A/N: This is where this story concludes. Thanks so much for the response to, and support for this little fic. I love you all.


Earlier in the day…

Casey got to work right away after Rick had instructed him to assist Abraham; he hammered the nail into the lattice and then stood it up. He was engrossed in his task and did not hear Rick walk up behind him.

"Casey," Rick said; the younger man turned to face him.

"Yeah?" he answered.

"There's no easy way to say this, so I'm just gonna go ahead and ask," he said sternly. Casey gave him a questioning look. "You and Michonne, what's goin' on there?"

"I'm sorry?" asked Casey, surprised by the query.

"What's going on between you and Michonne?" Rick pressed.

"I don't know what you're talking about, man," he replied dismissively. Irritated, Rick closed the distance between them. He stared up at Casey; his blue eyes steely and his jaw clenched.

"Just answer the damn question," he said quietly, barely above a whisper, but wholly menacing.

"Are you serious right now, dude?" Casey asked disbelievingly, crossing his arms and narrowing his eyes in Rick's direction.

"Answer. The. Damn. Question," said Rick, louder this time.

"Un-fucking-believable. Are you really out here asking me if I'm screwing Michonne? I don't have to take this shit from you," said Casey while backing away. "And it's none of your damn business anyways. I'll screw her if I want to."

Before the younger man could take another step, Rick had grabbed him by the shirt and pushed him backwards; he then wrapped his rough hand around Casey's throat. The newly made lattice was knocked to the ground, grabbing the attention of those nearby as they focused on the altercation between the two of them.

"You fucking stay away from her, do you hear me?" Rick spat. "Do you fucking hear me?"

"Rick!" someone called, but he took no notice; Casey struggled to breathe and tried to loosen his attacker's hold by grasping desperately at his hand.

"You see her walking towards you, you turn around and walk the other way. She goes to your house, you pretend you're not home. Do you understand me?" he asked, his grip tightening; Casey nodded frantically. "Say yes."

A choking sound that resembled a 'yes' came from the young man's mouth. Rick relinquished his hold, turned, and then left as a few onlookers rushed to Casey's side.

Presently…

It was quiet in the Grimes household. Rick and Carl silently cleared away the plates from dinner while Michonne tended to Judith's needs. When she returned to the kitchen, the younger of the Grimes hurriedly finished up his nightly duties before bidding the adults goodnight and joining his sister. Rick wiped down the bench with a dishcloth, folded it neatly, and then turned to face Michonne. She folded her arms across the front of her body as she leaned against the counter. The tension between them was thick and palpable. Rick needed to say something, but Michonne beat him to it.

"Why are you being like this?" she asked. Her gaze steely, matching his.

"Like what?" Rick asked in reply.

"Overbearing," she responded, causing him to furrow his brow and cross his arms. He tilted his head to the side slightly. "I don't get why you would tell Casey to stay away from me."

He remained quiet; Michonne sighed loudly.

"Did you tell him to stay away from me?" she asked for confirmation.

"Yes," he admitted, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Rick," she said incredulously. "Why?"

"Why didn't you tell me you found a guy?" he asked; Michonne gave him a confused, questioning look.

"What're you talking about?" she asked.

"You don't know him," he offered, not really giving her the answers that she was seeking. "You're spending a hell of a lot o' time with this guy, and you don't even know him."

"So you tell him to stay away from me?" Michonne replied, her frustration growing as she stepped closer to Rick.

"Well I can't tell you what to do, so I told him," he said as she shook her head in utter disbelief.

"Rick, I'm having a little trouble trying to understand what it is that's going on with you," she finally admitted; her voice lower, calm.

Then it was his turn to sigh.

"I guess I'm trying to protect you," he offered sincerely; his demeanor changing.

"From what?"

"I don't know, to be honest. I'll admit, when I overheard you talkin' about this guy you're so in love with, it threw me," said Rick as he tucked his hands into his pocket. "I know I have no right to be in your business, but I felt like there was, I dunno, something here between us."

"I'm sorry, I'm in love with a guy?" she asked, not having any idea what Rick was talking about.

"Come on, Michonne," he said, his irritation returning. "You're out here talkin' to anyone who'll listen about Casey, all the damn time. How he's so good looking and gorgeous and how you're so in love with him. I saw you skiving off over to his place. I know it's not my business, but…hey. Hey! Where're you goin'?"

Michonne turned to leave as Rick followed behind her.

"Michonne!" he called out as she exited the front door. "Where are you going?"

"To get this sorted once and for all," she called back, not turning to look at Rick but knowing he was still in tow.

Rick jogged a little to catch up to Michonne as she walked up to Casey's front door. They stood side-by-side, in silence, each annoyed with the other to varying degrees. They could hear his footsteps approaching as Rick glanced sideways at Michonne briefly just as the door swung open.

The smile fell away from the young man's face when he saw the stern looking couple who had come visiting him that evening. He regarded the brusque man before turning his attention to the firm-mannered woman. He appeared somewhat skittish, so Michonne gave him a small reassuring smile.

"Hey, you two," he said hesitantly. "What's…ah, what's up?"

"Casey," she started. "Sorry to bother you again, and I won't keep you long, but would it be okay if we saw Major, please?"

Rick was now confused, but did well to hide it; Michonne stared straight ahead. Casey nodded and stepped away from doorway; he returned a few moments later. Rick's confusion soon turned to awkwardness when the younger man stood in front of them and handed the handsome, ginger cat over to Michonne. The creature purred and settled in against her as she stroked its coat.

The sheepish look on Rick's face was enough to cause Michonne to let out a little chuckle. He ran his fingers through his curls and shook his head.

"So, this is the guy you found?" he asked, his face growing red.

"Yeah," she replied as Casey stood awkwardly watching their exchange. "He's gorgeous, isn't he?"

xXxXx

"You need to apologize to him, Rick," said Michonne, as she sat next to Rick on their couch. The warm glow from the lantern lighting up her pretty features.

"I know, I overreacted," said Rick, taking in her profile before staring down at his hands.

"You choked him in front of everyone, so yeah, you overreacted," said Michonne.

"I was a jealous asshole," he admitted, glancing over at Michonne. He was always comfortable in showing his vulnerabilities to her. "I thought some other guy was taking you away from us."

"I'm allowed to have friends," she said softly. "And no one will ever take me away from you, or Carl, or Judith."

"I know that," he said. "I know."

"Well, why did it bother you so much if I did, you know, find someone?" she asked; her expression grew soft, almost coy. Rick sat up and faced Michonne; she mirrored his action.

"I'm not good with words," he started. "So, I hope this comes out right. I guess it bothered me so much 'cause I have these feelings for you. And just when I was ready to let you know, I thought I'd lost you to someone else; that I'd taken too long to even tell you, and see where it might lead the two of us. Instead of talkin' to you about it, I got jealous and let it fester. I'm sorry."

Michonne held back a smile. "You were getting jealous over a cat, Rick."

He laughed a little, "I know. I'm a complete dumbass."

"You are," Michonne chortled and playfully shoved his shoulder; his grin was wide and goofy.

"So, these feelings," she added. "You wanna tell me about them?"

"No," said Rick, surprising Michonne with his response. He had been so forthcoming about his jealousy, she thought that this new, open Rick would stick around.

"No?" she asked, knitting her brow.

"I'd rather show you," he offered, low and husky, before reaching his hand up to cup her face. Shortly thereafter, he leaned in and kissed her. The kiss was soft at first, but soon became more fervent as they parted their lips to deepen it. Michonne ran her fingers through Rick's hair, but soon pulled away from the kiss.

"What's wrong?" Rick asked, breathless and stroking her face. His eyes were full of adoration, relief, and a hint of arousal.

"I think," she said, gesturing down to where Major, the ginger cat, was scratching at her jeans, vying for her attention. "Someone's a little jealous of you."