Author's Note: Didn't expect it would be two months between updates. I do apologize. I thank all you readers and reviewers from the depths of my heart. Your interest is beyond amazing and so inspiring and humbling.

Happy Holidays to you however you celebrate. Buckle up, here it comes!

Rick looked in the mirror, adjusting his necktie. His hands moved on autopilot, his brain too scattered to focus on the simple task. He wasn't ready for this day. None of them were.

Too fast and too slow. Over the last seventy plus hours, time passed in too much or not enough of both extremes. He wanted everything to be over and then he didn't want it to start.

"You need some help?"

He smiled, instantly calmed at the sound of Michonne's voice. She'd only been gone a couple of hours, but how he missed her. "Nah, I'm done." Rick smoothed his hand on the tie and turned to her. "I'm glad you're here."

"I said I would be." Michonne kissed his cheek and continued to the walk-in closet. "I needed to get away from...from all of that."

"Are things…" He left the statement hanging, following her inside.

She shook her head. "No." Hangers scraped the metal rod as she sifted through numerous outfits. "It's hard being there, I'm not exactly welcomed, and it makes me wonder all the more if I should do this."

"You should," Rick said, pulling on the suit coat that matched his dark slacks. "I want you there."

"Would she?"

"Michonne?"

She chose her outfit and returned to the bedroom. "I'm angry as hell, Rick." She tossed the black dress onto the bed and plopped down beside it, burying her face in her hands. "I'm so tired, and this is gonna be a beast of a day. It already has been and it's not even noon."

"I know." Rick sat beside her, rubbing her back. The last three days had tested them and their relationship like nothing they'd faced before, and since Thanksgiving they may have had ten hours of sleep in total. Their start hadn't been ideal, but it had been easy. They wanted the same thing, to be together and embrace their love. That hadn't changed, their love was stronger with this test, but their lives had been forever altered, and so much remained unanswered. "I'm sorry."

"Why are you apologizing?"

"Because I know I'm asking a lot, but I can't do this without you."

"I'm always with you, Rick, but you may have to do this without me."

"Nah." He fingered her locs. "You're here."

"And I always will be for you and Carl. I love you." She kissed him softly and stroked his cheek. "That will never change." She sighed. Turmoil swirled in her dark eyes. "But I don't know if I can be 'there.' If I should be. Lori's dead. Carl's about to watch his mother be buried, and I want to be there with and for him, and for you, but Lori's family won't want to see me. They probably blame me for her death, and I blame Lori for Mike –-" She choked back a sob. "This is hard."

"The only thing that's ever come easy for us is our love. We can handle hard, but not alone. Not apart. I understand why you feel this way, but I'm gonna need you, Michonne. Carl is. Mom and Dad drove him to be with Lori before the service, and he's gonna be surrounded by people who love him, but not like you and I love him. Please, come with me. Andre can stay with Sasha a few more hours, right?"

"He can."

"Did he open up anymore?"

"Just a little. He's confused, but there's a lot of that to go around." Michonne toyed with the hem of the dress. "I don't want to go."

"You think I do? I want no part of this. I wish this wasn't happening."

"But it's different for you. You're Carl's father, and because the divorce wasn't final, you were still…" Rick knew what the legal technicality meant, but he hadn't felt like Lori's husband from the moment his eyes met Michonne's. Yet, that legal tie and a forever connection through Carl did exist. "What I'm saying is you have cover. I'm the woman you left her for."

"And I'm the guy she was cheating on with Shane. This situation is what it is. Lori was a pain in the ass, but there was a time that I really cared for her, and now she's dead." The drip-drip of guilt that had been falling down on him since he and Michonne came upon the crash site was a deluge this Monday morning. The satisfying relief of being rid of Lori and her pettiness coupled with the tragic way it happened had him wanting to dance and cry. And poor Mike being pulled into it made the situation worse. Rick needed Michonne. His balancer. His calm. He knew she struggled with the thought of being disrespectful, and while this was Lori's funeral, being there was about more than her. "I know what I'm askin' of you, but I'm askin'. Will you come with me?"

Michonne linked her fingers with his and nodded. "Yes, I'll come," she said, to Rick's relief. He pulled her into a hug, so grateful for her and her love. "I'll come."

"You should go to the funeral."

Andrea's words froze Shane in the middle of his sitting knee lift. "What?" he said, lowering his left leg to the floor.

"You heard me," she said. "You can't avoid this. You shouldn't."

"Have you talked to Claire and Gary?"

"Rick's parents?" She shook her head. "Not since they dropped by on Thanksgiving. They are nice people and they care about you. If they suggested you go to the funeral, it's all the more reason for you to do it."

"I'm not going." Gary and Claire were the closest things to parents he had in this world, and seeing them had been a wonderful surprise, but it also hurt, because they still cared, and Rick, the one who brought them into his life, clearly didn't. He hadn't seen or heard from Rick since the day at the hospital, and Lori's funeral being the place they come face to face again didn't seem right. Rick's folks had ended their trip and flown back to town, and he and Carl had Michonne. They would be okay. "I can't."

"Shane?"

"No." Holding on to the edge of the chair, Shane readied himself to stand. He occasionally experienced pain and pressure at the incision site when he stood, but he considered it a trade off for how well things were going overall. There was still a little weakness on his left side following the stroke, but according to his doctor and physical therapist he had made and was making stunning progress. They contributed the swift nature of his recovery to his general good health prior to the surgery. Gabriel thought it had been the power of prayer, a modern-day miracle, but Shane figured Andrea had a lot to do with it. He didn't know what they were, it still wasn't defined, they hadn't even kissed, but he depended on her and respected her opinion. Still, he didn't want to hear this funeral talk. It was too much, too hard to think about. "I can't be there," he said, getting to his feet and dabbing his sweaty forehead with a towel.

"Why?"

Shane reached for his quad cane and moved to the couch. "I don't want stroke and tumor pity." Except for occasional moments of feeling slightly off balance, he didn't really need the cane anymore, but at present it was a useful prop. He didn't feel the pressure when he stood and attending this funeral was something he didn't want, so if evoking pity helped, he would use it.

The tight line that became Andrea's lips proved his pity play failed. "Outside of a slight limp, nobody would know you had a stroke, and the tumor is gone, so please with that. You had brain surgery and a stroke five weeks ago, and look at you? You are way too fortunate to use something that could've been so much worse as a sympathy tool." She crossed her arms. "Why don't you want to go?"

"Rick doesn't want to see me, and Lori hated my guts for not telling her about Michonne." Shane shook his head. "She never wanted me to know about the baby."

"Which is why Rick told you. Not hearing it from Lori doesn't change anything. You knew, and now that child is gone. You lost something, too, Shane. Rick's parents know that. He does. You need to grieve."

Shane grunted. "I've grieved since I heard about this baby. After Rick told me about it and he cut me out of his life forever, I called Lori, and she was so angry. Hell, I was angry. She said this baby was hers, it would never know me, and I would have nothing to do with his or her upbringing. That I had lost everything. And now I have."

The second he said those words, he regretted them. Andrea recovered fast, but the flash of hurt in her eyes was unmistakable. Shane scrambled to his feet, wincing and covering the healing incision at the hairline between his right eye and ear as he rushed over to her. "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean…"

"It's fine, okay?" She grabbed her purse and fled to the door. "I have clients. I need to get home."

"Wait." Shane followed, reaching over and closing the door soon after she opened it. He touched her shoulder, turning her to him. The tears in her eyes delivering a serious gut punch. No tumor and he was still a heel. "That came out wrong."

"Neither the stroke nor the tumor altered your ability to express yourself. Your words were clear." She dropped her head. "You don't owe me anything."

"No, I owe you everything." He lifted her chin, bringing her teary gaze to his. His heart lurched. Even with her sad eyes, she was so beautiful. "I couldn't have made it through these last weeks without you."

"I don't need gratitude. I did what anyone would do."

"What anyone? No one else would've done for me what you've done. I got the worst news of my life, and you were there, holding my hand. This, after I betrayed my best friend, put the moves on the love of his life, your dear friend, and was a complete jerk to you."

"Except that first day," she said, covering the hand on her cheek and peering deeply into his eyes. Shane thought to look away, he'd never felt so exposed, but he couldn't. Andrea had seen him at his worst: beaten, sick, weak as a newborn kitten after his surgery and the stroke, and now, five weeks post-op, she was still there. "At the bar, I saw a man in conflict. A tortured soul. And even when I realized how you fit into Michonne's world, that her Rick was your friend, I remembered who I met. When you still hit on Michonne, with all the warnings I gave you, I was shocked, but then I learned you had a tumor controlling your worst impulses. You'd made some mistakes, Shane, and you've paid a heavy price for them, but I also know how badly you feel about that. And you were sick. I couldn't let you go through this alone."

"It was pity?"

"Maybe partly, yes." Shane grunted and returned to the couch. "But you're not a stranger to using pity for your own ends," she said, following him. "You needed someone with you. I didn't want to leave, and when you asked me to stay, I didn't mind."

"You wanted to stay?"

"I did, but I don't always make the best decisions when it comes to men, so that's not saying much."

"Ouch."

"It's my truth. Everything in me said to run, to stay away from you, and, yet, here I am." She sighed. "Do you really think you're all alone?"

"No, Andrea, no. I like you being here, and I've come to expect your presence." A shadow of annoyance darkened her eyes. Shane held up a finger. "And saying that isn't taking you for granted, because I don't," he readily explained, bringing a smile to her lips that must have been contagious. He stroked her hand. "It feels like you belong."

"But I don't, not here."

"Oh." Shane removed his hand and slid closer to the armrest. Disappointment, surprise, and a sad hint of anticipation descended. He'd gotten too comfortable. A part of him expected this, but another part, a sand grain of a speck in his heart, thought he had somehow stumbled upon something resembling stability. Someone who'd seen him at his lowest point and still chose to stick around. Welp, wrong again. He cleared his throat and attempted nonchalance. "It makes sense. I'm better and getting stronger every day. The nurse still comes three times a week, I can -" The little smile touching Andrea's lips ceased Shane's words. "Why are you grinning?"

"Because you're disappointed."

"That's a good thing?"

"It's sweet." Her smile widened. "And reassuring." Shane averted his gaze, suddenly feeling like a shy teenager. His stomach felt like a beach ball tossed into the surf. He never felt like that before. Even when he lost his virginity at fourteen, he didn't feel uneasy, just horny, and the girl was sixteen. Was a smile making him nervous a sign of growth?. His gaze returned to hers. It wasn't just the smile. It was everything. "I think you really like me."

"For all the good it does me," Shane said. "You don't want to be here."

"I didn't say that."

"But you..."

"I said I don't belong here and I said so because I live in Buckhead where I have a little sister and a busy law practice. With the traffic, King County is about a ninety-minute drive on a good day, but it's like another world. Over the last six weeks, I've spent more time in this world and driving than I have at home. I came here to help Michonne with a favor, and although it didn't end like I expected, she and Rick have a resolution. There's a lot going on with her now, and while I don't want to leave, I need to get back. Michonne understands I'm only a phone call away."

"That's good to know, but I'll miss you."

"You don't have to miss me."

"Whatcha mean?"

"I've been thinking, and talking to Gabriel, and maybe you should consider moving." Andrea stood from the couch and paced. "I know this is unexpected," she said, sounding and looking very much like the lawyer she was in the middle of a summation, "but you've been spending time with Father Gabriel and advising him with his at-risk youth initiative. He wants you there when he gets it off the ground, and there's an apartment you can rent. Dr. Gibb has an office in Buckhead, so you can still see him, and he can suggest where you can continue your outpatient rehab." She turned to him, and released a breath. "This could be good for you. A fresh new start."

Shane made his way to her. "And you're only twenty minutes from Saint Sarah's," he said with a smile.

"Yes, there's that. Look, I don't know what this is we have, but I'd like to see what it could be."

"I would like that, too."

"So, you'll give my suggestion some thought?"

"I don't need to. Rick is done with me, and while law enforcement wasn't a dream, I like helping people, especially kids who had a hard time like me. This move'll be good. What I need."

"I think you need to go to this funeral."

His shoulders slumped. "Not that again," Shane said, groaning. He lumbered into the kitchen and to the fridge, chugging from a bottle of orange juice.

"Regardless of everything, Carl is still your godson, and he's lost his mother. The mother of your unborn child, a woman Rick was married to for years. You want to help kids, Carl is one you need to help. You grew up without your mother and you lost your grandmother. You have a good idea of what he's going through. You need to be there. If you want to move, that's fine, but don't run away. Make peace with your past. It's the only real way to face your future."

The scent of flowers grew stronger with every step Michonne made into the church. It was a scent she generally enjoyed, but today it was like noxious fumes. She squeezed Rick's hand as the sight of a smoke gray casket came into view. Lori, a woman that had become the bane of Michonne's existence, was taking her eternal rest inside that coffin.

Lori was dead.

Carl's soft, sobering sobs brought that truth all the more to home for Michonne. He was hurting, and his pain broke her heart. The precision Lori had to drive her nuts didn't lessen that pain. Carl's mother was gone, and no one, especially someone so young, should have to contend with that. No, she didn't have a single tear for Lori, but she had way too many for Carl.

The night of the accident haunted Michonne. When she and Rick came upon the wreckage, saw the flashing lights, the hovering medevac chopper waiting to land, and two bodies covered in bloody sheets, they had no idea how much that scene would impact them. The realization that it was Mike's car and one of the bloody bodies was Lori's had turned their roller coaster of a day into a nightmare.

Mike, critically injured and in shock, kept repeating 'She wouldn't stop' as he was pulled out of what was left of his car. Rick stayed with the stunned and shaken boys as Michonne rode with a deputy friend of his to the hospital. Surgery repaired a compound fracture of Mike's left leg and ankle, a broken pelvis, broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and lacerated liver, but his massive internal bleeding left him comatose and with a very grave prognosis.

Witnesses reported that the semi and Mike's car both crossed the centerline. The truck driver, who had suffered a massive heart attack, was dead on impact. And Lori, who was thrown through the windshield, suffered immediate death from a near complete decapitation. Mike's exposed penis, Lori's unbuckled seat belt, and the words Mike repeated painted a clear picture of what distracted him. 'She wouldn't stop.' Lori was dead and her recklessness could cost Mike his life. Michonne knew being involved with Lori would destroy Mike, she just didn't think it would happen so soon or that Lori would kill herself in the process.

An instrumental version of Nearer My God to Thee played in the background as Michonne and Rick continued down the aisle. She didn't get to church as often as she should, but leave it to Lori that there would be a funeral processional in earshot the first time she walked down a church aisle with Rick.

Carl rushed over to them when they reached the first pew. Intense, jerking sobs wracked his body and tears streamed down his cheeks. Michonne dropped to her knees, holding him close, offering soothing words as Rick draped his arms around them both. This was why she was here. Comforting Carl. Nothing else mattered. She and Rick greeted Claire and Gary and they all settled on that front pew, supporting Carl. To hell with what anyone thought.

Throughout the service, Michonne held Carl's hand and dabbed away his tears and her own. Her heart heavy and throat tight as the boy she loved as her own stared in disbelief at the coffin. Lori's body was so battered, a viewing wasn't possible. She knew Lori was a fool, but the woman had been a damn fool.

The boys had asked why Lori and Mike were together in the car and why it was they didn't know they were friends. Michonne and Rick skipped around an answer. Telling Andre his father was fighting for his life and Carl that his mother was dead because Lori couldn't keep away from Mike's dick would be hard to explain. It was all so senseless.

While Lori's small group of family and friends sang her praises, nagging 'what ifs' plagued Michonne. What if the boys hadn't fallen asleep? What if she and Rick had let Lori look in on them? What if they had kept Mike and Lori at the house a few more minutes or insisted they leave when they'd arrived or even let the boys leave with them? Anything to keep them from meeting the trucker or Lori from her antics.

Michonne knew it was pointless to do this to herself, but she hated they were all in this place. That Thanksgiving would never be the same for Carl. That at any minute she might have to sit down her son and tell him his father was dead. It was why she hadn't allowed Andre to see Mike hooked to tubes and machines. If it came to it, she couldn't let that be the way he remembered his father. Mike couldn't die. Andre couldn't lose him. She didn't know how he could endure the pain Carl was going through. How she could.

After the burial, Michonne and Rick sat with Carl at the gravesite. The speakers who had shot daggers at Michonne during the service managed civility as they and other attendees offered Carl condolences. Carl hadn't budged from Michonne's side, so even if they wanted to be nasty, they wouldn't dare try it right now. They paid their respects and kept going.

Time continued to tick by and Carl stayed nestled against Michonne's chest, sniffling, his gaze on the clay earth that covered Lori's remains. Michonne and Rick shared a wordless glance. The dropping temperature and bustling wind made staying much longer unwise. They needed to get Carl home.

"Son," Rick said, touching Carl's shoulder. Carl peeled his teary cheek away from Michonne and looked at Rick. "I think we should be going now, okay?"

Carl's bloodshot eyes returned to the grave. His tears refreshed, body shaking, trembling.

Michonne brought Carl back into her arms. "Shh, it's okay," she said, kissing the top of his head. "It's okay." She stroked his back, wondering if anything could get Carl out of this cemetery. "Oh, sweetie, I can't say I know how you feel, because I can't begin to guess. If I could take this pain away, I would, but I can't. Only time can do that for you." She cupped his cheeks, brushing away his tears. "I can say I'm here for you in whatever way you need me to be, and remind you that you're not alone. You'll never be alone."

"Not ever," Rick added.

"I don't want Mom to be alone." Carl stood before the grave. Rick followed. "She needs to know I love her. That I'm here."

"Lori knew you loved her, Carl."

"Then why did she leave me? Why didn't she wear her seatbelt when she always made me wear mine? Why didn't she tell me she and Mr. Mike were friends?"

Michonne shrugged when Rick glanced her way. She would support him however he decided to handle this.

"Their friendship was new, and she didn't leave you on purpose." Rick turned Carl to him. "It was a terrible accident, son," he said, smoothing Carl's tears away. "The only thing you can do for Lori now is take care of yourself. That's what she'd want. Lori's in here now." Rick tapped a finger to Carl's chest. "She'll always be with you in your memories."

"My memories?"

"Yeah. Now, whenever you want, you can come here, too, to her resting place, but you don't have to stare at this grave to feel your mother's presence or to show your love. You can do that by being the good person she wanted you to be. I'm sorry you have to go through this, but like Michonne said, you're not alone." Rick brought his grieving son into his arms. "We're here for you, and always will be."

Carl sniffled, his face pressed against Rick's shoulder. "Is Mom in heaven?"

The question shouldn't have come as a surprise, but Michonne was taken aback, as was Rick if the silent plea of 'help me' on his face was any clue. She couldn't help him with this and didn't envy him in providing an answer. Considering what Lori was doing before she met her maker and the hell she seemed to unleash indiscriminately, heaven didn't seem like a likely destination.

"Son, I think when someone dies, they get peace, and that should be a comfort to you, okay? Wherever she is, Lori's at peace." Michonne smiled. That was the best nonanswer she ever heard, but Carl appeared to accept it. "You want to spend some more time with Aunt Joan and Uncle Bob?" Rick asked. Lori's sickly parents had passed away before Carl was born and she didn't have siblings, but her aunt and uncle had remained close to her.

Carl shook his head, sniffling. "I wanna go to the house. See Mom's things. I know Grandma and Grandpa are there. Can we?"

"If that's what you want, yeah. Mom and Dad are gonna be living there for the next little while, so it's fine. You can be there as long as you want."

Michonne touched Rick's shoulder. "I should get back to the hospital," she said. "See if there's been any change. Maybe pray there will be soon." Mike's parents and sister had come down from California, and they were being quite cool with her. Michonne could understand the animosity, she was used to it from his sister, but they all wanted Mike to be okay. This tension wasn't helping things.

"Is Mr. Mike gonna be okay?" Carl asked.

"I really hope so, but I honestly don't know. He was hurt badly and is really sick."

"I'm sorry." Carl dropped his head. "I hope he gets better."

"We all do, son," Rick said. "We all do." Rick rubbed Michonne's back. "Once I get Carl settled with Mom and Dad, we'll go to the hospital together, hmm? More support for you and more good thoughts for Mike."

"Thank you, Rick."

"I love you." His lips brushed hers. "You don't have to thank me for that."

Just as they turned to leave, Shane approached with Andrea. Rick sucked in a breath and his arm tightened around Michonne's waist. She hadn't seen Shane since the night of the dinner party. His steps were a bit slowed and he had a cane, but everything considered, he looked good.

Michonne was happy to see Andrea. Between the hospital and this funeral, friendly faces had been few in number. Gratefully, Rick didn't look or seem irate by Shane's presence. Lori's death had cost Shane his child. A child Carl still had no idea about. It made sense that Shane would be here.

"Uncle Shane." Carl raced to him with a hug that made Shane stumble back a bit. "I'm glad you're here. Dad told me you were sick. I'm glad you're feeling better."

Shane returned the hug. "I am," he said, patting Carl's back. "Have a little ways to go yet, but I'll be all better soon." He pulled back, cupping Carl's cheek. "I'm so sorry about your mom, buddy. If you ever need anything, give me a call, okay?"

"Okay. I miss you."

"I've missed you, too." After sharing another hug, Shane cleared his throat and looked over at Andrea. "Carl, this is a friend of mine, her name is Ms. Andrea. She's also a very good friend of Michonne's."

"Hello, Carl. I'm so sorry about your mother."

Carl nodded. "You know Michonne?"

"Yes, for a long time," Andrea said, greeting Michonne with a cheek kiss.

"I didn't know you'd be here," Michonne whispered.

"Neither did I. We were at the service, it just took him some time to work up the nerve for this."

"I see."

"Think I can have a word alone with your dad?" Shane said. "Just a couple minutes."

"Are you two gonna be friends again?" Carl replied.

"I uh…"

Rick knew rekindling the friendship wasn't a possibility, but he was willing to listen to what Shane had to say. He touched Carl's shoulder and handed over the keys. "You and Michonne wait in the car. I'll be right there." He gave Michonne's hand a squeeze. "It's okay," he assured her, pecking her lips.

Michonne nodded and departed with Carl and Andrea.

"I hope it's all right I'm here," Shane said.

"Of course, Lori was carrying your baby. Her death affected you. I'm sorry about that. I can imagine what that baby meant to you."

"Recently, I've lost a lot of things that mean a lot to me." The deafening silence spoke volumes. Rick considered being snarky but thought better of it. Now wasn't the time for it. Shane walked over to the grave, shaking his head. "I can't believe she's really gone."

"It's hard to believe a lot that's happened these last six weeks," Rick said, standing next to Shane, sighing deeply.

"Are you okay, Rick? I know things were bad with you and Lori, but…"

"No buts, Shane. Things were very bad with Lori and me, and it didn't have to be that way. She's gone, and I'm still with Michonne. The way I'll always be, and she couldn't accept it. She didn't allow for the opportunity to find in someone else what I have with Michonne: deep and abiding love. Lori's gone, and Carl is heartbroken, but he will know a mother's love, and I'm even more grateful to Michonne for that."

"You really do love her."

"With everything I have, yes. It's effortless, like breathing. Speaking of breathing, you uh - you look strong, Shane."

"I've been stronger." With the support of the cane, he turned to Rick. "It's been a hard road, but like I told Carl, I'm getting there. Andrea's been a godsend to me."

"As Michonne has been to me. They're both good women. Don't ruin this for yourself."

"I'll do whatever it takes to not ruin it. Don't rightly know what we have, Andrea and me, but we're both willing to find out. I wanted you to know I'm moving to Buckhead in a couple of weeks. Should be squared away by the end of December."

"Buckhead?" Rick waited to be surprised by the disclosure, but it never came. "Andrea lives there."

"Yeah. It was her suggestion. There's a church not far from there that I'm gonna help with a youth program."

"A church?" Now that surprised him. "You?"

"The father there has been counseling me. I've learned there's a higher power I can turn to when things go bad. I'm working on being a better me. I know we could never-"

"No, we can't," Rick interjected.

"Rick?"

"This, Shane, being civil and cordial, is what we'll have. Carl loves you, my parents love you, Michonne and Andrea are good friends, none of that's changing. But we have changed. The way I see you has changed. I wish I could hate you. That would make things easier, but I don't. Michonne has no ill will towards you, and neither do I, but I can't forget what happened. When we have to be together, we'll be together, but we'll never be friends again, we'll just be friendly."

"Friendly?"

"It's the best I can offer."

"After all I've done, I guess it's more than I deserve."

"It is, but I think of Mike."

Shane's face scrunched curiously? "Michonne's ex?"

"Yeah. He has every right in the world to hate me and my guts, but he doesn't. In all of this, he's the one person who has every right to be mad as hell, but he isn't, and now he's fighting for his life. Carl has lost his mother, I'm not gonna have him lose you, too. If you want to spend time with him, I won't stop you. Keep getting stronger, find your way with Andrea, and we'll figure everything else out. Like Mike has taught me, I'm not gonna think of myself, but of my son and what's best for him."

"You're so quiet," Rick said, bringing Michonne's hand to his lips as the elevator carried them to the ICU on the fourth floor of the hospital. "Your hand is like ice. Are you okay?"

"I don't know. It's bad enough knowing how serious Mike's condition is, but his family…I understand why they feel this way, but it's hard to take." She sighed as dread tightened her stomach in knots. "I can't explain it, Rick, but I have a feeling something will be different when these doors open."

"Maybe that's a good thing."

"Huh?"

"Yeah. Maybe Mike has turned a corner and you can finally bring Andre to see him. Having Sasha drop Andre off at the house was a great idea. He and Carl are cheering each other up. They are feeling better, and kids have great instincts. It's been over seventy-two hours for Mike. The hardest part is over, right? Maybe we'll walk into that room and he'll be awake."

"I love your optimism." She raked the curls at the back of his head. "But what I'm feeling doesn't feel positive. It feels scary."

The elevator dinged and the doors opened. Michonne's heart raced. Her feet stayed frozen to the floor.

"Michonne?" Rick shook her hand and pressed the door open button. "You comin'?"

The clack of high heels approached. "Humph! Mama and Daddy didn't believe you would come here with him, but I'm not at all surprised," said Sybil Bing, Mike's lawyer sister, as she eyeballed Rick. Nearly six feet tall and model thin, Sybil's height and beauty demanded attention, as did her tenacity when it came to the law. She and Sybil shared a pleasant kinship until Michonne turned down Mike's first proposal, since then it seemed civility was too much for Sybil to manage. "Here!" She extended a thick envelope.

"What is this?" Michonne asked, the uneasy dread from before now intense foreboding as shaky hands removed the contents.

"This is my parents and me looking out for Mike's son. My brother worshiped you, and you just… Tsk. Mike is fighting for his life in a hospital bed, and you're cozying up in bed with this man, an assaulting sheriff's deputy, a danger. Well, we don't want Andre near him. Especially not in Mike's house."

"What the…" Michonne gasped as she read the printed words. "This is a joke. You're trying to take protective custody of my son!"

"I'm not trying, it's done. We want this man away from Andre, and this is just the beginning."

"Taking Andre?" Rick barked, maintaining his hold on the button as he looked to Michonne for some clarification. "What is she talking about? That - that can't be legal. Michonne?"

"Oh, it's very legal," said Sybil. "Signed, sealed, and delivered. Judge Julia Warren in family court is a friend of mine, and she saw the need for expedience after your recent investigation, Deputy Grimes. We have Mike's power of attorney over all medical and legal affairs. I'm telling you, Michonne, if this man is not kept away from my nephew, I will do everything in my considerable power to take Andre away from you forever."

Those words echoed in Michonne's head. Take Andre away forever? Tears spilled down her cheeks. Her heart felt heavy, but it raced like her mind. She'd never felt so angry and so scared. She couldn't think. This couldn't be real. She was a good mother, and Rick a good man. Take Andre away? This…this didn't make sense. It wasn't happening. It couldn't happen.

Her blurry eyes turned the sheets in her hand as she reread the offending words. Pursuant to… In the best interest of… Custodial guardianship shall be… Ten days. Michonne shook her head. Sybil was taking her baby away for ten days. The woman was being punitive. She was scared about Mike and angry about the break-up, but she couldn't seriously take Andre away from her. There were no grounds for this. None. Sniffling, Michonne decided to use reason. She had to reach the mother, the woman in Mike's sister. The friend she used to have. "Sybil, look…"

"Stop!" Sybil pushed out a hand. "Your tears and pleading won't work on me. I remember my brother's tears when he called me after you turned down his third proposal and broke his heart for this," she said, flicking her hand at Rick. "I will be at the house in ninety minutes with some officers to collect my nephew and his things. Now get out," she said, pushing Rick's hand from the button. "You two are not welcome here!"

The elevator doors closed at the end of Sybil's pronouncement, with Michonne breaking down in Rick's arms. There was no doubt now. The worst she'd predicted on the day she and Rick met had arrived in totality.

~Thanks for reading!~

More to come...