A/N: The dust settles and Rick and Michonne come to an agreement about the future.


By 10 am the next morning, Michonne had unplugged her phone from the wall, sick to death of fielding phone call after phone call from nosy classmates. Andrea's call this morning had been the very last straw.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me Chonne. We're supposed to be best friends!" Andrea's plaintive wail rang in Michonne's ear.

"Drea, it's honestly not that serious," Michonne held in her sigh. "It's been two days—"

"I told you the minute Shane and I happened," Andrea protested.

Michonne remained silent. She had absolutely nothing positive to say about Shane Walsh.

"People are saying you've been hooking up all summer. Is it true?" the dramatics continued.

"Drea, we hung out at prom. We didn't decide to date until last week." Michonne did sigh then.

"But you guys have been hooking up," Drea accused.

"Drea, honestly, damn." Michonne rubbed the bridge of her nose. "I can't do this right now."

Michonne had scarcely slept all night, her mind filled with worry.

"Of course you can't," Andrea snapped. "I haven't seen you all summer—"

"Because you've been hooking up with Shane," Michonne couldn't hold back any longer. "You haven't even called, Drea. And now that it's me with a boyfriend, and you without, you want to throw a fit."

"Shane and I are on a break!" Drea screeched, clearly affronted.

"We should probably take a break then too," Michonne said with finality. Within seconds, she had hung the phone up and jerked the phone out of the wall.

Her boyfriend found her sitting on her parent's back porch, book in hand, enjoying a modicum of silence.

"Hey, baby," Rick announced his presence as he approached.

Michonne glanced up, her heart racing as she took in his bandaged hand. Rick held it up for her review.

"It's sprained," he said lightly, "Not broken."

"Thank God," Michonne gasped, the tension of 12 hours of drama leaving her shoulders all at once. Rick sat beside her on the porch swing, wrapping his good arm around her. "Thanks for checking on me," he kissed her temple. "My dad said you were there until after midnight."

Michonne nodded absently, her worried eyes still on the bandages wrapped around Rick's knuckles and wrist. "I wanted to make sure you were ok."

"I'm fine," he promised, grinning winningly. "From what I hear, you've been fighting for me all over town."

Michonne blushed. "I may have stopped by Lori's house this morning."

"And?" Rick prompted, looking enraptured by just the thought.

"And I don't think she's going to be gossiping about us anymore," Michonne said simply.

"Lori!" Mrs. Wayne yelled into the house. "There's a girl from school here to see you!"

Michonne looked expectantly through the front door of the Wayne plantation-style home, her eyes on the staircase. The sight of Lori, still pajama-clad, flouncing down towards her made Michonne ball her fists. She tucked them under her arms, assuming an un-effected stance, determined not to deck this girl in front of her mother,

"Who is it—" Lori's face fell from its bright smile when she took in Michonne standing expectantly at the door.

"We need to talk, Lori," Michonne began. Lori's mother looked startled.

"What is this about?" she asked, finally realizing that this was no friend of her daughter's.

"Mom, I'm not sure," Lori's voice took on a high, girlish tone. "Michonne and I barely know each other."

"Didn't stop you from talking about me all over town," Michonne cut in, her voice calm, her eyes on her slender adversary. "That didn't stop you from goading Shane into picking a fight with Rick."

"Rick?" Lori's mom scrambled to catch up. "I thought ya'll were dating. Lori, who is this?" Mrs. Wayne turned to her daughter.

"Michonne Bechet," Michonne extended her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Wayne. I'm Rick's girlfriend." Mrs. Wayne shook it bemusedly.

Lori flushed an unpleasant shade of puce, her skin going blotchy. "I don't know what you're talking about—"

"That's right," Michonne stepped forward. "You really don't. And I don't have time to stand here and tell you all of the reasons you're wrong. Just know this: Rick and I are dating now. And if you want to spend the summer hating, that's fine, because we're going to be gone soon anyway. But if I hear you running your mouth about me or him again, I'm going to tell everyone exactly the kind of person you are, Lori Wayne."

Michonne spun on her heel, retreating down the steps, leaving Lori sputtering at the door. Mrs. Wayne was already in full question mode, drilling her daughter about what Michonne had just said. Michonne didn't stick around to listen, but made her way back home, feeling better already.

Rick laughed beside her. "You did that in front of her mom?" he asked, impressed. "I bet Mrs. Wayne was pissed."

"I don't really care," Michonne shrugged. "As long as Lori keeps her mouth shut. Look what she almost did." She gestured to Rick's hand.

Rick sobered. "You know this ain't your fault," he raised his right fist. "Shane and I were going to go at it at some point."

"Rick," Michonne sighed, reaching for his hair. She stroked the curls, attempting to lessen the blow of what she was about to say. "This high school drama, it's going to be the thing that knocks you off your game."

"What do you mean?" Rick questioned, even as he leaned into her touch.

"I mean, Lori almost cost you your scholarship," she said.

"It ain't about Lori—"

"I know it isn't," Michonne assured him. "And it's not about Shane either, or Andrea, or whoever happens to be running their mouth about us." She nudged him. "You've got plans, and I've got plans, remember?"

Rick chuckled. "See this right here is the reason my dad's half in love with you." He kissed her chin.

Michonne looked down at him, surprised. "What?" she asked.

"My dad gave me this lecture already. Said it didn't matter how pretty or smart my new girlfriend was, punching people was something kids do. Said if I was going to date someone who had her shit together, I better have mine together," Rick recited.

Michonne flushed, pleased. "You have it together, Rick."

Rick held up a hand, rocking it back and forth. "Kind of. But I'm going to get it together. There's a clinic that the school's putting on for incoming athletes." He sat up straighter, looking her in the eye. "That crap thing is, it means me leaving a month early for California."

Michonne's stomach fell at that, but she nodded. "We'll have all of college to spend time with each other," she said bracingly.

"We do," Rick grinned, scooting closer to her.

"So you do what you need to do," Michonne cupped his chin in her hand. "And I'll do what I need to do."

Rick kissed her, momentarily distracting her. "I've got to start physical therapy for this," he told her, holding up his bandaged fist. "But I'm going to start training again. Pitching is competitive, and I want to start at USC."

"You will," Michonne affirmed, smiling at him. "I want to test out of Freshman math and English 101," she gestured to the large textbooks next to her. "If I can finish my undergrad in 3 years, then I can start law school early."

Rick's grin widened. "You will."

"So it's a deal then?" she asked. "We start grinding today?"

Rick looked thoughtful, his eyes flashing to the house behind her. "What if we start tomorrow?" he asked.

Michonne laughed. "Rick…"

"I'm serious," he chuckled. "I'm sick of being around people. What if it's just you and me for one more day?"

Michonne considered this. "Well," she looked back at her house. "My parents are at work for the next few hours. You can probably come in and watch tv."

Ten minutes later…

"Rick, baby, you've got to stop," Michonne gasped. They were spread out across her living room couch, pressed flush against the cushions. Rick had her pinned beneath him, not that she minded in the slightest. Still, it was the middle of the day, and it seemed unlikely that this could go any further.

"Why?" Rick's voice was muffled against her skin. She giggled as his tongue laved at her.

"You're getting me all…" she trailed off, biting back a moan as his kisses began to wander.

"All what?" he rumbled teasingly.

"All…" Michonne lost her train of thought. Rick's left hand was wandering up her thigh.

"All what?" he repeated, trailing his lips up her neck.

Michonne shivered, arching her back into him. "Your hand," she warned, struggling to get her thoughts out. "You're going to hurt it worse."

"I don't need my hand," Rick pulled back. "Do you trust me, baby?"

Michonne stared down at him. He was half-hidden in her hair, his curls mussed and his eyes shining. Michonne bit her lip, curious and nervous at once.

"Rick, of course. I just… I don't think I'm ready to…round home base," she ventured.

Rick ceased his teasing, craning his neck higher. It took him some maneuvering to keep his weight off his hand, but he managed to shuffle up her body until they were eye-to-eye. "That's not what I meant," his cheeks colored, going bright scarlet.

"Then what?" It was hard to concentrate with him on top of her.

Rick toyed with her hair, his blush deepening. "I've never done it before, but I wanted to try it, if you want…" he huffed, chuckling in embarrassment. "I just want to make you feel good, Chonne." He licked his lips.

Understanding finally clicked for Michonne. "Are you sure?" she rubbed her legs together, suddenly nervous. "You don't have to…" she cleared her throat, warmth flooding her cheeks. "I feel good just being with you."

Rick grinned above her. "I do too," he leaned down to kiss her. Michonne indulged in the sensation of his warm lips, leisurely nipping and sucking until they'd both worked themselves back into a fervor.

"If you really wanted to try…" Michonne heard herself saying between kisses. She licked at his neck.

"I do," Rick pulled back to fix her with his gaze. "If you do too."

"What do we do?" she questioned.

Rick sat up, maneuvering until he could kneel on the ground before her. Michonne glanced nervously at the windows, making sure the blinds were drawn tight.

'You sure you're ok, baby?" Rick's voice drew her attention back to him.

She nodded, worrying her lower lip between her teeth. "What should I do?"

"I have to move these," the fingers of his good hand toyed with the edge of her panties beneath her dress. "If you're ok with that."

She nodded again, chest heaving. Rick worked them down slowly, keeping eye contact. "Now what?" she breathed. Rick's eyes flicked downward. Michonne's whole body seemed to catch fire.

In response, her boyfriend began kissing up her legs, moving towards her center all the while dragging her forward. Michonne could feel his warm breath. The sensation alone caused her head to lull back.

"I'm going to kiss you," Rick told her. Without further ado, he proceeded to make good on his word.

Michonne collapsed into the cushions, body tight as a bow. Rick's touch was feather light, making her breathless.

"Is that ok?" he asked, voice muffled again.

"Yeah, it feels…" she was at a loss for words.

"Should I keep going?" he asked.

"Please," she seized her skirt, working it higher up her legs so that she could see him.

With a grin, Rick began again with less trepidation.

Unbidden, breathless instructions began to fall from her lips. Michonne ran her heels up and down Rick's clothed back, drawing him in deeper. She clutched the cushions in her fists, unraveling beneath Rick's attentions. He was proving himself to be a very good listener. Acting on some instinct to drive her wild, he rested his bandaged hand on her leg, reaching for her with his left hand. His mouth and fingers proved to be too much for her.

The sound that escaped her made Michonne very glad that they were home alone.

"So," Rick began, crawling up beside her on the couch. "Was that good?"

Michonne slumped against him, breathless and seemingly boneless. She managed to turn her head enough to kiss him on the cheek.

"Remind me to replay the favor sometime," she sighed, falling contently into his arms.

Rick held her. "No rush," he promised. They sat in comfortable silence. "Want to go to the lake or something?"

"No," Michonne shook her head. The lake had people. People meant sharing her boyfriend. She was in no mood for that.

"Want to watch some TV?" she suggested instead.

Laughing, Rick reached for the remote. "Sounds perfect."

He settled against her, relaxing into the couch.