In Due Time

"You."

I was speechless. Fucking speechless. "I'm so sorry." She said but I couldn't hear her. I just kept staring at the tears that were sliding down her face. I was going to be a father? I have so many questions, so many. This was overwhelming, I needed space. Throwing my hand up, I called for Denise.

Michonne kept silent. "How long have you known?" I asked.

"A week." She replied. I wanted to be angry, I wanted to be mad but I couldn't. I couldn't. I had so many emotions clouding my mind but anger wasn't one of them.

As soon as Denise made her way over to our table I took out my wallet and paid the tab. I told Denise to keep the change. We didn't use a condom but I just assumed she was on the pill. I wasn't even thinking straight that day. Lust clouded my judgment.

I was going to be a father.

We walked out to my car; I even opened the door for her without saying anything. What the fuck was I supposed to say? Getting behind the steering wheel I slammed the door shut behind me. I just sat there. I didn't even cut the engine on.

"Can you take me home now?" Her voice was stoic. I noticed she had her hands wrapped around her midsection. My child. She was already cementing a wall between us. My reaction may have seemed negative and I regret that now. Yet I was still reeling from the news.

Dragging my hands down my face I say, "This changes things." It changed things but it didn't make me want her any less. Even though this was the first time we sat down and had a conversation outside of anything revolving around assignments I felt a sense of familiarity with her. It was hard to explain.

"It does," she agrees. "I don't want to be that woman, the woman that keeps a child away from their father. If you want to be a part of this then tell me. I don't want to have to wonder." Did I want to be a part of this?

"I-give me some time Michonne, this isn't exactly an easy thing to wrap my head around."

"You think it was easy for me?" Her tone was angry.

"How did this even happen? I just assumed-"

"Assumed what? We had sex without protection. Or did you forget that you had me bent over your desk?"

"Of course I remember, Michonne. This changes things, I mean between us." It was hard putting everything into words; she seemed to be aggravated by every word that left my mouth. This beautiful woman was carrying my child and it just made me crave her even more. "I still want to be with you," I tell her.

"Rick my child comes first. I need you to realize that. You said you needed time and I think its best you take that. The last thing I need you to do is change your mind when this becomes too much for you to handle."

"Our child," I affirmed. "I admit there are few things in my life that need to be adjusted but I won't ever change my mind about wanting to be a part of this. This- I just wasn't prepared for it." Michonne didn't say anything after that. Even after I drove her home, she was silent with her face towards the window on the drive.

A child. At some point, it had to cross my mind that there was a possibility of her becoming pregnant. I knew I slid into her with a condom; I've always used protection with the exception of Lori. Before that, I haven't been with anyone after my divorce. My fingers curled tightly around the steering wheel. I wasn't happy with the way things ended after dinner. The prospect of having a healthy child filled me with excitement. I told her I wanted to be a father; I just always thought I'd be married first. That I'd plan to have a child, we'd have the white picket fence along with a dog my wife would make me accept. If there was anything I learned from my last marriage it's that life didn't care about your wants or needs. There was either a good outcome or a negative one.

"Let me rephrase this, just so there is no misunderstanding between us. I want to be a part of our child's life. Please don't ever think I don't want that. But I also want to be a part of yours. If this is something you need time to think about then I'll understand." I didn't unlock the door to let her out just yet. I didn't want to leave things the way they were.

The apartment complex I was parked in front of was dark; if it weren't for my headlights I wouldn't be able to see anything.

"Rick we don't know the first thing about each other."

"You know why I wanted to be a lawyer, where I work… That's nothing that can't be rectified, Michonne."

"Having a child with you is one thing; you're talking about getting into something deeper."

"It doesn't have to be 'deep'."

"You don't strike me as the kind of man that won't want 'deep' eventually."

"That's because I'm not." Blowing out a slow breath I leaned my head against the seat. "I'll walk you to the door." I tell her.

"I can manage to get there myself, Rick." She threw her bag over her shoulder and began to exit the car.

I got out behind her. "Your apartment isn't exactly what I'd call safe." It was close to everything. On my way here we passed a few restaurants, a plaza, and a convenient store. However, I'd be joking if I said I'd feel safe walking around this area alone. Especially after a certain time.

"Rick…" She said tiredly. We walked over the broken pavement until we reached her door.

"Forget about giving me time. I'm giving you time, Michonne."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. I enjoy your company but is that mutual?" Standing before her she looked up at me, the top of her head was on the same level as my chin.

"It's mutual." Her voice was so soft.

"Then what's stopping you from taking this chance with me?" I questioned. A look of hesitance flashed across her face. I got the sense that maybe there was more to her hesitance on dating me.

"Nothing." She insisted. "Let me think about it okay?" I nodded. I watched her unlock the door to her apartment, made sure I heard the lock turning before I left.

Michonne took the time I gave her to 'think' about us literally. We didn't speak for a week. Exactly a week. It drove me fucking crazy because I'd see her watching me. Every time I passed her office her eyes would follow my every move. It was confusing, it played with my head and I didn't like it. If she could just answer my texts… I pride myself on patience but today I seemed to be lacking some.

I held my usual disgusting coffee in my hand. I could send Glenn to make me some but the coffee was my only excuse to walk past her office. Michonne was glowing and it only became more apparent as she got further into her pregnancy. I had enough coffees to know that she always tapped her foot when she was nervous about something. She tapped it even more when she saw me passing by.

Swallowing down the rest of the bitter liquid I tossed the cup in the trash. It was ridiculous. We went four months with no contact but the lack of communication between us was bothering me to no end.

"Rick!" Shane greeted hustling through my door.

"I'm not in the mood Shane. If it's about work you can send me an email."

Shane shook his head, a wide smile on his face. He took his usual seat on the left of my desk, crossing his legs. "What I want to discuss we can't do that by email."

"And what is this about?'' I took the bait.

"Negan." That piqued my interest.

"What do you want with him, Shane? Did you fuck someone's wife? Are they after your head now?"

"Of course not." He smoothed his hand over his Armani suit. "As I'm sure you've heard Gregory and I are working on a particularly difficult case. Very high profile."

"Of course." I heard about it. Shane emailed me about it. The company emailed me about it. Of course, it was difficult not seeing this all over the news. "Two of America's most valuable football quarterbacks accused of manslaughter and sex trafficking. It's hard not to hear about it, Shane."

Shane's smile got a little wider. He's always been a cocky bastard. "See I would've let you help me with this case but you have a history of fucking over your particularly nasty clients when you know they're guilty. Of course, they never know it's you."

"Once again why do you want Negan?"

"Negan and I don't have the best chemistry. And I just need some more information to use against the girls."

"Of course you're representing the suspects. Where is the fun in doing the right thing?"

"More like, where is the money in doing the right thing? Now, are you going to hook me up with the guy? If we win this case it'll be big. Bigger than O. J Simpson's trial, so much bigger."

"You and Gregory could kiss the back of Negan's ass all you want. As you said, he doesn't like you and I want no part of this."

"We're not like you Rick, representing the weak. At least that's what you're doing now, is it? I'm still grateful that you helped Gregory out. We both are. I'm just saying if I lose this case this wouldn't look good on Michonne's record would it now?" He leaned back in his seat with a knowing eye.

"You put her on this fucking case? There's no way you two are going to win this but you put Michonne on this case?" My blood was boiling. If they lost this case it would kill Michonne's career before it even started.

"We are going to win because you'll get Negan to dig the lottery of dirt on those girls. Try not to look at the negative side of things, Rick. If we win, she doesn't need to work another day in her life." He uncrossed his legs. "So what will it be?" There were so many things racing through my mind. Most of it had to be slamming his head against my desk.

"Does she know what she's getting herself into?"

"Not entirely, I'm sure she'll figure out soon. She's a very intelligent woman. Have some faith in her, Rick. I do." I was positive Shane was already getting faxed heaps of hate mail by self-proclaimed feminists for representing two entitled millionaires. I didn't want Michonne anywhere near the chaos this would ensue.

"I'll see what I can do," I told him. He hopped to his feet with a goofy smile I wanted to wipe off his face. "Shane?" I called out when he reached the door.

"I do this for you. You leave her name out of this. I don't care how much she protests. I don't even want to see her initials next to this case." I warned.

His features went somber. "You have my word, Rick."

When he left I decided that I didn't fucking trust him.

I grabbed a sheet of paper getting ready to compose a message letting Glenn know I'd be out for the rest of the day. It was only one o'clock but it couldn't be helped. There were a few firm taps on my door. "Come in."

Glenn peeked inside before entering. "Rick, is there anything you need me to do?" My hands were about to be full for the rest of the day but work still needed to be done here.

"Actually yes, did you get your results for the bar exam yet?"

"Um no, sir. Is that something you need to see before you let me help you with any of your cases?" He asked. Opening my drawer I pulled out a thick folder and placed it on the desk.

I pointed to it, "This is Mr. Davis, he's a 68-year-old veteran that broke his hip while shopping at a store that didn't have the wet sign up. Get familiar with this and help him win the 15 million he's suing for." Glenn's mouth fell open.

"You're giving me this case?"

"Yes."

"But I'm not a lawyer."

"The bar takes what two months for results to be given out? In two months you'll be a lawyer." Glenn moved the file off my desk cradling it against his chest.

"Good luck."

…

I browsed a few magazines at the front desk while I waited. I wasn't sure if the older lady knew who I meant when I told her I wanted to speak with 'Steel balled Eddie', I was embarrassed just having to tell her that. But she nodded and quickly wobbled upstairs to get who I was looking for.

My eyes roamed around the bookstore. You would never suspect he was a book head. I had physical evidence yet it was still a hard sell. I walked through a few aisles until I stumbled onto a row of pregnancy books. I looked around before picking one up. The one I had in my hand was called 'the expectant father'. I was about to flip through the pages when someone whispered in my ear.

"Would you like a coffee with that?" I recoiled immediately and wiped my ear.

"Negan."

"Ricky Dicky Grimes, it's been a long time. Last I heard you were doing what," He paused in thought. "Oh, right you were a fucking teacher that's it. Such wasted talent."

"I'm not here to catch up but I see you have done well for yourself." He shrugged.

"I do what I can, we have a café upstairs, and I was hoping we'd take this convo up there." He leaned with his words. It was good to know some things didn't change.

"I'm running short on time, I just need a favor." He licked the corner of his lips.

"Anything for you but I do need to know what the fuck it's about."

"The chaos that's sweeping the NFL. It's about that." I told him.

"Oh, those cocksuckers. I bet some of my boys they weren't guilty and of fucking course they were guilty. You representing them? I thought it was that bitch."

"I'm not on that case. I need you to get some information on those girls for Shane; he's the one on it."

"Yeah, that bitch. Sorry, but I can't fucking help you." I pierced my lips trying hard to keep my voice down.

"You just said anything." I looked down to his side just noticing the bat he was leaning on.

"That was until you said that bitches name, Rick. There has to be a reason you're doing this. What is it?" He questioned. "Come one you can tell me."

"It's nothing, are you going to help me? I need a definite answer."

"Fine, if you're not speaking I guess I'm just going to dig my way through your life." I glared at him. I didn't want him sticking his nose anywhere near me. "Oh come on, I was just yanking your chain, Rick! Leave it to me. I'll get what you need."

"Good. Send whatever you find directly to Shane, I want no part of this."

"You know if you didn't get me off the hook all those times I'd shove this bat right up your ass by now." The old woman behind the cashier shushed him. He looked at her and turned back to me. "But I like you, Rick, you have balls. I like that." He said quietly. "Until next time, Rick." He said before going back up to the café.

I blew out a breath. I still had the book in my hand from earlier. I skimmed through a few pages before the cashier gave me a dirty look. There was another book about pregnancy from a woman's perspective and I picked that one up too. I threw both books on the cashier and waited for the old lady to take her time ringing the items. She told me the price and pulled out my wallet.

"You work at Berkeley and Robinson's?" A small timid voice said from beside me. She was a short woman, her blonde hair ended on her shoulders. I looked at the ID in my wallet before tucking it in the breast of my jacket. She was next in line to cash her items. There was a stuffed animal and a nursery rhythm book in her hand.

"I do."

"You're a lawyer?"

"Yeah, you need something?" She looked away from my face. Hiding her eyes but when she looked back at me there was a misty look to them.

"In due time, I will."