Author's Note: Hello! I broke this up into two chapters because together it was kinda lengthy. But anyways we pick up the night after Michonne and Rick were together. And everything is going great! Right...?
"I think we should get off the floor," Michonne suggested as she stared up at the kitchen ceiling.
The eggs were long forgotten and the floor was getting a little uncomfortable.
"Right. You first."
Michonne smiled as she pushed herself up and off the floor, turning to give Rick a hand.
"We're too old for that shit," Rick complained as he pressed on his lower back.
"Speak for yourself old man."
"Old man? I'm only five years older than you! I'm pretty sure we're part of the same generation Michonne."
"Okay boomer."
Rick rolled his eyes as he pulled on his boxers.
"You spend too much time with Carl." He mumbled as he inspected the charred remains of what could have been a great meal.
"Such a waste." Michonne pouted as she came to stand next to him and Rick shrugged.
"I ate." He reminded her and Michonne felt her cheeks get warm. "I wanted to ask you, do you get nightmares often?"
"Nightmares?"
"Night terrors." He amended and Michonne frowned before quickly fixing her face into a tight smile.
"What a random question." She said blowing him off. She began to busy herself cleaning around the kitchen and Rick knew he had brought up a sore subject for her.
"Not really random. You had a few last night- at the hospital." Rick explained watching her carefully.
"Right… Well I started to get them right after my mother died and they never stopped. Now you know, satisfied?" Michonne snapped quietly as she threw the pan into the sink.
"Woah, not really. I just want to help Michonne." Rick said quietly, hoping to remind her they were on the same team.
Michonne stopped her scrubbing and turned to look at him.
"I know. I'm sorry, it's just another thing to add to my tapestry of fucked up memories and habits."
"I didn't bring it up to judge you. It just worried me." Rick insisted and Michonne let out a breath.
"I know. I'll be okay. There's not exactly a 'cure' for fucked up childhood memories." Michonne said with a little laugh and Rick frowned.
He decided to drop it for now but the conversation was nowhere near done.
"Do you think you'd ever want to marry me?" Rick asked and even he was surprised by his words.
Michonne turned to face him completely, a deep frown etched on her face.
"Did you hit your head at any point in the last 48 hours?" Michonne asked quite seriously and Rick smiled at her.
"Answer the question."
"You're still coming down from the Benadryl that's it," Michonne concluded as she turned back towards the dishes and Rick stepped forward grabbing her hand.
"I am in sound mind while asking this." Rick insisted and Michonne looked his face over before giving him a sly smile.
"Sex was that good huh?" Michonne teased and Rick blushed and held his head down.
"It was. But that's irrelevant. Answer the question Ms. Gavins."
Michonne knew her answer. Of course, she knew her answer, but this still felt like a trap...
"We've only been dating for two months. It would be too soon."
"I didn't ask you if you'd marry me today, I asked you if you'd ever marry me. Semantics Michonne Renée."
"No." She answered bluntly and Rick pulled away from her like she burned him.
In a way he supposed she did.
"Alright." He swallowed and headed towards the stairs.
"Jesus Rick, what did you expect me to say?!" Michonne called after him as she dropped more dishes into the sink.
"I guess I didn't expect you to say that!" He yelled from the top of the stairs and Michonne glared up at him.
"Oh c'mon you don't think I know what this is? You're coming down from the sex high and I'm not going to indulge you."
"I didn't ask you if you wanted to marry me this second! I asked if you ever wanted to marry me." Rick yelled back his voice bouncing off the walls and Michonne cringed.
"I'm not going to stand here and let you yell at me," Michonne argued back and Rick threw his hands up.
"Then let me walk away." Rick pleaded suddenly, very exhausted.
"Are we seriously fighting about this?" Michonne asked, unwilling to yield.
"Yes Michonne. When two people love each other they fight, right?" Rick said repeating her own words and Michonne thought about going up to him.
When he turned and closed the door behind him Michonne figured she should give him some time alone.
Michonne didn't think she was in the wrong on this. It was too soon, and her as a wife? Probably a catastrophe.
She cursed when she felt tears of frustration prickle in her eyes. She took a moment to compose her self when her phone vibrated across the kitchen table. Wiping at her eyes she hurried to the phone hoping to catch the call.
Michonne frowned when she saw it was Anita, Mike's mom.
Anita Freeman was a cold woman with unrealistic expectations for everyone in her life except for her son. She was oblivious to Mike's behavior- or so she acted, and even more unaware of the damage of her own actions.
Michonne thought about denying the call but then she remembered the emails from Anita she deleted. The other phone calls she screened and letters she threw away.
So she answered.
"Anita." Michonne sighed and she could hear a man talking on the other end.
"Uh yes Michonne?" Anita sniffled and Michonne was put off for a moment. Anita Freeman was the epitome of an ice queen, and it seemed Michonne had caught her on an off day.
"Hello Anita," Michonne repeated softly, something seemed off.
Silence.
"Anita?"
"Michael." She breathed out and Michonne clutched the phone a little tighter. Just the mention of his name gave Michonne a visceral reaction.
Anita took a deep breath and Michonne braced herself for the worst.
"He had been… struggling for a while," Anita began and Michonne took a seat at the kitchen table, "He's like his father that way."
It was no secret that Michael Freeman SR. was a fan of hard drugs, fast women and bad business deals.
"Is he in rehab then?" Michonne asked not really in the mood to discuss Mike's ongoing drug issues.
"ICU," Anita replied bluntly and Michonne shut her eyes tight as she fought for the right words.
"What happened?"
"There was an accident."
"What kind of accident?"
Silence.
"He was drinking. He got in a car accident- he was the only one that got hurt." Anita explained and Michonne felt light-headed.
"He's dying," Michonne concluded glumly and she heard Anita take a deep breath.
"They want to take his organs- the ones he didn't completely fuck up," Anita mumbled bitterly and Michonne thought she might be sick, "They're just giving us more time."
Us?
"What exactly is it you want me to do Anita?" Michonne whispered into the phone and Michonne heard Rick coming down the stairs.
"You and Andre come and say goodbye. I won't let them rip him open until you come."
Michonne cringed at Anita's bluntness.
"Anita I can't do that. I-."
"Excuse me you can't? My son is dying and you can't?" Anita growled and her true colors began to shine through her grief. "Are you really going to deny my grandson a chance to say goodbye to his father? You're going to let him miss out on saying goodbye because you and Michael broke up?"
Michonne let out a disbelieving laugh as she pulled at her hair roughly. Anger and anxiety were fighting each other for dominance in her mind.
Rick came into the kitchen and went to the fridge in search of a snack. Sensing Michonne anxiety Rick turned and gave her his full attention
He was still upset but she was still, undoubtedly the love of his life.
"What's wrong?" He asked quietly and Michonne shook her head.
"Andre cannot miss something he never had. He cannot say goodbye to someone he never knew." Michonne hissed and it seemed that anger won.
"Michonne listen-."
"No you listen Anita. You don't get to bully me into this." Michonne said and she hated herself for the tears that slipped out her eyes.
Rick was at her side immediately resting his hand on her leg but not asking any further questions.
Even Rick had an experience with Anita Freeman. A family visit to the park ended in a shouting match when Anita accused Michonne and Rick of having an impossible, 3-year long affair. She even dared to question the paternity of Andre.
He was surprised Michonne had kept it together this long.
"Michonne I am asking you to do what's right." Anita pleaded and Michonne grabbed Rick's hand simply to keep her from falling over.
"Fine," Michonne whispered and Rick desperately longed to know what Michonne had just agreed to.
"Good. I'll expect to see you soon then. We're at a hospital in Buckhead-."
"We're in Montana right now. We drove up a week ago." Michonne mumbled her stomach turning violently.
"Make it here quick. I can arrange for you and Andre to fly."
"That will be fine," Michonne whispered her whole body beginning to ache as she began to realize everything that was happening.
"I'll expect to see you soon."
Anita disconnected the call and Michonne slammed her phone onto the table.
"What happened?" Rick dared to ask again as Michonne stood up from the table.
"Mike- is dying. They're going to take him off of life support when Andre and I get there." Michonne mumbled as she headed towards the stairs. She had said it so casually like she was explaining the weather to someone that Rick wondered if he had heard her right.
"Michonne, wait. Just sit down for a minute." Rick pleaded as he followed Michonne into their bedroom. She began to pack with no real finesse stuffing shirts and dresses into her suitcase with urgency.
"Michonne slow down." Rick stood in front of the closet hoping to slow her down but she only moved around him.
"No time," Michonne whispered and Rick looked at her sadly.
"I know this hurts, baby, but let's just sit for a minute."
"There's. No. Time." Michonne repeated a little harsher and Rick stopped her just as she was about to dump the rest of her clothes in the suitcase.
"You can take a second. Please." Rick insisted as he pulled her down onto the foot of the bed. Michonne stared down at her hands before looking up at Rick.
"It was a car accident. Anita said he was the only one who got hurt so I guess that's good." Michonne laughs but quickly feels bad about it. "I have to go Rick."
Rick frowned as he considered his next words, he wasn't sure if he was in the right to be asking this but he knew that she deserved his honesty.
"No you don't." He said quietly and Michonne gave him a confused look. "You don't owe him or Anita anything."
"That may be true but Andre-."
"It's like you said. Andre can't miss what he never had."
Michonne thought about this for a moment before shaking her head.
"You wouldn't understand…"
"Wouldn't I? Did I not just bury my ex-wife?" Rick reminded her and Michonne shook her head even harder.
"It's not the same, Rick!"
"Why because Lori 'just' cheated on me and didn't beat me, I wouldn't understand?" Rick asked and he regretted the words the moment they left his mouth.
Michonne stood up and moved away from Rick like he was diseased.
"Fuck you Rick Grimes." Michonne spat as she continued her task of packing.
"Michonne I didn't mean-."
"Why are you against me going? I was there for you, I was there For Carl. Is this some sort of sick jealousy thing?"
"What, no?!"
"Is it because I said no?" Michonne asked and Rick felt the sting of her rejection coming back.
"I just want to protect you, protect Andre," Rick answered honestly and Michonne rolled her eyes.
"From who, Anita Freeman? From Mike? Well don't worry I've dealt with Anita for years and Mike is dead."
Michonne managed to get all her things in her suitcase and zipped it up.
Rick followed behind her as she went into the room Andre and Carl shared. She began packing up Andre's things and Rick wished they could start this whole afternoon over.
"I'm going. Andre is going, and it's happening with or without your support." Michonne announced knowing Rick was watching her from the doorway.
"Well you know I don't approve," Rick said quietly and he wasn't sure if he was helping or just adding gas to the absolute wildfire that was this argument.
"Good thing your opinion doesn't matter," Michonne mumbled as she gave him a watery smile. Luckily Andre didn't have a lot of things so she made quick work of getting his stuff together.
"Hey," Rick called as she walked past him into the hallway. She reluctantly stopped and Rick stood behind her.
This all felt awful.
Michonne's conversation with Anita, Mike's death. Their argument.
"I love you." He said not knowing what else to say. He realized asking her to stay might be selfish but he didn't like the idea of her and Andre leaving. Even if it was to say goodbye to Mike.
"Let's go pick up the boys."
Andre threw an uncharacteristic tantrum when Michonne came to pick him up. He fought her every step of the way to the car and at one point Michonne felt like falling on the ground and crying with him.
"What's going on dad?" Carl asked as he came to stand in Ezekiel's front yard, having heard Andre's breakdown from the guest room.
"Michonne and Andre are leaving," Rick answered gruffly as he fought with himself to go run and help.
"You mean we're all leaving…?" Carl corrected still not understanding Andre's breakdown.
"They're leaving," Rick answered and Carl frowned.
"Dad?"
Michonne managed to buckle Andre into his car seat and Ezekiel was still trying to get information out of either Michonne or Rick.
"You still had a week left. What happened?"
Michonne and Rick exchanged a glance before looking away.
"Mike is dying. He will be taken off life support as soon as we get back." Michonnne explained under her breath although she was sure if Andre heard her she knew he wouldn't understand.
"Oh sister," Ezekiel whispered and Michonne held up her hand not wanting any sympathy.
"Can you take us to the airport?" Michonne requested and he looked over at Rick who looked like he was in some serious pain.
"Is everything okay?" Ezekiel asked worried about his favorite couple.
"Can you?" Michonne huffed and Ezekiel nodded.
"Carl come say goodbye," Rick called his son over and Carl ran over instantly.
It pained both Michonne and Rick to see Carl was crying as well.
"You're leaving?" Carl mumbled miserably and Michonne instantly pulled him into a hug. "Why?"
"Something happened," Michonne whispered into the top of his hair and Carl held her even tighter.
"Why can't we all go then?" Carl offered and Michonne shook her head sadly. "What happened?" He asked, pulling away from their hug and Michonne wiped at his tears.
"I'll see you when you guys get back. Stay and enjoy the rest of the time here."
Michonne insisted, not answering Carl's question. Carl shook his head and cried even harder.
"Not possible."
Michonne touched Carl's cheek and he desperately wished someone would just tell him exactly what was going on.
Michonne watched on sadly as Rick had his own conversation with Andre. Andre pulled at the straps of his car seat in a desperate, yet ultimately futile attempt to get to Rick.
Rick just kissed his tiny hands and said something to him that seemed to calm him down momentarily.
"We have to go now if you want to make the flight," Ezekiel informed them regretfully and Michonne nodded.
"Read up on your comics while I'm gone. I expect a full synopsis when we see each other again." Michonne instructed Carl as she gave him one last hug.
"Michonne you don't have to do this alone." Carl insisted and Michonne almost laughed at how much he sounded like his father.
"See you soon," Michonne promised as she climbed into the passenger seat willing herself to stare ahead.
"I'll see you soon buddy okay," Carl said as he tried to say goodbye to Andre.
"Now please. See you now please." Andre cried not understanding why he and his mother were leaving without Carl and Rick.
"We gotta go," Ezekiel mumbled as he started the car.
Carl shut the door and walked away just as Andre began to cry again. Michonne tried to comfort him from the front seat but Andre wasn't having any of it. She turned around and fought off her own tears as they pulled away from Ezekiel's property.
"Can you please tell me why I just had to witness that horrendous goodbye back there? Tell me why you and Rick didn't even touch each other?" Ezekiel asked, over Andre's cries and Michonne cringed. She felt sick again.
"I don't feel like talking, Zeke."
"No? Well we've got an hour-long drive to the airport so start talking."
They talked a majority of the car ride. She told him about everything from Mike's abuse, Rick and Lori's story and the shooting, and everything in between right up until that afternoon.
And while saying it out loud it was hard to believe that just a few hours ago everything was going good- going amazing.
"I've fucked it up haven't I? Michonne cried as they pulled into the parking spot at the airport.
Thankfully car rides still did their magic with Andre and he had fallen asleep about 20 minutes into the car ride. This left 40 minutes for Ezekiel and Michonne to have their no holds barred conversation.
"No sister. But you've two have got to get out of your own way." Ezekiel said softly as he handed Michonne yet another tissue.
"We said some nasty things to each other." Michonne eked out and Ezekiel smiled.
"I'm sure you've both said worse. But tell me, why did you insist on doing this alone. You know this will be very difficult for you and Andre. Why suffer alone?"
Michonne frowned and thought about it for a moment, when she came up short she just shrugged.
"He asked me to marry him."
This caught Ezekiel's attention and he grinned widely.
"Well not really… he asked if I ever wanted to marry him and I said no." Michonne corrected herself and Ezekiel hit her across the arm harshly. "Shit!" Michonne hissed and the two adults looked behind them, thankful to find Andre was still asleep.
"Ahh my auntie rolls in her grave at your stupidity. Why Michonne?"
"Because me as a wife? I would be disastrous."
"No. You as Mike's wife would have been disastrous. You as Rick's wife? Destined."
Michonne thought about his words for a moment before she took a deep breath.
God he was right, not that she would ever tell him.
"He'll come back to you. And if I know Rick like I think I do he's probably on his way now." Ezekiel prophesied and Michonne wasn't too sure.
"I need to face Anita and Mike by myself. One last time." Michonne whispered to herself and Ezekiel shook his head.
"The thing is Michonne when you're in love with someone you don't have to do these things alone. It's a magnificent perk of love."
It was quiet for a moment, just the sound of ascending and descending planes filled the air.
"Thank you Zeke. I appreciate you." She leaned over to kiss him on the cheek before unbuckling herself.
He helped Michonne unload her and Andre's luggage and carefully untangledAndre without disturbing his sleep.
She declined his offer for help inside the airport and she left with a promise to message him when they landed.
As he watched the closest thing he had to a sister and nephew leave he realized that Michonne on her own, was a well-oiled machine. She learned to do everything on her own after years of being forced to do so. He just wished she could understand she didn't have to do it alone anymore.
When Ezekiel got home from the airport he went directly to check on Carl and Rick. He was met with an empty and clean cabin and a note with their keys.
Carl and Rick were on their way home.
Ezekiel smiled as he put down the note.
"Go get her."
Author's Note: Okay so you remember when I said everything was going to be a lot happier? Well I lied lol but only kinda. There's no rainbow without a little rain, right? Hang in there and thank you for reading. I appreciate it so much. Remember Richonne is endgame forever and always
Nina :)
