"The power of a glance has been so much abused in love stories, that it has come to be disbelieved in. Few people dare now to say that two beings have fallen in love because they have looked at each other. Yet it is in this way that love begins, and in this way only."
― Victor Hugo, Les Misérables

Rick wasn't sure how to convey his thoughts since their relationship was taking on new meaning with every second that ticked and tocked. They continued their much-needed conversation between each other once his parents excused themselves to go inside of the house, leaving them outside by the pool, sharing the same lawn chair.

"I'm confused."

"You are not confused. Crafty, but not confused." Rick countered.

"You are crafty too, and confusing. We are such a strange match in tense, structure, and method in communicating."

"Look at me, Michonne," Rick instructed, and Michonne obliged, "Can we start to be very clear with one another since it is official? Or is it not official until I get to meet your parents?"

"Now, I am overwhelmed."

"First thing, first."

"How unorthodox is it for you to try and fire me right now?"

"Right now, I' am not trying to fire you, Michonne. I will have to fire you on Monday. I refuse to allow anyone else to do it, and I am praying right now that you don't make me do it."

"You don't have to do anything. Besides, it is not your job unless you are promoting yourself to HR."

"I want to clear the air between us. What effects us here is all that matters to me."

"Us? How am I to handle the increase in our vocabulary with a lot more you, me, and us. It all makes me so heady."

Rick leaned in to kiss her forehead, but he didn't stop there, he placed one on her nose and a decisive one on her less than receptive lips. "I care about you, Michonne. Please don't make me fire anyone who attempts to fire you."

"How am I supposed to...I can't move back home with my parents. I would have to explain to them what happened. I would rather die than to tell them that I lost my mind and chose to..." Michonne trailed off. She was too ashamed to finish. She was head over heels that she had a guy that was everything on paper manifested in real life that she put him before her livelihood.

"Where do you think you would have misplaced that mind of yours, Michonne?"

Michonne pointed to his chest, where his heart kept her mind. "I never thought I would be so lucky to find a guy like you. You don't have a wife or girlfriend. You are gainfully employed—no children or situations where I have to reposition my eyes in the back of my head. You made imagining you easy and losing you difficult to entertain. I found a guy that liked me, and I didn't have to be a certain way or anything. I have been myself with you. I tried hard to make sure that your 'hello, you look nice today, Michonne' wasn't just 'hello, you look nice today, Michonne. The whole thought of being the one was just enough to have me forget about all my responsibilities because I liked being liked by you."

"Liked?"

"You used the word care. Is it possible to care about someone you don't like?"

"Michonne?"

"I'm just asking. Clarity?"

"Honestly, I can't imagine going to Go Stop, and you are not there."

"Do I have a choice?"

"I want you to quit."

"Why would I do that? I mean, I'm going to need unemployment, Rick. I am going to need every dime I can get my hand on while I look for a job elsewhere."

"I don't want you looking for a job elsewhere."

"Well, I am going to need one! There are other insurance carriers I can lend my fantastic phone talents."

"Hear me out, Michonne. If you were to quit, you would have time to go back to school. You have tons of college credits. One or two more classes, right?"

Michonne nodded. "Two."

"What I am suggesting is that if you were to get your law degree like you've said you wanted, then I can hire you as an attorney for Go Stop."

"I can't afford any more debt, Rick."

"I will pay for it, Michonne."

"You would do that?"

"I would do anything for you."

That night after returning from Rick's parent's house, Michonne was a firm believer. Rick took his time. He made the slowest love to her. He had almost forgotten to put on a condom. His thoughts were practically immersed in hearing her say his name, sensing her pleasure with every stroke and thrust he gave in his seemingly favorite position, missionary.

Michonne, on the other hand, couldn't sleep. She had a lot to worry about when it came to her finances. She was going to be destitute without a job. She still had her apartment and bills. Yes, Rick was willing to pay for the rest of her education. It was definitely an offer she wasn't going to turn down. But the idea that bothered her the most outweighed homelessness and bad credit, it was bringing a white guy to meet her parents.

Rick's arm was draped across her body, pulling her closer as he snuggled his nose into her hair. His voice was heavy with sleep but coherent. "I'm so crazy about you."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

Michonne had an unexpected tingling sensation in her lady parts in hearing his confirmation. Her delayed orgasm never seem to fail her with him.

"I can't wait to meet your parents."

There was nothing but silence. She was left alone with her anxiety until several minutes later she focused on his steady breathing that eventually lulled her to sleep.