Thanks again for the reviews. I love all the thoughtful, strong opinions being shared! Y'all are going to have to deal with Lori for a little bit longer. She plays an important part in the story. I admit, she's pretty fun to write.
Some dialogue is in italic. Means it's in Shona, Michonne's mother's native language.
Familial
Friday, June 21st, 1996
About five weeks since he's seen Michonne.
The last time when he was just so close to finding her, once at her Graduation and arriving at the Williams front door just two weeks later.
This time Sasha's mother answered. She looked at him with doubts as he asked if Sasha was there. Tennis lessons the older woman answered as she stared at him.
He asked for Michonne's address, and she declined to share it, he wasn't surprised. But she asked for his number.
"I'll tell her you stopped by."
In late June Rick spends his time distracted at work. He tried to forget he met her. He picked up a hobby as Shane requested, and that hobby was visiting his father more often.
Rick's dad was never much for sentiments but through his coldness, he always passed along wisdom, his only love language.
James Richard Grimes is a man of self-sufficiency, pride, one who discusses hard work and the American dream frequently. But also reminding others of forgiveness and compassion.
His father owned a home that had too much land, a home that created just the right amount of distance from their town, but close enough to raise his boys Jeffrey and Rick to have their own social life. The Grimes family always enjoyed afternoons on the porch with refreshments and eating whatever lunch his father made. James was a good cook throughout Rick's childhood, of course, James had to learn early on.
This new chapter in Rick's life has him more open with his dad. After James raised him, Rick was quick to get on with his career and start a life of his own. But the trials in his life brought him back to his father, in need of the comfort that only a parent could provide.
Rick sits next to his father in the old wooden furniture. The same one he would sit in with his brother while his father and grandfather shared stories of the past.
He wasn't sure if it was nostalgia or the need for emotional connection that got him to open up and bear the news of his broken marriage.
Rick avoided bringing up Michonne when he shared his confusion to take his wife back. Not because he thought this could screw his version of events that he shared with his father. It's just, that he wanted to be sure first. Or try to forget it if he could never see her again.
"Hell, maybe it was my fault," James said as he eased into the chair next to Rick. They stared out at a desolate lot of land, the barley field from across the road blew in their direction, the sunlight almost blocking the view.
"What do you mean?" Rick asked.
"You know after your mother left, I should have brought another woman home. Not drown in work, should have considered you and your brother. You needed a woman's touch."
James sipped a bit of his beer and leaned back into his rocking chair. "You know your mother. She was sick."
"She was a lunatic," Rick replied.
"Son, be nice." James advised, "Your mother was sick in the mind."
"Still." Rick started, "You just let her runoff-"
"Nothing' more I could do. She would have been nothin' but trouble had she stayed."
Rick looked away remembering that last night he witnessed his mother and her manic rants when he was 12 years old. Before she drove off and vanished, never to be heard of again.
" 'Sides, if you love somethin' it's always comin' back to ya." James looked at his oldest son.
"You got a good thing with Lori, son. She wants to come home. She wants to fix it. No one told you it would be easy. But you chose that hill to die on the moment you married her. She ain't goin' anywhere."
The conversation stopped as Rick thought about her, and what he did two weeks ago. He couldn't think of a reason for it. Maybe to treat her in some way that would have her keep her distance. And it was successful, he hadn't heard from Lori for two weeks.
James broke the pause. "Speak of the devil."
By the driveway, a blue Buick pulled up and Rick instantly stood from the porch saying goodbyes to his dad, who grabbed his arm and pulled him back to the table.
"Rick, this is your chance." His dad said softly, "I called Lori this morning. She wanted to see you, son."
"Dad-"
He could hear Lori's footsteps as she approached her father-in-law's porch.
"Rick, take a damn seat and talk to your wife." James firmly said, Rick, eyed his father, jaw clenched as his father comforted him.
"Lori!" James greeted, as Lori gave her own greeting and hug.
"I'm goin' to make us some lunch." James quickly went back into the house.
The screen door slammed, and Rick turned to look at her, her eyes were sober this time. Brown hair is a full mess on the top of her head and he didn't notice before how much it's grown past her shoulders.
Lori did her usual nervous habit of pushing a strand behind her ear. She played with her car keys between her fingers, fingers covered by the oversize dark denim jacket sleeves, his jacket. Lori pulled a chair from the table and sat down, she waited for Rick to do the same. "Five minutes, Rick, please."
Rick remained still before he grabbed the chair furthest from the table and sat across and he waited. She stared at her hands in her lap as she tried to think of the words to say.
"I started going to a therapist." Lori whispered, "It's nice to talk about what happened between us and see the signs before. You don't have to agree with what happened. Just listen, okay? If you can."
"It was never about you Rick, it was all about me. We got married so young and you were so focused on your career, and I know I said this is what I wanted. And I did at first, then I just panicked. I panicked, Rick."
He looked away and let her continue.
"It's not supposed to make sense. To you. But I wasn't raised like you, your dad taught you to be reasonable, to the point where it's …"
"It can be annoying, I guess." Lori let out a breath, "I'm used to the yellin' and fights. Mom and dad always done it that way. But I want to learn something new. I know that now."
Silence sat between them as Rick considered her words.
"Tell me about the first guy," Rick demanded.
"We talked about him-"
"No, you tell me."
She looked away, "Negan. I met him at school."
"Bullshit, don't play games. I don't care how you met."
She let out a breath, "Fine. He was there when I was still trying to decide if I wanted a baby. If I wanted to be married. He was the closest thing at the time. That's it. It happened a few times-"
"Few?"
"Three." She replied, "Happened three times and I broke it off."
"That bartender?"
"We had the worst fight of our lives and I needed to get away from it.'
"From me. You needed to get away from me." Rick confirmed "Why? I've never hit you, never shouted."
"I'm just afraid it may lead to that. I know you. I know you wouldn't …but I guess I think I deserve it."
He thought of her stories with her dad. The drinking and late-night beatings. And for the first time, he didn't feel sad or angry about what happened over the last year. There was clarity, a clarity he didn't realize he wanted. Because of that clearness, for once, Rick could look at his wife without the desire to shout or express his anger.
"What happened at the house." Rick softly began, thinking of their anniversary night two weeks ago.
"I'm sorry. I should have restrained myself."
"It's okay." She reassured him.
"No. It's not-"
"That' why I stopped by, Rick. I'm pregnant."
They were unprotected. He remembered and a small part hoped she could be pregnant. The small part of him that just wanted this to work.
Rick stood up and she did too, he held her face in his hands and stared at her eyes, unshed tears in his.
"I'm sorry Rick, for everything."
Rick looked down, gave a small nod to her apology.
"Let's just…figure this out first." He said, "Go from there."
His father came out with a tray and a smile on his face looking between the young couple.
"Who wants egg salad?"
June 28th, 1996
Michonne sat in her living room as she tried to read the same page of a book on her reading list. Usually, summers involve equal parts social gatherings and education. A third time she tried to read the same page of Wuthering Heights, but she couldn't stop thinking about him.
Michonne got home last night after 4 weeks in New York, an internship as a receptionist at a law firm. The connections her father and mother made over the years always brought great opportunities for her. Usually, Michonne would be excited to get a great internship, but for the first time, she longed to go back home during those four weeks away. She really wondered if clinginess was a side effect of losing her virginity.
She yearned to talk to someone, outside of her friends about what happened. She wondered if it was normal, that night and what she experienced. Holding back and not speaking to her mother was the worst repercussion of committing such a deed.
She supposed that the four weeks away helped her to hold her tongue and withstand talking to her mother. It would have been worse given that her mother was home quite frequently during the summers.
Michonne's mother was a math professor at Georgia Institute. Nyasha Hawthorne worked not because needed the money, but was driven to have her own career once she moved to the states.
Her mother passed by the living room as she had the white cordless phone attached to her ear, her rich laughter filled the home. She was on the phone with Sasha's mother, Charlotte, they spoke a few times a week and became best friends through their daughters' closeness starting in the 1st grade.
Michonne's mother made a name for herself on this side of King County, through her active collaboration on school boards, churches, and committees that built great prestige amongst the town. Not to mention her active involvement in her daughter's life.
Nyasha hung up with Sasha's mother and the usual silence surrounded the Hawthorne.
"Michonne." Her mother called from the large front yard "Help me with this."
"Can't we get Elena for this?" Michonne groaned as she looked around the front yard for their maid.
"It's your party, young lady." Her mother reminded, "Besides…I wanted to talk to you."
Michonne sighed, she gathered the balloons and started filling them with air. Her acceptance to Princeton was the reason for the celebration. Though her father and mother would find any reason to gather people for an occasion in the extravagant home.
"Charlotte said a white man is looking for you." Her mother spoke in Shona knowing her daughter would understand.
"He visited there a week ago, asked for you. Something we should know about?" Nyasha asked.
Michonne could only shrug, as she continued to fulfill to play the role of party decorator. Succeeding in avoiding eye contact with her mother.
"Does dad know?" Michonne asked. She was glad her mother decided to have this conversation in Shona. Her dad could remain ignorant, though he was with her mother for 20 years he never bothered to be fluent in her native tongue.
"No, just between us." Michonne's shoulders relaxed, she could feel the tension leaving her body. But she had to be careful, her mother could tell if she was lying. She avoided her birthday interrogation by rehearsing the lies she could exaggerate regarding that weekend for two excruciating weeks before she headed to New York.
"Everything's fine, he just has a crush," Michonne explained.
Her mother stared at her for a few seconds, trying to catch a lie. But she continued to hang the streamers.
"You knock on a door, Michonne, it answers. Most times it's not what you expected." She said in English.
"The devil always answers, yeah?" Nyasha warned and Michonne rolled her eyes. Her mother caught it and scolded her for the disrespectful gesture.
"He's not the devil, Amai. He just likes me."
"Hmpf, '' her mother scoffed "Lord knows I love Sasha's family. But I'll be damned if you run around like your fast friend."
"Mom." Michonne was carefully light in her tone, "I'm too old for this conversation."
"You're still a baby, Michonne. So very young." Nyasha stepped down from the ladder and looked at her daughter. "This man, if he likes you, We should meet him."
"Why? It's not serious." Michonne stiffened, mad at herself for replying too quickly. Too Serious. Her mother could seize that statement and try to figure out what exactly wasn't so serious with this man.
Nyasha regarded Michonne, there was a long pause between them. "He thinks it is if he keeps bothering you."
"He's not bothering me."
"You have to tell boys your priorities, Michonne. Before they think they are the priority."
"I know." Michonne let out a sigh and played with a white balloon between her hands as her mother stared at the top of her head.
If only she could tell her mom she set that boundary after they had sex. That would be the look of the century.
Nyasha was too quiet today, typically she shared bible verses and told her daughter of her own experiences by now, hoping it could get through Michonne. Even if Michonne would do the occasional "Yes" and "Hu-huh", it was an easier conversation that way.
But instead, her brown eyes searched Michonne, dark eyes going into the pits of her soul. So this is what judgment day feels like, Michonne thought.
"I said I know," Michonne repeated.
Nyasha tucked her lips. To Michonne's relief, her mother broke eye contact to grab more party decorations.
"Good." Her mother said, "You can tell him you're not interested."
"What?"
"Not an option, Michonne." Her mother walked to the table and grabbed the piece of paper.
"Charlotte passed along his number."
That night when her parents went to bed Michonne dialed the number on her bedroom phone.
"Hello?"
A woman on the other side. Her stomach dropped, mouth suddenly dried as she tried to come up with words.
"Hello?"
Michonne hung up and curled into bed.
She ignored the longing to hear his voice.
June 30th– July 3rd, 1996
After that afternoon at his father's porch, Lori moved back in the next day. Since their anniversary he hasn't touched her, they decided to just get to know each other again after the four months of separation and try to figure out their next steps with her pregnancy.
Rick wants to be a better husband, wants to forgive, but some days are easier than others. He remembered his father's words, a hill he decided to die on.
He always wanted a family and there's a small voice in him that tells him that a child could fix this.
But he's still holding back, and he doesn't want to hold back. Work continues to be his current focus. He drives himself to be successful and pull the ranks.
Rick received news that he always wanted. But still, he thinks of her, wonders if he would see Michonne in passing.
Though he was always determined to face adversity. He had to follow another approach. If you love something it comes back, something he would hear his father say in the early days, shortly after his mother vanished.
Love was always something worth fighting for. The saying seemed to be true, as he watched Lori attempt to cook dinner for him. She burned a roasted chicken and waved the smoke away from her face.
His want to find Michonne becomes a faded feeling. He's trying to make it work with Lori. She suggests counseling once a week and he considers.
Lori wants to show him that she could put this marriage first. She has a routine of asking him about his day when he's home from a 12-hour shift. Though he could see her patient dutiful mask is wearing thin when he just replies "Fine" and moves on to watch tv, or finish his paperwork.
But the weeks pass, with the married couple, still sleeping with their backs turned toward each other. Nothing's changed.
July 3rd, 1996
Speed duty was the most boring part of the job.
A silver convertible drove past the pedestrian street by the 403. Shane and Rick alternated between who would get out and face the warm weather.
"Your turn," Shane said watching the silver convertible in front of them.
Rick walked out saying the one thing that became routine, asking for a license and registration from the Asian teen who was driving.
"Rick!" Someone said from the passenger side.
Maggie. He remembered her, she's sober today, an excited look on her face, overly excited, but he knows it's because she has a chance of getting her friend out of a ticket for speeding.
He's excited too, but he attempts to hide it.
"What are the odds, huh?" Maggie leans down so she can look at Rick.
They get through the small talk and Rick can see Shane staring at him. Rick takes the driver's license from Glenn Rhee, Maggie's boyfriend as she introduced him.
He opens the passenger side of the patrol car and starts putting in the license number. He ignored Shane's gaze.
"Who's that?" Shane asked when he realized Rick was not going to tell him unless he probed.
"Maggie."
Shane looked at the car in front of them, the blinkers flashing. "Who?"
"That night, Maggie, she was friends with Sasha." Rick didn't mention Michonne, didn't want to bring up another argument.
"Hmm." Shane was silent as Rick looked up the driver for any warrants.
"Just give her a warning and let her go," Shane said.
"Okay," Rick said under his breath, "What's your point?"
"You know my point." Shane paused. "Lori's waitin' for you at home, man. Don't do it."
Rick slams the door and walks to Glenn's side of the car.
"We'll just do a warning. We get it, first time with this sort of car. But you watch the speed limits."
Glenn looked at Rick, surprised, "Yes, officer."
"I gotta tell Michonne I saw you." Maggie gave a bright smile.
"How is she?" Rick asked as he tried to play it smoothly.
"She's good. She just got back from an internship in New York."
"Well, tell her I said hello." He hands Glenn his license and registration.
"I'm gonna see her tomorrow, I'm havin' a get-together for the 4th. You should stop by!" Maggie exclaimed.
She gave Rick her address, he didn't write it down, only memorized it since Shane continued to watch him as he walked back to the car, the rest of their shift was silent. Rick's mind filled with lies he could tell his wife tomorrow night that would excuse his absence.
Thursday, July 4th, 1996
The great thing about Lori's mistakes is that she never questioned him. Even when she could, even when he could see the flash of a doubtful look she would give him before he left the house.
All he had to say nowadays, to keep her away was that he had to work. Because Lori was walking on eggshells she simply nodded. No longer ready to start a fight for the verbal blows he could deliver when she had the nerve to question his whereabouts.
Lying was easier than he thought.
The Greene family knew how to celebrate the 4th, the front yard packed with local residents.
They were welcoming and greeted Rick with enthusiasm when Maggie introduced him.
Maggie gave Rick a plate of food. "She's in the back." Maggie pointed.
Rick was nervous but his feet continued to move along the large acre of land. Until he could see a horse stable.
There she was, a white t-shirt and shorts on as she petted the horse in the front stable.
He remembered she wasn't a fan of parties. Rick thought that maybe he was playing up her looks in his head, but she looked just as beautiful when he first met her, in a simple shirt and shorts. Michonne could wear anything and he would adore it.
Michonne did a double-take as she saw him leaning against the entry to the barn.
He didn't know what to expect their first reunion, maybe a soft hello on her part. But instead, Michonne grabbed him by his arm and dragged him by the barn. They were pretty far from the party but she had to be safe.
"What the hell are you doing here?" She asked through gritted teeth, "Are you insane?"
"Maggie invited me." He answered, the horse started next to her and she softly shushed it before turning back.
"Yeah, she told me. I didn't think you'd show." Michonne put her hands on her hips. "Sasha's mom is here, did she notice you?" She asked bracing herself for any sort of gossip.
"I don't think so, Maggie took me back here pretty quickly."
They looked into each other's eyes, and he could see the hesitation on her lips."Rick, I thought I told you-"
"I know what you said and I know we thought, planned for it to be once."
"I can't be the only one who felt something more."
She regarded him for a moment, before giving the smallest nod.
"You're married, Rick"
"I know."
Rick turned to lean against the barn door, arms crossed as he thought of his next words. "I want it to work with Lori. But I want to know you."
"I called you. She answered." Michonne stated, "Are you living together again?"
"Yes."
There was a pause between them and Michonne walked back to the horse, grabbing the reigns and petting its nose.
"Well," She started softly. "I don't see why we can't just be friends…"
Rick swallowed, and felt the light flutter in his chest, "Of course."
She looked away, in the background they could hear loud music and the beginning of fireworks bursting in the sky.
"Looks like you found me."
"Yeah, I found you."
Thanks again for reading. There's going to be a lot of Richonne in the next chapter along with the hot mess that is Lori and Rick.