A/N: Request from carolina-bleus (KK) on Tumblr; based on the song Cowboy Take Me Away by The Dixie Chicks.

AU no zombies just Rick, Michonne and a lovely lady known as Mother Nature. And yeah, mate; I got carried away with their love and nature and the outdoors and everything lol so it's way too long to be a ficlet. Some fluff and adult situations. Enjoy!

She was surprised at how serene it could be away from their busy lives; how putting some distance between themselves and the rest of the world helped to let the stress of their jobs fall away. Michonne marvelled at how quiet it actually was when there was no one else around. When it was just the two of them. Rick had been asking her for a couple of months to go camping with him, but she had always been too busy or had to work over the weekends. They had been dating for some time now, but their schedules were always so full with Rick being a single father of two who worked fulltime and Michonne working long hours.

They both craved to be near one another, and it was Rick's idea to plan a weekend escape. Michonne was originally from the city and had not been camping since she was a young girl, so she was excited and eager to spend some time in the wilderness with her beau.

"Need some help with that?"

Rick asked, as he looked up from where he was hammering tent pegs into the ground and saw Michonne deftly lifting the cooler from the back of his truck. She shook her head and continued on with what she was doing. Rick lay down his tool and helped her with the cooler anyways. Michonne ran her hand over his face before placing a soft kiss to his lips.

"You're always such a gentleman." She said admiringly. "But you gotta let me get my hands dirty sometimes, Rick."

"I know." He replied with a smile. "But you gotta know I'd do anything for you."

I said I wanna touch the earth; I wanna break it in my hands

The sun was lazily rolling around in the sky as afternoon quickly approached. The couple had set up their camping area and were now down by a brook hoping to catch something for dinner. Michonne had never been fishing in her life, but gave it a try either way. Besides, they needed to eat, she reasoned.

"Ugh! Rick! It's so slimy. I can't do it properly." She said, out of frustration as she tried for the third time to fix the worm to the hook.

Rick tried to supress his amused chuckle as he glanced over at Michonne literally getting her hands dirty; she furrowed her brow and bit her bottom lip while she concentrated on the task at hand.

"You're so cute." He said as she looked from the worm to him. Michonne was not impressed.

"I don't wanna be cute, I wanna be able to do it like you do it." She said indomitably.

He was always awestruck with Michonne's determination; it was one of the things that attracted him to her in the beginning. That and how cute he thought she was. He wrapped the end of his hand held fishing line around the stick that he had stuck into the mud, and placed the reel on the ground before standing and fixing the tiny bell to it. He sat down next to Michonne as she dropped her head and held her hands out with both the hook and worm for Rick to once again fix. This time he shook his head.

"I remembered what my granddaddy showed me when I was a kid; he said the answers to nature's little problems can be found in nature itself. Can't believe I almost forgot this trick."

Rick said with his slow drawl and a small chortle. Michonne was looking at him expectantly and adoringly at the same time. She always loved the expression on his face when he thought back to his grandfather who was his childhood hero. His face became thoughtful and youthful and the blue of his eyes danced.

"Here." He said after a short while. "Pick up a piece of the earth and break it up, like this."

Michonne did as Rick advised.

"Now, like my granddaddy said, put the slimy bastard in the dry dirt."

Michonne smiled and did just that.

"It shouldn't be all slippery now. You should be able to get a good grip on it and fix it to that hook." He offered with a grin.

When his trick worked, Michonne beamed excitedly, scooted closer to Rick and then leaned in for a kiss. Rick accepted her lips against his and fought the urge to cup her face in his dirty hands. Just then, the ringing of the small bell attached to Rick's fishing line indicated that he had hooked a fish; thus causing the lovers to break their kiss.

I wanna sleep on the hard ground, in the comfort of your arms.

On a pillow of bluebonnets in a blanket made of stars

Oh it sounds good to me…

xXx

Both Rick and Michonne lay inside the tent and looked up through the opening that was covered in mesh, but allowed the night sky to be visible. Michonne loved how the stars seemed brighter out in the middle of nowhere as opposed to in town. She shifted so that she was closer to Rick; her head still resting on his outstretched arm.

"If my friends from college, the ones I spent summers in Europe with, could see me now; sleeping on the ground under the stars with my favourite cowboy-cop. If they could see how happy I am." Michonne offered.

Rick smiled as he listened to her; smiled at her term of endearment for him and that she was truly satisfied with her life. Despite having to work hard and rarely finding time away together, he knew that he made her happy, because she told him so all the time.

"I could stay like this forever with you." She said absentmindedly.

Rick turned his head and placed a soft kiss to her temple.

"I'd stay anywhere forever as long as I was with you." Rick replied.

"Really?" She asked.

"Yep. I wanna stay with you forever." Rick said sincerely. "I love you."

"And I love you." Replied Michonne.

I wanna be the only one for miles and miles; except for maybe you and your simple smile…

xXx

Although the morning was relatively early, the heat had already set in for the day as Rick and Michonne walked down to the river hand-in-hand.

"You sure this is okay?" She asked.

Rick nodded his head before replying.

"It'll be fine. There's no one else around for miles." He answered.

They reached the brook and set down their towels and clothing. Rick kicked off his boots and socks and tested the water with his toes; it was cold, but once their bodies acclimated to the temperature, it would be fine to freshen up for the day ahead.

He pulled his t-shirt over his head and then undid his jeans as Michonne watched. She was not so sure about getting naked out in the open air and bathing in the river; she glanced around to reassure herself that no one else was there as Rick's boxer shorts fell to the ground. As if he did this type of thing regularly, Rick turned and smiled at Michonne before heading towards the water. He shivered slightly from the cool sensation, but walked out into the river until the water was up to his waist; waiting for his lady to join him.

Michonne looked around once more and then removed her top and shorts to reveal a matching blue bikini top and bottom that she saved for vacation. Rick marvelled at her perfect form as she sauntered towards the river's edge, dipping a toe in before recoiling slightly.

"It's nice once you get in here." Rick said reassuringly.

Michonne stepped in and held her arms up as she neared Rick. He waded over to meet her, placed his hands at her hips and drew her in for a kiss while at the same time leading her farther out into the depths of the brook. She draped her arms over his shoulders as he peppered her neck and collarbone with unhurried kisses; Michonne let her head fall back to give Rick better access. The feeling of the cool water on her hot skin coupled with Rick's kisses had Michonne feeling lightheaded; the weightlessness of floating made her feel distrait and before she knew it she had her legs wrapped around Rick while he held her in place and brought his lips to hers.

He slowly undid the ties of her bikini top as the material fell away from her breasts, exposing them to the fresh morning air. Rick broke their kiss, caught the garment, wet it for weight and then tossed it up onto the river bank. His damp hand caressed her breast as he felt her nipples stiffen from the contact. Michonne let out a moan from the sensation as she pressed her eager mouth to the skin of Rick's neck and gently sucked and nibbled. The sound that escaped Michonne's mouth set Rick hard as he knew they were not going to continue their bathing.

Rick carried Michonne from the shallow water and placed her down onto her towel carefully. He tore off the bottom of her swimming costume and began to caress her slick folds with his fingers. He placed his mouth to her breast and slowly worked his tongue around her nipple. Rick dipped his finger inside Michonne's hot, moist centre and then trailed her wetness up to her sensitive nub; he began to massage it and caused her body to shudder slightly beneath his. She closed her eyes as he continued to pleasure her with his hand and watch with lust filled eyes as her body, face and breathing responded to his knowing touch.

Michonne was so caught up in the moment that she did not care anymore that she and Rick were outside. She felt her body tense up as her climax approached and Rick slid two of his fingers inside of her to feel her walls pulsating as he kissed her mouth once more.

Rick let Michonne catch her breath a moment before he covered her body with his own and she parted her legs for him. Rick gripped his hardness and stroked himself a few times before he rubbed the tip of his length over the heat of her opening and her clitoris. He then looked into her eyes as he guided his dripping tip between her luscious folds and entered her slowly; she was already so wet that he was able to slide his shaft in with ease. She wrapped her legs around his waist and lifted her pelvis slightly to give Rick better access. He thrust in and out of Michonne over and over again while she dug her nails into his bare back as he rocked on top of her.

They remained captivated and enthralled by one another; their bodies melting together in unison and their thoughts and worries of everyday life fading away as they both came to their climax and basked in the exhilaration of their lovemaking.

…Closer to Heaven above and closer to you…

xXx

Michonne stopped to loosen the shoelace on her hiking boot as Rick kept walking and talking. He was describing which plants were of medicinal use and which ones a person should steer clear of; Michonne found it all very interesting, but she needed to take a break from the hike as the boot she was wearing seemed to be causing her discomfort.

Rick somehow sensed that she was not directly behind him as he continued to ascend up the jagged mountain range. He stopped and searched the immediate area for her; his eyes finally found her seated on a rock mound some paces behind him drinking from her canteen.

"Everything alright?" He asked in a concerned manner.

"Yeah." She answered. "Just taking a little break; my feet hurt." She said, removing the offending boot.

Rick made his way back to where she was and took a seat on the ground in front of her.

"You wanna turn around?" He queried, worried that she was in more pain than she was letting on knowing that she was not one to make a huge fuss.

"No, no; it's fine. Just a rock in my shoe. Look." She said as she tipped the footwear upside down and the stone fell out.

Michonne replaced her boot and stood, ready to continue the journey to the top of the range where the lookout was situated. Rick reached out and took hold of her hand; he walked beside her the rest of the way.

xXx

The apex of the range was secluded, but those who knew where to find it used it as a lookout; one could see for miles around the lush, green countryside. The river in the distance trailed its serpentine path across the land; its water providing the plants and animals with much needed goodness to sustain life. The wind that swept across its plateau gave a person the feeling that they were soaring high above the ground. Michonne stood at the edge, put her hand to her eyes to shield the sun and looked out over the great expanse. Rick was right, she thought; there really seemed to be no one else around. It was just the two of them on their escape from the fast-paced lives they lived.

"It's so amazing up here." Michonne said as she turned to face Rick.

He stepped closer to her and placed his arms around her small waist as they both cast their eyes back out over the scenic view.

"It sure is. I used to come up here with my granddaddy and brother. Me and my brother would pretend we were cowboys like in those old western movies; but we'd always end up fightin' 'cause we couldn't agree on who drew first. Granddaddy would tell us that 'round here, we had to behave. We had to respect each other and nature's gifts 'cause up here, we were closer to God and he could hear and see what was truly in our hearts." Rick said, as he let his mind wonder back to a simpler time when he was a child.

Michonne found herself smiling; Rick had a certain way of speaking about his loved ones that showed them reverence.

"What's in your heart, Rick?" She asked genuinely interested in what he had to say, but knowing the answer anyways.

Rick grinned as he squeezed her a little more tightly.

"What's in my heart is my grandfather's memory, you and the kids." He replied as he placed a gentle kiss to her cheek. "Always and forever."

Michonne placed her hands over his and beamed.

"What's in your heart that God only knows?" She then went on to ask.

Rick released Michonne from his embrace and led her away from the edge of the lookout; they stood facing one another with the breeze at Rick's back.

"Well, God only knows that I was gonna do this later."

He said as he slipped his hand into his jeans pocket and then got down on one knee. Michonne felt her heart skip a beat and her breath hitch as she watched Rick hold up a silver diamond ring to her while holding onto her hand.

"Michonne, you're the most amazing woman I've known. You're smart, beautiful, loyal and kind and for some reason, you love me. You make me so happy and I can't even begin to imagine my life without you. I was wonderin' if you would do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

Rick held Michonne's gaze as he looked into her eyes; she wore a wide grin and nodded fervently as she gripped Rick's other hand and pulled him to his feet. She then drew him into a passionate kiss and firm embrace.

"Is that a yes?" He asked expectantly.

"Oh, sorry. Yes, Rick. It's a yes. Always and forever." She said happily.

Rick wrapped his arms about her waist, lifted her from the ground and twirled her around in a circle. When he finally set her down, he took her left hand and slipped the ring onto her finger. They once again held each other and for the first time that weekend, they could not wait to return to their busy lives so that they could share their happy news with their family and friends.