I had this thought the other day and after I started writing, my idea seemed to be more of an ending than a beginning. So I tried to see if I could work my way backwards to see if I could make a one-shot out of it for New Year's. It seemed to come together. I was not sure if this should be a K or a T so I will make it a T for a couple of mild curse words and some mild violence at the end. It's more fluffy than funny. I know, a slight departure for me. I hope you enjoy this fluffy New Year one-shot!
A Serendipitous New Year
"Andrea, I just finished the first semester of my last year of law school and I am tired from Christmas with my family and YOU! I want to relax some on my break. I do not want to go to a New Year's Eve party. FINAL Answer!" Blew an exhausted Michonne trying for the hundredth time to convince her best friend to leave her alone so she could relax across the bed in her old room in her parents' house.
"You are going. Sasha and Maggie are already on their way. I am in my final throws of law school also Michonne, Sasha is in her last year of medical school before her residency and Maggie is, well wherever and whenever you are supposed to be in veterinary school, and we are all still going. New Year is a time for magic and possibilities! So get up and get dressed." Replied Andrea with a finality that Michonne had no words for and reluctantly went to her closet to find a dress.
"I ain't going Shane, I really don't want to run into Lori and her new boyfriend, who she broke up with me for by the way. I don't want to go to a New Year's Eve party with you. That's Final. You would just leave me for the first pretty girl you see anyway." Puffed an annoyed Rick who was trying to avoid his ex-girlfriend who broke up with him for the holidays so "they can try something new," Rick thought disgustedly.
"Yeah, brother you're going. Darryl and Glen will be here in a few minutes and ain't none of us have a girlfriend. We are all going stag, and we are going to have a damn good time. Besides, you might find someone who will charm your bony butt. So get your country boot wearing ass up and get dressed," demanded his best friend. Rick knew with Glen and Darryl coming it was three against one, there was no use in arguing so he reluctantly rose from his couch and went to his bedroom to get dressed.
"Besides," Shane shouted from the living area, "We are going to Atlanta. Lori ain't gonna be there!"
Two hours later, both groups were making their way to a New Year's Eve party on the rooftop of one of the best hotels in Atlanta. It was nothing like the young King County boys had ever seen. The fancy silver and blue décor, the free-flowing free liquor, the food all laid out and the city women.
"Damn," exclaimed Shane, "There are some tens here tonight!"
Rick looked around and did not see anybody that really interested him. Just seemed to be more of the same, he thought. He was still thinking about Lori Wayne. He knew he needed to get over her and move on, but it was just too fresh.
"Stop thanking bout Lori man," drawled Darryl as he slapped Rick on the back, "have some fun tonight. She is."
Rick nodded and went to the bar to get a beer and decided to make the most of the night and have a little fun. He had to admit to himself that fun and Lori did not go together. It could never be easy with her, so he was resolute right then and there to put Lori behind him and enjoy the party and whatever the night may bring. He put an amused smile on his face and shook his head when he saw Shane try to shimmy up to one of the ladies, so Rick decided to make some enjoyable new memories with his friends and start the new year off right. His mama always said, 'end the year how you want to start the new one,' and Rick was determined to end it having a blast.
About thirty minutes after the KC boys arrived, Michonne and her friends entered the same hotel roof top party and boy did people notice. And not just because Andrea's dress crossed the line to lewd, they easily had to be the four most beautiful women there. They were stunning. Rick observed one in particular and thought she had to be, hands down, the most gorgeous woman he had ever seen. He almost dropped his beer mid-drink when he witnessed the dark-skinned beauty with locs saunter into the party. He was mesmerized. He could not take his blue eyes off of her, and his eyes were everywhere. Her long locs. Her beautiful face. Her plump lips. Her magnificent body. Her elegant legs. When she turned around to talk with one of her friends behind her and Rick saw her round, firm exquisite backside, his knees buckled. 'When did I become an ass-man?' he thought. He thanked whoever aligned the stars that brought them both to the same place at the same time. His friends did not detect Rick almost stumble, but that was because they were equally captivated themselves. Darryl had his eye on the caramel skinned woman with curly hair and bright smile. Glen had heart eyes for the pretty green-eyed one with the chestnut bob and bubbly attitude. Shane looked at, and wanted, all four of them but all of a sudden wondrously settled on the blond. She looked like she could give him a run for his money.
"Damn, looks like the party is about to get started now that those four are here," grinned Shane eyeing the women, "Let's go introduce ourselves."
"Shane, those women are out of our league, I think we are just going to have to settle for looking at them from afar," said Glen sadly.
"Nah, I ain't gonna leave here without trying. You losers can stay here if you want," said Shane dancing his way through the crowed towards the women.
His friends watched as Shane approached the blond and immediately started a conversation. Shane and the women all started laughing and every single one of them, at the exact same time, looked towards the three men watching Shane's success in awe. Rick, Darryl, and Glen tried to quickly look away, but could not and were mortified because they knew, whatever the women were laughing it, it was at their expense. They rolled their eyes at Shane and his antics. Michonne gasped when she noticed Rick. She was immediately enamored. She was confused because in her almost twenty-five years of life, she was never instantly attracted to anyone. She prided herself on looking past the cover to get to know the person first. It was perplexing, but there she was, unable to take her eyes off the blue-eyed stranger. Powerless to control the tingles in her spine as she watched him. Incapable of stopping the shake of her legs as she uneasily and unsteadily stood watching and loving the way an errant and wayward curl fell across his temple. She was extraordinarily hooked.
Michonne noticed that Shane was waving at his friends over to join them, and she instantly became super nervous. She wondered if her hair was ok? Was her make-up on point? Did she pick the right dress? Rick was anxious too as he pulled his hand across this head multiple times trying to tame his unruly hair. As he walked over to the group, he was practicing his "hello" in his head and wondering if he should say a more casual "Hi" instead. He looked over to his friends and they were uneasy also, which made him feel a little better.
"This is my friend Rick, that's Darryl and that's Glenn," stated Shane grinning wide as he introduced his friends to the beauties. He got a kick out of how tense they all were. "They are such amateurs with women,' Shane chuckled to himself, 'without me they would never get a date, especially Rick.'
"This is my friend Michonne…," Andrea introduced.
'Michonne,' contemplated Rick, 'Her name is just as beautiful as she is.' He was so enraptured that he completely missed the other women's names. He had never heard the name before, but as he kept saying her name over and over in his mind, Rick felt like he had known the name is whole life. He was enchanted.
"Uhh, nice to meet y'all," stated Rick once he realized the blond stopped talking, but only keeping his eyes on Michonne. Michonne wanted to hear more of his voice. The drawl drove her just as crazy as his looks. 'What is it about this man,' 'I never get this giddy over just a man's looks! And his voice is like sugar in my ears!' She thought and had to actively keep herself from swooning.
They all inexplicably seemed to break off in natural pairs. Darry with Sasha. Glen with Maggie. Shane with Andrea. And Rick with Michonne. It was a wonder how they all were naturally drawn to each other and immediately developed a peculiar bond. They were all at a loss, especially Shane and Andrea, but just went with the flow, and chalked it up to fate.
Rick and Michonne started off anxious and nervous as they began conversing with one another and eventually, to their good fortune, became relaxed and carefree, like they have known each other for years. There was a curious comfort, and both were extremely appreciative that their friends dragged them to this party. They talked about their lives, Rick, a King County deputy for three years and Michonne finishing her last semester of law at Harvard. Their likes, Michonne talked a lot about food and Rick just laughed and wondering where she put it all. He stored in the back of his mind her love of sweets. They talked about what they wanted out of life, Rick a family with at least four kids and most surprisingly to Michonne herself, she was not averse to that idea. She was actually thrilled with the prospect. 'What the heck is happening?' She deliberated. Michonne was flustered. With each word they spoke, they grew closer and closer and fell harder and harder. 'How and I falling for this woman? I just met her less than an hour ago?' Rick pondered. He was both bewitched and bewildered. Neither could not wipe the dreamlike smiles off their faces if they tried. They could not help staring into each other's eyes, each time falling deeper and deeper, her into his beautiful blues and him into her chocolate browns. 'Was this love at first sight? They each wondered.
"I hate to interrupt you two, but man, I am so sorry, but head's up, Lori is here with her new boyfriend," Shane told Rick with obvious irritation towards Lori. 'She is always trying to ruin any type of Rick's fun,' thought Shane as he scowled at Lori, but when he looked back down at Rick, Shane quickly noted that Rick did not care one bit. Rick nodded and never took his eyes off the lovely woman in front of him. Rick was charmed. Shane smiled at his friend's happiness and walked back to his new lady, completely ignoring Lori also. Rick did finally look up expecting Shane to be standing there. Rick saw him walking away and wondered what he wanted. He then looked around and discerned that his friends were just as deeply involved with their women as he was with Michonne. He saw Glenn making puppy dog eyes at Maggie, Darryl holding hands with Sasha, and when he looked back at Shane, well he was inappropriately making out with Andrea in the corner. Rick just shook his head at the pair. All were a miraculous sight to behold.
While Rick was studying his friends, Michonne was examining hers. Maggie grinning widely and acting shy, which was completely opposite to her natural personality. Sasha swinging hands with Darryl and acting like a schoolgirl. Michonne had to smile at that. Sasha was always so tough; it was nice to see her tender side shine. Andrea, well Andrea was being Andrea. She was currently in a corner making out with Shane and riding the edge of public decency.
It was five minutes to midnight and Rick was excited. It was an excuse to finally kiss Michonne, something he was desperate to do since the second he laid eyes on her. Rick was counting down in his head. His third and second minutes to midnight were ruined by Lori, who approached Rick and asking if they could talk. Michonne frowned at the interloper and Rick glared at Lori like he had no clue who she was. Just an unwanted stranger disrupting his happiness. Lori noticed the frown on Rick's face immediately, but in usual selfish Lori fashion, she ignored it. She was not with her new boyfriend and Rick looked around and noticed that her new man, Phillip Blake, had evidently found a new woman. Blake was currently holding his new conquest by her waist and whispering seductively into her ear. Rick made eye contact back with Lori.
"No," he simply said and then gave his full focus back to Michonne who smiled so big and brightly that Rick felt his heart skip a beat.
"RICK!" Shrieked Lori, "PLEASE!"
"No," Rick said calmly without glancing her way and instead stood and offered his hand to Michonne to remove them both from the current awkward situation. Lori watched as Rick walked away from her holding hands with Michonne. Lori became desperate.
"RICK, he left me. I don't have a way to get back to get back to King County. Can you take me back please?" Lori begged as tears started to drop hoping her crying would pull him back as it usually did.
"No," said Rick coolly for a final time. "You wanted to try new thangs, so find a new way to get yourself home Lori." Those were the last words that he ever spoke to Lori Wayne.
Lori watched karma work its magic as Rick disappeared in the crowd with his new, well, love it seemed to her. That was the only way Lori could describe how Rick looked at the woman. Like he was in love with her. Like it was by design that they met. Lori knew immediately that she lost him. To her. In all the years she was with Rick, he never looked at her as lovingly as he looked at HER. She stood there alone and embarrassed. She tried to get Phillip to refocus on her and he waved her away like yesterday's trash then she tried Shane. He told her it was up to Rick and turned back to Andrea to resume his teenage make-out shenanigans, and Lori, a gown woman of twenty-six years of age, had to call her father to come pick her up from a party where she was ditched, and take her home.
At the stroke of midnight, Rick and Michonne kissed. It was kismet. It was prophetic. Rick saw his future flash before his eyes in an instant. Michonne and his kids living a happy life. Growing old with her, with their love growing exponentially with each day that passed. He saw his grandchildren running up to their home excited. It was awe inspiring. Michonne saw her wedding, standing before the alter with Rick, both completely and utterly in love. She saw a vision of herself pregnant, then watched as her and Rick sat on their porch and watched as their children played. She was beyond happy and beyond in love. They stood there with the clock still striking and both went in for a second kiss, determined to stay locked in their caress until the clocked stopped chiming and beyond. They did not hear the revelry. They did not hear Lori scream Rick's name one frantic final time. They did not hear the fireworks because they were making their own. They were completely encased in each other. Ready to spend the new year and the rest of their lives together. Forever. The good fortune and providence of it all was not lost of the two young soon to be lovers as they spent the rest of the evening completely enjoying one another.
"You usually spend your New Years Eve in New York watching the ball drop, what gives?" Asked a curious Cupid smirking at the legendary figure next to him.
"I just wanted to watch them. This is the first time they are meeting. Wasn't supposed to happen tonight, but here we are," shrugged Baby New Year eyeing Cupid suspiciously. "You are a bit early this year."
I'm here same as you. I would not have had another chance for years with those two if I didn't do this tonight," said Cupid. "I technically did not have to shoot them because they are true soulmates, twin flames actually, BUT I thought I would hurry things along. All Michonne is thinking about is finishing law school and Rick would have been too nervous to even talk to her. Both so silly. I threw in the others as a bonus, saved me some time and unnecessary trips later on. Besides what do you know about early, you are JUST A BABY," laughed Cupid as he emphasized his last few words in a sing song voice knowing it would get the little guy going.
"I am NOT a baby Cupid, you know this! I just LOOK like a baby! Jeez!" Replied an annoyed Baby New Year rolling his eyes, "You know I'll be a teen by Easter and an old man by Christmas you Jerk."
"Ok, ok calm down don't get your diaper all in a bunch," chuckled Cupid.
"You are one to talk about diapers!" Shouted Baby New Year throwing a childish tantrum and acting babyish.
"AT LEAST I GET TO USE A CROSSBOW! ALL YOU HAVE IS A STUPID TOP HAT! Hollered a now animated and angry Cupid.
"THAT IS NOT A CROSSBOW, IT IS JUST A BOW AND ARROW! A SIMPLE ONE AT THAT! MADE OF TWIGS! Shrieked Baby New Year hands waving in the air.
"NOT THE WAY I USE IT!" Yelled Cupid staring daggers at the baby in a new year sash and holding his little toy bow and arrow in the air in defiance.
"YOU CAN BARELY HIT YOUR TARGETS MOST TIMES!" Screamed Baby new Year.
"I'M NOT OPPOSED TO FIGHTNG A BABY," Cupid shouted with his balled fists raised in front of him.
"BRING IT YOU WINGED MENENCE!" Roared Baby New Year looking like he had been in a fight or two and knows what he is doing.
While the two mythical creatures argued and almost coming to blows, Rick and Michonne were oblivious to the fairy-tale reasons as to how they made a connection so fast, they were both just excited at the prospect of starting their happily ever after together, embracing their destiny, and ready to have A Serendipitous New Year.