All the bags are packed and the car's gassed up. The sweet cranesinthesky brings us chapter 2 of this road trip, and the Grimes family have actually hit the road. With a car full of kids, let's see how everyone copes in such tight quarters for a few hours ride. Hopefully it's all smiles and cheers and no threats from Rick to turn the car around.

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-We're The Ones Who Write

Chapter 2

The alarm shrieked loudly at exactly seven a.m. on the dot, interrupting both Rick and Michonne's blissful slumber. Rick groaned as he reached over to turn it off and then wiped at his eyes. He glanced over at his wife beside him, her eyes closed as she tried to gain just a few more minutes of sleep.

"Five more minutes," she whispered to him, feeling his beautiful blue eyes on her.

He moved in closer to her and wrapped his arms around her. She sighed contently as she laid her head on his chest. His arms were her favorite place to sleep.

"You do know what today is, right?" he said, his voice still thick with sleep.

"Hmm," she hummed, a smile creeping onto her face. "We leave for the Grimes Family Vacation."

"That's right. Which means that we should really get up and get the kids ready," Rick said, his fingers moving through his wife's locs. "You know it will take them all morning to get ready."

"Not on my watch." She lifted her head to face him. "I have them on a schedule."

"A schedule?" Rick asked, his eyebrows raised. Though he wasn't really surprised; his wife was a planner and making up a schedule for the kids in order to get everyone out of the house in a timely fashion was right up her alley.

"So we won't have to hear any arguments about who gets the bathroom first or risk being late leaving the house," she explained. "This is our vacation, Rick. We've been waiting for this for a while."

"I know," he cupped her cheek and she lovingly settled into his strong hand. "We're going to have fun and we're going to get out of the house on time. Don't worry."

He glanced over at the clock. It was only 7:10. "What time does your schedule start?"

"7:30."

"Technically, the fun can start right now," he said slowly and suggestively, his eyes dark with lust. "The kids aren't up yet. We have some time to start some fun on our own."

He began to place a trail of kisses down her stomach, smiling to himself when he heard her giggling beneath him. Her fingers ran through his curls, the alluring motion causing shivers to run down his spine.

"No, no, no," she said, still unable to contain her laughter. He came back up for air and hovered over top of her, the pout on his face almost enough to make her reconsider her decision. "As much as I would like to, we really should start getting ready soon if we want to get there early. It's a three hour drive."

"Exactly, it's only a three hour drive," Rick countered back lightly. "I can turn on the police sirens and have us there in two."

She laughed, her fingers still in his hair. "I don't think that's the best idea. I promise I'll make it up to you in Huntsville. All night long."

He sighed and moved to lay on his side, his ego and libido defeated. "I'm glad we got a suite to ourselves because I'm going to make sure you keep that promise."

She winked at him. "When have I ever failed you?"

He shook his head as he watched her get out of bed, her naked body glorious and calling out for him. "Never."

He watched as she waltzed to their walk in closet, his eyes sweeping down every feature of her body. After five years of marriage and many love making sessions with her, he knew every curve like the back of his hand. He noticed how full she had gotten, mostly around her stomach and her breasts, but didn't dare to say anything about it. Usually around a certain time of the month, her body tended to fill out more anyway.

"Rick?" she said, interrupting his thoughts.

"Hm?" he said, snapping back into reality. "I'm sorry, babe. What did you say?"

"I said I had something important to tell you," she said, wrapping her silk robe around her. She made her way back over to the bed and sat beside him.

Rick reached out to place a hand on her thigh. He searched her face for anything concerning, but was only able to find giddiness with a slight nervousness. "What is it?"

She opened her mouth but was immediately cut off by their bedroom door swinging open. Andre and Judith came running in and jumped on the bed, excitement filling their voices and their adrenaline.

"Grimes family vacation!" they shouted.

"Daddy, get up so we can go see Wakanda!" Judith exclaimed, pulling her father's hand with all of her might. "I don't want to miss it."

"Mom said I had to ask you if I can bring my slingshot," Andre said, the toy in his hand. He carried it around nearly everywhere he went. "Can I, please?"

Michonne laughed as Rick looked slightly overwhelmed by all of the early morning excitement.

"Yes, you can take the slingshot," he told Andre, chuckling as the young boy lifted his fist in a cheer. "And we will leave as soon as everybody is ready," he told Judith.

He glanced over at Michonne. "Better get that schedule out."

She was already on her way out of the door. "On it now!"

I-I-I-I

Two hours later, the Grimes family were out of the door and on the road to Alabama… and two hours later, Michonne still had not had a chance to tell Rick the exciting news.

The alone time they had that morning had been perfect and she was so close to telling him. After that, their time became more chaotic and hectic as they worked to make sure all bags were packed and all kids were situated before leaving the house.

She couldn't tell him now. Not with him driving and the kids in the backseat. She glanced around to see Andre and Judith reading a book and Judith playing with her Shuri doll in the middle seat. Carl was all the way in the backseat listening to his music through those trusty headphones and scrolling through his phone, the teenage.

Her gaze strayed back to Rick in the driver's seat. He had one hand on the wheel, the other hand tapping against his knee to the beat of the country song playing softly on the radio. She bit her lip at the sight of his lean, hard body and she practically shivered at the thought of him moving over top of her each night. It was no wonder she was pregnant now.

Her hand immediately went to her stomach, her fingers grazing over the barely there bump. When she and Rick first had gotten married, adding more kids to their already blended family had always been in the deal. But, when it didn't happen as fast as they wanted it to, they agreed to maybe seek professional help to help them conceive. Life had gotten in the way and they never did go, but it turns out they didn't need it.

She was pregnant and she couldn't wait to share the news. The only issue was when she would share it?

Rick felt her eyes on him and looked over at her. He smiled as he reached out and placed his hand on her knee. He gave a quick squeeze, but kept his hand there, relishing in just the contact with her

She covered his hand with hers, smiling back at him. It was the simple things like this she enjoyed. She loved this man with everything in her, the life that they made inside of her just an example of that.

"You ready for this?" he asked in that southern drawl she loved so much. She knew he wasn't talking about the baby but it sure felt like it.

"More than ever," she replied, bringing his fingers to her lips for a kiss.

"Save some of that loving for tonight," he said in a low voice, a smirk on his face.

"There's plenty where that came from," she winked. "Don't you worry."

"Daddy, can you please play Bruno Mars?" Judith said, leaning forward and poking her head between her parents' seats.

"I will once you sit back," he said, looking at her through the rearview mirror with a serious look. The look was quickly broken as Rick could never say no to his baby girl.

Carl groaned from the back seat. "Not again! We listen to that same song every day on the way to school."

"Carl, you know you love it," Michonne laughed as she tapped on her cell to open her spotify account.

She could see Carl shake his head and try to hide the smile that was creeping onto his face. "It's alright," he muttered.

The lively song started playing and Michonne reached over to turn up the volume, Bruno's upbeat lyrics causing everyone to break out singing. Michonne could swear she saw Carl's mouth moving along as well.

Rick's hand was still in hers as she felt his squeeze her again. "Good start so far?" he asked.

She winked. "The best," she answered as the the SUV crossed over the Alabama state line.