A Life Interrupted, Carry On

by Richonnelover05

A malicious lie interrupted the lives of a young Rick and Michonne and split them apart for eight years. Although they each were forced carry on the best way they could, there was always something missing. When an unexpected person pays Rick a visit at work, truths will spill and hopefully reconnections and love can form again.

10. Chapter 10-Slow and Steady

Alright, as promised in the spoiler notes in chapter 7, which some of you lovely readers forgot about (wink), lmao, this chapter and the next will fill the gap from the six-month time jump. This chapter picks up immediately from the end of chapter 8.

I'm 3500 words over my goal. Fuck it.

Enjoy!

Chapter 10—Slow and Steady

Sasha fell in love with the Greene Farm almost immediately, well once she visually confirmed there were no goats within a five-mile radius, she was very enamored. Carl was mesmerized as he surveyed the property full of excitement about all the things there were to see and do. While Rick was informing Darryl about the arrest of Merle and The Claimers as they unpacked the car, Sasha and Carl were grinning from ear-to-ear as they toured the stables, the grove of pecan and peach trees, the large gardens and finally the majestic woods that surrounded the farm.

"You like pecans?" Beth asked and Sasha enthusiastically nodded, "Good! We are harvesting them now to send out to our buyers. It was an extra sweet crop this year! We can gather some for later!"

It was early November, and Sasha thought it was the perfect time to visit the farm. The weather was crisp, and the burnt orange foliage mixed with a few hues of red and a large amount of green and brown was breathtaking. Carl ran as fast as he could to the edge where the farm and woods met ready to take another hiking trip right through the thick Georgia trees. Ella hollered for her grandson to return and promised Carl a camping trip the next time he came down as a compromise. Sasha was entranced as she took a deep breath of fresh air and scanned the sights around her. She was surprised that she loved the Chattahoochee Nature Center adventure and a large part of her knew she was going to love the farm even more. Mostly.

"Carl, the Chattahoochee Nature Center is one thing, those woods are a completely different beast. Let's take this weekend easy, ok?" Sasha smiled at an overly enthused Carl before looking over at Beth, "There are no goats in the woods, right?"

"No goats," Beth repeated with a giggle, "But we do have chickens. Let's go to the coop."

Sasha, Ella, and Beth chuckled and tried to give Carl some direction as they watched Carl unsuccessfully try to catch an unruly escaped chicken. After repeating Ella's directions for Carl to keep his hands over the wings, Sasha wondered if King County would be a good place for her and Darryl to raise their child. Sasha vehemently shook the thought from her head. King County was full of charm but was way too small for her taste. But Sasha thought it would be a lovely temporary escape from Atlanta. Once Carl gave up on the chickens, he dragged Sasha over to the stables to see the horses.

"Can we ride those, Grams?" Carl begged, pointing to the horses as they walked inside the stables.

"Yes, but later. I think you need a few lessons first," Chuckled Ella who was thrilled that Carl seemed to enjoy the farm, "Come on, let's get you two settled. We are gonna ride later when Hershel gets home."

"Can we milk those cows then?" Screamed Carl as he ran towards the corral and Ella giggled at her grandson's enthusiasm.

Rick was grinning as he and Darryl strolled towards the group. Watching his son run around happily was all Rick could have hoped for.

"Those are bulls, for…," Rick paused and eyed Carl then Ella then Carl again, "We loan em to Otis from time to time. He runs a dairy farm, and we get most of our milk from him directly. You can't milk those particular ones."

Sasha giggled when Rick turned red.

"Let's go inside and get settled Carl, and it's about time for lunch anyway," Ella laughed and grabbed Carl's hand, "Afterwards we can get the horses ready. Hershel wanted to join us and said he would try to come home early. Rick, why don't you call and see if he is just about done with the paperwork from those arrests. See if you can light a fire under him to come on to the farm."

While Rick pulled out his phone, Sasha scanned the area one last time before heading inside the farmhouse.

"It's so beautiful here," Sasha uttered to herself as she closed her sweater tightly to keep out the slight November chill.

Sasha was not as eased about the trip earlier that morning as they stood in front of their residential building packing the car as she was now, especially watching Michonne fretting over Carl. Michonne was a nervous wreck about sending Carl to King County without her and was either fawning over Carl with hugs and kisses or giving Darryl and Sasha strict instructions on watching her son. Michonne requested a call every hour and Sasha told her that was excessive and to calm the hell down. Michonne narrowed her eyes and figured she would text or call until somebody answered the phone. It took Darryl pulling Carl from Michonne's grasp and quickly shoving him in the back seat in order for them to finally get on the road to King County. Michonne stood on the street and watched until the car disappeared. Sasha became anxious as they merged onto the highway and became downright restless when the city skyscrapers were exchanged for trees as far as the eye could see.

"Darryl, if a goat comes near your pregnant wife, are you prepared to protect me and put it down? Did you bring your hunting knife?" Sasha asked seriously and cut her eyes at Carl who giggled in the backseat.

"Sasha, I don't think there are goats there. Rick said there were no goats. What is your problem with goats anyway. Not horses, or chickens, or ducks, or skunks, just goats?" Darryl asked confused but had a feeling it was going to be either a very funny story or a very traumatic one.

It was both. Funny for Darryl and Carl and traumatic for Sasha. When Sasha was eleven, and Tyrese was fifteen, their parents took them to a petting zoo. Sasha would roll her eyes at her oversized brother cuddling with the damn animals while she just wanted to leave. Sasha was not used to the smell, or the idea of petting anything other than a dog. Finally, on their way out, Sasha encountered Willy the Goat. Willy was a young goat who was just getting his little horns. Willy, however, was no ordinary easygoing goat; he was a feisty little fella and it seemed he took a liking to Sasha, especially her backside. Willy noticed Sasha's ass, specifically the two bananas that were hanging out of her back pants pocket. She was supposed to have fed them to the animals, and in her fervor to leave the petting zoo behind, she forgot to do so. Sasha did not even remember they were there. But that mischievous Willy noticed.

Willy the Goat saw those yellow curved edible fruits that he associated with the most delicious of treats that his owner would feed him when he was good, which was rare. Willy was gonna get him them bananas come hell or high fences. Willy took some steps back and after a running start, jumped over his little enclosure just like he had done many times before. Usually, Willy would just walk a few feet to the nearest tree and eat the grass until one of the workers noticed and put him back in the pen. But this time, after he jumped, he ran straight towards Sasha's ass at full speed.

"And that damn goat bit my ass, and then shoved me down with its little demon horns Darryl! And then ran away with the bananas!" Sasha finished with a horrified look on her face.

Darryl had to pull over on the side of the road and get out of the car because he was laughing so hard. Carl tried to get out too and join his Uncle, but Sasha gave her laughing nephew the evil eye to stay put. After a few minutes of Darryl bending over in stitches, he tried to calm down by blowing out a few breaths, but when he looked through the front windshield at Sasha mean-mugging him with her arms folded across her chest, Darryl went right back into a fit of laughter.

"GET IN THE DAMN CAR DARRYL!" Sasha yelled after rolling down her passenger window, "IT'S COLD!"

Darryl wiped his eyes and got back in the car and sat a minute, then looked over at Sasha.

"Is that how you got that scar that looks like two big front teeth marks on your left butt cheek, I have asked you a million times about that woman!" Darryl chuckled and so did Carl.

"That's not funny Darryl. My parents had to take me to the emergency room for shots!" Sasha countered but that just made Darryl and Carl laugh even more.

Sasha narrowed her eyes at Carl.

"And to think. You treat me like this after I talked your mother into allowing you to go trick-or-treating while you were grounded last week for trading your lunch for a geriatric hamster that vomited then died in its cage once you brought it home," Sasha shuddered remembering Darryl walking that dead thing out of the condo.

Sasha looked at a giggling Carl and Darryl and giggled too, finding a tiny bit of humor in the story she refused to tell for almost fifteen years.

"Sorry Aunt Sasha, but it was funny. I have a question though. When you go to the dentist, is it just the teeth in your mouth that that you get cleaned or do you get your butt teeth cleaned too?" Carl inquired and Darryl had to get out of the car again.

After another few minutes, Darryl got back on the road and the car was quiet except for the angry huffs of his wife or the chuckles of his nephew. Darryl desperately tried to stifle his giggles, but a few escaped despite his efforts. Now, as Sasha swaddled tightly in her sweater for warmth, she could easily see herself being the outdoorsy type and maybe one day buying a farm when it was time for her and Darryl to retire. Sans goats.

"It is beautiful, isn't it?" Ella smiled, "I am glad you are here Sasha! I can't wait to introduce you to Letty. She was excited you were coming so we can pick your brain about our business venture. We want to show you where we will be building the spa and B&B! I was wondering…"

Ella stopped when she heard tires come up the road, and a grinned when she saw it was Letty.

"Well speak of the devil!" Ella grinned and pointed for Letty to park closer to the house.

During lunch, Sasha asked a million questions about the Ella' and Letty's new business and before they took their last bite of lunch, the trio had already come up with a name for the retreat, Serenity Woods. Sasha's marketing mind was going into overdrive and planned to call Andrea as soon as they finished riding the horses. Sasha saw the whole scenario play out in her head and smiled when she envisioned the potential growth of King County. She grinned wider when she pictured herself and her husband possibly moving to the new and improved town much sooner than retirement age.

"Why are you smiling so hard," Darryl asked as he picked up her plate to hand to Rick who was washing the dishes.

"Nothing, just glad to be here," Sasha responded, and Darryl stared at his wife for a beat wondering what she was up to, before joining Rick at the sink.

After they let their lunch settle, Hershel arrived, and Carl was having the time of his life as Hershel walked the gentle horse around the pen with a grinning Carl sitting on top. Darryl had no interest in riding the beast, and watched his pregnant wife anxiously when it was her turn to take a ride around the enclosure. Letty took a turn too. Eventually Ella, Hershel, and Rick took horses out with Carl riding with Rick and the tyke was delighted as the horse went from a trot to a light run. Carl wanted to go faster, but Rick told Carl, baby steps. By nightfall, they were all full of some of the best pot roast they had ever eaten and were sitting around the firepit between the back of the house and the woods. Sasha snuck off and called Andrea. The two were already plotting to take King County to new heights.

By early Sunday morning, they were all standing on the Grimes Farm and Sasha and Carl were blown away. It was spectacularly beautiful. The thick woods surrounded more of the Grimes farm than the Greene one. With all the high trees surrounding the property, it was a sight to behold. Rick on the other hand was silent. He thought his old home looked like an old abandoned haunted site. It was unbelievable to him that a mere three months ago, it was a bustling farm.

"So this is where I want to put the spa, closer to the woods. Ella is gonna put the bed and breakfast a quarter mile up over there, closer to the road," Letty enthused as she stood on the exact spot where they would soon build spa once the entire property was demolished.

"Wow, the farm looks so different deserted. I can see how tranquil the retreat will be. What is the name again?" Michonne asked on FaceTime with Rick who was panning his phone around the property.

Rick turned the phone back towards him.

"Serenity Woods is what they came up with. You at your office? I thought it was just yesterday?" Rick asked worried Michonne was working herself to the bone.

"I didn't quite finish, so I came in this morning to work until Carl gets home," Michonne groaned in frustration as she held up a file folder.

"Well, don't work too hard. I wish you were here with us," Rick grinned and Michonne smiled.

"Me too. Ok, I have to go. What time are Darryl and Sasha leaving?" Michonne asked.

"After lunch!" Sasha yelled, "We should be back around three!"

Sasha was excited to get the ball rolling with Andrea once she returned to Atlanta. Sasha was not only a business lawyer, but her mind for running a successful company was inherited from her mother. Sasha, however, had one talent that was far superior to Jacque Williams, and that was marketing. Sasha knew how to effectively get Serenity Woods name in the spotlight and build excited chatter. If she could get people talking, it would bring in business and more business meant more people. More people meant upgrades to the town and expansion, which would entice even bigger businesses and franchises to come to King County or the surrounding area. Sasha hoped they got a Target store too! If she and Andrea worked this correctly, King County would be the best of both worlds. Small town charm, with a city-like diverse expanded population. Sasha grinned as she stood in the middle of the field and Darryl again wondered what his wife was thinking.

"I decided to tear the house down and start fresh, instead of remodeling it," Ella informed knocking Sasha out of her thoughts and thus Darryl from his.

"I can see it Ms. Ella. I really can," Sasha grinned and looked at a curious Darryl.

Sasha was sure Darryl was going to love her plan if it worked out. She knew her husband wanted his kids to grow up in a small town with room to run around the wide-open spaces. He could take them hunting and camping anytime they wanted by just walking a few feet from their house and into the woods. Sasha had a flash of her small-town future cross her mind and decided once she got back to Atlanta, she would manifest that life for her, Darryl, and their future child. After another delicious lunch, they were packing the car and Rick and Ella were sad that the weekend went by much too fast for their liking.

"Ms. Ella, I had the BEST time here. I will call you soon, but I have some ideas to help advertise your business and King County!" Sasha keenly stated as she hugged Ella while Darryl and Rick were loading the car.

"I just loved having ya'll here. You and Darryl make sure to come back soon!" Ella gushed as she hugged Sasha tightly.

Ella grabbed her grandson and huffed.

"This went entirely too fast," Ella whispered as she hugged Carl.

"Don't worry Grams, you are gonna see a lot of me from now on. I'm off from school on Thanksgiving in a few weeks, and of course there is Christmas break!" Carl grinned adorably, and Ella just melted and hugged the tyke again.

"Well, I'm gonna hold you to that Carl," Ella smiled and gave her grandson one last hug and goodbye kiss.

"Alright mama, let the boy go so they can get on the road; besides, I need my hug too," Rick smiled as he sauntered over to Ella and Carl.

Sasha wondered how Michonne resisted that damn walk. She and Rosita noticed it at the Nature Center and discussed that saunter at length on multiple occasions. She planned to ask Michonne how she kept her goodies locked up with all that manly swagger Rick had. Rick Grimes was one sexy ass man. Not as sexy as her hubby Darryl, but a damn close second, Sasha considered.

After Sasha and Darryl returned, Sasha walked Carl home and had a quick chat with Michonne and asked he about Rick's sexy ass gait and if he always walked like that.

"Girl, you are blushing! Looks like you been thinking about that walk too!" Sasha cackled, "You and Rick need to quit playing."

"I just need to build up my trust Sasha. But the feelings are there. They never actually left, but the trust did. I think if it's meant to be, Rick and I will get there eventually," Michonne grinned, and Sasha nodded.

"I understand, but when it happens, it's gonna be fireworks girl!" Sasha laughed, "Tomorrow, I want you, me, and Andrea to have a chat about King County. I have some ideas I want to run by you two," Sasha ended then left to go help Darryl unpack from the trip.

By Monday afternoon, Michonne and Andrea were both sharing Sasha's vision. Sasha's next step was to contact her mother and brother's PR team and by the end of the week, Ella and Letty were already getting calls of interest. Rick drove up to Atlanta Saturday for a day trip. He was just off a Friday evening shift, and had another early Sunday morning, but he could not go another whole week without seeing Michonne. Since Rick was making a special trip, and so as to not disappoint Carl, nor herself for that matter, Michonne forwent work and instead, made time to spend with her little family.

They took a trolly tour of Atlanta in the morning, ate lunch, and Rick ended his visit participating in a one-hour escape room adventure. Carl chose the Basketball Room because the clown and sanitarium were too scary in his opinion, and the basketball room was also for beginners. Rick had to squeeze Michonne's hand to keep her competitive nature at bay and let Carl find all the clues. Michonne would stand next to the clues and clear her throat loudly, and eye the area to draw Carl's attention. Rick just laughed. Before Rick left to go back to King County, Rick passed along a message from Ella.

"Hey, mama invited you to Thanksgiving next week. You think you might come? You and Carl? Darryl and Sasha, and Abe and Rosita are invited too," Rick added as they stood in front of his truck.

"Carl and I will definitely be there. I know Sasha and Darryl will spend it with her parents. Carl and I were too, but we can come to King County instead. I think Abe and Rosita are going out to Texas. He has not seen his brothers in a few years since they had some type of falling out after their parents passed. He said one of his brother's reached out, and Abe is going to give it one last try and see if he can repair the relationship."

"All lright, just us then," Rick grinned secretly glad that he would have Michonne and Carl alone for a whole four days.

Rick loved hanging out with the group, but he was ready to do some healing and building with Michonne and he needed some alone time with her to do get it done. Then Rick supposed he was making a huge assumption. Would Michonne stay at the farm or leave right after Thanksgiving dinner?

"So, Thanksgiving. Will you stay through the weekend or leave early, or…" Rick wavered until Michonne interrupted.

"I will stay and leave Sunday," Michonne smiled, and Rick did not think his grin could get any wider.

A week and a half later, bright and early on Thanksgiving morning, Michonne and Carl were driving down to King County. Michonne was ready to start building something positive and lasting with Rick too. She just needed to figure out how. That was the hard part.

When Michonne pulled up to the farm, she was just as mesmerized as Carl and Sasha were their first time at the Greene property. For Michonne though, it brought back old memories of running around the open fields with Rick when she was young. She looked over at the stables and smiled remembering when Rick finally got her to ride the horses with him when she was fifteen. Michonne sat in front of Rick on the horse with his arm wrapped around her waist the first few times before eventually riding alone with Rick riding closely beside her. Michonne was terrified, but eventually caught the hang of riding alone. Later, after she got pregnant, she was too afraid to get back on the horse in case she fell and hurt the baby. Rick promised her that after their child was born, he would take her back out. Michonne sighed that it took eight years, but she was going to hold him to that promise this weekend. Then Michonne wondered how she lost her adventurous spirit over the last eight years and looked at Carl. She became the cautious overprotective mom, and figured after the Chattahoochee trip, it might be time to find that old part of her again. Carl seemed to crave it.

"Mom, are you going to ride the horses?" It was fun! Maybe I can go by myself this time!" Carl exclaimed as he opened the car door and ran into his father's arms.

Rick looked through the windshield and wondered why Michonne was still sitting inside the car. Michonne snapped out of her recollections and opened the car door and watched as Carl was trying to drag Rick and Ella to the horses.

"Hold on, Carl. Let me help your mama get the bags, and your Grams is cooking!" Rick looked at his watch, "You know, it's still early, we have some time before we start eating. We have time for a lesson or two. Or a refresher in your case Michonne."

"You rode horses before Mom!" Hollered an awe-struck Carl and Michonne could not help but feel a little proud she impressed her son.

Rick watched Carl dash to stables and when he turned back to Michonne her brows were raised.

"Now Rick? It has been well over eight years since I have been on a horse! Can't we wait until Friday? Give me time to remember how to do it?" Michonne tried to plead her case getting a sudden case of jumpiness.

"We can go Friday too," Rick smiled, "Besides, it's like riding a bike. You will remember as soon as you hop on top," Rick winked and Michonne pursed her lips, "Let's go inside and get you settled. You can change clothes and I will meet you at the stables. We have heavy coats because that little plastic jacket you got on don't look like it will be warm enough!"

"It's warm and it's my puffer jacket! You know, the one that mysteriously walked itself on my balcony before our Chattahoochee trip?" Michonne uttered with derision, "And this jacket is high quality and very well insulated and very warm, thank you very much."

"And very puffy," Rick chuckled, "you sure you want to wear that on the horse?"

Michonne thought for a second and rolled her eyes.

"I will take your coat. Do you have one for Carl?" Michonne asked worriedly.

"I bought one for him after he left here a few weeks ago," Rick grinned and Michonne did too, "You remember how to ride, Michonne? If not, you can sit in my lap, and I can teach you again."

Michonne giggled and gave Rick some side-eye for his two dirty little double meanings. Michonne walked inside the house and could not help but make a stop inside the kitchen to see what Ella was cooking.

"Ms. Ella, what's on the menu? There is a ton of food in here," Michonne uttered looking around the food-laden kitchen.

"Michonne, I don't think I could make a normal sized meal if I tried," Ella giggled, "Especially a holiday dinner."

"Go big or go home right," Michonne grinned, and she scanned all the delicious ingredients scattered all across the kitchen.

"Don't distract her mama. We are going riding," Rick warned lightly, and Ella shook her head.

"There is plenty of time, dinner won't be ready for another five hours Rick. It's only 10am. Calm down. Michonne has time to look!" Ella scolded and Rick narrowed his eyes at his mama.

Thirty minutes had passed before Rick and Carl pulled Michonne from the kitchen. Ella had put Michonne to work and tossed her an apron and pointed to the ham.

"We have one turkey roasting in the oven, and Rick is smoking one out back. The ham ready to go in as soon as I put those cloves and pineapple rings on it. In fact, you can help with that," Ella ordered and walked over to the ham and showed Michonne the clove pattern she wanted, "then you can mix up the glaze for it."

As Michonne laid the fruit rings secured by the cloves on ham, she laughed at some of the eventful holidays she had had with Darryl. When it was just Michonne, Carl, and Darryl, they ate mostly store-bought rotisserie chicken and whatever premade sides they had available. In law school, Sasha decided to stay in Virginia one year to study, and they tried to cook their own dinner and the turkey was still raw in the middle when Darryl carved it. The next year, it was cooked perfectly, but they were so focused on getting the turkey right, the sides were either bland or inedible. The first year after they moved to Atlanta, they dined with the William's family and the food was divine. This year was special for both Michonne and Carl because they were spending it with Rick and Ella, and of course Hershel, Beth, and the infamous Maggie Greene, whom Michonne had yet to meet but remembered her running wild as a child. So far, based on what Michonne was viewing, the day was off to a great start and Michonne licked her lips.

"The glaze is done!" Michonne declared and thought she did a good job after she tasted the pineapple juice, brown sugar, grainy mustard, and garlic powder concoction.

"Pour it over the top, and baste every fifteen minutes," Ella instructed then greeted her newly arrived guest, "Hey Letty, the dressing station is over there!"

"Ok, I have the green bean casserole ready for the oven!" Letty cheered and Michonne scrunched her nose.

"Mine is different baby. It has butter, and cream, and some Jones and Jones smoked gouda, and garlic and onions, and mushrooms, it's aint the stuff on the back of that soup can," Letty enlightened and Michonne licked her lips again.

"Is Morgan coming?" Michonne asked interested in seeing her old friend again.

"Morgan was coming but he had a cheese emergency, whatever the hell that is, which is why he sent those cheesecakes as a peace offering," Letty laughed and shook her head.

"Wow! That maple pecan one looks delicious!" Michonne exclaimed licking her lips yet again, "Sasha sent some pies and cakes from her mother's bakery."

"Good! I don't think I would have had the time or the room to bake anything in here!" Ella exclaimed, "But if my peach trees were in season, I would have found the time to make a cobbler!"

"This is a lot of food, who all is coming?" Michonne asked curiously.

"All of us of course, Dale, he is our town lawyer, a few deputies, and Maggie will be down shortly. Hershel went to get her this morning from Georgia Tech," Ella answered as she peeled the potatoes.

"I would have picked her up!" Michonne offered, "If she needs a ride back, I will be happy to do it!"

"Hershel might just get on his old knees and thank you for it!" Ella chuckled.

"Hershel ain't old, and come on Michonne, Carl and I have been waiting for thirty minutes!" Rick started looking around for something that was ready to be tasted.

Rick was finally able to get Michonne to change clothes and they were off to the stables. When Michonne walked in, she was even more nervous than before. Picking up horse riding after an eight-year hiatus was not going to be easy.

"MOM! If you need some practice? I can teach you!" Carl hollered as he helped his father put the saddle on the horse.

When Rick turned from watching his son, he walked over and grabbed Michonne's coat and handed it to her. Michonne was relieved because she was freezing and watching Rick strut back to the horse warmed her more than the coat. Michonne took a deep breath and finally answered Carl's question about needing some tutorials out of earshot of both Rick and Carl.

"Well, Carl," Michonne uttered quietly to herself as she watched them get the horses ready, "Mommy might just need a little bit of practice riding in your daddy's lap again."

"Hi Michonne! Rick said ya'll were riding. Carl can ride with me!" Beth offered and ran to get her horse ready too.

For the next hour, Michonne rode with Rick and Carl with Beth, even though the tyke tried to convince everyone he was ready to ride alone. Maggie and Herschel showed up a few minutes into riding and saddled up too. Rick was excited to have Michonne riding with him, especially with how intimate it felt with his hand around her waist and could not resist pulling her back towards him every chance he could. Maggie noticed and giggled, and Rick gave Maggie some major evil-eye in return. The handholding that started at the Chattahoochee Nature Center progressed to touching other innocent places by the time the ride was over. Rick gave her a push to her upper thigh, dangerously close to her ass, to help her on the horse and grabbed her waist to help her off. As they climbed the porch steps to enter the house to get cleaned up before dinner, Rick touched her lower back to help her along the same way he did when they were young and in love. Michonne loved the gesture now just as much as she did then.

At the dinner table filled with macaroni and cheese, a tomato and cucumber salad that Beth made with veggies picked straight from their garden, mashed potatoes with gravy, fresh corn, dressing, green bean casserole, roast and smoked turkey, gravy, buttered dinner rolls, and the ham that Michonne was proud to have made, they clasped hands for Hershel to bless the food. Rick, however, did not immediately let go once they all said Amen. Rick was trying to reach across the table to grab a scoop of mashed potatoes while still holding on tightly to Michonne's hand and she chuckled and let it be. When she tried to pull away to make Carl's plate, Rick still refused to let go.

"Here dear, let me do that for Carl," Ella mused and Michonne finally snatched her hand from Rick's when people noticed their silliness under the table.

Rick narrowed his eyes at his mama and Letty and Maggie hooted out a laugh. Hershel shook his head and Beth looked at them both all starry-eyed ready for her own boyfriend to dote over.

"Can you pass the dressing please Rick, now that your hands are free," Hershel joked, and Rick cheeks turned pink.

Maggie was about to comment but the way Rick cut his eyes at her stopped the smart-mouth brunette in her tracks. Maggie was not one to usually back down when she and Rick would go head-to-head, but a kick under the table from Ella reminded her that they had company and to mind her manners. Carl, however, was not Maggie.

"Are you two gonna kiss?" Carl asked with a sly grin.

Carl hoped his parents would get married and move to the farm and live as a family and ride horses, and chase chickens all day.

"CARL!" Michonne bit through clenched teeth and Maggie and the rest hooted, including Rick.

As the dinner went on, they found themselves gently grazing their fingers over each other's hands as dishes were passed around the table, and Carl grinned every time he noticed their little behaviors. When they were settled on the couch watching the big game after dinner, Rick was arguing with Hershel about which was the best team and he meant to tap Michonne's knee and ask her who she agreed with. But the tap ending up being a prolonged hand placement on her thigh.

"Right Michonne?" Rick exclaimed then looked down at his own hand but did not remove it right away.

The rest of the evening was pretty uneventful after that.

Ella woke up with a start Saturday morning. She remembered she had something tucked into the storage area of the barn that she could not bear to let the cleaners toss out like trash. As Ella hurriedly showered, she could not believe she had forgotten something so important. She figured in all the excitement of getting to know her grandson, everything else was temporarily forgotten in the chaos. Ella dressed quickly and tiptoed to Michonne's bedroom door and knocked. No answer. Then knocked again a little harder and took a step back when she heard shuffling.

"Good Morning Ella," Michonne smiled through a large yawn and looked at the clock that read 5am, "It's a little early."

"Yes, sorry about that, but I was wondering if I could talk to you about something. It's important," Ella requested with pleading eyes.

Ella wanted to get this particular task done early before most everyone else in the house awoke and started the day. Michonne would certainly want some privacy.

"Sure," Michonne affirmed when she noticed the seriousness on Ella's face, "Let me shower and get dressed and I will meet you downstairs."

As she stretched some of the residual soreness from her legs from riding horses, Michonne smiled as she remembered how it felt riding on the horse so close to her old boyfriend. For her, it felt like she was where she was supposed to be. After dressing, Michonne quietly snuck past a sleeping Carl and tiptoed out of the room. Before Michonne could shut the door fully, Carl was nipping at her heels at the top of the stairs ready to start his Saturday sugary cereal and cartoon routine and Michonne had to put her foot down.

"Carl, it's too early. Go back to bed. When you get back up, you can watch your cartoons, but no cereal. You ate enough sugar these last two days to last a lifetime of cereal Saturdays. Do you hear me?" Michonne commanded, then Carl tried to pretend he went back to sleep standing right in front of her.

Michonne followed Carl back to the bedroom and watched him pretend to sleepwalk back to the bed, get under the covers, and snore back to sleep. Michonne placed her hands on her hips and thought about going over there to read her naughty son the riot act, but Ella was waiting for her downstairs. Michonne gave Carl another warning, which she knew full well he could hear, then left to find Ella. Before Michonne even fully made it into the kitchen, she heard scurrying. Carl was heading to his father's room.

"Are you okay Michonne?" Ella wondered as she watched Michonne cut her eyes at the stairs.

"That grandson of yours is up to something. Do you have cereal in the house?" Michonne asked and Ella smiled.

"Yes, I remembered his cute little Saturday routine and bought a few brands, but Carl called Rick and told him specifically which he wanted so I went back out to the store buy it for him, Captain Crunch, I think," Ella answered and Michonne pursed her lips.

Michonne figured it was a holiday, and to let it be, but part of her wanted to take all those boxes and pour them in the trash right in front of her son, but the money spent on the cereal was not hers and resisted the temptation. When Rick came down the stairs all disheveled, she knew for sure Carl was up to his Saturday morning antics.

"Why are you two up and dressed so early?" Rick asked, lightly grazing Michonne's hand as he moved past her towards the coffee pot.

"The question is, why are YOU up so early?" Michonne asked with her arms folded across her chest then looked at the stairs when she heard a creak.

"Carl came in my room and said you weren't there, and if I could help him with his Saturday routine since this was not his house," Rick answered pulling out a coffee cup and two bowls, "thanks for making coffee mama."

Carl was careful not to ask for cereal, just to help with his routine. Carl figured if his father made him a bowl of sugary cereal, well, he did not want to be rude and not accept!

"Michonne and I are going outside for something, we will be back shortly," Ella told a confused Rick and shook her finger up for him to not ask why.

"Oh outside? Hold on, let me go get my jacket," Michonne requested and ran back up the stairs and so did Carl.

By the time she got to the bedroom, he was back underneath the covers from head to toe. Michonne shook her head and left Carl and Rick to their morning shenanigans. Rick watched the pair walk out of the back door headed towards the barn. Rick only looked away because Carl came strolling down the stairs as if he had not been hiding there the whole time.

"Go on in the family room and cut the television on Carl. I will bring everything out," Rick uttered as he looked back out the window and watched his mother take his baby mama out to the barn.

"If you insist dad!" Carl hollered and ran to find a good cartoon to watch at 6am in the morning.

Rick stood at the window and watched until both went inside the barn and his mother pulled the door closed. Ella told Michonne to follow her up the ladder into the loft and pointed for Michonne to take a seat. Ella unlocked the small door and pulled out a box that was wrapped in multiple layers of plastic.

"Michonne, I am so sorry that I let all the excitement of you and Carl being back make me forget what I promised your father. It all came rushing back this morning. I also want you to know that your father did not die in that house alone. I was with him. I kept it from Richard because he was almost deranged with how he wanted Rick and I to stay away from him. Now I know why. But I sat with your father anyway. I don't think he knew who I was though, his mind was muddled. He called for you and your mother, and I think he thought I was her. He kept calling me Alma. I told him it was Ella, but he kept saying Alma."

"Ella," Michonne uttered in a mix of gratitude and awe and sadness.

"There is a picture of you in the box that he was holding when he died. He kept saying he loved you over and over and showed it to me. He told me, or who he thought was Alma at least, that he searched for you. That was about all he said before he passed," Ella informed and sat next to Michonne.

"Oh Ella," Michonne cried and wiped her tears with her jacket sleeve.

"After your father died, the owner cleaned out the house and most things they either gave away, or sold, or trashed. I made sure I was there during the cleanout because there were things that I knew you would want if you ever came back. I put everything in this box, including that picture of you, wrapped it in plastic to try and keep the elements from destroying the contents, and placed it here in storage. I don't know why I didn't put it in the storage and my old house, but it just didn't feel right being there with everything that happened. So I stored it here. I completely forgot about it until this morning. The thought woke me from my sleep," Ella chuckled and nudged the heavy box closer to where Michonne was sitting.

"Ella, thank you!" Michonne expressed through more tears as she looked at the box.

"Don't mention it. I just knew you would want these things. I will leave you to it. It's cold, do you want me to get Rick to get the box and bring it inside the house?" Ella asked to make sure Michonne was comfortable.

"I think I will stay here for a while. if it gets too cold, I will call Rick to come and get it. Thank you," Michonne smiled at the offer, but she felt she needed to do this alone, in private.

"Alright. I am going to go see what my grandson is up to. He looked a little suspicious this morning," Ella laughed at the shenanigans of Carl.

"It's probably already too late, but I told Carl he could not have sugary cereal this morning since he had way too many sweets Thursday and yesterday. He pretended to sleepwalk back to the bed like he did not hear me, then ran to Rick," Michonne explained and shook her head and Ella snorted out a good laugh.

"That grandson of mine is slick! Let me go see what he is up to," Ella cackled and climbed halfway down the ladder before stopping.

"Michonne, one other thing. After your father died, maybe a year? Rick does not know this, but at the time Rick was just…Rick was just a lump after Andre died. Like the life left out of him. I thought maybe if I found you, it would help Rick. So I tried to look for you once. It was a half-assed attempt. I asked a grumpy old neighbor who retired after being a deputy for over forty years that fancied himself a private eye. I think he watched too much columbo or something," Ella chuckled, "Anyway, looking back I think Richard might of gotten a hold of him because I went from talking to him about where you might be to barely hearing from him at all. The few times I went over to his house, he kept saying there was nothing. Then one day, after a few months, he packed up and said he was moving to live with his son in Florida, and hoped I found you one day. And that was the end of it."

Michonne took a deep breath and nodded. That was all she could seem to do.

Ella left down the ladder and Michonne stared at the box until she heard the barn door close. She jumped when she heard the cows moo, and remembered she was surrounded by animals, but found she was not as scared of all the outdoor stuff and thangs like she once was. Michonne blew out breath and ripped the plastic from the box. When she opened it, she cried.

The first thing Michonne grabbed were the family photos, and she saw the face of her mother again for the first time in eight years. Michonne used to sit and look at those pictures of Alma almost every day after they moved to King County. Michonne clutched the photo album to her chest grateful that Ella thought enough of her to save them. Once she was able to get herself together, Michonne crouched down and sat on the floor near the mementos. She pulled out framed pictures, ribbons and trophies from her youth, her fathers' architectural drawings that once received high praise, and her mother's favorite books that her father kept along with other keepsakes. Michonne noticed a little jewelry box and was overtaken with emotion when she pulled out her parents wedding rings and she placed them both her finger. Michonne became even more emotional as she removed them from her finger and placed them back inside the little box. As soon as she returned to Atlanta, Michonne figured she would shop for a nice necklace and wear them around her neck. Then Michonne saw a stack of journals at the bottom of the box. All of them had Andre Hawthorne written across the top with dates right underneath.

"Dad kept diaries?" Michonne mumbled to herself, and she flipped through the pages.

Some were written before Michonne was born, most of the others after and there was a large gap of time between the one before her mother died, and the very last one in the box. Michonne looked at the date of the last journal, and paused after noticing it was dated during the two years after she left town. Michonne noticed a stack of blankets on top of a bale of hay. She took the journal and walked over, sat on top of the hay, and wrapped herself warmly inside the blanket. Once Michonne was settled, she opened the diary that covered the time after she ran away from home.

Entry One-February 26th-two weeks after Michonne left King County

I haven't written since Alma died. But the urge hit me all of a sudden. I thought Michonne would be back by now. She has been gone for two weeks. I tried to file a police report, but they say Michonne ran off with the father of her child, but I saw Rick is still here? I went to ask Richard about it, but he lied about my baby. Told me she was whoring around with other boys, and she ran off with the likely father, Darryl Dixon. Darryl was her friend. Richard is a liar. He knew damn well I only said she was with Darryl to keep that deputy from arresting my Michonne! Richard was the one that told me to say it! I thought he was helping her stay out of trouble. Out of jail! When I reminded him of that he told me to keep my mouth shut and to stay away from him and his family. They won't search for my daughter. None of them care. I need to find her myself. Find my grandbaby too.

Entry Two- three weeks after Michonne left King County

The Dixon's are nothing but trash. They didn't even notice their boy was gone until I told them. Acted like they didn't even care. They were not even worried. I went to the Grimes Farm and tried to talk to Rick's mother, but Richard intervened, told me he would send the full force of the KCPD after my daughter if I tried to talk to Ella or Rick. I left. The next day Rick came around knocking on my door. Until I figure out what Richard has on Michonne, I am not talking to anybody in that damn family. I wish I never moved here. I was selfish. Everything everywhere in Savannah reminded me of Alma. I just could not cope. I thought moving….What have I done?

Entry Five- One month after Michonne left King County.

I need to stop drinking. I need to stop looking out this window and waiting for my daughter. I need to do something. I need to find her myself since nobody cares. Nobody will help me find Michonne. Rick left a note on my door asking to speak with me. Asking if I know where Michonne is. IF I KNEW I WOULD NOT TELL ANYBODY IN THAT EVIL FAMILY. Devils, all of them. Once I find her, we are leaving this godforsaken town for good.

Entry Eight- One and a half months after Michonne left King County.

I hope this car will make it to Savannah. If Michonne would have gone anywhere it has to be there, right? There is no family for her there, but it's where she grew up. It's familiar. I'm leaving first thing tomorrow morning. Rick came around and caught me outside looking underneath the hood of the car. He was asking where I was heading off too. I pretended he was not there. Like he was a figment of my imagination. I finally went inside the house and Rick just sat on my porch steps. HE NEEDS TO GO! I NEED TO GET THAT CAR RUNNING! After a while, Richard came and made him get in the car and yelled at me to leave his son alone. How am I bothering Rick? He keeps coming to MY HOUSE! He seems to be hurting, but I can't feel too sorry for that boy. He tossed my baby away like trash. He is fighting a lot. That boy Shane seems to have gotten the brunt of Rick's wrath. I thought they were friends. At least they were, by the looks of them, not anymore, I guess. Anyway, I am leaving in the morning. I pray I make it to Savannah. I pray I find Michonne there.

Entry Eleven- One and a half months after Michonne left King County.

The Savanah police took her picture, but they said the same thing the King County police said, she seemed to have run away with Darryl, her so called boyfriend. I should have just said she was missing instead of telling those bastards she ran away from home pregnant. I started placing her pictures up around town myself. I hope somebody recognizes her and calls. I will check the shelters in the morning. The officer gave me a list. I hope Michonne is in one of them.

Entry Fourteen- Two months after Michonne left King County.

I need a drink, but I won't do it! I need to find my Michonne. I need to stay focused! I checked all the shelters and I have been driving around Savannah for two weeks. I am wondering if I need to go elsewhere. But where else would she go? Atlanta is closer to King County than Savannah. I'm going to stay here another week, then try Atlanta. I aint been feeling well. Been tired but I am gonna keep going. I am going to try and stay alcohol free but it's hard. I miss Michonne. I miss Alma.

Entry Twenty-two- three months after Michonne left King County.

Atlanta was a bust. I was here for a whole month. Stayed in a rattrap motel at first, then ran out of money and just stayed in my car. I'm back home to rest for a while. My stomach has been hurting. Talked to a nice officer in Atlanta who agreed to try and help me, Officer Garcia. He was the first one who seemed concerned about Michonne, especially since she is pregnant. He told me he would check with the local hospitals and maybe we can find her once she goes into labor. She should be close to having the baby by now, or close to it at least. I am desperate. I went to the King County police station to speak to deputy Davies about what supposed crime Michonne committed. Maybe I can get her a lawyer to fight it? Davies transferred and is no longer with the department. They won't tell me where he went. They also have no record of any crime Michonne committed. I am going to confront Richard.

Entry Twenty-three —Three Months and 1 week after Michonne left King County

That Richard is pure evil. I guess Michonne stole some money from Darryl's brother before they left King County. The brother did not press charges, but Richard said if Michonne steps foot back in this town, he will send Darryl's criminal brother straight to the sheriff's office to report the crime. Said something else about her actions caused the brother's hand to be cut off. Evidently Darryl was in on stealing the money too so they could run off and be together. The brother is not here for me to ask. They say he is in jail. I need to find Michonne. I know she did not steal anybody's money!

Entry thirty-one- Six months after Michonne left King County.

Officer Garcia said there is still nothing. Michonne would have had the baby by now, I think she was six or seven months along when she left by how she was showing. Her baby would be two or three months by now? Garcia said no baby that age, fitting the possible description has been reported as born or abandoned during that time. Michonne would not leave that baby. She loved her baby, my grandbaby. Rick's baby! I wonder if she left the state entirely. Where would she have gone? I been back to Savanah and Atlanta several times over the last few months. I spend more time there than in King County. Each time I return home I pray I see Michonne waiting for me on the porch. I wish I didn't drink so much when she was here. I wish I could have told her I loved her one last time. I wish I had hugged her and told her everything was going to be ok. I wish I could have gotten myself together for my daughter. Alma must be looking down on me, so ashamed. I am ashamed of myself.

Entry Forty- One year after Michonne left King County.

I hope Michonne is alive and well. Her baby too. Rick does not come around as much, he left for college in Atlanta from what I heard, several months back. Lucky him to have that opportunity after ruining my daughter's life. I supposed I ruined it too when I lied about Darryl back then. BUT I THOUGHT I WAS PROTECTING HER! I still get notes from Rick on my door. One time he left a picture of Michonne. A good one! Fuck Richard. Next time I see Rick I am going to talk to him. I don't know if Michonne is alive or dead. I have been keeping an eye on the Dixon's. I have not seen Darryl either. I have been drinking again. I'm just so sad. I don't know where my baby is. I don't know where my baby is. I don't know where my baby is.

Entry Forty-six-One year and five months after Michonne left King County.

I don't think she is coming back. My car broke down again, so I took a bus to Savannah to see if anybody recognized my daughter from the pictures that I left before. That was a mistake. It left me with no place to sleep. I went to the park and slept there for a little while. I stopped at a few bars, and I guess i got so drunk I passed out and they took me to the police station to dry out. At least I had a bed, I guess. Part of it was to take away this intense stomach pain, it's getting worse. But mostly I was just so depressed. I try to drink away the sadness, but it only really makes it worse. One of the officers recognized me. He said he got a call but not about Michonne. A man asked to pass a number to me. I asked the officer why he never called me! He said he did, several times but I never answered, and my voicemail was full. I checked and he was right. I missed the damn call. From the man too! NO MORE DRINKING!

Entry Forty-seven-One year and five months after Michonne left King County.

I called the number and was surprised to find it was Charles. I used to work with him back when I was somebody. Back when I was a husband and a father and an architect. We met and he told me I had a job if I wanted. To think about moving back to Savannah and getting cleaned up. He offered me a place to live until I got back on my feet. But how can I get on my feet when I don't have my daughter? And What if Michonne comes back to King County and I'm not there? Charles told me I should go get checked out because I did not look well and to be honest, I have not been feeling well in a while. I told him I would call him in a few weeks. Maybe if I got myself together, got a job, got respectable again, the police would take me seriously. I'm gonna do it. I am going to do it for my Michonne. I'm going to accept the job. I can ask Ella to keep an eye out for Michonne and tell her where I am. I think Ella would do it. I found out she was the one that had been leaving meals on my porch. I saw her leave my porch a few days before I left for Savannah. I wonder how she knows when I am in town?

Entry Fifty-one-One year and six months after Michonne left King County.

I stopped drinking. I threw out all the liquor in the house. Then I called a recovery center, but I did not have the money for that. Charles is helping me with a resource to help me pay for a medical checkup and maybe the doctors can suggest a plan. Going to Savanah General Hospital in few days as soon as my application is processed and then I can see a doctor. I don't trust these doctors in King County. It's time. My stomach aches and it's swollen from time to time. It was nice of Charles to let me stay with him while I am in Savanah.

Entry Fifty-four-year and seven months after Michonne left King County.

When I went to the doctor a month ago, he did not like my color. At first, I was offended until he said the color he was referring to was yellow. I asked Charles to come with me to get the results because what doctor wants you to come in the office just to say HEY! YOU ARE HEALTHY! YAY! I knew it was going to be bad news. I am still processing. I have progressive liver disease. If something is not done soon, I won't have long left in this world. Nothing will be done though. I am sure because of my alcoholism I won't qualify for any transplant. Charles says to have hope, but what has hope ever done for me? At least I will see my Alma again, but would she want to see me after what I did to our daughter? I pray I find Michonne before I die. The doctor said I don't have long. He gives me three to six months.

Entry Fifty-seven-One year and eight months after Michonne left King County.

I have not had a drink in the last three months. At least that I can remember. My brain has been foggy. I do remember my time is running out to find my daughter. I need to find Michonne. She is not here in Savanah or Atlanta either. I have no clue where to look for her, and no money to pay anyone to find her. I pray she is happy and healthy. The baby too. I wonder what she had? A boy or girl. If she told me, I don't remember. I told Charles I wanted to spend my last days in King County. Maybe my daughter will come home before I die. I hope she does. I want to tell Michonne that I love her. Tell her I'm sorry for everything and to beg for her forgiveness. I want to see her one last time. I want to me my grandbaby. All I have are pictures of her. I have a good one of her that Rick left in one of his notes.

Entry Fifty-nine-One year and nine months after Michonne left King County.

I am back in King County. Charles arranged for a service to come check on me a couple times a week. I wish I could thank him for all he had tried to do for me. Ella must know I am back because the meals started again. I watched for her this time, and when she came by, I cracked open my front door. I wanted to be careful in case Richard was lurking around. The last thing I need is Richard catching us and threatening to send Darryl's brother to press charges on Michonne. I asked around a few months back and a few people said Merlin, Marlin, whatever his name is, people said he was yelling in between jail stints that Darryl and a black girl stole his money. So I guess it was true. I can't die knowing my baby might be brought up on robbery charges. So I was careful when I spoke to her. Through the crack in the door, I told Ella about my diagnosis and asked her watch out for Michonne and let her know what happened to me. Tell her I tried to look for her and I never gave up and I love her. I also asked Ella to please tell Michonne to not stay here in King County, but I did not tell Ella why. The less she knows about theft the better. I wonder if Richard told her? It's bad enough that Richard knows. Ella asked me why I told Rick that Darryl used to spend the night here? Why did I imply that Darryl was the father of Michonne's baby. I was going to tell Ella about Richards threat, but in the end, I was not gonna risk me talking coming back on Michonne. Richard is ruthless. Richard is a hateful demon. I don't see how Ella can stay with that man. I didn't answer, instead I just shut the door. Before the door closed, she told me she would let Michonne know if she saw her. I was thankful.

Entry Sixty-One year and eleven months after Michonne left King County.

A week ago, I was vomiting for several days straight, and I felt like I could barely move. I called 911. I was admitted into the King County hospital. I hated being there! I wish they could have driven me to the hospital in Savannah. I was there for two weeks. The doctor suggested hospice. I think Rick came to see me, but I could have been imagining things. I'm sure I was. I think Charles came too. The doctor said I would have problems with my concentration and memory. I'm back home now. People are here to see to me. I pray my daughter is ok. I pray that she is doing well. I don't think I will ever see her again. My Michonne. She was so beautiful. I wish I could see that bright smile of hers again. I know I don't have much time left on his earth. I had the hospice lady call Charles; I had a darn time trying to find that number. I could not remember it for the life of me! The hospice lady looked through my call log and found it. She put me on speaker and Charles told me he still had the picture of Michonne and if he ever ran into her, he would take care of her. I heard the hospice lady say she would call him once I passed. I heard her call someone else and gave them the same message. I wonder if it was Michonne?

Entry Sixty-two -Two years after Michonne left King County.

They tried to put me in hospice a week ago. I want to die here, in my home, where I last saw my daughter. They still send people to check on me. That's enough. They will find me if I die. Alma came back! I think she is here to take me with her when I go! Alma held my hand and we talked about Michonne. How she was lost, and I asked Alma to forgive me for not finding our daughter. I showed Alma that picture of Michonne, and she said Michonne was beautiful! And Alma smiled and then cried. I cried too. We cried together. I am glad you are here with me Alma. I wish we had more than a picture of Michonne. I wish she had returned home before Alma came to take me away so we could see our daughter one last time. I think Michonne would have liked to have seen her mother again! Alma went to get me some water. I wonder if she went to heaven to get it? I think this might be my last entry. Alma is back!

That was the last entry in the journal and Michonne sobbed for the life and death of her father before noticing a few papers flurry to the floor that were stuck inside the journal.

Have you seen or heard from Michonne? Will you tell me? I understand why you won't talk to me. I didn't do right by your daughter. If I were you, I would not talk to me either—Rick.

I thought I saw you in Atlanta. I ran to catch up with you, but you just disappeared. I swear it was you! Is Michonne in Atlanta? Have you seen her? —Rick

I saw a missing flyer of Michonne I'm guessing you put up. I replaced it with a better picture that I had in my phone. I put my number on the flyer too. I hope you don't mind. I called Michonne's number a few times, but it's disconnected. I still call it every now and then. Have you heard from her? I printed some better pictures for you. I left them with this note in case you want to use them. Will you please consider talking to me? —Rick

I look for her here in Atlanta. I'm in school here. I thought I saw her once, but it wasn't her. I thought you would want to know. I look for her everywhere I go—Rick.

"Even if the child is not mine, If I see her again, and she gives me a chance. I promise to love her better this time. Love them both better. I miss her. –Rick

"Mama told me you were in the hospital. I'm sorry. I went to see about you. Part of me hoped Michonne would be there-Rick.

There were a few more with a similar message, and they just stopped too and Michonne figured it was for the same reason Andre's journal entries stopped. Michonne held the journal and notes close to her heart and cried until Rick came looking for her after she had been gone for over an hour. Rick sat and hugged Michonne without a word spoken between them for a long while.

"You, ok? It's cold out here. You probably need to come inside before you freeze to death," Rick chuckled and wondered what the box was that sat at her feet.

Michonne took a minute to get her thoughts together.

"I am not ok. I am so mad Rick. I want to blame Richard for what happened to my father. I want him to suffer. I want him to have a slow death. And I want to be the cause of your father's slow and painful end, so he can experience exactly how my father died. Alone, confused, and in pain. But at the end of the day, I left. I LEFT HIM! I decided not to trust MY father and instead trusted what YOU and YOUR father said about him was true.

"Michonne," Rick uttered.

"I am not only blaming you right now Rick. It's not about you right now. This is about me and my part in all of this. The destruction that I left behind," Michonne spat with more aggression than she intended before softening a little, "What I'm saying Rick, is as much as I am angry, livid, enraged with Richard, and yes, even with you, I am even more furious with myself. I have been blaming Richard and you when I am just as responsible for what happened to my dad. I have a big part in this because I ran! I should have been there for him! My father's death is on ME!""

"You were young. We were young Michonne. I had just turned seventeen, four months before all that bullshit happened and you had only been seventeen for what, a week? We were essentially two SIXTEEN-year-olds Michonne, pretending we were grown. You can blame me all you want, but not yourself. Ain't none of this one you," Rick bit saddened that Michonne was blaming herself."

Michonne wiped at her tears that she would swear would never stop flowing, then took a hard look at Rick.

"It's been two-months. Why didn't you tell me about the notes you left for my father?" Michonne asked after taking a deep breath.

Rick took a moment before realization hit and got up and paced around the loft.

"How did you know about that?" Rick asked curiously as he looked down at the box, "Where did that box come from?"

"Ella, now answer the question please," Michonne ordered quietly.

"I don't know Michonne, I didn't think it was relevant. I didn't do it for you. That was strictly between me and your father! I wasn't thinking that I was gonna use them to get you to one day love me again! I didn't plan that If I was lucky enough to lay eyes on you again, I could yell LOOK MICHONNE! LOOK WHAT I DID! TAKE ME BACK BECAUSE I WROTE SOME NOTES! I would not do that!" Rick animated and watched Michonne's face turn curious.

"So why DID you do write them then?" Michonne asked and watched Rick rub his hand down his face and waited patiently while took a minute to think of his response.

"Back then I was desperate. I did it because I wanted to see you again. I wanted to talk to you. I wanted to tell you that I was sorry. I wanted to love you again, and for you to love me. And I felt a connection with your father because he wanted the exact same thing. If I ever saw you again, I swore that I would not care if the baby looked like me or not. It would not make a difference. I would love you both. Love that baby like it was mine even if it wasn't. I would fight for you. Forgive you. I was so angry before, then I was just sad all the time," Rick confessed, "I didn't want to be sad anymore and the only thing that could have made me happy was you."

"Rick," Michonne whispered.

"I wanted your father to know that I loved you and that I was sorry for what I did. Your father was done with me though, and he had every right to be. But I still wanted to try to let him know that. When I saw the flyers, I got excited. I hoped that he, we, would find you and if he would just talk to me, we could do it together. Then he died and I lost hope. If he could not find you, what hope did I have? I gave up. Not on you, just on life really. I was just the walking dead after that. I didn't think I was ever gonna see you again. I didn't know where you were. I thought your father was my only shot at finding you."

Michonne looked at Rick and narrowed her eyes and grinned suspiciously.

"So, let's pretend that what your vile father said about me was true and Carl was not yours, you…? Michonne started the question.

"I would have yes. I would have fought Darryl and when he was knocked out, because I definitely would have knocked his ass out," Rick smirked, "I would have grabbed MY baby and you, and ran," Rick smiled and so did Michonne, "I swear. I planned it out in my head when I saw those flyers."

Michonne wanted desperately to go down that crazy hypothetical road and listen to the rest of Rick's outrageous plan. She wanted to laugh for the next few minutes as a respite from all the grief that overwhelmed her but decided instead to keep the focus on where it belonged, Andre Hawthorne. Michonne opened the journal and pulled out all of his notes and handed them to Rick. Rick sat down next to Michonne and flipped through each one. Rick took a deep breath. They had been dancing around their issues and had not really talked about all that negativity and it felt good to start the conversation and let some of the hurt and pain seep out so healing could really begin. Michonne felt her emotional open wound start to itch deep down and she unconsciously scratched at her arm for relief. A scab was starting to form on her trauma. Rick felt the same itch too.

"Seems my father kept them all. Your notes must have meant something to him for him to do that. He looked for me, but I guess you knew that already," Michonne uttered as she pointed to a particular note and Rick nodded.

"When I saw that flyer, my heart started beating fast. Then I noticed it was not a good picture of you. I ran to the copy store and made some new ones for him," Rick chuckled, "I must of made hundreds of copies of those flyers and posted them around Atlanta. God I was so hopeful," Rick whispered as he reflected back, "You want to talk about your father? Other than the flyers, I don't know much. Like I said, he never said a word to me."

Rick handed the notes back to Michonne and she tucked Rick's old notes back inside the journal.

"No, I think I want to keep what I learned about my father for myself for a little while. He gave me a gift that I am not ready to share with anyone yet," Michonne decided, and Rick nodded in understanding, "Ella was with him at the end."

"Really?" Rick uttered in surprise and Michonne nodded and cried again on Rick's shoulder.

Michonne needed a break. Between the heartbreaking journal, the deep conversation with Rick, his old notes, and Ella's thoughtfulness, she needed a minute to process the heaviness of everything she had just learned so Michonne changed the subject.

"I was going to go to the cemetery on my way out on Sunday to see if the gravestone that I ordered for my father arrived. Do you want to come with me this morning instead?" Michonne asked so tenderly that Rick pulled her close.

"Of course I will. Let's go get dressed and we can leave right after breakfast. Well, Carl's second breakfast," Rick laughed, Carl finished his cartoons. Mama is looking at the roof of his mouth. He said that captain crunch cut it up pretty good.

"Serves him right. I told that little trickster not to eat cereal this morning because he already had too much sugar. He pretended he didn't hear me, then ran to wake you up," Michonne informed, and Rick shook his head.

"That little…" Rick stopped and laughed.

"You will have a lifetime of saying that phrase you know," Michonne chuckled as she strolled towards the house ready to holler at her son, "Hey, can you use your deputy connections to find a man named Charles that lives in Savannah? Might be an architect. He helped my dad and I think he might be that guy you saw at his funeral."

"Of course," Rick agreed and tried to mentally picture what the man looked like.

They all decided to go to the gravesite that morning. Michonne, Rick, Ella, and Carl. The gravestone was in place and Michonne thought her message was especially genuine now that the journal was read, Devoted Husband, Loving Father but something was off and Michonne knew immediately what it was.

"At some point in the future, I want my father buried next to or with my mother. He would want that. I need to think if I want to bring her here or take him to Savannah." Michonne whispered to Rick.

"You let me know, and I will be there to help you get it done," Rick answered and held her hand.

"I think I may want to see if I can cremate them together. Comingle their ashes?" Michonne offered as an alternative, "I need to think about what I want to do."

As the weekend progressed, the intimacy between Rick and Michonne did too. But in a different, more profound way than just the superficial handholding underneath the Thanksgiving table, or the trite long hugs and risqué thigh touching from just a few days before. This new intimacy was more poignant, more mental rather than physical. They stayed up a little later once everyone went to bed and talked about their lives, their feelings, both positive and negative, and spoke from their hearts and they voiced their truths. Some of it was hard to hear, but necessary. Their emotional intimacy was beginning to develop. They were more open to discussing the past and ready to heal from it in healthy ways. By the time Sunday morning rolled around, both Michonne and Rick felt themselves begin to heal and saw a clearer path forward together. Michonne's itch intensified, her scab was starting to tighten as new healthy skin developed underneath.

On Sunday morning, after Rick hugged his son goodbye and helped Carl into the back seat of Michonne's car, Rick walked around to hug Michonne. Rick added a gentle, chaste kiss to her forehead and there was no awkwardness, just a relaxed familiarity between the two that was comforting.

"Bye Michonne. I will see you weekend after next, okay?" Rick uttered and gave Michonne one last hug, sans kiss.

After their late-night chat, Rick felt right. His uneasiness diminished when he realized that taking their relationship slower, and building emotional attachments felt real, felt authentic, and was more gratifying than trying to bulldoze her down the aisle. Maggie, not so much.

"What kind of goodbye is that? You are a twenty-six-year-old man Rick. Emphasis on OLD! Kiss her like a man you wuss!" Maggie yelled as she burst out of the house with her bags.

Hershel and Ella giggled, and Rick pursed his lips and subtly gave Maggie the middle finger. Michonne chuckled and almost forgot she was giving Maggie a ride back to Georgia Tech. Hershel was thankful Michonne was saving him his own two-hour drive to Atlanta and another two hours back home. Hershel kicked himself for not thinking of it before he went down to pick Maggie up on Thanksgiving morning.

"Just for that Rick, I'm gonna tell Michonne all your secrets for the next two hours! He's BORING! Oh wait, that's all I got! Only took two seconds," Maggie grinned and stuck her tongue at her cousin before tossing her bags in the trunk.

Rick sucked his teeth, and watched Maggie hop in the front passenger seat, while the rest outright laughed at Rick's expense. Rick stood and watched the two people who instantly sparked life back into him drive down the road and away from the farm.

"Did you invite them for Christmas Rick?" Ella wondered anxiously.

"Yes, and they accepted," Rick grinned and walked his mother back inside the house.

They had some planning, decorating, and despite Michonne's adamant protests, a great deal of gift shopping to do.