I am glad you liked the background chapter. You will get more background bits and pieces as we go through the story, not in full blown chapters, but in conversations and reflections. This chapter starts with one such snippet.
Guest— I am not, as you say, half-assing the spelling of Darryl's name if that is what you are referring to. I spell Darryl with two R's instead of one because FOR ME in my head, the one R spelling represents who he was, a one syllable, slightly racist, typical backwoods character and that is not how I like to write him. Two R's forces ME to enunciate and elongate his name into two full syllables and TO ME represents a more refined Darryl Dixon. If the extra R confuses you, I don't know how to respond to that. If you are referring to Hershel, then that is my fault for adding a C and I have fixed that.
Anyway, Ennjoyy!
Chapter 4- A Disruption of the Interruption
"Looks the same," Michonne uttered mostly to herself as Darryl slowed the car to match the King County speed limit.
Michonne scanned the familiar landmarks and for a split second, she smiled at the big ornate clock in the middle of town. Rick would always try and take her there on weekends to kiss her exactly when the clock would chime at noon. Rick told her it was good luck, and on one particular rebellious day, right before she found out she was pregnant, Rick tried to press his luck by convincing Michonne to skip school. Rick wanted to test if a noon kiss on a school day felt better than a weekend smooch underneath the clock. Michonne panicked as Rick anxiously watched the minute hand while she nervously eyed the deputy that was rapidly approaching. The clock chimed and Rick got his disobedient kiss just in time and he swore it was the best kiss he ever had.
They both sat in afterschool detention, eyeing each other, passing notes, and whispering for two straight days. They were supposed to have a third day, but the frustrated detention teacher gave up trying to get them to follow the rules and kicked them both out. They both laughed as they ran from the school to go and do stuff and thangs to each other much deeper than just kissing. Michonne chuckled and wiped an escaped tear at her musings before Darryl brought her mind back to the present day.
"Yeah, it does," Darryl agreed as he made his way to the Sheriff's station from memory alone.
Darryl wondered if his old trailer park was still there and if his parents were still living in it, and like Michonne, he was unsure if he wanted the answer.
"Imagine living in a place that never changes," Michonne muttered as she turned away from the clock.
"It's like this place is stuck in time. I don't see much new," Darryl agreed as he passed the same ice cream shop that he never had enough money for as a kid, "We're here."
"Yeah," Michonne uttered with her hand on the door handle as she looked at the old building through the front windshield, "I see that."
Darryl pulled into the King County Sherriff parking lot, and Michonne could hardly wait to jump out of the vehicle. She was anxious to get to Carl and make sure her baby boy was okay. Michonne was flustered when the Sherriff informed her that Carl took the bus alone and then her mind began racing with all the horrible things that could have happened to her son. And although the sheriff assured her that her baby was fine, Michonne wanted to touch Carl, hug him, kiss him, and look him over with her own two eyes.
"Hold on Chonne, let me stop the car!" Darryl requested with a snicker.
"It's stopped enough," Michonne replied, "put the car in park and come on!"
When Michonne crossed over the threshold of the station, she abruptly halted. She was a little discombobulated suddenly being thrown back into her teenaged years, and the memories were anything but fond. She was only in the Sherriff's station on two occasions when she was a youth, and for Michonne, it was two too many. Most times her father kept his drinking contained inside the home, but twice, Andre Hawthorne ended up in jail. And twice Michonne had to pick him up.
The first time she retrieved her father, Michonne walked, and Rick jogged up to the new girl in school because she looked nervous. Rick escorted his new friend the rest of the way, just two fourteen-year-olds making their way to the drunk tank. Michonne was embarrassed, but Rick did not judge and Michonne was grateful. She was glad to have the company. The second time, they were sixteen and Michonne and Rick were officially dating. Rick escorted her then too, this time in his new truck. Now, however, she was accompanied by Darryl, and it made her feel some type of way about it. Nostalgic.
"You alright?" Darryl inquired apprehensively when Michonne had not moved from the entrance.
"Yeah," Michonne muttered as she took a breath and walked towards the front desk remembering what she learned in one of her college courses.
In Junior psychology, Michonne learned that her father was most likely clinically depressed, and the alcohol exacerbated his problem. Michonne often thought if her father attained the professional help he so desperately needed, maybe they would have never moved to that hick town where Andre went from architect to handyman. From living a good life in Savanna to a very poor one in King County. It sure would have spared her a lot of heartache, but she also could not begin to imagine a life without Carl, no matter how wily he was. Michonne wondered if her father ever sought the help he needed.
"Hello?" Darryl shouted over the empty reception desk.
"I can't believe I am here picking up Carl from a Sherriff's station of all places. Where is everyone?" HELLO!" Michonne hollered and slapped her hand on the wooden desk loudly to try and get someone's attention, "ANYBODY HERE!"
"Probably went to the restroom or sum," Darryl tried to reason to keep Michonne's agitation at bay.
Michonne blew out a breath of frustration and began to pace around the foyer until whomever was on shift came back to his post. As she waited anxiously, Michonne returned to her earlier thoughts from the car and wondered again what she did to encourage Carl's reckless behavior. She thought about it often over the years and would replay situations she would have done differently had she been a real adult parent.
Carl was always a great kid, but he definitely had an old soul, and the word precocious did not even begin to describe his personality. Michonne was sure that by becoming a parent at such a young age, she most likely, unknowingly encouraged many of Carl's advanced behaviors. Michonne was a teenage mother winging it and Darryl was co-signing because he was just as clueless as she was, except on one particular subject. Darryl knew a parent was not supposed to beat their kid until the marks left permanent scares. A parent was not supposed to frighten their children so much that they spent much of the time hiding in their own home. Darryl knew bad parenting, so he did the opposite and made sure he was a good one. And he was. And they both raised Carl the best way they knew how, and sometimes exposing Carl to slightly inappropriate situations was often beyond their control.
"The Sherriff said Carl tried to make a deal to not call and tell me," laughed Michonne nervously as she continued walking about the small area, "that boy always trying to make deals."
"You know damn well he gets it from you!" Laughed Darryl then mimicked Michonne to try and cheer her up, "How much? Oh no, let's make a deal. This right here is not worth the sticker price, let's make a deal. And that was just last week at the grocery store over some apples you claimed were mealy."
Michonne spent a lot of time in secondhand shops looking for items that she could possibly get at a cheaper price. In college, she could not afford to stroll into a regular store and buy a coffee pot for thirty dollars when she might find a perfectly good used one at a pawn shop for ten, then make a deal to pay five. Carl would be right on her hip listening and taking in his surroundings and observing his mother make deals on a whim. Most of their clothes came from thrift shops and Michonne downright refused to pay sticker price. Carl watched as his mother would grin as she walked out with double the clothes at less than half the original price.
"Hush, my deals worked out for you and that real leather jacket I got you for fifteen bucks," Michonne grinned and walked back to the desk, "Had I known you would rip the sleeves off, I would have negotiated it down to at least eleven dollars, HELLO!"
"I looked cool," chuckled Darryl, "They'll be back in a minute," Darryl assured as he sat on the bench with his legs stretched out before him.
Michonne refrained from responding humorously to Darryl's "cool" comment.
"They're lucky we're not criminals! We could have taken over this station easily!" Michonne exclaimed with a scowl across her face, "Is my baby even safe here?"
"I think your baby is the only one that IS safe here Chonne," Darryl laughed and watched Michonne's scowl turn into an amused smirk.
Michonne and Darryl made sure Carl had a roof over his head, and food in his belly and however they did it, Carl watched. Carl learned. While most kids were reading comic books and riding bikes, Carl was sneaking into the pawnshop down the street from his home trying to finagle his way into buying whatever shiny new object caught his eye. Carl never had money, just an adorable face, charm, and great deal-making abilities.
There was something special about Carl Hawthorne and every adult who encountered him knew it. All he had to do was smile his cute little grin, bat his beautiful blue eyes and Carl had you hook line and sinker. Carl was also daring, more than Michonne would have liked him to be, and book smart too, but Carl focused more on sharpening his street smarts over whatever he learned quickly in school. He was a little smartass too. If Michonne told Carl he could not go to the corner store alone, then he would go to the store in the middle of the block by himself instead.
"I want to go back to when the worst thing Carl did was walk down the block alone after I told his mischievous ass not to leave the house," Michonne thought back to when she snatched his little bad ass after seeing Carl walking out of a pawnshop a month ago.
"Well, like Carl clarified, technically you told him not to leave the house, he didn't. He went straight to the pawnshop afterschool was out," Darryl laughed remembering the high pitch of Michonne's voice when she was jacking up Carl, "You know you need to be specific with that nut. How long was he grounded for?"
"Six months," Michonne huffed and shook her head trying to figure out what she was going to do with Carl.
"And he was back out after how long?" Darryl laughed and Michonne cut her eyes at her friend and smiled.
"Two days," Michonne snickered and shook her head thinking she needed to be firmer with Carl and stand her ground.
When Michonne punished Carl, the consequence never lasted too long and NEVER as long as her original sentence. If Michonne judged a two-week grounding, it was more like two hours because Michonne always felt guilty that she might have been to blame for some of Carl's antics. Michonne worried that one day Carl as going to be kidnapped and the thought kept her up at night. Michonne learned she needed to be very specific with her son and most times it was enough. Most times. But with all Carl's shenanigans, Michonne had never experienced something this huge, this over-the-top, this dangerous and she was scared. Michonne thought it unbelievable that she would need to add never leave the city or never get on a greyhound bus alone to her long list of do not's. Michonne needed to have a serious talk with her son. Darryl sought to calm her down by placing a hand on her shoulder as he went to the front desk when he noticed a deputy approaching.
"We are here for Carl Hawthorne," Darryl announced, and he rolled his eyes at the deputy's extra wide grin.
Carl had already charmed a whole new group of people. Deputies no less. Darryl shook his head.
"Yes! He is with Sherriff Greene and Deputy Grimes. Carl is a great kid!" The officer stated enthusiastically and Michonne's face dropped when she heard Rick's last name.
Michonne looked at Darryl with frayed nerves and thought back to Rick's law enforcement plan and drew in a deep breath. It looked like he made his career goals come true. Michonne shut her eyes tightly and tried to breathe through her panic because if Rick laid eyes on Carl, then he more than likely knew for sure Rick's little twin was definitely his son. Michonne nervously wondered what Rick and Carl knew about each other.
"Looks like we are gonna run into Rick sooner rather than later," Darryl uttered happy with the turn of events but careful not to grin and make Michonne more nervous than she already was.
"Let me escort you back. They are expecting you," the deputy beamed as he waved for the two to follow him through the station.
Michonne held her breath and resisted the urge to pull her mirror from her purse and check her lipstick. She was not expecting to run into Rick immediately. She was not expecting him to be a sheriff's deputy and she was most definitely not expecting Rick to have met Carl under these outrageous circumstances. Although she did not pull out her mirror, she fluffed her locs and smoothed the wrinkles from her very expensive, perfectly fitted pants that had been creased from sitting in the car too long. Michonne was nervous about seeing her old boyfriend again. The man that she loved who cast her aside without care for her their unborn son's welfare. Michonne grew angry with her last thought and scrunched the wrinkles back in her pants and tried to make a mess of her locs. Michonne was irritated that she even considered trying to look good for Rick in the first place.
"Just be calm. Just be cool," Michonne uttered to herself, and Darryl heard her quiet whispers and gave her hand a soothing squeeze.
When the deputy knocked on the sheriff's door, Michonne felt like she wanted to take off running as fast as she could back to Atlanta. She looked at Darryl and wondered if he would agree to grab Carl then pick her up on the side of the road once he caught up to her. If it were anybody else, she might have darted out of the station, but it was not just anybody inside that office with Rick. It was her son and she needed to make sure her baby boy was okay. Michonne took a breath, pulled up her big girl panties, and got her anxious ass together. Darryl sensed her apprehension and gripped her hand again. Michonne nodded indicating she was okay. She was there for Carl. Not Rick. NOT. RICK.
"Come in!" Hershel called from the other side of the door and watched his deputy stick his head into his office.
"Sorry, what was your name again?" Asked the deputy who turned his head and looked towards Michonne and Darryl.
"Michonne. Michonne Hawthorne. Carl's mother," Michonne squeaked, and she could hear a chair suddenly slide across the floor as if whoever was seated, pushed it back forcibly in an effort to quickly stand up.
"Calm down Rick," Michonne heard a woman's voice advise.
When the deputy fully opened the door, Michonne lowered her eyes to search for Carl and ignored every adult in that office. She was not ready to see Rick just yet. She needed a minute. But Michonne felt him, and dear God, she was not expecting the pull to see her old boyfriend's face to be so strong. Michonne resisted and focused on Carl standing there smiling with his charm turned up to ten. Michonne huffed and did not know whether to hug him or holler at him, however, seeing Carl safe and sound, Michonne's decision was easy, and she embraced her son tightly. Hugs first. Holler later.
"Are you alright?" Michonne asked as she pushed her son back an arm's length to look him over before pulling him into a hug again.
Rick watched as Michonne repeated the push/pull process a few more times, adding kisses across Carl's face relieved that her son seemed fine and in one healthy piece.
"Why do your cheeks taste like maple syrup?" Michonne asked as she licked her thumb to clean off the sticky substance.
"I had waffles, but they were not as good as yours, mom," Carl answered and wiped the wetness from his face.
Ella was too busy eyeing her son to respond to Michonne query. Rick was gazing at Michonne, and her son looked off. His eyes looked funny. Crazy almost. Rick was studying Michonne like he was committing her to memory. Ella assumed Rick was about to go into one of his newly acquired fits, but when she looked closer, Ella realized this was something else entirely. Ella looked worriedly at his face and noticed his eyes were a little dilated, then glanced down at Rick rubbing his middle finger and thumb together like he did when he was about to attack. His demeanor hit her like a ton of bricks. Rick was not about to hyperventilate, or black out, or vomit, rather Rick was about to do something more drastic.
"Rick," Ella whispered, and Rick made no indication that he heard his mother at all.
When Rick took a slight step towards Michonne, Ella knew what her crazy ass son was about to attempt. He was going to rush Michonne, either pull her into firm nonconsensual embrace, or what Ella put her money on due to Rick's crazy eyes, abscond with her. Pick her up and run away. Rick was already a very passionate person, but sometimes when he was in a state of emergency, which was clear to Ella that her son most likely was, Rick could get a little wild and irrational. Ella was not going to chance Rick scaring Michonne and running her and Carl off before they could get things settled. Ella used the only weapons she had to try and snap her lunatic son from his trance.
"Ow mama!" Rick yelped and turned in surprise towards his mother after she pinched the hell out of his side.
Rick noticed Ella's lips stretched in a thin line of warning as he rubbed the painful and more than likely inflamed area above his hip. Ella was relieved that her intervention worked after watching her son take a step back and returning to what little sense he had left. Mostly. Rick was still thinking about grabbing Michonne and Carl and making a run for it to his truck, but now that he was somewhat rational again, his mind told his heart that it was not a good idea. Michonne stirred when she heard Rick's voice but before she could fully react to it, Carl's exclamation refocused his mother back on him.
"Mom, you are embarrassing me!" Carl grumbled but added a giggle because he actually loved when his mother slathered him with affection.
"I love you baby, and I want to show you that I am grateful you are okay," Michonne smiled lovingly and gave her son one more kiss before her face slowly turned into a scowl, "What is wrong with you Carl! What were you thinking!"
Hollering sooner than expected.
"Mom, calm down," Carl started before being interrupted by Hershel and Darryl at the same time.
"Don't you tell your mama to calm down," both men hollered in unison.
"This is serious," Darryl grunted, and Carl shut his trap with a quickness.
Hershel eyed his sister and silently asked her if Rick was okay because he was acting peculiar. Ella nodded and rubbed Rick's back as Hershel uneasily eyed his nephew.
"Michonne?" Rick spoke softly to try and get her attention.
Michonne froze at the sound of her old boyfriend's voice calling her name. It was a little deeper, manlier, but she would recognize Rick's cadence anywhere. Her heartbeat became erratic as her eyes scanned slowly up Rick starting with his signature boots that he still seemed to prefer, then that leg that bowed out and her eyes got stuck there. She could not seem to get her eyes to move further up. Everyone noticed her inability to function.
"Mom?" Carl uttered worriedly watching his unmoving mother still squat down in front of him.
Darryl watched but did not intervene. He knew Michonne just needed a minute, and he let her have it. Carl, however, shook his mother a little to try and get her to move, but she stayed motionless. Carl was about to shake his mother a little harder, but his father intervened.
"Michonne?" Rick uttered again and this time his voice cracked a bit and Michonne flinched hearing the man she once loved with all her heart and soul call her name for a second time.
Michonne opened her mouth to speak, and in her mind, she was talking, but in reality, there was only silence. Rick was waiting for Michonne to acknowledge him whether by sight or sound. Although her voice was still in mechanical failure, Michonne's eyes slowing started to function again as they gradually moved up Rick's frame. The first thing Michonne noticed was his lankiness was gone, replaced by lean muscle she could clearly see though his fitted jeans and the short-sleeved t-shirt that hugged his biceps. His chest was hard, and his arms were well-defined. Now looking upwards at Rick from her low position on the floor, she saw the rapid thumping of his jugular when she arrived at his neck, and when Michonne finally laid eyes on his face, she gasped quietly. Rick was still beautiful, and she realized in that very moment, despite their cruel parting, she never stopped loving that man. That thought pissed her off and she channeled her anger to help keep herself steady. Michonne immediately took her eyes off Rick and looked at the Sheriff as she slowly rose to her feet grabbing Carl's hand on her way up.
"Thank you so much for finding Carl and calling me," Michonne stated with sincere gratitude, and Hershel nodded noticing she was completely avoiding looking and talking to Rick after her initial inspection.
It was quiet for a few seconds and Darryl broke the tension. Or added to it. He did not know which.
"Rick," Darryl grunted realizing being open was a hell of a lot harder standing face-to-face with Rick after all that happened.
Darryl bit his lip thinking how hypocritical he was being after begging Michonne to have an open mind. But Darryl could not control his sudden anger at the cause of the chaos and his breathing became erratic. Darryl could not hide the irritation from his face, so he looked down at the floor to calm himself. Michonne was about to move over to Darryl for support, but the sound of Rick's voice startled them both.
"Darryl, thank you," Rick breathed in a softer, inviting tone that startled both Darryl and Michonne.
The acknowledgement touched Darryl and Rick's tone relayed gratitude and when he finally made eye contact with Rick, Darryl saw a man who was remorseful. A man who desperately wanted to make things right with Carl and Michonne. Darryl appreciated Rick for that, and his anger slowly dissipated. Then it was quiet again until Ella pulled Michonne into a hug.
"Michonne, it is so nice to see you. I am so sorry about what happened. I just..." Ella began but started to weep and it caused Michonne to furrow her brow in confusion.
Michonne looked at Carl who was watching her closely and it frazzled her a bit with Carl being in the same room as his father. She did not, however, want to taint Carl's perspective and she decided to place a lighter tone in the atmosphere to help ease the tension that she felt. That they all felt.
"Ms. Ella! You look good!" Michonne smiled and when she did, Rick had to turn away for a second.
Rick could not look directly at her. He used to love making Michonne smile like that. He used to actively seek ways and methods to do so multiple times a day. The way it lit up her face was beautiful, and he wanted to let Michonne know that it still did.
"You look stunning Michonne," Rick uttered and Michonne's face blushed, and her body tingled, then her lips tightened in irritation at her visceral response to his compliment.
Rick noticed her reaction and became fearful. Rick did know the words to respond to her negative body language and it became awkwardly quiet again. Rick looked at Michonne with imploring eyes, wanting Michonne to see that he still loved her, and he never stopped despite what Richard accused her of doing and tricked him into believing. Rick wanted Michonne to see that his was a deep, never-ending love that nothing or no one could ever cleanse him of. That his love for her never once disappeared. Michonne anxiously eyed Darryl and he raised his brow and slightly lifted his chin and grunted. Michonne nodded, she understood he was telling her to calm the hell down and act like she had some home training. Michonne turned and looked back at Rick.
"Thank you," Michonne uttered to Rick then looked at Carl who was smirking at both of his parents.
Michonne rolled her eyes at Carl, and realized the paternity of her son was either very clear to Rick or at least suspected and Michonne's heart began to beat a little faster than it already was.
"Just so you know dear, I took Carl to eat breakfast. That's probably where that syrup came from. I apologize for not making sure he was cleaned up. I was just so," Ella became flustered and was rambling, "I heard you were a lawyer now."
"Yes," Michonne answered and watched Ella make eye contact with Rick.
Ella needed her son to get moving on his talk Michonne before she left King County. Ella needed to make sure Carl would be a mainstay in her life. Rick understood his mother's subtle nod and shyly requested a private audience with Michonne before she could fully thank Ella for feeding her son.
"Uhh, Michonne. You think I might have a little bit of your time?" Rick asked, eyes almost pleading with her to say YES.
Michonne looked at Darryl who almost laughed at Michonne's sudden lack of decision-making abilities. Darryl grunted a symbolic yes because nobody could really force Michonne to do anything she did not want to do. But Darryl knew if he did not, she would use that as an excuse to run. Hershel looked between Michonne and Darryl with amusement.
"Sure," Michonne answered and stood with her arms crossed in annoyance wondering what Darryl thought was so funny then furrowed her brow when Hershel giggled too.
Between Carl's shenanigans, and Ella, Rick, Michonne, and Darryl's antics, the sheriff was highly entertained.
"Rick, why don't you and Michonne go on over to interrogation room one," Hershel instructed and then saw Michonne's eyebrow shoot up, "Not to be interrogated of course, but it's nice and private. You can say what you need to say without being disturbed and Michonne, Rick has a lot to say. I know I have got no right to ask you this, but if you could listen to him. Just be open and remember things break, but sometimes they can still grow," Hershel advised and Michonne nodded in confusion and took a deep breath.
All these people encouraging her to be open were getting on her last nerve.
"Carl, will you be okay here by yourself?" Michonne asked her son more because she needed a brief minute before she left with Rick, and she sneered when she saw the incredulous look on her son's face.
Carl looked humorously confused as he scanned all the people in the room his mother was evidently ignoring, then lowered his brows at his mother. Michonne blew a breath. She could not get a break with Carl and Michonne sucked her teeth at him.
"Yes, mom. I have Uncle Darryl, the Sherriff, Oh and my grandmother to keep me company," Carl stated keeping a close eye on his mother for a reaction to check if his hunch was correct.
It was Michonne's startled response that verified for Carl all that he needed to know. No swab kit was necessary. Michonne was speechless and blinking excessively, but through her disproportionate eye flutters, she still managed to notice the smug look on Carl's face, and she immediately pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes at her smarty pants of a son. Carl fooled her into unintentionally verifying Rick was indeed his father, and all she could do was chuckle with a bit of contempt. Michonne was just about to snatch Carl's smirking little lips when Darryl intervened.
"Carl, come over here and let me get my hug before your mother snaps," Darryl directed, and Carl quickly complied and stood behind his uncle.
"I love you mommy!" Carl tried to appease with a mischievous grin knowing his mother snapping was never anything good.
"Yeah, Yeah," Michonne uttered, and Darryl and Hershel laughed out loud and Michonne narrowed her eyes at them both before cutting them back deeply at Carl.
Ella, however, was delighted at officially being acknowledged as his grandmother and pulled Carl from Darryl into a hug. Rick stood at the door with a wide grin that faltered when Michonne turned her obviously displeased brown eyes upon him. Rick cleared his throat, opened the office door, and escorted Michonne out of the room and down the hall. Everybody left in Hershel's office held their breath, then broke out in chuckles after they left.
"Carl, you are something else," Darryl laughed and waved for his nephew to finally give him a hug too.
"I know," Carl giggled as he hugged his uncle who was down on one knee at eye level which meant Carl was about to get a firm talking to.
Carl ceased his chuckling.
"Carl, you can never do this again, you understand me. No buses, no trains, no planes, cars, trucks, or any mode of transportation that will get you from home to anywhere without me, your mother, or your aunts and uncles by your side. Am I clear?" Darryl directed and Carl thought for a second.
"What about the school bus?" Carl asked slickly and Darryl grunted, and Carl knew it was a serious one, "sorry. I understand Uncle Darryl."
"Good, and stop being a smartass, you don't even ride the school bus. Listen, me and your mother are taking this seriously. Your Aunts and Uncle Abe are waiting for you too. Rosita sent you a message," Darryl warned and Carl's whole face dropped when he repeated in Spanish what Rosita texted to Michonne.
Hershel typed the phrase into google translate and cackled then showed it to Ella who giggled.
"How much trouble am I in? Give it to me in months?" Carl asked his uncle anxiously.
"Try years," Darryl laughed remembering Michonne's rant in the car and laughed harder when Carl's eyes got big.
Ella watched in amazement as Darryl parented Carl. This was a long way from the teen that used to hide in the corner when he would come to the farm. Darryl was so different from the abused teen that she was so fond of. It did Ella's heart good know how well Darryl turned out. How well all three of them turned out. Ella was a little saddened that Rick did not fare as well emotionally over the years, but quickly grew encouraged that Rick's sad state might soon improve.
"Well look at you Dixon. You were always a real good kid. I heard you were married," Hershel asked and smiled when he saw Darryl's face brighten.
Darryl sat and filled them on his life and Carl would interject and add the details that Darryl was opposed to adding if it required any more than two words and a grunt.
"He fixes cars, but motorcycles mostly! He even has one. My mom won't let me ride it, but Uncle Darryl secretly picked me up from school on it a couple of times," Carl tattled, and Darryl saw Ella's eyes narrow.
Darryl cleared his throat and cut his eyes at Carl.
"Carl, how did you know to come here to King County?" Darryl asked, trying to deflect from his motorbike antics.
Carl took a breath and looked at his Uncle Darryl and repeated the whole science lesson and hidden picture story.
"And you even tricked your mama into confirming it. You are too smart for your own good kid," Darryl muttered and shook his head and noticed Carl's face morph into one big smirk.
"I get that a lot," Carl grinned at Hershel and Ella as if telling them a secret before turning his eyes back to his uncle.
"Yeah, I bet," Hershel uttered elevator eyeing his new nephew who was smirking at Darryl.
Darryl furrowed his brows at the clever expression on Carl's face before realization hit. It seemed Darryl doubled down on verifying Rick's parentage. Carl made a mental note to call Dr. Siddiq and let him know his services would not be necessary.
Meanwhile, in the interrogation room.
"Oh my God Rick," Michonne breathed out, stunned at all Rick revealed.
Michonne's watery eyes scanned all over the room, saddened at all the years that were lost because of Rick's evil ass father. She jumped up and angrily pacing back and forth in front of the lone table in the middle of the room.
"I know, I am angry too Michonne. Mostly with myself," Rick admitted as he watched Michonne closely.
Rick thought Michonne was even more beautiful than he remembered.
"My father Rick," Michonne sniffled thinking about how devastated Andre must have been after she left, "He was trying to protect me, and I just abandoned him. I should have stayed and talked to him and asked him why. I should have never left."
"I am so sorry Michonne," Rick uttered and Michonne stopped pacing and stared directly at Rick with furrowed brows.
"You should be Rick! I blame you!" Michonne gritted through angry tears, "And your hateful ass father. YOU BOTH KILLED MY FATHER! But I guess because of the both of you, I had a hand in his death too. Thank you for that."
Michonne dropped down in her chair in utter despair as she thought about what the last years of her father's life must have been like for him. As she stared at the ceiling quietly reflecting, Rick walked over and pulled his chair next to her and took a seat.
"Michonne," Rick appealed wanting to grab her hand but wisely choosing against it and instead rubbed his hands nervously up and down his thighs.
"Where is that motherfucker. I am going to kill him dead," Michonne demanded and jumped up and out of her seat so fast it took Rick off guard.
Michonne darted around the table towards the exit and Rick stopped her and held her in his arms. Rick almost cried at the sensation of touching her again and could not help but to hug her tighter. Michonne leaned into the embrace, but just for a second.
"Michonne, I want to kill that man too, but he ain't worth neither of us going to jail and leaving Carl," Rick persuaded and was dejected when Michonne pushed Rick off of her with force.
The last thing Michonne wanted was to be comforted by Rick. She was angry that Carl grew up without ever having the pleasure of meeting his grandfather. Richard took that away from her and her son and she was livid. Michonne turned her fury on Rick for believing Richard without even talking to her about the false accusations. In a moment of wrath, Michonne decided to hurt Rick just like he chose to hurt her all those years ago.
"Why would that be hard for you Rick? You already left him once," Michonne spat and tried to move past Rick again but was easily halted by her ex.
"I deserve that," Rick nodded not wanting to argue during the precious time he had with her because Michonne could not blame him any more than he already blamed himself.
"Yeah, you do deserve it. And other than me leaving my father to die alone, it all worked out for the best. Me and my son are good. More than good. We have a great life, and we are happy. I have REAL family surrounding Carl and me. One that actually cares about our well-being. Carl and I do not need you, Rick. I think we have proven that already," Michonne uttered and made her way to the door before Rick stopped her a third time by blocking the exit with his body.
But it was more his powerful tone and strong words that halted her in her steps more than his physicality.
"I LOVED YOU! I STILL LOVE YOU!" Rick yelled then took a breath to calm himself, "But I can't make you to believe that, even though it's true. And I am happy that you had family surrounding you and Carl. I am grateful for it. Grateful for Darryl. But I am Carl's family too, and I can't let him out of my life again, I just can't. I won't. I want to be a part of Carl's life Michonne. A big part. And I can only pray that maybe one day I can be a part of your life too. I want that more than you can even imagine. More than anythang. But after everythang that happened, i know…I know I should not have believed all that shit my father made up, but I did, and I take full responsibility for falling for Richard's bullshit. And I need to make it right. I WILL make it right Michonne."
"How Rick? I never did anything but love you, and you still treated me like shit for it. I can only imagine how you would treat me now that the love is gone," Michonne spat, and Rick winced at her harsh words.
"It ain't gone for me Michonne," Rick tried to convince but he could see Michonne would need more than his empty words.
"Well Rick," Michonne chuckled sardonically, "Its long gone for me."
Michonne paused, needing to take a gulp to swallow down the bold-faced lie she just told Rick. Her love was tucked away, but it was still hidden somewhere behind her heart, and the moment she laid eyes on Rick again, that love came flooding back and she hated herself for it. Rick realized that the relationship between him and Michonne would need to take a backburner for now, and Rick decided it was best to focus on Carl.
"What about Carl?" Rick asked and Michonne took a breath and eyed Rick for a few long seconds.
"We will see. Do you want a paternity test?" Michonne asked with more bite than she intended.
"Well I don't I need one. I took one look at Carl and knew he was mine before he even said a word. But Carl already swabbed my cheek, and I don't want to discourage his little experiment," Rick uttered and shrugged his shoulders.
"He did what?" Michonne asked incredulously.
"He brought a DNA test kit and was gonna have Dr. Siddick, is that right?" Rick asked.
"Siddiq," Michonne corrected.
"Well Dr. Siddiq," Rick pronounced slowly with an accent that almost made Michonne smile but she pursed her lips to keep it at bay, "he was gonna test it under the guise of a science project. Told him it was the DNA of a dog and a cat. But it was really his and mine."
Michonne could not fathom that she could be any more stunned than she was already. Carl just kept setting that bar higher and higher.
"I will make sure to get it to Siddiq. Give you some peace of mind," Michonne stated taking another low dig.
"I told you Michonne. I don't need that," Rick tried to persuade, "I know he is mine."
"Why? You didn't believe he was yours eight years ago, so why do you believe it now?" Michonne spat with obvious grief under all of her anger.
Rick took a deep breath and nodded as he looked down at the floor. They were going in circles and Rick did not want to say the wrong thing. Rick knew he was going to have to work hard to get back in her good graces, and that it would not be easy, but he was more than ready to put in the work. If only he could stop stepping over his own two feet while he tried to do it.
"Carl said you are dating someone. A Mike. Is it serious?" Rick inquired, fearing the answer to that question.
If Ella were there, she would have pinched Rick's crazy ass again. Even harder this time.
"How in the hell did Carl find out about Mike?" Michonne wondered out loud.
"He said he overheard your conversation when you were on the phone with a, Rosita? And that Sasha don't like him," Rick answered like he was gossiping with and old friend.
Rick seemed to not know the meaning of patience, subtly, measured, or boundaries. Rick's desperate need for Michonne back in his life took precedence over good common sense and rationality.
"That kid," Michonne breathed before redirecting her focus back to Rick," But that is none of your business Rick. I am none of your business. You made that clear when you called me a whore and walked away from me while I was carrying your child."
Michonne tried to walk out of the interrogation room but was stopped again.
"Michonne, I…I don't think I ever called you that name. I am pretty sure I didn't. But I will try and make everything up to you for the rest of my life if I have to. I missed you Michonne, every day," Rick pled wanted to take a step towards Michonne and embrace her.
But Rick, thank goodness developed a bit of rationality and refrained. Michonne already pushed him away three times and he figured she would not appreciate his embrace. A happier time long ago when Michonne used to crave his touch fluttered across his mind and he wondered if they could ever get back there again.
Michonne was quiet for a minute. She decided she needed to end the conversation and get the hell out of King County. She felt suffocated in that room with Rick. She also felt vulnerable because, for a brief moment, she pictured herself running into his arms like the old days. As she observed a despondent Rick, Michonne remembered Darryl's sage advice and wondered if she was being too hard on him after hearing the horrific story of what Richard Sr. essentially did to them both. 'Was what happened not really his fault,' Michonne thought. 'technically Rick was a victim too,' she thought some more. Then she subtly pinched herself, snapping back to channeling that anger she held onto for all those years. She did, however, want to address one particular issue. Sort of.
"You missed me? You just told me you got married, Rick. You moved on from me. You could not have missed me that much," Michonne argued but needed to get herself together realizing she was not ready to go down that road yet, "I need to get Carl home and have a serious talk with him. I also need try and stop by the school before dismissal to talk to the principal about why I did not get a call about him not being at school today," Michonne uttered.
Rick wisely chose not to go down the Lori road also. They were already heated, and he did not want the pot to boil over so he focused on Michonne's second statement by telling her the full story of Carl's King County Adventure.
"And Tuesday. He was here on Tuesday," Rick informed Michonne, "I was ready to drive all around Atlanta to find him. Find you. Then he popped back up again today."
Michonne stood there stunned stuck on this was Carl's SECOND trip to King County in one week. This was Carl's SECOND bus trip alone.
"HE DID WHAT!" Michonne hollered and pushed Rick completely out of the way and stormed out of the interrogation room and back to the Sheriff's office.
Rick smiled as he watched her voluptuous ass shimmy down the hallway. As effortlessly as Michonne pushed him out of the way to leave just then, she could have easily done the same the three times before when she attempted to leave the room. Rick took that to mean that Michonne wanted to stay in that interrogation room with him. Rick could work with that tiny bright spot and run with it and grinned as he followed behind her.
"YOU CAME HERE ON TUESDAY TOO!" Michonne hollered and Carl's eyebrows shot up at his mother then narrowed at this father.
Rick almost apologized to Carl before he sucked his teeth at the little charlatan. Rick almost forgot Carl was in the wrong and Michonne needed to know the full story. Rick was amazed at how easily an eight-year-old kid made a grown ass man feel guilty about tattling.
"LET'S GO YOUNG MAN! YOU ARE GOING TO BE GROUNDED UNTIL YOU GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL!" Michonne threatened with the most menacing look Carl had ever seen and the strongest snatch of his life.
That alone should have kept him quiet, but Carl was Carl.
"But Darryl said only a year!" Carl countered as he hung precariously in his mother's grip.
Carl immediately looked to Darryl for help. Rick felt some type of way about that look. He wanted, no, he needed to be the one that Carl looked to for support. Rick would always be grateful and consider Darryl family for looking out for both his son and the mother of his child, but Rick was ready to step up and be a father.
"I can't help you with this one kid. You left the city. TWICE. ALONE! I aint incurring your mama's wrath on this one," Darryl chuckled and raised his brow when he noticed Carl moving his pleading stare towards Rick.
Rick was frozen. He did not know what the hell to do. Either he would make Michonne mad or Carl. He did not want his kid to be upset with him after only meeting him three days ago. But being a cop and a new parent, Rick knew what he needed to do. Rick kneeled down to eye level with Carl.
"Carl, I am so glad you came here, but what you did was dangerous. I am gonna have to agree with your mother and your Uncle Darryl," Rick declared bracing for the hate to cross his son's face.
Rick was pleasantly surprised.
"Welp, I tried," Carl grinned and turned to his mother, "I will take my consequence. But can I make a deal with you about the length of my punishment?"
Michonne pursed her lips and shook her head and grabbed Carl's hand forcibly. Hershel could not help but to chuckle at his new nephew's charming deal making efforts. Hershel laughed even more when Michonne ignored Carl completely.
"Thank you all for looking after my little scheming son. I promise there will be no more trips to King County for this little one," Michonne proclaimed without realizing what she was implying.
"Michonne, please," Ella groaned and Michonne looked confused, "I would love to get to know my grandchild. Richard is no longer in my or Rick's life. I can show him the Greene Farm. He can meet his cousins Maggie and Beth. He already met his Uncle Hershel."
"I have another Uncle. I already have so many!" Carl exasperated and garnered a chuckle even from his mother.
"And a grandmother," Ella said with so much love that Michonne could not help but to think about the possibility of letting Carl into Ella and Rick's lives.
"And a father," Rick said tentatively bracing for Michonne's reaction.
"Do I have a grandpa too?" Carl Asked as he looked between Rick and Ella.
"NO!" Rick, Ella, and Hershel yelled at the same time which made Carl jump abruptly.
"Ok, I was just asking," Carl uttered a little shocked as he looked between his three new family members.
"Sorry Carl. But no. He is no longer in our lives at this point. But everybody in this room, plus all of your other Aunts and Uncles, and new cousins, will more than make up for it," Rick smiled trying to soothe his son and Carl nodded brows still furrowed in confusion.
"Okie Dokie," Carl placated interested in why the mention of his grandfather made them all so jumpy, but he knew he would not get the answers right then, so he left it alone.
Carl figured he would try and get the story later. He was good at listening and deciphering adult conversations, at least until he was caught snooping. Carl liked to have information. He did not like being treated like a kid at all. The encouraging realization back in the interrogation room gave Rick a boost of confidence, and he tentatively approached Michonne with a request that he hoped she would be agreeable to.
"Michonne, can we exchange numbers and if it ain't too much trouble, I would love to come to Atlanta Saturday, tomorrow, to spend some time with Carl. Under your supervision of course," Rick added cautiously hoping it would make it easier for Michonne to say Yes.
Michonne took a deep breath and looked at Carl who was grinning and nodding his head yes, and then at Rick who was pleading with his eyes. Michonne pulled out her business card and wrote her home number on the back. She also asked for Rick's cell phone, and he handed it over willingly. Michonne entered her personal cell number in his phone, then called her phone to save his number. Rick had a huge smile of relief plastered over his face when she handed it back. Rick stared at Michonne's name and number that was still flashing on his cell screen and he thought he was going to burst with happiness. Ella's signature head tilt and eye squint was his clue to calm down. Darryl eyed Michonne with a smirk. She gave Rick every phone number she had.
"I will text you my address," Michonne promised and then grabbed Carl's hand ready to finally leave King County, but she thought of something else first, "Umm, is my father buried at the King County cemetery?"
"Yes, but there is no gravestone, because of…well. But I can show you which one it is if you want," Rick offered and Michonne thought for a minute.
Michonne was exhausted and just wanted to go home, take a bath, then get in the bed and process everything she learned today, most of all, seeing Rick again. Michonne needed a very large glass of wine.
"I will come back once I get a nice grave marker for him," Michonne decided and turned to leave the office.
"Maybe I can come too? To Atlanta on Saturday?" Ella asked timidly.
"Of course," Michonne responded with a sincere smile, "I look forward to seeing you both tomorrow then."
"Thank you," Ella whispered and gave Michonne another hug.
Michonne was glad Ella was going to join them because being with Rick all day without a buffer would have been overwhelming. Michonne also could not find a reason to legitimately fault Ella except for being married to an undercover racist who ruined her life. Michonne looked at Ella and wondered how not one of them realized how horrid Richard was or his abhorrent views. Either way, she felt relieved that Richard Sr. would no longer be in the picture and Michonne would make for damn sure that vile man would never so much as look at Carl or all hell would break loose.
"Well, we need to get going if we are going to make it back before his school closes," Michonne announced and walked her son out of the station with Rick and Ella following closely behind.
On the way out, Hershel pulled Darryl aside and informed him about the fate of his own parents. Rick watched a conflicted Darryl get into the driver's seat of a very nice white BMW with medium gray interior. The car did not seem like a car Darryl would drive and figured it was either Michonne's or his wife Sasha's. Either way, it was a damn nice car Rick noticed. Someone else noticed too.
Before Carl climbed into the back seat, and since Rick was now his official father, Carl allowed Rick to give a firm hug before jumping into the vehicle.
"I will see you tomorrow, Carl. And you too Michonne," Rick added to make sure she knew he was coming to see her as much as Carl.
Michonne tried to contain her sudden delight with a tight smile and a quick nod. She was furious with herself for being so easy. Rick, however, did not even attempt to contain his joy and was grinning from ear to ear as he stood gazing at Michonne through her rolled-down car window. Rick wondered if he looked obsessed standing on the curb staring intently at his old girlfriend, and to avoid another pinch, he took a peek at his mother. Ella was too busy observing Carl putting on his seat belt to notice anything wacky Rick was doing. Rick turned to Carl when he heard the back window being rolled down.
"I will see you both tomorrow! We can hang out in my room all day since I will be on punishment!" Carl exclaimed happily.
They all chuckled.
"Carl, we will start your punishment Sunday, okay?" Michonne giggled, turning her head to look at her son.
"OK!" Carl exclaimed excitedly.
Michonne could not believe that Rick was back in their lives, and she looked at Darryl to see if he was just as astonished as she was, but something was wrong. Between walking out of the station and getting into the car, something happened, and she eyed Hershel wondering what the sheriff said to Darryl to upset him. Michonne placed her hand on Darryl's shoulder and when he turned to look at her, his eyes were glassy.
"Hey, you want me to drive?" Michonne offered and Darryl nodded, and they changed positions.
Michonne started the car and waved goodbye.
"This is better than that bus!" Carl shouted and Hershel, Rick, and Ella laughed as they waved goodbye.
"BE SAFE!" Rick shouted and stood there until the car was out of sight, and then a little longer after that.
Rick could not believe he had a beautiful son, and he had Michonne back in his life. Rick was excited and hopeful, two feelings he had not felt since his last good day with Michonne. Rick finally got his legs to move and walked back into the station and was so busy thinking about his trip to Atlanta the next morning that he did not notice the three professional criminals peeping the reunion from around the corner.
"You know them, Merle?" Joe asked as he also took note of the expensive car.
"Hmmmm…the one in the passenger seat is my baby brother and the black chick is the one he run off with that day I got my hand cut off. Ran off with her along with all my money. And I'm guessing the little boy is the one that was cooking in that girl's belly back then. Heard rumors that he might be Darryl's kid, but I ain't believe it. Darryl was too shy back then to even look a girl in the eye, much less get is pecker wet inside one of em. Besides, I can see from here that kid is a Grimes. Rick liked that swirl back then," Merle stated as he watched the taillights of the BMW until they disappeared.
"Why didn't you say hello to your long-lost brother?" Asked a confused Joe who stared at a silent Bud then at Merle again.
"Think I might rather surprise him. And I think I got a way to get my money back, with interest," Merle chuckled then spat on the ground.
"How?" Asked Bud who did not want any more trouble that could lead him right into a long prison sentence.
"You just let me take care of that. What I need you to do Bud is find out what they were doing here? Find out everything about em," Merle ordered, and bud nodded.
"I can ask Jenna what she knows. She is friends with one of the secretaries there, Jessie Anderson," Bud complied.
"You do that and let me know what you find out," Merle requested then walked away from Bud and Joe plotting how to get his hands on some quick money that he firmly believed he was owed.
"Yeah, little brother. It was really, really nice seeing you again," Merle laughed to himself already halfway down the street and plotting his next heist.
Merle loved his little brother, but he always thought Darryl was soft, especially on that black girl he used to hang out with. Merle forgot her name, but he figured it did not matter one way or another. Merle would much rather use the racial slur, but in this newer King County, most people no longer had much tolerance for it. Even people in his parent's old trailer park found it offensive. Merle thought back to his missing money, and contorted his face in disgust as he walked down the street talking to himself.
"Why I got to live in a broke down trailer, when the person that stole my money gets to live all horty torty," Merle grumbled out loud to no one thinking about that expensive car Darryl was in.
Merle and Darryl's good for nothing parents were of no help moneywise. After a robbery gone bad, the senior Dixon was killed after a deputy retuned shots fired. Not even a month after their father's burial, their mother took up with an even worse abuser who beat her to death halfway through Merle's prison sentence. Merle wondered if Darryl knew they were the only family each other had left. Merle had an idea, and his frown of disgust changed into a grin of opportunity.
Joe was smiling at Bud as he watched Merle stroll down the sidewalk. Joe had his own ideas that were most likely more sinister than Merle's little petty plan.
"Whatever you find out, I want you to let me know too, and don't let Merle know," Joe snarked and walked away in the opposite direction of Merle leaving Bud where he stood.
Bud was worried. Merle was one thing. Whatever he had planned would be a short stint in prison if caught. But if Joe had his own scheme in the works, he knew that it was probably going to land him under the damn jail.
"Well Shit," Bud muttered as he walked towards his broke down car wondering how in the hell, he was going to get out of the mess both Merle and Joe were about to release upon King County, Georgia.
