Mending Fences - Chapter 4: "One"

Rick woke up to a flurry of activity and noise around him. Someone was shaking him.

"Daddy! Wake up!"

He was shook more harder now.

"Daddyyyy!"

"I'm up!"

Rick sat up. Logan pushed a plate with a half eaten sandwich at him.

"I don't want anymore."

Rick took the sandwich and in one swoop stuffed his mouth. Logan burst out laughing. Rick got to his feet.

"Where's mummy?"

"At work." Andre answered.

"Good morning."

"Morning dad."

Andre was walking out the door followed closely by Kevin.

"Good morning Mr. Grimes."

Rick nodded at the youngster.

"Where are you going Dre?"

"To Kevin's house. Mom knows already."

"Ok."

He watched Andre and his friend leave the house and looked at the clock on the wall. 10:45am.

"Jesus Christ! Why didn't someone wake me?"

Sophia had just walked into the kitchen.

"Mom said not to. That you are tired and needed to rest."

He now noticed that Sophia too was going out by her attire.

"And where are you off to?"

"Tennis practice in school."

She kissed Rick on his cheek.

"Bye dad!"

Sophia rushed out of the house. Rick went into the kitchen and soon Carl came down the stairs with Judith bouncing after him. Both of them looked like they were also on their way out as well.

"Good morning dad!"

"Good morning."

"Daddy!"

Judith ran towards him and he stooped down to hug her.

"And where are you two off to?"

"Carl's taking me to the mall to get some stuff for a school project next week."

The TV came on..it was Logan watching cartoons.

"Logan didn't want to come."

"Hmm. Ok."

"Judy!" Carl called out.

"Coming!" Judith hugged him again and ran to meet Carl's out stretched hand.

"We'll be back by 3pm!" Carl called out as he closed the door.

"Ok."

The house was abit quieter now. He looked at Logan who was engrossed with mickey mouse cartoons. Rick made himself a tuna sandwich and when he was finished he tidy up the kitchen.

"Going upstairs to take a shower."

"Ok."

Rick walked upstairs. When he went into their bedroom he saw a note on the bed that Michonne had left him.

'Sorry I left this morning without say goodbye..Had an early shift and I didn't want to wake you. I told the kids to let you sleep. Your favourite jeans is in the top left hand draw. Logan is coming down with a cold so he will be staying home with you...his medicine is in our bathroom medicine cabinet..his name is on it with instructions written in the back. Carl is taking Judith to the mall to get project supplies, Dre goes by his friend Kevin sometimes, Sophia has tennis practice also. The plumbing company is suppose to come by today so look out for them. My number is 555-2310 and pager# is 6188. Please call me if you need anything. Have a great day!

Michonne xoxo. :-)'

Rick read the note several times, his heart leaping with joy each time. Then he heard the door bell ring.

"Daddy! Door!"

Rick ran downstairs and after verifying identification let the plumber in. Thirty minutes later, he was gone. Rick sprinted back up the steps and after reading Michonne's note one more time, he went into the shower gleeful. He made up his mind that tonight he was going to talk to her.

After taking a shower Rick went outside and collected mail. When he saw the word 'Bill' on one of the envelopes a sudden sinking feeling and reality swallowed him. He was gone for three years. That means that they went from a two income household to a one income household in a split second.

He began to panic. How was she coping as basically a single parent with five kids to feed? Rick's knees began to buckle under him when he think about how hard it must have been for Michonne. He collapsed on the front step..holding his head in his hands.

'Oh God! What did I do to my family? It must have been so hard for her rallying on without him..his support!'

Rick felt bile rising up in his throat. He ran to the side of the house and puke...tears welling up in his eyes. He really f*cked up. He returned to the step and opened the bill envelope and was relieved that the bill was paid.

Then he noticed the names of different investment companies written on several of the other envelopes. One by one, he opened them and a sense of pride swelled in him. Michonne have been making a series of short term investments and from the look of the returns figures, they have been paying off handsomely.

He saw various sums between $5,000 to $15,000 every three to four months. He also saw from another envelope that she have started a college fund for Judith and Logan with some of the money she collected from the investments. Rick felt sick to his stomach that he put his wife in such a vulnerable position.

He was so stubborn and pigheaded. He should have listened to her..pulled himself off of the case. 'How could he do this to her?!' In anger, Rick got up and kicked over a nearby flower pot and as quickly he rushed to pick it back up. He looked at the house to see it if Logan saw him. Luckily, he was too focus on his cartoons.

He went back into the house and sat on the sofa behind his son. He picked up the cordless..his fingers itching to call her. There wasn't any emergency but he wanted to talk to her...hear her voice or even if it is to just apologize for the hardships he caused her.

He knows that Michonne is never one to complain..about anything but he compromised her peace of mind...her security. He had to call her. He dialed her number. After the third ring she answered.

"Rick?"

"Hey."

"Hey...what's wrong? Are you ok? Is Logan ok?"

Rick heard the panic creeping up in her voice.

"Logan and I are ok. I got your note. You could have woken me this morning. It would have been ok."

"Yeah..I know but you were looking so peaceful. Didn't have the heart to do it. I told the kids not to wake you."

Rick chuckled.

"They woke you up…didn't they?"

"It's fine. Got to see Andre, Sophia, Carl and Judith off."

"Ok. Did you give Logan his medication?"

"No..not yet."

"Just give him after he has had lunch."

"Ok."

There was a moment of pause.

"I am sorry to call you. I just wanted to hear your voice."

"I know."

"I'm sorry Michonne."

"I know."

"About everything."

"I know."

"I would like us to talk. Whenever you are ready."

"How about tonight?"

Rick's heart skipped a beat.

"Tonight? Really?"

Rick tried to hide the excitement in his voice..unsuccessfully.

"Yes. I made dinner reservations for us at one of our favourite restaurants."

Rick was speechless.

"Rick?"

"I am here."

"So...are we on for tonight?"

"Definitely."

"Ok. I should be home by 6...our reservation is for eight."

"Which restaurant is it?"

"You'll see when we get there."

There was another pause.

"I love you, Michonne."

"I love you too Rick."

"See you tonight."

"Yeah."

The phone went dead. Rick ruffled his son's hair.

"Daddy's got a date tonight."*********

When Rick saw 7pm was approaching fast and Michonne wasn't home as yet, he began to worry. Carl, Sophia, Andre and Judith was already home. He was about to call her when the phone rang.

"Hey. It's me."

"Is everything alright?"

"Yeah. Just running abit late. Can you meet me at the La Florence' Decante Restaurant?"

"Sure."

"Ok."*********

Half an hour later, Rick was at the reservation desk.

"Reservation for Michonne Grimes."

The attendant shook his head.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes sir."

"Please check again."

The attendant check again grudgingly.

"No Michonne Grimes but we do have a reservation for a Rick Grimes."

"Oh." Rick said slightly stunned. "That is it."

The attendant ushered for Rick to follow him. He was barely seated when Michonne walked in. She spoke to the attendant and soon they were heading his way. Rick felt nervous, like a high school boy on a date with his crush.

Michonne wore a red form fitting knee length dress with gold strap open toes and heels. Her hair pulled back in a neat one. She was simple but elegant. She caught the attention of several men as she walked past the mini bar and Rick found himself getting jealous. When they arrived at the table, he rose to greet her and surprisingly she kissed him full on the lips.

A few of the men turned their heads away, clearly disappointed. 'That's right folks! She's mine!' The spot she had chosen was semi private but had the potential to be full private by just the push of a button. This place had some good memories for them. He was glad she chose here.

They waited patiently for the waiter to bring their appetizer but when it arrived neither one of them ate. Rick inched closer to her and took her hand in his.

"Michonne.."

As if the sound of her name on his lips was the trigger, Michonne bursted into tears. Seeing her like this..was like dying all over again.

"Oh God! Can you ever forgive me? I am so sorry for ignoring you..your concerns..your fears!"

Michonne could only nod through the tears. A couple at a table nearby saw them and began whispering but Rick didn't care. He was here, trying to make amends with his wife.

"I was stupid and selfish!"

"Yes..you were."

"Baby..I'm so sorry."

"You were a cop...in jail. I was so scared that one day I would get a phone call saying that you was killed in prison."

She put her hand over her mouth to prevent herself from screaming out. Rick looked at his distraught wife and he felt like kicking himself several time.

"I told you something was wrong! Why didn't you trust me?"

"Ego." Rick said..hanging his head in shame. "I was the lead undercover agent on one of the biggest cases of my career."

"Well you let your ego cost us three years..three years that we can never get back…three years of your children growing up without you!" Michonne said through tears.

"You should have seen the disappointment in the children's faces! Especially Logan and Judith. It was so hard on them!"

"Please forgive me. Please.!"

"I have forgiven you Rick. A long long time ago."

"I want to thank you..for making me take the deal. It would have been worse than three years."

"I had to practically beg you to take the deal. I don't understand why you resisted so much? You knew what was at stake! Why?!"

"I was a cop and believed in truth and justice...that the jury would have seen that I was being framed..that I didn't do what the evidence said that I did..that I was innocent."

"Well I have female intuition. My gut was telling something was wrong and I was right."

"Yes you were."

Rick brought Michonne's hands up to his lips and planted a long lingering kiss on them. Michonne closed her eyes and bursted into tears again. Rick eyes glistened as well and soon Michonne could feel warm tears on her hands.

"Rick.." She whimpered. Rick pulled her close.

"Yes baby?"

Michonne looked teary eyed into Rick's.

"Hold me close. Please?!"

She didn't have to ask a second time. Rick pulled her close, her face buried in the cut of his neck, as she cried out her pain. Silent tears also fell from him.***********

Rick and Michonne cuddled for atleast twenty minutes..neither one saying a word. They just wanted to enjoy the warm embrace of the other. By now, they were the topic of conversation of several person nearby.

"Rick?"

"Hmmm."

"Kiss me."

He looked down and saw that she was looking up at him, eyes overflowing with love and affection.

"Yes ma'am."

Michonne's lips parted as Rick's own touched hers. It was a long, deep, passionate kiss...one that was three years in the making. After five minutes, they pulled apart.

"I missed that." Michonne said giddily

"Not as much as me." Rick pulled her in again and devoured her lips once more simultaneously pressing the button to make their corner fully private.************