Chapter 35:
'You are amazing'
"Your daughter would probably kill me if she knew I chose to do this now, but I have another hour before I have to start getting ready for this lawyers lunch thang, so I thought I'd stop by"
Rick crouched down beside Michonne's mother's grave and put a bouquet of pink and white carnations by her headstone.
"I'm sorry it took so long for me to get here, and I'm sorry for not getting a chance to say goodbye before you passed. It's somethan' I'll always be ashamed of…", He scratched his brow with his thumb as he exhaled, "Carl's been good. Well, he's done some stupid thangs here and there but… overall he's a good kid… So is Judith. She's eight now, getting to be a big girl and I'm struggling to come to terms with that… but I'm glad, they're both here... and they're both healthy, so I can't complain"
He looked around the empty yard, glad he could be alone to speak his mind.
"She's pregnant, by the way… your gonna be a grandmother again… but she's not… she's not having a good time at the moment, and I wish you were here to help her with that. I've wished you were here for a lot thangs, cause you always knew how to help her. I'm so worried about her that I can't even get to sleep until she does, and I'm trying- I really am trying but it's so hard when I get my strength from her, and she gets hers from you"
He exhaled, standing up and looking at the picture of her on the marble. He grinned, glad it was one of her smiling, as the woman's smile was the most contagious.
"I'll be back, and I'll bring her, I promise. Bye mom"
He stepped carefully, having being told since he was a young boy that it was disrespectful to step on someone's grave. He kept his head down, until he reached his father's headstone.
He crouched, like he had with Genevieve's, and placed a bouquet of white Lilies down beside the other colourful array of flowers, "I know mom's probably up here more than any of us, and that shouldn't be the case. Jeffrey's down, we're going on a cruise tomorrow so, I'll make sure he comes down too…. And I hope you heard the good news… you're gonna be a grandfather again. I told Michonne I think it's another boy… so I guess we'll have to see"
He pinched his nose bridge with his thumb and index finger, "We went camping. I showed Carl the tree, the one he fell off all those years ago… he wasn't too pleased… but they loved it. If you saw Michonne, you would have laughed your ass off… I damn near did. I wished you were there to see it all… And I wish you all could have stuck around longer… you, Genie and my- my little boy… I wish I had more time with you all because it just wasn't- it wasn't enough"
Rick stood up, dragging his hand over his face as he wiped his tears, "I need to spend more time with mom… I feel bad for not telling her that Michonne's pregnant again… but it's just because we're scared. We don't know what to expect this time around and I don't think she can handle another loss. I don't think I can either… but we'll tell her. I promise… and I promise I'll be back soon… Bye dad."
…
"Where the hell are you?!"
Rick frowned at the screen on his dashboard, "I'm about… two minutes away. Why? You told me it starts at two and I'm on time?"
"Oh, thank God. Okay someone will show you in-"
"Michonne, I don't want anyone to show me anythan'. I want you to meet me out front-"
"Stop being antisocial! Just get here and that's it!"
She hung up the phone and Rick growled. It was bad enough that he had to arrive alone to the occasion, and he didn't want to walk in alone either. The function was being held at an opulent stately home on the edge of town, and Rick would have been impressed, but he wasn't in the greatest mood, with all things considered.
He drove around a grand fountain, in the courtyard, and a valet was stood waiting for him by the large front doors. Rick exhaled as long, suffering breath as he climbed out the car.
"Good evening Mr Grimes, please go through to the garden", the young man smiled as he held his car door open.
Rick frowned at him, wondering how he knew his name, but he relented on any questioning as he wanted a drink in his hand, so he went stomping up the front steps. The hall was large, and lined with white flowers in tall black vases. A white board on a black easel was in the middle of hall, giving directions to the garden. He strolled on, realising it was straight ahead.
The sound of soft music, specifically violins, poured in as he got closer, and he couldn't help but notice that that was all he could hear. It was as if he was the first one there.
"There you are".
Rick's forehead wrinkled, his steps slowing, "Mom? What the hell are you doing here?"
"Don't say 'hell'. It's not nice", She lightly scolded, dressed in a bright pink dress and jacket, with a large pink hat, "Come on. Hurry up now"
He joined her at the door, still looking at her strangely as she linked arms with him, "What is going-"
His sentence came to an abrupt halt when he looked beyond his mother. A row of violinist were only feet away from them, and the garden was adorned with white flowers, with tables that had crystal ornaments in the centre and chairs covered in white covers with silver bows on the back. His friends and family were all sat in rows separated into two columns, looking back at him with warm and elated smiles. A white carpet sprinkled with light pink rose petals led to a wedding flower arch, and beneath it stood Michonne, wearing a fishtail dress that exposed her back. Her hair was in a bun, with a delicate diamond crown around it. Rick was beside himself.
"We're doing things a little differently today", His mother nudged him, "Now I mean it, come on".
Rick couldn't speak. He wanted to, but nothing left his mouth. He wouldn't have been able to walk if it wasn't for his mother tugging him along.
"I need you to perk up, son", She whispered.
"How?", Was all he could choke out.
"She did it all. It wasn't easy either. Everyone here's got a big mouth"
Rick coughed out a chuckle, wiping his cheek with his free hand, "I thought I was done crying today"
He had almost forgotten how to breath. He could hardly focus on the faces around him as he tried to gather himself. It was as if he was dreaming, as he didn't expect to be the last one to arrive to his own wedding.
His eyes managed to catch Judith, who stood beside Carl. He thought they both looked beautiful, beaming at him with eagerness. He was also shocked to see his son's hair shorter, and he wondered what it cost Michonne to get him in a barber's chair.
"Daddy! Doesn't mama look pretty?", Judith hissed, pointing at her mother, her high ponytail bouncing when she moved.
"She looks perfect", He agreed as he passed her, "So do you two"
"Time for me to leave you now", His mother held the other side of his face as she kissed his cheek, "Remember to speak up, too"
Andrea took Michonne's bouquet from her, before taking a seat, along with his mother.
Rick took Michonne's hands in his as he sighed, "You are amazing"
"Stop it, I don't want to cry yet", She giggled, her smile was the most radiant that Rick had ever seen.
He gave her hands a little squeeze, "You are"
Milton stepped forward, holding a black book in his hands, giving them both a little nod, "We are gathered here today…"
…
"How's it feel to me Mrs Rick Grimes again?"
She rolled her eyes, "Oh here we go, it's just Mrs Grimes"
He stroked her fingers with his thumb, "I can't believe you did this without me knowing? You planned our whole wedding right under my nose?"
"I did. It wasn't easy, Judith caught me looking at my dress at one point… had to make her promise not to say anything"
Rick snuck a glance at her daughter, who was looking from the plate in front of her, up to her brother, pouting. Carl shook his head, taking her plate and scooping all the cooked vegetables on to his plate. Judith grinned at him.
Michonne snickered, "She has a stash of marshmallows hidden under her bed"
He chortled heartily, "Well of course that would keep her quiet"
"Did you like it?", She asked, her fingers stroking the back of his neck, while he still held her other hand.
"I'm still in shock. I literally walked into my own wedding. This is…", His eyes gazed at everyone sat around their tables, tucking into their meals, "...The most, romantic thang that could ever happen. I can never beat this… in fact, I wish I thought of it first-"
"Stop it"
"I really do. You deserve somethan' like this, not me"
"Don't say that", She furrowed her brow at him, "You deserve all this and more. And I loved doing this for you"
He sighed, giving her a crooked smile, "Thank you"
"You're welcome".
He watched her with adoring eyes for a few moments, then lowered his tone, "I told your mom your pregnant"
Her chest sank, her brow furrowing in confusion, "What?"
"I went to her grave earlier. And my dad's, gave them some flowers…"
Her eyes sparkled, tears already perched to fall, "What did you talk about?"
"I just kept them up to date with everythan'... I promised her I'd bring you with me next time"
She sniffed, wiping her eyes with the back of her fingers, "I'll come. I will… I wanted to…"
"I know. We'll go together"
The sound of cutlery tapping against glass brought their attention to Maggie, who stood at the table closest to then.
She cleared her throat, holding a cordless microphone to her lips, "Hey everyone! I thought I'd say a little somethan' for the newlyweds… since I was there when they very first met and I saw the way Rick looked at Michonne, and honestly, it was like he had just found his reason to live…"
Rick gave Michonne's hand a little squeeze as he glanced at her.
"And Michonne, bless her, she looked like a deer caught in headlights, but we all know how Rick is so we can't really blame her"
The tables erupted with laughter, while Rick looked down at Michonne, his face blank, "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
She shook her head, "Hush, just listen".
"But seriously, when she finally got that lasso around that wild horse, she was the only one who knew how to ride him", Maggie froze in horror once the final word left her mouth.
Everyone looked at her with the same horrified expression, before Daryl yelled, "Well, damn!"
A chorus of chuckles followed and Maggie couldn't help but join in. Rick raised his eyebrows at his new wife, "Ain't that the truth"
"Stop that", She warned, her eyes flashing with amusement.
"I apologise Mrs Grimes, Mr Parker… and daddy", Maggie sighed, glancing at Rick's mother, Michonne's father, and her own father, "It sounded more romantic… when I wrote it…Oh boy. Well I'm just going to wrap this up, and hand the mic over to Andrea!"
Andrea rose from her seat with an evil grin, taking the mic from Maggie, "Hello everyone, as you all know, I'm another person that's been there from the very beginning, and even though Rick and I haven't always seen eye to eye… we'll we can't stand each other… but despite that, I know that he would give her the moon if he could, and so for that, I love him just as much as I love her and I can only wish to have someone that makes me even half as happy as he makes her"
Rick frowned, dabbing his cheek with his free hand as his friends and family clapped, "The hell? Am I crying again?"
Michonne sniggered at him, "You are! Wasn't that beautiful?"
"I'm gonna be dehydrated by the end of the day", He muttered, wiping his eyes for a countless time, "Damn Andrea"
"Alright folks, last one for the night", Daryl took the mic from Andrea, "'Chonne really caught me off guard with this, so I had to come up with somethan' fast… got my lovely wife to help me, and she told me to tell a little story about the two of them… so I thought I'd pick the time when I was taking out the trash one night when 'Chonne was my neighbour-"
Rick, Michonne and even Sasha, all shouted in unison, rears lifting off their seats and arms outstretched in panic, "Not that one!"
Daryl snickered as everyone roared with laughter, "I'll tell a different one then…"
Rick's heart beat slowed to a stable pace as he sat back, pinching his nose bridge, "Oh thank God"
"I would have killed him. I would have killed him", Michonne huffed, slipping one hand back into Rick's, while the other returned to the nape of his neck.
"It wasn't a pleasant time, Mr Grimes had just passed and, naturally, Rick was torn, and he was damn near ready to tear down anyone who got in his way, even me… but as soon as he saw his 'Chonne, he found himself. Almost like she was his light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. And I know from personal experience, that it takes a lot to snap out of those moments, but when you find your light…", He leered, lovingly at Sasha for a moment, "Everythan' ain't as hard anymore, and it ain't as scary. So I'm glad my brother has his light. My 'Chonne has hers"
Daryl raised his glass to them as the cheering and the clapping ensued, and Rick found himself snatching the napkin off his lap.
"That was absolutely beautiful", Michonne beamed, turning to Rick, "Jesus Christ, it's like someone opened the floodgates, huh?"
"My eyes actually hurt from crying", Rick shook his head, "They're puffy, ain't they?"
She examined him, "Yeah, a little… But it's okay"
"Look at what you've done to me today"
"I love you", she hummed, her fingers playing with his curls.
He melted, bringing her hand up to his face and kissing her palm, "I love you too"
...
"I'm glad the two of you finally did this again. This better be the last time too"
Rick snickered at his father in law as they stood at the bar, "I promise it will"
The man held his tumbler in his hand, "I know you always want to give her what she wants but, a divorce should never be that easy"
Rick shook his head as he disagreed, "It was far from easy. She broke my heart when she asked for it-"
"It don't doubt that at all, son. I don't. But I want you both to have some fighting spirit this time around. It ain't always going to be a bed of roses, sometimes there's going to be thorns. Once you accept that, and vow to deal with it as a team… you can move mountains together"
Rick absorbed the man's words, swirling his ice cube around in his own glass, "I'll remember that"
"You better. Or I'll kick your ass", Donald gave him a pat on his shoulder with his free hand as he stood from the bar stool, "I'm gonna go find that lovely lady of mine"
"Go on", Rick smiled, taking a sip of his scotch, his eyes on the man's back as he walked away.
"Well look at you"
Sasha took a seat where Donald once sat, a champagne flute already in her hand, "How's it feel to be a married man again?"
Rick squinted, "Almost like a dream but... nothings really changed... I've still seen her as my wife even after the divorce"
She seemed to weigh up her options for a reply, "I understand. I'd forget that you two were divorced sometimes. But I'm glad it's official again, I can go back to calling her Mrs Grimes"
"So can I", He smiled as his eyes found Michonne, who was sat at their table talking with Glenn, "That was some speech your husband gave"
"It was, wasn't it? He's good at that stuff", She took a sip of her beverage, "Oh, here we go. Look at them"
Rick followed her line of sight, and saw Judith and Lily hovering by the Cake, "Great. We're gonna go over there and see their little finger prints on it"
"Lily doesn't even like cake. She's probably trying to steal some for her father"
Rick's eyes darted around for a moment for his friend. He found Daryl, stood watching the two little girl also, but he must have sensed their eyes on him, as he soon glanced over at Rick and Sasha, then swiftly turned the other way.
Rick chortled, calling out, "We saw you!"
"No you didn't!", His friend called back, still facing the other way.
"Time for the bride and groom to share their first dance… well, second, first dance as man and wife!... again…", Glenn spoke awkwardly in the mick, leading Michonne out to the dance floor.
"Go on", Sasha encouraged, holding up her glass to him.
Rick huffed, standing up and draining his tumbler. He casually strolled over to Michonne, who was already swaying in time to the song and gently singing along.
"Cause I love you…", She smiled as he held her waist, "Baby, I'm thinking about you…"
"You know I hate dancing", His tone was husky in her ear.
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, "You're a good dancer though"
"Doesn't mean I enjoy it"
"Oh stop it, you big bear", She teased.
He gazed into her doughy eyes, "Did I tell you how much I love you?"
"Sing to me"
"Not that much", He deadpanned, causing her head to roll back as she laughed.
"I can't stand you", she grinned.
"And I can't stand to be without you, Mrs Grimes"
She sighed happily, "I'm going to have to get used to that again"
"You were always Mrs Grimes to me", He admitted as his brow started to furrow, "You're getting a little tipsy there, ain't you?"
"Just a little. I had one too many glasses of wine-"
"Don't get too drunk. I have plans for you later, Mrs Grimes"
Her eyebrow raised at him as she purred, "What kind of plans?"
"The kind of plans that involve your legs over my shoulders", He winked at her as he ran his tongue over his bottom lip.
His comment had the desired effect as her chest rose, "You have no shame"
"I want you to keep that garter on too"
"And my crown?"
His eyes rolled up, studying the piece as it sparkled in the light, "Well that's new, ain't it?"
She narrowed her eyes at him.
His mind quickly picked up on the new topic, "How much did all this cost, by the way?"
Her lips pursed as she rolled her shoulders back, her hold on him tightening when she stopped swaying.
Rick relented, "Alright. Fine. Later."
"Just enjoy it-", She bit out.
"I am. Believe me, I am"
"Good. After yesterday, I just want us to have uninterrupted family fun"
He tensed when he remembered her argument with Lori. The fact that the woman turned up at Judith's birthday party and took her daughter was incomprehensible to him, though, he was almost glad it happened, as it helped him figure out what he was going to do in regards to his son's request.
"May we cut in?", Carl requested, holding his hand out to his mother, while Judith looked up at her father as she bounced on the spot excitedly.
"Of course you can", Rick released Michonne, and took his daughter in his arms, while Carl began to dance with his mother.
"You having fun princess?", Rick grinned at her.
The little girl nodded, "I ate tiny burgers"
He threw his head back as he chuckled, "I'm glad that's what made you happy today. Doesn't mama look beautiful?"
"Yeah…", Judith agreed, then whispered, "I saw her dress before"
"Did you? Well ain't you a good girl for keeping that a secret for mama?"
"Yep. And I told the man at the door that you had a gun"
Rick's grin returned, "Was he making mama laugh?"
She nodded, her curls bouncing at the back of her head.
"That's a good girl. Remember, any man that makes mama laugh, that ain't family, has to know that daddy has a gun, okay?"
"Okay".
"That's my girl".
"So is the cruise kinda like… your honeymoon?", Carl asked with a frown, stepping in sync with Michonne.
"I guess it is", Rick shrugged, "We can tell them we're newlyweds and see if they give us free stuff"
"Oh, we are definitely doing that", Michonne nodded in agreement.
"Grandma said it's probably going to be really expensive", Carl gave a concerned look to both his parents.
"Don't worry, you'll be able to enjoy yourself without emptying our account", Rick reassured.
"My friend Mikey said his grandparents went on a cruise for their anniversary, and they said a bottle of water was six dollars"
Rick almost dropped his daughter, "Six dollars? For a bottle of water?"
"Why did you tell him that?", Michonne shook her head at Carl, "Now he's going to make us drink the sea water to save money"
Laughter burst from Carl's lips, and the two of them leaned on each other as they chuckled at her joke.
Judith giggled, "Mama and Carl are funny"
Rick smirked at them, "Ain't they?"
He was cloud nine with his family. Dancing with his little girl and watching his son and his wife strengthen they're already unbreakable bond. He never expected to be a married man again by that evening, and it saddened him to think the day would have to end. He wanted to celebrate another new chapter with Michonne for as long as possible.