Night 2

"I think I've actually become immune to the taste of beans." Michonne stuffed another spoonful in her mouth, not bothering to savor the taste. "I used to hate them before but now it doesn't even matter."

Rick smirked while passing her a quick glance before staring down into his own dented can of pork and beans. "You didn't like beans? I never knew that. You didn't say nothin' before."

She shrugged and threw the almost empty can on the ground. "I guess I never thought to mention it before."

Their time alone together granted them the opportunity to find out little nuggets of random information about each other. With the family around their talks were usually about plans and strategy. It was amazing to him that he loved someone so much that he knew so little about their past. "Tell me something else you didn't like."

The night air was crisp with a light breeze that made her more comfortable than she had been in a few weeks. Sitting cross legged, she settled her hands in her lap smiling over at him. "You are all about the random questions lately."

Rick shrugged mocking her actions by crossing his legs and putting his hands in his lap.

She laughed, her white teeth sparkling in the darkness. The fact that she was so anal about her dental hygiene was one thing he learned about her in the midst of the chaos of settling into Alexandria. Now he found himself wanting to know everything he could. "C'mon. Just humor me. Tell me somethin' else"

Rolling her eyes, she reached for the small camouflage sack from the house they raided earlier and began to look inside. "I loved R&B music and hated rap. I didn't own a TV. I was a comic book fanatic when I was a teenager which guys thought was a little weird."

"When you were a teenager? As in past tense?" He cocked his eyebrow remembering how she wanted to read the comic books she found for Carl. Seeing Carl's face light up when he heard the galloping horse approaching the prison gate was Rick's first time truly realizing how close his son had become to her.

"Okay fine. I still enjoy reading them when I can—oh there it is." Proud, she pulled out the stuffed white bunny with long floppy ears wearing a pink and white dress. "What do you think?"

"No thanks I already have somethin' to sleep with at night," he joked while winking at her.

"You're a real wise guy you know that?" She dusted off the small amount of dirt that was on the bunny's foot and held it out in front of her to admire her prized discovery. "Judy is gonna love this. The long ears, the dress. It's the perfect size for her too."

Michonne was beaming and Rick's heart swelled seeing how happy she was to make his daughter happy. "Is that what you ran back in the house for?" He asked, taking the stuffed animal in his hands and looking it over.

"Yep. I thought I had it in the plastic bin but I must've set it to the side. Couldn't leave it." The statement was so nonchalant. It was clear to him she had no idea how much she's changed him. How much she means to him and his children. Their children. Carl and Judith loved her like she was their mother. It used to make him angry to think about Lori not being there to see their children grow up. Judith would not only never meet her biological mother but she wouldn't even know what she looked like. But the anger had morphed to sadness. Something he figured to an extent would always be there. Now, he was happy that his children had someone that loved them just as much as he did. As much as Lori did.

"Give it here before you get it dirty." She playfully snatched it from him and put it back into the sack. "It will be good for her to have something to play with other than those darn red plastic cups."

"Hey she loves those cups. She can play with them for hours."

Michonne laughed, getting to her feet and dusting off her pants. "Yes she can. I guess she doesn't know any better but then again kids are like that. You buy them all these expensive gifts and they play with pots and pants or the boxes the toys came in. I remem-" she started and cut herself off immediately. Dammit. She got so caught up in talking about the kids that she almost spilled something about Andre. It was starting to happen more often than not these days.

Rick cocked his head to the side regarding her closely. "Remember what?"

Dusting off invisible dirt from her pants to buy her some time, she grabbed the sack and walked the few feet to the van door. "Nothing. I was just gonna say that even I banged a pot or two in my day and I also forgot to find something for Carl. You know he looks forward to what I bring him back from runs."

"Yeah but he'll be alright if he doesn't get somethin' once. Teaches him character."

"Yeah whatever," she said gathering up their few items on the ground and packing it into the van.

Rick watched her every move. She was graceful yet powerful. There were so many beautifully contradicting qualities she possessed that made him fall more in love with her everyday. His heart needed to slow down. But then again they couldn't afford to waste time. There was still so much more he wanted to know. She wore her heart on her sleeve but in some ways she was an enigma. "I would've loved to see you as a kid."

Michonne smiled and shook her head at him while he put out the small fire. "We probably wouldn't have gotten along. You seem like a mamas boy."

To that, he let out a loud laugh and worried that a walker would emerge from somewhere because of the sound. They both tentatively looked around, ears on high alert for any sounds. "We're good," he assured her. Unfortunately, she was more of a worry wart than he was sometimes. Part of him wanted to take all the worry off her shoulders but he knew she would never let him. One of the reasons their relationship worked so well was because she was ready willing and able to defend anyone. The years of feeling burdened with leadership on his shoulders, his load now felt lighter with her by his side.

"So back to you being a mama's boy."

Leaning against the side of the van, he crossed his arms and watched her regard him closely. He hadn't thought about his parents in years. Another reminder of how much things had changed. "You got me. I was a mama's boy."

"I knew it," she rolled her eyes smugly. She gave him a quick kiss on the lips and wrapped her arms around him. Content, she let out a sigh into his neck and he hugged her tighter.

Rick inhaled her sweet scent, the scruff of his beard a contrast to her soft smooth skin. "How did you know?"

"I can't let you in on all of my secrets," she whispered kissing his neck. Once, twice. His masculine scent was always intoxicating. "It's getting late. Let's call it a night."

Not ready to let go, he squeezed her tighter, his finger tickling down her spine. "I'm not really tired yet."

When he grabbed her ass, she chuckled into his neck knowing exactly what he had in mind. All alone, there was no way they would not take advantage of any and every chance to make love. Michonne didn't want to leave any shadow of a doubt that she had the same thing in mind. Her leg grazed the seam of his jeans and he groaned in her ear.

Rick reached behind her for the door handle blindly, his other hand touching every part of her body he could. "We need to get inside now," he growled.

The door to the van had barely shut before she was on him. Her eagerness was funny for about a half second until her fingers brushed his erection. The games were over. Rick went into overdrive taking off his shirt, while clumsily moving everything around them out of the way. Michonne was just as eager, trying her damnedest to take off her shirt. All around her he was moving and she was dizzy with desire. He stayed up the night before on watch and it was her turn. Tonight he would get some sleep and she wanted to be nice and sated for her hours awake. The plan going around in her head came to an abrupt halt the second Rick's warm talented tongue glided across her stomach. "Shit." She fell on to him, her legs semi straddling his. Initially she was afraid she hurt him but he quickly recovered, rolling her over and grinding his bulge against her already wet center.

"Fuck," he cursed. The feel of her damp jeans against his hard on drove him crazy. He maneuvered her underneath him into just the right position for what he wanted to do. Their tongues wrestled as he tried to concentrate on pulling down her jeans while she tried to get her shirt off again. Begrudgingly, he pulled his mouth away from hers and took the offending material the rest of the way off and made quick work of her bra. It was tempting to bend down and take her hard, dark nipple into his mouth but he resisted. There was something else he was focused on.

Sitting up on his knees, he unbuckled her belt and took her jeans and panties down and then finished undressing himself.

Patience was the name of the game but his mind was buzzing. The chemistry between them was electric. Half the time he couldn't concentrate like he needed to. Their mission was to come out there and get guns for Jadis' group. But ever since they got on the road and he was surrounded by the sweet sound of their easy conversation, playful banter and passionate lovemaking, he didn't want to be anywhere else.

Carl and Judith were his life, there was no doubt about that. But having a few days of just being himself without having to be any and everything to everyone was more relaxing than he could've dreamed. Out here, there was no one seeking his direction or his opinion. His woman could hold her own and hold his as well if he needed her to. Even with the absence of sleep and the presence of guilt about the death of their friends, there was something surrounding him that he couldn't quite describe.

It wasn't just love.

That word just didn't seem strong enough to describe what he felt for Michonne. All he knew was that it was something he'd never felt before. His heart was the ultimate paradox. A part of it felt weighed down with the depth of his feelings for her. Similar to the fear he discussed with Abraham about letting someone close just a day before he died. The other part felt light and fluttered every time he looked into her gorgeous brown eyes.

In her eyes he saw something he hadn't thought about in a long time.

His children's future was his primary goal and he resigned himself to being a casualty of the circumstances a long time ago. Now, he found himself thinking more about his future.

Their future.

Michonne was silent watching him. Waiting. Those curious eyes never ceased to paralyze him. Strong and patient. Not just looking at him but actually seeing him for the man he truly was. Sometimes he thought she knew him better than he knew himself.

She laid before him, naked, aroused but patient. Allowing him to go through in his mind whatever he needed to before being brought back to the moment. His frantic movements stilled while he was lost in thought. His thumb rubbed her left ankle while the other hand gently stroked her inner thigh.

He exhaled heavily, something he had to do every once in awhile so his head and heart could align. Sometimes it all was just too much. Michonne's hand reached out to cover his on her thigh. An electric current passed between them and shocked him into action. He moved forward, trailing kisses up her inner thigh.

When his intentions became clear, she tried to close her legs. Rick proceeded forward, widening his shoulders which spread her open to him. She gasped, tense with anticipation.

"I didn't get a taste last night like I wanted to," he whispered.

"It's not my fault you got sidetracked."

They tried this before but it was hard for Michonne to keep quiet with a house full of people. That night he managed to get a little taste of her before he sucked on her clit and she cried out loudly, quickly ending that endeavor. In the middle of the woods in the rickety yellow van, it wasn't going to be an issue anymore.

The mischievous smile on his face told her everything she needed to know. He wasn't going to take it easy on her. At the initial contact, she jerked. Her shyness rapidly turned into moans that escalated in volume with every pass of his tongue along her sex. Balancing on her elbows, she watched his chestnut curls and broad shoulders between her legs bob up and down. Her vision became blurry when he sucked on her sensitive nub. "Fuck...Riiiick." She began to grasp his hair trying but unsuccessful in her attempt to stay upright. Her head hit the blue blanket beneath her, back arched in pleasure chanting his name like a prayer. Her legs fell shamelessly open, his shoulders no longer needed to keep her on display. She submitted to the feeling, barely registering her hands squeezing her breasts as she rocked against his tongue. "Oh...shit. I'm close."

Rick added two fingers, massaging her tight walls at the same time his tongue flicked her clit. "Yessss c'mon," he coaxed her with his mouth buried in her pussy. He was rewarded with her climax, the sweet juices drenching his face. He lapped them up like a man starving. And he was. Starving to be close to her in every way possible, to be intimate with her in every way.

Michonne was still recovering when he kissed his way up her body and entered her in one quick thrush. "Ahhh," he cried out, his forehead against hers. They both panted, trying to catch their breaths but Rick couldn't hold back any longer. The feeling of being with her was unlike anything he ever felt before. Emotion clogged his throat as he stared into her fierce eyes. Every confession, emotion, feeling manifested themselves as he began to move, pistoning his hips. He kissed her chest, neck, anywhere he could reach as his dick relentlessly massaged her walls. He wanted to get deeper and deeper insider of her, putting her leg on his shoulder and grinding hard against her clit with each thrust. "Rick, Rick, oh—-." Michonne clawed at his lower back, pulling him deeper still.

"You feel so good," he whispered, adjusting his angle just enough to hit the spot that drove her wild. He was frantic. He couldn't enough of her. Her smell. Her touch. Her love. It was all too much and he struggled with what he did to deserve this. There was little doubt in his mind that he could've been a better husband to Lori in those final months. Even if the decision was to end the marriage, he could've handled it better. He's been brutal, unforgiving and ruthless. In spite of it all, she's still been there. Every step of the way.

Still with him.

Rick bit down on his lip as he lifted her other leg high on his hip, stifling the urge to tell her how much he loved her. How she's the one great love of his life.

"Shit, right there," she whimpered. Her nails bore down on his neck as she pulled on his curls. The sign that always let him know she's close to nirvana.

Because he always wanted to give her more, he took one of her nipples into his mouth. Sucking hard and she cried out bucking even more.

Her cries were high pitched, barely drowning out his grunts as he continued to move with purpose. The sweat gathered on his brow dripped down on to her chest, wetting her skin even more. Their bodies moved together in perfect harmony, a cadence that had been perfected long before they became lovers.

Fire crawled down his spine, pressure building in his balls until his vision began to blur. He released her breast with a loud pop and made his way back to her irresistible lips. "Look at me," he rasped in her ear, sweeping her locs off her face. "Look at me baby."

Michonne's eyes fluttered open. His eyes had turned dark blue, focused and she saw everything she already knew. He loved her. Her thumb caressed his chin as she arched her back and came hard. Seconds later she felt his warmth begin to fill her.

"Shit," he pulled back looking down between her legs where they were joined intimately. Her fingers traced the contoured lines of his neck and back while his body jerked out the rest of his release. "I'm sorry." He kissed her tenderly on the neck and rested his head on her shoulder. "It's getting harder and harder to pull out. I didn't mea—"

"Shhhh." She kissed his forehead. "It's ok. Let's get cleaned up."

Exhausted, she raised up to her elbows but quickly collapsed back down. "Damn."

Rick chuckled and patted her leg. "I got it. I'll clean you up and then you can get some sleep."

Michonne shook her head. "My night for watch remember," she said stifling a yawn.

He went about the same cleanup routine as the night before. "How about this? You sleep for now and when you wake up we will swap."

Yawning again, she reached for one of his shirts and attempted to put it on but couldn't lift her arms.

Rick smirked while he helped her put it on.

"You're getting a kick out of this aren't you?"

He buttoned up the shirt and placed a kiss on her forehead. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Yeah right," she lightly slapped his arm, not having enough energy to put much force behind it. "Don't get all smug Grimes. I'll wear you out one day soon."

"I look forward to it. Now go to sleep."

By the time he put back on his boxers, a t-shirt and checked to make sure the doors and windows were secure, she was already asleep. He watched her for a minute and pulled the blanket over her, certain she was out for the rest of the nigh night.

His ego at exhausting her quickly morphed into a sense of gratitude. He was grateful that she was able to find enough peace to rest a little with everything that was going on.

One day soon he would work up the courage to find out if she wanted what he wanted. For them to be together forever. Even if forever was just a few days or a few months. After the war, there was no guarantee who would be still standing. But for however long he had left, he wanted to spend it with her. He wanted her to be his wife.

Grabbing his gun, he gave her one more kiss on the forehead before he headed to the front seat for another sleepless night to keep watch.

"Good night Michonne."