Spend My Life with You
Michonne wakes slowly rolling carefully on her back trying not to disturb Rick's peaceful sleep. Surrounded by picture perfect snow fall they decided to live like hibernating bears. They only left the confines of the condo to enjoy the setting sun or watch the sunrise from the Adirondack chairs outside the front door. She rubbed her stomach and froze. Her hand traced the familiar path from under her breast to her waist-there was an incline. I am showing. She brought her hand back up. I am definitely showing.
Rick's bent left arm was thrown over his head on the pillow. She raised his right arm from the mattress and guided the back of his hand over her small bump until he started to stir. He rolled over and cuddled into her. "Hmm…morning," he mumbles in his sleep.
"Morning…Notice anything different?" she teases.
"You are not naked," he feels the fabric of his brown Henley. She complained about the cold for the past two days but insisted on wearing his shirts without pants.
"Focus," she instructs guiding his hand over her bump again. She lays still waiting for the moment he catches on to the difference in her body.
He blinks slowly and guides his hand over her belly. Is that? Rick pushes the fabric up under her breast and searches her bare stomach with his hand. There is a bump. He scrambles up moving blankets out of his way to inspect her belly with both hands and his rapidly blinking eyes try to focus. "Is that a bump? I mean…it is clearly a baby bump-right?" he questions with urgency.
"I believe that it is," her tone is filled with wonder.
Rick kisses her stomach repeated in a random pattern. His curls bouncing wildly, "Great job Baby G…you are growing so strong!" Michonne giggles uncontrollably. Her legs are bent and her feet stomp one after the other against the mattress. He bounds out of bed searching for the camera.
She climbs out of bed and enters the bathroom to freshen up. She turns to the side and looks in the mirror. I am caring a life inside me. The life we made out of pure love. "Hey Mama…tell us what you are thinking about over there?" Rick narrates.
"I think we cannot wait to meet you and I think we should leave now and start on your nursery," she shares through an angelic smile, "What do you think Daddy?"
"Best idea ever," he responds.
"So we're going?" she clarifies.
"We're going," he confirms.
"What will it cost me to get that video back?" the frantic voice whispers into the phone.
"Two million dollars and I will not make a copy," he challenges.
"You are taking this too far. We actually like each other not to mention Reverend Daddy will not be pleased," her tone softens.
"Naw, we like what we do to each other…two mil and I can always repent."
"But I can only authorize a million without his signature."
"Get creative," he disconnects the call.
Daryl enters his field office through the back entrance using the electronic keypad. After much discussion he convinced the FBI security team that a key card would was too conspicuous to the average resident passing by which would compromise the anonymity of the location. Xavier spoke without turning around, "Please grab the papers from the printer," he instructs.
"What is all this and why are some of the line items highlighted?" he glances over the Excel spreadsheet walking toward Xavier's desk.
"I merged a list of all the surplus equipment we have access to through the Department of Defense with the list of used equipment from the FBI," Xavier explains, "Select what you want and I can process the requisition orders. The yellow highlighted items are from the Rhee proposal."
"We don't have the budget for everything we want," Daryl shares.
"I know but some of the items are no cost because the excessive inventory drains the budget in storage costs."
"Good work…let's go through this together and determine what we need and prioritize from there," Daryl offers.
"I don't think I would be of use…I really don't know about weapons or forensics," he gestures.
"I know…consider this part of your training."
Xavier swallows thickly, "Thanks…where do we start?" We really are partners.
Afternoon
Sasha approaches Aaron's desk, "I have good news I guess."
"Really, you are ready to meet already," he questions.
"Unfortunately the public records were minimal," she explains, "I doubt you will have a family challenge. A mom with personal problems too selfish to put her child first; no next of kin to step up so when mom checked out completely Judith was left to the system; eventually following through the cracks."
Aaron breathes a sigh of relief, "Well only the best moving forward."
Sasha smiles, "I am really happy for all you. Uhm, do you think we could," she stammers.
"Of course you can see her when you want. We would not dare get in the way of Mrs. Williams in grandma mode," he finishes for her.
"Thank you. For the record…if you said no I was going to make you call and tell her," she laughs.
Andre stood at the foot of his sister and brother-in-law's grave site. "The wedding was everything you could possibly dream for her. Pauletta, she has all your style and when I placed the cape around her shoulders I could not help but remember you and Momma arguing about that damn thing at your Debutante Ball," he laughs.
He pulls a deep sigh from his lungs, "Michael he has the watch. He is one of us…he would beat a man down to the white meat if they so much as touch a hair on her head. By the way, I met a real fine lady and wouldn't mind seeing again so I will be around a little more often. I miss our family like crazy. Keep taking care of her from above," he concludes.
Tyreese anxious toe-tapping was working Eva's last nerve but she ignored the unconscious act because he had a plan. He provided an outline of what he wanted to accomplish, how he was going to do it and identified the areas he needed assistance. God is good all the time.
She looked up after reading the last page. "To be clear…you need to work part-time so you can continue to work with the Parks & Recreation Department; you want to learn how to manage the Café; and you think we should hire an assistant manager."
"Yes Ma'am. I even have a first draft of a job description for you to revise," he hands her an additional sheet of paper.
She stands and walks around her desk, "Stand up here," she hugs him tight, "I knew you could get there. I am proud of you."
Tyreese pulls back from the hug, "I won't let you or Daddy down again."
"No son I do not believe you will. We will meet again and two weeks. To revise the schedule, review the budget and process invoices-together," she smiles from her eyes.
Evening
Michonne and Rick wait for the stand by flight they were able to secure. She is showing him her ideas for the nursery. "Lion King…Are you sure?" he asks again.
"Of course, see all these amazing wall decals for lions, tigers, panthers, and jaguars. It is all about the majesty of cats," she explains.
"But what if it is a girl?" he scratches the back of his head after removing the California Bear trucker hat she purchased at the souvenir shop in Folsom.
Her head snaps, "Have you never seen Lion King? It is universal" she accuses. "Nala kicks Simba's ass on the regular," she provides.
"No, why would I…and who is Nala?" his brow furrows.
"Because it is a cinematic masterpiece that makes the world a better place," she counters, "Nala is his wife." He laughs. This is ridiculous. "I am instituting a family movie night…first up Lion King," she lays down the law.
"Fine, but I am not agreeing to anything-yet. My mini-Michonne may want a Princess Tiana room or maybe Storm," he argues.
"Whoa…have you been talking to Carl?" Impressive suggestions.
"I have my ways," he flirts.
"How much is it going to cost me for you to keep your mouth shut?"
"I am not sure what you mean? What level of silence are your interested in…I know a lot of things as you are well aware," Mike pushes his advantage.
"Everything you participated in and everything you agreed to do."
This is my come up. "Five million dollars off shore account."
"You must be high right now because that is not going to happen," he shouts into the receiver.
"Fine but you should start prepping your ass because that fresh meat is your only currency in the joint with your limp dick ass," Mike taunts.
"I can only transfer two without my wife's signature," he pulls back.
"Not my issue…y'all work it out and call me back," he disconnects the call abruptly.