3-
Half empty platters sat out waiting to be condensed so they could be loaded in the next dishwasher cycle or hand washed, the way Aunt Beverly preferred. Waffles, eggs, cheese grits and sausage were prepared in the single ladies' house that morning. Now the family sat around stuffed while the cleanup was occurring.
Michonne was helping with that effort along with Sasha, Connie and Nora. They pitched in since they didn't provide any of the heavy lifting yesterday. Noah, Beth and Kelly were getting ready for their beach day. The fellas were out back playing shuffleboard on the court that was built-in on the ground near the pool. Rick remained behind, awaiting Shane's arrival any minute now.
He sat on the couch admiring his woman from the short distance. Her hair was gathered in a low ponytail and she wore another long maxi dress that was loose but still displayed her curves. He was ready for them to make up for the lovemaking they missed last night, brought on by sheer exhaustion and his upset stomach.
Kevin, Mary, Josephine and his mom sat in the living room with him chatting. Rick tried not to eavesdrop but their conversation began to draw his attention away from mindlessly scrolling through his phone.
"It's probably because Roger and I are doing the fish fry tonight." Kevin stated.
"Possibly, but you know what they say about dreaming about fish…" Mary responded.
"Hmm…" Josephine and Mary looked at each other.
"What do they say?" Patty asked.
The two women looked to each other again and smirked. "Someone's pregnant." Josephine answered.
"I've never heard that before. Is it true?"
"It's an old wives' tale." Kevin tsked.
"Oh, well who's better to know then an old wife." Patty replied and they all chuckled.
"You might be right about that." Kevin sat back and sipped his coffee.
Rick's heart began to speed up, but he played it cool, pretending to be preoccupied with something else rather than their conversation. He started to calculate dates, weeks and months as quickly as he could. All of the facts from the pregnancy books he had read where flooding back to him, but out of order.
He glanced at Michonne again as she bent to load some plates in the dishwasher and her full breasts were visible through the scoop neck of her dress. Normally this incited a different response, but now he remembered how he had to be more gentle with them. The night before the trip when they had sex, she said they were sensitive. Also, her cycle had been out of wack since she got off the pill.
'Ugh.'
'What's the matter?'
'Nothing, I'm spotting. The trip is coming soon and I want to relax, so having my period then will be annoying. Hopefully, it comes now.'
But it hadn't, he remembered.
She was usually on top of every task that needed to be performed, but planning the course work for the upcoming semester was overwhelming her. An ordinarily simple task like packing for a trip had thrown her for a loop as well. Wouldn't that fit the mood swings category, he wondered.
"I'll be right back. I've gotta run to the bathroom." he heard Michonne say before she dashed off and Rick's jaw dropped open.
Frequent urination.
"Richard, are you okay? Is your stomach upset again?" his moms voice interrupted his thoughts.
"No, I'm fine." he stood.
Patty stood as well and came over to touch his forehead checking for a fever.
"Mama, I'm fine." he began to walk towards the kitchen but she followed him.
"You sure? Because that nausea you had yesterday seemed to have passed right to Michonne."
"Wait, what?" he looked to his mother.
"Yesterday while she was cutting up the garlic, she nearly threw up." Patty locked eyes with her son sending him a message the same way he often did with his own set of blue eyes.
"Michonne was nauseous too?"
"Yes, just like you." she grinned.
"What does me being sick have to do with anything?"
Patty took her son by the arm and walked him to a quieter space near the front door and whispered. "When I got pregnant with you, your father got symptoms, just like mine. He had some worse than me…like nausea." she smiled knowingly.
Rick looked to Michonne who was just returning from the bathroom and was giggling with her cousins in the kitchen. A wide optimistic smile spread across his face.
"You said Michonne has been complaining about being tired. She slept nearly the whole way here."
"She has." Fatigue popped in his head.
"You two have certainly been…partaking in the activity necessary for baby making. Have you been being careful?"
Rick haven't discussed the fact that they were trying with anyone, not even his mother. He didn't want to get drawn into any discussions about their life choices or build any anticipation. So she didn't know that they thought she might have been pregnant before but sadly wasn't. He simply shook his head side to side and his mother beamed.
"Oh-" Rick hushed his mother before she could draw any attention.
"Mama, it's just a hunch. Before you start rejoicing, I need to talk to Michonne and she needs to take a test."
Patty just smiled even harder and he wanted to be annoyed but he couldn't. He was just as excited too. Hope was blooming anew and the images of their baby popped in his head. Chubby cheeks, a head full of hair no doubt and soft coos. Then he felt the push of his body and looked down at his mother.
"Go and talk to her now." he nodded and began to take a step.
'Ding dong'
The doorbell sounded making him and his mother turn back to the front door. He could see someone's face pressed against the glass pane running down the side of the doorframe.
"Rick!"
He realizing it was Shane arriving at the most inconvenient time. He sighed then pulled the door open and his dark haired friend hurried inside and hugged him. Rick returned the hug, happy to see him even if his timing was lousy.
"I'm glad you made it here safely."
"Me too. Mama Patty." Shane scooped her into a tight embrace.
"Hi, Shane. How was the drive?"
"It was good, not long at all." he glanced around. "These houses are amazing, let me ask you a question brother, how much did it cost to rent these?"
Before Rick could respond, Patricia jumped in. "Shane Walsh, that's none of your business. You sent in your portion for your stay and that's all you need to know."
"You're right ma'am." Shane chuckled after he was chastised by his second mother.
"Rick you go ahead and take Shane to the single fellas house and get him squared away." Rick looked disappointed for a moment before she continued.
"You can handle that bit of business when you get back, it'll still be waiting on you."
He nodded in reluctant agreement. "Please, tell Michonne I'll be right back, Mama."
"I will. You boys go ahead."
Rick ushered Shane outside. "Which house am I staying in?" he asked as they walked to his lime green Hyundai Tuscon to retrieve his bags. Rick pointed to the one on the opposite end of the couple's house.
"Nice."
"You've got the billiards table there. We plan on having a guy's nights."
"Beers while playing pool next to a swimming pool with the beach as our backyard, this is living brother." Rick grinned in full agreement as they walked to the house.
He punched the code in the keypad that gave them entry to the homes and they walked inside. "I'll show you to your bedroom and you can put your stuff down. We're all headed to the beach today and you'll get to meet everyone you don't know."
"Sounds good. I'm happy you invited me on this trip. I really needed this."
"Of course. Michonne and I are happy you could come."
"Me too."
Shane smiled and they walked up the stairs but Rick's mind was still back at the other house. He'd have to get Michonne alone so they could speak as soon as possible.
Orange flames sparked upwards towards the starry night's sky after Shane threw another couple of logs on the fire. The sound of crackling mixed in with the insects chirping and hopefully distant animal noises creating the ambience. The guys all sat back on Adirondack chairs outside the two cabins they were staying in. A guy's bonding trip in the woods sounded like a great way to relax. Fishing, hiking, building fires, grilling and drinking beers would round out the weekend.
Tyreese and Rick found the camping site in South Carolina's Barnwell State Park. It was a halfway point between the two of them, so it would be easier for everyone's travel. Noah was attending as per usual but Rick added his friends, Shane and Glenn to the mix. Tyreese thought Abraham, his sister's new boyfriend would be a good addition too. That way they could really figure him out without Sasha being around.
"This sure as shit beats scraping our sacks in a sandbox." Abe announced.
They all looked at him before laughing, they knew another one of the crazy stories he had been regaling them with all weekend was about to follow.
"Man, what?" Ty asked.
"That's what me and my men ended up doing instead of being thirty clicks to nowhere, waiting on our humpback friend to defecate the keys to our transport."
Rick looked at him. "A camel?"
"Camels eat keys?" Glenn asked, confusion on his face.
"They do, it did."
"And it shit it out?" Noah asked.
Abe nodded with a wide grin. "I shit you not."
"Dude, you make being in the military sound almost…fun." Glenn replied.
"If it wasn't for being open targets in dunes. Sweating and swearing, it might have been. Shit, maybe it was fun because of that." the large redheaded man proclaimed.
"Sounds like my job being a Sheriff's Deputy. Sometimes the stressful days dealing with robbers and car chases can be the most fun. One time, I even ended up on one of those video shows, 'Worlds Craziest Police Chases'." Shane added.
"Yeah, and he wouldn't shut up about it. Still won't." Rick snickered.
"I tried to get Rick here to come join the force with me but he had other plans."
"I actually didn't have much of a plan before, just ideas. But becoming a professor lead me right to where I needed to be. Second best decision I ever made."
"What was the first?" Glenn asked.
"Michonne." Ty and Noah answered before Rick could get the words out of his mouth making everyone laugh. Rick's eyes twinkled with the flames from the campfire when he thought about her before taking a swig of his beer.
"I just met this woman, but I'm not sure yet. She's sending me mixed signals." Glenn sighed.
"How so?" Rick wondered.
Glenn looked nervous to share but went ahead. "We hooked up and I thought it would be just a one-night stand but we exchanged numbers. We texted back and forth for a while until I got the nerve up…"
"Up to what?"
"I told her we still had eleven condoms…"
The guys all sat around expectantly with their beers perched at their lips but Abe and Shane also smoked cigars while they waited for him to continue.
"She said, 'You see eleven condoms, I see eleven minutes of my life I'm never getting back.'"
All of their mouths dropped open before they laughed so hard they nearly choked to death. Abe, Shane and Tyreese stood up to run around, surely scaring off any wildlife that was close. Rick wiped tears from his eyes and attempted to sober when he saw the dejected look on his friends face.
"See here Glenn, you need to knock one out before you get to her place. That's if she gives you another chance at it." Shane snarkily supplied.
"But how do I get her to give me a second chance?"
"She's still talking to you for a reason." Rick offered. "What does she like to do?"
"Umm…ride horses."
"Do that, set it up as a surprise and take her to do what she loves. She'll appreciate that you listened to her and you want to enjoy what she likes also."
"Rick's right. He gave me some sweet advice and now I'm dating the girl he helped me with." Noah smiled.
"Really?"
"Yes, listen to this man he's a true leader."
Rick shook his head in decline but grinned. "But uhh…listen to Shane too. You wanna give her the best night of her life. Do whatever you have to for that to happen."
All the guys nodded in agreement and clinked bottles. "To second chances."
"Second chances!" they all chanted.
"I'm considering it myself." Ty rubbed the back of his neck.
"With Karen?" Noah gently asked.
"For a while I thought that my ex-wife and I could've worked things out. But that ship has sailed. I met a new woman and she's pretty amazing. Gorgeous, intelligent and accomplished. Did I say gorgeous?" they all snickered.
"I'm happy for you Ty, what's her name?" Rick grinned.
"Stephanie." he beamed.
"Yeah, I'm happy for you too, Ty. If I play my cards right you will probably be my brother in law one day."
Rick, Tyreese and Noah raised eyebrows and smiled.
"I didn't think I'd meet a women fine as her, who could even tolerate a foul mouthed bastard like me. My ex-wife couldn't deal with my PTSD after just a few months of marriage." Abe downed his beer.
"After group therapy, I thought I got my psyche situated straight, then I met Sasha. She told me I had choices. Without war, bullets and shit hitting the fan, I was accountable for them. She was the first person to truly notice what I was doing. And I'll do my damnedest to give her the same."
They all smiled, happy for him and Sasha.
"Ya'll ever think about having pups?"
They all nodded except Shane. "Shit, I can't seem to find a woman that knows how to turn off the damn lights. How I'm gonna find one to have kids with?"
"If you'd stop being an asshole for five minutes, you never know what you could find." Glenn shrugged.
"Fuck you, Glenn. You worry about your equestrian." they all burst out laughing, nearly spitting their beers on each other as sobriety had clearly left the building.
"Our other friend Morgan was supposed to be here, but his wife is ready to go in any day now. It'll be their first kid." Rick explained.
"My mom is dying for a grandbaby." Ty chuckled and Abe smirked with promising consideration.
Rick pinched the bridge of his nose. "Yours? My mom has talked about nothing else since she met Michonne."
"Well, my dad has a long way to go, so the sooner you all get to it, the better. He'll be happy to be a great uncle for a few years. That will keep any mounting pressure off of me." Noah smiled.
Rick's imagination ran away with him, he could picture his and Michonne's future children. Sports, dance and maybe even musical lessons would fill their free time tiring them out. Family vacations, trips to the zoo, aquarium and amusement parks would take effort but it would all be worth it in the end. To have little versions of themselves running around showing the world how much they loved each other. He sat there and wondering when it was going to be their turn.
When Rick and Shane got back to the single ladies' house, they found that he missed Michonne. The other women had gone back to the house to change for the beach trip and Nora was upstairs getting ready also. He introduced Shane to the elder family members that still hung out in the living room before the guys came in from their game of shuffle board. Daryl was the only guy Shane didn't know so he made introductions. After, they all walked back to get ready for the beach, but Rick was on another mission.
He speedily ascended the stairs of the couples' house and made his way down the hall. He entered the bedroom to find Michonne digging around in a dresser draw. A pair of his swim trunks already laid on the bed as she turned to smile at his entrance.
"Did Shane get settled in?"
"Yeah, he's back with the guys getting ready for the beach now."
"Good, I'm just trying to decide which bathing suit to wear. Kelly, Beth and Noah went down to pick out a good spot for us."
Rick closed the door and began to nervously pace in a small circle and Michonne immediately turned to him. She knew he only did this when he was contemplating something serious. She closed the drawer and walked over to him.
"Everything okay?" she placed a hand on his chest.
Rick took her hand in his and tenderly kissed it. He hesitated as he spoke. "I…I think you should take…another test."
"Rick…" she sighed.
"I know, I know but-"
"We've been through this before. Twice, actually." she went to sit on the bed and he followed her.
"But this time I have a feeling." he took her hand in his.
"A feeling?" she smirked.
"Yes, I've been reading the books and you have a lot of the symptoms. Frequent urination, mood swings, fatigue, missed periods and nausea."
"Nausea?"
"My mama said you were ready to throw up yesterday while dealing with the garlic."
"It was just…strong." Michonne started to run all those indicators through her head and all the times they occurred as of recent.
"My mama even says that me being nauseous is a sign too." Michonne looked at him. "She says my dad was the same way when she was pregnant with me."
Michonne couldn't stop the grin from spreading on her face. "Can you go to the pharmacy to get a test?"
"I don't have to." Rick scrambled to the closet and pulled out his duffle bag. He dug in it and pulled out two boxes making Michonne giggle when he trotted back to her.
"When did you get these?"
Rick smirked and shrugged. "When I went on the errand run to get the sunscreen and bug spray the other night."
Michonne looked the packaging over as her heart raced.
"Can you pee?"
She nodded. "Frequent urination." they both snickered.
"But it says you should take it in the morning for the most accurate reading. A guess the bladders bursting and chock full of the hormones then."
"Look, you take one now and if it's negative, then fine. You can take another one tomorrow. We won't get our hopes up." she sarcastically eyed him.
He chortled. "We won't get them up any more than they already are."
Michonne stood and started to walk to the bathroom and realized Rick was hot on her trail. "Where are you going?"
He tilted his head. "To the bathroom?"
"Umm…I can pee all by myself."
"But-"
She grabbed a plastic wrapped disposable cup from the counter. "I'll be right out."
Rick watched helplessly as she closed the door but he went to stand outside it anxiously waiting. After a couple minutes, he heard the toilet flush, the water running then a few moments of silence before the door opened. Michonne jumped back, his close proximity nearly giving her a heart attack.
"What are you doing?"
"Waiting."
She snickered and handed him the stick. "The box said to let it lay flat while we wait."
Michonne went to plop down on the bed and she exhaled deeply, her nerves getting the better of her. "Remember, we are going to curtail our expectations. We can keep trying like Dr. Stevens said-"
"Michonne-"
"I'll drink plenty of water tonight before bed and have a full bladder for the morning-"
"Chonne."
Rick finally drew her attention. He stood grinning down at the stick that he never sat down. Her heart began to pound and she tried to keep the smile from appearing on her face to no avail. She stood up looking at him expectantly.
"It's positive."
Michonne sat then stood again before running over to snatch it from his hands to stare at it herself. The two pink lines were so bright, there was no mistaking them. Her jaw dropped open and suddenly she was being lifted into the air. Rick pressed her to him and their bodies trembled with reassured laughter. She managed to weave her arms around his neck, squeezing for dear life while still holding the test.
Tears welled in her eyes as he finally let her body slide down so her feet touched the floor. Rick wiped the tears from her cheek even though fresh ones were collecting in his own eyes.
"I'm having your baby." she whispered and gazed at the test again.
"You're having our baby." Rick pressed his lips to hers for a gentle kiss.
Michonne wanted to deepen the kiss but she couldn't stop the smile that kept her cheeks high. Her free hand automatically went to her stomach and she rubbed it affectionately. Rick wiped his own eyes then kneeled in front of her. He placed a series of kisses all over her belly before pressing his ear to her stomach. Michonne tenderly ran her fingers through his curls while she lovingly looked down at him.
"Hi, it's me. Your daddy."
Michonne giggled even though new tears sprang from her eyes which she quickly dashed away. Rick looked up at her thankfully then stood to pull her lips to his again. This time the kiss was more passionate as they let their hands unhurriedly roamed the other's body, not wanted to let go. Michonne sighed when Rick kissed down her jaw to her neck then back to her lips. He was stepping her back towards the bed.
'Knock knock'
"Michonne, are you ready?" Sasha's voice came through the door but Rick continued as though he'd heard nothing making Michonne giggle.
"Almost, Sash!"
"Ok, I'm gonna check on Connie."
"Okay!" Michonne voice pitch raised when Rick's fingertips circled her nipple. She reluctantly had to derail this train so she took his hand.
"They are waiting on us."
"They'll be fine." he raised his other hand and Michonne giggled and quickly moved back, stopping him from cupping her other breast.
"We should go."
"But I want to show you how much I appreciate all you've done for me. All you're doing for me." he pulled her back to him, making her almost lose her resolve.
"We…we can celebrate later." she barely got out, in between his squeezes of her ass and his bulge against her body.
"Are we telling people?" she muttered to distract them both and he pulled back to look at her.
"It's up to you." he shrugged nonchalantly.
"Maybe we should wait a little while until I'm further along."
Rick exhaled, seeing she wasn't going to let him get back to what he wanted to do. "We could…but I'm fine either way. It's your decision."
"That's not helping." she stepped back and chuckled.
He chewed his lip. "We could wait a little more time, so we can get a chance to enjoy the news first." he stalked to her and rubbed her hips. She draped her arms around his neck.
"That does sound good."
"So we are waiting?" he confirmed and Michonne nodded before they started to kiss again.
'Knock knock.'
"Rick! Let's tear up some asphalt!" Abe's voice interrupted them this time.
"We are going to the beach!" Rick shouted making Michonne snickered.
"Let's go compadre, Daryl's ready to go too. The ladies can meet us out there."
Rick sighed before Michonne directed him. "Go ahead and throw on your swim trunks, I'll meet you down there."
"You sure?"
"Yes, I know you will be ready to celebrate tonight."
"I will." Rick pecked her lips and went to grab his trunks from off the bed.
"I'm coming!" he yelled to Abe.
"That's what I was afraid of!" Abe yelled back and Rick could hear Daryl chuckling in the background.
Michonne laughed too while Rick rolled his eyes and got dressed muttering under his breath that he could have been coming if it wasn't for them cock blocking. She watched as he threw on a t-shirt, stepped into his flip flops, and grabbed the sunblock. He started to walk to the door then turned around and jogged back over to her. He kissed her lips again then rubbed her stomach and whispered.
"We're having a baby."
Michonne beamed. "Yeah, we are."
Sheets were spread out over their small section of Coligny Beach for the family members that wanted to sun bathe. The white mostly smooth sands reflected the sun's rays and were hot under foot until you reached closer to the shore. A cooling breeze blew in from off the Atlantic Ocean providing relief but the cool water was where the true reprieve would be.
This beach was one of the islands best with a plaza that ran along part of it, offering food and souvenirs to visitors. The guys arrived to find the setup almost complete with a few coolers and a speaker playing music. They just had to pop open the chairs they carried and set up the umbrellas. Kelly hustled out of the ocean, water still dripping off her rash guard and shorts.
"Can you watch the stuff, guys? We are gonna go check out the plaza, grab some keychains and maybe t-shirts. I have to bring my girl back something." she gleamed.
Noah and Beth followed her up and quickly toweled off.
"Sure." Ty responded as he sprayed on sunscreen.
"Thanks."
They watched them run off just as the older family members came down the beach access path. They all greeted each other again before they made themselves comfortable on the other side of the sheets, then where the guys sat. Rick saw Shane look over at Mary, Beverly and Josephine as the women made their way to the water along with his mother. He knew his friend noticed what any man would, even though they were older, they were still very attractive.
Shane chuckled, drawing the other guy's attention. "No disrespect Ty, but…if this is what y'all women will look like in the future, you've done more than alright for yourselves."
Abraham, Daryl and Rick couldn't help but to laugh while Tyreese rolled his eyes. "That's my mom and aunts."
"I meant no disrespect, but I am into cougars." Ty reached over to playfully punch his arm but he put a bit of strength into it just for emphasis.
"Sorry." Shane snickered and rubbed his arm before sitting down in a lounger with a beer in hand.
"Rick, you should've brought me around sooner. I missed out."
Abe laughed deeply. "You sure as shit did."
Daryl, Abe and Rick clinked their beer bottles and chuckled knowingly.
"I almost messed it all up when I first met Connie." They all looked to Daryl.
"How?" Ty asked.
"I make deliveries to her job and I dropped off the wrong box one day. She tapped me on the shoulder the next time I came, to tell me to take the items back. I didn't realize she was deaf and I told her I'd get them another time since I was in a rush. She pulls out a notepad and starts writing for me to take em now." he snickered.
"I thought she didn't want to speak to me, like she was better. I grunted at her as I tried to leave and finally she got in front of me and motioned to her ears then she touched my chin so she could read my lips."
"Ahh, and you were a goner." Rick smiled and Daryl chewed his lip before grinning and nodding.
"Yep, I took the box that day. I started carrying a little notepad so I could talk to her when I came in. I watched some YouTube videos and got an ASL cheat book, worked on it till I got up the nerve."
"How long ago was that?" Shane inquired.
"November, why?"
"Then I know how long ago I should've had an attitude with this asshole." he gestured to Rick and they all chortled.
"Mother dick."
They all turned to see what Abe was colorfully commenting on. The ladies were all jogging their way across the hot sand on tip toes. Their bodies bounced, giving four of the men flashbacks of watching Baywatch in their youth. Tyreese deeply exhaled and got up to make an exit to the water, not wanting to hear any comments that were coming regarding his sister and cousins.
They each wore small bikinis but Rick's eyes were firmly planted on Michonne. Her tiny yellow suit was really just strings and strategically placed triangles. He immediately felt the flex of his cock and began a game of willing it away while being equally unable to keep his eyes off his woman. Her skin shined in the sun, matching her bright smile as she giggled with her cousins.
It was almost on que that Abe, Daryl and Rick stood to proclaim their prizes. The beautiful women definitely drew the attention of those on the beach and they wanted to make their positions known. Sasha was first to arrive and Abe took her hand and spun her in a circle.
"Good gracious Ignatius."
Sasha giggled her way into his arms. Connie was next and Daryl unsuccessfully tried not to ogle her but failed pitifully.
"You like?" she asked and posed.
He just wordlessly nodded before he took her hand and lead her to sit on his lap. Rick could swear he heard Daryl grunt, but his eyes were firmly on Michonne. She came right up to him, making his Adams apple bob from the restraint required to not pick her up and head back to the house. He lightly toyed with the strings that hung on her exposed hip and whispered.
"Are you trying to kill me?"
Michonne giggled then leaned in to whisper closely to his ear. "I don't know when I'll be able to wear something this small again. I might as well take advantage."
Rick smirked at their little secret. "You put on sunblock but, I think you missed a spot."
Michonne looked down. "Where?"
Rick grabbed the sunblock and proceeded to spray it up the back of her legs leading to the bottoms of her ass cheeks that were out. He started to rub it in to her amusement.
"I think it's no rub."
"Really? You never can tell with these things." they both snickered.
For the split second it took for Rick to stand up straight he realized Shane was standing too, drooling over Nora.
"You can take my chair under the umbrella." Shane offered her and she grinned.
"I'm actually going to get some sun, but thank you."
"Oh, Shane. This is my cousin Nora." Michonne introduced them with a mischievous smirk of her own.
"Nora, this is Shane. Rick's childhood friend."
She waved at the mesmerized man before removing her glasses. She placed them in her straw bag then proceeded to lay on the sheet with her backside up. Rick and Michonne perceptively looked at each other and then back to Shane who sat slowly, his eyes still hopelessly preoccupied.
'Cough cough.'
"You guys all look like you need to go in the water to cool off." Uncle Kevin announced from across the way. Pulling his shades down to glare at each man.
The women giggled as the men reluctantly stood and made their way to the water, deciding Kevin was correct. The sweat that accumulated on their skin wasn't just due to the heat any longer. The ocean was as close to a cold shower as they were going to get.
Rick glanced back at Michonne and she coyly smiled at him but enjoyed watching his departure. His back muscles were on full display and she admired his lower dimples where she'd rest her heels when they made love.
"Here, you need to cool off too." Sasha chuckled and handed her a wine cooler.
"Oh no, I'm not drinking." she responded before she could fully think of the ramifications.
Connie and Sasha looked at each other speculatively then back to Michonne who made her escape to sit under one of the umbrellas. They followed her of course, plopping down on the sides of her in the now vacated chairs.
"Come to think of it, you haven't drunk any alcohol since we've gotten here." Connie signed while watching her cousins face for clues.
Michonne shook her head and shrugged. "Just haven't had the chance to."
"Here." Sasha offered her again with her eyebrow raised and Nora sat up to look at her too.
"We should really just be drinking water, the sun and heat mixed with the alcohol will only dehydrate you more." Michonne explained.
All three of the ladies hunched their shoulders and shook their open hands back and forth, their expressions disbelieving.
Connie began to sign quickly and her hands slapped to stress her point. "You were so excited to drink and relax leading up to this trip. We talked about it numerous times. What's going on?"
Michonne troubled her lip and looked over at her aunts, Mama Patty and her own mom who were just returning from the water. Her dad happily greeted her mother with a towel and the two flirtatiously smiled at each other. When her parents got like this, they'd be distracted for a while so she looked back to her cousins who not so patiently waited.
She was happy she sat in the middle and was mostly hidden from the rest of the family. She looked to the water to see Rick stood with the guys talking in the shallows. They'd just agreed to keep it a secret a bit longer, but he did say it was up to her when to disclose.
She stealthily raised her hands to her stomach and created the round shape in front of herself. All eyes dropped to her belly and then their jaws dropped open. Nora scrambled over while Sasha started to make a joyous noise and Michonne shushed them with wide eyes.
She signed with her hands low. "No one else knows, just Rick and I."
"When did you find out?"
"How far are you?"
"Oh my god." They all signed in silence to keep the secret.
"I took the test right before we came down. I'm not sure how far along I am yet."
All of their faces went from shocked to sappy in point two seconds. They all started to come towards her for an embrace but her eyes shot open wide again and she recoiled.
"Sorry, I just want to hug you so bad." Sasha made doe eyes at her.
"Me too." Connie pouted.
"Me three." Nora giggled as she sat back on her feet then she whispered. "You're getting married and having a baby. You two are probably right behind her."
"I don't know about all of that. Abe and I are still in the beginning, fun stage." Sasha looked at the man who just so happened to be eyeing her and blew him a kiss.
"Please, the way Abe and Daryl behaved when you two came onto the beach. They are all in." Nora smirked.
"Well, you better watch out because Shane's got his eye on you." Michonne looked at her nails.
"What? Nooo."
"He's literally looking at you right now."
Nora whipped her head around, not attempting to play it cool at all, catching Shane trying to look away directly at the sun. They all laughed at his failed effort to look aloof when he had clearly been blinded.
"Well, he is cute." they watched as he dived under the water and swam out some way.
"And he lives in Georgia, not too far from where you are moving."
"Hmm…I might just have to check him out." they giggled.
"But I can't wait until we get back so we can celebrate…" Nora pointed to Michonne's stomach. "…in your room."
"Rick and I were going to celebrate in our room until someone and their man came knocking on the door."
"Oop, sorry." Sasha looked lightheartedly contrite.
"You two can celebrate later. That's how you got in this predicament." Connie added and they all burst out laughing.
"You're not wrong." Michonne beamed and sneakily rubbed her flat belly then swiftly removed her hand when her mother strolled over.
"Do you four plan on going in the water or will you just be over here gossiping like school kids?"
They all giggled and stood up. "Yes, Auntie Jo."
Michonne looked to the water to see Rick resurface after being under the water. He flipped his hair away from his face and she began to swoon. She couldn't resist him half nude and wet. The sun illuminating his toned body and the weight of the water made his swim trunks sit low showing off the beginnings of his v lines.
She began to take a step but Patty came over, surprising them all by taking Nora's arm. "I want to go walk along the wet sand, is it okay if I hold your arm until we get down there?"
Nora smiled at the woman and held her arm protectively. "Of course."
"Sometimes I need a little help even though my knee is getting better."
"It's fine, we can take our time." Nora replied as they all walked to the water.
Patricia patted her hand lovingly. "Oh, there's Shane showing off."
They watched as he raced some kids down the beach not allowing them to win.
"He's a Sheriff's Deputy, has his own home and he's single. I've known him since he was a little boy and he's put his young bachelor ways behind him." she sighed delightfully and Sasha grinned as she covertly signed so Connie could understand what Patricia was up to.
"It's sad really, he must be lonely in that big house."
Michonne giggled at her soon to be mother in laws schemes, just as they approached the cool water. She knew her cousin was now in Mama Patty's matchmaking grips as her, Connie and Sasha waded into the water, into their men's welcoming arms.
"Hey." Rick smiled at her as she ran her hands up his glistening chest to drape them around his neck.
"Your mother is up to something." she nodded towards the shore and Rick looked also.
Patty now walked along the sand with Shane on one side and Nora on the other.
Rick chuckled. "Shane will be happy about that. And I quote, 'She has a naughty librarian vibe with her glasses on then she took em off and it was all sex kitten'."
Rick smacked his head and Michonne laughed. "If he only knew."
"Well, with my Mama on the case he just mind find out."
They chuckled before Michonne pinched her nose then quickly submerged herself, to wet her hair. Rick's eyes fell to take in her shiny breasts that floated in the water when she came back up. He enfolded her in his strong arms, taking her out deeper in the water. Once he found a spot secluding them from other beachgoers, he lifted her so she could wrap her legs around his waist. He palmed her ass as she gazed down at him. They slowly kissed as the mild waves lapped around them, tasting the salty water on the others lips.
"We're having a baby." Rick caressed her cheek with his damp hand.
"We're having a baby." Michonne happily repeated.
Michonne's father Roger and her Uncle Kevin were in the kitchen, finishing up the last few fillets that needed to be fried for tonight's dinner. Whiting, tilapia, cod and catfish. They even sliced up potatoes for homemade wedge fries as the side dish, something Michonne loved as a child. A colorful salad rounded out the meal, even though a few of them planned on eating their fish with a slice of bread, tartar and hot sauce.
Michonne was headed to her father, ready to pout her way into receiving an early plate of food since her stomach grumbled. Before she could get there her mother and Mama Patty sidled up around her, skillfully blocking her path. She raised an eyebrow since the two of them together were always up to something.
"I'm hungry, can whatever you two are dreaming up wait until after I eat?" she implored.
The women just snickered at her before her mother spoke. "I suspect you will be increasingly hungry as time goes on."
"Hmm…what do you say Josephine? In the next say…nine months?" Patty patted a finger against her lips.
"Less."
Michonne instantly knew the mothers were on to her and Rick's secret from their smug faces. She tiptoed around them and sneakily grabbed a napkin and a piece of fish while her father and uncle's backs were turned. Then she gestured down the hall with her chin and they wordlessly followed her. She quickly snacked on pieces of her plunder as they walked.
Once Michonne got to the end of the hallway away from possible listening ears, she turned to see the giddy faces of her mother and Patricia. Luckily, Rick was wandering his way down to join them, seemingly coming to rescue her after he saw their moms encircle her. Josephine smirked and watched Rick protectively slide his way over to stand next to Michonne as she ate.
"Richard, do you two have something to share with Josephine and I?" his mother looked at him expectantly.
Rick looked to Michonne seemingly asking for permission. She leaned in to whisper in his ear using her hand to block her mouth from their mothers.
"Sasha, Connie and Nora know."
He looked confused. "How? When?"
"It's a long story. They realized when I didn't want to drink."
"So not a long story, at all." they both snickered and their mothers coughed to interrupt their private conversation.
"Sorry." they apologized turning back to their mothers.
"So…"
"Rick noticed I've been having some indicators." Michonne balled up the now empty napkin after wiping her fingers and mouth. "He thought I should take a test and…I did, earlier."
"And?" both women demanded while Rick intertwined his fingers with Michonne's.
"We are having a baby." Michonne joyfully announced.
"Oh my god!" the women exclaimed and rushed over to sandwich the couple in a hug.
"My baby's having a baby." Jo's eyes welled up as she pulled back to gaze at her daughter.
Her and Patty switched positions so they could hug them tightly again.
"Richard, I've been waiting so long for my grands since you met this beautiful girl." she pinched her son's cheek making him chuckle and Michonne blush.
"We both had an inkling." Jo stated.
"How?"
"Mothers just know. I could see you glowing when you arrived. Then you couldn't take the smells, a lot of bathroom breaks and you were complaining about being tired. I thought you knew but just weren't sharing, then Patty said you two were clueless."
"Aunt Mary dreaming about fish made everything clearer for me." Rick snickered.
"Aunt Mary knows?" Michonne looked between them.
"No one's confirmed it for her, but you know once she has a fish dream she's on the lookout." Jo grinned.
"Then Aunt Bev probably knows too." Michonne moaned.
"Yes, so you need to tell your father before the whole family knows. He can't be the last to find out."
"I'll go get him…" Rick offered even though he had to admit it made him a bit nervous. "We can tell him together."
The three women watched Rick walk back down the hall towards the kitchen.
"Will Roger take it badly?" Patricia worried and took a step forward.
"No, I don't think so. He'll be surprised, no doubt." Jo began to step with her friend.
"Where are you two going?" Michonne grabbed their arms so they couldn't retreat and they tried to hold in their chuckles when they saw her anxious face.
"Everything will be fine. Let's go into my bedroom for some privacy." Patty offered, taking the balled up napkin from her.
"Okay." Michonne took a deep soothing breath as her father and Rick rounded the corner.
They all stepped into Patricia's bedroom. Roger's face was a bit perplexed as the door was closed behind him.
"Roger, the kids want to speak to you about something."
"Is this about the wedding? Do you need money, because anything my baby girl wants-"
"No honey, it's not about the wedding." Josephine grinned. "Rick, Michonne…"
Again Rick took Michonne's hand, noticing how it slightly trembled and he lifted it to his lips for a quick calming kiss. Michonne softened under his care and turned to her father but Rick spoke before she could.
"Pops, we have amazing news to share with you."
"Okay, go ahead." Roger crossed his arms and examined the couple.
"Michonne and I…are having a baby."
"What now?"
"Daddy, we are having a baby."
Roger looked to Rick, making him stand up as straight as his bow legs allowed.
"This was unplanned?"
Rick scratched his head to ease his nerves before answering. "Well, no. We just thought it might take some more time."
Roger grunted and Michonne squeezed Rick's hand tighter. Patty and Josephine stood by fretfully watching the somewhat tense exchange.
"You know Richard, there is a usual order to these events. Courtship, wedding then children."
Rick exhaled at the emphasized formal use of his name. He attempted to step forward but Michonne held his hand so tight and stiffly. He turned to reassure her with heartening eye contact before she relaxed enough for him to move while still holding her hand.
"Sir, I know I've done some things out of order with your daughter. Like moving in together and now this pregnancy…"
Roger grumbled again while Josephine and his mom looked on in astonishment that he would raise those points right now.
"But I've loved Michonne from almost the minute I first saw her. It would've been a lot sooner if she didn't take so long to surveil me on campus." he glanced back at her and she blushed.
"All of the things that people in love get to experience, I want to do them with her. Only her. So the order may not line up with what others feel should occur." her father raised an eyebrow on his stone face but Rick continued.
"And I'm sorry, but to me it only matters what she thinks, what she wants, what makes her happy. So when Michonne and I marry, it will be one of the best days of my life. But today, the day that we found out she's pregnant, is another one of those best days of my life." Rick's eyes welled up but he didn't wipe them.
"She's having our baby."
Roger looked to his daughter who lovingly gazed at her fiancé while holding his hand snugly then he turned to his wife and Patricia's eager faces.
"I knew I liked this young man for a reason. You and Edward raised a fine man."
There was an audible exhale in the room as they all sighed in relief before Roger stepped forward to bear hug Rick. After he released him, he immediately went to his daughter and hugged her as well being careful of her nonexistent stomach.
"Daddy." Michonne impishly grimaced at her father.
"Sorry, baby girl this is my job until I give your hand in marriage to Rick."
"Whenever she wants." Rick reinforced.
"Until then, I'm happy to be a granddad. I think I'll have the baby call me Pop Pop." they all laughed joyfully then took turns embracing and laughing happily.
Roger looked to his daughter. "Does my grandbaby want another piece of fish?"
Michonne flushed and nodded. Everyone burst out laughing since she clearly wasn't as stealthy as she'd perceived.
"Let's go eat!" Roger smiled as he held the door open for them.
"I can't wait to rub it in Shelly's face. The Neudermeyers are always going on about their old grandkids."
"Old?" Jo questioned while Rick and Michonne snickered as they walked down the hallway behind them.
"They are seven and eleven. But I'm going to have a brand new fresh grandbaby with more to follow."
"Mama-"
Rick started to caution his mother but Michonne whispered to him. "Let her enjoy this. Besides…she's not wrong."
Rick grinned. "Let's go tell the rest of the family."