trigger warning:gun violence; suicide.

Continue at your own risk

...

Five years later

"Do you know why it can never work for us? Huh? You always go around playing the victim, telling everyone that I'm the bad guy but that's not fair. You put your work before me and everyone else."

"Lori that's not true."

"It is entirely true! You weren't there for me! It was the hardest time in my life and you were not there!"

"It was hard for me too."

"I couldn't tell, I lost my world that day."

Rick released a shaky breath, then opened his mouth, hoping he could find the right words to speak, when he couldn't form his thoughts into a sentence he gave up trying.

"Go ahead, keep to yourself, keep hiding your feelings from me." She scoffed. "I need to know your thoughts. Talk to me Rick."

When he stayed silent she shoved him hard causing him to knock over the vase behind him.

"Talk to me!"

"I... I'm sorry."

"Tell me why I should stay."

"I love you."

She shook her head indicating that she wasn't accepting that as a good enough reason.

"Tell me why I should stay." She repeated every word sternly.

"I am giving you one last chance before this divorce is finalized and you don't know why you want me to stay? I know why I want to leave. Shall I tell you why?" She question

Rick was silent still and she laughed sarcastically. "I'll tell you anyway, I'm sick of being emotionally abused by you. " she held her hand out to cut him off when she saw him about to defend himself.

"I am talking, you can respond when I finish. Like I said you are emotionally abusive. Any disagreement we have, you never fail to me it my fault. Somehow everything that goes wrong in our relationship is because I slept with Shane. You said you were over that, that is why we decided to try again. You started this not me!"

"How was I supposed to get over that Lori... I tried but I was constantly reminded of the fact that you once cheated on me."

"So why did you come back to me? I've wasted years of my life with you. I will never get that back. You made me miserable. I hate being married to you!" She admitted.

Rick took a step back at her harsh words. He clenched his jaw and swallowed hard.

"Where would you go without me Lori? What would you do? Without me, without being Rick's wife, who are you?"

Lori was running out of patience, her blood was boiling. She lifted her hand, throwing it forward as hard as she could. The sound vibrated through the room and she felt her palm sting from the contact. His head snapped to the side from the unexpected attack.

Lori pointed her finger in his face.

"Right there, is why I'm leaving. How dare you reduce me to just your wife." She snarled.

She turned on her heels to leave but he called out to her.

"You were carrying his child. How do you think that made me feel?"

"I lost her! She never even made it to this world. How do you think that made me feel?" She fired back. "All you think about... is you, you're going to be a sad, sad, man Rick. No one will ever love you. You'll die an arrogant, lonely old man, and no one will mourn you. It's been years and you still can't get over it? Good bye Rick, I hope one day you take your head out of your ass."

Rick stood there watching her leave for good this time.

...

One month later

"Michonne?" Mike asked in a shocked voice.

He opened the door wider so that she could enter his home.

"Why are you crying?" He pulled her into a awkward hug and patted her back.

"Is everything alright? You're not hurt are you?"

Last time he'd seen Michonne was close to six months ago. They'd run into each other every once in a while but they never had a conversation outside of casual greetings. They had far past moved on from their break up and she no longer hated him. The last he heard about her was from his good friend Terry last week. Terry told him that Michonne was engaged to some "super rich white dude" named Victor Richardson.

One quick Google search informed him that Victor was an infamous Physican who had even appeared on tv multiple times. He also had a daughter named Jasmine.

Michonne didn't want kids so he knew that she must have really been in love for her to deal with a child that wasnt hers.

"I can't do it anymore." Michonne sat on the floor lifting her knees to wrap her arms around them. She sniffed and wiped at her tears. She despised crying.

"What's going on?"

"Jasmine. Victor's daughter." She said through her tears.

"I've tried everything and she still hates me. She gave me hell this morning before leaving for school. Do you know what she told me last night?" She sniffed "she said she hopes I die. Mike, there's something wrong with that child. I talked to Victor about it and he shut me down. She listens to this dark, terrifying music. She won't take her medicine and he just doesn't see it. He doesn't want to see that his little girl needs help."

Mike rubbed her back providing her with any comfort he could.

"I don't know... I feel like she's going to hurt someone one of these days. Maybe even herself."

"Woah, Michonne, don't overthink everything. She's just an angsty kid who's upset daddy is moving on. Come on she's not going to hurt you or anyone. You know what you need to do?"

"What?" She looked up at him

"Stand your ground. Let her know how it is. Let her know that you are the boss or else she'll never respect you."

"Mike she doesn't need to be bossed around, she needs a professional who can talk to her."

"Nah, she's just being dramatic. Trust me, she's a high school girl. They're all dramatic. You were that way too."

"Yeah." She sniffed. "And look at me. If I had someone to talk to then maybe I wouldn't be so screwed up."

"That's different... You went through a lot..."

Michonne laughed sarcastically. That was an understatement.

"Mike, I'm seriously worried."

"Well then, if you're that worried...you can crash here..."

She smiled softly at him.

"Thank you Mike. Talking to you has made me feel a little better but I have to go back."

"Do you love him?" He asked avoiding her eyes.

"I like him... a lot. He likes me, enough."

"Is it really worth staying there if you fear for your safety? Especially since you don't love him..."

"I want to help her before she ends up like me... it's my way of trying to do what I wish someone had done for me..

He nodded his head agreeing. "If that's what you truly believe, I won't stop you from going back. Be careful ok? We might not be together anymore but I still care about you. I'd hate to see you in harm's way."

"I will." She promised.

She wiped the remainder of her tears with the back of her hand.

"Sorry for coming here unannounced, Andrea's at work and I really needed someone to talk to... How's Stephanie?"

"Pregnant."

Michonne gasped. "Really?"

"Yeah. We found out last month. I'm hoping it's a boy- You women are too insane. "

Michonne scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Hush... Mike?"

"Hm?"

"Do you think... that we could be friends?"

Mike tensed and looked away from her. He cleared his throat before speaking. "I'd have to talk to Stephanie about it... you know how she gets."

"Oh... She must still hate me." Michonne nodded.

Her phone rang loudly catching her off guard causing her to jump slightly.

Michonne sighed "It's the school. I'll talk to you soon?

"Yeah, soon."

...

Michonne stepped out of her black on black ferrari gently closing the door behind her. Her black red bottoms hit the ground loudly as she made her way to building. Her freshly twisted, waist length dreadlocks swayed in the wind. Her oversized aviator raybans shielded her eyes from the sun and also from the many stares of the other parents.

Michonne made the sidewalk leading to the high school her personal runway. She knew her way to the principals office by heart since she'd frequently been called up to the school.

She strutted through the office and she heard an embarrassed groan.

"Mrs. Richardson! There you are; I called her father but he was in a meeting, he asked me to call you instead."

"Yes, I've heard. And by the way, I'm not Mrs. Richardson, we aren't married yet." Michonne corrected her.

"Oh pardon me, now, to get to the point- Jasmine is failing in all of her classes, I don't know if something is going on or what but I will need you to speak with her about maybe getting some tutoring."

" , no offence but I know you didn't call me all the way here for that right?"

"E-excuse me?"

" I think a phone call would have been sufficient, no?" Michonne bite her tongue amd changed her tone." I'm sorry." She shook her head. She had to remind herself that snapping at everyone wasn't acceptable. "I'll look into getting her a tutor." smiled at this.

"That's great! Thank you!"
Michonne smiled stiffly and nodded politely.

"Jasmine." She rested her hand on her shoulder. "Let's go, we're leaving." Michonne walked away with the lanky young woman tailing her.

"Why are you here?" She asked with an attitude.

"I'm here to get you, Jasmine please, you have to listen to your teachers and do your assignments."
Michonne rolled her eyes thankful her sunglasses hid the gesture. She took a deep breath.

"You're over an hour late." Jasmine complained.

"I know, I got here as soon as I could. I had business to take care of."

"My dad isn't in a meeting." She huffed. "He's a liar and you're a gold digger. "

Michonne stopped and turned to the girl. She stared at her then smirked. "Call it whatever you like. I know it's hard for you to believe I actually like your father... but I do care about him."

"The only thing you like about him is his money. He's paying for your schooling right? A gold digger. That's what you are." Jasmine repeated. "You're trying so hard to be this dutiful stepmom but I know about you, settling down doesn't change what kind of woman you are." She sneered.

"Well with grades like those," Michonne pointed to the report card in the girl's hand. "I don't think you should be criticising me about how I chose to live my life in the past. You should worry about how you're going to live your life."

"Stop pretending you're a good person, people don't change."

"Do you know how hard it is to admit to yourself that you have a problem? It's hard, but I did it." Michonne said

She threaded lightly before continuing in a whisper. "...you should see your father's friend Denise. She's a really amazing therapist and I think she could help you with all of that pent up anger. I've spoken to her a few times and she helped me. Jasmine it's ok to need help."

She looked down and smiled sadly.

"I wish someone had told me that when I was your age."

"Oh now I need help? You're calling me crazy? Real mature, insulting a high school student. Oh wait! You're not much older than me so it makes sense!"

Michonne rolled her eyes again, she shook her head defeated. She couldn't get through to her. Michonne rested her hand on her shoulder again and continued towards her car. She really forgot how moody teenagers were.

Jasmine hated Michonne.

She thought Michonne was using her dad for his money, she also thought she was too young to be dating her 42 year old father. Michonne herself was only 24 years old.

It made Jasmine sick to her stomach.

Jasmine was 19 after being held back in middle school so she was older than your average senior. She hated that her dad's soon to be wife was only five years older than her. How could she ever respect such a lowly woman?

She glared at the back of Michonne's head with disdain, she only stopped when she spotted her favorite teacher from the corner of her eye.

" !" She waved.

Grimes? Michonne's ears perked up at the mention of that name.

Michonne looked to see who she was talking to and halted when she saw the woman. The woman who grated her nerves for years.

Her old manager, Lori.

"Michonne?" She said in disbelief.

"Lori." She said nonchalantly.

Michonne laughed in her head. So they ended up getting married? She thought. Of course, that's how it always ended. Sweet girls like Lori were every man's dream. The ideal wife.

Then there were woman like herself. The type that other women referred to as 'loose'. They were the types that men were taught to avoid. They were the type men slept with but never committed to. So when she got engaged it was something she couldn't say no to.

"Wow, Michonne, you look amazing!"

Michonne took in her outfit and she honestly could say the same for her. Obviously, she'd upgraded her fashion. But she wouldn't tell her that. "Thank you."

"Wow, it's been what? Five years?" Lori smiled.

"Wait you know ?" Jasmine asked confused.

"Jasmine I told you, it's been a month, I'm just now." She sighed wearily. "Michonne and I were really close! We used to work together at the coffee shop I told you about."

"Sure did. Until she fired me. Are you two done saying your hellos? I'm about ready to go."

Lori frowned at her. She thought there would be no hard feelings over something that happened half a decade ago.

"Oh I'm sorry to keep you. Go on Jasmine, study hard for the standardized test on Monday. Bye now!"

There was an awkward silence all the way home.

They pulled up to the large house and parked in the driveway.

"You're coming in?" Jasmine asked when she saw Michonne following behind her.

"I live here." She said with squinted eyes.

"Ugh, don't remind me." She muttered under her breath. "I just thought you were going to go cheat on my dad some more, it's not like he'll ever know, he's too stupid to see that he's marrying a whore." She bumped her shoulder against Michonne's causing her to drop her phone that she was holding.

Michonne sighed and grabbed her arm before she could get too far.

"Listen up you little brat, stop acting like this is your world and we're just living in it. I'm marrying your dad, I don't want you to hate me, we will be apart of each other's lives."

"How can I get over the fact that my father is marrying a cheating whore? Do you know how embarrassed I am that my father is marrying you?"

"Call me a whore if that somehow makes you feel better about yourself, whatever. But I am not a cheater. Never once have I cheated on him, so watch what you say. I've come a long way, too far for you to talk to me that way, I don't appreciate it. I am trying my best!"

Suddenly they heard a loud thud from upstairs.

Halting their argument, they looked at each other with wide eyes, Michonne put her finger infront of her mouth signaling her to be quiet. She led her to the closet in the guest room and hid her there.

"Stay here, I'll check it out." Michonne whispered.

She grabbed a knife from the kitchen and slowly walked up the stairs. She tried her best not to make a sound.

Jasmine grabbed the gun from the safe in the guest room. Her father was real big on guns and had one hidden in nearly every room in the house. That's how she knew he didn't love the woman he was marrying, she wasn't even aware of how much of a gun enthusiast he was.

Jasmine quietly followed behind Michonne keeping her distance.

She went in the direction she heard the thud and opened the door swiftly.

She stared at the scene playing before her eyes- the knife dropped from her hand and her eyes teared up.

There he was, in the bed he shared with her, screwing some other woman.

Neither him or the woman realized they'd been busted, Michonne grabbed the lamp from the end table and slammed it over his sweaty back.

"You son of a bitch!" She shouted, hitting him repeatedly.

The woman tried to cover herself with the bedsheets. Michonne paid her no mind, she was focused solely on her cheating fiance.

He apologized profusely trying to explain himself. She turned around when she saw the fear in his eyes staring at something behind her.

She saw Jasmine aiming a gun at her father with shaky hands.

"Who is she?" She asked him through her tears.

"Put the gun down cinnamon." He said with a shaking voice. He was trying to cover himself with his hands.

"He's right Jasmine...put it down. No one has to get hurt." Michonne said

"What are you talking about? We're all already hurt! Why are you taking up for him? Look at him, he's scum and that's why mom left."

"Jasmine, it's not too late. We can change, we can all change. Please put the gun down." Michonne begged.

He shook his head. "No, your mother left because that whore ran off with the accountant!"

"Victor don't provoke her! Shut up!" Michonne snapped.

Michonne stood in shock unbelieving at the scene playing before her eyes. Jasmine pulled the trigger not once but three times.

Two bullets to her father's chest and one to the head of his mistress.

The gunshots echoed deafeningly in the small space in the hall leading to the bedroom. Michonne covered her mouth as tears escaped her.

Jasmine turned to her with tears of her own. Slowly she pointed the gun to her.

Michonne's hands flew up in surrender. "Please don't." She whimpered. She was terrified, never in her life had she felt like she was staring death in the face, until now. Her life flashed before her eyes and not once was she proud of herself.

A tear slid down her face at the realization that she lived a life full of misery and regrets- and it was over before she could redeem herself.

Jasmine pulled the trigger and everything went black.

...

Rick arrived to the coffeeshop bright and early. It had become apart of his morning routine. Every morning before work, he would stop by for a small cup of coffee and an egg and cheese croissant.

Ever since Sasha was promoted to manager as Lori's replacement, the business was going a lot better. They gained more regulars and thus earned more money.

There were now flatscreen tv's installed around the shop. The booths even had personal ones installed.

"Morning Rick!" Jessie greeted.

He was seated in the booth in the corner. The same booth he sat in when he first entered this place when he came looking for Lori. The same place he sat when he met her.

He smiled sadly at the memory. He thought about her occasionally, wondering what she was doing, hoping her life was treating her well. He knew that Andrea kept in touch with her, but they didn't speak of Michonne. It was sort of taboo to bring her up.

He hoped her life was treating her better than his was treating him. He didn't get his happy ending with Lori, they tried to give it another go and even got married. Unfortunately, that didn't last for more than a few years. They just weren't meant to last.

"Morning Jessie."

"Small coffee, egg and cheese croissant?" She asked scribbling on the small pad she carried.

"You know it." He smiled up at her.

"Alrighty! That'll be ready in a jiffy."

Rick watched the small personal tv that was set to the news to kill time as he waited for his order. He tapped his fingers against the table as the words. Breaking News flashed across the screen.

"Three victims found shot and killed in Ansley Park home in what the police suspect was a murder suicide."

"There is a fourth victim who was also shot and is in critical condition. Police found who was later identified as 24 year old, Michonne Brunet, a law student attending Emory University, and fiancée to victim and infamous Atlanta physician, Victor Richardson-

Police claim to have found victim Michonne Brunet in a pool of her own blood, barely hanging onto her life when they arrived on the scene after receiving multiple noise complaint calls from neighbors. She was rushed to Northside Hospital immediately.

The police confirm daughter, Jasmine Richardson 19, as the shooter. It is being suspected that she shot and killed her father and what is speculated to be his mistress, Kimberly Woods, 36.

This is such a tragic story to be covering on this beautiful Saturday morning.

Stay tuned as we-"

Rick stoped listening to the tv as his ears started buzzing.

Everyone in the coffee shop watched the news coverage in shock.

All the workers who once worked with Michonne watched in dismay and disbelief. It was tragic indeed.

Jessie sat his order on the table infront of him but her once chiper mood was replaced by a dull, gloomy one instead.

"Thanks." Rick rasped.

He didn't know what to think. He was completely numb.

He saw Andrea drop everything she was doing to run out of the shop. He quickly got up to follow her.

"Andrea wait!" She stopped just as she reached her car.

Andrea sobbed as she struggled to unlock her car door.

"I can't believe this is happening. I just talked to her this morning." Her hand was shaking so much that she couldn't get the door unlocked.

Rick took the keys from her hand and unlocked the door for her.

"I'm coming too. I'll drive."

"Why?"

"You shouldn't go alone." He replied. It was the truth but it wasn't the whole truth. He wanted to go for her. There was something about her that pulled him to her. Five years passed and it was still there.

Andrea eyed him suspicisouly, he never opened up to her about Michonne but she knew something was there. After all these years, it was still there.

...

Next chapter we will have a lot of flashbacks. So any questions you have will most likely be answered there. Be patient and hang in there. For those continuing to read, thanks so much!

Also for those who asked if Negan took advantage of Michonne last chapter? No.

Had she not puked all over him and passed out, would he have taken advantage of her? Yes, because he doesn't think it's rape. (It is, it's definately rape people.)