"...uh, Hello? Michonne? ...Are you there?"

"Yeah, I'm here," I said, stalling.

"I think it cut out there for a minute," he said.

It didn't. The reception was fine. The problem was with me. I didn't know what to say.

"So, what do you say? I know it's kind of late notice, but I think it'll be fun," he said with cautious optimism.

"I don't know," I hesitated again.

"I was thinking, since you're new in town, it'll be a good way to meet people. And there's free child care, so you don't need a sitter for Andre," he continued.

I took a deep breath, and said what was on my mind.

"Rick, are you asking me out on a date?" I needed to know. It's best to be clear about these things.

Now it was his turn to hesitate and fumble for an answer.

After a pause, his voice came through the phone, "No, I, uh, I didn't mean it like that. We can go as friends. It's just one of those things. I have to go because the Sheriff's Department is hosting and I'm sort of expected to bring a date."

"I was planning to go with Tara," he was rambling now, "but apparently that's considered fraternization among the ranks even though Tara is, uh...Anyway, Captain Park is real by-the-books about that stuff. And Tara has a date besides."

I smiled to myself. It was sweet that he was trying not to out his partner. I already knew, though. I probably spent more time talking to Tara than to Rick that day at the farm.

"Alright, I'll go," I agreed suddenly.

"Great!" I could hear him smile, "Is it okay if I meet you there? I have to go early to help set up."

"Yeah, that's fine," I said, "I'll see you at seven tomorrow."

"Good. Bye, Michonne."

"Bye."

I tapped the call-end icon and stared at my phone in mild disbelief. Well, I thought, turns out I have plans for New Year's Eve after all.

I used to love parties. I wasn't a party girl, per se, but I was the life of the party, at least that's what Mike used to tell me with that trademark grin of his.

Now, though, I was suddenly having second thoughts. Maybe this wasn't the best idea. The last thing I wanted to do was to give Rick the wrong idea. He said it wasn't a date, that we'd go as friends, but is that ever really true?

No, this is exactly what my friends and I used to call a 'friend date', which is when you hang out with a guy, ostensibly as friends only, and if it goes well then you usually wind up dating. If the connection's not there, then you go your separate ways, no harm done.

For the rest of the day I tried to put the whole thing out of my mind, but that didn't work so well. I kept resolving to call Rick and give some excuse as to why I couldn't go and then I would feel guilty for going back on my word. It would be cruel to stand him up.

After all, Rick was probably the closest thing I had to a friend in this town. That is, if you count our brief meetings while picking up our kids from Day Care as friendship. We've barely had a full conversation.

"Stop second guessing yourself," I told my reflection resolutely, "Self-doubt doesn't suit you."

I stood back and took in my appearance.

My dress was a deep blue. It was simple but it fit me perfectly, hugging my curves and stopping just above my knees.

I chose a dark purple headband with thin streaks of silver in it and tied my locks half-up half-down. A little bit of eye shadow, lipstick, and a pair of black ballet flats completed the look.

I turned this way and that, still looking in the mirror. If Ricks sees me like this, I thought, there's no way he won't think I'm interested in him. And I'm not interested.

I could practically hear Andrea laughing at me, saying something like, 'Seriously? Now you're worried because you look too hot? Michonne, you're ridiculous!'

For a moment I was tempted to call Andrea and tell her all about my non-date with small town sheriff Rick Grimes. Then I decided against it. I wasn't prepared to answer a hundred questions. Still, I missed her.

I'll call her tomorrow and we'll meet for lunch, I decided. That way I can listen to all her stories and eat instead of explaining myself.

Besides, I already know what she'd say about tonight. It'd be something along the lines of, 'What are you waiting for? He's hot! You should go for it!'

Because I'm not ready, that's why, I answered Andrea's imaginary question, because I can't go through that again...

I shook away the creeping dark thoughts and made a mental note to never introduce Rick to Andrea. Even if I don't want to date him, he's exactly Andrea's type. She would steal him away in a heartbeat.

"Mommy? What are you doing?" I looked down to see Andre staring up at me with a worried expression.

"We're going to a party," I answered him.

"But I don't wanna go to a party..." he whined. He was definitely not a fan of fancy parties where he wouldn't be the center of attention.

"Oh, come here," I said, smiling and picking him up, "Relax, sweetie, you don't have to go to the grown-ups party. There will be a kid's area too."

"You promise?" he asked, his face still in a pout. Sometimes he was so cute it was hard not to laugh out loud.

"I promise," I said and kissed his forehead.

"Carl and Judith will be there. Do you remember them?" I asked.

Andre nodded, finally starting to smile.

"Let's get your shoes on. It's almost time to go," I told him.

The party was at a ballroom at City Hall. Once inside, I followed a couple hand painted signs to the child care room and was unsurprised to find Beth Greene working there.

"Do you do anything besides babysitting?" I teased her when she came to greet Andre and me.

"Yeah, I do homework and choir practice and more homework," Beth answered with a smirk.

"I'm graduating this spring and Daddy says the only way I can get a car is if I pay for half, so I'm trying to save up," Beth told me with her characteristic optimism.

Beth always makes an effort to be kind to me, even when I don't give her much to go on. She's one of those rare people who is genuinely nice to everyone she meets.

"Rick Grimes is here too," Beth told me.

"I know," I said, "He invited me."

"Oh. Good," Beth smiled like she knew some secret but didn't want to say it out loud.

Before she could get any ideas, I told Andre to be good. He hugged me and then made a bee-line for a pile of building blocks.

I found Rick standing outside the ballroom by a bunch of silver and gold balloons, and almost had to do a double-take. The rugged small town law man had been replaced by a clean shaven man in a black tuxedo.

"You sure clean up good," I told him appreciatively, "I don't think I've ever seen your face like that."

"That's how I felt," Rick said, rubbing a hand over his face self-consciously, "I figured it was about time. Anyway, thanks for coming. I really appreciate it."

"You look beautiful, Michonne," he added, taking in my appearance.

"Thanks," I smiled.

His eyes were a startling blue, somehow brighter now that his face was visible.

"Come on, let's go in," I said, breaking his stare.

"Are you hungry?" Rick asked once we were inside.

"Absolutely," I replied and we headed straight for the buffet table.

We loaded up our plates and found a table off to the side. The DJ started the music and the ballroom was filling up quickly. We made small talk for a while, mostly about the kids.

Our plates were soon empty but we stayed at the table, sipping punch from plastic cups.

"What made you decide to move to King County?" Rick asked.

It was an innocent enough question. Funny how the most innocent questions are often the most loaded questions.

I got ready to spin one of my usual almost answers. I was ready for a change and this felt like the right place, you know? I wanted to get away from the bustle of the city. I wanted somewhere with good schools, a nice atmosphere for Andre.

There were any number of ways to steer the conversation away from anything personal, but something about the way Rick was watching me compelled me to tell him the truth.

"I decided to leave Atlanta after I broke up with my boyfriend," I found myself saying.

"I stayed for a while, tried to make it work," I said, toying absently with my cup, "Like I could tear my life in half and still hold on to the parts I wanted as if nothing had happened. It didn't work. My friends, they tried to be supportive, I guess. But they didn't understand, not really. They couldn't understand why I couldn't forgive him and go back to being happy..."

"Eventually I couldn't stand it anymore, seeing the same places every day, but none of it was the same," I suddenly realized how long I'd been talking.

"So, long story short, I got up and left. Start from scratch. This seemed like as good a place as any," I concluded.

I swallowed the melted ice in my cup and finally glanced up at Rick. He had a thoughtful expression.

"You're more brave than I am," he said, seemingly lost in thought.

"How's that?" I asked.

Rick shrugged, looking down before meeting my eyes again.

"Changing your whole life like that, starting entirely over someplace new," he explained, "...I never even thought of doing that. After Carl's mom died...I stayed here. Things have changed along the way but I'm still here. Living in the same house, doing the same job."

"You have more people relying on you. It's different. Doesn't make you less brave for staying," I said honestly.

Rick gave me a small, grateful smile and I got the feeling that he didn't talk like this very often either.

Rick got up to fetch us a pair of champagne glasses and I let him lead the conversation towards lighter subjects and the time passed easily, the noise of the party ebbing and flowing around us as we sipped our drinks.

"There you are!" a tipsy Tara suddenly appeared at our table.

"You know you didn't have to wear that," Rick said, indicating her dress uniform.

"I know," she said nonchalantly, "I wanted to."

"So, boss, you gonna ask her to dance or what?" Tara said, grinning as she looked between Rick and me.

Rick got up and offered me his hand.

"May I have this dance?" he asked with a big smile.

"Sure," I accepted and we headed onto the dance floor.

Rick proved to be a pretty decent dancer, all things considered. We spun through song after song, letting our worries fall away and enjoying the music and the movement.

Before I knew it, we were seconds from midnight, watching the Times Square ball drop on a projector screen.

Everyone counted down, "...3...2...1...Happy New Year!!!"

All around us people were cheering and couples were kissing.

I looked at Rick and he leaned in close to me.

"Happy New Year, Michonne," he said into my ear, "This year is going to be better than the past one."

I couldn't help but agree.

"Happy New Year, Rick," I told him back.

"One more dance?" he asked.

I nodded. The music turned slow so I hooked my hands behind Rick's neck and he rested his hands on my waist.

It was crowded on the dance floor and we were in the middle of it, people bumping into us. Rick pulled me closer and I didn't fight it. I rested my head on his shoulder as we swayed slowly to the music.

Right there, I resolved to let go of all the hurt of the past. I have Andre and I have a new friend to lean on. It's time to stop holding myself back and start enjoying life again.

It's a new year, after all.