Author's Note: This scene is from Season 5 - Episode 13, after the gathering at Deanna's house.

Michonne stood inside the entrance of the gazebo staring at the star-lit night sky while crickets crooned their mating song. It was neither too cool nor too warm and there was no breeze to be found. Everything was still. It was a beautiful spring night. Still, beautiful, and a little noisy. Somewhat like her life at the moment.

Just days ago, she didn't get the same appreciation of nights like this. The chirp of crickets, the twinkling stars, and brightness of the moon. Then, every moment was spent outside. If she and her companions were lucky, they'd find a shack or a group of cars to sleep in, but that didn't happen often. Now, they were in homes with luxuries she never expected to enjoy again. But she wasn't home right now, because Rick was there, in the house they shared, and she couldn't face him.

She sighed and moseyed back over to the nearest of the two benches inside the wooden structure. If felt stupid feeling this way. Outside of Carl, there was no one she was closer to than Rick, but there was a stark difference in her feelings for father and son. Carl had her heart and Rick had stolen…

Feelings? Was she confusing things? Seeing something that wasn't there? Did it matter?

Michonne rolled her eyes. If it didn't matter she wouldn't have spent the last hour in this gazebo, beautiful night be damned. This night wasn't more beautiful than Rick's blue eyes.

Ugh. Michonne groaned into her hands. Why was she doing this to herself? She and Rick were friends. So why did it bother her to see him talking to that blonde at the party? Deanna's gathering wasn't something she had wanted to attend, but their hostess didn't give them a choice, which led Michonne to the community closet to find a dress. If she was going to a party, she would wear a dress.

She tugged on the hem of the gray frock that stopped just above her knees. It wasn't really her style, but it was her size, and it had been far too long since she'd worn a dress. Her initial discomfort after getting ready surprised her and prompted her to make up an excuse for Rick to leave with Carl and Judith without her. Before the world changed, she used to love dressing up. Going out on the town with Mike, hanging out with friends. But normal was different now. Normal was feeling butterflies in her stomach at the thought of Rick's reaction at seeing her in a dress, while at the same time feeling absolute comfort in his presence.

Even with 1that, she and Rick had no interaction at the party. She spent most of the night being regaled by an inebriated Abraham. The burly redhead was funny, and amazingly insightful in his buzzed state, sharing his thoughts on the turn of their fortunes.

While Michonne saw nothing but benefits in joining Aaron's community, Rick had been hesitant, but he relented. Of late, he'd been doing that a lot for her. Making an effort to acclimate to their new surroundings, and agreeing when Deanna asked them to be constables. Coming here hadn't been a mistake, but maybe something besides having secure walls and a roof over their heads suddenly made being here a good idea for Rick. Perhaps something that had nothing to do with her, and if she was honest, that bothered her.

According to Maggie and Glenn, whose house she left before hiding out in the gazebo, the blonde was the wife of the community doctor. After the rumblings she'd heard about Lori and Rick's friend, Shane, Michonne couldn't understand Rick's preoccupation with the married woman. But she didn't have to understand. He was a single man, a handsome man, and free to do whatever he wanted. Being here was hard for Rick, he was trying, but his struggle was real. She could see that. Michonne sighed. If this woman could be of help, how could she be troubled by it? Yes, she was attracted to Rick, but she knew some things were bigger than attraction.

Michonne stood from the bench. Rick's happiness, his feeling of security for himself and his children mattered to her. They shared a home, a life, and they were great friends. Enough avoiding him. Two hours after the gathering ended, she was finally going home.

Rick checked his watch. Eleven o'clock. His gaze shifted to the door. Where was she? He dragged his hands over his face, sighing. There weren't many options to choose from, but one in particular nagged away at him.

Bounding from the sofa, he pushed aside the door shade and peeked outside. Stars blanketed the sky, bathing the quiet community in a soft glow. It was a beautiful, clear night. A romantic night.

The scene he couldn't shake from the party he didn't want to attend grew more vivid in the forefront of Rick's mind. Michonne in discussion with Abraham on Deanna's porch. The laughter, the ease, the dress that clung to her body. He'd never seen Michonne in a dress before. He'd barely got a glimpse of her in that one, but Abraham did.

What the hell else did Abraham get a glimpse of?

Rick admonished himself with a swear. Why would he think that? He and Michonne were friends. Michonne and Abraham were friends. There was no reason to assume anything other than friendly discussion had taken place, and Abraham was involved with Rosita.

Shit!

Rick started pacing. It was his own fault he was so twisted in knots. His head wasn't right. It was why Michonne had been laughing with Abraham tonight at that party while he was chatting with a stranger, a hapless housewife with a needy gene he had the ability to sniff out like a bloodhound and always thrust him into savior mode. Something he wasn't able to be for Lori.

Michonne didn't need him to save her. She never did. She allowed him to breathe while simultaneously taking his breath away. Those eyes, lips, and flowing locs that framed her pretty face. She was a stunning woman in more ways than one. There was an intensity about her, but there was unmistakable softness. Fierceness, yet vulnerability. There was strength, determination, and caring that she displayed even on that first day. When she walked up to the prison, injured and not knowing what she'd find, but doing so because a child needed formula. In that moment, he knew she was someone special. She'd been caring for and protecting both Carl and Judith since, and she'd saved his life countless times.

He was in awe of her and he cared deeply for her. Being here hadn't changed that, nor did these renewed thoughts of Lori. It was because of Michonne's insistence that they were even here. No one else would've stood up to him, but she did. And like always, she was right. There was nothing he wouldn't do for her.

Rick stood before the fireplace, staring at her sword on the mantle. She'd placed it there this morning, out of Judith's reach, and mentioned she'd get some nails and hang it on the wall. She said she didn't need to carry it here. That this place was different. A lot was different.

Maybe it was hopeful wishing, but there were times that he felt they were both aware of something stronger than friendship between them. Quiet moments they shared when nothing was said, but everything was spoken. Like when he showed her his face after shaving his thick, bushy beard. He was actually counting the twenty minutes and sixteen seconds it took before she emerged from the bathroom. He kinda felt like a groom waiting for his bride, but strangely in his scenario, he was the bride. He wanted her to be pleased with what she saw. Like he always was with her.

"Rick?"

He turned with a jolt at the sound of Michonne's voice. He hadn't heard her come in. "Hey," he said, thoroughly relieved she was home and her cute dress didn't look wrinkled.

"Were you waiting up for me?"

Hell yeah! "I wanted to ask what you thought of the festivities," Rick said, returning to the sofa. "You were still in your room getting dressed when you told me I should leave without you, and we didn't get a chance to talk there."

"You were busy with others."

Rick winced. Conversations with the housewife. She made him think of Lori. It didn't make sense. The woman didn't physically look like Lori, but she reminded him of Lori, of the things he was unable to finish with her. "Michonne, I…" What could he say? She wasn't lying, and he couldn't explain what he didn't understand. Why he spent time with that woman when Michonne was always on his mind.

"I thought the party was strange," Michonne said after prolonged quiet. "Alcohol, food, mindless chit-chat in the world we live in now. I would've been happier hanging out here with Carl and Judith."

Rick felt the same, but… "You seemed to be having fun with Abraham," he said.

Michonne blinked. "What?"

"On the porch, you two were talking, laughing."

"Being here and this party has brought some changes for all of us. Seeing people we've spent so much time with in a different light, being around new people. I - I discovered beer makes Abraham philosophical. I got to see another side of him. He was funny. Why didn't you join us?" She snapped her fingers. "Oh, yeah, you were otherwise engaged."

"The party ended hours ago." Rick tilted his head. "Did you and Abraham share more laughs or...?" If he'd wanted to stop those words before they went there, Rick doubted he could have. They'd been weighing on him for hours. The look on Michonne's face left no doubt that she had picked up on the jealousy he couldn't hide and had no right to feel. A part of him was disappointed in himself, but a bigger part wanted an answer to that question. Seeing them together on that porch bothered him so much, he planted an awkward kiss on that stranger's cheek. What the hell? He wasn't even attracted to that woman.

Several seconds of quiet passed with Michonne staring curiously at him. A shake of a head was followed with an incredulous laugh. "There were more laughs, but with Glenn and Maggie."

Now he felt like a heel. "Look, I…"

She held out her hand, halting his words. "Because it's such a lovely night out, when I left their house, I took a walk and spent time at the gazebo." Michonne sighed, scratching her fingers through her locs. "Rick, I know you've been struggling with things since we got here, but this is a good place, we have jobs now, and you-you seem to be finding your way. I want that for you. I do."

"Things aren't always how they look, but I know what I'm trying to do. I'm tryin'."

"Me, too. I put on this dress and went to that party."

Rick smiled, nodding. "And you look real pretty tonight, Michonne." He always appreciated her amazing body, but she also had the most beautiful, long legs. "The first time I've seen you in a dress."

"We've uh, we've had a couple of firsts since we got here. Me seeing you without the beard, you seeing me in a dress."

"Our firsts." Rick wondered what other firsts they could share together in this house. His breaths deepened. Their eyes stayed locked. The quiet that said so much returned.

Michonne cleared her throat, breaking the moment. "Goodnight, Rick," she said with a smile.

"Goodnight, Michonne."