A/N: Hey guys I'm back! I know I left this story hanging for awhile but you know...life, work, adulting. I want to finish every story and decided to revisit this one and close it out. This will be the last chapter, as it's the last day shown in the epic episode "Say Yes." Thank you all for reading and the support and yes I plan to have an update for "Different Kind of Fear" soon. Please review and let me know what you think!

Rick yawned, laying his head on the bulky front of the yellow backpack. His head throbbed, making his vision almost blurry. That was a close call.

Another one.

This time had affected her more than him. Everyday since humanity had gone to shit he became more and more comfortable playing Russian roulette with his life. Resigned to the fact that his time in this new world could be snatched away at any moment. But now more than ever, he had reasons to live. His children. His family. Michonne. Separate entities in a few instances, all together in most others. If there was one lesson the end of humanity taught him, was that his rose-colored glasses didn't fit anymore. The same rules no longer applied. He couldn't sit around waiting for people to do the right thing or fate to cut him a break.

No.

This is what it was like now. Every minute was precious.

Over the course of 24 hours he negotiated with Jadis, delivered the guns that got them closer to fighting for their freedom, confessed his guilt about Glenn's death and not sleeping and almost died. But as usual it wasn't his life he focused on. Instead, it was the new life that could be on the horizon. She wanted a baby. She never came right out and said it but he knew. That's how it was with them. So many silent conversations with a look, a touch and simply being in the same room. With one simple word, "Come", she had altered the trajectory of their future.

A baby.

Rick pinched the bridge of his nose, staving off the persistent spasms in his head and envisioned his love. His lips curled up in a lazy smile at the thoughts. Michonne would glow. Radiant, cradling a huge belly that carried a combination of his courage and her strength. Michonne with her smooth dark skin and dangerous curves that drove him crazy, carrying his child.

Their child.

The van creaked, his body rocking back and forth as they crossed bumps in the road but Rick's vision never wavered. There were a million reasons why having another child was an insane idea especially considering the fight on the horizon. Although the naïve part of him had died when he had to kill his best friend and his wife died having his baby, there was still the hopeless romantic side of him buried underneath all the pain. The idea of a child that was half him, half Michonne was a dream tucked away safely in the corner of his conscience. It was because of her that he even thought it was a possibility. Their partnership, the strength of their union made him believe again. There were disagreements, especially in the wake of Negan and his decisions on how to handle it, but it never crossed into that unhealthy place he saw some relationships go. Where his marriage had gone. Even with the stress of constant war they always managed to find their own kind of peace.

"What are you smiling about?" She asked, regarding him closely.

Rick took her hand, holding it in his and kissed her knuckles. With his mind wandering he hadn't noticed that the van had stopped moving and she was right next to him. "Just thinkin."

"Aboutttt?" She asked in a sing song voice. Kissing his hand in return, she then rested her head on his chest. Hearing his heart beat always gave her a sense of comfort.

"You. Me. Everythang," he answered. Smoothing her locs over her shoulder, he kissed her forehead, and they sat in silence for a few minutes.

Sometimes he wondered what they would've been like in the old world. Would they have even been compatible had they not had to fight for their lives every day? That's what drew them to each other initially. They were both warriors and leaders. Both of them being such dominant personalities could've easily been a problem but instead they complimented each other. One thing was certain, regardless of threats, if they did happen to find each other back then they would've still communicated as well as they did now. He didn't want to ever lose her trust or get to a point where they weren't talking like what happened with Lori. Everything needed to be on the table and one way or another they would work through it like they always did.

"I have somethin to tell you."

Michonne's head popped up, her eyebrows furrowed. "Everything ok?"

He kissed the wrinkles between her forehead and chuckled. "It's nothing bad. I just wanted to admit somethin."

Intrigued, she sat up quietly waiting for him to go on.

"Earlier after what happened with the walkers and the deer when you thought I was—", he stopped when he sensed her tense up and her eyes trained on the floor. He played with her locs, lifting her chin so she could look at him. "I lied to you."

Michonne tilted her head to the side, searching his face for answers. "When?"

"When I said I could lose you, I think that came out a little different than I meant," he explained. She was already shaking her head, not wanting him to feel that he needed to explain himself but he continued. "I know that we have to find the will to go on no matter what happens with Negan and the Saviors but…I just don't know how I could—" he choked.

She didn't waste a moment pulling him into her arms. "I know. It's ok."

But he needed to finish. Lori told him constantly that she needed him to speak and even though Michonne sensed words he never needed to say, he didn't want to make the same mistake twice. "Let me finish," he said clearing his throat. "I would have to go on, for my children, for the community. I know what I went through when Lori died and it was—hard," he explained unable to come up with a better word. "Losing Lori was one thing but Michonne if I—if I lost you I—". It was too much. He couldn't say it just like she couldn't hear him say that he almost died. Her death would be something he wouldn't get over and he was afraid of the monster within that would emerge if she was ever taken from him. There was a long time that he was a basket case before Terminus and it had only gone downhill in the time after. With Michonne by his side, he began to feel a bit like his old self. But without her he had no idea what kind of man he would become.

As usual, she knew exactly what he needed. Sliding her hands through his curls, calming him in a way only she knew how. "I know Rick. Me too. I know that we have to go on for the kids and everyone else but without you," she stopped and let the words hang in the air. This was the gamble they took when they entered a relationship. There wouldn't be anyone else for her. There wouldn't be anyone else for him. Whether in death or in life, they only wanted each other. The tears flowed again and he cradled her face while gently kissing them away.

Michonne giggled, his pink pouty lips tickling her as each kiss became more exaggerated. "Now you're just playing around."

Pulling back for a moment, Rick examined her face and then pulled her in for another kiss laced with desire. His tongue teased her bottom lip begging for entrance and she was all too willing to oblige. Their tongues dueled as the temperature in the van rose to a scorching level. The windows were half down, allowing a small breeze through the van and the soundtrack of nature to fill the space.

Rick sat up, never taking his lips from hers as he folded his legs. She pulled back momentarily as he freed his heavy erection from his favorite pair of worn jeans. Her first instinct was to jump on his lap but then she would have to interrupt them to take off her jeans and she didn't want to waste any time. Fumbling with the zipper, she stood and stripped from her pants and underwear. As she was about to mount him, he put out his right arm to hold her back. For a moment she looked baffled. "Take the rest off too."

There wasn't one part of her body he didn't want to touch, kiss, love. As she bared her top half, he did the same. Slowly, Michonne straddled him, wrapping her legs around his waist. She was barely in position before his muscular arms encircled her waist, hugging her close. For long seconds, he fought against his raging arousal and breathed her in, memorizing her intoxicating smell that was a mix of coconuts and pineapples.

He needed to hold her.

He needed to feel her.

He needed to be inside her.

Michonne sat still burying her face in his neck, his hair gliding smoothly between her fingers. There would never be anything else like this for him. Whether she made it or he didn't. There would never be a love that made him so completely terrified and ecstatic at the same time.

She shifted her hips slightly trying to get comfortable but the small movement was all it took. His dick was harder than a two by four. The feel of her heat so close to his erection made him groan. "Shit."

Still, she held him close. Not making a move until he was ready. "It's ok," she whispered. Everything was ok. But really nothing at all. Without a word, he leaned back staring into her dark eyes.

"I know," she whispered against his lips, pulling the bottom one between her teeth. His skin was on fire, beads of sweat moistening their bodies. Rick lifted her and paused with his tip right at her entrance. "I love you." Her eyes widened and before she could respond he pulled her hips down, impaling her with one deep stroke.

He didn't stop, moving her up and down until she was almost paralyzed with pleasure. She tried to be a participant but there was little she could do but bury her head on his shoulder and go for the spectacular ride. Every part of her body was on edge, her senses on high alert. They had been good at this right from the start. No awkward moments. No wondering what the other needed or wanted. Reading each other had always been what they did best, and sexually it was no different.

Every emotion from today, the loss, the fear, his confession, he poured into every thrust. Her limbs shook, on the precipice of release. But it wasn't quite enough. Domination had always been a push and pull game between them, showing up just when it needed to. This could've easily been his round but after everything she had been through that day almost losing him, she needed to regain some sense of control. When she broke down amidst an over run field full of guns, it should have been a victory but all she could think about was how close she'd come to losing it all….again. No matter what it never seemed like there would be enough time. She leaned back on her palms causing him to momentarily lose rhythm. Her feet now firmly planted on the floor, she tilted her head giving him a sensual smile as she began to move.

Her teeth sank into her bottom lip as she began to rock them again, rolling her hips in a slow circular motion that made his eyes roll back in his head. Her body was wide open and on full display. His mouth watered, balls tightening while he watched her fuck him. Her beautiful breasts bounced with every deliberate motion, nipples hard and begging for his attention.

"Fuck," he cursed, almost angry at himself that his release was so imminent. He wanted to cherish this. Seeing her in all her glory. Michonne was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. And for some reason he still couldn't quite grasp, she had chosen him and his children and made them one.

Licking the pad of his thumb, he began to rub her clit causing her moves to become more erratic. She jerked her torso up and he seized her nipple in his mouth, sucking hard. It wouldn't be long now.

"Oh Riiiiiiiick," she wailed. His hands found her hips again, lifting her over and over again. Their joint cries became louder as their skin slapped together, the sound of him sliding in and out of her wetness almost drowning them out.

When her walls began to spasm, his control snapped. Both of their bodies jerked, hungry, desperate to reach the peak. They came together, grasping each other so tightly they could barely breathe. His hot seed shot inside her and she continued to move, milking him of everything he had to give. "Jesus," he huffed, blowing out an exhausted breath.

"I don't think you're allowed to say that name before, after or during sex ever again," she joked.

"Good point."

Michonne moved and he moaned, still sensitive from orgasm. "Be careful or he will be ready for another round."

Wiping the sweat from his brow, she kissed his forehead lingering in place for a few seconds. She closed her eyes, taking a calming breath. "I love you too."

He held her tighter. "I know," he smiled.

"Oh do you now? Aren't we arrogant?" she teased.

He leaned back against the wall of the van to stare at her, smoothing her hair from her face so he could commit everything about her to memory.

Strong. Gorgeous. His.

"Thank you," he said seriously.

"For what?"

"For giving me a few more days."

She leaned in, melding her lips with his. "You're welcome."

THE END