Hi everyone!

I hope you have all been enjoying the end of the summer. It is the end for me since school starts again this week *sniff sniff*

Again, your reviews were amazing and I loved them all! Always do.

I was a bit scared about how you were going to react to my Andre's tribute but you were incredibly kind and I have to thank you all. One thing I want to add: Michonne lights a candle on October 15 because it is the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.

The disclaimer I always forget: I own nothing of The Walking Dead.

So here it is chapter 8.

Happy reading,

A.


8. Say yes

Rick stared at his phone and sighed while waiting for an answer. The past few days had been like walking on eggshells with Lori and her behavior whose only purpose was to make him feel guilty over the divorce. He could feel her hovering over him whenever he was on the phone outside the privacy of his 'new' bedroom. She wouldn't say anything but there was this silent war going on and he was getting really pissed with it. The divorce was a set thing and it was already in motion whether she wanted or not. He'd had enough.

Judith moved in her crib and Rick shushed her while caressing her back, trying to avoid the toddler to wake up. It took him a while to get her to sleep tonight. He told Lori he was going to take care of Judith that night but the baby wanted to play with him longer than usual. Although having his kids with him despite divorcing their mother was the best thing among the chaos, he couldn't help thinking that the living arrangements were not going to last long. Lori was making his life a living hell already. Him moving out was only a matter of time. He was already looking.

He checked his phone again. Nothing yet. Maybe she's just busy right now, Rick. He looked back at his daughter sleeping peacefully. His heart always grew bigger by just looking at her. His phone lit then with an incoming message.

I miss you, too.

He smiled. For a moment he thought she was not going to answer his little advance.

Can't wait to see you again.

Some minutes passed again before her answer. Rick thought maybe he pushed a bit by saying that but there was no turning back. He was all in and was not going to be pretending with her anymore. Although he could feel that she was still hesitant...

Can't wait to see you too.

How're you?

Good. Busy.

You dismissing me already? He could almost see her smiling.

Of course not. But I've been busy. Can you talk?

I'm in Jude's room. She's asleep.

Too bad. I'd love to hear your voice right now.

And now Rick smiled to himself. They have been texting and talking over the phone during this time. He'd told her about what happened with Lori; she never asked but Rick felt he needed to be transparent with all that, so he told her. It was funny in a way because even over the phone he could sense her uneasiness but he always assured her that his divorce was something that was on the horizon, be her in the picture or not. One thing he'd never allow was for her to think his marriage ended because of her because it was not true. He knew what he wanted to build with her and the type of woman Michonne was and nothing more than total honesty will work with them. As it should be. As he wants it to be. He was not free yet, but he was hers already.

Try me again later.

Lol, alright sir. I'm at mom's. But I'll want to try later. Text me when you can.

Certainly will.

He was still smiling to himself when there was a soft knock on the door and he dreaded to face Lori again, but instead Carl's blue eyes appeared in the room.

"Dad, I was looking for you. Is she sleeping?" He whispered pointing towards his baby sister and Rick nodded walking towards the door.

"What is it?" Carl didn't give him time and in one swift movement stepped inside and closed the door behind him slowly trying not to be loud. Rick thought about going outside so as to not wake Judith up but his son obviously had other plans. "What are you doing? It took me sometime to make her go to sleep."

"I'll be quick but… I don't want mom to hear this", he kept on whispering.

"Why not?" Now Rick was intrigued. His son has been very understanding with all the divorce but sometimes Rick would find him giving Lori a death stare. "Carl…"

"She told me earlier we are not going with you to San Diego this summer." He blurted out.

"She said what?" Rick tilted his head and squinted his eyes. Maybe he'd heard wrong.

"We as in 'me and Judith'. She is going with you though. She wants us to stay with grandma for the week it lasts and I don't want that. I love grandma but... I want to go, as always."

"As far as I know you are all going, if she doesn't want to go that's fine, but you and Judith are coming with me. There's nothing to discuss about that."

"It's just that… I don't want you guys to fight about this. She didn't want me to mention anything to you, supposedly you are ok with it. She said it is because you guys want to try to use this time to fix things between the two of you…" Now Carl was not even sure about what he was saying. It was such a big lie she had fed him and he knew it. Rick just opened his eyes wide and pressed his lips together, holding another head tilt while listening to his son. "But… I know… I know that's not gonna work. Not with the way things are between you two."

Damn it, Lori.

"I'll talk to your mom, don't worry." That's all he could say now.

"I'm sorry, Dad."

"For what? You have done nothing wrong."

"For you having to divorce mom. For having to go through all of this. I can't help but think that you were putting up with all only for me and Judith and that's not fair to you."

Rick felt a sting of pain in his heart. His son shouldn't be saying that to him. Once again, as he had been doing lately Rick looked closely at Carl. He was becoming a young man with a wisdom beyond his age, his understanding and compassion had been showing around him and whenever he spoke he could still see that little boy he will ever be for Rick but also the man he would become and this made him feel the proudest parent on earth.

"Carl, I'm your father. You don't have to feel sorry for me or your mom. We failed you… I failed you and that's on me. I wished I could give you the whole perfect family picture but that's not us anymore. I am the one who's sorry that you had to go through these bad moments. I'm sorry you'll have divorced parents in the near future. But I love you, Carl. You and your sister are the most important and precious possessions I have. Always will."

"I love you too, Dad but honestly… I don't think it'll be that bad. I'll get to have two homes and double Christmas I guess." He said with a shrug and Rick held a laugh because he remembered they were in Judith's room. There it was the kid in him.

"That's one way of looking at it. But really, how do you feel about it?" Rick glanced back for a second at the crib to check on Judith.

"I told you. I probably should be depressed or something. But I feel… relieved. I didn't like her bitching…" Rick opened his eyes and half tilted his head again as a warning for his language and he quickly apologized. "Sorry, but that's the word that best described her behavior."

"Still, she is your mother and I don't want you saying anything like that about her. Despite our differences one thing I know for sure is that she loves you both."

"I don't doubt that, but she can be blinded by her love for you."

"Now what do you know about love? Have you traded your comics for romance novels?" Carl rolled his eyes at him and exhaled.

"Really, Dad?"

"I mean, where else will you get all this sudden knowledge about love and relationships?"

Now his son blushed and Rick thought that a girl might be involved.

"I'm not reading crappy literature if that's what you really want to know."

"I am sorry Carl. I wished I could fix this but… your mom and me… being together will make more harm than good. You saying those things to her, defending me… you didn't have to do that. I don't want you to be in a position where you have to choose sides, that's not what this is about."

"I know." He repeated in an exasperated tone for the fourth time. "I said I understood and I do. You both need to stop treating me like a baby. And I was not picking a side, I was stating facts. I was also defending my right not to be in this mess. Not that is not weird now…" he said, raising his brows in a duh expression.

"Yeah…" Obviously Carl had picked up about the tension in the house.

"I do have a question though…" Rick stared at him and waited. He could see his son was hesitant about whatever it was. Carl was looking at a very interesting spot on the carpet. He didn't want to ask but he wanted to know. He'd been thinking about it since that night.

"Carl, what is it?"

"How long before you move out?"

Rick tried to reach his son's eyes and gain some time to answer. He knew this was coming but never thought Carl would be asking him. Not so soon at least.

"I'm working on it but it will take a while. Probably not before San Diego."

"Ok". He was still looking at the carpet and drawing imaginary lines in it with the point of his shoe.

"You know you can always tell me anything, right?" Rick leveled with him trying to make his son look into his eyes.

"I know, Dad… and I was thinking that… maybe we can... go to live with you... once the divorce is over."

"Son, I know your mom is difficult sometimes but she loves you."

"And I love her, but I don't know if I can live with her once you are not here anymore."

"What about Judy? You want to leave your sister behind? Your mom is not going to give up on her." The mention of his baby sister made him look up at his father.

"That's why I said we." He exhaled sadly. "It's just that… since that night, I've been reading about divorce arrangements. We can split, we can be some days with you and some days with mom. All I say is that I want to spend more time with you."

"And I with you, I'd love to have you both with me once it's all over but we better wait and see what happens, ok?"

Rick was dreading this moment because he knew Lori will probably use his job as a leverage for keeping the kids with her all the time since he had to be traveling and out of the state. But he didn't want Carl to worry about that just yet.

Carl heard Lori calling for him and rolled his eyes totally annoyed. His mom was getting the best of him these days.

"I better go and see what she wants now", he said irritated.

"Carl, don't give her attitude. I know you might be upset with her but we don't need more tension. Please."

"I'm trying not to, Dad, but sometimes she just gets on my nerves."

"Go." he whispered and his son walked out of the room.

Rick checked on Judith's sleeping form again before stepping out of the nursery himself. He headed for the back door and passed Carl and Lori in the kitchen talking. He could hear his son saying yes several times and Lori's voice trying to baby their son but he kept on going. He was not going to ruin himself his night by talking to her now. Once he stepped outside he got his phone out of the pocket and texted Michonne.

All yours now. He knew she was going to laugh at it.

One minute later his phone rang and her number appeared on the screen.

"Hey", he said.

"Hey, you were hiding again in the baby's room? Is that a good spot?"

"Oh yes, Judith is the most peaceful company this time of the day".

"I bet."

"How are you doing?"

"It's quiet now here too. Lots of fun but most of them are gone now. Mom is in the kitchen. I stepped outside."

"Wow, are you hiding me Michonne?" She snickered.

"What? No! Don't start with me, Grimes." There was a pause. "How are you doing?"

"Not bad like I said." Despite all that was said they were still tip toeing in their conversations. Mostly on her side. She had been a bit more open but not totally and though he got the why it still made him feel that she was hesitant about them, if there was a them now.

"I wish I could see you right now. It'd make me feel much better."

"Me too", she answered without hesitation. "It's kind of hard, right? I mean we are a thousand miles apart."

"Sometimes I wish I had spoken earlier. Maybe we could have…"

"Don't go there, Rick. It happened when it was supposed to happen. And we will take things slowly. We agreed on that, didn't we?"

"That means that you ARE actually waiting for me?"

"That means that we are taking things slowly. Like adults", she said in that slow and condescending tone of hers.

"You are not giving me a straight answer, Michonne. I am not taking anything back, but… I need a little bit more to go on. I know you said that there was no one else in your heart... I guess I need to hear you say it."

Michonne looked at the phone and breathed out deeply. These conversations were getting easier and they were scaring her too; it had been always easy to talk to Rick about anything and now, they added the "we" to that equation. It was odd for her still, because they hadn't really defined anything about them. They were friends, best friends, more than friends?

It can't be, we haven't even kissed. Like a real life kiss.

It was all she thought about during these days. Those moments, text messages, phone calls, when she was going to see him again. She wasn't going to let him know how deep she was feeling because first she needed to make sure everything was real. It was real with Mike but he was never married before meeting her. Rick was a different world and challenged her in so many aspects that made her a bit afraid of just jumping and not caring about the consequences.

But she knew what he meant by needing a bit more. Damn, she also needed a bit more even though she was the last person to admit it. He had admitted to her what she didn't even know she wanted to hear until the words came out of his mouth. She wanted his divorce to be over and them to be able to explore their relationship on that other level. She wanted to know how it feels to wake up in bed next to him and drown her fingers in his curls. Next season filming was going to be hard. Upcoming San freaking Diego was going to be hard only trying to keep up appearances and interacting without giving away their true feelings.

Shit.

She heard her mom talking to her sister in the other room. She hasn't mentioned anything to her. She knew what Mrs Hawthorne was going to say: He is married. Stay away. And she was going to try and fight her feelings and do that. But that was not what her heart wanted, what she wanted. Still, it had to be real. She was not going to give it all away. Her mind kept telling her to be cautious but it was hard when he was throwing that to the wind and saying those things to her.

Just take another step, Michonne. See how it goes.

"Yes, Rick. I'll wait for you".

Rick released a breath he didn't know he was holding and touched his brow with his thumb to appease the rapid beating of his heart. She was going to wait for him, that's all he needed to know. His heart told him she would, but hearing her say the words was a different thing.

"I want you to know that… this is real, Michonne. This… this is different. I'm not just..."

"We could talk about that in another time. I'd rather do it face to face to be honest."

"Me too. I just wanted you to know."

"I do know, and like I said I wish I could see you and talk about this when we are in the same room."

"It's gonna take a while."

"Just a couple of weeks. Keep yourself busy as I do."

"Yeah, Judith keeps me busy alright. Are you still doing that photoshoot?"

"Yes, next week. It's that Vogue magazine thing. And then head for CC. I'll be dead tired."

"Still, you'll be amazing in those photos. Comic Con will give you time to relax and have fun."

"From panel to panel? Yeah right. I think Daryl is the only one that enjoys that too much."

"Yeah, him and Carl. Don't you need company for that Vogue stuff?"

"As a matter of fact I do. Kale is coming with me."

"Willingly?" He seriously doubted it. Kale hated those things.

"I'm dragging him of course. He doesn't have a choice".

"Like he carries that big back pack of yours around the set with all your scribbling."

"Oh, shut up. He loves it!" She was laughing now.

"Yes, sure. Keep telling yourself that."

"There's no one else and I refuse to endure that gala by myself. Not doing that. Kale is coming."

"You can always find someone else. I'm sure anyone would love to go with you."

"That's the thing. I've been going by myself to them lately. It was usually Mike…" She just trailed off, and decided to stop talking the minute his ex boyfriend's name left her lips.

"It's ok, Michonne. We can't pretend he never existed in your life."

"I just don't want to go alone anymore", she said changing the subject.

"I could go with you…"

I'd love nothing more.

"Rick, I can't ask that of you."

"You are not asking. I'm offering."

"Still… I don't think it is…"

"What? Appropriate? Decent?" She didn't answer and he knew that's exactly what she was thinking. "See it this way: we are leading actors in a TV show. I'd be just supporting your career outside that said show. There's nothing wrong with that. And I could really use the distraction for one night."

It was damn tempting. She really wanted to give in and say yes.

"I don't think we should, Rick."

"You'd rather drag Kale when I'm willing? I don't wanna be cocky but think about the perks of having Rick Grimes there with you to keep you entertained."

"So much for not trying to be cocky…"

"Come on, Michonne. We both need this." She wanted to scream then but a groan came out instead. "You know we do. It's not like we are going to be alone or anything."

"Rick, it will raise questions about why you are there without her."

"It won't. It's not my first rodeo supporting other actors without Lori." He took a glance back to the closed back door.

"But..."

"Comic Con is still two weeks away. If I get the chance to see you before that I'll take it. This is it. Say yes."

She grunted and closed her eyes trying to decide. Just jump, she could hear Sasha saying. It was one night. They could survive that without an incident. They could handle it. She admitted she would rather talk to him than Kale.

"Ok. Yes. But you better clean up nice, Grimes. This is Vogue. None of those ridiculous socks you wear claiming to match your suits. Huh huh."

"Stay away from my socks, woman. You'd better be looking as glamorous as I'll be so as not to ruin my image."

"Don't I always?", she said in a cocky voice but he was sure she was messing with him.

"Yes, you always do." He let out a tired sigh and rubbed his face. "I really really would like to see your face. Hearing your voice is not enough anymore."

" Rick…"

"I know, but I am not holding back so I am saying what I feel. Get used to it."

"We don't need to make a mess. You are getting a divorce. It doesn't need us to be put out there. Whatever that means."

"You are right, I don't want that too, but if it's just us I don't want to hold back. I don't want you to hold back." She remained quiet for a few seconds so he continued. "We could try that camera video thing." He heard her laugh about his terms.

"It's called Facetime, Rick. Are you ever going to learn something about technology?"

"Hey, I'm doing my best. It's hard enough that Carl mocks me, I don't need your condescending tone too".

"Oh, but Carl knows all about the good stuff, if he is teaching you I can say you are in good hands."

"I don't know about that, sometimes I have the feeling that he gets extremely frustrated with me."

"I'd give anything to see that". She was having a fit of laughter laughing.

"Thank you for your faith."

"I'm sorry... but I just know how bad you are with all this tech stuff. At least you ditched that damn flip phone. It made me cringe every time I saw you with it."

"Oh geez, can we talk about another thang now?"

"Ok, Ok. sorry." She stopped laughing and took a deep breath. "Seriously, how's everything there?"

"As good as it can be. We are hanging in there."

"How's Carl doing with all this?"

"He is good, I mean, I am surprised by everything he said. I never wanted my kids in the middle of something like this."

"Carl is amazing and so wise. He is a cool kid". He hummed in response. "Mom is calling me. I'll think about the gala. I don't want us in a weird situation right now." When he didn't say anything, she asked him "Talk again tomorrow?"

"Sure."

"I'm not turning you down, Rick". She had read his mind.

"It's ok. Have a good night, Michonne."

"You too."

He hung up. He was not going to push it. He really could use the distraction though. Away from Lori and her moods, being with Michonne for the night. It would help them spend time together to keep clearing up things between them. Put a name to it. Right now they were not in clear waters, he was sure of that. They were more familiar and open with each other but it was not like they were in a 'relationship'. And Rick couldn't wait to be in a relationship with Michonne.

Rick sighed and went back into the house, ready to tell Lori to stop playing around and using the kids to hurt him. San Diego with them was a done deal, as it was the divorce.


A/N: Thanks for reading! I won't apologize for this chapter being long :) It has its future use. Trying to keep up mostly with Dandy in RL timeline is biting me in the as*. Show some love with a review. SDCC comes next, babies! Stay safe!