Hullo, how are you? Especially with everything going on, I hope you are well and your family too. Ngl this whole situation is very depressing. I had panic attacks over it, but I'm trying to stay positive amid everything.

Now let's talk about this new story, last year I had this idea to write a story with Rick in jail. Then it was Rick out of it, trying to gain Michonne back. So that's how WORKING MY WAY BACK TO YOU is borned. It's not a easy story because our faves deal with abandon, miscarriage, anxiety. If those subjects are triggering to you, please proceed with caution or don't at all. But please don't post a comment to complain about that. I cried writing this first chapter lol, so it can gave you an idea of the mood. Anyway GOOD READING, thank you so much for your support, comments, follows, you are the best. Stay at home if you can. Excuse the mistakes please!

Working My Way Back To You

Chapter 1 : Ghosts From The Past

I'll be working my way back to you, babe, with a burning love inside

Yeah, I'm working my way back to you, babe, and the happiness that died

September 2017.

"What are you thinking babe? "

Michonne sultry,dizzy post sex voice startled him from his thoughts. Her head was nestled into the crook of his neck, inhaling his strong musky scent. He loved this woman so much, that some days he was sure his heart couldn't take all this love.

"I was thinkin' about our kids. "

The hand that was stroking the hair on his chest froze, she lifted her gaze watching him with brown questioning eyes. Her breathtaking face was lightened by the moonlight, and again he still couldn't believe his luck to be her lover.

Michonne was the best thing that happened in Rick's miserable life. His parents had preferred the company of Jack Daniel's than their son's one. So his aunt Miranda–his mother's sister– and her husband Chase raised him. He was going through his life, wandering and wondering when he will have an idea what to do with it. How to not let his past dictate his future, and be someone he could be proud of, until he met Michonne.

It was a Friday night, his cousin Shane dragged him to a college party to meet his blonde girlfriend Andrea. Rick was reluctant, but as usual Shane annoyed the fuck of him so he went. At first Rick regretted his decision, like he knew he would. Shane abandoned him with another nameless blonde, who was clearly interested in him. Rick was aware of his good look, and effect upon women but at the moment he didn't care. He just wanted to go home and forget all about Jessica or Karen talking his ears off. He ahead for the door, after saying goodbye to her, and too distracted he didn't see the beautiful dark skinned as they collapsed into each other. They talked all night, and never stopped since then. And here he was 1 year later thinking about their babies, laid on their bed, Michonne's body pressed into his the smell of their lovemaking still lingering in the room.

"How many kids do you want? " She asked after clearing her throat.

Rick shrugged, his thumb drawing circles on her bare back. "Maybe 4."

"That much? " Shock made her tone high pitched.

"Yes, I mean I always wanted a big family, ya know."

Yes she knew, but still four was way too much for the 21 year old woman.

"I want 3 girls and 1 boy, " Rick continued his blue eyes glistening with hope. As if he could envisioned 4 curly children looking like their gorgeous mother and a little bit like him. His kids that he will love and take good care of, giving them everything he never had.

Michonne giggled, "What will be their names? "

At that he smiled widely, "Carl for the boy–"

"I'm not calling my boy Carl! " She countered pulling a little bit on his chest hair.

Rick chuckled with his deep voice that she loved so much, "Alright honey. How about Judith for the oldest? "

"If you want to die tonight, just say so babe. "

Laughter escaped his pink lips, when it died down he kissed the top of her hair, the scent of rose hitting his nostrils. A companionable silence fell between them.

"Well now we just need to have 3 more kids to reach your goals. " Michonne said almost whispering.

"Wait, what do you–"

Rick couldn't finish his sentence when he caught the meaning of her words. But he couldn't believe it, maybe his ears had deceived him. Was she? Could she be?

"Are you–" He stopped again, not even capable to say the big word that was about to change their young life forever.

"Yes Rick, I'm pregnant. "

He lost his ability to think for a moment, gathering himself up he tried again.

"But how? "

Her giggles rose in the calm night. "Well honey, you put your dick in my punani–"

"Dumb question ok, ok, ok."

Rick sat, and Michonne did the same. They looked at each other for minutes, hours, days? He lost the sense of anything but her. Every emotion was swimming in him, joy, fear, excitement, fear. He was happy of that he was sure, a child with the love of his life was he could want. So why he couldn't form proper words to communicate his happiness, especially when Michonne was watching at him anxious.

"I know, we are young, and… And we don't have a lot of money, " she nervously laugh, "I mean I'm still a law student, and you, well you are seeking a job. I mean, I would understand if you don't want to get involved, I can raise it on my own, I think I can well I don't know. Please Rick say something. "

Rick cupped her face, and placed a gentle kiss on her pillow lips. She was so damn gorgeous with her bare full breasts even with a worry expression taking over her face.

"I love you Michonne, I want you and me to raise this baby together. Alright? "

Her shoulders slumped as the biggest brightest smile replaced her anxiousness. She was now the one to kiss him, but with more passion, Rick opened his mouth to grant her access to his tongue. And she tasted him, while he tasted her. His hands stroking her breasts, then pulling on her erected nipples. Michonne let go of his hair to hold his hard shaft, she pumped it up and down and he kissed her more fervently. The quilt was off his lap in a second, replaced by Michonne's body as she lowered her slick, wet pussy on his dick. They both sighed in contentment. Their forehead against each other, moans filling their bedroom.

"Damn Michonne, you feel so good." Rick said feeling the pleasure building in him. He caught her firm, round ass in his hands to help her slide up and down on him faster.

"I love you, I love you. " She cried out as her quick but powerful orgasm took over her whole body.

She quivered, whipping as he swift their position, Michonne put her legs around his waist, and he thrusted in her roughly, she was spent but she was ready for more which make him smile.

"You and this baby are my whole life, never doubt it. " Rick told her as he moved inside her making her moan and scream. "I'm gonna make you my wife, and give you a bunch of kids. Say yes. "

"Yes, oh Rick, yes. "

"That's my girl," Rick took her harder and faster until they both reach their release.

An hour later Rick watched Michonne sleep her hair hiding her face, he made a promise to himself. He would make it work for her, he would find a good job, find her the house of her dream. Build a solid and happy future with kids, with hardships of course but with laughter, love, respect. Yeah, he could make it work.

##################

3 years later…

Michonne's gaze roamed over the little but warm house, there wasn't much place to put a lot of furnitures so only a grey sofa, grey TV stand, and a wooden grey dining table decorated the living room. Miranda had an obsession with the color grey, that she also painted her walls with. Only the pretty chandelier was purple.

It was Friday, and as usual Michonne visited Miranda & Chase, in their downtown Atlanta apartment, not far from her apartment. Years later and the couple insisted she call them mom and dad. Despite everything that went down, since he– No she couldn't think about the past, especially not about him. She did therapy in order to heal from the ordeal, so now wasn't the moment to let her thoughts on a life she would never know, invaded her.

Michonne's focus should only be on the present. After 3 painful years, she was finally starting to feel like herself again, yes there were difficult days where she cried herself to sleep. But now she made her peace with her situation, like Sasha her sister told her everything happens for a reason. Even if he wasn't in her life anymore, she had her father, her sister. Miranda and Chase,but also friends she encountered in college. It was fine, she told herself over and over again before the sadness overtook her. She left the comfort of the sofa, walking to the bathroom, there she could get her shit together alone.

After a few minutes where she took a pee and gave herself a peep talk, she heard Miranda's happy squeal, then Chase welcoming someone who had a deep voice that sounded familiar. But she was in no mood to see someone stranger or not. Michonne smoothed with shaking hands her flowery yellow mini dress, and got out of the bathroom. Her empty belly sang in anticipation as she smelled the odor from the kitchen, but her joy was cut short and her whole body stopped functioning when her eyes landed on the seated stranger. He wasn't a stranger at all, she knew him too well, so well that she had a hard time believing he was there. She was aware of her opened mouth, and wide eyes, the sweat cascading her back. Was she having the same dream she had for months after he went to jail?

Her brain begged her legs to seat before she collapsed on Miranda's tile grey floor. But she couldn't move, couldn't even breath. She hated herself for the way she felt weak and vulnerable under his piercing stare, as if he could see all the pain she went through. The sleepless nights crying, begging for God to give him back to her. The angry stage, where she loathed everything and everyone, above all him. Him and his full pink lips she still wanted to kiss, him and his ocean blue eyes she missed so much. He looked incredible with his black jeans, and denim jean that made the color of his eyes stood out more.

They saw each other 3 years ago, yet it seemed like many more years. Prison had changed him, he looked thicker, older than his age, the sorrow in his eyes was stronger. For a moment she felt bad for him, she wanted to hug him and never let go. But she remembered the last time she visited him in jail. How he told her to never come back, and move on, not thinking for a moment that without him she couldn't do that.

Michonne was so lost in her mind that she didn't register that he was talking to her.

"Good morning Michonne, "

She had always loved her name on his lips, said with his sexy southern drawl that made her knees go weak, and body hot. Some things never changed.

Miranda happy, high voice cut through the growing tension between them.

"Have you seen what the Lord sent us today, Mimi? "

Sometimes Michonne forgot she wasn't the only one who had suffered from Rick's absence. Miranda loved this man like her own son, she never gave up on him with the burning hope that he would become the best man she knew. So Michonne couldn't imagine the joy Miranda felt. Deep deep down Michonne felt it too.

She cleared her throat, trying to get her emotions on hold."What are you doing here? "

For 3 years she imagined what she would tell him, she even wrote a passionate speech. But she learnt the hard way that life never went as planned.

He ran a hand in his longer dark hair, "I got out today. " She wanted to stroke his shiny curls. Who just got out of prison and looked so good? Only Rick could manage that.

Michonne inwardly cursed him, he said it so casually as if they were discussing the weather and not a very important episode in his life. She turned to Miranda and Chase who watched their nephew with watery eyes, not believing that he was really there. She couldn't believe it neither, but did her best to hide it.

"Did you know about it? " Michonne asked and failed to keep the resentment out of her tone. She wished she could share their happiness.

Miranda shook her head while Chase replied.

"We had no idea sweetie, I swear. "

The tension in the room was slowly suffocating her.

"You told no one? " Now her attention was on Rick. The fact that he was as cool as a cucumber enraged her, she was a mess inside and could feel the tears coming. "Why? "

"Because if it didn't happen, my parents would have been disappointed."

Even if his physique changed, he was still the same man, thoughtful and caring. She hated him for still taking her breath away.

"I should go, " Michonne said hoarsely, if she stay any longer, she would break down in front of everyone. She refused to shed another tear for Rick, and she would be damned if he witnessed it.

"No sense Mimi, I put your favorite lasagna in the oven. It should be ready soon, please stay. "

Maybe one day she would learn how to say no to Miranda, but today wasn't it. So she just nodded her head, her throat too tight to utter a word.

"Salmon and spinach lasagna, and don't forget the ricotta," Rick added with a little smirk just for her. She tried to convince herself that she didn't care that he remembered, or that his little smile had no effect on her body.

Chase laughed,"I remember when you two almost fight over the lasagna. "

"I thought Michonne would eat him alive when he said spinach and salmon wasn't real lasagna. " Miranda joined him in his laughter.

"I haven't changed my mind about it. " Rick replied his eyes bored into Michonne, who was feeling very self conscious, she should have put her red favorite dress. While he was so beautiful with only his casual clothes, it was unfair.

"You're still an idiot then. "

Her witty comeback was met with Rick unexpected laugh. He looked as surprised as she was. She let herself being lost in his eyes, the bluest she ever saw. His eyes always showed his emotions, right now she could see mirth, longing in it. She tore her gaze from his before she did something stupid, like touching him. That's when she noticed they were alone.

"Are you going to sit? " Rick asked, the beer he put aside back in his hand. She hated his beer drinking habit, but even that she had missed it fiercely.

Michonne sat on one of the dining table chair, far away from Rick.

"How you've been Michonne? "

"Great! " She cringed at her fake cheerfulness. "I'm almost done with college, I found a great job, have a new apartment and made a lot of new friends. You know, I moved on like you told me to. "

Years after and she was still bitter over the way he ended things between them. Asking her to not come back in jail, he couldn't let her waste 5 years of her life for him, coming here to visit him and talk as if everything was normal. It wasn't so he wanted her to move on, forget about him. Michonne cried and begged him to not do that, she wrote him letters after letters without any answers. She tried one more time to see him, but he refused. Just thinking about it brought back fresh tears, it felt like yesterday.

"I'm proud of you, " Rick said sincerely. "That's all I wanted for you. "

"Don't! "

That was it, she couldn't keep her emotions buried. Michonne wiped the tears falling on her cheeks. Guiltiness was written all over Rick's face, good. It was his fault after all, she wanted him to suffer as much as she did.

"I'm so sorry Michonne, " He said quietly, sadness weighing on his voice.

How she had longed to hear those words from his mouth, but they did nothing to calm the tears. They didn't heal her as she expected. She just felt empty.

"I'm so sorry I put you through all of this, I'm sorry I wasn't there when you… when you–"

"Please stop Rick, you were in jail how you were supposed to be there? " She inquired harshly, "Anyway it doesn't matter anymore, it was the past. We have to move on, but I can't see you right now. It's too much, too soon. "

She stormed out of the house, trying her hardest to not spare him a last glance.

#####################

"In and out, that's it mama. "

Sasha's words helped Michonne calm a little bit. After leaving Rick behind she hit a text to Miranda and Chase to apologise. She couldn't stay in the same room than Rick, all she wanted was to never see him again. The next thing she did was calling her sister Sasha who barely understood what Michonne was trying to tell her between her tears and sobs.

"Now tell me 5 things you can see, 4 things you can feel, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell and 1 thing you can taste. "

Michonne took a deep breath,"I can see you, Nene Leaks fighting with someone again, the window, the wall and the table. I can feel your touch, the sofa, the water on my face. I can hear my breathing, yours and voices from the TV. I can smell cinnamon and lavender. And I can taste nothing, since I didn't eat. "

"That's good Michonne, that's good." Sasha said smiling.

Since Michonne's life went apeshit, her little sister had strong panic attack. Some days it was good, but others like today it was difficult to calm her even with exercises the therapist gave. Sasha yearned to know what triggered a new attack, but she waited a little bit for Michonne to breathe normally.

"How are you feeling? "

"Better, " Michonne answered her eyes on the ground. Ashamed that her sister was seeing her in this state, again.

"Alright, now Michonne, please tell me what happened honey? "

In and out Michonne repeated to herself. She got this, she could do this, answer to her sister without having her chest constricting, this sensation of death that she couldn't shake. She was there, she was fine just a little bit shock. In and out. Her hands were cold and all her body shaking she couldn't help but wonder when all of this would stop? If her life would ever be normal once more. Michonne lifted her brown eyes to a waiting Sasha. She was so scared of her reaction.

"He was there, Sasha. "

If the situation would have been different, she would have laugh at Sasha's puzzling stare. Her sister's face had always been dramatically expressive.

"Rick, he was there. " Michonne replied to her silent question.

She thought for a second Sasha didn't hear her. Michonne could pinpoint the exact moment rage start consuming her sister. Her nostrils flared and she squeezed Michonne's hands too hard.

"What do you mean Rick was there? "

Michonne bowed her head, her locs falling from her disheveled updo. She couldn't look in Sasha's hard eyes.

"He got out of jail, today. "

"So Miranda & Chase set a trap for you? "

"Nooo, they had no idea Sash. He told no one. "

Sasha kissed her teeth, "Of course this selfish weak ass bitch told no one. Because he knew damn well nobody would be there to welcome him. " She let go of Michonne's hands and left her side on the couch to pace in the living room. Michonne just watched her, silently pleading with her sister to calm down. But Rick was a very sore subject for Sasha, she hated him.

"I don't understand, why the fuck he's out? Wasn't he supposed to stay 5 years? "

Michonne shrugged, she didn't think about asking him, "Maybe he got out for good behavior. "

Sasha lifted her eyebrows septic, " Yeah. Whatever, did he tell you something Michonne? I'll kill him. I'm not kidding."

Of course she was not kidding, the wrath pouring out of her rigid body said so. Her fists were so clenched that Michonne was afraid she would break her bones.

"Sasha please, he's not worth it. "

"I don't give a fuck about him Michonne, you are worth it. You are so damn much worth it than crying over someone like him, " Sasha snapped, tears rolling down on her face. Years of pent-up frustration, and anger out. "Look what he did to you. Where was he when you were so broken that you couldn't even shower? Curled up in your bed screaming and begging. Where was he? In jail, because this asshole had been so selfish that he didn't think about you or the baby. Now there isn't a baby anymore, and where was he when you lost it huh? "

"Please Sasha stop, please, " Michonne requested with a heartbreaking sob.

She was crying and had no idea how to stop. She thought she was over it, that she was on the path of healing. How wrong she had been, every memories of the last years came back at once, so heavy that she couldn't breathe.

"Just… please… " In and out , "Hold me and tell me everything's gonna be okay. "

Sasha's arms engulfed her in a warm, much needed embrace. Her oldest sister rocked her body like the baby she felt, the baby she lost. The baby she thought Rick and her would raise in their suburban neighborhood. He promised her so much 3 years ago, to marry her but Sasha was right, where he had been him and his dreams? She let her tears fell as her sister calm voice repeated the lie she wanted to believe ; everything's gonna be alright.