Chapter 11:
A week before Carl's birthday party
"Are you sure you still wanna do this?" Rick asked Michonne. They were about to leave to meet Lori at their local diner. Rick had called her earlier to arrange this meeting and she sounded less than enthused asking him in a flat tone if "this was the same woman I had to talk on the phone with?" As if he had purposely made sure to make sure that Michonne would pick up the phone that day that now felt like so long ago. Even though he understood the reasoning between both women meeting he couldn't help but dread their conversation.
"Yes Rocky we are still going to do this. You have asked me about a million times if I still wanted to do this and every time my answer has been yes." Michonne responded as she glanced at herself in the mirror one last time. She then turned to Rick, "I'm sure it won't be too bad."
Rick groaned slightly, "I'm gonna have to disagree with you there boss."
Michonne pursed her lips and rolled her eyes over his exaggerating. "Come on we're gonna be late." She said as she began to walk to the door.
"You sure you still-"
"Yes Rocky." She interrupted as they left her home.
0000000000000
Michonne and Rick entered the diner, there seemed to be many people inside as it was the lunch rush but there was one person with their back to them with long brown hair that was alone and must have been Lori. "Is that her?" Michonne asked once she spotted the woman.
Rick glanced over and nodded slightly, "yup."
Michonne nodded, "alright come on Rocky let's get this over with." She said as she began walking over to woman with Rick reluctantly following behind. "You must be Lori. I'm Michonne." She said once in front of her, a small smile on her face.
Lori turned to her, a tight smile on her face, "Finally putting a face to the voice." She glanced behind Michonne at Rick who was seemingly trying to force himself to be invisible, and failing. "Hello Rick."
"Lori." He simply said in response as they both slipped into the booth, sitting across from Lori.
There was an awkward silence between them before Lori broke it. "So! You two are dating? For how long now?" She asked, her eyes glancing at both of them.
"Almost 3 months I think." Michonne responded.
"Oh? And you're already meeting my son?" Lori said her voice condescending as she wore a faux smile.
Rick let out a small groan and pinched the bridge of his nose but remained silent.
"Well, actually we dated before. For 2 years, 10 years ago. We've known each other since we were Carl's age." Michonne said, her voice remained calm and unaffected.
"Really?" Lori said, a bit of genuine shock in her voice, not realizing that they had known each other before and for that many years. "I don't remember you mentioning her before Rick…" She said her eyes sliding over to him.
Rick outwardly groaned, "I guess I just didn't have the right time to bring it up…" He mumbled. The truth being that in 10 years Rick hadn't spoken about Michonne but he had constantly thought about her.
Michonne glanced over at Rick and back to Lori. "Maybe he just didn't want to be disrespectful to your marriage."
Lori shrugged slightly, "maybe." Pause. "So you two must be serious. Meeting Carl. Me."
"I…" Michonne paused for a moment and shared a look with Rick. It didn't cross her mind that they were this serious couple nor was it her intention when she accidentally met Carl and insisted on meeting Lori. But now it had dawned on her that they had fell into this "serious" relationship. "...guess so." She said finishing her sentence.
Lori looked from Michonne and Rick, noticing the pause and shared glances. "If you two aren't serious about this then maybe you shouldn't be spending time with Carl then, hm?" She asked with a tight smile.
"We are." Rick said, making sure to look directly at Lori. His voice was unwavering and sure of himself, there was a slight annoyance behind the questioning of their relationship.
"Rocky…" Michonne said softly, noticing the annoyance. She lightly squeezed a few of his fingers under the table and gave him a small smile.
Rick smiled a bit, his cheeks flushing lightly at her simple yet affectionate touch. He squeezed her hand back resisting the urge to kiss her in front of his ex-wife.
Lori took in their subtle exchange, their silence seemed comfortable and normal versus the awkward silences and pauses that were throughout this conversation. "Did you just call him Rocky?" She asked after a moment. "Like...Rocky Balboa?" She let out a dry chuckle. "That's cute. Cause he fights right? Cute." Her tone leading towards bitter despite trying to not let that side of her show.
Michonne looked over at the woman for a moment, her eyes lacked anger but instead held confusion. For a woman who left her husband for another man she couldn't quite understand why she was the angry one. "Yes." She finally said.
There was another awkward moment as they all fell into silence again. "So how much time exactly have you spent with Carl?" Lori asked.
Rick groaned again and ran his hand over his face. "Lori."
"What Rick? I am not allowed to know who my son is hanging out with." Lori asked, her bitterness rising more.
"Oh my god." Rick mumbled as he looked all around the diner without focusing on Lori.
"He spent about 3 nights at my home a few days ago. Rick was there. And before that I spent a few days at Rick's house where Carl was also there." Michonne said in a matter of fact tone. She could sense herself becoming aggravated with Lori when she seemed to take out her anger on Rick but she managed to outwardly appear calm.
"Really?" Lori's eyes were focused on Rick as she spoke. "How often is that going to become….a thing?"
Michonne shrugged a bit, even though she could tell Lori was no longer focusing on her. "If he wants to sleep over then he can. I'm just a few houses down."
Lori glanced over at Michonne and gave her a tight and condescending smile. "Have you ever had a child Michonne? They're not easy to raise you know."
As soon as the word child came out of Lori's mouth Rick's head shoot up to direct his eyes to Michonne. He saw her eyes widen for a moment and then saw a look of anger written across her face. He couldn't tell if Lori noticed but he did. "Michonne…" He said in a similar way that she did for him a few moments ago.
"I've never been married either but I know you shouldn't cheat on your husband." Michonne said her volume of her voice remained the same but the calmness that was once there was gone.
"Michonne…" Rick said again.
"Excuse me?" Lori asked, she was surprised at this now seemingly out of nowhere "attack."
"Should I repeat myself?" Michonne asked. "I don't know what it's like to have an 8 year old son but I do know if I'm in a marriage I'm not going to cheat on my husband. I loved Rick. Even when I was gone I loved him. But did you?"
Rick darted his eye from Michonne to Lori and then back again his mouth slightly open. While he was sure this conversation wasn't going to end well he didn't expect it to take this turn. And Lori, usually one to always make sure she had the last word was silent.
"Get up Rick." Michonne said breaking the silence as Rick swiftly slipped out of the booth. She silently followed and left before Lori could say something.
"Hey," Rick started once they exited and were walking towards the car. "Are you okay?"
Michonne turned to him they silently exchanged looks before she spoke. "I understand I'm gonna have to see her again Rick for things that involve Carl I get that. She is his mother. But tell her to not bring up the subject of me being a mother again, okay? I'm not…" She paused for a moment, taking a few breaths to calm herself, "I'm not going to allow that."
Rick nodded, "yeah I will. I promise. I'm sorry."
Michonne sighed and turned back to the car as she began walking again, "it's not your fault Rick."
"Hey." Rick said again as he caught up to her. He gently grabbed her arm and pulled her to him so they were facing each other.
"Rick I'm not in the mood for this right now…" She said with a small sigh.
Rick looked her over for a moment, it had been what felt like a long time since he last wore his concern for her on his face. He took a step back from her and nodded. "Okay, you wanna go home?"
"Yeah, you can drive." She said handing him her keys. Rick unlocked the car and they both entered. He looked over one more time before driving off, all while wearing his look of concern.
000000000000000
One week later - Carl's Birthday Party
It was the day of Carl's birthday and he as well as many of his school friends were running around Rick's backyard that was decorated with a superhero theme. Balloons were spread around the backyard in the shapes of various superheroes and several large number 8's. There were two tables both with decorations, one held gifts and the other was empty as it was where the cake would eventually be. Many of his friends were already there as well as Lori. However Michonne wasn't. Since meeting Lori a few days earlier she was unsure if she wanted to possibly go through a similar event with her again. The questioning of her being a mother and if she could be a good motherly figure to Carl bothered her more than she liked.
She looked at the time noting that she was now a little over 2 hours late. She stood in her entranceway already dressed with Carl's gifts in her hand and house keys in the other. With a slight sigh she left her house, deciding that despite Lori's presence she had told Carl she would be there. So she would be.
000000000000
She entered the party and took in the decorations surrounding the party wondering if Rick had done this himself. There were many children running around, a few barely missing her as they ran around her, and adults talking and laughing together. She could see Lori in the background talking to someone but peering over at her and Michonne made an effort to ignore the glances. She felt a bump from behind and turned.
"Michonne!" Carl said excitedly wrapping his small arms around her for a hug.
She smiled and gently patted his head, "hi Carl, I hope you don't mind that I'm late."
Carl pulled away and shook his head, "its okay! You were at work right?"
Michonne paused for a moment realizing that Rick must have told him this as a reason to why she wasn't there and she immediately felt a pang of guilt. "Uh yeah, but I was able to get out early."
Carl nodded happily and then took notice of the large gift bag she was holding. "Is that for me?" He asked excitedly attempting to look inside.
Michonne chuckled a bit and held the bag above his head so he couldn't take a peek. "It is but you aren't gonna open it now, you have to eat cake first."
Carl pouted slightly, "okay."
Michonne chuckled a bit, "trust me it'll be worth the wait. Now where is your dad?"
"Umm….I think he went in the kitchen with Uncle Daryl and Uncle Glenn!" Carl said confidently with a nod.
Michonne chuckled again, "okay I'm gonna go talk to him for a bit. Go have fun, okay? You'll get to open this later." She said shaking the bag at him.
Carl nodded happily and ran back to his friends.
000000000000000000000
A few moments earlier
Rick, Daryl and Glenn were all inside of the kitchen, retreating from the heat as they drank their beers and watching the party from the window above the sink. The men had talked about many topics, Glenn's pizza place and how it was doing well, Daryl was warning Glenn of the eventual problems that will come up at as a parent and how best to deal with it, including a hormonal wife. And now they were on Rick and the subject of Michonne had come up.
"So, are you together or what?" Daryl asked as he sipped his beer.
"Yeah we are…." Rick answered, trying to think of an excuse to leave the conversation. Michonne wasn't here and they hadn't talked in a few days. She was distant again and it made him a bit uncomfortable to talk about her when they haven't talked to each other.
"But at the party…" Glenn started.
"It was complicated." Rick simply responded.
Daryl and Glenn shared confused glances. "So where she at then?" Daryl asked.
Rick sighed, "It's complicated." He said again.
There was a pause between them as the men sipped their beers before Daryl spoke again. "You know they use to date in high school?" He asked Glenn.
"What?! No I didn't!" Glenn let out a light chuckle. "What were they like in high school? Still complicated?" He asked with a slight smirk.
Rick let out a small groan but Daryl continued with sly smile. "Nahhh, they were attached at the hip those two."
"Alright…." Rick started.
"They even won cutest couple!" Daryl continued on.
Glenn let out a laugh, the thought of his friend who was rough and hardened now being in a cute lovey relationship made him laugh. Even though he knew Rick when he was with Lori they were never an outwardly affectionate couple. "Really? Tell me more please!"
"Well…." Daryl started but was cut off by a light knock on the back door of the kitchen and then its opening.
"Hi, Rocky." Michonne said with a soft small smile, "Hope I'm not interrupting anything."
As soon as Rick saw Michonne his whole demeanor changed. He seemed to stand up straighter, there was a lightness in his eyes, and a smile on his face. He stared at her but remained silent as if it was his first time seeing her all over again.
Daryl and Glenn noticed the change and then exchanged glances again. "Uh, Daryl don't we have that thing we gotta do….outside?" Glenn asked.
"Yup we do! See y'all out there!" Daryl said as him and Glenn quickly left.
"Rocky, stop staring you scared your friends away." Michonne said with a smile as she walked over to him.
"I wasn't sure if you were coming." Rick said as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
"I'm sorry." Michonne said gently, wrapping an arm around his neck.
"What happened?"
Michonne let out a small sigh, pulling away slightly, "Do you think I would be good for Carl? Like...motherly. And I know he likes me now but I mean in the long run. Like when I have to be the bad guy cause you're not around? I think I was a good mother to my kid but...its lot easier when they are still a baby."
Rick smiled softly and gently kissed the top of her forehead. "Yes, you will be. He needs someone like you. It's hard as parents to understand our kids but you get him. I can tell he already loves you. They don't get easier but you're someone who he wants to stick around, trust me."
Michonne smiled at his kiss and nodded, "thanks Rocky."
Rick smiled and leaned in giving her a deep kiss on the mouth. He gripped her tightly as they kissed, him missing her obvious as he slipped a tongue in her mouth.
Michonne smiled as they kissed and pulled away after a few moments. "You have guests Rocky."
Rick glanced at the window and then back at her, "so?" He said with a smirk.
Michonne chuckled a bit and began leading him towards the back door. "I'm pretty sure people will notice your missing."
Rick let out a short sigh, "I guess so…" And Michonne chuckled again.
000000000000000
As the party continued Rick and Michonne stayed by each other. He introduced her to some of his friends and she had pleasant conversations with Rick's family members that she hadn't seen in years. She was about to go inside for a brief moment to get more drinks when Sasha walked up to her.
"Michonne, I wasn't sure if you were gonna come today." Sasha said and it was clear by her half smile and the look in her eyes that she didn't intend to have a brief conversation.
Michonne smiled a bit and nodded, "yeah, me neither but I'm glad I came." While she still wasn't sure if she could handle another friendship at this time she felt lighter than when she first saw Sasha a few weeks ago. Not willing to be completely open but no longer wanting to be completely closed off to everyone.
"Um, can we talk? Maybe somewhere that's a little more private?" Sasha asked her, unsure of the response she was about to get.
Michonne thought for a moment and then finally nodded as she walked towards the house with Sasha following. She glanced back and could see Rick squinting over her and she gave him a small smile to ensure him that she will be okay. They entered his home and sat down at the kitchen table.
There was a pause and then Sasha began, "are you okay?"
Michonne thought for a moment. She wasn't ready to talk about the death of her child with anyone but Rick but she didn't want to pretend like everything was fine with her former best friend. "I'm doing better than when I last saw you."
Sasha nodded, "I can tell. You don't have to tell me what happened but something did happen in New York right?" She asked.
"Yes."
"Is Rick helping you work through it?"
"Yes."
Sasha smiled a bit, "you guys are good together. He missed you. I missed you. But he missed you like…" She paused thinking of how Rick was once Michonne left. "It was painful for him, you know? In all types of ways."
Michonne nodded, "yeah I'm gone for a week and you think I left for 10 years again." She said with a small smile.
Sasha chuckled a bit, "I just think he's scared that you'll leave again. He looks at you like…."
"...like a creep?" Michonne said with a smirk.
Sasha chuckled again, "like you're the only one that matters. Like you can walk on water but he is still trying to figure out how."
"I think he'll like your explanation more than mine." Michonne said with a smile, her first full smile with Sasha.
Sasha smiled back, "I'm glad he's helping you. But you have definitely helped him if you couldn't tell. He was angry. And once he had to take this break from the force he seemed to get further away from everyone. I'm sure if you weren't here this party wouldn't be happening."
Michonne smiled a bit, glad others can see the change in Rick that she has. "When I first saw him again he was beating some guy up in front of the diner. If you ever hear me call him Rocky that's why."
Sash wore a sudden expression of understanding. "Daryl said you called him Rocky but I swore he just heard you wrong."
Both of the women shared a laugh and then a comfortable silence with small smiles. Sasha stretched her hand across the table, placing it over Michonne's. "I'm glad you're back and feeling better." She said with a soft smile.
"Me too." Michonne responded with a smile. The two women got up and shared a tight hug.
"Okay, now let's get back before Rick thinks I've kidnapped you." Sasha said with a smirk.
Michonne chuckled and they both grabbed drinks to take outside as they left the kitchen.
0000000000000
Carl stood happily between his mother and father with the rest of the party goers facing them as they sang happy birthday. He took in a large gulp of air and blew out the candles as everyone cheered. "Can I open gifts now?" Carl asked excitedly.
Rick chuckled and nodded, "yes you can open gifts now."
"Yay!" Carl said excitedly as he went over to the side of the long table that held gifts. He scanned each wrapped gift and gift bag before finally stopping on the gift Michonne had brought him. He opened the bag pulling out the decorative tissue paper as Michonne looked on a few feet away. He gasped excitedly as he saw several older comics that were harder to find, wrapped together with a bow. Still in perfect condition. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Carl said nearly jumping on her after running to her and wrapping his arms around her for a hug.
Michonne laughed lightly. "So you like your gift then?"
"I love it!" Carl said happily, still hugging her.
"I think your gift will be the favorite of the night." Rick said as he walked over to them. "Did you say thank you Carl?"
"I think he gave me enough thank you's to last a while." Michonne responded with a smile.
"I'm gonna go open more presents dad! "Carl said as he finally let go of his hug on Michonne and ran back to the table.
0000000000000000
The party had dwindled down with most people already leaving, including Lori leaving just a few minutes earlier, and the rest of the guests now mingling inside. Rick and Michonne were tucked away in a corner with Michonne leaning against a wall and Rick leaning over here.
"You plan on staying the night?" Rick asked her.
Michonne rolled her eyes playfully, "you would like that wouldn't you?"
Rick grinned and leaned in closed to her so his lips were lingering above hers. "Is that a yes?"
Michonne chuckled and pushed him lightly away, "your being sappy Rocky."
Rick was about to respond before he was cut off by a few quick knocks. "Sooo you're staying the night." Rick concluded with a grin as he walked away from her with Michonne shaking her head at him.
As Rick opened the door his eyes scanned for a moment. Initially there was no one on his porch and for a brief moment he wondered if it was prank until his eyes met him. Shane. Rick closed the door behind him but remained on his porch. His eyes harden and his began to tap his thumb and index finger together.
"Uh hey man look I ain't trying to crash the party it's just…" Shane sighed as he spoke his eyes jumping everywhere but Rick, the tension obvious. "I gotta get to work, had to take a cab over here and Lori ain't picking up her phone so I thought she may still be over here."
Rick remained silent as he squinted at the man. It has now been a little over 2 years since the last time he saw his former best friend. Their last meeting ended with them both bruised after a fight that seemed to go on forever. He heard a door open and close behind him but his eyes held on Shane.
"Rick?" Michonne said, it had been a few minutes since he left so she decided to check on him and now she saw why. While she didn't know who this other man was it was obvious that it wasn't just someone he had gotten into a simple argument with.
"Rick." Michonne said again, reaching out to grab his hand. He flinched slightly but turned to her when he realized it was her reaching out to him. "Hey." She said softly, giving him a small smile. "Let's go inside, okay? Come on."
Rick glanced from her to Shane and then back. He nodded a bit and he followed her as she led him back in the house.
"Sasha, we're gonna be right back. Um...there's a guy outside. I think you all know him." Michonne said to Sasha in passing, as she led Rick into the house. She brought him upstairs and into his bedroom, closing the door behind him. Once sat on the bed she turned to him, "who was he?"
Rick sighed he pinched the bridge of his nose for a moment and then finally looked up at her. "Shane. The other reason why I'm not with Lori anymore. Someone who was my best friend at some point."
Michonne nodded understandingly, "What did he want?"
"Wanted to know if Lori had left yet cause he had to go to work…" He said, as he spoke his eyes drifted around the room.
They were silent as Michonne watched him. She cupped his face softly to direct his eyes back to her. "You did good Rick."
"I don't know…"
"You did. You didn't fight him. You don't have to. And you knew that so you did good." She smiled softly and gave him a light kiss on the lips. "You wanna stay up here for a little longer?"
Rick flushed lightly and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. "Yeah."
"Okay."
They stayed upstairs for 10 more minutes before Rick pulled away. "Guess we should go back down."
"You're good?" Michonne asked.
Rick nodded as he got up and he pulled her close to him. He gave her a soft kiss on the lips. "Thank you."
Michonne smiled and shrugged a bit, "I just don't want to spend my time taking care of you after a fight Rocky."
Rick chuckled, "if you say so."
000000000000000000
Everyone had left for the night and house was now quiet as Carl had finally gone to sleep, his sugar high and excitement at all of his new gifts finally leaving. Shane had also left soon after coming to Rick's house, learning that Lori had in fact left from Daryl. "If you two manage to wake up early tomorrow please don't wake me up." Rick said as he finally slipped into bed with Michonne who was doing her nightly reading.
Michonne laughed lightly, "I'll make sure to be extra loud when I make breakfast."
"You're evil." Rick said as he wrapped an arm around her waist and nuzzled his head in the crook of her neck giving her light kisses.
Michonne laughed again as she put her book down. "Rocky."
"Hm?" Rick said as he continued to kiss her neck.
"You know I'm proud of you for today right? You threw a great party for your son. You reconnected with your friends. You could've fought Shane today and I don't think anyone would have blamed you but you didn't. So I'm proud of you." She said with a soft smile as Rick was now looking up at her.
"That was pretty sappy of you boss." Rick said with a grin after a few minutes.
"Oh shut up." Michonne said with a small smile as she pushed him away.
Rick laughed and put his arm around her waist again. There was a silence as Rick stared at her for a few minutes with a soft smile on his face. "I love you." He finally said.
"Rocky…" Michonne said quietly.
"I love you." Rick continued. "I told you I loved you a few days after we made 7 months. You remember that? But I loved you before that. I still love you. You left and…I never stopped being in love with you."
"Rocky…" Michonne repeated again.
"You don't have to say it back right now Michonne. But I want you to know that I love you."
"Rick."
"Michonne I-"
His words were cut off with Michonne's hand now covering his mouth as she wore a small smile. "You're annoying." She paused and her smile grew, "but I love you too. You know that. Why would I bother coming back here if I didn't think you were still here?"
Rick grinned underneath her hand and he kissed her deeply, slipping his tongue into her mouth. There was happiness in his eyes and he held the same look that he wore 11 years ago when he first told he loved her and asked her if she felt the same and she responded with "of course I love you. Isn't it obvious?" He pulled away slightly to start leading kisses down her jaw. "You came back for me?" Rick asked in between kisses.
"Leave me alone." Michonne responded with a small smile.
Rick laughed gently as he continued to kiss her, going down to her neck. "You did."
"You're annoying."
"You love me." He happily responded.
"You're gonna hold on to that one aren't you?" Michonne asked with a smirk as he was now lightly kissing her stomach.
"Yup. You love me." Rick said with a grin.
"Isn't it obvious?" Michonne asked with a soft smile.
A/N: Alright first of all I want to apologize cause I wanted this chapter to go up last week! I got called into jury duty and wasn't expecting to get a case and I did. So as I student who was bumming her life away this summer and then being forced to wake up at 7 I was coming home to sleep not to write haha. I am glad this is finally up for you guys and hope you enjoyed :). As always thank you for the faves/follows/reviews they truly mean a lot to me. Also in 2 weeks from now I will be on vacation till the end of August and I'm still not sure if I will bring my computer with me. So if there are no updates in that time that is why but I will be writing! Right after that classes start so updates may not be every week but trust me this work will not be forgotten and I have a clear ending in mine. Okay long authors note hahha talk to y'all in the next update :)