#like its gonna be so much healthier with some direct sun or a grow light. yknow

[semprvivum]

low light plants are a myth change my mind

[siancore]

@richonnefics Richonne Rom Com Fanfiction Challenge Day 4: Perfect Strangers

 Presently…

The melody of the music swirled around the couple as they swayed in time with the beat. His hand felt safe and strong as it encompassed her soft, slender one. Her head rested gently against his shoulder, as his arm held her body close to his; they each had their eyes closed, relishing in the overwhelming feeling of joy that the other aroused. Michonne lifted her crown from its place of repose, and then found Rick’s gaze; she offered him a sweet smile, as he brought his hand up to caress her beautiful face. He shook his head slightly, as if he could scarcely believe the woman standing before him was real. With a tiny grin, Rick closed his eyes, leaned in, and pressed an unhurried kiss to her lips; their first for the evening.

 Twenty-four hours ago…

“Here. Just sit ‘em up there,” said the widowed farmer and single father, Rick Grimes; his twelve-year-old son, Carl, did as he was told and placed the basket of eggs on top of the wooden table. Their stall was almost ready to go. They were just adding the finishing touches: Fresh, locally grown produce straight from their farm. Rick had even given Carl a little space to display his small, hand-carved creations, in hope that those attending the Harvest Festival might purchase some. The boy was so excited the evening before the event that he could hardly sleep.

“Right,” said Rick, as he stood with his hands placed at his hips and examined their set-up. “I think we might be ready. How’s your stuff lookin’?”

“Good,” replied Carl. “It’s gonna be a good day.”

“Oh, yeah,” Rick said with an optimistic smile. “You can count on it.”

There was a slight freshness to the air, even though the sun was bright and the sky was clear. The three cousins walked side-by-side through the main entranceway of the County fairgrounds. The elder two were thoroughly amused by the youngest’s apprehension at attending the event. Their family had all gathered in King County for their grandmother’s eightieth birthday, and were currently spending time with one another.

“It’s one of the highlights of the calendar year, you know that,” said Jacqui, who was a local doctor; Sasha, a firefighter in Atlanta, rolled her eyes at her oldest cousins reasoning.

“We could be somewhere sipping on cocktails,” Sasha complained. “I never get to see either of you anymore. Let’s not waste time here…”

“I like it,” Michonne, an art history professor in New York, replied. “I remember going a couple of times as a kid with Gramma. I’m interested in seeing the craftwork.”

“You’re not here to research, ‘Chonne,” said Jacqui, with her brow raised.

“I’m not,” she insisted. “I just remember that there’s some really cute stuff for sale.”

“Yeah, I’m not buying it,” Sasha offered. “I got the feeling you’re gonna find a vendor, and then talk their ears off. You’ll want to know all about how they learned to make the items; if the handicraft was passed down through their families; what cultural significance it holds, etcetera, etcetera.”

“Oh, Sash,” Michonne replied with a grin. “I’m so glad you’ve taken note of my research methods.”

“I haven’t,” she admitted. “Not really. I just know how you are; you like to talk to strangers.”

“Hush, you,” said Michonne as she hooked her arm into Sasha’s. “Strangers like talkin’ to me, too.”

The atmosphere of the event was festive; country music from a local band wafted across the site; the faint smell of fresh produce intermingled with the scent of homemade candles and marmalades. Carnival food from various sellers tempted people; and children’s laughter could be heard in every direction.

Michonne smiled at Sasha as she tried on a few different hats at a clothing and accessories stall. The younger woman’s naturally curly hair made it a little difficult to find one that fit her well. She opted, instead, for a headband.

“These are cute,” said Jacqui, as she held up a pair of beaded earrings for Michonne.

“Ooh, I like those,” Michonne replied, taking the set from Jacqui. “Look at the detail. They must’ve taken a good while to do. Excuse me. Hi. These earrings…”

“Hey there,” said the young woman tending to the stall. “Those are only ten dollars.”

“Thank you,” said Michonne. “But I wanted to know who made them?”

“Ah, okay,” she replied. “I did. I made all of the jewelry and my mama made the clothes.”

“That’s amazing,” said Michonne. “You’re very talented. Did your mama teach you a lot about crafting…”

“Here she goes,” sighed Sasha. “I may as well buy a few things; we’re gonna be here for a while.”

“Jacqui, come on,” Sasha pleaded. “Just one corndog.”

“Sash, you can go and get one, but I’m getting something a little healthier than that,” she answered. “I’m goin’ to check out what these farms have been growin’.”

“What about you, Michonne?” asked Sasha. “I’ll treat you to some cotton candy.”

“You don’t have to ask me twice,” Michonne replied with a grin. “Jacq, we won’t be long.”

After garnering provisions that were far from nutritious, Michonne and Sasha found Jacqui at Rick and Carl Grimes’ stall. Michonne was immediately interested in the products of handicraft that the boy had on display, and soon sparked up a conversation with the younger Grimes, as she admired the small wooden carvings he created.

“These are really great,” said Michonne, gesturing to his creations. “May I?”

“Sure,” said Carl.

Sasha rolled her eyes, making an eating gesture to Michonne with her hands, before she scampering off. Michonne nodded to her cousin, and then Sasha was gone.

“These were made by hand?” she queried, turning a carving of a small turtle over in her hand.

“Yeah,” the boy replied. “I made them all with my pocket knife. Took a little while, but I don’t mind.”

“What an incredibly talented young man you are,” she offered admiringly, holding the piece up in the afternoon sun briefly, before turning it over once more.

“There ya go, Doc,” said a male voice, drawing Michonne’s attention from the item that sat in her palm; she saw a good-looking man pass a package over to Jacqui.

“Thanks, Rick,” Jacqui replied with a smile.

“Aww, don’t mention it,” he answered, his eyes darting over to the beautiful stranger standing near his son; their eyes met.

“Let me introduce you to my cousins,” said Jacqui, snapping Rick out of his temporary trance.

Only Michonne was there; Jacqui gave her a questioning look. Michonne placed the turtle back down on the table, excused herself, and then stepped over; she gave the man a shy smile, which he returned.

“Well, it looks like one of them has run off,” Jacqui joked. “But this is my cousin Michonne. Michonne, this is Rick Grimes.”

He smiled widely and extended his hand to her; she responded in kind.

“Pleasure to meet you,” he drawled; his kind blue eyes twinkling.

“Likewise,” she answered; her bright smile lighting up her entire face.

“You here for Miss Pattie’s birthday?” he asked.

“Yes, I am,” Michonne replied. “It should be good.”

“That’s great,” he supplied, nodding his head. “She’s a real great lady.”

“She is.”

“Yeah,” he said. “So’s the Doc. She’s great. You seem great, too. I’m sure your whole family’s, ya know…great.”

He could have kicked himself; he wanted to keep talking to the pretty woman, but he was coming across as blithering. Michonne noticed that he seemed a little flustered; she found it cute.

“Well,” she said with a smile. “You’re only saying that because you probably haven’t met our cousin Willie.”

This caused Rick to laugh out loud.

“Oh, no,” he corrected. “I know Willie very well. Booked him a few times when I was a cop.”

Michonne looked at the stranger a little surprised, before offering a small chuckle.

“You were a cop?” she questioned, wholly interested in the man standing before her.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said. “For a good twelve years. Until I took a bullet. The Doc here saved my life.”

Rick and Jacqui shared a knowing smile.

“And he’s been giving me eggs for free ever since,” said Jacqui, holding up the goods Rick had gifted her with. “Which reminds me; I’m gonna get these to the car. You coming, or…?”

“Ah, you go on,” said Michonne, her eyes quickly looking back at Rick. “Sasha’s gone to look for more food, if you, ya know, wanted to go and find her, or whatever. I’ll catch up with you both later?”

Jacqui glanced between Rick and Michonne, then gave her cousin a little smirk before raising an eyebrow.

“All right,” she answered. “I’ll see you later.”

“So, Carl learned to whittle from your daddy?” Michonne asked Rick.

“Right.”

“But you never learned?”

“That’s right,” he answered, glancing over at Michonne. She was sat in the younger Grimes’ seat while he went to explore the Festival. She and Rick had been talking for the better part of the hour.

“It’s such an interesting part of folk art and culture,” she mused. “Your son’s very talented, too.”

She picked up the small cat carving.

“I especially love this one,” she offered in earnest. “It’s too damn gorgeous.”

“Keep it,” Rick insisted.

“How much?”

“No charge,” he smiled.

“Oh, no,” she replied. “Carl should be paid for his efforts. How much?”

“How about we wait until he gets back, and he can put a price on it,” Rick smiled, knowing that would keep Michonne around for a little while longer.

“Okay,” she answered, beaming brightly as she secretly hoped the boy would take his time in returning. “I’ll wait.”

Almost two hours had passed, customers had come and gone from Rick’s stall, Carl was still off galivanting with his young friends, and Michonne and Rick were still engaged in conversation. It was as if they had a special connection; while they were ultimately strangers, they felt a familiarity with one another.

“Let me get this straight,” said Michonne. “Georgia’s famous for peaches, you own a farm and are a fruit grower, yet you don’t grow peaches?”

“Nope,” he said plainly. “I like apples better. Plus, ya know, I’m not a cliché.”

She grinned, “Definitely not.”

“And you’re an art history lecturer who’s writing a thesis on American folk art?” Rick queried.

“You got it,” said Michonne. “And I am definitely a cliché because I came here today with these…”

She reached into her purse and retrieved a notebook and small recording device.

“…With every intention of getting some research done,” Michonne continued.

“And how’d you do?” Rick asked, a little flirtatiously, but genuinely intrigued.

“Mmmm,” said Michonne, a playful glint in her eye. “I think I got more than I bargained for.”

“And that’s a good thing?” asked Rick as his gaze shifted from her eyes to her lips.

“Definitely a good thing,” she offered.

“So,” said Rick.

“So,” Michonne replied.

“I had a ball with you today,” he admitted. “It was real nice to spend time with you.”

She smiled, “Yeah, I really enjoyed hanging out with you, too.”

“Can I see you again, while you’re here?” he asked, not wanting to miss the opportunity; Michonne felt her face grow warm as the fluttering in her stomach grew more intense.

“I’d like that,” she said softly; Rick’s heart was racing as he beamed at her.

“Me, too,” he agreed.

The pair stared into one another’s eyes and wondered where this newfound connection might take them. Michonne felt that his sweet nature, and the kindness that radiated from him, was singing a song directly to her soul. He was familiar, like a long lost friend, or someone she had met in another lifetime. Rick was certain that she was the most interesting, charming, beautiful, and funny woman he had ever met. Just being in her presence invoked in him a sense of belonging that he had not felt in some time; when she smiled at him, it felt like home.

They may have only just met, but there was something else drawing them together; they may not have a future together that was promised, but they silently swore they would make the most of the time they did have.

 A/N: I struggled with this; I guess that’s why it’s called a challenge! Anyways, I hope someone out there enjoyed it. Thanks.