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I don't own the walking dead
Chapter III: Break-up &… consequences of co-parenting Carl (PART I)
In two weeks, Carlton Richard Grimes became the centre of his parents'world. From the day of his birth, many things changed. Michonne changed her perspective on love, and she discovered Maturity. She could live without Rick, but her son meant the world to the young woman.
Rick gained a new perspective on things too. He was wasting his youth, and he could no longer continue on his spiral of debauchery. The young man wants to be a great father, and it starts with tangible change, which he made.
Carl is the soul of his mother, and his father's reason to better himself. Presently, he is the reason why his mother acknowledges his father. Since Michonne outburst, the atmosphere between the young couple is anticlimactic.
Carl continues to recover from his complicated delivery. The colour of his skin is less yellow. His liver and spleen are smaller. At any moment, they may release him from the NICU.
It is the third week, and the nurse has become familiar with Rick and Michonne. Although it is hard to see the pair together, the young woman avoids Rick like the plague.
Two weeks later, Michonne's resentment hasn't disappeared. She is unfamiliar with the sentiment. Her anger with him never lasts more than a day. Perhaps the reason behind her anger is too strong. , habitually, she finds his excuse. This time, Rick addiction hurt their son, and she can't allow it to happen again.
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"Here..." Hesitantly, Rick offers Michonne a chocolate bare.
She nods rather than to verbalise her grateful sentiment. The young man doesn't expect Michonne to say more. Progressively, he has started to accept the rupture in their relationship.
Every day when they meet in the NICU, Rick offers a chocolate bare to Michonne. She takes it, but she always ignores his presence by her side. As long as she eats it, Rick is content. He doubts she feeds herself. The young man knows her attention solely focuses on their son.
Taking the seat by her side, Rick waits for Michonne to take the first bites. The young woman knows he won't stop looking at her until she finishes her bare, and so she quickly eats.
Michonne sips water from a bottle
Now silently, they stare at their son. Every second, Rick glances at Michonne. He knows to keep his apologies to himself. Words no longer matter, only his actions will placate her.
The young trader doesn't want to share the progress in his journey. He doesn't believe Michonne want to hear anything else about his addiction, but he understands her. However, he has done some progress. He met a psychiatrist, who prescribed to him a palliative drug. For the past two weeks, he has been clean.
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"He looks better every day." Tired of the painful silence, Rick attempts a conversation.
He glances at Michonne, and she doesn't bother to face him. For the last days, she chooses to ignore him. Perhaps, she can't forgive him. Rick takes a deep breath, and he attempts to speak again.
"I can't wait to hold him. I hope he can make it out today." He insists.
Michonne sighs and she moves away from the window. The last thing, which she wants to hear, is Rick Grimes 'voice. Although, she must admit he has been the best support during this month. It is harder to be angry with him when every morning and night she finds him staring at Carl through the window.
She knows he feels guilty, but she refuses to excuse his negligence. In the last day, they haven't talked much, but they have spent their day with the other. She brings him coffee in the morning, and he brings her chocolate bars.
"Here." Michonne returns with warm coffee, which she carefully placed in his hand.
"Thank you." He answers and the follow up is awkward. He doesn't know what to say.
He tries to suppress another apology. The week has been an endless repetition of apology. If he says another word, she will lose it on him. However, he can't help himself the guilt is too strong. It is stronger now because he is on the path to sobriety.
"Chonne... "She sighs when her name pours out on his lips
She braces herself for another apology. The entire week, she heard a variation of I'm sorry I never intended to endanger him. Now, she wonders what will be the next words. Fortunately, a nurse interrupts them. Michonne exhales a sigh of relief. She doesn't want to play a villain and repeats the same cruel but necessary warning.
"Mr Grimes and Mrs Barnes, you can pick up your son tonight." She smiles at the pair and leaves.
Rick and Michonne watch as the nurse picks Carl up and takes him to another room. From the corner of the eye, they observe each other, and the moment is a bit awkward. Slowly, they drift toward each other, and Michonne's arms circle Rick's waist. He kisses the crown of her head.
"I can't wait to meet our son." With teary, she whispers in his chest when her head rests.
He relates to her excitement.
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Manually, Rick closes his mouth. He spent the last hour in a daze. His vocabulary only includes wow and amazing. He can't help much his reaction to the scenery in front of him. It must be Carl's third meal, but the young man continues to be impressed by the connection.
It feels magical to witness such connection and the smile on Michonne's lips is brighter than he remembers seeing it. A rebel dreadlock escapes her ponytail, and Rick rushes to remove it from her face. He doesn't want anything to disturb this peaceful moment.
"Thank you." Afraid to awake the dosing child in Michonne's arm, Rick whispers.
When Michonne turns to face, she encounters eyes filled with adoration. She inhales and tries to look away. Under his magnetic, she blushes like a schoolgirl with a crush.
"For what?" Michonne regains her verbal ability.
Rick points at the little being in her arms, who has taken her nipple in hostage. They are both afraid to speak because ultimately Carl has fallen asleep. Michonne continuous to look at Rick baffled by his answer.
"Him...he is so precious. "He continues to whispers and sits on the armrest of the chair, where Michonne sits.
"I can't believe we created him" he pursues while his forefinger runs along their son button nose.
"Shouldn't be so hard. He looks like a double of you." She replies and finally moves their son head away from her breast.
Carl has fallen asleep mid-feed. Michonne glances at Rick, who almost overlaps her, and his eagerness to hold their son is overwhelming. Carefully, she places the baby in Rick's arm. The young man is shaking like a leaf and stands tensely.
"It's okay, relax... Breathe rick." She tries to speak between chuckles.
Rick's expression display concentration. He doesn't dare to move, breathe, and speak. However, his smile is so wide. Michonne corrects the posture of his arm.
"He does look like me." He wonders happily.
Carl resemblance to his father is striking, and his metabolism appears to have discarded the half of DNA, which his mother submitted. From the colour of his eyes to the last strand of hair.
"Hey there Carlton. "Joyful, Rick coos at his beautiful son.
The sound of his father's voice stirs his attention. In a matter of a second, tears and high pitch cries disturb the peaceful silence. A helpless Rick faces Michonne. This is a bit to advance for him, and he has yet to learn how to carry a baby correctly. His features have morphed into a plea for help. Michonne rolls her eyes, and she retakes their son.
"Carlton?" There is a mocking undertone to her voice.
"He doesn't like his full name. Look what you did. "She pursues and starts to pace back and forth in hope to calm their crying baby.
However, it is ineffective and Carl continues to empty his lungs with his loud cries. At her turn, Michonne looks at Rick. She is no longer so confident. Early morning tricks aren't walking.
"Do it, it's your fault if he is crying. Why would you call him Carlton?" She drops back their son into Rick's arms.
The young man abstains from correcting Michonne. She suggested each of their son's names. He turns to Michonne and expects some sort of instruction. She understands the creature in his arms better than he does. They cohabited for nine months.
"talk to him, sing, he likes your voice...Rick talk to your son." She presses him.
"What do you say to a baby?" The serious frown, which his visage wears, is the only reason why Michonne knows he genuinely wants an answer.
"I sorry little Rick for allowing your mother to name you. Clearly, you have a head to be call Kevin, Chandler or I don't. You're doing just fine in the way to express your preference. We will run some name by you. Cry for maybe, cry louder for definite no, and silence for a yes. Now Rick or Richard." the young father starts a pointless conversation.
Although, his son appears to be taken by the sound of his voice. The cry is less loud, and Rick looks at Michonne for validation. In a matter of a day, the young woman has become a baby expert for Rick.
"Sweetheart cries louder, you can't settle for rick" Michonne slides near the father of her child.
Definitely, her baby doesn't look like a Rick.
"You're cheating." Rick moves away from Michonne when he notices the ugly faces, which she makes to scare their son.
Nevertheless, it is too late because the baby is crying. Accordingly, Rick junior or little rick is ruled out of the competition.
"Chonne..." A competitive Rick tries to stop Michonne. "let's try this again son, rick or..." Michonne interrupts him before he can finish.
"Please, can we abstain from feeding your ego more? He already looks like your carbon copy, and he needs a name of his own or one, who is a reminder of me."
Michonne pouts until Rick looks a way. She refuses to allow him to win the name battle though, her son appears to like the name, Rick. Will her future look like this? The Grimes men siding against her, already he chose physically to favour his father. Nine months to produce a carbon copy of Rick, nature is unfair.
"I think it is too late to argue about names, you already chose to name him Carlton Richard." The new father tries to compromise.
"I don't regret naming after the men, who hold my heart. My dad Carlton and you. However, doesn't have to use both. Carl sound just fine to me. Doesn't it baby? Doesn't it baby? "She explains the choice of the first and middle name.
However, Carl is a little nod to her middle name, Carla. If he looks like his father, it is only fair that they name him after her. Carl appears to agree, and the tears cease. Quickly, the little creature returns to his slumber.
"Carl." Rick agrees
2days later
For the last three hours, Michonne has failed to put Carl to sleep. As many neonates, Carl Grimes has preferences. Most of those are in favour of his mother. He prefers his mother's arms, and he adores her. However, there is a little anomaly.
Since his mother womb, the newborn is more receptive to his father's voice. The preference for Rick's voice extends to the lullaby and sleeping time. It is the reason why Michonne fails to lure him to sleep.
"I will put him to sleep." Rick proposes while he tries to reach for their son.
Habitually, the young woman allows Rick to conduct the sleep ritual, but tonight it is different. Michonne is anxious, and Carl's caprice worsens her mental state. Consequently, when Rick tries to reach for their son, she moves him away from his hand.
"He needs to be used to someone else putting him to sleep." Her frustrated tone sounds abrasive.
Rick decides to ignore her angry tone and focuses on her facial expression. He doesn't want to speculate on the reason behind her frustration. Although, he knows her enough to make an educated guess.
"He eventually will. Tonight, I can do it." He insists and tries another time to take Carl from Michonne, who still fails to calm the crying creature.
"Chonne… I won't drop him." Frustrated by her strange behaviour, Rick adds.
Concerned, the young man stares at the mother of his child, and he expects a substantial explanation. When she notices how her behaviour is uncharacterized, Michonne attempts to relax. Carefully, she places her son in his father's arm.
"I know you won't drop him, but he shouldn't be used to you only. What will happen when you leave tomorrow?" Ultimately, she brushes a part of the subject.
Rick secures his son in his arms, and he asks Michonne to wait for a second while he tries to lull Carl. For a few minutes, Michonne watches him while he sings the French lullaby, which she thought him and learned from her Cajun grandmother.
The number of time, which she has seen this scene happen, doesn't matter. It is almost magical how the huskiness of Rick's voice silences their child's cry. The young man doesn't finish the song, and a few lines are enough to put Carl to sleep. A part of Michonne is envious, but the other part worries about the potential repercussions.
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After returning Carl to his crib, Rick reenters the room. He places his hand over Michonne's shoulder, and he drags her to a sofa. In the last two days, she started to drop her guard, and she no longer virulently react to his touch.
"Sit and take a deep breath." Rick's whispers in her ear while he starts to massage her shoulder.
After few content moans, the young man knows to press his advantage. His hands' movements are slower than when he started, and he deepens his voice. Rick still remembers how to extracts the truth from Michonne.
"Chonne, talk to me." Ultimately, he asks when her muscles are pouty in his hand.
"It is nothing... I haven't slept for two days. Every five minutes, I must ask you to sing a lullaby because my son hates the sound of my voice or me." A high hysterical pitch coats her voice.
The lack of sleep enhances her emotions. Tears pool in the corner of her eyes, and futilely, she tries to prevent their fall. When she attempts to inhale, Rick's perfume is everywhere. A frustrated Michonne walks out of the sofa.
"Hey, come here." Rick drags her closer to him, and he wraps her into a warm hug.
"Now, continue to breathe. In and out, Chonne." He coaches her through every breath.
Michonne's anxiety is a common thing, which started after her parents' tragic accident. Over the years, Rick mastered the calming techniques. When Michonne calms down and starts to breathe, the young man leads her back to the sofa. He squats in front of her, and he lifts her chin to make her face him.
"Carl's sleeping issue isn't the problem, right? Progressively, he will love your voice, or I will record the song." Subtly, he tries to start the conversation.
Michonne looks at Rick in the eyes, but she doesn't confirm his assumption. However, years of tacit eyes conversation helps him.
"Is it because of my departure tomorrow? Is there anythang you want to say?" He continues to approach the topic with care.
Rick doesn't want to let his hope influence the conversation. After their hospital's argument, the young man doesn't know where their relationship stands. When the hospital released Carl, a wave washed over the couple. For a time, the individual issues ceased to matter.
"Rick..." Michonne hesitates, and she is unsure of how to proceed.
Raising Carl with Rick overwhelms the young woman. It is only two days, but she has seen enough to know what she will lose tomorrow.
"I'm afraid to do this thing alone." She confesses, and she waits for a reaction.
Rick squeezes her hands, which he started to hold. He tries to hide his disappointment. He wants Michonne to think of him as more than the father of her son. The young father ignores his distress and focuses on Michonne's sentiment.
"Mom, dad, and Sasha should be here in a few days. I assumed you might need some help." He tries to reassure her.
Although, he misses her point. Michonne smiles and thanks him. She loves Rick's parent, and she will need her best friend. Nevertheless, she will feel alone.
"You didn't have to ask them." Politely, she replies.
"You wouldn't have asked for help, and mom is dying to meet her grandson." Rick counters.
"I am talking about the long term. I don't want to be his mother and his dad. If I have to do so for his safety, I will do it." She corrects the misunderstanding.
Rick inhales, and he sits next to Michonne. He expected this conversation, but he didn't prepare for it. He exhales and decides to jump right into the sensible topic
"Michonne, I get it, and you don't have to sugar coat anythang. I want to give him a family too, but you're no longer there." Uncertainty dictates the pitch of his voice.
Michonne retakes her hand, and she puts some space between their bodies. She didn't expect to brush their couple.
"Rick..." She starts a plea.
The young woman doesn't want a remake of the airport tragedy. The physical distance should do more than the mental distance. Michonne already decided her future with Rick. It is an inexistent future. He will be Carl's father.
"I know it is all my fault, but I don't want to give this up." He starts to speak, and Michonne tries to interrupt him.
"Rick, please... We agreed." She warns him.
She stands and puts the entire room as a distance. Rick doesn't move from the couch, where she previously sat. The young man merely raises his voice, but he knows she can hear him.
"I get it, babe. I don't expect you to overlook the situation, nor do I want you to help to fix it." Rick tries to say his piece.
However, Michonne learned to ignore his false sincerity. Consequently, she hears but doesn't listen. She has a son, and she can't fall for an old trick.
"We don't function, and I enable you too much." She replies.
"I'm not asking you for another chance. I'm telling you that I will fight for you. If you are my strongest opposition, it won't scare me. It doesn't matter who you choose to be with between now and then." Rick clarifies his previous words, and ultimately, he leaves the couch.
He retakes the hands, which she pried away from him. Michonne tries to avoid his eyes. During emotionally charged moments, the blue of his eyes is too vivid. Often, she feels as if her common sense drowns in the blue of his irises.
"However, raising Carl will never only be your job. What you want me to do to be close to him, and I will do it without question. Allow me to be there for him in any way I can." He pleads with her.
Michonne hears his fear to lose his son, and she softens. Ultimately, she looks into his eyes. The young woman discovers sincerity, and she opens herself to a conversation.
"I will need tangible proofs. I don't need your words. I need a monthly proof of your sobriety. I want to know my son will never experience anything as bad as what I experience. Carl comes before your job, you, and anything else. I won't hesitate to take away your parental rights, and notice that I'm making a promise, not a threat." Michonne lies a list of conditions at Rick's feet.
"It's alright. If you want, I will take a monthly random urine test, and you will choose the date. I can quit my job and consult instead. Chonne, nothang matters more than Carl does. I swear you will never raise him alone. Even during the Rehab's month, I will be present." With a hesitation, Rick agrees to every of Michonne condition.
During his two months of Rehabilitation, he keeps his promises. They have an established schedule of Video calls. Most of the times, Michonne allows Rick's private moments with their son. Those moments include Rick watching his son sleep. However, they are enough to keep him sober for two more months.
3months after Carl release from NiCU
When her phone rings and she reads the caller's id, Michonne curses. The young woman stares at her door, and she asks Sasha to answer it.
"Is everything alright?" When the screen connects, she tries to appear calm.
However, her face is too expressive. In a matter of a second, Rick reads guilt and anxiety, which he decides to ignore. Although, he knows why she feels that way. Her physical appearance is a strong indicator.
"Yeah?" Rick's answer is a question for Michonne.
The young man continues to stare at Michonne, and she is uncomfortable. She looks at her body, which looks amazing in the velvet red dress. The dress flatters her figure. Unmistakably, Rick displays his jealousy. Michonne rolls her eyes, and she pulls her dress down.
"You look sick and tired." She tries to regain his attention.
"Hurt my vanity, Chonne, and here I believed that I was glamorous and sexy." Rick jokes while he tries not to worry her.
The young man doesn't only look sick. Rick's rehabilitation evolved and it means a cessation of palliative drugs. His body experiences the side effect of years of addiction. Today, he is at his lowest level in three months, and he quitted his job earlier.
"Your face is losing the war." Michonne counters, but her look betrays her.
The young woman doesn't want to admit it, but aside from the pale skin, Rick's physical appearance is better. He has gained muscle, and she can't stop staring at his arm. In three months, a lot has changed. Michonne glances at the man, who sits in her room. She shouldn't Fantasize about her ex while she is about to go on a date with another man.
"Very funny, and you look gorgeous. Actually, you look ready to go somewhere." Ricks refuses to fall for Michonne's distraction.
To his secondary question, Michonne cocks an eyebrow, and she dares the father of her child to ask more. Rick smirks, and she knows he will rise to her challenge. Before he can ask, Michonne interrupts him with another question.
"Did you call for a specific reason?" She presses him to say something.
However, she worries too. Rick always follows the schedule, and the call is impromptu. Michonne continues to glance at her living room, and she doesn't want to make her date wait. Although, she drags a chair and sits down.
"Father and son bonding time." Rick's answers with a strong eagerness, which prompts Michonne to observe his expression.
She has to overlook his beautiful features. Michonne resists the temptation to comment on his physical progress. She inhales and reminds herself of her actual situation.
"Rick...rick..." She complains because Carl is asleep.
His father appears to forget the time difference between Rome and Atlanta. Rick follows her thinking pattern, and He checks his watch.
"Fuck." He curses, and Michonne glares at him.
"Sorry, I don't use such language around Carl." He rushes to explain.
There may be an ocean and a screen between them, but Rick doesn't intend to anger Michonne. Accordingly, he soothes her.
"I hope so. He is making small sounds, and you have to hear them." Excitedly, she starts to gush about their son's progress.
"I wish, but I guess he must be asleep." He can't hide his disappointment.
"He is, but I will get him for you. You can watch him sleep." Michonne stands.
"Don't wake him up, and you don't want to miss your date." Rick tries to stop her, but she starts to walk out of the room.
Her image disappears, and the young man stares at an empty screen. Rick faces the roof of Michonne's living room, and he waits for her answer.
"Doesn't matter I can hear your son cry. Wait a minute." She lies and rushes to Carl's nursery.
Michonne senses how much Rick needs to see his son. He will not admit it, but she knows him like the back of her hand. The young woman doesn't want to risk Rick's improvement.
"Chonne... Chonne?" Rick tries again, but silence continues to be the only answer.
"Here, I will give you some privacy." She says while she returns on the screen.
Michonne places down a pillow, and she sits Carl.
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"Hello, little angel. Daddy misses you so bad." From ear to ear, Rick can withhold his smile.
Carl attempts to grab the screen and stares at everything in the room. Most of their sessions are Rick, who watches his son leave his infant life.
"I wish I could hug you right now. You're so big." He admires while Carl's continues to attempt to grab the screen.
Eventually, Fingers coated by saliva grab the screen's corner. The infant shakes the tablet, and Rick can no longer see anything.
"Carl, don't touch the screen" Softly, Rick orders.
Three months away, Rick's voice preserves its magical control on Carl. The infant tries to find his father voice, and the source of origin fascinates him. Ultimately, his father's moving picture mesmerizes Carl. He attempts to lick the screen.
"Carlton Richard Grimes don't lick the screen." Between chuckles, Rick tries to regain some authority.
However, he doesn't insist. Out of pettiness, Michonne should enjoy the destruction of her tablet. After a few minutes, Carl stops, and he stares at his father.
"Better." Rick sighs
"Talking about bad behaviours. You're supposed to have my back, young man, but your mother goes on a hot date." Rick vents some of his frustration.
The conversation with his son explores all sort of topics. Perhaps, it is easier to talk to a person, who he loves. In addition, Carl's maximal participation in the conversation is a coo or a drool. There is no judgement nor advice.
"Now, I understand you're little but use your ability to your advantage. Next time, you puke on your mother, and so she has to change. It will take her an extra hour or better pee on her date. Don't let any of them carry you. Remember your team son." Rick continues to express his jealousy and Carl coos while he nods his head.
For Rick, it is an explicit agreement.
"Glad we could talk it out, son. Now, I was saying. I miss you, and I am trying so hard. Sometimes, I want to give in and say F... Your mother will kill me if I swear. Today is one of those days, and I need a reminder. Oh, you're bored. Love you, son." When he notices Carl's closed eyes, Rick stops to talk.
He sits straight, and he continues to stare at his sleeping son.
Michonne tries, but she can't remove the thought of Rick Grimes. However, she isn't pining over him. The young woman is afraid for him. She stares at her date, and the choice is evident to her. She enters the room.
"Can we push it back tonight?" she asks without preamble.
"Is there a problem? You no longer want to go." Worried, Mike fires multiple questions.
He tried to have another date after the catastrophe. Michonne didn't reciprocate much of his attention, but he wore her resistance.
"I forgot Carl had a facetime date with his father, and so it will take a solid hour to put him back to sleep." Michonne tries to explain her situation.
Although, it is an excuse. Talking to Rick changed her mind. The young woman glances at the dining room, where Carl facetimes his father. Michonne wants to join her boys.
"We can I don't know have dinner to your place. I'm already here, and you are beautiful. We have postponed this for nine months." Mike doesn't want to give, and he senses Michonne reluctance.
However, he believes in momentum. Mike needs a dinner to convince the young woman of his potential. She will fall for his charm.
"Nine-month? What is another day? I will be so distracted while I try to make sure that Carl is comfortable." Michonne finds excuses after excuses.
"Am I getting another date or do I have to wait nine more months?" He tries to salvage what he can.
Michonne looks at the man, and he is attractive. Although, she spent the last thirty minutes thinking about her ex-boyfriend and his beauty.
"Tomorrow, I will make it up to you." She gives an inch so she can get rid of him.
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"What was the excuse this time?" Sasha's voice filled with judgement welcomes her while she crosses the living room.
Michonne inhales and she sits on the couch next to her best friend. She starts to remove her pieces of jewellery, and she undoes her hair. The young woman rests her head on Sasha's shoulder, and she prepares f for a difficult task.
"There were no excuses. I need to watch Carl." Embarrassed, Michonne offers a poor excuse.
In disbelief, Sasha emphasizes her eye-roll. She adjusts her posture to allow Michonne some comfort. Does her best friend believe some of her lies?
"Isn't it why Rick begged me to come to Rome? I can watch Carl." Sasha counters.
The young woman crosses her arms and allows a deafening silence to fall into the room. Michonne sighs and she knows what her friend expects.
"Rick called in a day, which is not programmed. I think he is hitting a rough patch." She starts, and Sasha's expression is enough of a comment.
Michonne tries to keep her dignified stance. However, she knows what her best friend will say.
"Rick is the excuse, much more like every other day." Sasha sighs, and she doesn't add much to the conversation.
The young woman saw enough of Rick and Michonne's relationship, and she concluded the pair would always find their way to each other.
"No, he isn't. I want to assure that Carl goes to sleep after the conversation."
"You're not waiting for Rick's return, and so he can win you back?" She ignores Michonne's upgraded excuse, and she follows with a
"I tried to go on date. Rick and I, we are an old thing. We were done before Carl."
"When you conceived your son, you were no longer an item, and so your point was." Sarcasm always shuts down Michonne rebuttal.
Sasha tries not to judge, but it is a hard task. After every break-up with Rick, she has to fix a broke Michonne. Although, she must admit her friend discovered some inner strength since her child's birth. Perhaps, Michonne will not fall for the first apology, but the odds are against her.
"Richard Grimes and I are parenting a son. That is all." Michonne insists.
"Until he gets his fine ass out of Rehab, and takes a flight to Rome." Sasha questions without subtlety.
"Sasha?" The young woman shouts.
"Michonne?" Sasha replies with a bored tone.
"I try to go on date." Michonne counters and Sasha laughs at her face.
"Keyword try, poor Mike waited for nine months. Someone should tell him. There is no competing with the love of your life. Someone should tell him that you are in a committed relationship with another man. By someone, I mean you." Sasha finishes.
With the tone of the last sentence, Michonne knows nothing will be added. Her friend's opinion rests on reasoning, and Michonne tries to follow a few of Sasha's advice. However, it is easier said than done.
"Carl is my only commitment, and for your information, tomorrow I'm going on the date. As for now, I have to see how Rick... Sorry, Carl is doing." she does a Freudian's slip.
Sasha offers an appointed look.
"Hmmm..."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Rick? Did you hear me?" Rick hears Michonne shouts from the other side of the room.
She reappears in the screen with her hair undone. He swallows his next question and decides to answer her question.
"Yes, I did. He is growing so fast." He replies and watches while she carries him away from the screen.
After few minutes, she comes back, and he expects her to hang the call-up. However, she surprises him and sits up to continue the conversation.
"Soon, he will be able to take a flight." She rebounds on his statement.
Michonne sees the hope in Rick's eyes. Although, she should correct him.
"Are you coming back home?" He questions before she clarifies the situation.
"Not really, but Mom wants us to spend Christmas like a family. I have been thinking about it. I will try to get some time from work, but I can't promise anything." She explains to the best of her ability.
Mom stands for Rick's mom. Before their son birth, Michonne was already close to Rick's parents. When she lost her parents, the Grimes acted as a substitute.
"I hope you can make it. If you can't, I will book a flight. I don't want to miss his first Christmas. I'm missing so many first times." Regretfully, Rick adds.
For second Michonne feels guilty, but Rick tries to diffuse the atmosphere. Although, it doesn't work. Michonne laughs at a few jokes, but she needs to say something.
"I haven't said it because I'm not sure if it will hold, but Carl won't mind how many first times you miss as long as he gets the best version of you. It is the person, who is re-emerging every day. Mom told me you finished the Rehab's program." She reaches to him.
Rick hesitates for a minute. Her words mean the world to him, and it makes the guilt bearable. Although he betters himself for his son, Rick almost feels as if he is an absentee father. Five days a week, he speaks for three hours with his son, and he watches him sleep more than Michonne does.
"Yeah, and it is harder than I thought. My therapist helps with some stuff. Although, I feel as if I can't say everything to him. I can't completely open myself. "He finds the strength to brush his recovery.
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"Do you want to tell me more?" she asks genuinely interested by his progress.
For three months, she has tried to shut everything concerning Rick's rehabilitation. She fears the disappointment, which follows his relapse. However, after every successful drug test, Michonne becomes more hopeful.
"You have a date, Chonne." Rick tries to avoid the conversation.
"I don't have a date. Tonight, I'm all yours." Michonne notices the double meaning of her statement.
She tries to correct it, but her best friend interrupts her.
"Tonight? Specifically tonight?" Sasha enters the dining room, and sarcasm oozes out her words
"Hello, Sasha." Rick laughs on the other side.
"Hi, Rick. I have to go." Sasha replies and rushes out of the room.
With her eyes, Michonne shoots daggers at her friend's back. Rick clears his throat to regain her attention. Embarrassed by her poor choice of words, Michonne chooses silence.
"I don't want to tell you more, but we can talk more. Tell me about your work." Rick offers her an escape
"I have a new client, my first personal client." Michonne's wonderful smile replaces the words, which left her mouth.
For minutes, she shares more about her case. Michonne talks to Rick as freely as she did before his addiction. She shares her fears to open a trial, and he tells what he did during his first big presentation. His youth humiliation makes her laugh.
"Tell me when you win." He tries to recapture her attention
"How is work for you?" She returns his question and cleans the lonely tears away.
"I quitted." He answers without adding more to his statement.
Ultimately, she understands his prior mood. She warmly smiles at him.
"You love your job, and I'm sorry." Genuinely, she adds.
"I love my son more. I liked my job because I felt the need to prove myself. I wanted to be Rick Grimes, the genius in finance. I'm more now or trying to be more." He continues to talk when he notices that she cares.
It is a secret of Polichinelle, and Rick knows how much Michonne hates his job. However, he knows she means her words. It pushes him to say more.
"I'm not quitting trading. I'm taking over dad's consultant firm. Less stress and more time for everything, which truly matters." He finishes
"And that is?" She questions because she doesn't want to end the conversation
"Carl and you when I magically make it happen." He deadpans.
"Rick..." She warns him.
"I know...but I think you should know." He isn't repentant.
"I'm a bit sleepy. Parenting is exhausting." Michonne tries to escape the conversation.
"next time, I will try to call when you don't have a date." he takes the hint.
"I will be grateful, but Carl loves your voice I think he wins." She smiles.
"I will send a recording." He jokes, and she laughs
"It will make bedtime shorter." She replies.
"Okay..." they both hesitate to pursue.
"Rick..." he interrupts her
"Chonne..." she interrupts him.
"You first, babe." He says
"Are you feeling better?" She asks with a voice filled with love and care
"Tonight yes and hopefully tomorrow too". Her care extracts the truth from him.
"You turn," She says, but she knows what he will say.
"I love you and thank you for listening. Kiss Carl goodnight." He doesn't expect an answer, but he knows it.
"I will." She replies and hangs up
"I love you too."