Chapter Ten
Rick was once again plunging into Michonne's depths. He had gone to relieve himself and the site of the sunlight creeping over the parts of Michonne's skin that weren't under the white sheet just drew him in.
It was just supposed to be a few shoulder kisses once he climbed back beside her. But Michonne was so responsive to his ministrations that he decided to touch. That lead to rubbing then fondling and next thing he was inside her.
Michonne rubbed his hair as they kissed over her shoulder. They remained on their sides and Rick lifted her leg to gain access. They moved together without any need to rush. They weren't in a closet or sneaking in the academy for once.
Something was different about this sex, it was easy. It was satisfying another part of him. He cared deeply about this woman; he was invested in her outcome. He wanted her to win and if giving himself to her helped, well that's what he wanted.
Rick hadn't exactly been overflowing with his hang-ups but he could sense something with her though. She was still holding back a piece of herself. He felt it even as she pushed back into him and said his name sweetly.
Their bodies didn't have a problem moving together in reciprocity of pleasure. Rick nipped at the back of her shoulder, knowing now that her back was an erogenous zone. He watched Michonne close her eyes and open her mouth just as her climax struck.
He kept up his languid movements and the cosmos erupted behind his eyelids. Rick planted light kisses on her neck. But remained inside her not ready to break the connection. They dozed back off spooning.
~~~
When Rick arose, he looked at his watch and sadly he had to go. He'd told Lori that he'd be spending the day with Carl before this date was planned. He slowly unraveled careful to not wake Michonne and headed to the bathroom to freshen up before he dressed.
He came to sit on the bed in front of her.
"Michonne." he whispered.
"Hmm…?"
"I gotta go."
"No, stay..." She whined half asleep.
It broke his heart that she was showing him a vulnerable side, but he really had to go. He didn't want to be the type of dad that got their kid all excited and flaked out on them.
"Carl is waiting for me. I wish I could." Michonne opened her eyes slowly.
"No, of course. I understand. Go to Carl." He leaned down and kissed her softly.
"I'll see you soon."
"Okay." She was so beautiful laying there with that after fucked glow. He kissed her temple and reluctantly departed.
~~~
"Dad!"
Carl came barreling out of Rick's former home as Lori stood in the doorway. Rick kneeled to hug his son.
"I missed you buddy."
"Me too Dad." His son squeezed his neck tightly.
"Carl! Carl, be good for your Dad." Lori called after him.
"I will."
Rick stood and took his hand and headed to his jeep, placing Carl in the back seat.
"What are we gonna do today?"
"I was thinking we could start off with an early matinee at that small movie theater. They're still playing 'Sky High'."
"Yeah, I didn't get to see it over the summer."
Rick waved to Lori to be hospitable, even though she stood outside as though she'd never see Carl again.
He jumped in his truck and they headed to the movies. Rick always loved hanging out with Carl. He brought lightness and joy to his world.
Carl asked questions non-stop on the way to the theater since he knew talking in the movie was a non starter. Rick let him get popcorn and sour patch kids, even though it was pretty early for candy and junk food. Carl promised to eat them sparingly but Rick didn't care, he just wanted his son to enjoy their time together.
After the movie, which Carl loved, they went to lunch at IHOP. They ate breakfast since Carl complained about Lori's breakfast from that morning.
"This is so good Dad!"
"It is, right."
"Yeah, mom's pancakes are terrible." Rick and Carl had always joked about Lori's cooking.
"I know son, she's trying her best."
"Is she?"
Rick looked at the serious look on his young son's face. Rick could tell where this was headed. They'd had the conversation before.
"I mean at first my friend told me it would be great. Two of everything, two birthday's, two Christmases…but I don't really want all of that." Carl ate another piece of his pancake.
"What do you want?"
"I guess…I just miss seeing you." He said, shrugging his shoulders.
"Me too Buddy."
"I know it's a bad thing to say but…"
"Go ahead." Rick encouraged.
"When you got shot- well after you were asleep for a long time. You were home all the time and it was fun."
"I liked being home with you too. But guess what?"
"What?" Carl stopped mind chew to give his father his full attention.
"I'm buying a condo." Carl's face scrunched up making his freckles look bigger and Rick explained further.
"It's an apartment, that I'll own like a house but with neighbors closer. There's a pool, lake, playground and you'll have your own room. It'll be cool."
"But what about mom?"
"Mom, will stay in the old house and we will both get to spend time with you. My hours at work will be changing pretty soon." Carl smiled and Rick continued.
"So that means more weekends together, I can pick you up from school some days, so more time for fun. What do you think?"
"Cool!"
Rick was happy Carl was beginning to understand more and more. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt his son.
"What are we doing next?" Carl asked, already on to the next thing.
"How about we go to the county park then after hit up the batting cages."
"Yes! Let's go!" Carl jumped up ready to leave.
"Wait, we gotta pay first." He laughed.
~~~
They drove to the huge park that had a big playground, a lake, walking trails, fountains, picnic and barbecue areas.
"Carl, I forgot I have something for you." Rick reached under the front passenger seat.
"Wow!" Rick handed Carl his old sheriff hat.
"You can have it, if…you promise to keep it safe."
"Won't you miss it?"
"I don't use it at the academy so I figured you could grow into it."
Rick placed it on his head. It was clearly too big so Carl tipped it back a little.
"We can pad the rim, so it sits better."
"Thanks Dad."
"I love you." They hugged. "Now let's run around this park."
That's all Rick had to say, and Carl took off. They played tag for a while, taking turns with who was it. Carl's newly acquired hat kept flying off. Damn near went into the lake when the wind caught it. Rick took Carl to the kiddie park and watched him on the monkey bars, slides and swing for a while.
Later they had started walking through the park headed towards the fountains when the wind got under Carl's hat again carrying it further up the path.
"I got it!" Carl yelled as he ran ahead.
"Carl, wait up!"
"It's okay Dad. This lady caught it!"
Rick looked over the horizon to see Michonne standing with Carl, handing him his hat.
Michonne looked over and saw him. They both looked dumbfounded. Carl looking between the two adults.
"Michonne?"
"Hi." She blushed at him.
If he thought the sunrise did magical things to her skin he wasn't prepared for a setting sun. It cast a glow on her skin as though she wore sparkles.
Michonne wore colorful strappy athletic sandals and her bare legs were exposed all the way up to a short orange skort. Her midriff was exposed since she had on a long sleeve white crop top. Her locs were pinned up on one side and flowing down freely on the other.
Rick had stopped home to shower and change after their rendezvous. He just threw on a simple white tee shirt, jeans and his trusty boots. His hair was all tousled from running around with Carl.
"Hey." he hugged her innocently since Carl watched his every move.
"Carl, this is my friend Michonne."
"Hi Carl." She waved at the little boy who waved back.
"Michonne, what's going on?" Maggie was walking down from their blanket that was set up on the grass under a tree.
"Maggie!" Carl ran over to her and wrapped his little body around her as she bent over to reciprocate.
"What are you doing here?" Rick smiled happy to see Michonne.
"Maggie asked us to come out with her today. Sasha and I are probably gonna stay at her place tonight. Believe me, I didn't expect to see you here." Michonne looked down bashfully.
"I'm glad." Rick tilted his head to catch her eye. "I didn't wanna leave this morning so seeing you here is everything."
Michonne gave him that megawatt smile again.
"Rick, come up here!" Maggie yelled to him.
As they walked up the hill the whole group came into view. Glenn, Rosita, Tara and Abe rounded out the group. They had sandwiches, fruit, snacks and drinks. The radio was playing Kelly Clarkson's 'Since U Been Gone'
"Well if it isn't Officer Friendly." Abe bellowed and they shook hands.
"Glenn?" he jumped up and nervously scrambled over to Rick.
"Hey, um- glad to see you." Rick just smirked at his friends turn of events.
"Dad, can we stay here? They have everything." Carl called out to him.
"Naw, I don't wanna interrupt their picnic."
"Oh please, Rick. You know you are welcome, we have plenty." Maggie responded while gesturing to the spread.
"Please Dad-?" he pleaded from Maggie's side, earning a small smile before Rick nodded.
"Sure."
Rick walked over to Michonne, longing to kiss her but instead taking her hand and kissing it as she blushed.
"Hola Guapo." Rosita called to him with a knowing grin, Sasha laughing as he smiled back and waved. Tara came over after she gave Carl some food and a drink.
"Hey, Rick welcome to the family." she extended her fist. Rick looked at it oddly then smiled and bumped it.
He sat next to Michonne on the corner of the blanket munching on grapes.
"Listen…I plan on talking to Carl about me dating soon, I just haven't-"
"Oh, you don't have to rush anything for me Rick. You can take your time." Michonne smiled at him and continued.
"He's a cutie. Awful haircut but still." Rick burst out laughing.
"His mother insists on cutting it herself." They both laughed.
~~~
Eventually Michonne made her rounds with Carl in their own game of tag. Michonne looked to be having so much fun with his son and her friends all watched on too.
Glenn had made his way over to Rick while he stood watching Michonne and Carl's interaction.
"Maggie says she loves me." Glenn whispered to him.
"Hmm." Rick nodded.
"She doesn't mean it. I mean she can't, why? She must be confused, she's probably feeling like-"
"I think she's smart enough to know what's she's feeling." Rick said, cutting him off.
"Nah, nah she wants to be in love."
Rick chuckled, knowing both his friends. "What's the problem?"
"I didn't say it back. We barely know each other. What does she really know about me? Nothing." Glenn paused. "I just stood there like a jerk."
"Hey, hey this is a good thing. Something we don't get enough of these days. Enjoy it and when you get the chance return the favor."
Glenn looked at him and back at the ground. Rick looked over to Michonne again, her and Carl were performing some sort of balancing act. He patted Glenn's arm and made his way over.
"What are you two doing?" Rick asked.
"Winning a bet." Carl responded.
"In your dreams." Michonne added.
Carl tried to wave and distract her.
"Oh, you are a wise guy." Michonne proclaimed. "Carl!" Michonne shouted at him but ended up losing her own balance on purpose.
"I won, pay up." Carl announced and Michonne sighed. She went over to her bag and came back with a Big Kat bar in hand. Rick smiled at the interaction.
"Take it, you won it fair and square." Carl hesitated then took the candy bar unwrapping it. He broke it into two.
"We can share." He offered and Michonne grinned.
"Fork it over." They all laughed together.
~~~
After another hour Rick realized he needed to get Carl home soon, but he wanted a moment alone with Michonne. So while Maggie and Glenn ran him around, Rick took Michonne's hand to help her up. They walked down the path to the fountains.
"See, I told you I would be the highlight of your weekend." Michonne just giggled at his remark.
"I feel like I've done all the heavy lifting. Restaurant, my apartment, my picnic with my friends. Not to mention what I did to you last night and this morning." She raised an eyebrow.
"You might be right." Rick laughed. "You were the highlight to my weekend." Rick sobered and stepped closer to her and she stepped back.
"Rick, we are in the park- in King County."
"Yeah, I don't care."
He took her hand and pulled her to him. He rested his hands on her waist and leaned in only going ninety percent so she'd have to go the ten.
Michonne looked at Rick's face, contemplating before she leaned into kiss him. She raised onto her toes and pushed her tongue into his mouth and Rick moaned.
They didn't want to push it with all the children in the park, so they separated to linger in a hug.
Rick's connection to Michonne had gone in a direction he'd never expected. He thought about his conversation with Glenn. Anyone on the outside may say the same thing about them.
Rick could feel them on the shallow end of the love pool. But how would he get Michonne to trust him to float over to the deep end?