Starting us off on the Grimes family road trip with the first chapter is sophiasown, and with her, she brings a sweetness to the Grimes 2.0 that we all know and love. While both Rick and Michonne are more than ready for their vacation, Michonne has some news to share...
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-We're The Ones Who Write
Chapter 1
The house was too quiet for Michonne's liking, she was too exhausted to see what each of her children were up to at the moment. She took off early from work, grateful for the couple days vacation she had been granted. She couldn't help but smile as she left work that afternoon. She wasn't leaving any pending cases behind, her caseload was in the all clear. Her shoulders were light and her mind was carefree. She sealed another bowl of fruit, this one was for the effervescent Judith Grimes; she preferred her fruits separated by color code. Her baby boy Andre loved when they were all thrown in together, creating a fruit fiesta. Carl was neither here nor there with fruit consumption, as long as there was a lifetime supply of oreos and milk her budding teenager was a happy camper. She hoped he didn't realize she had been dipping into his stash as of late.
The television was still on blast, she figured Carl was watching a movie, although she was one hundred percent certain that he also had his headphones in his ears, vibing to whatever band was trending. The clock above the fridge read six forty five. Rick would be home soon, bringing smiles to everyone in the Grimes household and an end to the quiet time she had been basking in.
She heard Judith and Andre's busy footsteps coming down the stairs, despite their three year age gap the two often played together. They had been a blended family for five years now but they had known each other longer than that as they had been neighbors for a few years prior. Fate had brought the five of them together one stormy night. They hadn't been separated since. Meeting Rick felt like winning the lotto, but when she realized how much she had fallen for his kids she realized she was already the richest woman in the world.
"Mom, can I pack my slingshot for our trip?" Eight year old Andre was attached to his birthday present from his uncle Daryl; a slingshot that never left his hands once he got home from school.
"Peanut, astronaut's don't use slingshots."
"Can I see Wakanda from the space center mommy?" Judith asked taking a juice box from the refrigerator. Ever since she saw the Black Panther movie her growing girl was taken up with the fictional world of Wakanda. Michonne informed Judith on a few occasions that Wakanda was not a real place but Judith, who had a mind of her own insisted it was real.
"If Judith is going to see Wakanda on our vacation, then can I please carry my slingshot mom?" Andre's voice had taken on that tone that suggested if he didn't get what he wanted he wasn't going to be a happy camper.
Michonne, who was too tired to rationalize with her never backing down eight year old son,surrendered to her latest and greatest shenanigan to end a debate.
"Ask your dad."
"Ask dad what?" Rick said, walking through the kitchen door surprising them all.
"Daddy!" Judith was the first to run to his waiting arms in greeting.
"Hi sweetheart." He gave her a loud smack on the cheek and took four short steps to give Michonne a chaste kiss on her lips.
"I didn't hear you come in." Michonne was all smiles, so were the kids as Rick gave both Andre and Judith some individual attention. Andre was about to dive into a well thought out speech on the pros of why he should be allowed to take his prized possession on their trip.
"Where's the big one?" Rick asked.
"In the TV room."
"Dinner is almost done." Michonne already finished stir fried veggies and seasoned potatoes, the chicken she had baking in the oven was almost a perfected golden brown.
"Smells great" Rick said, walking up behind her as she checked on the chicken one more time. Rick's arms went around her tiny waist, he kissed her neck, breathing her in. Judith and her brother had run off to get their older brother for dinner.
"It's official you know."
"What is?" she asked leaning into his unabashed affection.
"We're on vacation."
A bit of juggling had to be done to get their time off synchronized, but the timing had been right for the family to spend some time together. The kids were on the tail end of school break. The first month had been hectic, full of summer activity and extra lessons to help ensure they stay on top of their academics, even with the closure of school. Michonne knew the kids worked hard and she had no complaints about their focus during school time. The break was well deserved all around.
She and Rick brainstormed numerous nights on where they could go once they agreed a family getaway was happening. Judith was still on her Wakanda and Hidden Figures movie high. The empowering pieces had helped her girl appreciate the importance of math. Added to her Wakanda love, she was newly obsessed with everything space; she wanted to be just like Katherine.
Andre's latest version of what he wanted to be when he grew up was an astronaut. The U.S Space and Rocket Center had been an easy pick as it pleased both her babies. Learning about rocket achievement at Earth's largest space museum was going to be a memorable experience for her clan.
They planned to take the three hour trek to Huntsville, Alabama, making the journey a fun road trip, complete with diner food, gas station snack runs and random stops for random picture taking.
Everyone's bags were already packed for the five day trip. Michonne was proactive like that, leaving no room for forgetfulness. She wanted this trip to go off without a hitch, needing to ensure her entire family had a great time. After all, this trip held more significance than she let on. If all went well this holiday she would be sharing some exciting news with the kids.
First, she had to tell Rick, which was on the agenda for later on tonight. As soon as the kids were in bed and she and Rick retired to their room she would find the right time to make Rick the happiest man alive, again.
….
Dinner was full of chatter, even Carl chimed in with a shrug of his shoulders and a 'cool' when they spoke about all the interesting things they were going to see at the museum. She was most happy about living the life for a few days in a four star hotel and spending some time with her husband..
Once the dishes were in the dishwasher, Rick ushered everyone off to bed without having to repeat himself. There was an air of anticipation being felt all around as the vacation countdown had finally trickled down to one more sleep. Michonne was making her rounds of goodnights before she retired for the night. Once upstairs she walked to the end of the corridor and gave two gentle knocks on Carl's door. In no time a headphone wearing Carl opened the door with a smile. He always had a smile for her.
"Hey I'm just saying goodnight. Finished with your packing?" Carl's room wasn't as dirty as she expected. They were still a few odd pieces of clothes on the floor of his room and books were strewn across his study desk, but she didn't mention anything about it. It was important to her that Carl stay a kid for as long as possible. He was already shooting up like a bamboo sprout. He was just past her shoulders, she didn't want to think about him leaving for college or moving out or anything of the sort.
The two of them had a bond by choice, Michonne cherished the closeness of their dynamic because Carl trusted her and in return he made her laugh.
"I think so," he said going to his duffle bag, giving it a final run through. "You did most of it mom. You should know." He gave her one of his light up a room smiles, the one where his eyes came alive and he looked like a mini version of his dad.
"I guess." She leaned against his study desk, "You told Enid you're gonna be away for a while?"
At the mention of his crush's name a warm blush crept up his cheeks. She was fully aware of Operation Enid Hill, he was the one who came to her inquiring on some ways to let a woman know she was beautiful.
"Yeah," he said casting his gaze to the floor
"There's always facetime." She hinted, not wanting to see a frown on her son's face.
"That's true."
"Okay I'm saying goodnight. I'm gonna check on your brother and sister." She stepped forward and pressed a kiss to his forehead.
"Night Mom," he said in response.
"Night kiddo." She tugged the handle of his doorknob when Carl called her again.
She turned around again, giving him her undivided attention.
"This vacation was a very cool idea."
"Thanks Carl. I think so too."
….
"And then she helped solved the problem and the space shuttle was launched and-"
"They went to Wakanda." Andre finished Judith's sentence, giving Michonne a champion smile.
"Nuh uh!" Judith complained Giving Andre the well perfected side eye from across the room.
"Ok you two. That's enough, bedtime."
"Because tomorrow is our-," Andre began
"Road trip!" Judith finished.
"Everybody all tucked in?" Rick's deep voice penetrated the kids room as he entered, easily rousing Andre, snatching them from their almost dream like state.
"Daddy! Can I ride shotgun tomorrow?" Judith asked.
"No princess, that's mommy's spot."
Rick took up a spot next to Judith's heavily decorated princess forte.
Michonne adjusted the Spiderman cover around her baby boy. She kissed him on his forehead trying to lull him back to sleep. Rick had a way of exciting the children with even the smallest of distractions. Bedtime had always been a bit of a delay when he was home early from work.
Michonne leaned against the door frame, arms crossed; watching Rick interact with their kids was one of her favorite past times. He was an incredible father, ensuring they all had whatever they needed to function, from a forgotten doll at a playground an hour away, to the right Andre size sheriff's hat for career day.
Rick and Carl were at that stage of the early teenage years where they didn't agree on most things, but as of recent weeks they seemed to be at an impasse. She gathered it was partly because Carl had acquired an admirer of sorts in Enid. Enid was a pretty, level headed fourteen year old recent transplant to Carl's school. The two had been inseparable, even joining them a few nights for dinner.
Carl was growing up right before their eyes and needed the guidance of his father to navigate the world of girls. She was still an arbitrator in most cases, but she saw the relationship between Rick and Carl grow from strength to strength. Judith was always vying for her father's attention, he gave it to her freely and in abundance. Seeing so many unwanted child cases on his job, the notion was something he never wanted his baby girl to lack, and by extension his boys.
Andre was in the mirroring stage; he would mock Rick's stance, the way he spoke, even the way he walked.
It was always a funny sight to see her little boy in action; Andre would throw in an extra bend at the knee to capture his father's unique, bow legged gait, leaving her in stitches.
It was said that imitation was the highest form of flattery; Andre certainly flattered his proud father.
Observing it was well after eight o' clock Michonne decided to break up the prolonged nighttime routine, needing all her munchkins well rested by the morning, by extension her husband too.
"Ok guys, say goodnight to daddy. We have an early start in the morning."
She switched on the night lights and dragged Rick away from the kids.
"Night Daddy!" They chorused.
It was time for the adults to go to bed too.
….
"What do you think?* Michonne sashayed in front of Rick, throwing an extra sway in her hip, hoping her handsome husband could help her decide on the best pool wear. Fresh from the shower Rick wore his red boxers and a white t shirt, only he was buried in his phone, typing away at something.
"Babe?" she prodded, placing her hands on his hips.
"Yeah," he said, feeling at fault for not giving his bikini wearing wife all of his attention. "You're wearing that to the pool?"
Michonne's breasts looked swollen, adding an extra boost to her already decadent cleavage. Her small waist was alluring, giving way to the gentle widening of her jaw dropping hips. Her sexiness was familiar to him, yet felt new and enlightening. He'd been away from her for too long. His last week at work he'd been swamped at the station trying to wrap everything up, making sure there was no baggage attached to his vacation. He wanted that for himself, he wanted it for Michonne.
He saw how she picked up the slack his absence left behind. She deserved the break as much as he did. He also noticed it had become increasingly difficult for her to get out of bed for the past two weeks, her appetite was slacker than it had been in a long time. She dropped into bed long before him most nights. In essence she was tired, he wanted her to rest as much as he wanted her to have fun on their trip.
"Uh huh. You don't approve?"
"Did your bikini shrink?" He didn't approve of the way her breasts were spilling out of the bright red bikini cups.
A grin plastered on Michonne's face at Rick's blundered observation. The atmosphere was ripe for her big news, if she could only get his phone out of his hand.
"How about," she straddled him on the bed. "We put this away." She took his phone, tilting the screen towards her. "Tell Daryl your wife said it's vacation time." She threw Rick's Samsung across the bed, arresting him with a determined stare.
"I'm sorry babe. Just ironing out some minor details." He caressed her arms, dropping a kiss on her shoulder.
"Daryl is more than capable Rick." She had seen for herself the transformation in Daryl Dixon within the past few years as Rick's deputy.
She wasn't surprised in Rick's vested interest; the safety of King County was always a priority for Rick. She was in no way surprised that the burden of its protection lay heavily on his shoulders. It was one of the things that made him such a great leader.
Everybody looked to him even before his promotion, he was never one to need the hierarchical position to feel empowered to function at his job. It was his innate ability to lead, to protect and to serve that made people follow Rick Grimes, blindly if they had to.
"I know he is. You're right. I'm all yours," Rick said, knowing he wasn't just talking about the moment, but for their Grimes Family vacation and forever too.
"Good. So about the bikini?"
Rick shook his head, in disagreement with him getting arrested if anyone dare to look at Michonne in her teeny weeny, red bikini.
"You look beautiful, but go try on another one."
Michonne laughed at Rick's territorial tone. She knew exactly what he was thinking. She adjusted her position, she was trying to leave his lap when he caught her wrist in a gentle tug. "I want this to be the best vacation ever. For you. For us. For the kids."
"Oh it's gonna be." She was privileged to know something that Rick didn't.
"I have so much planned for us! I'm so excited." Michonne's face lit up with anticipation, capturing Rick up in her excitement. He really scored the day they promised each other forever.
"How'd I get so lucky finding you?" The sentence came out in a whisper, as though he was asking the universe a question he knew there was no answer to.
"We deserve this Rick."
"Forget the bathing suit parade." He patted the vacant spot on the bed. "Come to bed, let me show you how grateful I am." His smirk was inviting, but she had a mission in mind.
"Let's put a pin in that. I really want your opinion. Plus I have something really important to tell you."
"Fine. Let's get this fashion show on the road." He conceded defeat, content for now with watching her sexy strut to their en suite bathroom.
Michonne took a few minutes deciding on which bathing suit to wear for Rick next. She was also contemplating various ways she could let Rick know things in their lives were about to drastically change.
By the time she returned to their room she was annoyed, but not surprised to see Rick snoring away on his side of the bed.
"Some start to this vacation Grimes," she said to no one.
Grimes Family Vacation was going to commence in less than eight hours, she hoped she got a window to tell Rick her news before all the fun began.
She kissed Rick on his cheek, feeling tiredness seeping into her body too. Switching off the lamp beside their bed, she smiled thinking of the memories she was about to make with her family on this vacation.