A/N: Thanks for the tremendous response to the previous instalment. I really do love hearing your thoughts on this story. I feel bad for what I am going to make you endure as there's been mention of Scuts in the Richonne tag on Tumblr as some troll is going around stirring up shit. Ugh. I hate the hiatus…

Anyways, enjoy! And be kind to me; it was hard for me to write!

"I really am glad that we're doing this," said Jessie as she poured another glass of wine for Rick after their meal was finished.

He smiled at her and then drank from his glass before placing it back on the coffee table; "Yeah, me too."

"So, how's work going?" asked Jessie as she turned her body on the couch to face Rick; she kicked off her shoes and leaned on her elbow.

"Work's work, but I can't complain. It's been really good," said Rick. "It's actually been pretty busy these past few months trying to get the young offenders' Program off the ground."

"Oh yeah, I read about it in the newspaper. It must be tough. Some of those kids would be so dangerous. I have no respect for parents who have no idea what their children are up to. I always know where Ron is at all times," she stated. "They should be held accountable for what their brats get up to."

"I don't think it's as simple as that," Rick offered and Jessie felt her face grow warm.

"Oh, no. I didn't mean anything by it. It's just that some of these kids wouldn't be in trouble if they had parents who cared about them," she reasoned. "But you're right, it's not simple. You, Rick, are amazing with everything you do; they're lucky to have you working on that Program. I think I still have that newspaper interview with you and that lawyer woman lying around here somewhere."

Rick gave her an unreadable look and Jessie offered a little giggle, "What can I say? I'm a bit of a fan of yours."

In that moment, Rick thought of Michonne; she was on his mind right up until he pulled into the Anderson's driveway. He could tell that there was something amiss with her when they were speaking at the liquor store. While the thought had crossed his mind, there was no way he would further entertain the idea that she was bothered by him meeting up with another woman. She did not care enough for him to be bothered by him seeing someone else, he mused. Yet, deep down inside of him, he wanted her to be; he wanted her to want him like he wanted her. Rick sighed audibly and was brought back to the present moment by Jessie's hand on his arm.

"Rick?" she asked. "Is everything all right?"

"Yeah, sorry about that," he offered. "I just got to thinkin' about something, ah, you know, to do with work. Sorry. What were you sayin'?"

Jessie smiled and flicked her golden tresses to the side before using her fingers to trail up Rick's arm.

"I was saying how I'm a huge fan of yours," she said in hushed tones. "You're a great guy, Rick."

She reached up and fixed his collar, her eyes fell to his lips. Rick was acutely aware of what was happening when Jessie's palm came to rest on his chest as she shifted her position. He felt his heart rate speed up as his palms started to sweat; Rick was not sure how he was going to react to what he knew was coming.

"Thank you," he said as Jessie looked up from his lips and met his eyes; he did not know what else he should say.

Jessie leaned in closer to Rick and gently pressed her lips to his; he hesitated a moment before relaxing into the feeling of their lips meeting. Rick brought his hand up to cup her face as they deepened the kiss.

xXxXx

"Just leave those there," said Andrea to Michonne as she tried to clear the table. "Shane can do that. Come on, your glass needs topping up."

Michonne sighed, picked up her drink and followed her friend out onto the back porch; the soft-glowing light set a nice mood as the stars danced lazily in the night sky.

"I cooked a nice meal, was awesome at conversation and you're sitting her with a face that looks like goldilocks ate all of your porridge," said Andrea. "You gonna tell me what's wrong?"

"It's stupid," said Michonne. "I'm stupid."

Andrea sighed.

"Don't talk about yourself like that! Now tell me, whose ass do I have to kick?" she asked as Michonne offered a small smile.

"I'm being silly," Michonne said. "It doesn't matter."

"Bitch, talk to me," said Andrea. "Please, I don't like seeing you upset. Don't shut me out."

"Okay, but it really is silly," said Michonne before exhaling loudly. "I'm so pissed off at myself because before I came here, I went to grab the wine and ran into Rick."

"Okay," said Andrea, cracking her knuckles. "What did he do to upset you?"

"He didn't do anything," Michonne explained. "It's not him, it's me. I realized he was going on a date and I got really annoyed about it when I have no rights to."

"Right…"

"See, it's stupid," Michonne offered as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Babe, did it ever occur to you that you still have feelings for him?" asked Andrea.

Michonne sighed, "I don't know. I honestly don't know. He's a great guy and I don't deserve him…"

"Wait a minute, what does that even mean, you don't deserve him? You're a good person too, Michonne. Don't go measuring your self-worth against a man," Andrea chided. "I know that ain't you talking."

Michonne grew quiet a moment, before turning to face her friend.

"I messed this up with Rick, I know that; and it's because of Mike. He's still fucking with my happiness after all this time," she said.

"You're fucking with your own happiness, though," Andrea explained. "That part of your life is over and done with, babe. You don't have to let it carry over into what you're doing now. Your career is going great; you're dreams are coming true. I know what's going on. You don't think you can have it all. The great work life and healthy love life because of how Mike that asshole treated you, but you can. You can have it all, Michonne. Just believe what the rest of us already know, that you are worthy."

…..

Jessie broke their kiss as she climbed onto Rick's lap, straddling him; she took hold of his face and kissed his mouth again as his hands rested on her ass. She fumbled with the buttons of his shirt as she sucked fervently at his neck. Rick felt a stirring in his pants as she gyrated against him.

She ran her fingers through his hair while continuing to kiss his collarbone and neck. Rick's body was slowly starting to respond to her attentions; she felt his hardness growing, pressed against her core. They shared another kiss before Jessie's hand trailed down between them and stopped at his crotch. Rick put his hand over hers so that she ceased her ministrations.

"It's okay," she whispered as she began to undo his buckle; Rick breathed heavily.

"Jessie, we don't have to move this fast," he explained as she unzipped his pants and took hold of his penis; she gave it a few strokes and set it harder.

Rick closed his eyes at her touch; "I haven't got any protection."

"That's okay," said Jessie as she slid backwards from off of Rick's lap and keeled on the floor before him. "We can do other things."

She lowered her head and licked the tip of Rick's manhood, "Just let me please you."

…..

"So," said Michonne as she filled Andrea's glass. "Did you know Rick was seein' someone?"

Andrea thanked her friend and then leaned back in her seat.

"I wouldn't say he's seeing her, it's like their second date or whatever," she offered.

"But you knew he wouldn't be here tonight, right?" asked Michonne.

"Yeah, Shane mentioned it," Andrea explained. "Are you pissed at me?"

"No," said Michonne. "I'm pissed at myself for prancing over and talking to him like I expected him to be here tonight, since he has every other time. Also, I'm annoyed at myself for being so annoyed about it. I guess I really did ruin my chances with him."

Michonne leaned her head on Andrea's shoulder.

"Maybe not," said Andrea, the wine making her feel dizzy. "Maybe he doesn't even like the bitch and is just trying to make you jealous."

"I doubt that," Michonne scoffed.

"But what if? What if he's over there right now eating some bland ass food wishing he was with you instead of that skank?" said Andrea.

"Hold up, who is it?" asked Michonne. "Who's the girl?"

"Give me your phone," Andrea said. "She's on Facebook. Shane and I were looking at her profile earlier."

…..

Rick leaned back into the couch, his eyes clenched tightly and his hand resting on Jessie's head as it bobbed up and down. She had been down there for around five minutes and Rick was not enjoying the feeling of her mouth as much as he thought he would. His mind was swimming as a heat began to build around his lower region. He removed his hand, clasped it together with his other one and rested them to his brow; he pictured Michonne's face in his mind's eye.

His chest heaved as he imagined that Michonne's lips were now wrapped around the tip of his cock and that her fingers were tugging at his shaft. He pictured the way that she looked up into his eyes as she sucked him in between her plump lips.

"Oh, god," said Rick softly, urging Jessie on while visualizing Michonne. "Hmmm."

…..

"She's pretty," said Michonne a little dejectedly as she and Andrea looked at Jessie Anderson's profile picture.

"She's basic," said Andrea as she flicked through the pictures.

"Bitch, you're being petty," laughed Michonne.

Andrea shrugged, winked at her best friend and then continued to stalk the profile.

"What's with all the pictures of owls?" Michonne asked, looking down at the small screen.

"Who the fuck would know. Here," said Andrea as she handed Michonne's phone back to her. "I have to go to the bathroom. Top me up again."

Michonne took another look at woman who was spending her evening with Rick while Michonne was sat drinking with Andrea. She closed the Facebook app and then sighed as she opened her messages. Scrolling through she found a text message from Rick; it was dated over a month ago and she noticed that she did not reply to him.

She looked over her shoulder to ensure that Andrea was not soon returning, bit her bottom lip and then quickly typed some words. She hit the send button just as her friend stepped outside.

"Hey, we should go out and find you a man," said Andrea enthusiastically.

"When?" asked Michonne as she tucked the phone into her bra.

"Right now," said Andrea. "What do you say?"

"I say I think I'm gonna head on home, babe," Michonne replied.

"You sure?" asked Andrea.

"Yeah, I'll call a cab," she responded. "I need some time alone to think about stuff."

…..

Rick's had committed so much of Michonne's physique to his memory that it was quite easy for him to picture her naked form as Jessie sucked him vigorously.

"Hmmm mmmm, oh fuck. Yes," breathed Rick. "Mmmm."

He had no time to feel guilty about what they were doing because imagining that it was Michonne who was pleasuring him was pushing him closer to his release.

"Ahhh…"

Jessie used her tongue, lips and hand and hastened her movements.

"Hmmm…"

Rick felt his nether region tighten as his seed spilled from his throbbing tip and squirted into Jessie's mouth.

"Fffuckk, oh god," said Rick as more of his stickiness coated her tongue. "Oh, shit. Michonne."

Jessie quickly swallowed the salty fluid and pretended that she did not hear him call some other woman's name.

…..

The faucet was still running as Rick stared at himself in the bathroom mirror; he finished cleaning himself with the handtowel and then tossed it into the clothes hamper. He felt his phone vibrating in his pocket and wondered who it could be at that time of night. When he looked at the name that was displayed on the screen, his heart skipped a beat; it was from Michonne. He took a deep breath and thought for a moment; he asked himself why she would be texting him at that hour when they had an understanding that neither would do that anymore.

What if she wants to see me? He thought quickly. Surely she wouldn't ask that. Surely I'd say no.

Rick did not believe what he was telling himself; if he had just not received oral sex from Jessie Anderson and Michonne had asked him to go to her place, he would most likely go. She would sometimes send a picture of her panties around her ankle and that was enough for him to drop everything and race to her place. Other times, all she had to text was I'm wet and he would gladly run to her; he felt a quiver in his pants at the thought of still Michonne wanting him. Jessie knocked on the door.

"You okay, Rick?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'll be out in a sec," he offered.

"Did you wanna spend the night?"

Rick opened the messaged:

Dinner was quiet without you tonight. I hope you had fun where ever you were though; you're a great guy and deserve the best. Goodnight.

Rick, though surprised by the content, could not help but smile at what Michonne had written. He felt a warmth enveloping him and almost did not hear Jessie call out again. He looked at the message once more, before typing in his reply. He then opened the door to find his date standing there staring at him. She took hold of his hand and smiled at him.

"Did you want to spend the night?" she asked once more.

Rick gave her an apologetic look, "I'm sorry. I have an early start and should really get going."

…..

Michonne searched her purse for her keys as the taxi driver left the headlights on for her. She found them, opened her door and then waved the driver off. Once inside, she made her way to the kitchen and retrieved a bottle of water from the fridge. She placed her purse on the bench and then rummaged through it for her phone; taking a sip of the water, Michonne checked her messages. Her heart beat quickened when she saw that Rick had replied.

Her stomach suddenly dropped when she imagined him telling her not to contact him like that; reminding her that they had come to an agreement that neither would pursue the other. She placed her water bottle down, took a deep breath and opened the message; her eyes filled with tears as she read Rick's words and let them sink in:

You're great too and deserve nothing but the best in life. I just wish you realized that. Goodnight.

A/N: Road trip is definitely in the next chapter which is almost ready to be posted; I just have to work through a few things and then we'll get back to Richonne!