Rough Night

When Rick entered his home, he was met with the deafening screams of his eighteen month old son, Carl and the sobs of his wife, Michonne who was sitting on the kitchen floor with a wine glass in her hand. He would have laughed at the scene if he had never seen her so vulnerable.

"Hey." He called to her softly. Carl had ceased his screaming, begging for Rick to pick him up, but Michonne hadn't moved from her spot. Instead, she wiped her tears and took another sip.

"Hi." She said, flatly.

"You okay?" He bent down to her level, holding their son.

"I've been at home with a sick baby. Do you think I'm okay?" She glared at him. He nodded his head and stood. She didn't want to be mad at him, but she was tired. "I can't fucking do this alone, Rick. I need help!"

When he stayed quiet she got up. "Fucking ridiculous." She mumbled as she took Carl from him and made her way upstairs. Carl had been sick for two weeks now and also he was old enough to fight off the disease, he still wanted to be cuddled at all times. He rested his head in the crook of her neck and wiped his tears o her shirt. The sight made his heart melt. Carl had matched onto Michonne like she was his mother the minute he had met her. They used to joke that the reason why she stayed with him and ultimately married him was because of him. Now, seeing them interact made him believe that it was true.

He sighed and ran his hands through his curly brown hair and followed the two upstairs.

Rick stood by the bathroom and watched his son and wife play in the bathtub. Carl had calmed down significantly now that Michonne was paying attention to him. He chuckled because he was the same way. She looked up and smiled a small smile before returning her attention to the smallest family member.

Rick made his way to their bedroom and decided that he would wait for her. He removed his sheriff's uniform and stepped into the bathroom. A nice long shower would do him some good.

He sat at the edge of the bed waiting for her. It was almost an hour after he had finished his shower and she still hadn't come into the room. He sighed, knowing just how attached Carl was to her. Just as he was about to decide to check up on them, she opened and closed the door quietly.

"Hey." He whispered.

"Hey." She copied as she went to her drawer to pull out a tank top and underwear.

"Can we talk?" He asked as she stripped. He watched her for a moment before continuing. "I'm sorry I'm not here more often to help." She was putting on her underwear. "I wish I could be, but... I just wish that I was as flexible and good at this as you are. You're superwoman and I'm just a sheriff." She pulled her tank top down and walked towards him. She kissed the top of his head and he wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry."

"I know."

"I don't want to fail you or Carl."

"You're not." She kissed him again and he exhaled into her stomach.

"I'll try harder. I will, I promise."

"Good." She said as she straddled him. She ran her hand through his curls. "Carl needs to see you more often. He can't grow up thinking that people abandoned him." He closed his eyes as she grazed his scalp. "I need to see you more too. I miss you; I miss seeing you and talking to you."

He kissed her neck and said, "I miss you too."

"You don't need to over-exert yourself, we don't need the extra money. You need to have a life outside of work for this relationship to work. Because if I leave, I'm taking Carl and your colt. Then you'll really be alone." He snorted. "I'm serious, Rick. I can't do this by myself."

He kissed her then. To shut her up, but also to show her how much he loved and appreciated her. "No." She pouted.

"You sound like Carl." He teased.

"You're as clingy as Carl and you don't listen.." She retorted.

"Can't help it. I'm distracted by your beauty." He went to kiss her again, but she moved her head. He licked her cheek instead.

"You're gross. I'm going to bed." She attempted to get up, but he had her locked. "Rick, I'm tired, come on." She half-begged.

"One kiss and I'll let you go to bed." She eyed him tentatively before kissing him on the lips. When she found that he still had a hold on her, she frowned.

"Rick!"

"I didn't say on the lips."

"Really? After today, I think not."

He laughed and let her go. She pushed him off the bed just in case.

"I let you go!" He said, shocked by her actions.

"Couldn't risk it." She said as she dived under the covers.

"You act like we don't sleep in the same bed." He groaned while getting up, he was really getting old.

"Then if you really love me, you'll let me sleep."

"Let me think about that," He paused. "No."

She rolled her eyes and turned off the lamp beside her. "Yes."

"No."

"Now who sounds like Carl?" She teased.

He laughed and propped himself on the bed. He started massaging her feet and she quickly retracted them from his reach. This didn't deter him though. He stalked towards her and she flailed, exasperated. "Rick!" She whined.

He stopped all attempts at seducing; she was fighting back tears. He straddled her and held her face in his hands. "Hey, it's okay." She rarely ever had tantrums. In his ten years of knowing her, she had had two prior to this evening, one was about over Lola, her French bulldog. "I'm here now." He wiped her tears. "I'm sorry, I'll do better, I'll be better." She nodded her head. "I'll come home earlier, I'll help around the house, I'll get you your favourite wine to drink on tough days." She laughed, embarrassed to have been caught. "I'll do better, I promise. Okay?"

"Okay." She nodded again.

He got up and went to change in his pyjamas which consisted of just pants. He came back to the bed and pulled her to him. He kissed her shoulder and whispered, "I'll do better for you and for Carl."

She sunk deeper into his chest. They lay there for a few minutes before she felt a familiar stir.

"Are you serious, Rick?"

"I can't help it." He smirked, burying his face in her neck.