Lovely Day

AN: I apologize, this chapter is…clunky.

Thursday

Abe smoothes down his handle bar moustache with his left hand. He sighs in exasperation staring at the ceiling and the fluorescent lightening. He rubs his eyes with the back of hand before returning his focus to the spreadsheet on his desk. This isn't right but I cannot figure out how. "What are you attempting to figure out?" Rosita asks.

"What do you mean?" he replies.

"You have been studying that paper for the past twenty minutes," she gestures with the ink pen in her hand.

"'Member when we followed up on that handful of burglaries?" She nods. "Well, there were more than we were aware of based on these report logs," he waves the pages.

She stands from her desk and moves behind his desk chair to look over his shoulder, "Who made the arrests highlighted in grey?"

"Walsh and his zip-tie patrol," he replies. She raises both brows in surprise. "That is not the most interesting part; although that fact is strange enough. The strangest piece…they all made bail," he introduces.

Rosita snatches the pages from his meaty hands, "WTF…How?"

"Exactly…this is a case. Are you in?" he offers his fist.

"Absolutely," she states with a solid pound.

Andrea dressed with precision. The crisp, black Tahari suit projected strength and confidence. Her blonde hair pulled into a sleek ponytail and diamond stud earrings screamed performance at the special meeting called by the partners of the Firm would determine her future. "Good morning," she greets taking the seat at the far end of the conference table.

"Andrea, this meeting should not take long in light of the amount of unprecedented actions your personal life required our Firm to respond to," the managing partner begins.

She nods in agreement, "Philip Blake, my soon-to-be ex-husband, is a duplicitous, despicable man. My eyes are truly open. The only defense I can offer for myself is blind love and commitment to my marriage vows," she explains obsequiously.

The board members share furtive glances before the managing partner speaks again. "Based on the results of our investigated probe the Board rejects the proposition that you are an innocent. The evidence is clear. You are not now nor were you ever unaware of your husband's proclivities. As a matter of hard evidence you were a willing participant when you were not an eager instigator," he states forcefully.

Andrea's brain stutters to a stop. Holy shit…things are unraveling…deflect…spin…lie. "I do not understand what you mean. I can assure you this is a misunderstanding. Former associate Owen and I divulged the true nature of my marriage…the mental and emotional abuse…I am a victim of his choices," she rambles.

"You are a liar that attempted to bamboozle this Firm for nefarious reasons and/or self preservation. You are guilty of sexual predatory behavior and harassment. To be clear…we have the hard evidence to prove every charge I levied. We are not only exercising the full range of termination options outlined in your partnership agreement; but we are submitting evidence to the Atlanta State Bar and the DA's office," he folds his arms on top of the table in front of him.

The head of security for the building enters through the glass door to the left of the conference room. "Ms. Harrison please follow me," he commands.

Her eyes narrow and decorum drains from her body, "This is some fucking bullshit. I am tired of getting screwed over. You do not want me telling what I know. I will keep your secrets if you keep mine. Let's make a deal and I will go quietly for a price," she shouts.

The managing partner stands triggering the other partners to follow, "Here is the deal. You are fired…we filed civil charges to claw back all previous salary and benefits in accordance with your unlawful behavior," he slides a stack of formal documents down the center of the table.

Andrea catches the thick packet under her palm to keep the papers from falling onto the floor. Her shaking hand grasps the documents as she turns to leave the room. Mike better have a plan for this.

Friday

Michonne lies back on the raised examination table dressed in a gown with a warm blanket draped over her belly. Rick stands next to her rubbing his thumb against the palm of her right hand. Her left hand twitches with mild tremors against her belly. The prescription had frustrating side effects including a general agitated mood. She never complained and he masked his concern. "I cannot believe you made us late to change your socks," she snaps.

"They are my lucky socks Michonne," he explains.

"You don't have lucky socks…stop making things up," she exhales loudly. "I'm sorry…I am trying to control it. You know it's always worst the first few hours," she sniffles. I feel like a crazy person.

"Hey…you do not apologize," he applies more pressure to her palm. "You are being the best mama. We're gonna get the all clear," he attempts to reassure.

Naomi Bennett enters the examination room with a stunning, redhead beside her, "Michonne and Rick, please let me introduce the nation's best OBG/YN and neo-natal surgeon…Dr. Addison Montgomery. She is presenting at a conference in Atlanta so I scored us an extremely expensive consultation for free since she is also my BFF," she smiles brightly.

Rick reaches across his body to shake her hand, "Very nice to meet you." She is a specialist…what does that mean? Michonne looks back and forth between the two doctors before fixing her eyes on her husband. They gaze at each other. We are the ones who win.

Michonne clears her throat, "Just tell us what to do because we can accomplish the impossible-together," she starts. Rick nods in agreement.

Addison turns and smiles at her friend, "You were right…they are a force to be reckoned with," she compliments. "I reviewed the ultrasound…their individual growth and uterus positioning is really strong. A vaginal delivery is within reach," Addison explains.

"Consistent normal blood pressure and no further dilation is a clear victory. We are back on track but some minor adjustments would help."

Before she begins Rick interrupts, "Dr. Bennett, my wife is amazing but the current dosage makes her irritable and her hands tremble for the first couple hours. Is there any way to adjust the prescription," he requests quietly.

Michonne glares at him, "Do not listen to him. I am fine," she states.

"Michonne, I asked how you were feeling?" Naomi admonishes.

"My blood pressure is within the normal range which means the babies are safe. Plus they will probably come early because they are triplets. They need the accelerated lung development. The well being of our children…their future is all that matters." She looks in Addison's direction, "She said their growth and position is strong…that means the dosage is working," her hormones fuel her tears.

"First mommy lesson: if you do not take care of you…you cannot take care of them. We can adjust the dosage to help you without hurting them. I would also like to reduce your time in the office another hour and extend your pelvic rest for another week."

Michonne's tears stop abruptly and flames blaze from her eyes. She struggles against her growing belly to a more upright position, "Did I hear you correctly…Another week without sex? Do you have a clue? Forget that…look at my husband," she yells. "I am serious look at him," she commands. Both ladies glance over at him. Rick is red from the neck up.

"You have a point…That is a lot to resist," they co-sign.

He groans from his throat and squeezes the back of his neck keeping his eyes fixed on the laminate floor. Her sarcastic tone cuts the awkward tension, "You still think them socks are lucky?"

Friday night

Rick opens the front door, "Thanks for coming by…she could really use the company," he greets their friends. Each one carries food containers for the informal potluck and movie night. "She is in the downstairs den," he gestures toward the left.

After warm embraces and life updates Tyreese, Karen, Sasha, Daryl, Theo, Raquel, Glenn, Maggie, Rosita, Abe, Eric and Aaron settle across the sectional, floor and club chairs balancing full plates on their laps. "What are we watching again?" Abe asks.

"Boomerang," Tyreese responds from his seat next to Karen. "Trust me…you are going to love it."

The simple evening is the highlight of the group's busy week. Their voices mingle and the laughter dances throughout the home. Rick and Michonne occupy the chaise portion of the sectional. "Are you having a good time?" he whispers in her ear. She nestles between his legs bracing her upper body against his firm chest.

She smiles, "I am having the best time. Thank you…I needed to be us again," she whispers back. He reaches down to his left for a small pillow to further support her back automatically. He retrieves her drink from the end table beside him and kisses the crown of her head.

"I hope all you men in here are paying attention to what is going on over there," Maggie gestures. "That is the standard for taking care of your pregnant wife."

Sasha piles on, "Yes Lord…I noticed how he fixed that plate…knew all the food preferences."

Daryl and Glenn mumble, "Absolutely…mental notes," before flipping Rick off behind their ladies' backs. Rick laughs mischievously.

"I guess if all y'all asses ready to flip a full stack of cakes…fair is fair," Abe's statement is cut off by Rosita slapping him across the back of the head. "What?"

"Stop all that 'effing cursing around the babies," she scolds.

"They can't hear…can they?" he questions looking around the room.

The close knit group descends into the chaos of loving banter and joyous laughter with the movie as back ground noise. Michonne and Rick lace their fingers together against her belly. "You hear all this ruckus Team Grimes…that is your family…in all their fabulous glory….they cannot wait to meet you." They speak in hushed tones one after another before joining back in.

"Water birth…Look it up on the Google…You barely survived a groin pull…How did I become part of the discussion?…You already know that baby is going to be the size of a toddler…Midwife…Will you shut up-it's only our second date…Why wouldn't you stay home?"