A/N: Oh my god first of all thank you so much for the messages, reviews and support you guys have shown me in regards to my recent life events. It's overwhelming and I'm so grateful to have such thoughtful readers. I know I didn't get a chance to respond to all of you but just know that it meant the world me. Hope you all enjoy this update!

"I slept with Rick."

Michonne was still focused on her empty glass waiting for the animated reaction from Maggie she was sure would happen. When the silence linger, she turned her barstool and saw that Maggie was actually stunned. "Did you hear me?"

Maggie cleared her throat and drained the liquor in her glass. "Hey can we get two more down here?" she asked the bartender. "Sorry my goal was to stay sober for you but I feel I may need to loosen up for this conversation."

Michonne rolled her eyes. "Oh great. I remember the last conversation we had here when you loosened up."

Maggie lifted her eyebrow. "So you are going to try to blame this on me? Come on. I thought you guys would just talk about it I never thought you would have the balls to actually do anything."

Michonne continued to drink, tapping her fingers anxiously along the bar. Maggie watched her for a few moments before speaking up. "Soooo are you going to actually tell me what happened or are we just gonna sit here staring at each other?"

She exhaled and tried to figure out how much to reveal. The alcohol was starting to take effect since she hadn't eaten much, plus she needed some encouragement and advice. Squaring her shoulders, she took a deep breath and told her about going to his house after getting bad news about the case.

"Ok so you slept together," Maggie shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. "You said it was good so what's the problem? Did he kick you out as soon as it was over or something?"

Michonne chuckled bitterly. "No quite the opposite actually. I got ready to leave in the middle of the night and he told me to stay until the morning."

"Now that sounds more like the Rick I know. I couldn't see him kicking you to the curb."

Her leg was bouncing nervously and Maggie was on the edge of her seat waiting for her to continue. "Well let me help you out since you are having trouble getting on with the story. You woke up the next morning and…."

Michonne smirked and titled her head to the side a little, trying to speak softly. "Well actually umm— when I got back in the bed we didn't go back to sleep."

"YOU FUCKED HIM AGAIN?!" Maggie squealed and Michonne hurried to shush her.

"Would you keep your damn voice down?" Michonne grabbed her hand and ushered her away from the bar where other patrons were looking. They found a small, secluded booth in the back.

Maggie looked like a kid jumping up and down on Christmas morning. "Start talking and start talking now. Who initiated it?"

Michonne sighed. "I don't know. I got back in the bed and the next thing I know he was back on top of me and he sa—," she stopped herself. "It just happened again."

Maggie swallowed the rest of her drink and waved her finger at her. "Oh no. You cut yourself off. He said what?"

"Maggie—"

"What did he say?"

She closed her eyes and put her hands over her face. "I must be at rock bottom because I can't even believe I'm telling you this," she mumbled. "Let's just say it went down after that."

"HOLY SHIT! YESSSS," she shrieked pumping her fist in the air.

"I'm going to need another drink for this," she announced. "Hold that thought and don't you move a muscle. I mean it."

Michonne checked her phone again to see if she had any messages from Rick. Nothing. There was however another text from Ezekiel and she replied that she was still busy. The feelings of guilt crept in because she needed to hurry and put the final nail in that coffin. Even if nothing worked out with her and Rick, she wasn't interested in anyone else right now.

I don't want anyone else either.

She rubbed her forehead at the recollection of her confession. And his. How could everything have turned around in such a short amount of time?

Maggie came barreling back to the table with more drinks for both of them. "Ok ok keep going. So umm things went down and you had sex again…" Michonne nodded her head following along. "So you woke up the next morning and—"

She shot her another guilty look before taking a large swig of her drink. "Well not exactly."

"What do you mean?"

"The case was still on my mind a lot, everything with Jessica and her mom and I ended up having a nightmare when I fell asleep.."

Maggie's smile disappeared. "Mich I'm sorry." She knew how much these kinds of cases weighed on Michonne more than she usually admitted.

"Yeah, I woke up and he was right there and helped me calm down."

Maggie watched her closely trying to figure out where she was going with that statement.

"So I just umm. I kissed him and then I…" she cleared her throat. "I just needed to feel something so I somehow ended up-"

Maggie grabbed her chest with one hand and grasped the table with the other. "Oh my god! Oh my god! Again?! Shit! Were you guys going for some kind of a record?"

Michonne buried her head in her hands again at her friend's predictable over the top response. Hearing it out loud did seem like a lot of sex, but in the moment it didn't seem like enough.

"Just give me a minute." Maggie tried to pull herself together and took another sip of bourbon. "I should've gotten some water too. The rate this story is going I'm going to be too drunk to hear the rest. Hey can we get some water over here?" she called to the only waitress on duty.

"Ok ok. I'm fine now," she claimed clutching the collar of her blouse.

Michonne smirked at her in response. "Are you sure?"

"Yep. Ok so I'm going to try this again. You woke up the next morning right…" she prodded shaking her head for Michonne to finally agree that it was the end of the sexathon.

Michonne couldn't help but laugh at her. For all of her theatrics, the girl talk was just what she needed right now.

"Yes," she nodded. "I woke up the next morning."

"Ok then what?"

"We just—talked," and she couldn't hide the blush that flooded her cheeks. It was the nicest time she had in awhile talking about nothing and everything.

"You talked…umm ok..well that sounds nice. Uninteresting, but nice."

Michonne laughed again and began to relax. "Yes it was nice until Jessie called," she added bitterly.

"Oh god no. In the morning? Did he answer?" Maggie scoffed.

"He did," she explained. "And I got up and ran to the bathroom. I didn't want to hear it."

Maggie suddenly felt a sense of dread on where the conversation was going. She knew Michonne and at any sign of strife she would run for cover especially since it involved Rick.

"Do I even want to hear what happens next?"

"To make a long story short. He told me that he broke it off with her, we hung out for a little bit, we had sex again in his bathroom, he told me he didn't want anyone else and I told him I didn't either." After spilling her guts quickly, she chugged the rest of her drink.

Maggie stared at her wide-eyed and completely silent.

"Say something. I'm kind of freaking out here," she urged her.

"Michonne," she began earnestly. "What you've accomplished in your career and life in such a short time has always been admirable and I respect you for it. However, the fact that you have managed to fuck your friend senseless four times in a 24 hour span and have him declaring his undying love for you…I don't think I've ever been more proud." She took Michonne's hand in hers causing them both to burst out in laughter.

"Would you be serious for once?" Michonne chided her.

"Oh I am dead serious."

She checked her phone again and Maggie saw the disappointment when there were no alerts.

"So let me guess. This case came between you two?"

Michonne shook her head, reaching for the water the waitress had just brought over. She needed to clear her head.

"Well that's the job. It giveth and it taketh away." Maggie tried to sober up so she could offer decent advice. "Leave it to the two of you to turn a playful conversation about banging one night into a profession of love."

Michonne was already shaking her head protesting. "Oh no. No one said the L word."

"Get real. You didn't have to. I don't want anyone else," she said repeating her and Rick's words to each other. "What do you think that means?"

Michonne stayed quiet.

"You can sit here and try to play naïve all you want but you're not nearly as aloof as you pretend to be. And the fact that you rocked your coworker's world for hours and hours just proves that."

"Good grief. Let me guess, you will throw this in my face from now on aren't you?"

"Probably. But seriously, I saw how he was that morning when you two were clearly in the file room together and he—wait did something happen in the file room?" She asked suddenly remembering Michonne's body language when she walked out.

Michonne held up her hand to stop her from continuing. "It's not what you think. We just kissed and he was supposed to come over and well..you know how that went."

Maggie sighed and touched her hand to comfort her. Michonne gave her a small smile. "You have to talk to him."

"Oh no," she replied. "You know how Rick is when he gets like this. We will just see what happens."

"You've come this far. I know that admitting how you feel about him was a huge step. Don't back off now."

She shrugged her shoulders. "What can I do?"

Maggie winked and Michonne smiled. "We've done enough of that."

"Seriously. You need to talk to him. I know he's acting like an ass right now but this is your friend. He wouldn't just behave this way for no reason. There has to be something else going on. Wait until all this blows over and really put your cards on the table. Ok?"

She huffed and looked at her phone again. "Ok I will. It's getting late so let's get out of here."

"Wait a second." Maggie put her hand on her arm to stop her from getting up. "We still have one more thing to discuss."

Michonne rolled her eyes. "What's that?"

"So just how good was it?"

Rick stared at the sweat dripping from the beer bottle and leaking onto his coffee table. It had only been a day since she'd come by the apartment and he missed her already. It would've made more sense for him to talk to her, open his heart and tell the truth about how the case affected him. Michonne deserved to know that seeing a boy Carl's age, affected by divorce and shooting his new stepfather had made his mind implode. When his marriage ended initially, he felt a sense of relief. It wasn't until the first time he left work and was almost to his house, his old house, before he realized the depth of his sadness. What made his job somewhat bearable is going home and getting to put his children to sleep or just hearing about their day. They were his light in the midst of all the darkness. Now he came home to an empty apartment and was parenting part time. The guilt about his divorce had once again crept up and seeped into his pores.

Lori was dating someone, he was sure of it. Carl threw hints and seemed disappointment about it on the camping trip. That coupled with Lori's up and down antics whenever they saw each other and he knew it was time to make peace with another man being around his kids soon. At best he hoped for a healthy co- parenting relationship for Judith and Carl's sake, especially with an up close and personal look daily at how it could all go so wrong.

Rick cleaned his living room and kitchen and his thoughts turned to how different his place felt without Michonne. With her there apartment seemed brighter. More permanent. They seemed permanent. Her laughter painted his walls, her presence opened up the space, and her body…every inch of her smooth, sexy, delectable body felt like home. And he'd ruined it.

The same way he ruined his marriage by not communicating and shutting down. But he wasn't going to make the same mistake twice. Michonne was worth fighting for and he prayed like hell that she would take him back.

His phone lit up and he saw on the display that it was Carl.

Hey Dad. Just wanted to tell you good night.

It was a pic of him laying down with Judith reading a story. His smile was instant. No, this wasn't the plan he had initially for his life, but he was becoming more and more comfortable with the alternative.

Michonne was going through files in her office the next day when she heard the tentative knocks on her door. "Hey what are you doing here?" she asked surprised to see Rick. And then Glenn, Shane and Hershel followed close behind.

Hershel spoke up. "I'm actually here to see your boss."

"Carol? Good luck."

Ever since their run in that resulted in her brief hiatus, she had been on her best behavior and dodging her at all costs. "She's a few doors down and from what I hear she's not in the best mood."

"Lucky me." He said and walked off.

Rick stuffed his hands in his pockets, shifting back and forth on his heels. Shane took one look at him and Michonne and put them all out of their misery. "Hey is Maggie here? Glenn wanted to say hello."

Glenn slapped him on his arm. "Shut up."

Michonne and Rick snickered. The only person that didn't know that Glenn had a crush on Maggie was Maggie.

"We will be right down the hall." Shane put his arm around Glenn's shoulder and they were off.

They were alone for a second before Rick spoke up. "I'm sorry about the last couple of days. I should've talked to you, told you everything.

'Yes you should've." She appreciated his apology but was still annoyed. "You were just so—cold. Like nothing ever—"

"I know." He clinched his fists at his side to stop himself from touching her. The traffic in the hall picked up and any moment they would be interrupted.

"I can't talk about it all now but if I can cash in on that raincheck to come over, I'll bring dinner and explain."

The easy thing to do would be to turn him down and give him a taste of his own medicine but she took the higher road.

He saw her struggling and dug in his heels. "Please. I don't have to come over, we can just talk on the phone if that's what—"

"Okay," she cut him off. "You can come by."

Their conversation was interrupted by Hershel and Carol coming down the hall. "Captain Greene, next time you need to see me you can make an appointment with my assistant. Don't use stopping by to check up on your daughter as an excuse."

Hershel laughed as they wrapped up their business with Glenn and Shane emerging from Maggie's office.

Carol leaned into Michonne's doorway. "Next time tell your friends to get some time on my calendar instead of just showing up. We actually work around here." She winked headed back down the hall to her office.

Glenn whistled. "Man, she's tough."

"No tougher than Maggie was on you just now playboy."

"Shane shut up."

They actually got around to discussing a few details of their new case when there was another knock on the door.

"Damn, how do you get any work done around here with all these interruptions?" Shane joked.

Bob peeked in and shut the door behind him. "How are all you fine people doing this morning?"

"It's okay. Why are you tiptoeing around like you're undercover or something?" Rick asked hoping to lighten him up.

"Oh nothing really." Bob cleared his throat and scratched the back of his head. "Michonne, you have a visitor."

"Weird, I wasn't expecting anyone. Who is it?"

Bob looked at the expectant faces, lingered a little too long on Rick's and then back to Michonne. "He said it was a surprise."

Shane knew exactly who it was. "Looks like you have more flowers coming your way."

And there was another knock at the door. Bob opened it with an apologetic look and there stood Ezekiel with the most over the top bouquet that almost blocked his entire body. "Lovely Michonne. Always a vision. I'm glad I finally caught you here."

Rick stiffened and the tension reappeared. She never told him about Ezekiel.

"Oh I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt your meeting."

Shit. She scurried to the door and tried to back him into the hall so they could speak without prying ears.

"Ezekiel, what are you doing here?" she asked sounding more annoyed than she meant to. She could feel Rick's eyes burning a hole in her back.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to just show up but when I hadn't heard from you I was worried. I know how much you work so I figured I'd find you here and brighten your day." He explained looking over her shoulder and seeing all of Michonne's co-workers staring back at him.

"Yeah look I'm sorry I haven't called it's just that things are always crazy around here."

He handed her the flowers. "No worries, I get it. You're a busy lady."

"I am but listen—"

"We need to get going," Hershel announced. One by one they filed out of the office and past Ezekiel and Michonne struggling to hold her gaudy set of flowers.

"Are you sure?" She asked. The question was to Hershel but her eyes never left Ricks.

"Yeah Rick and I have a suspect to talk to at the precinct. Ain't that right Rick?" Shane asked.

This may as well had been the official press conference to announce they were sleeping together. The dynamic seemed obvious to everyone, but Ezekiel.

"Well it was nice to see you again. Shane right?" Ezekiel extended his hand and shook it enthusiastically.

"Yep. It's Shane. It was nice seeing you again too," he agreed as Ezekiel shook Glenn and Hershel's hand. Rick kept his firmly in his pocket and nodded instead. "You take care of yourself. I wish you all the best in life."

It wasn't until they were getting on the elevator that Ezekiel got the hidden meaning behind what he said.

"We had a nice time." She started, dying to set down the flowers. "But it's just—"

He nodded in understanding. "Because of Rick?"

Michonne startled. "What do you mean?"

He chuckled. "C'mon. I'm not blind. His friend basically broke up with me for you and Rick wouldn't even shake my hand."

"I'm sorry."

It was all she could think of to say but it didn't feel like enough. Situations like this were always weird. Ezekiel was a nice guy with a good career and handsome. Completely perfect on paper. In a different circumstance, maybe they could've had something but for right now she needed to figure everything out with Rick.

Later that evening she walked into the squad room and noticed that Rick's chair was empty.

"Good evening my good lady," Shane said with dramatic flourish clearly imitating Ezekiel.

"Cut the shit Walsh. Where's your partner?"

"Upstairs in the locker room. Packing up to leave. You almost missed him."

She nodded and glanced over to Hershel's office. "Everyone's pretty much gone." He stood up, grabbing his jacket and wallet. "Including me. Good night."

He walked past her and stopped again. "I know he ain't been the easiest lately but give him a chance."

She nodded again and headed upstairs to the locker room. As she opened the door, she heard him on the next aisle rummaging through his locker.

"Rick?"

"Yeah I'm over here." His tone was indifferent and she couldn't get a read on whether or not he was upset. When she rounded the corner and saw him, his shirt was off and he was pulling out clothes to change. He turned to face her and folded his arms as if he was waiting on an explanation. Unlike the facade she put on at his apartment when Jessie called, Rick didn't even bother. He wanted to know what was going on.

She sat on the bench in front of him and then he joined her..

"Ezekiel and I went out on a date while you were on your camping trip."

"Mhmm." His face remained neutral. How was it?"

"Nice. He's a nice guy. And we were supposed to have a second date but never did."

"Why not?" he asked inching closer to her.

"Because I ended up making love to my best friend a couple of days later. Didn't see a need to reschedule."

Rick attempted to hide his smirk but she could see his lip slightly curl up.

"So the two of you never-"

She scooted closer to him, their legs touching. "No we didn't. Not even a kiss other than on the cheek. I have been dodging his calls because I've been a little…..," she rubbed her hand across his bicep, "distracted."

"I'm a distraction?" he asked feigning offense at her choice of words.

She stood in front of him and dropped her voice. "Yes you are. A great distraction." She eased her legs between his and he hugged her waist. Her breath hitched feeling his warmth beside her again and it was as if they were back in his apartment. Their safe place. She expected him to reach for her shirt or cup her ass but instead he laid his head against her stomach. The gesture took her off guard. She rubbed his back and ran her hands through his messy curls.

"I meant what I said Rick." She kissed him on the forehead. "I don't want anyone else."

His breath warmed her waist and he squeezed her tighter. They held each other for what felt like minutes and the world began to spin back on its axis. But there was something he needed to get off his chest. "I owe you an explanation."

"Yes you do." The mood sobered but didn't tense. He pulled her onto his lap and didn't care if anyone walked in.

"When I saw that boy at the crime scene and got the details of what happened, all I could think about was Carl."

Michonne exhaled, pulling him closer. Of course. Of course that would hit him hard.

"I'm not there full time anymore. Anythang could happen. And Lori's seeing somebody."

She froze and he caressed her side. "No I don't care about that. Me and Lori are over and it's for the best. I don't regret that for one second. But what I do regret is not being able to control who is around my kids."

His admission hung in the air for a moment before she spoke. "One of the things I've always admired about you is your devotion to your kids. Carl is a good kid and he trusts you. He would tell you if something was going on, you know that right?"

Rick shrugged. "I know that deep down. It's just in the moment sometimes, looking at how hurt that boy was. The anger in his eyes. The mom not doing anything to protect any of them. It hit home ya know?"

She kissed his forehead and stood up, easing her way back between his legs and lifting his head so he would look at her. "I know what happened took its toll on you. I just need you to talk to me, when something like this happens. Not just shut down."

Rick visibly cringed and shook his head while pulling her close. "I will." Then he opened his eyes, staring directly at her. "I promise. Not communicating is how I lost Lori. Ill be damned if I lose you."

She leaned down to kiss him.

"I can't lose you," he whispered again. Lori's words had been echoing in his head. Speak. Say something. But he hadn't. And didn't want to. Subconsciously he knew he was tired of fighting for something, someone that he didn't want. "I know I'm not used to communicating and saying my feelings but for you. For us. I'm going to try."

Her answer was to pull his bottom lip between hers gently nipping him while his hands cupped her cheek. He moaned and she kissed him desperately, frantically. His hands moved down to her breasts, squeezing them and pulling her flush with his body. She clawed at his back trying to close any centimeter of space that existed between them.

"I missed you," he whispered in between kisses.

"I missed you too."

She felt his fingers at the hem of her shirt and began to tug. "Rick no we can't do this here. Your words not mine," she teased reminding him of his words to her in the file room.

"That was only a few feet away from everyone else," he countered placing kisses on her shoulder and stroking her skin underneath her shirt.

She felt her body giving in. "We can't do this here," she repeated weakly.

He stepped back and put his hand in hers. "You're right we can't. I was just about to take a shower anyway."

The protest died on her lips with his kiss. This wasn't like either of them. They were never reckless. They did what they were supposed to do and maintained such tight boundaries. But for once they were being selfish and thinking about nothing but satisfying the raw unfiltered need they had to be together.

Rick led her to the largest shower stall at the end of the hall. Opening the curtain, they stepped in and he began to undress her. She stopped his hand again when it was on her shirt and gently pushed him against the wall. For a moment, he thought she was stopping everything. Instead, she smiled. Leisurely she unbuttoned her shirt revealing a navy blue satin bra. Her cleavage spilled over and Rick growled, his cock twitching. Within seconds they were both naked and she yelped when the lukewarm water hit her skin.

"It's not hot enough," she shrieked and the grin brightened her face. He pulled her underneath the spray when it warmed up and held her close. He watched her, stroking her locs as the water cascaded down her face. Michonne was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

As she prepared to kiss him again he turned her around to face the wall and she put her hands up on the slick tile to steady herself. Using his legs, Rick spread hers wide and she moaned in anticipation. He squeezed and kneaded her nipples rolling them between his fingers. Her head rolled back resting on his shoulder as his hand traveled lower down her abdomen.

"Are you ready for me Michonne?" His southern twang was even more prevalent when he was aroused. He teased her folds with his nimble fingertips and she arched into his touch trying to get him to penetrate her.

"Please," she begged.

His finger finally slid inside and he bucked into her at the feeling of her smooth walls. "Hmm you are ready." He whispered, nibbling her ear.

With one hand working her breast and the other teasing her insides, he could feel her getting close. She tried to control it but she felt her climax building.

"Unhhhh," she breathed squeezing his leg to brace herself until she heard the door to the locker room open. They both froze, Rick's fingers still inside her.

"Rick you back there?"

It was Glenn.

"Yeah I'm here just taking a shower before I head home." He tried to sound as normal as possible.

"Ok man. I left that Thompson folder on your desk, I just needed to grab my other coat and I'm outta here."

Michonne was dying. Her body was burning to release and she needed Glenn to get that damn jacket and go home. Just as his footsteps got closer to the door, his cell phone rang and he answered.

"Shit," Rick cursed under his breath. Michonne started to squirm involuntarily. She needed to release and his fingers were so close and yet so far. Slamming her eyes shut, she breathed deeply trying to calm down. When it was clear that Glenn was not leaving soon enough, Rick took matters into his own hands. Literally.

His hand left her breast and covered her mouth. For a second she was confused until she felt his fingers start to move inside of her again. She shut her eyes trying to focus on not making any noise.

"It's ok baby," he whispered close to her hear. "Come."

Michonne tried to process his words and she could hear Glenn talking loudly on the phone to someone about a football game. Her body was becoming unhinged. She tried to fight it. She was nervous that she wouldn't be able to keep quiet but she couldn't stop it. Her body started to shudder and she came hard, squirming in his grasp. Rick's hand left her mouth to hug her waist, making sure she wouldn't fall. His fingers slowed while she came down from her high and he kissed the back of her head tenderly.

"Ok?"

She shook her head. Rick held her close and when he was sure that she was ok he turned her around to face him, her back against the wet shower tiles. Glenn was still talking and rummaging in his locker but Rick couldn't wait any longer.

He had waited long enough.

For her. For this.

Michonne was just regaining her senses when she saw his predatory gaze. Her eyes widened with recognition at what was about to happen. Rick kissed her softly so the sounds wouldn't echo and lifted both her legs around his waist.

"You ready?" He whispered

"Yes."

And then he was inside her.

"Yes," and buried his cock deep inside.

Author's Note: BYE EZEKIEL. You're a nice guy but no. And I feel that more strongly after seeing that season 10 trailer ugh. So what do you guys think about Ricks confession and his shutting down? And don't worry, Michonne has some opening up of her own to do... Please leave a review. I love hearing from all of you!