A/N: We're nearing the end! Thank you for all of the reviews and kind words. I'm glad you all seem to be liking it as much as I love writing it.
Enjoy!
"How are you feeling?" Carol held Sophia's hand tightly as they strolled in a group around the perimeter. There had been a time, months ago, when this morning ritual had been combat training. Carol and Sophia had been quick studies, taking to the knife work like a duck to water. Morgan had even gifted Carol with a handmade weapon for the occasion. The handle of her blade was fastened from brass knuckles he had given her years ago.
"Big," Michonne had to laugh. Though her arms and legs remained in shape from her diligent work effort, her stomach had grown seemingly overnight. Combat training had become jogging around the Haven and finally, a morning stroll. Carol did not seem to mind.
"I remember that," the older woman smiled wistfully. "Ed, Sophia's daddy," she paused glancing nervously at her daughter. She released the little girl's hand and Sophia happily ran ahead. "He was different when I was pregnant. Almost kind. Stopped hitting me altogether towards the end."
It was one of those uncomfortable details that Carol shared from time to time. Michonne nodded, wondering what the world used to be that a man could beat his wife without anyone intervening. She couldn't imagine a circumstance in which she and Rick would raise a hand to one another.
"How is Morgan with Sophia?" Michonne asked, venturing for more details on their enigmatic relationship. She had observed them closely over the last few months. They were obviously a family unit, living together and raising their children. And while Duane and Sophia operated very much like siblings, Morgan and Carol were much more quiet about the nature of their relationship.
"Patient," Carol's lips quirked, even as she crossed her arms over her chest. "He's patient with both of us."
Michonne smiled. Patient was the one thing she knew without a doubt that Morgan was. He was a calming presence for her husband, who tended to run more towards hot-headed. It was nice that there were people in the Haven that she and Rick could rely on.
"Are you two together?" Michonne asked.
Carol shrugged. "When we met, I still had Ed and Morgan had just had to put down his wife. Eventually, he took care of Ed for me too. We survive together. Maybe one day it will be more than that. But it's enough."
Michonne nodded, considering Carol's words. The woman shocked her when she continued.
"You know, I used to feel so bad for you kids who came up in this world. But I think you're the lucky ones. You don't miss the way things used to be. Your lives just go on."
It was not the first time that Michonne had heard that sentiment. Sasha and Daryl, Maggie and Glenn, Tyrese had met a woman named Karen, and Andrea was getting close to one of the new recruits…people were pairing off like wildfire within these walls.
"Maybe we are lucky," Michonne rubbed her stomach, feeling the baby roll over inside of her.
"Should be soon now," Carol looked down at Michonne's bump.
"A few weeks," it was Hershel's best guesstimate. She and Rick already had the crib set up and pushed into one corner of their bedroom. Michonne glanced upward, trying to gauge the time of day using the position of the sun. Rick should be home in a few hours, if all went well. She wondered if Sasha might go out to check for her.
"He'll be home soon," Carol seemingly read her mind, smiling sweetly. "I'm sure he's rushing back to you as we speak."
"You're probably right," Michonne laughed lightly, taking a deep breath and continuing on with her walk.
-l-l-l-l-
"We'll keep looking for her, I promise you, son," Jeff followed hot on Rick's heels.
"She can't have gone far, not on foot, not after months of sitting in that cell," Daryl said.
Rick nodded, scowling out into the woods surrounding Alexandria, the woods that weren't so far from home. "Go with the search party," he turned to his friends. Daryl and Glenn nodded dutifully at him.
"What do we do once we find her?" Glenn asked, adjusting his cap over his eyes. Summer had decided to show out in full-force this afternoon, beating down on the still defrosting ground.
"That's up to Alexandria," Rick managed to keep a level head, despite his anger. He could put a bullet in that woman just for taking him away from Michonne.
"Who set off the fireworks?" Daryl asked, squinting at Jeff.
"The guard panicked, thought they would help us see her running off," Jeff looked annoyed by the very thought.
"I've got to get back," Rick was anxious now, pacing like a caged animal. He'd been away from Michonne long enough.
"Go ahead," Glenn said. "Daryl and I will help out here."
"Take one of our cars," Jeff told his son. "I'll send them back when we're done here."
"Ok," there was a burning sensation in the pit of Rick's stomach, a sense of worry that he couldn't shake. "I'm going to go," he announced, reaching for the car keys.
"I'm sure she's fine," Glenn read his mood and sought to reassure him.
"I'm going to go," Rick nodded, half-focused on the situation at hand. Everything in him was telling him to get back in his car and drive.
He floored the gas pedal and pointed the vehicle back home. The roads were blessedly clear as he navigated, attempting to calm himself down. It hadn't even been a day since he left home. Michonne was fine. They were at least a week or two out from labor. He'd get home, they'd kiss, and he could spend the next few days worrying about their future daughter or son.
He relaxed into the driver's seat, the image of Michonne and him in bed together with their child finally managing to soothe his nerves. Rick exhaled shakily, refocusing on the road. Alexandria had disappeared in his rearview mirror. Daryl and Glenn would handle finding Jadis. Everything was going to be fine.
He slowed his car as barrier became apparent in the road. Something had leveled a tree and it was now lying, branches, trunk, roots and all, in the middle of the street. Rick instantly stiffened, reaching for his Colt as the car idled to a stop. He could reverse now, head back to Alexandria, get a crew and clear the road. He slammed his hand on the wheel in frustration.
This could not be coincidence. He removed his gun from its holster, holding it in his right hand as he used his left to steer backwards, his head swiveling around. Someone was out there, and he was willing to bet he knew who it was.
He spotted her on the edge of the forest, standing beside the road and smirking at him. Rick had half a mind to shoot her on the spot, but she disappeared, retreating into the trees. Cursing, Rick rolled down the window, leveling his gun.
"Wouldn't do that if you," she called out to him. Rick instantly knew what Sasha had meant all those months ago when she had described Jadis as "weird". From her odd black tunic, to her wild hair, dark at the roots but still dyed blonde at the edges, she looked out of place, even in the apocalypse.
Rick squeezed off a round anyway, determined not to play her games. Jadis stepped aside, hiding behind a tree as the shell struck just inches from her. Her smile widened.
"Very pretty, your wife," she spoke again. "Soon a pretty baby, no?"
Rick felt panic seize him.
"Where is she?" he leveled the gun again, anger coursing through him.
-l-l-l-l-
Michonne scowled into the darkness ahead of her. Something was wrong. Rick should have been back hours ago. He would have at least sent Daryl or Glenn with a message if he had decided to stay. Something in her gut burned, hot and panicked. Even the baby could feel it. She could feel the movement inside of her, restless, pressing her from the inside out.
"Where's your dad?" she asked her bump, wishing that the universe would answer. Instead, the world stay silent, the inky black of the night sky lightening in the distance as dawn crept in. In an hour, there would be full sunlight. In an hour, she could go look for her husband.
She did not think she could make it an hour. And if Rick was in trouble, neither of them could afford to wait.
"Ok," Michonne breathed, hiking her katana up onto her shoulder. It fit a little snug around the chest now, but she could still reach the sword when she needed it. "Let's go get daddy," she whispered to her bump, starting down the stairs.
She had almost made it to the gates when Carol caught up to her. The sight startled Michonne for a moment; she'd forgotten that the woman now took guard shifts.
"Where are you going?" Carol confronted her. She was clutching her knife in one hand, as though she expected someone to run up the stairs and attack her at any moment.
"To get my husband," the answer was simple. Michonne unbolted the fence, rolling it backwards just enough for her to squeeze out. She did not have time to delay.
"Not by yourself," Carol insisted. She reached for a gun, slinging it around her shoulder.
Michonne opened her mouth to protest when she saw Carol hurrying towards a row of cars. She opened the door of a white van, locating the spare key beneath the dashboard. With a growl, the engine turned over.
"Need a ride?" she asked pleasantly.
Surprised, Michonne paused for a moment. "I'd love one," she climbed into the van.
"Michonne!" Sasha called out to her, running in their direction. Her gun was over her shoulder, ready to take over the watch. "Where are you going?"
"To get Rick," Michonne kept her answer vague, leaning out of the window. "Hold down the fort until I get back. Business as usual," she instructed.
Sasha's eyes flicked to Carol in the driver's seat. "Are you sure you don't want me to take you?"
The Haven couldn't lose all of its best fighters. Michonne shook her head. "I'll be back," she assured her.
Carol drove them carefully down the road, the van rumbling along as the sun began to rise in the distance. It was a beautiful sight, the world quiet and clean, like it had no idea the kind of things that were going on in it. Michonne took deep breaths, in and out, mentally planning what was going to happen.
"Alexandria?" Carol asked, glancing at her.
"Yes," Michonne nodded. It was a good place to start.
They rolled down the street quietly, Michonne scanning, hoping that she was overreacting.
"I'm sure Rick is fine," Carol spoke up. "Probably just got caught up chasing down the prisoner."
Michonne sat up higher in her seat, her eyes drawn to movement on the edge of the forest. "Don't slow down," she warned her driver, reaching for her katana.
"What is it?" Carol's voice took on a sharp tone.
"Carol," Michonne only had seconds and she needed this woman calm. "When they come, you run."
"What?" Carol became for frantic.
"Run back to Alexandria. Get Sasha. Tell her what happened." Michonne removed her seat belt.
"Michonne, I can't—"
"You can," Michonne insisted. "You have to." She swallowed, watching the shadows get closer. "Now!" she shouted.
Carol fumbled for a moment, then leapt from the car, rushing off into the darkness, gun in tow. Michonne climbed out of the other side, sword drawn, determined to not be taken easily. They swarmed all at once, emerging from the forest and surrounding her van. Michonne arced her sword gracefully, dropping two to the ground. The rest of the group stopped, staying a safe distance back.
"Brave that one," the leader stepped forward, nodding in the direction that Carol had just run off. Michonne would have recognized that smirk anywhere.
"Jadis," she greeted, flicking the blood off of her sword.
"With us you come," Jadis' smile widened. "Or your husband you lose." She cocked an eyebrow. Reluctantly, Michonne lowered her sword. They group was on her in an instant, disarming her and forcing her into the van. Jadis climbed into the passenger seat, aiming her gun at Michonne's head. "Drive."
Michonne stayed still, her mind still turning.
Jadis smirked again, lowering the gun to her stomach. "Drive," she repeated.
Begrudgingly, Michonne started the car, the child in her belly kicking frantically.
-l-l-l-l-
"Let me see her," Rick demanded. He was standing in a landfill, the trash maneuvered and arranged to form rooms and tunnels. The smell was overwhelming, detectable for miles. He didn't know what kind of people would choose to live here, but he knew he didn't like them at all.
"In no position to make demands," Jadis circled him, looking him up and down. "She is safe," she assured him.
"Let. Me. See. Her." Rick was prepared to strangle this woman. She had taken his gun, and now his wife.
"If I do," Jadis began, smiling lightly. "I lay with you after. Deal?"
Disgust seized Rick, mixing in with the rage. "Fuck you," he seethed. He lunged forward, hands coming to Jadis' throat. Her guards stepped forward at once, yanking him back. Rick continued to fight, managing to level one with a fist to the jaw. Someone knocked him in the back of the leg, sending him down to one knee. The barrel of a gun came to his head. Rick recognized his Python at once.
"I'm going to kill you," he ground out, his eyes never leaving the woman in front of him.
She laughed. "If you survive, we talk."
With a whistle, more men moved forward. Someone seized Rick beneath the arms, dragging him up a mountain of trash. Rick fought, kicking out, but it was no use. With an unceremonious shove, he went sprawling over the edge, landing in an undignified heap at the bottom. The smell around him became markedly more horrible, the sticky sweet scent of something rotting. Rick leapt to his feet, glancing up. Several black-clad spectators stood in a circle at the top, staring down at him.
"What is this?" he shouted up, angry and confused.
"Survive," Jadis repeated, jerking her chin up.
Rick turned. Across the narrow circle was a walker, impaled by broken metal and spikes, looking like some medieval monster. Rick's mind went immediately to Michonne.
Stooping, he bent down, picking up the twisted end of what may have been a golf club. He raised it like a weapon.
"All right," he growled. "Let's get this over with."