Chapter 16:
"Carl, have you picked out a name yet?" Asked Michonne who was quickly approaching the end of her pregnancy with three weeks left. Carl, Rick, and Michonne were all sitting around the table after finishing their dinner.
Carl shook his head, "I'm still thinking!"
"At this rate, she's gonna be 2 with no name." Said Rick with a small smirk.
Michonne chuckled a bit, "I'm sure Carl will have a name in time, right?"
Carl nodded happily, "right!"
Michonne smiled and nodded, "she'll have a name rocky." There was a slight pause and a quick inhale as one of her now often Braxton Hicks contractions made itself known. "I'm okay." She said, answering Rick before he could say anything.
"You've been having a lot of those lately…" Rick said his face wearing a look of concern.
Michonne smiled softly, reassuring him. "It's just Braxton Hicks I'll know when I'm going into labor, trust me."
"Yeah, dad it's just Braxton Hicks!" Carl said assuring his father as he heard this conversation quite a few times.
Rick chuckled a bit, "do you even know what that is?"
"Nope!" Carl exclaimed with a smile.
Michonne and Rick both shared a laugh as she got up from her seat and began bringing dishes to the sink.
"Boss, you don't need to wash dishes you know," Rick said getting up behind her.
"And who's gonna wash them? You're terrible at washing dishes." She said with a small smirk.
"How could anyone be bad at washing dishes?"
"I ask myself that same question, Rocky." She responded with a wide smile as she began to wash dishes.
Rick chuckled a bit and nodded, "you gonna be cleaning up till you give birth?"
"I'm pretty sure when my mom comes she's not gonna let me clean a thing. She may even give you a good lesson on how to clean dishes."
Rick chuckled and nodded, "I'll be there with bells on."
"When will your mom be here Michonne?" Carl asked, chiming in.
"This Thursday. Her flight gets in late though so you'll probably meet her Friday morning." She responded.
"Does she like comics too?" Carl questioned.
Michonne chuckled a bit and shook her head, turning to him as she finished the dishes, "she doesn't. But she makes the best cookies I've ever had so I think that makes up for it."
Carl thought for a moment and nodded, "I agree!"
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Next Thursday
It was a late Thursday night and everyone was asleep except for Michonne who stayed up for her mom. She was reading on the couch when she heard her doorbell ring. She smiled to herself as she got up to answer it. "Mom." She said once she opened the door to her mother.
Beverly smiled, "You look like you're ready to pop." She said before embracing Michonne and then entering the home with a small suitcase. When looking at Beverly it was clear that Michonne was her child. With just a few slight differences in their noses and eye shapes, both of the women looked the same. The only major difference was in their hair, as Beverly wore hers as a small afro.
"A few more weeks," Michonne responded as they both sat on the couch. "Rick and Carl are sleeping so you'll meet Carl tomorrow. I told him about your cookies. So you're gonna have to make them soon."
Beverly chuckled, "I just got here and you're already putting me to work."
The two of them shared a laugh before falling into a comfortable silence. "I'm glad you're here mom," Michonne said.
Beverly smiled softly and nodded, "Me too. Have you been getting your rest?"
"Yes, mom I have been. Rick's is making sure of it."
Beverly nodded approvingly, "Good….you're ready to have a baby again?"
Michonne thought for a moment, "Yeah...I think.I think it's still gonna be scary, you know? I feel like I'm gonna be a first-time mom all over again. That same nervousness about it. But….I don't feel like I'm gonna lose this one. I feel...really good about her." She said with a small smile.
Beverly smiled and gave Michonne a light kiss on her forehead. "I'm glad baby. Have you two picked a name yet?"
Michonne chuckled a bit to herself, remembering that she hadn't told her mother about Carl picking his future sisters name. "Actually mom Rick and I aren't picking her name...Carl is."
Beverly wore a face of confusion, her brows scrunched up. "Michonne children name their toys….not people."
Michonne let out a small chuckle, "Mom trust me it'll be fine. I gave him three names to choose from and he's taking his decision very seriously. When you meet him tomorrow you'll understand, he's a great kid. I trust him with this decision."
Beverly nodded, still skeptical of Michonne's decision. "Michonne, is my grandbaby going to have a nice name or should I start thinking of nicknames now?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
Michonne laughed, her stomach bouncing as she did so. "You do not need to start thinking of nicknames."
Beverly laughed lightly and nodded, "Just thought I make sure." She said, before letting out a small yawn. "You and that belly ready to get up and show me to my room?"
Michonne nodded as she got up and walked towards the stairs, her mom following her. "We put a temporary guest bed in the nursery for you, so that'll be your room while you're here. The bathroom is across the hall and if you need us mine and Rick's room is the last one in the opposite direction. I'll give you the proper tour tomorrow." As she talked they moved through the house to the nursery.
"Wow, Rick listened well," Beverly said as she entered the nursery that she helped Rick decorate from New York.
Michonne chuckled a bit and nodded, "Yeah he did. Thanks for helping him with that."
"Did you cry when you saw it?"
Michonne nodded, "Mom, these hormones can make me cry if Carl stubs his toe too hard of course I cried."
Beverly laughed lightly, "I'm glad you liked it." There was a small silence before she continued. "I'm gonna get ready to sleep now so I'll see you all in the morning. You still an early bird?"
"Some things don't change," Michonne said with a small smirk. "Goodnight mom."
Beverly chuckled a bit and nodded, "Goodnight baby."
Michonne smiled as she turned and left the room. Once she entered her room she couldn't help but laugh lightly at Rick sprawled out on the bed. And he says I talk up the bed she thought to herself as she nudged him lightly. "Move over Rocky."
Rick mumbled something incoherent as he moved over and Michonne chuckled again. She slipped into bed next to him and he wrapped his arm around her stomach as if it was a reflex and softly kissed her neck.
"You're mom made it?" He asked, in a hushed voice.
"Yeah, she's going to bed now. She said you did good on the nursery by the way."
Rick smiled a bit, "Glad she liked it." He said with a yawn.
"Go to bed, Rocky," Michonne said with a chuckle.
Rick kissed her neck again, "Night boss."
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The next morning
"Dad, wake up!" Carl said gently tapping Rick's face in order to wake him up.
Michonne chuckled and lightly poked Rick, "Rocky, wake up before Carl misses the bus." Since starting her maternity leave Michonne had been the one getting Carl ready for school in the morning.
Rick groaned a bit and opened his eyes a bit. "Come here son." He said, wrapping an arm around Carl for a hug. "Have a good day in school, learn a lot. Love you."
Carl smiled happily, "love you too! Let's go Michonne!" He said happily turning towards the door.
Michonne chuckled a bit as she followed behind him, "you have an hour before you gotta get up or you're gonna be late Rocky."
"Mhmmmm…" Rick said already falling back asleep.
Michonne chuckled again, shaking her head as she left the room. She could hear her mom and Carl introducing themselves to herself as she made her way downstairs.
"I was just telling Carl how that pregnant belly slows you down," Beverley said with a smile.
"She also said we would make cookies today!" Carl said excitedly.
Michonne smiled, "if you do good in school and do your homework as soon as you get home you'll get cookies."
Carl nodded, approving of this deal. "Okay! Bye, Ms. Beverly we're gonna miss the bus!"
"I'll be right back mom," Michonne said as she and Carl walked towards the door.
Once they got to the bus they both hugged and Michonne gave him a kiss on the top of his head. "Enjoy school, Carl."
"Thanks! Don't have the baby when I'm gone!" He said happily giving her stomach a small tap before getting on the bus.
Once Michonne was back in the house she couldn't help but chuckle at her mother who was well on her way to making breakfast. "Mom, you know you don't have to make me breakfast."
Beverly shook her head as she cooked, "you think I'm not gonna cook for my granddaughter?"
Michonne laughed lightly, "you're already spoiling her. Did you bring down gifts for her in your suitcase too?"
"I know you already know the answer to that one, Michonne," Beverley said with a small smirk as she handed her plate. "Rick gonna come down to eat?"
"If I know him he will be running down those stairs in about…" she looked up at the clock "...15 minutes and I make sure he grabs a bagel before he leaves...can you toast a bagel for him, mom?" She asked with a smile.
Beverly chuckled and nodded, "yes baby," popping a bagel into the toaster. She paused for a moment, "you are so in love."
Michonne laughed bashfully, "Say these things in front of Rick he's gonna have a grin on his face the whole day."
Beverly laughed, "I'm just noticing! When you talk about him your face lights up just like when you were in high school."
"Alright, mom…" Michonne said with a wide smile, waving her mother off.
Right on time, Rick came down the stairs, dressed for work. He walked into the kitchen, despite being rushed still making sure that he gave Michonne a proper goodbye, "Gotta go Boss." He said as he then gave her several light kisses.
"Take your bagel, Rocky," Michonne said, handing it to him.
Rick smiled widely, "what would I do without you?"
"Starve."
Rick chuckled and nodded, "you're right." They shared a small look for a moment before Rick realized her mother was in the room. "Uh Beverly, I'm sorry I should have said hi to you." He said, greeting her with a hug and light kiss on the cheek.
"You two are just enamored with each other I'm just glad I was even noticed," Beverly said with a smile.
"Oh god mom…" Michonne said with a playful eye roll.
Rick chuckled, his smile wide. "Well, I'm gonna leave y'all two now before I'm late. We'll talk later Beverly. Love you boss." He said giving, Michonne several kisses again. "Don't have the baby when I'm gone." He gave her stomach a light kiss before waving goodbye to Beverly and leaving.
Once he was gone, Beverly turned to Michonne. "You two have some odd nicknames for each other."
Michonne chuckled, "it's a long story mom."
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A few days later
"Michonne, you know it doesn't hurt to just make sure you aren't in labor." Said Rick who was currently pacing around Michonne who was laying on the couch currently feeling stronger Braxton Hicks contractions than before.
"Rick…." She said, calmly her eyes closed. "I'm not in labor so please stop pacing before you burn a while in my floor."
Rick sighed but sat across from her, "They're stronger than before?"
"Mhm…" She said with a nod. "But I'm fine."
"She's still feeling contractions?" Asked Beverly who entered the living room after being in the kitchen.
"Yup," responded Rick, "I think we should just go to the hospital to make sure everything's fine."
"I agree with Rick." Said Beverly.
"Oh god, where's Carl? I need someone on my side." Said Michonne with a small smile. "The baby is not coming today, so let's just relax." She said as she opened her eyes and sat up on the couch. "The contractions are gone now...can you bring me a cookie mom?" She asked with a smile.
Beverly chuckled and nodded, "yes baby. Rick next time you want to get her to the hospital just grab her arms and I'll get her feet."
Michonne laughed, "This baby isn't gonna allow you two to carry me anywhere."
Rick laughed, moving to sit next to Michonne, "We'll see about that."
"You two are annoying," Michonne said with a smirk.
"It's nice to have someone on my side this time. You and Carl gang up on a guy sometimes."
"That's why he's my favorite," Michonne said with a wide smile.
"Whatever…," Rick said with a smile as he leaned into kiss her.
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A few hours later
"Rick stop looking at me like I'm about to give birth right here…" Michonne said as she leaned against their dresser. It was now nighttime and her contractions that were coming and going for most of the day were now more consistent and stronger.
"Michonne, I know she's early but maybe…." Rick said as he watched her, attempting to not have his anxiousness wear on his face.
"It's too early Rick she still has a few more weeks…." Michonne said with a large exhale of air. "Okay, your kid is pushing on my bladder…." She said as she walked over to their bathroom.
"You know we're ready to go to the hospital if we need to boss, right?" He shouted over at her once she was in the bathroom.
"Yes, I know Rocky!" She responded. There were a few moments of silence before she exited the bathroom. "Rick…"
"Hm?"
"Let's go have this baby…." She said with a small smile.
Rick jumped up, "You're in labor? Are you sure you're in labor? 100 percent?"
"My water just broke so yeah I'm sure...Save your I told you so's for later." She said with a smirk.
Rick grinned widely, "okay so we're having a baby. Uh, what do we need? Okay uh, we need the hospital bags and gotta get you to the car. Gotta tell your mom. Oh, gotta call the school to say Carl will be out tomorrow...uh…"
Michonne chuckled a bit at the sight of a frazzled Rick, something that she doesn't see often. "Rick let's just get to the car okay? Oh…"
"What? Did we forget something?"
"Her name," Michonne said with a small chuckle. "Okay, you tell my mom I'm gonna go get her name from Carl."
"Alright but uh let's not take too long, okay?"
"Geez, who's the bossy one now?" Said Michonne with a smirk as she left the room to go over to Carl's room.
Michonne lightly knocked on Carl's door and then opened the door. He was already sleeping so she turned the light on and gently nudged him awake.
"Hmm?" Carl asked still half asleep, in the similar fashion that his father did when he was still half asleep.
"Carl, I think your baby sister is coming today. So, I need you to tell me what name was your favorite."
"What?" Carl asked, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. "But it's too early…." He said with a slight pout.
"I know but babies come when they want to. And she's ready to meet you. And your dad. So we gotta have her name, don't you think?" She asked with a small smile.
"Is she gonna come tonight?"
"Maybe. Maybe tomorrow. But she'll be here very soon. You ready to be a big brother?" Michonne asked.
"I think it'll be fun!"
Michonne smiled and nodded, "It will be."
"Boss, we gotta go," Rick said, popping his head in.
"Your dad is a little nervous Carl, don't mind him." She said with a small smile, "okay, look. It's okay if you don't have a name picked out just tell me which one was your favorite from the very beginning? And that's the one we'll go with it." She leaned into him for him to whisper the name into her ear once he was done she smiled. "Good choice." She kissed him gently on the top of his head. "You're gonna be home for school tomorrow, okay? My mom will watch you. And we'll call you as soon as she's here. I love you."
Carl nodded and smiled, "love you too."
"Boss…." said Rick who was still waiting for her.
"Okay Rocky, I'm coming…" She said as she playfully rolled her eyes. "Are the bags in the car?"
"Everything's there except for you."
Michonne chuckled and nodded, "okay, I'm going, I'm going."
As Michonne made her way to the stairs Rick gave Carl a hug and a kiss on the forehead. "I love you son. Next time we come home we'll have a baby with us."
"Don't be nervous, dad!" Carl said with a smile.
Rick chuckled a bit, "thanks, son." He got up and left the room to see Michonne at the bottom of the stairs. "Contractions?"
"Yeah, that one was painful." She exhaled a breath, closed her eyes and then opened them again. "Alright, let's get this baby out of me."
Rick chuckled and wrapped an arm around her waist helping her to the door. "Let's."
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A few moments later
"Alright, so the munchkin is early, huh?" Said Dr. Denise as she entered the hospital room with a smile. Michonne and Rick had gotten there a few minutes earlier and now Michonne was laying in the hospital bed with a gown on.
"Yeah, I think she was growing tired of the living conditions in there." Said Michonne with a small smile.
Denise chuckled as she pulled her chair towards the end of the bed, "Well it's okay if she's a little early. She's fully developed so no worries. I'm just going to check to see how dilated you are...Okay, so 5 centimeters so you two will be here for a while. We're gonna keep checking until you're at 10 centimeters. In the meantime…" She paused, for a moment as she got up and prepared to leave the room. "Don't be nervous, okay? I'm looking at you, Rick…"
"Uh...sorry didn't realize it was that obvious." Said Rick.
"Don't be sorry. Just be calm. She's gonna need that once labor really starts up. I'll check on you guys in a bit." She said with a smile as he exited the room.
"Yeah, don't be nervous Rocky…" Michonne said with a half smile, in a teasing tone. Her eyes were closed as she felt contractions come through.
Rick chuckled a bit, he pulled up a chair to sit next to her, lightly stroking her hand as she did so. "How long are you gonna be telling stories about me being nervous today?"
"I think the last time I saw you like this you were asking me out. I'm gonna be telling…." She paused for a moment, feeling a contraction. "...everyone."
"How bad are they?" He asked, referring to her contractions.
"These aren't even the worst ones I'm gonna say sorry now because when she's ready to come out I'm not gonna be that nice." She said with a smirk.
"I was here when you first came back I think I could handle it," Rick responded with a smirk as well.
Michonne laughed lightly, "Oh yeah...I was mean to you. Sorry about that. What are you a glutton for punishment?"
Rick laughed as they then shared a moment of silence before speaking again. "I knew as soon as I saw you, 'I leave you for 5 minutes and you turn into some bad ass'" He said, mimicking her first words to him.
Michonne laughed, lightly hitting his hand, "I do not sound like that!"
Rick laughed and nodded, "You do! Anyway, I knew as soon as I saw you that I was...still in love with you. It was like...I always thought I never stopped loving you. Like how everyone says that with their first love, you know? But seeing you I was like...fuck...I'm in trouble."
Michonne laughed lightly, "You knew you were in trouble?"
"Oh definitely. You came back here...looking all beautiful. Grumpy. But beautiful." Rick said with a grin. "And you live on the same street I do? You're telling me that wasn't a sign?"
"It's not my fault Kings County doesn't have a million places to live in. It's hard to get a house around here when no one will move out." Michonne said with a smirk.
Rick chuckled, "Well I think it meant something. The person who lived there could have left a month later and then who knows you may have moved somewhere else by then…"
"No Rocky, I think...I think I would have made it work to come back here. I needed to see if you were still here. I was mean to you but I wanted you around. I didn't show it but even in the beginning, you made me happier Rick. Just being with you...even when you were annoying me." She said with a wide smile.
Rick chuckled a bit, "You came a long way boss…"
Michonne smiled softly, "So did you, Rocky. I'm proud of you…" There was a pause. "You know I can't fall asleep without you anymore? I didn't even want to cuddle with you when I first came back."
Rick nodded, "Oh I know. The lights are always on when I come in the room and you always look like you're half asleep but wanna stay up. Like a kid on Christmas eve."
Michonne chuckled, "You're a good person to sleep with!"
"Oh, I know…" Rick said with a wide grin.
Michonne laughed, lightly hitting his hand again. "Leave me alone."
"Never."
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Several hours later
"Rick….tell the nurse...this baby is about to…..crawl out of me…." Michonne said, through heavy breathing, her contractions now at their strongest.
Rick jumped up, nodding. "Uh yeah, okay I'll get the nurse." He quickly left the room for a minute to come back with a nurse.
"Fuck...Rick I'm never letting you do this to me again…"
"So do you want another kid?" Rick said with a grin which was quickly meant by a glare from Michonne. "Uh...yeah I think she's ready for this kid to come," Rick said with a small smile to the nurse.
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A few moments later
"Good job, momma. I see her head so you're almost done. One more push."
"You said that a 5 pushes ago…" Michonne said with a slight smirk before pushing again. As she pushed she squeezed Rick's hand.
"Jesus boss you got some grip on you…." Rick said once she was done pushing.
"Remember that next time you annoy me…" Michonne said with a slight smile.
"Okay, we're almost done. For real this time. Big push momma." Said Dr. Denise
Michonne breathed in for a moment before pushing once more.
"Hello munchkin…." Said Dr. Denise, there was a slight pause before a loud cry washed over the room. "There she is. Want to come cut the cord dad?"
Rick smiled widely and nodded, "yeah, yeah, where do I cut?"
"Right here… okay, good job. We're gonna clean her off for you." Said Dr. Denise.
"She's here?" Michonne asked Rick with a relieved smile, tears forming in her eyes.
Rick smiled and nodded, kissing her on the forehead. "She is."
"Okay, here she is," Denise said, bringing the new baby who was wrapped in a blanket, handing her to Michonne.
"Oh my god…." Michonne said quietly to herself. Their baby was of the complexion of the beginning stages of caramel that would darken a few shades in the upcoming weeks, there was already a tuft of black curls laying on her head, her eyes were half open and light brown. She had his square jaw and slender nose and her full lips and almond-shaped eyes. "Jesus she's beautiful…"
"Looks like her mom," Rick said, smiling down at the baby. "How much does she weigh?" He asked to no one in particular.
"7 pounds and 6 ounces. What name would you like on the birth certificate?" Asked a nurse.
There was silence for a moment before Rick nudged Michonne who was completely engulfed with her new baby. "I think you have the answer to that question Boss."
"Oh sorry. Her name is Judith. Judith Grimes."
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The room had now quieted as the new addition was brought to the nursery for the night, being born at 3:31 in the morning. Now a few hours later Michonne and Rick were both nearly asleep.
"Rocky…" Michonne said quietly, her voice tired. She remained in the hospital bed but loosely held Rick's hand.
"You need me to get you something?" Rick asked he sat in a chair next to her, his legs stretched out onto her bed.
"No…" There was a few moment of silence before she spoke again, "...We had a baby…." Despite it being dark in the room and her tiredness, the tone in her voice revealed the smile on her face.
Rick smiled and nodded, "That we did. You were amazing. She's amazing."
"She is...Thank you, Rick." She said, softly.
"For what?" He asked.
"For letting me be a mom again. I never saw it happening. And you made me feel...less scared of this whole thing. I think she's gonna be okay."
Rick leaned in, giving her hand a gentle kiss. "I know she'll be. I can't wait to see you with her some more. You're a natural mom, that didn't go away."
Michonne smiled softly, letting a small yawn out afterward. "I love you, Rick." She said, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.
"I love you too Michonne."
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It was now early afternoon and Michonne was beginning her day by breastfeeding Judith. "What time will my mom and Carl be here?" She asked Rick as he entered the room, bringing her food from the cafeteria.
"About an hour. Carl insisted that he bring something for Judith to read. I told him, 'son, she's not even close to being able to read yet.' He said, 'dad, she needs to start as soon as possible.' There was no talking him out of it." Rick said with a smirk as he shook his head.
Michonne chuckled, burping Judith as she did so. "He just want his baby sister to be a smartie, doesn't he? Yes, he does." She asked, her question directed to the newborn.
Rick smiled, as he watched her. "You realize how beautiful you look with her in your arms?"
Michonne smiled and shook her head, "Your daddy is so sappy but he's a cutie so we'll let him get away with it. Right? We'll let him get away with it? Yes, we will."
Rick chuckled, "Alright, let me take her before you fill her head with nonsense. Eat something before Carl comes you know you're going to need your energy for him."
Michonne chuckled and nodded, handing off Judith to Rick and taking the food she brought for him.
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About an hour later
"Michonne! Dad!" Carl said, excitedly as he entered the room with Beverly.
"Hi Carl, I've missed you. Can I get a hug?" Michonne said with a smile as she embraced him, giving him a light kiss on the forehead. "You ready to meet your new sister?"
"Yes!" Carl said excitedly.
Michonne chuckled, "Okay, you gotta wash your hands first. And then sit down and your dad will bring to her….Mom the same rules apply to you." She said with a smirk.
Beverly laughed lightly, "Guess you're right back to being a bossy momma, huh?"
"Oh, she's always been bossy," Rick said, with a smirk as Carl sat down, ready for the baby. He took the baby from Michonne and sat next to Carl. "Okay, son so when you first hold a baby you gotta make sure your hands are clean. And then, for now, we always gotta hold her when me or Michonne are around okay? And then lastly, we always gotta support her head. You think you can handle all those rules?"
Carl nodded confidently, "I can!"
Rick smiled, "Alright. So here is your sister, Judith." He handed Judith to Carl, supporting his arms from below.
"Woah….are all babies this small?" Carl asked as he held her.
Michonne smiled as she watched him, "Yeah, she's a normal size for a baby. But some are a little bigger and some are a little smaller. Do you think she looks more like your dad or me?"
Carl thought for a moment, "...Her face is kind of all...squishy….it's hard to tell!"
Both Rick and Michonne laughed at his comment, "Mom, what do you think?"
Rick handed Judith to Beverly, allowing her to see who she thinks the baby looks more like.
"I think...she looks like a perfect combination of the both of you." Said Beverly with a smile. "I hope you two know this baby is about to be spoiled by her grandma…"
"Oh trust me we know," Michonne said with a smile. "Carl, your dad was telling me you were picking out comics for Judith?"
Carl nodded as he hopped out of his seat and brought his comics out of his backpack, sitting down next to Michonne. "Dad said she doesn't know how to read yet! But I think she will like to read these."
Michonne chuckled, "I think he just doesn't want any more comic readers in the house."
Rick let out a groan, "Beverly, I'm gonna need you to stick around before they start bringing Judith to their side."
Beverly chuckled, rocking Judith as she did so. "You should know by now if you bribe Michonne with some chocolate she'll always be on your side."
"Dad I like chocolate too!" Carl said, making sure to let his know that bribery in the form of chocolate will be acceptable to him.
Rick chuckled, "I'll remember that next time you agree with Michonne."
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The next day
"Ready to bring Judith home?" Rick asked as they were preparing to leave the hospital.
"Yeah I think she's ready to go. You ready to go home with momma? Hm?" She asked Judith give her light kisses on the nose after questions. "Why can I feel daddy staring at us? Hm? Is he being a creep? I think so…." Michonne said with a smile.
Rick chuckled a bit, "I can't get over you with her."
Michonne smiled softly, "can you tell I'm obsessed with her?"
"Oh, I can definitely tell," Rick said with a grin. "Am I gonna be able to pry you from her?"
"Only when I'm sleeping," Michonne said with a smile as Judith began to stir, crying a bit. "Oh, I know I don't want daddy to take you from me either."
Rick chuckled, shaking his head. "I think she's crying for another reason and I'm pretty sure you can smell it."
Michonne laughed, "Okay, okay. I'll change her and then we can go."
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"Alright, Boss so when we get inside just relax. Sleep if you need to. All I need you to do is feed Judith and cuddle with her. We can do everything else." Rick said as they exited the car, his hand around her waist as Michonne held the baby.
"I promise I'll rest Rocky," Michonne said with a smile.
"I'm gonna remember those words," Rick said with a smirk as he opened the door for her.
They were both immediately greeted by a jumping, excited, Carl glad to have his family back at home. "Hi, dad! Hi, Michonne! Hi, Judith!"
Michonne laughed lightly at Carl's excitement. "Hi Carl, Judith is sleeping so let's use our inside voice okay? Were you being good with my mom?"
"He was great," Beverly said, entering the room. She gave both Rick and Michonne a hug to welcome them back. "How are you two? You need anything?"
Michonne shook her head, "We're good, mom. I'm gonna go put her down and I'll be back." She said as she began to make her way upstairs.
"Thanks for watching Carl for us Beverly. He could be a handful, you should go rest." Said Rick
Beverly shook her head, "Oh please you just had a daughter you go rest. I'll be fine."
Rick laughed a bit, "I see where Michonne gets her work ethic from. I am gonna help you clean at least."
Beverly chuckled, "Alright, just for a little bit."
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"Okay Rick, last time for to go on upstairs before I kick you out of your kitchen," Beverly said with a smirk, after about an hour of cleaning.
Rick chuckled, holding his hands up in defeat, "Alright, you win. Let me make sure Michonne isn't being productive up there." He said with a smile as he exited the kitchen and went upstairs.
He lightly tapped on their bedroom door before opening it and he smiled to himself. In a bassinet by the bed laid a sleeping Judith and right next to her laid an equally asleep Michonne. Rick chuckled a bit at the sight before slipping his shoes off to lay next to her. He laid beside her, wrapping his arm around her waist, causing Michonne to stir a bit.
"What happened to not being able to fall asleep without me?" Rick asked in a hushed tone.
Michonne let out a small chuckle, "You've been replaced, Rocky."
"In a matter of hours, a cute little baby girl just replaced me."
Michonne chuckled again, "You're annoying."
Rick smiled, gently stroking her hand. "I love you." He whispered to her. "I love you."
Michonne smiled, turning so she was now facing him. She gave him a soft kiss on the lips. "I love you too Rick." There was a small pause. "...Now let's sleep before she wakes up."
Rick chuckled and nodded, "Let's."
A/N: Alright wellllllll this just took forever to put up lol. Sorry guys I started writing this a few days ago and went to check something on the site and realized it's been over a month since I posted like?! It's been a mixture of laziness/a busy October/and the midst of school work. I think the premiere helped motivate me to write though cause that was depressing af tbh. I hopeeee to become more consistent with updates but I don't want to make any promises that can't be kept. Just know that no stories will be abandoned :). Hope to have an update out for something about you next week. Once again so sorry for this long as hell wait.