Twinkling, pale lights brightened the empty hotel lobby. They shamelessly covered the fireplace mantel and wrapped around the enormous Christmas tree, illuminating the multi-colored ornaments.

Cradling her cup of hot tea, numbness replaced the stress coursing through Michonne's body. She looked around at the excessive decorations. They contrasted brightly against the dark snowstorm raging outside the frosted window. She took a sip of her tea. There were worse ways to spend Christmas Eve. None came to mind but she was sure there were worse.

Thanks to a canceled meeting, she was stuck in an abandoned ski resort in the middle of a Montana snowstorm. The lady at the front desk informed her the roads would be cleared in the morning and unless she brought a dogsled with her, she'd have to sit tight. She sighed at her trivial misfortunes and tucked herself tighter into the sofa. She rarely ever had time to slow down like this. She might as well enjoy it.

Before she could doze off, a blast of frigid air shocked her warm body.

A bearded man trudged in through the door. A thin layer of snow caked his heavy coat. She had no idea what Grizzly Adams looked like but she was sure the guy in front of her would give him a run for his money.

He shook and stomped until a pile of snow covered the welcome mat. Unwrapping the scarf around his neck, he trekked over to the fireplace. Unaware of her presence, he tore off his hat, gloves, and coat, piling the damp items in front of the fire. His beige Henley stretched across his defined lean muscle. He crouched and rubbed his hands together, warming them near the flames.

She was too entranced to breathe. Was he staying here too? Or was he some dangerous mountain man who liked to walk into random hotels and strip? Either way, there was something about him that had her shivering.

She cleared her throat.

His gaze immediately turned to meet hers. Damp curls hung down his forehead, obscuring his intense gaze. He narrowed his eyes as if trying to decide if what he was seeing was real.

It took her a moment but she finally drew in a sharp breath. "It's cold out there," she inanely pointed out, her voice hoarse with nerves.

He blinked at her.

She grimaced, holding up her steaming cup. "Good night for a cup of tea."

Her observation was met with silence until his gruff voice rasped out the one thing she never expected.

"Michonne?"

It was her turn to narrow her eyes in confusion. She analyzed every feature of his nearly hidden face.

She took in the chestnut brown of his curls, the thick beard covering a pair of full lips, the lines of his forehead and near his eyes, but it was those searching blue eyes that finally triggered a sinking feeling of recognition.

"Rick?"

It was him. Rick Grimes. The man she left King County for. Memories flooded her mind.

It was ten years ago. They worked together at the King County Sherriff's department. She was in accounting. He was a deputy. He was married with a family. She was single and naïve.

She still remembered the way his blue eyes followed her every move whenever she stepped into the room. She tried not to let it get to her and developed a friendly relationship with him. They bantered and joked but when they were alone, innocent chitchat eventually evolved into sultry flirting.

One night in an empty break room, the flirting gave way to a sweet kiss. She remembered the way his lips left a soft imprint on hers. It was so tender and reverent, it made her heart ache. He broke away before it turned into more.

It only took one moment of weakness to have her handing in her letter of resignation the next day and moving halfway across the country. She hated herself for what almost happened. If he hadn't stopped, she wasn't sure how far she would've gone.

Once she moved away, she cut off every possible form of communication with anyone from King County. She had no idea what happened to him and had no interest in knowing up until this moment.

She studied his strong shoulders and a chiseled abdomen tempting her with promises of stamina and skill. He was not the same man she remembered. How in the hell did wholesome Rick Grimes become a sinful looking mountain man at a Montana ski resort?

The question evaporated in a haze of desire as his intense gaze pinned her to the sofa.

"How…," his brow furrowed in amusement, the rest of his question was lost before reaching his smiling lips. He lightly chuckled and tried again, pushing his curls off his forehead. "Michonne Anthony. I never thought I'd see you again."

She swallowed back a wad of nerves and beamed up at him. "Rick Grimes. I didn't recognize you under all that beard."

He chuckled as she put down her tea on the coffee table and stood, awkwardly awaiting a handshake or hug or whatever greeting was normal for a reunited pair of pining fools.

He hesitantly approached but then swiftly pulled her into a firm embrace. His hard body made her heart sing. It was thicker, more imposing, hotter than she remembered. They clung to each other, burying their faces in each other's shoulders.

He pulled away with a smile, slowly blinking at her in that way that made her stomach flip-flop. "You look amazing."

"You too," she squeaked out, stepping back and out of his arms. She immediately noticed his missing wedding band.

She looked up at him questioningly. He gave her a bashful smirk, staring down at his wiggling fingers.

"Divorced. About a year now."

"I'm sorry."

"I'm not. Not anymore."

They gazed at each other, anticipation and long-suppressed urges filling their chests. Before she completely lost her right mind, she carefully asked the question burning inside her.

"How are you here?"

A teasing grin lit his face before stammering out a response. "I own the resort." He squinted at her, carefully analyzing her reaction.

It made no sense. None whatsoever. Yet she couldn't help but burst into laughter at the utter ridiculousness. Stranded in his Montana ski resort was the last place in the world she thought she'd find the man who'd stolen her heart years ago.

Yet, here she was. And there he was.

Finally letting go of the guilt that tarnished her memory of him, she allowed herself to believe in the possibility of miracles once again.