A/N The story really picks up from here guys so thanks if you're still with me. I appreciate the reviews and feedback and I appreciate each and every one of you taking the time out to read my little story. I'm really having alot of fun writing this and your comments make me laugh and keep me incredibly motivated. Ok, I've said enough. Happy reading!

Sophia


"And then what happened?" Rick prompted. The evening was shot. Hearing that someone had sent Michonne flowers had been an instant mood kill and he was presently trying his best to reign in his vexation. He was also trying not be overly sensitive. The night had a quiet and calm to it, a total contradiction to what was currently happening inside the house. He wrestled with disregarding her alluring scent that had arrested his nose since he walked in the door.

"And then Drea came in and she saw the flowers and thought... nothing, never mind" she stopped abruptly.

"Andrea thought what?" he looked at her and squinted.

"She thought you sent the flowers cause we had um...already...um...done...you know" she stuttered through the whole sentence.

"She thought we had sex? So I sent you flowers right? Andrea thought we did the deed so I sent you 3 dozen red roses, and you thought because I allegedly sent you these flowers that we should have sex, this story keeps getting better and better Chonne" he laughed dryly. "So you didn't ask the delivery guy a name at least?"

"Rick! I. Thought. They. Were. From. You! There was nothing to ask. No one else was on my brain but you!" she gestured to him as she advanced. Her efforts at placating him seemed futile.

"Which company he used?" he waited on her response.

"Flowers 137." She rose from the living room chair, turned and started walking up the stairs without a word.

"Where are you going?" he asked, not wanting to believe she was retiring on their obviously unfinished conversation.

"Well! Seeing that we're gonna be arguing about flowers for the rest of the evening I'm gonna put some underwear on!" She informed him.

All of a sudden she felt cold and naked. She was in utter turmoil now knowing that the night she decided to finally open up herself to Rick had prematurely ended on such a sour note. She had Rick in the palm of her hands, or rather he had her in the palm of his hands, quite literally and she wanted more. Couldn't he see it wasn't because of the stupid flowers? She was finished playing cat and mouse. Maybe she should've listened to Andrea and served herself naked on a silver platter.

By the time she walked back down the stairs clad in the ugliest night gown he had ever seen he was pressed against the hallway wall waiting for her.

Where was the cute pajamas shorts she'd been parading herself in for the past months? Which great great aunt died and left her their grey petticoat nightgown, complete with a fluffy collar and laced edges?

She looked ridiculous and he knew she wore the ugly thing on purpose.

Ridiculous with a side of cute.

Now was not the time. There were some issues that needed to be addressed.

"For a guy who you claimed wasn't gonna be a problem for us anymore, he is obviously still very much around" his remark was caustic.

"It's not Mike!" Michonne stated soundly. It couldn't be.

"Who else then? You got crazier exes hanging around I don't know about?"

"I thought it was you!...maybe it's from my parents." That was all she got, still in shock that Rick was not the one to send her the flowers. She was so sure, she didn't even think to ask the young fella who they were from. Maggie and Andrea were too. If this was Mike's doing his intentions was not pure and she didn't take too kindly to the unwanted gift. She would have to pay him a visit.

"Don't patronize me!" he said prudishly.

"I'm not. It can't be Mike! He hasn't called or text since I told him to leave me alone. I thought it was you Rick. I wanted it to be you."

"Your favorite flower is lilies, why would I send you roses? It's so cliché!" he said greatly annoyed that this is where finally touching a panty less Michonne had gotten him.

The evening held promise now it just felt like punishment.

"So this is what did it for you, huh? Thinking that I sent you flowers prompted you to make me a nice meal and seduce me? Flowers are what do it for you Michonne? Not the fact that for the past couple months we started building something together? Not because being here together with Madi had started feeling like the real deal? Not because of that kiss we shared? Not because you can't deny your feelings for me any longer?" he sounded hurt and he intentionally held her gaze as she leaned on the wall opposite him in the slim hall. They had no choice but to make eye contact.

More words were communicated with their eye lock than anything they had said to each other within the last hour.

She had taken a step forward tonight only to have Mike's stupid antics take them 10 steps back.

If he was the flower giver that is, the more the conversation went on the more he appeared to be the culprit.

"So what was your plan? We have sex on the couch tonight? Maybe end up in Abe and Rosita's bed. Wouldn't you have liked that? Avoid expressing any real feelings. We would be all in on playing the part wouldn't we?" he goaded.

"Playing the part?" she asked muddled. What was he speaking about?

"Well we're living in their house, we're raising their child and now we'd get to sleep in their bed. We're acting like we're married but we're not." The retort came out a lot sharper than he planned.

He heard her sharp intake of breath. Was that what she was doing? Playing a part?

Her stomach coiled in knots at his harsh words. Is that what he thought this was?

Funny how you think things are going great one minute and then like a bully with a pin at a carnival your balloon gets popped.

"You think I'm just playing a part? We're just playing house?" She asked softly trying to control the tremble in her voice. Only Rick had the ability to hurt her with his words.

"Well, we don't discuss anything at all about what's happening to us and then some flowers get delivered and everything magically falls into place for you and you realize you want me. You should have told me that flowers would've done the trick. I would've planted you a damn garden!" he stressed.

He was getting a headache; he had gone from paradise to purgatory in less than half hour. It's exactly how he felt. Stuck. Waiting.

"Rick tonight was not about the flowers! Please just -" she was still trying to recover from what he said. The hurt ran deep on his statement and she choked back the tears that threatened. She thought she was being brave. Even she began to question her motive. She wanted him, his company, and his laugh. He had a crazy way of relating to her and understanding her that nobody else had. There were some things he alone could explain to her and she would understand despite the efforts of others.

She could care less about some damn flowers.

"It's been a really long day, I'm gonna take a shower and head to bed. Thanks for dinner." He gave her a piercing once over and headed up the stairs.

"One more thing" Rick paused on his ascension and looked back, she rubbed her arms suddenly feeling chilly. His voice pierced the still atmosphere.

"Tomorrow we're gonna trace the flower delivery and if and when I find out its Mike, I'm gonna pay him a little visit. Goodnight." He continued his trek up slowly.

Yeah she was definitely feeling cold.

Rick walked directly into the nursery and held onto the crib railing as he watched the napping child that he had thought so much about over the past two days. Seeing her sleeping frame illuminated by the small Winnie the Pooh night light already had his mind feeling more settled. She was a part of him now, despite what was going on between him and Michonne, there was no going back. He held his palm to her hair and caressed it softly. He touched her back just as lightly and felt her lungs expand and contract. His heart exploded.

He never thought he could love a child so much. He took her in for a few more minutes, tucked her blanket more secure around her and exited quietly.

He walked to his room and sat at the edge of the bed. Michonne had washed and changed his sheets in his absence. She was obviously in his room because it smelled a little bit like her. Fruity and powdery fresh. He took off his shirt completely trying to forget the way she felt all settled in his lap. It was a feeling he wanted to get accustomed to.

A feeling he could come home to every day for the rest of his life.

He was disappointed, not so much about the fact that they could be making love right now, although he was mad at that too. He was angry about the fact that she acted on something that appeared to be a material manifestation of what she perceived his heart was. This had him thinking that she really wasn't sure of her feelings in the first place. He felt less confident about their relationship and everything that had happened since their world was flipped over by the passing of their friends.

He knew he had feelings for her for years now and he always chickened out on telling her how he felt because he didn't want to scare her away.

It was already sad that Abe and Rosita's death was the catalyst that forced them to face what was happening between them. Their close, constant proximity and rearing of Madison had brought them closer together, there was no doubt about that.

Rick knew why, Michonne obviously didn't.

He never thought he would say this but he was glad they didn't have sex.

He didn't want a one night stand with Michonne.

He wanted a life with her. Her and Madison.

He would give her some space. She needed time to sort out her head. She was probably on emotional overload right now.

He couldn't forget though the feel of her sweet body on his, the taste of her wine drenched lips, the feel of her essence on his fingers.

How was he supposed to forget that?

He had never been so pleasantly aroused in his life. All for naught.

Their sexual chemistry was explosive and wasn't even fully explored yet. He wanted to taste her body more than he needed air. She was ready for him, physically at least. Other than that she was a turtle racing a rabbit. He couldn't recall if slow but steady won the race or not.

He walked to the bathroom for a cold shower.

It probably wouldn't be the last one for the night.


"Well according to my sources the order was paid for with a credit card in name of one Mike Jackson" Shane advised Rick and Daryl, who stood in the corner of the lobby of the Police Station where Shane worked.

"I knew it." Rick shrugged.

"There's one more thing buddy, the owner said the call in came from a woman." Shane spoke slowly and watched his friend process the information he provided.

"I told Chonne I'd have a nice little talk with him, he is obviously a bit delusional if he thinks sending her flowers would get her attention" Shane continued scratching his head.

"Think that's exactly what the dick needs" said Daryl. "Who's the chick who called in the order?" Daryl adjusted his leather jacket before turning to his friend.

"Maybe she's a friend? Think I want to handle this myself. Thanks brother. Text me his address will ya" Rick said walking out the station, Daryl on his heels.

For a mid-day Saturday in Fatefield it was nice and cool with a light wind. Rick was glad he opted for his denim shirt and jeans, he got into his Ford truck and revved the engine. Daryl soon followed.

He had dropped Madison and Michonne over at Sasha's where she met up with Maggie and Andrea. They had all wanted to cheer up their friend who was still on bed rest. Sasha was a go getter and wasn't doing so well cooped up in a house all day.

Rick used the spare time to check in with Shane to see if he had any information on the infamous flower delivery at Book Bridge and had dragged Daryl along.

"Sasha doin ok?" Rick asked his friend.

"Yeah she's good, annoying my ass with her demands though! Serves me right for marryin a woman who always knows what she wants. I'm praying for a boy cause if it's a girl I'm screwed!" Daryl confessed.

"Girls are a trip I can't lie, Madi just has to look at me with those eyes and I want to give her the world when all she wants is some froot loops."

It was Daryl's turn to laugh.

"You headed to Mike's?" he asked, knowing that under all the laughter Rick was irked beyond measure and only one thing was going to make him feel better.

"Yeah. I just wanna have a talk with him..."

"Rick..." Daryl cautioned. He looked at him closely. They had been in these situations many times before. If there was anybody who could gauge his anger and step in when needed was Daryl.

"You have my back right?" Rick questioned.

"Yeah man" Daryl answered, bracing himself for the confrontation. He was sure clueless Mike would be on the defense from the get go.

In twenty minutes they had rolled into the Western part of Fatefield where Mike lived. It was a corner house with a broken down swing set and a rocking chair in the gallery.

"That's Sasha's car! WTH!" Daryl stated first seeing his wife's grey Chevy not too far from the corner.

The two of them stared at the house only to see Michonne hastily running down the red painted steps with Mike following behind her with rapid pace.

"Ah shit!" Daryl said, opening the car door. Rick had already catapulted himself out the vehicle at the sight of Michonne. When did she get here?

"Are you kidding me?" he approached her quickly at the fence of the white house. The look they shared was challenging. It was a test of wills of two people whose personalities was just as strong as their fortitude.

There would be no backing down on either side.

"What are you doing here Rick? I thought you and Daryl had stuff to do?" She accused. She came by to see Mike to return the flowers he sent and to tell him to lose her number and have nothing to say to her again. He didn't take her words kindly and quickly turned defensive but told her he would obey her wishes. One minute he told her they still had a chance of making it and the next he said he was too good for her and she was ungrateful after all he did for her. This left her addled and she decided to leave quickly so she could get back to her friends who were keeping an eye on Madison at Sasha's house.

"I'm doin stuff Michonne... thangs. Why are you here? Where's Madison?" he asked loudly. He glanced up and down the street, the simple neighborhood seemed quiet with two stragglers on their own beat. Nobody seemed alerted to the small gathering outside Mike's house.

He didn't know how lucky he was that Michonne was present. He had planned to connect Mike's jaw with his fist for his obnoxiousness and enjoy every moment of it.

He glimpsed at Mike in the background and he wore a sinister expression on his face. Rick knew deep down inside Mike had the potential to be dangerous, even if Michonne didn't want to acknowledge it.

If anything ever happened to Michonne or Madison at the hand of this bastard he would unleash the monster in him that he had been keeping at bay all this time.

Mike crossed his arms in a defensive stance and tightened his jaw.

Rick growled. He stepped around Michonne and reached Mike in a flash. They were now face to face.

"I know you think you're so clever Jackson but I'll tell you what, you come near the house again, you walk in front of Book Bridge again...you so much breath in Michonne's direction and I'll kill you" he sneered, serious as a heart attack.

Mike's eyes widened. "Is that a threat Grimes?" he asked.

"It's a promise."

"Rick! That's enough. Let's go" Michonne laid her hand on his upper back, with Rick's temper and aggravation levels combined with Mike's ignorance this could reach to blows fast. She tried to signal to Daryl to leave but he looked just as petulant cracking his fingers, waiting for a signal from Rick.

She blew out an exasperated sigh, all this machismo was getting to her.

"Mike isn't going to be a problem anymore. Are you Mike?" she threw at the man she once thought she had loved.

They had met at a fair in Atlanta when she had just finished College and they had hit it off so well they were the last to leave the fair that day. He had recently moved to Fatefield and it wasn't for another month they started dating. She was ok with the way things were between them. They were exclusive but not too serious, but Mike always wanted more. By the time the internship had come up he in no uncertain terms told her this is the opening she had always wanted to leave him. She was getting her chance and she was leaving him. He never once considered that she was pursuing her dreams. Never once showed any kind of support for the things she wanted to endeavor to. She had discovered how selfish he really was and she was glad she was leaving for New York. It was a much needed break from the drama that came from dating Mike for a year.

It was the vast difference between him and Rick; he was always supportive of the things she wanted to do. Had always encouraged her to chase the law with a passion because he knew how much she loved it. Her mother and grandmother were lawyers and so the fire for it ran through her veins.

Even when her passion separated them for two years Rick encouraged her and gave her the space to do her thing. He made quite the effort of keeping in touch with her while she was away. It was she who had become reserved with their friendship. As for the recent connect with Mike, she honestly felt bad for the way she had left him without even a courtesy call to find out how he was doing. So when he reached out to her she thought it was a chance to at least be his friend. She was never one to hold grudges; they lived in the same place so she thought they could at least be cordial with each other.

She honestly didn't see anything wrong with wanting that.

She had no idea Mike had an agenda. She didn't know that the Mike she had met at a fair in Atlanta had allowed life to get the better of him. He had allowed all his negative attributes to develop and crescendoed into the delusional man he was today. It was quite a turn off to see him in action now.

She assumed within the time apart he had matured but that certainly was not the case. If anything was to be said it was that Mike had gotten worse and she thought briefly that he might need to seek some help.

When she had gotten to his house today he had invited her in to sit and she had told him in direct words that he had overstepped his boundaries and nothing could happen between them again. While he looked shocked, he apologized for the flowers and said it wouldn't happen again. She gave him the benefit of the doubt.

She had left right away, which is when she spotted Rick's truck.

She watched as the two squared off with nothing but pure, old hubris. She really didn't want this conflict turned into a fist fight. Rick had the propensity to go from peaceful lake to roaring tsunami in no time at all. He wouldn't hesitate to hit Mike.

"No I'm done. So if you don't mind, please leave my property and take your guard dog with you." Mike said his tone deep as he watched between Rick and Daryl.

"Yeah man let's get outta here" Daryl tapped his shoulder to get his attention before he slipped any further down the hole of conniption.

They walked to the corner in silence to their respective vehicles.

"Butch and Sundance, like the old days huh? Feels just like high school again when Rick assumed I couldn't handle my problems on my own. And of course he would have his trusty sidekick with him." She chided the pair.

If she wasn't here she wondered what the meeting would've climaxed to.

Daryl looked back at her "Whatchu come here by yourself for?" He asked sounding more southern than expected.

"I'm a grown woman the last time I checked" she retorted. It would be a cold day in hell before she stood here and explained herself to Rick and Daryl as though she was a child. She was grown and would handle her business like an adult.

"Ha! Ok. Gimme Sasha's keys, you drive back with Rick. I'm not in the mood to drive with the Bear" he pushed out his hand to accept the keys from her. He gazed at a silently brooding Rick who just nodded at him.

"See y'all at the house" he walked off and left them at the curb.

"So you left our...Madi with the girls to come see your friend Mike?" he asked his hands on his hip.

"Don't look at me with that tone! Can we talk about this in the car please?" she stormed off to the truck and yanked the door open.

"You're not gonna make me feel guilty for this Rick. Were you even going to tell me you saw him?" She asked. They thought so much alike it wasn't funny anymore. They both had the same impulsion and neither of them said anything.

"I told you my intention last night once I found out the flowers were from him." he stated calmly. The pulse at the side of his temple was now coming back to a steady rhythm. Rage was a definite way to get his blood rushing.

"Oh right, I'm sure we have our enabling buddy Shane to thank for that" she said wryly. "Look. I spoke with him. He isn't gonna be an issue anymore. It's done. Can we move on please?" she turned to him with her big brown eyes.

He was taken aback by the look, she and Madison had absolutely no resemblance to each other but sometimes the way they both stared at him was almost a mirror image. He smiled at that fact and his stance immediately softened.

He was clearly whipped.

"My threat remains, but if that's what you want, ok." he said honestly.

They had fought enough on this and he was ready for a truce. It was all they had at the moment. Nothing else was happening between them and it just may stay that way for a while.

They were back to being friends, if you could call whatever they were currently doing, that.

"Ok. What do you say we take kiddo to the mall and maybe get some lunch" she suggested.

"Whatever you want Chonne" he accepted.


It happened one random Saturday in June. Michonne had snuck upstairs for a shower after a playful morning with Madison. She had left Rick playing with the Rugrat on the plush cream carpet in the living room.

She was surrounded by her favorite teddy bears as usual while Rick entertained her with a myriad of voices behind her select favorites.

She snuck a teddy bear from Rick's hand and threw it across the room. As he was about to rise to his feet to retrieve the munchkin's bear, Madison bent on all fours, rose slowly on her two chubby legs clad in purple leggings and a matching top and walked in an unsteady gait towards said bear. Rick sat upright in shock, not quite believing what he had just witnessed. She was currently standing holding the bear with her back turned to him. She had taken her first step in such a quiet, normal, conventional way that he had no time to take out his phone to record the achievement of which he was vehemently proud.

"Chonne!" he called out loudly, hoping that his deep timber didn't scare the child.

"Get down here now! Madi is walking!" he screamed.

"I'm in the shower! Are you serious! Tell her to wait for me!" She yelled back. Rick could hear her scrambling in the bathroom and then racing down the staircase. When their eyes met she was soaking wet with a thick, cream towel wrapped around her sleek dark skin.

He was instantly jealous of the fluffy fabric that got to caress her sexy body. Despite their just friend's status, there was nothing, besides a meteor headed straight for Earth that could obliterate their sexual attraction.

Rick had resigned himself to that fact.

Michonne no longer bothered to deny it.

"You have soap on your shoulders" he noticed, and what beautiful shoulders they were.

"Aren't you the great observer" she sauntered over to him and stood watching a quiet Madi who was hugging her bear, standing on her two feet as though this was her typical run of the mill.

"Sweetheart, can you bring Bear for me?" Rick coaxed her, wanting so bad for Michonne to experience what he just had, not five minutes ago.

"Da Da Da! Mi Mi!" Madison turned oddly and began her trek towards her Godparents. She walked like a drunken old man but Rick and Michonne could not have been prouder. She grasped her chest in awe at the child.

"Madi! Babygirl! You did it!" Michonne leaned down to her eye level tucking her towel around her tightly giving Madison a bright grin.

"Ya ya ya!" Madison clapped herself as though she was aware of her most recent accomplishment.

"She's getting so big, she's walking now Rick" Michonne felt emotional. She had been slowly growing more independent as the days passed. She was trying to feed herself, put on her own clothes and was crawling everywhere. Although most times she had failed on many attempts to achieve such tasks Madison's will and determination was so strong that it amazed Michonne how so much like her parents she really was. This latest and greatest moment left her teary eyed thinking that the little one she had come to love so much stronger over the past two and a half months was getting older and her parents were not around to see it. Rick was there for all those moments and she looked up at him, he was still beaming at Madison who had just fallen flat on her bum but clapped anyway.

"She walked! Our girl is walking now!" he boasted.

"Yes!" Michonne extended her arms before thinking and embraced him tightly forgetting that the towel she wore was the only barrier between them.

He smelled of soap and pure masculinity. It was the kind of scent that would make a woman want to hug him tightly and breathe him all in until there was no more room for anything else to take precedence.

This was the first time they had touched for days and it was still all fire and crashing waves. Their eyes met and held, they both leaned into each other in a magnetic pull until their lips touched in a heated kiss. Michonne's hand went straight to his curls as she practically molded her body to his. Rick's hand molded her tiny waist and gently descended to her rounded ass.

"Rick...please" she didn't know exactly what she was pleading for but everything on her body was throbbing with need.

"Tell me exactly what you want Michonne. I want to give it to you so badly."his words probably had double meaning because he felt the hardening in his pants at the feel of her body planted on his. His hands slipped beneath her towel and grabbed her naked flesh. Her body was cold from the shower by now in most places but one. He groaned out of the sheer feel of her and the radiating fragrance that claimed his nose. She smelled of peaches and late nights. It was a powerful cocktail that evoked endless emotion within him.

"Look baby, looks like we're interrupting somethin" Shane said as he stood at the edge of the living room staring at the two who were currently glued together.

"Shit!" Michonne said as she and Rick suddenly pulled apart.

If bad timing was an award their family would be winning Oscars all day, every day.

"You two 'almosting' again?" Andrea asked as she walked in behind Shane, shaking her head at the sight of them.

"Don't you two ever knock?" Rick said exasperated. Another moment with Michonne gone to the dogs. Would he ever get a break? Literally!

"Why are you here?" Michonne asked just as displeased with their friends. Another few minutes again and Rick's hands would have been bringing her to release, she was on the edge. The sexiness oozed off him so calmly but it had the power to knock you off your feet.

"Firstly the door was open. Secondly we were bored home so we thought we'd come over and hang out. I had no idea you two would be..." Andrea trailed off pointing her fingers at them both.

"You and Shane? Bored? In an empty house with a big canopy bed? I find that very hard to believe Drea. I'm going to finish change. Be right down. There's food in the kitchen if y'all are hungry." she said walking away.

The moment had passed and there was nothing she could do to hold onto it.

Except in her mind where they were already doing it. She gazed at Rick who couldn't seem to look away; there were times when he looked at her as though she was all he could see.

"You know I haven't been feeling so hot Mich." Andrea called out.

"Brother you two doing the -" Shane started.

"Madi just took her first steps" he informed his friend whose mouth could get filthy fast.

"Ooohhhhh" Shane said, understanding dawning on the scene he had just walked in on. They were celebrating. Kinda.

"Didn't you sweetheart!" Rick picked up the toddler and swung her up in the air and she squealed with delight.

"Next time just lock the door" Andrea teased taking a seat on the single chair.

"Next time call before you just show up" Rick quipped in return, still playing with Madi. He vowed he would find a way to pay them both back for the disruption.

"So she really walked? This is exciting! Put her down let's see!" Andrea asked, sounding like a child.

"Tell Aunt Andrea that you're not on show honey pie." he said walking into the kitchen with Madison on his shoulders, the child was due for some apple juice and Rick needed time to let his body get back under control.

Apparently Friday Night Specials had been transferred to Saturday nights at the Ford's home, because as soon as the rest of them had gotten wind that Madison had taken her first step the rest had trickled in with the exception of Glenn who was at a meeting.

They ordered Chinese and talked well into the afternoon about any and everything. Even Sasha who was supposed to be on bed rest had attended. She had walked into the house slowly to accommodate her large and still growing stomach and had taken up residence on 'their couch' claiming that if she spent one more minute with Daryl at their house she would go crazy. Daryl had walked in grumbling to himself carrying a huge pillow for his wife's comfort.

A while later Andrea sat in the kitchen on one of the three stools that lined the tall kitchen counter, watching Michonne and Maggie create a snack plate for the band of friends. She moaned at a sudden wave of nausea that hit her sharply at the scent of a freshly opened bag of Doritos.

"Good Lord, are you gonna throw this on there too?" She asked looking at the already busy snack plate.

"Drea! Do us all a favor and go take a pregnancy test." her best friend told her. She had been complaining about feeling ill for too long.

"I'm scared to." She answered honestly looking at her two friends.

Maggie and Michonne shared a sarcastic look.

"Since when are you scared of anything?" Michonne raised her eyebrows as she put together a few cucumber sandwiches.

"We're all here for you sweetie" Maggie's said placing her hand on Andrea's.

"Rosita the planner had like 5 or 6 in the medicine cabinet. Go." Michonne tilted her head to the direction of the stairs as she and Maggie walked back to the living room with two large plates of goodies.

Andrea went reluctantly but silently happy they were all gathered together in the event she needed them. She would put on her brave face and take the test. She too was curious as to what had her so sick for the past two weeks. She was secretly hoping she was pregnant. Michonne knew she needed a shove in the right direction and she was grateful for it.

Daryl was filling the rest of them in on what had transpired with Rick and Mike the week before. Recounting the story was a tad bit funny until Daryl mentioned Rick's very real threat to Mike.

"So what exactly did you say to him Rick?" Maggie asked curiously as she placed the snack plate down on the almost full coffee table. She knew that nothing Mike did presently would redeem him in Rick's eyes.

"I told him if he so much breathes in Michonne's direction I'll kill him" he shrugged as though threatening Mike was easy because he had bothered Michonne.

Maggie shook her head, hoping this was the last they would hear from Mike. They already had enough on their plate. They had 2 more house visits to go through with the case worker and permanent custody of Madison was still to be obtained. The last thing they needed was any kind of drama from Mike to muddy their clean water and affect the outcome of their custody case that was coming up in a few months. She hoped by then the dynamic duo would at least come to some resolution about their own relationship. Time was passing by too quickly. She stood to refill the drinks that had apparently evaporated since the last rounds. She turned to tell Michonne who had just picked up Madison from the ground and held her on her lap on the couch. They were a cute pair to look at, wearing almost the same outfit, denim jeans and blue flowered tops. Madison had two bright pink bows in her short dark hair. Michonne was at her most unguarded moment in the presence of the sweet little girl and Maggie silently hoped that if she and Glenn ever had more kids she would have a little girl too.

She retrieved the tray and headed to the kitchen where she stumbled upon two strangers.

"Hi...um the front door was open." A tall woman with shoulder length fiery red hair and slimming blue eyes said boldly as she stepped further into the hallway at the threshold of the living room. She began to speak as though she had just entered a friend's house. All eyes flung to the unexpected intruder. A long haired, blonde man of the same height dressed in all black and had what appeared to be a burn scar at the side of his face stood at her side.

"Excuse me? Can we help you?" Maggie spoke first, concerned that she had never seen these two people in her life. Rosita and Abraham chose this neighborhood because of the location and the fact that it was a safe place to live.

Strangers didn't just walk through your front door. Even if the door was opened.

"I'm Abraham's sister, Paula Ford this is my husband Dwight. We're here to see Madison." She said seriously without a smile or facial expression that could hint at the meaning of her words or her true intentions.

The room went quiet; everyone in silent disbelief that not only did Abraham have a sister but that she claimed she and her husband was here to see Madison.

There were so many questions that needed to be asked.

"So just because Rick and Mich are sharing a kid now means everybody has to share in the joy. Looks like y'all were right. I am preggers!" Andrea had descended the stairs with her slow sideways bounce and shared her news with the group before she could reach the last step. The bleak feel of the room gave her pause and she viewed the empty looks on her friend's faces but continued walking into the living room.

"Who died? she asked, trying to reasonably ascertain the somber looking faces scattered about the living room. She turned to face the direction of their concern.

"Who the hell are you?" Andrea asked finally seeing the man and woman standing under the eve of the Ford's living room.

"I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to intrude on whatever this is" the redhead spoke again, pointing her hands to the crew "Like I said the door was open. Do you always leave the front door open like that? With a toddler around?" She asked. She had quite the accusatory tone for a situation she had no knowledge of.

Rick, Shane and Daryl had all stood up preparing for anything at the strangers interruption. Rick tilted his head and walked towards the lady and the man slowly.

"Do you normally walk into a stranger's house without being welcomed in?" he huffed.

They didn't know these people from Adam and they had just walked into the house uninvited. How did they even find the address? How did she know about Madison? It was obvious Abraham's family was not a close one. There were only a few of them were represented at the funeral and most of them wasn't even aware he had a daughter.

"Technically, this is my brother's house." The lady name Paula responded, she came across quite smug. Her self-righteous indignation was beginning to affect Rick who was trying to keep his temper at bay. There was no way they could just walk in the house and demand to see Madison.

Michonne lay motionless on the couch, if she clutched Madison any tighter she feared she might break. It was a visceral reaction to the direct words that Abraham's alleged sister had spoken. It didn't just disrupt her world; it had created a fear in her that this woman didn't just come for a visit. She came to do some damage. From her unfriendly disposition she wanted to know what she really wanted with her sweet baby girl. She couldn't move, not even if the house was on fire. Her knees felt weak and her heart was racing.

"Ma'am I'ma need you and your husband to step outside so we can ask to see some ID please. I'm an officer. You just can't go walking into people's homes when they don't know who you are alright" Shane spoke quietly to the two while leading them outside. He preferred to get to them first before Rick did. Daryl and Rick followed them outside.

Andrea and Maggie didn't utter a word. Sasha had long moved from the couch and was taking a nap upstairs. Andrea was glad she was resting, she could do without the commotion.

"This doesn't mean anything" Maggie stated. It couldn't.

"Abe doesn't have a sister, he would've told us. Right?" Andrea was puzzled. Her analytical mind had started to turn and she wondered what this introduction meant to Rick and Michonne's current case with Madi.

Michonne was still yet to release Madison from her grip. She hated that every time she had some temporary happiness somebody wanted to come and rip it away. It grinded her that every time she felt a moment of peace some nuisance came to mess it up. Well, there was no way in hell she was losing Madison. She didn't know what this Paula lady wanted but she knew it couldn't be good. So when Rick and the rest walked back inside and she saw Rick's face she knew the world as she knew it was going to change.

Rick himself felt numb and looking at Michonne holding Madison close to her chest looking so much like mother and daughter broke his heart to utter the words. She looked forlorn. Even Andrea and Maggie sat at the edge of their seats.

Michonne looked at him with bitter expectation, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"Her ID says Paula Ford, she seems to be who she claims. She said she just wanted to see where her brother lived and saw the door open. She didn't find out about Abraham until a month ago and she knows he has a daughter and she um, she wants to apply for full custody." the words were out, Rick couldn't even swallow. His throat had started to close up and his head was pounding. They would have to pass through him before anybody tried to take Madison from them. He couldn't even look Michonne in her eye. Nobody had anything to add or take away from the information he provided so he continued.

"She said that she's going to see her lawyer about getting a petition for visitation rights filed but she really wants Madi to come live with them. In Texas." He could barely finish the sentence. His hand reached up and pinched his nose bridge and it stayed there a moment as he closed his eyes.

She had come to take Madison away from them.

"Andrea" Michonne choked out, knowing her friend had studied a bit of family law before she had branched off fully into corporate law.

"I suggest you call Aaron Walker as soon as possible" she said somberly, unable to mask how serious this recent addition to the situation at hand really was.

She looked at the positive pregnancy test in her hand, remembering why she came down stairs so happily a while ago.

That excitement was quickly replaced by the feeling of foreboding that lingered in the room.

She wondered if anybody had heard her announcement at all.

She and Shane were going to have a baby and Rick and Michonne could be on the cusp of losing theirs.