Submitted by Me J: Plain Gold Ring (Nina Simone, covered by Kimbra)

Nina Simone's Plain Gold Ring on YouTube: watch?v=AQ2NwPi0LXU

Kimbra's Plain Gold Ring on YouTube: watch?v=IyNDiLXjuvE

Word Count: 1,019

He always thought she was fast asleep but that was never the case. She'd lie there, staring at his bare back as he hunched over his legs, twisting the thin plain gold ring on his left finger. He'd resort to that every time they made love. It bothered her but she understood. It would appear he wasn't quite over her. Michonne knew Rick's pain, shared in his agony because she too had been there. Hell some days she still was there, waking up with blurry eyes filled with the ghost of Mike, smiling at her from above as he did many, many mornings ago. She'd smile back, wipe the sleep from her eyes and like a thief in the night he was gone without a trace.

The first time she noticed Rick fumbling his thick fingers around the smooth gold band was after their first time together. There was no apprehension, regret or fear on his part, though she fought the urge to be with him, even that night. He was truly beside himself, a bit out of his normal character. They'd been in Alexandria for a few weeks when it happened. She'd like to have something to blame his sudden need to be with her but there was none. It was just him and her chatting about strategies to secure the community, when the conversation suddenly halted to awkward silence. A sudden urge to flee overcame her and she abruptly stood to exit, when Rick grabbed her arm and came to a stance, his hands drawing her closer to his body. The quiet surrounded them like a compelled audience as he drew his face to hers, his eyes roaming her face for confirmation to enter. Without a second thought she relented and closed her eyes as his lips merged with hers, a smoldering rush raced throughout her body as their tongues danced into the unknown, her heart rate accelerating at a breakneck pace. Before long they were unclothed and tangled up in each other on the sofa.

Shortly after their encounter, Rick found his way to the kitchen and perched himself against the counter, a glass of water in his hand. He thought Michonne was asleep but she'd tiptoed her way around the corner and peered at the man. The last drop of water entered his mouth and he quietly placed the glass down and stared at his wedding band, his hand shaking ever so slightly. She wondered if he'd regret it. Being with her. Was he having second thoughts about what they'd shared? Would he want to do it again? Leaving him with his thoughts, she quietly made her way back to the sofa and sheathed herself in the chenille throw that was housed on the back of the sofa, willing herself to sleep. Maybe it would be best not to think about it. Better yet, maybe she should just forget about it altogether.

But that wasn't the end all be all. Rick came to her room more frequently than ever after that first night. Often times, not much was spoken between the two. He'd just make his way into her bed or she into his and they'd commence, as if that was what they were supposed to do. Their relationship had grown into this mutual understanding of each other from a mental standpoint to the physical. He knew how to pleasure her in all the right ways. He was so in tune with her body's response to his touch that he quickly adapted and learned what she liked and didn't like without ever speaking a word to each other. And yet after every encounter, Michonne would find Rick contemplating, deeply engaged in the twirling of his plain gold ring.

She wanted to stop. Push him away altogether because the truth was, as long as he wore that ring he was and never would fully be hers. His heart, it seemed belonged to someone else. Someone long gone. It also appeared that the presence of the ring and the growing knowledge of their physical relationship caused some unwelcome stares and judgment but Rick didn't seem to give a shit; so why should she? But she did and she hated that she did.

"You awake," Rick's voice drawled into the cool night air, breaking Michonne's thoughts. "You're always awake, aren't you?"

"Yeah," she returned, her voice soft and low.

Rick turned around to face her and the bright light from the full moon glowing through the window lit his face in full. She looked up as his hand came closer to her face. The gold ring was now positioned in between his right thumb and index finger. Staring at her face for a moment, Rick placed the ring in the palm of his right hand and presented it before Michonne.

"This," he began, "Was something that tied me to Lori but she's long gone. I want you to have it. You don't have to wear it but I want you to keep it."

"But why," Michonne questioned, taking the ring from his palm.

"I've been thinkin'," Rick started, a bit of hesitation in his voice. "For a while now about it. I don't want the reminder. I don't need this guilting me, especially with you. I need to move on and I want to do that with you."

Michonne swallowed hard to prevent the lump in her throat from overcoming her. She didn't know what to say but she managed to utter 'okay' after a long moment passed between them. He lay down beside her, draped his arm across her body and nestled his chin against her shoulder before murmuring into her ear, "And I'm still with you."

Flushed by his words breathed over her body, she clutched the ring tight in her hand and fell asleep to the beating of his heart against her back. At that moment she knew she was fated to love that man until the end of time and him giving up that plain gold ring, was her sign that he'd love her just the same until the day they had to part.

Author's Notes: Hi all! It's been some months and Sundays since I've written a thing but alas, I was able to pen something. Inspiration struck so I had to get it out. The song choice was one I'd been personally playing with for a while. There was a lot of chatter about Rick and the wedding band last season and I had planned on writing a story for this song then but I just couldn't get it formed right in my mind. This song is so haunting and quite dark so I tried to add some of those elements into the story and yet tried to bring it full circle for a nice resolution for our lovers, unlike the song. I couldn't do that to Michonne though. I'm such Richonne trash! LOL! Anyway, if you want to leave a comment, please do. If you don't that's fine too! I just hope that if you read it, you enjoyed it.

Thanks! :)