AN: You know the deal, I don't own anything from The Walking Dead.
Thanks for the reviews, the follows, the favorites, and even those who just glanced at this. Let's continue the story where Andre and Andrea are alive, Rick is with Jessie, and Michonne…well…what's up with Michonne?
Chapter2: This isn't Real
The house was large. Its expanse was enough to house at least 12 people. The amount of bedrooms was ridiculous. The fact that it stood in pristine conditions was even more astounding. Michonne thought this over as she only needed to warn Andre just one time to not run around in there. She and Andrea did a quick sweep of the dwelling. Andre stuck close with his mother as Andre stayed within hearing distance of the pair.
"There's nothing wrong with this place," Andrea commented.
"True," Michonne sheathed her katana. Andrea simultaneously placed her dagger on her hip. Andre continued to hold a stick that he was carrying. "The only thing I can say is that it doesn't have a bit of dust." Her face contorted.
Andrea smirked. "Well, Jessie did say that this Alexandria used to be a model home display. I guess that can explain why there aren't walkers but everything seems to work."
"Can you explain why she was a real estate agent?"
"What does that mean," Andrea asked.
Michonne sighed. She wanted to lay down in one of the rooms on one of those huge beds, but couldn't mentally let go of being on guard. "She sounded like a commercial, like she had to sell this place to us. What's the use of that if we're already here?"
"I don't know. I don't care. She just seemed nice to me. I'm gonna go lay down."
"Are you feeling any better?"
"Yes Mom. These beds just look like heaven on earth."
Michonne nodded, totally agreeing with that. Before she could respond, she felt a tug on her leg.
"Mommy, I'm hungry."
"Okay baby," she calmed him. She looked back at Andrea, who obviously claimed her own bed. "I guess that's your room?"
"Yep!" The blonde was already snuggling with a pillow and rid of her boots.
"I'm gonna keep watch tonight."
"Uh huh," Andrea lethargically listened.
"We'll be downstairs. Whatchu wanna eat sweetie?" Michonne directed her last words towards Andre.
"Food!" he responded.
His mother chuckles. "Food. That sounds good to me."
"'Chonne," Andrea mumbled partially into her pillow. "Jessie said…pantry…you have to get food from the pantry."
"Okay, we'll be back. Andre, give Andrea a hug till we get back."
The little one ran up to her. "Later Auntie," he bided.
-0000000000000000000000000000000000000-
The sky was deciding if it still wanted to show the sun, while contesting with the thought of bringing out darkness for the moon to shine. Michonne didn't only carry a katana. On her hip was a dagger and a pistol. She observed that most everyone on the street had the same, minus her sword. It made her feel some kind of ease.
She looked down at her little one, who was holding tightly on to his stick and scowled hard at people who passed by. That was all her, but she could still see the Mike in him. She could, perhaps, preserve some of his father in a better way than through a chain. Maybe she could preserve some of Andre's innocence, or was that all lost?
They arrived inside the pantry within a few minutes. The setup was a stark contrast to the mini-mansion that Michonne had left. There was some dust and a crowd of goods lumped up in a small space. An Asian man and a blue-eyed teenager were busy talking in the furthest corner.
"Excuse me," she interrupted. "Rick and Aaron just brought us here. We need some food and supplies…?"
The Asian man eyed her suspiciously but reached out his hand, waiting until she shook it to begin talking. "Welcome," he greeted. "Glenn, and this is Carl."
"Michonne," she replied. "And this one is Andre," she placed her hands on Andre's shoulders. His little scowl was more intense than before.
Carl remarked, "you're a little fighter, aren't you? The little boy simply remarked with a grunt and a nod. Carl slyly smiled. "There's no problem with that." Carl hadn't seen anyone bigger than Judith, but much smaller than him and his friends in such a long time. Judith was his world, but it was taking her so long to grow. He also feared that his step mother would do all that she could to preserve an old world in her. Jessie was friendly, but he disliked how she tried to make sure only Rick trained her. "If your mom let's me, maybe I can teach you a few things."
Michonne scoped Carl out. He had to be younger than 16. Some things never change. She could remember many of the boys in her old neighborhood who trained younger boys on how to fight, whether they were relatives or just friends.
Andre stiffened up, "Mommy teaches me."
Michonne quietly smiled. This Carl didn't seem threatening, although he looked a little familiar.
"Peanut, Mommy will stay with you if Carl trains you."
"He's a little firecracker," Glenn remarked. He wanted to rub the little man's head, but knew that he didn't know his mother at all. He and his wife had been trying for so long to have a baby. He looked up at Michonne. "Rick tells us that you went on runs with him. He's pretty much your sidekick."
Michonne smirked. "I guess you can say that." She looked down at her son, who was only as tall as her hip. She knew his face would have been chubbier in the old world. All things considered, he was healthy. His stance and face relaxed as he looked up at her, seeing that she wasn't on guard. She smiled at him and he smiled back.
"Well," Carl inquired. "What can we set you up with?"
The men helped them with their new belongings and goods. It was so much of an upgrade from their past miniscule possessions that fit in two knapsacks. Her emotions were conflicted. She wanted to be comfortable, but even her instincts that told her to relax couldn't get her to be at full ease.
They were there for at least 20 minutes. Michonne initially declined Carl's offer to help her with her things to her new home, but after seeing that it was a struggle she relented. The stars were out. For the first time in a while, she was ready to tell Andre something she yearned to tell him since the Turn happened. It was something she noticed a year afterwards. Carl was just a part of the audience.
"We lived in the city peanut."
"City," Andre asked questioningly.
"Yes," she continued. "It was something like this, but much larger. There were buildings, cars, sidewalks, and people everywhere. There was so much going on, that the stars were hidden by the business. Once the business died down, the stars decided to show themselves again. Look," she pointed up. Both her son and Carl looked up. "There are so many stars out now, that you can see the constellations. They're what helps us figure out where we are and where we're going."
"Light pollution," the teenager interrupted.
She looked at Carl. He was bright. "Yes, light pollution."
"My teacher, Mrs. Grumstein, told us that light pollution got in the way of seeing a clear night. My mom…my mom used to drive me far away from where we lived so that I could see them sometimes."
"That was pretty cool of Jessie."
The wonder in Carl's eyes transformed into coldness. "Jessie's not my mom. She could never be."
"Oh." Michonne felt as if she intruded. "I'm, I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault. You didn't know. Everyone here lost someone."
"Carl!" The yell wasn't loud, but had the perfect pitch to turn the trio's heads to their left. Rick was coming down his house's stoop, where Jessie stood holding Judith. Michonne almost gasped at the sight of the baby. It was a long time since she saw someone so young, someone much younger than Andre. "Aren't you supposed to be on pantry duty?"
Carl nodded his head. "Yes, but she needed help with all of this. I just wanted to help."
Rick grimaced. She was just a woman with a small child. She was also just a woman who he witnessed decapitate a small horde of walkers while her son was by her side. Andre told him that they may benefit having a warrior such as her behind their walls, but he wasn't sure just yet. There was something about her that tugged at him that he didn't like. Jessie told him that he was being a "worry-wort" in her simple ways. His mate couldn't sense a killer unless the person held a knife up to her throat.
"I'll help her," Rick offered. "Go back to the pantry and finish your shift."
Carl sullenly walked away. He was beginning to enjoy where his and one of his newest neighbor's conversation was going.
"Rick, I can go-" Jessie began to lend her hand, but Rick had already grabbed the remainder of Michonne's belongings and stalked off towards her home. Michonne glanced at Jessie for a second. The blonde gave a confused look. Michonne could have said something, but decided to hurry while holding Andre's hand after the man who was on a mission with her things.
"You don't trust me," she stated when she caught up with Rick.
"Nothing personal, I don't trust anyone," the lean man replied. "Not after just meeting them anyway."
"I understand. I don't trust anyone here too easily either."
He stopped rushing and looked at her, his cerulean eyes boring into her chocolate ones. "Then why are you here?"
She nearly chuckled. "A man pinned me in my sleep, that's why I'm here. I can understand not trusting me, but the hostility I don't get. Why bring us here if you didn't want us here."
Rick's teeth gritted. He was sure that Jessie was watching from the window. Her jealousy issues were aggravating whenever there was a new woman in their zone. "Aaron suggested that we rescue you. It's his job to recruit people. I don't normally do it."
Michonne continued to walk but carried the conversation. She didn't desire being in his presence any longer. "Well, you're the one who runs this place."
"There's a council."
"Bullshit. You're the head of the council."
Rick looked at her son, he didn't flinch at her profanity. He really didn't mind cursing around children anymore. Lori…Jessie had a thing against that type of language around the kids. He figured what was the use? Everything had gone to hell anyway. A slight smile turned up on his lips. "Something like that."
Michonne walked up her porch, holding the belongings, Andre's hand, and with her katana on her back. Her lean but curvy figure turned as she opened the door and looked back at him. Her dreads slightly whipped as she turned around. Rick noticed every curve and how her silhouette stood out amongst the darkness. He swallowed.
"Well, you're letting us stay here for a reason," she reasoned.
"Your friend, Andrea, is sick. And your son shouldn't have to live out there."
"But me?"
Rick scratched his blonde eyebrow. "We have a run coming up soon. People will watch Andre…"
Michonne's eyes nearly rolled. She blinked rapidly and her son's grip was tighter. "He can stay with Andrea when she's better."
Rick nodded and walked off. He licked his lips, trying to shake the thought of looking at Michonne's ass. He twisted his ring from his marriage to Lori nervously. He felt he cheated enough with Jessie. Now he was eyeing a warrior as if she was dinner.
He came in his home to see Jessie trying her best to not seem worried. She was rocking and walking with Judith, almost to the point that the baby seemed like an object.
"Give me Judith," he ordered.
"Ummm, hmmm. No, she seems fine with me."
Rick sighed. He approached her in their huge living room, and gently took his baby. He gave her a kiss to her forehead. Jessie yearned for the same, but didn't receive it.
"You know," Jessie swooped her hair from her face. She gave a chessy smile. "She could pass as my baby. Everyone thinks she is."
Rick tried to restrain his irritation. He thought the "vacation" of recruiting with Aaron would be beneficial. Instead, he was back at square one. She couldn't help that she was so…oblivious. It was what attracted him, besides her appearance, in the first place. It manifested from cute to outright annoying.
"No," he mumbled.
"Rick," she questioned.
"Nothing. Is Ron and Sam done with weapons training with Carol?"
"Um…," she tried to smile. "No."
"No?"
"They were pretty tired. I let them play video games at Nicholas' house."
Rick pinched his nose. "You have to be fuckin' kiddin' me. Nicholas' house? Video games?"
"What? Before you and your people came here, we've always been safe. They need some downtime. Besides, I don't see why none of you trust Nicholas."
"You…oh m God…I'm going for a walk."
"Rick, not with the bab-". Before she could finish, he was out the door.
