A/N: So, so thankful for the chapter 1 feedback! Here's chapter 2!

Choices

"I need a favor"

Glenn's last words play on repeat in Michonne's head. It's been a week since he asked for her assistance.

"Please, Michonne. I wouldn't ask this of you if there was anyone else. You know that. I would never put you through this." Glenn added to his argument.

Michonne knows Glenn's words are true. She is the best of the best and she worked her ass off, to be the best. She gave up so much. She gave up time spent with friends, social outings, holidays spent with family, and ultimately, she gave up Rick. All of these thoughts rush through her mind as she sits outside the Braves training facility attempting to regulate her breathing.

Five years. Five years, three months, and four days since the last time she has physically seen Rick Grimes in person. She's thought about this moment, of what it would be like when they saw each other again. Would she be angry, sad, read him the riot act that she was never able to give him when they parted ways? Or would she still be that hurt twenty-three-year-old girl who stood before the love of her life as he broke her heart?

"How could you do this to me?" she cried out to him as she tried to break through his embrace.

"Chonne, baby please. Just, please let me explain." He begged holding her tight in his arms.

She can't think about the past. Not right now. He's moved on. She tried, but there are some things that she just can't let go of, and because of that, she hasn't been able to move on, not fully. This is how she was able to become the best, she poured herself into her work to aid her in forgetting, at least temporarily. She takes another steadying breath.

Checking herself in her compact mirror, she applies another layer of blood red lipstick to her heart shape lips. Puts her Gucci aviators over her eyes and steps out of her blacked-out Range Rover. 'You are a boss. You are a professional. Hold it together' she says to herself repeatedly as she enters into the training facility.

"Michonne Wright?" A burly voice belonging to an equally burly man calls to her as he descends a staircase.

"Abraham Ford?" she asks professionally recognizing the team trainer for the Braves.

"In the flesh little lady. Thank you for coming. Grimes and I just finished up some of his recommended training, he will be meeting us in the conference room. If you'll follow me."

xxxxxx

"How are you feeling?" Gayle asks her son as he comes out of the locker room getting ready to come face to face with Michonne for the first time in five years.

"Sore. But optimistic." Rick says as he fingers his damp hair into place on his head.

"I didn't mean about your shoulder Rick." Gayle exasperates.

Rick and Lori have done nothing but fight in the past week since finding out that Michonne agreed to take him on as a client to get him back on the field by playoffs. There was no way in good conscience that Rick could allow Lori to be here with him today as he met with Michonne for the first time, face to face. There is far too much history there. Lucky for him, his mother who has never been one to hide her love and adoration for Michonne even after all of these years was readily available to be with him as they reunited.

"I'm nervous ma. This – this isn't how it was supposed to be. You know that." Rick admits.

"I know honey, but life has consequences. This unfortunately is one of them," Gayle amends "and though this injury is a consequence of your stubbornness, which you inherited from your father might I add, maybe it's a blessing too?"

"Ma. We are both here for work, that's it," Rick releases a deep breath "this, it's – it's not about anything other than that."

It's not that Rick wouldn't be open to he and Michonne at least rebuilding their friendship. They were friends for years before they entered into a romantic relationship. High school and college sweethearts. Then in a flash it was all gone. Rick wouldn't be able to survive causing her anymore heartache. All these years later, he's still trying to recover from the first time.

"I understand Rick, but try to remember, a mother does know some things" Gayle smiles as she walks ahead of her son.

"Michonne!" He hears his mother squeal as she enters into the conference room to reunite with one of her favorite people. He takes a deep breath, wipes his sweaty palms on his jeans and enters, coming face to face with the greatest love of his life.

xxxxxx

Michonne hasn't heard a word Abraham Ford has said since they entered into the conference room. Where she is seated, she has perfect view of the door and anxiously waits for it to open. For him to enter.

"So, Duke Med for your doctorate?" Abe asks trying to regain Michonne's attention, noting that her eyes haven't left the door of the conference room since she sat down.

"Yes," she states, "I wanted to be the best, so I went to the best school to make sure that dream came true."

"Wow. I'll say, I've read up on you Miss. Wright, you truly are impressive. Grimes even said as much" Abraham adds to the conversation.

Hearing his name has Michonne's heartrate spike mildly. Before she can calm herself, it's spiking again at the sound of her name. "Michonne!" Gayle squeals as she enters into the conference room. Michonne can't help the smile that graces her face as she comes face to face with the Gayle Grimes.

Gayle has always been in Michonne's corner. When her parents passed a couple of years ago Gayle was right there regardless of circumstances to ensure that Michonne was okay and had everything that she needed. Most importantly she was there to ensure that Michonne continued down the path that her parents had dreamt for her. Her maternal instinct wouldn't allow for Rick and Michonne's separation to get in the way of being there for her friend's only child.

"GG," Michonne states as the two women embrace "How are you?" Michonne inquires. It's been a little while since the pair have physically seen one another, but Gayle makes an effort to speak to Michonne at least once a month.

"I'm good! It's good to see you hon–" Gayle's words fade off as she notices the look on Michonne's face. Turning she sees as her son stands at the entryway of the conference room with a similar expression. Internally, Gayle is elated.

xxxxxx

'Damn, she's even more stunning than I remember', Rick thinks to himself.

'Shit, he looks good', Michonne thinks as she stares at Rick.

"Hi." Rick says fully entering into the room needing to do something other than stare at her. How is it possible that someone could get any more beautiful?

"Hi." Michonne responds in kind. She chides herself for not being able to look away from him. How is it possible for him to have gotten sexier?

It's Abraham who forces himself to break the uncomfortable sexual tension in the room. "Grimes you gonna take a seat, or are you gonna stare at her all damn day?"

"Fuck you Abe." Rick chuckles at his trainer and friend.

"Richard!" Gayle scolds as she sits next to Michonne, who used Abraham's opening to sit in an effort to avoid an awkward physical greeting between herself and Rick.

"Sorry momma" Rick apologizes as he takes a seat directly opposite of Michonne.

"Alright pretty doc," Abe begins, as he winks at Michonne, followed-up with a smirk in Rick's direction, never one to miss an opportunity to mess with his friend, "let's get down to business."

"Thanks Abraham. I've seen a lot of SLAP injuries over the years with pro athletes and I can say that you having Glenn be the one to repair your injury, it's damn near impeccable. Another lucky factor in your case, is that he wasn't able to find any other injuries within the shoulder that needed to be repaired. This is good news especially for a pitcher. You, being young and good shape…" Michonne pauses at the worst time in her speech to ensure that Rick and everyone else in the room is paying attention. She notices the slight upturn of his lip at her evident compliment of his physique. "Um, I'm confident that you can be back on the field by playoffs playing at least through half of the game, and full play by world series if your team makes it."

"What's the likely hood of having me on the field in full play by playoffs?" Rick asks.

"Well that all depends on you Rick. I can push you within the limits of your range of motion, but your shoulder still has to heal, and you have to let it. If we push too far, we could end up causing more damage." Michonne responds honestly, remembering how impatient Rick can be.

"Chonne, I have to be on the field. I have to help my team get to the World Series." Rick pleads, ignoring his blunder of calling her by her nickname.

"Rick. This is what I am trained to do. Let me do my job."

"I told him he gets his stubbornness from his father" Gayle adds causing the room to erupt in chuckles.

xxxxxx

"So, I will have my assistant send over the training schedule and you can make whatever adjustments to fit into your schedule." Michonne says as the two-walk side-by-side to her car.

"Yeah, that'll be good, but I'm sure whatever you suggest will be fine." Rick agrees.

Silence as they continue their journey. Michonne can't wait to get to her car so she can breathe air that isn't the same air as Rick. Meanwhile, Rick's mind is swirling with what to say. So many things left unsaid. He knows this isn't the time to unpack their painful history, but he can't let her leave without saying something.

"Ch-Michonne?" Rick corrects himself.

"Yeah?" She says as she turns to face him just as they reach her car.

"Uh, I jus' wanted to um, thank you. I know that Glenn stuck his neck out for me, and you are doin' this as a favor to him, but still."

"You don't have to thank me Rick, this is my job. This is the life I chose, remember?" Michonne solemnly states as they both recall the memory.

"We had a plan Michonne. How could you go against that? Our plans!" Rick all but spits the words in Michonne's direction.

"I know Bubba, but please just listen. Our plans never included me not going to PT school. You know this…" Michonne trembles.

"You're right. They always included both of us achieving our dreams TOGETHER, not you going off to North Carolina hours away from me."

"Rick, please. We can still have it all." Michonne begs.

"Nah, you know what Chonne. If you choose to go to Duke, then you are choosing a life that doesn't include me." Rick retorts.

"Chonne…I'm so sor–" Rick begins as he steps closer to her.

"I should go Rick," she cuts him off before he can continue "look for that schedule and get it back to me as soon as you can. Until then, I will see you Monday for our first session."

And with that Michonne is gone.

A/N: Please let me know what you all think of this chapter, and Chapter 3, which is already up!