A/N: *smiles widely* oh my goodness, dear readers; your reviews give me life! Okay, I need to write some responses because you're all so wonderful:
Jade St. Jms: No it most definitely is not easy for them but it's much more exciting this way lol
focusedOnProsperity: They're very passionate so I'd like to think things get heated between them easily! And you're right, they need to stop playing; let's see if they figure this out.
Alex311: Ha! Daryl's a pretty intuitive guy I think, so he sees what's going on between his two friends. Now I was waiting for the angry make-up sex questions hahaha all I can say for now is we shall see. You know I'm not above it and I will write angry sex if I have to!
Guest: Protective Rick is my favourite Rick; I hope he makes a return in S6 because I can't handle this temperamental OOC Rick on the show much longer. He needs to get back to basics and that is protecting his family. Hey you, thanks for stopping by :)
ssaamm23: Thank you, pilgrim; you honour me! I'm so pleased that you've been enjoying my fics and the previous chapter in particular. I do try to have the audience feel immersed in the stories and I do appreciate the feedback. It's nice to know that I'm getting some things right. Oh, and I felt like crying when I wrote that scene :(
Guest: Thanks be to you! Glad to hear you're loving this one. I'm loving writing it.
HeartoSteel: What you said about Rick talking to Daryl re Michonne leaving back at the prison, I totally think that happened! The subtext behind her amazing horseback return and the look on Rick's face when she was going to leave again so soon; right there, Daryl recognised Rick's apprehension. They had to have spoken about Rick not liking her leaving. Ugh! Stop. I'm getting carried away now lol
Guest: Yay! Another lovely Guest review! Yes! That's exactly how I feel they are on the show; two strong willed people who have yet to be confronted by their true feelings for each other. We can all see their chemistry and how they (as Andy Lincoln said) have a deep love and respect for each other; we just need them both to admit said feelings and deal with them. Ugh. I hope this is how Gimple will write it and deal with their obvious attraction. Back them into a corner and make them admit it! Lol Oh well. With hope, Season 6 will explore their feelings and how deeply they truly run.
KK: Yes! Yes! Yes! To everything you said here. It's so interesting that you mention Michonne needing to realise where Rick is coming from; a place of love and concern. Projecting overbearingness onto Rick means she doesn't have to deal with what is really at the bottom of his need to protect her, and that is love. If she focuses on what she perceives to be Rick treating her like a child, she doesn't have time to process that this man is in love with her, and that she just might feel the same way. And what you said about Rick needing to ease up on his overprotective ways and striking balance is spot on.
LadyLuckAJ: I'm so pleased you brought Carl up; he does have something to say in this chapter…
CodeName-Me: Ha! That dream was weird, right? LOL In my headcanon, Michonne rarely had dreams while on the outside, so to have a vivid and odd one now really threw her. So, yeah, it could represent feeling comfortable out in the world still and how vulnerable she feels with Rick. Or the dream could mean nothing and is just some weird shit I made up! Haha
Severelybabykryptonite: Gosh, you and I think alike because speaking of Rick's narrow behind…
CutsWithKnives: Aww thanks, kindly pilgrim! You flatter me. I appreciate you stopping by!
megs27: Dear reader, I hope this update is to your liking :)
RickMichonne: Oh, BTW, your profile name is all kinds of awesome! I think a little Michonne time is just what's in order…
Creekgal02: I love that you love this!
Okay, back to our faves…
The midday sun was high in the sky and there was a small group of Alexandrian residents amassed at the front gates; half of the group was preparing to leave for the overnight run, and the other half was bidding them farewell.
Making his way up the road was an irritable Rick Grimes, fresh from his argument with Michonne. His head was hurting slightly and he felt as if his chest had become constricted. Daryl and Glenn could tell Rick was in a bad mood as he stomped over to where they had their vehicle packed and ready for the run that was set to leave in around fifteen to twenty minutes. His frown lines were visible and his eyes were narrowed as he approached both men.
"Everything okay?" asked Daryl.
"Almost ready?" Rick asked, obviously ignoring the question.
"Yeah, just about. Gotta finish checking the car over and then we'll be ready to roll. We should get there just before the sun goes down if we leave soon," Glenn replied.
Rick nodded his head and looked at the ground; he rubbed his hand over the cast on his broken arm. He then extended his hand in the direction of his friends.
"Good luck out there," he said while shaking both of their hands. "Be safe."
"Thanks, Rick. We will," said Glenn with a small smile; Daryl said nothing as he could not help but feel that Rick was somehow annoyed with him.
Rick had figured that Daryl was the person who would have told Michonne about him killing walkers while he was incapacitated; he figured it was innocent enough, but still found it annoying as it was brought up in their argument.
"Oh, and if Michonne shows up in a shitty mood and wants to go," Rick said as he glanced at Daryl. "Let her go. I've fought with her enough for one day."
With that he turned and walked away, leaving Glenn and Daryl to stare at each other in a confused manner. Suddenly, they looked up the street to see Michonne sprinting along.
"Rick!" she called out but he did not stop walking although he had heard her clearly.
"Hey! Grimes asshole!" she then called loudly, causing him to stop in his tracks.
Those who were ready to leave and their well-wishers stopped what they were doing and watched Michonne dash up to Rick.
"You don't get to do that!" Michonne spat as she stood in front of a silent Rick. "You don't get to play these little games with me!"
"What little games?" Rick asked, just as upset as Michonne was and not caring who was witness to their heated exchange.
"Oh, games like telling me I can't go and then trying to make me feel guilty for wanting to go…"
"I'm not playin' anything…"
"And then telling me you love me and then kicking me out of your house…"
"I do fucking love you and I never kicked you out…"
"You told me to take my shit and go! So, you know what; screw you, Rick!" she said as she backed away from him. "I'm going back to stay at my place. I can't deal with your shit."
Michonne then turned and went to walk back to the house; Rick grasped her wrist but she flung his hand away.
"Michonne!" Rick called after her as she walked hastily in the direction of his home.
"Fuck!" he said loudly as he glanced over at the confused audience.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Carl came bounding over to stand beside his father.
"Dad? What's going on here? What's wrong with Michonne?" asked the teenager as he watched Michonne walking hastily in the direction of their home.
"It's nothin', son. Don't worry about a thing…" Rick started.
"What the hell did you do to her?" Carl asked as he stepped back.
"Watch your tone!" said Rick, short of patience.
"Dad! Stop treating me like a kid. What did you do?" asked Carl once more.
Rick sighed and scratched the stubble-covered side of his face.
"I told her she couldn't go on that run. She said I can't tell her what to do. So I told her to go on that run. Now it looks like she's not goin'. It's nothin'. It got blown out of proportion," Rick said quietly.
"God, the two of you are so stubborn! You're perfect for each other." Carl said as he walked back over to the crew about to leave; he then turned and called out to his father.
"And Dad, go after her and sort this out."
xXx
Shit, she moves fast.
Rick thought as he finally reached the front door of their residence; he found Michonne inside of his bedroom where she had been staying, placing more items inside of her bag.
"Michonne?" he said quietly as he waited at the door. "I didn't mean for you to leave from here, I just meant go on the run if that's what you really want to do."
"I don't need your permission to do anything, Rick! I'm my own person! I don't belong to you!"
She spat as she tried to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall. The frustration had become overwhelming for her. She did not like to argue with Rick, but sometimes his 'special treatment' made her feel helpless and vulnerable; she did not like to feel vulnerable.
"I know! I just…"
"No Rick, you don't know. I have a life too, outside of you and the kids. I'm not just here to be at your beck and call whenever you feel like using me…"
"I'm not using you, Michonne. I want you in our lives…"
"I want to be in your lives, I care about you and the kids and I want to be there for you. I just don't want to be known as the woman who looks after Rick Grimes and his kids and that's all."
"I don't know what you mean."
"I don't know what I mean! You treat me like I'm married to you and have to do what you say. Why should I be treated like your wife when I don't get to be treated like your wife?" she said, calmer now that she had stopped packing her bag.
"Please, Michonne," he said as he stepped tentatively closer. "You're confusing me. Just tell me what you're saying …"
"I'm helping to take care of the kids, and that's fine; I love them and would do it anyways. But honestly, you have no claim on me, yet you tell me that I can't come and go as I please. We're not together, Rick…"
"Do you want us to be together?"
"Rick, I…I" she stumbled.
"Because that's what I want. I want to be with you all the time in whatever way you'll have me. That's all I've ever wanted…"
Michonne sighed deeply and blinked several times in rapid succession.
"It's too complicated…"
"No! This shit right here is complicated! You're basically living under my roof, raising my kids and I'm completely in love with you but we're not together."
"Rick…"
"Where's the logic in that, Michonne? I know you feel the same way as I do so why are you fighting this so hard? If we were together, that would make sense. We are playin' house, and that's what's so confusing; we should be together, but we ain't. So let's change that!"
"I don't know if I want to change it. I don't know if we should change it," she stated a little plaintively, her heart swelling upon hearing Rick's admission of love and knowing that she too was in love with him.
"Let's start again," Rick offered as he moved closer and stood right in front of Michonne. "You're the one who made me believe in second chances, so why can't we have one now?"
Michonne stared into Rick's deep blue eyes and she knew he meant every word he had spoken; she, however, was still trying to keep up the subterfuge that she did not share in his desires.
"Other than you being overprotective of me, things are fine just how they are…"
"Really? I know this ain't about you having issues with me wanting to protect you; you're my family and that's what I do, but are you gonna pull the 'I don't wanna ruin our friendship' line with me because you're afraid to admit you want to be with me too? After everything we've been through?" asked Rick.
Michonne stood in silence; he always did understand her deeply.
"Things are fine when we're tiptoeing around how we feel about one another, Michonne. When we pretend we don't want each other in every possible way. That's when it's fine; but as soon as our true feelings come out and we're given the chance to act on 'em…"
"I've gotten used to it, Rick. You should too…"
"No, I can't do that…"
"You have no choice," she said sadly.
"We always have a choice, and I choose you…"
"Rick…"
"Look me in the eyes right now and tell me you don't feel the same," he said, his voice shaking out of fear and fervent emotion. "Tell me right now that you don't choose me; that you don't love me."
They held each other's gaze as Rick stepped closer to her; he could feel it in his bones that he was getting through to her, then, out of nowhere, Carl came rushing through the door.
"You guys got it sorted yet? Glenn and the others are about to leave," he asked, interrupting their moment.
Rick turned and threw an irritated look at his son then looked back at Michonne who was trying to inconspicuously wipe away a stray tear.
"Yeah, buddy. We're coming now," Michonne offered with a weak smile as Carl turned and headed out of the room.
"Rick, I'm gonna go on the run; I need time to think," she said as she placed her hand on his shoulder. "We'll talk when I get back."
With that, she picked up her bag and walked past him while brushing her fingers over his wrist as she went.
A/N: *Sings everybody needs a little time away*