Mending Fences – Chapter 24: "Future"

After his bail hearing Michonne couldn't see Rick as he was taken away immediately. As she left the courtroom, she felt the angry eyes of Officer Tiggs family. She didn't look at them for fear and held back her tears. She didn't want to give them the satisfaction of seeing her pain anymore. Now that Rick is not coming home she will have to be the rock for her family.

She pulled out of the parking lot of the court house and began her sickening journey home to her frighten and traumatised children. She needs to hold it together as best as she can for them and truth be told…she was scared. The trial could start within weeks or months, depending on the pace of the investigation.

Her family will be under even more scrutiny as the media will hound them. She pulled up to the driveway, switched off the engine and took a deep breath. She was glad Carl, Sophia and Andre were still at school and Carol decided to take Judith and Logan with her to work. She dialled Abe's number.

"Hey. Is everything ok?"

"No Abe. It's not. Rick was denied bail. He's not coming home."

"Where are the children?"

"Carl, Sophia and Andre are in school and Carol has Judith and Logan."

"Ok. Is there anything I can do?"

"That's why I'm calling. I didn't have the strength to pick Carl and the others from school. Can you do it? Please?"

"Of course! Consider it done!"

"Thank you. Pick them up about an hour before school's over. I want them to be home before the bell rings and anyone got word of Rick's bail hearing."

"I understand."

There was a pause between them.

"What is it Michonne?"

"Do you know of any good civil attorneys?"

"I might. Why?"

"I need to send letters to all the local media houses to not visit my home or harass my children during the days leading up to and during the trial. If they do I will sue their asses."

"I'll call in a favour."

"I can't thank you enough Abe."

"You are doing what you have to do to protect your family and I will do whatever I can to facilitate that. I'll call you."

"I'll call the school and let them know you are coming."

She hung up and went into the house.~*~*~*

Being back in his cell, Rick felt relieved. He couldn't bear to see Michonne's tears. He was dying to see his children. He missed them terribly but they will not see him like this, caged like an animal. He cried.~*~*~*

A school aide spoke to Carl's and Sophia's biology and maths teachers after which they were asked to come to the principal's office. They were both shocked to see the other there.

"What's going on?"

"I don't know Sophia."

Principal Beckett addressed them.

"Mr. Abraham Ford is here to take you guys home."

"Why? School isn't over yet."

"He didn't say. Get your things. He's waiting outside."~*~*~*

With book bags in hand they walked down the corridor and out of the main door. Abe was parked in the school's car park waiting for them. They put their bags in the back of the car and got in.

"What's going on Uncle Abe?"

"Your mother will explain. I need to pick up Andre."~*~*~*

The teacher handed over a sleeping Andre to Abe and he put him gently in the backseat of the car. Half an hour later, Carl, Sophia and a now awake Andre was in the kitchen. Michonne hugged Abe and he left. She put plates of sandwiches in front of them.

"Is daddy coming home today?"

Michonne looked at Andre quietly and then at Carl and Sophia. Carl already read her face.

"Daddy's not coming home today Dre." Carl said softly.

Sophia and Andre bowed their heads. Then Andre pushed his sandwich away.

"I'm not hungry anymore."

Michonne choked up.

"You have to eat sweetie."

Andre kept his head bowed, ringing his fingers.

"Can I go to my room please?"

"Yes."

Andre jumped off the chair and ran out the kitchen and up the stairs. Sophia looked sheepishly at her and she nodded. She left the kitchen as well. Carl stayed and finished his sandwich.

"I'm going to do homework."

"Ok."

Once alone, Michonne bagged Andre's uneaten ham sandwich in a Ziplock and put it in the fridge. She picked up Carl's and Sophia's plate and in a fit of rage flung them into the sink, breaking them. She gripped the sides of the kitchen sink and her body trembled as she broke down.~*~*~*

Carl, Sophia and Andre retired to bed early and around 7:45 pm, Morgan and Carol brought home an exhausted and sleeping Judith and Logan. They took them to master bedroom and they walked back to the car

"Since I'm not seeing Rick, I take it he didn't get bail."

Michonne shook her head and they hugged her.

"We will get through this and Rick will come home. You have to believe that. You have to believe it for the children."

"I'm trying to. I really am. We just can't seem to catch a break. Everything is stacked against us."

"Morgan and I will keep the media honest. We'll take them to task for every story they print. They just want to sell papers but we know the kind of man Rick is. We will report the truth."

"Thank you."

Michonne waved to them as they pulled out of the driveway andshe retreated inside.~*~*~*

Present day…..

Michonne took about a dozen pictures of Glen and Maggie's peacefully sleeping son. Glen went to the store to get a few baby supplies.

"He is the cutest baby ever and he has so much hair!" Michonne whispered to her friend.

She took a few more pictures and they closed the room behind them. She hugged Maggie.

"I'm so happy for you! You have wanted to be a mother for so long! You will be great."

"Thank you Michonne!"

They moved to sit on the back patio.

"Have you guys come up with a name yet?"

"No and we're not in a rush either. We want to savour his namelessness until we have to be screaming his name and running after him when he's up to mischief."

Michonne laughed.

"Trust me, you will find the energy you didn't know you have because you want to protect them from bringing harm to themselves."

"And you have five Michonne! Five!"

"I know! Do you plan on having anymore?"

"Oh God no! Not now! Not for the next four/five years or so. My crouch is still on fire from the delivery!"

"Maggie!"

"What?! It's true! When you had Judith and Logan within a year of each other I told Glen that you were crazy. I couldn't bear having two babies a year within each other."

"Logan's conception was pure greed….on Rick's part! He couldn't get enough!"

Maggie shook her head in amusement.

"Hahaha! When I found out I was pregnant again, I didn't speak to him for three weeks but he wasn't fazed one bit. He was walking around like a damn proud peacock. After Logan was born, I banned him from touching me!"

"How did he take it?"

"Well, when the kids weren't at home he would walk around the house shirtless, showing of his chest and arm muscles, teasing me."

"Ohhhh. He was fighting fire with fire!"

"Yes and I ignored him for awhile but after some time, I was getting hot and bothered."

"And you gave in…didn't you?"

"I plead the fifth!"

Maggie had to cover her mouth from laughing loud and waking up the baby. So far, he's been the perfect little bundle of joy she could ever ask for. A text came through on Maggie's cell. It was from Glen.

"It's Glen. He's on his way home."

"That is my cue to leave."

"No. You don't have to go."

"Trust me Maggie. You want to have this alone time with Glen and your baby. Very soon you will be begging for it. I should know."

Maggie walked Michonne to the door and they hugged.

"Let me know when it's a good time to bring by Carl and the other children. They want to see the baby."

"I will. Thanks for the visit."

They hugged again and Michonne left.~*~*~*

Rick went mall shopping with Logan and Sophia while Michonne visited Glen and Maggie. While Rick did some browsing for Michonne and himself, Sophia was bullied by Logan into a toy store.

Rick was sceptical and warned her to keep a close eye on her baby brother. She promised and Logan dragged her to the other side of the mall. Rick gave her some money and watched them vanishing to a store. He walked further down thinking about Michonne and smiled at how blessed he was.

Their children are well balanced and their domestic life showed no signs of mental trauma all thanks to Michonne. He wanted to thank Michonne…truly thank her and not in a sexual way. He wanted to show his real appreciation for her and he needed to think long and hard about it. He browsed the store carefully.~*~*~*

Sophia followed Logan all around the store with a small trolley. She reminded him of the rules.

"Remember what mom said. You must pick atleast one toy that's educational and constructive. So it's either a puzzle piece game, word search book or Lego set."

She looked in the trolley. It was filled with toy cars and trains.

"No more recreational toys."

She pushed the trolley over to the educational section of the store and Logan reluctantly followed. He moved up and down the aisle slowly and after a minute he picked out a 200 piece Jurassic Park puzzle piece and put it in the trolley.

"Ok. One more and that's it."

He looked around again and pointed to a Lego bucket at the top of the shelf. Sophia reached up and took it down. It was a 500 piece Lego set.

"You sure?"

Logan looked at the pictures on the bucket of the various buildings that can be built with the pieces inside.

"Yes. I want it."

She smiled, ruffling his hair.

"Ok."

They walked to the cashier.~*~*~*

Rick visited several other stores yet he couldn't find what he was looking for. He himself didn't quite understand what he wanted but know he would know when he saw it. Sophia and Logan re-joined him. Logan was eating an ice-cream sandwich

"Got what you guys wanted?"

"Logan did."

"You didn't buy anything for yourself?"

"How could I? I spent all the money on him."

Rick eyed Logan who was smiling from ear to ear.

"Well that's what happens. The baby of the family gets everything."

Sophia shrugs her shoulder.

"I'm hungry daddy."

Sophia looked at him in disbelief.

"Really? You just ate a hotdog just ten minutes ago and you're stuffing your face with ice-cream!"

"I'm still hungry!" Logan protested.

"Come on. I'm hungry myself."

They headed to the food court.~*~*~*

Rick returned to their table with an eight slice Hawaiian pizza, spicy hot wings and cinnamon bread sticks. The pizza was drowning in ketchup and mustard. Both he and Logan dug in without hesitation.

"Dad!"

Rick looked at his daughter. She pointed at the pizza.

"Where's my salad?"

"What?"

"My salad?"

"What salad?"

"I don't eat this junk anymore."

"Since when?!"

"Since I'm getting fat!"

"What fat?!"

"Can't you see?"

She stood up and twirled around for him to see. Rick squinted at his fit, athletic daughter.

"Are you serious? You eat pizza at home all the time."

"Yes but mom always has lettuce, cucumbers, sweet peppers and other healthy stuff on the side! Plus she doesn't smoother anything in ketchup! Do you know how much calories there are in ketchup?! Only Logan eats that much ketchup."

Rick looked at Logan who only smiled, licking the ketchup off his fingers. Sophia stood up and stretched out her hand. Defeated, Rick retrieved a $100 and gave it to her. Sophia skipped off. Logan shrugged his shoulder and continued eating.

"Michonne never makes salad for me…." He mumbled.~*~*~*

While in the line, a familiar voice spoke to the clerk next to her. She turned around and smiled. She tapped the man on his shoulder and he looked around.

"Hi! Remember me?!"

The man leaned his head thinking.

"It's me Sophia! You helped me take my mom to the hospital when she was attacked. It's Shane right?!"

He smiled.

"Yes!" They hugged. "I remember you! How are you? How is your mom?"

"She's good. You saved her life!"

"Awww. It was nothing. You guys needed help." He looked around. "Is she here with you? I would like to say hi to her."

"No. I'm here with my dad and baby brother."

She pointed to them across the food court.

"Hey. Why don't you come over and say hello. I would love you to meet dad."

"Are you sure that will be okay? I don't want to intrude or anything."

"No. It's fine."

Reluctantly he followed her.~*~*~*

Rick was about to bite into another slice of pizza when he saw Sophia chatting with a fully grown man. He put the slice down when he saw them hug and he became concerned even though they appear to know each other. He was about to go over to investigate when they started heading over to them so he tried not to think the worst.~*~*~*

Rick displayed his best intimidating face that he could muster.

"Dad, there is someone I'll like you to meet." She pointed at Shane. "This is Mr…." She looked at him. "I'm sorry but I didn't get your last name."

"It's Walsh. Shane Walsh."

Sophia smiled.

"This is Mr Walsh. He is the one who took mom to the hospital when we were attacked in the grocery's parking lot."

She looked at Shane.

"This is my dad Rick Grimes."

Rick rose to his feet grateful and shook Shane's hand.

"Thank you for what you did. I don't even want to think what would have happened to Michonne if you weren't there to help."

"Don't worry about it. If it wasn't me, it would have been someone else."

"That maybe so but still…thank you."

Shane smiled. Suddenly, a voice called out to him.

"Shane!"

They looked around and a woman was walking towards them. She looked annoyed.

"Where have you been? I've been waiting for you."

"I was just talking to someone I met a few years back. She was just introducing me to her family."

"She?!"

The woman eyed Sophia and it made Sophia shrink back.

"Who? Her? Where do you know her from?"

"He helped my mother."

"Oh."

The atmosphere was tight with awkwardness. The woman stretched out her hand to Sophia.

"I'm Evette. Shane's fiancée."

"Hi. I'm Sophia. This is my dad."

They shook hands but it seemed like Evette didn't want to let go. Shane stared at her but she ignored him, instead looking straight at Rick, smiling. He introduced them to Logan.

"This is my son, Logan."

Logan smiled but when Evette saw him, the colour drained from her face. Shane noticed.

"Hey, What's wrong?'

"Not...nothing."

She continued staring at the little boy.

"Yes. We should go now."

Before Shane could respond, she walked away. Shane looked after her, while Rick and Sophia looked at each other and then at Logan.

"What was that all about?"

"I don't know but I better be going. It was nice seeing you again Sophia and meeting you Rick."

He waved to Logan and he left.

"That was weird." Sophia said as she sat down to eat her veggie salad.

"Yes. It was." Rick agreed as he looked at his son and at the woman several times.~*~*~*

When Rick pulled up in the driveway, Sophia jumped out and Logan followed her.

"Logan!"

"Yes daddy."

Rick gestured to him.

"That woman that we met today…do you know her?"

He shook his head.

"No. Why?"

"Because it looks like she knows you."

Logan was confused.

"How does she know me?"

"I don't know."

Logan shrugged and went inside. Just then, Michonne drove up. Rick waited for her. She greeted him with a kiss but he was tense.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know. I hope nothing."~*~*~*

Getting no results from Augustus and Mary, Jason decided to get his son on his own. Maybe he could reason with this Sasha woman and if that doesn't work, he'll just take Caleb even if it means by force. Sasha better not get in his way.

A friend of his is willing to provide him with a place in Mexico to stay once he has Caleb. He only had one chance at this and he wasn't going to blow it. It was almost 10 pm when he jumped into Sasha's backyard. He assumed that both she and Caleb were asleep.

He jimmied the lock to the backdoor and slipped inside. He sneaked around and as he moved from room to room, he got an eerie feeling in his stomach. The house felt empty…vacant. He moved to the bedroom. They were all empty. He checked the closet and there were clothes there.

Something still didn't feel right. He touched the bed. It was cold….icy. They haven't been slept in for awhile. A thought dawn on him. Did Sasha run away with Caleb? They are not here and seemed for some time. He needed confirmation.~*~*~*

Jason waited till around seven am to return. He approached the neighbour watering her plants cautiously.

"Hi. I'm wondering if I'm in the right place."

"Where are you looking for?"

He pointed to Sasha's house.

"Is this #2819 Mitan Avenue?"

"Yes."

"Oh good. I'm looking for my sister. She gave me that address."

"Sasha?"

"Yes!"

"Well she lives here or she use too."

Jason's jaw stiffened.

"What do you mean?"

"I saw her leave a couple of days or a week ago and I haven't seen her since."

"Did she moved out?"

"I don't know."

"Was she alone?"

"No. She had a little boy with her."

"Ok."

Jason turned and began walking down the street, livid. Sasha took Caleb and ran but she couldn't have done this on her own. She didn't take a single article of clothing. Someone is helping her. He started formulating his next plan of action.~*~*~*

Sasha was shocked at how comfortable living with Abe was and how good he had gotten at being a father to Caleb. She went out a few job interviews despite Abe vowing to fully support her financially and he has lived up to his word.

Caleb has taken to Abe and they have been having some great father/ son time, doting on the little boy as much as he can and a few times it made her cry. She loves Caleb but it should have been Nicole having the time of her life with her son. She should be alive to share these happy moments.

Abe seemed to have also taken some time off from work to spend with them which she loved. She looks on from the sofa as Abe tickles Caleb mercilessly on the floor and laughed. A knock on the door distracted them. She motioned that she will check it out. At the door, a postman handed her a letter marked "CONFIDENTIAL". She signed and took it back to Abe.

"Open it. You live here now. You can open whatever mail comes here."

She did and after reading a few lines covered her mouth. Abe became alert.

"What is it?"

"It's a letter from the attorney. A 4 week adoption application have been put to the courts and if there is no contest, we must attend a hearing where we can finally adopt Caleb."

Abe gobbled Caleb and walked to her. She held the little boy as he read the letter and unexpectedly Abe pulled her into his arms and kissed her on the forehead.

"I can't wait for us to officially be a family."

She looked at him.

"Me too."

She tiptoed and kissed him on the lips. He was pleasantly surprised.

"Since that is the case, I think it's time you officially meet Rick and the rest of the gang."

She smiled.

"I'm looking forward to it."~*~*~*