Hi, all! Happy Mother's Day. I have decided, due to some replies on my CarlxOC story (which, btw, thank you all for the kind words!) to make a little companion piece about how the Grimes Family of that universe came to be. These will be one-shots dedicated to them and I will most likely continue Carl and Zora's love story over in "(she is) love." I hope you all like it!


Chapter One

(you had me at) hello

"Rick!"

The man in question looked up from the truck he was servicing and peeked his head around the hood. Standing in the doorway between the workshop area and the lobby was his business partner and best friend, Daryl. "Yeah?"

"Valdez is here for his truck," the man gruffly stated. "You almost done?"

Rick nodded, "Yeah. Finishing up the oil now." Daryl nodded and turned to inform the customer of the status of his vehicle whilst Rick returned his attention to the task at hand. After completing the oil change, he closed the hood, cleaned his hands with his rag and reset the mileage on the vehicle before driving it back to the main parking lot.

He made his way back into the building and announced for the customer. Milo Valdez is a local Hispanic man in his mid 50s, He is tall with a tan and has the beginnings of a belly, as well as a scorned look on his face.

"My car was supposed to be done an hour and a half ago, Grimes," Milo complained.

Rick was expecting this, "Yes, I know. I apologize for that. We've been behind on services all day." Also as expected, this answer did nothing for the man he was speaking to. "Would you like a 15 percent discount in exchange for your wait?"

"The least you can do," Milo grumbled. Rick sighed as a means to calm himself before completing the transaction and getting the customer out of the door.

"Better reaction than I expected," Daryl chimed in.

"Well, not everyone's going to be like Mrs. Neidimyer," Rick responded. And thank God for that. The older woman cursed up a storm and threatened to call the state's business bureau about the tardiness of her car's work. Rick understood that she was upset because the woman did not have to cause the scene that she did. She only had to wait 15 minutes.

And that was just the start of the workday. The whole day had been terrible. He was up nearly all night trying to care for his ill child, only managing to fall asleep at about 6 in the morning. Because of that, he overslept, was late for work, which led to all of his car appointments falling behind, which then led to angry customers-something that did not aid his already cranky mood from the lack of sleep and his decision to skip lunch in order to catch up on the workload.

Now, he's just ready to go home and see his son. A cherubic, dark haired boy with freckles on his face and his father's eyes, Carlton Alexander Grimes is the light of Rick's life.

Daryl must have noticed the look on his face because he grunted and said, "I'll close up."

Rick looked at him, "You sure? I can stay and help."

"Nah, it's good. Go home to Carl," Daryl assured. "Just know you owe me one."

Rick cracked a tiny smile for the first time all day, "Thanks, man." Daryl, once again, grunted before turning away to begin closing duty. Rick hurriedly made his way through the building-he did manage to fix up the workshop for Daryl, anyways-before grabbing his things and getting to his car to go home.

Because it was 8:40, thus slightly past Carl's bedtime, Rick tried to be as inconspicuous as he could as he walked into his apartment. But, of course, that did not matter as he was met with the mass of a four-year-old tackling him by the legs just as he got the door closed.

"Daddy!" a shrill voice greeted him and a small body started crawling up his as he laid on the ground. Rick couldn't help but grin at his son as he wrapped his arms around the child to give him a hug that was eagerly returned.

"Hey, bud," Rick sat up, still cradling his son. "You're supposed to be in bed." Rick couldn't contain the snicker that escaped when he took in his son's wide-eyed response. The boy was clearly feeling better than he was last night and this morning, but was still slightly pale and had a slight sheen of sweat on him.

"I let him stay up so he could see you since I knew you were coming home early," Rick's mother, Kitty, stated from her spot on the couch. "Hi, baby."

Rick managed to stand up, still holding Carl, and made his way to his mother, greeting her with a hug and kiss. "How was he?"

"Threw up about two more times but as you can see," she pinched her grandson's cheek and delighted in his giggle. "He's feeling much better. Just a bug."

Rick nodded and pressed a kiss to the child's hair, "Thank you for watching him."

"Don't thank me," Kitty responded. She caressed her son's cheek before turning to gather her purse. The three generations of Grimes made their way to the apartment's door.

"Y'all have a good night, okay? Be good for your daddy, Carl," Kitty said. She gave her loves hugs and kisses. "I love you both."

"Love you!" the Grimes boys stated. Rick locked the door behind his mother then proceeded to walk Carl and himself to a window to ensure Kitty's exit from the apartment complex.

"Alright, bud," Rick turned to his son. "Ready for bed?"

Carl shook his head no but his yawn and the rubbing of his eyelids told a different story. Rick gave a soft smile and traveled to Carl's room. It was a simple bedroom with a single bed set in the middle, two boxes set in the corner and a minimum amount of decorations on the walls.

He placed Carl onto the mattress and tucked him into the blankets. "Daddy, can you read caterpillar?"

Rick huffed a laugh at Carl's name for The Very Hungry Caterpillar, his current favorite story, before reaching to the small nightstand beside him for it. He only got about 3 pages in before Carl's light snores began to permeate the atmosphere. Rick watched his son for a few moments before closing the book and setting it back in its designated place as quietly as he could.

Rick lightly stroked his son's hair before placing a kiss to his forehead, "Good night, buddy."


"Daddy, daddy, daddy," Carl stood at his father's bedside calling for him, each utterance of the name punctuated by a poke to the cheek. He giggled when he noticed a matching blue eye peeking open to him.

"Yes, Carl?" Rick grumbled, his voice still rough from sleep.

"I'm hungry," Carl replied. "Can I get some cereal?"

Rick laid there for a moment, just to gather up the energy, before turning to his son, "Let's go."

Carl didn't want to wait and grabbed his father's hand in an effort to drag the man out of bed. Rick laughed, "I'm coming, I'm coming."

The two walked down the hallway to the small kitchen, Carl buzzing for the pirate cereal on top of the fridge. Rick poured himself and his son the Captain Crunch and the two sat at the table, Rick listening as his son told him about his previous day with Grandma. The two finished up and Carl went to the living room to watch television as Rick washed their bowls and spoons.

Rick traveled to his son's location, tuning in to the cartoon that played on the screen. As much as the antics of Tom and Jerry entertained him, Rick wanted more out of his only day off of the week.

"Hey, buddy," Rick tapped Carl with his foot. The boy is known to tune anything and everything out when his cartoons are on. "Let's go to the park."

It was silent for a moment, save for the TV, as Carl processed his father's words. As soon as he did, he sprung up in excitement, "Okay!" He took off down the hallway to his bedroom.

Rick turned off the television and went to help his son find an outfit for the day.

Rick decided to take Carl to the city park in Atlanta. The Kings County park isn't all that spectacular-doesn't even have a swing set-and because it's Sunday, Rick doesn't expect there to be as many people at the Atlanta park as usual. His assumption was correct, with there only being a few families present. This left ample space for Carl to run around and play all over, something he did instantly as he ran off as soon as Rick gave him the okay.

He sat on the bench for a few minutes and watched as his son played with some kids around his age, before Carl called for him. His son sat on a swing and was awaiting assistance from his father. Rick rolled his eyes just a bit. Carl knows how to pump his legs but he insists on Rick pushing him, something Rick could easily just tell him to do but he won't.

Next to Carl was a woman-"Hi! I'm Carl!" he flashed a big grin that caused her to grin in return-pushing her toddler in the baby swing. Rick wondered when she happened upon the park because he did not notice her. But he sure is now. She's younger than him by a few years and is beautiful with dark brown skin, an orange spring dress and white sneakers, bob-length locs in half-up-half-down style and a bright smile as she takes in her son's giggles each time he slightly ascends in his swing.

The toddler is adorable. His skin tone is the same as his mothers as he wears an orange shirt and blue shorts, his hair in cornrows. Rick wonders how they got him to sit still for them. Carl cannot sit still for a simple hair cut.

Her eyes found Rick's and she smiled in his direction as he made his way to Carl. His legs started to feel like jelly and his breath hitched, causing him to pause. And from her face, he could tell she felt the same.

Carl calling for him and the toddler speaking her name as his swing slows down breaks the two out of their reverie. They turn their attention back to their respective children and begin to swing them in relative silence.

Rick decided to end it, "Hi. I'm Rick."

"Michonne," she gave him that smile again and Rick just about keeled over. Michonne. How pretty. "This is Andre."

"Hi, Andre," Rick smiled. The toddler looked at him as his swing swung leisurely and waved with a smile. He has his mother's smile. "And, well, you know Carl."

Michonne laughed a bit and nodded, "How old is he?"

"4 going 14," Rick snickered. "Andre's about 2?"

"Yeah, just turned 2 today," Michonne looked at her son with an abundance of love. "We just came from a little photoshoot."

"Oh, wow," Rick exclaimed. "Happy birthday, Andre!" Carl repeated the sentiment.

"What do you say, Peanut?" Michonne spoke to her son. Andre did his best pronunciation of thank you, leaving Rick to squeal internally.

"Daddy, I'm done swinging," Carl announced. "Alright, bud, how do we stop?" Rick prompted. Carl managed to stop himself, albeit a bit clumsily, and stood from his seat.

"Miss Chonne?" Carl's pronunciation made the woman giggle as she looked at him in question. "Can I play with Andre?"

"Do you want to play with Carl, Peanut?"

Andre smiled and nodded. Michonne stopped his swing and took him out, placing his feet onto the ground. "Take him to the tike playground, Carl," Rick stated. The older boy nodded and took the younger boy's hand in his as best as he could. The two made their way there, their parents going to sit on the bench to watch the two play with one another.

The two parents began to talk to one another, conversation flowing naturally as they talked about their boys. The time passed with laughter and what started as two strangers sitting on opposite ends of the bench, ended with two acquaintances sitting with barely any space between them.

"Andre hasn't started the whole 'Terrible 2s' thing and it better stay that way," Michonne responded to a story of Carl's terror. The woman looked down at her watch and noticed the time. "Oh, shoot! I better go. Andre's father wants some time with him."

"Oh… are you not together?" Rick asked. He wanted to ask the entire time but didn't know how to broach the subject.

"Oh! No, no," Michonne replied. "Um… what about- what about you and Carl's mother?"

"Us neither," Rick smiled in relief. The two sat there for a few moments. "Well, I better go." Michonne stated.

"Me too," Rick affirmed. The two called for their respective child, Michonne opting to pick up Andre whilst Rick simply held Carl's hand. The four made their way to the parking lot, Carl telling them of the adventures he and Andre got up to on the playground with Andre babbling in some additions.

They reached their cars, which just so happened to be next to one another, and each parent got their boys into their cars.

"It was nice meeting you," Rick spoke. "You too," Michonne bit her lip. The two stood there for a moment.

"Okay, bye," Michonne began slowly opening her car door. Rick felt numb. He's 26 and acting like a 16 year old boy, for crying out loud. Just ask her.

Rick gathered up the nerve, "Actually-"

"Do you wanna go out some time?" Michonne interrupted.

Rick let out a laugh, "Yes. I would love to."