A/N: Hello! I hope everyone is staying safe out there! I am so happy to get to this chapter. It was a pleasure to write. It's all about Rick and Michonne. It includes a lot of dialogue, so I hope you don't find it to be boring. Also, please excuse any errors. I need glasses, lol. Once again, thank you SOOO much for the follows, faves, and thought-provoking reviews! I am deeply touched by the response to this story. There is still more to come, but for now, I hope you enjoy this! Let me know what you think! P.S. I will post pics for this story on my Tumblr (KatanaQueen3476). Be well!


Chapter 8: Lifeline

A free bird leaps

on the back of the wind

and floats downstream

till the current ends

and dips his wing

in the orange sun rays

and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks

down his narrow cage

can seldom see through

his bars of rage

his wings are clipped and

his feet are tied

so he opens his throat to sing.


Michonne gripped the phone tight in her hands as she replayed the words in her head. A few weeks ago, hearing Rick say those words would have been the confirmation she needed to know she was on the right path by connecting with someone who not only shared her grief, but understood how life-altering it could be. Now, hearing the words frightened her. Rick had power over her, more than she could have ever predicted. If she were being honest, she would admit she felt the same, she would reciprocate his declaration of love, but her fear kept her from saying anything at all.

Rick listened to her shallow breathing on the other end, contemplating whether he had gone too far, too soon. The last thing he wanted to do was frighten Michonne any more than he already had. He didn't expect her to say it back. He wanted her to mean it when she did, but he expected her to say something.

"Michonne, are you still there?"

She nodded as if he could see her. "Yes Rick…I'm here," she answered softly. "I'm sorry, but I need to stay a little while longer. Being away from everything has given me time to clear my head. I'm happy that you're getting help, Rick…I really am, but I can't come home right now. We'll talk when I get back."

He sighed, wanting to push until she agreed to grace him with her presence, but instead he simply responded, "Ok, if that's what you want. We'll talk soon."


A couple of days later…

Rick awoke feeling exhausted. He had another sleepless night, thinking about everything that happened since he arrived in Tannon Falls. None of it had gone the way he'd planned. He expected to come into town, locate Tim, do what he needed to do and be done with it all. He never dreamed he would have come face to face with the young man and allow him to live. Moreover, he never expected to meet Michonne. Now, here he was, still angry, still broken, and alone.

He grabbed his phone off the nightstand, noticing a couple of messages from Shane and one from Dr. Cloyd. He was scheduled for a therapy session later that afternoon, but all he could think about was reconnecting with Michonne. He heard her when she said she wasn't coming home. He certainly understood her apprehension about being with him. From the very beginning, Michonne had given more than she received from him. She'd done everything in her power to pull him from the depths of his grief, even as she waded her way through her own. He needed to show her how much he appreciated her, how much he needed her.

He scrolled through his list of contacts stopping once he came across Glenn's name. He pressed call, hoping Glenn would put aside any anger he might be harboring regarding his sudden departure and accept his call.

"Rick! Oh man, we've been worried about you. Are you alright?" Glenn, barely got out, surprised to hear from his friend.

He was relieved Glenn didn't sound angry. "Yeah, I'm okay. I'm sure Michonne filled you in on everything. I just needed to get away. I'm sorry for not calling you," Rick replied apologetically.

"No worries, man. I'm happy you're okay. Are you back in Tannon Falls?"

"Yeah, I got back a couple of days ago," Rick replied, attempting to knead the soreness in his neck which resulted from a restless night.

"So, you know Michonne is with Maggie at her father's farm?"

"Yeah, I do. Listen, that's actually the reason I'm calling. I was hoping you could help me out with something."


Michonne and Maggie cleared the dishes from the table, while Ellen packed up the leftovers from their late lunch.

"It's so nice to have you girls here," the slightly chubby woman replied, running her fingers through her long salt and pepper mane. "The farm is so quiet with just me and Hershel here. I've been enjoying the girl talk."

Maggie smiled at her stepmother. "It's nice to be home, mommy," she said, kissing the woman on her round cheek. "I miss y'all so much."

"And we miss you, sweet pea," Ellen responded, patting Maggie's shoulder.

"Michonne, I'm so glad Maggie has another friend in Georgia. We worry about her being alone in another state."

Michonne laughed, knowing very well there was no need for Maggie's parents to worry. "Maggie's a tough chick," she replied, smiling at her friend. "No need to worry, Mrs. Greene. She's also got plenty of friends to keep her company. I'm just grateful to be one of them."

"Aww…Michie," Maggie responded, hugging her friend.

Ellen smiled before continuing, "Well, I'm glad. Now, hopefully next time you will bring this young man you're seeing," she said to Maggie, playfully swatting the brunette's backside with a dish towel.

"Glenn wanted to spend time with his family, mommy. I promise I'll bring him the next time I visit."

"You better! Your father and I need to meet him and make sure he's worthy of you."

"Mrs. Greene, I assure you, Glenn is one of the good ones," Michonne chimed in.

All three women smiled as they resumed cleaning the kitchen, each startled by the ringing doorbell.

"I got it," Beth yelled, flying down the stairs. As she swung open the door, the petite blonde's eyes nearly popped out of her head as she stared at the ruggedly handsome blue-eyed stranger standing outside.

"Can I help you?" she asked shyly.

"Hi, I'm Rick. I'm here to see Michonne," he grinned, noticing the young woman's bashful demeanor.

"Who is it, Beth?" Maggie asked making her way to the door. She frowned as she laid eyes upon Rick. "What are you doing here? How did you get this address? I know Michonne didn't give it to you."

"It's nice to see you too, Maggie," Rick huffed. "May I come in? I really need to speak with Michonne."

Maggie reluctantly stepped aside, gesturing for him to come in and closing the door behind him. All the while, Beth simply gazed at him, curious about who he was to Michonne, as well as her sister's subtle hostility toward him.

"Michonne, you have a visitor," Maggie called into the kitchen.

Michonne came into the living room, her step slightly faltering once she saw Rick standing there, staring back at her through sad blue eyes. His beard had gotten thicker since the last time she saw him, and he looked tired. Even still, he was handsome as ever and her heart fluttered at the sight of him.

"Rick…what are you doing here?" she asked, just slightly above a whisper.

"I wanted…I needed to see you," he said, hoping she wouldn't be angry and turn him away. "Can we go somewhere and talk?"

Michonne couldn't help but be flattered that he'd driven over seven hours to see her. There was no way she could refuse him.

"Um, yeah. Come with me," she said, leading him to the guestroom where she'd slept the past few nights.

Maggie shook her head as they departed, making a mental note to chastise Glenn for giving out her parents' address. She had given it to him in case there was an emergency and Rick potentially ruining the rest of Michonne's vacation was an unwelcome surprise in her book.

"Who is that?" Beth asked, finally picking her jaw up from the floor.

"He's a friend of Michonne's," Maggie scoffed, heading back into the kitchen to finish helping Ellen.


In the guestroom, Michonne and Rick stood quietly, not knowing how to begin their conversation. Rick trailed his eyes over her, realizing how much he'd missed seeing her pretty face and alluring body. She was a vision in skin-tight jeans and a cream cashmere sweater, but he laughed as he looked at her footwear.

"What are those?" he asked, pointing to the fluffy bunny slippers on her feet.

Michonne looked down and groaned. She'd forgotten she was wearing the slippers that Ellen had gifted her to wear around the house.

"These are my new bunny slippers, courtesy of Mrs. Greene. Do you have a problem with them?" she asked jokingly.

"No, they um…they're cute," Rick answered trying to stifle his laughter.

He was unsuccessful, laughing even harder when Michonne joined in.

"She sure has interesting taste," he added. "She does, but she's very sweet,' Michonne added. "Her and Mr. Greene have been very hospitable."

Their laughter dissipated as they locked eyes again. Rick slowly walked over to her, standing mere inches in front of her. He tenderly ran his thumb across her cheek. She closed her eyes for a moment, remembering how much she missed his touch.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

"You hurt me," she whispered back.

"I know," Rick admitted solemnly.

"Don't do it again," she said pointedly, looking into his glassy eyes. Her own tears were on the verge of spilling over.

He closed the rest of the distance between them, wrapping his arms around her waist as he kissed her.

She pulled away from him, turning to stare out the window, her eyes focusing on the Greene's expansive yard.

He was undeterred, stepping behind her and once again wrapping her in his strong embrace. She could feel his warm breath on the back of her neck, and it calmed her. She missed this feeling so much. She missed him.

"Rick…" she sighed, trying her best not to get caught up in the satisfaction of having him near her again. She didn't want him to know it was that easy to disarm her. "I've come so far…dealing with everything that's happened to me. I won't let you stop me from healing."

"Shh," he whispered in her ear. "I'm not trying to stop you. I came here because I have something I need to say, and I needed to be with you when I said it. I needed you to look me in my eyes and know that I mean every word." He turned her around in his arms, so she was facing him.

He could see the sadness and fear in her warm coffee-colored eyes. It killed him to know that he was the reason for that pain.

"Michonne, I fucked up…but I'm here to make it up to you if you'll let me," he said, running his thumbs over her smooth cheeks. She didn't respond, so he continued.

"I've never been good at sharing my feelings. It almost ruined my marriage…but I don't want that to happen with you. I want to be honest with you, just like you've been with me."

She smiled weakly, knowing this must be hard for him. A few months ago, it was hard for her. Given everything that Rick had been through, she knew she needed to ease her anger with him. She needed to hear him out.

"Okay, Rick. I appreciate that," she nodded. "But seeing you with Tim that night…I was so scared, not only for him, but for you. The way you reacted…I understand it, and I won't work with him anymore, but at some point, things will need to be addressed."

Rick sighed, not wanting to think about his dilemma with Tim. "I know, but let me finish," he said softly, needing to get everything off his chest. "Michonne, your support…your acceptance of me…it means everything to me. I've never felt like the people around me truly accepted me for who I am. I was always trying to live up to this impossible standard, but with you, I can just be."

She rubbed her thumb along his bearded cheek, drying a stray tear in the process. He held her tighter, relishing in the way her body felt in his arms, inhaling the sweet scent of coconut from her hair.

"When I met Melanie, it was a simple love story…guy meets girl, they share a similar country upbringing, they seem to want the same things in life, not really seeing anything beyond growing old in their small town…and I was okay with that. I didn't know anything else," he said, looking at her. "But with you…it's explosive…it's exciting…it's liberating. You make me feel things I've never felt before…and yes, it's scary…but I want it…I want you."

Michonne's eyes flooded with tears as she listened to him. The truth was, she desperately wanted him, too. He made her feel so damn good, and not just in the bedroom. She would much rather continue her recovery with him than without him. He was everything she never knew she needed.

"Rick…" she breathed, kissing him gently.

He covered her hands in his, squeezing them softly as he rested his forehead against hers.

"Michonne, you make me want to be better. You make me want to dream again." He exhaled, "I'm not trying to manipulate you…or scare you sweetheart…but I mean it…I love you. You don't have to say it back, but I need you to know that I won't let go again…as long as you don't."

She wrapped her hands around his neck, gifting him with a languid kiss. He immediately drew her in, licking her bottom lip until she accepted his warm tongue. It was like they were dying from thirst, both suffering from the drought caused by not being in each other's arms for what seemed like forever.

Michonne moaned into his mouth as she ran her fingers through his silky curls. God, she missed these curls. She then moved her hands to his biceps, loving how strong they felt under her hands. His body was firm and solid, lean, yet muscular. His scent was overwhelming, a mixture of citrus, patchouli and cedarwood. She couldn't get enough of it, inhaling once more.

"I won't baby," she whispered between kisses. "I won't let go."


Later that evening, they joined Maggie and her family around the dinner table. Hershel and Ellen welcomed Rick with open arms, letting him know any friend of Michonne's is a friend of theirs, already looking at her as an adopted daughter. Maggie warmed up as well after she realized how happy Michonne was to have him there.

"Please pass the green beans, Rick" Beth requested, gazing longingly into his eyes as she sat across from him. Maggie gently nudged her sister's foot under the table, cringing at Beth's obvious attraction to her friend's man. Beth frowned at her sister, before casting her eyes back on Rick.

Rick cleared his throat, a little uncomfortable under Beth's steely blue stare. "Uh…sure, here you go," he responded, handing her the bowl of sautéed veggies.

Michonne smirked, amused by the young woman's antics. She gently squeezed Rick's thigh, urging him to relax.

"So, Rick…where are you from originally?" Hershel asked, smoothing his hand over his long white beard.

Rick glanced over to the slightly balding, rosy-cheeked man. He couldn't help but think of Santa Claus when he looked at him. It was strangely comforting. "I was born and raised in King County. My daddy and brother still live there."

Hershel smiled, "Oh yeah? I've been there a few times back in my youth. Had a friend who lived there," he chuckled reminiscing on his younger days.

"I never knew that daddy," Maggie interjected.

"Yeah, it was long before you were thought of pumpkin. It was before I met your mother. My friend's name was Dale…Dale Horvath. I met him in the service…good guy."

Rick nearly choked on his beer. "Did you say Dale Horvath? I know him. He's the Sheriff in King County."

"Well, I'll be damned," Hershel exclaimed. "He always talked about going into law enforcement after we returned from Vietnam. Good for him."

Rick chuckled, "Small world, huh. I worked under him for years."

"So, you're a cop, Rick?" Beth asked, completely turned on.

"I was," he replied reflectively, still not used to the idea that he wasn't anymore. "I'm sort of taking a break."

Michonne squeezed his thigh again, knowing he was feeling nervous about potentially having to answer more questions. "This brisket is delicious, Mrs. Greene," she quickly chimed in.

"Oh, thank you dear," Ellen responded, sensing the slight change in Rick's mood. "It's my mother's recipe."

"Yes, it's very good ma'am," Rick agreed.

Hershel looked on, also recognizing Rick's discomfort. He watched as Michonne calmed him with her eyes, and presumably her touch. Although he couldn't see it, he knew her hand was resting on Rick's leg, signaling that she was with him. He didn't know Rick at all, but he knew grief when he saw it. Rick seemed like a good man. If he worked under his old friend Dale, he had to be decent. He vowed to have a talk with Rick later.


A couple of hours later, Hershel walked out onto his large wraparound porch to see Michonne and Rick staring up at the stars and sipping mugs of Ellen's homemade hot chocolate. They smiled when they saw him approaching.

"Beautiful night isn't it?" the older man stated.

"It is," Rick concurred.

"I'm gonna get ready for bed. I'll see you inside," Michonne said, stroking the side of Rick's face. "Goodnight, Mr. Greene."

"I'll see you in a bit," Rick nodded, giving her a chaste kiss.

"Goodnight, sweetheart," Hershel returned.

After Michonne departed, Hershel, gestured toward the two rocking chairs which sat in the corner. "Have a seat, Rick."

Rick did as Hershel requested, curious as to the cause of the old man's serious tone.

"Listen, you can tell me to mind my own business if you like, but I sense something is bothering you. You drove a long way to come see Michonne, who seems to be helping you sort through some things. You wanna get it off your chest? Sometimes it's easier to talk to a stranger about our troubles."

Rick was taken aback by the man's perceptiveness. The old man had a way about him, a way of making you feel comfortable in his presence. For that reason, Rick decided to open up. It couldn't hurt to talk to someone else about his issues.

"Michonne is helping me. I've been dealing with a lot," he sighed. "I left King County because I lost my wife and daughter in the span of two years and it destroyed me…the pain was too much. I couldn't work anymore, I couldn't be around my family, so I moved to Tannon Falls. That's when I met Michonne. We started off as neighbors, but…"

"But you're more than that now," Hershel asserted knowingly.

Rick nodded in confirmation, "Yeah, we're more than that now."

"Rick, I lost my first wife, Maggie and Beth's mother, to cancer. It was a pain like none I'd ever known. I was depressed for a long time and became an alcoholic," Hershel sighed. "I didn't think I would ever come back from it."

"What changed for you?" Rick asked, eager for any wisdom the man could share with him.

"I finally decided that I had more to live for, people who loved me, people I needed to take care of. I needed to get better for them and myself…and I knew my wife wouldn't have wanted me or our daughters to suffer the way we were."

Rick nodded in understanding, knowing his grief and anger were preventing him from living, from being happy, and from being free.

"Yeah, I hear you. I've been stuck in my grief for a long time. I don't know how to move forward, but I want to. It's just that I've done some bad things along the way. I've hurt people…I don't want to be that person anymore," Rick said, running his hand over his face, finally feeling the effects of his long drive.

"You see Rick…" Hershel pressed on, wanting to get his point across to the distressed younger man sitting next to him, "No matter what's happened, no matter what you've done, you can come back from it. Things break, but they can still grow. You can find happiness again. You're not too far gone."

Rick pondered the old man's words. He wanted them to be true more than anything. He finished off his hot chocolate and got up to head inside. "Thank you," he said, looking back at Hershel.

"Rick, one more thing," Hershel shot back.

"What's that?"

"That woman in there…she seems hell bent on making it happen. It's obvious she's quite fond of you. I've lived a long time, son…so trust me when I say, I know love when I see it."

Rick smiled, again shaken by the man's astuteness.


The caged bird sings

with a fearful trill

of things unknown

but longed for still

and his tune is heard

on the distant hill

for the caged bird

sings of freedom.


Eager to be alone with Michonne, Rick convinced her to head back to Tannon Falls the next day. They awoke early in the morning, ready to set out on the long drive. They thanked Hershel and Ellen for their hospitality and said a warm goodbye to Maggie and Beth, before loading up Rick's truck with the snacks Ellen prepared for them and their bags.

Michonne settled into the comfy leather seats as she watched Rick focus on the road. "Just let me know when you get tired, so I can take over for you," she reminded him.

He shook his head and smiled, "I will…but you just sit back and relax for now."

"I'm glad you came," she returned, reaching over to caress his arm.

"Like I said, I couldn't be without you any longer," he smiled.

She hated when he did that…when he threw her off balance. He knew exactly what to say to make her knees turn to jelly. "I missed you too," she reassured him.

Michonne tapped on the radio with her foot. Ray LaMontagne's Trouble played through the speakers.

Rick glanced at her, instantly relating to the singer's declaration of being "saved by a woman." Michonne was saving him every time she was near him, every time she touched him, every time she kissed him, every time she allowed him to sit with his grief, and every time she picked him back up. God help him, he needed this woman to save him one more time, maybe more than once. Having her by his side meant everything.


A few hours later Michonne was behind the wheel as Rick napped in the passenger seat. She smiled, glancing over to get a glimpse of him sleeping. He looked so peaceful in the moment.

They were now less than two hours from home, and she was making a detour. She'd been thinking about it the whole time they were on the road, finally making the decision to go with her gut as the last couple of weeks played in her mind. She didn't need to report back to work for another week and she needed a few more days to clear her mind. She researched her destination several weeks ago, having planned to talk to Rick about it before things fell apart. Now, was as good a time as any to explore what this place had to offer.

Rick stirred and blinked his eyes open, looking somewhat confused. "Hey," he said softly, looking over at her.

"Hi, did you have a good nap?" she smiled.

"A little uncomfortable," he replied, stretching to work out the kinks in his stiff muscles. "How much farther?"

"Not far…but I've been thinking…"

He eyed her suspiciously, "Yeah…what?"

"I'm not ready to go home. There's somewhere I want to take you…somewhere I think will help us both. Are you up for a trip?"

He frowned in confusion. "A trip? Where? I wasn't planning on being gone long. I don't have the necessary stuff for a trip."

She shook her head, "Don't worry about that, we can stop along the way. Besides, you won't need much where we're going."


A while later and they were crossing over the impressive Sidney Lanier Bridge into the Golden Isles, located off the coast of Georgia. Michonne hated bridges, so she nearly had a panic attack along the way, but she made it over with Rick coaxing her through every step of the way.

They took in the scenery as they drove through. It was nearly dusk when they arrived, and the crimson sunset washed over the marshlands as they drove deeper into Brunswick.

"So, where exactly are we staying?" Rick asked as they got further off the beaten path.

"You'll see," Michonne replied. "We're almost there."

They drove further down the road, passing what seemed like miles of majestic live oak trees, covered in moss. It gave the area a gothic feel.

Finally, they pulled up to a wooded area and parked next to a few other vehicles. They exited the truck, taking in the surroundings. There were a few geometrically shaped structures, one surrounded by glass, and others made of what appeared to be wood or bamboo. There were also several impressive huts and tree houses, built high and low with stairs for easy access.

"Michonne, we're not staying here are we?" Rick questioned. He'd been expecting a resort or at least somewhere that looked like it had running water and electricity.

"We are," she smiled at his obvious apprehension.

"What is this place?" he asked, with raised eyebrows.

"It's a hostel. They use it for spiritual retreats…wellness retreats, really. I thought we could come here to decompress after everything's that happened."

"Spiritual retreats? Like chanting and lighting sage?" he asked, only half joking. "I don't know about this. Can't we just stay at one of the resorts or even one of the chain motels?"

She laughed outright now. "Rick…are you afraid of sleeping in the woods? A good ole' southern boy like you?"

"Afraid? No, but I like having certain amenities," he quipped.

She clasped his hand. "Do you trust me?"

He looked into her eyes, "I do."

"Good, because this is a healing place…a place to confront your grief and your fears…and to connect with what makes you happy. We need this, Rick."

He nodded, appreciating her initiative in bringing them to this place. It was part of her free-spirited nature, one of the many things he loved about her. She was spontaneous, taking whatever steps she needed to take, whenever she needed to take them, always pushing herself to move forward.

"Okay," he said kissing her forehead. "Let's get the bags."

They retrieved their bags from the back of the truck and entered one of the dome shaped buildings. They were greeted by a petite woman, with olive skin and long black hair.

"Welcome to The Hostel, friends. How can I help you?"

"My name is Michonne Jameson, I called a few hours ago," Michonne said shaking the woman's hand.

"Ah, yes…Michonne," the woman recalled, smiling as she looked them over with her piercing dark eyes. "We have your lodging all set for you. I'll walk you over while I inform you of a couple of ground rules. My name is Anita, by the way."

They followed the woman along a shaded path until they reached a tree house, built upon one of the large oaks. Rick and Michonne glanced at one another, both terrified and excited to embark on this journey.

"You'll find everything you need to sleep comfortably up there," Anita said pointing up to the house. We have communal restrooms and private showers outside with hot water. Please use the organic soaps and shampoos we've supplied. Meals will be served in the communal kitchen. All dishes are vegetarian, using the crops from our gardens and milk and eggs from our livestock. There's a storage area if you want to store snacks. This house has electricity, but we ask that you conserve energy as much as possible. There is no television, central heat, or air conditioning. You're at nature's mercy out here. However, there is a portable heater if the temperature drops too low in the evenings. Just be very careful with it. You wouldn't want to start a fire. Also, cell phone use is prohibited in the common areas. This place is meant to be free of distractions."

Anita paused to see if they had any questions. When they remained quiet, she offered a few last pieces of information. "Lorna Goode, a very insightful life coach will be offering workshops all week. We also have a few sessions of art and music therapy, yoga, cooking classes, live music in the common area at night, and a pool if you're up for taking a swim. The weather is even warmer than usual for this time of the year. Feel free to explore the islands. Most areas are a short drive or ferry ride away. This place is magical if you ask me. I do hope you enjoy your stay," she said winking at them before departing.

"Well, shall we?" Michonne said staring up at the bamboo treehouse. "After you," Rick said taking her bag to carry it up the short flight of stairs.

Anita was right, the accommodations were meager, but included everything they needed to sleep. There was a double bed in the middle of the room, a wicker chair, a small table with two chairs, a wood chest to place their clothes and a floor lamp. The walls were made from bamboo sticks, while most of the furniture was created from wood. As a final touch, colorful dream catchers hung from the ceiling.

Michonne plopped down on the bed and stretched her arms high above her head. Rick watched her as the rays from the sinking sun caught her face, making her skin glow.

"What?" she asked bashfully.

"You're amazing, you know that?" he answered, dropping their bags, and coming to sit next to her. He tucked a loc behind her ear and sweetly kissed her cheek. "I still don't know about this place, but I'm willing to try anything to get better, so thank you for bringing me here."

She smiled and patted his knee. "The only thing I can ask of you is that you try. Keep your mind and your heart open. You might be surprised." She kissed his lips, loving how soft they felt.

Rick stood up and walked over to the table. He picked up a piece of paper and read it. "It looks like dinner is starting soon," he said sauntering back over to her so she could read the itinerary.

She examined it. "Yeah, and there is a workshop tomorrow morning. We should go, okay?"

"Okay," he nodded. "Let's do it."


The free bird thinks of another breeze

and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees

and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn

and he names the sky his own


The next morning, Rick and Michonne entered the communal kitchen and dining area. The smell of fresh coffee permeated the space. There were around ten other people already dining on oatmeal, scrambled eggs, homemade yogurt, toast, and jam. They quickly retrieved their trays, full of everything and sat down at a long wooden table.

They ate quietly, both lost in their own thoughts. After a few minutes, Michonne broke the silence. "How is it?" she asked motioning to Rick's food.

"It's good, but I wish I had some bacon or sausage to go with it," he shrugged.

Michonne smiled, "Sorry, all vegetarian while we're here…but we can visit any of the restaurants in town and get you some meat."

He returned her smile before taking a sip of his coffee. "The coffee is phenomenal though, some of the best I've ever had."

"Right?" she laughed.

"Ahem," a middle-aged white gentleman cleared his throat as he walked up to the table. He was accompanied by a dark-skinned woman around the same age. "May we join you?"

"Of course," Michonne replied.

The man and woman smiled politely as they sat down their trays of food.

"Hi, I'm Dr. Edwin Jenner," he said extending his hand to Michonne and then Rick. "This is my wife Jacqui."

"Hello," the woman proclaimed.

"I'm Michonne and this is Rick. It's nice to meet you both."

"Is this your first time here?" Jacqui asked Michonne.

"Yes…it is, but I've heard great things about this place," Michonne beamed. "What about you?"

Jacqui and Edwin smiled at one another and squeezed each other's hand. "No, we've been here several times, and you're right…this place can be transformative…if you let it."

Michonne glanced at Rick, who nodded understandingly.

"Jacqui and I actually met here several years ago," Edwin added.

"Really? Wow," Michonne beamed.

"Yes, we both had recently lost someone close and we were both hurting. We connected that week as we dealt with our heartache and kept in touch after we left. The following year, we met here again, and I asked her if we could see each other once we got back to Augusta. She agreed and the rest is history. We've been married for fifteen years. We still come here every year to get centered," he smiled.

"That's quite a story," Rick said softly. He couldn't help but recognize the similarities of this couple to him and Michonne. It wasn't just the obvious, that they were an interracial couple, but the fact that they'd both lost someone and met by chance, their sorrow bringing them closer together.

"Yes, it is," Michonne agreed. "Um, Rick and I both lost someone as well," she said somberly, looking over to Rick. "We're hoping to find some peace this week."

Jacqui gently patted Michonne's hand. "You're in the right place. I also recommend you have a look around St. Simons Island. The trails and scenery there are breathtaking…really all of the islands are gorgeous but go visit some of the ruins there. The area is the oldest place to be settled in Georgia outside of Savannah. I think you both will enjoy it."

"Sure, maybe we will," Michonne responded, squeezing Rick's shoulder.


After breakfast, they made their way into the glass-encased hexagonal building, known as the Glass House Mural. Several guests, including Edwin and Jacqui were sitting around the floor, talking quietly among themselves. Rick and Michonne found a spot near the corner, both wondering what they were getting into. The people they'd met so far all seemed normal enough, just your average, everyday suburbanites with a few from larger cities. There certainly were no hippie-types, like Rick suspected when they first arrived. Each of these people seemed determined to reach a breakthrough, even if it meant sleeping in a tree house, sharing composting toilets, and showering outdoors.

The room got quiet as a tall woman with flowing grey locs entered and stood in front of them. Her rich, umber skin was radiant, her dark-colored eyes were captivating. She wore a long cranberry-colored dress with a few golden feathers woven into her hair. She commanded the room; all eyes were glued to her as she began to speak.

"Good morning everyone. I'm Lorna Goode and today we are going to talk about grief. We're going to talk about pain and how to move past it, so you can be free from your bondage and start to live your best life."

Michonne and Rick sat, intently listening along with the others, as Lorna continued.

"I want you to come along with me on this journey friends. Over the next few days, we will share our authentic selves, face our fears, embrace our joys, and connect to our most profound truths. This will require courage; it will require commitment. In order to make progress, you must want to change. Now, I understand, change can be hard. Letting go of anguish and anger when it's kept you warm and fed…that doesn't come easy…but remember, grief is a merciless thing. It can suck you up and swallow you whole. You will no longer recognize yourself once that happens, but if you trust this process, I promise you will feel lighter by the end of our time together. You will be freer." She finally took a seat in the middle of the circle of people which had formed while she was speaking.

"Now, I would like for everyone to join hands. This is not a religious place, but I thought starting off with the Serenity Prayer would help us all to go into this with the right mindset. Please repeat after me…

Everyone repeated in unison, "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

"The wisdom to know the difference," Lorna repeated. Wisdom, my friends, can bring powerful change into our lives. When we learn to accept what we cannot change and put our energy into what we can do to make things better, our lives change for the better. Does this mean, that we must rush ourselves to get over our grief or to ignore our pain? Absolutely not. We must allow ourselves to go through the process of grieving, whatever that may look like. It is different for all of us and there is no right or wrong way about it. Some of us may become introverts, cutting ourselves off from the world around us, others may become more outgoing to mask the pain. Still others may act out or look to substances, while some find God. Some of us may even see ghosts."

Rick and Michonne both perked up at the last comment, eager to hear more of Lorna's insight. They both felt they had made the right decision to come here as they listened to her speak.

"Seeing ghosts doesn't make you crazy. Ghosts are our own past haunting us. They are a manifestation of our fears, regrets and inadequacies…and yes, sometimes they appear to remind us to let go."

A few people in the room nodded, relating to Lorna's perspective.

"So, friends, once we've granted ourselves time to grieve, when we are ready, we must continue the process to find healing. It is hard work, but we are all capable of it."

Michonne ran her thumb over Rick's hand as they listened. Jacqui noticed and smiled at her.

Lorna pressed on, "I want us to go around the circle and share why we are here today. You can be as open as you'd like, but the more open you are, the more we can help one another. Who would like to start?" she asked surveying the group.

Before Michonne could change her mind, she raised her hand. "I'll go," she said nervously, praying she didn't fall apart in front this group of strangers.

"Yes, my beautiful sister," Lorna smiled. "Tell us what brings you here. What is holding you in bondage?"

Michonne shifted to sit on her knees, tucking her brown leather boots, beneath her. "Hello everyone, I'm Michonne and a year and a half ago, I lost my three-year-old son," she shared, her voice quivering. "It's been hell for me, trying to move on, but not wanting to forget him. I always want to remember him, and it's like the moment I feel anything resembling happiness…I'm betraying him."

Rick looked at her as tears started to well in her eyes. She hadn't shared that with him before and hearing that's how she felt, gutted him.

Lorna nodded, "What else Michonne? Tell us what else is holding you back from embracing happiness."

"Guilt," Michonne stated plainly. "I feel guilty for not being there when he died. I'm his mother, I was supposed to protect him," she began to sob. "It was an accident, but I should have been there. I wish I could go back and make it right…I just want him back," she wept, wiping tears from her eyes.

Rick moved closer to her and rubbed her back as she released her pain.

"Michonne, you can't go back…so what will you do to move forward and honor your son? Will you let your pain swallow you whole, or will you live the life you know he would want for you? You see, when we feel happiness after losing a loved one, it can feel like betrayal. After all, how dare we be happy without them? However, I assure you, finding happiness is the best way to honor them. Michonne, allowing yourself to feel good will not erase your son. He lived! He loved and he was loved! Nothing will ever change that. Tell us, what was your son's name?"

"Kyle…his name was Kyle," Michonne answered quietly, picturing his tiny brown face and wild curls. She smiled at the sight of him in her mind.

"Michonne, I want you to talk to Kyle right now. Tell him what's on your heart," Lorna suggested.

Michonne looked over to Rick silently seeking his support. He nodded, letting her know she had this and she should continue. He caressed her back again for good measure. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Hi baby, I know you're here. Mommy is still here too, but you already know that. It hasn't gotten much easier since you've been gone. The sun keeps rising, days keep passing, the world keeps spinning…time just keeps moving forward…weeks, months, over a year has gone by while I try to make sense of it all."

She squeezed Rick's hand and he responded, encouraging her to keep going.

"I try to find where I belong…try to look ahead to a better future, but the truth is, the path ahead sometimes seems dark and its harder to see you. I can feel so lost, so alone, so desperate for something…anything that might show me the way, but even now, after being surrounded by darkness, there are still flashes of light, tiny beacons that shine out, calling to me… she looked to Rick before continuing, "it's not always enough to light the way ahead, but it's enough to keep going…keep trying…keep fighting…keep dreaming, so that's what I do, every second of everyday, for you. I haven't given up my sweet baby, and I never will."

She collapsed into Rick's arms, feeling like a weight had been lifted. He held her tight as she sobbed into his chest.

The others in the room responded with positive affirmations.

"You did great, Michonne. Let it out," Jacqui said, patting Michonne's leg.

"That's right Michonne. This is a safe space. We all appreciate you allowing us to hear you speak to your baby. He hears you Michonne, and he doesn't want you to give up," Lorna assured her. "You keep going."


The caged bird sings

with a fearful trill

of things unknown

but longed for still

and his tune is heard

on the distant hill

for the caged bird

sings of freedom.


Later that night, Michonne and Rick gathered outside with a small group of people surrounding the large fire pit. It was a beautiful night. A gentle breeze whipped through the trees, carrying the slightly unpleasant smell of the surrounding marshes. Neither Michonne nor Rick minded as she sat on his lap and rested her head on his shoulder. They were enjoying listening to a few of the staff play folk music, while the guests danced, and sipped spiked apple cider.

Rick rubbed Michonne's thighs through her jeans and kissed her forehead, "I'm so proud of you, baby. What you did today took a lot of courage. I know Kyle is proud of you, too."

"You think so?" she asked softly, lifting her head to look into his eyes.

"I know so," he confirmed. "I wish I had been ready to share today…maybe tomorrow."

"Rick it's okay. You heard Lorna; we all have to do things on our own time. Share when you're ready."

"I will…I promise," he replied. "You ready to head up?"

"Yeah," she nodded.

They said goodnight to Jacqui, Edwin, and the others before walking the short distant to their tree house and ascending the stairs.

The air was a little stuffier when they made it to the top. The dream catchers twinkled in the moonlight filtering in through the two small windows cut into the walls. Michonne admired them for a moment.

"What do you want to do now?" she asked, undressing to change into her lavender plaid pajama pants and tank top.

Rick grinned mischievously. "I can think of a few things."

Michonne laughed, "Settle down cowboy. We have plenty of time for that. Let's just relax for a little bit."

"Alright," he agreed, stripping off his own clothing down to his black boxers. He threw on a King County Sheriff's Department t-shirt and settled into bed next to her, both struggling to get comfortable. The double bed was a far cry from the king-sized beds they were used to sharing.

Michonne reached over to the nearby chair where she'd draped her jeans and grabbed her phone from the pocket. "Hey, maybe we can pull up Netflix and finish binging Breaking Bad."

"Yeah, sounds like a plan," Rick said, sitting up to rest his back against the bamboo wall.

"Shit," Michonne huffed, fumbling with her phone. "The wi-fi signal is basically non-existent."

Rick laughed, "Well…Anita did say no distractions. What else you got?" he joked.

"Um," she sat up next to him and placed her finger to her temple, as if she were pondering his question. "Oooh, I know…let's play a guessing game. We'll both write down five questions, exchange them and try to guess how we think the other will answer the questions on our list. Let's see how well we know each other."

"Uh…okay. Let's do it."

Michonne tore two pieces of paper from her sketch pad and handed one to Rick. They each took a few minutes to write down five questions, before exchanging papers. They both laughed realizing they had written nearly identical questions. They got to work writing down their best guesses on how they thought the other would answer.

"Ok, I'll ask first, and you better not lie," Michonne chuckled.

"Scouts honor," Rick grinned.

"Were you even a scout?" she asked raising her eyebrows.

"Yes…now ask away. Let's see how well you've been paying attention."

"Ok, let's see…what's your favorite color?" she inquired.

"Blue."

"Favorite sport?"

"Baseball."

"Favorite dessert?"

"Apple pie."

"If you could visit anywhere, where would it be?"

"That's easy…Paris," he grinned.

She smiled with delight. "You'd love it there."

He returned her smile, "Maybe we can go someday."

"I'd love that," she responded, removing a stray curl from his forehead. "Looks like I know you pretty well, Mr. Grimes," she said showing him the paper with her answers, all of them correct.

He examined it, smiling. "Looks like you do." He kissed her sweetly before grabbing the paper with his questions for her. "My turn."

"Favorite color?"

"Purple."

"Favorite band?"

"Sade."

He wrinkled his nose. "Huh, the question is asking your favorite band, not singer."

She giggled at his cluelessness. "Newsflash, Grimes…Sade is the name of the singer and the band. Actually, the singer's real name is Helen."

"Seriously?" he frowned. "Damn, I never knew that."

"You learn something new every day," she teased. "Anyway, keep going."

"Okay, favorite food? I'm sure I didn't get this right, you're too greedy to pin down one thing," he chuckled, earning him a playful punch to the side of his arm.

"You think you're funny, don't you?"

He shrugged in response.

"My favorite food would have to be my mom's peach cobbler. It's life-changing."

"Is that right? I hope to try it sometime," he said, sobering up from their joking.

She smiled, recognizing his change in demeanor. "I hope you will, too," she responded softly.

They stared at one another for a spell before he asked his final question. "If you could visit anywhere in the world, other than where you've already been, where would it be?"

"The pyramids in Egypt, hands down."

Rick smiled, holding his paper up to reveal his answers to her. She grabbed it from his hand and studied it. She covered her mouth to hide her pleased smile. He got four out of five correct, getting tripped up on the band question.

"Someone has been listening to my ramblings," she quipped.

"Michonne, he said, clasping her face in his hands and kissing her. "I hear every word you say."


The next morning, they awoke early, showered, ate breakfast then headed to one of the rooms in the common area for a pottery class. Working with clay was supposed to be helpful for clearing the mind.

They were surprised to find Anita as the instructor. "Welcome, Rick and Michonne. Take a spot at any of the empty workspaces. We're just about to begin."

They did as they were told, finding empty spaces right next to one another. Michonne grabbed an apron from the drawer of the workspace and motioned for Rick to do the same. Classical music played softly in the background as a few others scurried in to find a space.

"Ok friends," Anita said, pulling her long dark hair into a low ponytail. "Let's begin. We're going to make bowls today. It's very simple and anyone can do it, no matter your artistic ability," she chuckled. "Later you can engrave them with something meaningful to you, it can be an image or a saying, whatever is significant to you."

They listened to Anita's instructions and watched her demonstrate the technique. Of course, Michonne caught on quickly, while Rick struggled. A little while later and her bowl was turning out beautifully. She noticed his still looked similar to the lump of clay he started with. She moved in front of him, placing her hands over his.

"Here, let me help you," she whispered, staring into his soft blue eyes. She moved their hands in tandem as the pottery wheel spun, still not taking her eyes off his. The cool clay felt good on their hands, it was soothing as they ran their hands along the substance, trying to create the right foundation to form a bowl.

"I appreciate that," he whispered, biting his bottom lip. She looked so beautiful with her locs piled into a high bun, elongating her creamy neck. Her berry-colored lip gloss accentuated her heart-shaped lips perfectly and he wanted nothing more than to kiss them, so he did. It was quick, but passionate.

"How are you two doing over here?" Anita asked, startling them.

"We're getting there," Michonne responded, grinning at Rick.


After the pottery class, they decided to take Jacqui's advice and head to St. Simons Island. They walked along the trails, mesmerized by the lush greenery and many different types of trees along the forest, huge oaks contrasting with evergreens. The area was full of wildlife, which made Michonne a little skittish. Rick laughed as she carefully watched her step along the way, afraid that something would jump out and run across her feet.

Michonne stopped to spray more bug spray over her clothing and minimally exposed skin. She did the same to Rick as he shook his head in amusement. "You can't be too careful," she shrugged.

Next, they visited the ruins in Cannon's Point Preserve. "Wow, this is amazing. This land was inhabited by Indigenous people 5000 years ago. There is so much history here. It's incredible how everything that's ever lived has left a mark, not only in our hearts and minds, but on the land. It's awe-inspiring," she whispered.

"Yeah, it is really something," Rick agreed, wrapping his arm around her waist as they continued walking.


A little while later, they found themselves exploring the slave cabins in the Cassina Garden Club. They walked into one of the white structures, essentially a modest sized room divided into two areas, one resembling a living space and the other a school room.

Michonne felt overwhelmed as she thought about what her ancestors had endured. She began to weep, consumed by the cruelty of it all, people owning other people.

Rick stood behind her and held her securely in his arms. "Shhh, baby don't cry. I can't imagine how you feel. It's fucking terrible, but I hate to see you cry." He kissed her temple as he gripped her tighter, letting her have a moment to reclaim her composure.


By late afternoon, Michonne and Rick had made their way further into the island, exploring the numerous markets, shops and stopping for a seafood lunch at Iguanas, where Rick tried fresh shucked oysters for the first time in his life. Once he got past the texture, he enjoyed them. Tired of the limited diet at the hostel, they both indulged in bacon-wrapped shrimp, fried catfish, hot wings and cheese sticks.

Rick sipped his beer and watched as Michonne finally pushed her plate away, obviously stuffed. "Where the hell do you put all that food?" he chuckled. "Oh, wait a minute, it goes to your ass doesn't it?"

She scoffed at him, feigning offense. "I don't hear you complaining. You seem to be quite satisfied with my ass."

"Actually, I love it," he smirked. "It's a work of art, much like the rest of you," he winked.

They smiled at one another, happy to have this time alone to relax, without the drama waiting for them in Tannon Falls.

"You are such a damn charmer, Rick Grimes," she beamed. "Let's go explore some more, maybe do some shopping."


They stopped in front of a little boutique with colorful clothing, jewelry, and homemade beauty products. Selahs, read the sign on the door. It reminded Michonne of a place she would find in Atlanta.

As soon as they walked in, they were greeted by a curvy caramel-complected woman, wearing her hair in bantu knots and large hoop earrings in her ears. She had a diamond stud in her nose, similar to Michonne's, and a tiny hoop piercing her right eyebrow. Her full lips turned up in a bright smile when she saw them.

"Hello, I'm Selah. Welcome to my place. Look around and see if you like anything." She stopped to stare at Michonne for a moment. "You have the most gorgeous skin…doesn't she?" she asked Rick.

"Yes…beautiful," he answered just above a whisper.

"I'm sure you will find something that compliments you well," the woman continued. "Maybe you'll even find something for your handsome, blue-eyed friend," she grinned.

Michonne responded in kind. Again, noticing the effect Rick had on seemingly all women. "Thank you, Selah. I'll look around."

Michonne browsed the various items, while Rick followed along. She picked up a jar of homemade shea butter, opening it to inhale the nutty smell. "This is pure," she exclaimed. "I'll grab a couple of these."

"Is this the secret you've been hiding?" Rick asked.

"What secret?" she guffawed.

"The secret on how your skin is so soft," he answered running his thumb along her cheek.

"Oh, that secret," she grinned. "Yeah, it certainly helps."

She continued browsing until she came across a rack of colorful silk scarves. "Oooh, these are pretty." She chose a red and gold one, along with a deep purple and black one. "Thank goodness I found this place. I forgot to pack any of my scarves."

Rick laughed, knowing exactly what she meant. "I was wondering why you were sleeping without your hair tied up."

"I've taught you so well," she said running her fingers through his beard.

She grabbed a few pieces of jewelry and a silk blouse, before her and Rick walked back to the front of the boutique and placed the items on the counter.

"Great choices," Selah proclaimed. "These will look wonderful on you."


The sun would be setting soon, so Rick and Michonne decided to make the St. Simon Lighthouse their final stop. They climbed to the top of the structure and basked in the spectacular views of the coast, the mainland, and surrounding islands. Michonne inhaled the salty sea air as they listened to the melody of the waves crashing against the rocks down below.

"This is so beautiful," Michonne exclaimed. "It's so peaceful up here."

"It is," Rick nodded, wrapping his arms around her abdomen, and pulling her closer to him.

"Kyle loved the ocean," she said sadly. "He loved to play at the beach and feel the sand between his little toes. Ed really started teaching him to swim when he was a year old, but he was in the water even before that."

Rick ran his hands along her back, enjoying hearing her speak about her son. He wanted to know everything about the life she'd brought into the world.

"He could stay at the beach for hours, building sandcastles and hanging onto his daddy's back to ride the waves," she sighed.

"That sounds really nice," Rick responded softly.

"Did Kaley like the water?" she asked, looking up at him.

"Yeah, she loved it. Her favorite character was Ariel from The Little Mermaid," he laughed. "She always wanted to be in the water."

Michonne turned around and rested her head against his broad chest. "I bet you were an amazing father."

His heart swelled, hearing her express confidence in his parenting abilities. He was clueless when Kaley was born, but he caught on quickly, doing everything he could to contribute to her wellbeing.

He tightened his hold on Michonne, needing to feel her close as he thought about his daughter.

"Yeah, I did my best. I didn't want Mel taking on everything by herself. I helped with all of it…late-night feedings and changing dirty diapers," he laughed. "By the time she got to school, I never missed anything, not a fundraising event or a school program, nothing. My daddy was the same way, so I guess I learned from him."

Michonne kissed him gently. "That's wonderful, baby."

"Michonne," he said, lifting her chin so she was looking at him. "What happened to Kyle wasn't your fault. You were an amazing mother to him. I know you were…and what happened to Kaley…I'm still coming to terms with it, but it's getting easier. We both did our best, we loved them, and they left here knowing that."

He wiped the tears gathering at the corners of her eyes and passionately kissed her. She fully accepted, feeling the yearning behind his kiss, the longing for her comfort.

When they finally came up for air, she rested her forehead on his shoulder. "Rick, I think it's a good idea for you to establish a practice of remembrance for Kaley. Earlier this year, I released butterflies in the park on Kyle's birthday. This coming year, I'll do the same. You should figure something out to remember Kaley."

"I think that's a fine idea," he concurred, kissing her once more.


It was dark by the time they returned to the hostel. Everyone seemed to have turned in early, as there was no live music playing and the common areas were deserted.

Rick sat on the bed and removed his boots, followed by his sweatshirt. "I don't know about you, but I could really use a shower."

"You read my mind," Michonne smiled, removing her own clothing. "There's no one down there, so we can have it all to ourselves."

"Let's go," he grinned.

They finished undressing, grabbed their robes and towels, slipped on their flip flops, and walked down to the shower area, which consisted of three bamboo enclosed shower stalls, each with rainwater shower heads, a small bench and large opening at the top, offering a nice view of the stars painting the evening sky.

Rick turned on the shower and ran his hand through the water to make sure the temperature was just right.

"Come on," he told Michonne when it was hot enough. They threw their towels over the top opening of the shower stall and stepped inside the steaming water.

"Oh my god, that feels so good," Michonne exhaled.

Rick immediately pulled her close, her smooth skin feeling heavenly against him. He engulfed her in his arms and tenderly kissed the back of her neck.

"Mmm," she moaned, letting the water wash away the long day, while his lips lit a fire in her core. She could feel his erection against her ass and knew where this was heading.

Rick ran his tongue along her neck, causing her to squirm. His hands traversed over her breasts, rolling her stiff nipples between his thumbs and index fingers, while he nipped at her skin.

"You're so sweet," he whispered in her ear, lust heavy in his voice. She turned slightly to kiss him, and he eagerly sucked on her plump lips before slipping his tongue inside her mouth.

She reached her hand behind her, grasping at his curls as he hungrily kissed her. She was dripping wet now, longing to feel him inside of her. When she felt his fingers teasing her clit, she broke the kiss, gasping as he penetrated her opening.

He leisurely moved them in and out, taking his time to explore her walls. "Baby…" she pleaded, growing impatient with his teasing. He smiled to himself, knowing he was driving her crazy.

He slowly removed his fingers and lifted them to her lips. She happily accepted the sticky digits into her mouth, moaning at the sweet taste of her own juices. Rick felt like he was about to explode, his dick was set to stone at the sight of her. He removed them from her mouth and finished sucking them clean.

"Spread your legs a little, baby," he requested. She did as he asked, spreading her legs, and resting her hands against the makeshift shower wall.

Rick easily slid inside, her pussy immediately clenching him tight as he sank deeper. "Damn, you're gonna make me come too quick," he groaned. He held still for a moment, desperately trying to regain his composure so they both could enjoy this.

After a minute, he bit down on her shoulder, gripped her waist tight and started slowly thrusting. Michonne purred like a kitten as her eyes fluttered shut. "Yes…baby…just like that," she mewled.

He grasped her abdomen and dove into her walls with increasing fervor as her ass bounced against him. "God…baby," he moaned, sucking on her neck.

Michonne adjusted her stance, opening her legs a little wider and pushing against the wall to offer more resistance to his thrusts.

Being outside, they were aware that anyone could potentially walk by and hear or see them, but it didn't matter. It was always this way with them, their desire to indulge in each other trumped everything.

Rick pounded into her faster and harder, causing her to move her hand to his thrusting hips as if trying to slow him down. "Ahh, Rick," she whimpered.

"Tell me you need me" he growled into her ear. "I need you baby," she murmured. He clenched her tighter, thrusting with a slow, angled stroke, deliciously stretching her walls.

Michonne thought she might die as the ridges of his cock moved in and out of her slippery sweetness. She bit down on her lip and started to rock faster against him. "I need you so much, Rick. Don't you fucking stop," she commanded, her voice laced with neediness.

He increased his pace again, drilling into her as he felt her walls gripping his cock, threatening to pull his release from him. His balls were tightening, and he knew he didn't have long. He tried to think of something else to stave it off, but her body felt so good, he couldn't think of anything other than her.

Michonne was writhing against him in a frenzy when he felt the tell-tale sign of her contracting walls. She hummed, feeling her orgasm radiate throughout her entire body.

His brow furrowed from the unbearable pleasure of her tight grip and feeling her creaming all over his dick. "Mmm…baby" he panted as he let go, splattering her hot slippery walls with his cum, mingling with her essence.

They continued to move against each other until he was completely empty. He rested his forehead on her back, both attempting to return their breathing to normal.

"I love you," he whispered, kissing between her shoulder blades. "I love you."


Their last day at the hostel had arrived and they were spending it in another group session with Lorna. Jacqui and Edwin greeted them with a smile as they walked in and joined the circle. "Hey, you two, it looks like you were able to get away and explore yesterday," Edwin stated.

"Yeah, we had a good time," Rick returned, rubbing Michonne's shoulders as she leaned against him.

"We suspect we'll see you again, maybe next year?" Jacqui asked hopefully.

"Maybe," Michonne replied. "This has been quite the experience."

"Hello friends," Lorna's comforting voice swept through the room as she entered. "Today we are going to start with sharing. I'd like someone who hasn't gone yet to start us off."

On cue, Rick raised his hand.

"Yes, handsome," Lorna nodded. "We're listening…start whenever you're ready."

Michonne clasped his hand in hers as he began to speak. "Hi, I'm Rick. A few years ago, I lost my wife to cancer…and a couple of years after that, I lost my little girl. She died in a car accident and I've carried so much anger and pain around with me…for so long. It hurt so bad, I could hardly function on some days…and other days, I didn't recognize the man I'd become," he exhaled, running his hands through his hair.

"It's okay baby," Michonne whispered, urging him along.

"I hated myself for letting my wife down, I um…I was bad at communicating, worked way too much, didn't make her feel appreciated, but when she got sick…I spent as much time with her as I could. After she died, I tried to be there for our little girl. I wanted to keep her safe, healthy, and happy, like any father would. I wanted to watch her grow up, graduate from high school and college, see her get married and have kids of her own…but she died and here I am." He could feel the emotion swelling up in his throat, and he urgently wanted to swallow it back down.

Sensing his discomfort, Lorna chimed in, "You're doing great Rick. Please…continue. Tell us what's holding you in bondage."

Rick contemplated for a moment before answering. "My anger…my hatred for the man who caused the accident…it's relentless. It's taken me to some really dark places," he said, looking over at Michonne whose brown eyes were glossed over with tears. My wife and daughter…they haunt me, asking why I let her die, pleading with me to make things right. I don't even know what that means anymore. Sometimes, I feel like I might be stuck in this cycle forever…one moment, I feel okay and I think I can move on…and then once again, the anger overtakes me."

Lorna nodded sympathetically. "Grief is a cycle, we go through different stages, sometimes we face setbacks, but we must keep going…keep moving forward. Lean on whatever and whoever you can to get your strength, Rick. You'll need it to win this war. You may have a few more battles along the way, but I have no doubt you can emerge victorious. You just have to trust yourself enough to make change. It sounds like starting with forgiveness may be key in your situation. You said your daughter's death was an accident. Accidents, as tragic as they are…are still accidents. Think long and hard about what forgiveness may look like for yourself and the man responsible."

"Thank you," Rick replied, absorbing every word.

"Rick, tell your wife and your daughter, you are okay. They can rest now. They need to let you be free," Lorna continued.

Rick closed his eyes and pictured Melanie and Kaley's bright green eyes staring back at him. He could feel Michonne rubbing his hand, as he took a deep breath and began…

"Mel, I'm sorry…I never meant to let you down, but I loved you. I loved you the best I could, and I loved Kaley with every fiber of my being. I'm sorry I couldn't keep her safe, but I know she's okay now. You both are okay and I'm going to be okay, too…but I need you to let go Mel. What's happened is done and I can't change it. Kaley, my sweetheart…I will always love you and hold you close in my heart. Daddy promises to work on getting better and I will always honor you. Rest well sweetheart. I'll see you again someday."

Michonne stared back at him as he opened his eyes. "I'm proud of you," she whispered.


But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams

his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream

his wings are clipped and his feet are tied

so he opens his throat to sing.


That night as Michonne waited for Rick to come in from talking with some of the other guests, she pulled out a piece of paper and began to write…

Dear Lydia,

Words cannot express what the past year and a half has been like for me. Losing Kyle was the single most tragic event of my life, and I hope to never feel that kind of pain again. However, I know things have not been easy for you. I heard of your troubles, Lydia. I'm sorry. For so long I wanted you to suffer. I now realize you have suffered and may continue to suffer. I was wrong to wish for that. I don't want you to carry around this guilt any longer. I don't want you to hold on to the pain. Lydia, Kyle loved you and you loved him. What happened can't be changed, but how we move forward can. Let's live our lives with hope and happiness. Kyle wouldn't want it any other way. Lydia, I forgive you. Please forgive yourself and be free.

Sincerely,

Michonne.

She folded the letter and stuffed it into the pocket on the inside of her notebook. She would mail it when she returned home to Tannon Falls. She heard Rick coming up the stairs and straightened up.

"Hey beautiful, I thought you were asleep already. You should get some rest before we take off in the morning."

"I'll rest later, come here," she called to him.

He complied, sitting on the edge of the bed to remove his boots and socks.

"I wrote a letter to Lydia," she said, watching him finish undressing. He stopped and looked at her. "Oh…wow," he said, not knowing how to respond.

"What Lorna said about forgiveness really hit home for me," she clarified.

He nodded, knowing where the conversation was heading, but not ready to go there.

"Michonne, can we talk about this tomorrow?"

She sighed, feeling disappointed that he was still holding back on talking about Tim.

"Ok, whatever you need," she smiled weakly.

He removed the rest of his clothing, including his boxers and slipped under the covers next to her. He kissed her lips and slowly lifted her tank top over her head, a sign that he was done talking about everything.

Michonne didn't resist as he got up on his knees and slid her shorts and panties off in one motion. She licked her lips at the sight of his rock-hard member, standing at attention, the head so swollen it was nearly purple. She wanted to taste him, but she needed to feel him inside her even more.

He slid her down the bed until he was lined up with her center and slowly pushed himself inside of her. Michonne's mouth formed into a perfect "O" as he filled her up. Draping the back of her knees over his elbows, he went to work. His strokes were fluid, yet forceful, knocking against her cervix each time he pushed into her.

"Oh my fucking god," she murmured, gripping the thin sheets underneath her. Rick kept his eyes on her as he moved, loving the tortured expression on her face. "Yeah," he moaned, rolling his hips into her with expert precision, hitting her g-spot and making her come undone. God help her, every time with him seemed to be better than the last time. Each time was the most blissful thing she'd ever experienced, until the next time.

He gripped the back of her thighs, using them as leverage to hold himself up and thrust into her faster. "Oh god," he moaned. "You feel so fuckin' good baby," he breathed as he further increased his pace.

She clawed at his wrists and forearms, as he slid in and out, her sweet stickiness fully coating him. "Yes…Rick…Ooooh," she purred squeezing her eyes shut tight, rolling her hips to match his powerful thrusts.

He lowered his body until they were lying skin-to-skin, both having worked up a sweat. He released her legs and she immediately wrapped them tight around his waist, drawing him deeper inside of her. He dropped his lips to her breast and seductively traced his tongue around her dark chocolate bud, before sucking it into his mouth. He sucked and licked like he was tasting the sweetest chocolate, alternating to do the same with the other.

Michonne ran her fingers through his silky curls as she lifted her pelvis to meet his movements. He rolled his hips into her, relishing the feel of her tight, wet pussy, dripping just for him. All of her sultry moans, the way she moved her body against his, the way his name fell from her lips, all of it signifying to him that she indeed needed and wanted him, that she loved him, even if she hadn't expressed the words. Her body talked for her and it was loud and clear.

Then it happened. It caught him off guard at first, nearly faltering his rhythm as he pondered whether or not he was hearing things. Then he heard it again and knew it was real… "I love you…I love you, Rick," Michonne whispered, lifting his head from her breast to look into his stormy blue eyes. "Say it again," he whispered back. "I love you baby," she repeated.

He urgently thrusted into her, drawing out a delightful simultaneous release. They rocked and moaned against each other, grasping at the slippery skin underneath their fingertips. Rick could feel his cum spurting into her, bathing her walls and it was the best fucking thing he had ever experienced, as her throbbing pussy pulled him over the edge, sucking the life out of him.

"Oh god…Oh god," he moaned into the crook of her neck, emptying himself completely.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and greedily kissed him as she gyrated through her own release. "Ughhh, god…. oooh," she moaned, letting her eyes roll shut.

Rick peppered her face with kisses as she came down from her high. "Don't ever leave me," he whispered. "Besides being a father, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me."

She nodded, overwhelmed by how easily he touched her heart. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm here as long as you'll have me."


The next morning, they awoke feeling disappointed over their impending return to reality. Their time at the hostel promised to be life-changing for them. They walked with a renewed sense of purpose and a determination to fully heal from the tragedies of their lives. They vowed to be free from the bondage of pain, guilt, and anger.

Michonne rolled over, stroking Rick's arm. He turned to face her and kissed her sweetly on the lips.

"Mornin' sweetheart…guess we should get a move on," he said, attempting to get out of bed.

Michonne caught his arm and pulled him back in. "Wait a minute, I need you to promise me something."

"Ok, what is it?" he asked, already knowing her request.

"I need you to promise me you'll talk to Tim." She watched his face twist up, clearly not thrilled with the idea.

"Rick you will never be able to completely heal until you do. This is about making things right, about being free. I need you to be free. I promise, I'll be there with you every step of the way, but only you can fix this."

"Yeah," he nodded, recognizing the veracity of her words. "Okay, I'll talk to him."


The caged bird sings

with a fearful trill

of things unknown

but longed for still

and his tune is heard

on the distant hill

for the caged bird

sings of freedom.


Poem Stanza: Caged Bird by Maya Angelou