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Chapter Six

Michonne sat alone, staring out the glass door at the deserted road and what looked like endless acres of foliage and trees. She was waiting for Darryl to finish repairing her car, but also something else, someone else – Rick Grimes. Though it had been many hours ago, she was still reeling from what had happened at the festival. She could still feel the humidity in the air, hear the cicadas around them, smell the dampness of the lake and the sulfur from the fireworks. She could feel him still, every part of Rick Grimes, his body against hers, his hardness, the roughness of his light beard, tantalizing against her skin as he'd passionately kissed her just below the ear, then slowly descended to her neck, sending heated ripples through her form. She'd felt herself slipping, her body becoming more pliant as she'd fallen deeper under his spell, the hotness and tenderness that was Rick Grimes, when he'd suspended his sensuous trek to move his gun, that had slipped around his belt to settle between his legs. For an instant she'd escaped the passionate haze, in just enough time for logic to seize the moment...

No. She'd faintly whispered, prompting Rick, who'd commenced his seduction, to stop mid caress, his mouth hot at the curve on the top of her breast. He'd returned his eyes to hers, the moonlight illuminating the fervor in his stare, nearly undoing her. Michonne closed her eyes, drew a calming breath and swallowed her desire.

I can't do this. She'd shakily uttered, but with more strength. I'm not ready.

There was a lengthy quiet, but she could feel him, so close, his heart pounding in his chest, matching the beat of hers, his warm breath heavy and uneven, caressing her lips, making her tremble with longing.

I know. He'd then sighed, shocking her, driving her to open her eyes to find his gaze desirous and reverent. Their eyes held, the air rushing through their lungs, their hearts burning with wanting and the rightness of what they were feeling. Michonne wanted so desperately to taste him again, to feel his mouth against hers, and she could see in his eyes, that he ached for the same, but instead he'd dropped his gaze and with pure strength of will, slowly moved away from her. Rick sat at her side his head down, fighting to control the ardor inside while Michonne continued to lay on the blanket, bringing a hand to her eyes as she deeply exhaled and tried to do the same.

I don't want this to be the end. He'd then managed to state, his voice husky and unsteady as he'd turned his eyes to her but looked away due to his desire becoming nearly too intense to bare.

Me neither. She'd quietly replied as she'd slowly sat up, looking Rick's way, but her yearning for him was nearly overwhelming, driving her to turn her gaze to the dark lake.

What do we do? Rick had asked, still looking forward.

We need time…I need time. Michonne had uttered, gradually starting to sober, to think more about the situation she still needed to resolve at home, and the situation he still needed to resolve there, with his wife and child. Rick slightly nodded his head, understanding what she was saying but hesitant to wait for fear that he would lose her, lose his chance.

How much time? He'd then asked, his voice almost inaudible.

I don't know. She'd replied, when her phone began to ring before either could say more.

Rick couldn't help but listen to her call. He knew from her responses that it was her fiancée. For Mike had asked her how she was doing, then gone on to tell her about his day, before they'd had an uncomfortable discussion about their engagement, which Michonne had quickly cut short. It had been difficult for Rick to hear, but thankfully the call had only lasted a few minutes. After she'd hung up, they were set on resuming their conversation where they'd left off, but they were interrupted by the Sheriff, his voice commanding over the radio, asking for Rick's location. Rick had immediately replied as his eyes, flaming and tender, had remained fixed on Michonne, who rose from the blanket and prepared to leave. He'd given the Sheriff his position and the man had directed him to help clear out the people north of the lake once he'd finished clearing the area where he was now. Rick had accepted the directive and closed off the communication to find Michonne waiting. Once again they'd attempted to conclude their talk, but duty called again with a request for him to report to the north side of the lake immediately. He and Michonne took one final gaze at each other, their eyes passionate with yearning, both wanting so much to say more, but knowing they didn't have the time. Michonne had reluctantly turned away from him and made her way towards the exit while Rick watched in angst as she disappeared into the darkness.

Rick had then spent the next two and a half hours working at the lake, clearing out the lingering people, ensuring there were no unauthorized persons remaining on the property after hours, but his mind had stayed heavily on Michonne. How it felt, having her so close to him, her soft skin, the fire in her touch, the sweet fragrance that seemed to be only her. And it wasn't just the physical attraction that he couldn't shake, but what she did to his heart. She had awakened something incredibly profound within him, emotions that he didn't even know existed. He wanted to see her again, that night, but he'd finished up extremely late, and as a result he'd hesitantly gone home. However, he couldn't sleep. He was too wound up, filled with questions and yearning, thinking that if Michonne felt even a smidgen of what he felt, she would be restless too. So he'd sent her a text.

~How much time? ~

There was a wait that was agonizing, making him question if she was indeed awake, if he'd completely misread what he felt from her, but she'd then responded.

~6 months. ~

His heart dropped, with hurt and disappointment.

~Why? ~

~You're still married. I still have a fiancée and I need to be sure that this is real. ~

~It's real. ~ Rick had replied. The words typed and glowing on his phone, not justly expressing his emotions. He wanted to dial her instead, to call her and say what he was feeling in his heart, but he'd refrained from doing so because he didn't want to push too hard and cause her to completely shut him out.

~Then 6 months shouldn't make a difference.~.

Rick pained at the memory of her response. She was right though. They needed time. She was still engaged, and though he was separated from Lori, he still lived at their home – in the garage apartment, and they were still married. He needed to fix that before he could ask Michonne for anything. This situation was so insane. Rick thought as he dressed for work. They'd only just met. There shouldn't be feelings between them this strong. Yet his heart said different. Rick buttoned his shirt and told himself that the last three days were the past and that they'd now go back to their separate lives, at least for the next 6 months, and when that time was over Michonne would see that what they feel was more than real. He could do this. He uttered within trying to convince himself. He was going to do this. He was on his way to work now. He'd put in a full day and by the time he got home Carl, who he hadn't seen in days and missed terribly, would be there. He couldn't wait to see him, to hear every detail about his holiday with his grandparents and cousins. He mused, excited by the thought, but already, desperately missing Michonne. His heart fiercely pounded with longing and his hands shook with emotion, making it impossible for him to fasten his gun belt, when it hit him like a ton a bricks. She was what he didn't know he wanted, didn't know existed. He realized in that moment that no matter how crazy this all seemed, there was a connection between them like no other, and he could no longer remain quiet. Rick knew what he needed to do. He had to see her before she left, look her in the eyes and verbalized, what he was feeling. He finally managed to buckle his gun belt. He then grabbed his keys and rushed towards the door, at which time it swung open, stopping him in his tracks and in ran his son, who instantly threw his arms around him, telling him how much he missed him, just as Lori came into the room.

Across town Michonne slowly made her way towards the interstate, glancing in her rearview mirror, hoping she would see him, and then what? She asked herself as wanting and angst hurt her heart, causing tears to sting in her eyes. She'd told him she needed 6 months, but he probably took it to mean there was no future for them considering he hadn't responded to her final text. But that was a lie. Wasn't it? When she was honest with herself what could really happen with her being in Atlanta and him being in Palmer? Him being a small town sheriff and her being a career woman in corporate America? She could end things with Mike and that would be it, but Rick had yet to divorce his wife and once he did there would be the baggage of her and their kid. The tears pressed harder upon her, weakening her stoic resolve, but somehow she managed to force them down. She'd never cried about a relationship, well at least not since she was a freshman in college, and she was not about to cry now. Hell her and Rick didn't even have a relationship. She tried to tell herself, but that lie failed to stick, and for a moment the emotions nearly overwhelmed her, when right on cue, her phone rang. For a split second, she thought it might be Rick, but quickly knew that it wasn't, he wouldn't call. He would text or come, that she knew, after the three days she'd known him. It was Mike, reminding her of reality. Michonne didn't pick up right away. For she needed a second to get herself together, to sound okay. She took one more glance in her rearview mirror and disappointedly found no one there, before she answered the phone, just as she pulled onto Interstate 75.

Three hours later…

The drive to Atlanta had gone quickly, too quickly it seemed. Michonne had spent a part of the drive home feeling pained over Rick not coming after her, but then she'd realized, how could he? He was a married man, with a family, and she'd told him they should wait six months before pursuing a romance. He was respecting her wishes. She appreciated that about him. Nonetheless, that fact didn't stop the emotion in her heart and the memory of his touch, evoking a tad of regret about not sleeping with him. However, walking away was the right thing to do. She knew. For he was still entangled with his wife, and she with Mike. And honestly, no matter how deeply they felt for one another, it was ridiculous for them to completely upset their lives for passion and an indescribable connection. Or was it? It wasn't. She'd deduced and stopped trying to tell herself otherwise. People spent their whole lives looking for that kind of connection, hoping for it, never to find it. She never thought she'd find it. Not that she was looking for it. She just didn't think it existed and realized long ago that matters of the heart really were just matters of the head with a big part of it being connected to sex. But this was different, Rick was different. Michonne had warmed at the thought of him, her body becoming flushed, again remembering how close they'd come to making love, before they'd stopped. She already missed him but walking away was the right thing to do. If they were meant to be, six months would do nothing to deter what was destined. Now that she was home, pulling into the driveway of the opulent townhouse she shared with Mike, she was happy to be there, yet sad at what she had to accept, what she knew all along, before she even knew Rick Grimes was alive, that her and Mike weren't going to work.

Michonne walked into the house, rolled her bag to the corner, then slowly made her way up the stairs. Mike had text to say that he was in route home, which meant he'd be there soon. The time it would take him to get there would give her the opportunity to ready herself for the discussion she needed to have with him about their future. Feeling a little clammy from the drive, Michonne took off her clothes and jewelry, pulled her hair up and had a shower. The warm water was soothing and cleared her mind, giving her the focus she'd need to speak with Mike. After finishing her shower, she entered her closet and was just about to slip on some fresh clothes, when she heard her phone. She made her way back to the bedroom, retrieved her phone from the dresser where it lay, turned it over to answer and was stunned to see "Rick Grimes" on its face. Her heart beat heighten, flooding with giddiness, making her eager to answer the call, but she stayed her desire. Slowly inhaling, then exhaling, expelling some of the nerves she felt, Michonne reminded herself to remain logical, realistic, then answered just before it went to voicemail.

Hey. She uttered.

Hey. He quietly replied, his voice deep with emotion, filling her with warmth. I know that you wanted us to wait…six months before having any contact, but I wanted to make sure you got home okay.

I did.

They both became silent, but wanted to say so much. Though Rick was pressed to express what he felt, he'd steadied his emotions from hours before, determined to not overwhelm her, to respect what she wanted. While Michonne wanted to encourage his wooing, but couldn't because she didn't want things to move forward too quickly, specifically before they'd settled the lingering relationships in their lives. Both continued to debate what to say, when to say it, how to say it before they ceased to over think it and spoke at the same time. Each halted what they planned to say and urged the other to continue with Rick finally convincing Michonne to go first.

When I said six months, I didn't mean no contact. I just meant we shouldn't pursue anything more than friendship during that time. She said, her words inciting a blaze of faith and mirth within Rick.

So you're okay with me calling, texting, Facebooking you? He asked, a smile in his voice.

You're on Facebook? Michonne questioned with laughter and surprise.

I warned you. There are a lot of things about me that'll surprise you.

Yes. You did. She responded softly just as she heard someone call for him in the background.

I gotta go. He then uttered, a hint of reluctance in his voice.

I know.

We'll talk soon.

Soon…hey! Michonne quietly asserted before Rick could hang up. I'm glad you called. She said, elevating his happiness and hope.

I'm glad that you're glad. He stated in a hushed tone. Michonne beamed within then silently spoke her goodbye, prompting Rick to do the same.

Who was that? She then suddenly heard from behind as she hung up the phone, startling her. Mike! She exclaimed as she put her phone down. I didn't know you were here. She said, suddenly feeling uncomfortable with what she was wearing, which was nothing more than a silk robe covering her nude body.

You wouldn't. I just walked in. So who was that on the phone? He asked again as he set down his bag, causing her to question within what he'd heard.

One of the people I met in Palmer. He wanted to make sure I got home ok.

He? And he has your number? Mike queried, slightly intrigued.

He was a big help while I was stranded there.

Really? He stated with skepticism. I can't imagine how helpful anyone could be if that town was as far into Hicksville as you said.

The people where okay. The town too.

Hmrph. Mike scoffed. So how WAS the drive home? He then asked. I'm loving this attire. He threw in as he walked up to her. This is exactly what I had in mind. He said then took her lips, before she could stop him, making her feel guilty and awkward.

Mike, we need talk. She said after quickly ending the kiss before his hands fully settled on her ass.

Chonne I just got off a plane. Can't I get a moment to catch my breath, show my fiancé how much I missed her. He proposed as he gently pulled her to him again then tried to resume their kiss.

Mike! Michonne stopped him before his lips touched hers.

Can't this wait? He asked with irritation.

No. It can't. She firmly stated, frustrated herself by his irritation, not wanting to start the conversation they needed to have this way.

Ok what is it? What's so urgent?! He stepped back and gazed at her with petulant eyes, just as his phone began to vibrate in his pocket. Michonne sighed in exasperation at the interruption as Mike answered the phone, his voice rough with irksome, but quickly became calm, then fearful and worried, while Michonne looked on, her exasperation changing to concern, knowing that something terrible had happened.