The First Responder

Chapter 26

A/N Once again, thank you again for your continued support.

Summary: in the last chapter, we saw both Rick and Michonne wrestling with their feelings regarding the tension which crept up on them and caused a momentary divide. They were eventually able to work things out and then he returned to the city for emergency recall duty.

Please enjoy this update and leave a note.

It was around six thirty and it had been raining steadily since I put the girls down for their nap. I reckoned the melodic sound of rain coming down also helped me to fall asleep too because it's now a couple hours later.

The winds were picking up outdoors. The rattling windows jarred me from my unplanned nap. I don't know how the girls remained asleep through all this. Personally, I don't like storms, but these days it was not really about me anymore. I have had to push past things that I didn't particularly like to get things done, case in point dirty diapers, but once I got passed the twins first bowel movement and spit up on my clothes or in my hair that I was aware of, I could get past most anything because it wasn't like we could return them anyways.

Shopping humour aside, the din outdoors was relentless, so it took me a little while to discern there was actually someone knocking at the door. I threw the covers off me grabbed my phone and the baby monitor and went downstairs.

There was a text from ma letting me know that she was taking the sheriff's dinner and goodies over to the station. Plus, she would be dropping off a meal for her shut-in friend, Mrs. Niedermeyer, but that was over two hours ago and now someone was at the door. I hoped like hell that wherever she was she was safe. I don't like unannounced callers at my door. Hell, it wasn't even my door.

Rick had been gone approximate eight hours not that I'm counting, of course, but for what it's worth I hadn't had any scares, so I hoped things remained that way.

As I approached the back door, I was perplexed as to just why someone would be out on a night like this. It was obviously a stranger because they would have tried the door first, it's never locked. Turning the handle, I was pleasantly surprised, ma had locked it on her way out.

I unlocked the door only to find Andrea there, her umbrella was twisted inside out and barely recognizable. It looked like something some hip artist would stick its name on with a really cool description for the piece and sell it as art.

Andrea was a mess, her hair was drenched and her mascara was running down her face. She looked like a raccoon with a penchant for designer paraphernalia. She was dressed as though she left straight from the office, except, in addition to her designer handbag, she had a designer overnight bag too.

I know, I'm being a little catty, perhaps a little part of me was jealous because I couldn't remember the last time I actually dressed up for anything, but I could tell you precisely the last time I had to change because of spit up.

"Andrea, are you crazy? What the hell are you doing out in this weather?"

"Are you going to let me in or am I not drenched enough yet? I have permission to be here, I swear."

I ignored her last comment. Stepping aside I allowed her passage, she shook off her ruined umbrella and tried closing it, but then gave up stepped inside and placed it just inside the garage to be disposed at a later time.

"Oh my God, do I smell garlic bread and lasagna?" She did, but the smell was faint because ma had been gone a while.

"Why don't you go upstairs and get changed into something dry. You can grab something to eat after if you like. The girls will be up soon."

"Hey, sweetie, guess who's come to visit you and Elodie?" I said to my youngest, Colette as I tickled her tummy after her change was completed. "Auntie Andrea's here," she giggles as if she understood. I know it was probably gas, but I chose to believe it was the real thing.

I was placing Colette back into their crib when Andrea walks into the room, "Can I help you, sweetie?"

Andrea's offer surprised me. "Sure, sweetie, all you'll need is on the changing table, but be careful it won't be pretty."

She picks up a fretting Elodie and lay her down on the table. "Hi there, sweetie. It's me, Auntie Andrea. Look at you… you and your sister have gotten so big."

Andrea had no sooner gotten the diaper open when poor Elodie passed gas and her diaper exploded. I know if I wasn't their mother, it would have probably turned me off diaper-changing altogether, but it's just one of those things that comes with the territory. Thank god, Andrea used the security belt because Elodie's little arms and legs were moving a mile a minute and the poor thing was crying. Andrea got a huge surprise, it was a royal mess. I tried my damndest not to laugh, but I couldn't resist a chuckle or two. Andrea appeared bewildered looking at her hands and her newly changed clothes which were now covered in shit, so I stepped in to save them both.

I passed her several wipes, "Sweetie, go take a shower, by the time you're done, the girls will be finished feeding.

"Oh my God, is this what I have to look forward to?"

"Andrea, it's okay. It doesn't happen all the time… but it does occasionally get messy, it's normal. Don't worry about it… I got this."

Turning my attention back to Elodie, "So, missy, you thought that was funny, eh? It won't always be daddy or me changing you, but I have to admit the look on your auntie's face was priceless. Now, let's get you washed up, sweetie".

I swore she understood what I was saying too because she and her sister began cooing in their own language as I took her into the bathroom.

Elodie and Colette were sitting in their car seats which sat on top of the table on either side of Andrea and me. They were more alert these days, and they were very curious about their aunt, who at the moment was not at her best. Instead of her blonde head of bouncing curls, her hair was damp and Andrea was slumming in her designer sweats.

The girls cooed in a language only they understood.

"I can't get over how much they have grown and they've changed so much too… I can't even stay mad for getting shit on because they're just too damn gorgeous…"

"Andrea! You're going to have amend your vocabulary around the children. The girls may be too young, but Marc-André's is much older, you'll have to watch what you say around him."

"What? Y'all sure do make beautiful babies."

"We're just happy they're healthy, but thank you!"

"My God, that husband of yours sure marked them, didn't he? There was never any escaping him. Look at their wavy brown curls, their gorgeous blue eyes, those long curly lashes. They have your lips. Look at that perfect tan, their caramel coloured skin. I'm sooooo jealous. Michonne, they're exactly the same… how do you even tell them apart?" she asked, playing with their little toes.

"Elodie has the same tiny beauty mark on her right cheek as her father does, but they each have a birthmark in the shape of half of a heart on the opposite butt cheek. Elodie has it on her left cheek while Colette's on the right."

I wasn't even sure that Andrea heard me. She just kept looking from one twin to the other as if trying to commit them to memory. The girls were equally taken in by her strange behaviour. She was never this intense when we Skyped, so I chucked it up to being able to see them in the flesh.

"Can I hold them?"

"You can, but maybe we should eat while they're still in a relatively good mood."

"Good point."

...

"Oh my God, I think that was about the best lasagna I've had in a very long time."

"Yeah, ma makes a pretty mean lasagna," all of a sudden, my thoughts trailed off to her. She had been gone for several hours now, so I wondered where she was… and as if by magic the house phone rang, it was ma. She had accompanied her friend to the hospital, it seems Mrs. Neidermeyer had fallen and broke her hip. Ma advised that she'd be home later.

Andrea eventually took turns holding her nieces and Elodie was on her best behaviour, so much so, just before bedtime, she allowed her aunt to change her without further incident.

With the kids fed and now in bed, Andrea and I were sitting in the living room curled up on the sofa and the loveseat respectively, each with a pint of New York Super Fudge Chunk. It reminds me of college life all over again. It was really nice to have my sister around again without a horde of people. I think the last time we actually spent time together was just before the wedding almost five months ago. It was also nice to be interacting with an adult other than my husband for a change.

"So, what did you mean earlier when you said, you have permission to be here?"

She blushed. "Andrea?"

"Oh… well, your husband came by the office on his way to work. He told me to check in with you."

Hearing her explanation, it all made perfect sense now. "Sweetie, I don't think he ever meant for you to travel in this weather, but I'm glad you're here and that you are safe now." She smiled, but there was something off, her smile didn't meet her eyes. It was like there was something she just couldn't bring herself to say.

"Is everything okay at the office? I know when we Skype it's mostly about your nieces, but if you have something to say, don't hold back."

"Everything's fine at the office since you lowered the boom on Philip. Plus, you'll be in for the quarterly meeting, so everyone's now waiting with bated breath to see my nieces. They are tired of me spoon feeding them the photos you share with me, they want the real deal."

"Fair enough. So, what aren't you telling me?"

Andrea took another spoonful of ice cream and averted her eyes, she was savouring the blissful concoction of white and dark chocolate chunks, the smooth soft cold dark chocolate together with bits of pecans, walnuts and chocolate covered almonds… a blissful orgasm for the taste buds. She did it a few more times ignoring the unanswered question, but I was patient with her. It was not often that my sister was tied up in knots, not quite knowing what to say.

Eventually, the quietness settled between us and she spoke, "How did you know?"

I wasn't following Andrea's train of thought, "How did I know what?" I asked.

She looked frustrated as if I should be able to pluck her thoughts from her head. "Drea, I'm sorry, but I need a little more to work with here."

Her hands gesticulated in front of her one holding onto the pint of ice cream the other with the spoon, both open wide to encompass the entire room, "You know... all this?"

"Andrea, will you start making sense? Perhaps you should stop eating your ice cream because it's obviously impeding your ability to make sense."

"Fuck you!" She said without much conviction.

Something was off with her, Andrea was testy. I mean, I've seen the many shades of Andrea over the years, but tonight she was all over the map. She was running both hot and cold and ruining my guilty pleasure, the one my husband went out of his way to cater to in his absence. Just then, the house phone rang again, so I got up and went to answer it.

"Mrs. Grimes?"

"Yes, but I'm not 'the Mrs. Grimes', I can take a message for her.

"No worries, ma'am, we have a delivery to make, but the weather is getting pretty nasty outside, so Ms. Rebecca said we should call first to make sure you're up because she won't be able to make it back before we close the shop.

"I am."

"Great! The driver should be there in twenty minutes. Bye."

"Bye."

"What was that about?" she asks as I reclaimed my place on the loveseat.

"Oh no, you don't. I asked you first. What's going on with you? Did you and Shane have your first fight? Did you finally kick him to the curb?"

"You went for the jugular, didn't you, Mich?"

"Drea, you're not giving me much to work with, so what do you expect?"

We both sat our pints of ice cream down on the placemat and sat back, that's when I knew the shit was real. It was as if we were transported back in time to when we were in college; something big was going to happen, but Aaron wasn't here. The three of us usually tackled important stuff together. All wasn't lost though, he could still be looped in.

"Do we call Aaron?" I asked.

"No. I just need to talk to you."

"I'm listening, Andrea, but you're not saying much."

"Michonne, how did you know Rick's the one? I mean… we never really talked about it, so I don't know."

I was so shocked by the question it must've shown on my face.

"What?" She asked defensively, "I mean he told you he loved you and ran home, next thing I knew I was going to be an aunt and then you're married. Now, my nieces are here and you two seem like two peas in a pod."

It was clear Shane must have taken a page from the famous Rick Grimes playbook, but something was still off with Andrea. I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

"How did you two do it… I mean... figure it all out?"

"It's not easy, Drea. We're still trying to figure things out, the only difference is that Rick has changed his priorities… ever since Marc-Andre came into our lives… his buddies see much less of him…"

Suddenly, it all clicked. The bottle of wine I placed on the table earlier remained in the same spot untouched. That in itself alone was a red flag, my friend Andrea never said no to wine with a meal… hell, she has never refused wine, period. Her sense of smell was really sharp; it was only months ago when I could smell just about anything… her offer to change dirty diapers, and her self-questioning ... "Is this what I have to look forward to?"... and her mood swings, it all fit.

The realization hit hard. Holy shit! Andrea was pregnant and there was a panic look on her face once she realized I knew her secret, it all made perfect sense now.

"Oh my God! You're… you're pregnant, aren't you?!"

The words spoken out loud caused the dam to break at the same moment the doorbell rang. I passed her the box Kleenex which was next to me and went to answer the door before they could ring the bell again, I didn't want the girls to wake up and find myself in the middle of a cry fest. I was also using the time to think of what to say to Andrea. She came out here for answers and I have none. I don't think Andrea was being very rational either, look who she's looking to for advice. Hell, my relationship with Rick was about the craziest thing I have ever done. Ours didn't follow the normal evolution like most couples do, on our second date we made the twins, weeks later he told me he loved me, but there was always something there from the night I met him officially. It was weeks later that I found out why I felt so at ease with him from the onset.

How the hell was I to be of help to Andrea? Her relationship with Shane was more traditional than ours ever was, they had a chance to date and get to know one another before their lives turned upside down, although I must admit neither Rick nor I believed they'd make it this far, but they have, so I silently walked to the door trying to make sense of the whole situation.

…

Opening the door, the man stood there in the pouring rain holding a gift basket and a huge bouquet of flowers.

"Good evening, ma'am".

I had completely forgotten about the phone call announcing his visit, it seems my brain can only retain one thing at a time. I longed to have my non-pregnancy brain back. I opened the door further so he could step inside while I retrieve my purse to get him a tip.

"Come on in, you can set them down on the countertop. I'll be right back." I said leaving the kitchen to go upstairs.

Minutes later, I passed the young man some money and he was on his way.

"Who was that?" Andrea asks as she suddenly materializes behind me while I was busy searching to find a vase for the fragrant bouquet.

Eventually, I located ma's crystal vase and filled it with water, unwrapped the flowers and placed them in the vase. "It was the delivery guy."

After, I attacked the gift basket because in it was my absolute favourite chocolate bars. The Big Kat bars were among an assortment of cheeses, jams, crackers, and fruits. But at the moment, all I wanted was a bar, so I attacked the cellophane wrap with a frenzy. When I get these chocolate cravings I must satisfy them. Andrea ruined my earlier indulgence because the ice cream was most certainly soup by now. In my haste to get the wrapping off, the note which was stuck inside to protect it from the elements fell to the floor.

Andrea retrieved it and passed it to me. "Thank you," I said as I opened it and read It.

"Baby, I know these past few days have not been easy, but I'm happy you're still with me. The basket is a token of my appreciation for making me a better man." Love, Rick.

The memory of last night crossed my mind and a small smile tugged at the corner of my lips, but then I remembered Andrea was in the middle of a meltdown, so I tucked the note away in my back pocket.

"Was it from Rick?"

"Yes." I didn't want to go into details about it because Rick and I were in a better place than her and Shane at present. There was no need to highlight it. "Come on, let's go," I added offering her a chocolate bar.

...

After we returned to our respective places on the sofa and loveseat, I quickly finished my bar and waited for Andrea to do the same.

"Does he know?"

"Michonne, are you for real? Shane's not exactly a 'Rick Grimes' you know."

"True, but you have been involved with him for about seven months now. He's not just a one night stand, Andrea. I don't know what label y'all are putting on it, but you're in a relationship."

"Are you seriously defending Shane, especially knowing how immature he can be?"

"Sweetie, you knew that, but you stayed with him anyway. I'm glad too because it softened you… you needed that too. Our lives are not too different in that aspect. Shane allowed you to be vulnerable again. Rick did the same for me… it's okay to be scared, Andrea."

"But what if he isn't ready for all this? I mean… the dumbass accused Rick of marrying you for money. Did Rick tell you how he reacted to your new digs?"

"No. Why would he say that? Rick has absolutely no interest in money. He has access to the passwords and his name's on the accounts, but the only thing he's bought was the new car and the furniture for which I insisted he used the card."

"That's Shane. That's the problem, I think it makes him uneasy that I make more than him, he gets offended whenever I offer to pay the tab for anything… how do you think he'll react to the fact that he's gonna be a father when he had no say in the matter?"

"I don't know because I don't know Shane all that well. But, in his defence, he gets along great with Marc-André and that surprised me a great deal. There was a softer side underneath the toughness, but the more important question is how do you feel about it, Andrea?"

"What? You mean… the fact that I'm a damn mess?"

I gave her an understanding smile because it's not easy finding out such news especially when it's unexpected. I can definitely attest to that.

"I don't like not being in control... and right now my emotions are making it a losing battle."

"It's your hormones, sweetie… wait till you have that and the baby pressing on your bladder. How far along are you?"

"Five weeks."

"Oh! So we weren't the only ones getting busy five weeks ago?"

I chuckled and she gave me one those if looks could kill look. I deserved it because I was enjoying my best friend's meltdown as she came to grips with her new norm. It was a pleasure to see Andrea losing control, hell she was in my wheelhouse now and I couldn't think of a better person to have along for the ride. This wasn't exactly the way either of us would have liked to start a family, but knowing our circumstances regarding our loss and our emotional reticence, this was perhaps the universe's way of fixing us. We had to let go of the pain which crippled us in order to feel again.

The irony, however, was that the men who were able to reach us were family without a blood bond, just like we were and we were all beautifully flawed. As a peace offering, I decided to make Andrea a cup of Chamomile tea and offered her my bed. I would sleep on the sofa. There was no point in discussing matters further because she was a mess and she needs her rest. I got my sister back and we were both in the same boat because both of our men were on emergency recall.

The last thing I remember was the door opening and footsteps on the stairs. I was somewhere between sleep and wake, but I was on the cusps of a memory it was a nice one, so I squeezed my eyes tighter, I fought to hold on to it and allowed myself to relax.

We were together in the car, Mom, Dad, Mark, Duane and me. I heard their voices so clearly, but I couldn't see their faces. Something was wrong, I desperately needed to see their faces, why couldn't I see their faces. I'm sitting right here between my brothers, I'm so very happy, I can see the back of my parents head, but neither of my brothers will look at me. There's something outside which was more interesting to them right now.

Damn it, I'm here! Talk to me... my hands reached out to touch my brothers, but it went through them instead.

The yellow lights were barely visible through the wall of snow, the roar of the engine and then the impact, the crunch of metal on metal, breaking glass, groaning and the car spinning out of control and rolling over the embankment.

"Mich, you have to stay. Mich, you have to stay. Mich, you have to stay. Mich, you have to stay. Mich, you have to stay."

"No Mark! No Mark! Nooooooooooooooooooo, please don't leave me! Mark, please don't leave me! "

"Sweetheart, wake up you're having a bad dream. Michonne, sweetheart, wake up… everything's okay… it's only a dream. You're not alone. Wake up."

I woke up with my head cradled in ma's lap and Andrea holding a glass of water out to me.

I slowly sat up. My tears were uncontrollable as my body rocked with grief. "It wasn't about Rick. It was never about Rick."

"What do you mean?" Andrea asks.

"It's not Rick, it was never about Rick."