Just a small little ten chapter silly that I wrote last month to get my mind from obsessing over TOWL all day!

I hope you enjoy this first chapter.

Chapter 1-And Baby Does Not Make Three

"Michonne. Please. Just calm down already, geez," Mike uttered through gritted teeth as he stared at the collage of baby pictures on the wall behind Dr. Thomasina Daniels desk.

Mike did not make eye contact, instead, he continued to stare blankly at the wall. Mike was a man more concerned with appearances than the expression of actual feelings, especially in public, and his wife of three years was no exception to his rule. Crying, especially in front of a crowd of one or many, was a sign of weakness. Mike just wanted Michonne to stop, sit, and listen to the bad news while mimicking his cold-hearted demeanor.

"I…I'm trying Mike," Michonne yelped through her uncontrollable tears as she sat gripping the edge of the fertility doctor's overly ornate desk.

Michael Anthony's cold, flippant attitude did little to calm Michonne or ease her tender, broken heart. Michonne's rather insensitive husband felt his limited supply of empathy and patience drain from his body as he sat like an inhuman stone next to his wife.

"Mrs. Anthony, there are other options available," The doctor reminded, but no amount of soft assurances could ease Michonne's pain.

Dr. Daniels made stern eye contact with Mike with lowered brows and pursed lips, but the gesture did nothing to change Mike's disposition. The disappointment and frustration were evident across his face. Mike was done. All he could do was keep glaring vacantly at the wall of baby pictures with sadness and regret in his eyes, mostly to keep from screaming.

"What…options?" Michonne asked through a few sniffles then gazed at a hardened Mike before averting her eyes towards the doctor again.

"There are many options for a couple in your situation," The fertility doctor uttered trying to reassure the couple that all was not lost, "there are fertility treatments, adoption, surrogacy. We can investigate all those possibilities. Babies don't always have to come from your womb or be biological for them to be your children."

Dr. Daniels stared at Mike as she emphasized the last part of her statement, and it seemed like it made a crack in Mike's hardened demeanor. Mike nodded and looked over at the love of his life. When he married Michonne, Mike pictured a lifetime of love and children, as many as Michonne would agree to carry. Michael Anthony loved Michonne Anthony with every single fiber of his being. Even sitting there next to his barren wife who could give him no children, Mike still loved her with all his heart. When Mike proposed to Michonne, he knew she was it for him. Michonne was THE ONE. Michonne had it all. Brains, Beauty, Booty, Benevolence, Bravery, Michonne had all the major B's covered, all except for two. Birth and Babies. After three years of marriage, and two years of consistently trying to conceive, Mike grew bitter more and more each day that he had no child of his own. He watched family and friends celebrate their own little miracles with silly gender reveals or grand announcements and each time, Mike became more and more resentful of Michonne.

"So, there is no chance I can get pregnant?" Michonne asked Dr. Daniels though a deluge of fresh new tears.

Michonne's question hit Mike hard. The thought that he would never have a child that had his facial features, his lips, his eyes, his ears, or with his own blood running through their tiny veins, was a harsh pill to swallow. The last B's weighed heavy on Mike's mind as he sat in the office. It was Michonne that convinced him to try a fertility clinic, and because he wanted it to work so badly, he agreed. Now, Mike did not know how to feel sitting in the fancy leather chair listening to the doctor deliver the devastating news that his dreams might possibly be dashed. Michael Anthony sat in the slightly uncomfortable chair in complete shock and disarray.

"There is always a chance, but looking at your medical evaluation, it looks like the chances are maybe ten percent of you conceiving and only about 60 percent of you being able to carry the baby to term if you do," Dr. Daniels uttered with genuine empathy.

Dr. Daniels found delivering bad news to be the most challenging part of her job and this case seemed gut wrenching because of the cold way Mike was acting towards his wife. Dr. Daniels felt herself a mere two seconds from cursing his bitch ass out, but a tap on the door knocked some sense back into the good doctor.

"Come in," Dr. Daniels called then got up from her desk to meet her nurse halfway to hurry and dismiss the interruption.

"Here is the information you asked for," Nurse McIntosh smiled and then looked over at the couple, particularly at Mike.

Dr. Daniels thought Nurse Jadis McIntosh was staring just a little too long with the most inappropriate smirk on her face. It was almost as if there was a spark of intrigue behind the already bizarre nurse's eyes.

"That will be all Jadis," Dr. Daniels ordered and ushered her gawking nurse out of the room before the couple could notice her unprofessional behavior.

Jadis nodded and took one last look at Mike, then eyed Michonne before leaving the room. Dr. Daniels put it in the back of her mind to ask Nurse McIntosh just what in the Sam Hell all that rubbernecking was about. But for now, she needed to get back to the forlorn couple. Dr. Daniels would have to deal with Jadis's weird ass later.

"Sorry about that," Dr. Daniels smiled as she sat down behind her desk.

"You said something about fertility treatments?" Mike inquired with a tad bit of hope in his eyes but a tone that was clearly filled with annoyance.

"Well, yes. This is the information about that," Dr. Daniels smiled and held up the folder Nurse Jadis just handed her, "We can definitely try, but I must warn you. It is expensive and time-consuming. Michonne may have a severe reaction to the fertility drugs which could cause infection, and it may give you extreme mood swings. All of that, and it may or may not work. In fact, like I said earlier, you probably only have a somewhat higher chance of conceiving than with no fertility treatments at all.

"But it is still a higher chance, right?" Mike asked with hope in his eyes.

"Yes, maybe a forty percent chance of a successful outcome. If you want to go that route, we can schedule an appointment where we go over every component of the process. At twenty-seven you are still young Michonne, and that helps boost the odds, but it's still a sixty percent chance the procedure will not be successful." Dr. Daniels advised, "I just want you to be aware of your odds before you make your final decision."

"I want to do it," Michonne muttered and looked over at her husband who nodded his head and looked at his wife and smiled for the first time during the appointment.

"Me too," Mike agreed, and a little ray of hope penetrated the darkness that was beginning to envelope him.

Three months later, Dr. Daniels found herself in her office having the same conversation but with a different couple. Rick Grimes looked down at the floor trying to keep his tears at bay as he sat in front of the same ornate desk and Mike and Michonne had earlier, right next to his wife of five years, Lori Grimes.

"So, it's me?" Rick muttered with a trembling voice looking up briefly to make eye contact with Dr. Daniels.

"Unfortunately, yes Mr. Grimes. There is a ten percent chance that you can conceive naturally, so there is some hope. I have seen many miracles happen. There are also options that we can do to help you start your family. There are new procedures that have some decent odds of infertile males conceiving their own genetic child. There are also options like adoption, or even sperm doners and surrogacy too," Dr. Daniels offered.

"Are you open to any of those options Lori?" Rick asked with hope in his eyes.

"No! I do not want to have another man's child while I am married to you! You are my husband, Rick!" Lori almost hollered and turned to stare the doctor in the eye, "I want Rick's child. My husband's child. Can we do the procedure you just mentioned? The one where Rick is the father?"

"If that is what you choose, we can try intracytoplasmic sperm injection or (ICSI), but it may take more than a few tries to work, and each try is very expensive," Dr. Daniels warned.

"What is that sperm injection thing?" Lori asked scooting up in her seat with wide eyes.

"In simple terms, we take your husband's best sperm and inject it directly into your eggs to help aid conception," Dr. Daniels answered, and Lori smiled and nodded at Rick.

"That sounds like it should work," Lori grinned, "Get it right in there!"

"Well, it is not as simple as I made it sound Mrs. Grimes," Dr. Daniels chuckled, "And there are minor complications during the process and there is a very small chance the baby could be born with congenital conditions such as chromosomal abnormalities or birth defects. A larger chance for certain intellectual disabilities," Dr. Daniels advised as she looked between the couple.

"That don't sound too good Doc. Lori, you want to chance all that?" Rick asked as he became less teary and more serious about the risks involved in the procedure.

"What are the odds of that happening Dr. Daniels," Lori asked worriedly.

"Very small for birth defects and chromosomal abnormalities. Higher for intellectual disabilities. But it can also be physically taxing on the mother. The chance for miscarriage is significant. But there have been numerous cases of successful pregnancies and successful births with no complications at all. But I have to share with you all the risks along with the benefits," Dr. Daniels advised and sat back and eyed the couple.

The doctor could tell Lori was more apt to the procedure than Rick. Rick looked anxious.

"Well, what do you think Rick?" Lori asked with pleading eyes.

"I don't know Lori," Rick muttered then looked at the doctor, "So what are the chances again?"

"Like I said, the chances are much better with the procedure than without that you and your wife can have your own genetic child. If you want to try the procedure, we can schedule an appointment to discuss every component of the process. You both are still young, what are you Lori?" Dr. Daniels asked as she flipped through Lori's chart, "Twenty-nine?"

"Yes, and Rick is also," Lori added nodding for emphasis and Dr. Daniels buzzed for her nurse.

Well, like I said, the odds are in your favor. You are young and…." Dr. Daniels advised with a genuine smile but a knock on the door interrupted her sentence.

"Come in Jadis. Can you get me," Dr. Daniels paused when she noticed Nurse Macintosh staring intently at Lori Grimes.

Dr. Daniels cleared her throat to refocus Jadis back on her.

"Nurse McIntosh, can you please bring me the information on intracytoplasmic sperm injection please," Dr. Daniels ordered and narrowed her eyes when Jadis looked over at Lori Grimes with the same smirk she gave Mike Anthony, "Now please!"

"Oh, yes Doctor," Jadis submitted and scurried out of the office.

When Jadis returned, she could not help but stare at Lori again, and she gave Rick a quick glance too. This time, Dr. Daniels was not going to forget to ask why Jadis was gawking at the couples like she did with the Anthony's and a few other couples in between. Jadis was already a weirdo, and Dr. Daniels figured it must have something to do with her and her equally odd husband. They were two peas of the same bizarre pod.

"Interesting haircut on that one," Rick uttered trying not to laugh at the short, bowl haircut Nurse McIntosh was sporting.

"She is….different," Dr. Daniels admitted, "But she is focused and does her job extremely well. Ok, back to the intracytoplasmic sperm injection information."

After they met with the doctor to go over the process, Rick and Lori were excited until they came to the bottom-line price tag, and their insurance did not cover such treatment. The couple thought long and hard about using every bit of their savings for the one-time treatment. Rick had been working double shifts to save for a new house for Lori. Rick loved his little home, but Lori always wanted bigger and better. That new home would have to take a back seat and they could not afford multiple attempts. Their bank account suggested they had one shot, and one shot only to make a baby. Literally and figuratively.

"Are you sure you want to use all our savings on this Lori?" Rick asked one final time on the eve before the treatment.

Rick would never say it out loud, but it was mostly HIS savings. Lori barely made enough to save two dimes if all things were equal. But they were not. Lori only contributed a measly thirty percent of her grocery store check towards the monthly bills. The rest went into her private savings account. Rick's mama made sure Rick opened his own personal account too after Rick let it slip about Lori's greedy antics. In the end, Lori agreeing to the procedure was an easy decision for her. It was not really Lori's money they were spending. Nothing was coming out of HER personal account.

"I'm sure Rick. Dr. Daniels is supposed to be the best fertility doctor in Atlanta. In the whole state, hell even the whole nation. I'm sure about this. Are you?" Lori asked worriedly.

"If you want to do this, then yes," Rick answered silently praying the procedure worked because spending that kind of money and getting nothing in return would be devastating.

"If worse comes to worst, maybe your parents would lend us some money? I mean since they retired, they have been living high on the hog!" Lori questioned with hopeful eyes and Rick shook his head.

"My parents did not work all their life, retire, only to give us their hard-earned money, Lori. I already told you their money is their money. And they are using it for themselves for once. I am not asking them for a dime," Rick uttered in annoyance.

Lori was always trying to get her hands on his parents' money. After they sold their successful farm, they made a fortune. Lori could not understand that his parents' money was not community money.

"I'm just saying Rick. I bet they would love to spend the money to get a grandchild rather than all those stupid cruises and exotic vacations they always go on. Who the hell wants to go to Costa Rica or Madagus…something. Where are they now? Mexico?" Lori snarked with a little irritation.

Lori never had money. Her parents were always one paycheck from eviction and after her father left them when she was eight, her and her mother moved around a lot before finally settling in King County where living was much cheaper. Lori envied all her friends who lived on acres of land while her and her mother lived in a cheap two-bedroom apartment. When she married Rick, Lori thought she hit the jackpot only to be very disappointed. It turned out, Rick's parents' money was just that, their money, and they rarely ever helped them with anything.

"Bora Bora, I think. With their travel buddies. And THEY want to go to those places Lori. It don't matter if you want to or not," Rick clarified but did not comment on her "grandchild" comment, "And its Madagascar."

"Why don't they go to Hawaii or something like that? Well, whatever. I'm just saying they might want to invest in a grandchild Rick!"

Rick knew damn well that his parents were not going to lend him money for anything concerning Lori Wayne Grimes unless it concerned divorce proceedings. Rick's mother hated Lori ever since she saw her running around her house naked like she owned the place. Ella tried to give Lori a chance after that, but she only got more annoying. And when Lori asked them for money so she could drive a fancy car on their dime, Rick's mama was done. But all of that did not matter because Rick would never ask his parents for that much money. Rick's parents were very well-off, and they were living life to the fullest and he was not going to let Lori ruin that.

"Why can't we ask your parents for the money?" Rick spat even though he knew full well her mother was a two bit waitress who probably had twenty dollars in her savings account and her father was MIA.

Rick knew he hit below the belt, but he was tired of Lori demanding an equal share of money she did not earn. Lori huffed and rolled over turning her back to Rick in bed. Rick was glad. He was ready to end the conversation anyway. Rick laid in bed thinking not only about the procedure, but about the fact that all of his savings' account was about to read ZERO in twenty-four hours.

Five months later, Dr. Daniels had two appointments scheduled exactly eight months from the day that Michonne and Mike began their treatments and exactly five months from the time Rick and Lori began theirs. One appointment was at 10am and the other an hour later. Dr. Daniels noticed the strain the procedure caused on the Grimes's relationship almost immediately. Over the five-month period, the Grimes's had two procedures at Lori's insistence. The first one showed promise, but Lori miscarried after two months. Lori begged Rick to ask his parents for more money for a second attempt Rick, but he held firm that he would never burden his parents. Instead, he thought about going to a bank. Rick was reluctant at first but decided to take out a loan to cover the second procedure. Rick prayed it worked because he was penniless and deeply in debt. He worried how he was going to raise a child with no money in the bank, but he figured that was a problem he would rather have than not. Rick would cross that bridge later and either it would blow up or hold firm. Rick decided he would just have to work double shifts for the next few years.

"Rick, Lori. I am so sorry to inform you that the second procedure did not take root either," Dr. Daniels stated sadly as she watched Lori break down in tears and rush from the office.

Rick took a deep breath, thanked the doctor, and left to find his wife. Lori was at their car crying and nervously fiddling with the car keys.

Rick blew warm air into his hands. It was January and it was freezing outside. He kicked himself for not wearing his coat inside the clinic, instead of leaving it in the backseat where he tossed it before they left the house.

"Lori, there are other options," Rick muttered not fully believing he even wanted to start another process with Lori just yet.

Or at all.

"Rick, I want a family. I can't do this anymore," Lori wept in the parking lot of the fertility clinic.

"What do you mean you can't do this anymore?" Rick asked tensely, taking a step back and placing his hands on his hips.

The cold did not seem to bother Rick anymore because he was heated.

"I want a divorce, Rick. If I stay married to you, I know I will turn bitter. I know I will turn mean, and we will grow apart. Why put off the inevitable?" Lori rationalized, "Let me find a husband that can have children naturally and maybe you can find a wife that is fine with you not having any children. Or surrogacy, adoption, or sperm donation, or whatever the hell else that quack of a doctor mentioned."

"What are you saying Lori?" Rick barked incredulously upset that dissolving their almost six-year marriage could be that easy for her.

"Rick. You know this is for the best. You seemed to be open to all those options, but I am not ok with any of those methods Rick. We are almost thirty Rick! I think we just need to cut our losses and end this marriage now while we are still young and can find people who want the same things," Lori explained through a barrage of tears.

"I want kids Lori!" Rick almost hollered but controlled his voice, "You don't think I want kids?"

"I know you do Rick. The difference is I want biological children with my husband, and you can't give me that. Let's just move on Rick," Lori plead then sucked in a deep breath and held her head high in confidence.

"Fine," Rick nodded angrily and walked away.

Rick lost his ability to have children, his life's savings, his debt free lifestyle, and now his wife.

"I'm going back to King County Rick!" Lori shouted to her retreating husband, "For a few days until we get the divorce proceedings started! I am going to stay with my mother until I find a place!"

Rick did not respond, and Lori did not seem to care as she slid into the driver's seat and headed to their modest home to pack a few of her belongings. Rick did not even look back. Rick took a deep breath and began to hyperventilate. While Rick was bent over freezing, hands to knees in the parking lot, Dr. Daniels was meeting with her second couple of the day.

"Good afternoon Mr. and Mrs. Anthony. It has been a long eight months of fertility treatments, and I am so sorry to say that this last effort was not as fruitful as either of us would have hoped," Dr. Daniels uttered as she watched Michonne break down in tears and Mike abruptly leave the office completely.

Dr. Daniels assured Michonne that all was not lost, and Michonne took a deep breath, thanked the doctor, and left to find her husband.

"Michonne, you are the love of my life. You are damn near perfect. I don't think I could ever stop loving you, but I want a family. I want kids. My own kids. I am so confused about so much, but not about that," Mike spoke with a heavy, but honest heart, "we need to talk when we get home."

"Talk about what Mike?" Michonne spat, wiping away her tears and letting the anger build because she knew what Mike was hinting at.

"Not here Michonne," Mike pled staring an upset Michonne in the eye then looking around to see if they were being a spectacle for stranger's eyes.

Mike only noticed one person, a man sitting and shivering on the sidewalk with his head bowed down. Mike assumed he was a homeless man with no coat in the January cold. Mike refocused on Michonne.

"Yes, right here, right now, Mike. Just tell me what we need to talk about," Michonne bickered now more infuriated than sad using the sleeve of her expensive cashmere coat to forcibly wipe the snot from her nose.

Mike had been pulling away from her the last few months and Michonne felt his absence greatly. He was bitter that Michonne's eggs were unable to fertilize with his sperm during the three procedures. Not one egg was viable throughout the whole process. Although Michonne tried to deny Mike's change of feelings, deep down she knew exactly what Mike wanted to discuss because he barely touched for the last two months. Mike's words, however, still hit her like a ton of bricks.

"I want a divorce. God, I love you and even now it's hard to imagine my life without you by my side, but if I stay with you Michonne, I know my love will turn rotten. Vengeful. Hateful. I don't want that for us. I don't want that for you," Mike tried to explain as he took a step towards his wife and caressed her face.

"DON'T YOU TOUCH ME! DON'T YOU EVER TOUCH ME AGAIN!" Michonne hollered as she stumbled back and away from Mike.

Rick popped his head up when he heard Michonne yell. Mike bite his lip and looked up at the sky, and Rick squinted his eyes as if that would help him hear their conversation better. Rick was prepared to run and help the lady if that man put a hands on her again.

"We are no longer on the same path Michonne. Why put off the inevitable and end up hating each other later and divorcing anyway. Let's do it now while we can still be friendly," Mike exclaimed, and Michone chuckled sardonically at the words that were coming out of her awful husband's mouth.

"Friends?" Michonne laughed is disbelief, "You think we will still be friend after this?"

"I want a big family Michonne. I want a wife that can bear me lots of children naturally. I don't want to do anymore fertility treatments. I don't want to adopt or watch another woman, a stranger, carry our child. We are still young Michonne. Let's go out and find someone that can give us what we both want while we are still young enough to move on," Mike tried to explain but came off sounding deplorable.

"You mean what YOU want," Michonne spat, "I can't have kids so no matter what man I find, that won't change for me. This is all about you Mike. You know what Mike? Fine. But as far as ending happily, I think that is off the table because if you loved me, If you really loved me like you claim you do, you could not and would not walk away so easily. Have your lawyer call mine. And Fuck you, Mike."

"MICHONNE!" Mike called as he watched his wife walk away without taking the slightest of looks back.

Mike blew out a breath and sat in the car and watched Michonne pull out her phone and make a call.

"Sasha," Mike uttered knowing full-well Michonne would be calling her sister which meant all hell might break lose, or her best friend Rosita, which meant all hell would break loose, but with weapons.

Mike huffed a hard breath, started his car and drove out of the parking lot leaving his wife to sit alone.

Rick watched the interaction with interest, and immediately found the dark-skinned woman very attractive as she cried for her sister, a woman named Sasha, to come pick her up from the clinic. Rick watched the beauty put her phone away, pull her expensive coat closed to keep out the bitter cold as she sauntered to the bench in front of the clinic to sit and wait for her ride. As she waited, Michonne reflected that not only did she lose her ability to have children, but also, a large chunk of her savings account, and now her husband. Michonne was at a loss. Rick felt a strong urge to join her. To put his arms around her in comfort and warmth against the January cold and assure her that everything was going to be okay. But Rick thought better of it and instead, pulled out his phone to try and find a way home. He was freezing his ass off out there.

"Why in the fuck did I not get my coat from the car," Rick muttered as he pulled out his phone still watching Michonne though the corner of his eye.

Rick reflected on his five-year marriage to Lori and figured it was probably harder than it needed to be. Everything was a fight. Lori challenged him on every single tiny thing, and Rick was tired. The baby issues were the worst of the arguments, especially after Lori felt forced to pack up her whole life and leave King County for Atlanta. Lori could never fathom that Rick WAS her life and he was worth moving anywhere in the world for. After the move, and still not conceiving two years later, Lori threw the relocation to Atlanta in Rick's face every chance she could get. As he sat on that sidewalk, Rick thought that maybe the divorce was for the best.

"Yeah, I need an Uber please," Rick requested once he refocused away from the gorgeous woman crying on the bench and instead to how he going to get home.

One year later, Michonne was speaking at a law conference in New York City. She had been divorced for six months and thankfully Mike walked away without a fight. She kept the house, they split their savings, and ended their marriage quickly and peacefully. Once she signed the papers, Michonne sold their old house, and bought a new one for a fresh start. Michonne had been looking forward to the trip. She loved New York at Christmas time and even though it was early January, the city was still brightly decorated in Christmas décor to the nines. It appeared as though the holidays were still in full swing.

The first night after arriving, Michonne unpacked quickly, grabbed her coat, and went down to Rockefeller center to see the famous giant Christmas tree. Michonne had a melancholy smile on her face as she watched the parents with their kids drinking hot cocoa and enjoying the festivities. As she sat on the bench, she noticed a rather handsome man with his own cup of hot chocolate admiring the decorations and mostly, like her, all the families partaking in all the post-holiday fun. She raised her eyebrow at just how attractive he was, ruggedly so in fact. Michone watched him walk around to the other side of the tree and she crossed her legs together tightly at his sexy ass gait. She blew a breath at just how alluring he was. The man had her feeling feverish despite the frigidly cold weather.

"Damn," Michonne panted as she exhaled a cloud of cold breath vapor.

Michone thought Rick looked out of place, wearing cowboy boots instead of dress shoes and a suede bomber jacket with a woolen fur collar instead of blending in with all the other males in their wool peacoats. And those jeans, hugging his thighs, had Michonne shifting in her seat. Just from his dress alone, Michonne instinctively knew he was not a local. He seemed more like a cowboy who roped horses than a person who managed hedge funds. Or was it bulls they roped? Michonne wondered for a second before returning all her thoughts and efforts to ogle the cowboy.

Michonne: I came all the way to New York just to see a sexy ass cowboy.

Rosita: Take a pic of the cowboy and send it!

Michonne: He is already gone.

Sasha: liar take the pic and go for it! Be adventurous like your fabulous big sister!

"Last thing I need is a long-distance relationship. Or a relationship at all," Michonne breathed as she eyed the man one last time before returning her attention back to the Christmas tree.

Michonne put her phone away despite the continued buzzing.

Rick was in New York for the same law conference that Michonne was presenting. His captain insisted that he attend since he wanted to be a full-fledged detective. It was a mix of every type of law professional, each sharing their perspectives on the state of the current criminal justice system. Rick jumped at the opportunity. He was newly divorced for three months. Lori dragged their divorce out as much as she possibly could. She wanted a piece of everything. Rick was forced to sell their house in Atlanta so she could get her half of the profits even though she did not put a single penny into the house. Rick happily agreed to split his bank account which consisted of exactly forty dollars since all his hard-earned money went to paying for the treatments, or paying back the loan he took out. Lori had closed her personal bank account and hid her money so she would not have to split hers.

Lori was pissed when Rick petitioned to get Lori to take on half of their medical debt after Lori refused because she thought since being infertile was his issue, Rick should incur the debt alone. The judge thought differently, but since the loan was in Rick's name only, the judge had no choice but to side with Lori. After they sold their small Atlanta home, Lori happily walked away with $12,500 because her name was on the deed and mortgage. Rick used his half money to pay off most of his debilitating debt. Lori had already moved back to King County. She packed her shit and moved within days of asking for a divorce in the clinic parking lot. Rick was ready to build a new Lori-less life in Atlanta, particularly after just passing the detective exam. The only thing that would pull him back to King County was to visit his parents. His former best friend used to be on that list, but no more. Shane had begun to pull away after he and Lori moved, and they completely lost touch after a year of Rick living in Atlanta.

Rick noticed a woman staring at him and smiled when she quickly looked away. He squinted his eyes to try and cut through the crowd to get a good look at her. The first thing he noticed was her plump, kissable lips.

"Damn," Rick panted as he exhaled a cloud of cold breath vapor.

Rick thought she looked familiar. He thought about approaching her, but with her fancy coat, pricy looking boots, and expensive diamonds that hung from her ear and wrist, Rick figured she was more of a big city professional rather than a small-time man like he was. She looked expensive. Way too expensive for his meager cop salary.

"Last thing I need is a long-distance relationship, or a relationship at all," Rick chuckled to himself and turned back towards the large Christmas tree before his brain could connect exactly why she looked familiar.

The next morning as Rick perused his session agenda, he found the one he wanted to attend first: How Attorneys and Police Officers can Work together for the Greater Good. Rick thought it sounded interesting and he was always willing to look for ways he could police better on the streets. Rick sat in the back row and pulled his pen from the side of his bag and was about to pull out his paper tablet when he heard the loveliest of voices make an announcement.

"Those who came in though the back doors, I have copies of my presentation up here if you want to use it for notes," The presenter informed.

Rick looked up and squinted his eyes and at the woman who seemed familiar. The more he stared, it came to him. Somewhat. Rick's brain still did not snap back to that day in the parking lot a year ago. But there was still an inkling that she was damn familiar. Rick smiled.

"Christmas tree lady," he muttered to himself with a grin before eagerly heading to the front to collect the handout.

When Rick approached the table, Michonne's smile faltered for just the quickest of seconds before she beamed once again.

"Do you need a handout?" Michonne bashfully asked the cowboy she recognized from Rockefeller Center and a spark recognition glinted in Rick's eyes from far longer than the night before.

It was so close. The memory was scratching the front of his brain, but before he could make the connection that was knocking hard at the front door of his mind, a man behind him reached for a copy as did several other participants and pushed him aside.

"Here you go," Michonne grinned as she stretched her arm to reach the handout over to Rick.

"Thank you," Rick grinned and accepted the notes and nodded at Michonne in appreciation.

Rick noticed her name, but had no clue how to pronounce it, and he was about to ask, but the line of people took her attention away from him, except for a few side glances that Rick noticed which caused him to smile shyly. Rick lingered a bit wanting to introduce himself before he made his way back to his seat but did not get the chance with the crowd.

The rest of the day, all Rick thought about was her. Michonne Hawthorne, according to the name on the presentation notes. He tried looking for her all over the very crowded conference center, but no such luck. After the conference, as Rick wandered the busy New Your street looking for the restaurant the concierge at the hotel recommended, he wondered if Michonne was staying in the same hotel or if she was from New York and had her own fancy high-rise condo. After finding the place, Rick, preferring to eat at the restaurant rather than sit in his room alone, ate quietly and enjoyed his meal. Once back at the hotel, Rick was ready to settle for the night, his mind filled with images of where he had seen Michonne Hawthorne and her beautiful face before, other than that Christmas tree.

"Hold the elevator," Rick called and chuckled when he saw a hand nervously trying to fumble with which button to press and was pleasantly surprised when the door opened again.

Rick was even more elated when he saw who was holding the elevator for him.

"Thanks!" Rick grinned and pressed the button for the fourteenth floor.

"No problem. It was touch and go there for a minute," Michonne laughed, and Rick was immediately taken with the enchanting sound.

"I went to your session. It was really good. The best one of the day," Rick complimented and Michonne's smile became bigger and brighter.

Between her laugh and her bright smile, Rick was almost knocked to his knees.

"Thank you! Are you a lawyer or a police officer, or…" Michonne asked as she tried to hide her blush.

"Officer," Rick responded, "May I say, and I hope I am not being too forward, but you have to be one the most gorgeous women I have ever laid my eyes on. You are simply stunning."

Michonne was enthralled with not only Rick's words, but with the accent in which he spoke. She giggled at the fact that she was right. He was a cowboy. That same heat she felt on the previous chilly evening was back and in full force. Michonne pushed the button for the twenty-first floor, but she never made it that high. The next thing either of them knew, they were undressing at a furious pace in Rick's hotel room.

"My name is," Rick began but was interrupted by Michonne.

"No names. No personal information. Let's just be two strangers having a little fun. Okay?" Michonne breathed out, "do you have a condom?"

Rick was crestfallen. Not only because he did not have a condom, but mostly because he wanted more than just a romp in the hay with her, but he was not going to complain about the little she was offering him.

"No, but I am newly divorced," Rick explained, "I have not slept with anyone else but my ex-wife. My last physical for my job was a month ago and came back clean. And, unfortunately, I can't have children. Hence the divorce."

"I have been divorced for six months. My last checkup was three months ago was all clear. I have not had sex with anyone since my ex-husband. And I also can't have children, hence the divorce," Michonne explained in a raspy, heated voice.

Rick was in a frenzy, and his brain was completely shut off from deciphering the clue that would have him remembering exactly where he first saw the woman that was currently pulling off his shirt and licking his nipples feverishly. Rick's brain was now in savage mode. There was no thinking, just doing. Everything was physical for Rick. He was primal and Michonne was lusty. There was no more reasoning for either of them as they both let nature take its passionate course.