A/N: I challenged myself to write something short – 1500 words or less per chapter – and sweet with just a sprinkle of angst. Since this will be 6 chapters instead of my intended 5, technically, I failed. Lol.

In any case, thanks for reading!

"Marry me," Rick rasped, lazily dragging a fingertip through the sparse strip of hair covering her slick, satiated mound.

"Now?" Michonne asked, still panting as she turned her head to stare into the infinite depths of his electric blue eyes.

His fingers continued their journey, trailing up the now noticeable swell of her stomach and finally landing on her bellybutton. He lingered, drawing tender circles around her navel as she writhed beneath his touch. She was ticklish, but Rick was well-versed in all things Michonne and knew a delicate hand would generate an entirely different sensation. Carefully, he studied her, watching her abs contract as reverberations from her orgasm drove a persistent hum through her core.

"Asked before," he replied, shrugging as he leaned down to drop a sweet kiss on her protruding belly. "Won't quit 'til I get a 'yes.'"

"I've never said 'no' Rick," she countered, turning to her side and reaching out to caress the slightly prickly hairs on his chin. "You know that. It just feels… I don't know. Maybe too soon?"

She shook her head, trying to make sense of the muddled thoughts racing through her mind. The year had been a whirlwind. Finding love after Mike's death had seemed improbable, but the fates had decided otherwise. So, here she was, building a home for herself and Andre with this charming man and his kind-hearted son.

Fear of enduring such a loss again overwhelmed Michonne, holding her back from fully giving into the happiness a life with Rick and Carl offered. But as she looked into his adoring eyes, realization hit her. She trusted this man and knew what she felt for him was real. Maybe Mike's parting words had been prophetic after all.

"Haven't exactly said 'yes' either," he stated, lifting himself up and settling on his knees next to her. "I want this with you, especially now."

Softly palming her belly, he gazed down at her, losing himself in the stormy tempest of her eyes as she furrowed her brows in concentration. It had been the most exhilarating, confounding, joyful year of his life. In his wildest dreams, he couldn't have predicted that the simple act of taking Carl trick-or-treating in their new neighborhood would lead him to the love of his life and finally allow the wounds of his betrayal to heal.

"I'm pretty sure you know my answer," she said, sitting up and gesturing to her belly. "You're stuck with me."

He chuckled, crinkles forming in the corners of his eyes, his broad smile only making him more handsome. Before Mike, marriage hadn't been on her radar, though her parents had given her a long, healthy example. She'd known for months she'd marry Rick. It was just a matter of time.

"Besides, we've got a houseful of friends and family out there and we've been in here for 20 minutes. What do you think they'll think we're doing? Ugh. I'm so embarrassed. How'd I let you talk me into this?"

"You know how," he grinned, reaching over to pull her hand from her face. "Marry me and we'll go back out there right now."

"Look how chunky I am already!" Michonne exclaimed, rolling her eyes as Rick lasciviously looked down her body. "You should be scared of what this'll look like in a few months."

"Nah," he said squeezing her waist as he leaned in for a kiss. "You look beautiful with some meat on your bones."

"How do you figure?" Michonne asked, peering at him skeptically. "You looking forward to rolling me down the aisle? Be very careful how you answer."

"You were such an itty bitty thing when I met you. The wind coulda' blown you away. Been tryin'a fatten you up for the past year."

"You can stop now," she laughed, patting her belly. "Mission accomplished. Now… we just need to tell the boys."

Andre had been satisfied with 'long day at work' and 'too many pancakes' in response to why Mommy was so tired and how come he couldn't get his little arms as far around her as he used to. Carl, who'd witnessed Lori's recent pregnancy, had spent the past week side-eying them both, clearly on the cusp of just asking.

Rick wanted to tell everyone, but a more cautious Michonne insisted they wait before sharing their unexpected, but very much welcome surprise. Now past the four-month mark and settled into domestic bliss in Michonne's larger home, it was time to break the news to their boys.

Andre would be elated, having already declared himself 'over' being the younger sibling. He adored Carl, but as of late, he'd taken to insisting on a younger sibling of his very own. They'd explained to him it would be a wait, but the universe had opted to grant Andre's wish earlier than they had anticipated.

"We gotta get back out here before someone comes looking for us," Michonne yawned, coaxing her tired body to the edge of the bed.

Rick got up, pulling her with him. Retrieving her costume from the floor, he helped her shimmy into the red latex bodysuit, hypnotized by the glorious jiggle of her breasts as she did so. Sasha had done it again. Another stunning creation, certainly worthy of Misty Knight herself.

After Rick zipped her up, Michonne eagerly turned around to watch him slip back into the Captain America outfit Carl and Andre had insisted he wear; he looked delicious.

She decided they probably had ten more minutes before time away from their own party would drift into scandalous territory. Looking Rick up and down, his crooked smile beaming back at her as he cocked his head to the side, she couldn't deny herself this treat.

"Didn't you just say we had to get back out there?" he asked, dropping his mask to the floor, wrapping an arm around her waist, and walking them back to the bed.

"Say it again," she whispered, reaching down to take firm hold of his hardening member.

"Marry me," he growled, running his tongue across the edge of her ear as he dropped to the bed and pulled her into his lap.

"Yes."