A/N: So this chapter is really important to me. Not only is it being released the day of 7x12 (Happy Watching Y'all!), but I have actually been working on a huge portion of this chapter since Sept. 2016. Siancore and I had a conversation a couple months ago about how we often skip ahead when writing and I've been working on this since then, expanding, tweaking, etc. I'm hoping it all came together since I have a feeling I won't be releasing any more chapters for a little while (this isn't the last chapter, BTW, I just don't think I'm going to write for a little while after the 7x12 episode).
Y'all are also going to get a better idea of the Jesse situation (not everyone's going to like it) but I wanted to clear things up about that. There's some payoff after the explanation, so please power through!
I really hope you like this chapter. Enjoy!
It was later in the day when Rick finally found Michonne again. She was coming down from the gate and moving slowly along the wall, readjusting her katana. As he hurried to catch up with her, he took note of the pensive look on her face. He often wondered what she thought when he found her alone, eyes constantly alert in such a violent world.
"Hey," he called, sidling up beside her and falling into step with her quiet gait. She visibly relaxed at his presence.
"Hey."
"Maggie said you were out here."
She glanced over at him, catching his eyes with a smile. "Did you need me?"
"No..." He returned the smile. "I just wanted to spend time with you."
Michonne's heart leapt in her chest but she managed to keep her face straight as they continued their walk. "You didn't get enough of me last night."
"Not nearly enough."
Her laughter stole Rick's breath as a deep blush crept across her gorgeous dark skin. He hoped he could spend the rest of his life making her feel so good. Watching her, how her eyes shone in the afternoon sun, her skin glowed, her voice uplifted him, he knew what he was experiencing. He knew then that he was falling in love and he wished he could breathe.
"Well..." Their eyes met once again and Michonne thought of her conversation with Andre the night before, leaving her to wonder how she would tell the man before her how she truly felt. "Spending time together sounds nice."
Rick snorted. "Don't sound so enthusiastic."
She was about to respond when she caught sight of Carl leaving Barrington House with Enid. She watched them for a moment, noticing them hesitate down their path when they encountered Ron Anderson, who was heading towards the House. Rick and Michonne watched the interaction silently, observing the obvious tension between the three teenagers. For a few moments the three spoke in hushed tones before Enid seemed to have enough and shoved Ron away, pointing for him to leave. It escalated quickly, prompting Rick and Michonne to charge in, breaking the three teenagers apart.
"ENOUGH!" Rick bellowed, dragging Carl away while Michonne shoved between Enid and Ron.
"Don't," Michonne growled, shaking her head at Enid in warning.
"What the hell is going on?" Rick demanded and Ron immediately pointed at Carl.
"Carl's accusing me of something I didn't do!"
Enid's eyes narrowed. "Ron, you piece of shit, you shot him!"
"NOT ON PURPOSE! IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!" Ron snarled before pointing straight at Rick. "Unlike what you did!"
Michonne saw Rick's face twitch and something dark shadowed his eyes as they fell upon the teenager. The man took a step forward but she moved in front of him, pressing a hand to his chest as she shot him a quick pleading look. She felt him relax slightly at her touch and his eyes softened, but it was clear that this situation needed a swift de-escalation. Turning to face Ron, she pointed behind him.
"You should go."
Ron, despite his previous cowing before Rick upon their return from the Southern run, still seemed to be clinging to a previous animosity that caused him to retort impetuously. "Why? Why should I have to go when I live here?!"
"Because you're acting like an asshole!" Enid shot back, much to Michonne's chagrin. "You shot Carl and you've got some fucking nerve coming up to us acting like we did something wrong!'
"You did do something wrong!" Ron once again pointed passed Michonne at Rick, earning him a glare from both adults. "You killed my dad and then fucked my mom!"
"RON!"
They all turned to see Jesse being led over to them by a Hilltop member who had seen the fight begin.
"What the hell is going on?"
Rick moved around Michonne, shooting her a quick look of assurance as he approached Jesse. "You need to take Ron out of here now."
Jesse frowned, glancing over at Michonne ruefully. "Rick, perhaps we should-"
Rick's face twitched again and he moved to the side to block her view of Michonne. "Jesse, he needs to leave, now…"
An audience was forming and at the entrance of Barrington House, Glenn was watching with concern and irritation. This confrontation was over and Jesse seemed to realize that.
"Ron… let's go…"
"Mom-"
"Ron, please!"
"Seriously?" Ron glared at his mother. "Mom-"
"Fuck off, Ron!" Carl growled, prompting both Rick and Michonne to round on him.
"Enough!" they snapped in unison. Michonne broke away from Rick and pushed Carl and Enid back towards Barrington house while Rick stood his ground to block any further contact between the teenagers.
"Jesse, please-"
"Don't you fucking talk to my mom-"
"Ron, go back to our trailer, now!" Jesse snapped pleadingly. She grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him back, turning him down the hill. "Go!"
There was a moment of hesitation as the two small groups sized each other up. Jesse's eyes once again fell upon Michonne, who was holding Carl close and watching the scenario unfold with an unreadable expression on her face.
"Ron, please, let's go."
They watched as the two slowly left before Carl visibly relaxed.
"Hey, thanks-"
"What the hell is your problem?" Michonne demanded, surprising even Rick with how upset she suddenly looked as she rounded on the two teens angrily.
"Mom?"
"Why are the two of you engaging with him?"
Enid stood up straighter. "Ron was the one-"
Michonne glowered at both of them. "You should have finished it and walked away, period," she hissed.
"He shot me," Carl objected and Michonne's eyes narrowed.
"You should have walked away," she retorted while Rick moved to stand beside her, watching as she continued with her scolding. "It doesn't matter about him."
Carl looked offended. "Mom-"
"Are you going to kill him?"
They fell silent, stunned by Michonne's demand. She looked more incensed by Carl and Enid's reactions to the situation rather than Ron Anderson. In fact, she had stopped thinking about Ron almost as soon as she and Rick had interrupted the fight.
"What?"
Michonne motioned behind her. "Are you going to kill that boy?"
The frankness of the question forced embarassment upon Carl and he looked down.
"No…"
"Then for the short term, you need to avoid him, ignore him, or learn to deal with him," Michonne snapped and Enid shifted uneasily.
"But he-"
"I don't give a shit what he does or what he says." Michonne's eyes filled with tears. "He's angry and he's not going to make good decisions and there's nothing you can do about that, but you two… anger only makes you stupid and stupid gets you killed in this world… I will not see that happen, so the two of you need to make a difficult decision, because unless he is dead, you are going to have to deal with him in some capacity."
Carl and Enid looked thoroughly chastised and Rick took the opportunity to speak up.
"Go back in the house," he advised quietly. "We'll talk about this later."
Michonne motioned towards Barrington House quietly, catching Carl's gaze and offering him a stern, yet comforting gaze. "Go…"
Enid and Carl exchanged glances before they silently acquiesced to Michonne and left. Standing on the slope, aware that they were still being watched by lingering Hilltop members, Rick and Michonne finally turned to each other.
"Thank you," Rick offered sincerely, stepping closer to her.
"For what?"
He could tell something was bothering her and he tilted his head to the side to catch her eyes. "With Carl, just now."
"And what about Ron and Jesse, just now?" she responded testily, more visibly wound up about what had taken place than she had initially let on. Whatever had occurred between Jesse and Rick in the past seemed resolved on Rick's part, but clearly his actions had left an impact on more than just the widow. "That boy looked ready to kill you."
As beautiful as her eyes were, there was a firmness that clearly told him that this was not going to be an easy conversation to worm out of with vagaries. They had discussed Lori several times, and while Carl's shooter had been discussed a couple of times, Rick and Carl had been curiously tight lipped about it. Their residence at Hilltop shed some light on the reluctance to discuss the issue. Unfortunately for most, in this new world, these unpleasant and difficult situations typically worked themselves out through death. Michonne had seen the look in Ron's eyes and worried it still could.
For a few moments he was quiet, gathering his thoughts as Michonne observed him out of the corner of her eye. "I killed her husband."
Michonne did not seem fazed by this admission. Instead, she nodded pensively, waiting for him to continue. There was a glint in her eyes that left him weak.
"He was abusing her and the kids... took me a while to figure it out. Much longer than I care to admit..." He thought back to those early days in Alexandria and the darkness that had blinded him to a lot of things. Of how much he had lost himself after Lori's death and what he was just now gaining back. "Things spiraled out of control and I killed him."
"Rick, the boy isn't just angry about that," she pressed, remembering his words very clearly prior to Jesse's intrusion. There was no jealousy or insecurity in her eyes; just an unshakable desire to access his past just like she had allowed him to access to hers. Rick nodded.
"A few months after it happened, Jesse and I engaged in what could at best be described as an affair… in reality we were both just using each other for a couple of weeks before I ended it." He glanced behind him. "Badly, mind you, but I ended it… Ron never forgave me and I think he thinks I took advantage of his mother."
"Did you?"
Rick's eyes darkened. "We all have needs, Michonne," he whispered, watching as her lips parted slightly. "Things that help us survive. Help us feel human. Things we need to move on. For the future."
"What is it that you needed, Rick?"
"A partner."
She tilted her head to the side, watching him carefully. "Did you find one?"
He snorted. "Not even on a basic level," he admitted. Her mind flashed to Mike and Ellory and she could not fault him his answer.
"Then what?"
"I thought she could give me what I needed and she thought I could do the same for her and her kids," he responded pointedly. "I'm not proud of it, but I'm not going to feel bad for ending something that shouldn't have happened in the first place."
Michonne stared at him for a while, processing what he had said along with what she had heard, not only just now, but from what little information Maggie could offer earlier when they had talked in the trailer. There was an unnerving aspect about the Andersons that seemed to stem from a woeful unpreparedness for the world they were living in, even five years after it had ended. Rick seemed to have been a flashpoint in aggravating that aspect. It could become dangerous.
"You should have told me," she muttered, causing him to frown. "You should have told me Carl's shooter lived here."
"I know… I'm sorry."
"Why didn't you?"
"Ellory."
Her eyes snapped to him. It was the first time he had used that response and as she searched his face, she could tell he was being forthright.
In all honesty, Rick had intended to tell Michonne about Jesse, but the closer he got with her and the more he understood about the circumstances surrounding Ellory and Fargo, the less interest he had in broaching the unpleasant subject. While the similarities were superficial at best, the idea of discussing his regrettable actions after Ellory did not seem worth it.
He could tell she was angry and he understood why.
"Ellory?"
"Yes."
She stared at him for a moment and then looked down at her hands, fiddling with the strap of her katana holster. This conversation was unpleasant enough without bringing up that man, but as upsetting as it was, she was grateful that he told her the truth.
"Did you think Carl could handle being here?"
"I did."
Michonne recalled her son's reaction to seeing Ron yesterday and sighed. He had handled it well, though it seemed that Ron's unresolved issues would cause further problems.
"I'll talk with Carl," Rick assured her. "Maggie already gave Ron a punishment, but…"
He did not need to continue. Late night discussions of Shane, Ellory, and other unstable individuals in their past made it perfectly clear that this situation would only get worse. However, the precarious nature of the events left little to be done in the way of remedying it. Maggie's sentence of hard labor was the best she could do short of exile or outright execution, and those were not sentences she could in good conscience give for what had objectively been an accident. They had managed to skirt this scenario for the most part due to Carl's insistence that he and Ron could be cordial with each other while Rick simply avoided the Andersons during his visit to the Hilltop. The shooting had changed everything and had reopened old wounds.
"Michonne."
"Yes."
"I'm sorry."
"I know."
He reached out to take her hand and despite her anger, she instinctively laced her fingers with his, thankful for the intimacy. Nodding solemnly, she gave his hand a quick squeeze and kissed his cheek before she moved towards Barrington House. "Okay... I'm going to check on Judith and Andre."
"GLENN! GLENN!"
Maggie's piercing cries brought the entire Hilltop to a standstill while Jesus appeared at the door of the Rhee trailer.
"Someone find Glenn! Maggie's going into labor!"
They spent two hours outside of the Rhee trailer, waiting as Maggie went through the delivery. A rather large group had formed, all anxious about the delivery and eager to hear good news. After five years, only four children had successfully been birthed among the three communities, including Judith and Hershel Jr. One mother from the Kingdom had died shortly after giving birth, providing Tara and Denise with the child they cared for, so it was a nerve wracking two hours, capped off with a high pitched cry, and squeals of joy.
Another thirty minutes passed before Glenn's beaming face appearing at the door, proclaiming the birth of his daughter, June Rhee.
"Oh my God, look at her!" Jesus cooed as they came into the trailer, the small group Glenn let in crowding around Maggie's bed as she held the newborn close to her chest. Enid was wiping tears from her eyes and holding Hershel Jr, while Carl sidled up to her and wrapped an arm around her waist, kissing her temple.
"Maggie, she's beautiful," Michonne agreed.
"Where'd the name June come from?" Carl asked and Enid motioned to her father.
"It's Glenn's mother's name," she explained as Rick stood beside Glenn, clapping him on the back and gazing proudly upon the scene.
"Congratulations," he whispered while the rest fawned and fussed over Maggie.
"Thanks Rick," Glenn replied, unable to stop grinning as he watched Maggie gently showed June around. Andre and Judith clamored around the bed, jumping up and down to catch a glimpse. It was not long before the doctor insisted that Maggie get some rest, trying to usher everyone out.
While Michonne corralled the children, Rick hung back briefly, crouching down next to Maggie as Glenn took the baby.
"Hey," Maggie smiled, taking his hand warmly. "I'm glad you were here."
"Me too," he replied, glancing up at Glenn, who was cooing softly to his daughter. "You're incredible, Maggie."
She watched his eyes cloud over a bit and recognized the look. Like him, her mind flashed back to that day at the prison, to when she and Carl had emerged from the bowels of that tragic place only to witness Rick's first steps into a years' long mental descent.
"I miss her," she whispered and Rick nodded quietly.
"A lot's changed…" He pointed to Glenn. "Look at him. That's not the same man that crawled out of that well."
Maggie laughed and shook her head. "Yes and no… You're not the same man either, Rick. We've survived so much and I hope to God we continue to survive."
He kissed her temple and stood up, smiling. "We will… I'll leave you three alone. Congratulations again."
As he left the trailer, Rick's mind continued to wander to that day at the prison. The image of Carl and Maggie coming out into the yard, covered in blood, carrying Judith, without Lori was seared into his mind. He thought of what he had lost in that day and had spent years desperately trying to get back in the same form.
Rick looked up the hill to where Michonne was standing with the children and a group of Hilltop members, conversing happily ahead. She caught his eyes and after a brief moment, smiled brightly at him. The fight and tension from earlier had dissipated and while the concern was still there, they both knew that they would address it together. For now, they would focus on moving forward.
As he approached the excited crowd outside of Barrington House, he could hear various discussions all concerning June Rhee's birth as many immediately began planning a party to celebrate. A celebration that would occur the very next day.
Two groups were tasked with heading to Alexandria and the Kingdom to inform them of the birth and invite them to celebrate at Barrington House. The food stores were checked, alcohol inventoried, and Jesus insisted that the a capella choir from the Kingdom be brought over as well.
It was well past bedtime when the plans were complete, the night guard had already gone on shift, and others headed home. Rick had grown increasingly quiet throughout the evening and by the time they reached the top of the stairs, she sensed that the birth of June and the remembrance of his wife's death were stirring up bad memories for him. It made sense to her that he would have conflicting emotions about such a day, considering how his wife had died. She had seen his face change so many times as they heard Maggie in labor. He had paced and huffed, shooting frantic glances at the Rhee trailer, holding her hand tightly, and leaping to attention upon Glenn's emergence. She offered to put the kids to bed and he silently nodded, heading down the hall to his room.
"Mom, where do babies come from?"
"Andre, I am not having this conversation with you," Michonne muttered as they all stood in the bathroom, brushing their teeth.
"You said you'd tell me," Andre pouted.
"I said we'd talk about it later."
"It's later."
Carl snorted, drawing Michonne's gaze as he leaned over Andre to spit out his toothpaste.
"Why don't you ask your brother?" Michonne suggested.
Andre glanced over at Carl. "Well?"
"We're not ever having that conversation, Andre," the teen responded swiftly, patting him on the back. "Ever."
"Why not?"
Michonne rinsed her mouth and helped Judith clean her toothbrush. "Because you're way too young to be worried about where babies come from."
"But the baby had to have come from somewhere."
Carl rolled his eyes and grabbed his brother by the shoulders, pushing him out of the bathroom towards their room. "Time for bed."
"Wait for me!" Judith squealed, wriggling out of Michonne's grasp and hurrying to catch up with her brothers.
Michonne trailed after them, standing at the door to watch as Carl helped Judith get into her pajamas while Andre got into his night clothes. In spite of her run ins with the Andersons and the unfortunate revelations, the day had ended well for Michonne and she felt happier now than she had that morning on the front steps. Regardless of what happened in the past, the strange events of the day, capped off with June Rhee's birth, only made her feel closer to her family and more optimistic than ever before.
"Mommy?"
"Yeah, baby?"
"Can I go with you tomorrow?"
Smiling, Michonne came over and took over for Carl, who left the room to go change. Michonne had earlier volunteered to make the run to the Kingdom with Jesus tomorrow morning. When Andre realized that was where Shiva was, he would not rest until he was allowed to go as well.
"No, you cannot go."
"Why not?"
Michonne helped Judith into bed while Andre got in on the other side. "You're not old enough."
"But Andre gets to go!"
There was nothing more endearing that an indignant child trying to throw her fellow child under the bus.
"Am too!" Andre shot back immediately. "I'm twice your age!"
Judith stuck her tongue out at him and Michonne snorted back laughter. "Enough, Andre go to bed," she turned to Judith. "Sorry, baby, but it's a bit further than you can go, so you're gonna have to stay here."
"But I can kill monsters," Judith objected while Michonne tucked her in.
"I know.. But you need to stay here with Carl and your dad. We'll be back soon, I promise."
"Promise?" the child yawned.
"I promise."
Still clearly miffed about the whole situation, Judith reached out for a hug, which Michonne gladly provided.
"I love you," Judith whispered and Michonne's heart stopped as the little girl pulled away and snuggled up under the covers.
"Judith," she called and the girl looked up at her with all of the love and expectations any child would have towards an adored mother. Her chest constricted, her breathing quickened, and she held back ugly tears, reaching out to brush the soft curls out of Judith's face. "I love you too."
A content smile graced the child's face. "Goodnight, mommy," she murmured.
"Goodnight baby," Michonne mumbled, kissing her temple and pulling the covers over her shoulders. She went over and gave Andre a kiss. "Good night."
"Good night mom," he grumbled.
As she stood up, Carl came back in and gave her a quick hug before she moved to leave the room, gently closing the door behind her as she swiped at a tear. For a moment, she just allowed herself to experience the joy of what had just taken place. Her life had taken such an astonishing and wonderful turn that she barely knew what to do about it. So much had changed since arriving at Alexandria, yet as she composed herself her heart tugged, reminding her of one aspect that had not completely evolved.
She turned her sights on Rick's open bedroom door and held her breath. Her mind traveled to Ellory, to his unspoken, yet overwhelming demands. To how he had come to her in a time of weakness and taken full advantage. Then she thought of Rick's words during their ride to the Hilltop. She thought of today, and how despite the bump in the road, they both still managed to get back on the same page and move forward.
And that was exactly what she planned to do.
Approaching the door, Michonne thought over her next words carefully.
"Rick," she knocked on the doorjamb quietly, peering in to see him sitting on the edge of the bed, staring down at his hands. "Rick..."
He looked up at her and caught the strange look on her face, mesmerized by how gorgeous she looked.
"Hey…"
"Hey."
"Everything okay?"
"Yeah... you okay?"
He was quiet for a moment as his eyes lowered. "I will be."
"I know."
Rick looked up again and saw the trust in her eyes that he had felt from her for the longest while now. He saw thankfulness. He also saw love, unfiltered, unashamed. His heart soared at the look in her eyes and a small, relieved smile came to his face.
"Good."
The way he gazed up at her affirmed every suspicion she had over their growing intimacy in the past couple of weeks. Her heart fluttered at the reciprocated feelings she observed and she too offered a timid smile. Moving over to the bed, she removed her sword and sat down beside him, closing her eyes as they both settled into a warm silence. Side by side, knees and elbows gazing, their breathing synced.
The emotional exhaustion of the day seemed to crash upon them simultaneously.
"Today was interesting."
She snorted. "It ended well."
Rick fiddled with his watch. "Michonne, the Andersons-"
"Ron Anderson is dangerous," she cut in, catching his gaze. "But we'll deal with it."
"We will."
That was all that needed to be said. She watched him for a moment before she too looked down at her hands. There was so much swirling around in her mind as she sat near him. The intoxicating scent of his daily exertion, a smell she had become accustomed to and found herself anticipating, only added to her racing mind while she searched for the proper words to explain how she felt. "Andre and I head out tomorrow for the Kingdom," she whispered.
"I know, he told me… he's really excited." His voice was even, but the smile was gone from his lips, his eyes fixed on a spot on the floor. "He's not gonna wanna come back after he sees that damn tiger."
"Probably not."
"Perhaps you won't want to either," he added, somewhat jokingly, glancing up at her face to gauge her reaction.
His chest constricted at the ghost of a smile that graced her full lips. There was so much he wanted to say in that moment. Feelings he had kept buried since Lori's passing now resurrected in Michonne's presence, amplified by the new life added to the community.
"Michonne-"
"Judith just told me she loved me," she exclaimed, effectively silencing him. He looked up and saw tears pool in her eyes but she continued anyway, her heart and mind committed to every word spoken. "We haven't had the chance to talk about this… in fact, I think we've been purposefully avoiding it, but you and I…" She caught her breath and he sat up straighter, watching as she found her voice. "Rick, we're partners in this... we're together in this, whether you like it or not, so if you think that I'm not coming back..." Her voice cracked when he laced his fingers with hers, tears brimming in her eyes at his touch. They fell silent momentarily, the movements of the people downstairs filtering up through the door. It took a minute for him to respond, his heart soaring as he fought his own urge to cry.
"I do like it," he croaked, bringing her hand up to his lips as he breathed in her scent. He was quiet for a second as he turned his head and rested his burning cheek against her cool fingers, taking deep breaths as a weight suddenly lifted. "In fact I love it."
Michonne could barely breathe as tears ran unchecked down her face. Her heart skipped several beats when he finally looked into her brilliant brown eyes, his own heart racing at the reaction to his words. Reaching out, he wiped her wet cheek, savoring the feeling of her soft skin against his calloused hand. The way her lips trembled at his touch and her eyes fluttered shut under his caress. His body ached for more contact.
He leaned up and pressed a tender kiss to her temple. "I love it a lot," he continued into her skin before resting his head against hers. Their noses grazed and hot breath mingled as they held each other close.
Opening their eyes, they locked gazes briefly. His heart pounded and her voice hitched when their lips finally caressed, a wave of giddiness and heat washing over them at the intimacy.
"Dad!" Andre yelled. "Dad!"
They broke the kiss, but remained touching, smiling breathlessly.
"God damn he has the worst timing," Rick growled huskily, running his fingers across her skin longingly. She giggled, which only compelled Rick to lean in and kiss her more fully. A shiver shot through her when he glided his tongue along her bottom lip, gently probing for entry.
"Dad!"
"He's gonna wake up Judith," she mumbled against his lips reluctantly, though the hand she now rested on Rick's chest indicated an interest in continuing. He planted a chaste kiss to the corner of her mouth.
"Perhaps he'll stop if we stay quiet."
"Dad!"
"Your son's calling you," she countered as she heard Andre head down the hall. She reached out and brushed her thumb over his lower lip teasingly before pulling away.
"Dad!" Andre appeared at the door and hesitated when he saw them sitting close together on the bed. Despite being so young, his mother had taught him how to read a room quickly and Andre sensed that he had walked in on something. However, still being eight, he was not as bothered by what it was and refused to dwell on it.
"What is it? Judith's sleeping," she scolded after witnessing his exasperation.
"I can't sleep."
"You've only tried for five minutes," Rick pointed out and Andre motioned to his mother.
"No one will tell me where babies come from!"
Michonne immediately stood up and walked over to him. "I told you we're not having this conversation."
He put his hands on his hips. "I was asking Dad!"
Rick's eyes widened and he shook his head. "Nope, you and I are not having this conversation either. Go to bed."
"But-"
Michonne began to lead Andre down the hall, glancing over her shoulder apologetically at Rick. "Andre, we'll discuss this in the morning. It's late, please go to bed."
When they reached the door, Andre turned to her. "Fine… did you kiss him?"
The stunned look on his mother's face was all he needed for an answer. His eyes lit up and he jumped up and down. "Did you tell him you love him?"
"Keep your voice down," she hissed, crouching down in front of him. "No, I didn't and no you cannot go over there and tell him." She gently caught his arm and pulled him back, holding him in place. "Andre, I told you I would tell him in my own time and I will… now go to bed and enough baby talk, okay?"
"Okay…"
He reluctantly returned to the bedroom and just as Michonne was getting ready to head back to Rick's room, he emerged, adjusting his gun belt.
"I'm helping with the gate tonight," he explained, checking his watch. "I lost track of time, so I'm actually late."
She shook her head understandingly. "Go… we'll talk later."
A lop-sided smile graced Rick's face and he leaned in to capture her lips in a searing kiss that left her breathless. Her hand cupped his face as the other found its way into his curls, tugging him closer as the kiss deepened momentarily. He shivered when their tongues brushed, but reluctantly pulled away a little, planting a quick kiss on her nose before he stepped back. He knew if he stayed any longer, they would end up back in his room and as pleasing a thought as that was, he did not want to shirk his responsibilities.
"Yeah, later."
She grinned, ecstatic and warmed by the clear look of lust in his eyes. "Goodnight, Rick."
Unable to help himself, he leaned in and snuck one more kiss before heading down the hall.
"Goodnight, Michonne."
Unfortunately for both of them, the next day got away from them. Michonne and Jesus departed for the Kingdom quickly after dawn with Andre in tow and Rick was roped into helping with the party for that night. The new baby occupied everyone's time as they ensured the celebration would not disturb Maggie or June, while Glenn moved back and forth between their trailer and Barrington House, checking in on Maggie's behalf to ensure things were still running smoothly.
Folks from the Kingdom and Alexandria began arriving late in the afternoon, bringing food and tents to set up outside while furniture was moved around downstairs to clear space for additional people. The atmosphere had shifted and for Rick personally, his heart was still soaring from last night. Even as he helped move things into the House and interacted with his friends, he anxiously awaited Michonne and Andre's return.
Yesterday had been a rollercoaster for him emotionally, but after the kiss at the bed, he could only think of being near her again, caressing her skin, listening to her voice. While he had yet to admit it to anyone but himself, he knew he was in love with Michonne and after everything that had transpired at the Hilltop, he felt compelled to tell her.
His anxiety morphed into irritation as evening fell upon them once again and the celebration kicked into gear. The house was pulsing with life as many from the three communities ate, drank, toasted, and in the case of Eugene, Tara, Jesus, and to everyone's surprise, Enid, danced. Carol and Morgan were outside with Eric and Sasha, while Abraham was regaling a huge crowd in the library. Rosita had stayed behind at Alexandria with others including Father Gabriel, Denise, and Aaron, to keep an eye on the community. Glenn was enjoying the festivities, but would occasionally disappear to go check on Maggie and June, much to everyone's amusement.
Rick had finally caught up to Andre, who spent a good ten minutes extolling Shiva, before informing his father that he had no idea where Michonne was. She had gone up to change, but when Rick went to look for her, she was nowhere to be found.
When Rick made his way back downstairs, he was about to head outside when he caught sight of Michonne standing in the corner, quietly sipping water and watching the dancers with a smile.
As he approached, Rick's breath hitched and his heart pounded.
She was glowing.
She wore a multicolored top and black jeans that clung well to her lithe form, accentuating her dark skin and drawing due attention to her curves. Her hair, normally down or pushed back slightly by the bandana, was now up on her head in an intricate bun, allowing her slender neck to breathe.
When she saw him, a small but unique smile appeared on her face. A smile she seemed to save for him. Her eyes roved over him quickly, her lips parted, pupils dilated, and then she returned to her captivated crowd, purposefully ignoring his appearance.
When he sidled up to her, she nudged his arm playfully as they quietly watched the festivities. She was glad to finally see him.
"You look beautiful," he whispered and she felt her cheeks warm.
"Thank you…"
"How did you like the Kingdom?"
"Wonderful place. I don't think I've ever felt more out of place."
"Seriously?"
"Ezekiel's a strange man… with a tiger."
Rick chuckled. "True."
"Did you see Andre?"
"I did, he told me all about Shiva."
"Did he tell you that he freaked out?"
"No."
She giggled. "He just stood there and stared for five minutes, he couldn't move. It was the funniest thing."
He grinned. "I'm glad you had a good time."
She glanced up at him. "Yeah… but I'm glad to be back."
Rick's heart clenched painfully and he wanted nothing more than to find a secluded spot for them to be in.
"Same."
The look in his eyes was obvious and Michonne turned back to the party. She had spent the entire day thinking about Rick and their kiss last night, wondering what would have happened if they had had the opportunity to go back to his room. Jesus had picked up on her giddiness and admitted to her that he had never seen either of them so happy before. It was not something she took lightly.
For a moment they just stood there, the merriment of the celebration washing over them as they observed people mingling, laughing, sharing stories, and more dancing. Glancing over at her, he could see the wheels turning in Michonne's head. A small smile graced her lips and he longed to know what she was thinking. It took a minute, but she seemed to reach an internal decision that she was happy with.
"Rick."
"Yeah."
"I love it," she whispered, finally meeting his gaze, the look in her eyes was unmistakably clear and a wave of heat struck him. Pushing away from the wall, she turned to him mischievously. "Being your partner in this. I love it too." The huge grin on his face proclaimed the happiness he felt at her words. Pleased with this reaction, she reached out and took his hand. "Let's get out of here," she murmured, he nodded, and the next second they slipped out of the main foyer.
The giddiness they experienced in Rick's bedroom overtook them now as they hurried down a small corridor towards a back office. Rick gently traced circles up her arm, delighting in the smile on her face as she shivered at his touch, glancing over her shoulder at him eagerly as she led the way. When they entered, Rick remained by the door while Michonne moved to the desk, appreciating how beautiful she was and waiting for her cue. She caught him admiring her and it was enough to arouse her.
"Come here," she motioned determinedly and he closed the distance, taking her face in his hands to share an elated kiss. They stood there for a moment, holding each other as they were finally able to enjoy their new intimate space. When Rick's hand slid down her body, brushing her breasts before resting on her hips, she trembled with anticipation.
It had been a long time since she had been touched like that and the very memory of her time with Ellory led her to want to take full control of this situation. Safe in Rick's arms, she knew exactly how she wanted the rest of their night to go and judging by the passionate way he kissed her, he was on the same page. Looking up into his eyes, she released a shaky breath before biting her lip and pulling away from him a little. He was confused by her actions, but she tilted her head cheekily, strangely at ease despite how long it had been since she had been with a partner. She felt confident under his gaze.
"Take off your clothes."
The lopsided grin and lustful glint in his eyes left her wet and breathless. He held her gaze as he slowly unbuttoned his shirt, kicking off his boots and unzipping his jeans.
Within a minute, Rick found himself standing before Michonne completely naked, watching as her eyes raked ravenously over his body, arousing him as he waited once again for her. Stepping closer, Michonne took him in, reaching out gently to run her hands over his scars and toned stomach. It was a quiet moment of intimacy before Michonne's fingers traveled lower on his body, tracing the trail of hair down to his growing erection.
"Shit," Rick moaned when her long fingers curled around him, startling her out of her amazement as his hips bucked in her grip and he leaned in, capturing her lips in a searing kiss. She grinned into his mouth and stroked him teasingly, loving the reaction he gave her. Her touches were driving Rick out of his mind and he feared he would explode right there in her hands if he allowed her to continue. "Fuck, Michonne." He grabbed her hand, stopping her ministrations and causing them to break apart slightly.
"Hey," she breathed, wanting desperately to touch him again. Unable to help himself, Rick pressed a wet kiss to her full lips as he began to back her up to the wall, pressing his body against hers and grateful to feel her quiver when his hardened length pressed on her thigh. He could feel the heat radiating from her and it took everything in his power not to cum on her clothes.
"Hey," he replied, carefully removing her blouse and cupping her exposed breast while his other hand found its way in her jeans to finally alleviate his own desire to feel her. Touch her. Love her.
"Rick." Her eyes fluttered shut, humming gratefully when his fingers brushed over her soaked panties. He kissed her again as he slowly moved the cloth aside and eagerly dipped his fingers into her slick folds. She rolled her hips against his hand, groaning into a kiss as he massaged her breast, but jerked away in surprise when he tentatively pressed a finger into her hot core, breaking them apart momentarily.
Rick had spent long nights imagining this moment with her and as he gauged her response to his actions, realizing he could not rush this. As much as he wanted to be with her, make love to her, his primary concern was to pleasure her.
It took her a second to recover before she gave him a nod to continue. Planting a couple of loving kisses on her face, he smiled as he began unzipping her jeans.
"Don't move," he growled into her soft skin, encouraging a whimper from her as he lowered himself to his knees, pulling her pants and underwear down together. He helped her take her shoes off before she was able to step out of her clothes, leaving her completely exposed to him.
For a moment, Rick just stared at her gorgeous, trembling body, toned and curved in all of the right places. Like him, she had scars from years of traversing the wilderness after the turn, but they only added to her overall beauty and sexiness as she caught his eyes. A split second of nervousness evaporated when she saw how enraptured he looked staring up at her, causing her to release a giggle. It was short lived when he pressed a kiss to her inner thigh, inhaling her arousal and running his hands up her legs.
"Michonne," he whispered as she reached out to run her fingers through his hair and catching her attention.
"Yes?" she paused with bated breath.
He took a deep breath, unable to contain his feelings as he gazed up into her eyes. "I love you…"
Michonne face broke out into a massive grin and Rick could have died happy in that moment, his heart soaring while he smiled like a fool back at her. She was tempted to respond, but instead took his hand in hers, lacing their fingers together as they basked in the warmth of his words. There was no need for him to hear him say it back. The look in her eyes told him everything before he looked down and buried his face between her legs
His tongue slid along her warm, wet folds, sending shockwaves through her body before he latched his lips to her pulsing clit, sucking and probing hungrily as he settled in to ravenously devour her. It had been so long since she had been intimate with someone that Michonne's knees nearly buckled while her grip on his hair tightened instinctively. Her head fell back against the wall as he gripped her plump rear firmly in one hand and reached up to gently thumb her pert nipple, coaxing a strangled cry out of her.
"Jesus," he growled, shifting and pushing his tongue deeper into her, his own hard on throbbed painfully while he enjoyed the way she tasted and writhed at his touch.
Rick could not remember the last time he had pleasured a woman. Yet kneeling before Michonne, listening to her whimper his name, he knew he was ruined. He could not imagine ever feeling the way he did now, bringing her closer to orgasm. He watched as her body glistened with sweat, bucking and moaning, and he pushed his tongue in and out of her assertively. Michonne barely had time to think as her body swiftly reached the apex. The noises he made as he lapped at her folds, his beard only serving to heighten her sensitivity as her thighs clenched around him. He hummed into her sex, taking her again in his mouth and swirling his tongue around her bundle of nerves.
"Rick… Rick!" He moved quickly to hold her up as she gushed into his mouth, the very act nearly causing him to come right there on the floor. Keeping her steady, he licked her clean as she recovered, gulping in air while running her fingers along his scalp. Rick reverently kissed each thigh before she unexpectedly slid down the wall, her weakened legs catching them both off guard.
"Are you okay?" he chuckled when she giggled, her smile causing his pulse to quicken.
"Yeah," she nodded slowly, reaching out to tug playfully on his chin and biting her lip. "But I think I may have a complaint about that beard."
Rick laughed, leaning in to kiss her firmly as he gathered her in his arms. She stifled a wanting moan when she felt his erection rub against her as he carefully stood them both up against the wall. Tasting herself on his tongue, she pulled him closer, their naked bodies burning lustfully.
"You weren't complaining earlier," he grinned into her skin, making her shudder. Once again he stopped her when she reached out to touch him. He was already pushing it. If he let her stroke him before he was able to experience being inside her, he was afraid he would not last long.
Instead, he pressed her more fully against the wall as he grabbed her thigh, pulling it up to his waist. Grasping his intention, she snaked her arm around his neck and after a bit of somewhat awkward yet enjoyable maneuvering along with an impressive show of strength, she managed to wrap her legs around his waist. The position finally allowed Michonne the opportunity to reach between their bodies, taking hold of his hard cock, watching his face as he moaned under her touch. While bringing him to her entrance, she stroked him gently a few times, smiling as his hips jerked, desperate to explore her more.
"Michonne," he grunted, resting his head against hers as she guided him so that his dripping tip was rubbing up against her hot entrance. Rick strengthened his stance just when she squeezed her thighs around him, coaxing him to continue.
Michonne's loud gasps were masked by his lips as he pushed into her, spreading her legs a bit so he could sink deep. She broke the kiss, her body stiffening slightly and she whimpered for him to slow his entry as she adjusted to his size. He groaned into her skin, loving how wet she was for him and how her walls contracted completely around his throbbing member.
"God, Michonne, you're tight," he gasped, pausing to collect himself and temper his enthusiasm. She pressed a quick kiss to his temple, brushing away the hair plastered to his face and listening to his breathing. Their eyes met, enjoying the brief pause, lips grazing lazily as they smiled adoringly at each other. There was so much that could have been said in that moment, yet it seemed unnecessary.
Rick loved her and she loved him.
It was straightforward.
When he shifted a little, the friction caused her to whisper his name, running her fingers through his hair while pulling him into a kiss, tongues sparring hungrily. Without another thought he withdrew and pushed back into her, cajoling a different, lustful sound from her. Slowly he began to thrust into her, burying his face in the crook of her neck as they took a few moments to finally find a pleasurable rhythm.
"Oh my God," she cried, unable to hold back while they passionately made love against the wall. She met his thrusts with equal exuberance as he plunged repeatedly into her, leaving her mind spinning, bringing her to the height of bliss.
Rick had given up on going slow, so overwhelmed by the ecstasy of being inside of her, of feeling her encompassing him, of watching her body ardently meet his to become one in that moment. With her words of love still spinning in his ear, he was nearly delirious as he sped up his strokes, desperate to express physically everything he possibly could.
"Rick," Michonne moaned, running her hand through his hair as their lovemaking grew more vigorous. Her call and reflexes only spurred him to increase his tempo while reaching down between them to massage her sensitive bud in an effort to bring her closer to climax. The action caused her head to fall back against the wall, groaning out a soft 'fuck' of appreciation as he continued his ministrations, each stroke deeply hitting its mark.
"Say my name again," he growled and she smiled.
"Rick." He thumbed her clit just right and she gasped. "Oh my God, Rick!"
This time, Michonne could feel the telltale weakness spreading from her toes and up her spine, as the pressure coiled in her stomach. "Rick," she cried before his lips covered hers, stifling out her moans as her walls contracted around him, the sweet orgasm ripping its way through her writhing body. Having held out for so long, Rick grunted with release, burying his face in her neck as his hot seed filled her.
The world slowly came back in to focus as their heavy breathing filled the room. Still intertwined, they basked in the glow of their first coupling.
"Fuck me," Michonne purred into his ear, finally coming down from her high.
"Sorry," he mumbled meekly.
Frowning, she caught his eyes and tilted her head. "For what?"
His cheeks burned as he motioned down to their hips and her eyes widened when she realized what he was referring to. "Oh," she giggled breathlessly, shaking her head at him and flicking tresses of his hair out of his face. "I didn't mind," she assured him, her eyes closing briefly as she felt him finally withdraw from her.
Michonne kissed his sweaty temple tenderly, listening to his breathing against her tingling skin as he gently traced circles on her back. Weakened slightly, he slowly released her, gripping her hips carefully as he ensured she was able to stand as well. They remained by the wall, inhaling deeply and leaning into one another, enjoying the warmth. Michonne ran her fingers through his hair, loving the feeling of his soft curls and his breath on her neck as he waited for his mind to clear.
"Shit," Rick gasped, his heart swelling when she giggled at his state of wonder. He pressed a kiss to her forehead and caressed her cheeks, still wanting to touch her. When they looked at each other, it was clear that she felt the same way.
"That was good," she murmured and he smiled joyously.
"I thought so too," he replied with a wink, warming her up inside as he drew away from her.
Michonne watched him retrieve their clothes, admiring his nakedness yet cognizant that they could be happened upon at any moment. Instead of rushing, though, he took his time, helping her slip back into her underwear with caressing, tender hands. He kissed her warm skin affectionately as he brought the cloth up to her hips, holding her firmly as he pressed his lips up to her bare abdomen with such loving diligence that she was tempted to rip her panties off and engage with him again. He stopped just beneath her breasts, catching her eyes and offering that lopsided smirk that made her heart ache. He held her gaze as his hands brushed over her rear, gripping her fully, he pulled her close to him, basking in the feel of her and under her loving eyes. She smiled cheekily down at him, covering his hand with hers and leaning down to kiss him quickly, stifling a squeal when he caught her bottom lip in his teeth and nibbled on it playfully.
Running a hand down her leg teasingly, Rick reached out for her jeans and helped her step into them, kissing each thigh before the cloth was pulled up to her waist and zipped. As he stood to secure the top button, Michonne reached out with a smirk and ran her fingers down his bare torso, memorizing the scars that enhanced his lean physique. She could feel his heart racing strongly beneath his skin and she loved the beat of it on her fingertips. She loved that she was the reason his breath caught in his throat.
Their eyes met once again and Michonne laughed, unable to hold back the giddiness she was experiencing. Rick mimicked her briefly before he leaned in for another kiss, overwhelmed by the freedom to suddenly do so. They shared a quick kiss then Michonne pulled away and moved around to gather up the rest of their clothes. She teasingly tossed Rick his underwear and jeans, watching him out of the corner of her eye while she grabbed her shirt and pulled it on. As she looked around for her katana, she felt Rick come up from behind and wrap his arms around her waist, pulling her up against his chest. He planted gentle kisses on her neck, breathing in her scent, and wishing they had more time. He knew that his absence would be noticed, but all he wanted to do was explore this new space with her.
"Michonne."
"Yes."
He rested his head on her shoulder and she could feel him smile against her skin. "You are a very beautiful woman." He pressed a couple of small kisses on her shoulder before he leaned back and turned her so he could look her in the eyes. Their mischievous gleam caused his heart to beat faster and he leaned in to capture her lips in a tender kiss.
"And you are a very handsome man," she murmured before biting her lip as she thought of them having to go back out there. "We should talk to the kids."
"Tomorrow," he replied and she smiled.
"Tomorrow."
They gazed at each other for a minute before she felt her body heat up under his gaze and pulled away from him slowly, realizing they would end up making love again if she did not take charge.
"We should go," she suggested quietly and he nodded. He tucked a loc behind her ear and kissed her temple before he walked over to where he had left his gun belt. As he buckled it up, Michonne pulled on her katana and led the way out of the room. As they walked down the hall, their fingers brushed and knowing smiles graced both their faces.
"Carl!" Andre yelped when he finally caught sight of the teenager, breaking away from his equally small peers to join Carl at the back of Barrington House.
"Hey Andre!" The teen tossed the football to Elena and intercepted the boy with equal excitement. They shared a quick hug before Andre eagerly pulled Carl over to the wooden wall for more privacy.
"I have to tell you something," he began, eyes bright.
"What is it?"
"Rick kissed mom!" He blurted out, unable to contain the secret anymore. Carl was surprised but smiled at his brother's genuine joy at this news.
"When?"
"Last night. I saw them and mom says she loves him!"
Carl's eyes widened at the deluge of information. "Seriously?"
Andre nodded, practically bouncing up and down with glee. "Mom loves him, Carl! But she won't tell him, so I think we should tell dad, just to make sure-"
Carl froze. "No!"
"Why not?"
Noting the anxiety in his voice, Carl realized that Andre was worried about the family unit. It was a symptom of all of the books he read with happier books typically containing parents who were not only together, but in love with each other. Andre wanted to secure that happiness for their family and Carl could not fault him for that. Shaking his head, Carl offered a reassuring smile. "It'll be fine. They'll talk, I'm sure..."
Andre did not looked convinced. "Are you sure? Mom keeps talking about grown up things, but I think if Dad just knew-"
Carl took his shoulders gently. "Andre, it's fine," he calmed, somewhat amused by his brother's naïve understanding of how relationships worked. "It'll be fine. Dad loves her too, so it's okay."
"I wouldn't believe that if I were you."
The two boys turned to see Ron standing nearby, glaring at Carl.
"What does that mean?" Andre questioned fearfully while Carl faced the teen completely.
"What the hell is your problem?" He demanded.
Ignoring Carl, Ron looked down at Andre with a strangely vengeful determination in his eyes. "Rick doesn't love your mom. He's just using her like he uses every single mom he comes across 'cause he can't keep it in his pants!"
Carl felt Andre begin to tremble beside him as a strangled yelp escaped the child's lips. Rage bubbled up inside of him and he stepped between the two.
"Shut the hell up, you don't know what you're talking about," Carl snarled, which only served to antagonize Ron.
"I know exactly what I'm talking about!" The teen pointed a finger in Carl's face. "Your dad destroyed my family, fucked my mom, and then threw her out of Alexandria like trash! And he's gonna do the same thing to him and his mom!"
"Dad loves my mom," Andre whimpered.
"He's not your goddamned dad!"
Andre gasped and reached out to Carl, quaking in his shoes as Ron's words unearthed familiar memories of Ellory.
"Shut up, you asshole," Carl countered angrily. "You have no idea what the hell you're talking about. Dad apologized about what happened, but he didn't throw her out! Your mom left, period." He pointed back to the house. "Sounds like she doesn't tell you everything. Go back inside!"
Ron's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Why? So I can see Rick Grimes fucking his mom?"
"What?" Andre gasped, tears welling up in his eyes as he struggled to comprehend what was being said through all of the explicit language and hateful tones. Michonne had taught him that such words, especially the f-word, were bad and were never a good thing to say or do.
He did not understand though... why would Rick be hurting his mother? He was not like Ellory... He couldn't be like Ellory... this did not make any sense...
Andre looked at Ron, watching as he and Carl's argument became more physical.
His heart was racing, the blood pounding in his ears, drowning out the words they were exchanging.
All he could see was Ron and after another second, Andre just charged without thinking, catching the teen off guard and knocking him off his feet.
"Andre!" Carl yelled.
Before he could grab him, Andre was already on top of Ron, slamming his small fists against the boy's face a couple of times when Ron's knuckles connected with the side of his face, sending him flying into the concrete with a thud.
Carl tackled Ron before he could get up. They rolled around on the ground, striking each other violently before Ron managed to hit Carl in the shoulder he had shot.
Crying out and cringing, Carl collapsed on his back while Ron got on top of him and pulled out his gun, pressing the barrel painfully against Carl's temple.
"Fuck you, Carl!" He bellowed. "Fuck you, and fuck your dad! All you ever do is ruin people's lives!" His finger wrapped around the trigger. "I'm gonna put a stop to that."
"NO!"
A shot rang out as Rick and Michonne spoke with Jesus in the foyer, followed by screaming from outside that silenced the festivities as those inside drew their weapons, anticipating a walker breach. Michonne followed Rick as he raced out the back door to find a much different sight.
Several of the younger people, including several small children, were either scattering or hiding behind trailers and crops as Elena crouched over a prone form on the ground. She was yelling orders to one of the frightened youths to get help. There was blood all over the dirt and beyond the person on the ground Carl leaned against the wall, gasping for air and eyes wide in shock, fixed on Andre, who stood just ahead of him, bloody katana in hand.
"Andre!" Michonne screamed, breaking away from Rick to fall in front of her son. "Andre, are you okay? Baby-"
"RON!"
Jesse's horrified cry pierced through the night air and drew their attention back to the body Jesus and Elena hovered over.
"Jesus Christ," Rick gasped when he finally saw that the teen was lying on the ground, gaping in pained, stupified silence at his missing hands, which lay a couple of feet away, cleanly separated from their owner. Blood poured everywhere as Elena frantically tied a tourniquet to his arm.
"Get the doctor!" Jesus ordered, having come out just behind Jesse. His eyes moved over to Andre, who seemed to be in a fugue state, before he caught Rick's gaze.
"Ron!" Jesse screamed over and over, gathering him up in her arms. "Who did this?! Who did this to you?!"
To their shock, Ron managed to raise his head and point a bloody, trembling stub at Andre before he passed out. The rapidly growing crowd gasped as Jesse looked around wildly for the perpetrator. "You!"
Michonne stood up instantly to block her view of Andre, hand on her katana and eyes narrowed dangerously at the shrill, unhinged tone in the mother's voice. She recognized that tone. It was the same one that ordered her up a tree.
Taking note of Michonne's fighting stance, Jesus stepped in. "Get them in the house," he told Rick quickly before motioning to a couple of people close by. "Help pick him up," he ordered.
"That boy!" Jesse began, but a couple of women moved over to her, hastily ushering her away to follow the men who had taken her son. Others crowded around, staring fearfully at Andre, who still seemed unaware of his audience.
"Michonne," Rick hissed, holstering his gun and moving around to check on Carl, who had a bloody lip and smarting eye. He was splattered all over with blood. "Are you okay?"
Carl blinked and tore his eyes away from the pool of blood Ron had left behind. "What?," he breathed loudly. It was then that Rick saw the blood trickling out of his ear and gun powder burns on the other side of his face.
"Jesus," Rick gasped.
Realizing that both boys were in dazes, Michonne and Rick ushered them back into Barrington House and up to the second floor, into Rick's room. Michonne grabbed Andre's katana and placed it carefully on the floor before she sat Andre down in a small chair and knelt before him, gasping at his appearance. In the light, she could see the cuts and scrapes that peppered his face along with a skinned elbow that added to the blood on his arm. She felt her own blood boil at the thought of someone laying hands on her child and ran a finger gently over his bruised cheek to finally catch his attention.
"What happened?" She demanded. "Andre, what happened?"
He looked at her and then at Carl, stammering to explain what had just taken place, but as he struggled to find the words, he looked down at his bloody hands. The metallic smell filled his nostrils and he was bombarded with memories of Ellory. Flashes of Fargo.
"I… I… I didn't mean to…"
Michonne could see him descending dangerously into a panic and she reached out to take his shoulders. "Andre, baby, you need to look at me," she pleaded while Carl and Rick watched helplessly as Andre's chest heaved frantically.
He could see it now. The flames engulfing the compound. He could hear the screams. The crackling of burning flesh and the groans of walkers drawn to the fire.
"Did I kill him?" He asked suddenly and she gasped out tears, shaking her head.
"I don't… I don't know…"
The boy looked down at his hands, eyes widening as if he just noticed the blood that dripped from them. "No!" Andre yelped, wiping at his arms desperately as tears streamed down his face. "No! No!"
Realizing what was happening, Michonne looked over at Rick and Carl. "Get out," she ordered as she grabbed Andre's face in her hands and held him securely as he continued to panic, crying uncontrollably as he begged his mother for forgiveness.
Rick's heart clenched painfully at Andre's pain and he made a move to approach but to his surprise Carl stopped him, eyes filled with worry and fear.
"Dad, no," Carl choked loudly, pulling him out into the hall. Even as they closed the door behind them, Andre's wracked sobs could be clearly heard as well as Michonne's attempts to calm him.
"Carl-"
"You need to tell them that Andre didn't do anything wrong," Carl blurted out, cutting his father off. His voice boomed around the hall. "Ron was the one who started the whole thing and fucking tried to shoot me and Andre-"
Rick grabbed Carl by the shoulders. "Wait, Ron shot you!"
Carl shook his head in frustration, just now able to hear his father properly. "No, I'm fine! Dad, listen, you need to tell them that Andre's innocent! He was just protecting me!"
"Carl, what the hell happened?" Rick pressed. He had not seen his son so scared in a long time and after the terrifying display with Ron, it was imperative that Rick knew the facts for himself. "Carl, you need to tell me what happened."
"That would be a good start."
They turned to see Glenn, Ezekiel, and Sasha making their way down the hall. They could still hear Andre crying on the other side of the door and Ezekiel moved to open it.
"Don't," Rick growled while Glenn approached them, worry written all over his face.
"Rick, is he okay? Carl… What the hell just happened?!"
"Glenn, Andre didn't do anything wrong!" Carl declared instantly. "Ron was the one who started the whole fucking thing!"
"Carl!" Rick snapped. "What happened!"
Realizing that he had not actually explained that part, Carl motioned to the room Andre and Michonne were in.
"Andre was just protecting me," he insisted.
"From Ron?" Glenn asked. Sasha's face was unreadable.
"Ron tried to shoot me," Carl told them.
"Why?" Rick snarled dangerously and Carl shook his head, unsure of how to explain the situation without divulging too many details.
"It wasn't about me… He and Andre got into a fight." It suddenly sunk in just how bad things were and he gulped. "It got out of hand."
"He and Andre were fighting?" Ezekiel muttered in confusion.
"Andre punched him and then they just started fighting… I tried to help."
"Ron pulled a gun on you?" Sasha asked quietly for clarification and Carl nodded.
"Yeah… And then Andre just…" Carl stopped himself from describing it the way it had happened. In all honesty, he had never seen a child snap in such a way. He hoped he never would again.
"Carl," Glenn called, bringing the teenager out of his thoughts.
"Andre was just protecting me."
Glenn motioned to the door. "Is he okay?"
Before Rick could respond, Michonne opened the door and looked out, startled momentarily by the gathering in the hall. Her eyes were puffy and bloodshot and he knew she'd been crying. Her voice cracked when she spoke.
"We need to get him home," she murmured, glancing over at Sasha, who nodded quietly before she moved off down the hall.
"May we speak with him?" Ezekiel asked carefully and her eyes hardened.
"No," she responded before Rick got the chance. Without another word to them, she returned to the office. Rick exchanged glances with Glenn. The man nudged Ezekiel and motioned down the hall.
"We can deal with this later. Right now we need to deal with the walkers and calm everyone down," Glenn reminded the other leader.
"You know where to find me," Rick added before he and Carl retreated into the office.
Andre was lying on the couch in the corner, his back to them as Michonne returned to the edge, gently caressing his hair soothingly.
"Andre, let's go home," she whispered and he turned slightly.
"Now?"
Rick approached the couch and crouched down in front of him. "Yeah, let's go home."
Andre looked on the verge of unleashing fresh tears as he sat up to face Rick, eyes lowered in shame. "Am I in trouble?" He croaked softly and Rick shook his head.
"Andre look at me…" The boy refused to raise his eyes, so Rick took his face him his hands gently. "Son, look at me," he murmured. To his side, he heard Michonne's breath hitch, but he focused on Andre, who was also taken back by the word. "You're not gonna get in trouble for this, I promise."
"But-"
"Carl told me you were protecting him," Rick interjected, prompting Michonne to look over to Carl. "Andre, you protected your brother and that's all that matters to me. You didn't do anything wrong." Sensing his uncertainty, Rick pushed his locs back and made sure Andre could see the love and sincerity in his eyes. "Andre… I'm proud of you," he whispered.
Andre's eyes filled with tears. "Really?"
Rick nodded. "Really."
Carl stepped forward. "Mom and I are proud of you too," he piped up in an effort to improve the child's mood. It seemed to have a strange impact on the small boy, who saw how close Michonne and Carl were and turned back to Rick.
"I love you, Dad," he affirmed tentatively, causing Rick's heart to clench as he pulled Andre into a fierce embrace, wanting nothing more than to take away his child's pain.
"I love you, too," he assured Andre quietly, looking up at Michonne, who was choking back tears. "We're gonna get through this together, okay? As a family."
"Okay," Andre mumbled into Rick's shoulder, gripping his neck tightly as he began to cry again. Tightening his grip, Rick stood up with Andre in his arms and tilted his head to the door. "Let's go."
Carrying Andre close, Rick led the way down the hall, stopping so they could collect Judith before they headed out of the house. A large crowd had formed near where Sasha had pulled around the van, with Eugene and Abraham in the back seat and, Rosita, Carol and Morgan waiting in the car behind. Glenn was quietly talking to them when they noticed Rick's family and instead of saying anything, they quietly parted ways for the little group to pass. Michonne could see fear, anger, support, and disapproval in various eyes, but she pushed through, helping Rick get into the van with Andre before Carl slammed the door shut and Sasha drove away.
The ride back to Alexandria was tense and silent, save for Andre's occasional sniffling. From the back of the van, Rick gently rubbed his back soothing him as Andre slowly fell asleep. Out of the corner of his eyes, he caught Michonne watching them with a strange look on her face. Their eyes connected and he could not help but reach out to take her hand, hoping in that quiet moment to provide her with some semblance of comfort. Her fingers instantly laced with his and she leaned against him, brushing the locs out of Andre's face as she finally allowed herself a moment's respite. From the middle row, Carl held Judith and watched the three, smiling slightly. Despite Ron's revelation before his nasty words prompted Andre to attack, Carl should not have been surprised.
When they finally reached Alexandria, Sasha pulled up right in front of the Grimes home so that the family could get out. Michonne took Andre from Rick and led the groggy boy inside while Sasha and Abraham approached Rick.
"I'm gonna notify the gate to keep an eye out for anyone from the Hilltop," Abraham informed the man quietly. "We'll give you a heads up if one of them turns up."
Rick nodded slowly, exhaustion slowly taking over him. "Thank you," he managed. Sasha motioned behind him.
"Go get some rest," she urged. "We'll handle it."
They watched him climb the porch stairs before departing, leaving him and Carl out in the night air.
"You think Ron's gonna make it?" Carl asked quietly, surprising his father.
"I don't know… Hershel survived his leg…"
"Tyrese didn't," Carl retorted sadly and Rick bowed his head.
"We didn't get to him in time." There was a brief pause when Rick caught the concern on Carl's face. "Are you worried about Ron?"
Carl shook his head as he shifted a sleeping Judith in his arms. "No… Andre."
Rick's eyes clouded over at the painful memory of hearing the child crying in the room, covered in blood and burdened by the enormity of his actions. It was a sound he hoped to never hear again.
"We're gonna help him get passed this," Rick muttered and Carl saw the look in his father's eyes.
He thought of Ellory and all that he knew of the man. Of how he had taken advantage of Michonne to get Andre and how it had nearly killed them both. He had seen the panic in Andre's eyes when they had discussed these things back when they had first met. That same panic and fear had been present when Ron had told him what he had seen. He knew Ellory had been on Andre's mind when he attacked Ron and when he broke down afterwards and it was imperative that his father take steps to remove those memories from his brother's mind.
"I think the first step would be to explain to him what's going on with you and Michonne," Carl suggested quietly.
Rick's eyes widened. "Michonne and I?"
Carl lowered his gaze in slight embarrassment. "Ron said he saw you two… That's why he and Andre started fighting."
Realizing now why Carl was reluctant to provide details to the others, Rick closed his eyes and rubbed his face in frustration. This was not how he had intended for the kids to find out. Despite Michonne's words to him prior to their intimate coupling in the office, he still wanted a chance to explain the actual shift to the kids. His original thought of basking in the afterglow of their first time had been dashed and it did not occur to him that anyone else would find out until he and Michonne were able to sit the three down and explain the changed relationship.
Now, it seemed one nosy teenager with a vendetta against Rick had spilled the beans. And may have paid for it with his life.
"Carl, we were going to tell you-"
"I know," Carl cut him off before the conversation could get awkward. "And I'm happy for you, Dad. But Andre… The last man…" Carl stopped himself from continuing briefly. "You know what he did to them and Ron said some things that I think scared the shit out of Andre. You need to talk with him."
Rick nodded, leading the way inside. "I will. We will," he assured Carl before coming over to examine his son's bruising face with anger. "That fucking bastard," he muttered under his breath.
"I'm fine, Dad."
"Are you sure? How's your ear?"
"Still hurt, but I'll be fine."
Rick motioned upstairs. "Okay, let's get Judith in bed."
Carl nodded, "thanks," before Rick led the way up the stairs.
Rick watched them disappear into Judith's room before he turned his attention to the hall bathroom. Approaching the door, he found Michonne crouched in front of Andre, gently wiping blood off of his arms. Rick quickly entered and grabbed another cloth, running it under warm water before he joined her in cleaning off the sleepy boy's face. As the bruises and cuts became more apparent, Rick found his anger becoming more pronounced.
"How are you feeling?" Rick asked, pulling Michonne's attention away from Andre's hands.
Andre shrugged. "I've been worse," he mumbled and Michonne caught Rick's gaze before she resumed cleaning Andre's skin.
Realizing that this was the perfect opportunity to address the issue Carl brought up and he sighed. He had let go of the idea a long time ago that there would be ideal moments to take next steps, and this moment was no different. "Andre," he started.
"Yes, Dad."
Rick smiled. "I love your mom, you know that right," he whispered, determinedly avoiding Michonne's eyes as he awaited Andre's response. He did not need to see her face to know what was going on with her.
Andre looked between the two and then nodded slowly. "I know..."
Rick looked him straight in the eyes. "Good... cause I know Ron said some things that may have confused you and I need you to know that."
The child shifted in discomfort at the memory and Michonne frowned.
"What did he say to you?"
She could see his cheeks turn red as Andre lowered his eyes and she reached out to cup his face gently in her hands. He mumbled something, prompting her to lean in so that he could tell her explicitly what Ron had said.
"Oh my God," she gasped, glancing over at Rick quickly. "Honey, that's not what happened."
"So you two weren't-"
She shook her head quickly, reaching out to grab Rick's hand. "No, we were… but it wasn't like that… he wasn't hurting me…" Andre kept his eyes down. "Look at me, Andre. Andre, look at me… Rick isn't Ellory," she stated as soon as he raised his gaze. "This isn't Fargo." She offered a watery smile, unable to stop the flow of tears down her face. "We're safe here."
Rick reached out and rested a hand on Andre's shoulder, drawing his attention. "When you told me about what happened with Ellory, I promised you I'd never let anything like that happen again, and I meant it, Andre," he entreated, brushing his locs out of his eyes before laying his hand over Michonne's on Andre's face. "Regardless of what happened out there, this… with Carl, Judith, your mom, and me. This is our home, Andre. Okay?"
Shifting, Andre nodded slowly. "Okay."
For a couple of minutes they were quiet as Rick and Michonne finished cleaning up Andre and bandaging his wounds. Andre sniffed as he watched them and then finally asked for clarification.
"Did you tell him?"
Rick frowned. "Tell me what?"
"Mom! You said you'd tell!"
"Tell me what?"
"That she loves you."
"Andre," she sighed, closing her eyes and smiling as she felt Rick's eyes fall on her. She took a moment to gather her thoughts and chuckled to herself.
"Yeah, baby… I just did."
Andre completely missed her inflection and smiled. "Good."
Smiling, Michonne leaned in to kiss his cheek. "I love you, baby," she whispered. "Go get dressed for bed."
The child gave them both hugs before he left the bathroom, while Michonne stood up and went to clean the washcloths, eyes lowered and unreadable. Rick watched her with the weight of the world on her shoulders, happy with Andre's words but still aware that the events of the night, just like yesterday, left them with conflicting emotions.
She heard Rick approach her slowly and she sighed when he once again came up behind her, sliding his arms around her waist and pulling her up against him in a warm, loving embrace. They stood there silently, breathing deeply, and wanting nothing more than to return to that moment in the office. Rick let his head fall to the crook of her neck, kissing her skin softly as she covered his hands with hers, holding him to her as her eyes closed.
"Stay with me tonight," he murmured into her ear and she slowly nodded. As bad as it had gotten tonight, there was nothing left to be done about it. Tomorrow would certainly bring its fair share of difficulties regarding the fallout of the boys' fight at the Kingdom, but for now, they would leave it be.
After she finished cleaning the cloth, Michonne followed Rick to his bedroom. They checked the kids' rooms first, seeing Judith sound asleep while Carl helped Andre change into some pajamas. When they entered Rick's room, they made sure to close and lock the door before approaching the bed. There was no hesitation or awkwardness as they silently helped each other disrobe. Rick gently removed Michonne's top before she set to work undoing his holster and belt. She barely looked at him, not that he needed her to. He could see the pain in her eyes and before she could begin on his jeans, he stopped her by taking her hands. She became still and raised her eyes to look into his. For a moment they just stared at each other, half naked and somehow unsurprised by their current state.
"He did nothing wrong," Rick whispered, reaching up to clasp her face. "We're gonna be fine, Michonne."
She nodded slowly and pressed a kiss to his lips. "I know."
Rick offered her his favorite brown shirt before they climbed into bed, Michonne nestled up against Rick's back as he held her protectively close to him. That morning, he never would have imagined she would be here with him, and now it seemed like the most natural place for them to end up. In spite of the violence earlier, he could not help but think back to that beautiful moment they shared in the office.
"Michonne."
"Yeah."
"Thank you."
She gave his arm a squeeze as he kissed her temple and pulled her closer to him. Soon, the entire house was fast asleep.
A/N: Please leave a review.