"Okay, honey, now close your eyes. It's time to settle down." Michonne whispered as she pulled the blanket over the little girl's shoulders and tucked her in. Macayla sighed in agreement and complied with her mother's gentle request before her eyes fluttered open and she looked at her with serious intent and pursed lips.

"Hug, Mommy! Please!"

Michonne smiled and opened her arms to her daughter.

"Of course sweetie, I love our hugs."

"I love them too!" Macayla beamed up at her mother, her small arms wrapped around her as far as she could reach, completely engulfed in Michonne's embrace.

They held each other for a moment, and Michonne planted a kiss on her forehead, then nudged her back down to sleep.

It took a while to calm the energetic toddler, and when she finally got her to sleep, Michonne wanted nothing more than her bed.

As she passed the office and headed for their bedroom, she spotted Rick working on a report - most likely something he'd neglected until the last minute - and when he sensed her approach, he looked up. They gave each other small, tired smiles and wished each other a good night before she continued on her way to the bed.

…

He had not meant to disturb her when he went to bed, but she still woke up, and in that drowsy state halfway between awake and asleep, she snuggled up to him as he slid into bed. A warm breath and the soft sound of a mumbled apology for waking her tickled her ear,but she shook her head slightly to show that she didn't mind.

She might only be half awake, but she still enjoyed having him near.

Pulling him closer, she ran her fingers through his hair, gently massaging his scalp, and was soon rewarded with a low moan of appreciation as he dropped his head to rest in the small hollow of her collarbone. Peppering her neck with light kisses, he smiled, and his lips against her bare skin made her shudder. Dropping her hands lower, she played with the hem of his t-shirt for a moment before pulling it higher and running her fingers beneath it, up his back, enjoying the way the muscles underneath rippled as he shifted.

Encouraged by her soft touches, he propped himself up on his elbows, nudged her to turn over on her back, and moved on top of her so he could continue to caress her neck with his lips.

Closing her eyes, she smiled and pulled him closer again. Michonne shivered as his lips brushed hers gently before he applied more pressure, catching her lower lip between his and tracing his tongue across her lips. Resting on his elbow, his other hand came up to cradle her breast under her silky nightgown. His thumb stroking her nipple sent waves of pleasure through her, and soon her center was throbbing with desire. Feeling his erection press against her belly, she grinned and dropped her hand lower to grasp him through his pants, instantly rewarded with a sucked breath and a low moan as his shoulders tensed and he dropped his head to rest on her.

She slipped one hand under his boxer and wrapped it around his already rock hard cock and massages it fast and hard,from the tip to the balls, giggling as he muttered a curse through clenched teeth.

"Damn it, Chonne. You want this to be over before we even get started?"

"Oh, if you're that eager..." she teased, her grin growing as he rolled his eyes.

"Devil woman," he muttered before silencing her snappy retort with his lips.

Sitting on his knees, he lifted her legs to rest her heels on his shoulders and pulled her closer before angling his hips and carefully thrusting in.

Every inch of her burned with the sensation of him filling her,she gripped his thighs for support. He could go so deep in this position. She let out a shuddering breath as he slowly began to move his hips. He closed his eyes and threw his head back as he increased his speed, and Michonne gripped his thighs tighter to steady herself and meet his thrusts.

It felt so good.

He looked down at her again as he felt her push back, satisfied that she was holding herself in place,he let go of her hips in favor of grabbing her ass and squeezing it before letting his fingers running through her waist up till they found her breasts. He squeezed them appreciatively and rolled her nipples between his thumbs and forefingers. And then…

There was a scream in the hallway.

They both froze.

Seriously?

Right now?

Another scream rang through the hallway and Michonne let out a sigh as Rick groaned and pulled out but not without a sulk.

He quickly pulled up his pants, held up his hand to say he would take care of it, and left the room.

If they could catch Macayla quickly - before she fully woke up as she was usually fairly easy to resettle, and Michonne knew that was what Rick was hoping for as he dashed down the hallway.

Torn between being amused by Rick's eagerness and being all too familiar with the feeling, she listened for sounds that would indicate an imminent awakening rather than the quiet repositioning she had hoped he returned less than a few minutes later, she raised an as he joined her in bed and quickly undressed, she questioned him about what had happened.

"No know she's not really sleeping. She'll wake up as soon as she realizes you're gone."

"Sssssh...let just get back to our interesting business " he muttered, leaning back to resume what he had been doing before being interrupted a few minutes ago. Obviously, baby-sitting was the last thing on his mind right now, and Michonne had to bite her lip to keep the oh-so-tempting "I told you so" from slipping out when the inevitable scream came from down the hall a few seconds knew Macayla couldn't have fallen asleep that quickly.

"Come were too impatient to settle her you have to reap what you have sown." Michonne laughed, nudging Rick away from reluctantly obeyed and left to repeat his earlier maneuver to the sounds of a toddler becoming increasingly agitated by the emptiness of her room where her father had kept her company only moments before.

Not returning as quickly this time, Michonne began to suspect that Macayla was refusing to go back to sleep. Rolling her eyes, she grabbed her robe and wait.

But not for long.

Soon the sound of tiny feet paddling the wooden floor approached, followed by a heavier pair.

Sighing heavily as he helped Macayla up onto the bed so she could scurry into her mother's waiting arms, Rick explained that she had insisted on sleeping next to her mommy and nothing he says could change her mind.

"I sleep here, Mommy!" The toddler happily confirmed. She made herself comfortable by snuggling as close to Michonne as she could, nudging her mother pointedly to lift her up.

Michonne complied with the persistent request, and Macayla tucked one arm under her neck and wrapped the other around her breast, holding her tightly.

Michonne let out a soft chuckle as she and Rick shared an exasperated look.

Not tonight, obviously.

Burying her little head in her mother's shoulder, the toddler - true to form - expressed her happiness with the cuddles and the new sleeping arrangement with a deep sigh and a satisfied look.

"I like this!"

Without missing a beat, Rick snorted an annoyed, 'Yeah, me too' from the other side of the bed, and Michonne laughed at the thinly veiled jealousy that seeped through the sarcastic comment.

Apparently, everyone wanted 'hugs' from Mommy tonight, but they all knew who ran this house, and Rick just had to accept that.

Jealous or not.