Nine

"This is insanity." Ezekiel proclaimed.

"Tell me about it."

"What has befallen you into accepting counsel from Shane?"

Rick bowed his head and raised a hand. "That's a good question."

Rick was in the break room at work with his partner Zeke trying to grab their umpteen cup of coffee for the day before heading back out on patrol in King County.

"You departed King County on a quest?"

"Yeah."

"What were your plans for fruition? Surely, it wasn't to receive direction from our brother in arms."

"Sure wasn't, but I'm conflicted now." Rick rubbed his face. "Michonne may not be with her boyfriend anymore, well at least for now. But he made it clear, he plans on winning her back."

"Michonne is an intelligent woman and she will see the optimal choice."

Rick smirked and placed his hands on his gun belt. "And that's me?"

"Aww, Rick Grimes of Alexandria is indeed a catch." the two men chortled.

"But what about Jessie? I know this is crazy but I spoke to Carl and he says I should just dump her and go after Michonne."

Ezekiel smiled. "The lad may be a bit crass in his approach but…of the two ladies, you have to see one as the fulfillment for your pursuit of happiness."

Rick rubbed his temple. "But what if I'm wrong? I thought Lori-"

"That was a journey you had to take to bring your son to you, to know what you truly desire to be merry." Rick just nodded and continued to listen.

"You are a man of integrity and respect; you have to follow your heart on this. I promise, it won't lead you astray."

"I've just got to figure out when and how to get it done." he exhaled.

"Sooner rather than later, you've got a lotta lost time to make up for."

Zeke bellowed out a laugh while Rick merely smirked before his cellphone vibrated in his pocket. He removed it and showed the name that displayed on the screen to his friend.

"Take your call, I'll take my leave and check on some paperwork."

"Thanks Zeke."

Rick slid the screen to accept the call after he took a deep breath. "Hey Jessie."

"Rick." he could immediately hear the frantic tone of her voice.

"Everything alright?"

"No, Sam and I were building this owl sculpture in our garage and someone must have broken in while we were gone and destroyed it."

"What, did you call the police?"

"Yes, they were here and searched the house but nothing was out of place. They took my statement and a detective will follow up soon."

"Are you okay? The boys?"

"Yes, we are fine. We weren't home but we are just a little rattled. Stuff like this never happens here."

Rick tried to lighten the mood. "Well, you got any enemies? You know anybody who hates owls?"

Jessie giggled. "It's probably just a prank or something."

"Hopefully, is there anything that I can do?"

"Well, could you come by and maybe… stay over? It would really help me just knowing you were here."

"Uh Jessie, I don't really think we are quite at that stage yet."

"Oh, I completely understand. We should take our time; you could sleep on the couch."

"It isn't just that; I have Carl with me for a few days plus my mom is coming over."

"Oh, I didn't even think about that since you usually have Carl on the weekends." she exhaled.

"Yeah, his mother needed to switch."

"Wow and your mom. I haven't seen her since we were first dating, how is she?"

"She's doing good. She's just swinging by to spend some time with her grandson and see my new place."

"Well, don't forget to let her know what items I helped picked out."

"I will. Look, I could put in a call to Kennesaw PD and ask them as a courtesy to place someone outside your home tonight."

"Oh, no that's not necessary. The home alarm people are coming to see why it didn't go off."

"That's good. Jessie, I need to get back to work."

"Oh sorry, you go ahead."

"I'll check on you and the boys later."

"I look forward to hearing from you tonight, Rick."

'Hey Michonne, r u home?'

'Hey Carl, yes I am. What's up?'

'Could u come by? I wanna show u something.'

'Sure, give me a few minutes.'

'np'

Michonne was at her desk going through her lesson plan for the following week when she received Carl's texts. Truthfully, she was just staring off into the distance because she had so much on her mind. Planning her monthly class instruction was supposed to help her focus on anything else besides her current circumstance but it was just boring her at this point. A break was in order.

She had on her traditional weekend attire even though it was a Tuesday evening, leggings and a tank top. She threw on a light cardigan before stepping into her slippers, sliding her keys in her pocket and heading across the hall. She didn't get a chance to even knock before the door opened.

"Oh my god! Your eye wasn't all wonky under there!"

"I know, right!"

Michonne and Carl laughed as he invited her inside.

"When did you get the patch off?" Michonne examined his newly exposed face while he snickered.

"This morning."

"See that is a good face."

"Almost as good as my Dad's?" Carl profiled for her and she realized just how much he favored his father.

Michonne smirked then playfully swatted his arm.

"I'd say better." a southern woman's voice interrupted them and Michonne looked over to see an older lady with a sliver of grey hair sat in the living room.

"Michonne, this is my Grandma Annalee." Michonne and Carl walked over as the woman stood from her seat in the recliner.

"Hi, I'm Michonne. I'm their next door neighbor, nice to meet you, ma'am." Michonne put her hand out to shake but instead the woman patted it with her soft hands before pulling her into a gentle hug.

"It's nice to meet you Michonne. My grandson here has been singing your praises all morning. He couldn't wait for you to see that his eye patch was successfully removed. I figured he shouldn't have to wait on my account so I told him to go ahead and invite you over. Please have a seat."

Michonne sat on the couch across from the woman that had a softer shade of the blue eyes the Grimes men possessed.

"It's nice meeting you too, Ma'am." then she smirked at Carl who hid his face in his long hair before sitting next to her.

"Just call me Anna, dear."

"I will." Michonne nodded before turning to the teen. "I'm happy for you Carl."

"Thanks, it'll be so much easier reading your comics with both eyes." they all chuckled before turning to see Rick enter the room. Michonne assumed he must've taken the day off to take Carl to the doctor today since he wore tight black jeans and a plaid button up shirt that made her want to stare harder than she already was.

"Michonne?"

"Hi, Rick."

"Not that I'm not glad you are here, but how?" Rick looked around happily surprised.

"I had Carl invite her over. The way he was going on about her this morning, I just had to the meet this woman. Plus the way you got all flustered-"

'Cough cough'

Rick began to fake choke to end his mother's statement and Carl chortled.

"So you see Carl's eye is all good."

"Yes, we were just talking about it." Michonne stared at Carl's face harder. "And I never noticed before, you are starting to grow a little peach fuzz."

Rick skidded over and the two smiled while scrutinizing the boy's face making him flush and retreat further into his hair.

"Please no, next thing he'll be walking around here like my son. I wish Rick would cut that beard down lower. What do you think Michonne?"

Michonne could tell that Rick immediately got nervous when she turned her attention to him since he stood up straight. But she would not be deterred so she stood as well and came over to gaze at his face as she pinched her chin. She had to do something with her hands because they were itching to touch him again but present company warranted her measured behavior.

"You may be right Anna." she cheekily pondered. "Your face is losing the war."

Michonne watched as Rick couldn't fight the smirk and giggle from emanating.

"So how could you think my son's more handsome than my grandbaby? You can't even see his face properly."

Michonne laughed at Rick's dejected facial expression.

"Anyways, Michonne would you like something to drink?"

"Sure, I'll take an iced tea if you have it."

"You know I do, you were just in my fridge the other day." Rick smirked.

"That was days ago, I don't know your daily beverage consumption." Michonne impishly squinted her eyes at him.

"Oh, can you get me a refill too, Son?"

"Of course, Mom." Rick retrieved his mother's glass from the coffee table.

"Me three." Carl added.

Michonne shrugged. "I'll help."

"You're the guest."

"Not according to you." Rick chuckled. "It's fine."

Michonne followed Rick to the kitchen and watched while he rinsed more glasses for the addition drinks he needed to pour.

"Umm, I just want to thank you for helping out with that situation the other day. Carl told me you got Mike to leave."

"It was nothing."

"No, I appreciate it. I'm just sorry Carl had to witness it." she looked to the boy that was searching for a movie on the TV while he spoke to his grandmother.

"He's fine, he was ready to jump into action for you. So was I."

"You too?" Michonne questioned a now frazzled Rick who nearly spilled the beverage he was pouring.

"Um yeah, it's…it's-"

"The whole cop thing." she offered to unwind him.

"Yeah, plus you are Carl's new best friend." they both laughed while Rick put the jug back.

After Michonne sobered. "I ended it and he's not taking it well."

"You ended it?"

"Yeah, it was about time."

"I'm sorry."

"I'm not." Michonne took a sip of her drink while she watched Rick fight the grin from appearing on his lips.

"Remember what we were talking about that day?"

"About being in that place?"

"Yes, I call it 'The Meantime'."

"The meantime?"

"Yes, when you become complacent. It looks good on paper but you never really connected. There's no spark but you stubbornly hold on to something. You only really realize when you are out of it because the prospect of what you could truly have will be awesome."

"Hmm…" Michonne watched as Rick bit his lip making her blood flow.

"Maybe we have to do that so we can appreciate the right thing."

"Awesome, huh?"

Michonne just nodded while he quickly looked to Carl.

"Let's take your Mom her drink before all the ice melts."

"Right."

"Have you made any friends here in Kennesaw, Carl?" his grandmother inquired and Rick exhaled deeply because he knew what was coming.

"Dad made me hangout with this kid and it was the worst."

"What kid?" Annalee asked while Michonne listened.

"Dad's friend Jessie has two sons and one of them is my age. So you know that means we will be best friends." Carl huffed making the ladies giggle.

"I never said you'd be best friends, I just figured he'd show you around town. Introduce you to some of his friends and you'd feel more comfortable here. Nothing's wrong with that, right?" Rick looked for some backing.

"If you want my advice as a teacher, that almost never works. Kids have to create their own circles, Carl's new here but he'll find his people in due time."

"See Dad."

"Fine, no more playdates." Rick jested.

"Well, what exactly went wrong?" asked Anna.

"He took me to the mall!"

"The mall?" Michonne's face scrunched up.

"Thank you!" Carl exclaimed.

"What's wrong with the mall? I thought that's where the kids all hang out."

"You clearly loved 80's teen movies, Rick." Michonne snickered. "Nobody really hangs out at the mall anymore. You go get what you need, eat a pretzel and get out."

"Ron did have one friend, Mikey that said he had an attic with videogames and comics but everyone else said that was lame. That was never going to be my circle."

"Once again, I'm sorry."

"Don't worry Carl, you are my handsome grandson and you will make friends when you are good and ready." Carl blanched but accepted the compliment.

"Michonne, we have been having such a lovely conversation but I'm going to retire for the evening. But I hope to see you again. Richard, can you help me get settled?" Annalee stood and Carl came over to kiss her cheek.

"Oh, sure." Rick raised an eyebrow.

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight." Michonne returned while she watched the woman and Rick head down the hallway.

Before they could get to the master bedroom they could hear Michonne and Carl beginning a lively conversation about the comics of hers he had read so far.

"Uh, I showed you the bedroom and put your overnight bag in here earlier, was there something I forgot?" Rick looked around puzzled.

His mother raised an eyebrow and muttered. "Is that Jessie from high school Carl was referring to?"

"Yeah." Rick fidgeted with his beard.

"How'd you run into her after all this time?"

"At the supermarket, she actually lives here in Kennesaw."

"Oh, so you are simply friends?" she placed her hands on her hips.

"Umm-"

"Richard…"

"What's wrong with Jessie?"

"Jessie was a nitwick."

"Mom?"

"I'm sorry she was. That's why I didn't care about your dating of her in high school because I knew college was coming soon and she'd be off."

"Really?"

His mother closed the bedroom door so she didn't have to whisper anymore. "I just kept my fingers crossed that you didn't do something stupid like get her pregnant."

"You didn't have to worry about that, at all."

"Good. Jessie's just a Lori replicate." Rick's jaw dropped.

"But that Michonne, she is lovely."

"Yes-"

"And look how wonderfully her and Carl get along."

"I know-"

"Don't you think she is beautiful?"

"I do but-"

"No buts Richard. Figure out how to untangle yourself from Jessie this time, I did it the first time."

"I-"

"You are charming and more charismatic than you know. Woo Michonne."

"Mom, I-"

"Son, I just want to see you happy. Is that too much for a mother to ask?"

"No, it's not." Rick pinched the bridge of his nose. "I will figure this out."

"Good, night son."

"Goodnight, Mom." Rick went over to peck her cheek before he left the room.

When he returned to the living room, he found Michonne and Carl nearing the front door.

"You leaving?" Rick tried to hide his disappointment.

"Yeah, I was working on my lesson plan before I came over. I need to finish that up and get myself ready for bed, work in the morning."

"Yeah, me too. Plus, I have to drop Carl to school on the way in so he can make his big reveal."

"Right, I bet you will have new admirers all over you, what with the whole new eye and peach fuzz." Michonne added making Carl turn beet red.

Rick snickered as his son's discomfort.

"Later Michonne." they watched the teenager evade further jokes by retreating to his bedroom.

Rick decided to use some of that charm his mother spoke of. "It was great spending time with you again."

"Yeah, it was." Michonne stepped forward and quickly hugged him. Even though the contact was brief, Rick could smell the sweet scent from her hair invading his nostrils and he wanted to lean in for more but she had already pulled way timidly.

He watched as she hastily opened the door for them to see a huge bouquet of flowers sat at on her doorstep. They both knew exactly where they'd come from when she stepped out into the hall to pick them up.

"He said he wasn't giving up."

"Did he?" Michonne rolled her eyes and turned her doorknob to Rick's surprise.

"I think you should start carrying your keys and locking your door."

"You sound like Daryl."

Rick raised a hand to gesture. "It would give me and Carl some piece of mind but it's just a suggestion."

"I'll consider it, Officer Friendly." Michonne winked at him, sending chills threw his body.

"Have a goodnight Michonne."

"Goodnight Rick."

Michonne stepped inside with her delivery, Rick closing his apartment door after she was in and he heard her lock click. He sighed when he thought about the fact that Mike was indeed still trying to weasel his way back in, which highly annoyed him.

Rick walked to his linen closet and got his bedding out for a night on the couch while he mused. Every time he was around Michonne, the flame just grew hotter. At first, he thought he could squash the desire with chaste connections but every time they briefly touched, it was just ignited a blaze for her.

After his conversation with Ezekiel, he was planning on strategizing then having a talk with Jessie but now that she was in distress it seemed like the wrong time, so he'd wait a while longer. Assuredly, he could do that. But the way his body was responding to Michonne, even though he fought it, was undeniable.