Dear Mr. Grimes,
I hope this letter finds you well and in good health.
I'm pretty sure you don't remember me as it has been 13 years since we met. My name is Michonne Black and I was a freshman at Georgetown University when our paths crossed. I believe you were there for a baseball tournament and we met later at a frat party.
I have enclosed a picture to help jog your memory.
I Have been actively trying to find you for years as there is a very important matter that we need to discuss. I would prefer not to disclose the details by any other avenue other than face to face. I will be in Atlanta for a conference March 8-14. If there is any way that we could meet during this time please contact me.
I can be reached at 212-555-0794. Thank you in advance for your time.
Sincerely,
Michonne
***********************************************4Love
Rick was sitting on his porch having read and reread the letter a thousand times that day. Michonne was a name he never expected to ever hear again but here it was on a letter requesting an audience with him. Michonne. Michonne Black. Beautiful, exotic Michonne who stole his heart in a moment.
He could only imagine what she needed to talk about and he knew he was not ready to have this conversation, even after so many years...
Rick stood up abruptly walking to the edge of the porch and looking down the street. It was getting close to time for Carl to come riding up on his bike. School had let out thirty minutes ago and Carl knew to come straight home. The phone call would have to wait.
Going into the house Rick folded the letter and placed it in his work duffle bag. He moved into the kitchen to cut up some apples and dish out some peanut butter for Carl's afternoon snack. No sooner had he covered the plate did he hear the door slam. Carl raced to the downstairs powder room dropping his book bag onto the hall floor. Rick chuckled picking up the book bag and jacket that was discarded. "Hey Bud" He called out to his son.
"Hey Dad!" Carl came out of the powder room drying his hands on his jeans. "I have reading, math and spelling. So once I'm done can you help me with my pitch because try outs are next week and I really wanna pitch this year."
"Let's get the homework done and maybe after dinner we will have time to work on your pitch, ok? Your mom should be here any minute to start dinner. Your snack is on the counter." Rick quickly addressed everything Carl had spit out in an instant. Working the swing shifts gave Rick very little time to spend with Carl so he took advantage by sleeping while Carl was at school and being there to help with homework. He also loved being able to have dinner as a family, although his relationship with Lori was no longer as husband and wife but simply co-parents.
No one really knew what their situation was as it was not something they discussed. But the decision was mutual and they remain friends. Rick and Lori met during high school and had an on and off again relationship through his college years. Once he moved back to King County they resumed their relationship, then married when Lori became pregnant with Carl. After years of existing they decided they were not right for each other. Lori remains adamant that she's not ready to start any other relationships but assured Rick that if he ever found someone else she would not stand in the way of his happiness. There were times when Rick wondered if she didn't have someone else in her life as she seemed so content.
Later that evening when Carl was down for the night Rick pulled out the letter reading it again. He made his way to the kitchen where Lori was finishing up the dishes and held it out to her. Lori dried her hands and took the letter reading it over twice and looking at her picture. "This is her?" She asked.
"Yeah." Rick confirmed shaking his head. "I think I'm still in shock."
"I'm sure we are thinking the same thing, right?" Lori read the letter again. "I mean why else after all of this time? And she wants it to be face to face. Oh my god Rick." She stood staring at her husband of eleven years. Rick stood before her with one hand on his hip and the other pinching the bridge of his nose. "Have you called her?"
"No" He says dropping his hands to his sides and walking over to look out of the window at nothing in particular. The yard was dark and you could barely make out the swing set and the trees beyond. There were plenty of stars out but the moon was hidden behind the tall trees surrounding the fenced in back yard.
"I Have no idea how to even begin."
"You pick up the phone and dial!" Lori deadpanned. "Don't put it off Rick, she will think you don't want to hear what she needs to say. Trust me I know how difficult this must be for her."
Rick didn't move so Lori picked up the phone and dialed the number handing Rick the receiver. He looked at her before putting the phone to his ear.
"Hello" Michonne answered the call from Georgia breathlessly. She knew immediately it had to be him. More than twelve years since she had been trying to reach this one person. It was unbelievable to think that this day had finally come.
"Ms Black?" He asked in his southern drawl. She could hear the questions in his tone. She wished she could just blurt it out but she needed to be present to deliver the news. "This is Rick Grimes." He finished.
"Mr Grimes, please call me Michonne and thank you so much for calling." Michonne took a deep breath feeling like she was talking too fast. She could feel her heart beating too fast and loud in he ears. She was sure this is what a heart attack must feel like. Her breathing was shallow and she felt lightheaded.
"Well it sounded important. Quite honestly it has me a little nervous considering what happened that night." Rick chuckled. He could sense her nervousness too. Her voice was rushed but he still heard the sultry sweetness. She was moving, maybe walking or pacing, Rick wasn't sure. He sat down at the kitchen table holding his head in his hand. He felt Lori's hand on his shoulder giving him support.
"So you do remember?" Michonne asks. It was something she thought about often especially now when they were about to reconnect.
"Yeah, most of it. I remember you!" Rick stated. He did remember her, how could he forget. He was captivated by her exotic beauty. She was all smiles and girlish charm. She was flirting with the guys and dancing with her friends. She had crossed his path several times that night before he finally got up the nerve to talk to her. "So you'll be in Atlanta? When would be a good time to talk face to face?"
"I was hoping you could come down and maybe we could meet for lunch. I will be staying at the Omni downtown." Again she was talking too fast.
"How about Monday at noon?"
"That sounds great we can meet in the lobby grill." She breathed out a small breath. "Thank you Mr Grimes."
"Its Rick please, I will see you then Michonne. Goodnight."
"Goodnight Rick." Michonne took several deep breathed trying to regain control of her erratic heart rate before turning off the lights in her office and heading off to bed.
Rick looked at Lori who was standing near biting her nail. She raised her eyebrows at him and he shrugged his shoulders. "I guess we will find out next week."
********************************************4Love
Michonne sat with her leg bouncing, she could hear her stilettos tapping against the tile floor. Closing her eyes she began to count her heartbeats willing her heart to stop racing. No matter how many times she had dreamt of this moment there was no way to anticipate his reaction. She practiced what she would say again in her mind. "Please God let him be receptive." Michonne whispered.
She was glad they let out early for lunch, this would give her a moment alone to steady herself. She still wished that they could have met last night when she got in but the weather delay had prevented this. Now as she waited in the hotel bar she couldn't remember a word that was spoken in this morning session of the conference.
Her breath caught in her throat when she saw him. He was older, even more handsome with a beard and laugh lines, but still...His eyes found her and she knew time. Hadn't diminished the attraction she had for him. Michonne didn't know if she wanted to throw herself at him or run in the opposite direction. Those same blue eyes fixed on her as a slow smile spread across his lips. Michonne gave a small wave as Rick began to make his way towards her.
He came over and stood next to the table not really knowing how to greet her so Michonne stood up and before she knew it Rick had pulled her into a hug. He held her tight enjoying her earthy scent of coconut and something floral. Taking a deep breath he pulled back to look at her. "You look exactly like I remember." He grinned at her.
"Oh? So I still don't look legal?" Michonne grinned back still holding his arms as he held her small waist. Neither of them in a hurry to move. Michonne finally pulled away and sat back down in her seat gesturing for Rick to do the same. "You look the same too. I Really like the beard."
"Thank you," Rick said stroking his hand down his full beard. "How have you been? I was really surprised to hear from you."
Michonne looked away swallowing hard. She felt the lump in her throat and was trying and failing to control her emotions. Some things could never be easy to say and this was one of those things so she just had to say it and be done. She took several deep breaths and let it fall from her lips.
"We have a child together!"
Rick looked hard at her trying to judge whether or not she was serious although he knew that she was. He felt it after reading her note. Rick leaned forward placing his forearms on the table, he leaned his head down before looking at her beautiful face. He could see unshed tears pooling in her eyes.
"Girl or boy, tell me everything." Rick reached across the table taking her hand in his.
"I tried to find you when I found out but all I knew was your first name. There must have been dozens of schools there that weekend. So from finding out until six months after he was born..."
"He?" Rick interrupted.
"Yes, he, Andre Richard Black." Michonne pulled out a small photo album handing it to Rick. There were about 30 photographs of their son from infant to his current twelve years.
"Keep going please." Rick requested as he looked over each picture, taking his time to study the images of his son that he was just learning about.
"Oh, um ok. I tried to keep up the search but as time passed it only got harder with no new information to go on. I had to live my life and raise Andre. I married just after Law school, Andre was five. After my husband died last year Andre asked me about his real father. At that point I hired a private investigator who took the time to really research the ball players who were in town that weekend."
"JR Grimes... Jeffrey Richard!" Rick supplied. "I can see how that would take some time to sort through."
"It did!" Michonne was watching the way Rick focused on each picture, smiling at others and almost tearing up at some. She couldn't stop herself from reaching out and placing her hand on his forearm. "I'm so sorry it took so long."
Rick looked into her eyes a tear slipping down his cheek, "Me too!" They shared a moment looking deeply into each other's eyes. "Do you have other children?" Rick asked breaking the silence and looking back at the photo album.
"No, just Andre" Michonne answers. "How about you, did you marry and have children?" Michonne held her breath not knowing what to expect. She had a full file from the investigator but she never read it, not wanting to pry into his life until she spoke to him.
"I am married, my wife Lori and I have a son, Carl." He never took his eyes off of a picture where Andre was standing in front of a dark skinned man who was fixing his tie. Michonne could be seen from the mirror taking the photo. Andre's face was turned toward the mirror with his head tilted and a squint in his eyes. Michonne squeezed Rick's arm bringing his attention back to her.
"How do you think they will take this news?" Michonne asked him, her thumb idly began brushing up and down his skin.
"I'm not sure but Carl always wanted a brother so he will be ecstatic except for the part that he will be a younger and not older brother. Carl just turned eleven over the summer." Rick was watching her hand on his arm. Her long slender fingers were gripping him as if for support. "Are you ok" Rick asked while covering her hand with his own.
"Yes and no" She replied with a small smile. "I don't know what I expected but this is scaring me. When I told Andre that I may have found you he wanted to know everything. But I feel like that is something the two of you need to discuss together. What do we do now or rather how do you want to proceed?."
Rick shook his head "I will just follow your lead." Rick felt himself getting lost in her all over again. Time had not taken away from the hold she had on him. She was still the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. Her skin was flawless and glowing, her almond shaped eyes with cinnamon brown orbs. Her eyebrows were knitted expressing her deep thought. Seeing her now transferred him back to that night, watching her float around the party. Hearing her laughter and her soft voice when they were together. Feeling her touch as she continued to hold onto his arm. He intertwined their fingers turning their hands over and kissed her palm without thought.
Michonne froze, the feeling making her body react in a way she was uncomfortable with especially dealing with a married man. She pulled her hand away and tucked it in her lap taking a glance around the room. "I think we should talk to him together over the phone and arrange to bring him to Georgia soon. He will be happy to not be an only child anymore." Michonne smiled and glanced at Rick before averting her eyes to the table.
"I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable Michonne." Rick was studying her profile wanting to run his fingers down her skin. He straightened up and looked around the room. "I have a full week but I can come back on Thursday evening for the phone call." Rick looked Back at Michonne studying her profile, the slope of her nose and her full pout lips begging to be kissed by him. He was losing this battle as his eyes drifted to the rise and fall of her breasts.
"That works for me." She spoke finally dragging his eyes and thoughts back to her face. "I can get him prepared. And just to warn you he has a lot of questions. You can determine how much you want to tell him over the phone." Michonne checked her watch. "I have to get back to my next session but feel free to call me if you have questions this week."
"Can I keep this" Rick asks holding up the photo album.
"Yes of course, Andre made that for you!" She stood up and ran her fingers through his hair as she walked away. Rick felt the warmth of her touch against his flesh. He sat for several minutes after Michonne was gone wishing he could stay in that moment.
********************************************************4Love
Rick sat in the car outside of his home looking through the photo album again. He added the picture of Michonne along with the letter. He looked up as Carl knocked on the window having just rode up from school.
"Dad can you hear me?" Carl was yelling.
"Hey bud, I can hear you just fine. Why are you being so loud?" Rick exited the vehicle and came around to stand in front of Carl. "How was school today?"
"School was fine, I called you three times before you heard me. I think your ears are going bad." Carl laughed. "What's that you were looking at?"
"Some pictures, you can see them later so don't ask me now. Go start your homework and I will make you a snack." Rick ushered Carl into the house just as Lori pulled into the driveway.
"Fine dad, just fine" Carl ran off to his room as Lori made her way into the house. Rick handed her the photo album and Lori looked through the pictures shaking her head before laughing.
"There is definitely no need for a paternity test. He looks more like you than Carl does." She continued looking through the pictures before asking "So how was it seeing her again?"
"Surreal!" Rick brushed his hand through his hair looking over Lori's shoulder. He couldn't stop looking at the pictures of Andre. "Andre Richard Black. She was married but he knew that her husband was not his father."
"You're avoiding my question Rick. Do I need to get out of the way?"
"I don't know what you want me to say Lori. You knew way back then how affected I was by her... Yeah ok? Its the same... I still want her. I don't want to lose another 13 years."
*****************************************************4Love
Michonne was a nervous wreck all day. She was looking forward to seeing Rick but being in his presence felt the same as it did the first time. Her eyes lingered on him, her hands reached out to touch him every chance she got. They shared Now they were going to share the same space, to talk to their son together.
Michonne was standing in the sitting area of her hotel suite staring out of the window. Andre was probably doing the same at home on New York. She smiled thinking how excited he was when she told him she had found his father. He yelped into the phone and did a happy dance that could probably win him a dance contest. Now she was playing the waiting game having set a meet time of six and her class ended at four.
Michonne started jumping up and down and shaking out her arms trying to loosen her nerves. It was not working. Damn! She bent over at the waist and just hung there until she heard the light knock at the door. Glancing around she ran to the restroom to check her appearance before running to open the door.
"Hi" Michonne rasped out breathlessly. "Come on in." She moved to let Rick enter the suite. Her eyes followed him appreciating the bow legged swagger in his gate. His jeans road low on his hips and the brown t-shirt hugged the muscles on his arms and chest. His boots made a notable click against the tile floor. "Can I get you anything?" Michonne asked turning to the minibar in the corner to distract her from ogling him.
"Some water would be great." Rick answers turning to watch her as she placed ice and poured water into a glass. Rick shook his head slightly as his eyes feasted on her ample ass covered by yoga pants that left little to the imagination. Her shirt would have covered it but instead bunched up just atop of the bounty. He let his gaze dropped down to her shapely legs that proved her athleticism with muscular calves. Her feet were bare with orange painted toenails.
"Here you go" Michonne offered rick the glass. He cleared his throat before taking the glass and downing the liquid. Michonne laughed outright, "Maybe you need something stronger?"
"No" Rick replied staring at her, enjoying the sound of her laughter. "I want to be completely lucid for this, my mouth just keeps drying out."
"I get it. So are you ready?" Just as Michonne finished the question her Ipad began to ring. She raised an eyebrow. "Our eager beaver." Smiling she went to accept the FaceTime video. "Hi Peanut." Rick was frozen to the spot replacing the fact she said 'our'!
Andre: "Mommy, is he there? You didn't call me when you said."
Rick snapped out of his stupor and stepped behind Michonne so that Andre could see him. "Hi buddy, I'm here." He cleared his throat feeling himself getting choked up before continuing. "I'm so happy to meet you son."
Andre: "Wow, you are real! Hey dad!" He smiled a gigantic toothy grin that made Rick weak. The fact that he called him dad not being lost on him. Rick squatted down next to the chair where Michonne was seated.
"How are you buddy? What should I call you? What do you prefer?"
Andre: "Anything but Peanut, that's my mom's thing. My friends all call me Dre, but whatever you want. Are you ok with me calling you dad?"
"Yes, absolutely. I am your dad. I'm so proud to be your dad Andre." Rick placed his arm across Michonne's lap and she took his hand in hers, her thumb brushing his skin for support not only for him but for herself as well. It was doing a number on her to watch her son interacting with his biological father. Mike was a good dad to Andre, but there was always a small amount of resentment when mike learned he would never father his own children. It Wasn't anything noticeable in his treatment of Andre but just subtle things, like an eye roll or shoulders dropping when Andre deferred to Michonne for certain things. But Mike loved him and that she appreciated.
Michonne stood up and motioned for Rick to take the chair, she moved over to the minibar and poured more water into his glass handing it to him. He smiled up at her but quickly turned back to listen to what Andre was saying. He was currently explaining his physical activities which included running track, parkour, fencing and karate.
"You are a busy kid. How do you like school?" Rick inquires. He was smiling so much his cheeks were aching but he was so happy and impressed that it didn't matter. He could spend the rest of the night listening to his son speak about his adventures and interests.
"My mom says it keeps me out of trouble. But really if I wasn't active I would be somewhere reading or something."
"Yeah something like dissembling computers." Michonne interjected
"Ok, something like that." Andre laughs. His laugh is sincere and rich like his mothers, rick noted. It was a sound he already loved. "I'm writing a mock thesis for my Uncle Zeke. He just got his second Doctorate and I wanted to see what it was about, so he is helping me. My mom too since she just got hers a couple years ago."
"Is that right?" Rick glanced at Michonne standing with her arms wrapped around her waist with the most beautiful smile imaginable. He could see how much she adored thier son with how she gazed at him. He lost part of what Andre was saying as he watched her.
"Speaking of school Peanut.."
"Yep I knew that was coming. I have to rewrite my English report because Uncle Zeke is a perfectionist and his edits killed me. Mom is way more lenient in her grading." Andre was off on another tangent that Rick was thoroughly enjoying before Michonne cut him off and insisted they bring their ninety minute conversation to a close.
"You have my number son, you can call me anytime, I mean that." Rick finalized their conversation. "Goodnight Dre!"
"Goodnight Dad, night Mom I love you." Andre disconnected the call.
Michonne reached over to secure her IPAD but stopped short seeing how emotional Rick was. His head was down and she could hear the sniffles. Leaning on the desk she pulled his face up with her hands cradling his face she brushed away the tears that seemed endless. Rick rolled the chair forward and buried his face in her stomach feeling her arms wrap around his head and shoulders.
Michonne allowed her own tears to fall as Rick held her around her hips. She didnt really know what to do. She knew what she wanted to do but her moral compass was thumping loudly in her ears. He had her boxed in with his legs outside of hers as she stood between them. His breath against her skin has making her core ache. Please god give me strength, she prayed as his head now rested between her breasts. 'He doesn't even know what he is doing to me' her fingers were combing through his hair subconsciously.
"Rick" She breathed and he lifted his head to look at her before planting a kiss on her chest and standing up to capture her lips with his. Michonne moaned deep in the back of her throat as he sucked on her bottom lip and then the top. She pushed him back as his tongue darted it to taste her. "No, we can't do this."
"I'm sorry" Rick said taking a step back but not releasing his hold on her hips. Her hands slid down his arms to hold his forearms, she closed her eyes sucking her bottom lip into her mouth where his tongue had grazed. His lips were on her forehead, not kissing but just resting there. Rick did'nt want to let go or leave. He wanted to take her to bed and spend the night making love to her like he envisioned in his mind a million times sine first meeting her. He wanted to share a pillow and secrets between kisses. With a soft groan his released her. "I'm staying in room 1308, I didn't want to drive back tonight. Maybe we can grab a coffee before I leave and see when would be a good time to bring Andre out for a visit."
"That sounds good. Goodnight Rick." Michonne knew they needed to get ample space between them, she didn't have the willpower to resist for much longer.
"Goodnight" Rick repeated before turning and leaving the suite