A bit of a sex and the city reference at the end.
August 3rd
Soup
"Is Rick around?" Michonne asked, brushing past Daryl as she entered their apartment.
"Yeah, he's been holed up in his room, feeling under the weather or something," Daryl replied, glancing at her while holding a large container of soup.
"Is your phone broken or what? I've tried reaching you guys like three times in the last couple of days," Michonne said, her voice thick with congestion.
"I've been at work," Daryl said, raising his hands defensively. "And judging by how you sound, it seems like you caught whatever he has too," he added, taking a cautious step back.
"Yeah, I guess we've both been passing it around," Michonne admitted.
As they left the campsite in the morning, Michonne could feel the first signs of illness creeping in. She noticed Rick was starting to show symptoms as well, which she thought explained his quiet demeanour during the drive home.
But after two days of radio silence from him, she began to wonder if there was more to it. Ever since that night by the lake, Rick had struggled to meet her gaze, and it left her feeling unsettled.
When they returned to the group, laughter and revelry surrounded them, the others blissfully unaware of the dampness clinging to their clothes. Rick, overwhelmed, retreated to the tent early, surrendering to sleep before Michonne could even join him.
"You can go knock and see if his awake" Daryl said pointing to Rick's door.
"Okay thanks," Michonne said waltzing over to Rick's door.
She didn't knock; instead, she pushed the door open and stepped into his room. The soft glow of the lamp revealed his form curled up beneath the covers, a cocoon of weariness. With a decisive motion, she closed the door, the sound echoing in the stillness, and flicked on the light.
Rick stirred, turning toward her, his face a canvas of sleep and confusion, his nose tinged with red.
Before he could fully grasp the situation, Michonne set a container of soup down on his dresser, the clatter breaking the silence.
"Why are you avoiding me?" she asked, her tone sharp and unwavering.
Rick mumbled, blinking as he tried to shake off the remnants of sleep.
"You kissed me, then barely said a word the next morning. Now you're dodging my calls. Don't even try to use being sick as an excuse; I'm sick too," Michonne replied, her frustration bubbling to the surface.
He blinked slowly, the remnants of sleep still clinging to him. His hand reached for the water bottle on the nightstand, but before he could grasp it, Michonne snatched it up, holding it just out of reach.
"If you want this, you need to talk," she insisted, her tone firm.
Rick's eyes flickered to the bottle, parched and desperate, but Michonne remained steadfast, her gaze unwavering. "Talk," she urged again, her voice softer but no less determined.
"I don't know what to say…" he mumbled, rubbing his eyes as he leaned back against the headboard, feeling the weight of his own uncertainty.
Michonne's expression hardened, the water still hovering above him, a silent challenge.
With a resigned sigh, Rick finally spoke, the words tumbling out. "I got scared. I thought I messed everything up by moving too fast. Like I didn't think it through."
"So your solution was to shut me out instead of having a conversation?" Michonne replied, her tone sharp.
"I wanted to talk to you… but then I got sick and just spiralled into my own thoughts for days," he admitted, his voice rough and strained.
Seeing his struggle, Michonne softened a bit, handing him the water, a flicker of empathy crossing her face. Rick accepted the water bottle, taking a swig, relief washing over his face.
"I'm sorry," he said placing the water bottle in his lap.
"You should be," Michonne said crossing her arms
"Michonne, you mean a lot to me, and I don't want to repeat the mistakes I made with Lori. Kissing you on that trip felt like I was reliving the past. Don't get me wrong I don't regret it. Lori and I haven't even been apart for six months. I just want to take my time and not mess this up," he admitted, vulnerability creeping into his voice.
Michonne's demeanour softened, allowing herself to sit on the edge of his bed.
"I get it…the way you went about it stupid, but I get it. I don't want to ruin this either…" Michonne responded meeting his gaze.
"So, what do we do now?" Rick asked, his gaze steady on her.
"Let's take it slow, keep it as friends for now," Michonne suggested.
"Sure, if that's what you want," he replied, giving a slight nod
An uneasy silence filled the room, both of them contemplating whether they could truly navigate this new territory.
"I brought you soup," Michonne said, walking over to the dresser to retrieve the soup container.
"You were upset with me, yet you still brought soup... Do you have a crush on me or something?" Rick teased.
"Shut up," she replied, rolling her eyes as she approached the bed.
"Guess who got the job at the bar as security," Rick said as Michonne settled into the bed next to him.
"You did?" Michonne said with that grin Rick lived for plastered on her face
"Yep! I start next week. No more long drives to work," he replied, a sense of relief washing over him.
August 21st
Friends
Maggie's eyes sparkled with anticipation as she gazed up at Glenn. "Were you surprised?"
The entire crew had gathered at Shane's place to celebrate Glenn's milestone—his twenty-first birthday. For weeks, Maggie had been a bundle of nerves, orchestrating every detail to ensure that Glenn, who had a knack for sniffing out surprises, would be genuinely caught off guard.
It was also the first time Michonne finally got to see Rick ever since he started working at the bar.
"Honestly, babe, I was," Glenn replied, pulling her close and planting a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"I did it!" Maggie exclaimed, turning to her friends Sasha, Rosita, and Michonne, who were lounging around the kitchen island, their faces lit with smiles.
You did! Now can you finally relax and let us enjoy the party?" Sasha chimed in, playfully nudging her friend.
"Yes, where's my drink," Maggie said, searching for her cup amongst the bowls of chips, candy and various snacks, mainly of Glenn's favourites.
"Where's the birthday boy?" Shane called out from the back door. The evening was nice, so most of the party activities had been taking place in the backyard.
"Oh no, I know what that means," Glenn said excusing himself to head out to the backyard.
The girls giggled, fully aware that Shane was about to drag him into taking a shot.
"On the subject of surprises, what brings Lori here?" Rosita asked, thumping her red solo cup on the table.
Michonne couldn't help but feel a twinge of surprise when they walked in on Lori lending a hand to Shane in the backyard. She hadn't expected to see Lori so soon after their camping trip. If it were up to her, she would have preferred to keep her distance.
Maggie winced, as she explained, "She overheard Tara and me talking about the party while we were camping. We've known her for years, so it felt wrong not to invite her."
Rosita shot back, "You could have easily skipped the invite. Given the whole cheating on your brother, maybe she shouldn't have been included at all."
"Rosita, don't be mean," Maggie said, reaching for a handful of gummy worms.
"I'm not being mean, I'm right," Rosita replied, glancing at Sasha and Michonne, hoping for their support.
Michonne couldn't suppress a grin; it was clear that Rosita was getting tipsy with her urge to speak her mind.
"Rosita's not entirely off base…" Sasha remarked with a casual shrug.
"Don't worry, I have no intention of inviting her anywhere again," Maggie replied, her tone laced with resignation.
At that moment, Lori and Tara walked into the kitchen, leaving the four girls uncertain about what they might have overheard. Michonne felt a twinge of guilt for leaving Tara outside, but being around Lori had become increasingly challenging since their camping trip.
"Daryl and Abraham just whooped our ass in beer pong," Tara said, plopping down next to Rosita.
Lori made her way to Maggie, seeking comfort in the one person who felt like a true friend amidst the tension.
"Seriously, you guys are terrible! Daryl and Abraham are already drunk" Rosita chimed in, shaking her head in disbelief.
"I know," Tara groaned, resting her forehead on the counter in surrender. "And who the hell pre-games for a surprise party?" she added, lifting her head with a mix of annoyance and amusement.
"Those two, obviously," Sasha quipped, eliciting laughter from the group.
"Remember that time Rick thought he could keep up with them and ended up passed out by eight?" Lori recalled, her words igniting a wave of laughter among the girls.
"Wait, isn't that the same night he went cow-tipping and broke that poor cow's leg, and Abraham had to run after him?" Maggie interjected, her eyes wide with the memory.
"Oh my god yes!" Rosita replied, her laughter ringing out.
"Wait, what? I need to hear this," Michonne said, intrigued.
"What's going on?" Rick asked, walking into the kitchen with a grin.
"We were just talking about the time you tried to keep up with Abraham and Daryl, and you and Shane thought it would be a great idea to go cow-tipping," Lori explained, turning to face him.
"Are you guys ever going to let this go?" Rick said, playing along as he reached for a drink in the fridge.
"Nope, because it's just that funny," Maggie replied, still chuckling.
"The best part was the next morning when he woke up swearing he'd never touch alcohol again," Lori added, their laughter bubbling up once more.
"Wait, didn't he drag you to church to confess after he realized he'd broken that cow's leg?" Maggie asked, causing another wave of laughter to erupt in the room.
"I heard him praying the next night," Maggie continued, folding her hands as if in prayer. "God, please forgive me for tipping that cow over, and I see now that all life is precious," she mimicked, with Tara, Lori, and Rosita joining in to complete the prayer with her.
Rick stood there for a moment, letting the laughter settle. Michonne observed him, amused by his good-natured response, which only made her chuckle more.
Are you all finished?" Rick asked with a grin. "The way you spin this tale is way more dramatic than it really was."
Lori smirked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Hey, don't even think about saying what's on your mind," Rick warned with a smirk.
"I promised I wouldn't say anything. But mentioning it like that is only going to make the girls more interested," Lori replied, a teasing lilt in her voice.
Michonne watched the lighthearted exchange, a wave of uncertainty washing over her as she noticed the way Rick and Lori shared glances, a softness between them that felt new and unfamiliar.
"Oh, come on! You have to share!" Rosita urged, her enthusiasm bubbling over. "If you tell us, I promise I won't be a total bitch to you," she added with a cheeky grin.
The others exchanged skeptical looks, unsure if Rosita was truly capable of holding back her sass.
"I said total.I'll still be a little bit of a bitch" Rosita clarified, her smile unwavering.
Rick and Lori locked eyes, a silent conversation passing between them. Lori's gaze seemed to say, "It's your call," and Rick, ever the good sport, nodded in agreement.
"Are you really sure about this?" Lori asked, a hint of hesitation in her voice.
"Go for it; I've already faced enough embarrassment. How much worse can it get?" he replied, motioning for her to continue.
"He cried when he learned the cow had broken its leg—like, sobbed right in my arms," Lori explained.
A collective "Aw" slipped from the lips of all the girls, causing Rick to roll his eyes in defeat.
"Aw, Ricky," Maggie cooed, reaching out to envelop her brother in a hug, even as he tried to squirm away.
"Get off me," Rick protested, breaking free from her grasp.
"Come on, Ricky, we all know you have a soft side," Lori chimed in, locking her gaze with his.
"I was seventeen and had never harmed an animal for fun," Rick retorted a hint of defensiveness in his tone.
"Alright, I'm out of here. I can't handle any more of this," Rick declared, heading toward the back door.
As he stepped outside, Lori excused herself and followed him. The other girls continued their chatter, but Michonne couldn't help but steal glances at Lori and Rick.
They lingered at the door for a moment, exchanging quiet words. Rick's usual hardened demeanour when he spoke to her was not present; he appeared at ease, genuinely engaged in their conversation, a stark contrast to the tension Michonne had noticed at the campsite.
She had been the one to encourage him to be cordial, but watching it unfold now felt irritating, as silly and childish as it was.
When they finally parted ways, Rick headed to the backyard while Lori returned to the girls, a smile lighting up her face.
"Did you and Rick actually have a conversation without either of you storming off?" Maggie asked, her disbelief evident.
"Yeah… I think we're starting to get along," Lori replied, her voice laced with hope.
"For now, at least," Rosita chimed in, her words tumbling out quicker than she intended.
"Rosita," Maggie interjected.
"Hey, I said not a complete bitch! That was me being half bitchy" Rosita quipped, taking a sip from her cup and earning a laugh from the group.
After some surprisingly pleasant chatter, the girls finally made their way to the backyard, ready to join the boys.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the air buzzed with music, laughter, and animated chatter. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the chaos, Michonne found herself revelling in the moment, surrounded by people who had once felt like mere shadows in her life.
Yet, amidst the joy, a familiar irritation bubbled up whenever her gaze landed on Rick. He was still being friendly with Lori, and the sight of them playing cornhole together only intensified her annoyance. Who would have thought a simple game could stir such feelings? Watching Lori's laughter and playful banter with him was like a thorn in her side. She hated that it bothered her, especially since they had agreed to keep things platonic.
Trying to shake the feeling, she distanced herself from the crowd, wandering over to the firepit.
"Feeling a bit jealous?" Sasha teased, sneaking up on Michonne as she sat alone by the fire pit, lost in her thoughts.
"Why would I be jealous?" Michonne shot back, a hint of defensiveness creeping into her voice.
"I was just kidding! I came over to see how you were doing," Sasha replied, a playful smile on her face.
"Do I look like I'm laughing? Do I seem like I need a check-in?" Michonne shot back, her irritation evident.
"My fucking bad, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. Won't do that again." Sasha replied, backing off.
Before the tension could escalate, Rick strolled over, giving Sasha the chance to slip away from her sister's wrath.
"Want to play some cornhole?" he asked, a friendly grin on his face.
"No way, I can't stand cornhole," Michonne shot back, fully aware of her own immaturity but unable to rein it in.
Rick hesitated, searching for the right words. "Beer pong?" he suggested.
She took a moment, her expression softening as she recognized that her earlier chilliness wasn't necessary.
"I'm just not in the mood right now, maybe later" she offered a half smile.
Rick caught the hint in her words and turned away, heading back to join the others. He stopped to chat with Shane, both of them stealing glances in her direction.
It was unusual for her to experience jealousy, but as she observed him retreating, she couldn't help but acknowledge that was exactly what she felt.
…
In time, she found a way to shake off the feeling, realizing her immaturity and returned to the group just as they were about to cut the birthday cake. As the familiar tune of "Happy Birthday" filled the air, she caught sight of Rick lingering at the edge, his gaze averted and his presence feeling miles away.
It struck her then that this was the root of her hesitation to deepen their bond. If their relationship had stayed uncomplicated, she might have felt free to express her feelings to him. Instead, she had turned a simple feeling into a tangled web of confusion.
" Michonne, can you go grab some ice from downstairs?" Shane called out as she sat with a plate of cake in hand.
She blinked at him, puzzled. "Uh, sure, but I'm not sure where it is."
"Rick can go with you," he suggested.
Rick turned to her, gesturing for her to follow. As she walked behind him, a thousand thoughts raced through her mind, but the right words eluded her. She trailed silently until they reached the freezer downstairs.
Abruptly, Rick stopped and looked her way. "Listen, I know you're upset with me, but I swear I haven't been dodging you. I've just been buried in work."
She averted her gaze, feeling the weight of his sincere apology. It made her feel like the worst person alive. The realization that he thought she was angry with him only deepened her embarrassment, and she couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt for how immature she had been.
"Rick, I wasn't mad at you for being busy with work," Michonne replied.
"Then what did I do?" he asked, concern etched across his features.
Taking a deep breath, she recognized it was time to express herself honestly."No, you didn't do anything…I was just in my head when I saw you being friendly with Lori" Michonne confessed, her cheeks warming with embarrassment.
"Oh," Rick said, momentarily taken aback. "But I thought you wanted me to be cordial?" His eyes locked onto hers, compelling her to maintain the connection.
"I did… I do, I was just feeling a bit…"
"Jealous?" he suggested, finishing her thought.
Caught off guard, she nodded, the embarrassment flooding her.
A grin broke across his face. "Chonne, friends don't get jealous of each other's exes," Rick teased lightly.
"I know…but I couldn't control it," Michonne replied, a hint of shyness creeping into her voice.
"Well, if it helps, I could go upstairs and start a scene with her right now," Rick joked, pretending to head toward the stairs.
She grabbed his wrist stopping him "Stop making fun of me" Michonne urged looking down.
"I'm not making fun of you, I'm just teasing you," he replied with a charming grin. "Honestly, I think it's kind of adorable," he confessed.
"Adorable?" she asked, tilting her head to meet his gaze.
"Yeah, I never thought you'd be the type to get jealous, especially not over me…" he confessed, a hint of surprise in his voice.
"Yeah… me too" she admitted softly.
"If it makes you feel better, I feel a twinge of jealousy every time someone else takes up your time," he said, stepping closer, the air thickening between them.
"Friends shouldn't feel jealous about that…" Michonne murmured, her voice low and sultry.
"Friends don't kiss, either," he countered, his eyes locked onto her lips before drifting back to her eyes, his mouth slightly parted, his tongue teasing the edge. "And friends don't stand this close wanting to do it again."
"Yeah…what else don't friends do?" Michonne asked, curiosity dancing in her tone.
"This..." he murmured, leaning in to place soft kisses on her neck. "Friends wouldn't do this, would they?" He trailed his lips from her neck to her collarbone, leaving a delicate trail of kisses across her chest.
Michonne placed a hand on his cheek, urging him up until their lips met in a fervent embrace.
A/N: Is someone going to catch them?...and will they live happily ever after and never have another conflict ever again? I realized I made Glenn a Leo do you all think that tracks? My favourite part of writing this fic is the sisterly interactions between Sasha and Michonne, I just write them the way that my sister and I interact.