I thought it was just a one-shot but apparently, this version of Rick and Michonne, in another universe, wishes to be explored. Not sure many would read this or want to, but it was stuck in my head the last two days.= and I don't think I should leave it on the shelf for the next few years.

The Golden Birthday

She met Rick on Friday, May 17th, 1996, at some dive bar that was about a 15-minute drive from King County near the 403.

Saturday would be her 18th birthday. Her "Golden birthday" as her friends said.

Michonne lied to her parents that she was having a weekend with Maggie, Sasha, and Sasha's parents at the William's family summer home in Mount Airy. Partially true, Sasha's parents were spending a vacation at their summer abode, but the teens would not attend.

It was a perfect weekend for freedom.

And since it was her birthday, Michonne's parents allowed it. Usually, they'd take her to see a show like they did every year. The tradition was important, her father would say. But this weekend she was an adult and she could make her own choice. Her mother and father had faith that Michonne would make the right choices.

Michonne knew that some of her own choices wouldn't necessarily be right, but the choices were hers and hers alone. Choices that if her parents knew about they'd lock her in the closet and make her beg for forgiveness for all of eternity.

Luckily she had supportive friends to guide her through a wild weekend. The Georgian May weather was perfect for what they wore. She arrived at Sasha's home on Friday evening to get ready for the celebration. Michonne of course didn't own the short skirts and crop tops that Sasha wore and that Maggie would change into when she wasn't around her father.

They dressed Michonne in one of Sasha's garments; a mini red slip dress and white tennis shoes. Nothing more.

Michonne wasn't used to such a tight short dress. I'm going to Hell, was all she could think while Maggie applied heavy eyeliner at Sasha's vanity. She lightly smacked Michonne's hand and admonished her for attempting to add length to the dress by pulling at the hem.

The girls reassured her to be confident, she looked cute and any guy would flirt with her, it was a night to break the rules.

Sasha and Maggie gave her a fake ID that showed she was about 4 or 5 years older. It was one of the only meaningful gifts you could get in a small town like this one.

Sasha's brother was visiting earlier that day and on his way back to his apartment he drove them to the bar of the night, Griffins'. Michonne didn't understand why Sasha reassured him they had a ride home when they didn't.

The bar was packed and almost everyone wore cowboy hats. The three friends found a spot in the corner, a round table booth. The bartender stared at the girls with reservation but with the generous tips, they distracted the woman's suspicions as she poured the drinks heavy-handed. Sasha recommended gin fizz for the birthday girl, reassuring Michonne it would be easy for her first time.

Michonne almost spat out the first sip, one of the many things that made Sasha, Maggie, and Michonne cackle loudly that evening and become the center of attention for the males in the run-down country bar.

Shane, along with one of the bartenders, who just got off his shift, Daryl, approached the ladies with a round of tequila shots, asked the ladies the cause of their celebration, and the two wild girls pointed to Michonne.

Daryl was the quiet one but he shared a private conversation with Maggie. Michonne knew Maggie had a boyfriend, Glenn, whom she met at a party a year ago.. so she wasn't sure why she still flirted with someone so freely that was not her boyfriend. Shane was charming and took a liking to Sasha. Shane turned, whistled at the bar, and nudged his head towards the girls. He took a chair from another table, flipped it backward, and sat down, and continued his conversation with Sasha and Maggie.

Sasha and Maggie lied about going to Georgia State University and had a night out of the dorm. It came out of their mouth easily, as if they'd done this before. But lies are easier to tell when partially true, Maggie was going in September, they had one month before they graduated from their all-girls private Sacred Heart High School.

Shane and Daryl's 3rd friend approached. He had another tray holding three more glasses of the gin fizz along with two bottles of beer in his other hand.

There was a live band covering some Wet Willie song and he locked eyes with Michonne as he gave her the drink.

"This is Rick," Shane said loudly, introducing Rick to the three friends.

Michonne shook his hand and he smiled. He wore a simple white shirt and jeans and they fit him nicely.

Suddenly the taste of the gin wasn't so bad.

The girls asked Rick and Shane what brought them in.

They were celebrating completing the police academy and were hired at the King County sheriff's department earlier today.

"No way! We're from King County!" Maggie screamed through the loud music.

The girls were a bit nervous, they were breaking the law after all and by chance caught the attention of two cops. But they couldn't help but continue the light touches and smiles. It was free drinks provided by three cute men. It was a win.

Michonne was always teased for being a church mouse by her two friends. They had experience with boys that she lacked.

Michonne stared at envy as the two girls flirted easily with Shane and Daryl, their banter was entertaining to watch because it was so effortless.

She didn't notice Rick's eyes staring at her the whole time.

"You go to school, Michonne?" She turned her attention to Rick as he smiled a crooked smile.

Michonne told him she was graduating in about a month, her 18th birthday was tomorrow. Rick laughed, telling her it was easy to figure out their age. But he's sure no one else knew, he said playfully, and that he knew the bum stoner in King County they got the fake ID from, Michonne and Rick laughed together and he ordered her another drink.

Michonne noticed the ring on his finger and asked if he was married. As if he forgot his ring was there, he looked down at it, his finger twitching before he looked up at Michonne.

"Yes. I am." He answered.

Michonne nodded and looked at the conversation her friends had. She didn't feel like talking much after that.

The girls went to the bathroom. They fixed their makeup and hair. Sasha and Maggie asked Michonne if she liked Rick.

"He's married."

"So?"

"...he's married," Michonne repeated.

Sasha and Maggie looked at each other before chuckling.

"Who cares? Great time for a one-night stand. Pop that cherry ya know?" Sasha nudged her innocent friend and Michonne cringed at the crude saying.

"Totally. Rick's been staring at you all night." Maggie added.

"Really?" Michonne asked and the two friends had wide grins on their faces nodding eagerly.

It was the first time Michonne ever received attention from a man. She had a brief fling filled with awkward make-out sessions with a boy at her summer camp when she was 14. She was used to the cringe-filled interactions with the boys at her family's church. But she grew up with those boys and they all felt familial. Something about feeling an instant attraction to someone she barely knew felt like a thrill, a rush she's never experienced before.

So with the girls' encouragement, she pulled out the brown lipstick Sasha gifted her and applied a fresh layer to her lips. They walked out in confidence. Maggie approached the table and asked the boys if they were bored from their short absence.

The band started to play again on stage, this time some song about a watermelon crawl. It must have been a crowd favorite because the patrons got up and ran to the dance floor. Shane stood up dragging Sasha to party in the middle of the bar as Sasha looked back in glee. Maggie held out her hand for Daryl and he accepted.

Rick and Michonne watched their friends line dance with the crowd. His head bobbed softly and his foot tapped to the rhythm of the song. He asked her if she wanted to dance, but she declined, she didn't feel too comfortable in the short dress. But she reassured him It wasn't him and added another time. Though she didn't know that to be true, maybe she shouldn't promise that her friends told her to make it a one-night stand. Just get it over with. She shouldn't even tell the guy she sleeps with that it was her first time, Maggie said earlier tonight.

Michonne stared at the married deputy. Who's strong jawline, and short curls she was tempted to touch. She slid a bit closer and a question slipped out she wasn't expecting to ask.

"What's your wife's name?"

He turned considering the young girl before him, "Lori" He answered.

"How long have you been married?

"Two years, be three coming next month." He finished his beer. Avoiding eye contact with her, she thought maybe she was bothering him. That she read the wrong signals.

"The thing is, we're separated right now. She went back home to live with her parents" he yelled through the music.

Michonne nodded, "I'm sorry."

He looked ahead, before turning to her and staring into her eyes. "Thank you."

"Not sure why I told you that. Not really a first meeting conversation." He let out a breath and she could see a small smile that didn't match his eyes.

"Shane dragged me out. I don't usually do these things."

That felt comforting, someone else almost new to this. "Me neither".

This time his smile was warm as he watched Shane dip Sasha and spin her around.

"Your friends, they got some experience." Rick leaned back, his arm resting behind her on the booth.

Michonne shrugged and looked down at her hands. "It's embarrassing. '' Rick stared at her warmly, as if he knew a secret she didn't know. She looked away, looking at her friends freely dancing with the two men they just met in their short skirts and all.

Michonne realized they were probably talking about something else.

"There's nothin' wrong with inexperience."

As the night went on she got to know Rick, he was 23 and always wanted to be a cop. His dad was one and he decided to follow his lead. They had a conversation about the books she was reading lately and he shared his own opinions on the books. He asked about her family and she shared the brief version of her mother being an immigrant and her family uprooting to King county 19 years ago. The 4 friends sat back down at the table and Shane called the bartender to bring more drinks.

Rick declined but bought the 7th round for the group. Daryl left shortly after.

The drinks and laughs continued with the five King County residents, and the effects of gin were new to Michonne, everyone at the table giggled and called out Michonne's state playfully. She felt hazy, but good, like the feeling she would get when she'd spin really fast as a kid, minus the dizziness, but the high was there.

She noticed Rick seemed more relaxed, smiling and joking along with the group. In the state she was in she noticed his lingering stares after they shared a joke or two. He would look at her and his eyes would linger over her face then her chest, but she wasn't sure if she imagined it with the gin and all.

The stares didn't make her feel self-conscious. Intimidated maybe, but warm just by the looks he'd give her. After he would stare he'd turn to hear something the group said and reply.

Sasha got up and suddenly shared the news she was leaving with Shane. The girls had to find their own way home. Maggie and Sasha argued for a few minutes while Michonne watched, the warm, fun feeling she had earlier disappeared. This felt too out of control.

Rick solved the problem and told Maggie he would drive them home.

Maggie snatched Sasha's house key. There was no way she'd make it through Hershel's door in one piece, Maggie mentioned. Sasha William's home was the safest for the time being.

They walked outside and the air was cooler, a slight drizzle cooled down the early May Heat. Rick helped Maggie in first, she laid in the back of Rick's car and curled on her side. Michonne, although drunk, was aware of the situation they were in. A stranger they had just met, was driving them to Sasha's house. Maggie was not in any state to defend herself should he be a man who was dangerous. Michonne's heart stuttered, realizing that she was in a similar predicament as Maggie.

Rick opened the door for Michonne. Before they left he spoke with Shane for a few minutes in the parking lot, getting Sasha's address. Sasha honked the horn and waved at her friends.

"Sasha...will she be okay?" Michonne asked as Rick got in. She stared at Shane's 1993 mustang coupe driving quickly out of the parking lot with some rock song blaring out of the speakers.

Rick started his car and turned on his radio, as if he just registered her worries he looked up incredulously, eyes amused by her concern.

"Sasha? Oh, she'll be more than okay" he chuckled, pulling out of the parking lot and driving along the dark road.

Michonne was silent along the drive as Maggie was lightly snoring in the back. Michonne rolled down her window as the cool sharp wind whipped against her face. She hoped it would sober her up a bit and bring her back down to earth as held on tightly to the seat belt that pressed between her breasts.

She could feel Rick's eyes lingering between her and the empty road.

"Look," Rick said after some silence, "When we get to the house I'll give you Shane's number, you can call her and check-in."

"Thank you." She replied instantly and he laughed lightly.

"What's so funny?"

Rick shook his head and the silence came back. A couple of minutes passed and he answered.

"Nothing, you're just cute"

She smiled and turned to look out the window.

The warm feeling she had at the bar returned for the rest of the ride to Sasha's home.