This is not a continuation of my Caryl one shot story, but instead, another one shot. This is a Richonne story.
Setting is the same as Caryl one shot. An indeterminate time after Terminus and setting up Woodbury as a new home. This one takes place sometime after the Caryl story.
Rick sat in his living room after a long day, sipping some water. He wished it was a beer in his hand, and that the blank wall across from him was a television playing anything sports related. Sports games were what he missed most. Chucking that idea around inside his head, he started thinking up how to get his people together for a game of football when Michonne walked in.
"Hey, Rick. Where's little man at?" Cocking her ear to the back of the house where the bedrooms were located, she smiled. "Judith asleep?"
"Carl's over at Jimmy's house. He said something about Eugene doing something awesome. I'm not really sure what. He was excited, though. It's been awhile since I've seen him excited. And Beth has Judith at the little nursery she set up." He took another sip of his water, still wishing it were a cold beer. As if reading his mind, Michonne looked at his bottle.
"Bet you wish that was a beer. I know I wish that was a beer. A nice, ice cold beer, to wash the dry Georgia dust outta my mouth." She smiled and slung herself onto the couch next to Rick. He tipped the mouth of the bottle in her direction. She shook her head no.
"Maybe after Eugene does his awesome thing with Carl, we can talk him into brewing some beer? Can't be too hard. I had a friend on the force who used to make his own beer. Tasted like shit, but I'd take a shit beer over no beer." He smiled over at Michonne. Michonne was about to speak when Carl burst through the door.
"Dad! Dad! Guess what?" He ran over and flopped into the chair positioned across from the couch. Panting from his run back home, he smiled at Michonne. "Hey, Michonne!"
"What's up, kid?" Rick prompted.
"Eugene made a solar powered battery charger and Jimmy still has his game boy from before! We collected up all the dead batteries we could find and Eugene has been charging them for us all day!"
Rick smiled. It was real nice to see Carl so happy. "That right?" he asked.
"Yeah, and Jimmy and I are going to stay up all night playing games!"
"Oh, you are?"
"Well, I'm asking if I can. Can I dad? Please?" He looked pleadingly at his father, knowing he'd say yes. When Rick didn't answer he looked over at Michonne. "Come on Michonne, help me out!"
"Can he, Rick? Pllleeeaaassee?" Michonne whined over in Ricks direction. Laughing at their antics, Rick gave in.
"Yeah, yeah. You knew I'd say yes. Don't stay up all night though. This sleep over doesn't get you out of your chores tomorrow. Have fun, kid." With a whoop of joy, Carl ran out of the house, presumably back to Jimmy's.
"Seems to me if a man can charge batteries in this day and age, he can figure out how to make some shitty beer," Michonne murmured, tilting her head toward Rick.
"I'll make sure I ask him about it tomorrow. Little late to do so tonight."
"Plus, I'm sure he's helping drain all those charged batteries with the kids." Rick laughed.
"I'm sure he is." There was a short knock before Beth walked in holding Judith.
"She's sound asleep. Ben and Haley's little boy was over and they played together all day. She should sleep through the night." When Rick went to rise she shooed him back down. "No, you stay. I'll put her down." Beth disappeared into one of the bedrooms, returning a moment later.
"Thanks, Beth. I appreciate it." Beth shrugged
"Everyone has a job to do," she smiled. Giving a small wave, she ducked out of the house.
Looking over at Michonne, Rick asked, "What do you think about getting a football game together? That bonfire last month seemed to do wonders for the spirits. I'm thinking maybe a nice game of touch football."
"Touch football? That so us ladies can join in?" Michonne teased, batting her eye lashes. Rick chuckled.
"No, more so the kids can join in. I know you could take any of us men on if you wanted to." Leaning back into the couch, he turned his head to look over at her. She snuggled in the couch similarly. Faces inches apart, Rick continued smiling over at her. "Thinking of that beer made me think of sports and how I miss a good game."
"You look like you'd be a football fan," Michonne joked. Rick laughed.
"Yeah, well you look like you'd be a football fan, too." Michonne pursed her lips and shook her head.
"Nope. I was a hockey fan." Rick gave a deep belly laugh.
"Oh yeah, I can see you as a hockey fan. You like things rough and bloody, eh?" he teased, trying his best at a Canadian accent. Michonne nudge him in the shoulder, bringing her face just a little closer to his. They looked into each others eyes, the laughter on their lips slowly dying as lust replaced amusement. Rick glanced down at Michonne's lips before meeting her eyes once more. "Probably a bad idea."
"Probably," Michonne agreed. Neither moved. Debating it for another second, Rick closed the distance between them, tentatively kissing her. Her lips smiled under his.
"What?" he asked, a mere breath away.
"Though you said I'd like things rough and bloody?" Rick grinned before going back in with a little more force.
The first time happened fast and hungry on the couch. The second time, Rick led her to the bedroom. They took their time, getting to know each others needs and hungers. After, Michonne laid curled into Rick's side. She sighed heavily, then sat up.
"Where you going?" Rick asked. She pointed to the window of his bedroom where the first rays of dawn could just be seen.
"Almost morning. I'm thinking I should probably go."
"You don't have to."
"What about Carl?" she asked, serious.
"Carl likes you. I think he'd be okay with it."
"And if it doesn't work?" Rick shrugged.
"This is a different world we live in. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. We just won't let that affect Carl." Michonne considered this.
"I'll think about it." Standing up, she dressed quickly before slipping out of his bedroom. He watched from his window until she entered the house across the street, then drifted off to sleep for a few hours before chores began for the day.