A/N: I appreciate you all so much for your support following my Author's Note. We keep pressing on regardless of any kind of shade. As Drake says, "jealousy is just love and hate at the same time" :D. I promised this chapter to come quickly, but as a black woman living in America, and in the south, you can probably assume that it wasn't the time for my focus to be on Richonne, nor was I in a mental head space to write. So much hate and negativity is going around, that though it's not new, it's still just as exhausting. I'm not sure if it's the time to put out another chapter, but if you all love Richonne as much as I do, then you'll take this offering as something I hope takes your mind away from the mess, even for a little while. To my brothers and sisters living in modern day bondage, the fight is not over, and I stand with you! To our allies, I appreciate you. Let us all keep on fighting the good fight!

With Love,

Ashley

Just Be A Man About It

"Hey."

"Hi."

"Come on in" Rick opened the door to his home for Lori to enter. The air between the two is thick but the conversation is long overdue. No matter how uncomfortable.

"So, is that all my stuff by the door?" Lori asks sorrowfully.

"I can get it shipped to you or help you load it into your car if you want."

"I, um, found a place so I'll give you the address before I head out."

The silence continues to fill the air as Rick wonders what exactly he should say. It's been a while since he's come face to face with Lori. After his last conversation with his mother regarding Michonne moving on, Rick had a great deal to reflect on. He has a lot of work to do as a man. That starts with ending his relationship with Lori properly.

"Lori–"

"Let me stop you before you begin Rick. I've tried to be understanding. I've tried to be the woman that you needed, the woman you could come to want. Five years I've stood by your side waiting for you to wake up, and she waltzes back into your life and you couldn't wait to throw me to the wayside to be with your perfect Michonne. You think she'll just take you back?"

"I know what you've sacrificed for being with me Lori. And no, I haven't done right by you in the time we've been together, because you are right. There will never be another Michonne, there will never be another woman who is perfectly made just for me. Should I have let you believe there was an honest future for us? No, and I will regret that for the rest of my life. And even if she moves on from me and finds happiness elsewhere, she deserves it because of what I put her through. And I hope the same for you, Lori. You deserve happiness, it just was never going to be with me. At least not long term."

"So that's it?" Lori tearfully inquires.

"Yeah, that's it." Rick sighs in response.

"I should, but I don't think I can hate you, Rick. Make no mistake, I am furious with you, it didn't have to be like this. We, we could've been happy if you tried. But I don't hate you because I feel sorry for you. Sorry that you think that you can erase the pain and hurt you put her through, and things can go back to the way they were." Lori's demeanor has changed completely as she seethes this last statement towards Rick.

"I don't want her to forget, and I definitely don't want us to go backward. I want her and I to grow from this in whatever capacity she allows."

"Yeah well, good luck with that Rick."

xxxxxx

Another month has passed of Rick's recovery training with Michonne. He started doing slow pitches a few weeks ago. Trying to regain his confidence on the mound is a lot harder than he thought it would be. Even now, weeks later, he's still struggling. It doesn't help that the general manager is at his private practice today to see his progress.

Michonne has been eavesdropping on the conversation between Abraham, the GM James and the man Michonne has come to know as the coach, Morgan.

"He's not throwing like I'm used to seeing…" James says skeptically.

"He's still recovering. Some days are better than others, we've got to trust the process James" Abraham laments.

"Abraham is right, we can't rush his arms healing. Not if we want him back on the mound by playoffs" Morgan calmly states, having checked in throughout Rick's training to check on his progress.

"Fine. But we need to at least get him back in the stadium for games, the fans need to see that he's still very much a part of the organization. Maybe have him warm up with the team, throw some practice pitches to throw the opponents off a little bit." James states firmly.

At that Michonne scoffs and heads over to Rick to see what's going on with him. Though she doesn't agree with the GM using Rick as a fear tactic for the other team, she does have to admit that Rick is throwing a little off today. Upon approaching him at the mound she gives a nod to the practice catcher to give them a minute.

"I know, I know. I'm throwing like shit." Rick releases before Michonne can even get a word out.

"You okay?" she asks calmly.

"I've been better." He responds looking down at his dirty cleats.

From his, GM showing up to witness a less than stellar performance, to Michonne being dropped off today after a late night with her now official "boyfriend" Patrick. Rick is having a shit day, to say the least. He met Patrick officially a few weeks ago, and he's a stand-up guy. He seems to be smitten with Michonne, and Rick can't help but be happy that he is taking care of Michonne. It still sucks though.

"Rick…talk to me. Please. What do I need to do to get you ready to get back on the field?" Michonne genuinely asks. Physically, Rick is just about back in shape, he'll have to continue to weight train to regain all his strength and keep his muscles stabilized. Now, the issue is his mind.

"I don't know Chonne. I'm just feeling a lot of pressure right now."

Upon hearing that, Michonne is instantly struck with an idea.

"Why don't you go change and get ready to train with Abe, and tomorrow, you and I will try something different. Okay?"

"Yeah alright. I'll see you tomorrow." On a sigh, Rick takes his leave to the locker room to change for weight training.

Once he's out of sight and earshot she heads over to the huddled group of men.

"Gentlemen. Abraham, Rick is going to change to get ready for weight training. As for tomorrow, Rick and I will be training off-campus. Also, James, Rick is under enough pressure as it is right now. These surprise visits aren't going to work anymore until he has regained his full confidence. You understand right, him being the franchise player, I need us all to be on the same page, that his comfort is our top priority. If you need an update, you can contact me directly from here on out." On a nod, Michonne leaves the men to say whatever they feel is left to say amongst themselves.

She's not sure where this confidence to stand up for Rick has come from, but she hasn't seen him this down in years. Baseball has always been his place of Zen. She has to do what she can to get him back to that place.

xxxxxx

"So where are we going?" Rick asks as he sits in the passenger seat of Michonne's luxury vehicle.

"Well you said you are feeling a lot of pressure, so I figured you need to get away for a little bit," Michonne responds mischievously.

"Getaway to where?" Rick asks a little bit more excited at the prospect of spending some time away with Michonne, even if it is for work.

"I think we need to go back to where it all began…"

"You mean…are we going home?!"

"Yeah! Kings County, here we come!"

As excited as Rick is to go back home, and go back home with Michonne, he has to know if this will cause any issues for her. It's as though Michonne can read his thoughts before he can even ask.

"It's fine Rick. This is about your career. This is for work."

"Alright, if you say it's okay. Then, let's hit it!"

xxxxxx

"Patrick, please. This is for work. He's my client." Michonne relays as she continues to pack an overnight bag.

"If it was anyone else Michonne you know this wouldn't be an issue. But it's not just anyone else. Regardless of what you would have me believe." Patrick retorts.

"That's not fair. And please, do me a favor, never demean my work and what I do ever again."

"I didn't mean it like that, I apologize. But can you please see where I'm coming from?"

"Of course, I see what it looks like. But I promised myself years ago Patrick that no man was going to determine the moves that I made, especially not when it comes to my career. If me taking this small trip with Rick is going to cause issues, then I understand. I can't make you trust me. But when I say I'm doing this not only for his career but for mine, that's exactly what I mean. Period."

"You are right, okay. And it's not you I don't trust. I've been around him enough to see the way he looks at you."

As Michonne and Rick continue their journey exiting Atlanta city limits and cross over from the view of high-rises and busy streets to an open wide scenic route filled with grassy fields, she can't help but reflect on the conversation she had with Patrick the night before. Of course, she notices the way that Rick looks at her, she on a number of occasions has had to catch herself for looking at him the same way. But just as she told Patrick, that isn't about that, this is about work. At least that's how she hopes it will remain.

A/N: So, what do y'all think is about to go down in good ole KC? Let me know in the comments!