A/N: All up in my Richonne feels about the possibilities for S8. Please accept this short ficlet.
The inside of the infirmary always felt clean and cool. Rick washed his hands in the sink before checking in on Michonne. It had been the better part of a week since their battle with the Saviors, and to his absolute relief, she had been healing quickly. She wanted to go home earlier, but he did not want her to have to sleep on the floor in her condition. After some searching, he had found another bed for them and today was the day that Michonne would be going home with him.
He and Carl had made sure everything was perfect for her return. The cupboards were stocked with the ready-to-eat meals that she liked the most, which turned out to be the chili mac and cheese. Carl brought all of his comic books to her bedside table. Rick went on a quick run and did not make his way back to Alexandria until he had procured for her some toothpaste.
Now, as he watched her sit up on the infirmary bed and gather up the gifts he had brought her, he could scarcely wait to have her back under their roof. He took up a seat beside her, and took hold of her hand.
“How are you feelin’?” he asked with concern.
“I’m good,” she answered. “Just want to get out of here.”
“I know,” he replied, stroking his thumb over hers. “Won’t be long now. I just gotta go check something with Gabriel, and then I’ll be back to pack up your stuff and take you home.”
“I know you can,” he interjected. “I just wanna walk with you. Okay?”
She smiled at him and gave his hand a squeeze before offering, “Okay. Don’t be too long.”
Rick lifted her hand to his lips and planted a soft kiss to the back of it.
“I won’t be,” he replied.
“Sorry, guys,” said Tara as she entered the room while carrying a pile of sheets and blankets. “I didn’t know anyone was still in here.”
“It’s fine,” Rick said. “Only us.”
“I’ll be out of your hair soon. I’m going home today,” Michonne smiled.
“That’s awesome. Not the getting out of my hair part, because you’re no trouble at all, but the going home today part,” said the younger woman as she placed the bedding off to the side. “I’ll stop rambling now and just leave these here and stop interrupting you both.”
“Really, it’s fine,” said Rick. “I was just on my way out.”
Rick stood and placed a kiss to Michonne’s forehead; Tara bid Michonne farewell too and followed their fearless leader outside.
“She looks much better,” said Tara, as she and the man who had grown to be like a big brother to her smiled happily.
“Yeah,” he answered. “The rest has been good for her.”
Tara nodded as the two ambled along slowly, a comfortable silence fell over them. Suddenly, Tara spoke up.
“Can I just say something?” she asked, glancing sideways at Rick.
“It’s good to see this side of you,” she proffered.
“Which side?” he asked for clarification.
“This side,” she said, gesturing to him with her hand. “Every single day since Michonne was hurt, you’ve been in the infirmary by her side. Giving her water and candy; fluffing up her pillows. Doting on her. It’s nice. It’s nice to have someone special in your life to do all of those things for.”
Rick smiled, aware of the importance behind what Tara was saying; her own pain at the loss of Denise was still fresh. He placed a reassuring hand to her shoulder briefly, but said nothing; he did not have the words.
“She is pretty special to me,” he offered, bringing the focus of the conversation back to Michonne. “She’s so special.”
“So are you,” said Tara. “Apparently, good men are hard to come by. Or so I’ve heard. It’s not like I have any experience on the matter, but you’re what they’d call a keeper.”
He laughed a little at her particularly playful knack for lightening the mood.
“Yeah well, I ain’t special,” he replied, as the pair continued to walk side-by-side. “I’m just in love.”
“Well,” Tara replied, happy for what her friends had found with each other. “Like I said, it’s good to see this side of you.”
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