Hi everyone! This is a random one-shot I thought of a couple of days ago, thanks to a certain honey bee campaign that's been making its way around social media, so bear with me haha. This story takes place in an AU/No Walker universe.
Michonne hummed quietly as she poured herself a cup of coffee, the aroma from the freshly brewed beverage instantly rejuvenating her body. It was eight o'clock on a Saturday morning in the Grimes household. Rick and Carl had gone out fishing while Michonne and Judith stayed home with plans to relax and do absolutely nothing. The week had been hectic for the family; between ballet practices, a recital, after school tutoring, a baseball game and hard days at work, they all figured they needed some form of rest and relaxation.
Rick had left out nearly an hour ago with a sleepy Carl in tow, promising they would be back around lunchtime. Judith stole her father's space in bed, snuggling up to her mother and telling her about the dreams she had the night before. This had become a ritual, Michonne and Rick realized, Judith sneaking into their room and snuggling in bed with them before their alarm clock went off. However, there were no complaints from either; they tried to cherish every moment they could with the kids, knowing that one day both would be out of the house and on with their lives.
Judith was sitting at the kitchen table, swinging her feet happily as she hummed along to the Disney song that she had been singing around the house for the past couple of weeks. In front of her was the newspaper that Rick had brought into the house earlier and a box of cereal, her breakfast of choice. Her fingers across the words on the paper as she tried to read along, recognizing most of the words in the headline.
Michonne sighed contently after taking a sip of coffee then setting it down on the counter. She walked over to the refrigerator; an omelet sounded perfect for this morning.
"What's for breakfast, cutie?" she asked the six year old, knowing well that the picky eater wouldn't be as excited for an omelet as she was. "The usual?"
She turned when didn't receive an answer. She instantly noticed that Judith was no longer humming or swinging her feet, but sitting still with a solemn look on her face, her brow furrowed as she stared at the newspaper in front of her.
"Judith? What's wrong?"
"This." The little girl pointed to the newspaper. "The bees are missing."
"What?" Michonne walked over to the table, taking a seat beside her daughter. She picked up the paper, her eyes scanning over the article in question.
"'Save the bees,'" she read out loud. "'The bee population is dwindling due to an increase in parasites and pesticides. Scientists are encouraging people everywhere to plant wildflower seeds in order to help rebuild the bee population.'"
"Can we plant the seeds, Mommy?" Judith looked up at her mother curiously with those big brown eyes. "We need to save the bees."
Michonne smiled at the little girl's compassion. She had heart and was always looking out for those around her, fighting for other people- even the bees. Just like her father.
She reached down and smoothed Judith's golden blonde hair, still disheveled after a good night's sleep. "We can save the bees. But first, breakfast." She stood and walked back over to the refrigerator, pulling out the milk to make a bowl of cereal. "We need our energy."
After they finished eating breakfast and changed into comfortable clothes, they made their way out to the front yard, where there was an empty flower bed near the porch that had been abandoned long ago.
"First, we have to find a spot for it," Michonne said, setting down the bucket of gardening tools and a packet of wildflower seeds on the porch steps. She stood back and placed her hands on her hips, looking around for the perfect spot. Judith copied her, hands on her hips as well, looking.
"Right there," she chimed, pointing to a spot next to the porch steps. "So I can see them every morning when I leave for school."
Michonne laughed. "Okay, let's go for it."
As they worked on creating a safe space for the flowers, Michonne paused to watch the young girl carefully placed the seeds into the hole they had dug. She then filled the hole with soil and patted the small mound, proud of her accomplishment. She looked up at her mother with a big smile on her face, oblivious to Michonne's loving stare.
"When will the bees come back?"
"In a couple of weeks, hopefully. Once the flowers grow, the bees will come out. Think you can wait that long?" She playfully pinched her right cheek.
Judith thought about it for a second, her eyes looking upward and her finger resting on her chin. She nodded her head. "I think so."
She then got up and wrapped her arms around Michonne's neck, her head resting on her shoulder. Her grip tightened as she said, "I love you, Mommy."
Michonne smiled, tears springing to her eyes. How lucky she was to have these wonderful people in her life. Each day, her husband and children did something that made her love them even more possible than she thought. And for that, she was grateful. "I love you, too, cutie."
