He suddenly had an epiphany: he had never ventured into her backyard before. It wasn't the yard size that exactly knocked his socks off—most homes in the area boasted generous plots due to their location.
What really caught his eye was the rich greenery and life pulsating in the backyard. Sure, she had mentioned her love for gardening, but this was a whole new level.
As she led him down the grassy path, he couldn't help but admire the six sprawling garden beds flanking them—one side overflowing with ripe fruits, the other a cornucopia of fresh vegetables. At the end of this green paradise stood a delightful little greenhouse, a clear testament to her gardening skills.
In one corner, a magnificent persimmon tree loomed, its branches sagging under the weight of potential.
"Thanks!" she replied, plucking some oregano from the little greenhouse. "You grew up on a farm, and you're impressed by this?" she teased.
"Yes! I'm shocked ,you can't fix a leaky pipe, but you can create this," he shot back.
"I would have figured it out," she said, flashing a smile that hinted at her resourcefulness.
After a whirlwind afternoon of shuttling back and forth from her house to the donation center, Michonne insisted he stay for dinner as a token of gratitude.
They made their way back to her kitchen. As he settled in, he couldn't help but marvel at Michonne's backyard prowess—it was a glimpse into the remarkable woman she was.
Are you sure you don't need any help?" he asked, watching her chop vegetables.
"Not a chance! You've done enough. Just sit there and look cute," she replied with a mischievous smile.
"So you think I'm cute?" he teased, loving the playful exchange.
"Maybe?" she shot back, leaving him grinning like he just won the lottery.
He paused for a moment, feeling a bit shy as memories of the previous night floated back. "Hey, about last night… it's not that I didn't want to stay, but I didn't want to give you the wrong impression. I just wanted to take things slow and actually take you out on a real date before…" he stumbled over his words.
Michonne let out a soft laugh. "Are you really apologizing for not jumping into bed with me?" she raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.
"Well, I have to admit previously I may have been a bit too forward. I want to slow things down show that I'm serious. I genuinely want to take you out," he clarified.
"Isn't this a date?" Michonne asked, pausing her chopping to give him a teasing look.
"This is a date?" Rick asked taken back
"If you want it to be," she said with a playful wink.
"I'm being serious, Michonne. I want to take you on a proper date," Rick insisted. "I have the kids next week, but the week after, let me treat you to a real date."
Michonne shrugged, continuing to slice the vegetables. "Sure," she said, trying to hide her smile. She had to admit, there was something irresistibly charming about him.
…
She observed as the little girl sprang from Rick's arms, a bundle of energy ready to dash. Rick lunged to catch her before she could bolt, but she was already racing up the long driveway toward Michonne.
"Judy, please wait for us"Rick shouted, causing Judith to pause right in front of Michonne's porch.
Michonne couldn't help but grin at the eager little girl, who stood just a few feet away, waiting for her dad to catch up. Rick shut the truck door behind him. From the passenger seat, Michonne noticed a boy she assumed was Carl stepping out of the truck, looking rather unimpressed and lost in his own world, one AirPod in ear.
It was unusual for a teenager to make her feel uneasy, but suddenly, a wave of nerves washed over her. Maybe this wasn't the best idea after all.
What was supposed to be a romantic date had morphed into a family outing with Rick's kids. At the last minute, Rick had to take the kids for the week because his ex-wife had to travel for a funeral. He had called Michonne, profusely apologizing for having to cancel plans.
To her surprise, and his, she insisted they still meet up, assuring him that she wouldn't mind if he brought the kids along.
As she made the suggestion, she half-expected him to decline, but much to her surprise, Rick thought it might not be such a terrible idea to introduce Michonne as just a "friend."
He grappled with the idea of introducing his kids to a woman he hardly knew, but for reasons that danced just out of reach, he found himself saying yes. He even went so far as to tell Lori he was bringing them to meet a "new friend." Naturally, he was no fool; he kept a few details under wraps.
And so, they arrived at Michonne's house, making a brief stop before heading to the farmers market.
"I'm Judy," the little girl announced, gazing up at Michonne with wide eyes.
Michonne knelt down to meet her at eye level. "Hi Judy, I'm Michonne," she replied warmly.
"I like your dress," Judy said, her tiny hands running through her hair in that endearing, chaotic way that only toddlers could manage.
"Thank you!" Michonne said, feeling a flutter of delight. "I love your dress too," she added, pointing to the charming blue gingham number that Judith wore.
The toddler beamed, clearly thrilled by the compliment. "I picked it!" she exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over.
"Sorry," Rick interjected, feeling the need to apologize, unsure of what Judith had just said.
"Don't be I was just complimenting Judy's pretty dress" Michonne said slowly standing up to meet Rick's gaze.
"What do you say,Judy?" Rick asked, glancing down at the little girl.
"Thank you!" Judith replied, swaying playfully
Absolutely!" Michonne said, giving her a cheeky wink..
It might have been the presence of the children but Michonne felt an unexpected shyness wash over her as she stood before Rick.
Rick couldn't help but admire her; she looked stunning with her locs gently curled and adorned with tiny gold clips, all while wearing a green Kaftan dress that was both modest and sexy.
Snapping out of his daze, Rick realized he had been staring for far too long without introducing his son.
"Uh, sorry, Michonne! This is my son, Carl," he said, turning to Carl and then back to Michonne.
Carl pulled out his AirPod, stashed it away, and extended his hand for a shake—a rather unusual but polite gesture for a kid his age.
"Nice to meet you, Carl," Michonne said, shaking his hand.
"Nice to meet you!" Carl replied quickly, retracting his hand afterward.
Eager to welcome them inside, Michonne invited them in, needing to gather a few things before heading to the farmers' market.
Carl scooped up Judith, following closely behind Michonne, with Rick trailing right behind them.
She was sure to make them feel at home while she dashed upstairs.
There was a strange urgency in her preparations, as if she had something to prove; bringing his kids along seemed to have added an extra layer of pressure.
"Carl don't touch things that don't belong to you, you know better" Rick reminded.
As she re-entered the living room, she found Carl holding one of the comic books from her small bookshelf.
From her spot, Michonne caught sight of Carl rolling his eyes slightly as he turned away from Rick, carefully returning the comic to its rightful place.
"I'm ready to go" Michonne announced gathering both their attention.
In a flash, they were all on their feet, heading toward the door. Rick bent down to scoop up Judith, but she adamantly protested, declaring herself a "big girl" who could walk on her own. Rick, however, insisted she take his hand, worried she might bolt like she had done earlier.
As they made their way to the truck, Michonne and Carl lagged a bit behind, and she felt a twinge of awkwardness, still trying to figure out Carl.
"Cool comics," Carl remarked, his tone dripping with that classic teenage nonchalance.
"Yeah? You into them?" Michonne inquired, curious.
"Yeah. I noticed you have a copy of Invincible," Carl replied, his interest piqued.
"Have you read it?" Michonne pressed on.
"Nah, just watched the show," he admitted.
"I could lend you a couple of volumes if you're interested," Michonne offered.
Really? That'd be awesome" Carl said, a small grin spreading across his face.
Rick quickly turned around as he reached the truck, shooting a smile over to Michonne. He could already tell that it wouldn't take much for Carl to get used to Michonne which was a huge reveal considering how risky it was allowing them to meet so soon.
A/N: Sorry took so long to update I just wrote so much nonsense for this without editing it and with school, I can only focus on one story at a time. I'll try to edit all the chapters I have and release them before my break is done , no promises though. Thank you for you're reviews 333