August 30th
Sunday Dinner
Rick had taken the day off, eager to drive down for dinner. At first, it was just going to be him and Daryl, but Maggie insisted that Michonne join them.
Rick had always carved out time for Sunday dinners whenever he found himself with a free weekend. Maggie had invited Michonne to join them several times, but she always hesitated. There was something about entering that space that felt significant, even before she realized her feelings for Rick. He never pressured her, which made her think there was a reason for her reluctance.
Now, Michonne felt that she had delayed long enough; it was time to accept the invitation. Knowing that Daryl and Glenn would be there eased her nerves a bit.
She wasn't going to be introduced as Rick's girlfriend—she wasn't that ,yet—but the atmosphere felt charged, and the stakes seemed higher than she expected.
As they arrived at the expansive farmhouse, surrounded by fields and barns, Michonne was struck by a wave of unfamiliarity. It was a world so different from her own, and it made her wonder how Rick would feel stepping into her life. But that was a thought for another day.
Upon their arrival, they were welcomed by Maggie and Glenn, who were lounging on the porch. Maggie sprang up, enveloping all three of them in a warm embrace. She hugged them as if they hadn't seen each other in ages, which was amusing considering it had only been less than a day.
Eager to show Michonne around, Maggie quickly pulled her away from Rick, her excitement palpable as she led the way through the screen door, practically humming with joy while Michonne followed closely behind.
As they entered, Michonne's gaze roamed the interior, taking in the details. Sasha who had been over a few times had described the house as American colonial with rustic charm. Michonne couldn't help but smile, realizing how spot-on that description was. There was an intentionality about the home that wrapped around her like a comforting embrace.
Maggie wasted no time in introducing Michonne to their younger sister, Beth. Michonne had heard plenty about the younger Greene sister from both Rick and Maggie.
"Michonne is here!" Maggie announced, catching Beth's attention as she set the table. Beth looked up and offered Michonne a quick wave.
"Nice to meet you," the blonde said, her voice laced with a familiar Southern drawl, reminiscent of Maggie's.
Michonne returned the greeting, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves as Maggie ushered her into the kitchen to meet Hershel.
"Daddy, Michonne is here" Maggie said grabbing his attention.
With a hint of shyness, Michonne reached out her hand to Hershel. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. Thank you for inviting me to dinner," she said, her voice steady despite the butterflies in her stomach.
The older gentleman stood before her in a white button-up and a pair of dress pants, clearly fresh from church, just as Rick had described.
"Thrilled to finally have you here," Hershel said, shaking her hand warmly, a smile lighting up his face.
Before long, Patricia, the widow of Hershel's farmhand, bustled into the kitchen to lend a hand with dinner.
Dinner arrived quicker than Michonne had expected. Just as she expected Hershel led them in prayer before they dove in to their meal. In the prayer he had expressed his gratitude for having her as a guest at the table, which brought a smile to her face. It had been ages since she had participated in a mealtime prayer; her grandma never let a meal go by without saying grace first.
As they dined, the table buzzed with conversation and laughter, making Michonne feel right at home. Even though most of the people at the table weren't related by blood, there was a familial warmth in their interactions—a testament to the kind of man Hershel was and the inviting atmosphere he had cultivated in his home.
Once dinner wrapped up, the table was cleared in a flash. Rick, Glenn, and Daryl slipped away, seemingly eager to head to the barn for reasons that remained a mystery to Michonne. Meanwhile, Patricia, Beth, and Maggie headed to the kitchen to tackle the cleanup.
Michonne chose to stay at the table, engrossed in conversation with Hershel. Having been raised by her grandmother, Michonne had a knack for connecting with older folks, unlike many of her peers who struggled to bridge that generational gap.
"You're quite an intriguing young lady, just like you're sister" Hershel remarked as she wrapped up her thoughts.
"Some might say that," Michonne replied, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.
"Rick would definitely say so; he can't stop talking about you," Hershel added, almost teasingly.
A wave of embarrassment washed over Michonne "Really?" she managed to say.
"Absolutely. He seems to value your friendship a great deal," Hershel affirmed. " Now I understand why" he added with a wink.
Michonne couldn't help feel some sort of relief knowing that the man who had raised Rick somewhat liked her. Rick had affirmed her that he would, but she had still felt nervous about meeting him.
Her gaze flitted nervously around the farmhouse dining room, taking in the familiar yet foreign surroundings. It struck her as strange that this was her first visit to the place where Rick had spent his childhood. Even Sasha had been here yet this was her first time.
Eventually, they migrated to the living room, where the rest of the crew joined in for some spirited rounds of card games. As the cards flew, it finally dawned on her where the group's obsession with these games originated. Hershel was the source behind it all, especially with his uncanny ability to rack up wins.
As the night wound down, Hershel loaded Daryl and Rick up with enough leftovers to feed a small army, though knowing those two, they'd probably devour it all by breakfast.
Rick and Daryl wasted no time heading back to the truck, while Michonne lingered on the porch, deep in conversation with Hershel, despite having bid farewell three times already. It was a charming quirk she inherited from her grandmother.
"Well, I hope to see you more often," Hershel said, beaming.
"I'll do my best with the school year approaching. Maybe I can swing by for Sunday dinner once a month," Michonne replied, returning the smile.
"I'll take that as a promise," Hershel said, pulling her in for a hug, which she gladly returned.
As he released her, a look of concern crossed his face. "And keep an eye on Rick for me, will you? I worry about him, especially now that he's not home," he said, sounding like a typical worrying parent.
Michonne furrowed her brow, taking his worries to heart. "I will," she assured him. That was a promise.
She waved goodbye as she strolled toward the truck. Climbing into the backseat, she caught Daryl and Rick looking at her the same way she used to gaze at her grandmother. Their grandma would tell them they were leaving, only to stay behind and chat for another twenty minutes.
"Sorry, sorry," Michonne said, fastening her seatbelt.
"Looks like you two hit it off," Rick remarked, flashing her a grin.
As they drove away, Michonne couldn't shake the memory of her grandma. Her chat with Hershel had unleashed a wave of nostalgia. It had been far too long since her last visit, and she mentally noted to make that almost four-hour trek to Savannah soon.
For a brief moment, she thought about inviting Rick along, but decided against it. Timing is everything, after all. Not just yet.
September 17th
New Normal
Rick leaned back in his chair, the sun warming his face as he spoke. "I've got practice later, and then I'm covering a shift at the office downtown."
They were seated at one of the many round tables scattered across campus, the blue sky stretching above them. Even though the temperature hovered around seventy-seven degrees, there was a refreshing chill in the air, a subtle reminder that autumn was just around the corner, with the yellow and orange leaves already hinting at the change.
"Another shift?" Michonne exclaimed, her eyebrows shooting up in disbelief.
The security company that had brought Rick on for bar duty had begun offering him extra shifts at more prestigious locations around the city. He had developed a genuine fondness for his job, and the prospect of more hours excited him, making him eager to take on whatever came his way.
While this was great for his pockets, it also meant his schedule was becoming increasingly packed. It had been a whole week since he had spent an entire day with Michonne. Between school, work, and practice, his free time had dwindled to almost nothing. Whenever he did find a moment to breathe, it was usually consumed by studying.
The new school year had only just begun, yet the assignments were piling up at an alarming rate. If it weren't for the two days a week when their classes overlapped, he might not have seen her at all.
Michonne's expression revealed her disappointment, though she tried to mask it with fatigue. Deep down, she understood that this was the reality of the school year, but she hadn't anticipated it hitting so hard, so soon. Her own schedule was just as hectic, especially now that she was volunteering at a gallery every other weekend as event host and gallery guide.
"I'm free on Sunday, want to swing by for dinner?" he suggested, eager to carve out a sliver of time for them.
"I'll be at the gallery on Sunday," she replied, her lips forming a slight pout.
" Well this sucks" he admitted, feeling a wave of defeat wash over him.
"At least I can catch you between classes," she said, trying to unearth a silver lining in the cloud of their schedules.
The late afternoon sun of September cast a warm glow on her skin, making her brown eyes shimmer. He longed to kiss her, but the thought of being seen by someone they knew kept him rooted in place.
"What?" Michonne asked, feeling his gaze pierce through her.
"Wanna kiss you" he confessed, leaning in a little closer, his chin resting on his hand like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Michonne scrunched her nose, trying to hide a shy smile. "Stop" she teased, rolling her eyes playfully.
"I'm serious," he replied, a mischievous smile dancing on his lips. "Chonne, just one little kiss, please."
"We're in public," she replied, her voice trying to sound firm but failing miserably.
"Just a peck on the cheek," he playfully pleaded, pointing to his cheek with a wink. "Pleeeaase?"
Michonne glanced around, ensuring the coast was clear. With only a few students meandering about the campus, she decided that a quick little kiss wouldn't be too bad.
Rick, ever the dramatist, placed both hands over his heart and swayed as if he were about to swoon.
She couldn't help but giggle at his antics. "You're ridiculous" Michonne said, shaking her head in amusement.
"So, what's the scoop on this sculpting class?" Rick asked, nudging her toward a topic she had been itching to discuss.
"Ugh, the professor is new from New York and thinks the sun shines out of his ass. He's the least helpful person I've encountered in the last four years," Michonne said, her frustration bubbling over. "I just know we're going to clash this semester."
"It's wild that you know your professors well enough to clash with them. I can't remember ever having a real conversation with more than two of mine," Rick replied.
"The fine arts program is way more hands-on, that's why. A lot of the same professors, and I actually know many of them by their first names," Michonne explained.
"First-name basis with your professors? How adorable, my little nerd," Rick quipped, unable to resist.
Michonne retorted by sticking her tongue out at him.
"You're lucky though, you actually enjoy being in school," Rick said with a sigh. "I thought criminology was my path, but here I am, four years later, still unsure of what comes next. I always imagined being a detective, but school has kind of dimmed that dream for me." Rick admitted.
Michonne took his hand, remembering all the times he had voiced his uncertainties about school and life after.
"You'll figure it out I promise" Michonne said assuring him.
"Yeah, but first I need to figure out how to cram three days' worth of studying and assignments into one so I can steal some time with you," Rick said with a cheeky grin.
"Exactly!" Michonne agreed.
It was amusing how they had gone from hanging out nearly every day to now having to schedule their time together. It made those stolen moments between classes feel all the more precious. They both accepted that this would be their new normal for a while.
Sept 25th
Possessive
"Who throws a party after losing?" Michonne quipped, raising an eyebrow at Rick.
Earlier that night, they had faced a home game that was less of a game and more of a massacre, ending with a score of 68 to 14. But that didn't deter the rugby club from finding a reason to celebrate their valiant efforts—or lack thereof. Spencer took it upon himself to host this shindig, which Rick wasn't necessarily fond of especially with Michonne deciding to tag along. He was honestly surprised she even made it to the game, let alone showed up at the after-party.
"People just looking for a reason to drink," Rick replied, glancing at Michonne.
As usual, they had slipped away from the crowd and found a quiet spot outside.
"I'm surprised you made it," Rick confessed with genuine warmth.
"Had to catch you in your uniform at least once" Michonne said her tone flirtatious.
"Oh really? Did I meet your expectations?" Rick inquired, a smirk creeping onto his face.
"Uh huh" Michonne said, her head bobbing with a flirtatious smile that was dizzying.
He realized it might be ages before they both had a free day, and truth be told, he'd rather whisk Michonne away to his place, especially since it would be blissfully empty.
"You trying to get out of here?" he asked in a near whisper.
Michonne shot him a cheeky grin, but before she could answer, the commotion of the back door sliding open caught her attention. There stood Sasha, Spencer, and a stranger.
In a flash, she leaped from her seat, surprise lighting up her face. "Siddiq?" she exclaimed, striding over to the guy she clearly recognized and enveloping him in a hug.
Before he knew it, Siddiq, Sasha, and Spencer had joined them at the patio table. From what he gathered during their introductions, Siddiq was one of their childhood pals. The four of them had grown up together, their parents mingling in the same social circles. It was evident that Sasha and Michonne hadn't seen Siddiq in quite some time.
They were eager to catch up, and any plans Rick had of leaving evaporated. He settled in to listen as they reminisced. From what he gathered, Siddiq had chosen to study out of state, only in town for the weekend for a wedding. Thanks to Spencer, he was now part of the gathering, not that Rick minded… he really didn't.
The four continued catching up reminiscing and Rick felt the need to excuse himself seeing that he couldn't really provide anything to the conversation. Michonne gave him a quick smile as he got up.
As he strolled back into the house, Spencer, ever the shadow, followed closely behind.
"Did you know Siddiq was Michonne's first boyfriend?" Spencer blurted out, his voice cutting through the air like a knife as they entered the kitchen.
"Okay?" Rick replied, shooting a sideways glance at Spencer, who was busy rummaging through the fridge.
"I thought you might want to know," Spencer said, a smug grin plastered across his face as he turned to face Rick.
"Why would I care?" Rick asked, trying to maintain his cool demeanor.
Michonne had mentioned her first boyfriend just never said his name, they dated for a week in middle school before realizing they were better off as friends.
"Well aren't you two dating" Spencer pressed, his tone a mix of certainty and uncertainty, as if he were trying to solve a riddle..
"Not really your business, but we're just friends," Rick replied, his jaw tightening ever so slightly.
Oh, really? So she's still single? Good to know—I guess I still have a shot," Spencer said, his smirk growing wider.
Rick nearly laughed at Spencer's misplaced bravado but opted for silence instead. He stood there, giving Spencer a look that could lazer through him, which seemed to be too much for Spencer, who retreated to the backyard without even grabbing his drink.
Rick understood Spencer's game, but it wasn't working. He wasn't jealous or threatened by other guys. He had grown accustomed to the way they looked at Michonne, even if she didn't notice. It made sense; she was stunning, and that came with the territory.
Still, it irked him just a little that Spencer thought Michonne was available. Everyone seemed to think she was single, and it was hard to keep quiet, especially with her name popping up in locker room conversations.
Now that Michonne had been seen out and about more often, a few guys who had previously ignored her were suddenly taking notice. Some even crossed the line into disrespectful territory, which Rick quickly shut down. Even if he didn't have feelings for her, he wouldn't tolerate that kind of behavior toward any woman in his life.
If everyone knew they were an item, maybe people wouldn't feel so emboldened to spout stupid shit in front of him. Perhaps it was time for him to man up and ask her to make things official.
He couldn't just linger in the kitchen while she chatted away with Siddiq, so he opted to distract himself by heading over to Shane, who was slumped on the couch like a puppy waiting for its owner, clearly waiting for Sasha.
"I'm not a fan of that guy, " he said, narrowing his eyes as Rick plopped down beside him.
Who? Siddiq?" Rick replied, a smirk creeping onto his face.
"Yeah…" Shane said, taking a swig from his bottle.
"He's just a friend," Rick insisted, fully aware that Sasha had probably filled Shane in on the details.
"So they say. How can anyone be that close of friends with Sasha and not want to see her naked? I don't buy it ;he must have had a crush on her at some point.
The statement may have been foolish, but there was something oddly charming about it. It gave a glimpse into Shane's feelings for Sasha.
Rick, however, had no intention of diving into the fact that Michonne and Siddiq had a brief fling back in eighth grade; he wasn't in the mood to navigate that particular maze with Shane.
"How's it going with that girl from work?" Shane asked, a smug grin plastered on his face, clearly eager to steer the conversation away from his spiraling thoughts about Sasha and Siddiq's past.
For a moment, Rick had to process what he meant. "Oh… great, actually," Rick replied.
"See? I told you, you just had to put yourself out there," Shane said, giving him a playful nudge.
"I'm thinking of asking her to be my girlfriend," Rick blurted out faster than he could think.
"Already? Damn, Rick, you're moving at lightning speed!" Shane exclaimed, his eyes wide with surprise.
" It's not that fast" Rick defended.
"Sasha and I took three months to figure things out," Shane countered.
"That's different! I just know. I've felt it since the moment I met her. Plus, if I make it official, people will stop hitting on her… you know, the folks at work," Rick said.
Shane paused, a questioning look crossing his face. "Right…" he said, giving Rick a sidelong glance.
"What?" Rick asked, puzzled.
"You want to ask her out just to keep other guys from checking her out? If that's your main reason, I'd suggest you rethink that," Shane said in a tone Rick rarely heard from him.
That's not the only reason!" Rick protested.
"I don't think it should be a reason at all," Shane clarified. "Guys are always going to look where they shouldn't, say things they shouldn't, and hit on women they shouldn't. Whether you ask her to be your girlfriend or not, I would know because I used to be that guy. You need to be sure you want to be with her for the right reasons. You could have the best intentions, but if it's rooted in possessiveness, that's just unfair to her. It'll take away from your true intentions," Shane explained, showcasing a level of emotional wisdom that almost left Rick speechless..
"Whoa, that was surprisingly deep. Did someone knock some sense into you on the field? Are you concussed?" Rick joked, genuinely impressed by Shane's newfound insight.
Shane leaned back. "I've been there, you know. Sasha turned me down twice for the same reason, and it took me a hot minute to catch on," he confessed.
Before Rick could respond, Sasha strolled over to the couch. A grin instantly spread across Shane's face as he watched her approach.
Miss me?" Sasha asked, settling herself on the arm of the couch next to Shane.
Shane merely nodded, trying to play it cool, leaving Rick unsure if he was putting on a show for Sasha or for him. It was strange to witness this version of Shane, the one clearly smitten, in a way that seemed to inspire him to improve.
Feeling like the third wheel, Rick retreated to the kitchen, realizing that watching Shane and Sasha eye fuck wasn't exactly how he envisioned his evening.
He couldn't help but glance at Michonne and Siddiq through the window, still deep in conversation about who knows what. Spencer had seemingly ghosted, probably feeling like a third wheel after Sasha had made her exit.
As he watched Michonne throw her head back in laughter at something Siddiq had said, a twinge of jealousy pricked at Rick. A possessive feeling had snuck in over the past few weeks. He wanted to be the only one who made Michonne laugh, the only one she spent time with, the only one she confided in. He knew it was a bit absurd, but there it was.
He realized that wanting to keep her all to himself didn't exactly qualify him to ask her to be his girlfriend. She deserved more than being someone's trophy just because he didn't want to share her, even with her friends.
He resolved to wait, believing it wiser to sort through his jealousy before making any moves.
A/N: I know I wrote this but I have a theory that Shane's growth is because of Sasha, won't a black woman do it! Also, I be reading some of these reviews geeked so thank you for enjoying the story as much as I like writing it :)
(It's reading week and I have a week without classes. I have four chapters I want to edit and upload, no promises but I'll try.)