A/N: My sincere apologies for being such a rube about this story. I am garbage, and I'm sorry! I got really mired in the drama of it all and wanted to work on some happy/fluff stuff (it's spring!). So this chapter is kinda fluffy, and lighthearted. Don't worry, these fools will start gettin real. So buckle up, we're going to Denver.
Denver International Airport
"Thank you for flying with us and welcome to Denver." came a chipper voice from the intercom. Michonne rubbed her temples, waiting to exit the plane. She had taken an early flight hoping to avoid conversation with other passengers. She exited the plane with her carry-on and went straight to the baggage claim. While waiting at the carousel which would produce her belongings for the next three days Michonne watched the spry looking white people in the Denver airport in sports attire grabbing hiking and climbing gear.
"Excited about this gay wedding" a familiar Texas twang shot out from behind her. Turning she laughed at her friend Abraham, his familiar flaming red hair and handlebar mustache, a sight for sore eyes.
"Abe, I'm pretty sure now that it's legal across the country it's just called a wedding." Sasha his wife noted
"Well, fuck a duck, I'm ready to drink some beers and try that sweet sweet cheeba." he said, using his index finger and thumb to mimic smoking a joint.
"Can't take him anywhere." Michonne remarked walking over to hug Sasha who was wearing a floral sun dress and abe, who has somehow managed to remain in the same cargo shorts and tank top for as long as she's known him
. "Do you have any other clothes?" she asked, moving out of his embrace.
"What's the point? Easy to get on, even easier to take off. Am I right baby?" he said, raising and wiggling his bushy red eyebrows. Sasha hit Abe on the arm and shushed him.
"Where's your little chocolate covered peanut?" he asked
"Grandparents" Michonne replied. "Good idea. Don't want to have to explain to all our babies why Mama and Daddy smells like Woodstock, now do ya?"
"Abe, my baby is four. He doesn't even know what Woodstock is! But I'm sure your kids are beer pong champs by now." Michonne laughed.
The friends shared a cab to their condo rental. Denise and Tara had procured a number of home rentals in the Highlands, one of the hippest neighborhoods in the city. Michonne, Abraham, Sasha, Daryl, Maggie, Glenn, and Rick would be sharing the six bedroom house for the festivities. Since they were the first three to arrive, Michonne chose a modest sized bedroom near the back of the house, leaving the larger rooms for her friends who were couples. The condo, which had marvelous wood floors, granite countertops and state of the art appliances was a modern sleek dream. High ceilings and cream colored walls accented the simple but comfortable wood furniture. Michonne's room was off the immaculate open floor kitchen and dining room, that had a granite island, and large table which fit eight comfortably. Further down the hall, the back door led to a fenced in little yard with grass and what appeared to be a trellis of grapes. Wind chimes hung along the porch and the overhanging roof that somewhat obstructed the sky which looked so expansive opening up to the mountains in the distance.
"B-double-e-double-r-u-n, beer run" Abraham crooned from his and Sasha's room, walking towards the kitchen to inspect the contents of the refrigerator.
"B-double-e-double-r-u-n, beer run!" still louder he pounded his hands together, dancing around the kitchen as Michonne entered, a look of consternation on her face.
"Sasha! Does he have an off button?" she yelled.
"Yes, beer!" Sasha replied walking towards her husband, shaking her head.
"I take it you'd like to go on a beer run." Michonne said in a monotone voice
. "Oh yeah."
"Well, why don't we go grocery shopping and get some stuff for the weekend. I know we are gonna eat at the wedding, but I'm sure Daryl will be hungry."
"Not even thinking about me huh Chonie? I know we live in Texas now, but shit, I thought we were friends?"
"Abraham, Michonne surely has other things to think about this weekend." Sasha said, giving her friend a knowing look.
"And what would that be Sasha?"
"Rhymes with RL Stine."
"If you're Emily Dickinson!" Michonne laughed "And I'm not thinking about that this weekend. I'm here to celebrate D-nice and Tara."
"And try the legal marijuana!" Abe followed.
"Sure Abe. And get lifted as the kids say."
"Chonie, you're 33, nobody says that." Michonne rolled her eyes at her dear friend Sasha
"I thought that's what they said in Half Baked!" she said
"Chonie, you are a L 7, loser, square" Sasha said, mocking her friend who had spent so much time in labs or with her face in a book, she hadn't really done a lot of experimenting.
"Sasha, you've gotten high?" Michonne asked flabbergasted
"Who am I married to? I swear we won't let you Maureen Dowd."
"You mean the New York Times lady who thought she had died after eating too much weed food?" Michonne said, watching Sasha burst into peals of laughter,
"That same one. Anyway, you'll be fine."
'Come on ya smoke shows, let's get." Abraham yelled from the front of the house.
The rambunctious sounds of laughter wafted into the house as the rest of the guests arrived a few hours later. Rick, who had flown with Daryl entered the house first. "Smells like someone joined the new Mile High club." Daryl chuckled, walking around the large house and searching for the voices. Rick followed behind him towards the kitchen and back porch. Outside stood Abraham with a very giggly Sasha on his back. Abe gesticulated while regaling a tale of how him and Sasha had to run away from some bar with her on his back after he insulted the owner's mother, threw her shoes at the man, and had to escape the wrath of his bigger, uglier, and even more frightening brother. Michonne, who Rick noticed laid in the grass, in a pair of shorts and a sheer tank top, had her locs splayed above her head like a halo. She looked so relaxed, and for a minute Rick forget who he was and what he was doing in this backyard in the first place.
"Hey y'all" Rick said, taking a moment to greet at Abe and Sasha while trying not to peak at Michonne.
"Hi! You're just in time." Sasha said,
"For what?" Daryl grumbled looking at his three friends
"We are gonna smoke some of the devils lettuce." Abraham said, raising his eyebrows expectantly.
"Oh, is that right?" Rick twanged, looking at Michonne who had raised her body to rest on her elbows, her skin glistening in the light and her head tilted to one side- brown eyes furrowing, and relaxing as Rick raised an eyebrow up at her.
"Yep." she said, never breaking eye contact with him. Daryl coughed just behind Rick to get his attention.
"Hold that thought. We gotta pick our rooms. Also, where are Glenn and Maggie?"
"Taking a nap like a bunch of toddlers." Abraham offered.
"Give us 15 minutes" Rick said,
"There's one room upstairs and one room downstairs, y'all pick one each and come on!" Abraham said.
"Where are y'all sleeping?" Rick asked the group,
"We are upstairs." Sasha replied, picking at Abe's hair to create two horns.
"I'll sleep downstairs, if that's alright with you Daryl." Rick asked
"Whatever, I sleep like a bear." Daryl offered
"Yeah, Abe, no offence but you snore like a bear." which caused all their friends to chuckle.
Ten minutes later the group gathered to imbibe in some of the devils lettuce together. Abraham, who was the ringleader providing everyone a breakdown about the strain, supposed effects, and for Michonne a 'how to inhale smoke properly' tutorial. The session ended with everyone regaling tales of their many adventures together as friends, Abe and Sasha sharing updates on their lives in Texas, while Daryl who generally didn't say a lot often talked about trying to try new things PC (Post Carol). Rick sat quietly in the grass enjoying the lightheaded and airy feeling of being stoned, his mind a bit foggy but his body fully relaxed. He watched as Michonne joined in on the conversation, talking about her new job and how much she actually loved teaching. He marveled as how spry she looked, how her face hadn't changed much in 10 years, but gained a sense of regal firmness. Trailing down her strong yet supple body, his eyes feasted on her. Michonne knew what he was doing, but chose to ignore the not so subtle glances he was throwing her way. She thought he looked good- mature, the shorter hair of his early adulthood replaced by a longer almost greaser look, slicked back curls which would occasionally fall into his deep and stern eyes. The laugh lines making him look distinguished, but tired, and the faint grey hairs which appeared in his trimmed beard. Age was doing wonders for Rick Grimes.
"So Rick, what about you?" Sasha asked, passing him another joint.
"What about me?"
"What's going on in your life CSI-guy?"
"Not much Sash. Just work and Carl."
"Really? You're boring as fuck." Sasha said, causing all of her friends to laugh.
"I do stuff. Things."
"Rick ain't the most talkative person on the planet." Michonne offered "Give him a break" "Thanks darlin" he said, forgetting himself for a moment. A small but hesitant smile tugged at Michonne's lips despite herself. There it was, the way he rolled the word off his tongue like she'd never really stopped being that to him. She put it aside, letting the moment pass for what it was, a slip of the tongue, a habit.
"Sure." she said, not missing a beat she followed "Can we order a pizza?"
"Smart gal!" Abe chimed, getting up off the grass and heading inside while Sasha and Daryl followed. Rick sat quietly with Michonne for a moment.
"You going in?" he asked.
"In a minute. It's just so nice outside. The sky is so big, it reminds me of how insignificant I am in the universe." she mused, obviously on another astral plain.
"You're something Chonne, definitely not insignificant." he supplied, looking at the grass shyly. The two former lovers laid quietly in the grass side by side. Their bodies close to one another as they stared into the sky, watching Cirrus clouds float by.
"You look good." he said, taking a moment to marvel as her, a small smile planting itself on her lips.
"You too Rick."
"Is it good to see me?" he asked.
"Are you asking, or did you forget how to say it's good to see you, I mean me, I mean… God. weed is something else." she said causing him to chuckle and lift the weight of the moment.
"It's good to see you darlin" he said
"It's good to see you too, darlin" she said mimicking his twang.
"Oh, you told me I couldn't call you that. Sorry. It's been what, seven years now. So can I…" he asked
"Can you whant?" she followed
"Call you darlin?" he asked.
"Am I?" she raised, turning her head to face him.
"You never stopped being, for me anyway." A few moments passed as Michonne took in those words. "Oh" she said, wondering where this was going.
Before she could answer Abraham interrupted with a barrage of cuss words smattered in an announcement that the pizza had arrived. Michonne quietly rose from her position to head towards the house. A firm but gentle hand held her wrist, causing her to turn and stare into the eyes of her once lover, turned friend, turned nothing. His eyes taking on the color of the sky as he watched her search his face for something.
"I just wanted you to know that." he said, drawing her back into the conversation. "I know that Rick." "Good."
"Ok." she said not missing beat.
"We've got a couple days to talk about that, but only a couple minutes before this pizza is gone." she said, drawing his intense gaze from her back on to the task at hand. "Ok Chonne. Pizza first."