Richonne (Short Love Stories) Always You Part II (Chapter 38)
Present Day
Rick and Michonne look at each other as Shane bursts out laughing once he hears their news.
"Shane, this is anything but funny," Michonne reminds him. "This is serious. We have to figure out a way to help him."
Shane walks into the kitchen area of his apartment and grabs a beer. He takes a long drag before he places it on the counter and looks to his friends. "I know exactly how to help him. It ain't your baby, man."
Rick sits up with interest. "How would you know that?"
"Cause she came to me with the same song and dance and I sent her ass packing. Guess she figured you're more of a sucker than I am. And speaking of sucker, you wanna tell me how you wound up in her bed in the first place?" Shane inquires as he steals a quick glance to gauge Michonne's expression. He knows she still loves Rick and he wonders if his best friend has fucked up enough to lose her.
Rick drops his eyes with a sigh. "It was the stupidest thing I ever did but I…I don't know. I wanted to know if I could be with somebody else. If I could move on if it came to that."
Michonne swallows nervously and tries not to allow her anger to show. "I think you should just shut up about that. We'll discuss it later. Right now, you need to figure out what you're going to do about this child."
"Hell, Michonne…that baby could be anybody's…." Shane starts.
"Including yours or Rick's," Michonne supplies as she interrupts Shane. She looks pointedly at her ex-boyfriend. "I need to know so I can figure out whether or not I should move on."
Rick's mouth drops open but before he can make a comment, Shane does.
"Hey. None of that now. You two are not going to let this come between you. Y'all know Lori ain't worth that. Look, we just need to get a DNA test."
"I don't know if I can go through all those months to wait for a test," Rick admits.
"If that's what it takes, then that's what you'll do," Michonne returns.
Rick looks to the ceiling, wondering what happened to the sweet and understanding Michonne when he first told her about this. I guess she's had time to really think about it and now she's angry. Shit. They haven't had a serious talk about them so he hopes that will come soon. He needs to know that he still has her no matter what.
"There might be a way to find out before the baby's born. I used to date a chick who's in medical school to be a baby doctor. Maybe she would know what we need to do," Shane offers.
Turns out that Shane's ex had a bevy of information for them. She was all too willing to share as long as Shane treated her to dinner. He brought Rick and Michonne along, teasing them that it was a double date.
They learned that it is possible to determine paternity prior to the child's birth. The procedure is costly, invasive and has been known to cause miscarriage in some instances. Rick and Michonne share a look, wondering if they can ask Lori to take such a chance with her child's life. Shane has no such qualms as he just wants to know the truth.
Despite the circumstances, they enjoy the push and pull between Shane and his ex-girlfriend, Danielle, and wonder why they broke up. Rick reaches underneath the table, grasping one of Michonne's hands, giving her a tentative smile which she slowly returns.
Before they part ways for the night, Shane lets them know that he will set up a meeting with Lori to see if she will be receptive to a DNA test. Rick and Michonne thank him and Danielle for all their help, then bid them good night and exit the restaurant.
They opted to drive back to Atlanta as Michonne didn't want to see her parents right then. She knew they'd detect that something was bothering her and she didn't want to make any explanations. Rick understands as his parents are just as perceptive which is why he was planning to get a place of his own in the coming months.
"Can I ask you something?" Rick wants to know.
"Sure," she returns.
"Finding out if this child is mine or not…..are the results going to be the deciding factor on us getting back together?"
"Is that what you want? For us to get back together?" She asks.
"You already know the answer to that question," he answers.
She drops her gaze before turning her head to look out of her window into the darkness of the highway and the surrounding woods. Driving on highway 49 out of King's County at night always scared her but she hadn't even thought about it and she knows why. Rick is driving. If she were alone, she'd be eating candy and singing along to an outrageous rap or heavy metal song to distract herself.
She wants to get back with Rick more than anything. She thought that's where they were headed before he dropped this bomb on her. Now she can't help but wonder if she'd be a fool to take him back with possible parenthood looming in his future.
They arrive at her apartment, the silence between them still palpable.
"Are you staying?" She asks.
"I think we should talk. Don't you?" He asks.
"So talk," she says as she moves to the sofa and takes a seat.
"I need something from you first," Rick tells her quietly.
"Ok."
"Do you love me?" He asks.
"Yes. Yes, I do," she answers.
"Then why does anything else matter? Why does it matter that we're only sophomores in college or that we're living in different cities right now? If you love me, then why aren't we together? I need to know here and now if you're going to stick with me through this." Rick seems almost desperate.
"If I fucked someone else and became pregnant, would you stick with me?" Michonne asks.
"How could you…..? I did not cheat on you. I…"
"Well, that's what it feels like. And with Lori of all people. I guess she was just too easy, right?" Sarcasm drips heavily from her statement.
"As a matter of fact, she was easy. I've always known that she was just waiting for another chance. If I ever got serious about her, I'd know exactly where I stand with her," Rick returns.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Michonne demands. "You know where you stand with me."
"What I know…..is that I've always loved you more than you love me."
She gasps, then stands to face him. "How can you even say something like that? I love you! I've always loved you!"
"Then why turn down my proposal?"
Michonne sighs heavily. "Rick, don't start that please. We're in the middle of college. My parents are still paying my bills, my car note. You still live with your parents, so…."
"None of that should make a difference if we love each other," Rick professes.
"Can we just deal with one issue at a time?"
"I can deal with anything as long as I know we're going to do it together," he tells her emphatically.
"I'm not going anywhere. I've always been here for you. Nothing's going to change that," she assures him.
"So be with me in all ways. We can still finish school. We can still do all the things we've set out to do," Rick states.
"How? I'm here, you're there. We won't even see each other every day," she returns.
"What if that changed? What if I came here to Atlanta to finish school?"
"Huh? How are you gonna do that?" She asks.
"I've been thinking about this for a while. I know I said I was gonna go to the police academy and join the Sheriff's Department, but I'm starting to think Atlanta PD would look better on my resume if I'm going to apply to the FBI," he tells her.
She looks to him in total surprise. "Wait. The FBI? Really Rick? Is that what you really wanna do? I don't want you changing anything for me. This has to be what you want. Otherwise it won't work."
"Weren't you listening? I said I've been thinking about this for a while and this is what I want. I can talk to admissions here and see about transferring. Hopefully, the credits at the junior college will count for something and I can finish up here..…with you."
"So you're serious? Really serious?" She gives him a hopeful look.
"Did you ever doubt me?"
She practically jumps into his arms she is so happy. "This is really good news." She pulls back to look into his eyes. "Yes. Yes to all of it."
They hug each other again and Michonne can't help but feel that everything is going to work out for them.
"You know you never answered my question," she reminds him.
"What question?"
"Would you stay with me if I got pregnant by someone else?"
He gives her a pointed look, sighs deeply, and answers, "Yes. I'd be mad as hell and probably want to kill the guy but I love you and I wanna be with you. That's all that matters to me."
Michonne wants to call bullshit so badly, but she smiles and kisses him before she blurts it out.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Are you kidding me?" Sasha asks, her drink poised in mid-air as she can't believe what her best friend just relayed to her.
Michonne decided to meet Sasha for lunch and she couldn't help telling her about the situation and her plans with Rick. She also values her friend's opinion but wonders at the wisdom of sharing her relationship highs and lows as Sasha's expression is anything but happy. "No, I'm not kidding."
"Let me get this straight. He goes off and sleeps with someone else, gets her pregnant….."
"He doesn't know if the baby is his or not," Michonne inserts.
"Ok, whatever. The fact remains that he could possibly be this baby's father and you're seriously going to marry him…now?" Sasha asks.
"We're going to find out if the baby is his or not and yes, I'm going to marry him because I love him," Michonne returns, feeling a little exposed because she wasn't expecting this reaction.
"He practically cheated on you and you're going to reward him for that?" Sasha places her glass on the table with a sound thump and tries to understand her friend's thought process.
"I thought you would understand. Rick and I have been together for ages it seems. He's it for me so why not get married?"
"Why not? For one, you're both still in school, he's living with his parents, neither of you are gainfully employed right now so where are you gonna live, and most of all, what if this baby is his? Are you going to help him raise it?" Sasha watches as those words sink in and Michonne's expression goes from hopeful to doubtful. "Let's not forget who he slept with. She's been after him for the longest and how do you know this hasn't been going on for a while with them? He just got caught this time."
"Rick wouldn't lie to me, Sasha," Michonne states.
"All I'm saying is don't be a fool, Michonne. Rick ain't as innocent as you make him out to be. He is best friends with Shane Walsh, you know."
"That doesn't mean that he does what Shane does," Michonne returns.
"Birds of a feather flock together," Sasha mocks.
"Why are you saying stuff like this now? You've always liked Rick."
"Yeah, coz I always thought he was a stand up type of guy, but if he slept with Lori knowing the type of person she is, what does that say about him?" Sasha probes.
"It says he's a stand up type of guy who made a mistake. We weren't together when it happened so he didn't cheat on me." She swallows nervously before looking her friend in the eye. "Do you think I should just….walk away?"
Sasha scoffs. "No. You should run."
Meanwhile, Rick is sitting in the lobby of the law offices of Michonne's Dad, waiting to see him. He can't believe how nervous he is as he wipes his sweaty palms against his jean clad thighs. He just wants this to go as smooth as possible and he can't help thinking that this will be anything but.
Ms. Patricia, the legal assistant, takes a call and smiles at Rick as she returns the phone to its cradle, pushes her chair back, and stands. "You can go on in now, Rick and remember he only has a 30 minute window ok?"
Rick nods, stepping to the door as Ms. Patricia opens it. She gestures for him to go inside, then closes the door with a smile. He looks around curiously only having been there once or twice before with Michonne. He remembers how spacious the office was, how neat and organized. He wonders if Michonne will have an office like this one someday or…..
"Rick. Good to see you son. How are you?" Michonne's Dad, Walter, inquires jovially.
Rick breaks from his reverie at the sound of Mr. Walter's voice. "Thank you…..for seeing me. I know how busy you are, so…..thank you…and I'm doing ok."
Walter picks up on Rick's nervousness immediately and wonders what could have him in this state. "Well, sit down and tell me what I can do for you."
"I'd rather stand if that's ok," Rick requests.
Walter nods as he remains seated and looks to Rick to start the conversation.
The younger man takes a deep breath and exhales slowly. "I….I'm in love with your daughter and I want to marry her."
Walter drops his steepled hands to his desk. "What did you just say?"
Rick swallows nervously. "I said I'm in love…."
"I heard you. I heard you. Give me a moment." Walter breathes in deeply, looking Rick over slowly. "Am I to take it she said yes and that's why you're here?"
Rick nods. "She said yes but I….I wanted your blessing and your permission…..sir."
Walter frowns but can't help feeling proud and admiring Rick for having the courage to come to him like this. He remembers him as a young boy, always smiling, always considerate, and always protective of Michonne. "Well, now…let me consider this….is this just an engagement or are you two planning to get married right away?"
"Well, as soon as possible," Rick supplies.
"I see. Is there a reason for this rush?" Walter asks with suspicion.
"No. No reason. We're just in love and we want to get married," Rick returns.
"Is my daughter pregnant?"
Rick gasps. "What? No. No, sir. Of course not."
"Well, I'll ask again. What's the hurry?"
Rick sighs with nervousness and impatience. "She….she said yes this time. I need to make it happen before she changes her mind."
Walter laughs at the naivety of today's youth. Does he even know what he'll be getting into? "Is there a reason she would change her mind?"
Rick freezes and looks to Walter as if the older man can see right through to his soul. "Yes and no." He quickly deflates and hurriedly takes a seat as his legs are shaking and he feels they won't hold him up much longer.
"You had lunch yet, son?"
All Rick can manage is a negative shake of his head.
"Come on. You look like you need somebody to talk to. Let's get something to eat and have at it, ok?" He picks up the phone and asks Patricia to clear his calendar for the day.
Rick looks on in awe as he can't believe Mr. Walter is taking time out for him like this. He gives a tentative smile as the older man grabs his suit jacket and puts it on as he ushers him out of the office.
An hour later over a bountiful lunch of fried chicken, black eye peas, collard greens, macaroni and cheese and corn bread, Walter knows everything including Rick's ambition to join the FBI in the future and his possible parentage.
"And she still agreed to marry you knowing about this child?" Walter asks.
With Rick's nod, the older man sits back and looks at the younger man like he has never seen him before. He realizes that his daughter and this young man of hers are possibly more mature than he gave them credit for. He also can't help but realize that they truly love each other.
"Well, son….you have certainly earned my respect for coming to me man to man like this and asking for permission to marry my daughter. I also admire you for being honest with me. I don't know if I would've admitted that I might have a child on the way. Anyway, my answer is yes. I've watched you through the years and one thing that has been a constant with you is Michonne."
Rick relaxes with relief. He smiles widely at Walter. "Thank you. Thank you so much."
"Oh, it ain't as easy as that now. You're gonna have to talk with Mae as well and what do your parents think of all this?"
"I haven't talked to them yet," Rick admits.
Walter laughs as he takes a sip of sweet tea. "This is getting more interesting by the minute. I think it's time for one of those family dinners we used to have. Remember those?"
Rick nods, remembering those times all too well and quietly thanking Walter for indirectly offering to be a buffer between him and his parents. Probably Ms. Mae too. For some reason, he feels he's going to need it.
He didn't think he was going to need one with Michonne though. Hours later, he is sitting at the dining room table at her apartment, relaying his conversation with her dad.
"You did what?!" She demands.
"It's ok. We had a really good talk and he gave us his blessing and I told him all about this baby thing and…." He trails off as Michonne covers her face with her hands and groans loudly.
"Why would you do that? They're never going to let us get married now," she states with a little fear. "Dad is going to tell Mom and she's just going to tell Ms. Gladys and then your Dad will know and it's just gonna…..be…awful."
"Your Dad assured me he wouldn't say anything until Sunday. We'll talk to them then and…."
"Sunday? What's so important about Sunday?" She asks cautiously.
"Your Dad's planning a family dinner. You know how we used to have after church?" Rick reminds her.
"Church and dinner? So we're going to have to tell them everything all together?" She swallows visibly with Rick's slow nod then closes her eyes in an effort to calm her nerves.
"Babe, it's going to be ok. I know it is," Rick assures.
She opens her eyes and looks directly into his. "Well, it's always best to find the positive in every situation, right? By the time they all agree to this, you'll have saved up enough money to buy me the biggest rock King's County has ever seen."