A/N: Hello Richonners! I hope you all had a Merry Christmas! If you don't celebrate it, I hope you still found some time to relax! Christmas certainly looked different for me, but I'm thankful for my health and my family! I also got to enjoy Andy in "A Christmas Carol", which was such a treat! By the way, thank you for the wonderful reviews of my little Christmas tale!
Anyhow, here is another installment for you. I hope you enjoy it! Let me know what you think! We have about two more chapters to go.
As always, thanks for reading, reviewing, following, and hitting that favorite button. I appreciate you all!
Stay safe and healthy!
Chapter 12: My Remedy
"Elaina", Michonne screamed. "Please put down the knife! Don't hurt my baby. I've lost one child. I can't lose another."
Elaina approached Michonne, trailing the knife from her throat to her abdomen, watching as the tears spilled over her frightened face. She released a devilish laugh, pleased at how she was making her squirm.
"Michonne, I don't care what you've lost. I've lost a lot too, and no one gives a damn about me. What about me? What about what I've gone through?"
Elaina pointed the knife forward and twisted it, making a tiny hole in Michonne's t-shirt. Michonne exhaled sharply when she felt the coldness of the object on her skin.
"I'm sorry for what happened to you Elaina, but you won't get retribution from hurting me or my unborn child…Rick's child. If you really care for him like you say you do, how can you think of hurting something he created?" Michonne questioned as beads of sweat began to form on her brow.
Elaina cocked her head to the side, her expression remaining flat as she stared at Michonne.
"Rick doesn't care about me. He doesn't want to know me. I'm done pining for him. It's pathetic and I won't be that girl anymore. You hear me Michonne?! I'm done. In fact, I think I'll send Rick a message…one he won't soon forget."
Elaina abruptly pushed the sharp blade through Michonne's abdomen, smiling as she heard the blood curdling scream escape her lips. She pulled it out, only to re-submerge it into the woman she deemed necessary for standing in the way of her connection with the man she wanted, the man who was meant to be her savior, rescuing her from a dark and lonely existence.
"Stop!" Michonne screamed, falling to her knees. "You're killing my child!"
Elaina laughed, before bending down to finish the job.
"Stop," Michonne shouted. "Stop…don't do this!"
She tossed around in the bed, twisting herself in the silk sheets as she fought off the offender in her dream. Her fist hit the headboard, waking her instantly. She sat up, shaken and drenched in sweat.
"Rick," she called, realizing he wasn't lying next to her. "Rick," she yelled again, her voice getting caught in her throat as she began to cry.
Rick appeared in the bathroom doorway, alarmed by her obvious distress.
"What is it, darlin?" he asked, walking over to the bed, and sitting next to her. "What's wrong?"
He trailed his thumb over her cheek, catching a tear as it fell. His brow was twisted in confusion as she failed to speak.
"Michonne, what is it?" he asked again, as her chest heaved up and down.
Finally, she exhaled and looked him the eyes.
"She killed our baby," she choked out.
"What?" He asked. "What are you talking about?"
Michonne closed her eyes and shook her head. "I had a dream. She stabbed me and killed our child."
Rick pulled her into his embrace, stroking her hair as she laid her head on his damp chest. "Shh, sweetheart. It was just a nightmare."
He kissed the top of her head and held her tighter. "The baby is okay. You're okay. I told you I won't let any harm come to either of you. Do you trust me?" He queried, tilting her chin up so she was looking at him.
"Yes…I trust you, Rick. It just felt so real," she replied, wiping at her wet face.
Rick sighed heavily. His heart was heavy thinking about the danger Michonne had faced the prior night. He couldn't help but feel responsible for every negative thing that had happened to her since she'd been in Tannon Falls, starting with being subjected to the decline in his mental state, everything that happened with Tim, and now her being the target of Elaina's wrath. This strange obsession Elaina had with him put Michonne and their baby in harm's way and he was torn on how to handle the woman.
"Michonne, are you sure you don't want to press charges? I mean, maybe jail time is what this woman needs."
Michonne sat up, vehemently shaking her head. "No, Rick. Sending her to jail won't solve anything. The prison system isn't meant for rehabilitation. You and I both know that."
"I'm not sure if the cop in me agrees with that, sweetheart. Criminals need to be punished for breaking the law. Society has to stay protected from certain people. The system isn't perfect but it's the best we've got."
"Rick, Elaina isn't a criminal. She's an abused and confused young woman, who's been taken advantage of her entire life. You weren't there to hear her story, but it was awful, Rick. She has a mental illness. She needs to receive the proper treatment in a safe environment. I'm not pressing charges. There is no sense in another life being ruined."
Rick drew her back into his arms. "Okay, okay. We'll handle it however you want," he agreed, kissing her forehead. "I'm not without compassion for her. Mental illness can be devastating. I want her to get the help she needs. I'm just trying to get the image of her holding that knife to your throat out of my head. I don't know what I would have done if she had hurt you."
Michonne wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him appreciatively. "I know, baby. Thank you for agreeing to handle this my way."
Rick softly brushed his lips against her neck. "We're safe now. That's all that matters," he sighed.
A couple of hours later, they were standing in Morgan Jones' office, waiting for the detective to arrive. Sasha and Abraham were giving them the rundown of information they had acquired over the last 24 hours.
Abe cleared his throat as he looked at Rick, "Deputy Grimes, I want to offer my sincere apologies for everything that's occurred. I admit, I didn't quite buy your story back at the house and I felt it best to keep quiet about Ms. Jones' identity. You know how it is…we need to protect our own. She's the daughter of a fellow officer. I was hoping she wasn't responsible for all of this. Obviously, I was wrong."
Rick frowned, still pissed at how Sasha and Abe had handled the situation. "First off, I'm not a deputy anymore, but my instincts are still sharp. If you had taken this seriously, we wouldn't be here right now. Michonne and my unborn child wouldn't have been in danger!" Rick snapped.
"Like I said, I apologize," Abe reiterated, looking sternly into Rick's eyes, matching the former deputy's piercing glare.
"Ms. Jameson…Mr. Grimes, we know you're upset, and you have every right to be…but as a former officer, I'm sure you are aware that what you know and what you can prove are two different things. I mean, we didn't have much to go on," Sasha noted.
Rick and Michonne both sighed out of frustration, understanding Sasha's point, but still wishing she and her partner had done more.
"Ms. Jones is still in holding," Sasha continued. "She confessed to all of the incidents, the water, the stove, the theft, spying on you…all of it. Are you sure you don't want to press charges?"
Abe shot Sasha a questionable look, as if asking, "Why are you encouraging them?"
Sasha noticed his look, but simply shrugged, turning her attention back to the couple.
"We're sure," Michonne remarked, folding her arms. "She needs treatment, not to be locked up."
"That's mighty noble of you, Ms. Jameson," Abe offered.
"Nobility has nothing to do with it, Officer Ford," Michonne responded emphatically. "Rick and I both know what tragedy can do to one's psyche," she stated, looking over to Rick, who nodded in return. "There's no need to put this woman through any further trauma. Nothing good can come of it."
Just then, Morgan entered the office, exhaustion evident on his face.
"Detective," Abe and Sasha both greeted him.
"I'd like to speak with Deputy Grimes and Ms. Jameson alone. Please leave us and shut the door," he directed the officers.
Once they were gone, he gestured to the two chairs in front of his desk, encouraging Rick and Michonne to have a seat.
He exhaled, trailing his hand over his face, before looking up at them.
"Let me start by saying, I truly am sorry for everything that my daughter has done to you both. I'm not trying to make excuses for her, but she's been through a lot and it's impacted her ability to function. Elaina was diagnosed with severe Borderline Personality Disorder when she was a teenager. It's been hard to manage, but really became overwhelming when her mother died. I had to hospitalize her, and some terrible things happened while she was there," he informed them.
"Detective Jones, Elaina shared some of her past with me. It's for this reason that Rick and I will not be pressing charges," Michonne interrupted.
"I appreciate that," Morgan replied, a sense of relief washing over him.
"I need you to promise me that you will find somewhere safe for her to get treatment, detective," Michonne added.
"I've already found a place in Atlanta. Now that I know you're not pressing charges; I'll be taking her there myself once she's released today. Again, Ms. Jameson and Deputy Grimes, I can't thank you enough."
"Well, I've been shown mercy on more than one occasion," Rick commented, recalling his less than stellar conduct as a deputy following Kaley's death and his more recent attempt on Tim's life. He realized he was in no position to judge Elaina for what she'd done.
"Look, detective," Rick continued, sitting up in his seat to look Morgan directly in his eyes. "I'll be candid with you, I know what it's like to be broken inside, to do things you never thought you would do. It's like someone else is taking over your mind…but you already knew that about me, didn't you?" Rick asked pointedly, shooting daggers at the troubled detective.
Morgan shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He averted Rick's gaze, staring down at his desk, and nodding in confirmation.
"Why were you looking into me?" Rick asked plainly.
"Merle Dixon…he asked me to find out who you were. He wanted to find anything he could use against you, but knowing you were from King County, he also had an inkling you could have been involved with something that happened to his father."
"His father?" Rick frowned.
"Yes, John Dixon," Morgan declared. "He was involved in drugs and prostitution in Savannah and some of the smaller communities around here. Apparently, he had ties to a guy named Phillip Blake over in your hometown."
"Shit," Rick muttered, as the name dawned on him. "Yeah, Blake and Dixon were convicted a few years back. Dixon tried to murder my brother! You're telling me that John Dixon is Merle and Daryl's father?"
"That's exactly what I'm telling you," Morgan confirmed. "Merle is holding a grudge against your family and your confrontations with him are adding fuel to the fire. In case you haven't noticed, he's a stubborn, diabolical sonofabitch. He's good at holding a grudge. He's got it out for you, and he used me and my daughter to do his bidding."
Michonne was disgusted with what she was hearing. "I understand how he roped Elaina into all of this, but why in the hell would you help him? You're an officer of the law!"
"Ms. Jameson, will you please keep your voice down," Morgan requested.
"Why should she, Jones? You don't want your colleagues to find out you're helping a lowlife degenerate fuck like Dixon? Did he ask your daughter to terrorize Michonne or was that all her doin'?" Rick huffed.
"I don't know exactly what he asked her to do. Knowing Dixon, he probably wanted her to get close to you so she could swindle you out of money, or maybe steal a few things, but he didn't bank on her fixation with you. He had no idea how serious her illness could be, Morgan clarified.
"Look Grimes," the detective sighed, briefly contemplating whether he should disclose the next bit of information but deciding to continue. The jig was up and there was no use in trying to hide anything else. "Things are complicated between me and Dixon."
"How so, detective? I suggest you start bein' straight with us," Rick cautioned.
Morgan sat back in his chair and ran a hand over his despondent face.
"A couple of years ago…Dixon found me in an unfavorable position." Morgan stated.
"Go on," Rick urged, tilting his head to the side, growing increasingly irritated.
"He found me at a motel with a prostitute. She was a drug addict and had called him to make a delivery. He's been holding it over my head ever since, threatening to ruin my career if I don't cover up his extracurricular activities. That's how he roped me into feeding him information about you."
Rick and Michonne shared a glance, as all of their suspicions were confirmed.
"So, you been in his back pocket this whole time?" Rick asked, a hint of disdain in his voice.
"Yes. I feed him intel on where we're doing raids, if anyone is talking on the streets, imminent arrests…things like that. I make sure his operation is kept lowkey."
"Wow," Michonne scoffed, shaking her head. "Is your career worth all the people who are being hurt by him?"
"Until now, I thought it was," Morgan answered, frankly. "I'll be honest, I started seeing working girls because I don't need to make a connection. They don't ask for anything in return. That works for me because I have nothing left to give. After my Jenny died and dealing with Elaina's troubles…I have nothing left. I'm empty. The love of my life is gone, and I couldn't help her. Now, I've failed my daughter. My career is all I have left. I couldn't let Dixon take that away from me."
"That's where you're wrong," Rick asserted. "It's not too late for you to help Elaina. You need to do what's right for her while you still have the chance. Some of us aren't so lucky."
"Yes, I'm sorry about your daughter deputy, I truly am," Morgan offered sincerely.
Rick put up his hand in an effort to silence the man. "What I'm telling you is that your daughter's wellbeing is at stake. Damn the consequences! Be the father she needs and help her before it's too late."
Morgan nodded in understanding. "I will. I'm done with Dixon. I'll tell my colleagues everything, even if it cost me my career. My daughter means everything to me."
"You do that, detective. In the meantime, I think we're done here," Rick proclaimed, getting up to leave, with Michonne following behind him.
"Deputy, there's one more thing," Morgan said, stopping them in their tracks.
"What's that?" Rick questioned, raising his eyebrows at the man.
"Dixon is out of town right now taking care of some business. I don't know when he'll be back, but he hasn't given up his vendetta against you. Once I let my superior know everything that went down between me and that piece of shit…I doubt I'll still have a job, but I'll make sure my colleagues keep an eye out for him…just be safe in the meantime," he warned them.
Rick nodded before taking Michonne's hand and exiting the office.
Later that night, the couple rested in bed, still coming to terms with the information they learned from Morgan.
Michonne pressed her head against Rick's bare chest, enjoying the calming effect of his steady heartbeat. She gently ran her fingers along his warm skin, tracing the outline of his pectoral muscles.
"I can't believe Dixon is connected to your family. I mean, at first I thought it was just a juvenile grudge, but to learn that his father is responsible for Shane's injury, I'm kind of speechless," She said, looking up at Rick.
"You and me both," Rick sighed. "Shane was just as shocked when I told him. He threatened to come here and kick Merle's ass," he laughed softly.
"I think you can handle that," she chuckled. "But seriously, what will you do when Merle shows back up?"
"I'll let the police handle him," Rick responded.
"Rick, promise me you will. I need you to stay safe. I can't lose you. I need you and so does our baby," she pleaded, gently kissing his chest.
"I will," he promised her, stroking her soft locs. "But if they don't put him away, I'll do whatever I need to do to keep you safe. For starters, I have a security company coming out tomorrow to set up a state-of-the-art system. No one will be coming near this house without us knowing. You hear me? I don't want you to worry. Everything is going to be fine," he reassured her, kissing the top of her head.
"I hope so," she responded somberly.
"Hey," he said, lifting her chin to kiss her lips. "What's wrong?"
"All of this just has me thinking about what we've been through…what we've lost. Now we're having a baby and I'm just worried."
"That nightmare really got to you, didn't it?" he wondered.
"Yeah…it scared me…but beyond that…I'm just wondering how we do this? How do we start a family without losing the memories of the one's we've lost?"
She'd been struggling with this the past few weeks, even though logically she knew they could never forget their lost loved ones. It made sense in her head, but the guilt in her heart wouldn't go away. Sitting up on her knees, she straddled him as he gazed into her sad eyes.
He rubbed her smooth thighs, soothing her with his tender touch. "Baby, I already told you they will always be with us. Remember when we were at the ruins in St. Simons? You talked about everything that has ever existed leaving a mark," he reminded her.
She nodded, remembering their conversation and everything they had experienced during the retreat. All of Lorna Goode's words were floating through her mind, as she thought about how cathartic the experience had been. The time they spent there had gotten them to this place, where they could be free and learn to live again.
Rick's comforting voice broke her out of her thoughts, as he continued to try and ease her worries.
"That's what our loved ones have done for us. They've left a mark right here," he noted, placing his hand to her heart. "I'll always carry a piece of Melanie and Kaley and you'll do the same with Kyle. Hell, you may even carry some of Ed with you. After all, he's still Kyle's father."
"No, I don't want to think about that," she joked, rolling her eyes.
He laughed and flipped her over, adjusting them so he was lying between her silky legs, causing her satin nighty to raise up. He lightly ran his fingers along the hem of her panties, and she squirmed from the tickling sensation.
"All I'm saying," he continued, kissing her belly through her nightgown, "is that you don't need to feel guilty about loving me, Michonne. Lord knows I don't feel any remorse for loving you. It's unexpected, but everything I need," he said earnestly. "And we don't need to feel guilty for being happy about this baby."
She glanced down at him as he kissed his way up her torso. "Are you…happy, Rick?"
When he reached her lips, he kissed them softly and cupped her face. "Yes, sweetheart. I admit, it took some time to process and I'm probably still processing it, but I'm happy to go through this journey with you."
She stared longingly into his enchanting azure eyes, recognizing sincerity in them. She knew Rick wasn't a man who said things he didn't mean. He was the most genuine person she had ever met. "I'm happy, too," she whispered before pressing her lips to his.
Rick sat up on his knees, her legs still spread around him. She bit her bottom lip as her eyes traveled down to his Adonis belt, which was visible as his sweatpants sat low on his waist. She loved the tiny trail of light brown hair that began under his navel and disappeared under the hem of his boxer briefs, leading to one of her favorite parts on him.
Slowly, he ran his hand down her enticing body, brushing his fingers across her throat, then making his way to her abdomen. His hand remained there as he stared at her belly in wonderment, imagining how it would look once she started showing. He closed his eyes for a moment and pictured their child with her warm espresso eyes, his curly hair, and a light caramel complexion.
Michonne pondered what was on his mind. "Are you okay?" she asked softly.
"Marry me," he announced.
Her eyes widened at his statement and she felt her heart skip a beat.
"Not because you're pregnant, but because I love you and you love me," he added.
"Rick…" she breathed, unsure of how to respond.
"You don't have to answer now. Just think about it," he requested, smiling at her.
"I won't keep you waiting long," she promised, returning his smile.
He nodded, leisurely reaching his hands under her gown, and slowly dragging her lace panties down. She lifted a bit to assist him in removing them, appreciating the glimmer in his eyes as he stared back at her, a small smirk crossing his lips. He always had a way of disarming her with his gaze, instantly arousing her with just a look.
Heat rushed from her core to her head as she sat up and pulled her gown over her head with keen anticipation of what was to come. She watched as Rick stood and removed his pants and underwear, licking her lips at the sight of him, hard and ready to make her writhe underneath him with his name falling from her lips.
He crawled back onto the bed as she lay spread eagled, eager to accept him into her depths. He knew she was anxious for him, but he took his time, gifting her with soft kisses, working his way up her calves, the inside of her thighs, over her smooth labia, and finally stopping to circle his tongue around the sparkling gem piercing her belly button.
Michonne shivered at the sensation of his warm tongue as he lapped at her skin, clutching his curls in her fingers, and purring.
Rick finally resumed his ascent up to her full breasts, tenderly kissing each one, careful not to hurt her, before taking her sensitive nipple into his mouth.
"Baby," she moaned softly, wincing a little at the feeling. She wrapped her silky legs tightly around his waist, drawing him closer, causing his erection to brush against her slick center. She moaned at the contact, grasping his desire to relish her body, but needing him to be inside of her.
Still intent on going slow, he switched his attention to her other nipple, rotating his tongue in a circular motion before sucking it into his mouth. "Mmm," he moaned, enjoying the taste of vanilla from her body butter. She always tasted so sweet to him, even when she was fresh out of the shower, before she slathered her body with one of her tantalizing moisturizers.
Michonne felt his rough hands running up and down her thighs and she closed her eyes, getting lost in his sensual touch.
"Rick, please," she begged, letting him know she was ready.
He could feel her wetness against his hard member as it rubbed against her flower. Not wanting to make her wait any longer, he gradually pushed into her, stopping a little past the tip before abruptly pulling out.
"Rick," she pleaded, grinding her hips against him.
He looked into her eyes and smiled, before barely touching his lips to hers. "Tell me what you want," he whispered.
"I want you," she whispered back. "Make love to me."
It was all he needed to hear. He gifted her with another kiss, this one more passionate than the last, unhurriedly moving his tongue in tandem with hers.
When he slid back into her, he didn't stop until she was filled to the hilt. He broke their kiss, hissing at the delectable feeling of her slippery walls gripping him tight. Michonne gasped as Rick gently clutched her throat and slowly began thrusting inside of her. After a moment, she ran her fingernails along his spine and pushed her heels into his backside, encouraging him to increase his pace. He obliged, pumping into her at a steady rhythm.
"Oooh…Rick…I love you," she purred, as he sensually rolled his hips into her and pressed a trail of wet kisses to her neck.
He would never grow tired of hearing her say that. It was like music to his ears.
"Show me," he whispered in her ear, taking the lobe into his warm mouth.
She gripped his strong biceps and lifted her pelvis off the bed, meeting his thrusts with urgency.
Rick's eyes fell shut as he felt a wave of euphoria wash over him. She was so tight and wet, he felt he might explode at any moment. "Fuck," he growled, pounding into her harder.
Michonne screamed, digging her nails into his flesh. He faltered for a moment, battling between being gentle and releasing his carnal desires onto her.
"Am I hurting you baby?" he asked her.
"No, don't stop," she panted, snaking her fingers into his hair, and bringing his lips back to hers. They shared a languid kiss as he continued his assault, fervently sliding past her deliciously wet walls.
"Ahh," he groaned, dipping his face to the crook of her neck. She felt so damn good. Too good. He gripped her thighs and increased his speed a little more. He wanted to do this all night; sleep be damned.
After pushing into her a few more times, he pulled out, lifting onto his knees, and placing her legs over the crooks of his elbows before penetrating her again. She raised up on her own elbows, her mouth falling open at how full she felt. She watched his muscles tighten as he drilled into her, slowly at first to allow her to get acclimated, then more frantic.
His arms flexed as he held tightly to her waist, the veins popping out as he gripped her. She moved in synchronization with him, wanting to give as good as she was getting. "God…Rick," she murmured, biting her lip to keep from screaming again.
He kept his eyes on her, watching as her tempting breasts bounced with each powerful thrust. "Damn," he hummed, licking his lips at the delicious sight. "You're so beautiful," he whispered to her, observing how the light sheen of sweat covering her rich dark skin made her body glisten.
She couldn't respond, overcome by the sheer satisfaction of his fluid strokes. When he made love to her, she became putty in his hands. He was able to bend and mold her however he wanted.
She was on the verge of accepting his marriage proposal, knowing she couldn't live without this…without him, but she knew things needed to settle down before they took that step. After being in each other's life for less than a year, they were already having a baby and talking about marriage. It was all so fast, and she needed to catch her breath.
So, she relaxed, relishing the feeling of ecstasy she was currently experiencing. She gripped the sheets as her orgasm took control of her body, crashing into her like the strongest waves of the deepest ocean. She shut her eyes tight, her face twisting in pleasure as she rode it out, rocking her hips into him as he continued to thrust. On cue, his name began repeatedly falling from her luscious lips.
Rick's mouth hung open as she contracted around him, her juices soaking his dick. He frantically hammered into her, seeking his own release. After a succession of skillful thrusts, it finally came. "Fuuck, Michonne," he breathed as he felt himself emptying into her.
They kept grinding against one another, as she milked every drop. The feeling was so sublime, neither of them wanted it to end.
Eventually, Rick slowed his movements, finally bringing them to a halt and gently pulling out of her. He released her legs, and crawled next to her, pulling her onto his damp chest.
She pushed a few unruly curls from his forehead and planted a sweet kiss to his soft lips. "I love you," she whispered.
"I love you, too."
A few days later…
"Hey Rick, can I talk to you for a minute?" Daryl requested, entering the breakroom of the auto shop.
Rick looked up from his cup of coffee and placed the magazine he was reading down on the table in front of him. "What's on your mind, Daryl?" he responded.
Daryl sauntered over and took a seat across from Rick. "Look man, I just wanna say I'm sorry for everythang my brother put you through. Glenn filled me in on what him and that crazy chick did."
Rick looked at him skeptically. "Really? Because I have a hard time believin' that Daryl. I mean you did feed your brother information about me and you probably knew what he was up to this whole time and yet, you didn't say a damn thing."
Daryl shook his head in frustration. "All I told him was your name and that you were a cop from King County. I ain't know what he was doin'! When I found out he had it out for you, I told him to let it go. I was trying to avoid makin' thangs worse. I thought he would eventually back off. What the hell else was I s'posed to do? He's my brother!"
"Gee Daryl, I don't know…maybe give a little warning that your psychotic brother had no intentions of letting shit go," Rick scoffed. "You put Michonne in danger by keeping your mouth shut!"
"I'm sorry about that!" Daryl snapped back.
"Well, as long as you're sorry," Rick responded sarcastically. "Oh, but here's something that might interest you…on top of everything, I just found out that your dear old dad is responsible for almost killing my brother!"
Daryl frowned, "What the hell are you talkin' about?"
"My brother was attempting to arrest your father the day he got busted in King County. They got into a confrontation and he nearly killed him. My brother can barely walk now because of it. It ruined his career. So, save your fuckin' apologies, Daryl. Your family is done causing problems for me and mine. When your brother comes back into town, he better hope the cops get to him first."
"Shit…Rick," Daryl remarked, running his hands over his face in disbelief. "I had no idea. I knew he was locked up for the drugs and tryin' to kill some cop, but I ain't know it was your brother. I never stepped foot in King County when it all went down, so I ain't have all the details. All I know is John took a plea deal to avoid the death penalty."
"Well, now you know. If you'll excuse me, I need to get to work," Rick stated, rising out of his chair to leave the room.
"Rick, hold up…Merle told me about your wife and daughter. I'm sorry man. You ain't deserve it and you don't deserve what he did."
Rick placed his hands on his hips, trying to discern if Daryl was being sincere.
"I mean it, man…and for the record, I'm happy my daddy is locked up for good. He hurt a lot of people, includin' me. He got what he deserved. Sorry your brother had to pay a price for it."
Rick simply nodded and walked out.
Two weeks later…
With things seemingly returning to normal, Michonne resumed her volunteer work at the church. It was a welcome change to the chaos. She missed the kids and she had to admit that she missed Tim as well. Before everything happened, he had been a good friend to her. So, with Rick's blessing, she held her first class that morning and now currently sat at a booth in Al's Eatery enjoying lunch with Tim.
"Michonne, thank you for agreeing to come back. The kids were asking where you were and I had no idea what to tell them," he said softly.
"I'm sure they had a lot of questions, but I'm back now, so no worries," she smiled.
He looked at her pensively. "Are you sure Rick is okay with this? I don't want to cause anymore trouble."
She chuckled lightly. "I understand your concern, but Rick is fine with it. In fact, he encouraged me to come back. He knows how much it means to me."
"Really?" he asked, raising his eyebrows in surprise. "I guess we've all come on long way."
"That we have my friend," she agreed, gently tapping his hand resting on the table. "Listen, there's something I need to tell you," she said carefully.
He bristled, afraid of what she may have to say. "Yeah?"
"I'm uh…Rick and I are expecting a baby."
He pulled his hand away in shock. "Wow…that's um…congratulations."
Michonne glanced down and took a bite of her chicken noodle soup. She felt the shift in his mood and wanted to give him time to process the news.
After a couple of minutes, he finally spoke. "Um, Michonne…can I be honest with you?"
"I wouldn't expect anything less, Tim."
"I think you are the most amazing and beautiful woman I've ever met…and I can't lie and say that this news doesn't sting a little bit. I mean…I wish I were the one you wanted…in that way…but I am truly happy for you…and Rick. You've both been through enough and you deserve something good," he confessed, gazing into her warm brown eyes.
Michonne felt a pang of sadness in her heart. She knew Tim was a good man who had also suffered greatly. He was overdue for some happiness of his own, and although she couldn't be the one to give it to him, she wanted him to have it all the same.
"That means a lot to me…and I hope this doesn't affect how we move forward. Your friendship has come to mean a great deal to me," she smiled at him.
"It won't. I want to be in your life however I can. I don't have many friends, but even if I did, I wouldn't want to lose you," he smiled weakly.
She offered him a reassuring nod, "Good, I'm glad."
Tim sipped his coke, before changing the subject. "So, listen…Tameka is graduating in a few months. She's received a scholarship to Columbia, and I was thinking about doing something special for her."
Michonne's lips curled into a bright smile at the mention of her favorite mentee. "That's wonderful! So impressive! What did you have in mind?"
"I was thinking we could get everyone together and throw her a fancy dinner party, maybe send her away with a few nice gifts. What do you think?" he asked with a sparkle in his hazel eyes.
"Sounds fantastic! But we should keep it a surprise," Michonne exclaimed.
"Of course," he nodded. "We can start planning the details soon."
"Okay," she beamed.
"I'm really glad you're back, Michonne."
"Me too, Tim."
They shared a warm smile and proceeded to finish their meal.
Later that evening, Michonne got out of the shower and entered her and Rick's bedroom, anxious to slip on some comfortable pajamas and relax for the rest of the night. As she dried the excess water from her body, Rick walked up behind her, softly kissing her bare shoulder.
"Hi," she greeted him, turning around to capture his lips in a quick peck.
"Hi," he smiled, kissing the top of her head, and inhaling the coconut scent in her hair. "Mmm, you smell good," he hummed, smooching her lips once more.
She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Where have you been?"
"Uh…I was working on a little surprise for you," he responded, grinning cheekily.
"Rick, what did you do? I told you to stop spoiling me."
"Never," he insisted, shaking his head. "Get dressed and meet me outside," he added, slowly backing away from her and leaving the room.
A few minutes later, Michonne walked into the backyard to find Rick waiting for her with a happy smirk on his face.
"Rick, what is this?" she inquired, looking at the laptop, projector, and large screen placed before them.
"You told me you've never been to a drive-in movie, so I thought maybe we could do something similar without having to go out. We can watch a movie right here, under the stars."
She hugged him and placed a sweet kiss to the side of his neck. "That's a wonderful idea. Thank you."
"Plus, I thought we could finally make use of this fire pit and make some s'mores," he commented, winking at her.
"Now you're talkin', Grimes," she grinned.
"Okay, go have a seat in front of the fire while I get the movie set up. I got one of your favorites, An Officer and a Gentleman."
"No way! Where did you find it?" she asked, smiling widely.
"They had it at the library," he shrugged, setting up the projector.
Michonne looked inside the basket placed by the fire pit and found all the ingredients for the s'mores, along with strawberries, grapes, and a couple of bottles of sparkling water.
Rick got the movie started and came to join her, grabbing the thick blanket that was draped on the back of his chair and using it to cover them both.
Michonne focused on his eyes as they twinkled in the light from the fire. "I adore you," she whispered.
"Likewise," he smiled.
Once the movie had concluded and they'd had their fill of sweet treats, Rick and Michonne lay in between blankets, staring up at the abundant stars in the night sky.
"It's so beautiful here at night. The view is so much better than in the city," she stated.
"Yeah," he sighed. "There's something to be said about small town living. My daddy bought me this awesome telescope when I was about 8 years old. I used to stare up at the sky, dreaming about what was out there."
"Yeah? Sounds nice," she whispered, snuggling her face into the side of his neck. She inhaled his sandalwood scent and kissed him tenderly.
He maneuvered his hand under her sweatshirt and drew soft circles along the small of her back with his finger, relishing the smoothness of her skin.
"You never told me how it went today? How was it working with Tim again?"
"It was surprisingly the same. It didn't feel awkward at all and I was so happy to see everyone. I really missed them."
"I know you did, sweetheart," he exhaled. "I'm sorry my bullshit kept you away."
She raised her head, looking at him sadly. "It wasn't bullshit, Rick. You were legitimately going through something. I don't blame you for what you did. You were hurting. Tim doesn't either. He holds no ill-will toward you," she assured him.
"Thank you," he said softly, grabbing her hand and kissing her wrist.
She laid back down, resting her head on his chest. "He wants to throw a party for Tameka in a few months when she graduates. She's going to Columbia. I'm so proud of her."
"Oh yeah?" he smiled. "You've been a great influence on her."
"I just wanted her to believe in herself. She's so smart and talented and I don't think she realized it before. I get the sense she doesn't have much of a support system at home," she sighed.
"That's too bad," he said, intertwining his fingers with hers.
"My mom always encouraged me to explore new things. She did what she could to nurture my passions. It's important for parents to do that you know?"
"Mm-hmm," he concurred. "My parents did the same for me."
"I can tell," she chuckled. "Your dad seems very supportive," she smiled.
"He is," he confirmed.
"If it weren't for my mama's support, I might not have been so successful with my art. She really gave me the push I needed," she added, kissing his chest. "Anyhow, I talked to Aaron and he says the gallery is doing very well."
"That's great, darlin'. I'm happy for you," he remarked, tilting his head to look down at her. When she looked at him nervously, he continued, "I'm sensing there's something else."
"He thinks we should try and expand the gallery, maybe get a bigger space or open a second location. It may require me to go back to Atlanta for a while," she said hesitantly.
Rick adjusted them so they were both lying on their side, facing one another.
"For how long?" he asked apprehensively, finding the thought of being without her for any length of time to be troubling.
"It wouldn't be for long. I don't know if we're actually going to do it. I just wanted to let you know. The gallery brings in a good amount of income for me, so I want to stay involved."
"Of course, sweetheart. It's your business. I understand," he assured her, gently stroking her arm.
"And I'd like to start devoting more time to my art again, maybe create a few pieces to sell before the baby arrives."
"Yeah, whatever you want to do. I'll support you however I can, you know that" he responded.
"I do," she whispered, leaning over to kiss him. "So…now that we've gotten that out of the way, I need to ask you something and I want you to be honest."
He furrowed his brow in anticipation of her question.
She exhaled before continuing, "Have you given any thought to what Shane said about returning to law enforcement? Do you miss it?"
Rick pondered her question for a moment before answering. "Yeah, part of me misses it…but I haven't had the opportunity to put any real thought into going back to it. I can't say I'm ready to walk away for good, but I need to be one hundred percent healthy before I return."
Michonne nodded understandingly. "You're getting there, and when you do…I want you to think about it. I won't lie and say the danger doesn't concern me, but being a cop is in your blood. I know you're good at it. You're a fierce protector," she joked, kissing his chin.
"I'll think about it when the time is right," he replied, brushing his thumb across her cheek. "Since we're talking about the future, have you told your mama about the baby?"
"Of course. I can't keep anything from Anna," she chuckled. "She's understandably concerned. She just wants to make sure it's not too much for us to handle, but she's happy to get another grandchild. She's a little upset that she still hasn't met you, though."
"Yeah, I know. Hopefully, we can go there, or she can come here soon."
"What about your family? I didn't tell you before, but Andrea pretty much guessed when we visited."
He frowned, "I knew she must have said something to you. Why didn't you tell me? I love her and my brother, but I won't tolerate them upsetting you."
"It's okay, baby. I handled it," she smiled, always appreciative of his protective nature.
"Well, you won't be surprised that she and Shane are concerned. More than anything, they're scared. Daddy sends his love, though. He's excited to have another grandbaby. I guess grandparents are different in that regard."
She nodded, "Yeah, I guess so."
They sat in silence for a while, enjoying the comforting breeze of the spring night, listening to the insects, and trying to make out the constellations in the stars. Rick stroked Michonne's hair as she lay across his chest, nearly being lulled to sleep by his shallow breathing.
"Michonne," he called, breaking the peaceful silence.
"Hmm?" she breathed.
"Come here," he requested, lifting her face to his. He planted a sensual kiss to her full lips, before tucking a wayward loc behind her ear. He stared at her intensely, as if attempting to memorize every inch of her beautiful face.
She felt herself crumbling under his heated gaze and silently implored him to say something before she melted away.
"We are not going to worry about what our families or anyone else has to say. All we need is each other," he whispered.
She smiled, running her hands through his hair.
"For the first time in a long time, I'm feeling something other than rage, and it's because of you. You brought me back, Michonne. You saved me."
"Rick…" she whimpered, tears burning her eyes. He stroked her cheek in response.
"In this life, nothing is promised. We both learned that in the cruelest way…but we're only here for a short amount of time, just a tiny blip on the radar. I know that whatever time I have left, I want to spend it loving you," he declared, kissing her softly. You're my soulmate. Do you believe in that sort of thing?" he smiled.
"I do," she smiled, kissing him again.
"No matter what the future holds, I will never let go of you," he promised. I want you to be my wife, but even if that never happens, you will always be the love of my life and I will cherish you forever."
Michonne could no longer hold back her tears. They came fast and unrelenting, trailing down her warm cheeks as she cupped his face and placed passionate kisses all over it. He rolled on top of her, mimicking her actions, running his fingers through her hair and hungrily kissing her, needing to consume her.
They remained wrapped in one another for what seemed like hours, before finally returning to their bed, indulging in each other's bodies until the wee hours of the morning.
Thanks for reading! Stay tuned...
