I don't own the Walking dead
Chapter IV: Break-up &…consequences of co-parenting Carl (part II)
7 months after Carl's birth
Flabbergasted, Michonne stares at her son. She sighs instead of voicing her thoughts. His cute and chubby cheeks make it hard for her to think about anything but his cuteness. Yet, Michonne faces a complete situation and she must speak.
Speechless, she turns to face her date. Michonne hardly keeps her seriousness. She withholds a laugh for the sake of the victim of Carl's accident. The little scoundrel also known as Carl Grimes innocently looks away from his crime. He giggles with too much happiness. Michonne smiles at her baby, and he wins her heart.
"I'm sorry, Mike." Michonne ultimately says.
"You son hates me, and It can't be clearer than this," Mike says in a tone, which hardly concealed the true feeling behind the joke.
Michonne follows Mike's finger as he points at his shirt. She oscillates between amusement and embarrassment.
"He is seven months old," Michonne declares. "I don't think he can hate anyone." She chuckles. "Unless of course…" Michonne searches her mind for any reason.
"Unless, he hates me for trying to take his gorgeous mother out." Mike retorts.
Michonne only cocks an eyebrow. She becomes distracted by her son who joyously coos. Mike rolls his eyes at Carl's innocent antics. The toddler may hate him, but Mike also hates Michonne's son.
Carl Grimes is a talented cock blocker. Mike cannot count the number of dates, which Michonne had to cancel over the tiny creature staring at him. Mike's hatred for Carl slowly grows and festers. He tries each time to form a bond with the child, but Carl's reaction to him makes it impossible. Carl hates Mike.
"He is seven month old," Michonne repeats.
Still shocked, Michonne takes her time to answer. She picks Carl, who extends his arms the furthest he can to get her attention. Michonne stares into her son's eyes and analyses her date's words.
"Do you hate Mike, lil Rick." She says with fondness.
Carl coincidentally decides to clap with excitement. Michonne laughs at her son's antics when he begins to chew the strap of her dress.
"That sounds like a yes," Mike chirps in with an embarrassed laugh.
Michonne considers Mike's claim. Carl is an expressive child. Around Mike, he displays the worst types of tantrums. She places him on her hips, and she looks back at Mike.
"Does it?" She questions her son more than she does her date.
If Carl hates him, the future is evident. She is not looking for a new father for her son. Fortunately, the biological father does a wonderful job. Michonne started to consider a proper co-parenting system. Mike or any other man is not coming to play daddy dearest, but Michonne also will not waste her time on someone Carl does not want around him.
Carl's judgement does and undoes the relationship in her life. So far based on Carl's opinion and love, Michonne has one viable candidate, the father of the said child. Rick is the only man, who her son does not assault with vomit or endless cry.
"Between the cry and now this." Frustrated, Mike points at his shirt, which Carl's vomit recovers. "He is never letting us go on a date."
From vomit to urine, Mike has a strange experience with Carl's body fluid. The experience started before the infant birth, and it has yet to cease. The baby has such a dramatic reaction to the man.
"Maybe you're right," Michonne agrees. "That leaves us with no choice on this." She dismissively speaks about Mike's many attempts to take her on a date. "He did pee on you last week."
Sometimes, Michonne laughs at the creative ways, which Carl finds to express his dislike of Mike. The other times, she worries for her son and does not care about Mike's grievance. They are not an item of any sort, and she intends to keep it that way.
"I guess we are going to give up on this date and keep it pushing." Michonne pursues. "We make good work colleagues." She carefully taps his shoulder to avoid Carl's chunk of vomit.
"For tonight," Mike agrees. "It'll take too much time to change. We'll lose the reservation." He pursues. "We'll try to reschedule and hopefully this time it won't be in the next five months."
Michonne awkwardly smiles. Mike cannot take a hint, and she has attempted everything from subtle hints of disinterest to long tirades about wanting to explore her celibate youth. However, he refuses to give up on whatever fantasy he built. Michonne cannot prolong the delusion on her side. She only needed two encounters to know Rick Grimes was the man of her life. She married him on a feeling and a promise of forever. With Mike, Michonne feels the contrary.
"I guess we'll see about rescheduling." Michonne reluctantly agrees before Mike's resilience.
Michonne does not want a hostile work environment, and so she puts up with the unrequited affection. In addition, she does not want Sasha to gloat about being right on how she still fixates on Rick. Her interaction with Mike is a result of sheer necessity.
When she arrived in Italy, it felt amazing to meet another American in the workplace. They spoke the same language, and she wanted a friend. Michonne allowed herself to go to a random date to speed the process of forgetting Rick. Now, she had an enamoured suitor, who refused to give up on his quest for her love.
After the date, which she cancelled three months ago, Michonne cancelled four more dates. Each time the reason is more ludicrous, and Carl is the causative agent.
On the first cancelled date, which followed Rick's call, Carl developed a skin rash due to Mike's hand lotion. Perhaps, it is why her son hates him or reacts so virulently to any sort of physical contact with Mike. However, the misadventure started a series of new cancelled dates. As for now, Mike has waited almost a year for a chance with Michonne. The biggest obstacle to his success happens to be a seven months infant.
Michonne expects Mike to leave, but he does not move. Mike remains in Michonne's living room. She curiously looks at him and waits for answers to her silent question.
"I'm sorry to ask." Michonne says, but she focuses on her son. "But you're still here." She gently questions.
From Michonne's expression, Mike can sense the excuse. He refuses to allow the little monster to win another battle. He feels as if he leaves, he will lose all his chances with Michonne. Consequently, Mike rushes to stop Michonne in the next sentence.
"It's nothing that I can't wash off." He says while he points at his shirt. "And then we'll be able to go on that date tonight."
Mike refuses to see the excuse of the damaged clothes becoming a hindrance to his plans. He has prepared so much to seduce and impress Michonne. Despite her blatant reluctance, Mike undoubtedly believes that he can win Michonne's heart. He assumes that the absence of Carl's father may explain why Michonne has not shown interest in the relationship.
"Are you sure?" Michonne lacks words
The last time, Carl urinated on his designer suit and changed his white shirt into a yellow mess. Michonne used the excuse. Mike nods, and he does not step away from his spot.
"I'm sure," He replies. "We're going on that date."
Mike is not blind to the hints. Although, he refuses to admit his failure. A woman like Michonne does not come around every second. He has tried to date people between his waiting period, and those women lose every time against Michonne. Mike finds her fascinating and gorgeous. She is a challenge that he needs to win.
Mike has standards and ambitions. Michonne is the perfect woman to help him succeed, but she has a spawn of Satan attached to her hips. However, Mike will not abandon. As long as she is single, he is ready to play stepfather. To him, his dislike of Carl does not matter. Yet he knows to pretend that he cares for Michonne's son. Mike expects to exploit the absence of Rick. He wrongly presumes the reason behind Michonne's celibacy. Mike undoubtedly believes that Michonne is a single mother, abandoned to a harsh fate by an unscrupulous lover. Therefore, he misunderstands Michonne's reluctance to date him. Mike wants to heal Michonne from her supposed wounds and hatred for men.
"The bathroom is behind that door, but you already know..." Hesitantly, Michonne responds, and the fingers, which Carl shoves in her mouth, interrupt her.
Michonne forgets her conversation and focuses on her demanding son. Mike walks away, and Michonne cares very little about where he goes. She looks at her baby, and Carl drools at her dress. Michonne sighs and kisses her son's forehead.
"Mr Grimes, you shouldn't puke on people." With a soft voice, she chastises her child. "Now, we have a man washing clothes in our house." She jokes.
A small frown appears on Carl's forehead, and the infant recognizes his mother's authoritative voices. The cooing and other indiscernible sounds cease. Big bright blue irises glisten due to tears. Michonne draws a deep breath. Sometimes a glance at Carl suffices to flood her mind with memories of Rick.
"Oh don't give me this look." She places him on the sofa while she reminds herself not to fall for a trick that Carl stole from his father's book. "Carl Grimes, I won't fall for old tricks." Michonne smiles, and she begins to clean her son. "That is very Rick-like." Michonne muses.
Rick's influences on his son's behaviours are heavily present in Michonne's daily life. Rick is slowly turning Carl into a second version of himself, and he can do so effortlessly because each month he spends more hours conversing with Carl. Father and son duo have reached a point where they do not spend a day without hours-long conversations.
With his sobriety lasting longer than his previous attempts, Michonne considers the possibility of physical visitations. Rick has earned his place by Carl. Michonne can no longer find flaws in his behaviour.
She no longer fears an act of negligence. Her son will not fall from anything because his father is too high to care. Carl will not end up sick because his addicted father left an open box of pills somewhere. Michonne may be a bit dramatic, but those are common emergencies with children, who drug-addicted parents raised.
"Your father prepared me for this old trick. Now, I have to finish cleaning you too." She continues to talk to her son. "And apparently still go on a date. You should help mommy out." Michonne wipes Carl's cheek.
Michonne focuses so much on her son, and so she does not notice the presence of the man, who enters back to the room. Michonne ignores Mike for a few minutes. Ultimately, he clears his throat to draw her attention. Michonne looks over her shoulder and immediately returns to the task of cleaning Carl.
Mike draws closer to Michonne and stands by her left side. He waits for Michonne's acknowledgement. Unfortunately, he will not have it. Tonight, Carl offers her a new excuse. She inhales a breath of relief and smiles at her son.
"You're going to be all clean, and look handsome. Aren't you? You'll be handsome like your dad." She does not finish her sentence.
Mike takes her sudden change of mood for an argument strengthening his theory. Michonne inhales, and she suddenly misses Rick. With her thoughts, her already non-existent desire to go on a date expands.
Michonne coughs and turns her attention to Mike, who is bare-chested. He expects a reaction, but the young woman does not blink or acknowledge his attempt to seduce her. Mike's good looks are not the problem. Michonne only has eyes for one man, and Rick is at the forefront of her mind now.
"You should head home. I think Carl must be sick." Casually, she throws the statement while she strolls past him with her son in her hands. "He vomited again," Michonne lies. "And that is not good."
"Can we have another date?" With the last strand of desperation, he asks. "Just one has we planned. Even if you're making it hard, I know you must have your reasons. I'm a good man. Let me prove it to you."
Michonne takes a deep breath, and she follows Sasha's advice. The young woman cannot continue to waste his time. Mike has not held her attention once. If she boldly admits the truth, Michonne is slowly falling in love with Rick. It should be impossible because she is already in love with him. However, as the days pass and the best of him emerges, she cannot avoid the growth of her feelings.
"Listen, Mike..." She wants to end the little game, but Mike interrupts Michonne before she can clear his misunderstanding.
"Can I have a fair chance before rejection?" Mike pleadingly asks. "I have been through all the trouble and tribulation. I think you're the best woman for me, and I want a chance to prove to you that I am or could be the best man for you. Please, Michonne." He throws down all his cards. "If after that date, nothing goes as planned I'll be happy to have a good friend."
Mike does not care if it is out of pity, but he cannot allow Michonne to slip through his fingers. He does not doubt his ability to break her resistance.
"I..." Michonne's charitable and generous nature overpowers her will, and so she nods. "Friends if it doesn't work out as planned." She insistently adds to prepare Mike for the only option
Michonne knows that she is irrational, but her son's tantrums are scheduled on days where she has a date. Exasperated and lacking sleep, Michonne stares at her crying son. She wonders if Rick manages to convince a baby to do his bidding. Michonne shakes her head at her ridiculous thoughts. She sighs and continues to rock Carl.
Despite Michonne's effort, Carl continues to cry. Through exhaustion, she has run out of options to calm her son.
"I'll manage it." Sasha jumps in between the pair. "Clara used to have those endless tantrums as well. Remember, auntie Mich." She uses the nickname, which her daughter has for her best friend.
Sasha tries to grab the infant, but Carl starts to twist left and right. Fearing for his health, Sasha puts him down. As time passes, she starts to share Michonne's exasperation. Her little nephew intends to make the day infernal.
"Carl?" With a soft and gentle voice, Michonne tries to negotiate with the crying creature. "What do you want, darling?" She presents his pacifier but he snubs it.
Michonne attempts to feed Carl, but he rejects her offerings as an angry god would with a kick of his leg. She pushes the toys toward him, but except for a haughty sneer, he does not care for them. Michonne inhales and searches for a way to pacify him.
As a pragmatic being, Sasha thinks faster than her friend. If the son is anything like the mother then the solution is easy, Carl does favour his mother's attitude. She takes Michonne's tablet and dangles it in front of the child. In Carl's developing mind, everything works by association, and the tablet equates to Rick. For a second, the tears are less loud, and chubby hands rise in the attempt to reach for the magical object.
"We can't call your dad. It is too late." Michonne pulls the tablet out of his reach, and she glares at Sasha.
Now, there is nowhere to escape. There will be no end to this tantrum. Her friend shrugs. As long as the silence retakes its rightful place inside their home, Sasha does not care about Michonne techniques of avoidance.
"Oh, don't try it with me." Sasha warns. "We're both exhausted. Carl wants to talk to his dad. He isn't going to stop crying otherwise." She declares. "How long are you going to avoid him?" With her usual bluntness, Sasha continues to brush sensible subjects.
"Forever," Michonne deadpans.
Sasha rolls her eyes and sighs.
"Not an option, beloved." Sasha replies. "You've a child with him. Trust an expert in the matter. A child will have you speaking with the devil if he wants it. Lucky for you, Rick isn't the devil." She smiles.
"I'm asking you to watch Carl while he talks with Rick. How is it avoiding anyone or anything?" She counters.
"I have supervised the two last calls, and I must admit some girly side of me was crushing on the perfect daddy." Sasha tries to explain her point of view. "And I'm very married to his best friend with a child. Do I expand?"
Michonne cocks an eyebrow, and she pretends not to understand.
"Now, I don't run the 'Rick Grimes is snack' fan club, you do. I can only imagine the effect on your woman's parts, but you've to be stronger than lust. You can do it, baby girl." Her voice betrays her lack of faith. "I'm not stronger than lust. I'm going to call my husband and leave the rest to your imagination. " Sasha kisses Michonne's cheek. "Call your baby daddy,
Michonne stubbornly attempts to stall the unavoidable. She comfortably sits with Carl, and she attempts to reason with her son. He looks at her with big eyes and proceeds to calm down at the sight of the tablet.
"Listen, your dad must be sleeping." Michonne ignores Sasha, and she tries to convince an infant, who has his mind made up.
Carl's only answer is to cry until he turns red. Michonne sighs as she understands the absence of choices.
"Carl?" Michonne says with a defeated tone.
As the call rings, Michonne hopes Rick is too asleep to pick up the phone. She knows it is immature and selfish, but she needs some time to recover from her new infatuation. Watching Carl and Rick interact is her kryptonite. Michonne does not want to fall deeper in love with Rick.
Michonne has blindly loved Rick for three years, and now she fears falling deeper into what they had before Carl. Michonne steals a breath, and she chases away those unpleasant thoughts. Loving Rick was never the problem only when she chose to do it.
When the screen changes from an attempted call to the darkness of Rick's room, Michonne sighs and prepares herself to endure quietly. Her emotions are a complex mixture of disappointment and excitement. Consciously, she does not want to place herself in a hard position, but the languishing woman in Michonne will be content with stolen glances at Rick.
"I'm so sorry Rick." When his confused face appears on the screen, she apologizes. "Your son is a lot less sorry, and he needs to talk to his dad."
Rick brushes his tousled curls away from his sleepy face. Michonne sighs internally. Why does heaven lack mercy for her? Does he have to look like an Adonis right out of bed? She has shared his bed for three years and knows the response to her question.
Rick Grimes wakes up looking like bottled sex. Michonne sighs and prays for her survival. She needs to leave the conversation with her sanity.
Rick only smirks at what she said. He looks exhausted without being too affected by his tiredness. Michonne eyes him, and she picks a slight glow on him. Her heart halts for a second as conclusions are rushing to her mind.
With her inquisitive eyes, Michonne notices that Rick is not in his room. She exhales with frustration but has no right to say something. Rick is her ex-husband, and Michonne has almost gone on a date tonight.
"Chonne?" He questions while he rubs away the sleep from his eyelids.
Rick tries to focus on the blurry image, and he drags his body out of bed. The bedsheets move away from his waist. Accidentally, Rick offers Michonne a good view of his nakedness. She stares at his naked body, and once again, the experience results in intricate sentiments. Michonne crosses her legs to rid herself of any interest. She draws a breath and attempts to look away. Michonne continues to stare at Rick's manhood. Yet, Michonne feels more than lust.
In a part, Michonne wants to continue feasting on Rick's new body and lean muscles, but she also has a thousand questions. Why is he naked in a bed, which does not belong to him? She tries to push her jealousy and lust aside. Yet, the answers to her questions are upsetting. Rick must be in charming company.
"Yes Richard..." Michonne bitterly replies..
Michonne can hide the lust, but her jealousy escapes her control. It spills in her voice and rearranges her posture. The frown on her visage and her sour expression speaks volumes. Michonne's frustration bubbles under the surface.
"What's wrong?" Rick takes the risk to question her when he catches her mood.
Michonne hesitates, but the answer tingles the tip of her tongue. Michonne inhales another time, and her eyes continue to rest on his naked manhood. His question has many answers. Some are inappropriate. She decides to say nothing out of pocket.
"Your son is bullying me, but we won't interrupt what you have going on at the moment." Michonne responds at first.
"What?" Rick asks with slight amusement
"Whatever we're interrupting while you're naked in a bed that is not ours." Michonne's jealousy does not allow her to keep her dignity. "We can talk later. It's my fault for calling without a heads up. Of course, you have a life. It has been almost a year. Why would you abstain for so long? I'll call back. "
The words pour out of Michonne's Mouth before she can analyze their meaning. Half through the sentence, she remembers her place in Rick's life. Although, she has already said more than she should have.
"Michonne," Rick softly says. "You're jealous." He deadpans. "And that is adorable." He teases. "What's the reason for your call, sweetheart?"
"She's going to hear you," Michonne frowns. "Your little date or more."
Rick laughs and gently looks at Michonne. He has missed the lightness of their relationship. Yet, they are slowly returning to their normalcy.
"I left a fiance to marry once. I could do it again." Rick declares. "Do you want to elope?"
Michonne rolls her eyes. For the same reason, Michonne started to avoid Rick. With each call, she noticed that they start to play the perfect family or fall back into habits. She does not know how to react, and helplessly, Michonne watches herself fall in love with a man who she has loved until her heart could no longer take the burning pain.
"Richard," Michonne sighs. "I only called because Carl is bullying me, but you want to talk about marriage while in bed with another woman."
Rick laughs and straightens to better face Michonne.
"Carl is seven months, how can he bully you?" Rick asks with amusement. "You don't need an excuse to talk to me. You only have to call, and I'll pick the phone in a heartbeat." He adds. "And my bed is empty, Chonne. If you want a piece of me, tell me when and how." Rick teases.
"I never even said that I wanted you." Michonne argues.
"You ain't fucking anyone?" Rick almost affirms. "You miss us," He undoubtedly knows. "I miss you badly. You know how crazy it is to go from a magical sex life to nothing but my hand." He sighs.
"Richard," Michonne breathes out. "You don't lack options. Don't make yourself look like the victim of a sexual draw. You could have any woman who you want."
"So when do I get you," Rick bounces on Michonne's statement. "it's all yours when you want it." He teases her and rotates his camera, and so she can see around his room. "Like no one is with me." He reminds Michonne.
"Okay," Michonne relaxes. "Well, here is your seven months' terror...and I didn't mean it like that," She adds with embarrassment and sits their son on her lap. "Say hello to daddy, Carl."
Carl eagerly waves to the screen, and he begins to happily bounce on his mother's laps.
"Hello, little man." Rick greets his son, and for a second, he forgets about Michonne.
The wonderment when he faces his child, Michonne cannot prevent the fall. It is almost as if she faces a dream, which she long lost. Michonne cannot prevent the smile, which spreads wide across her lips. Rick continues to speak while Carl is ecstatic in her arms. Father and son are each other's worlds.
Traversing the weird phase of re-burgeoning love feels like the right price to pay for her son's happiness. Michonne does not know the topic of their conversation, and she spends too much time being mesmerized by the interaction. Michonne likes to allow them their privacy, and often, she becomes the tiers party, who spy on them.
"Do you miss daddy more than your mother does or does she create excuses?" Rick continues to tease her.
"I will get Sasha." Embarrassed, Michonne stands and tries to escape the conversation.
"My dick is out, and you want Sasha ogling me." Rick deadpans. "Sweetheart, talk to me."
It is too familiar and too comfortable as if the young years of their love have re-emerged. He teases her, and she blushes. However, that time is forever lost, and Michonne is unsure if she wants to recover it. The end was bitter for them. Carl is the miracle, which made the heartache worthy. Now, she has enough distance to know her love was a sort of addiction too.
"Chonne?" Rick calls her name to stop her departure.
"Yes, Rick?" Reluctantly, she returns to face his annoying smirk, which is less arrogant.
"Can we talk?" His tone is less soft to indicate the seriousness of the conversation.
Michonne rearranges Carl in her arms, and she hesitates. The speed of her heart rate increases. What can they talk about when they say so much?
"About?" She questions. "It can't be your genitals," Michonne laments.
Rick chuckles and shakes his head.
"Our seven months old son is on your lap," Rick deadpans. "You're such a bad influence." He jokes. "What I want to talk about, Chonne?" He repeats her question.
Michonne chose the safest question to start a conversation. She can be uncomfortable with certain topics around Rick. Now with her growing feelings for him, Michonne becomes a lot more secretive. The metamorphose of her love for him is a topic, which she blatantly refuses to explore.
"Carl." He answers, and Michonne exhales a sigh of relief. "I wanted to talk about Carl."
Talking about their son is easier and safer. When it comes to raising Carl, Michonne's mind is clear. Her sentiments are a lot more blurry. Although, she has clarity and boundaries, which she didn't have a year ago? Her love for Rick experiences a rejuvenation and starts to root on new foundations.
"yes, obviously." She answers, and she tries to keep Carl on one spot.
"Please, keep an open mind." When he meets her concerned eyes, He hesitates. "Don't shoot me at the first word."
Michonne cocks an eyebrow, but she understands that Rick has grown accustomed to her harsher side. When it comes to Carl's wellbeing, Michonne can be terrible with Rick.
"I'm only asking that we discuss without judgement." Rick insists.
For the last month with the stabilisation of his mental state, Rick's confidence in his ability to parent his son grew. Now, he wants more time with his son.
"So Carl," He repeats.
Rick attentively looks at Michonne, and he does not believe that she would refuse his request. However, he knows how protective Michonne is of Carl. In the last seven months, much demonstrated it. She made sure he took each of the drug tests, which allowed him to entertain a relationship with his son. In her harsh way, Michonne helped Rick with his sobriety. She was not always harsh, and most of the day, she picked him up with random conversations about nothing.
"I will try." With a smile, which shows her willingness, she answers. "Just tell me."
"I think this FaceTime thing is a bit inconvenient." Rick's voice continues to broadcast his hesitation.
Michonne shows patience, and she predicts where the conversation will advance. With a soft smile and encouragement, she helps him relax. The young woman expected to have this conversation sooner, but she is happy he waited to be at his best before asking for more. Two months ago, the discussion would end with Michonne's refusal. The young woman is no longer lenient with Rick, and her growing love doesn't change most of her position.
"I know you don't trust me with Carl, but mom can supervise the visit. I'm working hard to keep it together. I haven't slid once. I control my anger." Quickly, he pleads his case, and Michonne's silence adds to his stress. "I could ask more of the drug test."
"No," Michonne gently declares.
Although, the young woman is silent due to the child in her arms, who slowly falls asleep. She rests Carl's head on her chest, and she pulls his blanket over him. Once she finishes caring for her infant, she focuses on the father. The peaceful smile doesn't move from her lips.
"No?" Rick inquires
"Rick, breathe." When she notices his stress, Michonne adds more comforting words. " I meant no need for proof of your sobriety. You no longer owe me one," Michonne replies. "I think it's my turn to be more trusting. I do owe you trust." She admits.
"Chonne?" Rick hesitates. "I understand why you did what you needed to protect Carl."
Michonne feels relieved, and she gently stares at Rick.
"I'm glad you do," Michonne confesses. "Then I should be understanding as well. Sobriety is a harsh journey. You don't need judgement and mistrust. I think you're doing great." She declares. "I don't think while you're with Carl, you need a supervisor. I trust you with our son...I do" She stresses when disbelief runs across his facial expression.
"Michonne," Rick remains speechless.
Michonne does her best not to be vindictive. Carl will never be a victim of personal grudges with his father. If there is no threat to her son's safety, she will overlook her discomfort. Which she did the last months, her constant interaction with Rick created her strange new love. However, her fears to fall deeper in love never waited on the scale. Carl had the time with her father, which she could afford to give him.
"The FaceTime conversation is an inconvenience to us all." Michonne continues. "I don't want to intrude in your relationship with our son. These are your moments and should be yours alone." Michonne explains.
"We're a family," Rick corrects Michonne. "You aren't intruding in anything." He sighs. "We never talked about the way we would raise our kids." Rick looks at Michonne. "I get it now why we never brushed the topic."
Michonne looks away, and she does not want to voice her opinion. The past is behind Rick and Michonne. She sees no reason to unearth old grudges.
"This is not an ideal way to raise a kid," Rick admits. "To think it could be worse, I understand how selfish we agreed to be. Michonne, I'm sorry." He apologized.
"You shouldn't," Michonne immediately replies. "I stayed with you because I could bear to see you ruin yourself more than I could endure being away from you." She confesses. "I just loved you beyond my sanity. You were my everything. If Carl didn't come along, you would still be the greatest love of my life. I guess we can all be sorry." Michonne pursues. "But we aren't the topic tonight. You want Carl closer to you, and I have no heart to keep you away from your son, Richard." She explains. "And we aren't the family I silently dreamed about for three years. Your moments with Carl should be yours only."
Michonne has her heart filled with regrets every time she witnesses Carl and Rick's interaction. She cannot escape the reminder that they could be a happier family if only Rick did not suffer his addiction. She refuses to dwell on her selfish thoughts and other forms of regrets. In addition, her growing feelings for Rick complicate the situation.
Carl's happiness is our priority. I'm not unfair, Rick. " Michonne confesses. "I might sound like a bitch. I might have acted like one as well, but I did what I had to do. I know you're the cool parent. You don't have to play the villain. You don't have to think about everything that could go wrong. You were never in my shoes. You never cleaned your mess as I did. You didn't hurt yourself as you hurt me. It wasn't the drug that did the most harm to me. Your stubbornness and selfishness did that. I was looking out for Carl. I know what you can do when you only think of yourself. I didn't want that for Carl." Michonne sniffs to hide the rise of tears. "I'm not unfair."
"I understand that now, sweetheart." Rick softly says. "I do." He firmly adds.
"I'm not trying to keep Carl away from you, and I was protecting him from real harm. I hope you know it." Michonne insists. "You said that you understand, and I hope every single thing I did does not come across as a personal attack on you. You weren't the enemy, but your addiction was."
Michonne knows that she seems to be the villain due to her firmness. If it limits the emergency visits, she will proudly play her villain role. For seven months, Michonne stared into Rick's eyes and faced well-concealed resentment because she kept her son away from him.
Before Carl, Michonne's fear overpowered her best interest. She feared losing Rick's love, and she allowed him to drag them down a spiral. Now, every day, she faces those fears, but Carl's safety is her priority.
Michonne ceased to be a mindless lover.
"Now, I know it. In rehab, we shared our experiences, and I was grateful. Some of the story, which I heard opened my eyes." He saves the gory details. "My son is safe." He sighs. "I won't lie and say I haven't been angry about the situation. I called you a bitch in a few heated thoughts, but I was mostly mad at myself when I understood how I did everything wrong." He scratches his hair. "Michonne, I'm lucky to have you. I'm aware that you are the reason why Carl is happy and safe. I know now where I lost my chances to get it right. Thank you for being on my case and not giving into my will. I don't want to think of the what if. I could have hurt my son like…"
Rick does not want to tell her about the children, who drown in their bath because of a parent too high to hold them straight or those burned in a third degree. He doesn't want to expand on the horror, but the stories don't end when rehab starts. Rehabilitation equates to a mental vulnerability, which is dangerous with an infant around. Rick was irritable, depressive, and paranoid.
"Our son is safe, and I can only thank you for going against your throbbing heart." Rick gently declares. "I was dangerous."
The mental instability associated with the withdrawal syndrome does not mix well with a crying child. Rick refuses to imagine a scene when his uncontrollable fit of rage made him hurt his son. Perhaps, without Michonne's firmness, he will have to share a horror story.
"However, I'm no longer unstable or depressed..." With a confident voice, he pursues and tries to convince Michonne.
"I understand, and I'm trying to work on something. An alternated guard is the best option. At seven months, Carl is too young to move between continents. Perhaps, I'm selfish." She interrupts Rick, and she tries to explain her dilemma.
"Michonne," Rick tries to relieve her frustration.
He does not believe that she is selfish. Rick does not want to guilt her into anything. With a clear mind, he commends her strength. Rick knows Michonne has ceased to be his gullible lover, and he loves her more for it.
"It's fine, Rick. I can wear my big girl pants and admit the flaw in my logic. I moved across the ocean to be away from you. Now, I'm the mother of your child, and I don't have the luxury to hide from you. My son can't continue to believe an iPad is his father. If I don't need to do it alone, I said I wouldn't do so. You're a good father, and parenting is an extraordinary adventure with you." Her sincerity leaves Rick speechless. "I can compromise. "
Rick knows she thinks every word, which she says. Michonne supported Rick during his hardest time. How late he called did not matter, and she assured him he could talk to his son. When Michonne noticed any sign of depression, she would spend hours talking to him. Except for the physical distance between them, they have grown closer.
"I have to work on the how, but we will return home. Sasha leaves in a week. She will help to find a decent apartment for Carl and me. I have a running work contract. I will try to negotiate it, and by Christmas, I may be free."
"Christmas is a month away." The inflexion of Rick's voice does not convey his excitement.
His words almost sound like a complaint. A bit confused, Michonne stares at Rick.
"I can't make it faster. If I could, you would have your son in your arms today. However, I still have an engagement with the firm." She counters his statement. "We don't have a place."
"I didn't mean it in that way. If you let me, I will love to have my son tonight." He corrects, and subtlety, he asks her if he can visit.
Michonne is right, and Rick is not in his room. In truth, he is not in America. Rick is consulting for a trading company in London.
"He will love it too, but you have both to learn patience. Bye, Rick."
When her door rings, Michonne drags her feet. Tonight, she has no excuse to escape this dreadful date. Carl is peacefully asleep. Without enthusiasm, she opens the door. Her greeting dies on the tip of her tongue, and she needs air.
"Oh" Surprised into shock, she whispers. "You?" Michonne remains speechless.
"Here," He finishes Michonne's sentence.
The gentleness of his voice grounds Michonne. Her frown turns into a soft smile, and her forefinger pokes him to confirm his presence.
"Rick?" She cannot believe her sight.
Michonne appraises his appearance, and her heart flutters. The rapid contraction and her concealed blush are clear signs of Rick's effect on Michonne. She places her hand on her chest to keep her heart from leaping out of her rib cage. Her smile grows bigger when he does not vanish like a mirage.
"Interesting reaction, I was expecting something exuberant..." Rick chokes on the remaining words.
The wind in his throat stops when Michonne suddenly hugs him, Rick has to manoeuvre to keep from falling after the collision with Michonne jumping in his arms. He presses her back against the door and wraps her dangling legs around his waist.
Michonne offers him the exuberant reaction, which he expected during his entire flight. Her arms firmly circled Rick's neck.
"Less tight, Chonne." He whispers. "I still need to breathe." He jokes and holds her with more ease.
Rick's lips brush against her skin, and he naturally kisses her cheek. Ultimately, the intimate touch reminds Michonne of her posture. Slowly, she unwraps her leg and stands on the ground.
Their new positions only worsen the sensation of proximity. In the haste to escape Rick's touch, Michonne has trapped herself between Rick and the door. His warm and muscular body presses her delicate frame into the door, and the heat, which radiates from Rick, engulfs her. Rick's perfume surrounds Michonne like the air, which she breathes.
"Pretty boy," She warns when Rick begins to close the non-existent distance between them.
With his height advantage, Rick towers over Michonne's petite frame. She has to look up if she wants to talk to him, and the view, which she has of his visage, is impressive. Did Rick always look this handsome? His body is svelter than it used to be, but his muscles are defined. She feels them press against her body.
"Richard," Michonne insists when he does not heed her first warning.
The five o'clock shadow, which covers his chin, enhances the sharpness of his jaw. His curls are longer, and she fights the need to tangle her finger in the gorgeous mane. Michonne will abstain to mention the blue of his eyes because she has long drowned in them.
"Rick?"
When she watches her body betray her, Michonne tries to reemerge. Her mind berates her body for the embarrassment. Perhaps, she needs sex, and her body has decided to let her mind know.
"Sorry." Embarrassed, she removes her arm from around his neck.
However, Michonne knows where to put her hands. Rick continues to press her body against the door. Tentatively, Michonne looks for the doorknob. Rick takes her arms and wraps them around his neck.
"I didn't expect you to be here..." She stutters while she fights to resist the scent of his designer perfume, which stirs away what small of common sense that she has left.
"We had the conversation five hours ago, and you were across the sea." Michonne continues to speak because she wants to ignore the fiery eyes, which stares at her plump lips.
"Yeah, across the English channel. If you listened to my conversation with Carl, you would know I was in London for a conference and a consulting job." Ultimately, Rick averts his eyes from her lips while he speaks to her. " and now?"
Although, staring into the blue of his eyes worsen the situation for Michonne. The languishment coupled with the raw need, which she finds in the silver sea that inhibits Rick's eye, has a dangerous effect on her libido. How do five minutes around Rick Grimes remind her body of needs, which were dormant for months?
"You're home," Michonne hears herself respond.
"I..." She tries to continue the conversation, but Rick closes the little distance between them.
"Hmmm, you..." He tilts her chins and interrupts his sentence by kissing Michonne.
His lips softly cover hers before she protests, and the kiss corrupts Michonne. Her refrained needs resurface with burning violence. The first graze of lips is passionate. Grazing her bottom lip, Rick treasures the familiar taste of Michonne. Her lips are soft and sweet.
Rick's touch is tender, but it does not lack passion. Instinctively, Michonne's greedy arms circle Rick's body. Their restrained desires collide, and he deepens the kiss in response.
Michonne moans and opens her mouth. He charms his way into her mouth. His tongue darts and she braces herself for the passion, which he pours into each tongue stroke. Between kisses, Michonne tries to retrieve a glimpse of reason.
As the passion increases, the kiss becomes fiery. Passionate jousts of tongue replace the lazy stroke. Rick's hand dips lower until it reaches his favourite part of her body. With a Palm firmly pressed on her ass, he thrusts her pelvis closer to his.
Michonne's fingers disappear inside his majestuous curls. When Rick bites her lower lips and alleviates the pain with his hot tongue, she moans. His free hand pushes the hem of her dress, and he helps her circle his waist with her thigh. They continue passionately to kiss until the laws of nature make their bodies ache for fresh air.
"You have a date." He whispers against her lips
"Something like that" Still dazzled by the magic, which the contact of their lips created, Michonne answers. "The red dress is giving it away?" She presses another kiss on Rick's lips.
Michonne assumes her clothes must have betrayed her previous engagement.
"I don't think you would keep the dress tonight," Rick declares as he focuses on stealing another kiss from Michonne.
"Do you want me to cancel my date, pretty boy?" Michonne inquires with a light chuckle.
"You wouldn't have to explain why," Calmly, he states while he drags the hem of her dress back down. "He witnessed enough of our little show." He quietly adds.
"Rick?" Michonne inquires with slight confusion.
"I can keep going," Rick teases. "But I learned how little you care for exhibitionism." He begins to fix himself. "Tell him to go home ."
Ultimately, Michonne glances beyond his shoulder. Her beautiful brown eyes collide with Mike's infuriated ones. She inhales, but unfortunately, Rick's rich scent engulfs her. Another reminder of her compromising position, Michonne drags her right leg down, but Rick doesn't remove the hand, which supports it.
"Rick." She chastises him, but her voice has lost all dignity.
"Healthy dose of possessiveness." He chuckles and releases her legs. "You tell him to go or I need to do it since what he caught didn't send him packing."
"I..." Her embarrassment steals her eloquence.
Apologetically, she stares at Mike, and she wishes he could walk away. Sasha was right, and she can already hear the gloating. Michonne should have squashed all of Mike's hopes with more firmness. Although, she didn't intend for this to happen. The young woman underestimated her attraction to Rick. He knocked at her door looking like a full course meal, and the flesh was weak. There is a reason why Carl exists.
"Mike, have you been here for a long time?" Michonne searches her mind for less awkward words.
"Good comeback." He continues to taunt her.
Michonne wonders how he ignores the tiers party behind him. When he leans another time, his lips graze her. Michonne understands how he does it. However, she refuses to indulge Rick's antics, and slightly, she shoves Rick away. The first kiss was a fluke, and she was under the spell of his enhanced beauty.
"I will start to work on them." She replies with arrogance, which mimics his.
"You have been working on something else." He teases her, and in a slow caressing motion, he moves his hands across her bareback.
To her body's biggest regrets, Michonne stops his hands and places them back to his side. Ultimately, she opens the door of her house and puts some space between their aroused bodies.
"There must be a point to your presence here beyond a public embarrassment." She questions. "Your son, Richard."
Rick's answer is a mischievous smile. How did she forget about his exhibitionist tendency? If she allows him, Rick will do more than a kiss, and poor Mike will need to bleach his eyes. She swats his shoulders because now, she has to cleanse her mind and erase the fantasy, which he planted there.
"Yeah," he answers and allows her to move out of his grip.
"7months your clone, and a professional at crying, I guess." She questions. "Go check on our son, Rick."
"Can I?" Excitedly, he asks for her permission, but he already heads toward the nursery.
"Please do. I need to fix the mess, which you created." Michonne turns to face Mike, and she can't explain his expression. "Have you met my ex-husband and Carl's dad?"