Michonne couldn't remember when she last had a lazy Sunday morning—at least, she thought it was Sunday morning—the days seemed to run together since she and Rick made it back home. It was barely 5:00 a.m.; the sky hadn't fully awakened. A dusting of stars still littered the sky. The pitter-patter of a light rain had started an hour earlier; the curtains blew in the breeze from the open window. She'd been awake for a while, enjoying the quiet and the man sleeping beside her with his head on her chest.
She ran a hand through his curls. He stirred slightly, then snuggled even deeper into her arms. Lately, that had been his favorite position to sleep in. They always started the night spooned against each other, but somehow, they would end up with his body halfway on top of hers, arms slung around her waist. It was as if he wanted to be as close to her heartbeat as possible to make sure she was still there, still real.
She ran her foot over his leg, admiring his well-toned calf muscles. Her fingernails lightly scratched his bare back. She liked feeling that he was real, too. So many nights when he was gone, she'd woken up feeling for him on his side of the bed only to feel instead the crushing weight of grief when she remembered he wasn't there and wasn't coming back - so she thought.
She knew she'd never have to feel that way again. Because there wouldn't be another night when they weren't sleeping next to each other. If it weren't for the kids, they would probably never leave their bed.
Lips caressed her chest, then her neck, then her cheek. Michonne smiled at her husband's morning wake-up routine. It always started with kisses.
She scratched his scalp. "I thought you were sleeping?"
"I was, but my dream ended. Guess it was time for me to wake up.
"I hope good dreams."
"My mind wants to dream about us again now that I'll never have to worry about forgetting your face." He kissed her shoulder.
"How did we fall in love this time?"
Rick lifted onto his elbow and stared down at his wife. "We were both walking our dogs at a dog park. They became best friends, then we became best friends and fell in love."
Michonne laughed. "I like that."
Rick smiled at her laughter, but his face soon turned serious. "All those years we were apart, I dreamed of ways we could have fallen in love if the world didn't end. But having too much time to think, I wondered if something like my dreams could happen. Would it have been possible for us to meet in Georiga and fall in love?"
"What was your conclusion?"
"That we wouldn't because you were too glamorous, too cultured. You wouldn't want a country boy like me."
Michonne lips downturned into a slight frown. "No, that's not it. I like to think that what's meant to be will always be. Somehow, some way, the universe would have conspired for us to be together. With all of our children alive and well. Nothing about what we have can be denied.
Rick shook his head and stared down at Michonne in awe. "How are you so perfect?"
She ran her hand down his beard. "Not perfect. Just perfect for you."
He moved fully on top of her. "It's both. You're perfect, and we're perfect together," he said before devouring her lips.