Shane took the phone. "It was one of your earlier cases. When you were still an Officer." He paused and Rick's heart raced. He knew whatever he was about to say was going to be a gamechanger. "That shoot back at the bank. She was one of the victims."

Rick's breath whooshed out of him and his hand held the ground to steady himself. It was one of his earlier cases but one that still haunted him every now and then. It was a lifetime ago and there had been a string of bank robberies across town. Once the robbers showed they had no problem shooting bystanders and tellers, the case became one of the biggest in the state. It was all hands-on deck. He and Shane weren't partners then, instead he was partnered with Dante Charles. When it was all over, Rick had apprehended one of the perps and killed another. Dante was wounded in the crossfire and ended up retiring shortly after because of his injuries. Rick in turn got promoted to Detective and earned a place in the Homicide Division but there were casualties. Several people were injured, and two tellers were killed.

"You still there?" Shane asked after giving him some time to digest the information.

Rick cleared his throat, remembering the frail woman he saw years before. "Yeah."

"Look can you come to the station or we can meet you," Shane said impatiently. "We gotta get you off the hook man. Sticking it to this SOB because he has a vendetta against you is a damn good place to start."

Rick's eyes burned. Negan being connected to someone who he hurt from his early years as a cop and him targeting Lori for this reason made his skin crawl. There was definitely no coincidence that they got involved. Even though things were tense between them he needed to talk to her to find out how they met. "I'm at the park with the kids."

"Well, I will at least call Michonne," Glenn said.

"She's here too."

"Of course," Shane said. "I don't wanna interrupt your family time man but—"

"No no I get it." Glancing over, he saw Michonne and Judith kicking the ball back and forth giggling and Carl talking to a group of teenage boys that were fast becoming his friends. He hated to end this moment. "Give me like an hour and meet me at my place. I don't want to bring the kids to the station. I'll call Lori too."

After bribing the kids with pizza and a raincheck, he was able to pull them from the park. Although they weren't there as long as they originally planned, with no nap it was enough to tire Judith out by the time they got back to Rick's place. It wasn't ideal to have this conversation with the kids there, but it couldn't be avoided. This all needed to be sorted out.

Michonne put the food from the picnic back in the fridge while Rick paced the living room waiting on everyone to arrive. There were so many people that had been involved in the shootout that he didn't remember Lucille specifically. He didn't have his laptop anymore to check his files, so he was at Glenn and Shane's mercy to give him the information.

A knock at the door sent him scurrying to open it. "It's about—" but it was Lori. "Oh hey."

"Jesus Rick," she bit off walking into the door. "You called me over here and didn't say why and you act disappointed to see me."

Rubbing his hand down his face, he took a deep breath. Having to deal with Lori was a whirlwind of emotions on top of trying to find out everything that was going on. If she was in one of her moods she would just shut down and he needed this over. "Sorry about that. Can I get you something to drink?" He asked motioning to the kitchen where Michonne stood.

Lori considered it but seeing her in the kitchen changed her mind.

Michonne sensed her hesitance. "I'm pouring myself a glass of wine. Do you want one? I figure after tonight we could use one."

Lori softened. "Well yes, thank you."

"Rick?"

"No thanks," he said just as a few more knocks came at the door.

He opened it to Glenn, Maggie and an annoyed Shane. "Sorry it took so long man. Someone insisted on waiting for their girlfriend to show up before we left."

"Maggie?" Michonne called from the kitchen. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, if you answered your phone, you would know. I tried to tell you I was on the way."

Maggie joined her in the kitchen making all kinds of faces that she couldn't begin to discern with everything that was unfolding. She was pretty sure that it had something to do with Lori being in the living room and partially intrigued about what they would find out with Negan.

Shane handed Rick the file and began talking. "Lucille Shaw. She was barely 30 years old when the bank robbery happened. She was there to pick up a cashier's check for her wedding venue. To Negan Anderson. When the shots rang out, she got shot in the abdomen. She was 5 months pregnant."

"Fuck," Rick cursed looking at a copy of the report and Lucille's statement.

"It gets worse," Glenn said sheepishly. "Not only did she lose the baby, apparently according to her lawsuit the gunshot wound caused her not to be able to have any more children. She had to have a hysterectomy."

Rick's knees got weak, and he had to sit down. While he was busy getting accolades, he was kept away from the residual fallout of the other victims that were hurt. The state and department dealt with that. Everyone was more focused on having the serial killers off the street. "I did some research on her before when I saw her with Negan. I thought she had cancer."

Glenn shook his head. "Where did you get the files?"

"There wasn't much to see. Just some stuff out of the file room. I couldn't access much because of security access but it fit with how she looked when I saw her."

"It was definitely a hysterectomy", Glenn confirmed and turned to the page with the health statement. "See for yourself."

Rick turned the pages, his stomach turning the more he read. "How did I never hear about her suing the department? It looks like she tried to have me prosecuted."

"She didn't," Shane explained. "Negan did. They went ahead with the marriage at a courthouse a few months later but apparently she never got over what happened."

"And clearly neither did he," Rick added but he wasn't sure he could blame him.

"It looks like the mayor was involved and the head of the force not to bring charges against you or Dante for the people that were hurt because you were doing your job. People got hurt but they felt like the shoot was justified."

It made sense. They dealt with it with it from time to time. When the case got enough attention or was big enough, they didn't scrutinize the shoots as much as they did in cases like the one he was on the bench for now. Typical politics. "How is she now?"

"She moved away," Lori spoke up and everyone's eyes shifted to her. "At least that's what he said. They got divorced and she moved away."

Rick braced himself for the questions he needed to ask his ex-wife. "How much did you know? What did he tell you?"

Lori was timid and he could tell she was embarrassed. "He told me that his wife was depressed, they got a divorce and she left." Her words were robotic and stilted.

Shane jumped in. "But did he ever say anything about the shooting? About Rick?"

She was shaking her head before he finished the question. She would've remembered. "No. I didn't even know why she miscarried or anything. He only said they couldn't have a family and he really wanted children so they couldn't make it work. The only time Rick came up was when I mentioned him."

Rick cursed under his breath. "And I can only imagine what you said."

Lori rolled her eyes. "I already told you I vented about our marriage and you being distant."

"But did he ask you about Rick? Personal things?" Glenn pressed.

"He didn't have to," she admitted. "I volunteered the information and he had information for me, saying he knew that Rick seemed more interested in work and the women he worked with." Although she didn't make it specific everyone knew she was talking about Michonne, but she didn't want to go down this road again.

Maggie walked up to her. "Lori this is important. How did the two of you meet?"

Pacing the small space left in the living room, everyone braced themselves for her answers. "We met at a store not that far from the station. I went there to pick up a few things not long after I left from visiting Rick."

"And he was getting groceries too?" Glenn was obviously putting some stuff together.

"I—I dont remember. I guess so if he was there?"

Rick and Shane exchanged a look. It wasn't happenstance that he was there. More than likely Negan followed her from the station and made sure they crossed paths. It was creepy and desperate.

A chill crept up Michonne's spine. They had always been warned about their families being vulnerable to criminals and victims, but to have to worry about a colleague was something different. She thought about the times they talked before cases even though they were on opposite sides, the times he flirted with her and every other woman. The difference is she saw through his swarmy character and never gave him the time of day. However, she never thought he was capable of something like this. Targeting Rick's family was despicable.

"Have you ever bought my children around him?" Rick asked.

Lori scoffed. "I told you I broke up with him when I found out I was pregnant with Judith."

"And Carl?"

"No!"

Breathing a sigh of relief, he scrubbed his hand down his face. "So, what do we do now?"

"I'm taking this shit straight to the IAB. Sons of bitches need to throw that case out anyway and once they find out that the reason the attorney is pushing it because of some vendetta that should help. Even if Hickman got someone else to represent him, they won't pursue it," Shane said holding the folder in his hand.

"I'll talk to Carol," Maggie spoke up. "We will file a complaint with the bar association for violation of ethics. He doesn't deserve a law license."

They continued to talk among themselves setting up plans and a path forward. Maggie calling Carol, Shane and Glenn asking Lori more questions about Negan. It all sounded like white noise. He took a few steps out of the living room and before he could get to the kitchen, Michonne was at his side rubbing his arm. "You ok?"

"No," he answered honestly. With all of his friends pulling together to help he was hesitant to admit that he wasn't sure what he wanted to do. Negan had lost a lot.

Because of him.

She gave him a small smile and kissed his forehead. "I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for sweetheart." He kissed her quickly, holding her close. It was just the peace he needed in the midst of all the turmoil.

A door opened and a sleepy Judith appeared in the hall rubbing her eyes. "Daddy?"

He let go of Michonne and bent down to pick her up. "What's wrong princess?"

"I'm thirsty." She laid her head on his shoulder yawning.

"Ok but just a little bit because it's late. Ok?"

She nodded.

When he walked to the cupboard to get her favorite cup, she looked around and saw Lori in the living room even though everyone had gotten quiet. "Mommy?"

Lori pulled herself together quickly, wiping the tears from her eyes. She moved closer but still didn't enter the kitchen. "Hey honey. Shouldn't you be sleeping?"

"Need some water," she said and yawned again. "We not goin home are we? I thought we were staying with Daddy and Michonne."

"You are, I just came to talk to daddy for a little bit."

She laid her head back down on his shoulder satisfied with the answer. When Rick gave her the cup, she drank it slowly letting out an exaggerated sigh when she was done earning a kiss on the head from her daddy.

"Now time to get back to bed."

"Can Mommy tuck me in?"

Lori was about to step forward but stopped. "Actually honey how about Michonne tuck you in?"

Michonne and Rick looked at her like she had two heads, surprised at the gesture. "Are you sure?" Michonne asked not sure if she could trust it but Judith was already reaching for her and she took her in her arms.

Lori gave her a conciliatory smile. "Yes, I'm sure." She looked at Rick giving him a sad but reassuring smile and then looked back to Michonne. "Sounds like you will be tucking her in a lot soon."

The two women exchanged a loaded glance while Judith held on to her tight.

"I'll be right back," she said to Rick and mouthed to Lori "thank you."

"Can you read me two stories instead of one?" Judith tried to whisper to Michonne as they walked down the hall.

"One story Judith Marie," Rick called out.

Judith whined, "Okkkkk."

Lori shook her head chuckling. "What will we do with her?"

"Just wait for the teenage years."

There was an awkward silence between them before Rick said, "Thank you."

"I really am sorry Rick for everything. For getting involved with him for being dumb enough to not see it for what it was."

He crossed his arms and despite the heaviness of tonight his animosity towards her was waning. There was one enemy now and it wasn't Lori. "You don't have to keep apologizing; all of this will get straightened out. They may want to talk to you though. IAB, the bar association. Think you can handle that? The questions may be kind of—"

Lori waved him off, under the circumstances it was the least she could do. "Yeah, I'll talk to them."

An hour later everyone was gone, and Rick tiptoed down to the bedroom the kids shared to check on them and Michonne. Carl was out like a light with his headphones still on and Michonne and Judith were cuddled up together on her little bed. Judith was snuggled up to her so tight that he was concerned how he would wake her without his daughter waking up as well. He smiled at the sight. He would never get tired of this. Thank goodness she had woven into his life so effortless. It was a much easier transition for them to get used to her being in their life than Michonne realized, but he would give her all the time she needed to adjust.

Rick took off Carl's headphones and pulled his blanket up, turning off his lamp. Then he bent down next to Judith's bed and stroked Michonne's locs. "Hey," he whispered in her ear and gave her a kiss on the cheek. She started to move but realized Judith's tiny arm was wrapped around her waist.

Michonne opened one eye and Rick lifted Judith's arm while she tried to slide out without stirring her. It took some maneuvering, but she managed. They both gave her a kiss on the forehead and tiptoed out the room. As soon as the door shut, they both let out a big sigh of both relief and exhaustion.

Michonne stretched. "I'm so tired."

"You mean to tell me the kids wore you out? I'm shocked," Rick joked. "They can be a bit of a handful."

"Like their father."

He massaged her shoulder while she walked to the kitchen to clean it up.

"Already took care of it," he said reading her mind.

"Oh." The lights were out, and everything was perfectly settled. They really did make a great team. He had taken care of the cleaning while she was taking care of the kids.

"C'mon. Let me run you a hot shower."

That sounded too tempting to resist. "For just me or will you be joining me?"

He smiled, feeling himself stir in his pants. "If I join you, then I won't behave. Do you think you can be quiet?"

Playing with the hem of his pants, she reached down to take him in her hands. "Probably not."

"Then we better play it safe," he said growing harder by the moment.

"Never took you for one to play it safe." She gripped him hard, kissing his neck and he could feel her smile. "So it begins."

"Not quite. I'm going to let you take a shower, then I'm going to take one, and then I'm going to take you in our bed."

Michonne groaned when he pulled her against him, his hands firmly on her ass. "Doesn't that defeat the purpose of me taking a shower?"

"Good point," he said kissing her neck and leading her into the bedroom. "May as well let me get you real dirty first."

The next day, Michonne was working diligently in her office when Bob knocked lightly on the door. "Michonne?"

"Yes, Bob what's going on?" He was more agitated than usual.

"I have a Mr. Anderson here to see you." He looked behind him and shut the door. "Said it's important. That it's about Rick so I figured you would want to see him otherwise—"

"No, no," she waved him off. She had no idea that Bob even knew the situation with Negan was that adversarial, but he always did a good job keeping his ear to the street. That's what made him such a good security guard. "You can let him back. Give me a second to get Carol first."

With Carol firmly at her side and a text to Rick, she allowed Negan to come in the office.

"Well, what do I owe this spectacular surprise," Michonne said sarcastically.

Negan gave her his trademark smile but this time it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I think you know exactly why I'm here."

"Has there been a development in the case? Is he ready to plead guilty?"

"I think you know damn well he's not going to do that," Negan said moving closer to her desk.

Michonne shrugged. "Then I can't understand why you would be here then."

Before Negan could respond, Carol chimed in. "Surely you're not here for anything to do with Rick's case since Michonne hasn't been the person it. It's been me and Deanna."

"She's still listed as one of the counsel."

"Right. She is co-counsel," Carol said smirking. "But you know just as well as I do that any updates could easily be received from me or Deanna." She pulled out her phone. "I certainly don't see any missed calls and I didn't have any missed messages from my secretary."

"Cut the shit." Negan sat down in the chair; all pleasantries gone. "Like I said you know exactly why I'm here."

Despite a small bit of fear creeping in, Michonne squared her shoulders and placed her chin in her clasped hands. "I'm afraid I don't. So why don't you tell me?"

"Why are you digging into details about my wife?"

Michonne managed to hide her surprise. They hadn't had the information for a full 24 hours and already he knew. "Your ex-wife you mean. Seems like you're having trouble with reality."

That comment hit its mark. His eyes flashed angry for a moment, but he recovered. "Why are you digging into my ex-wife?"

"It's just research. We were revisiting the case," Carol said.

"Bullshit. Nobody gave a damn about her when it happened. Why do you care so much now?"

"Of course people cared. She was a victim in a shootout."

"If you cared so much, then why wasn't anything done?" Negan raised his voice just short of a yell.

Carol moved closer to him, undeterred by his size or temper. "An investigation was done. There wasn't anything to be done, she was caught in the crossfire. If Rick hadn't stopped—"

"Shut up! Don't tell me dick about him saving the day. You made a choice. It was one thing to not press charges or put him on leave but you gave that bastard a promotion! A promotion! All the while my—"

His speech was interrupted by a commotion at the door. Rick came in, his eyes wild with Shane right behind him.

"Of course. It looks like the gang is all here," Negan said standing up at the same time Shane had to hold Rick back.

"Don't let him get to you brother."

"Yeah brother don't let a simple ole man like me get to you."

Shane approached him this time. "Don't push your fuckin luck. Next outburst I'm just going to let him go."

Negan laughed. "That would be pretty damn dumb considering he's already in trouble for a bad shoot and I bet this time it won't get thrown out in the interest of justice."

Carol gasped. She'd heard those words before. Negan turned to her and licked his lips. "Cat got your tongue babe?"

"In the interest of justice," she repeated.

"What? Sound familiar? That's the bullshit reason your last DA gave me for why he didn't do dick. Didn't lock this motherfucker up," he said pointing to Rick.

"And the reason you took Hickman's case. You said the same thing to Carol when you said you would be his attorney. A personal vendetta Negan? That's pretty damn pathetic," Michonne said.

Negan smiled. "Actually sweetheart what's pathetic is hanging around your friend's marriage for years hoping it goes bad just to end up fucking him in a parked car when he finally gets his head out of his ass."

The words had barely left his lips before Rick lunged.

"Rick don't!" Michonne yelled.

Shane got him before he could punch him but Rick still had Negan on the ground grabbing him by the collar. "You sick son of a bitch. You watched us? What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"Rick, get off him now." Carol was at his side now. "I can't get you out of this one. Get up."

Slowly Rick released him, everyone watching to make sure that Negan made no sudden moves. Shane stayed at Rick's side ready to pounce at any given moment if something changed.

When Rick spoke again his voice was low and deadly. "If you ever fix your mouth to speak to her like that again, we are going to have a real problem."

"You don't think you shooting my wife is a real problem Rick?"

Rick was humbled at his poor choice of words and his actions. What they had cost Negan. He'd gone through divorce, but he hadn't lost the prospect of a future with the love of his life. He also had no idea what happened to any of the people that were hurt in the crossfire of that day. "I'm sorry about that. Truly I am. You know I didn't shoot her on purpose!"

"I lost everything!" Negan yelled and everyone was on high alert. "I lost my wife, I lost my baby, I lost any chance to have any more children with her."

He was shaking and momentarily Rick's anger left. "I'm sorry." It was all he could think to say. There was nothing that was going to make it better. He searched and searched for something that would give Negan some solace. "I didn't know—"

"Would it have mattered Rick? If you knew."

"Of course. I would've apologized. Went to see her, done somethin."

"Wouldn't have changed a damn thing," Negan said and backed up, the anger coming off of him in waves. "Did you know it was a girl? The baby you killed. It was a girl."

It felt foolish to apologize again so Rick just put his hands in his pocket and nodded, accepting the information. "No, I didn't know that."

"You wouldn't. But maybe you would care a bit more if it was your little girl."

In an instant, Rick lunged at him again, but this time Negan backed up against Michonne's wall making sure to put enough distance between them.

"Was that a threat counselor?" Michonne had to calm herself down from punching him herself.

Negan put his hands up in mock surrender. "Now would I do something like that? I would never harm little Judith. You know she was real damn close to being mine. Lori tell you that? If only she would've been conceived a little bit later. Did she tell you the dirty truth of what her and I did?"

Rick began to calm down and Negan looked a little agitated that his words didn't rile him up. The goal was to provoke Rick into doing something stupid, he was almost there but something was holding him back. "So, you do know?"

"I don't care." Rick shrugged.

Negan watched him closer to make sure and then chuckled. "Of course you don't. You never gave a damn about Lori and the second you had the chance you jumped on our hot little ADA here. Can't say I blame you with an ass like that—"

This time it was Shane that stepped up. "That's strike two. You know what happens on the third one. Don't tempt me."

"Well well well. Look who has his brother's back."

"He may not be able to make the punch but you bet your goddamn ass I will." His fists were clenching at his side and Rick was behind him flushed red looking ready to pound him as well. Of course Michonne was the trigger. That's why Negan wished he could've gotten to her before she fell into Rick's web. Just one date would've been enough to have him seething.

"What's your reason for being here?" Carol asked again. Enough of the pomp and circumstance, this needed to end before they all ended up in trouble.

"I already asked you why you were looking at her file," he said never taking his eyes off Rick. This wasn't about anyone else. Just the two of them, although he hadn't done the best job of keeping it between them.

"I wanted to see just what your issue is with me. Why you have some score to settle with me. I saw her once. Lucille. I thought she had cancer and you were just miserable but now I know."

"Yeah you do. And no it wasn't cancer, but it's amazing what people will believe when you spread the word enough and pay some file clerk to alter a few documents. You don't think I knew you would go sniffing around. But all the juicy stuff, the real stuff, the big wigs would make sure that was locked air tight where only a few people had access to it. The reason she looked so weak was because she was damn near killing herself with fertility treatments. Any and everything to try and have a baby, but nothing worked." He looked around the room to everyone staring back at him with a mix of pity and anger. "So now what?"

Rick backed up to the opposite wall near the door. He needed room to breathe. At first revenge on Negan seemed like the right thing to do. He knew Carol and Michonne were incredible lawyers and could easily get him disbarred with ethics violations but looking at him it was clear that Negan had lost enough. There was only one thing he wanted to make this all go away. "I want you to tell your client to drop the charges."

"He doesn't have to," Carol spoke up before Negan was going to clearly say no. "Got the call right before I came in here. I tried to call you, but it seems you were already on your way here. "You're cleared. With Abraham's testimony and Negan's client being less than credible, it all worked itself out."

"Well, ain't that special. Once again Grimes is saved by the bell. Guess justice ain't worth a damn thing."

"We could debate that all day," Michonne said. "I certainly have my opinions on it based on what I've seen and what I've been through but this wasn't about justice Negan and you know it. This was about revenge."

"Imagine if you were in my shoes," he countered.

"I can't begin to know what it's like to lose everything. I'm sorry for what you went through with Lucille. But this is not the way. Think about her for a second. If she were here right now, would she want you to do this?"

Negan was quiet. For all the grand standing and confidence, Lucille was obviously his sore spot. Rick took him in, how with just the mention of her name that Negan somehow folded into himself.

"For what it's worth, I can't apologize to you enough," Rick said. "But what happens now is entirely up to you."

Shane turned around, looking at him as if he was crazy. This morning they were planning on taking everything they had to IAB and have Michonne file the complaint. Looking between her and Rick he could tell that the plan had changed. "You sure man?"

"Yeah," Rick said never taking his eyes from Negan. "The ball is in your court. I'm already clear. You need to decide if you want to be too."

Shane backed off giving Negan more room and all eyes in the room were on him. After a few long moments, he picked up his briefcase and walked towards the door. Rick moved to the side to let him out. The two rivals exchanged a long look before Negan spoke. "See ya around Rick."

He wasn't quite sure what he meant but he wanted it to be known that he wasn't the least bit bothered by the comment even it was a veiled threat. "See ya around."

Michonne rounded the desk and wrapped her arms around Rick. She was out of breath, not realizing she had been holding it for what seemed like minutes. Rick squeezed her tight, kissing her forehead.

"I hope you know what you're doing man," Shane said sitting in Michonne's chair and burying his head in his hands.

Rick kissed Michonne's cheek, loosening his grip on her. "I think I did the right thing. He's lost enough. I couldn't imagine losing my children, the love of my life." Just the thought of it made him pull her back in his arms again. "I'm going to give him a break this one time. He seems like he needs one."

Shane stood with the file in his hand. "Well I'll tell you one damn thing I'm holding on to this file. Sonofabitch steps out of line one time and we go all in."

"I hear you, I appreciate it." They exchanged a sideways hug with Michonne offering to bring Rick home later and Shane left.

"So I'm all clear hunh?"

Carol went to her office and brought the paperwork back. "All clear. So what's next for you Grimes?"

Rick smiled at Michonne and gave her a look that made her blush down to her toes. "I have some ideas."

"Oh God," Carol groaned and left the office. "I'll leave you to it."

Rick and Michonne held each other, kissing and grateful that it was over.

A/N: Rest assured guys, Negan is gone. That hurdle has been crossed, time to move on to some Richonne happiness. Did you guys guess Rick and Negan's connection? Hope you guys enjoyed and thanks again for all the reviews. :)