Family We
The next morning, Rick called a meeting at Deanna's house. Spencer, her son was there. He was sad having just lost his mother, but, he made sure to show up to keep up the moral and give support. When everyone had settled down, Father Gabe opened the meeting with a prayer and asked for a moment of silence for the ones that they lost. After that, Spencer came forth and made special mention of his mother.
"Deanna, mother, visionary leader. I will miss you.", Spencer began and paused.
"While she was dying, she wrote down her last thoughts and I would like to share them with you.", he continued.
He unfolded a small piece of paper. His hand shook as he read from the blood stained note in his mother's handwriting. It read,
Spence. Spencer. My son. By the time you read this, I am gone and have joined your father and your brother. I regret that my last moments were not shared with you. I love you and I will miss you.
In a few short weeks of letting Rick's group in, a lot has happened. It was as if time grew legs and jumped, skipped and hopped ahead of us. Do not think for once that everything bad that has happened lately is to their doing. We caused it upon ourselves by not being prepared and I take full responsibility. I was too busy drafting plans for a better tomorrow and lost sight of what is out there, beyond our walls. Rick and his group has been out there for a long time and have survived. As long as this place is standing, you must all make this work. Rick and Michonne will help you get there. As one.
Mom.
Rick placed his hand on Spencer's shoulder and looked at him in the eyes and nodded. Spencer nodded back at him and braved a smile. Rick turned to everyone and said,
"Michonne and I will work with you to keep this place going and safe. It is time we stop surviving and start to live."
Michonne then said,
"We need to be able to sustain ourselves and be less reliant on dangerous supply runs. Deanna, moments before the wall came down, she gave us blue prints of her expansion plans. It included claiming land beyond the south wall to allow for the planting of food and rearing livestock. Chickens, pigs, goats. We have a pond. If we make it bigger. We can have fish to eat."
The air instantly became positive. Everyone listening in slowly began to shake their heads in agreement.
"We will call this the Deanna Sustainability Plan.", Rick said. Spencer nodded.
"No space will go unused. Our yard spaces, front and back, will become mini crops. Let us pool our talents and make this work.", Michonne said.
Everyone nodded and some even said yes out loud.
"Let's right now get to work. We can start by coming up with teams. Everyone, children and adults alike. Together we can all make this work.", Rick said.
Everyone enthusiastically shared their ideas. For the first time, they worked together towards a common goal.
~*0*~
At the end of the meeting, the upbeat crowd dispersed and went their own separate ways. Morgan saw Rick walking on the sidewalk. He'd wanted to talk to him for the longest while but each time he tried, there was never a good time. Rick saw him coming and paused on the sidewalk.
"Hey. That was a good speech you made back there.", Morgan complimented.
"Thanks. Is everything okay?", Rick asked.
"Everythang's fine. I am moving out.", Morgan announced.
The moment Rick heard, a huge grin started to inch it's way across his face. He quickly thought of cockroaches and flies to trick himself into keeping a straight face.
"Was it something one of us did? Carl, Michonne, me? Judith?", Rick asked trying to look concerned.
Morgan smiled and gave a small chuckle while looking down at his feet.
"No. Y'all been great. It's time I got my own space. You know?", Morgan said.
"Sure, sure. Where?", Rick asked. Meanwhile, he couldn't wait to give Michonne the news.
"The empty house, three down, across the road.", Morgan said pointing somewhere down the road.
"You mean the one with the blue shutters?", Rick asked.
"Yeah. It's got a porch. I like living in a place with a porch.", Morgan replied.
"Well, if you need anythang. You let us know.", Rick offered.
"Okay. Thanks for having me.", Morgan said.
"It was our pleasure. Come by later for dinner. The gang's gonna be there.", Rick said.
"Carol too?", Morgan asked.
"Yes. She's making tuna casserole.", Rick replied.
Rick thought it was interesting that Morgan would be asking about Carol, in particular. But, he kept it to himself, at least for now. They closed and went off in their own directions. Then Morgan turned around and yelled,
"Tell Michonne I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what?", Rick asked.
"For snoring too loudly.", Morgan said and smiled.
~*0*~
In the next couple of weeks, Deanna's plans were successfully put in place and everyone got involved. The south facing walls were expanded. Land was plowed and seeds were planted. The pond was enlarged and fish put in it. One by one, feral goats, pigs, chickens and horses were rounded up, tamed and put to breed. Irrigation systems were created and implemented. Compost mixed with animal manure were worked into the soil and it gave the crops a boost. Within a few months, food became available to eat. Supply runs became less and less frequent and were only done to source medical supplies and personal items.
While everyone worked arduously on Deanna's sustainability plan, Rick and Michonne made sure to get everyone involved in weapons and hand to hand combat training. As practice, small groups were taken beyond the wall to learn how to defend themselves against walkers and to develop other survival skills. The group from Atlanta organized daily field trips to expose the Alexandrians to as many different challenges as possible. Before Rick and his group arrived, for too long, Deanna's people were sheltered and had no idea how to fight. Thanks to the Atlanta group, gradually, they overcame their fears, became less afraid and started to think more like soldiers.
Over time, there were more and more opportunities for the Alexandrians to put what they learned to practice. There were some incidences of crazed groups of people breaching the wall. A band of people that called themselves Wolverines climbed the walls. Much to their dismay, everyone inside were prepared. Without any hesitation, they sprang into action and fought well. In the end, everyone survived with the exception of their fifteen uninvited guests. As a result of that incidence, more security look out points were put in place and more frequent emergency drill exercises done.
In time, people were less afraid. Confidence and goodwill grew. It was no longer 'them' and 'us'. It was now one big family of 'we'.
~*0*~
On a supply run, a small team of five Rick, Daryl, Maureen, Chris and Sasha came across a small abandoned military base in Lowarder's Vale, about twenty miles north of Alexandria. It appeared no one else had discovered the place before them. Everything was left untouched. A good supply of heavy artillery, RPG's, automatic and semi-automatic rifles, handguns, and bullets as well as bullet proof vests were discovered hidden in a bunker.
"About a dozen walker soldiers or more are inside where there might be another supply room. Nothing we can't handle.", Daryl reported after he and Chris scoped out the area.
"Good. Let's clear then take what we can.", Rick said.
"Hey, we can use these. The tanks are nearly full.", Sasha said when she and Maureen found two trucks hidden under branches.
In a couple of hours, they cleaned out the bunker and supply rooms and loaded up their van and two army trucks with weapons, artillery, medical supplies and canned food. On their way back, the road ahead was blocked by large boulders that had rolled down the side of the hill after heavy rains the night before. Taking another route, they drove past a large field of lavender. They were in full bloom. In the environs, the air carried a pleasant scent. Rick signaled and all three vehicles pulled over. He hopped out and looked at the beautiful scene. Nothing but purple blooms as far as the eye could see. Lavender. Michonne's favorite scent.
"Why are we stopping?", Sasha said behind the wheel.
"Lavender.", Rick said.
"Yeah? So?", Sasha asked and turned off the ignition. Chris and Maureen in the truck behind hers killed their engine too and hopped out.
"We need to take back some and plant them around the livestock area.", Rick said and started to dig up whole plants from the ground with his machete.
"Oh yeah. See now. It'll help mask the scent of the animals.", Chris said when he realized what Rick was aiming at. He and Maureen joined in using portable army shovels to dig up some lavender plants making sure to keep the roots intact.
Meanwhile, Daryl looked at the map and deduced that it is going to take them another hour before they get back home to Alexandria.
~*0*~
When they arrived, Michonne was among the few who greeted them at the gate. Smiling, she was happy to see Rick and the others back home, safe. Rick hopped out of the van and Daryl drove it on down the road and parked it in front of the stock room. The two other army trucks driven by Sasha and Chris followed suit.
After they securely locked the gates, Rick wrapped his arms around Michonne's waist and pulled her close. Her heart skipped a beat as she became filled with happiness and excitement. She blushed when he looked into her eyes.
"What?", Rick asked smiling at her.
"I can't get used to you looking at me like that.", Michonne replied with a embarrassed look on her face.
"Like how?", Rick asked.
"You know. Like you did last night.", Michonne said.
"If you mean by me admiring your beauty and thinking I don't deserve your love.", Rick said and leaned in for a kiss.
"Oh Rick.", Michonne said meeting him halfway and kissed him.
~*0*~
"Surprise!", Rick said after he removed the blind fold from Michonne's eyes.
She gasped the moment she opened her eyes and looked around. There in the middle of a vast ocean of purple they stood. It was a marvelous sight to behold. Rick had been planning this moment for a long time. He wanted to share with Michonne the wonderful scene of the lavender fields on a clear and beautiful day like this. The fields was just as striking as the last time he saw it. The blooms were out in full force for miles on end. Not one soul was near nor were there any walkers. Perhaps the sweet scent deterred them but Rick could not help but wonder why not even one walker was seen in the environs.
He took her over to a clearing he'd made where a thick blanket was already laid. On it a basket with red wine, two long stemmed glasses and sandwiches awaited them. Next to the basket lay her katana and his red-handled machete and rifle. As she sat down, she smiled with him and watched him sit down next to her. They ate the sandwiches and sipped wine. After that, they watched the skies turn different shades from light blue, to purple to a fiery orange as the sun quietly and slowly slipped behind the hills.
Rick looked down at Michonne laying with her head on his lap. Her features had softened over the past months. Since they became attached, she smiled more. He gently moved her hair away from her face. She covered his hand with hers as he did this. She moved his hand to her soft lips and kissed the center of it. She turned her head and looked up into his eyes and smiled up at him and said,
"Thank you."
"You deserve so much more.", Rick responded. And he meant it. He wished he could give her the world.
She reached up and ran her fingers through his thick dark curls.
"But I have you.", Michonne said looking into his eyes.
He then leaned forward and met her lips. They kissed. While they kissed, he held her by the back of her head and the small of her back and slowly rocked her onto the blanket. The moon was out and it was full. One by one, the stars began to come out. A cool crisp wind blew. Rick looked down into her eyes and he said,
"I love you Michonne. I love you. I love you. I love you."
She was moved by the sincerity in his eyes and in his voice. So moved she was, tears filled her eyes. She reached up and held his face and nodded and smiled and softly said,
"I love you too."
They kissed and kissed under the starry skies and without exchanging any more words, Rick went on his knees and took off his shirt. Michonne watched him and took in his athletic form. Months of working in the open on Deanna's Sustainability Plan, his body became strong and beautifully sculpted by tough manual labor. In the moon light, his toned biceps, triceps, deltoids, pectorals and lats and well defined eight pack stood out beautifully. The hard curves and creases in the bright silvery rays, he looked like a statue of a Greek god. She rose up on her knees and ran her hands over his arms and torso and kissed them. He looked her in the eyes and watched her remove her vest and top and bra. He sucked in the air sharply as he watched her full round succulent breasts bounce forth. He cradled them in his hands and hungrily sucked them, one at a time. He then stood up on his feet and took off his pants and briefs. His erect penis sprang free.
While still on her knees, she held his penis in her warm hands and caressed it. She took its bulbous tip into her warm moist mouth. He moaned softly. Like a candy, he tasted sweet and, seemingly melted in her mouth. Her sucking actions increased and he liked it. He threw his head back and held her head and moved his hips just a tad. She kept this up for a while until she brought him to the edge then stopped. After that, she took the rest of her garments off and tossed them aside. He cupped her face in his hands and looked down into her dark orbs. All he could think of was, she was his and he was hers. He said to her, "I don't deserve you."
She lay on her back and with her stares, she beckoned to him. He stood a moment and took in her striking pose. Her rising and falling chest and smooth, flat stomach. Her toned arms and legs. Her pretty face. She was perfection. He kneeled down and ran his hands up and down her thighs before parting them. He kissed the insides of them as he inched his way to her folds, already slick in her juices. He covered them with his entire mouth and licked and sucked. She mewed. He tasted her musk and her sweet, licking and lapping her to a writhing mess. She squealed softly while her body twitched and jerked as the orgasms hit her like a freight train and slowly rolled away.
Before she could ride out the last of her orgasms, he mounted and entered her right away. He couldn't wait. He just couldn't wait.
His body became electrified and energised as he moved in and out of her core.
"You're so wet. So wet.", he rasped in her ear.
She wrapped her legs around his waist and allowed him to sink deeper in. She wiggled and thrust her hips under him. She couldn't get enough. She combed her fingers through his mane and pulled his face to hers. She licked his lips and kissed him. Then she whispered into his ear,
"Take me from behind."
Without pulling out, in one fluid motion, he raised up slightly and spun her around onto her tummy then pulled her hips up, bringing her onto to her knees. Without skipping a beat, he pummelled her hard and fast whilst holding onto her hips firmly. In perfect alignment, the meaty tip of his penis hit her G-spot over and over, again and again. She moaned and mewed his name.
"Oh Rick. Oh Rick. Oh Rick."
He pounded her harder and harder. She rolled and gyrated her hips on him. Both of them moved in perfect rhythm. He could not see but she licked her lips. It was as if she could taste him from below. She moaned some more. He loved the sound of her soft velvety voice. He loved the feel of her warm body taking him in whole. He could feel her juices coat him, it excited him so. He continued to thrust in and out of her while he looked all around him. Over his shoulders, to his left and right and ahead. All was clear.
He pulled out and flipped her onto her back and in one go, he entered her all the way to the hilt. They both moaned as he filled her up and she encapsulated him. He pounded her over and over and she opened her legs wide and wrapped them around his waist. She dug her fingers into his muscular back. He licked and sucked on her earlobe. Her body, so divine, so tasty, so sexy, so sweet. She loved the feel of his cock inside of her, the feel of his hard body on top of hers. Her inner walls milked his cock bringing him to the edge. Increasing his speed, he slammed into her softness hard and deep.
There, in the middle of the fields, surrounded by lavender, they made love. Scented purple blossoms rocked and swayed gently in the cool breeze.
God. She feels so good. He thought to himself. He didn't want this feeling to end. Alas, he couldn't hold out any longer. In two pumps, he erupted. Powerful orgasmic waves claimed them both. Under the weight of his body, she twitched while he jerked. He rolled off of her and lay on his back. He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight.
~*0oxxoxxo0*~
