I hope everyone is enjoying this story. This story is about the relationships between father and son and father and daughter, as well as a love story. The "magic" letters are a part of that. I also lifted a Titanic quote, don't judge. Enjoy!

One year ago

"Sheriff Deputy Rick Grimes has been removed from his position due to personal issues within his family. We urge the public to respect his privacy during this time."

Rick stared at the television from the local news. "Removed" was an understatement, as he wasn't sure that he'd ever go back into law enforcement again. His reputation was permanently scarred due to his actions which brought embarrassment to his name and shame to his father. He thought back to the night before, where he'd seen his ex wife Jessie philandering with a known criminal Peter Anderson when she was supposed to be watching their son Carl. Unbeknownst to him, Carl had wandered out into the Christmas snow and sat there, waiting for his mommy to arrive back home. Instead, she was with Peter and his son had fallen into a coma at the hospital. He saw red and lost it on the pair of them, storming into the party with rage-filled eyes. He destroyed the furniture at the party, nearly killed Peter Anderson, and called Jessie everything but a child of God in front of everyone there.

He was so angry.

In one moment, everything was gone. His life, his son, his job; all gone. He was put on permanent leave the next day, with his son eventually recovering from his injuries, but eventually losing his life. Christmas was difficult for him, as he struggled to make sense of it all even though he wanted to.

:

Present time

Rick stared at the spot where he'd last seen Carl. It was an inconspicuous spot in his front lawn, where the young boy had lain slumped over. He immediately felt that guilt again, taking over him. He thought that he was finally able to overcome it, the devastation of losing him, but he still carried that anger and shame. He still resented his ex wife for being so careless; he resented himself for being so careless.

For the first time in a long time, he'd met someone who didn't know what happened and gave his mind something new to focus on. He needed it, he knew it; he knew Michonne was damaged like he was and maybe she was here at the right time.

He turned around and faced her. She stood behind him, staring at him curiously.

"You're not your usual chipper self," Michonne noted. "You've been looking kind of down and moody."

"I'm just not a huge Christmas person," he said.

Michonne gasped. She was shocked. "You? Not a Christmas person?"

Rick simply nodded. "No, I actually hate Christmas. Surprise, I am Scrooge."

Michonne smirked and Rick saw the playful tilt of her mouth. It was a side of her that he hadn't seen before. "You're a little too sexy to be Scrooge."

"Is that so?"

"That's so, Rick," Michonne said, but before he could engage with her again, she swiftly walked away, effectively ending their moment.

:

"I don't see any pictures of anyone in your house at all," Michonne randomly commented. "Not even your dad."

"My dad and I…," Rick trailed off. "It's complicated."

"How so?" Michonne asked.

They were sitting on opposite ends of her living room couch and had got to talking. It suddenly dawned on Michonne that she didn't see any trace of his past or any semblance of a family there with him.

"Last year, I embarrassed him," Rick began. "Well, I embarrassed myself. I couldn't face him and he couldn't face me. We grew apart," he paused. She could see the pain in Rick's eyes. "My dad's always so preoccupied with other people's problems and trying to help everyone else. He doesn't see me."

"Maybe if you talked to him," Michonne suggested. "Maybe if you told him how you felt."

"I don't know how," Rick admitted, brushing a stray tear away. He hoped Michonne didn't see it.

Michonne breathed in deeply, bracing herself to not remember or get triggered by Rick's confessions. She felt the same way about her father. He used to be so involved in her life before he became obsessed with his work and after the death of her mother, he withdrew further away. She did crazy things because she just wanted him to see her and notice her, to understand that she was hurting as well. The money and objects were great, but they'd isolated her, they'd numbed her, they'd made her a shell of herself.

She breathed in deeply, preparing herself to open up. "I feel the same way about my father," Michonne said. "I know you must think, poor little rich girl. What does she know about misery?"

Rick scrunched up his handsome face in confusion. He didn't think that at all. In fact, the pain masquerading behind her beautiful brown eyes fascinated him and reminded him of his own pain. "No," he said. "No, I was thinking, what could've happened to this girl to make her so unhappy?"

"A lot happened," Michonne admitted. "My dad is like your dad, Rick. He cares so much about making sure that I have everything, but he doesn't see me as a person. I wish he did. I've made a lot of mistakes in my life, sought out all the wrong people, because it feels like the only way to make him see me as the woman I am and not the girl I was."

Rick reached over and touched her hand. "You're a beautiful woman with a lot to give," Rick told her. "I see you."

"I see you too, Rick," She said as the skin above her hand tingled with electricity and warmth.

After a moment, they both awkwardly pulled away. The moment grew so intense suddenly that they didn't know what to do or what that was. Rick didn't want to lose the moment with her, though, so he decided to open up more about himself. He wanted to talk about the things inside of him that ran rampant; he felt compelled to open up to Michonne and he felt compelled quickly.

"A year ago at Christmastime," Rick began. "My son Carl passed away. He was playing in the snow. My wife Jessie was supposed to be watching him, but she was out with someone else. A man. I lost my mind when I realized...and I made a mess of everything there. I came back home and found him, did CPR, tried to save him, but he went into a coma. Due to my behavior, I was all over the local news, my wife divorced me, I lost my job at the department," he paused, feeling Michonne's hand clutching his again. It comforted him. "Everyone knew me and you were the first person that didn't know me. It felt good to just be me, the person I was."

"You're incredible, Rick," Michonne told him, a tear now falling from her eye. She felt a strong urge to hold him, to pull him into her arms. Beyond that, she wanted to kiss him. This wonderful man constantly emphasized that money wasn't everything and that was still able to show kindness and empathy to her despite his pain was wonderful. "I haven't known you long, but you're the greatest man I've ever known."

He blushed, averting his eyes away. "Not after what I've done," he admitted.

"Even after," Michonne said. "We're all capable of change, you said that."

"I said that," he agreed.

"You did say it," she continued. "You experienced unimaginable loss and you still look at me like I'm not...like I'm worth something."

"Because you are, Michonne," Rick said, smiling softly at her. "Neither of us can change the things we've done or the way people think of us, but I guess we can be who we want to be...with each other. Would you like that?"

"I'd like that," Michonne agreed.

Once again, she put her hand over his and scooted over on the couch. She stared at him, taking him in. She wasn't sure how it had happened so fast, but she felt so connected to him.

"How about we try something lighter," Rick said, feeling his body and mood lift up from his previous somber spirits. "How about we talk about the good thangs, the thangs we enjoy. The thangs that make us happy."

"I actually love Christmas. My mom wouldn't spend much -"

" - Your mom didn't spent much. On you?"

Michonne shot him a hard look, to which Rick giggled at. His smile was bright and infectious. She couldn't help but laugh too.

"Hey! I wasn't always the diva that I am now," Michonne said through giggles. "My mom used to make the best food and on my seventh birthday, she got me the newest roller skates. I loved them and started skating everywhere with them on. Dad started calling me Rollergirl."

Rick started to laugh harder, clutching her hand tighter. "Rollergirl!?"

"Rollergirl," Michonne continued to laugh, his hand in hers made her heart and stomach flutter. "Your turn!"

"Well, my dad used to dress up as Santa and read us letters from the North pole," Rick said. "One year, I decided that I didn't believe in Santa anymore, so I went up to him and snatched his beard clean off his face. I was shocked to see my dad starin' back at me."

Michonne started wheezing laughing. "What'd your dad do?"

"He told me that he was Santa," Rick said, laughing at the memory. "I believed him for at least ten years after that."

"You do seem like you'd believe something like that for so long," Michonne said. She leaned over and ruffled his curls. "You're too sweet."

"I'm sweet, but I can be saucy," he said with a smirk.

Michonne's stomach flipped with anticipation. A warmth fluttered in her core.

Rick switched gears. "When you were growing up, what did you want to be?"

Michonne thought for a second, before answering. No one had ever bothered to ask. "A Civil Rights lawyer. I actually went to Harvard Law and passed the bar."

"Wow! You went to Harvard?"

"Yes, I did. Is that unbelievable?"

"No, not at all. That's amazing. You should consider it. There's not many lawyers in town," Rick commented simply.

He was genuinely happy and it made her feel like maybe she could consider doing that again. She could become that person, she could be someone, despite her wealth.

"I might do that," she said softly. "What did you want to do?"

"I wanted," Rick paused. "I was A Sheriff's Deputy for nearly eight years. I've always served, but I've always wanted to open up a simple shop here in town that sells books and greeting cards, like my dad."

"You should do it, Rick! How about this: we both promise each other that from now on, we do what we want," Michonne told him.

He nodded and then smiled at her. "I promise."