Chapter 25:

'If you call me daddy…'

"Daddy don't move!"

Rick held back a sigh, "Alright, sorry sweetie"

Judith's little brows furrowed as she concentrated on brushing the varnish on her father's nails. Rick wasn't sure how he found himself in such a position, but he went along with it to make her happy.

"Dad, I can't find the… uh", Carl narrowed his eyes at the scene in front of him when he walked into the living area, "You have some… makeup on your…"

"You better tell your sister she did a good job", He warned with a smile.

Carl bit back a chuckle, "You did a good job Judy"

Judith beamed up at him before continuing on with the pamper session.

"Uh… Yeah, dad I can't find the cutters?"

Rick squinted as he thought, "Try the garage"

Carl nodded as he disappeared through the front door, just as Gerald appeared with his skateboard.

"Uncle Rick, have you got…", Gerald had the same reaction as his son, "You have some-"

"Tell your cousin she did a good job", Rick's smile was a tight one.

"You did a good job Judy", Gerald insisted as he tried not to laugh.

"Thank you!", Judith called back as she started on his other hand.

"Uh… Yeah, have you got bandages or something?"

Rick winced at him, "What for?"

"I took a pretty bad landing and Uh…", Gerald lifted his knee and Rick was horrified at the wound his nephew showed him.

"What the-", Rick caught himself, "Gerald. How did you do that?"

"Fell off, landed on the curb"

Rick slowly inhaled, "Your leg's covered in blood"

The teen looked down and chuckled, "Yeah, It is"

Another slow inhale, "Okay, well, go wash it, the first aid kit is on top of the cabinet in the bathroom. Bring it down when you're done cleaning it"

Gerald nodded as he turned towards the stairs.

"Damn teenagers", Rick muttered threw a sigh.

"Rick, does Michonne still like blackberry cobbler? I'm thinking about doing one for dessert?", His mother asked as she walked in, drying her hands on her apron.

"She does but you know she doesn't mind what you do, she'll eat it", Rick shrugged.

"I know but she's been at work all day… and she's already so thin-"

"Mom", Rick glanced at her.

His mother threw her hands up, "I'm just saying… I'm doing baby back ribs for dinner and I'm gonna start on the biscuits"

Rick grinned, "That sounds great to me"

"Of course it does. You'd eat a sponge if it was deep fried and dipped in cheese", She smirked as she turned to leave the room.

His mouth fell open, and he watched her disappear back to the kitchen, offended.

"All done!", Judith cheered excitedly as she admired her work.

"Thank you sweetie, now can-"

"I think your toenails should be… purple!", the little girl turned to her toy make up set and began looking for the other varnish.

He bit his lip as he dropped his head back against the couch. He was tempted to refuse anymore pampering but Judith was already lifting his leg, putting his foot on the coffee table and removing his sock.

"Knock knock!"

The front door opened and Lily poked her head through, as her mother stepped through the door.

"Come in!", Rick called when he saw the two of them.

Sasha went to greet Rick's mother before joining them, while Lily skipped over to him and her little green eyes lit up when she saw what Judith was doing.

"Go ahead honey", Rick put his other foot on the coffee table.

Lily turned to the makeup kit and picked up a varnish, "Blue!"

"Go right ahead", He smiled, though, the smell was making him nauseous.

The two of them wasted no time getting into their own little conversation. Their friendship was always something that Rick adored, and he was more than happy to give them something to bond over, even if it came at his own expense.

"Well don't you look pretty!", Sasha teased as she came back in the room.

Rick tried not to bare his teeth at her, "Thanks"

Sasha giggled wickedly, "We thought we'd stop by and bring you some more treats. Just some brownies and cookies-"

"I'm gonna have to hide them from Michonne and Carl"

"You will", She nodded in agreement, "Speaking of Michonne, how's the bet going?"

"Great. I haven't lost my temper once and she's not spent anythan'"

"That's good then, right?"

"No.", Rick shook his head, "Not at all because we've switched places. She's more irritable and I've have to replace a remote, a lamp, the coffee maker…"

Sasha stared at him, "Why?"

"Because It helps", He insisted dryly.

She frowned at him, "You both have a problem"

"I cleaned it Uncle Rick", Gerald walked in with a clean leg beneath his shorts, holding the first aid box. His eyes darted to Lily, then Sasha, and the boy's shoulders fell, "Uh… Hi"

"Oh hey, Gerald, what happened?", Sasha asked as she sat forward to look at him.

"Uh… I was… out on my board and I-I landed bad…", Gerald's cheeks flamed.

Rick bit his lips together in a bid to hold back a chuckle as he watched his nephew stutter nervously.

"Let me see it", Sasha instructed.

"Oh… Uh, Uncle Rick said he'd-"

"I'm a little busy at the moment", Rick motioned the two little girl's painting his toenails.

"Exactly", Sasha laughed, "Come on, I'll wrap it for you, sit here"

Sasha stood and Gerald stepped over to the seat sheepishly. She took the kit from him and began going through it as she kneeled and he sat down. Rick was highly amused.

"So have you been walking around yet Rick?", Sasha probed.

"Huh? Oh yeah… It's getting easier to move around", He's answered half-heartedly, more focused on watching his nephew squirm.

Gerald's whole face was crimson as he watched Sasha tend to him.

"You should really be careful out there", Sasha reprimanded as she shook her head at the teenager.

Gerald swallowed, "Yeah, no, uh… I will… from now on"

"All done daddy", Judith stood back to admire her work, then frowned, "How come you have hair on your legs and mama doesn't?"

Rick snorted, "Trust me sweetie, mama's legs can look just like daddy's sometimes"

"Really?", Judith looked at him with wide eyes.

"That's right… but how about we keep that between the two of us okay?", He quickly realised that if his comment got back to Michonne he'd be sleeping on the couch for longer than he'd like.

Judith nodded, but Rick could see that she was storing that piece of information away and it would somehow come back to haunt him.

"Can we put stickers on them?", Lily asked as she held up the little sheet of colourful stickers.

"Yes! You do that hand and I'll do this one", Judith took Rick's hand in her as they both sat on either side of them.

Sasha looked back over her shoulder and laughed, "That's my girls"

Rick held back another sigh, wondering how anyone could find pleasure in such a situation.

"Alright Gerald, we are all done", Sasha gathered up the discarded wrappings from the band aids and bandages.

"Thanks a lot… I really appreciate it", Gerald stuttered shyly.

"Oh it's fine", She smiled at him as she stood.

The teen seemed to swoon as he breathed, "You're beautiful"

"What was that?", Sasha asked as she handed him back the kit.

Gerald shook his head as he realised he wasn't in a dream, "Oh, nothing, uh, I'll put this… back"

The teenager all but sprinted out the room and Sasha sat back down in the recliner with a huff.

Rick threw his head back as he laughed, wishing Michonne had been present for the adorable, yet unrequited exchange.

"Stop it", Sasha frowned at him as she took out her phone from her purse.

"You heard him?", Rick looked at her with surprise.

"Of course I did", She hissed at him, "Talk to him"

He burst out laughing again, "No, this is funny-"

"Rick-"

"Fine!"

…

Rick smiled as the front door opened and Michonne stepped in, looking miserable, "Get over here grumpy"

She sent him a deadly look, as she walked in the living room, dropping her belongings on the recliner.

"How was your day?"

"Horrible", She huffed, peeling off her heels.

"Come tell about it", He offered.

She slumped over to him, throwing herself down on the couch and resting her legs over his lap, "Judith's birthday"

"It's coming", He nodded, beginning to massage her calves.

"Exactly. I looked at all these venues and party supply websites and I couldn't even get anything"

Rick needed his way up to the back of her thigh, "Well… it's not that you can't get her anythan'..."

She clamped her knees on his arm, "I'm not losing to you Grimes"

He smirked, "Is that what you think?"

She snarled at him, "Where are the kids?"

"Judith's helping mom in the kitchen, Carl and Gerald are in his room playing video games"

She raised her eyebrows, "You're letting him off now?"

"No, I'm not. I just wanted them out the way for a few hours. Gerald busted his knee doing tricks on his skateboard and Carl nearly maimed himself cutting the bushes"

"What?", She frowned at him.

"They're both fine. Nothing serious… hey, listen, you know Gerald's got a crush on Sasha?", Rick was already smiling as he remembered the incident from earlier.

"Really?"

"He even told her she's beautiful"

Michonne giggled, "No he didn't"

"I swear, he sat right there and said it, he had his puppy eyes on and everythan', smiling like a damn fool"

"Doesn't that sound familiar?"

His smile fell as he furrowed his brow at her.

"Mrs Hanson, was it?", She teased.

Rick sat back, "How the hell did you know about-"

"Shane. He told me", She wiggled her brows at him.

"When?", Rick demanded.

"When you were at the hospital. He came by, we got to talking and he was telling me all about when you two were young. He told me about Mrs Hanson and how you would get to class early… explains why you're into that whole 'sexy-teacher' thing…"

He pursed his lips at her, "What else did you two talk about?"

She shrugged, "The kids… work… mainly the two of you though"

"You like talking to him?"

She narrowed her eyes at him as she realised what his point was, "You're an ass"

"I don't like the way he looks at you"

"What does that even mean? How else should he look at me? And what does it even matter? He's not the one we have to worry about-"

"He's the lesser of two evils, but that doesn't mean we don't worry about him-"

"Rick. Shane was at the hospital for you, not me. And in case you've forgotten, he's also in a relationship with my best friend-"

"Like that would stop him from trying anythan'-"

"Maybe not, but my knee in his groin definitely would"

He eyed her, a small smile tugging at his lips, "Good…but listen we need to talk about that Lori situation with Carl…"

She nodded, "This weekend"

"...Alright"

She sat up and looked at him, "What is that on your cheek?"

"Probably make up... Judith... Her and Lily did my nails too", He showed her his hands and feet.

She snickered as she took his hand in hers, her eyes sailing over his nails, "They did a good job"

He sighed, "Please take it off"

"But you look so fancy now", She taunted with a pout.

"Michonne."

"Fine", She spun her legs off of his and stood up, "Next time, I want your hair done too"

"You're not funny at all"

…

"How's it feel to be out uncle Rick?", Gerald asked as the strolled along the street in town.

"Pretty good", Rick admitted as he looked down at Judith between them, holding both their hands.

They followed Michonne, his mother and Carl into a store, as school would be starting soon and the kids needed new clothes. Rick didn't mind the outing, as he was sick of sitting around at home and he was secretly hoping to see Michonne lose the bet.

"Remember, nothing ridiculous or offensive", Michonne warned Carl, "Now go. Gerald, if you see something you like then let your uncle know"

Rick pursed his lips at her.

"Come on Judith, let's go find you some nice little dresses", His mother grinned excitedly as she took the little girl's hand.

Michonne sighed as she watched them all go their separate ways.

Rick crept up behind her, his hand on her hip and his lips by her ear, "You see anythan' you like?"

"Stop", She breathed as she looked around sadly.

His voice dropped even lower as he rasped, "If you call me daddy then I'll get you want you want"

She gasped in her mouth, her back almost arching. She bit at him, "Stop it"

"You know you want somethan'... look at all those shoes, just waiting to trip me up in the early hours of the morning when I need the bathroom-"

"Get off me", She growled, swatting him away, "I'm gonna go sit down"

"Go ahead. I'm with the boys"

Rick found himself in the young men's section, watching Gerald and Carl stare at t-shirt for unreasonable amount of time. He sighed countless times as neither seemed committed to actually lifting the hanger off the rail.

"What's the problem here?", Rick finally asked.

Carl shrugged, "I'm not really into these kind of t-shirt anymore"

Rick winced at him, "Then what exactly are you into?"

"Something a little more... older? There's another store down the street-"

"Alright. We'll go there after. Come on, let's go find your sister"

He was glad the Judith seemed to be enjoying herself, as her grandmother had an arm filled with clothes. The little girl was very much like her mother when she shopped, only taking as few seconds decide if she wanted something or not, and swiftly moving on to the next item of clothing.

"She's better at this than us", Carl muttered as he watched her.

"Who's her mother?... And godmother? And Aunt?", Rick muttered back.

"Where's aunt Michonne?", Gerald asked.

"Probably rocking back and forth somewhere in a corner"

"Why?"

"We have a bet going on. She's not allowed to spend any money, I'm not allowed to lose my temper"

Gerald winced at him, "But you've broken a lot of stuff this week?"

"I have, but as long as I'm still pleasant, I'm well within my rights"

"What do you get if you win?", Carl's eyes popped open, looking amused.

Rick eyed both the teenagers as he figured out how to word his answer, "I get to be king for the day"

They both laughed, and Rick wasn't sure if that was the reaction he was looking for.

"What does mom get if she wins?", Carl pressed.

"An office"

Carl stilled, staring at his father with new, worried eyes, "She wants an office?"

Rick nodded, but slowly stopped when he realised his son looked quite shocked by the news, "Yeah. She wants one"

Carl's gaze dropped as he faced the other way. It dawned on Rick that he wouldn't be the only one that didn't like the idea of Michonne getting an office, and his son's reaction only strengthened his argument.

"Rick, take these", His mother dropped the pile of clothes in his arms, "Go put them at the counter, we're almost done"

He nearly groaned but did as he was told, taking Judith's little haul to the counter with his son and nephew.

"Can we get lunch?", Carl asked from behind him.

"Yeah, I'm hungry", Gerald agreed, "Isn't the diner nearby? My dad said they have the best burgers?"

"They do. And milkshakes"

"We have to get you guy's somethan' first, then we'll…", Rick froze, stopping dead in his tracks.

"Dad?", Carl questioned, looking at him strangely.

"Hush", Rick whispered, "Look"

All three Grimes men watched as Michonne stood at the counter, handing over her card to the sales assistant, as a small mountain of clothes sat folded between them. Rick had to admit, he hadn't seen her look so content in a long time, and he was sure he could hear her heart singing from where he was. The sales assistant handed her back her card and Michonne put it in her purse, while the woman bagged her items.

"Does she realise… she's lost?", Gerald looked to his uncle, confused.

"Nope… but she's about to find out", Rick whispered sinisterly, "Both of you take these"

They distributed Judith's clothes between them, as Rick had seen enough. He quietly made his way closer to her, and when she took the bag of forbidden purchases, he stood directly behind her. She spun around and found herself face to face, and almost chest to chest with him. The smile on her face faded away, and her eyes widened, as if she was waking up from a dream and stepping into a nightmare.

Rick's grin was of pure satisfaction as he exhaled, "Oh Michonne… I have never been so happy to see you spend money"

She raised her hand to him, "Now wait, technically-"

"Stop it"

"Rick, I blacked out-", She whispered harshly.

"I'm sure you did", He chuckled with glee, "You. Lost"

She looked as if she was ready to fight her point, but then her face crumbled, "I sat down and there was a sale rack… and they had all these shirts…and I've been so miserable! I've turned in to you and I hate it! And- and I don't want to lose!"

"But you have lost. And I…", He sighed happily, cupping her cheek with his hand, "..Have won"