Hi everyone again! I hope you are enjoying the summer and staying safe. Thank you again for all the love and support. Your reviews always lighten my days. Just some quick answers:
Sunandshines: I get those migraines, they are a pain in the butt and that's why I gave them to Michonne too (LOL). Don't know why I decided to start like that but no worries, she is going to be alright. Thx for your reviews.
Fleur2019: thank you for welcoming also to the Richonne family, I am LOVING every moment! And yes, I like Daryl and Sasha too, so you'll be pleased to know I'll intend to keep them close.
Fortylove: thanks to you also for your support. I didn't know how readers were going to respond to this idea but here it is. I appreciate you saying it is amazing. It means a lot more than I can say.
Philly Girl52: I adore your comments! So on point and most times you are not misguided. I look forward to your reviews now.
And once again thank you all for staying with me. Let's keep Richonne Alive! I certainly intend to.
Disclaimer: Owe nothing from The Walking Dead or related.
Happy reading!
Love,
A.
Friends
"Babe, don't drink too much of that. You'll be sick tomorrow and we have to fly", Daryl was warning his girlfriend.
"It's barely my second drink. Don't be such a buzzkill! I am leaving the show after all." She pouted and he kind of winced. He didn't want to remember that they were going to be apart now. The show brought them together after all. But she was also moving into bigger projects and he was so proud of her for that.
"I ain't draggin' you thru the airport. It wasn't funny last time"
"What last time?" she asked offended now but Daryl just looked her square in the eye leaving no room for doubts. She started to laugh and moved his hair out of his face and tenderly touched his face. "Fine, Mr. Dixon. I'll switch to gin tonic now. I don't know why you make such a big deal, I'm not even tipsy."
"Don't matter. I ain't dealing with your hangover in the damn airport, that place gives me headaches already," he grunted. From the corner of his eye, he saw Rick coming through the door. About damn time. "Here he is".
Sasha looked in the direction he was pointing his head. She saw Rick coming in and greeting some crew and cast members and then ordering himself a soda before locating them with their eyes and waving. Daryl nodded and raised his beer when all of a sudden he felt someone sitting next to them. It was Magie. She had an empty glass of what he recognized as a former cosmo in her hand.
"Sash, we need to talk," she said in a conspiratorial tone. The other woman just frowned thinking that it was too soon for Maggie to be so wasted.
"About what?"
"About what is going on with Rick and... You know…" She didn't want to say the name in a bar full of people that knew the ones involved but she hoped her friend would get the hint. Daryl rolled his eyes. That shit was not happening in front of him.
"If you gon' start gossiping I'm out", he moved from his chair and pecked Sasha on her cheek before heading to the counter.
"What are you talking about? Rick and who?", Sasha asked playing dumb but keeping her voice low.
"You know, Rick and.. Michonne". It was such a whisper that Sasha was sure she didn't hear it, but she knew well. Oh, crap. She was hoping Maggie was still a bit in the dark about that.
"Oh, hmm… why do you think something is happening?" Answer a question with another question. Best technique ever for Sasha to use when trying to avoid answering something.
"I am not saying something IS happening, but… there is this vibe, you know."
"Ok, stop right there. You've said four 'you know's in a minute. Are you drunk already?" Sasha squinted her eyes to look at her closely trying to decide.
"No!" she said offended, she blushed though just because of the topic of conversation she wanted to address. "All I am saying is that when they are together, the environment feels… heavy and I mean in the weird way, not that is bad or anything, just uncomfortable at times. One kind of feels left out when they are talking to each other even if you are right there. It's like they have this little bubble, this code, eye, and silent connection. Jesus, I see they are more in sync than he is with Lori, and that's a lot to say since I've known Lori from before!"
Shit.
"Mags, listen," Sasha said, trying to soothe her friend but she was determined to give nothing of what she had thought away. "I love you but I have nothing to say about that except that if something is happening, or not happening, or about to happen doesn't involve us, any of us."
"I am not trying to pry into it, but I've known Rick and Lori from… She can be a bit controlling..."
"Are you trying to get intel for her?"
"Of course not! Who do you take me for? But I know her and… I think Rick might be having a difficult moment in his marriage, it's not..." she didn't look at Sasha a bit embarrassed to be saying this info.
"Hell no, Maggie. We are NOT having that conversation!" Sasha said, opening her eyes to her. She was not going to discuss Rick's marriage. No way!
"It is not what you think! I just…" she was frustrated because clearly, Sasha thought she was taking Lori's side somehow in a story that she was not even sure about. She was no fool. She has noticed things before but tonight's actions confirmed her suspicions. Rick could have come to the bar with them and check on Michonne later but he ran off like a lovestruck boy to check on his girl. It was too obvious, even when Daryl and Sasha tried to sweep it under the rug. "I am not dumb, OK? They are all my friends and I guess... I just want them to be happy but I don't want anyone to get hurt".
Sasha was touched by her friend's innocence. From what she knew Lori was a manipulative bitch, she didn't like her but still, she was the wife. Poor Rick was beyond salvation now. He was deep shit in Michonne. Sprung, infatuated, whatever you want to call it. As an outside looker, Sasha noticed that and though Michonne tried to deflect their conversations about the topic every single time, she knew her friend was not immune to all his charms. He was chasing, Sasha had no doubt, but Michonne's integrity was as strong as a stubborn was a mule. She was not going to mess around with a married man. He had to get his shit together first if he ever really wanted anything with Michonne. It is not like any of them were the one-night-stand type, at least her girl wasn't. Sasha wanted so bad to play matchmaker for them but Daryl warned her without questioning that she had no place in that. He made her promise not to interfere and deep down she knew he was right.
"There's nothing we can do. They are adults. They can handle this. But… if you think you should talk to someone about that, it's certainly not me, Mags." Ask Rick.
"Yeah, I suppose you are right." She gave her a sympathetic look. "I am sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I didn't have proper lunch, so you might be right and maybe this drink is already kicking in and I am saying stupid things."
"It's fine. Let's get you something to nibble and get me a gin tonic before my grumpy boyfriend starts breathing on my neck about my drink again."
They stood up and joined another group of cast members including Glenn, Tara, Rosita, and Abe. Sasha winked and blew a kiss to Daryl who was sitting on the counter by himself shoving peanuts in his mouth and having his second beer. It was all under control, that's what she actually meant. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Rick approach him. He sat next to him in silence sipping from his glass. Daryl said nothing waiting for him to start a conversation he knew his friend was already having in his mind.
"She is fine". Rick said in a quiet voice. Duh, Daryl thought.
"We told ya. Coulda saved that trip", he kept shoving more peanuts. He saw Rick nodding and taking another sip. More silence. Daryl was waiting until he was ready to keep talking if he was up to do it tonight. After more bits and silence and swigs, Rick finally spoke.
"I'm screwed up, man." Daryl just looked at him and nodded making his hair fall all over his face. He moved it out of the way with a movement of his head. Rick didn't need to explain what he meant with that phrase. Daryl knew about it all. "I am getting to a point where I don't know what I am going to do or how to act without compromising her or me."
"I told you once: own up your feelings. Your marriage is already going to shit and I ain't one to give love advice but you need to figure this out and soon. Mainly for the kids."
"That is not so simple, Daryl."
"Yo, Rick, have you heard of this thing called divorce?" Rick winced at him. "Don't lie to my face and tell me you haven't considered that."
"Not really."
"Bullshit," was his only response. "Do you love Lori?" It was a blunt question.
"Of course I do", he was defensive about that. It's not like he was being an unfaithful ass, or at least he thought he wasn't. But once again talking with Daryl always gave him some insight and clarity and this was the first time the dark-haired man asked something like that. "She is my wife, the mother of my children. I cannot think of a life not having Carl or Judith and it's thanks to her."
"Rick, don't change the subject. That's not what I meant and you know it. Let me rephrase it then: are you still in love with her?"
He opened his mouth to answer yes without thinking, it was a reflex. Yes, she is my wife. I love her. But does that mean I am still in love with her? He looked at Daryl and had the fleeting idea of just letting this rest since they were not in the safest place to have this conversation and he really wasn't sure about the answer but thought better than to lie to him. That man could see right through anyone and right now he was not sure about many things in his life. He needed more of this raw honesty to help him move around and figure out all that was happening in his life. Daryl finished up his beer and gestured for the bartender to bring him another round.
"I guess you have your damn answer right there." He said once they were alone again.
"Even so, divorce? What about the kids?". Rick's love for his children was unquestionable and the thought of being away from them in a certain way horrible.
"Come on, man, it's not like you are not gonna see them anymore. I guess you'll get them on weekends, some holidays or whatever shit happens when you divorce and have kids." Rick dragged a hand over his face and ended up pinching the bridge of his nose. "Listen, all I say is that whatever you do, don't think you are doing it for someone else but yourself. If Lori is putting you through so much garbage and shit and making you feel miserable, it's time to let that marriage go. Fuck it. You deserve to be happy too and if it's not with Lori anymore then… Don't do it for anyone, Rick, do it for you, for your kids, because they also deserve to be in a healthy environment, married parents or not. But again that's just my opinion". He took a large swig and after a few seconds, he noticed Rick staring at him with a hint of a smile on his lips. "Man, you are being fuckin' creepy right now, why you lookin' me like that?" Rick laughed in response.
"I would like to know when the hell you became so knowledgeable, I think I might have to thank Sasha for that."
"Probably, or maybe I was just always this smart but say nothing until my friends do some dumbshit or get into some complicated shit and I have no choice but to speak their brains up." He gulped down some more of his beer. "But seriously, you need to take care of things if you want to try and go down that road with her. She ain't having a married man, especially if he doesn't have his shit together".
"No, she is not. I know that, and she doesn't deserve less." Rick was lost in thought for a few seconds before turning and facing him completely; he got nervous about what he wanted to ask. Daryl was his friend, but he was also Michonne's and very protective of her like a big brother would be. He scratched a hitch in his eyebrow trying to think in a way to ask. "Is she…? Do you know if she is still..?"
"Nah, they broke up a couple of months ago. Amicably she said."
"Hmm."
"FYI: she was the one who broke that shit up."
"Daryl, do you think he…"
"I don't think shit but you need to hurry the hell up." Rick just nodded in accordance and his friend chuckled when the realization hit him again. "You are definitely screwed up. I wouldn't want to be in your fucking shoes."
"Gee thanks. But it's not like you don't have your own romance going on," Daryl gulped down what was left of his beer and stood up.
"At least I got the girl." He heard Rick saying an Ouch. "Going out to have a smoke. You coming?" Rick shook his head. "Man, are you still doing that lollipop healthy shit?"
"Yup. I'm not getting any younger. Need to take care of myself." He produced a couple of them from his jeans pockets to show him. Michonne had advised Rick to do that instead of smoking once she realized his habit, it took a whole day of her convincing him which ended up on Rick giving her experiment a try for a full day and he had done it ever since. Actually, he felt better and he just kept doing it but the fact that the idea came from her was funny to Daryl.
"Screwed up and whipped. Anyway, I'll leave you to think about your predicament then. And them lollipops."
"Aren't you funny?"
"We still have Comic-Con next July. That'll give you time to decide whatever shit you want to do," he shrugged. "But trust me when I say this: don't hurt Chonne or I'll beat your pale ass, friend or not. Stitches won't fix what I'll do to you."
Rick laughed hard at Daryl's threat knowing that if he ever really hurt Michonne, he would try to live up to his promise somehow. He nodded and Daryl spat his shoulder and moved past him to go and talk to Sasha before stepping out. He also finished his soda and ordered a Diet Coke while deciding what to do. There will be some weeks until SDCC. Time to think. It was clearer now than before. One thing he decided: no more pining for now. He grabbed his coke and went to chat with the rest of the group.
Thanks for stopping by and reading! Let me know what you think. Your comments are always welcome and amazing to read and will make this trip even better. Let's keep Richonne alive!
