Author's Note: This chapter is.. emotional to say the least. It's a lot and I understand if some of you wanna skip this chapter. Anything that is italicized going forward is a flashback. Regular text is current day. This picks up about a month and a half after Carl's birthday but everything that happened in between that time will (hopefully) be explained. Well now that we got that all cleared up.. let's do this :)


"Don't make me go back out there." Rick pleaded as he and Michonne hid out in the kitchen. They excused themselves under the guise of checking on the food when really they both just needed a moment to regroup.

Whose brilliant idea was it to have dinner together anyways?

It actually the mediator who suggested they all sit down to talk about their custody expectations. One thing they all seem to agree on is that they wanted to settle this outside of court.

But at the moment Shane and Lori still seemed pretty adamant about Carl leaving with them. They insisted this would be a fresh start for them all. They even suggested Rick move with them.

"Jesus can you believe they suggested I come with them?" Rick whispered harshly and Michonne hummed as she took out another batch of rolls from the oven. "They said it like I don't have a whole life here. They said it like I don't have my family and job out here. Like I don't have you." Rick pulled at his hair and began to anxiously pace the kitchen.

"Yeah it's really crazy." Michonne said with a sigh and Rick stopped his pacing to watch her.

"Why aren't you more upset with me? How are you so calm?"

"Well darling," Michonne said as she put her famous honey butter spread on the hot rolls, "I'm calm because I see the alternative in you. You have got to calm down."

Rick's jaw dropped and he narrowed his eyes at Michonne. Was she really not taking his side on this?

"What they're asking is bullshit Michonne."

"I know."

"Carl is my son. Not Shane's."

"I know Rick.."

"Then why aren't you-."

"Because I'm just the girlfriend Rick." Michonne said with a dejected shrug and Rick's heart dropped. He hated the insecurity in her voice, had he not made it clear to her that she already was so much more than 'just the girlfriend'? He knew their relationship was still fairly new but he was now worried she didn't understand how much she meant to him.

"Michonne…" he began slowly and Michonne took a deep breath before she continued.

"I know this is stressful. I would feel the same way if someone was trying to take Andre from me. But arguing and berating Lori and Shane isn't helping."

"Hey now I wasn't-."

"'No Rick you were . And I get it I do but remember that Carl is the one who suffers because his parents can't get it together. Remember that Shane and Lori are legally together now. They're married Rick. Hate it all you want but when they speak, they speak together." Michonne reminded him and he let out a long breath. "I have to keep my cool because you're not. You don't think I want to put Lori in her place every time she calls me your 'little friend' or when she reminds me that Carl is her son and I'm not actually family? Jesus Rick, you have got to try harder because I'm doing the best I can!" Michonne said as frustrated tears burst from her eyes.

"Baby…" Rick said as he stepped forward and the look Michonne gave him was so icy he stayed right where he was.

"You guys said you wanted to do this outside of court so figure it out." Michonne hissed angrily and Rick ran his hand over his beard roughly.

He started growing it out because Michonne said she liked it and now he was grateful to have something hiding the deep blush on his cheeks. She was right and he was embarrassed.

"I don't want you to be upset with me.." Rick said slowly and Michonne rolled her eyes.

"I'm allowed to be mad at you Richard," Michonne said and Rick cringed after the use of his full name, "When two people love each other they fight, they disagree." Michonne said matter of factly and Rick couldn't help the large grin that pulled on his lips.

"Say that again." Rick requested his voice low and dangerous and Michonne's eyes flew open as she caught her slip up.

They hadn't said the " L word" to each other yet. It was far too soon, right?

"I'm allowed to be mad at you?" Michonne repeated dumbly and Rick's smile grew as he shook his head. He took two large steps towards Michonne and she fell back into the counter.

"The other thing." He whispered into her ear and she shook her head as her eyes fluttered shut.

"Richard?" She breathed and she could feel Rick smile against her neck.

"Mmm. Well for the record I do too."

Michonne pulled back to look him in his eyes and she frowned.

She wasn't sure but did he just say that he..?

"Is it safe to come down yet?" Carl asked as he came into the kitchen and Michonne scrambled to pull away from Rick. He didn't let her go far and kept a hand on her waist as he looked over his shoulder to where Carl stood at the entrance of the kitchen with an empty plate.

"Not quite. Still world war five out there." Rick answered and he pouted as Michonne managed to wiggle out of his grip.

"That doesn't make any sense dad. There hasn't been a world war 3 or 4." Carl reminded Rick as he plucked a steaming roll from the pan.

"That's how bad it is. It defies logic and surpasses 3 and 4." Michonne chimed in as she served Carl another spoonful of potatoes.

"Oh by the way Michonne I finished that comic you lent me."

"And?"

"I guess Spider-Man is kinda cool." Carl said with a shrug and Michonne smiled. "Very cool actually."

"Does Spider-Man remind you of someone you know?" Michonne asked and Carl paused his mouth full of buttery bread.

"Uh, Peter Parker?" Carl answered and Michonne snorted.

"No smart ass, I was thinking he should remind you of yourself. Keep reading." Michonne instructed and Carl nodded as he made his exit.

"Ready to go back out there?" Rick asked as Michonne went to the sink and began to start dish water. "Michonne?"

"No I think you should just go back." Michonne said with a sigh and Rick shook his head although he knew she couldn't see him.

"Not without you." Rick refused and Michonne turned to face him. "'Michonne you're part of this." He said passionately and Michonne frowned.

"'Please Rick I just can't.." Michonne pleaded and Rick nodded as he came forward to press a kiss to her forehead.

"Okay." He rasped as he walked away from her with a squeeze of her hand. He would never push her to do anything she wasn't comfortable with.

When Rick left Michonne turned around and finally wiped at her eyes.


"Wait so he said he loved you that night?!" Andrea asked as she took her eyes off the road for a brief moment to look at Michonne. They were out looking for houses for Michonne and Andre and this particular one was well within Michonne's budget but seriously out in the boonies.

Andrea had been living part time in Atlanta now and volunteered to drive with Michonne to the mystery house.

If they didn't arrive soon Michonne was about to call it all off.

"That's all you got from that story? And no, I guess he didn't technically say he loved me."

"But he strongly hinted at it. And you still haven't given him any? You're better than me." Andrea said with a light laugh and Michonne rolled her eyes.

"It hasn't been from lack of trying" Michonne mumbled and Andrea's eyes widened.

"So you've done stuff?" Andrea giggled excitedly with a wiggle of her brows and Michonne felt herself blush. Andrea had the maturity of a 16 year old some times.

"I plead the fifth counselor."

"Bitch this ain't court." Andrea snorted and Michonne shook her head thoughtfully. Lord knows she wanted to do more with Rick but he was a southern gentleman through and through. He "didn't want to rush that final, most intimate aspect of their relationship.", he explained to her after rejecting her after one steamy make out on the couch. He said while she had his dick in one hand and he had two handfuls of her ass.

Boy, did that do a number to her pride.

"Andrea that was our exit!" Michonne chastised as Andrea zoomed past their turn.

"Don't worry Siri will redirect us." Andrea assured Michonne as she continued on the wrong way.

"Andrea seriously, turn around." Michonne instructed and Andrea rolled her eyes.

"We'll be okay. Plus it just gives us more time to talk about your Rick situation."

"I don't have a 'Rick situation'.. We're just taking it slow." Michonne said defensively as she bit at her bottom lip. "Very.. very slow." Michonne whispered under her breath and a wicked smirk curled on Andrea's lips.

"Get your phone out." Andrea instructed Michonne and she did so cautiously. "Write a text to Rick and say this, 'No more waiting tonight, I'm done taking it slow'. That's it nothing more nothing less and no emojis. Send any and I'll drive us off the side of the road." Andrea instructed and Michonne laughed.

"It's not too bold?" Michonne asked and Andrea shook her head.

"It's actually kinda mild. My first idea was a lot more X rated. It involved you showing up to his house wearing a long trench a la Carmen Sandiego- but like slutty Carmen Sandiego, with those killer heels you got two summers ago from Italy and the La Perla set from three Valentine's Day ago? You either would have either gotten the best dick of your life or would have killed him."

Michonne burst out laughing and shook her head at her friend's craziness. She did have that trench coat and a red hat in her closet…

"Andy you're crazy." Michonne said through her laughter and Andrea shrugged with a smug smile.

"Send the text Chonne and thank me later."

Michonne typed the message quickly and hit send letting out a breath as she watched the message slowly try to send.

"No service." Michonne pouted as she put down her phone and Andrea looked at her own phone that was mounted on the dashboard.

"No wonder Siri never redirected us."

"Should have turned around when I told you to." Michonne grumbled as she took in their unfamiliar surroundings.

"Hush. See if you can get us directions back to the main road. It's getting more and more Dukes of Hazard out here and I'd like to leave before someone fires warning shots at us." Andrea said with a shutter and Michonne grabbed Andrea's phone.

"You still don't have service either." Michonne announced and Andrea groaned at the inconvenience.

"Well I'll just turn around." Andrea said as she began to make a U-turn on the empty road. As she did they both heard a light and continuous honk.

"Did you hear that?" Michonne asked and Andrea spun the car back towards where they came from.

"Yep those are the warning honks, let's get out of here before they turn into the warning shots."

When the honking continued without pause Michonne looked over her shoulder and squinted down the road.

"Andy, stop. There's a car back there." Michonne said and Andrea continued back towards their original destination.

"Uh yeah babe it's a road there would be a car back there." Andrea said not paying much attention to Michonne.

"No Andrea.. I think.. I think we need to go back. Something doesn't look right."

"And you want to go back towards the potential danger?"

"Please." Michonne pleaded with her eyes still on the car that was off on the side of the road quite away from them.

"Fine. But I really hope David Duke back there suddenly likes black girls and Jewish girls with an attitude." Andrea said with a dramatic sigh as she turned back around and drove towards the car.

As they got closer Michonne felt a pit at the bottom of her stomach, a strange sense of anxiety she hadn't felt in months. Maybe even years.

She tried to shake off the feeling but the closer they got to the car the worse she began to feel.

"Andrea I-." Michonne breathed anxiously and Andrea looked over at her friend.

"Jesus babe, what's wrong?" Andrea asked looking over at her friend who suddenly looked very ill. As they finally approached the car they saw that there had been a major accident. The car appeared to have swerved off the road and ran into a tree head on. The car was nearly half its size due to the impact of the accident. It was smoking from the hood.

"Oh my God it's Lori!" Michonne cried as she untangled herself from the seat belt not even allowing Andrea to fully stop the car.

"What?! Are you sure?!" Andrea asked as she stopped the car and ran beside Michonne who was trying to pull the front door of Lori's car open.

"She's unconscious. Call 911." Michonne instructed frantically as she finally opened the door. The windshield was shattered and glass littered the passenger seat. Michonne looked around and didn't see anyone else in the car so she figured Lori was alone. The airbag had deployed and Lori laid still, her head lulled to the side.

"Lori!" Michonne called as she tried to assess the damage to the heavily pregnant woman.

The sound of Lori's horn going off was disorienting and made Michonne struggle to focus on the task at hand. How long had Lori been here? What happened?

"Andy tell them to hurry!" Michonne called out and she tried to rouse the woman awake.

"There's no service!" Andrea told Michonne her blue eyes wide with worry. "Shit Michonne. I'm gonna drive up the road and see if I can get service." Andrea yelled as she ran back to the car and quickly backed up.

"Michonne?" Lori croaked weakly and Michonne was relieved to see Lori was conscious."Is that you?" She asked and Michonne nodded and grabbed the hand Lori reached out for her. "I was so scared no one would find me." Lori said with a sad smile. She had a nasty cut on her forehead that was beginning to bleed again. Blood rolled down her forehead and Michonne immediately reached out and wiped her skin clean with her sleeve.

"Well you're not alone Lori and it's going to be okay." Michonne promised and she prayed Andrea got service soon.

"Michonne I'm in labor." Lori cried and Michonne looked down in horror at Lori's lap which was covered in blood.

"Andrea!" Michonne screamed, waving her friends back over and Andrea sped forward instantly. "She's in labor." Michonne explained as soon as Andrea exited the car holding her phone high in the air in a desperate attempt for service. "We have to get her out of here. We have to get her to a hospital. Now." Michonne said as she reached over to gently unbuckle Lori from the car.

"Michonne I can't feel my legs." Lori breathed and Michonne's heart stopped. This was much more serious than she first thought. "The contractions were so bad at first.. now I can't feel anything! I can't feel anything!" Lori cried and Michonne tried to keep her own tears at bay.

"Okay you've got to stay calm. It's not good for either of you." Michonne said shakily and Lori nodded. Both women were terrified, but Michonne couldn't let Lori in on her panic.

"Michonne if we can just get her in the backseat…" Andrea said softly seeing that her friend was slowly spiraling. She had never seen Michonne look so afraid and out of control in years.

"There's an emergency blanket and kit in my trunk." Michonne informed Andrea as she reached into Lori's car wrapping her arms around her. It would be hard to get Lori out of the car, her belly was pressed up against the wheel and the front seat wasn't able to go back any further.

"I've got you." Michonne assured Lori as she pulled all her weight into her arms. She was still quite light despite being 7 months pregnant but because Lori couldn't move all the work was on Michonne.

Lori began sobbing violently and Michonne stopped moving her to give Lori a moment to collect herself. "Lori I have to keep going." Michonne whispered as Andrea came to her side to help lift Lori into the backseat. They managed to get her in the back of the car in a semi comfortable position.

Michonne stared at the blood that had pooled between Lori's legs before she moved to peel her leggings off.

Michonne threw the pants to the side and with little knowledge she knew about delivering a baby (all her knowledge came from her own delivery) she checked how far along Lori was.

Shit. They were running out of time.

Andrea buckled into the front seat and allowed Michonne a moment to adjust Lori's head on her lap.

"Are you okay?" Andrea asked and Michonne shook her head as she watched Lori fall unconscious again.

"Just drive fast."


Everything Lori learned from her birthing class went out the window when she went into labor early that afternoon. She couldn't remember any of the breathing or pain relief techniques she learned from that weird hippie doctor and now she wished she and Rick paid more attention.

All her patience went out the window too when they caught a flat tire on the way to the hospital.

She swore this truck was cursed.

"I want to get a new car when this is all over!" Lori yelled out the window as she blew out an angry breath. Her sundress was sticking to her uncomfortably due to the late summer humidity and she shifted in her seat trying to make herself more comfortable.

How she managed to go into labor on one of the hottest summer days in history is beyond her.

Rick laughed as he moved to the window to talk to his very pregnant, very upset wife.

"You rememberin to breathe?" He asked and Lori huffed with an exaggerated eye roll.

"Did you fix the car yet?" She shot back and Rick smiled as he leaned in to give her a kiss.

"Almost. Think you can hold him in a bit longer?" He joked and Lori couldn't help but smile back.

"I'll try but hurry."

Rick ran to the back of the truck and continued to change the tire. He always kept a few spares' since that disastrous date all those years ago.

"Rick!" Lori called out as she clenched her fists in pain. "He's not waiting!"

Rick finished changing the tire and threw his tools in the back. He ran to the front seat and started the car without issue. He gave Lori a smile and nodded as he sped towards the hospital.

"Let's go."

"Rick… Rick!" Lori cried as a another contraction surged through her.


"Rick." Lori called out in her sleep and Michonne frowned. Lori continued to mumble in her sleep as her head rested in Michonne's lap. They were still on the road back towards civilization and unfortunately still had no service.

"She woke up?" Andrea asked from the front seat and Michonne shook her head.

"No.. I think she's dreaming." Michonne answered as she stroked Lori's hair. It was crazy to think that just weeks ago Michonne and Lori were at each other's throats and now Michonne was with her in the backseat of her car bargaining with God to spare the woman's life.

"Andrea, any service yet?" Michonne asked and Andrea glanced away from the road to her phone.

"Oh my God are we in the twilight zone!" Andrea yelled frustrated and that was Michonne's answer.

"Michonne." Lori croaked and Michonne looked down at Lori who was staring up at her.

"Did Rick ever tell you about the day Carl was born?" She asked so softly Michonne had to strain to hear her.

"Why don't you tell me.." Michonne requested, glad that Lori was conscious again. Lori swallowed painfully and gave Michonne a weak smile.

"That stupid car caught a flat tire… Rick was so upset."

"But you were even more upset right?" Michonne supplied and Lori laughed lightly.

"Always hated that car." Lori whispered as she shut her eyes and Michonne gently shook her awake.

" Tell me more, Lori." Michonne requested and Lori's eyes struggled to stay open. "Lori c'mon. What else happened?"

"You know when I first found out I was pregnant with Shane's baby.. I made an appointment to get an abortion?" Lori admitted and the woman in the car fell quiet. "I was so ashamed of what we did. I didn't want any evidence of our betrayal. But something stopped me, I don't know what it was but I didn't go. I didn't want this baby for a long time but now I want it so badly. I want my baby so bad Michonne." Lori cried and Michonne grabbed her hand tightly.

Michonne noticed the car was slowing down to a stop and she looked up at Andrea who was clutching the steering wheel tightly.

"Drea what's going on?" Michonne asked and Andrea's stared at Michonne with tearful eyes through the rear view mirror.

"The car won't start."


Shane slammed the front door to their apartment closed and Lori flinched as she placed a protective hand over her belly. The judge had just granted Rick full custody and Shane's reaction was less than stellar.

"You have just as much right to Carl as he does." Shane growled as he stomped into the kitchen in search of a hard drink. "Rick is a real self righteous son of a bitch."

"He's not wrong… Carl does have a whole life here that we would be taking him away from." Lori protested weakly and Shane pointed a finger at her.

"No Lori, don't give up. We can still win this. I'll call Phillip and, and I'll-,"

"Shane," Lori said with a small smile as she shook her head, "there is no 'wining' in this. I only ever cared about Carl. Not about one upping Rick or trying to take his son away from him."

"Lori what are you-."

"Rick and I came to an agreement a while ago, actually back at his house during dinner. You and I both know it's the right thing." Lori said with absolution and Shane glared at her in astonishment.

"So you're giving up?" He asked in disbelief as he set down his drink.

"No, I'm doing the right thing. For once in a very long time I'm doing what's right Shane. I'm okay with it, really. We had to have known when we started all this that it was going to be just me and you in the end." Lori said softly and Shane rubbed at his newly shaved head.

He stared at this woman, his wife and sighed. If this is what she really wanted he guess it's what he wanted too.

"All those years ago- Back in high school.. you know it was always you, right? It's always been you even since then but- he got to you first." Shane admitted and Lori sighed sadly.

She didn't want to get caught up in what ifs. Didn't want to think about the pain each of them had caused so many people to get where they are right now.

Their love story was nasty, and broken. It was built out of betrayal and lies but she loved Shane, she really did. And in that moment she realized Shane fighting so hard for custody of Carl- in its own messed up way was his way of showing her how much he loved her too.

"I do love the beaches in North Carolina." Lori said after a moment and Shane smirked.

"Yeah? By the time we move we'll be catching the end of that great famous weather." Shane said as he ran a hand down Lori's arm. He wove his fingers in hers and took a deep breath.

He would never apologize for how he got here. His own stubborn pride wouldn't let him and to be quite honest? He wasn't that sorry. He had wanted this for years.

Of course there were times he missed his friendship with Rick or some of the other guys at the station who had sided with Rick after everything went down. There were times he missed bonding with Carl, back when he was his Uncle Shane who taught him new things and took him out for burgers.

That was all over now, that life felt like centuries ago.

"Shane he's kicking." Lori exclaimed excitedly as she grabbed Shane's hand and placed it where their son was kicking.

He gazed at her in wonder and smiled at the sensation.

Nah.. he'd never apologize. This was just too good to feel bad about.


When Lori woke up she realized she wasn't in the back of Michonne's car anymore. She tried to sit up but tubes and IVs brought her back down.

"Don't try and move too much." A young, female paramedic instructed her and Lori panicked not recognizing her surroundings.

"Michonne?" Lori called out looking for a familiar face and Michonne appeared almost instantly.

"We're in an ambulance Lori. We're almost to the hospital." Michonne explained and Lori shook her head as she tried to look around the ambulance.

"The baby?" She whispered afraid of the answer and Michonne smiled. Another paramedic gently transferred a sleeping baby boy to Lori's chest. Michonne helped Lori hold the baby to her as Lori began to sob.

"H-he's okay." She said through hiccuping tears as she stared down at her youngest song. She didn't even remember the delivery, she didn't remember a lot.

God she was so tired.

"Yeah he's okay." Michonne said quietly, happy that Lori was lucid enough to have finally met her son. The delivery was amazing. Lori wasn't conscious for much of it and even if she was, her injuries wouldn't have allowed her to push. Her body worked all on instinct. Michonne watched in amazement as Lori delivered her baby without even being awake to witness it.

By the time the baby was born, a man named Otis had pulled off to the side of the road and called an ambulance. Michonne rode with Lori and the baby while Andrea followed behind them in Otis' truck. For the first time that night Michonne was truly hopeful that everything was going to be okay. That's why she was so confused by what Lori said next.

"Michonne. I'm so sorry for how I've treated you. I've been so cruel."

Michonne shook her head refusing to accept her apology. They'd have time to talk later for now she was just glad Lori was awake. "You are so good for them. I need you to promise me you'll take care of them, promise me you'll tell Carl that I love him. And that I am so sorry." Lori requested and Michonne gave Lori a confused smile as she fought her frown. Why would she need to tell him when Lori could do it soon herself?

"Tell him that he was truly my first love.. and that I'm so proud of him." Lori said as her breathing became more labored.

"Lori stop this." Michonne demanded harshly and Lori took a shaky breath. Michonne knew what Lori was trying to do. She wondered if she understood how close they were to the hospital now, how close they were to getting her to a doctor.

She had lost a lot of blood, yes, but it took a lot of miracles to get them where they were now and Michonne couldn't let her give up yet.

Lori looked down at her son and took a breath. "Louis." She said after a moment as she continued to gaze at her son. "After Shane's father."

"Lori, you'll be okay, you just need-."

"Tell Rick that the best thing we ever did was Carl. Tell him I'm sorry and that he finally has the love he deserves." Michonne broke out into tears and rested her head against Lori's pillow. Lori didn't sound resigned to death but rather accepting and content.

"Michonne please." Lori begged and Michonne shook her head.

"You're giving up!" Michonne cried as she looked up at Lori and she finally saw just how bad Lori looked. Her fresh cream skin was ghostly now and marred with cuts and bruises.

"It's okay Michonne… don't let my boys be too sad, okay?" Lori requested and Michonne looked up in time to see Lori's eyes shut. The sound of her heart monitor flat lining ringing sharply in everyone's ears.

Michonne quickly took Louis into her arms as the paramedics worked on Lori

"BP's dropping. Oxygen level is at 20%." Rosita called off and Michonne looked down at Louis who had woken up during all the commotion.

Michonne didn't even she pulled Louis to her chest in an attempt to shield his ears.

"Starting CPR." Tara the other paramedic said as she crouched over Lori and began to pump her chest. She kept going until Rosita told her to stop. After quickly placing stickers on Lori's chest they ordered everyone to stay clear as they gave her one shock.

Nothing.

They resumed CPR for a beat before pulling away and giving her another shock.

Nothing.

The paramedics looked at each other as Michonne held a screaming Louis closer to her.

"Keep going!" Michonne pleaded, her ears ringing and her heart hammering.

The paramedics gave each other a nod.

"Continuing chest compressions." Tara said slowly as she shot a look at Rosita and she continued to press into Lori's chest.

Michonne could see out the window that they were pulling into the hospital.

"Lori you're going to be okay! We're at the hospital." Michonne cried happily as she continued to console Louis. He looked up at her and attempted to give her a smile, and in that small moment she felt at peace. He was innocent throughout all of this and no matter who his parents were and what they did he was just so perfect.

"Lori he's-." Michonne began to tell Lori but she stopped short when she was brought back to the current situation.

She was back in the ambulance again and the ringing was hurting her ears again. The two paramedics, Rosita and Tara, had stopped working on Lori a while ago. They didn't do any more chest compressions and Tara carefully put down the defibrillator.

"Ma'm I can take him." Rosita offered and Michonne flinched away from her.

"W-why are you guys stopping?" Michonne stammered as the ambulance pulled to a stop. The door flung open and 2 men in scrubs stepped forward to get Lori off the truck. When Rosita shook her head lightly the two men looked at Michonne and Louis then back at Lori.

"How long?" One of the doctors asked and Michonne struggled to understand why nobody was doing anything.

"No pulse for 7 minutes now sir." Tara answered glumly and Michonne shook her head as she glared at the young girl

"She's going to be fine we made it." Michonne said numbly as she started at Lori's still body.

"She lost a lot of blood. Her BP and oxygen dropped quickly." Rosita explained as she roughly pulled off her gloves and rubbed at her eyes.

"Why aren't you guys doing anything?" Michonne whispered and one of the doctors climbed into the ambulance.

"I'm so sorry…" He said and Michonne began to cry.

She cried for Lori and the fight she lost. She cried for Carl and Louis who were robbed of more time with their mother, she knew the pain well. Her crying began to upset Louis and he trashed in her arms.

God everything was so loud. The crying, the taking, the beeping.

She felt the doctor try to take Louis from her arms and she whimpered.

"Ma'm we need to check on the baby. Make sure he's okay." The doctor explained gently and Michonne refused to relinquish her hold. "His father is here."

His father? Shane.

Michonne allowed the doctor to help her out of the ambulance and into the hospital. She slowly walked behind them and finally let a nurse take Louis away. Her ears were still buzzing and her vision was hazy.

She heard her name being called and she turned her head to see Shane running towards her.

"Michonne is she-." He asked but Michonne stared beyond him, her eyes fixed and vacant. "Michonne where's Lori!" He yelled as he roughly grabbed her shoulders and she finally looked at him.

The ringing in her ears dulled as she really looked at him.

She was supposed to be okay.

"I'm sorry." Michonne mumbled and Shane shook his head. A sob ripped from deep within his chest as he stumbled forward.

He stared at Michonne for a moment, his mouth slightly open. He began to fall, his body breaking apart in front of her. Michonne sank to her knees alongside him, refusing to let him go down alone and she was surprised with how heavy he was, as he rested all his weight against her. No words seemed right.

Michonne was taking Lori's death as a personal failure and the anguish she felt over it hurt her to her soul.

But the pain Shane felt was so strong that it penetrated Michonne's veins as he sobbed into her lap.

She cringed at the feeling of remorse she felt for him. Michonne stroked at his hair unsure of how else to help the grief-stricken man.

She didn't know when he came, she was only aware of herself and Shane but Rick soon joined them on the floor.

He pulled Shane towards him and let him cry into his shoulder.

Michonne watched as Rick opened his heart and consoled the man who had betrayed him. Shane rocked with Rick on the ground of the emergency room as the nurses and doctors watched on in pity and sympathy.

"I'm sorry man I'm so sorry." Shane wailed as Rick held him tight. They weren't enemies in that moment, two men ripped apart by infidelity. They were brothers again.

Rick nodded as he kept his own tears at bay.

He had been in love with Lori at one point so he could sympathize with losing that. He also realized two boys were without their mother.

Rick looked at Michonne and frowned when he noticed her breathing had become quite shallow. He must have said something to her because he looked at her expectant for an answer of some sorts.

Michonne ignored him and pushed herself up from the ground, walking past Shane and Rick. She walked past Carl who was being consoled by Delilah. She walked past Andrea who had just arrived with Otis.

And when she finally made it outside into the cool night air she took a deep breath, looked down at her clothes that were stained with Lori's blood, and she lost consciousness.


The sound of the horn going off brought Michonne back into consciousness.

What happened?

Michonne groaned as she strained her neck to look at the drivers side to where her mother was. Her mother laid frighteningly still against the deployed steering wheel.

"Mom?" Michonne croaked out as she dipped her fingers into the bloody gash on her forehead. "Mama?" She whispered tearfully when her mom didn't respond.

It was dark out now and Michonne didn't recognize where they were. She had a fencing tournament that night that was further out in the country at a private school. Her dad had work so her mother was the only one who could come with her.

Michonne was upset at first that both parent's couldn't be there but her sweeping victory and celebratory ice cream with her mother made up for it.

"Mom!" Michonne managed to say a little louder and her mother groaned. "Mom?!" Michonne said as she struggled to get her seat belt off. The car was smoking and the sound of the horn going off was a little disorienting.

"Michonne?" Imani mumbled as she struggled to lift her head up from the airbag.

"Mama we got in an accident." Michonne said as she finally manged to free herself from her seat. She carefully crawled over the middle console and touched her mothers shoulder.

"I can't move, mudiwa wangu." She whispered and Michonne gently tried to push her mother away from the steering wheel. She helped her mother rest against the seat and Imani let out a slow breath.

"You're hurt?" Michonne asked and Imani nodded slowly.

"Pretty bad." Imani answered, hating to scare her daughter but needing her to understand the severity of her injuries. "I need you to run up the road, carefully and get some help." Imani instructed and Michonne began to sob.

She didn't want to leave her mother alone.

"No amai." Michonne pleaded in her mother's native language.

"Yes. Go up the road and get some help. I'll be okay." Imani promised and Michonne shook her head defiantly. "You have to. Amai will be okay."

Michonne wiped at her tears and managed to get her door open. She looked back at her mother who gave her a smile.

"Ndinokuda chaizvo. Nguva dzose."

Michonne stared at her mother before stumbling out of the car and running in the darkness towards the only light.

She didn't know how long she ran but she was grateful for the older Indian man who identified himself as, Sunil, pulled his truck off to the side and stopped to see what was wrong. They then sped back towards where her mother was.

Sunil managed to help her into his truck and Michonne sat in the back with her mother stroking her hair. Her mother's chest moving up and down gave Michonne more hope she could ask for.

They made it to the hospital in record time and Sunil scooped Imani into his arms with Michonne right by his side.

They worked on her quickly. The doctors ordered things to nurses that Michonne didn't understand and everyone moved with such urgency. A nurse tended to Michonne's own wounds from behind a desk and Michonne's ear hurt from the sound of her mother's heart monitor. She watched the curtain intensely and wished she understood what was going on.

She heard one of the doctors curse from behind the curtain bark some more orders at the nurses and Michonne shot up from her seat and pulled back the curtain.

She looked at the doctor who was cursing and pulling off his gloves. A nurse looked at the clock and shook her head and another woman tried to pull Michonne away.

"Why aren't you guys doing anything?!" Michonne screamed and Sunil came and grabbed her shoulder. "No!" Michonne cried as she flinched away from Sunil and ran to her mothers side. She rested her head on the pillow next to her mother and cried. She reached out and touched her mothers cheek. She still felt warm.

"Why are you guys doing anything?" Michonne mumbled as she glared at the doctor and he crouched down to speak with her.

But Michonne couldn't hear anything.

Just the sound of the horn and the sound of the heart machine.

"She was supposed to be okay."


Author's Note: I know know that was kinda cruel. But now we learn a little bit about Michonne's past and why Lori's death hurts her so much. Uh yikes yeah it got dark and I'm sorry ( kinda) for that. But yeah Lori's funeral is next chapter and then and I seriously mean this but it will be happy from here on out.

Stay with me :) also please stay safe and sanitary.

Mudiwa Wangu= My darling/ love

Amai= Mum or mama

Ndinokuda chaizvo nguva dzose= I love you very much, always.

They are speaking Shona which is one of the langues spoken in Zimbabwe, where Imani was from.