A/N: Hello! Here is the final chapter to this story. A couple more stories of mine will be ending soon, which while it is a bit sad, it will pave the way for new stories to be written. Thank you for taking the time to read, favorite, follow and review this heartfelt story. I appreciate you! Without further delay, here is the last update.
Chapter 10...
One Month Later...
"Daddy can I have ice cream?" Andrew asked as he peered out of the window from his car seat. Today was the day that the Monroe's had been waiting for and the same day that the Grimes family were nervous about approaching. Spencer Monroe's parents had agreed to wait until after the Grimes Wedding to meet their biological grandson as to not put so much pressure on Michonne and Rick as they were busy enough with getting married and the mutual adoption of each other's children, along with Michonne and Andrew moving into Rick's house.
Rick Grimes turned around from his driver's seat. "Actually buddy, let's wait for ice cream until after you meet your Grandparents. Your Mommy doesn't want you to drop anything on your new clothes," Rick said as he pulled his eyes away from his new step-son/adopted son that was sitting in his car seat.
"Hey beautiful, are you ok?" Rick asked as he rubbed Michonne's leg. She turned her head from the window to face her husband. A soft smile spread a crossed her face as she touched Rick's hand.
Clearing her mind, Michonne Grimes turned around to look at her young son in his car seat. "Later on this afternoon, you can have ice cream Andrew," she then turned her head to Rick and said, "let's go inside now." The Sherriff nodded his head as he got out of his truck and opened the door for his wife then for his son. He carried Andrew into the building in a protective nature. Michonne held Rick's other hand as the went to the meeting.
Reg and Deanne Monroe sat nervously in their own right as they awaiting the meeting of their grandson. Next to them was a large bag of toys and clothes that they had bought for Andrew. The older couple took the month to process everything and they agreed that in order for this all to work they would have to show kindness and let the past remain the past.
As the Grimes entered the room, the youngest of the family immediately noticed the older woman holding a firetruck. "Daddy look! Firetruck!" Andrew yelled out. It was no secret that this was one of his favorite things in the world.
The Monroe's stood up as they greeted everyone. "Hi Andrew. I brought this for you, this firetruck, I wanted you to have it, it belonged to someone very important to me, my son Spencer when he was a little boy," Deanna said as she tried to fight back her tears, "Spencer was my son."
Rick placed Andrew on the ground as the little boy ran to get the firetruck. Michonne and her husband couldn't help but smile. She and Rick took a seat near the Monroes.
"What do you say Andrew?" Rick instructed.
Andrew looked over at the older couple and said, "thank you ma'am." He immediately sat down and started playing with the old firetruck.
"It warms my heart to see how much he loves the truck. Spencer grew up with a household of toys but this firetruck was his favorite and now his son has it," Reg Monroe said as he watched his grandson play with the toy in excitement.
Deanna was the first to speak breaking everyone's attention, "Michonne you look beautiful. I want you to know how much we appreciate the opportunity to be grandparents to our only grandchild. We read your email and we are ok actually more than ok that Rick's adoption of Andrew went through and his name is now Andrew Monroe Grimes even with Monore being his middle name now, I have decided that I am happy that Andrew has Rick to help raise him, teach him how to be a man when he is older. I know that my son Spencer would approve of this decision and he would be happy to know that Rick has taken such good care of his son." Michonne stood and gave Deanna a hug. In that moment the two woman put their differences aside and were committed to forming a friendship for the sake of their mutual love of Andrew. Rick smiled and shook the hands of Deanna and Reg Monroe.
"Andrew come here for a minute," Michonne said. The little boy got up quickly and ran to his mother with his new firetruck in hand.
Michonne rubbed her hand through his short curly hair before speaking. "These two people right here are your family. Their names are Grandpa and Grandma. Your Daddy and I will call them Deanna and Reg Monroe," she continued to speak, "do you remember when Rick became your Daddy?" Andrew nodded as he looked over at Rick.
"Ok so you are really special sweetheart because you have now had two Daddy's. Your first Daddy, his name was Spencer Monroe, he is their son," Michonne said as she pointed to Reg and Deanna who were starting to tear up but happy that this discussion was taking place. Michonne continued, "Spencer passed away and had to go heaven. Rick became your new Daddy and while Spencer loved you so much, he had to go," she struggled to explain all of this to her pre-school aged son.
"I like them, they give me toys," Andrew said as he pointed to Reg and Deanna causing the older couple to both laugh at their grandson's honesty despite their tears.
The rest of the afternoon was spent with the two couples continuing to speak about the future and they even set up arrangements for more meetings by inviting each other to each other's houses. Michonne gave the Monroe's photos of Andrew when he was a baby. Deanna gave a bag to Rick and Michonne of small gifts for Carl and Judith by proclaiming that even though Andrew was the only one of the Grimes children that was their blood relative, they were learning that love knows no bounds and that Carl and Judith by extension would be family too causing Rick to thank them.
"The wedding, how was it?" Reg asked.
Michonne beamed, "it was amazing, thank you for asking. Rick made everything so perfect. Carl, Judith and Andrew stood up at the alter with us and the ceremony was small, but beautiful. Rick's mom really helped out a lot with kids and she's been great, our in laws bond has really grown a lot." Rick smiled as he rubbed Michonne's back. His mom had been really great in the past month as their were no more issues. Life for the Grimes family was everything they had hoped it to be.
"Will we have a new baby to celebrate soon? You know Reg and I will spoil that one too even if they aren't our blood," Deanna said with a smile.
Rick smiled big as he looked at Michonne causing her to laugh. "I think we are good with three children that we have," Michonne said with a laugh.
The meeting had ended, Andrew got his ice cream and everyone made plans to come to Rick and Michonne's large house for dinner in two weeks.
One Year Later...
Judith Grimes was looking out of the window as Rick drove her and Carl into the parking lot. "Hey sport, why are you so quiet?" Rick asked. She turned her head to look at her Rick before saying, "Before we go inside, can I talk to you both, especially before Grandma Monroe brings Andrew to meet us."
Carl looked at his Dad and back at his sister confused as to why she was being so serious.
"What's going on buddy?" Rick asked as he turned to look at his daughter.
Her brown eyes welled up with tears, "I have to confess something. Something that I've known for a long time..." Judith sobbed.
Rick continued to look at her as he handed her a tissue.
"I'm only crying Daddy because I don't want you think I love you any less, I love you more than anyone in the world. I don't want you to carry a burden anymore. I know who Shane Walsh is...I know he's my biological dad, I overheard a nurse talk about it at the hospital and then I saw photos of Lori and Shane. I know that Mom, I mean Lori cheated and had me. I don't have blue eyes like you and Carl, Daddy I know. I know that you know the truth too, the reason that I am telling you this now is because I don't want you to worry and wonder if I ever want to find Shane because I don't. Rick, you're my daddy no matter what, I'm sorry for tell you but I just had to tell you before we go inside the building," Judith confessed.
Rick immediately turned his head to look at Carl who was also stunned. "Judith, honey, I never wanted you to feel different then Carl. I love you both the same," Rick confessed. He got out of the truck to open her door to give her a hug.
"You're not mad at me for telling you that I know?" Judith asked as she hugged her father.
Rick shook his head and said, "I'm not mad at you. I know you see it with your little brother Andrew, DNA is just DNA it doesn't matter."
Judith sobbed, "even though you have her now?"
Rick shook his head as he said, "I love all of my children equally. In fact, you and Andrew have something special because I CHOSE to be your Daddy, it didn't just happen, I CHOSE the both of you to raise as my own."
Judith laughed and wiped her tears, "I feel a lot better after we talked. I just didn't want anymore family secrets." Rick kissed her forehead as she and Carl got out of the truck. Carl hugged his sister, he too had always known the truth of his sister's paternity.
"Rick! Rick!" Deanna yelled out as she and Reg walked closer in the parking lot, Reg was holding Andrew in his arms.
Reg passed Andrew onto Rick who held his son and kissed his forehead, "Did you have a good weekend with Grandma and Grandpa?" Andrew smiled big and started rambling about everything that had happened and the fun they had.
"How's she doing?" Deanna asked.
Rick smiled and said, "Michonne is doing really great. Amazing in fact, I was the one stressed out and she had to calm me down a few times." Everyone started laughing at the Sherriff's honesty. Everyone went inside the building. Carl sent out a mass text message to Glenn, Andrea, Maggie, Daryl and the rest of their family and friends that they could come to the hospital in about 3 hours.
Everyone entered the room as Michonne sat in the hospital bed in a hospital gown and white rub, a small newborn baby girl in her arms.
Rick kissed his wife and their newborn daughter. The same "her" that Judith had referred to in the parking lot. "My baby girl," Rick said as kissed his baby girl's forehead. She opened her blue eyes which were a beautiful contrast to her caramel skin.
"How are you doing sweetheart?" Rick asked as he rubbed Michonne's arm.
She smiled and replied, "I feel good. thank you for being so amazing during labor Rick."
"BABY!" Andrew yelled as he held the pink teddy bear and ran over to the bed handing it to his newborn sister.
"She's so cute," Carl said as he held pink balloons in his hand.
Judith smiled and said, "Mom, do you want me to get you anything?"
Michonne smiled and said, "no dear, I am just so happy to see you, come tell me how your soccer game was? I'm sorry I missed it, your little sister came two weeks earlier than planned." Judith sat on the side of the bed and started talking to Michonne as she patted the baby's head. She described her soccer game and then told Michonne about knowing her true paternity which Michonne suspected that she already knew. She reassured the girl that she was loved no matter what. Judith was happy and blessed to have the family that she had.
Carl was the first to hold the baby, then Judith, and before he threw a temper tantrum Andrew climbed up on the hospital room sofa as Rick placed the baby in his arms.
Reg and Deanna gave their congratulations and gifts before leaving so that the Grimes family could spend time together before all the rest of their friends and family arrived to meet the newest member of the Grimes family.
Rick Grimes looked around the room at his beautiful wife Michonne whose smile lit up the room, his teenage son Carl who despite his shaggy brown hair and former cold exterior he relished in his role as the big brother he was now so loving to his family and his bond with Michonne was so strong. Rick looked over at Judith who despite not being his biologically child and while her confession was jarring, he was happy that there was no more secrets in their family, they could all move forward and she was so intrumental in Rick having the courage to ask Michonne out in the first place, he was happy to see what great things Judith would do when she grew up. The Sherriff looked at Andrew who at this moment was making everyone laugh. This little boy who stole his hear over a year ago was now his son, in Rick's eyes not his adopted or step, but his son. He loved him more than he thought he could love a child and despite not raising him when he was a baby, Rick knew that their father/son bond would only increase as he became a man. Then there was this new little person who laid in his arms. His adorable daughter, she looked like a cross between Rick and Michonne. Rick wondered would they add more children to their large family or would four be it, no matter what he felt that he was the luckiest man in the world.
"Dad, Mom, so what's our little sister's name?" Carl asked.
Michonne smiled before Rick placed their baby back into Michonne's arms. "Well, your Dad and I have decided that your sister's name is going to be Raven Grimes."
"Oh my God, that's the name I chose, I love it!," Judith beamed. Carl smiled.
Rick was excited that the baby's name would start with the letter "R" as he spoke up, "All of our kids have such different personalities, how do you think this little baby will be when she grows up?" He asked as he touched his baby girl's forehead of dark hair.
Michonne smiled as she said when she looked up and saw her caring husband sitting next to her in the hospital bed, Judith and Carl standing at the edge of the bed with Andrew now in Carl's arms.
Michonne rocked her newborn daughter in her arms as she said, "Well, I think she will be strong like you Carl, she will be caring like you Judith, she will be funny like you Andrew, and like her Daddy, she will have the heart of a Sheriff like you, Rick Grimes."
The End.
A/N: I hope that I ended this story in a way that everyone loved. The ultimate moral of this story was Rick's love for children that weren't his biologically thus this was the motivation for the title, "The Heart of a Sheriff." Again, thank you so much for taking the time to read, favorite, follow and review this story! Please feel free to tell me your thoughts. :)