A/N: Thanks for the reviews, follows, and for reading. They're finally at a place in their relationship where they can love one another openly. There's not too much of this story left, so I'm serving up the fluff (and smut). This two months after our OTP's romantic weekend away. Let's check in.
The buzzing of the blender was drowned out by the sound of Janelle Monaé crooning through the Bluetooth speakers. Michonne, after being satisfied that her smoothie was how she liked it, turned off the appliance and removed the cup. After uncapping the lid, she drank the nutritious beverage down and bobbed her head to the beat of the song. Unexpectedly, her lazy Sunday morning ritual was interrupted by her doorbell ringing wildly. She smiled to herself, knowing only one person was that excitable.
"Hey, Judy," said Michonne as she opened the front door to the smiling little girl.
"Hi, 'Chonne," Judith greeted, as she hugged the woman about her legs; Michonne patted her hair down. "Daddy's got a big ol' surprise for you."
She sweet child suddenly covered her mouth with her hands, "Oops! I guess it's not a surprise no more."
Michonne gave the wide-eyed child a reassuring grin before placing her index finger to her own lips.
"Shhh," she offered. "It's okay; I'll act really surprised."
Judith giggled and took hold of Michonne's hand; they both skipped down the garden path and met Rick and Carl in the driveway.
"Good morning," she greeted them happily.
"Hey," said Carl.
"Mornin'," Rick offered, before he stepped towards her, placed a hand at her waist, and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
Her eyes drifted from Rick's twinkling ones, to the back of the truck. It was covered with an array of potted, flowering plants; each one brighter in color than the next.
"What's all of this?" asked Michonne.
"More flowers for your garden," said Rick as he leaned on the side of the truck; a satisfied grin plastered across his handsome face. "Thought you might wanna brighten that one corner up."
"Well, this is a lovely surprise," Michonne offered as she gave Judith's hand a little squeeze. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it," said Rick as he proceeded to remove the rope and canvas that was covering something set against the side of the tray. "Got you this as well."
He removed the canvas and waited for Michonne's reaction; her smile was worth the little extra money he had paid when she laid her eyes on the small, ceramic cat sculpture.
"Rick!" she squealed. "It's gorgeous. I love it."
She all but glided over to where he was standing and wrapped her arms around him before smacking a kiss to his cheek. "Thank you so much."
"Ah, it's nothin'," he said coolly.
"It's everything," she cooed.
"Anything for my girl," he replied, as Carl half-jokingly rolled his eyes and Judith joined them in their embrace.
xXxXx
"No, Daddy, I changed my mind. You should leave the purple ones there," Judith called out to Rick; he was arranging the flowers in the corner of Michonne's backyard. "They're mine and 'Chonne's favorites."
Rick stopped what he was doing upon hearing yet another request. He wanted to make sure each plant was where Michonne wanted it before he dug up the flowerbed started planting them. Dusting his hands on his jeans, he glanced over to where Judith, and owner of the garden were sprawled out on a blanket on the ground. They each wore sunglasses and hats and were sipping their lemonade from straws.
"Y'all wanna come on over and give me a hand instead of bossin' me around?" asked Rick; Carl looked up from his comic book, snorted amusedly, and then shook his head; they had Rick wrapped around their respective little fingers.
"Nah," Judith replied.
"We're good," Michonne added with a cheeky wink.
Rick could not help but smile. It warmed his heart that the woman he loved got on so well with his children. Carl thought she was the coolest person and Judith thought she walked on water; Rick was inclined to agree.
"Dad," Carl interrupted. "I'm starving."
"Yeah, I don't see how you would be," Rick teased. "Seein' as you're about as much help as these two."
"Hey," Carl countered. "We just didn't want to get in your way."
"Yeah, Daddy," Judith added, while Michonne nodded her head.
"I don't think I believe y'all," said Rick as he feigned being offended, before he reached into his pocket to retrieve his wallet. "Take your sister inside and order some pizza, Son."
Carl flew up right away and darted over to his father.
"Any kind I like?" he asked, as he took the credit card from Rick.
"Yeah," he answered. "Whatever you like."
After Carl and Judith raced each other inside of the house, Rick ambled over to where Michonne was on the blanket and laid down beside her, flat on his back; he used one hand to shield his eyes from the sun, and rested the other on his abdomen. She removed her glasses and glanced down at him.
"Needed a little break, uh?" she asked, brushing a curl from his brow.
"Yeah," he replied, staring up at her. "I deserve it. Judy's a little miss bossy boots, and you and Carl don't like gettin' your hands dirty."
"Whatever," she said as she playfully slapped his chest. She then shifted closer and draped her arm over him. She pressed a soft kiss to his lips and offered a sincere, "Thank you. I appreciate it."
Michonne kissed Rick again, much deeper this time. Her tongue trailing slowly across his lips before she pulled back. Running her hand up through his curls, she wrapped her leg over his and caught his mouth with hers once more.
"How much?" he whispered close to her mouth; his lips swollen from her attentions.
"How much, what?" she replied teasingly.
"How much do you appreciate me?" he prodded, his hand snaking up her thigh.
"Hmmm," she answered. "I might show you just how much later."
Rick growled as he smacked his hand to her round backside and said, "You'd better."
"Daddy! 'Chonne!" called a high pitched little voice. With the worst timing ever, Judith came bolting out of the back door and hurled herself onto the pair. Rick caught his daughter and placed her down in between he and Michonne.
"Pizza will be here in twenty," she said with a smile.
xXxXx
The hour was late and the full moon was high in the night sky; Michonne's house was quiet since Carl and Judith had retired to the spare rooms a couple of hours prior. The only sound that broke the stillness of the mild night was she low whimpers of pleasure that escaped Michonne's mouth as Rick rocked on top of her. Their naked forms covered in a sheen of sweat, glistening in the moonlight, that peeked through her bedroom window, illuminating the eager lovers. Their bodies writhed together sensually; the quickness of Rick's thrusts, and his low moans, illustrating their need for release. He buried his face into her hair and hurried his pace; he needed her to climax before he could let go. His strokes became shallow and fast so he could hit her spot again and again; she was close, and so was he. He slipped his hand between their bodies and thumbed her aching clit at the same time as he drove his manhood into her center over and over. She dug her finger nails into his back and Rick felt her walls clench around his length; her legs tightening at his waist as her orgasm vibrated through her core. She cried out his name as she came. He muffled her cries with his mouth, before plunging his dick inside of her quivering sex a few more times. He called out loudly as he spilled his seed inside of her womb, then collapsed on top of her. Their damp skin pressed against one another; her wet, trembling pussy enveloping his dripping, pulsing cock.
Rick kissed Michonne's forehead before withdrawing himself from inside of her; he rolled over onto his back and tried to steady his breathing. With her own chest still heaving, Michonne shifted so that she was resting her head on his arm. She placed her hand over his heart; he covered her hand with his.
"I love you, Rick," she whispered, causing him to smile, just like every time she spoke those words.
"I love you, too," he replied, before he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it.
The couple laid in the dark a moment longer and remained quiet. He could feel her breathing return to normal as she absentmindedly rubbed his skin with her slender fingers.
"Michonne?" Rick asked.
"Mmm?" she answered.
"We should live together."
"What?" she queried, lifting her head from his shoulder.
He let out a nervous little laugh before saying, "Me and you; we should move in together. What d'ya think?"
A/N: What is her answer going to be? Is it too soon?
More to come!