Oh my thanks to everyone for the reviews and questions on part 4. :D To the guest who asked about Paul and Michonne you'll you just have to wait and see. LOL or maybe this chapter answers some of your questions. On putting Lori and Shane in the tags, I wanted to add more people but you could only add 4 and then I don't think you could remove them because I did try.
I hope this chapter isn't too boring or too long and it was going to be longer but I split it up so the next part should be up soon.
Also a huge thank you to ForeverRichonne for making me cover art for this story. I love it soo much. :D
I posted the image here but if you can't see it you can find it on Tumblr.
post/147253958695/the-end-of-wanting-pt-5
"Are you quite certain you're not hungry, my son? Georgina Grimes inquired of her son.
"No mother, Mic- Ms. Moreau provided a very filling breakfast." Rick said, fastening a button on his jacket sleeve. Rick trailed behind the group as they made their way toward the dining hall for a late luncheon. Rick was clean and dressed in fresh clothes. Paul also declined lunch and wanted to discuss pressing business matters with Rick. He hung back as the rest of the group moved forward, waiting for Rick to join him in his study.
"Well if you insist my dear" Rick's mother said turning back to Mrs. Rovia, continuing their conversation.
"Ms. Moreau? The same one from our conversation yesterday evening?" Andrew Grimes asked his son
"Indeed father, I seemed to have wondered unto their property." Rick said turning to Paul. "I am ready."
Gregory was mostly silent until he saw Paul also not joining them for luncheon. "Paul, are you not hungry as well?"
"No father, Rick and I have much to discuss, I shall inform you of our plans later." Paul said nodding at Rick and heading down a hallway opposite the dining hall.
Once inside Paul's modest little study, Paul shut the door hurriedly. "You must tell me everything. My goodness, was that a sword on her back? She looks so different when not coming to a business meeting. Certainly not less…intriguing…just different."
Paul stared off into nothingness while Rick frowned at him. Sitting down in a chair opposite Paul's desk, "Paul I didn't eat luncheon because you told me on the beach you wanted to discuss pressing business matters." Rick glared at him unable to contain his annoyance over the way Paul focused on Michonne.
"When I first met her, I assumed her father had brought her along to amuse her, but Michonne is the most adept woman I have ever met." Paul continued looking at Rick smiling, "You must forgive me but she is also very beautiful, it's a wonder she isn't married."
Rick stood suddenly, his entire body tense. "I am going to luncheon."
"Wait, wait, I do have a business proposal for you. How about you and I purchase a port in the harbor?" Paul asked sitting down at his desk. Rick sank back into the sit. Paul picked up some paperwork and began to read the details to Rick. "We could own it 50/50, the ports are important, essentially we're the gatekeepers of what gets on this island and want gets off. People who want to distribute internationally pay us to ship things."
"…she is also very beautiful; it's a wonder she isn't married."
"Fine, Paul. Is that all?" Rick said looking at Paul, still annoyed. Paul smiled knowingly at Rick.
"Yes, we have a meeting tomorrow at noon."
Rick nodded as he stood and quickly exited the room.
Michonne returned home at mid noon, she greeted everyone she passed and headed to the stables. Michonne placed her sword on a hook near Nellie's stall. She removed the horse's saddle and saddle bag placing them on a table, she brushed the animal, cleaned her hooves, talking soothingly to the creature the whole time. Nellie for her part adored her grooming session.
Michonne's thoughts drifted to a moment in her life when she had been incredibly lost, had felt abandoned and Nellie had saved her.
Michonne could sense Noah's presence before she saw him. She smiled to herself as she finished brushing Nellie's legs, standing up straight, she began to gently clean Nellie's face and brush her mane.
"Hello, Noah." Michonne said cheerfully, not stopping her task and not turning to him.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Michonne. You know I would have groomed Nellie for you." Noah said leaning next to the stall.
"I know, but I like to groom Nellie myself. I feel it bonds us." Michonne said smiling at Noah before returning to her task.
Noah nodded to himself and continued to lean next to the stall. Silence between the two lasted for a few minutes longer.
Here it comes Michonne thought to herself as she gave Nellie a sugar cube.
"So who was dat white man I saw earlier?" Noah finally asked standing up as Michonne exited the stall, laughing at the question she knew was coming.
"How did I know that was coming?" Michonne asked, still laughing as she walked over to the saddle bag.
"I am not being nosy or nothing, I am just looking out for you." Noah said following her over to the table.
"I know Noah. He was lost and he needed help getting back home." Michonne said, cleaning out the saddlebag.
"Well couldn't you have gotten Oscar to take him back wherever he came from?" Noah said crossing his arms. "He could have been dangerous."
Michonne paused.
I could have gotten Oscar to take him back to Hilltop. Rick could have been dangerous.
Michonne nearly laughed at the thought. Rick perhaps could be dangerous but that night on the beach, those blue eyes so wide, so…lost…and then the way he looked at her…
Michonne could then feel Noah's concerned gaze upon her.
"Noah, I am a little insulted you don't think I can take care of myself." Michonne said raising an eyebrow at him. She resumed rummaging through the bag, pulling something slightly soft out of it. "Here, do you want the rest of this pineapple?"
Noah's eyes lit up. "I thought it would be awhile before they were ready to eat?"
"This is a wild one I found today." Michonne gazed at the fruit, wrapped in the handkerchief, remembering her time on the beach with Rick.
"Whoa, thank you, Michonne" Noah took the fruit and walked off leaving her in peace.
Michonne returned home shortly after cleaning out Nellie's saddle bag. Many would consider the outside of the white mansion quite plain but the inside was warm and each room had a character all its own. Rich wood floors of varying finishes lay in every room. The foyer with its dark wood floors, the walls white, greenery and bright flowers everywhere.
Michonne passed through the foyer, pausing briefly to smell a floral arrangement of wildflowers and hibiscus, before heading down a hall into the kitchen where she knew her grandmother, Jacqueline Delacroix, would be. Michonne's grandmother was brought to France as a child, as a slave, but was rescued during an uprising by former slaves. When she was 17 she married an African man, George Delacroix, who had been born free in France and together they had 5 children, including Michonne's mother.
Michonne always called her granny and her granny loved to cook. After only coco bread, jam, berries, and pineapple for breakfast she was starving. Before Michonne even walked into the kitchen she could smell something simmering and things baking.
"No, no, no, child you can't ignore this it will boil over." Michonne smiled as she entered the kitchen, propping her sword against the wall by the door, she saw her granny instructing one of the young cooks. "Yes, yes very good." Jacqui looked up then as she saw her granddaughter enter the kitchen. Wiping her hands on her apron she went to Michonne, hugging her tight. Pulling back but not breaking their embrace "I missed you this morning at breakfast."
Michonne kissed her granny's forehead before pulling apart completely and sitting at the table. "I missed you too but I wanted to take Nellie out." She said trying to avoid eye contact with her. Michonne really didn't enjoy lying to her family but it was probably best they didn't know she spent her night and morning with an English stranger.
"I saw my jam and coco bread were gone, the berries I was saving for tonight's dessert are missing." Jacqui said grabbing a large bunch of collard greens and sitting across the table from her granddaughter. Michonne waited until her grandmother split the bunch in half, giving the other half to her.
"Well," Michonne began as she started to take the leaves from the stem, placing the leaves in a large bowl on the table and discard the stem in a basket her granny placed nearby. "I knew I was going to see Noah so I brought enough for him."
Making quick work of cleaning the collards Michonne discarded another stem. "I am so sorry about the berries. I can go and fetch more if you like."
"No bother, child. Oscar will bring me more later." Jacqui informed Michonne as she finished destemming one bunch of collards and started on another. "Did Noah enjoy the jam?"
"He can't get enough of it." Michonne said laughing, finally finishing her bunch of collards.
Michonne was about to grab another bunch when she noticed her father's breakfast tray sitting near the sink. Michonne stood and observed it.
"Did Anita have a chance to clean this yet?" Michonne turned to her granny.
Jacqui looked at the tray. "No Oscar just brought it down not too long ago."
"He ate everything." Michonne said smiling
"I saw that." Jacqui smiled at her granddaughter and Michonne turned around smiling at her.
"I am going to go see him." Michonne kissed her granny on the forehead, grabbed her sword, and began to leave the kitchen.
"You two better not get into any business chatter, lunch will be served soon." Jacqui called after her.
Michonne ascended a large staircase that was just beyond the foyer and hurried down a long hallway. She came to stop at a set of double doors, knocking, Michonne called out "Papa, it's me, I am coming in."
Michonne opened the door and walked into the room without waiting for a response. She never had. Lying in the middle of a king size bed, her father was propped up against pillows, documents surrounding him. Various deeds, contracts, and bills of sale were lightly rustled in the breeze from the open balcony doors. Michonne placed her sword on a table by the door. She kicked off her sandals, sighing softly with contentment as her feet touched the soft, cushy Persian rug that decorated her father's cherry wood floors.
Michonne climbed in the bed beside him, kissing his cheek, and snuggling next to him. "Ah there is my beautiful baby girl." Ezekiel said squeezing her close to him. Michonne beamed up happily at her father. A large man at over 6ft tall and wider than two large palm trees, he had always been her hero.
"Hi Papa, what's all this? I thought Dr. Bob advised you to rest." Michonne said shaking her head at all the paper work.
"Ah Chonne, I can't lay here all day doing nothing. It would drive your papa mad." Ezekiel laughed "I had Tyreese bring some paperwork that needed proofing."
Michonne nodded, sighing to herself as she reached for one of the documents. It was a sales offer drawn up by the Rovias. It was an insult.
Michonne remembered the last meeting they had with the Rovias. They had all gathered, again, this time in Gregory's study. Michonne could sense that her continued presence annoyed him. Paul had seemed more amused to be doing business with a woman. When he saw how educated and serious Michonne was his demeanor toward her changed, treating her as he would any business man he worked with.
Paul's main interest was to increase profits for Hilltop but he would remain a gentleman until the bitter end. If Michonne's constant rejection of his company's offers frustrated him, it never showed. Paul was very patient and very determined. So was Michonne, and in no uncertain terms would anyone ever undervalue her father's hard work. Gregory Rovia seemed determined to do just that.
Ezekiel made a noise of disgust looking at the document Michonne held. "Fyah fi yuh!" He spat out the word angrily. "That Gregory, if you hadn't stopped me that day, baby girl, I would have…"
Michonne could feel her father seething. "Hush now, papa. Don't get upset, don't lose yourself over them." Michonne said, rubbing his arm, trying to soothe her father. Michonne wished desperately that her techniques to soothe Nellie worked on him as well.
"I hate we may have no choice but do business with them." Ezekiel shook with fury, his frustration evident, his sadness palpable. "Give these people my land…"
Michonne stood and got fresh water from a jug sitting on a table. As Michonne poured the water she tried to keep the tears that threatened to spill from falling. Her father's fears were her own and fears for his health consumed her as she tried to hide them in his presence.
"Please papa drink this."
Ezekiel started to decline but seeing the unshed tears in his child's eyes subsided his rage. He took a deep breath and reached for the cup, swallowing down the water. Michonne exhaled the breath she'd been holding and sat next to him on the bed again, this time facing him. Michonne held his hand that wasn't holding the cup, bringing it her lips, she kissed it.
"Papa, you have my word that this land will remain ours. I won't let anyone take it from us." Michonne finally let the tears spill, holding his hand tight.
"I know, baby girl." Ezekiel said, tears falling from his cheeks "I know."
xxxXXXXXxxxx
The carriage swayed to and fro, speeding past the vibrant green and rich browns of the Jamaican terrain. Michonne sat with her back straight, pressed against the swaying carriage, staring out the window. She really had no choice but to sit straight wearing an, uncomfortable, corseted French designer dress.
Michonne was headed into Port Antonio, it was just a few miles from the only harbor on the island. Wealthy settlers from Europe and many wealthy Jamaican families choose to live in the town. Every day it was becoming more and more a mix of European and Jamaican culture.
Michonne came to Port Antonio every few months or so to meet with the Moreau family lawyer and to visit friends who stayed in town. Today Michonne needed to secure the future of The Kingdom. To do that Michonne had begun the process of purchasing a port in the harbor. The island of Jamaica and its surrounding sea made getting things in and out a priority. The mountainous terrain and thick rainforest made that difficult.
Jamaican parliament established early on the harbor was the only approved place for distribution to take place, for people to legally come in and out of the island. They also quickly monetized it, so if you owned a dock on the harbor you had control of what comes in and what comes out. For a long time, the Moreau family distributed through family friend Monsieur Beaumont, who owned Beaumont shipping Inc. Henri Beaumont was desperate to go back to France with his family but due to the war it wouldn't be cheap. So Henri was selling his business and his dock. For The Kingdom that meant complete and total freedom from the Rovia's because they now owned every dock on the harbor. French settlers sold off their businesses to recoup their losses during the war. The Rovias had been right there to take advantage of it.
The carriage reached Port Antonio and pulled in front of Beaumont Shipping Inc. Noah opened the door and helped Michonne out of the carriage. Noah tugged at the collar of his dress shirt and Michonne giggled.
"I am sorry Noah, it's just there's certain way to dress when coming here. Honestly, I feel they take us more seriously if we dress like them" Michonne said reaching up to adjust the collar for him.
"I don't mind at all Ms. Michonne." Noah said looking around. This was his first trip into Port Antonio and he was fascinated by everything he saw.
Michonne smiled. "Ok now take the carriage to our house on 3214 Xavier Lane. Give them this note so they know it's from me and who you are." Michonne handed him the note. Reaching for his hand Michonne placed the coins on his palm. "These are for you to spend as you wish and I should be done in 2 hours' time."
Noah smiled wider. "Thank you, Ms. Michonne."
"Go on, enjoy your day, Noah." Michonne said smiling.
Noah nodded and climbed atop the carriage. As he pulled away Michonne climbed the steps to Beaumont shipping Inc. Entering, Michonne was greeted by Henri's assistant who sat at a desk outside of Henri's office.
"Bonjour monsieur, je suis Michonne Moreau Je suis ici pour voir, monsieur Henri Beaumont." Michonne spoke in French.
"Ay, Bonjour Mademoiselle Moreau, monsieur Beaumont est en réunion en ce moment mais il devrait être disponible sous peu." The assistant nodded towards seats in the foyer. "vous pouvez attendre dans le salon . S'il y a quelque chose que je peux obtenir pour vous s'il vous plaît laissez -moi savoir madame.
Michonne bowed slightly at the assistant and took a seat in the elegant foyer of the shipping company. After the conversation with her father yesterday Michonne knew finally acquiring this company and the dock in the harbor would put them both at ease. The door behind Henri's assistant opened and Michonne stood, smiling, ready to greet him once his guests exited.
Michonne's smile quickly fell when she saw Paul Rovia and Rick Grimes emerge from Henri's office. The two men shook hands with Henri. Michonne closed her eyes and tried to take a deep breath but the corset made it nearly impossible. She was so upset and steady, calm breaths wouldn't come.
"Michonne?"
Michonne opened her eyes and looked into the face of Rick Grimes, still as handsome as she remembered, which only made her angrier because she was so attracted to him.