A/N: Hi guys! Thanks for your responses to the flashback question I asked last chapter. I've decided I'd do two for you based on your requests, so look out for the other one in my next update. You can still let me know what you want to see. Thanks for the reviews, the PM's and the Tumblr messages, you guys are so encouraging. It really warms this ordinary girl's heart. A lot of you wanted more Andre and Rick, I hope this meets your criteria. Can't wait to hear from you!

Oh and this chapter is kinda long! Welps!

Sophia


"You look beautiful Sash," Deanna said subtly dabbing the corner of her eye with her manicured hand not wanting to smudge her own professionally done makeup. Sasha was a beautiful bride. She didn't mean it in the cliche way that mother's often used to describe their daughters on their special day. Sometimes the hyperbole was due to the overwhelming surge of emotions that usually accompanied the life changing moment. Deanna knew, Sasha was exquisite, elegant with her nude makeup and her fit and flare, plunging neckline, lily white wedding dress.

"Don't make me cry," Sasha said to her step mother.

She was a vision, today she was making Abraham Ford a very happy man.

Sasha checked her reflection in the intricate vanity, set in the charming, old fashioned room. She was having the wedding of her dreams at Red Brick Hall, located to the north of Brash. The hall was a popular spot for couples who desired a rustic yet modern looking venue for their wedding. Outside of the hall were lush greenery and large trees surrounding the wooden detailed building. Sasha, Michonne and Deanna opted to stay at the complimentary mini apartment to get dressed as Michonne wanted to be on hand for anything that may possibly go wrong that day. Her bridesmaids, Maggie, Andrea and Rosita - according to schedule - were supposed to be on their way. With only an hour to showdown Sasha was trying to remain calm.

"Where's your sister already? She left on a phone call like ten minutes ago," Deanna said glancing at the rooms entrance for the maid of honor.

"I'm here, I'm here!" The almost closed door flung open, Michonne stepped over the threshold in her wine colored, bateau neckline, column dress, her cell phone dangling from her hand.

"Everything okay with the boys?" Sasha watched Michonne pick up her planner that she knew was packed with everything for her wedding day in alphabetical order. Even with her accident her sister didn't miss a beat stepping back into her role, planning the rest of the wedding. Her obsessive compulsive tendencies had benefited them as everything had been jotted down in her special green book, from guest list to guest last. Michonne had it all down to a science, like if everything was resting on her ability to plan. It felt like a large scale event, any minute now Jimmy Kimmel was gonna pop out from somewhere and say "Welcome to the show," because Sasha felt as though Michonne had planned the Oscars and not simply her back country wedding where she was going to be Mrs. Idiot. She simply couldn't wait.

"I had to do face time with Dre. He and Rick had a falling out of sorts."

She laughed but the pain on her baby's face was all to real a few minutes ago.

"Really?" Deanna said sitting down at the edge of the vanity stool as Sasha moved to the bed next to Michonne.

"Does my nephew know he's upset with his daddy?" It was no secret how mesmerized Andre was usually with his father. They were often joined at the hip when Rick wasn't at work so the news intrigued Sasha. Michonne laughed finally finding the humor of it all now. The last thing she wanted was anything to hurt her boys and she would be a mama bear in a heartbeat for them, even if she had to go against the papa bear himself.

"Well Rick said he could handle getting the boys ready today. Even though I told him I'd bring them here so he could be with Abe, but he insisted we have our time together." His altruism was endearing.

Sasha nodded, "Ten points to the best brother in law I ever had."

"He's your only brother in law," Michonne said, her neat locs swept up in a chic updo making her pretty face glow. She was beginning to enjoy the fact her baby bump was announcing itself. She was overjoyed being pregnant and witnessing the changes her body was going through.

"Still ten points. Continue."

Even Deanna seemed to be listening more intently.

"So while dressing, Rick was going over Dre's role as the ring bearer, Dre then told him he's going to marry Gracie...Gracie is a girl in his class. And my husband, the practical man he is told his son he can't marry Gracie yet because he has to get a job and a house first."

"I take it this did not go over well with my grandson," Deanna cut in, amused by it all.

Michonne shook her head vigorously, "Rick said he was distraught. Dre said he wants somebody to love. Told Rick he is mad at him and they're not best friends anymore. Thing is Rick seemed really hurt."

"So Mommy to the rescue to do some damage control?"

"Yeah, it's handled. He and Rick are one again but Carl is begging me to come get him because Rick put too much gel in his hair and I always put the right amount." As Michonne laughed there was a brightness on her face that the glistening sun outside hadn't cast. She had the radiant beam of a happy, contented woman.

For Sasha, witnessing first hand how the darkness had robbed her sister of so much light before with amnesia, her metamorphosis was a lovely display. She was happy and proud to see her come into her own again with an extra, dazzling dose of confidence.

Sasha was emotional on her wedding day for plenty of reasons; for starters she was marrying Abraham Ford, someone not in a million years she would've paired herself with, but for some reason they connected on a level that didn't have any hints of superficiality to it. She was also getting an entire day to be with the people she loved the most in one special place and she was going to the beautiful island of Jamaica for her honeymoon.

Despite all the goodness, the most significant thing she wanted to remember today was seeing the evolution of her sister from the timid, unsure woman on the hospital bed four months ago, who had little to no know-how on ways to approach the husband and sons she couldn't recall, to the formidable figure that sat beside her. She talked with the autonomy of mother and wife who knew how to defuse any situation in her home with just a few loving words.

It was a sight to see, it gave Sasha deep pause as she deliberated on the extent and meaning of the words love and support.

"Crisis averted." Deanna laughed, knowing Andre could be just as dramatic as his father sometimes.

She watched as Sasha and Michonne laughed over the story and a sense of nostalgia settled over her slowly; they were sixteen again, then eighteen, twenty one - now all grown up right before her eyes. They had been angry and hurt when she'd entered the scene all those years ago. The teething process of forming a family with two girls who had previously lost their mother wasn't an easy feat but the three of them had one thing in common; they all loved Troy Duke and they would do anything to make him happy.

She had learnt out of life that angry people were usually hurting people; Sasha and Michonne were in pain and in desperate need of a mother. She was in desperate need of children to love not being able to bear any of her own. The dichotomy of what separated them was the very thing that would bring them together. There was a lot of pulling and tugging but eventually they made it through on the other side, together. She couldn't have been prouder of them. Their father would be proud of them. She hoped he was somewhere looking down on this day seeing for himself that they were alright. They were happy. The tears she had been fighting since she had placed the tiara on Sasha's head earlier escaped her lids, descending down her cheek in defiance. She swiped at it in a swift motion not wanting to be noticed.

Michonne noticed first and went to Deanna's side grabbing a tissue from the kleenex box that rested near the mirror.

"This isn't a day for tears," she said helping Deanna dry the wetness from her face. "These are happy tears I promise." Deanna held both of their hands.

"I just want you two to know I'm very proud of you. Your dad would be too. We really couldn't ask more of you two. I love you girls."

Sasha fanned her face with vigor, not wanting to risk her finished look to an errant tear.

"I wish dad was here," Michonne managed to say.

"He is," Deanna said soberly.

Michonne observed her step mother, she was full of gratitude for having her in her life. She was a mother to her but also a friend, she didn't know if she would've gotten through all these months without her wisdom and support.

"NutherMother…" she said, shaking Deanna out of her musings. Even Sasha looked up when she heard the word, their surprised expressions causing Michonne to question them with a raise of her brows.

"Are you getting a memory back Chonne?" Sasha asked, touching her arm in concern.

"No I'm not. Why did you ask me that? Mom what's wrong?"

Deanna's face had softened.

"You called Deanna NutherMother, that's what we used to call her before your accident. It was a joke...a nickname kinda. When you woke up from the coma you called her...mom. I kinda adopted it too," Sasha said slowly, clutching Deanna's hand as she spoke.

"I did? I just thought we…" She didn't think it was a memory flash but the word popped into her head and it felt familiar and it slipped out. To her Deanna was mother just as much as Lynn Duke was.

"I was ok with that nickname but I like mom better," Deanna said, no DNA could preside over the bond she shared with her girls.

Michonne too had teared up as she discovered something else her amnesia had taught her; change wasn't all bad. Loving someone in new ways didn't imply there was an inconsistency in your heart with what you felt for them. Finding different ways to express that love was a thing of beauty.

"I like mom too." Michonne hugged Deanna hard.

"Me too." Sasha didn't want to be left out of the hug either.

"Good." Deanna's heart felt as full as her arms.

"Oh God it's one forty five, it's time to get you married!" Even as she said it to get things back on track, Michonne knew what she just shared was something she never wanted to forget.


March 2014

Andre had been crying for the past forty five minutes, the incessant crying had yanked a headache out of Michonne that was throbbing just as loud at her temples as Andre's squeals in her ear.

"Oh I know pea-nut. It's okay. I'm here," Michonne said in a sing songy voice in an another attempt to soothe her baby boy whose fever had reached the severe high of one hundred and six degrees , but not even his mother's voice could soothe him. After heading to the farm after work to get Andre and Carl, she discovered Andre was hot to the touch. She had decided to monitor it, lingering at the farm a bit she got a chance to catch up with Maggie who was too busy being a newlywed to check in regularly with her friends. As the evening progressed so did his temperature, the hotter Andre got the more listless her child became, scaring her in the process.

Sitting on the stool in the pristine kitchen while Maggie helped Carl with his homework as a distraction, she decided to call Rick. Using the house phone, she chucked the cordless between her ear and shoulder blade waiting for her husband to pick up on the other end. Andre was curled up in her arms now, the crying had eased up considerably almost like his body was too tired too even convulse in protest. Although it wasn't easy to judge how sick her child was, she identified his loss of appetite, his tiredness and his watery eyes quickly. Maybe he was coming down with the flu? His symptoms were in direct contrast with the toddler Andre was; he was usually up and running like Speedy Gonzales ever since he discovered the joys of walking a month ago.

"Hello?" Rick's voice boomed on the phone.

"Rick! It's Andre. He has a really high fever." She didn't mask the fear in her tone.

Rick heard the tremble in Michonne's voice and sat up straighter at his desk in his office. He glanced at the time on his computer and saw it was 6:45 pm.

"How long?" He asked.

"Around three maybe, I had an early client and came by to get the boys after but he was already hot when I got here and its just gotten worse."

"Did you try him with the baby Tylenol?"

"Maggie gave him some but it hasn't taken any effect. He's so quiet Rick." Andre had fevers before, when he had gotten his vaccinations, but he never got like this.

"Maybe we should take him to the hospital." Rick was already packing up his desk, concern for his son taking precedence over requests from the mayor and the district attorney.

"Yeah maybe we should." Michonne sounded relieved at Rick's suggestion. She was going to call their pediatrician and ask for an over-the-phone consultant but maybe they'd get faster results at the children's hospital.

"We'll get Carl on our way back okay. He's doing his homework and I don't want to worry him," Michonne said knowing how much Carl cared about his baby brother.

"Good idea. Hey listen, he's gonna be okay. I don't want you worryin'. Kids get fevers all the time." Michonne was a new mom and so far she was handling the challenge with skill and grace. Sometimes she needed some reassurance she was getting things right and Rick always gave her that.

"Yeah he'll be fine. Won't you peanut." She kissed the crown of her baby's head. "See you down there okay."

They hung up the call knowing they would see each other in a few minutes.

.

Andre had a cold bath, medicine had been administered but he hadn't left his mother's arms since they arrived at Grace Children's Hospital and his crying never ceased. His little eight month old voice was beginning to sound hoarse. She sat on the small bed in the small cubicle she'd been allotted by the kind nurse whose name was Karen, who had also been nice enough to draw the brown drapes, giving her and Andre a measure of privacy while they waited for Rick.

Their consultant didn't turn out of be one of those hospital visits that resulted in reassurances. The attending pediatrician, Dr. Bratt had run a few tests and confirmed Andre had a viral infection that left him very dehydrated.

Aside from the guilt she felt from it all, she was just relieved they found the cause of his fever and were able to treat with it immediately. The patient and empathetic doctor wanted them to stay another hour or two to ensure the meds were working. Andre's tears weren't so much from pain anymore as it was from the interruption to the routine that he had become accustomed to.

She glimpsed at her watch again. It was after seven but still no sign of Rick who had promised to meet her in a few minutes over forty minutes ago. Barring something critical happening he wouldn't have put anything in front of being here with them.

"Ssshh, I'm here baby. Mommy's right here, everything's gonna be okay. You'll be home soon. Sshh peanut..." Still, he continued to cry.

She began to sing his favorite lullaby but his loud cries competed with her mellow singing tone.

She pressed her head to his; tears stinging the back of her eyes, her throat tightening at not being able to administer comfort like a mother should to her sick child.

"Oh Dre, I wish you could talk so I'd know what you want baby." A tear leaked out, the frustration of a sick toddler and the events that lead up to a mid week hospital visit culminating in her chest.

Andre clutched her locs but continued to cry, only now it had simmer down to a whimper but a constant one at that.

She was humming the tune to a song Carl often sang to Andre when Rick burst through the drapes, her name on his lips.

He met his wife sitting on the examination table, clutching a softly crying Andre to her chest, looking like she was on the verge of crying too.

"Michonne!?" His strong voice echoed in the examining area.

Before he could say a word a male nurse followed closely after, "Sir did you find who you were looking for?" The nurse's voice held concern, so did his facial expression, given that Rick hadn't ask any questions upon entering the floor.

Rick wasn't in uniform, as long as he was wearing it folks rolled out the red carpet for him but the hospital was on the outskirts of King County and the nurse was probably new if he didn't know Rick's face.

"I was looking for my family," Rick said dryly, already agitated that someone was delaying further their reunion after he'd been trying to get to Michonne and Andre for almost an hour.

The nurse looked at Andre and Michonne, then at Rick and asked, "I guess you found them then?" He was a bit unsure but not disrespectful about it.

Not totally unaware of the confusion behind the redhead's question, Michonne replied, "This is my husband, thank you." Her tone was reassuring, understanding the man's confusion and concern. Andre didn't look like he belonged to Rick but somehow it didn't bother her a bit, she knew the truth.

"Okay. You folks have a good one," the nurse said, leaving the family to speak.

The tiredness on Michonne's face minused any response Rick was going to give the nurse so he put it to the back of his mind, reaffirming the decision he had come to a while now.

Able to step inside the small space fully he dove right into an apology,

"Babe, I'm sorry. Car accident pile up on the highway. I had to use my siren to get here. What did the doctor say?" He brushed her forehead with his lips.

"Viral infection. He was dehydrated too." She breathed a sigh of relief as more tears spilled, she was just glad Rick was here, somehow he made her burdens lighter.

At the sound of Rick's voice Andre turned in his mother's arms and stretched his chubby little arms to his father, swiftly giving up the lease in Michonne's embrace for a bigger lot of comfort.

"Hey buddy..." Rick looked the brown eyed baby boy in his dull eyes, he lacked the brightness that usually donned his angelic face.

He kissed his cheek and brought him against his body in a protective hug. "I'm here son. You're alright? Everythin' is gonna be fine. Daddy's here."

Andre leaned on the firm wall of Rick's chest and closed his eyes for a few seconds, as though eternally grateful he got a reprieve from the torment he had endured all evening.

Then, when they thought he would finally fall asleep he held up his head and looked up at Rick, chestnut brown eyes met oceanic blue ones, carrying a language no one else was privy to. Andre gave Rick his first smile for the evening and as easily as it had started, his crying stopped.

Michonne swiped at the tears on her face, uncertain if she was crying or laughing but still confusing Rick who stood in the enclosed space rubbing a dozing Andre's back, giving her a perplexed look.

"Michonne, what is it?"

Her shoulders were shaking, she realized she was doing a mixture of both, laughing and crying, being grateful and amused simultaneously.

"It was you," she shrugged.

Still confused, Rick touched her face, bringing her focus back to him.

"Me?"

"Yes, you. He wanted you the whole time. He wanted his daddy." Only when Rick swooped in like the baby whisperer and Andre's cries quieted into nothingness she realized why her warm embrace and soothing tone didn't work on her son.

She wasn't the one he needed, it was Rick.

Rick was sincere in his love for Andre and didn't just help Michonne out with the easy stuff. He got up at night for feedings, diaper changes and stayed with Andre often times when he was fussy . He ensured she rest and it was a nod to the partnership they had when it came to both boys. There was an easy bond with Dre that couldn't be faked and she looked at her son, his eyes weren't quite closed yet with a smug look on his face as though he was subtly telling her, 'look at me mommy, I hit the daddy jackpot.'

"He wanted his dad all the time huh? Isn't that right Dre?" Rick laughed feeling fulfilled by the fact that Dre had stopped crying and already seemed in a better mood since his arrival.

Andre turned his head again from its comfortable resting spot when he heard his name, he touched Rick's four day stubble beard and a small word with big impact came out of his mouth, "Da-da." He smiled, a big, toothless smile. Almost like he knew he just stunted his parents, yet made them so proud.

"Did he just…?" Michonne's hand flew to her mouth.

"I think he did." Rick was bursting with pride, Andre had been mumbling incoherent sentences for quite some time but Rick didn't think his name would be the first syllable to break him into the speaking world.

Michonne folder her arms and feigned annoyance, "Of course he says Dada first!" Inside she was elated that Dre had identified Rick so verbally. She knew he understood who he was before, and he identified Rick with the fatherly role he played in his life but he hadn't uttered a word before today.

"Da-da, Da-da, Da-da, Da-da." It was all a game now for Dre.

"Would you look at that!" he said excitedly, joy sprinkled all over his face, producing the singular smile that reached his eyes that she loved so much.

"Wait til Carl hears this." He wished Carl was here for this special family moment.

"He doesn't even seem to be in pain anymore. You swoop in like Superman and save the day. He wanted you all along Rick. He missed you."

Rick kissed the top of Andre's head and held Michonne's hand in his, still basking in the moment. Still amazed that someone he had no blood ties to had such a grip on his heart. He hoped Andre never planned on letting go.

He saw the lethargy on Michonne's face and needed to get both his wife and son home.

"Hey, you stay here, Dre and I are gonna talk to the doctor. It's time to go home."

"Okay." She said, appreciative that he took the reigns, no questions asked. His ability to share the lead with her always made her role as mother and wife so balanced.

He came back in less than five minutes, Andre had dozed off now, a light snore emanating from his nostrils.

"C'mon, let's go home," he said, hugging her by her shoulders as they walked out the examination floor. A few parents lingered with their kids, the nurses at the nurses station were hanging out rosters, probably for the following week. The smell of medicine and cleaning agents growing fainter as they got to the clear exit doors.

"How are we doing this?" she asked as they walked to the carpark, the night wind had picked up and she reached over to ensure Andre was still bundled tight in Rick's hold.

"Shane took my truck home. Andrea picked him up. So Daryl drove the sheriff's car here. So I can drive home with you." He knew he would be needed, so he had arranged accordingly.

"Remind me to thank Daryl." Daryl lived across Brash, so she knew the drive would've been a long one for him but there wasn't anything that Rick didn't ask of Daryl that he hadn't delivered on.

"He's headed over to Rosita's, he's helping her paint her new apartment." He said stressing on the word paint knowing it would make Michonne curious.

"Mmhmm, paint? I'm sure." She laughed knowing that something was possibly brewing between her two friends but they were yet to admit it.

"Yeah. I had to promise not to needle him on the ride over." They had finally gotten to her Volvo in the densely populated carpark and he was buckling the baby into his car seat. Once the task was completed Michonne threw the keys to him and they both got in the car.

Backing out of the spot, Rick had his focus on the task at hand.

"You hungry? Need me to make a stop?" He knew the possibility of them making dinner when they arrived home would be non existent.

"That would be great." Michonne snuggled closer into her seat, comfortable enough to close her eyes with Rick at the wheel. He was one step ahead of her, she was starving but food had been the last thing on her mind. Rick was caring and considerate when it came to her and she smiled just like Andre had a while ago, she had hit the husband jackpot too.

"Rick?"

"Yeah baby."

"I love you."

"I love you too Michonne." He took her slender wrist and kissed the back of it as he maneuvered onto the highway.

Dinner turned out to be tacos. After they ate, she helped Carl get ready for bed, intent on giving him some extra attention to somehow make up for her absence all evening. She and Carl had a bond and routine of their own and she honestly missed spending time with her little dude. She tucked Carl in, later than his usual bedtime so she knew getting the almost eight year old out of his bed the following morning was going to be a struggle. She planned to give him an extra five minutes anyhow.

She found Rick studying intently the still form of Andre in his crib, baby boy was now sleeping soundly, all traces of fever gone, all indications of discomfort erased. She snuck into the space between the bar of the crib and Rick's body and his head dipped to nuzzle her warm neck in reflex to her close proximity.

She sighed, thinking of the whole day and how drained she felt, yet contentment blanketed her in a warm, fuzzy feeling.

"Not sure how I missed he was dehydrated but I'm just so relieved he's feeling better," she said, smoothing the baby's head.

"It happens. Don't blame yourself. Carl had a lot of fevers when he was a baby. I'm glad he's okay too."

He turned her in his arms, her hands weaving around him, locking behind his wavy curls. He smelled of deodorant and that singular Rick scent that she could pick out in a crowd full of people.

"You're a wonderful mother you know that right?"

She smiled, glad to be appreciated." Thank you. You're a wonderful dad too. This one obviously thinks that."

They both looked down at Andre's adorable sleeping form, Rick bent and adjusted his blanket.

"I want to adopt him Michonne, legally." His words were soft, but his sentence was strong. Andre may not be the son of his loins, but he was irrevocably the son of his heart.

"You do?" It had never been a dilemma for her, Rick was Andre's father, no questions asked, no contemplation. He had taken her baby and loved him just as fiercely as he loved her. She knew not all men were capable of being that kind of surrogate, but Rick wasn't most men.

She was surprised by his request, didn't know it was something he had been pondering about.

"I love him. He's my son." Rick's voice was laced with sincerity.

Her throat felt closed up with his admission, the conviction in his tone permeating the nursery and giving her a euphoric sensation that she had truly married her soul mate.

She reached up and touched his face, handsome even in the shade of a backyardigans night light. "And you're his dad. I think we would both like that."

It was something Rick had been thinking about for a while but didn't know how to broach the topic with Michonne without sounding selfish. They would tell Andre about his biological father when he was old enough, but Rick wanted him and Carl to really be brothers, he wanted the world to know he was his son. He was grateful he would be the one to watch Andre grow, honored that he was selected to protect him and to teach him how to survive in the world. He didn't take the honor slightly.

"Thank you." Michonne was crying now, too moved to move from his embrace.

A year ago she was alone and pregnant, timid about what the future was going to look like for her and her baby, but she was determined to do her best.

When fate stepped in and brought Rick into her life she didn't think they would be man and wife a year later, even on their first date she knew there was something different about him, something that separated him from the sea of men that came in with the tide.

He was the man she would spend the rest of her life loving, he was Andre's father, why question what was always meant to be?


Michonne had been given the microphone by the host; one of Sasha's comedian friends from College who went by the name T-Dog, to give her maid of honor speech. Not having much time to write everything she wanted to say down on paper she decided to speak from her heart, hoping the right words would come. She had recently had a practical lesson on love, she hoped she could impart some of what she'd learnt to the sea of family and friends before her. She stepped out from behind the head table, the white table cloth glowing against the tiny decorative lights attached to it making the settings appear more intimate, giving her the courage to share the things that rested on her heart on such a momentous occasion.

She held Sasha and Abe's giddy gazes for a second, took a sip of water from Andrea's glass and faced the crowd.

"I'm sure mostly everyone here knows that I lost parts of my memory from a car accident a few months back. Which was bad enough because I'm someone who got deja vu a lot. So when things come up now that are fuzzy to me I make a joke and tell Rick I think I've forgotten this before."

Rosita laughed at her quip until tears were running down her cheeks. Even Rick found the amnesia joke hilarious.

"I had no recall on who Abe was, so I had the privilege of meeting this guy twice. Actually I had the privilege of doing a lot of things twice. Important things. Things that changed my life and changed my view on love." She stared at Rick thinking that not everyone got to fall in love with the same man twice, she was a lucky woman.

"The first thing I realized about Abe after a couple of meetings was that Abe will say things that will make you smile and wince at the same time. And he may be one of the most bull headed cops on the King County force but when it comes to my sister he's all heart and that's all that mattered to me. Plus anybody who can put my highly opinionated baby sister in check is okay in my books."

She winked at Sasha and Abe gave her a thumbs up.

"Family has taken on a new meaning for me over the past few months. I've had the joy of calling Sasha not just my baby sister but one of my best friends. Abe you're getting a gem here."

"Don't I know it." Abraham's burly voice boomed in the reception hall which was pristinely lined with sheer white draped fabric from the beams in the ceiling, lined with icicle lights, creating a beautiful setting as the evening dipped around them.

"Good! So it should be easy for you to say those three special words to her every day, 'You. Are. Right'."

Sasha, Rosita, Maggie and Andrea began clapping, encouraging the other women at the other tables to join them.

When the boisterous behavior boiled down Michonne cleared her throat and continued, "On a more serious note and from someone who has become quite the expert on the importance of memories, I want you two to remember that being friends is essential to the health of your relationship and it's important to choose to love each other even in those moments when you don't like each other. Trust me, you'll have those moments..." She said with a laugh, amplified more when she heard Rick utter, "When?" at the other end of the table.

Ignoring his intentional interruption she picked up where she left off. "Being there for each other, being strong when one of you is weak is critical and because I'm married to the realest example of what true love is…what true love means... I know if you apply what I say to you today, your marriage won't fail. Sasha I'm so proud of the woman you've become and the wife I know you're going to be. If dad were here he'd have some poignant thing to say like 'let your love be stronger than your anger' or something like that but above all he'd want you to know how much he loves you and there's no way you're not gonna get your masters." She paused, missing her dad so much on a day like today, she saw Sasha wipe her eyes with a napkin too. "I love you both so much and I wish you two all the best in your marriage. Cheers!"

After Deanna said a few words and Abraham's already tipsy but absolutely hilarious father, Jacob welcomed Sasha to the family the mic was passed over to Rick for his long awaited best man speech.

"Normally, the best man is supposed to roast the groom, but I've decided I'm not going to talk about all the controversial, funny, somewhat embarrassing stuff Abe is widely known for. I'll just talk about all his good qualities instead."

There was an intentional pause. "Thank you and goodnight."

He let the laughter die down before he continued.

"Okay, okay. I'm sorry Sash, she actually made me promise no jokes tonight. Sasha you're an amazing woman who deserves an amazing man so I promise I won't rest until I get to the bottom of what went wrong here."

The crowd was in an uproar. Abe stood up, hands on hips and surveyed the crowd with a comical stare.

When all eyes were on Rick again he continued, "I've been thinking alot about love lately, about it's high's and low's and how the strength of love sometimes lie in the faith you put in it. Even in the worst of conditions true love never fails, it's been proven, no one can convince me otherwise." He passed a hand over his barely there stubble, "I don't have all the fancy words, my wife is way better at these things than I am as you've heard before but Abe and Sasha...marriage is gonna test you. I'm absolutely sure of it, but you two are strong and I see how much you love each other so I guess my little piece of advice is to enjoy each other but in the tough times whatever you do, remember to stay in love." He looked at his wife, whose eyes had been fixated on him since he began to speak and smiled, "And whatever you promise to each other during your years together don't let anything or anyone get in the way of keeping that promise. It isn't even so much what you promise is the big part, it's the effort you place in the delivery of it. It's the impact of your actions that matter the most. That's what will separate you from everyone else and remind you why you chose each other." He lifted his champagne glasses full of bubbly and said, "To the bride and the groom!"

.

The dance session of the reception was in full swing, while it wasn't the Oscar party it was the equivalent of what Sasha called a helluva good time. The grin on her sister's face as she grinded her rear into her husband's hips, her hands in the air was enough to determine the wedding was a success.

There was a no sitting policy for the dance part of the evening, so everybody got pulled into dancing to the latest hip-hop tunes, some dancehall and reggae and even the electric slide, which was a disaster in itself when you threw in the likes of Glenn, Shane and Rick into the mix. They took the teasing in jest for their rhythm deficit and enjoyed the camaraderie of their raggedy bunch.

With everyone still scattered on the dance floor the DJ took things all the way down with a Michael Bolton, golden classic, 'To Love Somebody' much to Michonne's delight and Sasha's disgust.

Rick was about to side swoop Daryl to get to Michonne but Shane beat him to it, stretching out his hand to Michonne in an invitation to be his dance partner.

Rick folded his arms, looking the part of the jealous boyfriend as he watched his wife deliberate between him and Shane.

Michonne laughed and took Shane's hand as everyone around them coupled off to the slow beat and smooth voice of one of the greatest.

"Sorry babe, he was here first."

Reluctantly accepting defeat, he said with a smug grin, "Just remember who's taking you home."

With Michonne off on a twirl with Shane, Rick turned and awkwardly bounced into Andrea who was the only one left without a partner. The was a stale air of awkwardness between the two, their already fragile relationship was collateral damage in the car accident that took some of his wife's memory away. They hadn't said more than two words to each other since, granted that the chance never presented itself, but the elephant in the room couldn't be ignored much longer. Not wanting things to be more awkward than it needed to be given how close their family were, Rick extended his palm to her, an olive branch of sorts maybe. He noticed the uncomfortableness on her face as she took his hand.

He saw what guilt did to Andrea, he didn't think he had any moral high ground to continue to resent her for all that happened. Her guilt was eating her alive, that was clear from her suicide attempt. He understood the toll it took on her too, not to mention the bravado it took to finally face her shortcomings. She had put herself to trial and found herself guilty for her crimes.

"You didn't have to you know," she said referring to the already unaccommodating dance they were engaged in. "I could have sat this one out." She didn't need a balcony view of the resentment Rick held for her since the accident.

"It's fine," he shrugged, taking the lead with their dance.

"The gentleman in you always stands out," she said as he drew her closer, closing in the wide gap that separated them. They moved to a slow step in silence for a few seconds, each trying to find the words to say the things that pain and anger kept on mute for far too long. Andrea didn't want to continue living like this with people she considered family, Rick and Shane were best friends, she and Michonne were like sisters. She wanted to do the right thing.

It would be remiss of Rick to not acknowledge how much Andrea had been through in the months leading up to the accident and after, even if he thought she was her own achilles heel. She wasn't unscathed by anything that happened, not by a longshot.

"I don't hate you." He finally spoke. He felt her let go a deep sigh in his hold, like she was relieved.

"Thank you for that."

"It's been tough for me...watching Michonne struggle through this ordeal when I think it could've been avoided. It's been hard seeing one of my best friends in so much pain from loving you. The night of the accident Michonne and I had a difference in opinion about you and Shane. She thought the divorce was a bad idea. I thought you two needed the time apart because you were being selfish." His own time apart from Michonne had been a hellish nightmare, maybe Michonne was right all along, maybe she wasn't.

"But things take on new meanings when tragedy strikes…" He left his sentence open, dangling between them like a fresh reminder of what each had been through.

"For what it's worth Rick, I am sorry. And I am trying to make amends for all the wrong I've done. Even the crimes against myself." Jim Hilton had paid the ultimate price, she couldn't go on running away from her life anymore. She wanted to be held responsible for her actions; right her wrongs and hopefully become a better version of herself in the process.

He didn't have to question her catharsis; he heard the stories, he saw her visceral pain, even her attempted suicide had affected him. Andrea became her own judge, jury and executioner but he heard what she was saying now.

When you hit rock bottom, the only place you could go is up.

"I know you are. We all need to heal from this. I think we can try to be friends or something resembling it at least." He was being honest with her and himself, he didn't want to hold a grudge but sometimes pain packs itself on a shelf and turns into anger. He wanted to release the one he was holding for Andrea.

Her mistakes weren't malicious.

He had gotten a second chance with his wife. His life was given a miraculous upgrade with the different kind of love they found plus he had a baby on the way. Giving someone a second chance felt like the right thing to do.

"I'm sorry about the miscarriage. I'm sorry you and Shane went through that kind of pain."

He saw her blue eyes fill up with tears, there was no expiration date on mourning a child. He said a silent thank you for the baby resting comfortably in his wife's tummy.

"Thank you...it means...it means alot." She blinked back tears, grateful that the people in her life saw beyond her bitterness and hurt and were willing to go the extra mile with her.

"You have friends who care about you. Michonne considers you a sister. My kids love you. Don't disappear on us."

"I'm working on that Rick. Thank you….I...needed this…" They continued to dance to the slow crooning.

Shane burst out a loud laugh from across the room, as he and Michonne continued to work the floor. Rick tilted his head to them, "He still loves you." His voice was a matter of fact.

"He does." She wasn't gloating, Shane loved her and it was a precious commodity for her now because she knew she didn't deserve it.

"He deserves the world, somehow he thinks you're it. Let that mean something."

"I'm working on it" It was the first real smile he had seen on Andrea in a long time.

.

"She said she loves me. And it ain't just words. She does things too," Shane said to Michonne,

"That's a good thing right?" Michonne couldn't ignore the brightness on Shane's face when he spoke about her friend. When someone really loved you their lightness covered any darkness.

"I think so."

"Be patient. Sometimes the best things that happens to us are the ones worth waiting for. What's meant to be will always find a way Shane. Doesn't matter how long it takes, how far the people we love go or how bad it seems. Fate will always bring them back." She was speaking with authority, knowing what it felt like to be a fugitive arrested by fate.

"I hope so because I still can't see my life without her. Ain't that a kick?" Shane laughed and surprised her by spinning her and dipping her in Rick's direction, giving his friend a playful smirk as he brought her back up again.

"How hard do you think he'll punch me if we do that again?"

"Fate is kind but don't test her." Michonne laughed seeing Rick's face, knowing it wouldn't be long before he stalked over to where they were.

"You and I weren't...very close... before," Shane said in a timid tone. She had to take his word for it, she had no cognizance of the extent of their friendship before. "I like the way we are now." His words had a closure to it, like he was more than happy about the way things evolved between them.

They had time to have many heart to hearts over the past couple of weeks and a lovely friendship had re blossomed between her and Shane. It was another nod to her, so many good things had come out of her amnesia she really couldn't be angry about it any longer. The benefits she derived from her incapacities wouldn't let her.

"I like it too." She kissed Shane's cheek at the same time Rick patted him on his shoulder.

"Hit the road," Rick said and slipped Michonne into his greedy arms.

"She's all yours buddy."

"I know." Rick replied, only having eyes for Michonne.

"Hi." A silly grin spread across her face. It felt amazing being in love with Rick.

"Hi gorgeous," he said kissing her lips.

She knew it was her sister's wedding but was it wrong that she felt like the belle of the ball because of the stare of one man?

"I saw you and Andrea finally talked..." Her tone was hopeful and curious.

"It's a work in progress." It was all he disclosed. He was slowly comprehending forgiveness was for the offended as much as it was for the offender. She nodded, resting her head on his shoulder as he moved them to the beat of the song. Everyone around them fell away.

"You and the baby are okay?"

"We're more than okay."

Rick felt a tugging in his pants and looked down and spotted Andre looking adorable in an exact replica of Rick's tuxedo.

"Dad, can I get some more ice cream? My tummy doesn't hurt or nuthin'."

Rick looked to Michonne who was adamant about the boys eating sweets before bedtime. She looked away, leaving the father and son duo to negotiate on their own. After a few seconds of feigned hesitation Rick nodded, telling Dre he could have the ice cream.

"Yess! You're the best Dad!" Andre scampered off, eager to find his uncle Daryl to deliver on the ice cream promised.

"See, you're still the best even though you told him he can't get married yet." She laughed remembering the drama of the conundrum earlier. She saw Rick's face light up whenever he and Andre interacted and her heart swole.

A flash of Rick helping her through her labor with Dre caused her to tighten her hold on her husband. Rick delivering Andre on their living room floor wasn't a dream was it?

"Michonne, what is it?" He was alarmed by her grip on him.

"You brought Dre into the world." Her eyes danced with speculation.

"That would be you, I was just there to catch him," Rick said, thrilled that her memory was coming back to her, even if it was bits and pieces.

She wanted the fact to settle into her soul. How amazing was he?

"I love you. You're such an amazing man Rick. This baby is so lucky."

Rick brought her closer to him. He couldn't recall a time when he didn't bask in the right to hold her in his arms.

"I love you too. Always."

"Anybody ever tell you you're a threat in a tux?" She spoke low into his ear.

The air felt charged between them, with just the sound of her sexy voice he felt his pants tighten.

"A threat to what?" He pressed her core against his groin, under the farce that they were dancing closely. "This?" He wanted her to feel exactly what she was doing to him.

He heard her gasp at the contact.

"Let's go somewhere. Runaway for a few minutes. Everybody's watching the boys."

"Rick you know I want to but I promised Sasha I would be here to ensure everything is taken care of when the night is over."

He sighed. "You want me to clear the room? I have my badge and my gun."

She knew he wasn't joking a bit, but dammit she would be lying if she wasn't turned on. His thumb was circling the back of her hand as they moved together on the dance floor but she'd be lying if she didn't feel his phantom finger stroking her bud already.

"Let me just take care of everything here first okay."

He whispered low into her ear, "You take care of things here but afterwards I'm gonna take care of you."

It was time for her to announce the party was over.