A/N: Happy Birthday Danai Gurira and Happy Valentine's Day to the lovers out there. Enjoy this one-shot.

The run had gone for longer than expected. The length of time was significant, and run crew were all seasoned in expeditions. Rick, Jesus, and Aaron were all experienced with being out there; being on the outside; surviving outside of their walls.

Usually, run crews only radioed back to the Safe-Zone if they knew they were going to be significantly late, or if they had encountered trouble. Rick, Jesus, and Aaron had not made contact; it had been radio silence for almost four hours.

Michonne was damn near losing her mind. Rick knew she was worried, that she wanted to go on the run with them, but due to her pregnant state, was told to stay behind. He knew that her hormones were making her full of concern. She was almost frantic, pacing back and forth, her protruding belly slowing her down. Rick would not do this purposefully; he would not make her worry. Something had to have gone wrong. Something had to –

"Michonne," Carl interrupted her thoughts. "Come on. You need to rest. Dad'll be back before you know it. I know your feet are hurting. C'mon. Come sit down."

She let out a sigh, but went to the sofa where Carl was seated while Judith played on the floor.

"Except for you, my Dad, Aaron, and Jesus are probably the best to go outside the walls," said Carl, trying to ease Michonne's fears.

"I should be out there with them."

"No," said Carl, earning another sigh from Michonne. "You're right where you need to be. Any minute now, my dad will come through those gates and –"

Before Carl could finish what he was saying, the crackling static of the radio drew both his and Michonne's attentions. He grabbed the radio from the coffee table and handed it to Michonne.

"Hello?" she said, nerves coursing through her weary body.

"Hello, Darlin'," said Rick in his slow drawl.

"Where are you?" asked Michonne, trying to steady her breathing.

"We just got back. I –"

"Are you okay? You're not hurt, are you?" asked Michonne, as she tried to sit upright.

Rick could hear the worry in her voice.

"Michonne, I'm fine," he said, reassuringly. "We're all fine. Just about to take the supplies to the Pantry, and I'll be home."

"Okay."

"I love you."

"Love you, too," Michonne replied. "Just hurry home."

…..

The soft lamplight caressed their naked bodies as Rick and Michonne made love later that evening. Rick hooked Michonne's leg over his as they both laid on their sides and he entered her from behind. It was a position that afforded Michonne comfort, even though all she wanted was Rick to be as deep and as close as possible.

He held her tightly and peppered kisses to her neck and shoulder; he whispered words of reverence in her ear. He told her how much he loved her; how much he had missed her while he was away.

"God, Michonne, you're so sweet," Rick whispered, as he thrust into her; the sounds of their slapping skin drowned out by her pleased moans. "So lovely."

Michonne's skin flushed even warmer. After all the time that they had been together, Rick was still able to make her feel flustered. Giddy. Wanted. She covered his hand and gave it a squeeze as her climax quickly approached. She moaned loudly when it washed over her.

Rick kissed her shoulder ardently, bitingly, as he found his release soon after. They laid together holding one another and fighting to catch their breaths. After a moment, Rick gently rolled Michonne over so that she was facing him. He ran his calloused hand over her soft face before pressing a soft kiss to her lips.

"I'm sorry I had you worried," he said, for the hundredth time that night. "I hope this made it up to you."

Michonne kissed him back and ran her fingers through his beard before saying, "It's a start."

They shared a smile before kissing once more, slow and languid. Rick went to move, and Michonne pouted. He found her to be adorable when she was needy.

"I'm just getting a cloth to clean you up," he said, smiling back at he as he walked towards the bathroom.

When Rick returned, he used the warm, damp washcloth to clean Michonne's sensitive skin. He then helped her into her nightgown, removed the towel from their bed, and settled in for the night. Rick spooned Michonne before kissing the side of her face.

After a beat of silence, Michonne finally asked, "Rick?"

"Mmm?"

"What took you guys so long out there today?"

She felt his hot breath on her neck as he let out a sigh.

"It's a surprise."

"Rick, come on."

He kissed her once more and then shifted. Michonne missed his warmth immediately as he got up and rummaged through his bag. She struggled to roll over, but Rick was soon crouching down near her side of the bed.

"I went out further, which took longer, so I could get you these," he said as he held out a small bag.

"You went out further to get me candy?" she asked, incredulous, but enamored all the same. "We have candy in the Pantry."

"Yeah, we do," Rick replied. "But not like this. Go on, open it."

Michonne leaned up on her elbow and opened the plastic packaging that had seen better days. She poured the contents into her palm before blessing Rick with a wide, bright smile. Small heart-shaped candies sat in her hand.

"According to that calendar that Eugene has," Rick said in way of explanation. "It's Valentine's Day tomorrow. I went out further to get you this Valentine's candy. I hope you like them."

Michonne sat up and smiled more widely at Rick.

"Don't ever do that again," she chastised, with no real heat behind her words. "Especially not for me."

"I'd do anything for you," said Rick, all intense and sincere. "If anyone deserves heart-shaped candy for Valentine's Day, it's you."

Michonne was overcome with emotion (gosh darn pregnancy hormones) and felt tears prickle in her eyes. She reached her empty hand out and caressed Rick's face.

"Thank you. I love you. But I'd rather have you than some candies."

Rick turned his head and kissed Michonne's palm before saying, "You can have it all. You deserve it all."

Rick then got to his feet and kissed Michonne's lips firmly.

"Oh," he said, as if he had just remembered. "I also got you a crate of toothpaste. You're gonna need to take care of your dental hygiene because I actually got you twenty more packets of those little heart candies."

"Rick! What about the Pantry and everyone else in the community?"

"Well," he said with a cheeky glint in his eyes and a crooked smile on his face. "I'm not in love with everyone else. I'm in love with you. Only you."