Thanks everyone for hanging with me. I have two more chapters to go and then the Epilogue. I'm going to try to wrap this by the end of the month. I'm really ready to close this story out but we'll see if RL and my other frivolous activities will allow me to meet this deadline.
Last chapter, someone asked Carl's age. He's 10-years old in this story.
Chapter Thirty-two
Michonne carefully walked along the snow coved sidewalk while battling the precipitation that was now falling heavy from the sky, blowing in her face. This was the craziest thing. She thought. A snowstorm in Georgia in March. It had been known to happen, but was extremely rare. The last time being over 20 years earlier, and for that reason the weathermen had guaranteed that this was not likely to happen. Yet here they were, with all the weather reports being wrong, and as a result, many had found themselves caught off guard. Michonne was thankful she'd gone to the grocery store earlier in the week, only because she'd needed to anyway. So, she'd not been caught up in the sudden rush of folks running to the stores to get bread and milk. Michonne continued her careful walk, scolding herself for wearing a skirt and designer boots instead of jeans and her Timberlands for such a trek. "You've been in Atlanta way too long." She quietly uttered aloud. She should've known better considering where she'd grown up. However, when she'd got the call from Rick, her only thought was getting to him and Carl.
Rick and his son had been in town since the previous evening to attend the indoor soccer tournament at Philips Arena. The team for which Carl played had made it to the event and had a game last night and was due to play all day today – Saturday. The plan was after the tournament finished, Michonne would meet them for an early dinner at the Varsity, a restaurant Carl had been wanting to try for ages, before he and Rick would head back to Palmer, due to him having to work on Sunday. Unfortunately, midway through the tournament, the event had been suspended due to the inclement weather. By the time the tournament had been stopped and everyone could get out of there, it was too late for those who were not local to leave town. For the ice and snow had already started to freeze on the roads and the storm was in full swing. Rick had decided not to risk the danger that was the weather and try to drive back to Palmer. Thus, he'd remained in town. He and Carl had returned to the hotel where they'd stayed the previous night only to find that it was completely booked, and the other hotels that were nearby had not been an option due to the expensive room costs, which was out of Rick's budget.
He and Michonne had frequently spoke throughout the ordeal, with her offering them a place to stay in her home, but Rick had initially declined. Not because he didn't want to stay with her, but because he wanted to make sure all options were exhausted, to Carl's eyes, before they resort to their "last option" of staying with her. Though, over the past few weeks, Carl and Michonne had made tremendous progress in their relationship, thanks in part to the night they'd bonded while he was ill, there was still some tension between them. While he was no longer unwelcoming towards Michonne, at times he could still be awkward with her, especially after witnessing her and Rick being affectionate with one another, even when it was just words. Therefore, they still had to tread lightly as not to mess up the progress they'd made, which was why Rick had exhausted all his options for getting a hotel prior to accepting Michonne's offer. Once Rick conceded to stay with Michonne, she'd advised that the best thing to do would be to take MARTA to the station closest to her, for the roads were already jammed with people attempting to get home. So, he'd left his car parked in the parking deck at Philips Arena, caught the Blue Line east to Five Points then caught the Red Line/North Springs train to Buckhead. Michonne had been off and on the phone with him until he and Carl were safely on the North Springs train. Now she made her way towards the Buckhead station to meet them.
Rick and Carl walked up the stairs and out of the train station, their overnight bags in hand, feeling a little lost and uncertain, but glad to be off MARTA. For though the transportation was normally reliable, the snow and ice was wreaking havoc on the tracks, causing the train to slow to a crawl and frequently stop for several minutes. At times, Rick had been uncertain they'd ever reach their destination, which had been frustrating, but not all bad, due to Carl enjoying his first experience on the subway. Rick and Carl stood under the roofing that covered a small area in front of the station, watching as the snow came down heavier, noting that the temperature had gotten considerably colder.
"Dad, what do we do now?" Carl innocently asked.
"We wait here." Rick answered. "Michonne said she'd meet us…"
"There she is!" Carl exclaimed, interrupting his father. Rick looked in the direction in which his son was pointing and saw Michonne walking towards them, down the sidewalk, inciting him with a smile.
45 minutes later
They entered the condo, all sighing at the great feeling of being home after making what would have normally been a 20-minute walk, taking 25 minutes longer due to the inclement weather. They walked into the condo and Carl was instantly wowed. He had shown wonderment and surprise, when they'd come upon the tall glass building which housed her condo, awed at the opulent lobby, but was especially amazed when he saw the inside of her home.
"You live here?!" He exclaimed, briefly looking to Michonne, upon seeing the grand space, completely taken by all the windows, specifically the ones that accented the living room, overlooking the skyline that was being beautifully pelted with snow.
"I do." Michonne replied as she hung her keys on the key rack by the door and watched with a smile as the boy dropped his bag and made his way over to the large windows.
"Have you all eaten?" She asked as she and Rick slipped off their coats and hung them in the closet near the door.
"No. We haven't had anything since breakfast."
"Ok I'll cook us something." She said, closing the closet door, then kissed his lips. Wanting instantly igniting, reminding them of the lovemaking they'd yet to recommence due to mother-nature – her cycle, his weekend work schedule or Carl being with them, negating any opportunities for intimacy. "What do ya'll want?" Michonne uttered with fervor after forcing her mouth way from him.
"I want…"
"Don't answer that." She quietly advised against what she knew he was going to say, seeing it in his eyes. Nonetheless he ignored her advice, answering in his own way by swiftly tasting her mouth, brushing his tongue deep within, rousing her to a silent moan, to tremble when he then hesitantly pulled away.
"I can do Chicken Pot Pie, Tortellini soup, Hamburgers…" She resumed what she originally planned to say, her voice uneven with desire.
"Let's do hamburgers." Rick shakily stated, working to control the yearning that was blazing within him. "If you don't mind I'm going to have Carl get cleaned up. He's been playing ball all day."
"Yeah that's fine. He can use the bathroom on the front side of the condo next to the other bedroom."
"Ok." Rick replied, then called for his son, letting him know it was time to get cleaned up. Carl was reluctant to comply. For he wanted to remain at the window, watching the snow fall, but Rick added a sternness to his command which got the boy moving.
Once Carl was busy getting cleaned up, Rick had returned to the kitchen, where Michonne was starting dinner.
"You get him settled alright."
"Yeah, but he thinks this place is a mansion and that you're rich." Rick smiled, then kissed her lips, with more passion than chaste as she slipped one hand to the cusp of his inner thigh, squeezing it softly, igniting a groan. Rick then went deeper, savoring her mouth with more fervor as he gently moved her against the counter and descended to her neck, stroking and biting it. Michonne gasped his name as the fever grew stronger, threatening to overtake her but somehow she managed to reel it in, drawing his mouth from her neck, then back to her lips, kissing them lingeringly, then breathlessly speaking.
"We can't start this right now." She whispered "Otherwise there is a very good chance your son will walk in on something he does not need to see." Rick hung his head and blew out a breath, then drew on the air, letting it go deep, struggling to calm his passion while Michonne took the opportunity to move away from him and return her attention to preparing dinner. Eventually, Rick joined her, helping, after getting his fervency under control, acting as if it was all good, even as fire burned in his veins.
"What are they saying about the weather?" He asked glancing at the small flat screen TV that was mounted above the fridge, while distracting himself with preparing the onions for mincing.
"Snow all night and into tomorrow. They think we'll get about 6-10 inches."
"6-10 inches?! Are you serious?" Rick exclaimed with shock.
"Yeah. And freezing temperatures for the next couple of days. So, I don't know if you and Carl will be able to leave tomorrow." Michonne replied as she beat a mixture of eggs and breadcrumbs, when she sensed Rick walk up behind her, so close she could feel his breath on her neck, teasing her, when he whispered in her ear...
"Well that might not be so bad." He huskily uttered, then slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her against him, then caressed her ear with his tongue, exploring the inside, before hotly relishing its lobe, causing her to gasp.
"For you, but what about for Carl?" She breathed, striving, but failing to stay focused on his son who was just a couple of rooms away.
"We're here. We can't go anywhere. So, he'll have no choice but to deal with it." He contended, then slipped his hand to her cheek, turning her face towards him, then hungrily probe her mouth.
"Carl." Michonne sighed, reminding Rick that he was just a voice call away, after removing her lips from his, struggling with her need for more of him.
"I know." Rick breathlessly declared, then kissed her again, once more slipping her his tongue, nearly undoing her.
"Dinner." She asserted with strength, when they came up for air, her lips still so close to his, yearning to take them again, when the sizzling pan on the stove, stopped her. Michonne reluctantly extracted herself from his grasp and turned her attention to the stove, lowering the temperature of the pan, while Rick struggled to return to his self-appointed task of preparing the onions.
Michonne finished blending the eggs and breadcrumbs then handed it over to Rick who added the minced onions, poured the mix into the ground beef along with Worcestershire sauce and cayenne pepper, then began frying. As he tended to the cooking burgers and Michonne prepared an avocado salad, their passion slowly cooled and turned to conversation. They'd briefly discussed Lori, who had been angry to get the call that he and Carl were remaining in Atlanta due to the storm. She'd accused him of using the weather as some excuse to create a family weekend with he, Carl and Michonne which Rick had denied.
They'd then talked about their work and the next time they'd have a date weekend, which stirred a discussion about his interviews with MARTA Police. A few weeks earlier Rick had received a job tip from one of the APD (Atlanta Police) officers he'd befriended at the law enforcement summit he'd attended in October. The man had told him of the job and offered to put in a word for him if he was interested, to which Rick had been intrigued and sent the man his resume. Soon after he'd got a call and so far, had gone through two interviews, one over the phone. The other in person, with another scheduled for the following week. He and Michonne had just began to go deep into the discussion about his interviews and next steps if he got an offer, when Carl had reemerged, all cleaned up, stopping the conversation.
"It smells good. Is it ready?" The boy eagerly asked as he came into the kitchen.
"No. 20 minutes." Rick answered as he flipped over a couple of the burgers to which Carl sighed in disappointment and aggrieved that he was starving, prompting Michonne to ask if he wanted a snack until dinner was ready.
"I have strawberries in the fridge." She'd offered. At first, Carl was reluctant to accept, but hunger won out and he assented to the suggestion. With the small bowl of fruit in hand the boy returned to the windows in the living room, innocently watching the snow come down until dinner was served.
Twenty minutes later, they'd assembled in the dining room and sat down to eat. The meal had started off awkward with them engaging in little conversation and being focused on their food, when Michonne broke the tense mood by asking Carl about school. The boy replied that it was going okay. He admitted that he was struggling with math, which Michonne had assured him he'd eventually get. She asked him what part was giving him problems and he'd answered - fractions. Michonne had offered to provide some pointers, which Rick had mentioned may be useful if he wanted to get his grade up by the end of the year and be rewarded with that new comic book he wanted.
Curious, Michonne had asked which comic was that, which led into a long discussion about the latest release from DC – specifically Batman and then TV – Gotham. Carl had complained that his father wouldn't let him watch that show because he thought it was too violent which had led to talk about more television shows that had somehow evolved into a conversation about the summer. Michonne had stated that she'd been so busy she'd not had time to think about her plans while Rick had mentioned he'd love for them to take that trip to Amicalola Falls, something discussed when they'd first met, with Carl reacting uneasy about that proposition by asking that his father take him to the beach that summer. They'd finished their meal, stuffed and stimulated by conversation then moved to the living room where Michonne kindled a fire in the hearth. They then watched TV – Despicable Me and a rerun from of The Flash with Carl sitting in the side chair while Michonne and Rick cuddled on the couch. They spent a couple hours, watching TV almost like a family, save for the lingering uneasiness Carl seemed to display at seeing his father and Michonne being a little more open about their coupledom. Once The Flash had gone off and a repeat of Arrow came on, the boy had announced that he was tired and thus decided to go to bed.
"You think he went to bed because he was really tired or because he still feels weird around us?" Michonne asked as she and Rick cleaned the kitchen, now placing the small serving of leftover avocado salad in a Tupperware container then in the fridge.
"I think it was a little bit of both." Rick stated as he put away a pan he'd dried. "But we are making progress."
"I agree." She concurred, thinking about the variety of conversation at dinner. Though it had started slow, eventually the discussions had unfolded with depth and ease, and despite Carl's continuous struggle to fully embrace her being with his father, he at least seemed to be trying.
"It's been a good night." He softly said.
"Yes. It has." She uttered in the same soft tone, then gently kissed his lips and moved to continue her task of putting away the leftover food – sliced tomatoes and bottles of ketchup and mustard. Just as Rick put down the glass he'd been drying and pulled her back to him, kissing her passionately, igniting a fire within her.
"I want to, but we can't." Michonne sighed.
"Why not?" Rick questioned with passion.
"Isn't it obvious? Your son is down the hall. He's just warming up to us and I don't want to screw it up." She explained. "No pun intended." She added with a smile.
"I like the pun." He sexily said as he pulled her closer to him.
"Rick!" She quietly scolded.
"Hey, I get what you're saying. I do, but..." He countered and planned to say more but instead showed her, by ardently taking her mouth, compelling her to meet his intensity with her own, fervently tasting his tongue, running her hand through his curls, inflaming him, driving him to lift her from the floor and onto the counter behind them.
The Next Morning…
Michonne opened her eyes to the stillness and peace that was the snow still falling outside her bedroom window. She drew a breath, savoring the beauty of the scenery ahead while reliving the hotness of the night before. She and Rick had taken an incredible risk, doing what they did in the kitchen no less, where Carl could've walked in at any moment. However, it had been so long since they'd experienced each other that way. They'd done other stuff, oral acts, when making love wasn't an option, but it just wasn't enough. She needed to feel Rick in a way she hadn't in months, and he needed the same. Thus, they'd succumb to their desires in the most inappropriate place. Thankfully Carl was out like a light. And did not walk in on that display. Otherwise … well she didn't want to think about the alternative. Michonne mused with a relieved smile, when she felt Rick, slowly awakening, tightening his arms around her, then passionately kissed her neck, heating her all over, as his hand slipped over her bare breast.
Michonne blissfully sighed, then turned to face him, fervently capturing his mouth, driving him to return the fervor, to devour her lips as he slipped his hands under her thighs and shifted her beneath him. She gasped at his splendid shaft, teasing her center, making her tremble with yearning. For a moment, their gazes held, heated with ardor, seeming to deepen the emotion between them, when he lowered his mouth to hers and cherished it with controlled fire, heightening the fever between them, just as he entered her walls.
Rick groaned at the pleasure, at the feel of her around him, while Michonne breathed with happiness. He then began to move with deliberate passion, slow and taunting, sparking her to keen his name, to meet his thrusts with her own sensuous movement, which quickened his desire, driving him to explore her depth, to unleash the white heat that burned between them. When they could feel it, hotness and hunger, building within them, propelling them higher, stripping away their control, until the fire exploded within them. Rick collapsed atop Michonne, his breath heavy from exertion and euphoria, as was she. He then kissed her neck with languid fondness, stirring her with a sigh, then brought his eyes back to hers.
"That was amazing." He breathed with a smile.
"Yeah. It was." Michonne breathlessly uttered, smiling back at him.
"You think we can just spend the day in bed, making up for missing this all these weeks." Rick huskily question.
"It's the perfect day for it, but..."
"Carl." He finished her response.
"Maybe we can take him to the park so he can truly experience the snow." Michonne quietly suggested.
"Great idea" He softly agreed. "But until that time, there's another great idea we should consider."
"What's that?" Michonne fervently questioned, when Rick answered by moving within her causing her to moan, her desire reigniting, just as they heard Carl call his name, looking for him.
Rick immediately pulled away from Michonne, cooling the moment, while she somewhat panicked, wondering what they should do. When Rick, being the experienced parent and knowing what Michonne was thinking, that she was not ready for Carl to see them in bed together, if ever, and him thinking the same, he gave her a quick kiss on the lips and exited the bed. He pulled on his boxers and t-shirt in record speed, racing to beat Carl to the hall before he reached the bedroom door, then left the room.
Rick walked out of the bedroom, pulling the door closed behind him, relieved that he'd made it outside the room before Carl made it all the way down the hall. He then met his son down the corridor, closest to the common space. "Dad there's snow everywhere, and it's still coming down!" The boy exclaimed when he saw his father, running up to him.
"Yeah I saw." Rick replied while guiding them back to main living space.
"Can we go outside? Build a snowman? Go sledding?!" Carl excitedly asked. "Please dad?!" Rick had answered "Yes," However, he'd not fully spoken his response when Carl firmly accosted him with joy, thrilled at the prospect of experiencing his first snow. "It's like Christmas morning!" The boy had proclaimed.
Fifteen minutes later, Michonne had entered the room, showered and over her concern that Carl would somehow know what had just happened between her and his father, asking what the excitement was all about. Carl had quickly revealed what was going on, that his dad had agreed to let him go outside, with Rick, who was in the kitchen looking for food to prepare a meal, telling him once more that they'd have breakfast first.
It didn't take long for them to whip together a meal of scrambled eggs, grits and freshly squeezed orange juice which Michonne had convinced Carl to help her make and he'd enjoyed it. Upon finishing breakfast, Rick had showered and they'd gotten dressed, and headed out to the small green space - Tower Place Park that was several blocks away from the condo. The walk had been a little hazardous and eerie due to the snow-covered sidewalks and deserted streets. Michonne had never seen Peachtree Street that abandoned, save for the early hours of the morning. It was as if the world had come to an end, and they were the only ones left in it.
By the time they got to the park, the snow fall had tapered considerably. They could enjoy the space alone, building a modest snowman out of the 9 inches of snow that had fallen. They'd used old buttons for the eyes and mouth, a carrot for the nose, and Carl had convinced Michonne to allow them to use her Burberry scarf as a final touch. She'd agreed to do it, but only just so they could get pictures of the fully decorated snowman on their phones. There was no way she was leaving a $300 scarf on a snowman in the park. She'd told them, which neither Rick or Carl could understand. Both looking at her like she had three heads at hearing the amount she'd paid for the accessory. "It was a gift!" She'd clarified. "From my mother, and its cashmere." They still did not get why anyone would spend so much on a scarf, but did get the sentimentality she may have for it, being as it was from her mother. They'd taken tons of pictures with the snowman alone and with them standing next to it, making all kinds of weird poses, making each other laugh. Carl had even suggested Rick and Michonne get a picture with the work of snow as she'd called it - together. They'd both been surprised at what they'd heard and were hesitant to do it, but Carl had assured that it was okay. So, they'd done one photo, with a crazy pose – Michonne hoisted on Rick's back and them towering behind the 5-foot creation with the peace sign over its head. It was ridiculous. They all knew, but still fun and hilarious to them.
As soon as they were done taking photos with the snowman, Carl had text his mother one of the pictures taken, the one of him alone, standing next to it making a distorted face. He thought she would get a kick out of his experience. Instead, it had nearly opened a can of worms. Right away, Lori had called inquiring about all they were doing, insisting that he not stay outside too long, that he shouldn't be out there anyway, that he should be in Palmer before demanding to talk to his father. Rick had spoken to her for a few moments, then abruptly ended the call when it was obvious nothing of value was being said. Just as a couple showed up to the park, with their three kids to enjoy the snow. They were nice people, whom Michonne and Rick had chatted with about the weather, where they lived and the kids, while Carl had become fast friends with the oldest child, engaging in snowball fights and playing on the sled they'd brought.
"You alright?" Michonne asked as she and Rick sat alone on the bench, his arm around her and her hand on his thigh, watching as the couple played with their youngest kids while Carl had a ball with the child his age.
"Yeah. Just sick of Lori's shit." He responded with exasperation.
"She pissed about the picture?"
"Pretty much." Rick replied. "She can't stand the thought of Carl actually having a nice time with us." He said, causing Michonne to scoff and shaking her head at the woman who seemed as if she'd never just move on, and let this situation go – give up trying to make Carl hate her and Rick together, which spun an important thought.
"Have you decided when you're going to tell Carl about your plan to move up here?" Michonne asked.
"When I get a job offer." Rick quietly answered.
"You think you'll get the job at MARTA?" She revisited the topic they'd not had the opportunity to fully discuss the previous evening.
"It's early in the process, but I think my chances are good."
"Maybe you should tell him now, so that he can at least prepare for it." She suggested, glancing his way.
"I get your point, but I think its best that I not tell him until I can give not just you, our relationship, but a new job as my reason for moving here."
"I doubt he'll buy that you suddenly got a job offer in the city where your girlfriend is living." Michonne countered. "He'll know that you sought this out."
"I know." Rick sighed, bringing her hand to his mouth, kissing it. "But having the job will help him accept the change."
"And Lori? When will you tell her?"
"At the same time, when I get the job, but after I tell Carl." He replied. "I want to minimize any manipulation she may attempt on this situation."
They'd spent a little more time at the park until the snow and wind again picked up, changing from a light fall to heavy and strong. They'd made the nearly hour walk back to the condo, making it fun by tossing a few snowballs in a brief snowball fight. When they finally arrived home, they all cleaned up, showering, before she and Rick headed into the kitchen to cook dinner, fixing homemade chicken pot pies.
After having an early dinner, they'd watched a little TV where they learned the storm would be tapering off and out of the Atlanta by later that night. Thus, the roads would be thawed by noon the following day. Carl had begrudged the news, surprising Michonne and Rick when he'd stated that he'd had the best time the last couple of days, when the moment was disrupted by a call from his mother. The boy had spent a long while on the phone with Lori and when the call was done he'd not much to say, being particularly distant from Michonne, sitting quietly while they watched one of his favorite movies On Demand – Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, until he'd fallen asleep on the couch and Rick had carried him to bed, with Michonne following.