Back to the Beginning

You know the feeling of nostalgia, it's not the same as déjà vu, as if though you've lived through the moment before. No, nostalgia is that longing feeling filled with sentimentality and affection of the past. That's what Rick feels whenever he's back in King's County. The feeling has been in overdrive since arriving with Michonne. After her parent's passed, she sold her childhood home, but lucky for them his mother never could quite call Atlanta home full-time, so his childhood home is still available.

The first night was awkward to say the least. Rick was on edge. He's still not performing at peak performance and he's not so sure it's his arm that's holding him back anymore or if it's just in his head. That paired with being back home with Michonne in a place that holds so many good and intimate memories is a lot for him. Michonne second guessed her decision to bring Rick back home the second she pulled into his childhood home driveway. She'd been so concerned about Rick and his recovery and how bringing him home may help with his rehab that she didn't take a second to consider what being home might do to her. Regardless, she had to remind herself that she was here for Rick, meaning she was here for work.

Rick took up his old bedroom while Michonne stayed in the guest bedroom. They ordered pizza and shared meaningless conversation. Anything was better than addressing the elephants that seemed to follow them into every room. For example, the kitchen island where they shared their meal is also where Rick would lift Michonne onto during one of their steamy make out sessions. The living room where they awkwardly sat flipping through the channels since neither was ready for bed is where just about every Friday or Saturday night after a game or a tournament, they would find themselves cuddled up watching trash tv and talking for hours. And don't even mention Rick's bedroom the space where they took their relationship to intimate depths for the very first time and continued to explore one another's bodies time and time again.

Needless to say, that first night back they both had a pretty restless night of sleep. Rick was haunted by memories of the very bed where he rested his body, and Michonne sat in bed across the hall truly hoping this trip wasn't a mistake.

xxxxxx

"Good morning" Michonne said over her mug of coffee to Rick as he finally descended the stairs.

"Mornin'" Rick mumbled as he beelined for the Keurig.

Michonne couldn't help but chuckle as Rick has never been a morning person. Ever. She decided to let him get situated with a few sips of joe before starting their day. They had a schedule to keep after all.

"So, I'm sure you are wondering why we are here?" Michonne begins once she sees some light finally come into Rick's eyes.

"I could do without all the suspense," Rick smirks, "you know I hate surprises Chonne."

"Well I just want you to have a clear head, if I tell you what we are doing, you'll think about it too much and that's part of your problem."

"We came all the way to KC for a therapy session, because you know the team has a psychiatrist." Rick chuckles at his own form of a joke.

"Ha, ha. Jackass," Michonne continues, "I'm serious Rick, I like to think that I still know you pretty well, and if I know anything is that baseball has always been fun for you. It was never about the popularity and attention when we were younger, and I'm sure it was never about the money or the fame when you entered the league, it was always about the game. I'm not sure if it's the pressure or if you have something else going on in that head of yours, but somewhere along the road baseball stopped being fun. My hope as your trainer, and as your friend, is to hopefully make it fun for you again."

Rick had to use herculean effort to not react to Michonne acknowledging that she indeed still knows him, and that she considered herself his friend. In all truth, what she said was very accurate. Baseball had become more of a job and less of a game that he loved more than anything and this has been a revelation in the making, long before his injury. If anything, his injury has only shined a brighter light on the fact that Rick and baseball were going through a rough patch.

Meanwhile, Michonne is sitting with bated breath hoping she didn't overstep. She does still know Rick and has no qualms about acknowledging that. She knows him so well, she can recall many times she's had to be the one to tell him things he didn't want to hear, and it would immediately be followed by a childish tantrum, but eventually Rick would see reason. She's hoping that he's grown out of the tantrums and just sees reason now that he's older.

"You're right. So, what do you have in mind?"

xxxxxx

"LOOK! It's Rick Grimes!" A teenage boy shouted, which led to more murmurs of Rick's name and soon enough Rick found himself swarmed with teens from King County High's baseball team.

The upcoming weekend is the team's regional championship game, Michonne thought it would be good for Rick to come and help the team out by sharing some of his expertise, but also to get his mind off of everything holding him back in Atlanta. Seeing him interact with the kids solidifies that she indeed made the best choice.

"Rick, what are you doing here?" one kid asked?

"Well, if it's okay with coach I thought I would come and help you guys out so you can keep the tradition of reigning regional champs." Rick states expectantly looking at his old high school coach and mentor already knowing the answer.

"Of course!"

Rick could pinpoint a lot of memorable moments from the day. His favorite moment, however, was being able to sit down and talk with Lance, the starting freshman pitcher. Rick saw so much of himself through Lance, the indescribable pressure he's putting on himself, the need and want to be the best, the hunger and passion for the game. Being able to talk with Lance and teach him things that he had to learn on his own was a great joy for Rick. Maybe if there was someone in his life who was willing to tell him that life is more than baseball, he wouldn't be where he is now.

Rick never really gave much thought about coaching, he always selfishly loved to play the game more than sit on the sidelines and observe. But today, today that mindset had changed. Being back home, on his old stomping grounds, helping these kids perfect their form, mentoring to kids like Lance, joking around with his old coach, Michonne being there, it's all a dream come true. A dream that Rick didn't even know he had.

A/N: Wow, so I didn't think it would be months before I got back to this, but here we are lol. NO excuses, but I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. More to come soon(ish).