Hi everyone,

Thank you for your ongoing support it's very much appreciated.

The last instalment was basically four characters point of view of one night where a truce was made between the adults as Michonne claimed both Rick and by extension Carl.

I promised babies, well, they are here but there'll also be another chapter and you'll see why soon. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Shout out to the following persons: atm0000, courtgirl26, richonnelover1941 and zeejack for their input, it was much appreciated. Thanks.

...

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Negan

Negan woke up three weeks after his relapse. It was early in the morning and Nurse West was taking his vitals. She noticed the extra movement as she began recording the information onto his chart. "Good morning to you Mr. Kirkman. Please don't struggle, I'll have the doctor in to check on you and we'll remove the life support."

As promised, the duty MD checked him over and the life support machine was removed. Negan was unable to answer questions as to what happened. His memory was in bits and pieces which was to be expected. However, he did remember that Nurse West was not his previous nurse. He asked about Nurse Bradley and was told that she was on leave. He was told that he would have a session with Dr. Anderson after breakfast.

Negan's session with Dr. Anderson proved worthless as he had very little recollection as to what happened prior to him being sedated. He did however remember the fight and his disassociative state which landed him where he was. However, he wasn't ready to share that memory with the good doctor as yet. The fact he hadn't mentioned his treating doctor in New York meant they still weren't aware of his previous treatments; something not even the woman he was once engaged to even knew about him.

He was also aware of the fact that just before his relapse that Lori was hugely pregnant with his child something he wanted for a very long time with Michonne and still do. He just had to figure out a way to get rid of that fucking Officer friendly. He racked his brains but for the life of him he couldn't figure out what Michonne found so desirable about Rick Grimes. He also made a mental note to ask Lori how their divorce was proceeding. Now there was a woman that he could work with and enjoyed doing so. Lori had told him everything he needed to know about the thorn in his side and he sounded absolutely dull. No one would ever accuse him of being dull.

Michonne wasn't the type to go for looks nor material things. He sure learned that the hard way when he inadvertently insulted her back in New York. She had walked out on him after their chance meeting and no one did that, not in business nor his personal life. She left him intrigued and he needed to know her. He became obsessed with her. She ruled his waking thoughts and she invaded his dreams as he slept. It was a sign because no other woman ever got under his skin the way she did and all from a chance encounter nonetheless. He didn't have to try to impress other women, he merely had to be present. He'd walk into a room and he had his pick of the women there, married or otherwise, it didn't bother him as long as they were willing to play.

Michonne wasn't willing and that's when he knew she was the one. She didn't make it easy for him. She stood out from the rest. It took him two whole weeks to track her down just from her name alone. He knew his persistence would be what got him in the door and it did. It was worth it just to see that dazzling 1000 watt smile when he showed up as a potential client. He had booked an appointment with her using an alias, Simon Cloyd. He knew in that moment their destiny was written in the stars.

After they began dating, he detected that there was an underlying sadness about her, one she never shared. He was determined to erase it so he hired an investigator to find out what caused it. The what turned out to be a who, a man he vowed to destroy.

…

Investigation

A month after her disappearance Nurse Bradley was located in Florida. She was apprehended by local law enforcement on a DUI charge. The FBI field office in Key West was notified and once her bail was posted they picked her up for questioning.

SSA Payton, SA Déchets and Rovia made the trip to Florida to question her. The local address she provided at the time of her arrest was that of her sister, Amy Cloyd.

The whole sordid mess was beginning to unravel. The name Cloyd kept resurfacing. It was on Michonne's list of clients in that she represented the wife, Arat.

Sitting in front of the person of interest Rovia asked, "Do you know a Simon Cloyd?" Mrs. Bradley looked at him as though he was daft.

"Yeah, so what of it?" She answered not willing to divulge much unless she had too because she knew her nephew had law enforcement officers in his pocket.

SSA Payton was impatient at the rate at which the interrogation was proceeding. He wanted the interrogation wrapped as soon as possible because it was his anniversary and he wanted to be back in Atlanta to have dinner with his wife. At the rate Rovia was proceeding they'd be forced to stay over night in Florida, so he pushed, "Is Simon Cloyd related to you and did he ask you to deliver messages to Mr. Kirkman?" His manner was rather hostile.

"Yes, he's my nephew and no he had never asked me to deliver any messages to Mr. Kirkman."

Rovia felt being nice to the woman would get them further than Payton's outright hostility towards her. "Why did you leave Grady Memorial when you did and why did you disappear so quickly? You see, I'm perplexed you left work early on the Monday citing illness but your sister claims you arrived here the day after. Isn't it true that you still had three more days to work before your official vacation began? We know you drugged Mr. Kirkman that day but what we don't know is why?"

Mrs. Bradley kept picking at her cuticles. Eventually, she was successful in removing the hangnail she was picking at and her finger began to bleed a bit. She was in a pickle and soon she'd be that hangnail because her nephew didn't like traitors. "I have an illness, sometimes I take off for days. Things have been difficult lately with all the bills you know… they never stop coming. Simon was helping me out but he had to stop. I just needed a break."

"The mere fact that you were receiving financial support from Simon it goes without saying, if he wanted a favour in return you'd be predispose to grant it? Am I right? Rovia studied the nervous woman wondering just how far she'd be willing to go to help her nephew.

"I have no money to help him." She retorted. Rovia shook his head as though he was agreeing with her. He paced around the room then stopped doing his best impression of the thinker while standing he said, "Makes sense. So, we do agree that both you and your nephew are having financial difficulties. You turned to your nephew for help but who would he turn to?" He asked thinking out loud but then he turned to face her, raising an eyebrow as though he just had a thought.

The silence hung in the air and at that moment, Déchets returned from a coffee run. She distributed them to the SSA and the detective. She then took hers and left the last cup in the tray. It was SSA Payton's turn. The latter's hostility had not diminished any. "Mrs. Bradley we know your nephew got to Mr. Kirkman through you we just need to know when he contacted you and what he asked you to do?

"Why do you keep asking what Simon asked me to do? He never asked me anything but she did?" The three officers had the same reaction, they looked at her puzzled.

Payton's frustration was evident. "So, someone did ask you to do something? She who?"

"His girlfriend, the lawyer!"

"Which lawyer? What does she look like?" Rovia asked wondering whether the woman had confused Simon with Kirkman.

"She's a dark haired timid little thing. She said, gave me a note for Kirkman I don't know what it said because it was sealed. Then she had me call up Mrs. Grimes to come visit him. Mrs. Grimes and Kirkman got into a fight but she allowed him to use her phone to call his office. I was listening when he told the lawyer to transfer three million dollars to an account as a loan to an old friend name Simon. It seemed like they were at odds. He told her, to fucking do it or he'll have Mrs. Grimes fire her arse.

Two weeks later, she asked me to meet her in the parking lot at work. She told me that she had to do something to help Simon out. However, if it ever came to light Simon would be in a lot of trouble because Mr. Kirkman wasn't suppose do what he did. She gave me an envelope with ten thousand dollars and got back in her car and left.

I went inside to start my shift. I injected Mr. Kirkman with enough drugs to render him unstable knowing that he would be heavily sedated once he started acting out. I reported that I wasn't feeling well. I checked out, got in my car and left town."

Mrs. Bradley was then placed under arrest and transported back to Atlanta in Federal custody. Calls were made ahead to Atlanta to arrest Tara Jenson and Simon Cloyd.

…

Baby Logan

a month later …

Carl arrived in Kings County on Friday night as per usual to spend the weekend with his mother. Lori was five days shy of being nine months pregnant. Rick had offered to keep Carl for the weekend but Lori insisted on his visit stating she barely saw her son as it was.

Carl told his dad he really didn't mind going for the weekend. Just in case, Rick prearranged with Shane and Glenn for someone to pick Carl up should there happen to be an emergency while he was at work. At seven months pregnant, Rick didn't want Michonne making a two hour road trip because it would be uncomfortable. Plus, he just didn't want her doing any long distance travelling. Rick had officially become a helicopter parent and the child was yet to be born. His over protectiveness didn't bother Carl he had sixteen years of it already and his father was never going to change.

During the wee hours of the morning Carl heard his mother call for him. Rushing to her room she was trying to get out of her wet bed. She told him to call 911 because the baby was coming. Carl did as he was told and then he texted his uncles Shane and Glenn so they would be aware of the new developments. Shane replied first that he was on his way to get him. He then sent a text to Rick that he'd be driving Carl back to Atlanta. Shortly, after Lori left in the ambulance, Shane arrived and they locked up her house and he headed for Atlanta with Carl.

Later that morning as Rick prepared breakfast for the four of them, Michonne asked Carl whether there was any news from his mother. He replied no. She then proposed to take Carl shopping for a gift for his mother and the baby. Rick's eyebrows raised in her direction. Michonne responded in kind as if to say that it was the normal thing to do. Carl hadn't noticed this exchange between them but Shane did. At which point, he sent Andrea a text to let her know he was in the neighbourhood and asked whether she wanted to spend the afternoon together. She said she would so Shane made his get away.

…

The trio were shopping at baby braithwaite boutique in the plaza when Michonne announced that she was starving. Rick suggested they paid for their purchases and go to Houston's a few doors away. As they left the store, Carl led the way with his purchases. Michonne exited next followed by Rick whose arm automatically went around her waist after releasing the door, the other hand carried her many shopping bags.

After placing their acquisitions into the trunk of the SUV, the family walked over to the nearby restaurant. The hostess took one look at her stomach and they were bumped ahead of the line up. They were seated at a corner table with a window view, across the room from a couple on a lunch date.

After the waiter took their order, Carl noticed the couple first. He tried getting his dad's attention because he couldn't believe his eyes. The woman looked almost exactly like Michonne except she was older with short grey hair. She was sitting with a younger Latino gentleman but she kept staring at their table. Eventually, the man looked their way too. Michonne was naturally isolated from the attention because his father sat next to her. Carl knew something wasn't right. He just felt it by the way the woman kept looking at their table, so he kicked his father under the table. His father looked at him rather perplexed and Carl slightly turned his head and moved his eyes in the direction he wanted him to look.

Rick followed the direction in which Carl's eyes wandered and saw Jenny and her date across the room. His body tensed. Michonne felt the change in him immediately; leaning forward she followed his line of sight and found herself pinned by her mother's stare. She leaned back causing Rick to turn his attention to her. "Are you gonna be okay to eat here?" He asked, hoping that the unfortunate surprise would not interfere with her appetite.

"Yes, I'll be fine." She assured him because lately not much got in the way of her and her food. While she said so with assurance, Rick noticed that she was rubbing her stomach in a more agitated manner, which caused his jaw to set. Thankfully, their food came shortly after and she calmed down and began eating. Rick who was tracking the couple noticed they left shortly after that.

During the meal Carl's phone buzzed. He looked to his father for permission because they had a rule, once they were at the table as a family, the phones were put away. The rule was waived in this instance since his mother was in the hospital. Rick nodded his head allowing him to verify the text.

Upon unlocking his phone, Carl saw the message it read, "Hey big brother, I'm your baby sister Logan!" He opened the attached photo to find a cute baby girl sleeping, she was wearing a tiny pink hat and wrapped in a pink and white blanket. She had the tinniest of fingers as one hand was wrapped around his mother's index finger. "I have a sister," he said proud of his new big brother status as he turned his phone to both Michonne and his father who both smiled and congratulated him.

…

After lunch, they popped into a nearby florists where Michonne helped Carl choose a bouquet for his mother. Rick then drove them to the hospital. As they rode the elevator together Nurse West recognized Rick. She asked whether he was on his way to see Mr. Kirkman. He was puzzled as to why she'd ask such a thing because the last time he saw the man he was unconscious. "No ma'am, the last time I saw him he was in no condition to speak." She then informed him in the past month Mr. Kirkman has been back to normal; at least his version of normal that is… because he still had off days.

The elevator stopped on the second floor and Rick signalled to Michonne and Carl that he'd catch up with them. He needed to see Negan as soon as possible. He texted Rovia to let him know that Negan was no longer unconscious.

…

Carl walked into his mother's hospital room carrying the flowers and the gifts he'd bought earlier for his sister. He was followed closely by Michonne. The latter noticed Carl's reaction first before the reason for it. His posture had gone rigid to the point her stomach bumped into his immobile frame. "Carl?" As she looked up she saw the reason, in a picture of parental bliss before them were Lori and Negan holding and cooing at their newborn, Logan. Their was also a male nurse in the room, standing in the corner.

Sensing the new arrivals both Lori and Negan looked up. "Carl!" His mother exclaimed embarrassed at what he had just witnessed.

From where he sat on the corner of Lori's bed, Negan's eyes wandered from the top of Michonne's head to her toes taking in the image of her seven months pregnant form. His eyes grew wide from shock.

Michonne felt rather uncomfortable in his presence and the unwavering way he was looking at her. Automatically, her hand found its way to her stomach and she began rubbing her stomach. She instructed Carl to text her and not his father when he was done visiting his mother as she prepared to leave the room.

…

About the same time, Lori and Negan realized they were not alone in the room with their daughter; Rick discovered that Negan was awarded a pass to visit his daughter who was born hours earlier on the second floor. "Shit!" He exclaimed as he flew down the hall and into the stairwell not chancing to wait for an elevator.

Arriving two floors down he followed the signs to find Lori's room. He opened the door in time to hear Negan say, "Angel, they thought I was crazy but I knew you'd come." He gave Logan back to her mother as he made his way towards Michonne.

Lori took Logan while her eyes lanced daggers at Michonne. Negan circled Michonne as if appraising her. He shook his head silently addressing Michonne. "Angel I fucking paid Simon three million dollars not to hurt you. I would've offered you the moon. I can't believe you allowed him to do this to you. He's a fucking Sheriff."

Rick pushed the door further open, entering the room he pushed Carl way off to the side and took his place as he stood between Negan and Michonne. The increased tension and testosterone level in the room had everyone on edge. Logan wailed as if she too knew what was happening. The nurse looked from one man to the other and the murderous look on their faces was enough to know the situation was critical.

Rick sensed Negan's next move and told him, "You attack me and it's over for you and your family Negan. You've always wanted a child and Lori gave you that." He nodded in the direction of the nurse armed with the syringe, "This," he indicated pointing between them, "will only end with you being juiced again and you'll no longer have access to your child. Is that what you want? Michonne and Carl are my family. Go be with your family and let's call it even. What you say?"

Negan listened to Rick's words. He looked at Michonne and was saddened. He no longer saw his Angel it was as though her halo vanished. His Angel would never have allowed herself to be touched by another man and most certainly not one inferior to himself. It was as though the curtain of his delusion fell away leaving him to hear the wailing of the child, his child in the room. It snapped his attention back causing him to walk back to Lori, taking hold of Logan he began cooing to his daughter, "there … there angel, daddy's here!" and just like that she fell quiet.

…

Preparing for babies

At seven months, Michonne and Rick began attending Lamaze classes together with Sasha, Rosita, Daryl and Abraham. After which they would grab dinner together. The pregnancies were winding down and they were looking forward to the next phase of their lives.

The twins however, were tired and it was a consensus amongst them they just wanted it over. They didn't feel sexy any more. They felt blah. Their men didn't do much to help them out of their blahs either, instead they headed out more often together leaving the women to fend for themselves. Apparently, their men were of the point of view that their job began once the baby arrived.

Unlike Sasha and Rosita though, Michonne felt that their pregnancy was something which brought both her and Rick even closer. He was super attentive to her needs be it drawing her a bath to massaging her feet after a long day. Sometimes she secretly believed that Rick enjoyed their pregnancy more than she did. He was patient with her whims and for that she adored him even more. He had even gained an extra ten pounds in support of their pregnancy and that's largely thanks to Maggie for the heads up because he tried to go to the gym at least three times weekly and swim at least once a week.

…

One night, as Rick massaged Michonne's back he asked, "Babe have you given any thoughts as to names?" Looking at his fiancé whose face was reflecting bliss in that moment.

Michonne was content with the amazing massage she was getting she didn't want to think too much. "Your mom already told me what she would have named a little girl had she been blessed with one. She likes the name Léonie. Personally, I toyed with both our names and came up with Richonne. Then I thought, Cayla Grimes has a nice ring to it because it goes well with Carl Grimes but they're aren't twins so I'm torn. How about you?"

"I know how you're in love with Paris so I thought maybe something French would be nice. I love my mom's suggestion but what do we want her name to say about her?"

"I think her name should epitomize our love for one another." The massage was forgotten as Michonne grabbed her laptop and they began researching baby names.

"Mm-hmm, I like this… Léonie is a very strong name it means "lioness". I can't say that it surprises me given Aunt Mary chose it. Here's another French one, Amorette means "little love," It's beautiful don't you think?" Rick acknowledged his response with a nod. "This is interesting… Mia, in Latin it means "mine" or "wished-for child". Her brown eyes found his blue cerulean's and she knew their baby had just been named.

Rick rest his hands on both sides of the huge beach ball that was now her stomach, kneeling down with his mouth next to it he began, "Hi there Mia, it's daddy. How are you doing sweetheart?" He was rewarded with a couple of kicks from his daughter, which caused Michonne to smile and shake her head.

…

Meeting Mia

two months later…

That night, Rick and Michonne went to bed as usual, both lying on their sides with Michonne tucked into him as best she could. One hand folded under his head, the other gently touching her stomach. Lately, Michonne hadn't felt much like being intimate and he was okay with that. During the night however, he was awakened to discover her hand on his manhood. "What are you doing babe?" He asked his beautiful and very pregnant fiancé.

"I can't sleep, I need a distraction." She replied as she continued to massage his now awakened cock.

"Are you sure about this babe?" She replied by leaning into him and kissing his lips. "I need you babe." Readjusting the many pillows and lying to her side, they kissed tenderly, moaning into each others mouth. Slowly, Rick assisted Michonne to remove his pyjama shirt which she was wearing and then removing his boxers. The couple took their time to kiss slowly. Eventually, Rick helped Michonne onto all fours allowing her weight to fall gently onto the pillows beneath her. Turning her head to the side her chocolate eyes found his blue eyes as he held her body close to his. Their lips locked and their tongues danced as his fingers teased her clit. She was already very slick beneath. Michonne's mouth fell open as she felt tip of his cock. Its presence eliciting a moan of longing as he gently entered her wet heat from behind. There were multiple sensations rushing through their bodies and in that moment and Rick almost came. He stopped moving , squeezing his eyes tight to distract himself.

As Rick waited for the sensation to pass her chocolate eyes found his as if asking why? Their lips reconnected as he slid further into her. In that moment Michonne felt complete. She fitted him like a glove and slowly they found their rhythm. "Fuck, baby you feel so good," he had missed their connection. His lips alternated between kissing hers and kissing and grazing her shoulders.

Michonne's eyes constantly found his. Both of them witnessing the pure bliss their bodies were experiencing as it registered on their faces and from the sounds in the room. Holding onto her hips Rick rocked back and forth into Michonne until such time he felt her all too familiar vise like grip around his manhood. "I'm coming baby." She said as her face contorted from her orgasm and she called his name. Her head fell back as her eyes rolled upwards, she never looked more beautiful in his eyes. He quickened his pace, leaning into kiss her lips his body jerked spilling his seed deep inside of her as he groaned "Michonne."

…

Hours later, Rick heard the water running so he got up to investigate. "Babe are you alright?" He asked as he entered the master bathroom.

"I think it's time we have to go, the baby's coming." He helped her out of the shower towel dried her body and helped her to dress. He then pulled on a pair of jeans over his boxers and a white tee shirt.

Checking his watch he asked,"Do you know how far apart your contractions are?"

"About an hour".

Rick quickly texted Shane who was already in Atlanta asking him to come to the penthouse. It was well after midnight and he didn't want to wake Carl. He then texted his mother and Morgan that they were on their way to the hospital.

…

Hours later, Rick was coaching Michonne through her pain. He knew she was exhausted because she had not slept all night. He felt a bit guilty for adding to her condition since obviously what they did earlier triggered her labour four days earlier than previewed. There was no turning back now so he fed her ice chips, rubbed her back and comforted her as best he could.

…

In the homeward stretch, Dr. Carson told Michonne it wouldn't be long now. After several pushes and the head crowned. "Babe, you're doing a great job. I see can Mia's head. You're almost there sweetheart."

Dr. Carson took hold of the baby as it expelled from the birthing canal, placed her into a towel onto Michonne's stomach and wrapped her up. He then congratulated both parents. It wasn't long after hitting the cold air that baby Mia allowed her voice to be heard.

Rick kissed Michonne and said, "she's beautiful! She looks just like you babe." Tears of joy fell from Michonne's face as she looked upon their beautiful baby.

Michonne kissed their daughter and said, "Welcome Mia, we've been waiting a long time for you."

…

Triplets

Shortly after the birth, Morgan arrived followed by Shane, Andrea and Carl. Rick passed the little bundle of joy to her grandfather saying, "Morgan meet your granddaughter, Mia Léonie Grimes." Morgan tearfully accepted his granddaughter into his arms.

"Congratulations son! She's beautiful."

Carl hugged his dad and said, "Wow, she's really here." Rick nodded in reply not trusting himself to speak as yet.

The happy moment was interrupted as Maggie popped in. She was the Neurosurgeon on duty that night. She had been busy in surgery after a serious accident. As soon as she got out of surgery, she found herself flittering around the maternity floor where three of her best friends all decided it was a good idea to go into labour at the same time.

The children were born within the same hour. Sasha and Daryl welcomed Michael Jonathan Dixon while Rosita and Abraham welcomed Norman Mark Ford. The mama's were all exhausted and the men beside themselves at their new distinction as fathers.

…

Grandmothers

Mary Grimes had just left her son Richard and her grandson in the nursery with the newest member of the Grimes family. Her beautiful granddaughter Mia. She was absolutely breathtaking. She had caramel coloured skin, her father's unruly brown curls and definitely her mother's facial features. A perfect princess. There was finally a baby girl to dress up and she couldn't wait.

Mary having just arrived from Savannah was on her way to see her Michie who was resting after a long delivery. Arriving in her suite she was taken aback by the figure she found sitting at Michonne's bed side. It was Jenny, the woman who may have given birth to her but was more of a Mommy Dearest than anything else. Mary promptly walked into the room. Her shadow caused Jenny to look up.

Jenny had not seen Mary in years and had no idea that she was even aware of her affair with Richard until the proof recently surfaced in her divorce. Up until Mary relocated to Savannah, she had never said a word. Richard never said anything. The families simply continued their regular routines. It was obvious however that from some of the photos she saw there was some difference between the gang. There wasn't the usual warmth between them.

Mary sat her purse and light jacket down on the sofa and turned to Jenny, "Just what the hell do you think you're doing here? She growled trying to keep her voice down so as not to wake Michonne.

Stunned by her territorial stance Jenny quietly replied, "Do you mind? My daughter is resting after a rather long delivery."

"Your daughter? Ain't that rich of you… what do you want a kidney? Are you dying? When have you ever acted as a mother to Michonne? I ask you again, what the hell are you doing here? You'll need to leave before my son finds you here. Either way you're gonna be leaving this room but you can decide the method on how you do so."

The words no sooner left Mary's mouth, when the Grimes men walked in flanked by Morgan just as Michonne began stirring from the commotion in her suite.

Rick knew the situation was about to head south. He pulled out his wallet and fished out twenty dollars and gave it to Carl. "Son, why don't you go to the cafeteria and take your time." Carl took the money knowing full well the reason his father did so was to get rid of him, because whatever was about to happen next wouldn't be pretty. He left the room as was requested; he wondered just what that woman had done to Michonne to have all the adults in arms against her.

…

Secrets

Carl exited the room, quickly walked around the floor and came up just outside the suite when he heard Morgan's voice raised. This was telling because where he knew his dad and his gran had really bad tempers. Mr. Jones on the other hand was the most chill person he's ever known, even more chill than his daughter, Michonne.

"Jenny, you need to leave. You and Senior broke these kids apart and ruined their lives. You relinquished the title of motherhood when you left Michonne to rot in London. You knew damn well she had just suffered a miscarriage and you left her there. Consider the divorce as though it were a death certificate because you're dead to us. Now get out!"

Everything went quiet inside the hospital suite. Carl didn't know what was going on because he had no visual cues.

Morgan's message was crystal clear and left no room for confusion but Jenny didn't move. The tension inside the room was palpable. Rick could sense Michonne's stress level mounting so he walked towards the bed and took her hand. Their simple contact had a calming effect on her. Turning to Jenny he said, "Jenny you'll have to leave we can't have you stressing Michonne out. She just delivered and she needs her rest. You can go now or I'll make you go."

Jenny was adamant, "Y'all are all quick to tell me what to do but I'm not related to y'all. Last I checked, Michonne wasn't born mute." Rick, Mary and Morgan all looked to Michonne and waited for her answer. The latter was still slightly groggy having just woken up in the middle of the unfolding drama but the last person she wanted to see or deal with was her mother.

"Jenny please leave!" Michonne said taking care to address her mother by her given name and not any familial link. This though surprising to those present they understood her need to distance herself from her. Jenny got up, held her head high, collected her stuff turned on her heels and exited the suite.

Carl had to strain to hear Michonne's voice which spoke to her level of exhaustion. He did however, manage to hear her ask her mother to leave. Then he heard Jenny's heels clicking on the tiled floor so he made a mad dash towards the elevator which was about to close. He squeezed his body through sideways as the doors closed.

As Carl rode the elevator down to the cafeteria level he was still trying to process the secrets he just learned. He couldn't believe that his grandfather and Michonne's mom had effectively sabotaged his dad's and Michonne's relationship. He wondered whether their actions were prompted because of the pregnancy. Unfortunately, for him he couldn't exactly ask about it because it wasn't something he was even supposed to know. It did however, explain his father's protective behaviour shortly after the kidnapping. However, it was still more than he knew about his father's relationship with his mother.

…

Family History 101

a week later …

Carl came home to find a letter on corner table addressed to him. He took it to his room to read it in private.

Hello Carl,

I saw you the other day as your little body squeezed onto the elevator at the hospital. You didn't listen to your parents. I daresay I know why you were eavesdropping. You poor child, you were seeking answers about your parents past. No doubt, you probably think of me as some evil witch; well, dear boy your family is no different.

Just for the record, neither your grand daddy Grimes nor I knew that Michonne was pregnant when we decided to split them up. They were just too young to be that serious. The fact she was pregnant just proved the point.

However, what you really want to know is how your mom and dad really got together. Your grand daddy Grimes was good friends with Coach McDonald (your mama's daddy); back then your daddy was and probably still is a hot head. He got into fights on a regular basis. He never got suspended though because he was the Sheriff's son. After Michonne left town, the superstar no longer won games. Your grand daddy McDonald decided to fix that, he had your mom to cozy up to your dad and after one drunken night voilà a little bun was in the oven.

You're no doubt aware of the story that came out during your parent's divorce. That story was rather controlled and smells a lot like your gran's doing. What the story never told though was that your grand daddy McDonald sat down with your other grand father and sold his daughter to the Grimes family for the twenty thousand dollars. Your parents would marry but in the event you weren't actually a Grimes your daddy could quietly walk away. He didn't so you know that you're a true Grimes.

Now, my dear child you know how you came to be, no need to be sneaking around behind doors to find out the answers.

JJ