Chapter Four:
"Where are the girls?"
Michonne looked up from her seat on the couch to see Dominic, noting that he was already wearing an annoyed look as he approached her. She could only sigh, "I told them they can go take a look around. I wanted a moment to talk to you"
"You let them go look around?", Dominic exhaled heavily, "We don't even know if we're staying here yet"
Michonne rose from her seat, "We haven't been here long enough to decide anything-"
"Are you kidding me, Michonne?", He frowned at her, "After everything we've seen? After everything he's done so far?"
"He hasn't done anything that would make me question their safety here, Dominic", She summarised firmly, "Because that's the most important thing we need to consider right now"
Her partner shook his head as he looked at her with pure disbelief, "You think they'll be safe here with that guy running this place? I don't care who he is, he's insane and we need to get out while we can; that should be the most important thing we need to consider right now"
Michonne could see right through Dominic's protests, and so she approached him cautiously, softening her tone, "I know what's happening here and I can't believe I even have to say this but they aren't going to abandon you. None of us will, Dominic"
His dark skin flushed as if she had read his mind, and for a split second he appeared vulnerable, an image Michonne had seen plenty of times since the world descended into chaos, but he quickly straightened up, lifting his head high, "I know. But I don't want him to think that he can take you all from me, because I saw it Michonne. He's already decided that he's going to force his way in and push me out, and I won't allow that. Those girls may not care for me as much as I do for them, but I do care for them and you. He won't change that"
"Yeah", She placed her hand on his arm and gave his bicep a little squeeze, "But I have to tell them. They have to know"
His face hardened again, and he swiftly turned away from her, muttering something unintelligible under his breath. Michonne nearly sighed a second time out of frustration, but instead she chose to leave their new home in search of her daughter's.
She didn't feel any better about telling the twins about their father, and with so much tension growing between Dominic and Rick, she felt as if she had to be the voice of reason to guide the two territorial men. While she could understand Dominic's fears, since he didn't have the greatest bond with Colette or Elodie, she wished he would support her and her daughter's while they faced this new chapter in their lives. She also wished that Rick wasn't such a hostile man.
"Hey there", The cheery Southern voice snapped her out of her thoughts, drawing her attention to the brunette she had met the day they arrived.
"Hey…", Michonne greeted back, searching her mind for the woman's name, "Maggie, right?"
"That's it", Maggie stopped a foot away from her, "You finding everythan' alright?"
"Yeah, fine. Just looking for my daughters"
Maggie used her hand to shield her eyes from the sun, "Oh okay… has someone shown you around-"
"Yeah. We had a little tour the other day…", Michonne shifted her weight from one foot to the other, feeling it necessary to ask, "So you all got here a few weeks before us?"
"Yeah. Aaron approached us, told us about this place so we thought we'd check it out"
"...And how did Rick end up as the 'leader' so soon?"
Maggie's face tightened, but still she spoke diplomatically, "We were out there for a long time, and the people here were living in this little bubble… they wanted people like us to show them how we've survived, so here we are"
Michonne squinted at her, "And Deanna just stepped down?"
Maggie tilted her head to the side, "Yeah, but we still work together"
Having negotiated with Rick personally, Michonne struggled to believe that, but still she nodded, "And if I wanted to meet her? Deanna?"
"You could, but she lost one of her sons when he was out on a run not that long ago, so she's been pretty quiet", Maggie glanced over her shoulder, then began to back away, "But uh, I'll be happy to set that up for you when she's feeling up to it?"
"Yeah, I'd appreciate that"
"Alright. And oh- try that house on the end if you can't find your daughters. All the kids hang out over there", Maggie pointed towards the house furthest away from them.
"Oh, okay. Thanks!", Michonne gave her a wave as she continued on with her own task.
"No problem!", Maggie appeared to be a little more transparent than Rick, willing to answer her questions about the safe zones previous leader, but Michonne still got the impression that they were hiding information from the newcomers.
After doing multiple laps around the community, Michonne decided that she would try the house near the north facing wall, curious to see if her daughter's had already gotten comfortable with the other young people in the neighbourhood. She had secretly hoped that they would be able to relax since they were no longer fending for themselves. They were teenagers after all, and she wanted them to have a chance to behave like so, without the fear of the dead hanging over their heads.
As soon as she approached the front door of the property she heard a chorus of laughter, leading her to knock a little harder so she would be heard. It was a dark haired boy that greeted her, and he immediately stuck out his hand and introduced himself, "I'm Ron... You must be the twins' mom?"
"Nice to meet you, Ron", Michonne shook his hand firmly, "And I am"
"Cool, we were just playing a game-"
"Hey Ron, I have to go before my dad…", Another dark haired boy stepped into view, but unlike Ron, he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Michonne, his eyes already scanning all over her face.
Carl, was the first thing Michonne thought. It was obvious. She gave him a friendly smile, "Hey"
"Hey", Carl responded in a similar tone, though he was clearly taken back. Using his thumb to point behind him, he quickly announced, "They're in there"
"Oh? Well, thank you"
Carl gave her a little nod as he dropped his gaze and stepped past them, muttering quietly, "Well, see ya'..."
"Bye", Michonne watched him leave, racking her brain for any memory of Rick at that age. She could remember him faintly, not enough to recognise any similarities between the boy and his father but she barely even got a chance to really look at him before he disappeared out of sight.
Ron bellowed for the twins, and soon enough they emerged from a room beyond the stairs, their smiles vanishing. Elodie spoke first, "We should have told you-"
"You should have", Michonne nodded, crossing her arms over her chest, "It would have saved me the trek"
Colette bit her lip as she approached her mother, "Sorry"
Michonne moved a lengthy brown curl from her daughter's face with her finger, "Enjoying yourselves?"
"Yep", Elodie answered in her usual cheery tone, "They have video games here"
Michonne released a long suffering groan, "Oh boy-"
"I beat Colette", She grinned, her eyes twinkling with glee.
"I lost because you were breathing down my neck!", Colette replied sternly, arms already crossed over her chest, "Next time, move!"
Having spent so long forced into silence for their own safety, Michonne thought she'd be glad to hear her girls speak freely again, but she forgot that her girls often bickered. They swiftly began to snap at each other, and so she ushered them out the home while calling back to Ron, "Thank you!"
"It's okay", The young male smiled, his gaze bouncing from one girl to the other, his amusement evident.
With her daughter's back in her company, all Michonne could think about was breaking the news to them that Rick was their father. She didn't have the faintest idea how she would even touch on the subject as she had abandoned the thought that they would come face to face with their father shortly after chaos enveloped the world around them. It didn't help that Rick's attitude and behaviour wasn't an easy one to sell, either.
The day rolled on and it was almost time for dinner when it was brought to her attention that they had a visitor, standing on the porch with a brown box in her hands, "Hey, I'm Olivia, I work over at the pantry but uh, I have a few things for you here…"
Michonne peered back at Dominic, who was watching from a few feet behind her, "We already received some stuff when we got here-"
"Oh yeah, I know, but Rick told me that you needed a CD player? And some books?", Olivia insisted, holding the box out in front of her, "So here you go"
Michonne took the box with a frown, "...Okay… thank you"
"You're welcome. Just let me know if you need anything else", Olivia flashed them a warm smile as she leaned forward and grabbed the handle of the front door since Michonne's hands were busy, "Have a good night!"
The door clicked shut as Michonne peered in the box, surprised to see a few comic books beside the blue CD player, "Did you ask for this?"
Dominic soon stood by her, wearing a similar expression as he joined her in the investigation, "No"
"What's going on?", Colette questioned, skipping down the stairs as she tucked her wet locks behind her ear, "What's that?"
Michonne eyed her daughter, "Did you ask for anything?"
Colette's eyes lit up excitedly as she picked up her pace to get to the box, "Yeah, a CD player"
"From?"
"That guy the runs the place", Colette retrieved the device with a smile, "Yes!"
Michonne's frown deepened, "When? Today?"
"...Yeah", Her daughter replied in a distant tone as she examined the cable, "Earlier when we saw the owl-thing…"
Dominic looked from Colette to Michonne with a bothered expression, leading her to sigh, "Where's Elodie?"
"Here!", The other girl chirped, skipping down the stairs like her sister had done, "What's- oh cool! Is that the-"
"Yeah, come on let's try it", Colette insisted, tucking the player under her arm as she began to step away.
"Wait", Michonne couldn't have been presented with a better opportunity to finally touch of the subject that had been hanging over her head since they arrived. She huffed, tipping her head towards the living area, "Come and sit down, we need to talk to you both"
If it was possible for Michonne to physically feel Dominic's discomfort then she was sure that's what had happened as she walked over to the coffee table and sat the box down. Colette and Elodie followed, trying to share a questioning look discreetly but as always, Michonne saw them. She then looked to Dominic with pleading eyes, as he hadn't moved at all, "Are you ready?"
Dominic ran a hand over his newly shaved head, no longer sporting a little afro, his dark brown knitting together as he decided what he would do next. As much as Michonne wanted to be sympathetic about his position, there was a chance that she wouldn't forgive him if he didn't participate. Even if he wasn't ready to accept Rick's presence, she would still hope that he cared enough to support her at the very least.
After a brief moment of hesitation he strolled towards them, his head held high as if he had convinced himself that he could cooperate, and Michonne almost breathed a sigh of relief.
"...You're not pregnant, are you?", Colette's question almost made Michonne's eyes bulge as she turned to face her daughter. The first born girl quickly raised her hands in innocence, "I've seen enough movies to know that when your mom sits you down like this-"
"It's usually because of pregnancy. Or divorce", Elodie finished, her eyes darted between Michonne and Dominic, "But you're not married?..."
"Good thing TV's are a thing of the past…",Michonne placed herself in front of them, sitting on the coffee table beside the box, "So...You talked to Rick today?"
"Yeah…", Elodie nodded, glancing at her sister, "I don't think he's that… Disturbed"
"A little", Colette added dryly.
Elodie narrowed her eyes at her mother as she agreed, "Yeah...A little"
Michonne agreed in her mind, "But he was nice to you? He made sure you got what you asked for, right?"
The girls nodded in unison.
She sat forward, resting her elbows on her knees, "Well, that's because he's your father"
Both sets of dark brows shot up, and it was Colette to speak first, "What?"
Michonne nodded, "Rick. He is Rick Grimes"
Elodie began to frown, "But how do you know?"
"...Remember when we first got here? And he was behaving a little strange? Well he recognised me and I guess it all just came flooding back to him and so we talked- we talked about this. About the two of you"
Elodie still frowned, and Colette was soon mimicking her, "So…what did he say? What's going to happen now?"
"He was shocked, very shocked, but he's… he really wants to get to know you both and I don't think he could wait any longer", Michonne tilted her head towards the box next to her, "But as for what happens now is up to you girls get to decide. If you'd like to talk to him again or you need a little time to process this then it's fine. Either way, we're going to handle this however the two of you feel comfortable, whichever way that is"
Colette crossed her arms over her chest, "This is crazy, mom"
"Yeah. It is", Michonne breathed, peering at Dominic for a short time, "But… we've talked about this before, right? You've always wanted to know what he does… well, what he did. Where he lived… what he was like- you can find that out now, and I think he'd be happy to tell you everything… he… he has a son and a daughter, too"
Colette's eyebrows sprung up again as she nudged Elodie hissing, "That boy at Mickey's house"
"Carl?", Elodie replied, still frowning, "Ron said his dad runs the place… so that's his son?"
Michonne nodded, "Yeah, It is. Did you speak to him?"
"Ron introduced us… but he was pretty quiet", Colette shrugged, "And his daughter?"
"She's still a baby, I think. I haven't seen her", Michonne answered honestly, "But you can ask about her-"
"So is he married or something? Since he has a baby?..."
Michonne hadn't even thought to ask Rick if he had a spouse, in fact she didn't think to ask him much as he was always bombarding her with questions, "I'm not completely sure, but that's another thing you can ask him? When you're ready?"
Colette began to nod, but stopped, her eyes creeping over to Dominic, "So are we all going to meet them together?"
"...If that's something you'd both like? I mean, If you think it would make this whole thing a little less… overwhelming, then we can do that?", Michonne insisted, also looking in Dominic's direction.
He cleared his throat loudly as he sat up straight in his seat, "Uh, yeah. We… we can do that. If that's what you want then I'm sure your mother can make it happen. We can make it happen"
Michonne almost smiled, glad he'd show her daughter's that he was willing to be included, when she noticed that Elodie had remained quiet for some time, "How are you feeling about this, Ellie?"
Elodie pursed her lips for a second, her gaze travelling across all the other faces in the room, "I don't know? It's… crazy, and I didn't think this would ever happen now… at a time like this… but I guess I'd like it if we all met together? Less pressure that way"
"Alright, we can do that then", Michonne huffed, finally able to smile at her girls, even if it was a small one.
"Well uh, come on, we don't want dinner getting cold", Dominic announced as he stood up from his seat, "I made pasta"
Colette and Elodie hopped out of their seats, while Michonne peered in the box once more before taking out the small stack of comics, "Since when did you girls read these?"
"We don't, we asked for them for you", Elodie informed as she stopped to look back at her mother.
"Aw!", Michonne held them to her chest as she grinned at her, "Thank you for thinking about your poor, old, helpless mother"
Elodie rolled her eyes playfully, "You're not old, mom"
"I am so old", Michonne groaned, pretending to struggle to stand up, "You have to help me"
"You did a cartwheel, like, a month ago!", Elodie chuckled, shaking her head in disbelief, "And a split!"
"Oh yeah I did, didn't I?", Michonne flashed an evil grin, "Never mind".
Elodie smiled for a moment more before her frown made another appearance, "So this is happening? Like for real?"
"It's happening", Michonne insisted softly, "If you want?"
Her daughter hurriedly nodded, "I think I do. Colette does too, I know she does"
"Then it's happening".
It was suffice to say that Colette and Elodie had taken the news about Rick well, and even though she knew they had their reservations, and so did Dominic, they were going to approach this like a family, which is all she wanted.
They all sat down and enjoyed the meal Dominic had prepared for them, and he even perked up when the topic strayed away from Rick and his children. Michonne expected her girls to speak to her about her boyfriend when they got the chance, since it was clear to her that they had questions regarding him too.
When dinner was finished, the girls retreated back to their room while Dominic disappeared to have a shower, and it was then that Michonne left the home to find Rick. She decided that she would rather speak to him sooner rather than later, and if by chance he bumped into the girls without her knowledge again, he would know that they knew about him.
She walked down the street with purpose, hoping her night would end on a good note once she spoke to him, but it occurred to her now stride that she didn't have any idea which home was his, or where he would be so late in the evening, so she chose to head towards the gate in hopes that someone would be on guard.
"Michonne?"
Her dreads flew through the air as she spun around to face Aaron, who was on his front porch, holding a glass of wine, "Oh, hey"
"Hey, is everything alright?", He asked, his tone thick with concern.
"Yeah, fine, I was looking for Rick? Do you know where I can find him?"
Aaron slowly nodded, "Yeah, he lives on the other side, Uh… it's a grey house between two white ones, with a little tree in front…"
"Ah. Grey between two whites with a tree. Got it", she recited to herself, her gaze falling on the glass he held, "Is everything alright with you?"
"Uh, yeah. Just winding down before bed…", He raised the glass to her, "It helps"
"Yeah…", She breathed, narrowing her eyes at him, "So… did you find out what happened with Rick and Deanna? When you were out finding us?"
Aaron's usually cheery demeanour changed, and his face grew serious, "Uh, no. Not really… things just changed and that was it…"
Michonne tilted her head at him as she repeated, "And that was It?"
"Yeah… it was. Um, I'm gonna' hit the hay", He waved his hand towards his front door, "I'm here if you need me"
She didn't want the conversation to end just yet, as he was obviously reluctant to touch on the subject any further, "Okay. Goodnight"
"Goodnight."
Michonne realised that she was asking the wrong people about the community's leadership, and she'd have to find someone willing to speak freely if she really wanted to know what happened. Judging by what she had seen from Rick so far, she wouldn't be surprised if he tried to take over the safe zone with force, but she would like to think that someone with sense would have geared him away from handling things that way.
She made her way to the other street and easily found the home that Aaron had spoken of, then proceeded to walk up the porch steps and knock on the door lightly, as it was late after all.
Rick took some time to appear, but when he did his hair was wet and sticking to his face while his flannel shirt hung open. He held a very tired looking toddler on his hip, her head resting on his shoulder and a pacifier in her mouth.
Michonne took a tiny step backwards, "Bad time?"
"No", He shook his head, "What's wrong? Somethan' happened?"
"No, I just wanted to let you know that they know. I spoke to them", She tore her gaze away from his daughter, "A while ago"
He raised a single brow at her, "Yeah?"
"Yes."
Rick adjusted the tiny body he held as he moved aside, allowing her room to pass, "Come in"
Michonne hesitated, purely because she hadn't informed Dominic that she was leaving, but she didn't plan on staying long either way so she stepped inside his home, "I'll have to get back soon"
"In there", Rick tilted his head towards the living area as he shut the door.
She slowly inhaled as she treads carefully towards the nearest couch. His house wasn't much different from hers, besides the decor and little cluster of toys sprinkled on the floor. She took a seat and watched him do the same, all while his toddler fought to keep her eyes open.
"So what did they say?", He began, his intense gaze returning to her.
"They were shocked, like you were, but they took it well", She explained softly, crossing one leg over the other as she propped herself on the arm of the chair, "They told me that they had met you earlier"
"Yeah, at um, a neighbour's house", He looked away from her for only a second, "Do they want to-"
"They wouldn't mind if we all got together… that includes Carl and this little doll", Michonne tilted her head to look at Judith.
"Yeah?", Rick seemed surprised, "They suggested that?"
"They did."
He gave her a very slow, understanding nod, seemingly absorbing her words, "Alright. We need to make that happen then-"
"And Dominic will be there, too", She issued coolly, and it came as no surprise to her that Rick's expression hardened, but she didn't stop there, "You need to accept his place in all this, and I won't allow anyone to make things uncomfortable for my girls"
"Our girls", He corrected with his commanding tone, "I think you need to get used to saying that"
Michonne almost rolled her eyes, "You know what I mean"
"I do, but I think you need to understand what all this means to me. I've been given a chance to be a father again more than once in all this mess", It was as if is on cue that Judith's chubby little hand clung to his shirt, "I don't think many others can make that claim, so that makes me a lucky man- A very lucky man. But unlike Judith, they're teenagers. They've already carved their personalities out, and they already know what they like and don't like... I need to get to know them, and I need to get to know you again. I won't let what's happening out there stop me from doing that, and I certainly won't let anyone stand in the way-"
"He won't stand in the way but he will be there regardless, Rick", His name left her mouth between gritted teeth, "And the sooner you get over it, the easier it will be for everyone else involved"
His lips pursed as he blinked at her, "Does he know you're over here?"
Michonne ignored him and looked towards the staircase, "So, where's Carl?"
"...Probably asleep. She was too but she woke up and started fussing when I was in the shower", Rick peered down at a sleeping Judith.
"Well, I should really get going", Michonne began to stand, "We can make some arrangements soon-"
"I expect Dominic to come along to the weapons training class tomorrow"
She perched on the edge of the couch, "The what?"
"Weapons training. Everyone here needs to be able to handle one, so we're starting classes. That couple, the Jackson's, they told me that you were the one leading them when you were out there? Said you were the one that usually took care of business?", Rick cocked his head to the side as he looked at her, "Is that right?"
"It was a group effort", She replied flatly.
He narrowed his eyes, "I expect him to come along"
Michonne couldn't think of a person who needed a lesson in handling weapons more than Dominic, "You're running that?"
"I am, and one or two others"
She almost shuddered, "Fine, I'll come along too"
He raised that eyebrow of his again, "You're more than welcome to, but I don't think that's necessary"
She nearly snorted at him, but instead she just replied, "It is"
He gingerly placed Judith down on the couch beside him before rising to his feet, "Fine."
Michonne stood up and stepped around him, "Oh, and thanks for getting them the CD player. I know they can't wait to use it"
"No problem", He followed her back to the door, "When did you start reading comics?"
"I've always read comics"
"That's not true", He frowned at her as he leaned past her and took hold of the door handle, "Not when we were kids"
She frowned back at him, "I read comics back then, too"
"Not in front of me"
"It just wasn't something I broadcasted", she shrugged, crossing the threshold, "I used to read my brothers in secret"
Rick leaned on the door frame, "Well, did you like them?"
"I haven't read them yet but yeah, thanks", She gave him a little nod as she began to back up towards the steps, "So tomorrow?"
"At twelve, on the lawn by the solar panels. Make sure he turns up"
She looked him from head to toe, "We'll both be there"
Rick only stared back at her as she made her way off his porch, which let her further know that it was vital that she attended the class, and any future classes, with Dominic. In fact, it let her know that she shouldn't leave him around the dangerous leader under any circumstance.