Chapter 8 will kick off right where this chapter ends.

Sorry for taking so long with this update. Ch 8 will be up very soon.

Sophia.


"Do you know how many Eli Walters are in the Atlanta Area?" Rick asked Maggie.

They decided to meet up at an unpopular spot downtown. They both chose to have a brief meeting on their lunch hour to discuss the information they had obtained so far and how they were going to proceed with contacting Michonne's father. The day had started off windy but as time passed the atmosphere simmered to a light wind. The streets and stores were bustling with activity as Thanksgiving was only a couple days away. The restaurant they chose had tastefully decorated for the holiday. It was inviting and classy and thankfully not overdone. Classical music played softly from the overhead speakers casting a cherry light on their secret mission.

"Two." She said confidently. Her shoulder length blonde hair teased her jacket collar.

Rick was surprised at her answer, knowing he didn't share his findings with her.

"You spoke to Dina?" He asked although he knew Michonne's mother was a dead end.

"I spoke to Morgan."

This got Rick's attention. "You went to Morgan? How did you that without sounding suspicious!" He was curious to know.

"Told him that Michonne needed some answers and I'm helping her get it. He said he doesn't understand why Dina is a closed book on this. That things will be so much better when the truth come out. I also found out that Morgan and Eli were best friends. Rick there's a story there and I'm not sure Michonne is ready to hear all of it."

Maggie was apprehensive about the depths they had to go to find out. "What if Morgan and Dina were having an affair? What if Morgan is her real father? What if he doesn't even know that? What if -"

"Maggie, let's not speculate until we have something a little more conclusive." Rick didn't want to blindly put the pieces of this puzzle together. He was a detective, he dealt with facts.

Maggie felt Michonne wasn't ready for the truth, Rick knew she needed it more than she realized.

"We have to make her ready for it. She's a lot stronger than you think Maggie." He knew his girl. She wasn't as fragile as people thought she was.

"You're right. Ever since you came along things have been so different." Maggie wanted to thank Rick for being there for her friend. "So what's next?"

"Well I narrowed him down. He lives in Columbus. Can you imagine he's been in state all these years and never reached out?" He was perturbed by this. He made a promise to himself he was going to approach this as neutral as possible. Although what he wanted to do was punch this guy in his face the minute he saw him for abandoning the woman he loved.

"He's an editor for a newspaper. Successful. Owns his own home. Don't have nothin else though. My assistant Natalie is gathering some more intel as we speak, she loves Michonne so she's working fast to help me. I just wanted to let you know where we're at." He shared everything he knew.

"Wow! in Atlanta and never said a word? When are you gonna tell her?" Maggie was curious about this part.

"As soon as I meet him. Feel him out. I need to know if we're going to introduce them that he's not gonna hurt her. I'm hoping we can get this done before Christmas."

Maggie's eyes widened. Such a short deadline for a serious matter. Maybe it was best to not prolong this.

"You all packed for tomorrow?" She was looking forward to their chosen long weekend at Hilltop Ridge. This year the gang decided to head up for Thanksgiving. There would be a lot of new faces and she was excited.

"Yeah, I think Michonne already has me packed. It's all Glenn could talk about. I know you're the reason for that." His buddy was beyond smittened with Maggie Greene and by the look of the blush on her face so was she.

"He treating you good?" They had only started dating a month now and Rick hoped it worked out for the both of them. They seemed well suited.

"I don't think Glenn knows how to do otherwise." Inherently he was a sweet guy. Considerate and caring and always looking out for those around him. She could see now why he and Rick were such good friends.

"Yeah that's Glenn for you. Well it should be fun. Michonne said you guys chipped in for the timeshare five years ago. I think that's cool."

"Yeah, she likes to keep us all busy with activities. So she made the call. You can't really say no to her." She laughed thinking about her friend and how persuasive she could be.

"Trust me I know. She has me doin thangs I never thought I would be doin. Like taking random vacation days off. I didn't realize I accumulated so much days." He laughed but Maggie saw the honest to goodness pleasure Michonne brought to Rick's life.

"You're good for her Rick."

"She makes me want to be better." He said simply, it was the truth.

"Not a lot of men would do what you're doing. You know that right?"

"Maggie, I told you I'm being selfish. This is for me too I wanna ask her to marry me. She needs to feel whole to say yes. I hope I can help give that to her."

Maggie's heart felt full hearing Rick speak about how much Michonne meant to him. She checked her watched and gathered her phone and handbag to head back to the office. She stood and Rick being the gentleman that he was stood too. She extended her arms to him for a friendly hug.

"I hope this works out Rick, I hope Michonne knows how much you love her." He hoped so too, even though they were yet to say the words. His hand extended around her to accept her hug.

"Me too Maggie." Had Maggie grown up with them in King County Rick was sure he would've considered her a little sister.

"Well well well! What do we have here?" Monica's eyes and tone was accusatory.

Rick and Maggie broke apart.

"Monica! What are you doing on this side of town?" Maggie asked, they had chosen the spot for anonymity.

"I come here every so often to meet a friend. Michonne know you two meeting up without her?" She asked pointing her red tipped nail between the two of them. Maggie inhaled deeply, if she was being honest she wasn't fond of Mike's wife in the least. She hated that he had moved on from Michonne to Monica in less than a week.

"There's nothing to hide. So if you'll excuse us we were just leaving." Rick tried to reign in control before things got worse. He had Monica panned as one of those women who blew things out of proportion. They watched her walk off in her red mini skirt and white blouse that was borderline hooker clothes.

"Seriously Maggie why are you guys friends with her? And Mike? They're the one thing that doesn't fit into this group." It was a question he had been wanting to ask for a while.

"I'm not really friends with her. She's just…..around. We've known Mike for years but after what he did to Chonne I couldn't stand him. He and Daryl are kinda tight. He's one of those guys that you can't really shake off you know. But if he and his wife were to leave the group he wouldn't be missed by me." She felt lighter having borne that truth.

"You think she'll make trouble for us?" Rick asked not wanting Michonne to know anything prematurely.

"Nah. She and Michonne don't speak to each other. So I think we're safe."

"Ok. Well take care. See you tomorrow." They both went their separate ways hoping things were going to work out as planned.


"Aaagghh! This place gets more gorgeous every year!" Rick watched from his peripheral as Michonne's face shot up with excitement at seeing their Villa for the next few days. He had to admit he had never seen anything quite like it. The bucolic setting that was Hilltop Ridge was massive in size. Nestled in the heart of the mountain ridge, the wooden structure gave it a rustic look and held promise of a guaranteed retreat from everyday life. The floor to ceiling windows added light and texture to the already remarkable structure. It was the kind of place you saw in magazines or read about in books. He knew the Resort would've been exquisite once he passed the tall, iron gates at the entrance and continued on the winding countryside road that lead them to their destination, but the scene in front of him exceeded his expectations.

Again, Michonne was expanding his world.

"Babe! You're not saying anything!" She shook his hand in an attempt to get a reaction from him. All he could do was laugh. She was always finding the beauty in things. She always demanded he look deeper than the surface.

If she only knew he would rather look at the beauty of her face than any fascinating fancy house.

However, he did what she asked, to make her happy. Besides even he couldn't deny the beauty of the manor ahead of them.

"Yeah baby. You guys did great. This place is beautiful."

He rubbed her leggings clad leg, attempting to soothe her for his few seconds of neglect simultaneously creating some warmth for his cold hands. He parked his Ford in the first spot in the driveway.

"Guess we're the first ones here."

"I know! Let's go explore! I have so much to show you!"

She raced up the driveway and pulled out the keys. She realized Rick wasn't behind her and turned around to see him pulling out her two piece luggage set from the bed of his truck.

"You're so methodical Rick! Come on! We'll get the bags later!"

"And when you're arguin later because you want a change of clothes what do you think is gonna happen then?" His always right game was strong.

"I'll wear something of yours." Her comeback game was better. He shook his head at her response knowing that she'd do exactly as she said.

Before Rick could join her on the doorstep a truck pulled up with Glenn, Maggie, Andrea and Shane. Michonne could hear Andrea's voice from where she stood on the front porch.

"Nobody informed me we had to get the Turkey! How the hell are we going to have Thanksgiving dinner without a damn turkey!? I hope you fellas know you have to get down this God forsaken mountain and find somewhere that sells Turkeys!" She was obviously upset.

"Andrea I'm sure someone else brought the turkey. You can relax." Maggie said as they all poured out the vehicle like clowns at a circus.

"Rick and I have the turkey Andi! You can calm down." Michonne said. "You didn't think I'd leave that to you nut cases did you?" She laughed.

"So you couldn't put that in the group chat! Geez! Almost gave me a heart attack. Who else is here?" Andrea asked pulling her blonde hair in a high bun.

"Just us. You guys heard from Sasha?" Michonne asked the group.

"Yeah she's coming up with one of her many suitors." Maggie said blandly.

"She invited Abraham right?" Rick asked, concern now for both Abraham and Daryl.

There had been an unspoken competition going on for the affection of Sasha Williams. The only thing the two love struck men didn't do was go through an actual hoop for her. She seemed indecisive of the two. The ways and means the two determined men were vying for her attention was nothing short of reality TV. She could've easily been on the highly watched cable show, The Bachelorette.

"We'll this weekend just got interesting!" Andrea laughed.

"I spoke to her last night I didn't like how she was sounding at all." This came from Maggie.

"That'll happen when your dating life is nothing short of a subscription." Andrea said with a smirk. Maggie and Michonne eyed her warningly, but they were tickled all the same by her analogy.

"What? She clearly has a trial period! I just hope at the end of it all Daryl and Abraham can get their hearts refunded." Sasha was known for not making the best decisions when it came to love and relationships. They were all waiting to see how this saga was going to turn out.

She walked off finally headed inside the house. The air around them was fresh and clean like after a summer rain. Only it wasn't summer and there was no sign of rain, yet the earthly perfume wafted throughout their woodsy home away from home.

"Ok guys let's get these things inside." Rick gave the directive and the guys followed his order. Michonne was the first to reach in the wide open living quarters. She looked out the tall bay window hoping Sasha was close. She also hoped this weekend would be drama free. They could all use the break.


"Your dad sends his love." Michonne snaked her hands over Rick's broad shoulders, under the blue hoodie he wore as she stretched from behind the long cream sofa that L squared the open room. Glenn had just lit the fire place with evening soon approaching. The flames cast a low light on the room and added a glow to the antique furniture that decorated the wide span of the common room.

"You mean Chester knows I exist? I swear giving him your number was the worst idea he had." He teased. She laughed in his ear as one hand reached up to caress the curls that was in need of a trim.

"Are you jealous?" She asked her tone amused.

"Nah. He loves you, you know that." He escorted her around the couch and placed her comfortably on his lap. He was glad that his dad was genuinely interested in being her friend. It would do her good to have a positive role model with no motive in her life. You couldn't do better than Chester Grimes. Rick prayed he would be half the father he was when he and Michonne had kids.

"You ever thought about how things would be if your dad was a present fixture in your life?" He thought he would broach the topic given her cheery disposition. He was also curious about her response. She looked taken aback by the question, her brows furrowed in contemplation.

"I don't know." She shrugged. "Maybe he would be calling to ensure we came up safe. In my head he likes you because you both think I'm stubborn. We would argue over when is a good time to start my Masters and we'd go for brunch on Sundays." Although she had shrugged off his question, her ready response told him these were things she thought about. She was cognizant about what she would've wanted out of a relationship with her father. They were not arbitrary thoughts, but her specificity of the topics mentioned shed some light on the things she missed most.

Not trying to instigate her curious nature he decided to end the subject.

"I want you to relax this weekend." He said firmly.

Between work and volunteering she was running herself ragged. She poured her heart and soul into the things she was passionate about. He was lucky to be the recipient of what she shared so selflessly.

"That goes double for you boss. Can you come explore with me now? I wanna show you around." She knew he brought his laptop with him, which meant he planned to get some work done but she wanted him to have the whole experience.

"You're calling me boss. And it's not my fault you and Chester wanna chat on my time. Besides, I can think of other places I want to explore right now..." He let the word linger as his hands dipped to the crotch of her pants. She knew the effects her shapely body had on him.

They could live in an igloo and he would still be hot for her.

She was the one to lean in and kiss him. She pried open his mouth with her tongue, he made her work for it. He could feel the smile in her kiss when their tongues finally mated. He moaned and reached around her and caressed the smooth highway of her back. She pressed into him as her tongue continued to make love to his mouth. She wished they were naked. Her breasts pressed up against his chest and for a few seconds she forgot where they were. Her hand reached down to the buckle of his jeans and -

"Chonne! Sasha's here! She came with Abe!" Maggie came bouncing over to them. They pulled away when they realized they were busted. Rick pulled down the shirt she wore as it hiked up slightly in the short make out session.

"What? They came up together. So where's Daryl?" She said springing off Rick like a jack rabbit to go meet her friend.

"Something about this doesn't smell right." Andrea said stirring the pot of gravy she had started on a half hour ago.

"It'll be fine Andi." Michonne said.

"I meant about Sasha and her subscribers! If she came with Abe that means Daryl is riding up here alone on his bike!"

"She's right there, quick! Everybody look natural!"

The three ladies scrambled for some kitchen utensils to look the part of being occupied.

Sasha walked in looking almost white faced.

"Bathroom!" she said, hastily walking to one of the downstairs rest rooms.

Abe followed in."Evenin to you Charlie's Angels." He said in his deep voice.

The three girls greeted him in return.

"How was the ride up?" Michonne broke the awkward silence.

"Well from the look of green on her face the whole ride up I'd say she ate a bowl full of frog legs and it's got her gut all tied up…...You know I think she's the prettiest thing this side of Atlanta but I am not a patient man. She's not saying anything but if she can't choose between me and squirrel boy before the weekend is out I'm done." He kicked his duffel bag into the living room to join the rest of guys.

"Soooo….who's gonna talk with her?" Maggie asked. Andrea and Michonne threw their hands up in the air in surrender.

"Not me!" They chimed.

"Well we need to help her!" Maggie finalized.

"We really should go check on her" Michonne lead the way upstairs.


"I'm pregnant." Even she couldn't quite accept the words that had left her lips. She had screwed up majorly.

She had screwed up.

Andrea, Maggie and Michonne all sat on the well made bed looking up at her with disbelief hanging from their faces. They had followed Sasha to one of the bedrooms upstairs only to have this unexpected news thrusted upon them.

"Girl quit playing" Andrea laughed Sasha's joke off. She had to be kidding.

Sasha presented the EPT she had hiding behind her back, not for dramatic effect but because her hands were shaking something fierce.

"For who?" Michonne asked, but by the spaced out look on Sasha's face she could tell she wasn't sure. Her eyes began to pool.

"You slept with both of them!?" Maggie exclaimed, her acknowledgement dawning in the room like a torrential storm. The news had the ability to leave everything damaged in its wake.

"I bet it's for Abraham, and we don't even know him for a hot minute yet. What if he's a deadbeat dad!" Maggie exclaimed again.

"I'll kill him for you." Andrea offered in full defense of her friend.

"How is that supposed to help Sasha if he's the father of her child?" Michonne asked.

"Well he can't be a deadbeat dad if he's dead!" She answered.

"Daryl's gonna be crushed about this whole thing." Michonne said shaking her head, Sasha had found herself in some hot water. If this baby wasn't Daryl's he'd be collateral damage. She needed them to rally around her more than ever.

"What are you going to do?." Andrea walked over to her and pulled her into her arms.

"I just found out. I need a minute." Sasha walked slowly to the bed. She sat down while they got up. They couldn't help their inquiring eyes.

"I didn't plan this ok. It just happened. And I'm already paying for it." She looked up to the ceiling in hope of an answer to her dilemma. "I didn't plan to hurt anybody."

"Sometimes we don't plan on hurting anyone by our actions Sash, but people still get hurt. You're gonna have to figure this one quickly." Michonne hoped her words were taken seriously.

"Didn't you guys use condoms?" Andrea knew this topic was exhausted between them.

"Even I don't have to tell you that condoms break Andrea." Sasha rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache coming on.

"How are you going to hide your nausea? Daryl watches you like a hawk. They're both cops, studying people is what they do.

"I don't know. And I need you guys to cover for me until I can figure things out." Sasha's mind was a whirlwind of confusing thoughts of what her next step should be. She was adamant about telling Abraham or Daryl before the weekend was over.

"We are about to sit down and have Thanksgiving dinner with those guys Sash."

"You think I don't know that Mags!...I'm sorry. I don't mean to shout. It'll all work out."

"Ok Sasha. We're behind you 100%. Rick is probably wondering where I am, I'm gonna go find him." Michonne hoped Sasha knew what she was doing.

Everything will be fine." Sasha rose from the bed, smoothed her clothes and walked towards the door. She shook her head as though she was shaking off her pain.

They all had something or the other going on.

Life was changing rapidly for all of them, Sasha was just at full speed.

They had all sauntered downstairs to begin the Thanksgiving meal preparations. The long granite kitchen counter was laden with all the necessary grocery items for the big day tomorrow.

They started to unpack when Shane entered the kitchen. "You ladies expecting anyone else?" He asked, snagging an apple from the orange bowl on the table.

"Only Daryl….he's riding up." Sasha answered.

"Well a black Escalade just pulled up." Shane headed back out.

Sasha rolled her eyes and smacked the counter, Maggie held her head and Andrea groaned.

"Hell No!" Michonne was pissed to say the least.

"Who the hell told Mike we were coming up here?" Her voice was deep, infuriated at Mike's unexpected presence.

"Gotta be Daryl. Who else would invite him? Certainly not one of us." Maggie knew Mike had to go. He couldn't possibly stay with them. Allowing Mike to stay in the same space as Rick and Michonne was asking for trouble.

"Yeah and he isn't here for me to curse him out. Why would Dixon do this?" She was at a loss.

"I'm here! Now the party could begin!" Mike walked in with Monica on his trail and announced himself.

"Too bad you're not staying Mike." Michonne said staring at him.

"The last time I checked Michonne, we all have equal investments in this place." He was annoyed, they could all hear it in his voice.

"Ladies.." Monica said in greeting as she passed them all on her way inside.

"Here comes the drama…" Maggie said strolling in behind her.

Michonne walked towards Mike to reinforce her previous statement. "This time you weren't invited for a reason. I'm sorry Mike…... actually I'm not sorry! You need to take your wife and leave." Andrea moved closer in the event she needed to holster her friend.

"This is so typical of you Chonne!"

"Do NOT call me that!

"Hey! Hey! Everybody needs to calm down!" Glenn came upon the scene, hearing the commotion from outside.

"I'm not leaving. Monica, unpack our bags. Next time Chonnnneeee try to act like you got some sense." He said bitterly. She took one more step towards Mike and Andrea pulled her by her shoulders.

"Mike for God sakes! Please leave!" Maggie pleaded, she knew by the turbulent conversation things were going to get ugly. Somebody needed to step in with some conflict resolution.

"I want to see Michonne make me leave." He was testing her and he knew it.

Rick heard the elevated voices from upstairs. One of them sounded like Michonne. He hoped she would find her way to their room eventually but he figured they were still talking to Sasha, until he was sure he heard Michonne shouting, which was highly irregular.

He jogged down the wooden staircase in time to see Mike approaching Michonne, telling her to make him leave.

"I wish you would Mike." Rick said stepping to the side of Michonne, almost daring Mike to speak to his woman one more time. He knew he needed to tread lightly, Mike majored in ego and minored in common sense. It wouldn't take a lot of provocation for things to get sour. He saw the weary look on the girls' face. In the few months he'd been around them he could tell they were tired of Mike's obnoxious ways.

Confirmation of why he was being run off fell over his countenance quickly at the sight of Rick. Mike felt like he'd been gypped, even though he had invited himself.

"Oh! I see how it is. Cowboy's here. Y'all choosing this dude who you've known all of five minutes over me!" He searched the faces of his so called friends. Mike was like a fan blowing hot air. He was making things uncomfortable for everyone.

When no one answered he was beginning to think the only friend he had left was Daryl.

"Mike ever-"

"Michonne." Rick's voice was cautionary to Michonne, she knew exactly what he was inferring by his cadence. If Mike's tone didn't go down an octave Rick would step in. Regardless if Michonne could handle him or not.

Michonne was silenced with a hand in the air from Mike. "I ain't talking to you Michonne."

This time Rick stepped in front of her, "Raise your voice at her one more time Mike and we're gonna really start having some problems." He threatened with a glare that told Mike not to defy him.

"You should be lucky you still around cowboy, this group doesn't take too kindly to strangers." Only inches apart, Michonne's concern grew. She didn't want there to be any fighting today. She was relieved when she saw Shane and Abe stroll inside.

"The only stranger I see now Mike is you. Now I believe you weren't invited and the general consensus is you should collect your thangs and leave." Rick's head tilted, which was a sign that he meant business. His words were also slowly delivered because he knew Mike wasn't as smart as he let on.

Daryl who was light on his feet walked in on the high tension scene. "What the hell's going on here?" He asked seeing Rick and Mike in yet another face off.

"Mike was just leaving. Weren't you Mike?" Michonne said stepping now at the side of Rick. She placed a hand on his shoulder, letting him know she was ok.

Monica who was always a silent bystander in confrontation had seen her husband embarrassed enough.

She had a few things to say to Michonne, Andrea paused her actions with a firm hand on her shoulder. "Today is not that day Monica and she ain't the one." Andrea, like Rick was fiercely protective of Michonne.

Maggie secretly hoped that this conundrum would be the catalyst that would help Mike fade into the background. Their surface friendship with him was no longer benefitting the group.

"Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but ain't nobody goin nowhere." Daryl advised. "What do you mean?" Sasha asked him. He responded to her question but never looked in her direction. She felt like she was being punished.

"A huge tree fell and blocked the roads, the only reason I got through was because I was on my bike. The officers says the tree cutters won't come out until Friday cause tomorrow's Thanksgiving."

The news settled like someone had died.

Mike was staying.

"Looks like we're staying after all!" He said spreading his hands for emphasis. "Go put our bags upstairs babe." he commanded his wife. He smirked as he passed by Rick and Michonne.

"Really Dixon!?" Michonne approached her leather jacket wearing friend.

"What? He paid just like all of us Chonne! Rick ain't goin nowhere. Why can't we all just get along!?"

"Because Mike is an asshole!" Andrea responded.

"We all know that."

"Whatever Thanksgiving brings with them here I hope it's worth it." Maggie said.

She also prayed that Monica kept her mouth shut.