A/N: this is a work of fan fiction and not meant to infringe upon the properties of Kirk man/Moore/Aldard/AMC/Image Comics.

Now that I have caught up with the show, I am taking the lead from the comics. I am hoping to skew it in just the right way that no one will be truly spoiled :). If you'd like to listen to the Redemption Playlist, you can find it by searching for Leah Pensotti on YouTube :) it features songs and artists mentioned in the story as well as chapter titles :) it was last updated on 7/23/15.


Redemption (The Road to Alexandria)

By Leah Pensotti

Chapter 51: Bad Blood

Anna sat on Dr. Carson's table, clad in only her bra and panties, praying that the check-up was going alright. She was closing in on seven months and was starting to feel large and conspicuous. The doctor told her that the migraines she was experiencing were normal, as were the ugly varicose veins she had found on her legs.

"So, since we are reduced to old school techniques, I need you to start doing a kick count."

Anna raised her eyebrows, "Ok. What's that?"

Dr. Carson smiled faintly, "Twice a day, I need you to count how many times the baby kicks in a two hour period. Less than ten kicks in that two hours, come to see me...ok?"

She choked on anxiety, "Alright. Is everything looking ok though? With the baby?"

He put his hands on her shoulders, "Everything is going great. This is a perfectly normal pregnancy. The only thing I would like to see progress in is your weight gain. You should eat a bit more. Definitely get more sleep."

Anna wished she could. She found herself staying up watching Judith and Rick sleep. Worried about every possible scenario. Her latest fear was a huge herd attacking like they did in Alexandria, and Rick not being able to run.

She had nightmares about walkers tearing her family apart before her eyes. She shivered and Dr. Carson took notice.

"You can get dressed. You've had another successful appointment. You're fine, baby's fine. In about twelve weeks, bouncing baby grimes will be here."

Anna felt a sad smile flicker across her face and she pulled up her maternity pants. As she pulled her button up shirt on, the door to Dr. Carson's office swung open and Anna jumped out of her skin and Dr. Carson yelled, "Dammit, Gregory! Knock! I'm with a patient."

Gregory leered at Anna and she quickly covered her chest and worked the buttons on her shirt. He looked unsurprised to see her there and actually looked to be quite pleased with himself.

A salacious smirk appeared on his face, "Oh, I'm sorry...Anna Grimes, right? Rick's woman."

She felt goosebumps of repulsion form on her skin and she hustled past him, he grabbed her elbow gently, "You just glow. Rick's a very lucky man indeed."

Anna said nothing as she hurried out the door and down the hall. She felt violated. Like he knew she was in the office and he had wanted to make her feel uncomfortable.

As she made her way to the main hall, she opened the front door and stood on the mansion's wrap around porch and surveyed the colony. It was early November and the cold had yet to set in. But the days had become gray and short.

She inhaled deeply, trying to shake the uneasiness, when she saw Michonne, Carol and Rick walking towards the mansion. Rick sped up when he saw her, he had progressed well and was able to maneuver quickly on his crutches. Michonne and Carol were practically running behind him, he was moving so fast.

When he got close to her, she could see his blue eyes alight with worry. He had been sporting a mid-length beard in the colder months, which didn't really bother Anna that much, infact, she kind of liked it.

"Hey. You ok?" He propped the crutches on the wrap around porch and reached out for her. Anna wrapped her arms around him and nodded against his neck.

"I'm fine. We're fine."

"What did Dr. Carson have to say?"

Anna sighed, "That it's a normal pregnancy. I need to eat more, sleep more and start counting kicks."

Rick touched her face and tilted her eyes up to meet his, "Well then, what's wrong?"

Anna didn't know if she should say anything about Gregory. Rick would kill him, as if he didn't already have reason to. She looked around and met Carol and Michonne's worried looks and she shrugged.

"Gregory walked in while I was finishing up with Dr. Carson. I was getting dressed. He just makes me...uncomfortable."

She could see the look on her husband's face turn from worry to sternness. Rick thought of Gregory as a chicken, a self-serving, spineless jerk after what he pulled in the battle against Negan. In all actuality, Anna was surprised that he had not been turned out of the colony after that little stunt.

Michonne looked like she could spit nails, "That creep. He leers at all of us. Maggie refuses to walk past him. She will double back and take a much longer route if she needs too."

Anna noticed that Rick had that look of vacant rage on his face, the one that she had not seen in some time. His hands pumped into fists at his side. Anna took her hands and cupped his face.

"Baby...he isn't worth it. You've got bigger fish to fry."

Rick looked down at her, as if he had snapped out of it and nodded. He took one of her hands in his own and kissed her open palm. He picked up his crutches and smiled, "I gotta go find Eugene...why don't you let Michonne and Carol take you back to our room so you can rest?"

Anna nodded, and as he walked away, Carol leaned in and said, "You know he is going to find Gregory, right?"

She nodded and sighed, "Yeah. I shouldn't have told him."

Michonne disagreed, "That rat should've been dealt with a long time ago. Don't feel sorry for him."


Rick could feel the rage coursing through his veins as he searched the mansion for Gregory. He hadn't been that angry in awhile, there wasn't really any reason for him to be. The safety and respect of the women in town was a good reason. His wife and unborn baby...an even better one.

In the months since Negan, as things had calmed down...he had felt useless. He didn't like to admit that he had grown to like fighting...that that feral part of him had become so important that it would probably never let him live in complete peace again.

This world had made him an animal, and despite it all, sometimes that animal needed to get out.

He spotted Gregory exiting the Doctor's office and followed him quietly to the end of the hall. Rick picked up his crutches and swung them in the direction of the back of Gregory's knees. Gregory was knocked off his feet and slammed forward into the corner of the wall. Rick hobbled over slowly and grabbed Gregory by the collar of his shirt. He pulled him up to stand and felt that anger wash over him.

Gregory looked stunned. He began sweating and howling, "Rick? What the fuck?"

Rick pushed him against the wall, his strong hands at Gregory's throat, "You walk in on my wife?"

Gregory began to panic, "It was an accident. Didn't know she was in there."

Rick tightened his grip, "Bullshit. You make it your business to creep women out. Leering at them. Making them uncomfortable."

"J-just compliments...your wife...she's a dime."

He squeezed harder, and Gregory turned the slightest bit purple.

"Talk to her again...one sidewise glance and I will crush your throat. I might not be in the best health, but don't let that fool you. Got it?"

Gregory nodded, "Y-yeah."

"In fact, you make any woman feel that way and I hear about it...I will rip your dick off and shove it up your fat ass."

"Jesus fucking Christ, you are a lunatic! This is my house! My colony!"

Rick punched him in the stomach and pushed him over on the floor, "Not anymore. Come near my kids, wife, friends...and I won't hesitate to kill you. I should've done it after the turncoat trick you pulled at the Sanctuary. You should be thankful more urgent stuff got in the way."

Rick picked up his crutches while balancing on one leg and took another look at Gregory splayed out on the ground. He felt like a lunatic, and if he had to admit it...it felt good. That feral part of him retreated, satiated for the time being.

When Rick made his way back to their room, he opened the doors to find Anna reading "The Mists of Avalon" on their bed, one hand resting on her pregnant belly.

"Where are the kids?"

She looked up at him, an odd look in her eyes, "Michonne and Daryl went on patrol. Carl and Enid tagged along. Carol took Judith. She thought I needed some rest...did you kill Gregory?"

Rick looked surprised, and Anna chuckled, "I know you, constable. That look. I know it."

"I didn't kill him. I just...roughed him up."

Anna smiled faintly and motioned for him to come sit next to her on the bed, "I'm supposed to keep track of the baby's kicks. There should be ten or more in a two hour time frame. Any less I have to go see Dr. Carson. But I don't think that will be a problem. A half an hour in and Baby Grimes is up to eight kicks."

Rick placed his hand against her belly, and after a few quiet beats, a swift kick landed near his fingers.

"Nine kicks."

Even though he'd experienced it with both Carl and Judith, it still felt new...and with Anna it was. It was like magic, and couldn't help but marvel.

Anna leaned in and kissed him sweetly, and before they knew it, clothes came off like they were on fire. Even being seven months pregnant couldn't repress her insanely self-aware sexuality and he was all too happy and willing to be consumed by it.

As they laid on the bed beside each other, basking in the glow of their coupling...Rick stroked her hair and she sighed, "I can't wait to get back home. To our house. In Alexandria. I feel so cooped up here."

Rick nodded, Hilltop definitely felt like a cage to him. And with dark winter days ahead, it was bound to become even more dreary. He smiled faintly to himself and pulled her close, "We should enjoy this time we have. Things are about three months from getting a whole lot busier."

"We can just stay naked in bed all day. No one would miss us, right? We can just lock the door..."

Rick smiled again, "Jesus Christ, that sounds like heaven."


A/N: hullo loves! I hope you enjoyed this chapter :) up next, Gregory shenanigans, a little Negan and more!

I also thought we could go a bit interactive...I have yet to decide on the sex of Anna's baby? Suggestions? Also...names! If you have them, I want to hear them!

Please leave me a review! I've missed hearing from you all :)

Special shout out to ! Thanks for your review!

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hope to hear from you all soon :)

Love!

Leah P! Xoxoxo