Hia! So this chapter gives some backstory to our faves R &M. Thanks for reading!
Michonne stood in front of Rick meeting his eyes for the first time that evening. "Hey" he signed, his mind working over why even after two years of not seeing one another she could make him feel as though he had arrhythmia. Even now he knew she was his heartbeat. Rick gently wrapped his arms around her, pausing for a second too long before letting go.
Michonne turned to the rest of the group and started talking. Rick, who was so focused on the curve of her neck and the way her eyebrows arched didn't hear the question.
"No Lori?" Michonne asked.
"No, not this time. Where's Negan?" Rick followed up.
"Prague." she shrugged.
Michonne had married Negan a year ago. Rick had been invited to the wedding but declined, stating a busy schedule. In truth he refused to admit that he had been an idiot, leaving her after five years together, he didn't think that she'd meet someone and fall for them so hard and fast. Hell, he wasn't sure what it was about Negan that pissed him off so much but he hated Negan for doing the one thing he was afraid of doing- making an honest woman out of Michonne.
The rehearsal dinner was going smoothly. Eugene, Abe's old friend from grade school gave an odd toast which included some limericks about Saha's posterior. The guests smiled good naturedly and nodded in faux understanding. Rick had been asked to give a speech at the wedding and felt nervous at the reception dinner. He was placed with Michonne on his left and Sasha's brother Tyrese on his right. Feeling too nervous Rick drank a few glasses of bourbon, leaving him even more anxious as Michonne would lean in to talk to him or Tyrese. When the music started Michonne and the others began dancing. Rick watched her intently from his seat remembering when she would force him to the dance floor at parties. How she would put her hands on his hips to encourage him to move, how she would kiss him deeply on the dancefloor like they were the only people. Rick excused himself and headed to the bathroom. He sat in the stall for a moment before getting himself together and walking out quickly. He bumped into Michonne who was headed to the washroom.
"Sorry darlin." he said holding her waist to help her catch her balance.
"It's fine Rick. But you don't get to call me that." she said
"What? Darlin'? I don't even get that?" he said sounding a bit more frustrated than intended, his hand still on her waist.
Michonne took Rick's hand and gently went to remove it, he grabbed at her a little harder.
"No Rick. I'm not your darlin." she said and backed away from him forcing him to let her go.
"Can we talk… when you're done" he asked gesturing to the bathroom.
"Sure, we can talk." Michonne said before entering the bathroom.
After refreshing her lipstick, Michonne exited the restroom to find Rick leaning against the wall. He gestured for her to walk ahead. She knew it was just a way for him to watch her walk, so she put an intentional sway in her step, feeling his eyes run the length of her legs up. She grabbed her tumbler from the table and walked towards the front of the restaurant.
Rick stopped as Michonne found a spot at the bar and gestured for him to sit.
"I figured if you wanted to talk we shouldn't ruin everybody's night" she said half-joking.
"Why do you do that Michonne?"
"Do what Rick?" she asked taking a sip of her drink
"Why do you make it so hard for me." he sighed
"You're joking right?" She scoffed "It's been over a year since we've seen each other, and I'm making what hard for you exactly?" she smiled knowingly
Rick blushed at the innuendo. Even though they had ended their relationship two years prior the chemistry they felt for each other was very real. The air felt electric between them, their body language alert, like two predators circling each other, sizing the competition out. It was visceral, and Rick felt cloudy looking at Michonne.
"'Chonne" he crooned as he moved a bit closer, too close for friends 'just talking'.
"Rick. I'm fine. Things are great even. Negan and I are very happy in Chicago. There's nothing for me in Georgia." she said
"Nothing, or no one?" Rick asked
"There was someone, but that's two years too late."
"Would it make it easier if I said I was an idiot and I'm sorry?" he asked, taking the tumbler glass from her hands and putting the contents to his lips.
"Rick, honestly. You stomped all over our five years together and now you're getting married to some waif that looks like Arwen. What is sorry going to do? Am I magically going to be unmarried?" she asked
"I deserve that." he said, his head bowing slightly, his crystal blue eyes drilling into Michonne's deep brown pools for an answer he wasn't sure he was ready to receive. Does she still love me?
Michonne felt almost bad for Rick. He had pursued her with such fervor when they first met in college she didn't understand why. He was so kind to her and after their first summer together where they both quit their shit jobs and went on a month long road trip together they had moved from friends to something more. Michonne's parents were progressive and didn't care much that Rick was white, or country, but Rick's father had never been kind to Michonne. They would slog through holidays with his folks, his father ever the rude jerk who insisted on calling her Michelle even after years of correction. His daddy even asked her once if she felt bad about preventing his son from finding a more suitable wife. Michonne, the daughter of a Judge and a business woman, who summered in Europe in high school, whose German was good, French was better and her Italian was impeccable- she wondered who on this green earth would be a better partner to Rick than her. She of course knew what his father meant, but she loved Rick and was willing to remain diplomatic. His mother was always kind, but his father's ire caused some of the worst arguments the two had.
Once after a particularly tense Easter lunch Michonne got up from the table, staring very clearly at his father and said "I'm not going anywhere. If you don't see that, than I feel bad for you, but know that you may think you're better than me because of your skin color, but know I'm a better person than you'll ever be." she slowly pushed her chair out, turned around and said
"Thank you for the wonderful meal Mrs. Grimes. I'm sad to have lost my appetite, I'll see myself out." before leaving the house.
Rick had followed her and said he was sorry about his father.
"This is my last visit with your family Rick. I'm tired of that old man telling me I'm not good enough when he knows damn well, I'm better than good."
"Michonne, you're great; hell baby, you're spectacular. I'm sorry. We won't come for holidays anymore."
After college, Rick and Michonne worked odd jobs trying to make the best of their early 20's together. When Michonne told Rick she had decided to go back to school in a year, he was excited about it. At 23 she felt it was a good a time as any to pursue her PhD and applied to schools all over the country, and a few in Europe. When the time came and Michonne had to sit Rick down to tell him she had been accepted to the University of Chicago and would likely take the offer, she assumed he would be happy, or better yet come along. But Rick hesitated.
"Michonne, I'm not moving to Chicago, my life is here. With Mama sick and Daddy struggling with the business, I gotta stay with my family." he said
"I thought I was your family Rick?" she replied surprised that he would not want to go on this adventure with her. She had assumed they'd make it work while she finished her PhD and would return to Georgia after the five years. She was blind sighted by Rick.
Weeks later Rick had told her that if she was leaving it would be better to take a break, since they would be so far apart and he didn't wait to worry her.
"You're breaking up with me?" she asked
"No Michonne… I'm trying to do the right thang here and give you space."
"I don't want space Rick. I fought so hard for this relationship, for you, even after your father, who is garbage, treated me badly. You're giving me space? Why?"
"I just want you to be happy Chonne. I want you to succeed. I think it'll be better if I'm not in the way of your studies." Rick said
"What does that even mean Rick? You're gonna leave me after five years together?"
Rick's anger got the best of him and he shot up from the couch he was sitting in and roared "You're the one leaving Michonne! I'm not moving my life away. YOU did that, not me."
Michonne was shocked. Rick had always encouraged her to follow her dreams so it came as a surprise that he felt some bitterness about her departure.
"Ok Rick. Since you want me to be happy, I'm leaving. Don't come for me if you change your mind. There'll be no one left for you when you come looking." Michonne left their shared apartment.
She stayed with mutual friends and her parents for the remainder of her time in Atlanta, avoiding Rick, who had come to his senses a few weeks later. He tried calling, texting, even visited her parents house but Michonne refused to see him. Maggie and Sasha had tried to get Michonne to talk to Rick on the phone "Tell him I'm dead." was her only response.