve text messages and emails all the time like this. The only difference was from those to this, the message was retrieved from his phone sent to him from his girlfriend and if anyone else sees, then…

"It is!" Shane says slowly narrowing his eyes at Rick "Porn, a naked chick, some kinky shit…lemme see!" Shane demands getting up.

Rick tries to close down the email but it was taking it's time and now it had frozen. He smacks at the mouse seeing Shane coming over, he stands up and tries to shield the screen looking around to see what he could do to distract Shane, there was nothing, he was coming. Rick's eyes land on wall socket, he leans over and pulls out the plug.

"Rick, you dirty mother fu-" Shane was giving out a dirty laugh and then he stops to see a black screen "You suck!" Shane says pointing to Rick making his way back to his desk.

Rick slumps into his seat relieved thinking that was close. He sits there now with a smirk on his face finding out Beth did have a List.

"I got a last minute appointment I need to get to later today so I'm gonna finish up early today!" Rick says pulling himself back to his desk to speed through paperwork.

"Alright, ya wanna hang out later? Shane asks.

"Can't, got a list I need to get started on." Rick answers back.

Rick continues to put pen to paper trying to stop thinking about the list and fails miserably because he's decided Fantasy Number 1 wasn't too risqué and yet it was going to be especially if they get caught. Beth was going to get one hell of a surprise later and he knew how to make Beth feel comfortable.

Later that day

Beth was sweeping behind the counter and hears the bell jingle.

"I'll be with you in a minute!" Beth calls out.

She hears the bolt on the door slide with a loud thud. She abruptly whirls around holding her broom and sighs with relief to see that it was Rick.

"Rick, you scared the living day lights outta me!"

She composes herself and looks up to see Rick turning the closed sign around and then dropping the blinds on the big window so nobody could look in.

"Rick, what are ya doin'?" She asks confused and looks up at the clock, it was only 5pm another half an hour until closing time.

Rick turns around and he had a look in his striking eyes that could not be mistaken. Beth sees arousal and mischief dancing over them and the tiniest smirk tugging on his beautiful lips. Rick begins taking slow paced steps and she can hear the heel of his boots hitting the wooden floor echoing in the empty room with every step he took. The way he was advancing, it was like he was moving with one purpose in mind and she can see it on his face the closer he approaches; he wants her and he wants her now! She goes weak at the knees and she feels herself go embarrassingly moist, she gulps because this is how she'd imagined a fantasy, only the build-up was being better executed by Rick who seemed to be in control of what he was doing.

Rick watches Beth swallowing deeply. He watches her slender neck move, his eyes trail up to see her lick and wet her bottom lip and when his blue eyes meet hers, he sees the anticipation and desire beginning to burn behind them and he felt himself harden. He starts to unbuckle his holster and once it slides off, he holds it in one hand allowing the hand to drop to his side as he pulls up the counter door and walks through where only staff are permitted to enter.

"Staff only!" Beth says above a whisper and points up at the sign which Rick ignores as he locks the door behind him and turns to Beth placing his holster down next to her handbag.

Beth watches Rick unclipping his radio, pulling it off and depositing it on top of his holster. She looks on confused. When Rick turns around, she continues to watch him as his eyes run down appreciatively over her body in her little fitted shirt dress. He takes slow steps unbuttoning the top buttons of his shirt and Beth takes slow steps back as her heart begins to pound against her ribcage, her breathing becomes rapid whilst all the time keeping her eyes on Rick's, her back bumps against the wall behind her. She looks back at the wall, she had nowhere to go and then she looks up blushingly when she feels the heat radiating off of Rick's body practically touching her as he boxes her in with his hands resting on the wall either side of her face. He grabs the broom out of her hands and chucks it aside.

"I got your list!" He whispers into the side of her face as his nose trails down her cheek.

"What!" Beth squeals "How?" She asks.

Rick lets out a throaty laugh grabbing both her hands and pinning them above her head. He reaches into his pocket and drops two condoms down on the counter for later and then reaching back, he pulls out his cuffs. Beth watches him cross her wrists over the other and then he cuffs them to the pipe above.

Rick runs his hands slowly down her arms sending shockwaves as he goes over her breasts where he caresses them making Beth moan, he kisses the corner of her lips as he trails his hands down her waist to finally hold her hips stepping close with his body flush up against hers.

"Text messages are retrievable in the profession I work in and that message was intended for me, it was only fair that I got to read it and then memorise it before deleting it again," Rick murmurs as he nuzzles her ear gripping Beth's hips tighter "I've memorised every tiny detail from 1 to 10 and I want you to enjoy each one and today is number 1!" He reveals.

Beth gasps, Rick had read all the list, she could hear the confident smirk in his voice.

Rick continues to press wet kisses over Beth's jaw and collarbone as he begins to slip his hand up beneath her dress, sliding it up her soft leg towards the smooth warm flesh of her inner thighs which makes Beth's breath hitch.

Her first fantasy was, Rick to spontaneously turn up at The Tea Room, lock the door, cuff her up on the pipe and have his way with her. She couldn't touch him, he could only touch her.

"If at any time you want me to stop, we can stop!" Rick pulls his head back a little to look into Beth's eyes whilst stroking her inner thigh with his thumb.

"I want this!" Beth answers leaning forward and kisses Rick to confirm how much "Please don't stop Rick!" She pleads now that this was happening.

Rick smiles. He presses his lips onto hers, his tongue exploring her mouth, his fingers brush against the lace of her underwear, he slips his hand in and dips his finger into the heat of her wetness making Beth moan and whimper into Rick's mouth as he swirls his tongue against hers and his finger inside her, adding a second giving that extra pleasure. He increases the speed making Beth spasm and find her release. It didn't take much time for Beth to come, the thrill had taken over. Rick's hand was skilfully unbuttoning the buttons of her shirt dress. He lets each side of the material fall apart to reveal her beautiful body in her underwear. Rick gives Beth a sloppy kiss and begins kissing his way down her body. Getting down onto his knees, Rick hooks his fingers onto the material of her panties and pulls them down to her ankles. Beth lifts her feet up one at a time so Rick could discard them to a side. Beth stands there in her little kitten heels as Rick holds her thighs as he kisses and nips at her her tummy, each side of her hips sending jolts of pleasure through her body down to her core centre which was now aching. Rick looks up to see Beth's beautiful face in bliss and sees she was relaxed and more than ready. He wraps his arms around each of her thighs spreading them as he trails his mouth down from her bellybutton licking as he goes down slowly and torturously all the way down to be in between her parted thighs and he plunges straight in making Beth throw her head back moaning his name as he holds her tightly whilst he continues to pleasure her with his tongue and mouth.

END OF FLASHBACK

"Eherm!" they hear a cough above them.

Rick and Beth snap back to reality, look up and see Glenn grinning towering above them. Rick looks down at Beth as she looks back at him, both blushing and crestfallen at the same time.

"So you guys gonna stay down there all night?" Glenn asks with a giggle.

Rick looks to his side a little lost.

"Rick!" Beth whispers wiggling her arms which were still pinned down above her head.

Rick looks down at them and seeing the look on Beth's face, he lets go and starts to get up which was a mistake, he unintentionally pressed his body down onto Beth's for leverage to push himself up and things came back to life again, not just for Rick but for Beth too when she grabbed hold of his shoulder trying to hold in a gasp.

"I'm sorry!" Rick apologies detaching himself getting to his feet, he offers his hand to Beth and she accepts it.

They both don't know where to look. Glenn looks down at Rick and throws him a pillow. Rick catches it and holds it below his waist embarrassed.

Carl had returned and steps in looking around at everyone wondering what happened.

"I'll put Olly and Judith the sleep!" Beth announces turning around, picking them up and placing them on each hip.

She looks at Rick one last time before she rushes towards the master bedroom to put the two down for the night.

"Dad, can I bunk with you tonight?" Carl asks tugging Rick's arm.

"Yeah, I'll be in, in a minute to tuck you in." Rick smiles and Carl runs to claim his bed.

"Guess I'm sleepin' on the couch!" Glenn frowns jumping on to one of the couches and switches the TV on low.

Rick makes his way to the room he'll be sharing with Carl. Passing, he looks through the gap between the door of the master bedroom. Beth was sitting on the bed with Olly in her lap and Judith cuddled into her side as she reads them a story.

He saw a look in Beth's eyes and it wasn't just that of friendship, there was something more, there was still something there.