A/N: WOAH! Y'all are giving me LIFE with your comments! Y'all were M.A.D at Richard. That was the goal. Hopefully I can give him some redemptive points? Maybe? I hope y'all enjoy this next chapter!

Better Shape Up

"So, how are you feeling Brother? Ready to get back on the field?" Daryl asks Rick as the two sits by the grill in Rick's backyard.

"I'm getting strong and stronger every day. Between Chonne working the muscles ensuring they are good and strong and the workouts with Abe, I think I may come back even better than before." Rick states followed by a swig of beer.

"So, you two already back to nicknames? That's a good sign, right?" Daryl asks skeptically as he tends to the steaks.

"I dunno man. I feel like every day is an uphill battle. Don't get me wrong, I deserve every barrier that's in my way. But I wish she would let me know if I had an honest shot here."

"Hm." Daryl mumbles.

"Hm? What does 'hm' mean?"

"I just don't really know what you are expecting here Rick. You think that just because she's doing you a favor, that you all can jump right back in to where you left off?"

"Of course not. But you know of all people I've never stopped loving that girl."

"Yeah brother, I do know that. Which is why I told your stupid ass to leave Lori. Look where that got you hanging around her. You got no one to blame but yourself. It was true five years ago and it's still true now. Even if you were to finally leave Lori, that doesn't mean that Chonne is gonna wanna fill that spot."

Daryl joined into the group later as he's always been at ease being alone. However, when he met this special group of misfits, he couldn't seem to shake them. They met junior year of college. Daryl coming from a family that didn't appreciate hard work and determination found family with his friends, but especially found a special bond with Rick and his folks. Daryl was the brother Rick never had, and Rick was the brother Daryl always dreamed of.

When graduation came around Rick went into the draft, and Daryl started working as a mechanic to help pay for his MBA, now he's one of the top mechanics in Atlanta with a chain of shops all around the city. The two truly did do alright for themselves.

Because of their close bond, Daryl has always felt a need to keep his brother on the straight and narrow. When Rick was acting foolish about Michonne going to Duke, Daryl was there to get him together. When Lori was hanging around more than necessary, Daryl was there to warn Rick of how it was looking. Daryl has never had an issue shooting it straight, even when it may put the two at odds. It's been that way since they met, and it's never going to change. When Daryl came into the group, he instantly bonded with Michonne and Maggie like their big brother. He would do anything for the two of them, including protecting Michonne from Rick.

"Listen, I'm not here to tell you more of what you already know. But Chonne, she ain't the same girl you fell in love with. She's a woman now, and you ain't the only man who has noticed."

"What's that mean? Chonne got a man that I don't know about?" Rick asks instantly irritated at the prospect.

"Nah, not since before she went to Seattle, but she's a hot commodity, not just professionally. You want to be invited to the table of her affections; you better bring something worth serving."

xxxxxx

It's Monday morning and Michonne has Rick warming up before he does some weightlifting. It's been about two months of training and Michonne thinks that by the end of the week she can have Rick doing some light pitching to see how is range of motion is progressing. When Rick heard the progress, he should've been more excited than he was, but his conversation with Daryl over the weekend has been running through his mind.

He knows he has no right, to lay any claim over Michonne. But he can't seem to get his heart to match up with his brain. Even when they weren't together, she was always with him, running through his mind. It's embarrassing how many times he was intimately with Lori and he had to focus on not calling out Michonne's name, especially when the thought of her is what got him to completion.

The thought of his Michonne, being with anyone else, finding passion and pleasure with anyone other than him, boils his blood. He looks at her today in tight black leggings that lift and accentuate her ass, and her bright white dry fit tank top showing off her lean, muscular arms. God, what he would do with the opportunity to explore her body in its beautiful glory. Daryl was right, gone is the lean and beautiful girl he fell in love with. Before him, is a strong, sexy, fierce woman.

Rick realizes that he can't think that they can jump back into the way it was. Too much time has passed. They have to start anew. They have to build a foundation as friends before he could ever dream about them becoming anything more. He has to learn the new Michonne, and he will. At the same time, he will share all he can with her. She gave him some hope when she didn't say flat out there was no future for them if Lori was no longer in the picture. He plans to use that to his advantage. He's got only a few more months with Michonne before she probably ships off to another team, whatever move he's going to make, he's got to make it soon.

xxxxxx

Michonne can tell something is off with Rick today. He's more quiet than usual, definitely in his head. A part of her shouldn't care and doesn't. But another part of her is always curious as to what is going on in that beautiful mind of his.

"You're quiet today." She decides to take the conversational lead today.

"Sorry. Just in my head a little bit, that's all."

"Anything you want to share?"

"Honestly, I've been thinking about a conversation I had with Daryl this weekend." He shares, noticing the smile that appears on her face at the mention of their symbolic brother.

"Ahh, how's D? I haven't had a chance to see him since I've been back."

"He's good, business is incredible. He's got some out of state contracts trying to expand the chain." Rick can't help but smile with pride thinking of how far his friend has come.

"He told me that was something he was considering the last time we spoke, it's good to hear it's coming to fruition. I've gotta get up with him."

"Yeah, he's doing alright."

"Any new women in his life? He was beside himself after he and Carol fell out." Michonne can't help the grimace that comes across her face as she mentions the older woman.

"Actually, there is this woman he's been pining over. Her name is Connie, he's going as far as to learn ASL, got a tutor and everything." Rick chuckles thinking about how lovesick his brother is.

"Really?! Wow!" Michonne is shocked that she hasn't heard about this new woman in Daryl's life.

"Yeah, his lawyer introduced them. She's a political journalist."

"Good for him! He deserves some happiness."

Rick knows that he doesn't deserve to know the answer to what he's about to ask, but he also feels like if he doesn't find out he'll go insane.

"Speaking of people who deserve some happiness. What about you? You got someone you are pining over, or who's pining over you?"

The air in the room immediately becomes thick with anticipation of how Michonne will respond.

"Rick…"

"What? Am I not allowed to ask you that? We spend hours upon hours with one another every other day. It's been two months of reacquainting ourselves…I just figured we could share things with one another."

"We can, but is that something you really want to share about?"

"So, there is someone?"

"There is a doctor who I've known over the years, he went to Duke with me. He's based at Grady. He's been a good distraction."

'A doctor, shit', Rick thinks to himself.

"What's his name?"

"Nah uh, no sir. I know that look Richard, and that's all you are getting out of me about that."

"Does he make you happy?"

"Rick…"

"I'm just trying to be a friend here Chonne, friends ask questions about other friends wellbeing."

Michonne can't help but sigh. She knows he's not genuinely interested in if this guy makes her happy because he wants her to be happy, he's trying to size up his competition. But there is no competition until Rick gets rid of Lori, and even then Michonne can't just go running back because he's available. She's still hurt after all of these years. So yes, while Patrick is a great distraction for now, she owes it to herself to see if it can turn into something more.

She hasn't been in a relationship for a while, and at the time of those she was trying to get over Rick. This is the first guy where she didn't immediately compare him to Rick. He's tall, dark, handsome, charming, gentlemanly, he gets along with all of her friends, supportive, understanding. And she was able to determine all of that before they started hanging out more regularly.

"He's a good guy, and he makes me feel special, and I'm enjoying his company Rick. So yeah, I guess he does make me happy."

Rick wants to be upset; he wants to be heartbroken. A part of him is, as he sees her shy smile as she talks about this other guy. But, deep down he's just happy that she's finding happiness. She truly is someone who deserves all the happiness life can supply. He boldly takes a hold of her hand to give a reassuring squeeze offering his support to her happiness.

xxxxxx

"Richard? What are you doing over there?" Gayle asks looking at her son through her iPad screen.

"Packing up some stuff mama"

"Packing up what stuff? You going somewhere and forgot to tell me?"

"I'm packing up Lori's stuff mama."

Rick can practically feel his mother's elation through the screen.

"REALLY!? THANK YOU, JESUS!" Gayle proclaims.

"Mama…"

"Oh, hush Richard, I've been waiting for this day for ages, I will give glory where glory is due!"

"Yeah, well I'm fine, by the way." He states as he tapes off the last box of Lori's belongings to have shipped to her parent's house tomorrow.

"I know you are, which is why I didn't inquire."

At that remark Rick finally looks at the screen to see the smug grin plastered on his mother's face. Lori has never, ever been a favorite of Gayle's. Gayle Grimes is old school gangster. You get one shot at a first impression, needless to say, Lori didn't make a good one. She's been in a downhill battle ever since.

"So, I take it things are going well for you and Chonne?" Gayle asks.

"We are building a friendship if anything. She's been seeing some doctor since she got back home. Some dude she met at Duke." Rick sighs, the words still taste like bile.

Rick thought this news would be especially upsetting for his mother seeing as to how he currently has no chance at getting back with Michonne. Gayle is Richonne's number one cheerleader.

"You hear what I said mama?" Rick asks.

"Yeah, I heard you."

"And you have nothing to say?"

"Richard, please let us not pretend like I didn't know. I'm not sure what you expected. She was gonna be some spinster while you trotted around with your trollop? She deserves some male attention too." Gayle affirms.

"You didn't feel a need to tell me she was seeing someone?" Rick spits.

"It was not my place. I have a relationship with Chonne separate from you young man. You'll do right to remember that, you hear?"

"Sorry mama." Rick pinches the bridge of his nose feeling an instant headache coming along.

"I know it's frustrating Rick, to see the woman you love happy with someone else, but it's her time to shine. And maybe this is the kick in the ass that you need to get yourself together. You are finally getting rid of Lori, which frees up your time to focus on your career and building a friendship with Michonne. I'd say you are in pretty good standing from where you started."

"Yeah, you are right."

It's tough for Gayle to see her son in such a way. But Gayle has witnessed her son get everything he's ever wanted. The one time in his life he was told 'no' to something he wanted, she had never seen him work harder to get it. As tough as it is for her to see Michonne with someone other than her son, she knows deep down this 'no' is all it's going to take to push her son into high gear. He is his daddy's son after all, at the end of the day Gayle will bet all her money on Rick.

A/N: I hope y'all enjoyed! Hopefully Chapter 6 won't take as long to get out. For those of you who have tuned into Royal Wedding, I see it coming to an end soon, so that's where my focus will be for a little while. I'll see y'all soon 3