Bit of a surprise, right? I missed this universe and decided to revisit for a little bit, although it is not a Judchonne focused chapter (sorry!) This is a Carchonne prompt that I have been thinking of doing for a while and with Carl's missed presence on the show now, I figured now was the perfect opportunity to put up some Grimes 2.0 moments. Enjoy!

Graduating High School

"Carl! You have to be at the school in thirty minutes! We need to leave soon," Michonne called down the hall as she put on her diamond earrings, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor of her bedroom as she rushed over to the mirror that hung over the top of her dresser.

Between waking everybody up on time, making breakfast, getting two young kids ready -plus herself- and making sure that the guest of honor was on time for his own high school graduation ceremony, Michonne felt like she was being pulled all over the place. Rick was a great helper, but if it was up to him, they would be leaving at the very, very last minute and that didn't work for her.

She glanced out of the window and down at the driveway where she could see Rick walking to their SUV with nine-month-old Andre in his arms and Judith strolling beside him. She was talking excitedly to him, a bouquet of flowers in hand that she had picked from their garden that morning as a gift for Carl to give to him after the ceremony.

Michonne smiled. Sometimes she wondered what she did to deserve this family.

"Hey, Mom?"

She turned to see Carl standing in the doorway. Wearing a pair of black slacks and a crisp white button-down shirt with a green and white tie (his school's colors), he looked ready to go with his cap and gown thrown over one arm. However, judging by the look on his face, he still wasn't ready just yet.

"Everything okay, Carl?" she asked, eyeing him. "Are you about ready?"

"Almost," he answered. "I just… actually, I need to do one more thing, but I was wondering if you could help me with it."

"Anything," she said. Her head tilted in curiosity. "What is it?"

"Can you cut my hair?"

Her eyebrows rose in surprise. Carl had been refusing haircuts for years and, now that she thought about, she didn't think she had ever seen him get a haircut since she had been in his life. A trim here and there, sure, but nothing that would chop off too much of his beloved locks. He took such pride and joy in his hair that she thought he would never get rid of it.

It seemed appropriate though. He was graduating high school and starting another chapter in his life. A new chapter means letting go of some of the past.

"It's time," he said, walking into the room and setting his cap and gown on the bed gently to avoid any wrinkles. "New beginnings, right?"

She nodded, a smile lighting up her face. "That's right." She motioned towards the bathroom. "Come on."

Carl pulled a chair into the bathroom and set it in front of the mirror. He sat down as Michonne pulled out the hair scissors that she often used to cut Rick and Judith's hair. She placed a towel around his shoulders and legs so that no hair would get on his freshly ironed clothes.

"I wish you would have asked me to do this before you changed into your nice clothes," she said playfully, eyeing his reflection in the mirror. "Would have been less pressure on me to not get your outfit dirty before your big day."

"Sorry. Last minute decision," he said, chuckling.

He watched as she began to cut, her hands steady as his locks fell to the tiled floor. It really had been a last minute decision, one that came to him as he thought about the chapter that he was going to close here in King County soon. He would be leaving for college in the fall, moving to another state and settling into a new life. It was time for a change.

"All of my years knowing you and I don't think I have ever seen you get a haircut," Michonne remarked, a smile on her face. "It's going to be so weird to see you with no hair."

"Well, we're not shaving it all off. Just trying something out a little different, that's all."

"You'll look handsome either way," she nudged his shoulder reassuringly. "But don't let it get to your head and try to pull every girl at MIT. I'm too young to be a grandmother."

They laughed and were quiet for a minute before Carl spoke up.

"The last time I had a haircut was before Mom died," he said in a low voice, his eyes staring down at the floor.

Michonne paused, glancing at him through the mirror. He looked back at her, sadness filling his eyes.

"It was our thing," he continued, shrugging. "So when she died, I didn't want just anyone to take over our thing."

"Oh, Carl," she whispered, putting her hand on his shoulder and squeezing.

"But I have you now and I love you just as much as I loved her. You're a great mom and I want it to be our thing now."

"You're only here for a couple of more months," she joked, poking him in the same shoulder she had squeezed.

He laughed. "I'll be back on the holidays," he reasoned. A serious look crept onto his face. "You've brought me this far, Mom, and I want you to help me through this next chapter of my life. And Dad, too, of course."

She cupped his cheek, tears forming in her eyes. The chubby ten-year-old that she had first met eight years ago had grown into a wise young man, but she would never let him go. "You won't be able to get rid of us that easily."

He swiped at the corner of his eye as he turned back around, looking at himself in the mirror- really looked at himself- and was almost taken aback by his appearance. Michonne had cut off most of his hair and he was left with a short, wavy style that stopped right above his ears- similar to the way Lori used to style it.

"I'm not finished yet," she answered, trying to read the expression on his face. She hoped that she hadn't disappointed him. "Give me a few more minutes."

"You did good," he assured her, giving her a smile. "I swear, you're good at everything. I can always depend on you."

She smiled and placed a kiss on the top of his head. "Anything for my loves."

Two hours later, Michonne beamed proudly as she watched Carl walk across the stage in his cap and gown, tears threatening to spill out of her eyes at any minute now. She wiped at them quickly so that her vision wasn't blurry for when he accepted his diploma from the principal. Rick raised his camera for a picture and Judith clapped happily while sitting in the chair next to Michonne. Andre was fast asleep in his mother's arms, too deep in his sleep to be awakened by the loud noise around him.

The diploma was handed to Carl and he stopped to take a picture with the principal. Once taken, he stepped away and walked off the stage. He made his way to his seat slowly, his eyes searching the crowd for his family. He spotted them and gave a wave, his smile as bright as the sun outside. He took off his cap and ran a hand through his freshly cropped hair, winking at Michonne before taking a seat with his peers.

Michonne smiled to herself as she sat back against her chair. Her boy was going to be alright.