Chapter 7 Leaders and Mamas
Michonne was getting quite a bit of work as the new judge, her next court case was Anderson v. Anderson. Since the divorce seemed to be more complicated, Reginald was not comfortable just creating and signing off on a quick divorce decree. The Andersons had things to work out, kids to deal with, property to split up, even in a damn apocalypse. Pete was impressed with Maggie's lawyer skills and asked her to represent him. Jessie got Spencer. Jessie was not too bright. She was literally sitting in the courtroom during the last trial, and she watched his abysmal and embarrassing performance, yet, she still chose him to represent her. Pete wanted the divorce proceedings to move fast, and Spencer did not object on behalf of his client. They were booked on the docket on that very day, the day murder trial ended, and was set to begin in two days' time. Michonne went looking for Rick in his new committee meeting to let him know the news.
The committee decided to allow Pete to either stay in his house, or move in with anyone who had a free room and was willing to take him in temporarily. Pete chose to move in with Linda and her sister Charlotte and did so that same day. He went to his home and got a few things to last him until a decision was made on where he would live at the end of the divorce trial. Both the sisters were team Michonne and did not believe for a minute Pete was beating his wife. They always thought Jessie was up to no good, and they saw with their own eyes a couple of instances where it appeared as though Jessie was abusing Pete. They also caught her few times sneaking around with Spencer. Even called her a whore under their breath on more than one occasion. The whole community was ready for the scandalous trial to begin.
Maggie also got to work quickly, the murder trial had only ended a few hours prior and Maggie was already pounding the pavement asking community members to come forward if they could shed some light on the circumstances surrounding the dissolution of the Anderson marriage, Linda and Charlotte were the first two in line. Linda and Charlotte were excited that they were going to be witnesses for Pete. They were ready to throw Jessie to the wolves. And they were also ready for some more entertainment. It was boring in Alexandria before Rick and his crew got there. But since they arrived, it has been one amusement after another, and the sisters were excited for it. Almost the whole community was. Pete wanted the house and kids, so Maggie made sure to get all her ducks in a row. 'Let the drama begin,' the sisters thought, giddy with anticipation. Little did they know more drama would start before the trial once everyone found out about the new transition in leadership.
After the meeting was over, Rick walked back to his home extremely happy. He could not wait to share with Michonne his new leadership status and her new council member position. He falsely assumed she would be super pleased that he was considerate enough to include her in such a "big role." Rick inaccurately believed he would even get some extra brownie points when they finally got the house to themselves in one weeks' time. He started whistling down the street and bobbing his head. His life was coming up roses and he did a little jig as he walked down the street daydreaming of Michonne's reaction to both pieces of news about Noah leaving and him leading.
Rick first dreamed she would jump in his arms and slather kisses from his forehead to his jawline to his neck, and it would stop there because he knew one of their damn kids would probably be lurking nearby watching. He tried to shake his kids from the dream, but Carl kept jumping to the forefront waving trying to block his view of Michonne. He closed his eyes tight and made an effort to look around the obstacle to his girlfriend. Damn Carl. The kids were starting ruin his relationship with Michonne in his dreams too. He needed them back in their rooms sooner rather than later. He planned to tell the committee that they needed to speed up the move-in date. He needed Noah gone in three days maximum, instead of one week. Once he became leader, he would double the cleanout crew to get the job done faster. He then imagined that maybe she would say to hell with the kids and leave them to fend for themselves while she let him ravage her behind their closed bedroom door. He got excited about that scenario. Started grinning hard in the middle of the street. A part of him had the idea that she would pamper him all night. Serve him dinner, give him a foot rub and back massage all while giving him compliments, 'oh Rick you are so great, oh Rick you are so strong, OH Rick! YOU ARE SO BIG!' He decided that all three scenarios would be perfect as he cheerfully strolled towards his home.
"So, I will head the council and make the final decisions of course, and you will sit and be a member on the council," he said to Michonne as he kissed her on her cheek. If was paying really close attention when he kissed her, he might have felt how hot that cheek was, and not in a sexy hot way, nope, not in a sexy way at all. That kind of heat could only come from anger. They were all having dinner when Rick broke the good news to his family. Not Carol. He made her eat in her room. Noah was out meeting with some of his new roommates. Rick's eyes gazed all over Michonne's face and he was bewildered as to why Michonne looked so upset.
"Are you not happy that I am the new leader Michonne?" Asked an incredulous Rick.
"No Rick, I think you have earned it," Michonne said shortly.
"Do you have a problem with it?" Puzzled Rick.
"No, I don't have a problem Rick." Michonne deadpanned amazed at Ricks lack of awareness.
"Then why do you look so upset about it?" Asked Rick. Rick looked at Carl and noticed his son was shaking his head at his father, armed folded across his chest. Rick was missing something. He stared at Michonne now moving food across her plate and no longer actually eating.
"Hey dad, do you usually make all the decisions on your own?" Inquired Carl.
"NO! that's why I'm gonna have the council," said Rick, now agitated.
"Ok, but you have the final decision, do you always make the final decision on your own?" Carl continued his questioning.
"Yes," replied Rick.
"Seriously?" Carl stared at his father in disbelief and then at Michonne to see if this man truly believed he was always a lone decision maker. Carl then clarified after he mumbled, "good grief," under his breath.
"So not one person," Carl pushed his plate forward and laid his arms on the table in front of him, "let's just say in this room right now, has helped you make all your final leadership decisions?" At this point Carl was twitchy. His fingers were tapping the table showing his annoyance. His father's ignorance was staggering.
"No, I have always had to make the tough decisions," Rick insisted cluelessly.
Michonne got up from the table and walked to refill her glass from the tap and Rick watched her walk away. She was pissed.
"What is wrong with you Michonne? Are you Jealous?" Asked Rick with an angry tone as he got up from the table and took a few steps towards Michonne.
Michonne looked down into the sink and blew out a big breath. She sat her glass down and then turned around and regarded Rick and smiled. "Knock, Knock," Michonne said calmly.
"Who's there," Rick grinned thinking she was ready to finally celebrate. Rick fell for the trap.
"YO MAMA RICK, THAT'S WHO'S THERE! FUCK YOU AND FUCK YOUR JEALOUSLY," Michonne seethed as she walked away and into their bedroom. She would have to apologize to Carl for cursing at his father in front of him, again. She really tries not to do that, but sometimes Rick just takes her there and she has this angry out of body experience and loses her mind.
Carl, whose body now felt like it was made entirely of Jello, slide out of his chair with ease, like you would see in a cartoon, and onto the floor while screaming "I'm Dead" over and over and laughing hysterically at Michonne's burn to his father. It was no secret Carl would back Michonne over his father anytime and anyplace, and this time was no exception, much to Rick's chagrin.
"You didn't have to talk about my mama Michonne!" Yelled Rick, which made Carl laugh even harder.
Rick was not amused. He stepped over his guffawing son and picked up his daughter from her high-chair and stormed off to her nursery to get her cleaned up from dinner, which had more on her outfit than in her stomach. He knew his precious angel will give him the comfort and support he needed. After he got her cleaned up, he sat with her in the rocking chair and Judith picked that very moment to say her first word.
"Mama," cooed Judith. Rick was devastated that his daughter was a traitor too.
Rick sat in that rocking chair for an hour with Judith fast asleep on his chest thinking about all the decisions he made since meeting Michonne. He realized that even when they did not get along at first, he deferred to her and every major decision he made had her stamp of approval on it. There were times when she challenged him on the decision he originally made and changed his mind once Michonne made him see the error in this thinking. Without Michonne, he came to realize, they would not be where they were now. Hell, he admitted some or all of his family may not be alive at all. Yet again, he had some major groveling to do and some important changes to make in leadership. After he put Judith down in her crib, he went back downstairs towards his bedroom. Carl was in the kitchen cleaning up, and when they met eyes, Carl just laughed and shook his head at his father. Rick puffed out air from his chest, rolled his eyes at his son, and ambled to the bedroom. He knocked on the door, no answer. He tried to the open the door, but it was locked.
"Michonne," Rick said through the closed wooden door. "I'm sorry, let me in."
Michonne was nothing if not fair, that was his room also, so she opened the door for him and walked back to finish what she was doing. When he saw her packing, he got on his knees begging her not to leave him.
"I'm not leaving you Rick, but I just need some space. I am still with you. I am just going to sleep in Carl's room for a little while," Michonne said with a slight smile that was more like a grimace because she would have to deal with Noah. She needed to remember to go check around the community for some earplugs or headphones, or a spike to drill into her head if it came to that.
"No Michonne, you are not," Rick said as he started unpacking her clothes and putting them back into the drawers and closet.
"Rick, we are still together. I am not leaving you. I promise," Michonne tried to persuade.
"This is how it starts Michonne, first you separate for just a few days and next thing you know you have fully broken up. I am not taking that chance with you. Let's talk this out like adults." Rick said standing with her bras and panties in his hands.
Michonne was surprised by his maturity and mortified that she was acting like a child. Although she was ashamed, the fact that Rick did not see her as an equal at this stage, whether they were a couple or not, hurt her. Every single step of their journey from the prison to this moment in time, she was involved with every single decision. She was his right and his left hand, and most times his right foot too. Rick could get real silly sometimes, she often had to be the rational one. As she watched Rick put her things back in its proper place, she acquiesced and stopped packing and sat on the edge of the bed. Rick sat beside her and held her hand.
"Michonne, you have every right to be mad. There was never a time that I did not look to you for advice or confirmation of my decision. There has never been a time when I did not seek out your opinion, and I changed my mind more often than not after listening to your reasoning. You should be a co-leader not a council member and I realize that now," Rick said sincerely.
"Rick, I don't have to be a co-leader," Michonne explained, "I just wanted you to acknowledge that I was more than just an average council member on par with two Alexandrians. Heck, even Maggie deserves better. I do have a better idea on how to structure the council if you are willing to listen."
Rick pulled Michonne in a tight hug and he knew he did not deserve her. He was going to make her a co-leader no matter what, and he would publicly make that proclamation immediately after his new position in the community was officially announced. He thanked his lucky stars that she chose him. He looked her in eyes and was just about to kiss her when Carl strolled in, of course.
"Are y'all Ok?" Carl asked concerned from the doorway of the room.
Rick smiled and walked over to his son and slammed the door in his face.
"RICK!" Michonne jumped up opening the door and pulling Carl into a hug.
"He deserved it for laughing at me in the kitchen, he hurt my feelings," whined Rick.
"Apologize Rick!" Michonne demanded.
Rick smiled and walked to the door never taking his eyes off of Carl, who was pretending to be more wounded then he actually was, "I apologize for slamming the door in your face with Michonne still in the room."
"RICK!" Screamed Michonne.
"FINE! I'm sorry!" Yelled Rick.
Michonne also took the time to apologize to Carl for her behavior and Carl immediately forgave her, holding her in a tight hug with his head resting on her shoulder. He then turned his head and cut his eyes at his father. Rick smiled at his son and shook his head. His family was a damn mess, but he loved them more than anythang.
"Oh by the way, Judith said her first word," said Rick nonchalantly knowing Michonne was going to be ecstatic, especially when she finds out what their daughter said.
"What? When," insisted Michonne.
"What did she say?" Asked Carl Eagerly.
"About an hour ago when both of you were being mean to me," Rick said to both trying to garner some sympathy, which did not work in the slightest. "She is sleep so don't you two go running up there and wake her up. She said Mama," Rick smiled as he eyed Michonne.
Rick clutched his heart as he watched Michonne cry happy tears in Carl's arms. The lovely and tender moment was quickly ruined as Rick pushed his son out of the way causing Carl to stumble and almost fall, then Rick took his sons place and held his girlfriend. He kept motioning for Carl to get out of the room, but when Michonne reached for Carl to join the group hug, Rick, in a fit of extreme annoyance, pinched Carl and mouthed "leave now." Carl chucked and decided to give his father a break. He made up an excuse to exit leaving his parents to adore each other in warm affection for a few minutes for perhaps the first time since arriving in Alexandria.
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