A/N: Thank you so much for all of your support! I've been seeing links to this story popping up in different places. I am incredibly flattered that you all are spreading the word. We're just one chapter away from the end. Thanks for reading!
"You proposed?" Lori was seated in a wheelchair just outside the automatic doors of the hospital. Rick stood a few feet away, desperately trying to control his temper.
"Not that it's any of your business, but yes," Rick glanced backwards into the hospital, searching for Michonne. She had led Carl off to the giftshop to buy his new little sister a present. Lori was holding the baby in her lap, waiting for Shane to bring the car around. Rick stole periodic glances at the infant, hoping to discern something about her parentage just by sight. From what he could tell, she was a pink little lump with wispy, light brown hair and eyes she seemed to content to keep shut. She was beautiful, a perfect little infant. But Rick could not tell if she was his.
"That's a little soon," Lori bounced the baby gently, her eyes firmly on the parking lot. "And seeing as she's going to be Carl's step-mom, I'd say it is my business."
"Lori," Rick wasn't keen to fight a woman who had just given birth, but he wasn't going to stand outside and be bullied either. She'd been nitpicking since her eyes fell on the new ring on Michonne's left hand. "You didn't tell me when you up and married Shane. You've got no room to talk."
"Is that why you did it? To get back at me?" there was something almost hopeful in her eyes.
"I did it because I love her," Rick did not hesitate in his answer. "I want to spend the rest of my life with her. Have kids. The same things you should want with Shane."
Lori sniffled, fussing with the blanket around the baby. "She could be yours," she said quietly.
"We'll find out tomorrow," Rick sighed. The nurses had told him privately that the lab would take 24 hours to respond. He'd been at work when the call came through, knee-deep in paperwork after a string of drug-related arrests. He had wanted nothing more than to come home to Michonne and fall into bed, but in typical fashion, his ex had drawn the attention to herself. Still, Carl deserved to meet his sister, so Rick had left Dre with Hershel and Beth and come to the hospital the following morning.
"What if she's yours?" Lori whispered.
"Then we'll talk about what to do." Rick could feel the headache building between his eyes. "But you need to be ready for what's coming Lori, because whether Shane is in the picture or not, I'm not coming back." It was harsh, especially considering the current situation, but Rick did not flinch in telling her.
"I know that," Lori's eyes stayed on the infant in her arms. She hastily wiped her face.
"Good," Rick nodded, glancing over his shoulder again. "Shane is trying. You owe it to the both of you to see that through."
Lori looked up at him, her eyes wet, but glinting with determination. "I'm not going to mess up another marriage."
Rick had his doubts but refrained from expressing them. The doors behind him slid open, finally revealing the person who he wanted to see most.
"Mom, we got her something!" Carl bounded excitedly from Michonne to Lori, brandishing a gift bag. "Open it!"
"Why don't you open it for me," Lori smiled kindly at her son. "I've got my hands full." She betrayed no sign of the conversation she had just had with Rick.
"It's a hat," Carl announced the gift before he pulled it from the bag. "Mom said that babies' heads get cold."
Lori's brow furrowed. "When did I tell you that?" she asked.
"You didn't," Carl said, blissfully unaware. He slid a pink knit cap on his sister's head, kissing her crown gently. Rick had to smile. Beside him, Michonne stirred. Understanding dawned on Lori's face.
"You mean Michonne," she glanced over at the woman in question, her expression morose. Michonne did not flinch under her gaze. She was still in her work clothing, her blue wrap around dress clinging to her as the summer breeze stirred her skirt. Atlanta summers looked good on Michonne; her sun-kissed skin seemed to glow in the afternoon light.
"Of course," Carl's eyes fell on his mother, at last noticing that she was upset. "Are you ok?" he asked timidly.
"Mom's just tired," Rick stepped in quickly. "It's hard work, bringing babies into the world." Rick looked back at his ex, daring her to contradict him. Lori settled on changing the subject.
"I suppose I owe you a 'congratulations'," she looked at Michonne, mustering a smile.
"What are we congratulating?" Rick had been so consumed with the situation at hand that he didn't notice Shane pulling up and parking at the curb. His hair was growing back in, thick and wavy as it had always been. He swallowed nervously upon seeing Michonne, his eyes darting between her and Rick.
"They're getting married," Lori told him matter-of-factly.
"That's great news," Shane looked genuinely chuffed by the news. Rick wondered whether it was sincerely for their happiness of because Shane no longer thought Rick was a contender for Lori.
"Thank you," Michonne smiled graciously at him. Rick laced his fingers with hers.
"I helped pick the ring," Carl informed them. Shane took a quick glance at Michonne's left hand.
"You've got good tastes, kid." He looked on nervously while Carl smiled. "I've gotta get your mom home though. These ladies need their rest." Shane circled around to the back of Lori's wheelchair.
"Can I come see you soon?" Carl asked his mother, kissing both her and the baby.
"I hope you do," Lori smoothed his hair back. Carl had left his hat at Hershel's house.
"You will," Rick assured them both, moving to clasp his son's shoulder.
"I love you," Carl called after them.
"Love you too, baby," Lori allowed herself to be loaded into the backseat of the car, her baby beside her. Shane waved from the driver's seat, pulling off.
"Why can't they name her until tomorrow?" Carl asked Rick curiously.
"I think she wants to surprise you," Rick grinned down at him. Michonne glanced at him above Carl's head. The young boy did not need to know that Lori was waiting to know which last name to put on the birth certificate.
"The nurse thought it was cool that I have two moms," Carl chirped happily away as Rick walked Michonne to her car. "She asked how we all knew each other."
"Did she?" Michonne engaged him, clutching his hand as they weaved through cars.
"She was nice," Carl observed. "She taught me how to hold the baby. Maybe I can try it soon."
"I'm sure your sister will love that," Michonne kissed him on the top of the head.
"I'll see you at home," Rick kissed his fiancée, wishing that they were all in one car. They shared a long look, full of things he knew they would say in a few hours' time.
"Do you think the baby is yours, dad?" Carl's question a few minutes later caught Rick off-guard.
"I'm not sure," Rick answered honestly.
"Does she look like me? When I was a baby?" his son was full of questions today.
"You had more hair," Rick chuckled at the memory. "And you cried, all day and all night seemed like for a week." Rick remembered falling asleep standing up in the shower.
"So, I was bad?" Carl glanced over at him.
"No," Rick was quick in his response. "You were just talkative."
"Was mom mad just now? About Michonne?" Carl asked quietly.
"I don't know," Rick settled on a white lie. "Her emotions are high."
"Shane seemed happy," Carl observed.
"He did," Rick didn't bother to think too deeply into that.
"I wonder if mom will ever like Michonne," Carl mused out loud. "She should talk to her. Michonne is so easy to like."
"Give it time," Rick reached over to ruffle his son's hair.
Michonne was home by the time Rick returned with both boys, fresh from a shower in their bedroom. Rick wondered whether they would move into her house after they tied the knot, or whether they would search for a new place entirely. There was a lot to talk about.
"Lori took that well," the hint of sarcasm on Michonne's lips brought a smile to his face.
"Pretty much exactly how I expected it to go," he laughed, slipping his shoes off.
"She's a cute baby," Michonne observed, coming to sit on the bed, rubbing lotion into her legs. Rick became distracted by the motion. She smirked. "Are you listening?"
"Kind of," he sat next to her, pulling her legs into his lap. The skin was impossibly soft and warm. He ran his fingers over it, calming himself down. "I don't want to talk about Lori," he admitted.
"What do you want to talk about?" Michonne passed him the bottle of lotion. He happily complied, rubbing some into his hands before smoothing it over her feet. She sighed contently, leaning backwards. Rick heightened the pressure, smiling at her reaction.
"Let's talk about our wedding," Rick suggested. They had yet to broach the subject at all. After he had proposed to Lori, she had jumped headfirst into the planning, drowning him in fabric samples and templates for place cards and bridal gifts.
Michonne smiled, moving further into his lap. "All right. What about our wedding?"
"When do you want to get married?" this seemed like a critical detail. Michonne laughed.
"Soon," she fiddled with his uniform, pulling it out of his waistband. Rick lifted his arms, allowing her to tug the shirt over his head. Michonne moved behind him, her hands firmly working his shoulders.
"How soon?" the idea was appealing to him. He exhaled, slouching against her.
"What if we aim for the fall?" she suggested, working his sore muscles between her hands. "Something small, just our family and friends."
"You read my mind," he groaned as she went to work on a knot in his neck.
"Sasha and Andrea want to be bridesmaids," Michonne laughed quietly. "I was thinking maybe Beth and Maggie too."
"Just Daryl for me," Rick paused, considering. "Glenn too. Maybe Noah? And Carl." It was odd to think of his son as a groomsman in his wedding, but Rick wanted it.
"Sounds good," Michonne worked her way up to his ears. "Dre can be ringbearer."
"Good," a streak of pleasure ran through Rick's body as Michonne's fingers moved into his hair. "So, it's all planned then."
She laughed. "Might need one or two details more." Her laughter intensified as Rick spun around, pulling her into his lap. "Are you worried?" she turned the subject back to the situation at hand.
Rick sighed. "Yeah, I am. I don't want Lori to have another connection to me." He kissed her. "Carl wants the baby to be mine."
"That's understandable," Michonne nodded, her eyes turning to the door, as though she could see their sons through it.
"What do you want?" it occurred to him that he had never asked her.
Michonne looked surprised. "I'd be lying if I said I want her to be yours." She looked almost bashful at her next confession. "I want to have your babies," her statement was accompanied by a little pout.
Rick began to laugh. "You can have my babies," he assured her, enticed by the thought.
"Don't tease," she pinched him playfully, misinterpreting his laugh.
"I'm not," Rick smacked her bottom lightly, delighting in her grin. "We can get a jump on it right now."
It was her turn to laugh. "Maybe we should get married first," she suggested.
"I'll call Hershel," Rick nipped at her neck and breasts, "he's an ordained minister. We could do this tonight."
Her giggles escalated. Rick took the opportunity to continue kissing her skin. "So impatient," she chided.
"I'm just trying to get in your pants," he admitted. "or robe," he amended, running his hands beneath the silk.
"I should have made you wait until marriage," she teased, catching his hands as he snaked them up her legs. "You're insatiable now."
"I'm trying not to worry," he admitted, burying his face in her neck and inhaling the scent of her soap.
"Then let me distract you," Michonne undid the tie on her robe, letting the fabric fall open. Rick's mind immediately went fuzzy and his mouth ran dry. "Is it helping?" she asked innocently.
In answer, Rick seized her around the waist, rolling them over onto the bed. "I can't even remember what I was worried about," he told her. Her giggles ratcheted up his affection for her.
A knock at the door caused them both to bolt up. Michonne hastily straightened out her robe. Rick reluctantly disengaged from her.
"Come in," he called once they were sufficiently detangled. Carl pushed open the bedroom door.
"Why are you still up?" Michonne went into mommy mode immediately, reaching for him as he walked towards the bed.
"I couldn't sleep," Carl was morose, dragging his feet. Michonne pulled him up between them on the mattress.
"What's bothering you?" she stroked his hair.
"How come my mom doesn't like you?" he asked, distressed. "Is she always going to be like that?"
Michonne shot Rick a look above Carl's head. Rick sighed.
"She just has to get used to the idea of sharing you Carl. That's all." He reached down for his son, rubbing his back.
"Do you think she's mad at me, that I call you "mom" too?" Carl directed his question at Michonne.
"I think it's just new," Michonne echoed Rick's words. "But if it bothers you, you can call me "Michonne" around your mom."
"No," Carl laid his head in her lap. "I want to call you mom."
"Then mom will get used to it," Rick said firmly. "Don't worry about it anymore."
Michonne kissed his head. "Want to stay here with us for a bit?"
Rick held back his sigh, turning his mind back to parent-mode. Carl hugged Michonne. She squeezed him back.
"Guess what?" she asked him, her tone excited. "Your dad has something to tell you about the wedding."
It took Rick a beat to remember, but then he grinned too. "I want you to be my best man," he reached out to tickle Carl. "You think you could do that for me?"
The smile on his face made Rick forget his frustrations. "Really?" Carl asked.
"Really," Rick confirmed. Behind them, Michonne smiled widely.
"I think I can do it," Carl said seriously.
"Good," Rick kissed him on his forehead. "You should go get some sleep."
"Ok," his spirits lifted, Carl moved to hop off the bed. "Goodnight, mom and dad!"
The bedroom door swung open again, this time revealing Dre standing there in his Underoos, looking confused.
"Are we sleeping in here?" he asked blearily.
Rick held back his sigh. "Come on," he gestured for Dre to join them.
He bounced to the bed, planting himself firmly near Carl, between Rick and Michonne. "Goodnight," Dre announced, immediately falling asleep. Carl was quick to follow, passing out headlong on Rick's pillow.
Michonne smiled sympathetically at Rick as he moved to the corner of the bed. "Maybe we can move them later," she whispered.
"That's definitely going to happen," Rick whispered back. He smiled despite his irritation. It was nice that their kids wanted to be around them all the time, but this habit had to stop. Rick needed Michonne to himself occasionally.
True to his word, Rick picked each boy up one by one and transferred them back to their room. Dre, true to form, didn't stir, but Carl woke up blearily.
"Love you dad," he mumbled as Rick deposited him next to Dre in the twin bed. He wondered vaguely if the bunk beds would fit in here.
"Love you too," Rick kissed him, leaving him to his sweet dreams.
Michonne was asleep when Rick returned to bed, her face buried in the pillow. Rick climbed in carefully, trying not to wake her. His mind was still turning, the worry crawling through him like a virus. A new baby, especially one with his ex, would be a huge wrench in his plans. No matter how firm Michonne was that she was with him, Lori would be sure to make life difficult. She was jealous, that was clear. Rick doubted it would be below her to use her daughter to drive a wedge between he and Michonne.
"You're thinking too loud," Michonne's voice startled him. She turned over, blinking at him in the dark of the room.
"Sorry," he rolled closer to her, running his hand over her back. She was still wrapped in her robe. "I'm just worried," he admitted.
"I know," she kissed him, her lips brushing over the bridge of his nose. "Worrying won't change anything," she admonished gently.
"Doesn't mean I won't do it." He glanced at his phone on the bedside table. "We've got 12 hours before the results come through. So, I'll be worrying for 12 hours more."
Michonne laughed, shaking her head. "You Grimes boys are needy," she smirked at him.
"We are," Rick agreed, burying his face in the crook between her neck and shoulder. "Good thing you're here to take care of us."
"I'll take care of you," her voice dropped in timbre. Rick's heart sped up at her tone. He glanced up at her curiously.
Michonne laughed lowly at his expression. She rolled over, positioning herself to face him. Slowly, he tugged her robe open, his mouth frantically kissing every inch of her he could reach. She rolled her body into him, encouraging him to continue.
"I was thinking," her words were punctuated by breathy gasps and Rick's mouth continued its work, "we should start looking for houses. Maybe something with a yard, for the boys."
Rick pulled back slightly, meeting her eyes. "Are you sure?" this was the house she'd shared with Mike. He wouldn't have thought she wanted to move.
"It's time," she smiled at him, closing the negligible distance between them. Her lips pressed against his slowly, sweetly. "We should build something that's just ours," she told him, her mouth still brushing his own.
Rick slanted his head, deepening the kiss, holding her against him. Michonne wrapped him in her embrace, content to continue this leisurely pace. She imitated him, trailing her mouth down his neck and shoulders, her hands skirting just ahead of her lips, exploring every part of him within reach. Rick closed his eyes and exhaled.
"I love you," he grasped the back of Michonne's head, drawing her in for another deep kiss. Her legs tangled around his. He pulled his fiancée closer to him, guiding her to wrap those long legs around his waist.
"I love you too," her fingernails danced a path down his back, sending chills through him. He returned the favor by rolling his hips slowly. Michonne moaned lowly, clutching him tightly. Her hips moved in unison, leisurely, in no rush to get where they were going. She sucked gently on the pulse point on his neck.
Rick groaned, pressing his face hard into her hair. He dove deeper into her, focusing on the smell of her skin, like vanilla and sandalwood. Her skin hummed beneath his hands, her breathing broken, gasping. She let out periodic little moans, her dark eyes closed, her mouth parted. Rick allowed his sense to be consumed by this woman, his mind filling up with her. He pictured their future house, their wedding in the fall. He imagined coming home, spending every night with Michonne, worrying about the normal silly things, like bills and whether he could convince her to get the boys a puppy. He imagined an ordinary life made extraordinary simply by her presence.
Rick didn't think about Lori anymore that night. He fell asleep still wrapped around Michonne, waking up early, a habit he was adopting from her. He enjoyed that quiet hour before Dre and Carl got up, when Michonne laid next to him. Sometimes she would talk about work, sometimes her mind would turn to politics, at times she wanted to read to him something beautiful she had found the day before. Some mornings she woke up in a frisky mood, something Rick had no issues with indulging. His favorite though, were mornings like these, where all she wanted to do was lay quietly in his arms.
"It's going to be ok," she assured him a few hours later. Dre and Carl were in her car, ready to go to Hershel's house before she headed to work. Rick was in uniform, the back of his mind counting down the few remaining hours.
"I know," and he did. As long as she was there, it had to be.
He threw himself into work, ripping through paperwork, trying to ignore his email inbox. Just before noon, a message pinged in, the electronic beeping putting Rick on high-alert immediately. The lab's email address drew his attention. He clicked on the message, his heart pounding, his eyes flying over the results.
He needed to call Michonne.
