Chapter 3

Could've Been Worse, But Hey The Night's Still Young Yet.

Michonne sat in the back of the quiet police cruiser with her arm tenderly wrapped around her little guy as she looked out the window and marveled at the scene of activity that was now unfolding all around them.

No longer was the sidewalk empty. Police Officers, Detectives, and CSI were all over. Even a representative from the DA's Office was there along with an extremely curious crowd that seemed to be growing by the minute. The evidence of the apple and orange hadn't been collected, but were marked off. And her Handsome's would be abductors were still where she'd lefted them, out on their sides looking foolish, an ambulance had been called, but for some reason hadn't come yet. There were people milling around on the opposite side of the street also, but as far as Michonne could tell, oddly, none seemed interested enough in what was going on to have crossed over. They looked, but kept walking.

And the once open thoroughfare was now closed, shut off for two whole block on either side with them smack dab in the middle, only official vehicles were allowed in. Local and cable news stations were there too. Some of their best reporters had been sent out to aggravate under the guise of reporting, and using part of the closed off area as their hub central. It was all quite a sight to see. An unintentional circus!

Suddenly exhausted, Michonne rested her head on the back of the seat, and rolled her eyes upward as she wondered where in the world were all of these people when they were really needed?

"Where had all this been a few minutes ago?" she said out loud to herself, which then caused her new little friend to stir and worriedly look up at her.

Michonne looked down, she hadn't meant to startle her Handsome. She could tell that the child was still terrified, because he was shivering even though he was up in her coat. The poor baby! she thought. That's the reason why she on purpose never, not once allowed her arms to be away from him in some form or fashion, it was always either one or both that he felt lovingly surrounding him at all times. And with her free hand Michonne lightly brushed away the hair from her boy's beautiful and brilliant blue eyes, giving him a very warm smile.

However, what she really wanted most was to kiss the top of the child's head in order to reassure him that everything was going to be ok, but she thought better of it since that would probably be too forward for him considering what he'd just gone through, and the fact that he really didn't know her like that.

Yet, forwardness hadn't seemed to have been much of a problem for the little boy himself because he was now holding onto her with what seemed like for dear life...his, and every now and then would nestle closer to Michonne's side as if to see and make sure that she was still there though he had an arm positioned right across her lap.

And Michonne was ok with that, and had no qualms with allowing her Handsome to set his own boundaries, because when he would move in closer she would hold him just a little bit more tighter each time. But she couldn't say the same thing for the baby though. He or she wasn't having any of it, because every time Handsome moved, the baby would move too. It was something that her Little Munchie did without fail every last time. And that made Michonne smile because it was amusing to think that her baby wrapped inside of her was more than a bit jealous of her baby that was currently wrapped in her arm.

Behave yourself little one, she thought. What's wrong with Mama's littlte Munchie? You've got to learn to share baby...starting right now! Even though he's older, your brother for tonight needs Mama more right now, soo...love him back...and stop punching your big brother up against his head. That's not a nice thing to do. There is mo-re than enough of your Mama to go around for the both of you! Now you behave and be good! Do you hear me? You know how much I love you, so-you-do-not-have-to-be-jealous. Ok Munchie. Oo-kay, love you baby.

Michonne giggled at her own silliness and looked down at her belly and her boy. Handsome with his sweet little self was leaning up against her even more, as if that was at all possible, but little did she know him feeling the pulsation of her heartbeat brought comfort to the child, and his movement caused the baby to move too, which in turn cause the little boy to wrongly mistake the baby's momement as Michonne's stomach growling from hunger and innocently said to himself, un-huh, yes you are hungry too, just like me! But the boy didn't say a word, he just snuggled even more into Michonne's side until he found his comfortable spot and then fell sound asleep. Michonne looked down at him and smiled broadly, feeling what was the beginning of an incredible amount of unforseen deep affection for the child.

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The police car strangely enough was both warm and cozy, and was made even much more so for Michonne by the jacket and shoes that she was now donning. They both belonged to her friend Officer Terry Anderson. He was also the one who had placed her and her boy inside the squad car, it happened after he'd noticed that Michonne's coat was doing double duty. First, a device one of warmth around the shivering kid that was glued to her front, and secondly, a shield against unwanted attention. But the absence of her footwear was what got the most attention right of the bat.

Actually, it seemed that that was the only thing that Terry had noticed when he and his partner first arrived on the scene. And that was Michonne in her stocking feet.

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After the confrontation...

Michonne stood standing on the sidewalk with her arms surrounding Handsome as she looked out on her and God's handy work as a crowd with phones seemed to have just materialize from out of nowhere, and akin to a bunch of noisy and hungry seven year locust, swarming down on an open wheat field…bent on devouring. But instead of a ravenous appetite for food, this intrusive lot had a ravenous appetite for picture taking, trying hard to consumes the scene that was laying waste right in front of them, because at that moment the crowd itself were locusts of the human kind, intent on devouring everything and anyone in sight with their cameras, and that included Michonne and Handsome too. That's when she took off her coat and placed it around her boy; shielding him from the snoopers as well as to keep the child warm.

Handsome had gone through more than enough in one night. Having the image of him as a terrified and/or traumatized child immortalized on the internet, or splashed all over the news and news papers wasn't going to happen if she had anything to say about it. And as soon as, like yesterday she will be filing a Cease and Desist order against all and any images of him from the evening. And money would not be an issue.

She could have told them to stop and not to take any pictures, but saying anything to them would be just a waste of her time, so she didn't. But when someone was about to scoop down and pick up that apple and bloody orange Michonne cleared her throat rather loudly, and then in a not so nice manner used her no nonsense courtroom voice along with a look.

"Ahem! Hey don't you dare touch that!" she growled. "Get away from there now!"

And Michonne was sure that that look was the one that Andrea joked about and enjoyed calling the Black Jaguar "he who kills with one blow" look. It's a sleek and silently smooth of a mode until it's not. One that she says with hers eyes "Don't mess with me because I don't play!" It's deadly to a fault. A pounce of a look that has stopped many a witnesses, including an opposing attorney or two in their tracks, especially when finding herself not in the mood for mess! And that was where she was at that very moment! Completely and utterly…not in the mood for any mess!

But, the would be culprit was some stupid burly looking guy with a phone glued up to his ear, talking to someone on the other end, and while doing so looked up at Michonne in a challenge, but wisely sooner than later thought better of it. Forget that growl and voice of hers it was that look that ran shivers down the man's spine. It worked because it truly was silent and deadly! A look that clearly said DON'T YOU DARE PLAY, BECAUSE I GUARANTEE YOU I WON'T!

Not only did he straighten up and stepped back, but quite a few of those standing near him and watching Michonne too did the same even though they weren't guilty of anything as of yet!

But, being the great big man, one not to be out done by a woman, and trying to save face in the process yelled loudly, but to no one in particular, especially not to Michonne. He just looked pass the delicate but yet forceful woman while trying hard to get in a dig.

"Hey look! That chick's bat crazy! She's out as cold as it is without any shoes or even a coat on. And she thinks I'm gonna fight her over produce! Who does she think she is, the fruit police? Well forget it! Forget her! I don't need any of this anyway! I can buy my own!" blustered the whipped man as he turned cursing and pushed his way through the back of the packed crowd, disappearing as he did.

"I thought so," Michonne said without ever opening her mouth, her facial expression and body language said it all, as she consoled her little guy by rubbing circles of comfort on his little back. All the while looking that fool straight in his eyes, not once had she taken her eyes off of him. And with a satisfied smug smirk she knew with little doubt that there would be no more trouble, because she'd gotten her point across. And the police arrived right afterwards.

Evidently, someone had called for help after all, and surprisingly it was her friend Officer Terry Anderson and his partner Kal Whitley.

Officer Whitley was the first to get out of the squad car, Michonne quickly yelled and pointed "apple...orange...evidence!" The Officer nodded his head in acknowledgement and got markers out to place next to each item, then he went over to check on the two downed pedophiles and then called in for medical help and an ambulance. More police came, and immediately began securing the area. Some put up evidence tape, while others took control of the rather large crowd, backing them off and away from everything on the sidewalk; meaning the two men along with the fruits that fell them both, and then there were those Officers who canvassed said crowd for potential witnesses. All the while hordes of phones equipped with those pesky and nosy cameras were going off in a mad frenzy to capture everything and anyone to see who could post things first.

"Me?" Officer Anderson spoke his friend's name questioningly as he came from around the driver's side of the squad car and stood right in front Michonne and asked, "Where are your shoes?"

Inwardly, Michonne rolled her eyes as she incredulously looked back at her friend. Now how in the world could Terry have noticed that fact but didn't see, or ask about those two laid out on the sidewalk over there, or the child glued to her front under her coat? Hello? she thought. How was that at all possible? And what about the on lookers, but her standing in her stocking feet, well he saw that now didn't he?

But, in spite of how ever perturbed she felt, which in all fairness had nothing to do with Terry nor his question but rather the circumstance that she and her Handsome both found themselves in, because at the end of the day Michonne knew without a shadow of a doubt that Terry cared only for her well being, and that was always. So she shrugged her shoulders while still holding onto the sniffling child, then nonchalantly looked down at her feet and answered her friend as if being out and about without any shoes on was a very common occurrence for her, and no big deal.

"Oh, right! I am in my stocking feet aren't I," she replied matter-of-factly as she gently wiped tears from off of her kid's cheeks with a finger. "I left them in front of the cleaners, you know the one...right back there...down the street a ways. The one not too far from my condo building. And without missing a beat she took her thumb and pointed backwards. "It the one called Clean As A Whistle Dry Cleaners. I couldn't run safely, nor fast enough in them so I left 'em behind."

Officer Anderson carefully looked his friend up and down for any outward signs of injury after her explanation of her shoelessness, then asked if the two of them were ok. Michonne shook her head in the affirmative even though her big toe was throbbing like a wisdom tooth in a tender mouth. The little boy didn't say a word, he just continued hiding his face into Michonne as he held onto her tighter. She then mouth to Terry that they needed to get him to the hospital just as soon as possible and have the child checked out by a physician. Terry agreed, they would just as soon as possible. Then the Officer turned, and for the first time took a more thorough look at the scene going on behind him, and knew without anyone ever having said anything that something bad had gone on, and if not for Michonne it would have been even worse.

Terry once more turned back to Michonne, informing her that he had to leave for a bit but would be right back and lefted. Heading to the police car the Officer went straight to the back and opened up the trunk. Looking inside he pulled out an extra police jacket, along with a new pair of cross trainers that were surely going to be four sizes too large for Michonne, but were better than what she had on at present. Afterwards he walked back to the two, helped Michonne with the jacket, and kneeled down to put the shoes on her feet."

"They're way too big I know, but at least you won't be standing in your stockings on this cold sidewalk," he said as he gingerly placed one shoe after the other on Michonne's feet."

She looked down smiling, and said a soft almost silent "thanks," but then winced a rather loud audible "ouch" when her tender toe touched the top of the inside of the shoe, and that caused her friend to look up when she did.

"Sorry, are you hurt?" Terry ask concerned then took the shoe back off, trying to see what was the problem, but couldn't because Michonne's stockings hid whatever it was that made her wince.

"It's my big toe. I believe I may have broken it while doing y'all's job over there!" She replied back smug and indignantly though in pain.

"I kicked the crime right out of Beavis and Butthead…Stupid is as Stupid does...A fool following an even a bigger fool…aww forget it! What-ever it is you want to call those two deviants over there, have at it, because I-am-done. But there's one thing for sure, they both got exactly what they were asking for and then some, going after an innocent and defenseless child the way that they were!

"Yes that was all me along with God, Gran, Daddy, and Mother's help! It was an all out group effort. We done that!" Michonne said all at once, and also with an incredible amount of intended to be but not quite there masked pride thrown in as she nodded her head towards all the evidence laid out right in front, and out in the open.

Once again Handsome held her a bit tighter after hearing what she'd just said. And her little Munchie proved without fail to be consistent. The little rascal or rascalette moved too!

Terry gingerly placed the shoe back on Michonne's foot, looked up at his friend and smiled back at her proclamation. "I know there's an amazing story behind what you just said, minus the 'doing y'all's job's' part, and we will be getting the whole story in interview want we, but for-." The officer stopped in mid-sentence after having noticed that the little boy was shivering, that along with the numerous eyes that he had no doubt were watching the three of them. But specially the little boy who was most likely more prone to those that were in front, and as well as those behind their Apples, and Smartphones. "Come on you two," he continued as he stood up. "Let's get you both out of the cold, somewhere warm and less out in the open."

With that Michonne took her hand and tenderly lifted her little guy's chin and said, "Let's go baby boy, let's go, we're going somewhere warm, yea!" And without hesitation her baby boy complied, as Officer Anderson protectively led them both to his cruiser.

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Tap...tap...tap was the sound of Terry's knuckles as they lightly knocked against the back side window of the police car, startling Michonne back to the present.

"Sorry about that Me, I didn't mean to scare ya," he said, after opening the car door, squatter down next to his friend and handed her a large bag, then carefully placed a beverage tray containing two hot chocolates along with another smaller bag on top of her lap. Her hands were already ful.

"I'm going up the street and take a look around for any evidence and your booties too!" the Officer said to Michonne with an endearing smile, then he stood up, closed the door behind him and lefted before she could even reply a "thank you." Her little guy stired, and was now wide awake all thanks to Terry and his knuckles.

"Are you hungry Handsome," she asked him lovingly? The child sluggish from being asleep nodded yes, and once he had straightened up she placed the large bag on his lap to hold while she balanced the beverage tray on hers. And with her free hand Michonne opened the small bag, looked inside and brought out some wet wipes to clean their hands before they ate.

Terry, bless his heart had thought of everything, Michonne smiled. He'd gotten it all from Mama Ella's.

And with an arm still wrapped around her guy, Michonne opened the wipes and cleaned her hands first, and smiling took each one of Handsome's small ones and wiped them both clean with two new wipes, then repeated the same task on his face, he'd been asleep, and licked! And the child said nothing, he just leaned comfortably into her as she did.

And with very little air in between the two of them, they both blessed and ate their hot cheese burgers, fries, a big gooey chocolate chip cookie and drank their hot chocolate in complete silence, that is until Handsome suddenly turned her way and spoke with tears clouding his beautiful blues.

"I want my dad. Can I please, please talk to him," he said, in a whisper then continued slowly. "That's...that's why I ran away. I want to be with him so that he won't be alone on Thanksgiving, he was the last time. I was sad and I know that he was too." And with nothing more to say, the little guy lowered his head and looked down .

Michonne was surprise, touched, and glad all at once, not because of the request, but because Handsome was speaking at all. Baby had been so quite, and she had been worried fot him. She'd tried earlier to question the child about his parents whereabouts, but he'd just bury himself into her side and shook his head, so she'd decided to just let him be until he was ready to talk. Now it seems that he is.

So with a little squeeze of her arm Michonne got his attention, and the boy looked up at her again.

"Hey, that's alright Handsome, your're safe now, just tell me your Dad's name?" she spoke gingerly to him. "We'll call so that you can talk to him. Ok? Promise."

The boy shook his head in acknowledgement while he blinked back those unshed tears.

"My dad is a Sheriff," he began with a shaky voice. "He's the Sheriff of King County, that's where we live, and his name is Rick Grimes. My grandma sometimes calls him Richard, but that's only when he does something to get her dander up. Like when me, him, and grandpa ate the two apple pies that she made for the church's bake sale. It was all dad's idea grandpa and me just joined in to help him out with the eating."

Michonne covertly held in a giggle and could tell by the tone of her Handsome's voice that he had nothing less than pure love coupled with pride for his dad. And also unbeknown to her was the absence of fear. No longer was he scared of what the lady sitting next to him would do, because this time he had trust in her to get him to where it is that he wanted to be…and that was with his father.

"And my name is Carl Grimes," the boy continued. "I am 7 years and 2 months old, and in the second grade."

Aww, how totally adorable, her Handsome is 7 years and 2 months old and he's a second grader too, Michonne thought. And at that point it was more than fair to say that the 7 years and 2 month old guy already had a permanent tight grasp on the woman's heart, much like the one he'd been firmly holding onto her with most of the night.

And with a new found confidence Carl slowly turned his whole little body around so that he was completely facing Michonne and she him, and now with them both looking back at each other she extended her hand out to her Handsome and he replied back in kind by doing the very same. Then with a very gentle but firm handshake Michonne officially introduced herself to her boy.

"Well hello there Mr. Carl Grimes," she said smiling brightly. "I am so very very pleased to meet you. And my name is Michonne Rènald."

And in a rather slow, and meticulous manner, Michonne's Handsome began repeating her name to himself "Mi-ch-onne Rè-na-ld," he said, and so adorably too, pronoucing every single syllable and then some of both of her names without ever missing a beat. And hearing him do that with his cute self caused Michonne's smile to broaden even more so, because it had been twice in one day where she'd heard her name enunciation in such a fashion that lefted her beaming. But unlike Spencer's technique, Carl's by far was even more adorable, completely innocent, and all the way harmless.

Finished with his dissectafication of Michonne's name, the little guy tilted his head slightly to the side and waited patiently for her to continue. Because Carl knew that she still had more to say, she hadn't told him her age yet, when he'd clearly told her his.

And Michonne noticed that tilt and the look that her Handsome was so preciously sporting as he sat quietly eying her. Then after a bit it soon became quite clear after having occurred to her exactly what that look was all about.

Oh...okay, what an astute and sharpe little kid your are. And he's just seven year and two months olds, she thought. And Michonne found herself filled with way too much pride and fondness for the child. Shaking her head, she smiled back at Carl and said, "little boy, little boy no matter however cute and adorable you are with those eyes, I am not going to tell you my age, all you need to know is that I'm older than you Handsome." And with that she playfully bobbed the kid on his nose with her finger, causing them both to genuinely laugh, and it was way overdue that they both were able to too. The night had been a long one, and they still had a ways to go before it was all over with.

Carl just shugged his shoulders, and then they both went back to their original sitting position with him snuggled back up against Michonne, and her arm wrapped securely around him. He didn't mind it, nor had he take any offence to Michonne not telling, and why should he, because his mother and both grandmothers were the very same way about their age, theirs was a secret too! But the thought of his mother made the little guy suddenly feel both sad and guilty. Carl knew that by now she knew that he was gone, and was really worried. And for that he was truely sorry, but he couldn't let himself think about that right now, because his dad was by himself and needed him.

Whereas, his mother was never alone, she had his Uncle Shane.

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As Terry walked up towards the cleaners the Officer was more than confident that he'd be able to return his friends lefted behind booties, but instead he and the CSI tech came back with some pictures, but no Christian Louboutin. And Michonne noticed that fact as her friend walked up to the car. But booties or not, she still had more than a few things to feel good and be happy about. And one was the fact that she was now able to share the name of the little boy, and at least one of his parents. It was Carl Grimes for her Handsome, and Sheriff Rick Grimes of King County for the his dad.

The Officer walked away from the police cruiser as he made the call to the Sheriff of King County to inform him that his young son was now in police custody. Both Michonne and Carl watched as he patiently tried to explain the situation to the child's father. And they both knew that it had been an intense conversation by the look on Terry's face and his body language. The two told the whole tale as he walked back to the cruiser.

Michonne surmised that the Sheriff no doubt, and rightly so was not very pleased at all. She guarantee that the father wanted to know where in the world was the boy's mother while their son was off walking around downtown Atlanta all by himself. And why?

Michonne felt for the man. Little did he know that the answer was simple really, his boy was trying hard to get back home to him. And she also doubted if their little guy has realized or even can comprehend just what that desire of his at any price to his own well-being almost costed them all. And that was to be probably permanently gone from all those that he loved and loved him back.

Terry with a stressed smile handed over his phone to little Handsome through the open car door and said, "Here you go little man, it's your dad. He wants to talk to you."

And afterwards, after the Sheriff talked to both his son and then to Michonne, Officer Anderson and his partner Officer Whitley took them both to the hospital so that the child could finally be examined by a physician. And that meant Michonne too! Terry insisted. There was the baby and the probability of her probable broken big toe.