Like any married couple, Rick and Michonne often got caught up in the rush of daily life. With Rick's long hours at the Sheriff's Department, Michonne's sometimes irregular work schedule, and the kid's myriad activities and dramas, some weeks it felt like they barely spent any time together.

Both of them made a point of noticing when this was happening and one or the other would try to do something special to bring a bit of excitement back into their relationship. Rick was pretty easy to predict in this regard. All it took was a sly smile across the dinner table or a slow kiss when nobody was looking to get him going.

Michonne was a bit of a different story. It had taken an embarrassing amount of time for Rick to realize that Michonne, a fiercely independent woman who didn't give in and marry him until after living together for nearly two and a half years, actually had a huge soft spot for romantic gestures.

Tonight's romantic gesture had taken Rick close to a week to orchestrate. Preparation was everything. The set-up for the final moment had been planned with the precision of a Navy SEAL strike in enemy territory. Timing was critical for mission success.

After dinner, Carl headed to his room and Michonne went to tuck the little ones in bed, and the plan was set in motion.

Step 1. Wash up.

Rick took a lightning quick shower and carefully shaved his face. Michonne claimed to like his facial hair but he always got a good reaction when he went for the clean shaven look. Then a fresh pair of dark jeans, a light blue button-up shirt, a dab of the cologne that Michonne gave him for his birthday, and he was ready.

Step 2. Set the mood.

Rick struck a match and lit the scented candles strategically placed around the bedroom. He adjusted the thin vase with a single red rose on the nightstand. He pulled the giftwrapped box from the mall out from the back of the closet and set it on the foot of the bed.

He glanced around the room quickly to check if he'd forgotten anything then dimmed the lights and exhaled a sigh of relief.

Right on schedule, Michonne's footsteps padded down the hall and she opened their bedroom door.

"The kids are finally asleep," she sighed tiredly, rubbing her eyes, "I feel like I could sleep for a year."

When she opened her eyes and finally registered the sudden romantic mood in the room, the look of surprise on her face was precisely what Rick had hoped for.

"...but maybe I spoke too soon," she amended, a smile lighting up her face.

For a long second she couldn't decide what to do first; kiss her clean faced husband or open the smartly wrapped gift.

"Here, open it," Rick said, handing her the present.

She tore open the paper and inside was lingerie. It was a silky dark purple, very sheer and lacy.

"Rick! When did you-" she started to ask.

"It is too much?" he worried.

She liked to wear lingerie from time to time but this was the first time Rick had picked some out for her and that single decision was the biggest risk factor in the whole operation.

"I kept going back and forth about whether to buy it and I wasn't sure," he said.

"Rick, I love it!" Michonne grinned.

Rick let out a breath of relief.

"I just wanted to remind you how much I love you and how important you are to me," Rick said, gently caressing her cheek.

"This is perfect, all of it!" Michonne said, tearing up a little at how much thought her husband had obviously put into this moment.

"And you're perfect," she said, and kissed Rick tenderly.

He put his hands on her waist to draw her closer and kiss her again but she pulled away. Michonne grabbed her present and slipped away into the bathroom to get changed, leaving Rick with a sly smile that made his knees feel weak.