The Truth About Nightmares Part V

Michonne stirs quietly as she feels a slight movement by her side. The faint light pouring in through the window alerts her to the early morning hour. She turns her head only to meet a pair of questioning blue eyes. Was he watching me sleep? She gives him a tentative smile as she greets him, the memories of the night before making her blush.

He returns the greeting, reaching over to grab one of her locs and roll it between his fingers, loving the softness of her hair. "You sleep ok?"

She nods as her heart swells with his concern for her. The truth is she hasn't had a nightmare or that nightmare since she confessed everything to him. Things took an interesting turn after that and now they are even more interesting with what they recently shared. "No nightmares, no dreams of any kind. Just good old fashioned sleep."

"Good. You think it'll stay that way?" He asks.

She reaches up a hand to cover his in her hair, caressing him. "Yes….as long as I have you." Her heartbeat quickens as she awaits his next words. She knows with all of her being how he feels, but she wants to hear it.

"You have me, Michonne. All of me. I'm not going anywhere," he states.

"Me either." She moves closer to him, dropping her forehead to his shoulder, his warmth beckoning her. She presses her lips to his skin and whispers, "I want more."

His eyes pop with surprise before his face settles into a prideful smirk. "You can have whatever you want."

She seeks him out with her hand, satisfied that he is already semi erect. Of course, with her caress only seconds pass before he is fully ready and standing at attention just for her. She tosses the sheet aside and straddles him lithely.

He places his hands on her hips as she plants her hands against his chest. They align their bodies and sigh as they connect seamlessly.

A couple of hours later, they are seated across from each other at the kitchen table with Judith in her high chair. They are eating oatmeal and apples and taking turns sharing their breakfast with Judith.

Rick smiles as he reaches across the table and grabs Michonne's hand. She smiles back at him almost shyly and gives him an affectionate squeeze.

Unbeknownst to them, Carl has just stepped up to the stairs' top landing and witnesses their hand holding. He frowns as he watches them, then smiles slowly with realization. He makes a pretense of yawning loudly to alert them to his presence, noticing how they quickly pull away from each other as he descends the steps.

"Mornin'," he greets, walking over to muss Judith's hair.

"Good morning, son," Rick returns.

Michonne greets him as well and follows with, "The oatmeal's still warm and we have apples today."

"Ok, thanks." He proceeds to prepare his breakfast and quietly takes a seat at the table beside his dad, looking from one to the other as he takes a bite from his apple soundly. He chews while making smacking sounds then sets his fruit aside and dives into his oatmeal.

"So what are you guys doing today? Constable duty? Going on a run?" He asks conversationally.

"Well, I've got duty this morning and Michonne will relieve me later on. You need something?" Rick inquires.

"Just curious," his son returns. "Anything else going on?"

"Like what?" Michonne wants to know.

Carl realizes they aren't going to tell him about their relationship so he decides to force their hands. He picks his apple up again and takes a bite. "I saw you two, you know. Holding hands here at the table and then you pulled away from each other when you saw me."

The two adults share a slightly nervous look before Rick turns to his son.

"Carl…..umm….we….I was gonna tell you but it just…..it just happened…..last night," Rick explains.

"It just happened? Last night?" Carl processes that information then turns fully to his dad. "You mean…..you two…..um…..you slept together?"

Michonne wiggles in her chair uncomfortably, never factoring in Carl's reaction to any of this. "Carl, we…."

"So you two are together? Like together together?"

Rick looks to Michonne as she looks to him and they both answer, "Yes."

Carl gives a slight scoff. "Cool."

"Are you sure?" Michonne asks cautiously.

"I knew my dad liked you but I wasn't sure how you felt. I'm glad that you like him, too. It's ok," he answers.

Judith slams her little hands against the tray of her chair, alerting the adults to her presence and her demand for more food.

Rick laughs and promptly spoons some oatmeal into his daughter's wide open mouth.

Later that night, they are in Michonne's room again, lying in each other's arms, their fingers entwined.

"Can I ask you something?" Rick inquires.

"Sure."

"The nightmares….you were afraid of something. Was it really me? Did you think I'd hurt you?"

"I'm still not sure what it was really about. Maybe I was just afraid to love again, but you've shown me it's ok….that we'll be ok," Michonne answers.

"To love?"

"Yes…..to love," she returns.

He sighs in contentment as he holds her close, amazed that she chose him, that she wants him. "Do you think we'd be here if you hadn't had those bad dreams?"

"I can't say for sure but I think we would've eventually came to this path. Don't you?"

He contemplates then answers, "I've cared about you for a long time and I've been attracted to you for even longer. I can't deny it. This is something I've hoped for minus the whole nightmare thang."

"Well, thanks to you I'm not having them anymore. Although those erotic dreams of you were something else." She admits quietly.

"Erotic dreams? You wanna tell me more about it?" He asks seductively.

Michonne smiles as she decides to divulge one of her dreams in graphic detail.

A/N: As always, thanks for all the support. I appreciate each and every one of you.