Hello again, my lovelies!

A/N: Once again, thank y'all for staying with me. It's all I can say at this point and it will never be enough for all your words. Just a few quick mentions:

PhillyGirl52: I love writing Sasha and Daryl together! I loved that you loved this chapter and all your reviews, honestly. Thank you!

Courtgirl26: Michonne can really overthink stuff, I wanted to hit her myself (if that makes sense LOL). Thanks for your reviews.

ALDGRichonneLover: I adore your extended reviews, knowing what you guys think and your ideas, I enjoy very much reading you.

Dillie60 and Christina831: you are awesome! Thank you for your reviews ALWAYS!

Joannie's daughter: those two words mean a lot, don't ever think they are just simple words, thank you for taking the time to review!

I could say something to each of you for all your meaningful words, even to those silent readers, but Thanks sums it up.

Now, as promised, here's the next chapter.

Disclaimer: Own nothing from TWD. I'm here just to bring happiness :) and for Richonne, of course.

12. Gravity

The producer looked at them both when the scene was over. Staring in awe and kind of confused. In a minute the group of people behind cameras erupted in applause. Whispers of 'that was really good', 'awesome', and 'great job, guys' were heard at the same time. Michonne just stared at them stupefied because she didn't think it was such a big deal but still mouthed a quiet thanks, while Rick just nodded and got out of the room. Someone yelled 'that's a wrap, people', and the crew started to pack up, still giving congratulatory phrases to Michonne for her performance in that specific scene.

But there was that weird environment again. It's been there the entire time they have been filming for the season and they were past half the episodes. Sam was getting sick of it and he needed to know what the hell was going on. Granted, their performances were still the best he'd seen of them both and as their characters, they were winning in every aspect, but once the cameras stopped rolling they reverted to whatever they were these days, not acting close or like the friends they used to be.

Sam decided he had enough and tried to meddle. Daryl wouldn't say a beep, he was too close to them. Anne declared she had no idea but did notice the way they have been acting towards each other, and that it was not their business anyways. Rick was in the final stage of his divorce or so, which could mean something for his behavior. But what about Michonne?

Sam noticed the crazy chemistry between them since day one. Something was going on, he knew it. He was not judging, everybody was an adult here and it was not affecting their jobs at all but he felt like he had to do something, say something. They were not just actors, they had become his friends too.

It is not my business but alas….

He knocked on Michonne's trailer and after a few seconds, she opened it, surprised to see him there.

"Hey, what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"

"Ha, so funny. Do you have a minute?"

"Sure," she let him in and offered him a seat. Sam was carrying a big binder and gave it to her.

"What's this?"

"The script for the next episode." She hummed and started inspecting the first pages when she stopped and frowned after skimming the first two pages. "Seriously?"

"What? Do you think it needs changes?", he had confided in her skills as a playwright before.

"No, I…", she read the scenes again. "I mean… is it really needed?"

"Yup. I mean, your delivering of that speech was… brilliant, Michonne."

"It was well written, Sam. I was only doing my job."

"Nevertheless…"

"I don't see how that scene is related to this…", she emphasized the word this while pointing at the open binder.

"You gave it the soul it needed; as a playwright, you also have great ideas and I'm always grateful for your contributions and what you bring to the table. The idea of using Rick's character's lines in your own speech was amazing. You are the ones who live, it's just normal that if you are alive you better live."

"In the back of a van?", she squinted at Sam. The intro of the episode was now imprinted in her brain and it was making her dizzy already.

Rick and her.

Having what? Was that an apocalyptical honeymoon? Apparently. This is not good.

"Well, it's the apocalypse. You get what you get."

"Sam, I'm not questioning your writing or anything but… I don't think we are ready to film this."

He just let out a chortle.

"Yes, you are. Both of you, I don't know what is going on, and I want to believe you'd tell me when you are ready if you think I need to know. I can see that something is different between you and Rick, you are both amazing professionals but once all is over and you get back to being yourselves is… just weird, honestly. So, that said, here it is the next episode. You have time to wrap your head around it. If it is something you need to do."

Michonne simply looked at him and nodded absentmindedly. He said goodbye and stepped out. She sat down and looked at the script again. Say yes was written in bold and italics. The intro included scenes of her and Rick… she closed her eyes and rubbed her face.

It was hard enough filming some kissing scenes already. The goodbye kiss at the top of the stairs-she mastered that one, she knew she did. Her character was trying to apologize and let his character know that she was still with him, but she looked at Rick trying to convey the same meaning for their real-life situation. But as it had been happening lately, once it was over, he retreated to his trailer without sharing much. She couldn't say if he got the message.

Then there was the scene from today when they ended up kissing in the cell after her speech. At least, it was dark in there. Why was the lighting always so odd? Maybe I should be grateful? She could still feel how his lips caressed hers, and how he backed her up the wall while she delved her fingers in his hair. It had felt so real. She had felt him so real. It was getting so confusing. And now this? Downright torture.

Just breathe, Michonne. Breathe.

Rick read the script too and smirked. Was it really necessary or Sam was trying to say something? He had been avoiding Michonne. He didn't know what to say to her without sounding desperate. Or stupid. Or trying to play games with her. He could also smell her lotion from the earlier scene. Only a few more days and the divorce would be final. His new house would be almost complete by the time he had to go back and then… only then, he would approach her about his feelings again. Maybe that's how he should have done it from the start.

He smiled, remembering the day he told her he was falling in love with her. Her eyes, her reaction. The day they went to the gala together, the good time they spent together. All those conversations, about everything and anything, how they can connect with one simple look.

No, no regrets about telling her. No regrets at all.

The day to film those scenes came. Sam made sure to give them space, as it had happened when they filmed the cannon episode. He put the camera on its biggest lens and let them do what they did best.

It was an absolute, raw, sincere, flawless display of performance. Masterclass of two strong people who fall in love in the middle of the apocalypse. Characters intertwined with their real-life desires that seemed to come out and play, making it more believable, honest, realistic.

The yell of cut brought them back to their senses and Rick only needed an instant to separate his lips from Michonne's. He was shirtless and his fly was open, she was in her underwear and still on the floor, looking a bit too breathless. They gazed for a split second before Rick realized Anne has approached them and he looked up. She was holding a robe for each of them.

"That was great, guys. Sam said we have a lot, we might even have to 'bury' some of it", she smiled conspiratorially.

He stood up and helped Michonne up. Each grabbed a robe and covered themselves without saying anything. Rick grunted something and started walking out but Michonne had enough of the silent treatment. She excused herself and went after him.

She knocked on the door of his trailer but did not wait for an answer. She opened and closed the door with a slam right behind her. Rick only had time to turn around to see who it was. She didn't give him time to recover:

"Michonne…"

"What is it, Rick? Are you punishing me?"

"No, of course not."

"Then what?", she was still gasping because of that bloody scene and because she was mad at his behavior the past few weeks. It was childish. They were adults; they should have been able to work through this. She wanted to do that.

He did not reply immediately. Instead, he sat down and looked down, scratching his brow with his thumb trying to find the words.

"After you left that room in San Diego I was... upset, distressed, and I didn't get it at first. How could I? But then… then I did", he was nodding to himself now, as if he were alone in the room, repeating those words he had said to himself a million times before so he was able to come to terms with what had happened. "I understood that it didn't matter how many times I say what you mean to me, how many times I declare my love to you, there had to be some real evidence that I was doing my part for us to be together. I decided to work on that instead of feeling angry or heartbroken." He looked at her then and Michonne could see how hurt he had been. "You needed me to do this, that's why you had to press pause, so I could this. For us."

"But why won't you talk to me?", she breathed.

"I don't know. I've never been one to talk much. It was easier that way I guess."

"It wasn't, not for me and certainly it was not what I asked." Pause. "I called you, but you never called me back."

"I almost did. I wanted to, so bad, Michonne. But again, there was nothing different I could offer then, so what was the point?"

"Rick, we are friends before anything. I missed... us."

"I'm sorry. I never wanted to put you in that kind of situation. I realized that you were right and I was coming too strong."

"I had to. It was too much."

"Yeah…"

"But it didn't mean that…", she trailed off. It didn't mean that my feelings changed at all.

Silence.

"What about now? You know Sam is coming for both our heads since we messed up that scene."

"He always says he'd let us do our thang. I don't think he'd complain."

"Rick, you heard Anne. He probably won't be able to use it. Too much skin or whatever that weird term they use."

"Well, it's your fault, you couldn't keep your hands off me."

"What? You wouldn't even let me take my blouse off… All over my stomach, pinning me to the floor on that wretched space every time…"

"Not going to excuse my acting methods, Michonne.", he said amused.

"Yeah, coz it was all acting." He looked at her intensely.

Not all of it, he thought.

"It was."

Michonne stared at him, her eyes ended up traveling to his lips and she remembered the feel of them in her own, in her taut stomach, in her neck. It had been heaven. Then, there was the feeling of his bareback and torso, her hands having a mind of their own, traveling up and down, and it felt so normal, familiar. She had the sudden feeling of having his hair between her fingers again. She bit her bottom lip unconsciously trying to avoid any kind of visible reaction, but Rick was already gazing at her curiously and intently. No doubt he was remembering the same thing. How she had felt underneath him, how easy it had been to flip her over...

"So, you moved out?", she cleared her throat changing the subject.

"Yes, I still have to work on decorations and stuff."

"Ha, I want to see the result of that."

"I feel offended, you know. I have a very good taste."

"Not in socks, you don't. The jury is still out there for the fixer-upper." He cackled and the wrinkles on the side of his eyes made him so damn handsome. Concentration, girl. Come on, some focus here. "Is Carl happy with it? Has he seen it?"

"Yeah, he's so excited about the new room."

"I guess so. I mean, he..."

"Are we gonna pretend that didn't happen? We'll make small talk about my new house?", he interrupted her.

"Rick... it's a safe conversation."

"You are right but I can't deal with that now. I don't want to."

He stood up in front of her and grabbed her face with both hands. He pressed his forehead to hers. Their noses touching, their lips merely a few inches away.

"I want you so much, you have no idea, Michonne."

"Rick…"

"I know, I know…" His eyes were closed. He wanted to remember how she felt, how she smelled. "I just need a moment. Like this. Let me have this."

She just nodded slowly and they stood there looking into each other's eyes, breathing in, trying to commit each other to memory: her soft and smooth skin for him, the emotional blue in his eyes for her. Michonne zeroed on his pink lips and licked her own, she was about to give in and kiss him because this was real agony. She didn't realize she let out a moan when his thumb caressed her cheek, and pull one of her locks behind her ear. She didn't even know when his other hand fell to her waist and pulled her closer or when her own hands brushed a fallen curl away from his face. There was literally nothing between them now, each feeling the heat coming from their bodies.

"Rick…", one more second and she was going to forget all about his marriage, her image, and to say to hell with it all.

There was another knock on the door and they separated. Rick opened to find Anne all excited in the door.

"Great, you are here, I save myself a trip", she said referring to Michonne. "Get ready, my darlings. The show got some memorabilia to be exhibited at the Smithsonian. We are going to DC!"

So... I hope you liked it! I will love to hear each of your thoughts. See you in DC. Still safe y'all! Much love :)