A/N: I wrote this because we're still quarantined and there isn't much else to do but binge old Richonne clips to relive the glory days. In my rewatch, I noticed there are a lot of scenes with the Grimes family that we don't get to see. So I decided to fill in some blanks.
I have no idea how far this will go, there is no particular order to any of it. But I hope someone out there enjoys it.
This chapter takes place between S7E16 and S8E1. Please don't kill me for inaccuracies, when I say "rewatch" I mean exclusively Richonne/Grimes family scenes, because I don't have the patience for the rest.
Anyway, it goes without saying I don't own any rights to the show or characters. And reviews are always welcome! Thanks!
Ash N. Cole
Michonne had always been a light sleeper. This was true even before the world went to hell in a handbasket. In the old world, the slightest provocation had the ability to jolt her senses and ruin any chance she had of getting a full night's sleep.
Of course, now the constant threat of the walking dead, and the even worse threat of the living had sharpened her nocturnal senses to a point of insomnia.
It wasn't until she had felt the comfort of sharing Rick's bed did she allow herself the precarious luxury of a deeper sleep. She had attributed it to the combination of his warm embrace and strong heartbeat that allowed her those moments of reprieve at least for a while.
So when the darkness that seemed to blanket the world infiltrated their little bubble of peace she could hardly say she was surprised, but her disappointment was palpable. Disappointment that turned into a rage when she learned the enemy had entered their home and took not only their beds but the hard fought sense of safety within their walls.
She watched as her family suffered through varying stages of grief knowing there was no time to fully accept and heal from it. Michonne could hardly blame them, after all she was on the edge of falling into the same pit of despair.
But when she looked at her children's faces, she knew she could not go back to the dark place that seemed so comforting in the midst of her own misery. Carl and Judith were her reasons to fight back, their future deserved that much. So she dug deep and found the strength to pull them out of that dark place and move forward.
And they did. Their community pulled together, they made alliances, and found the will to fight.
It cost them, of course. Survival always seemed to come at the highest price but they were the ones who lived. That sentiment alone gave her willpower to fight back and overthrow her enemy, literally.
Now, however, she was paying the price of her own stubbornness. Her body was beaten within an inch of life but she managed to survive. And now it was time to let others step up and fight the fight while she gave her body time to rest.
Easier said than done.
With their beds stolen and subsequently burned for no other reason than sheer vindictiveness, Michonne was confined to the infirmary. It was one of the only places left in their entire community with an actual bed.
It was her second night away from her home and family and as a result, the insomnia that plagued her in the past had returned with a roaring vengeance.
Rick had stayed diligently by her side on the first night, leaving only to shower, check on their children, and address their collective communities with the other leaders. But he left with sunrise the following morning on a run, promising to be back as soon as he could.
Not long after that Rosita had been cleared to go home but Michonne didn't mind because Carl came and took up residence in the seat his father occupied the day before to keep her company. He regaled her with the events that happened while she was otherwise occupied during the battle, then he read to her for a while. But just as the evening settled he left to pick up Judith from Gabriel to start her nightly routine.
Carl had offered to bring Judith by just to say good night but Michonne ruefully declined. As much as she missed her baby girl, she did not want her to see her this way. Especially since the toddler wouldn't understand why her mother was incapcitated. Instead, Carl left her with a kiss on the forehead, promising to be back the next morning.
It was now approaching midnight, and the quiet solitude of her dark, unfamiliar room in the infirmary left her mind idle. That, coupled with the pounding in her head and the constricting pain in her ribs made for a miserable night.
She stared blankly through her room's window at the side of the neighboring house for what seemed like hours. She watched the dull white paint change colors reflecting the sky as the dark night shifted to early dawn. It was still relatively dark when she caught a glimpse of what looked like headlights from the vantage point of her good eye.
Beneath her cracked rib cage her heart skipped a beat, hoping it was a sign that her man was home safe.
She heard vehicles parking, muffled voices shortly after that and then some movement she couldn't quite place. In her contused head, all the commotion jumbled together.
There was the sound of familiar footfalls coming up the front steps of the house she was in and then he was there, bathed in the hazy gray morning light like something manifested by her imagination. She almost questioned whether he was real or not.
Until he whispered, "You're awake," sounding surprised as he crossed the room to approach her. He bent over, pressing a soft lingering kiss to her hairline.
"You're...back," she returned hoarsely, having not used her voice in some time.
"Couldn't sleep?" he asked, knowingly.
She shook her head once with a shaky sigh.
Rick's eyes were empathetic as he ran his hand down her arm soothingly. "I got a surprise for you," he said.
Michonne looked up at him, her eyes inquiring what her lips couldn't convey.
Rick smiled warmly at her. "Ready to go home?"
She pushed herself up, only to wince as her ribs protested the movement.
"Easy," he murmured, easing down on the bed beside her, shifting his arm behind her shoulders to gently help her rest against his chest.
She relaxed against him, inhaling his scent and relishing in it. "Yes."
"Give me a minute to check on things then I'll come back for you. Okay?" he murmured against her temple, pressing his lips there.
As much as she loathed for him to leave her again, she trusted it wouldn't be for very long this time.
Exhausted and unwilling to use her voice, she nodded in reply. Rick gently helped her lay back down and promised he would be back soon before leaving her alone once more. She must have dozed off during that time because the next thing she knew, he was back.
Rick slowly helped her to sit up, then eased his arms under her legs to lift her. Michonne left the infirmary in the same way she entered, ensconced in his protective embrace.
Rick took the short walk from the infirmary to their house as slow and steady as he could so not to cause her any more discomfort than necessary.
Carl and Judith were waiting for them on the porch when they arrived.
"Ma-ma!" Judith cried excitedly, squirming in her brother's arms.
Michonne lifted her gaze at the sound of her baby's voice and tried to smile for her but it came out as more of a grimace.
"Mommy's okay, Judes," Carl said soothingly to his sister. "She just needs to rest."
Rick nodded his gratitude to his son as he ascended their porch steps. Carl opened the door for them and Rick navigated his way through the living room and up the stairs to their bedroom.
Michonne lifted her head from his shoulder and gasped at the sight before her once they crossed the threshold. "Rick..."
Rick chuckled and ventured further inside the room. "I told you I had a surprise for you."
He gently placed her on top of her 'surprise': a new mattress equipped with a new bed frame, already made up for her.
Rick helped her get situated, meticulously propping up the pillows around her for maximum comfort.
Tears stung, but they came anyway.
Damn this man and his thoughtfulness.
It shouldn't have surprised her, Rick had a tendency for grand gestures but this topped anything she had expected.
"How?" she asked, once he was satisfied she was comfortable enough.
Rick shrugged. "Aaron mentioned a warehouse near Richmond that may have a stockpile. We took three trucks and loaded up enough for the community."
"Thank you," she whispered, reaching for him.
Rick shook his head, carefully settling down in the space next to her. "We wanted you home, this was the best way to do that."
There was a knock at their open door, Carl lingered in the doorway. "They're here," he announced.
Rick nodded but Michonne was confused. "Who?"
"We're going to plan our next attack. Has to be soon while we have the Saviors on the defense," Rick explained to her.
It dawned on her then that those conversations were likely put on hold for his side mission. It warmed her heart that he made her a priority but now she was wondering if he had stopped at all to get some rest himself.
"I won't be long," Rick said, "most of the decisions have already been made, we're just finalizing the details."
Ordinarily, Michonne would have been a part of those conversations. She probably would have led some of them but now that she was incapcitated it all fell on Rick's shoulders. She hated that she couldn't help more.
"Your job now is to rest," Rick told her, as if reading her mind. "We need you strong," he said, calling back to a time when she once said the same to him.
She sighed, resting back heavily against the pillows.
"Don't worry," Carl added, approaching with a cup of ice chips in hand. "Judith and I will keep you company."
Michonne accepted the cup gratefully. "Thank you," she rasped out.
Rick lifted her free hand to his lips and kissed it softly. "I love you," he said, almost reflexively. "I'll see you soon," he said, quickly after. Then left the room before anyone could say another word.
Michonne gawked after him. Carl looked at her confused. "What's wrong?"
She shifted her gaze to him and shook her head once. "Judy?" she asked instead.
Carl grinned. "I'll go get her."
Carl returned with his baby sister in his arms in short order. They both settled next to Michonne on the new bed after the toddler promised to be gentle. Once Judith was carefully settled between them Carl brandished a dog-eared copy of Ender's Game from his back pocket. "Pick up where we left off?" he asked.
Michonne smiled and nodded, settling in with her children for the story.
Rick returned from his meeting with the other community leaders just as the sun was setting over the horizon. It was later than he had anticipated but worth it since they now had a solid plan of attack in place. According to Jesus' intel, the Saviors' were holed up at their headquarters, still reeling from the onslaught in Alexandria. So their group agreed to take twenty-four hours to rest and prepare for their next attack while the element of surprise was still on their side.
With that taken care of, Rick was bone-weary and more than ready to put his new bed to use.
However, as he neared his porch steps, anxiety from his earlier slip up made its way to the forefront of his mind. He had put it in the backburner until now but as he ascended the steps to his home, it was all he could think about. Of course, he had meant it when he told Michonne he loved her, at this point he felt it was obvious. But he had anticipated his first time saying the words aloud being a little more eloquent than they had come.
It probably didn't help that he had cleared the room as soon as the words were said.
He was taken from his thoughts when he entered the foyer to see Tara emerging from their kitchen.
"Hey," he greeted her, unsure why she was there.
"Hey," she returned, stuffing her hands in her front pockets. "I came to check on Michonne but she's sleeping so I left some pain meds on the kitchen counter."
"Thank you," he told her sincerely.
Tara shifted on her feet, "It's what we do, right? Take care of each other."
Rick nodded. "Right."
Tara smiled and ducked her head. "Anyway, I'm gonna head out. Good night."
"G'night."
Rick watched her leave before making his way further inside. He could hear Judith babbling in the kitchen which meant Carl had to be nearby.
"Everything go okay today?" he asked, entering the room to find his children seated at the kitchen island eating a leftover casserole Carol had made for them.
Carl looked up from the spoonful he was feeding to his sister. "Yeah. How about you?"
Rick neared, bending over to kiss his daughter's head. "Da," she cooed and he smiled at her.
"Hey, sweetheart," he said before looking up at Carl. "Everything's good to go. Are you still okay with what we agreed?"
Carl nodded. "Yeah. As much as I want to be out there with you, somebody's gotta watch over this place."
"Can't think of a finer man for the job," Rick told him.
Carl huffed a laugh but didn't contest his father.
"Michonne still sleeping?" Rick asked, lifting his head upward as if he could see through the floorboards.
"I think she was pretending so Tara couldn't force feed her the medicine," Carl admitted. "She said earlier she didn't want to waste them. I tried to tell her it wasn't a waste but she wouldn't hear it."
Rick sighed, swiping the small pill bottle from the counter top. "I'll go talk to her."
"Good luck," Carl told him, wiping the crumbs from Judith's mouth before lifting her from her high chair. "I'm gonna give Judith a bath and put her down for the night."
Words couldn't express how proud and grateful Rick was to have a son step up to help out both in here and out there without having been asked. "Thanks, Carl," he told him.
Rick watched them go before turning to retrieve a glass from the cabinet and filled it with water. He put the bottle of pills in his back pocket and made his way upstairs.
He blinked in confusion at the empty bed in his room. "Chonne?" he called when he heard movement from the en suite bathroom.
"In here."
He found a defeated looking Michonne sitting on the closed lid of the toilet. She had managed to get one arm out of her tank top but struggled to maneuver the rest of it over her head. She looked up at him pitifully.
"What are you doing?" he asked, resting the glass of water on the sink as he came to stoop before her.
"I wanted to take a shower," she grumbled.
Rick tilted his head. "How's that working out for you?" Michonne glared at him but the effect was lost as he brought his hand up to her cheek, loving stroking her there. "The swelling is coming down," he noted, absently.
Michonne scoffed but didn't pull away and Rick grinned tiredly back at her. "Tell you what, you take two of these and I'll help you take a shower," he offered, reaching in his back pocket for the pain medicine Tara had left.
"We need to save those for people who need it," she said, her voice still hoarse but stronger than before.
"I hate to break it to you, baby, but you're one of those people right now," he replied, uncapping the bottle and dropping two small white capsules in his hand.
Michonne, tired of fighting, reluctantly accepted the medicine. She took them and the glass of water he offered, swallowing slowly.
Rick smiled for her, then stood to help her to her feet.
He carefully helped her out of her shirt, then proceeded to help her out of her leggings and underwear. He pulled a towel from the rack and wrapped it around her, helping her to sit back down on the commode so he could start the shower water.
Once he was satisfied with the temperature he retrieved the hair tie she usually used to keep her hair dry in the shower and returned to her. "I'm pretty sure I've seen you do this enough," he started, carefully gathering her locks and twisting them up into a bun on top of her head, mimicking her routine. Once satisfied he had gathered it all up, he secured it with the band then gingerly helped her to her feet.
"Thank you," she said, as he helped her inside the stall.
Michonne exhaled deeply as the hot water soothed her aching muscles. She heard Rick shuffling around and was all too pleased when he stepped under the water behind her.
He gently wrapped his arms around her torso and pulled her back to relax against his chest. "How's this?" he asked.
"Perfect," she replied, feeling the effects of the medicine already.
They stood that way for a while, basking in the warmth of each other and the water. Rick placed tender kisses on the skin exposed to him, mindful of the areas that were still tender for her. He ran his hands over her bruised fleshed and once again said silent 'thank you' to whomever was listening that she had survived.
Michonne tilted her head back to look up at him. "I missed you today," she whispered.
"I missed you, too," he said, capturing her lips in the softest of kisses.
When he pulled back he reached around her for the soap and a washcloth, lathering it up to wash her down before doing the same for himself.
Their shower ended a little less climatically than they were accustomed to due to her injuries but what they lacked in lust was more than made up for in tenderness and affection.
Rick helped her dry and dress in one of his oversized t-shirts, making sure she was tucked securely in their bed before returning to the bathroom to dress himself and clean up.
When he returned, Michonne appeared to be fast asleep for which he was grateful. He used the opportunity to check on Carl and Judith before joining her.
Judith was blessedly down for the county. He crept into her room, pulling her blanket up further around her and bent to kiss her chubby cheek. "Sweet dreams, princess," he whispered to her.
Then he made his way across the hall to his son's room. Carl was still up, cleaning his gun by candlelight.
"You should try and get some sleep," Rick said to him from the doorway.
Carl snorted. "I feel like I should be the one saying that to you."
"Oh don't worry, I'm on my way."
"Did you get her to take the medicine?" Carl asked, looking up from his task.
"Yeah."
"I knew she'd listen to you," he replied with a grin.
"I'm gonna need your help tomorrow," Rick told him, "Nora's gonna come by and help with Judith and Michonne while we're out. So don't stay up too long."
Carl nodded. "Good night, Dad."
"Good night, son."
With his nightly check-ins complete, Rick was finally able to return to his room to turn in himself. He carefully slid under the sheets, turning on his side to face Michonne as she slept on her back.
He hadn't the chance to talk to her about what he said earlier. She hadn't brought either, but he attributed that to her own tiredness. Tomorrow, he decided, content for now to wrap his arm over her chest and hold her close to him.
He had just about dozed off when he heard her whisper his name in the dark. "Mmhmm," he returned, peeking an eye open only to find hers still closed.
"I love you, too, by the way," she said in a soft voice.
Rick exhaled, a smile stretching across his tired features. She didn't need to say it back, he knew she did just like he was sure she knew how he felt before he said the words. Still, hearing them from her lips made everything worth it.
"Good," he eventually replied, hugging her as close as he dared to press a kiss to her temple. "Now go to sleep."