Author's Note: So I had some margaritas last night and who knew that is perfect for story inspiration? I didn't but if you ever need help writing it's raspberry margaritas that do it! Lmao XD. Anyways we pick up today at Carl's party and and promised I brought the drama. Don't worry I also brought the Richonne! Enjoy
16 felt about the same as 15, Carl surmised as he stretched his long legs in the early morning of his birthday.
He looked at his phone to see one birthday message from Enid, one from his Uncle Aaron and one from his Grandma Dee.
Her's was in all caps and he wondered if it was from genuine excitement or if she had accidentally put her phone on caps lock and forgot how to get it off. Again.
He replied to the messages and fell back onto his bed.
He knew that he and Enid had discussed doing something more for his birthday, but now on the day he just wanted to crawl back into bed. Just as he was about to succumb to sleep he jumped awake at the sound of his father slamming a spoon on a pot.
"Good morning!" He sang and Carl sat up to glare at the offending sound. "C'mon you ain't gettin any younger!" Rick said as he pulled back the blankets and Carl frowned at his unusual peppy father.
"It's my birthday-."
"Yeah yeah and I've got plans. We've got plans." Rick said with an unusually wide grin and Carl shook his head.
"Pass." Carl said as he attempted to snatch the blankets from his father's hands.
"He's not going to give up." Daryl said as he came into view and Carl groaned.
How many people were going to disrupt his morning?
"Yeah man just put some clothes on and let's go. Oh and happy birthday." Glenn said as he poked his head in the room and Carl rolled his eye.
"Giddy up!" Rick said with a pat to Carl's leg as he left with a grin. Carl, Daryl, and Glenn watched him leave with curiosity. What had gotten into him?
"C'mon lil bit don't let him come back in here. I think I saw him with an air horn earlier." Daryl said with a grimace and Carl mumbled under his breath as he shuffled around his room.
Before Daryl left the room he turned to speak with Carl.
"There was a time when he didn't think he'd ever spend another birthday with you again so just.. let em have this." Daryl said with a shrug and Carl considered this. He smiled and his uncle left with a nod of his head.
Carl pulled on the nearest clean shirt and pair of jeans before looking down at his outfit. He was sure his hair was a mess and he had dried up drool on his chin.
Eh. Good enough.
After a men's breakfast with Daryl and Glenn (which really only meant multiple stacks of pancakes with copious amounts of bacon) Rick began to drive to an undisclosed location.
"Dad I really hope we're not going to Nickle A Play…" Carl teased with a glint in his eye and Rick chortled. They both still remembered Carl's 11th birthday, a hastily planned party ( on Lori's end) that ended up just being Carl, Enid and Duane at the local "arcade".
When they got there all but three games were shut down for maintenance. And the three that were working had been changed from 5 cents a play to 10 despite the promise of nickel plays in the arcades name.
3 very grumpy 11 year old settled for movie tickets and pizza instead that day.
"Remember when Duane rolled the skeet ball so hard he broke the game?" Carl said through laughter and Rick began to laugh as well.
"Still don't know how he managed to do that." Rick said through laughter and Carl's smile began to fade.
"I miss him dad." Carl said quietly and everyone in the car fell silent. "But Enid said something to me last week that has been kinda sitting with me. She said I need to live the life that Duane can't live."
Rick turned to look at his son. His 16 year old son and never felt so proud. Life had thrown him the biggest curve ball and Carl came out stronger than ever. He was in awe of what he and Lori had made all those years ago.
"That's right son. Live for Duane.. live for you." Both Carl and Rick's eyes became misted and they gave each other small smiles.
"Damn. Y'all bastards are sappy." Daryl called from backseat and Glenn shoved him mumbling something about it "being a moment"
"So dad where are we going?" Carl asked one more time as Rick pulled up to their final destination. "A car dealership?" Carl asked his voice clouded with confusion.
"Yeah son. Was thinkin you could pick something out for yourself." Rick said and Carl frowned as he shook his head.
"What why? I can't drive."
"But you can," Rick interrupted as he turned to face Carl completely, "there's no Georgia laws against people driving with one eye and you had been practicing all last year with your permit." Rick reminded Carl recalling Michonne's words about Carl's ability to drive.
"Yeah I practiced all last year with two eyes. Not like this." Carl spat bitterly and everyone in the car felt the shift in the mood. "Dad I don't know why you brought me here!" Carl yelled harshly as his head began to ache with an impending migraine.
Rick looked in the rear view mirror back at Daryl and Glenn. They looked concerned but offered no advice on how to move forward.
"You can drive Carl. You can. The doctors didn't think you'd be able to walk after the shooting but here you are. They didn't think you'd be able to say two words after the shooting but you talk back to me about every damn day." Rick said with a laugh and Carl rolled his eye.
"They didn't think you were going to wake up Carl but you're here. So don't sell yourself short because you are amazing."
It was quiet in the car before Carl reached and unbuckled himself from the seat.
"Carl?"
"Well let's see what they've got." Carl said with a shrug and all the men in the car let out a breath. They headed towards the doors of the dealership on a mission.
It only took Rick about 10 minutes in the presence of the car salesman named Negan to tell he was full of horseshit. He approached them as soon as they entered the dealership. He had his arms opened wide and had the creepiest smirk on his face.
I mean who wears leather jackets in the summer? Assholes that's who.
Negan quickly began to lose interest when he heard the budget and almost left all together when he heard the car was for Carl. He laughed like it was a joke but quickly straightened up when he saw the look on Rick, Daryl, and Glenn's face.
Finally they settled between a 2009 Chevy Malibu and a 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Carl still seemed a bit apprehensive about the whole thing so Rick suggested they do a test drive with both cars.
"Now I'm not sure we can do that." Negan said with a syrupy grin and Rick raised a brow.
"Why not?" He asked voice low and Negan's smile almost faltered. Almost.
"Not sure our insurance covers prospects like him doing test drives. I'm not sure yours does either." Negan said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. He leaned in so only Rick, Daryl, and Glenn could hear. "Should the kid even be driving?" Negan asked with a dark chuckle and before any of the men could check their anger Glenn's fist connected with Negan's nose.
Daryl whistled as Negan stumbled to the ground groaning and holding his bleeding nose as he did.
"You have been nothing but a jerk to us since we've gotten here! All you salesmen are the worst, you prick!" Glenn yelled in an uncharacteristic rage with Carl, Daryl, and Rick watching in amazement.
Negan dared to look at Carl for help, then Rick, then finally at Daryl who was giving him the nastiest look.
"Eh don't worry I ain't gonna hit you like Rocky Balboa over here. But I am going to leave you a very bad yelp review." Daryl said darkly and Carl burst out laughing. Soon all the men were laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation. This was absolute mess. Negan looked on in disdain as blood pooled from his nose.
"Can we go dad?" Carl asked and Rick nodded as everyone started back to the car.
"Right behind you." Rick said as he stayed behind. He turned to Negan and the look he gave him caused the greasy man to take a step back. Rick invaded his space again and took a deep breath.
"No harm no foul right?" Negan offered with a nervous laugh and Rick stepped even closer.
"If you ever disrespect me or my family again I will do more than leave him a bad yelp review. I'll bash your head in." Rick said calmly as he stared up into the afternoon sky. He tried to keep his temper to a minimum.
"Is that a threat?" Negan asked and Rick shook his head, a sickly smile coming to his face.
"A promise." Rick said as he patted the man on the arm before walking away.
Negan watched them drive away in disdain as he dragged his feet to the office. He wasn't sure how he was going to explain this one to Lucille.
"Carl I'm sorry about that." Rick said with a sigh as he pulled away from the car dealership.
"I'm not. I don't think I'd ever see the day Glenn snap on someone." Carl said through giggles and rick shook his head with a grin.
Soon Carl, Daryl, and Rick were humming the Rocky theme song as Glenn called out "Adriaaaaan!" holding his busted fist triumphantly.
When Rick pulled into the neighborhood he fought the urge to roll his eyes. He could have sworn he told everyone to park down the street but as they approached the house he realized everyone had parked directly in front of the house.
"Are we expecting someone?" Carl asked as he took in the cars and Rick shrugged. "You threw a party." Carl said and Rick knew he couldn't keep the surprise much longer.
"No it's probably just Grandma Dee and Uncle Aaron... Uncle Eric, Gracie too I guess." Rick said as casually as he could as he pulled into the driveway.
"Yeah and Maggie, Sasha and Abraham and Ms Gavins too." Carl said as he pointed to each person's car. Despite Carl's sarcastic tone he couldn't keep the smile off his face.
"Uhh no. I think it's just Grandma Dee and Uncle Aaron." Rick said as he exited the car the rest of the guys following behind him.
"Hey do you guys mind going in first? I kinda want to talk to my dad for a minute." Carl asked just as they reached the door and Daryl and Glenn stared at each other.
"You sure you don't want to go in first?" Glenn asked nervously. He was always a terrible liar.
"Yeah just give us a minute." Carl said and Rick gave them a short nod to go on in. The gig was up
Daryl and Glenn went in and the chorus of "surprises!" that followed made Carl double over laughing.
"I knew it." Carl said and Rick shrugged with a smile of his own.
"When'd you figure it out?"
"Last night. Although Glenn almost let it slip at the dealership."
Rick nodded and looked into the house where everyone was moving into the backyard.
"Last night? You were up?"
"Yeah I uh.. saw you and Michonne." Carl said and Rick's face turned beet red. Oh.
"Right. Um I was going to-."
"It's cool dad. She's different than mom but that's good right? She makes you happy?" Carl asked and Rick smiled.
"She is different. This is different. And she does make me happy. Very."
Carl thoughtfully smiled at his dad and moved to go into the house.
"Let me know if you need any condoms." He said casually as he stepped into the house.
Rick coughed loudly nearly died at his sons words when Carl turned to look at his dad from over his shoulder.
"Kidding."
Carl's plate was stacked high with burgers, ribs and a "healthy" helping of his grandma's Mac and cheese. Currently he was debating with Sasha's oldest son, Noah, what the superior weapon in a zombie apocalypse would be.
"It's obviously a gun!" Carl argued passionately and Noah shook his head as he took another bite of his ribs.
"Too loud! Guns make noise and noise brings zombies!" Noah said as he pointed a barbecue covered finger at Carl.
Michonne was walking by with a freshly made pitcher of lemonade with Rick by her side when Carl called her over.
"Ms. Gavins, settle this for us. What is the best weapon to have during a zombie outbreak? A gun or a car?" Carl asked with a sour face as if even suggesting a car as a weapon made him sick.
"Call me Miss Gavins again and you'll have more to worry about than a zombie apocalypse," Michonne said with a wink as she placed the lemonade on the table, "but to answer your question neither."
This caught Ricks interest and he moved in closer hear her answer.
"Guns are loud and worse they require bullets. You run out and you're-." Michonne ran her finger across her neck and Rick smiled. "And a car is good for getting away and taking out a lot at once. But no gas and it's worthless."
"So then what is the superior weapon?" Rick asked and Michonne looked over at him coyly.
"Katana of course. Doesn't require bullets or gas. And it's enough distance between you and the zombie to have time to react." All the boys fell silent, her logic was sound.
"But you also were a champion fencer in high school." Rick reminded everyone and Michonne smirked.
"Four time champion but who's counting?"
"All you bitches are wrong. A crossbow is where it's at." Daryl interjected from across the yard Andre bouncing in his arms.
Michonne shot him a look for cussing with her son in his arms and he shrugged.
"Already said it. Ain't no use in shaming me now shame me now." Daryl said as he walked away and began a very animated conversation with Andre.
"You having fun?" Rick asked Carl for the fifth time that day and Carl smiled.
"Yeah dad. Thank you." Carl replied earnestly before turning his attention back to the debate at hand.
Rick nodded and headed back to the grill where Jesus was eyeing the meat with thinly veiled disgust . He wasn't sure how the only vegetarian ended up maning the grill but he wasn't gonna let the man suffer any longer.
"Hey." Michonne said softly as she grabbed Rick's elbow just as he was about to walk away.
"Hey back. You doing okay?" Rick asked as he looked her over. She had on a mustard yellow crop top and jean cut off shorts that he had been desperately trying to ignore all afternoon.
"I'm good." She assured him and he ran his hand down her arm. "Come find me soon." She requested and Rick raised a brow. She smiled and sauntered away towards Maggie, Sasha and Enid who were huddled together by the dessert table.
Rick walked over to Jesus and snatched the tongs from his hands.
"Staring at it ain't gonna make it come back to life. Ol Bessy is a goner." Rick teased and Jesus backed away from the grill with a smile.
"This barbecue is a hit. You fit the part of proud papa very well." Jesus said as he watched Rick flip a burger.
"I am proud. My son is alive to see another year and he's growing into such an impressive young man." Rick said and Jesus smiled.
"I uh. Also noticed you and Michonne have been getting closer." Jesus said with a cough and Rick couldn't help the smile that graced his own face at the mention of her name.
"I guess we are, yeah." Rick said coyly not sure how much Michonne wanted to be telling their friends yet.
"Are you sure that's the best idea?" Jesus asked and Rick's smile fell as he glared at his friend.
"Excuse me?"
"Hey now I come in peace," Jesus said as he threw up a peace sign, "I care about you both deeply. I've known Michonne for years and know she deserves better than what she's had these last few years."
"And I can't be that?" Rick asked slightly offended and Jesus sighed.
"No Rick that's not what I'm saying. Just.. is your divorce even finalized?" Jesus asked and Rick let out a disbelieving laugh.
"Not that it's any of your business Paul. But my divorce was finalized 2 weeks ago." Rick said as he pressed the tongs harshly into Jesus' chest.
He stomped off back towards the house mumbling something to himself about checking on the cake.
"Hey baby. Everything okay?" Delilah asked as she began to pull plates from the cabinet for the cake.
"Ma you don't have to do that I bought paper plates for a reason," Delilah raises a brow at Rick's clipped tone and he moved forward to place and hand on her shoulder, "Sorry. I'm okay, just tired." He explained and Delilah looked him over.
"You know you can always talk to me right?"
"Of course I do mom." Rick said softly and Delilah stared up at her eldest son.
"About anything. Work, Carl, girls." Delilah said with a wink and Rick groaned.
"Unlikely but thanks anyways." Rick said and Delilah clicked her tongue as she walked away and back into the party. As she did Michonne stepped into the house exchanging pleasantries with Delilah as she did.
"Hey what's going on?" Michonne asked as she moved towards Rick and he shook his head.
"I'm okay." He promised and Michonne frowned as she crossed her arms.
"Then why is Jesus out there looking like he's going to vomit? And you came in here like you're on the warpath." Michonne said with a hand on her hip and Rick rubbed his eyes fighting off his impending headache.
"I think I should show you something." Rick said after a moment and Michonne nodded as he grabbed her hand and guided her into the house. She followed him up the stairs but hesitated when they reached the bedroom.
"Rick if the something you want to show me is your di-."
"Get your mind out of the gutter." Rick laughed as he opened the door and headed straight to the dresser. He reached for a large Manila folder and grabbed the contents inside.
He handed them to Michonne and she stared at Rick for a moment before looking down at the papers.
She nodded then looked up at Rick who was watching her carefully.
"I wanted to tell you when it first happened. But now I think you deserve to know more now than ever." Rick explained Michonne nodded again. She looked down at his hand and finally noticed his ring was gone.
"I just don't think I can handle being somebodies rebound." Michonne said quietly and Rick scoffed.
"You could never be anyone's rebound. I've wanted you for longer than is probably appropriate. You will always be my first choice." Rick clasped her hands in his and admired their skins pressed together. "So what do you say? Me and you?" Rick asked hopefully and Michonne nodded once then twice.
She initiated the kiss this time and the force of it knocked them both down onto the bed. Rick's hands tightly grasped the back of Michonne's thighs as she made herself comfortable on top of him.
She was absolutely intoxicating and he was sure he would never get enough. She pushed back his curls which were going a little rogue and smiled.
"Hey." She whispered and Rick smiled rubbing his hands down her impossibly smooth legs. His hands stopped at her white converse as she watched him quietly explore.
"There's a party downstairs." Michonne reminded rick quietly and he nodded but kept idly rubbing her legs. "Guests to entertain, food to eat."
"Mhm." Rick said just as quiet and Michonne ran her hand along the chest hair that peaked out of his brown t shirt.
"People will start to look for us." She protested weakly as Rick kissed a trail from her neck up to her ear. "But maybe…"
"Maybe?" Rick paused his ministrations for a moment and Michonne let out a light moan that sent Rick into overdrive.
"Maybe you don't stop." She breathed and Rick happily obliged.
About 15 minutes later Michonne and Rick were looking at each other over before they returned to the party.
Rick cringed as he saw the beginnings of a deep purple hickey appearing on Michonne's collarbone.
"Don't worry." Michonne said as she reached to release her hair from its top knot. She pulled her hair forward and effectively hid the love bite.
"I'm good?" Rick asked and Michonne looked across his skin for any marks of their make out session. Besides his slightly kiss swollen lips he looked better than ever. Carefree.
Staring at each other they almost got caught up again when some commotion caught their attention.
They exchanged a look that promised more was to come before they headed downstairs to see what the fuss was about.
As they went downstairs they saw that everyone had migrated from the backyard to the front of the house. Michonne and Rick were shocked to see Carl, Lori and Shane standing in front of a brand new Land Rover with a bright red bow on its top.
"Fucking seriously?" Rick mumbled and Michonne grabbed his arm.
"It's okay." Michonne whispered and Rick shook his head. His ex wife and best friend buying Carl a brand new SUV definitely wasn't okay.
"Dad uh look what mom and Shane got me." Carl said as he motioned his dad over still very much in shock over his new car.
"Yeah would you look at that." Rick said as his glare went between Lori and Shane.
"I knew a guy and he gave us a great deal." Shane boasted and Rick tilted his head at him.
"How are ya'll affording this?" Rick asked and Lori folded her arms over her protruding belly. Rick surly hoped his first installment of child support wasn't going towards this.
"Don't worry about it." Shane said with a wave of his hand and Rick stepped closer to Lori.
"Lori?"
She gave him a tense smile and shook her head.
"Don't worry about it." She parroted and Rick rolled his eyes. He wasn't about to ruin this moment for Carl but they would be talking about this later.
He looked in the front seat where Carl was sitting with Andre in his lap. The toddler was pulling the wheel from one side to the other.
Rick looked over his shoulder to Michonne who was making funny faces at Andre much to the young boys amusement.
His anger simmered down and he walked over to the window to talk to Carl.
"You like it?" Rick asked and Carl shrugged while Andre explored the car.
"I mean yeah but it's a lot, right?"
"Yeaah it's a lot." Rick agreed and Carl caught Andre in his arms who was climbing over his shoulder to get to the back seat.
"What do you think bud?" Shane said as he came behind Rick, clamping his hand down on his shoulder. Rick gritted a smile and shook off Shane's hand.
"It's nice Shane but.."
"I mean you're going to need something to drive when we move." Shane reasoned with a wide grin and Rick turned to face him.
"Excuse me?"
"Oh that's right Rick," Shane said with a snap like he just remembered something, "Lori and I are moving to North Carolina. And we think Carl should come with us."
Rick's nostrils flared and he shoved Shane hard causing the man to stumble to the ground.
"The hell you are! You are not taking my son!" Rick hollered as he came on top of Shane and landed punch after punch.
Glenn and Daryl moved forward and managed to pry Rick off of a bloodied Shane.
Jesus helped Shane up and stood between to the two fighting men.
"Stop it." He said lowly as he held his arms between the two men.
Lori came to Shane's side and examined his likely broken nose. She whispered something to him and he gave her a bloody smile.
Rick's temper began to flair again when Michonne grabbed both his hands with a worried look.
He looked down at her beautiful, concerned face and felt himself began to calm down. He also realized that her holding his hands like this was a public display of sorts. A claiming. He wondered how inappropriate it would be to kiss her right now..
"Oh I see what this is." Shane said having watched the display the whole time. "You're fucking black beauty!"
Rick stormed forward but with Michonne in his way he didn't get too far.
"Don't you dare disrespect her." Rick warned and Shane spit out a glob of blood. Shane took a step towards Michonne and Rick moved her behind his back.
"Does she know what you did?" Shane asked and Rick shook his head wanting nothing more than to shut Shane the fuck up.
"Shane don't." Daryl said and Shane held up his hand. There weren't a lot of people that knew why Rick was suspended and that was for good reason.
"Do you know why Rick was suspended for those two weeks?" Shane asked Michonne from behind Rick's back and Rick pushed Michonne further away from Shane. "Does she not know?"
"Rick?" Michonne whispered from behind him and he turned to face her.
He should tell her right now. Tell her before-
"He beat the shit out of your baby daddy. Damn near killed him when he was in the hospital. Probably just to get in your-." Shane didn't even finish his sentence when Rick threw another punch. "Yes! Go ahead Rick prove my point. You're a fucking psycho who can't keep his anger in check. You're not fit to be a father, a husband that's why I had to step in! " Shane goaded Rick as he wiped the blood from his mouth. Daryl and Glenn struggled to get Rick and Shane off each other as they fought in the middle of the road.
Lori screamed for them to stop and Michonne numbly reached to take Andre from Carl who was wailing at what he was witnessing.
Delilah moved to escort Michonne back into the house when everyone paused at the sound of sirens. Blue and red flashed and Rick and Shane stopped their fighting.
"Who called the cops?" Rick growled blood pouring from his eye, his damp curly hair and falling over his eyes.
He rolled his eyes as Martinez, Shane's new partner, and T-Dog came out of their squad car.
"You're not seriously about to arrest Rick are you?" Daryl asked T-Dog as he exited the passenger seat.
"Actually we weren't called for Rick but looking at it now..." Martinez said as he took in Rick and Shane's bloodied appearance.
"Then who are you here for?" Aaron asked and Martinez smiled.
"Glenn Rhee."
Glenn stepped forward without hesitation with a furrowed brow.
"What's going on?" He asked and Martinez stepped forward and harshly turned Glenn around.
"Aw c'mon man you don't need to put the cuffs on-." T-Dog began with a groan. These were good people and Glenn's pizzeria was his regular spot.
Martinez cut him off with a sharp look. "Glenn Rhee you're under arrest for the assault of Negan Morgan." Martinez said and that's when all hell broke loose.
Maggie moved forward and shoved Martinez away Glenn causing Martinez to push her away. At the sight of someone touching his wife Glenn accidentally ended up hitting T-Dog who had stepped in front of Martinez.
Sasha ran over to Maggie to make sure she was okay and Abraham and Daryl were holding back Glenn who was cussing Martinez out in Korean.
It was a disaster.
Enid and Carl watched helplessly as all the adults lost their shit. Carl looked around and noticed that Michonne and his grandma weren't outside anymore. He figured they should go too and he grabbed Enid's hand taking her away from the scene.
"Wrong fucking move chinaman!" Martinez yelled from behind T-Dog and this time it was Daryl who threw hands.
"He's Korean!" He yelled as he clocked Martinez out cold.
It was quiet for a moment before T-Dog spoke.
"So uh.. yeah. You're all under arrest."
And that's how Daryl, Glenn, Rick, and Shane spent the night in jail on the evening of Carl's birthday.
Ahh so now everything is out in the open. Shane and Lori are trash and are finally moving away, Michonne knows the truth about what happened between Rick and Mike... it's a lot lol. Anyways more to come soon. Hopefully some time next week. Thank you again for reading I really appreciate the support I get for this story.
