Richonne (Short Love Stories) Part of the Package (Chapter 13)
A/N: Another request from fellow writer, Oreganofox. Thanks so much for your confidence in me to bring these prompts to fruition. Hope you enjoy!
Scenario I
Michonne is galloping away from the prison in search of the Governor once again. She knows Daryl and especially Rick don't like it, but she realizes he's out there somewhere and she can't rest, can't be free until she is certain of his death.
She is unexpectedly startled by the sound of gunfire. She pulls on the reins to bring Flame to a stop, looking back over her shoulder, assured that the shots were fired inside the prison. She turns Flame around and heads back immediately.
Meanwhile, Rick and Carl were working in the pig pen and heard the gunfire as well. Before he can give Carl instructions, the teenager goes running off to ensure that Judith is safe. Rick is about to hurry in the same direction when he hears Michonne's telltale whistle. She has doubled back to the prison as she probably heard the shots. He is torn between rushing in to help those inside or racing out to open the gates. Michonne wins as he tears down the hill and opens the gate just as she arrives. He is busy closing the gates as he watches her dismount and is immediately encircled by two walkers who managed to get past the open gates.
He swats Flame on her flank to get her inside and out of his way as his heart sinks when he witnesses Michonne go down with a walker on top of her. "Shit!"
Maggie bursts out of the tower and yells, "Rick! The gun!"
He notices the rifle by the front gate, grabs it and fires, hitting one of the walkers square in the forehead.
Michonne is still struggling with the other walker but before he can take aim, she plants her foot in the walker's stomach and flips it over onto one of the spikes by the gate. He hears her scream of agony as he rushes to her in a panic.
"Michonne! You alright? Bit? Scratched?" He inquires anxiously.
"My ankle. Just my ankle," she answers, grimacing in pain.
"Come on. Let's get you inside." He puts the gun aside and helps her to her feet, allowing her to put most of her weight on him as he guides her through the second gate. Flame is standing there, waiting patiently, so Rick lifts Michonne onto her horse and guides them up the hill.
"What's happening in there?" Michonne asks.
"I don't know. I'll find out as soon as I take care of you."
"Just go. I'll be fine," she returns.
"No, you won't. You can barely walk. Now, let me get you inside. No arguments," Rick softly demands.
Ten minutes later, they are in his cell as they reached his before hers and she is seated on the lower bunk as Rick searches the room, trying to find something to bandage up her ankle.
"Something's bad going on in that cell block and you need to find out what it is. No need to waste your time with me. It was stupid what you did, coming out there to save me, using that gun when you didn't want to. When I fell on my ass, you should've left me there," Michonne tells him.
Rick halts his actions to take a long look at her. "Did you hear yourself just now? You telling me you got a death wish? Is that why you keep running off looking for the Governor? Are you hoping that you find him so maybe he kills you instead of you killing him?"
She is silent as Rick is more accurate than she cares to admit. They continue to search each other's eyes before Michonne finally looks away. She is afraid that he'll see the truth if she allows him to keep probing.
"I won't push but I know there's plenty you're not telling me. All I can say is whatever happened out there, in here, we…we can't change it. I know that's hard to accept, but what choice do we have? You're here, you're alive. Doesn't that mean something to you?"
"Why should it when…." She trails off as she realizes what she was about to share with him.
"When what, Michonne? Hmmm?" He prompts.
She shakes her head as she feels tears begin to well. Her body instantly tenses and she cuts those feelings off. She can't afford to be weak, not any more.
"I just don't want you putting yourself in harm's way because of me. Carl and Judith need you. They need their father," she reminds him.
He nods as he sits in front of her, gently removing the boot and sock from her injured foot, so he can wrap her ankle. "I know. You're right. They're my world and whether you believe it or not, you're part of that world now. I want you here where you'll be safe. We all care about you."
She refuses to meet his gaze as she struggles against the words he just uttered to her. How can they care about me after everything I've done?
"Daryl was right to stop looking. He said the trail went cold. You should remember that before you go racing off to Macon," Rick offers.
She reluctantly looks up to meet his eyes again. "Well, you've got your wish for a little while. I won't be going anywhere with an injured ankle."
He gives a slight smile. "I've never been so happy about somebody getting hurt."
Michonne gasps and shakes her head at Rick's attempt at another joke. He loves joking with her for some reason.
"Hey, I don't mean to pressure you, but I do worry about you while you're out there by yourself. It's too dangerous. I lose way too much sleep when you're not here." He softly caresses her injured ankle as he has just completed wrapping it. He quietly takes a pillow and places it under her foot as she lounges back in the bunk.
Michonne has to close her eyes and pretend to rest as she doesn't want to give away just how much Rick's innocent caress affected her.
"Maybe Herschel should take a look at your ankle. He'll know what else to do to help you heal faster." He watches her closely, relieved that she's ok and resting in his bunk. "Hey." He waits for her to open her eyes and acknowledge him. "I'll let you know what I find out about cellblock D."
They share one last meaningful look before Rick exits the cell.
Scenario II
The sun is just peaking over the horizon, shining brightly with hues of orange and yellow as Michonne makes her way outside into the courtyard of the prison. She takes a moment to appreciate the beautiful sight, giving thanks for being granted another opportunity to do so.
Only a few weeks ago, glancing at the sun rise was the furthest thing from her mind. Being injured, spending more time with Carl and his father has prompted her to re-evaluate her life and the reason she was so intent on finding the Governor. Listening to Daryl throw subtle and not so subtle hints about her "running off" only served to help her realize that home was where she was needed.
A slight smile crosses her lips as she reflects on her relationship with the Grimes family. She realizes she needs more time with Judith which is something she plans to do, but she can actually hold her now. She doesn't cringe when Judith cries or when she reaches for her. That was one of the most surprising moments in her life when Judith reached for her that first time. She couldn't deny her. The sweetness of cradling her, stroking her cheeks and her hair almost overwhelmed her, but she held the memories at bay and enjoyed the affection little Judith gave so freely and unknowingly.
She has such admiration for Carl. Being a child growing up in today's world had to be one of the hardest feats to endure, but he was doing it. Of course, he didn't have much choice, but the way that child handled a gun always served to amaze her. She recognized a sadness in him early on and also the weight of the guilt he carried for having to put his mom down. That kindred sadness only made her gravitate to him more, wanting and needing to bring a little laughter into his life. Once they discovered their shared love for chocolate, comic books, and super heroes, the friendship grew by leaps and bounds.
As for the children's father, her emotions are all over the place when it comes to Rick Grimes. They're friends, but maybe more. They stay up all hours of the night when they really should be sleeping, talking about movies, sports, life at the prison, weapons, new ways to kill walkers. She feels at ease with him and for some strange reason he makes her feel better about her life and the circumstances she finds herself in. Just like with Carl, she sensed a sadness about him as well as feelings of guilt. She blushes as she remembers where she left him. He was asleep in her bed as they were up late again talking and both of them must have fallen asleep. When she opened her eyes that morning and saw him beside her, looking so peaceful she couldn't resist. She placed a soft, light kiss on his cheek and removed herself from the bunk, quietly, to get her day started.
Unbeknownst to her, as soon as she exited the cell, Rick's eyes popped open. He moves over into the space she vacated, relishing in the warmth she left behind. He closes his eyes and briefly recalls her lips on his cheek. He has been on a tailspin for the last week or so, maybe longer, trying to figure out how Michonne feels about him. He doesn't know what the kiss proves, but he's not about to let the opportunity slip away. He gathers up his courage and leaves the cell. He takes time to clean up and put on a fresh shirt before he goes in search of her.
She is still sitting in the courtyard when he finds her. She looks back at him with a smile. "Looks like you caught me. Yes, I'm being lazy for just a moment."
He gives her a slight smile as he walks over to her and offers her his hand.
Michonne looks up at him, curiously, but doesn't hesitate as she takes his hand, allowing him to lead her inside to a secluded hallway that leads to the laundry area. Her heart beats erratically as Rick inches closer and closer to her.
He searches her eyes intently, looking for any sign that she is offended by his closeness. "You didn't wake me."
"No, you looked so peaceful and I know you need the rest," she returns.
"Problem with that is, I was only half asleep…." He trails off as he detects the recognition of his admission in her eyes. He swallows visibly, his nervousness palpable. "Did you mean it?"
"Yes," she whispers softly, looking at him with expectancy.
Rick closes his eyes as relief floods his body. He brings a hand up to cup her face as his eyes find hers again. "Then I mean this, too." He leans in and places a soft kiss to her lips, pulling back slightly, giving her the opportunity to back away if that's what she wants. When she remains rooted to her spot, he leans in for another soft kiss and another one after that.
Michonne tentatively places a hand on his shoulder, gently pulling him toward her as she returns his kiss. Her back encounters the wall as Rick presses even closer to her, deepening their connection. She shudders when he slightly opens his mouth and tastes her with his tongue. She welcomes him wholeheartedly as she opens her mouth and returns the favor.
Moments later, they pull apart and share another longing gaze. Michonne wraps her arms around him, embracing him and relishing in emotions she hasn't felt in a long time. Rick returns her embrace, holding her to him tightly. They pull apart as the noise of activity drifts to them. The prison is coming to life as everyone is starting to wake up and mill about.
"I guess we should get to work," Michonne suggests.
Rick gives her one last squeeze before taking her hand and leading them back to the courtyard.
Hours later, Rick is staring in disbelief as the Governor is standing on a parked tank outside the prison's fences. He has several people with him and is demanding that Rick come down and talk with him.
Rick lets him know that he doesn't make decisions anymore, that a council runs the prison.
"Is Herschel on the council?" The Governor asks as two of his men pull Herschel from one of the cars and forces him to his knees in front of the tank.
Rick's heart seems to skip a beat and drop as he recalls Herschel and Michonne exiting the prison to dispose of the walker bodies that he and Carl killed a couple of days ago. He even offered to go with them, but Michonne refused and told him not to veer from his routine.
"What about Michonne? She on the council too?" The Governor motions for his men to place Michonne at Herschel's side.
Carl and Daryl look to Rick, realizing how upset he must be at seeing Herschel and Michonne held hostage by the Governor.
"I don't make decisions anymore!" Rick repeats, visibly shaken by the sight before him.
"You're making the decisions today, Rick. Come on down. Let's have that talk," The Governor demands.
Rick shares a meaningful look with Carl before opening the fence and walking down the hill to face the Governor. "Let 'em go….right now. I'll stay down here and talk as long as you want. You have a tank. You don't need hostages, so let 'em go."
"All this here is just to show you I mean business. Now, you and your people are going to leave this prison. I need it and I'm taking over right now," the Governor states.
"We're not leaving. This is our home," Rick returns.
"So, you're willing to gamble with Herschel's life? Do your friends mean nothing to you?" He jumps down from the tank, grabbing Michonne's sword and walks over to where Herschel and Michonne are kneeling in the grass.
Rick tries his best to keep his cool, but can't help flinching when the Governor unsheathes the katana, holding it against Herschel's neck. He can faintly hear the whimpers of Beth and Maggie behind him. "It doesn't have to be like this. There's enough room here for all of us."
"Don't try and change the subject, Rick. Are you willing to risk your friends' lives by not handing over the prison?" The Governor looks at him intently and notices as Rick's eyes fall on Michonne for a brief moment. He turns and glances down at the warrior woman, the woman who took his eye and then back at Rick. "Maybe I'm going about this the wrong way." He scoffs as he moves onto the other side to stand by Michonne. "You didn't give this one up when you could have. I wonder why that is. Doesn't matter now. I'll have her just like I wanted before."
Rick refuses to allow the Governor's words to trouble him. He knows he can't let his emotions take over. Not now. "There are children here who are sick. Don't you see? We can't leave. They won't make it out there."
"Do you need more incentive?" The Governor cups Michonne's face with his hand, lifting her chin. He smiles as he stands behind her and places the blade of the katana between her breasts. "This blade is sharp. I don't need to make any….mistakes."
Rick's mind is in a whirlwind as he can't think straight, watching the Governor hold Michonne's sword against her body like that. Maybe…maybe if I…if I tell him how I feel about her. No, he can't know. He'll kill her for sure if he knows how much I care…how much I lo….
"You're losing the daylight, Rick. What's it gonna be?"
"Take me. You can do whatever you want to me, but let her….let 'em go. I'll take their place," Rick offers. We can't lose her. I can't lose her.
"You just don't get it, do you?!" The Governor looks directly at Rick as he raises the katana.
Rick freezes. "Don't…please….." He doesn't think, he just acts as he pulls his python out in record time and fires, hitting the Governor in the shoulder. The wound doesn't kill him, but it injures him enough to make him drop the katana.
Chaos breaks lose as gunshots ring out and bullets start flying between the two groups. Rick has to immediately run for cover, so he's not sure if Michonne and Herschel managed to escape or not. He has to get to her somehow.
Scenario III
Michonne can scarcely believe the destruction laid out before her. The prison is completely demolished, destroyed by the Governor and his people. She temporarily relishes in the fact that he is dead once and for all. She drove her katana through his heart to keep him from killing Rick. Her heart nearly stopped when she saw how bloodied and bruised Rick was. She looks around now, searching for any sign of him or Carl or Judith or anyone from the prison but there is none.
Rick tried his best to hold on to her, telling her they needed to stay together. She was firm when she told him to find Carl and Judith while she tried to salvage a vehicle for them to get away in. She had no luck securing a vehicle and now she is having no luck finding.…her family. She knows she can't stay here. The place is overrun with walkers, so she has no choice but to walk away.
Before she leaves, she decides she needs some camouflage. She lures two walkers near the prison's gates and proceeds to chop off their arms and their jaws. She ties them with rope and leads them behind her, walking away from what used to be her home.
She tries her best to block thoughts of Rick from her mind. He's probably dead, so I should just keep going. To where I don't know. He was so willing to sacrifice himself for me. Did he even think about Carl and Judith? I still remember his eyes when he pleaded with the Governor. The way he held onto me, trying to keep me with him… She shakes her head vehemently. It just wasn't meant to be. This proves it. She wanders on, aimlessly.
"I love you, Michonne. You know that," Mike says with affection.
Michonne is smiling as she serves Mike and Terry some wine, picking little Andre up as he races into the room. "Yeah, I know. I just wish you would say it more often."
"What about me? I love you, too."
Michonne gasps loudly as Rick appears, standing only a few feet from her. She shakes her head, looking at Mike in a panic, wondering how she is going to explain all of this.
Mike no longer looks like Mike. His skin is gray and ashy, his clothes are torn and dirty, his hair unkempt. His friend, Terry, is in the same state of disarray.
Michonne frowns deeply, trying to understand what she is seeing. She looks over at Rick who still looks the same. He is wearing his brown plaid shirt, his black jeans. His hair is a little messy, but she's used to that and she knows he'll get around to shaving.…eventually. She smiles as she takes him in and Carl suddenly appears by his side, holding Judith. Something immediately feels off to her. There is no slight weight in her arms. She looks down and Andre isn't there. Her breathing becomes uneven and labored as she turns to ask Mike about their son. Only Mike can't talk because his jaw is missing as well as his arms. She screams as loud as she can as her world starts spinning around and around.
Michonne pops awake with a gasp, looking around, anxiously. She took refuge in an abandoned car the night before, the two walkers keeping guard by the door she tied them to. She grabs her head and sighs heavily as the dream comes back to the forefront of her mind. Terry and Mike dismembered, sitting in the dark, Andre just…gone while Carl, Rick and Judith were standing in the sun, whole and happy.
She buries her face in her hands as all the misery, heartache, and memories rush to the surface. She cries for her baby boy who she will never see again, she cries for the man she loved and the fact that he will never get the chance to be the father and husband he should have been, she even cries for Terry because he wouldn't have made the choices he made if the world hadn't been destroyed and most of all she cries for Rick, Carl, and Judith...they could've been her second chance.
Suddenly, she has to know. She has to find out what happened to them. It's better to know than to wonder for however long she has left in this world of decaying walking corpses. She exits the car, ready to walk away, leaving her guards behind. She only takes a few steps before changing her mind and doubling back to the car.
She eyes the two walkers, remembering Mike and Terry. "I know what it means now." She unsheathes her katana and decapitates the two walkers with one swing.
For the next day or so, she searches for Rick and Carl, utilizing the tracking skills she learned from Daryl. Daryl? She wonders if he got out alive. Shaking her head to clear it, she focuses on the task at hand. A trail she picked up on a few hours ago leads to a neighborhood. She looks around cautiously, noticing a huge empty can that reads chocolate pudding. Chocolate?
She glances around ever aware of her surroundings and quietly approaches the house the can was closest to. She stealthily walks up the steps, hands on her katana at the ready to face any impending threat. She peeks through the window and sees Carl and Rick seated on the floor in front of a sofa, eating and drinking. Emotions override her thought process as her lips begin to tremble and she releases the hilt of her sword. Tears trickle down her face and she can't help but smile despite her tears as the relief of finding them alive spreads through her body.
Wiping her face as best as she can, she moves to the door and raps quickly. She hears muffled sounds of movement and waits patiently, excited to actually see their faces again.
On the other side of the door, Rick is looking through the peep hole. He can't believe his eyes as he takes in the beautiful face of the woman he thought he had lost. He looks down and quickly starts pulling at the knot of cable Carl used to secure the door.
"Dad? Who is it?" Carl asks, still holding his gun at the ready.
"Get this damn thing off the door." Rick commands as his hands are shaking too badly to have any success.
Carl does as he's told, but in his impatience to see who is at the door, he shoves the curtain to the side and looks out one of the front windows. He gasps in disbelief. "Michonne?!"
They manage to get the door open and grab her, each of them laughing uncontrollably. They quickly move inside and secure the door once again.
Carl clings to Michonne, not wanting to let go. She returns the hug while locking eyes with his father, taking in his wounds and wondering if he's really ok. She smiles as the tears continue to come for her and for Rick.
Night has fallen and Michonne is relieved that Carl has finally relaxed enough to go to sleep. He was so upset about Judith that all she could do was hold him and rock him while he cried. She is not sure where Rick is, but she knows he probably heard his son's anguish. Her heart is breaking as well, but she can't help remembering the dream she had. Judith was fine in her dream, just as Carl and Rick were, so she is going to cling to that image and believe that someone from the prison has Judith. Not one of them would have left her behind.
She quietly closes the bedroom door after looking in on Carl one last time. She makes her way down the stairs, but doesn't see Rick anywhere. Habit drives her to check the doors and windows yet again, ensuring that the house is secure before she makes her way upstairs. She finds him in what she assumes is the master bedroom. He appears to have cleaned himself up, tended to his wounds, and changed shirts.
He watches intently as she walks into the room, unable to take his eyes off of her. "Carl ok?"
She shakes her head no. "He will be, though. How about you?"
"I...I know what I should be feeling, but I can't bring myself to believe that she's gone. I thought I had lost you, but when…you showed up at that door, I just….I knew everything was going to be ok. You do that for me. You make everything alright," Rick admits.
"I thought you were gone, too, but something convinced me not to give up just yet and I'm so glad I didn't." She smiles as the tears start to come yet again. She was so happy to be with him that her emotions were running rampant.
"There are a lot of things I didn't get a chance to say before everything went to shit and now that you're here, I realize I need to say them. Not only because tomorrow's not promised to us, but because you need to know and I need to know if you feel the same way." He hesitates only for a brief moment, mustering up his courage. He looks into her eyes and finds all the courage he needs. "I love you, Michonne. Today's the first day that I've been….awake and I hadn't had time to really think about how dire things were for me and Carl. Just when I felt like…I was going to lose it, you knocked on the door. That was a sign, right? That means something."
"Yes, it means something." She walks to him slowly. "I don't know what exactly, but I found you when I needed to. We're here together…..we survived." She stops in front of him, reaching up to caress his cheek, softly. "I love you, Rick Grimes. You got under my skin the first day I laid eyes on you and for some reason, you refuse to move."
They laugh together as Rick pulls her into his arms. He lifts her chin with a finger and kisses her gently. They both step back, almost afraid of the overwhelming sensation caused by their slight contact.
Rick is the one who decides to throw caution to the wind as he steps to her and leans in to kiss her again. He groans as he wants to taste more of her and as his split lip begins to sting. He ignores the pain as he splays a hand at her hip and pulls her to him.
Michonne breaks their kiss. "Rick, you're hurt."
"I don't care." He pulls his shirt over his head with a little difficulty, but he gets the job done and stands before her shirtless.
She eyes his naked flesh with appreciation, reading the desire and yearning emanating from him so profoundly. She swallows visibly as she realizes how much she wants to take this journey with him. "I don't want to hurt you."
"Hurt me…..please."
Michonne can't help but laugh as this is one of the reasons she loves this man so much. He can make her smile despite their circumstances and the fact that he tries when she knows how stoic he tends to be just makes her love him all the more. The urge to tease him right back bubbles up and she can't resist. "Alright, you asked for it."
They are sure to close and lock the door, although she is confident that Carl is out for the remainder of the night. They patiently undress each other and climb into bed, snuggling under the comforter and relishing in the feel of being in a real bed.
Rick inches closer to her, pulling her body flush against his as he starts to kiss her. He shudders as she wraps her arms around him, caressing his back as she wraps a leg around one of his.
The passion and the urgency between them grows until Rick is beyond anxious to feel her flesh around his. He rolls their bodies, so he is lying atop her, cradled between her legs. He lifts up slightly so he can read her, not wanting to do anything to displease her.
She can feel how ready Rick is and she doesn't want to wait any longer. She reaches down between their bodies, grasping him gently as she guides him to her core. She gasps as he inches in, slowly, taking his time and being considerate of her. She shows him better than she can tell him as she lifts her legs and her hips simultaneously, pulling him all the way in.
He groans and drops his head to her shoulder as he is completely enveloped in her warmth. "You really are trying to hurt me."
She grabs his ass as she lifts her hips again. "I thought that's what you wanted."
He hears the challenge in her voice and immediately wants to meet it. He starts to move with her, shoving his hands beneath her body to palm her ass as he grinds into her. He smiles as he must have hit a good spot because she clenches around him and gives the most erotic moan he has ever heard.
Moments later, he is tethering on the threshold of release, but he holds out because he wants to make sure she is satisfied first. The way she is calling his name over and over again assures him that she is close. His moves become bolder with a little more force in his drive to satisfy her.
Her teeth sinking into the flesh of his shoulder and the clench of her sex around his sends him over the edge with her. They continue to rock against each other as their bodies slowly recover.
He kisses her ever so sweetly as he rolls over, still trying to catch his breath. "That was….I don't think I have a word to describe it."
Michonne smiles. "Me either."
They share a knowing look, realizing that what they have is special and it will help them to face whatever is next on their agenda. Neither of them knows what that may be, but they're willing to meet the challenge head on, side by side.