Two more chapter left, and it is the end.

Thank you for your patience.

I don't own the Walking Dead.

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Ps: Don't forget to wash your hands for twenty seconds at least. If you use hand sanitizers, make sure it is at least 60% ethanol content.


Chapter XVIII: Semi-decent family man


Michonne awakes in an empty room bathed in sunlight. For a few seconds, the lack of landmarks makes her panic. She quietly leaves the bed to rush out of the room. She immediately bumps into an older woman.

"Hello, Michonne," she says with a gentle smile.

Her kind eyes are familiar, and so Michonne takes a second to stop. Michonne begins to remember that she is in Rick's childhood home. Rick is safe. Carl and Andre are in no danger.

"Hello, Mrs Grimes?" Michonne hesitates although those blue eyes give her identity away.

Rick slightly favours his mother. From the shape of his face to the piercing colour of their eyes, the relationship is apparent.

"The eyes gave it away?" Mrs Grimes grins, "and please call me Juliette," She corrects Michonne with a friendly tone.

Juliette's eyes travel toward Michonne's wrist. Michonne feels the weight of the watch on her arm. She hides her forearm by pulling on the sleeves of her shirt.

"I'm glad you're awake. I was comin' to drag you out of that bed. You already missed breakfast. I didn't want you to miss lunch, and the children are running out of patience." Her accent is ten times thicker than Rick's.

Michonne blinks, and she checks the unfamiliar watch on her wrist. Juliette is right about the time.

"The children..." Michonne stutters, and she does not know what she wants to ask first, "Rick?"

"The children are impatiently waiting for you, and it's a miracle they did not sneak in the room to wake you up." Rick's mother replies.

She moves out of the way to allow Michonne to head down. Michonne takes the hint, and she hesitantly steps forward. She descends the stair as fast as she can.

"Rick?" Michonne insists.

She needs to know where Rick is. Michonne goes through a quiet moment of panic. She cannot forget the horror of the previous night. The thought of almost losing him makes bile coat her inside. She swallows the thick saliva coating her tongue, and she feels nauseous.

"He left early," Juliette replies, and a smile cracks her lips, "You should worry for Rick." She continues with calmness. Her hand comes to rest on Michonne's shoulder, and she comfortingly taps on it. "He learned to shout when he was ten, and he hardly missed a target then." Juliette finishes.

Her hand prompts Michonne to step inside the kitchen.

…..

….

"Mama."

Andre rushes to Michonne who immediately catches him. She laughs when Andre begins to pepper her face with kisses. His small chubby hands cling to Michonne's face. She deeply inhales.

"Peanut," Michonne laughs, and she kisses Andre's palms, "Mama needs to breathe." She begins to loosen his embrace. "I miss you too, baby." Michonne returns Andre's many kisses.

After a few minutes, she puts him down. Michonne searches the room for Carl. She turns to ask Juliette. However, she does not have the time to utter a word. Rick's father and Carl walk into the kitchen.

"Look, who is awake," Carl senior says in a teasing way, "we were beginning to worry. I almost thought Richard broke you," he continues, and a boisterous laugh leaves his lips.

Michonne shyly smiles. Juliette hits her husband's arm.

"Carlton," she chastises, "don't embarrass her."

"It's okay," Michonne coughs her discomfort away, and she allows a genuine smile to stretch her lips.

"You heard Michonne," Carl senior gloats, and it starts a banter between Rick's parents.

Michonne disregards the old couple, and she looks at Carl. She rushes to hug Carl, and she tightly holds him.

"Are you okay?" Carl kindly asks.

Carl has a stiff posture. After years of mistreatment, he is always apprehensive of affection. However, he returns Michonne's hug. Carl starts to find comfort in Michonne's warmth.

"Yes," Michonne replies, "I only missed you." She frees him from her embrace, "Sorry for choking you off." She adds with a smile.

Carl hesitates to speak, but Michonne reads his thoughts through the questioning frown, which twists his face. Andre ultimately verbalises everyone's mind.

"Rick, mama?' Andre impatiently pulls Michonne's pants.

"He will be back soon," Michonne replies.

She looks into Carl's eyes as she speaks. She needs him conscious of the engagement, which she takes.

"He's fighting the bad guys, but he will be back before you notice."

Carl kneels to be at eye level with Andre. His tone is reassuring, and Michonne hopes he truly has that confidence in his words. Andre nods, and he walks to Carl senior.

"I can sit on your lap. Rick is fighting the bad guys." He says as clearly as he can as an almost three years old child.

The pout, which emerges, renders it impossible to refuse.

"Here."

Carlton puts Andre on his lap.

"Michonne and Carl," Juliette calls the pair, "The food will be cold if you wait any longer."

"Let's go." Michonne begins to head toward the dining table.

"I miss you too," Carl whispers when he catches up with Michonne.

….

….

….

Hours after lunch, Michonne anxiously stares at the door. Alone with her thoughts, she painfully processes the last events. Michonne difficulty admits that Rick is tempting fate for their family.

"He will come back," Carl senior says. He extends a glass of overly sweetened ice tea to Michonne. "I thought him how to deal with the bad guys." He finishes with a grin.

Michonne takes the glass, and she sips it. The sweetness hurts her teeth.

"Then I shouldn't worry," She replies with a smile.

Carl senior nods in agreement, and he comes to stand at her left.

"Juliette," Carl senior whispers with a conspiratory tone, "she will eventually come here, and tell you to forget about the poor door with a long life lecture." He continues with the kindest smile, "We don't want any of that."

Michonne laughs, and she almost wonders how such sweet people are Rick Grimes' parents. However, she can easily explain how he can switch between a charming and kind man to his more violent side.

"I don't know what to do of myself in this big house," Michonne confesses, "worrying feels like the easiest thing to do, and so I don't do anything that can ruin everything."

Carl senior look at Michonne with kindness. He smiles, and Michonne knows from where the Grimes men inherited their smiles. He drains his ice tea.

"Do you know how to shoot?" He asks, and Michonne shakes her head. "Great!" Carl senior opens the door. "Richard can be an idiot," He continues to say while he begins to walk with the implication that Michonne should follow him. "I heard they are some dangerous people after you, and he didn't think about teaching you how to shoot."

"I don't like guns," Michonne weakly states.

There is something about the Grimes patriarch, which is commanding and kind. She does not want to insult him inadvertently.

"Good," He replies while remaining unfazed, "It means you will care for the safety rules." Carl senior retorts.

Michonne sceptically stares at Carl senior. He returns her stare with kind expression.

"You stared at the door very long." He says, "I guess you were planning ways to go an retrieve my son." Carl senior knowingly points out, "At least when you don't have a choice, you would be able to have one chance to save the day."

"Okay," Michonne agrees, and she follows Carl senior.


"Grimes," Rosita sighs, "Grimes," she fails to erase thoughts of him.

After her conversation with the suspect of Shane's murder, she cannot help but overthink the case. Why would he tell her that he did not kill Shane Walsh?

Rosita attempts to move forward with her police work, but she always concludes that Rick belongs to the list of variables. His prints are all over the case.

"Curly eyes," She muses as she repeats what Eugene said, "blue eyes." Rosita pulls a picture from Shane's collection. "Why would you do that?" She fails to find a clear motive beyond the blatant brown eyes staring back at her.

Rosita analyses the pictures, which she took from Shane's apartment. Rick and Michonne were part of Shane's obsession.

"Michonne," Rosita attempts to remember what she felt when they interrogated her. "Too perfect," She groans with frustration. She resents Michonne for dishonest reasons. "Drove the husband to embezzle money. Where do Walsh and Grimes fit?" She looks into more pictures.

It is a motel room, and Rosita believes it to be the murder scene for Anthony's case. However, Shane never mentioned it.

"Grimes, Walsh, and Anthony." Rosita sighs, and she has to admit that she has a logical way to connect everyone. "Michonne."

Rosita crushes Michonne's picture. Her bitterness rises, and her temper flares. Emotions rule over her mind. She stands and picks her coat.

"Fuck Grimes," She leaves the precincts with every intention to solve her case.

….

Rosita checks her watch, and she waits for Tyrese to leave the suspect's room. She leans against the corridor's wall. She contemplates returning to the precinct. Her activities are beyond irrational and unethical.

However, Rosita needs to solve that puzzle. She wants to feed her ego and prove to how Tyrese had no grounds to humiliate her as he did the previous night.

Rosita watches Tyrese leave, and she waits for the next officer to take over. She hides to avoid Tyrese's glance. When the coast is clear, she walks to the new officer.

"Grimes asked me to check on the cop-killer," Rosita states without missing a beat.

"No one told me shit, Espinosa," The officer argues. "No one enters without clearance."

Rosita remains collected. She drags her phone out of her coat's pocket, and she passes it to her colleague.

"Ask him!" She shrugs, "He needs to know if we can the man who killed his wife. Waste both our times." Rosita pressures the officer.

He sighs, and he has no envy to deal with a man who lost his wife and best friend the same night. Rick has shown constant irritation since last night, and he would not tolerate anyone wasting his time.

"Go in," He moves away from the door.

"Thank you, Douglas."

She rushes in the room.

….

….

….

"Detective Rosita Espinosa," She announces when her eyes meet Eugene's, "We talked last night."

Eugene hesitates to answer. The conversation with Rick is fresh in his mind.

"I don't remember," Eugene stammers.

Eugene grabs the button to call the nurse. He suspiciously stares at Rosita. The video of Rick flaying a man crosses Eugene's brain, and he feels like throwing up. Eugene's mouth has a sour aftertaste. He sweats, and he cannot breathe.

"It doesn't matter if you don't remember." Rosita retorts. She picks a chair, and she pulls it toward the hospital bed. "I remember what you said. I killed the wrong man. I wanted to kill Shane Walsh. Shane Walsh has curly hair and blue eyes. What else did you want to say?"

Eugene looks at Rosita, and he wonders if she will tell Rick that they must kill him. Rick's words resonate in his mind. Eugene's grip around the nurse button tightens.

"I want my lawyer," Eugene whispers.

Rosita disregards it, and she leans closer to Eugene. She appears menacing, and Eugene screams. She quickly covers his mouth, and he bites her. Rosita keeps Eugene's mouth covered.

"Don't play dumb," She threatens him, "I know you're lying." Rosita continues to speak. "You remember telling me..." A cry of pain ends Rosita's statement.

She looks at her bleeding finger.

"Help!" Eugene shouts while he repeatedly presses on the call button. "Help." He continues to yell.

The door opens, and Douglas grabs Rosita by the waist. He lifts her from the floor, and he drags her away from Eugene.

"What the fuck are you doing?" He shoves her out of the room. "Check on him, "Douglas turns to talk to the nurse who has responded to the call.

Rosita recognises her as one of the many nurses who Rick selected to care for Eugene. She knows Rick would receive a report. The nurse rushes to Eugene, and she checks on him.

"Out, Espinosa." Officer Douglas forces her out of the doorframe, "You know I have to report this."

Rosita does not care for what he says, and she angrily walks away.


"Detective Grimes."

Rick draws a deep breath, and he raises his head to meet Philip Blake. He looks around him, and Philip begins to walk away. Rick grinds his teeth. He does not know how long he would care for the farce. He hates playing the role of the lap dog.

However, He follows Philip as the man implicitly asked.

"This ain't the right time," Rick tells Philip when they stop by his luxurious car.

"Climb in before you start ranting in a public place," The governor orders.

"You should have thought of the fucking people around before showing up unannounced at my workplace." Rick retorts, and he is tired of acting as a meek man.

He only needed to deal with Philip to have access at Andrea Harrison. Now, he has a new problem to solve. Rick could care less for the man or his complot to take over the mob scene in Atlanta. Rick has no choice but to continue with this game. Philip is a loose end.

"You lost your wife," Philip says with condescendence.

"And my partner," Rick adds while he climbs in the governor car.

"A corrupt cop, a mob boss, and a man who fucked your wife...Are you always so mild?"

Philip begins to drive away from the police station. They ultimately stop at a gated community, which resemble Rick's previous hideout.

"Nice place," Rick mumbles.

Philip smiles, and he parks in what Rick believes to be his garage.

"A quiet community," Philip agrees," Woodbury is what Atlanta could be without the mob."


Rick follows Philip in the suburban home. He has a moment to decide on what to do next. He already pictures Philip's next move.

"Whisky, scotch, or vodka," Philip offers while he pours a glass of scotch for himself.

"No thanks," Rick pretends to ignore what would follow the civilised conversation.

"Straight in his boots," Philip puts his hand on Rick's shoulder, and he laughs. "Never broke the law," He closes the distance between Rick and him. "You remind me of myself, a conniving bastard." Philip drives his knee in Rick's abdomen. "What do you want Rick Grimes?"

Philip lifts Rick's chin. He forces Rick to look in his eyes. Rick coughs to regain his breath. As soon as he can breathe, Philip adds another kick. For good measure, he repeatedly hits Rick until he is breathless on the floor.

"What do you want, Rick Grimes?" The governor kneels to grab Rick's jaws, "Who sent you?"

Rick coughs, and he resists the impulse to kill Philip. He struggles to roll on his side.

"You fucking force me into this mess," Rick breathes out in pain. "Stupid discourse about saving this hell hole." He coughs.

"Now, Grimes?" Philip moves toward the chimney. He grabs the stoker, and he slams Rick's leg multiple times.

Rick cries in pain, and he patiently waits for the bone to break.

"Who sent you?" Philip repeats.

"Fucking no one," Rick replies, and he begins to drag himself away from the governor.

"Alright!" Philip drops the stoker, "It was necessary to establish that." He says before walking out of the room

A few minutes later, Philip returns with ice, which he offers to Rick with a smile.

"Would you consider accepting my apology?" He charmingly asks while he helps Rick to stand. " We are never too careful. Some necessary things are unpleasant to do, but as I said necessary." He continues, "Scotch, whisky, or vodka." He adds while he extends a tumbler to Rick.

"Whisky," Rick grudgingly takes the tumbler.

"I pictured you as a man who prefered vodka." Philip adopts a mundane tone. "Again I was wrong about you, Rick."

Rick silently rethinks about the ways to approach this insane man.

"Did you fuck me up to know what alcohol I like?" Rick fails to hide his frustration.

"No," Philip replies, "One of my men appears dead at your precinct, and then Shane Walsh forces me out of the shadows. Morales is the prime suspect for your case. I'm an intelligent man, Rick." He finishes his tirade.

Rick drains his tumbler, and he attempts to stand.

"Shane and Merle worked together on Anthony's disappearance." Rick retorts, "That leads to the saviors' door. Shane and Merle are dead." He continues, "It does not take a PhD to figure out that Negan killed them. It sounds like he is coming for the concurrence. I ain't stupid too."

Philip chuckles, and he refills Rick's tumbler. He sits by Rick.

"Loose ends," Philip sighs, "I don't like loose ends." He pursues, "Thank you for showing me the errors of my way."

Rick ultimately manages to stand, and he could care less for Philip's monologue.

"I should have tried to know you better, Richard," The governor speaks after emptying his glass. "Son of a cop, father of a young boy who would become an orphan because daddy is a goody-two-shoe."

Rick returns to sit.

"Good boy," Philip shows his amusement. "Necessary things, Richard."

"What do you want?"

"You're going to do your job and get Negan out of my way. You're going to cover my footprints." Philip replies, "Have a good day, detective Grimes."

Rick stands, and he looks at Philip, who has ultimately revealed to Rick what power he holds. Philip has no reach to anyone of position in law enforcement. Philip Blake has no immunity, and Rick cannot wait to use that opening.

"And Morales?" Rick asks.

"You should not concern yourself," Philip replies, "I have my way with loose ends."

…..

Rick stares at his watch while he quickly empties his plastic cup of coffee. Rosita places files on his desk. He raises his head to look at her.

Rick shows his annoyance with a long sigh. Rick watches Rosita ignore his hint, and she pulls the chair opposed to him.

"Why are we waiting?" She inquires with exasperation.

Rick compresses the plastic cup. He pinches his nose and draws a deep breath.

"Tyrese told me the shit you made," Rick deadpans, " If only you stopped there, I would understand." He continues with growing disappointment.

Rick studies Rosita to catch her reaction to his words. He perceives the conceited details. When she decides to lie, he watches the thought appear. Rick regretfully realises his mistakes. Tyrese did not exaggerate the situation. Rosita is a variable, which can ruin his meticulous planning.

"How long have you been on the force?" Rick achieves to feign the kindness.

He picks one of the files, which Rosita brought to his desk. He recognises Shane's handwriting, and he fails to feel an ounce of remorse. It suddenly bothers Rick how detached he is to the situation. Collateral damage, His lifelong friend is nothing but collateral damage, and Rosita might become one too. Perhaps, Michonne is right. He needs saving. Rick shakes his head to clear his ridiculous thought.

"Seven years in three months," Rosita draws Rick's attention with her answer.

Rick smiles, and Rosita begins to lose her defensive stance. It is a puppeteer art. Rick carefully begins to pull on the right string. He does not want to misuse Rosita's apparent infatuation. He understands the need for balance and the implication of playing on her affection.

"Let me guess this is your first big case. The case, which is going to solidify your file when you want to join the FBI, is Anthony's murder." He waits for her silent confirmation. "I fucked up my first big case. Nothing as stupid as what you did, and I was suspended for not knowing my place. I allowed my ego to talk louder than my common sense. Do you think it is what you're doing?" He finishes speaking.

In a glance, Rick analyses Rosita's indignation.

"My instincts..."

"We all have instincts, Espinosa," Rick interrupts her with a voice dripping with disappointment. "We don't allow them to fuck up months of work." He pursues, "Do you understand how big this case is? Do you understand that I lost my wife and partner?"

Rick leaves his chair, and he throws the file on the table. He has yet to recover from Philip's assault. He attempts to regulate his breathing. Rick leans toward Rosita. He is so close she could steal the breath from his lips. Although his proximity means nothing, Rosita can feel Rick's wall rising. She feels magnetically drawn to him. Rick immediately moves out of her reach when he senses that she leans toward him.

"What was so important that you went looking for a drugged suspect recovering from surgery?" He inquires, "What mysterious key did you expect to find by assaulting him in a hospital room?" Rick sounds furious, and yet too charming for Rosita to react in ways, which would displease him. "You first interrogate a suspect when he is not in mind to answer, and then you almost torture him. What would get you to do that?"

"Michonne," Rosita admits without a thought, and it is a reflex of her ego.

"Michonne?"

For a second, Rosita observes Rick. Hidden behind many layers of charm, she catches glimpses of vicious nature. Rosita lacks the range to come to the same conclusion as Michonne. However, she sees enough to question who Rick Grimes is. The answer may frighten her, which is why she refuses further to explore the thought.

"Shane was obsessed with her," Rosita announces. Rick remains unimpressed. "He was obsessed with you too," She pulls pictures from the files on the table. "But it's not the shittiest part. Do you want to know what the shittiest bit is?"

Rick raises an eyebrow to encourage her to pursue her line of thought. He understands what she implies. Rosita is too young to reign on her jealousy. She has an ego, which will ruin her career and his life if he does not keep at the end of a tight leash.

"Love obsession," She expects Rick to negate in some form. Rick chuckles, and he is unfazed. "I worked on enough crimes of passion to know when jealousy is the motive. I met enough femme fatale, and it all fits. Shane is the jealous lover. Michonne is the femme fatale. Who are you in this mess, Rick Grimes?" She flawlessly delivers her question.

Rick smirks, and he picks Michonne's picture. He delicately sets it on top of the files.

"She is beautiful," He quietly says, "It almost makes sense that we would be doing crazy shit for her. Shane certainly did." He admits. "And yet, you are off." Rick deadpans.

"Am I?"

"I'm the betrayed husband." Rick corrects Rosita, "You have mixed your stories." He goes to the coffee machine, and he returns with two cups. "

"The triangle is Shane, Lori, and I." Rick offers a cup to Rosita, "Your instinct missed the obvious. Do you not find it odd that my wife was at his bedside so late at night?" He points out, "They were fucking," Rick deadpans. "The entire station knew, my son witnessed it, and I found out. Lori and I were getting a divorce."

Rosita has the decency to feel embarrassed.

"Perhaps, you should look into your case without bias." Rick chastises her. "Shane has an obsession for Michonne, and she told us as much if you bothered to listen. It was money-related. Her husband screwed a few people. Shane might be a corrupted cop, and I might be too. You should look into our old cases. Nothing comes out of the ordinary until Anthony's case. You should do your job and look into Mike Anthony's disappearance." Rick explains as he picks a file from his desk. "Here."

"I'm sorry about..."

Rick interrupts Rosita's apology.

"Sorry won't cut it," Rick stands, and he picks his files, "We had to cut a deal with Eugene after what you did. A piece of shit who killed a cop got police protection and fewer years in prison. You give him the power to accuse the entire precinct of abuse of power and unlawful method. Jones could have your head. Your police career is dead." He continues to speak, "You're going to shut up about your instinct and be happy I like you enough to cover your mess. Don't make me regret this, and prove how good your instincts can be." Rick taps on the file of Mike's disappearance. "Get on it."

He leaves before Rosita can utter a word. Although, he does not need to look back to know she will be like a dog with a bone. Rosita would dig some much that she would encounter Philip Blake's skeletons.

Hours after Rick's departure, Rosita hesitates. She feels as if she must prove her worth to Rick Grimes. She picks the files, which Rick left on her desk. At first read, there are many inconsistencies. The covering of footprint is apparent. Merle is unavailable for the explanation, and all fingers begin to point toward Morales.


Rick attempts to enter the house quietly. He hopes everyone is asleep. After his day, Rick does not care for human interaction. He only wants to lick his wounds. He makes it to the staircase when the living room's lights pour in the room.

"Juliette was right," Michonne yawns. " You can't sneak around this house." She continues while she leaves her spot on the sofa. She immediately hugs Rick when he is at arms reach. "We need to talk about your ugly habits never to call to say you're alive."

When she tightens her hug, Rick winces. He rapidly breaks the hug. Michonne suspiciously eyes Rick, and she grabs his shirt before he can move out of her reach. She pushes the hem up, and the bruises maim his abdomen. Michonne passes her finger on redden and hot skin.

"Rick?" Michonne inhales to retrieve a semblance of calm, "It's not worthy." She continues with a tone meant to end the conversation.

"Keep your head in the game, Princess," Rick utters the words with nonchalance, which unsettles Michonne. "Stop thinking with your heart or your pussy whatever." He displays frustration and annoyance. "These are fucking bruise, not bullet holes."

Michonne looks at Rick, and her expression of concern turns in anger. She shoves Rick out of her way. Michonne begins to climb the stairs, but she stops and returns to end what Rick is so eager to start.

"It's not my fault if no one loved you the right way, not your bitchy wife, and surely not the many whores who graced your bed." Michonne's forefinger furiously stabs Rick's chest after each word.

"What do you know about loving you the right way? Of course, you're used to being adored. I have done nothing else since I met you, and the other men in your life must have done the same. A fucking princess, I forget how well suited that nickname is." Rick retorts.

"I'm not an angsty teen, Richard." Michonne sighs, and she begins to walk away. Rick grabs her forearm, and he pulls her back. "I'm not playing this game. I won't fall into this." She quickly points at the space between them.

Rick closes the distance. He appears bigger than she has come used to see him. He almost threateningly looms over Michonne.

"Well," He says with an edge to his voice, "if you have shit to say, air it out, Princess." Rick insists on keeping the argument going.

"I didn't force you to kill your best friend, and I certainly didn't ask or wish your wife death." Michonne does not fret a second, "You want to be angry at anyone. There is a full-size mirror in the bathroom." She continues without missing a bit, and her words have no other intent than to eviscerate Rick, "Deal with the choice you made because you wanted a whole life with your sons and me. I didn't ask." She insists and repeats her last sentence. "I will ask you to stop in a breath, and I will be out of these doors with Andre and Carl before you can think of a fucked up way to deal with your grief. I'm in love with you, but I'm not stupid." Michonne finishes her tirade breathless.

Rick recognises that she is not bluffing. Michonne wants to leave, but he keeps a firm grip on her arm.

"Chonne," Rick softly whispers, and he drags her to him. "I'm scared, and I'm angry." He confesses," I'm an asshole. I'm only used to being a fucking bastard." He draws a deep breath, and Michonne's soft scent invades his lungs.

Rick allows his body to sink, and he drags Michonne to the ground with him. He tightly holds her, and so he cannot worry that she might bolt out of the house.


His body comes to cover her like a blanket.

"I'm sorry," He whispers in the hole of her ears.

Rick's nose lingers on the curve of her neck. Rick changes Michonne's position. He makes her face him. He slides his thumb on her lips, and he voraciously kisses her. Their tongues recklessly spare, and his teeth graze her lips. She can feel his need, and his manhood pressed on her bare thigh.

Rick can taste cooper on her red-stained lips after biting too deeply into her lower lip. He suavely kisses the ache away. She is equally needy with her touches.

Michonne is aware of the place. It is a small corner by the stair, and any passing soul might see them. Each sound draws her attention. Rick does not appear to care for voyeurs.

"Rick," She whispers. "Everyone is awake."

"At this exact moment, I want to be between your legs," He says as he draws the zipper of his pants, and he pushes up the hem of her dress.

The untamed needs, which for long defined their relationship, prevail. They need a reminder of the reason why fate threw them together. The tender caresses are unnecessary. Bruising grips, bites, and marks that will fade matter more than sweet nothing.

His teeth nibble at the junction of her shoulder and her neck.

Michonne pulls back, and Rick retakes her lips to silence further questions. He passionately touches Michonne. Rick' touch communicates an urgency, and yet caution coexists with his gripping needs. With their bodies melted as one, Rick restores a needed connection. They remain clothed, and modesty exists in the act. The lights dance on the few inches of bare skin.

He maintains her hands pinned above her head, and He touches and explores her skin with his tongue. He pushes her baby doll high enough to reveal her panty. Although his touch is frenzied and almost aggressive, they retain a sense of love and intimacy.

With one vigorous thrust, Rick enters Michonne's walls. He grunts at the sensation, and she is tight and warm. Her fists cling on the fabric of his shirt. With each thrust, pleasure invades Michonne.

Her inner core swallows all of him. He wants to fuck her as much as she wants him to do it. She almost regrets that the semi-darkness around that piece of the floor, and she wants to see him as he stretches her cunt.

She burns his expression in her mind. His visage possesses something haunting, and she kisses him to hold on his mind. Michonne's fingertips draw the lines of his back.

Her nails claw at the fabric of his shirt. Her forefinger flirts with the bridge of his nose. In his dishevelled curls, her hands disappear. Rick pulls away from her exploring hand, and he repined her hands. He needs a form of control. Foreplay and other kind acts of sensuality do not belong in a moment dictated by brute needs to dominate.

When he kisses her, it is out of necessity. The burning thirst for Michonne is hysterical. Rick devours her mouth, he consumes her with each tongue stroke, and he tastes Michonne with each kiss.

Rick allows Michonne the same virulence in her caresses. Michonne's kisses are to scrap her tongue of his taste.

Completion does not seem to be the goal of these frantic love making. When her orgasm comes, it is as violent. Michonne's teeth sink in Rick' shoulder with a muffled cry to express her satiation. Rick frees Michonne's hands. He thrusts again until he comes. Rick' seed stains her glistening skin and the hem of her baby doll.

They regain normal breathing while he remains inside her. The daze of sex vanishes with each fleeting second. She unclasps her teeth from his shoulder.


After a few minutes of silence, Rick pulls his cock out Michonne. He rolls to the side, and he draws a deep breath. When she wants to stand, He grabs her waist, and he drags her to him.

"I have been at this crossroad before," Rick kisses the crown of Michonne's head. "We had financial issues, or more like Lori wanted a life she deserved. It turns into little fights here and there. Carl was in the middle." He explains while he searches for a reason to have this conversation. "And so I took a bribe. It solved the issues for as long as the money was coming. I took a second bribe, the third, and then the fourth. I met Deanna Monroe. She saw it in me. I could be barbaric. I enjoyed the insanity and brutality of the mob."

Rick casually smirks.

"I plunged into the business. I killed Deanna the same way I did my first hit. Shaky hand and sweating, I loved almost as I did my mama, but I love the business more." He murmurs with an inexplicably appealing tone.

He stares at the ceiling. Rick feels light, and he has never thought long enough on what it meant to leave the mob behind him.

"I threw up, and It felt like the good in me came out too. I'm not getting it back. The last bit of a good, thoughtful, and caring Rick Grimes has vanished. The man, who you want to save, no longer exists. Shane and Lori's deaths make me realise that violence buried the kindness in me." He kisses Michonne's shoulder. "I'm all there is. You're going to notice eventually. You're in love with the idea of saving me, but there is nothing to save. I'm angry because once it is over, I'm all there is. I'm scared that you would leave. Perhaps, go now, and so I don't lose everything now." Rick finishes, and he frees Michonne from his hold.

"I married a man who needed me to be a better man. I failed him in a way, and I was never happy with Mike. I'm terrified, but you don't scare me. Frankly, I don't care who you kill. I stopped carrying along the way." She admits, "I know you." Michonne cradles Rick's face. "You're a murderous asshole and a terrible person. You get shit done." She tenderly kisses his lips. "When this chapter is over, you will remain Rick Grimes. Juliette and Carlton's son. Carl's father, Andre's appointed chair and his father. You will be the man I love. If I need to figure out how to love Rick Grimes semi-decent family guy, I would. So please, don't die on me, my love."

Rick passionately kisses Michonne, and he carefully cradles her face.

"I love you."

"Try to remember when you try me again," Michonne laughs.

"Say it back," Rick nibbles her neck. "I love you."

"I know," She cheekily says," on other things that I know, Carl is awake. He needs to see his father."

"I'm scared," Rick confesses.

"I know," Michonne replies.

She stands, and she helps Rick up. They part ways on the top of the stairs. Rick heads toward Carl's room, and Michonne returns to her room where Andre sleeps.

Rick fills his lungs, and he knocks at Carl's door.

Ps: Don't forget to wash your hands for twenty seconds at least. If you use hand sanitizers, make sure it is at least 60% ethanol content.