Chapter 1: Chapter 1-Epoch

Epoch

noun.

-the beginning of a distinctive period in the history of someone or something

One

Michonne crossed her arms, clutched her sweater close to her body as her eyes wandered along the sunrise.

It had been almost five months since they lived in the Alexandria Safe Zone.

She still wasn't used to the suburban mirage it contained.

Michonne sipped the hot tea in her mug, leaned against the front door. She closed her eyes and took small deep breaths. Formed her own version of meditation.

She took in the moment. Michonne cherished the present state.

Before that moment died and she would begin to be plagued by other conditions.

She missed Rick.

Three long days. Michonne had to keep her composure. To ensure the safety of the group and their family.

But being on the porch now, so early in the morning reminded her of their morning talks before the others were awake.

Rick decided it was time he head on a run. He stayed behind the walls with her for the past two months, watching over Carl and supporting his recovery.

The truth was she dreaded it, but she didn't admit it. She dreaded the unavoidable adventure where Rick would eventually separate from their close knit family and begin his own work, tending to the community.

Noises of shuffling on the side of the house interrupted her thoughts. Michonne reached by her calf, and pulled her sword out of the sheath.

"Relax." Carl said as he revealed himself, he was still in his pajamas and ruffled his hair with his hand.

"Carl…." Michonne didn't finish her sentence, Carl walked over to the porch and sat on the steps.

Michonne joined him, pulled her knees to her chest, and they sat quietly for a moment.

"Why are you up so early?" Michonne asked.

Carl shrugged, "Couldn't sleep. It's been three days."

Michonne sighed, "Yeah."

She finished her tea, and placed the mug on top of the wooden porch.

Michonne watched Carl, and a small glimmer of hope that maybe he wanted to talk to her, like they used to.

He was still trying to get to know her again. Since his brutal recovery, there was some memory loss at the beginning. But their relationship was natural with or without the memories he shared with Michonne.

Sometimes they'd have awkward silences around each other, but despite that. Like this morning, he began to regain some sense of comfortability around her, since within those months, there was a different level intimacy between the family, as the others slowly moved out and it was just the four of them. Rick, Michonne, Carl and Judith.

Michonne noticed as Carl winced, he held on to his right arm, moved it slightly to his side.

"How's your right side?" Michonne asked.

Carl shrugged, "It's okay, I'm getting some feeling back, Denise said it was going to take some time."

"You think they'll be back today? OR ever?" He asked, and Michonne wondered about Carl's change in naivety and optimism the lave two months.

She wasn't sure if it was from the side effect of trauma. Denise warned Rick and Michonne that there may be a change in his personality the day he came out of his coma .Michonne couldn't conclude that it was the medical trauma that brought on his darker personality or it was the possibility of him in his teenage years that brought a less optimistic view for the world around him.

"You know your dad, he'll be back. He just- something happen along the way. I'm not sure what. But either way, he's coming." She remarked.

Carl smiled, a soft smile, while Michonne's eyes wandered along Rick's son. He had grown so much, she was sure the regular meals helped his condition. His eyes, distinguished a teenager with a wise soul that came with his experience.

Carl was so sharp, his instincts and observational skills came from his father, he reminded her of his father in many ways, mostly his resilience. Each time showing more strength than before. But with his youth, his skills were still left unfiltered. He was the first one to notice Rick and Michonne's relationship. He was blunt when he probed about what was going on between them.

"Do you think, if Dad's gone, I'll make a good leader?" Carl asked, she could hear the fear as he asked. It hurt more, more than it had in the past if this question was ever brought up.

"Carl-"

"It's a hypothetical question I guess." Carl, realizing he should have kept his words unsaid because of Michonne. However, instead of giving him shame, she gave him reassurance.

"Of course you'll be, and if you can't I'm always here." With that Carl moved closer to her, and they stared at the sunrise.

The crisp morning continued to give them an eerie silence, both worried about the safety of Rick, Daryl, and Glenn.

Soon, they heard the gates open.

Michonne and Carl stepped down the steps and ran to the gates. The truck door opened, and sure enough her heart became lighter when she saw Rick was the first one walking towards the gate.

Rick observed the scene before him. Lately life has calmed down in such a strange way . Sometimes he could to take in the moment like he did now.

His family gathered around the table for breakfast, a way to quietly celebrate that Glenn, Daryl and Rick were back home.

He sat at the head of the table, he held Judith and fed her, watched as Glenn made a joke with Carl. Carol was having a private conversation with Daryl, and everyone else was sharing their own inside jokes and conversations.

They ate, laughed and rejoiced that the community was finally rebuilding and had a promising path for the future.

Rick looked around the living room and noticed that Michonne was missing.

He walked upstairs to the bathroom. He could hear the faucet, the toilet flushing before he knocked.

"It's me." Rick whispered when she opened the door she still had a towel to her mouth.

"I'll be down in a second. Carol's casserole won't stay down." She said, her voice rasped.

"Breakfast is done, everyone going to start their day." Rick gave a half smile waiting for her to say something, until she touched the cut on his forehead.

"It's nothin' got caught up in a sweep on the way back here." He dismissed.

"I'll take care of it, sit down." Michonne opened the bathroom door further, he walked in put the seat down on the toilet before he sat down.

Michonne grabbed the first aid kit in the medicine cabinet. She put alcohol on a hand cloth before she faced him.

She lifted his chin to get a good look at the gash on his forehead.

"It's going to sting." She warned, before pressing the towel on his cut.

Rick tightened his jaw at the burn, but did not wince and with distraction he gazed up at her.

"What is it?" Michonne asked, she could feel his blue eyes on her as he watched her every move. Her expression focused, two strands of her locs fell to her face.

"Nothing." He answered softly, but continue to stare.

.

But the truth was, it was everything.

She was everything to him, and as he looked at her now, fixing his wounds he realized how much he loved her. How much it hurt, how rejuvenating it was. How frightening it was; To love a woman like her, now.

To be alive.

That one night, of solace and understanding she gave to him the week of Carl's surgery eight weeks ago. She showed him what he missed.

He was home now, with her, and it felt new when he saw her again this morning. As if he was seeing her the first time.

But he wasn't sure how she felt, they slept together only once, without discussing their feelings. Things were happening so fast, and so slow at the same time. Distractions within the community, and other priorities, he forgot exactly how to deal with intimacy.

He wasn't sure if he ever dealt with intimacy.

Rick closed his eyes when she softly pressed and put appointment along his cut, before she finished bandaging it.

"Finished." Before she could move, he Rick grabbed her thickening waist, and pulled her closer. She put her hands on his shoulders. Rick's rested his head on the life growing inside her.

Sometimes between Rick and Michonne, there was no affection at all, there was no defining moments or grand gestures in their relationship. Something just shifted, so quietly and so suddenly. So sometimes, without warning, Rick would show some kind of affection to her, and she could do nothing but accept and cherish his touch.

Something happened once, and it changed everything.

"Did you tell Carl yet?" He asked voice low.

Soon enough, Carl would be able to tell the changes in Michonne.

He felt her grow rigid in his arms.

"No, I was waiting til you came home."

He gave an exhausted sigh, eventually agreeing with her. He dreaded the day he had to tell Carl about her pregnancy. But at least they were somewhere safe this time around.

Michonne and Rick held each other. Her fingertips softly brushed the curls on top of his head.

A week ago, Michonne didn't have to tell Rick she was pregnant. He knew.

He knew through her denial, when she crept back in her bedroom in the night from sickness She tried to convince him, it must have been a flu.

Rick was the one who finally made the realization stick that she was, in fact, carrying his child.

"Are you scared?" She asked, as she drew closer.

Rick, after moments of pondering, he gave her a slight nod, and she knew that confession alone was hard for Rick to show. He was the one outside their bedroom doors who showed the face of a courageous leader. And behind their doors, he could show he was a human being, a man who dealt with the waves life threw at him.

"Me too."

TBC

So, that's the news readers! Michonne and Rick are having a baby! Please, tell me your thoughts.