Chapter 5-Headway

"My parents are gone. Both dead," Darryl admitted once they were thirty miles outside of King County.

"I'm sorry Darryl," Michonne uttered softly and clasped her hand over his before returning both hands to the steering wheel.

"Don't be. They were shit for parents anyway. Just two sadistic child abusers that I used to live with. Pathetic, both of em," Darryl responded with bite, "Pull over."

"Why?" Michonne asked perplexed, as she carefully moved the car one lane over before pulling onto the shoulder of the highway.

"Because you drive like a snail Chonne. It has taken you thirty damn minutes to drive thirteen miles. By that math, if I continue to let you drive, it will take us five hours to get back to Atlanta on what should be a one hour and forty-five-minute trip," Darryl exhaled in frustration then jumped out of the car and quickly changed places with Michonne.

"I do not drive slowly. I drive safely Darryl," Michonne corrected as she slid into the passenger seat, "Hey, are you sure you're, ok?"

Darryl took a breath and leaned his head against the leather headrest.

"Yeah. I'm just weirded out that when the sheriff told me about em, I didn't feel anything about it one way or another. I mean, I didn't wish em dead or anything, but I didn't except to feel nothing. And it made me wonder if they felt anything for me when I disappeared. I kinda figure they didn't. They probably didn't care I was gone at all," Darryl explained and adjusted the seat to his liking ready to leave his piss poor parents in the past, "I heard you ask about where your father is buried. He died too?"

"Yeah, my dad is gone too and it's killing me, Darryl," Michonne paused and looked back at Carl with narrowed eyes, "I will tell you about it later. Not now."

Carl seemed to have not stirred even a little from their brief stop. Darryl watched Michonne pull on her seat belt with a sly grin.

"I see you were feeling a little sumthin for your old boyfriend back there," Darryl teased and watched Michonne squirm in her seat.

"I was not!" Michonne fibbed, "Get back on the road Darryl, we need to make it to the school. I swear I am going to cuss that principal and front office out. I still have not gotten a call!"

"Good, they need to be cussed, now back to what I was saying before you tried to change the subject. LIES!" Darryl hollered to emphasize his point.

"Oh my God," Michonne laughed and looked back at Carl who still had not moved a muscle, "Sasha's dramatic nature has rubbed off on you."

"Just lies Michonne," Darryl continued ignoring Michonne very accurate statement, "First, you were all heart eyes gazing at him like a piece of meat. Then you were all flustered acting like you could not make a damn decision to save your life. Since when have I given you permission to do anything? Third, I have no clue what you two were up to in that private, secluded interrogation room."

Michonne looked back at Carl suspiciously.

"Hush, we were fighting for your information," Michonne spoke with annoyance.

"Healthy fighting looks like loving most times," Darryl keenly noted before he continued, "AND you gave him every single phone number you had. What does Rick need your office number for? AND he is already coming to your house tomorrow. Points made. I spoke the truth. "

Darryl pulled onto the highway towards Atlanta and laughed when he heard Michonne suck her teeth.

"That was all for Carl!" Michonne argued and Darryl was not fazed by her protests.

"Sure Chonne," Darryl cackled and moved to the middle lane and increased his speed.

Once they were down the highway a bit, Darryl looked in the rearview mirror at a sleeping Carl who was in the exact same position he was in before they pulled over. Darryl was sure Carl could not possibly be comfortable with the seatbelt keeping him from really stretching out back there, especially with his little curly head bent at an odd angle. But he figured kids were much more flexible than adults and they could sleep anywhere and in any position with ease. Carl always slept rough anyway. Darryl smiled at all the times he was babysitting and would wake up in the middle of the night with Carl turned every which way, his little body contorted in all kinds of uncomfortable positions.

"Kids can sleep good no matter what, can't they? "Darryl chuckled and looked at Michonne who was deep in thought.

"Hmmm? Oh yes. Remember when he would end up half on and half hanging off the side of the bed? He still does that sometimes. I get up in the middle of the night to check on him at least three times a week. It was weird at first with Carl sleeping a different room as me. He never wakes up when I straighten him out," Michonne replied before going a million miles away again.

"You want to talk about what happened back there? Tell me what Rick told you in that interrogation room?" Darryl asked, figuring the drive home was as good a time as any, "Must have been something big if you letting him come spend time with you and Carl tomorrow."

"Spend time with Carl," Michonne clarified, "I am just tagging along because at the end of the day, Rick is a stranger to him. And yes, it was big."

"Well, what happened? Tell me!" Darryl inquired anxious to know the story.

Michonne looked at Darryl like he had two heads. And Darryl stared back at Michonne like she had three. There were in a staring contest until Darryl was forced to look back at the road.

"Carl," Michonne called and looked back at her son and shook her head incredulously.

Carl made a soft snoring sound and Michonne rolled her eyes.

"He's sleep Chonne! He's snoring!" Darryl exclaimed, thinking Michonne was using Carl as an excuse to not talk about everything that just happened.

Michonne's phone buzzed.

Sasha: I heard you saw Rick. Are you ok?

Michonne side-eyed Darryl.

Michonne: I did, and I am fine.

Sasha: Darryl said Rick and his mother are coming to Atlanta for a visit tomorrow.

Michonne: I will fill you in later. We are on our way to Carl's school then home.

Carl snored a little louder and Michonne looked back at Carl and chuckled.

"Have you actually met Carl, Darryl?" Michonne asked with a giggle, "Do you actually think he is sleeping back there?"

Darryl looked at Michonne then in the rear-view mirror at Carl with his eyes shut tight. Too tight, like a kid does when he pretends to be napping.

Another slight snore escaped Carl's lips and nostrils.

"I mean, maybe, see, he's snoring," Darryl stated a little more skeptically than before.

Carl was a lot of things, but he was a good kid. And he NEVER lied to his mother. He went around the truth sometimes, but always sneakily with another truth. Michonne would give him that. So Michonne quietly asked a very direct question to both Darryl and then her sneaky little son.

"When have you heard him actually snore, Darryl? Carl, are you awake?" Michonne asked almost at a whisper to prove a point to Darryl.

A point the biker should already be well aware of Michonne thought.

"Yup," Carl answered without opening his eyes and a little upset that he would not be in the know concerning the reason why his father had not been in his life the first eight years of his life.

Darryl chuckled and shook his head. The conversation would have to wait.

Rosita: Sasha said that Cabron was coming tomorrow. You want me there with you?

Michonne: It's fine Rosita.

Rosita: Abe works tonight. Facetime me when you talk to Sasha.

Back at the station, Rick looked at the time and noticed it was thirty minutes past the start of his shift.

"Hershel, let me drop mama off, then go to my apartment and get dressed and I will be right in, sorry!" Rick alerted apologetically that he was going to officially be late for the first time ever.

"Nonsense Rick, take the day," Hershel ordered knowing Rack's mind must be a mess.

"I would rather work. I would just pace around all day and all night anyway. I need something to keep my mind busy. But I do need to take off tomorrow or maybe work the night shift or make up for it on Sunday. I can trade shifts with one of the deputies maybe?" Rick requested, and Hershel nodded.

"Alright, go on home and get dressed for work. I will tell Deputy Wells to stay on shift until you come in," Hershel advised and then got on the radio.

Rick took Ella home and told her to be ready early the next morning before leaving for his apartment that he had not stayed in since Carl's arrival. Rick had a lot on his mind as he got dressed in his deputy uniform, and once he arrived to work, he thought about Michonne and Carl his entire shift. Rick realized that tingling feeling he had been having since the arrival of Carl and Michonne was joy and around 8pm, Rick threw caution to the wind and sent Michonne a text.

Rick: you will never know how much it meant to me to see you and Carl today and I can't wait to see you both tomorrow. I already put your address in google maps!

Michonne eyed the text and could not help but to laugh before sitting her phone down to put Carl to bed. They had a good mother/son talk about his behaviors and Michonne felt relieved that Carl understood what he did was completely out of line. Carl got two more weeks of grounding added to his original sentence, one for each note he turned into the school concerning his "future" absences. The crazy thing was they were not even signed by Michonne, and the school simply accepted them anyway. Carl was not going to go so far as to forge his mother's name and decided to simply leave the notes void of a signature. Once Michonne gave the principal an earful, he in turn gave a reprimand to his staff for being negligent and not paying close attention especially when Carl Harthorne was involved. They should have known better.

"CARL!" Michonne shouted though his bedroom door.

"Come in!' Carl answered and Michonne grinned when she saw him already tucked underneath his covers.

It was a long day for Carl, and his little body was exhausted.

"Let me see your feet," Michonne requested, and Carl giggled and got out of the bed.

"FINE!" Carl hollered and left his room to take a real shower this time.

"And behind your ears too CARL!" Michonne shouted and went to strip the bus station sullied sheets from his bed.

After remaking his bed, Michonne laid out another clean set of underwear and pajamas for Carl and then texted the girls that she would call once Carl was asleep.

"It's supposed to storm tonight, you sleeping in your room or mine?" Michonne asked knowing her son was still scared of the thunder and lightning but would never admit it.

"Mine but save me a spot in case it gets rowdy out there," Carl replied and Michonne grinned and kissed her son goodnight.

Michonne took a sniff to make sure Carl got them ears and she was pleasantly surprised that he did.

That evening, when Carl was actually both clean and fast asleep in his bed for real this time, Michonne poured herself another glass of wine and settled on the couch. Once Sasha and Darryl arrived, she called Rosita on FaceTime and told Darryl and Sasha and Rosita the entire story and they were stunned. Both Sasha and Darryl agreed that Michonne needed to give Rick a break and Rosita was a little more guarded.

"Look Amiga, be open, yes, but be cautious. Don't fall into anything too rapida. Lenta y Constante," Rosita advised and Michonne shook her head while trying to take a gulp of wine at the same time.

"I don't need slow and steady Rosita because I am not falling at all. I'm dating Mike remember?" Michonne persuaded and even she did not one hundred percent believe what she was saying.

A boom a thunder struck, and Sasha cackled.

"See, even mother nature can't stand Mike's dusty ass," Sasha pointed out and Rosita laughed.

"Hush Sasha," Michonne giggled.

That was Darryl's cue to leave the conversation. The Rick story was told, and he left them to their girl talk. Truth be told, Darryl did not like Mike either but that was Michonne's business, unless it needed to be his business. Until then, he would leave the asshole for Michonne to handle.

"I don't see what you see in that ego maniac. I told you about him dating that other woman," Sasha spat not understanding how someone as smart as Michonne could fall for an idiotic, opportunistic man like Mike.

"I already told you that was just a rumor from when they worked a case together Sasha.," Michonne huffed in frustration, "besides he is not my boyfriend. We are just dating and not exclusive so we both can see whomever we want."

"Whatever. There are no rumors when Mike and I work cases," Sasha uttered and rolled her eyes hard in disgust.

"Better not be," Darryl grunted, and Sasha grinned back at her hubby.

Michonne needed to change the subject.

"Stop rolling your eyes Sasha or your baby's eyes will get stuck like that," Michonne giggled when Sasha's eyes grew big.

"DARRYL!" Sasha screamed and Darryl came from the kitchen ready to apologize, "WE WERE SUPPOSED TO TELL EVERYBODY TOGETHER!"

"Sorry babe, Carl and Michonne were stressing me, and it slipped out," Darryl chuckled and left the conversation immediately to get back to his beer in the kitchen.

"REALLY DARRYL!" Michonne hollered shaking her head.

"Congratulations Sasha! I'm gonna be a Tia again!" Rosita belted excitedly, "when do if find out if I am having a sobrina o sobrino?"

Michonne was relieved that the conversation turned away from Mike to Sasha and her new baby. The conversation steered to how far along Sasha was and her planning a gender reveal party, which Michonne thought was silly, but she kept that to herself. Eventually however, the conversation circled back around to Mike and Rick.

"Look, Mike is a conceited motherfucker and Richard is an evil motherfucker, both need to be out your life. But Rick is just a plain ole naive fucker. Rick can be redeemed. I can't believe how his father tricked Rick and Lori into marrying. What did Rick say about that?" Sasha asked curiously.

"It was a lot going on Sasha, I didn't ask, I mean I did, but I was not ready for that conversation," Michonne replied wondering how she was going to turn the conversation around again, "Carl wants a relationship with his father, so that is all I am going to focus on for now ok?"

"Ok, who texted you earlier?" Rosita asked with a grin and Michonne read the message from Rick.

"Wait, how did you know Rick texted?" Michonne asked amazingly.

"I didn't. But somebody is always texting somebody so I thought I would ask a general question. Getting you to admit to stuff is far too easy Michonne," Rosia laughed and shook her head.

"Text back something nice," Sasha encouraged and Michonne complied.

Michonne: Carl can't wait to see you either.

"Rosita said cautious not boring and rude!" Sasha groaned as she looked over Michonne's shoulder and rolled her eyes.

Rick blew a breath of frustration at her message, but he understood Michonne's hesitance. The mess Richard created would take time to fix. Michonne was right. Carl came first. Always. He agreed with Michonne on that point wholeheartedly. They both would need to make sure Carl was mentally healthy at every point during the process as they forged a father and son relationship. That was both Michonne and Rick's first priority. But Rick was still trying to figure out a way to kill two birds with one stone.

"Don't be hardheaded. I said be cautious but be open too. Don't make me judge you Chica!" Rosita laughed with a bit of warning in her tone, "Hey, are you having a, what do you call them? A stormy sleepover? With Carl?"

"Something like that, but Carl said no and I'm sad he is getting too big for them. It's just me, the thunder, and my wine tonight. Are we still on for wine night here after Rick leaves?" Michonne inquired and after the girls affirmed, she ended the call with Rosita and walked Darryl and Sasha to the door.

Michonne leaned against the front door and thought about Sasha and Rosita's advice and added something nice, for Carl's sake only of course.

Michonne: I look forward to building a positive parental relationship together.

Michonne winced after she sent the message. It sounded worse than what she sent before. It seemed sterile, lacking any feeling.

"Shit, I should have asked Sasha what to say," Michonne uttered and took a big gulp of wine as she stared at her message.

Rick grinned and took the message optimistically.

Rick: See you tomorrow!

"Jesus. Three exclamation marks. For my dry ass message?" Michonne expressed humorously as she shook her head at Ricks antics.

Michonne finished off her wine and prayed she would get through Saturday without issue before heading off to bed. She set her home alarm system and turned off all the lights, and stopped when she heard a rumble of thunder. She looked towards Carl's room and pouted, and after giving the house one final glance over, she ambled to her bedroom, slid into bed, and smiled. Carl and joined her after all and she pulled her baby close and prayed Rick did not hurt her son like he hurt her. She would need to talk to Rick and let him know either he was all in or all out of Carl's life, there was no middle ground. Michonne kissed the top of her son's head.

"I love you kid," Michonne whispered and shut her eyes and waited for the storm to lull her to sleep.

But listening did the opposite and by the time the rain started to pour, so did the tears Michonne had been holding back all day. Every tear that gushed with little to no control represented fury, sadness, grief, and regret. At first, her tears were angry, but by the second boom of thunder, the sharp brightness of the lightening that lit up her bedroom showed her weeping had turned sorrowful. When Carl stirred, Michonne held her breath trying to restrain her sobbing and after a few minutes, it worked. Carl was back into a deep sleep. She hugged her slumbering son tightly as she quietly continued to weep for the loss of her father, and begrudgingly the loss of Rick. By the fifth crack of thunder, Michonne had finally cried herself to sleep.

To say Rick was excited was putting it mildly. He was up before dawn's predawn and was fully dressed and in his truck before his alarm clock buzzed at 5am. Ella was up even before Rick in the kitchen cooking a full-blown breakfast. Ella cooked when she was nervous, and the huge breakfast she made that morning indicated just how anxious she was. Ella needed things to go smoothly. There was no way she could not be in Carl's life. When Rick texted her that he was on his way to pick her up, Ella was delighted and grinned at her brother from across the table as Hershel drank his coffee.

"He's on his way! I knew he would not be able to sleep in," Ella stated thrilled that she did not have to wait hours on end for Rick.

Ella: I made breakfast so don't stop for anything.

Rick: Make it to-go because if you are not ready when I get there, I am leaving without you.

Rick's phone rang and when he noticed it was his mother, he clicked ignore.

Rick: You didn't give me a chance to say I was just kidding mama, dang.

Ella: That's what I thought.

"Ella, you need to make sure Rick is easy. I saw the look in that boy's eyes. He was ready to kidnap that girl. I would hate to have to arrest that fool," Laughed Hershel and Ella shook her head.

"You noticed that too?" Ella laughed and got up to make a few breakfast sandwiches to go.

"He is ready to get Michonne back and seems to be in a hurry to do so. If he pushes too hard, he is gonna make her run. She is skittish. Help Rick be patient. I saw the look in Michonne's eyes too. She is fighting it, and maybe rightly so, but Michonne still loves Rick also and if he takes it slow, they will eventually both get there together," Hershel advised, and Ella agreed but blew a breath of frustration.

"What do I do when Rick gets too assertive? You know how Rick is. I can't slap some duct tape across his mouth or tie him to his seat," Ella asked wondering how she was going to get a very motivated Rick to heel.

"Talk to him in the car about it. Come up with a sign for him to slow it down Ella and make Rick promise to stop what he's doing when he sees you giving it," Hershel suggested and watched Ella nod in agreement.

Hershel grabbed a sandwich and thanked his sister before heading to the station and on the way out, Ella gave him two more sandwiches to give to whatever lucky two deputies he saw first. It seemed she cooked enough for a sports team. Hershel considered that having Ella in the house definitely had its perks, not only for him, but for Beth too, and more than just for cooking. Ella placed the remaining sandwiches in an insulated lunch sack, and by the time Rick arrived, the kitchen was clean, and Ella was sat on the porch clutching their breakfast.

"Rick, slow down. I can't wait to see Michonne and Carl either, but if we are dead in a ditch because you are speeding and driving like a crazy person, I don't see how we can accomplish that!" Ella snapped and Rick reluctantly lifted his foot off the gas pedal.

A little. Rick was still driving a bit too fast for Ella's taste, but it was better than before. Seems his mama was back to worrying about his speeding again.

"Did you call Michonne and tell her what time to expect us?" Ella asked and watched Rick's face fall.

"Shit," Rick uttered reaching for his phone, "let me send her a text. Might be too early to wake her up. We may have to stop somewhere and wait once we get to her neighborhood."

"Maybe. But I bet Michonne is up now too. Call her. Don't text Rick," Ella advised and watched Rick dial her number keeping one eye on the deserted highway.

"Hello?" Answered a very alert Michonne and Rick watched Ella smirk.

"Yeah, uhhh, hello Michonne, this is Rick. I was just calling to let you know we kinda left a little early so we will be there pretty soon. Just wondering what time my mama and I can stop by?" Rick inquired hoping they would not have to wait until later in the day.

"I'm up and dressed. Just fixing myself some coffee and toast," Michonne answered too nervous to eat anything else, "feel free to come straight here. How far away are you?"

Michonne was expecting Rick to say he just left King County. It was only 7:10am and the ride between King County and Atlanta was just under two hours. Michonne thought she had time. She dropped her toast when he told her he was less than twenty minutes from her condo. Michonne rushed to check her makeup and hated herself for trying to look good for Rick. Again. Then she tried to convince herself that she wanted to look good for herself. She laughed because even she did not believe that bullshit. As she was running around, her stomach rumbled, and she regretted fooling herself into believing she was too nervous to be hungry. Michonne could always eat.

Michonne figured she could make breakfast for Carl even though she knew Carl preferred sugary cereal on Saturday mornings while he watched whatever crazy cartoon was on the television until they were both ready to start their day. Michonne went to her bedroom to wake Carl and pushed open the curtains and the sun was already shining brightly considering it was the last day of September. Michonne scrunched her nose thinking about the less sunny, cooler days of fall approaching. She loved the sun, but fall, and winter brought cold and overcast days. They were already expecting a cold front later in the week and Michonne was not looking forward to it. She smiled and decided to enjoy the warms few days she had left. It was a beautiful outside considering how badly it stormed the previous night. When she looked back at Carl, the light did nothing to wake him from his slumber. Michonne shook his little body gently.

"Carl, wake up," Michonne cooed softly but Carl did not move a muscle, "Carl! CARL!"

"What!" Carl yelped and sat up with a jolt.

"Your Da…Ri…ummmm," Michonne stuttered not knowing what to call Rick.

"Dad is good, mom. Might as well rip off the Band-Aid. Am I right!" Carl answered through a yawn and a rub of his eyes.

Carl bounded out of the bed heading towards the kitchen to begin his Saturday morning routine.

"Wait! Carl!" Michonne called as she rushed off after her son, "You are gonna eat a good breakfast this morning. I'm not sure when we will eat lunch. And your dad and grandmother will be here shortly so please go and get yourself ready and I will have your breakfast done once you're dressed," Michonne ordered and saw the frown develop across Carl's whole face.

This is new, Michonne thought as she eyed her son's facial features.

"But mom! I always start my Saturday with sugary cereal. One bowl of sugary cereal once a week. Every Saturday morning. You won't even let me get seconds! Just one single bowl! All the other days, you make me eat gross healthy sugar-free cereal, or gross eggs or, or gross oatmeal, or gross turkey bacon, or gross fresh fruit! I want my sugary cereal, Mom! I want my cartoons!" Carl blubbered in a full-blown tantrum stomping around and Michonne was flustered.

Carl did not usually throw tantrums. Carl was slick and used his words to confuse people into agreeing with what he wanted. Michonne watched her kid whose skin was usually the color of a perfectly baked crust on top of a bubbling peach cobbler, turn a bright red. She was amused and rather liked seeing Carl like this. Michonne was truly happy to see Carl actually acting like the kid that he was. Yes, it was a tantrum, but still.

"Ok, Ok. Calm down. Go get your cereal and go watch your cartoons, Carl!" Michonne exclaimed with a smile and watched her son scurry off into the kitchen.

Michonne: Does Carl HAVE to watch cartoons and eat cereal on Saturday mornings when he stays over?

Rosita: Chica, it's 7:20am. And yes, or all hell will break loose.

Sasha: And there better be A LOT of sugar in it or else! None of that fake bullshit. I got him some honey nut cheerios once and Carl lost his damn mind. I had to send Darryl to the corner store!

Abe: Ahh…My favorite mornings. Rosita makes me eat gross eggs, or gross oatmeal, or gross fresh fruit, or gross turkey bacon when Carl is not here.

Michonne rolled her eyes. She should have known Carl's gross comments came from Abe who was just a big ass child.

Darryl: I banned captain crunch. That shit tore the roof of my mouth to shreds. But it's tasty tho.

Michonne shook her head and looked back at Carl. Most mornings she loved his Saturday morning routine because it meant she could sleep an extra hour or two, but she had no clue what would happen if that routine was interfered with because it never needed to be. Now Michonne knew and she was tickled. Michonne grinned as she watched her son pull his bowl from the cabinet and spoon from the drawer then dash to the pantry to grab the box of fruity pebbles. When Carl poured the milk, it splashed everywhere.

"Don't worry mom, I will clean that up later," Carl promised as he scampered to the living room, sat down on the floor in front of the coffee table, grabbed the remote, and turned on his cartoons.

"Don't spill anything in there!" Michonne called as she began to clean Carl's mess like she always did every Saturday morning.

Michonne made herself another slice of toast and was ready to sit next to her son and observe Carl in his cartoon and sugar haze, but the doorbell snapped her out of the morning shenanigans. Michonne's stomach growled as she made her way to her front door still amazed that her past love, the father of her child, the man she thought she would never see again, was about to enter her home. She took one last look at herself in the mirror hanging on the wall by the front door, then opened to door to welcome the past into her present.

"Good Morning. You look nice. Beautiful actually. I like how you wear your hair now. You look…" Rick started before Ella interrupted because Michonne looked like a deer in headlights.

Michonne ran her hand though her locs and Ella watched both stare at each other intensely. Rick with wide lunatic eyes and a giddy grin and Michonne with wide scared eyes and an alarmed grin. Ella shook her head at the both of them.

"Bless his heart, he is just so excited to be here," muttered Ella side-eyeing her son and saying the phase they settled on the car ride to Atlanta, Bless his heart, "But you do look lovely for so early in the morning Michonne. Meanwhile I look a whole mess!"

"Mrs. Ella, you look gorgeous as usual," Michonne smiled glad Ella stopped Rick from his soliloquy of compliments, "Come in. Carl is on the couch but let me warn you, he is in sugary cereal and cartoon mode for the next half hour. I did not even know that was a can't miss event until he threw a little tantrum this morning, so proceed with caution," Michonne joked with a smile.

Michonne walked them into the living room and Rick and Ella noticed Carl was mesmerized as he shoveled what looked like little colorful pieces of straight up sugar into his mouth. Rick rubbed his son's head, and chuckled when Carl made no attempt at a morning salutation. Michonne tapped them on the shoulder and as she walked them into the kitchen, she informed them of Carl's morning antics and the reason why she did not want to disturb him just yet.

"Wow," Rick chuckled, "I better make sure I keep some sugary cereal stocked in my house from now on.

"Bless his heart," Ella bit as she watched Michonne furrow her brow at Rick getting ahead of himself yet again, "One step at a time sweetheart."

Rick looked at his mother and Michonne looked at Rick and noticed him tighten those pretty pink lips of his into a thin, almost invisible line then nod silently. Michonne whimpered at little at their disappearance before she caught herself and cleared her throat. Ella looked at Michonne's state of fervor and almost laughed. Ella knew right then that Carl being in her life would absolutely not going to be a problem.

"We can make breakfast! Have you two eaten?" Michonne inquired anxiously ready to fill her rumbling belly with some scrambled eggs and turkey bacon.

Then Michonne decided some regular bacon was in order for the day. She needed some comfort food. She also decided she would add some cheddar cheese to her eggs too. She was licking her lips but when Rick and Ella stated they had already eaten, Michonne was deflated. Rick chuckled. He remembered how much Michonne loved to eat.

"I have some extra breakfast sandwiches mama made this morning. It's in one of those lunch bags that keeps hot food hot and cold food cold, so it should still be good. I hate to waste it," Rick offered and watched as Michonne's eyes widened with glee, "It's a buttered toast, fried eggs with cheese, and bacon sandwich."

Rick laughed when her stomach grumbled loudly and he took the bag from his mother and handed it to Michonne, who dug into it without hesitation. Rick had to remember his mama was in the room when his dick twitched at the sound of Michonne moaning and the look of euphoria on her face after taking her first bite. Rick's thang has not so much as stirred so spontaneously in years. Rick usually had to handle himself only after he recalled the intimate situations between him and Michonne from the past. Rick watched the sway of her hips as she scurried over to the refrigerator and pulled out a jar of strawberry jelly. Between the sounds she made, and the twist of her ass, and the look of ecstasy on her face, Rick was mesmerized. Ella was glad she came because her overstimulated son would have overwhelmed Michonne for sure.

"Michonne, I want to talk to you about what happened before Carl comes over here. I know Rick told you everything yesterday, but I am just so appalled and embarrassed at what my hus…, well, my soon-to-be ex-husband did to you. I don't even know what to say. I don't think an apology is even enough," Ella said with so much distress that Michonne walked over to give the woman a hug.

Rick laughed again when he saw that Michonne had not put down her sandwich, and in fact, took another bite mid-hug. He swiftly stepped over and placed his hand under the sandwich to catch the clump of strawberry jelly she had slathered inside the sandwich from dripping on either the back of Ella's shirt or on Michonne's very clean spotless floors. Rick moved to the sink to give his hands a wash, then handed Michonne a paper towel.

"Thanks," Michonne uttered shyly eyeing Rick before addressing his mother, "Mrs. Ella, this is not your fault. You were nothing but sweet to me. I blame your husband and I most certainly I blame Rick," Michonne expressed wanting everyone in the room to understand her stance, "But I can't blame you."

"But," Ella started and Michonne interrupted.

"But I do acknowledge the extenuating circumstances and I am willing to try and keep that in the back of my mind. But everything that happened, it was very difficult for me, and I just need time," Michonne finished and took another bite of her breakfast.

Both Ella and Rick nodded.

"Can I ask you a question? And Michonne, I promise I mean no harm by what I am gonna ask. I'm just really curious," Rick asked, and Ella fixed her lips to say Bless his heart at the drop of a dime.

"Sure," Michonne answered with a huff and Ella became very anxious about what Rick might ask that may cause offense to Michonne.

"Carl. He is really, really street smart. I was just wondering how he got that way?" Rick asked slowly and Michonne raised her brows immediately thinking that Rick was judging her parenting skills.

"Do you know how hard it was to raise a child when I was just a child myself?" Michonne spat and Rick threw all caution to the wind and embraced her while clarifying his question.

"Bless his…" Ella stumbled out, but Rick cut her off with a wave of his hand.

"Wait. No. You did a fantastic job with him Michonne. Carl is smart, and charming, and beautiful and everything I would ever want my son to be. I mean that with all my heart," Rick clarified then came out of the hug slightly to look into her eyes, "He is perfect Michonne, just perfect."

"Thank you," Michonne whispered and shut her eyes to prevent her tears from falling but a few managed to escape anyway.

Rick moved his hands to either side of Michonne's head and used his thumbs to dry them away. She took a breath and thought about what Sasha requested from her the evening before. Be Open. Open to what Rick says. Open to his questions. Open to understanding Rick truly wants to be a part of Carl's life and Michonne's life too for that matter. Open to parting her legs in case Rick wanted to spend the night. Michonne laughed out loud recalling Sasha's lewd remark and even harder remembering a red-faced Darryl after his wife made the request. Sasha could always cheer Michonne up, even when she was not there physically.

"God you are so beautiful when you laugh," Rick quietly whispered and Michonne stared at him, brown eyes to blue.

Rick still had his hands on Michonne's head and was now stroking her cheeks with his thumbs. Rick smiled after he noticed Michonne was no longer upset. Michonne calmed and tried her hardest to Be Open, not the legs open part, but the rest. Michonne took a step back out but not completely out of Rick's embrace since he moved his hands back to her waist as she tried to explain the nature of her son.

"Carl is an old soul, Rick. It's like he knows things instinctively that no kid his age is supposed to even have a clue about. He is very observant and can read people within five minutes of meeting them. That kid is amazing, but sometimes it worries me that he knows and does more than an average kid his age can do!" Michonne brows furrowed, and she reflected on the many, MANY, shenanigans that her son had been up to over the years.

"Well, first off, he ain't no average kid, not with you as his mother. And I ain't saying that to butter you up. I am saying it because I remember you could do the same thing Michonne. You had instincts at the age of fourteen that I still don't have at the age of twenty-five. You completed law school and passed your bar and now are a successful lawyer. All of that as a teenaged mother. Carl ain't ever gonna be average," Rick smiled hating to have to eventually let her out of his embrace.

Rick liked touching Michonne. Holding Michonne. Staring her deeply in her eyes to showcase all the love he had for her, and he wanted to stay connected to Michonne forever. Michonne could not help to smile at Rick's compliment, and she looked over to Ella for some reprieve and found she was no longer in the kitchen with her and Rick. She had slipped out to give them some time alone, but mostly she was eager to get to Carl. Ella was currently in the living room watching a cartoon with Carl as he ate his own breakfast sandwich. Michonne eyed the bag wondering if there was a third sandwich in there, she could eat another, or maybe split it with someone. She did not want to appear greedy. Michonne pretended she was walking into the living room to retrieve Carl's bowl, and subtly picked up the lunch sack. Rick was amused when Michonne looked inside and pouted.

"So what's the plan for today?" Michonne asked as she cleaned her son's empty cereal bowl, "Carl's cartoon time is almost over, and the rest of the day is ours."

Rick liked the sound of ours and could not to resist a giant grin that spread from one corner of his mouth to the other. Michonne was mesmerized at how extra handsome Rick was when he smiled like that.

"Well, I am up for whatever. But I would like to do something fun, but where I can also get to know Carl. Where we can talk and if you are amiable to it, get to know you again too," Rick requested in earnest and hoped Michonne was agreeable.

"There is a park across the street. The aquarium is super nice. We can do the zoo?" Michonne suggested options and figured she would let Rick pick.

"I always wanted to go to the Chattahoochee Nature center and hike the trails and ride in one of those canoes!" Carl expressed excitedly as he slipped into the kitchen and Michonne narrowed her eyes at her son.

Michonne knew what Carl was doing. Her son knew she was terrified of water. And animals. And hiking trails where there might be bugs and snakes. She always made one excuse or another as to why they could not go to the nature center. Michonne pursed her lips at her sly son.

"Well that sounds great, but me and your grandmother ain't exactly dressed for all that. How about next time we will prepare better and come dressed appropriately, but the aquarium sounds nice?" Rick stated and saw the bummed look on Carl's face, "I promise next time. Maybe next weekend. We can pack lunch and everything. Is that all you can do there is canoe and hike?" Rick asked to try and brighten his kid.

"They have ziplines too!" Carl added and took a peek at his mother knowing she hated heights too.

"Well, I am going to leave that to you young people," Ella laughed, "Rick, you and Michonne are better suited for canoeing and zip lining, but maybe one weekend soon Michonne, you and Carl can come down to the farm and we can ride the horses?"

Michonne was starting to get anxious about all the future plans because she was still struggling to get through the day. It was already overwhelming and now they had already planned two additional visits when they still had the current one to get through. But she reminded herself to be open.

"That sound great!" Michonne uttered and Ella saw her reluctance.

"Michonne dear, we will take it slow. Rick let's not get too ahead of ourselves. I was just so excited for Carl and me to bake cookies and tour the farm. I apologize," Ella said sincerely.

"I vote the aquarium!" Rick chose the activity to break the tension.

"No apologies necessary Mrs. Ella. I will make it happen," Michonne assured, and Ella grinned widely, "so for today at least, the aquarium it is!"

Michonne ushered Carl out of the kitchen to finally take off his Captain America pajamas and get dressed for the day. While Carl was sprucing up, Michonne gave Rick and Ella a tour of the Condo.

"This place is amazing," Rick uttered as he looked out over the city from her wall of windows in the living room.

"It is beautiful Michonne," Ella concurred as she stepped next to Rick to look for herself.

"Thanks! Well that's it!" Michonne grinned waving her arms around the living room.

"I like what you did to Carl's room. He likes superheroes I see. I didn't get to see your bedroom though?" Rick requested and Michonne chuckled at Rick's audacity.

"Bless his heart," Ella uttered and cut her eyes at Rick.

Ella grabbed Michonne by the arm and led her back towards Carl's room to see how her grandson was progressing. Michonne looked back at Rick who was staring intently at her though squinted eyes, and she felt his heat from across the room. When they made eye contact, she turned her head forward and took quicker steps towards Carl's room. Once Carl was ready, they decided that Michonne would drive because there was no use in taking two different vehicles, and she knew the city better than they did. And the final, and to Michonne, the most important decision, was where they were going to eat lunch.

"I can already tell you that Carl is gonna want to eat a cheeseburger with a vanilla milkshake to dip his salty fries in," Michonne laughed, "there is a burger joint near the aquarium that he loves."

"Dippin' his fries in his ice cream?" Rick said with a slightly disgusted look on his face then a smile at learning something new about his son.

His son. Rick was amazed that those words were now part of his permanent vocabulary. Rick did not want to miss a single minute of Carl's life and it got him thinking about the future. About moving to Atlanta to be closer to Carl. Rick did not want to only see his son on weekends or some random holiday, he wanted every day with Carl and every day with Michonne. Rick looked at Ella and decided he would have a conversation in the car about how she felt if he moved permanently to Atlanta. Ella had already lost a husband; Rick did not want her to feel like she was losing a son too.

"Ya'll ready?" Rick asked both Michonne and an excited Carl.

"Did you know that the aquarium has manta rays and whale sharks, dad!" Carl eagerly offered as he grabbed his grandmother's hand and pulled her out the front door.

Rick and Michonne were still astounded by what Carl called Rick. Dad. The sound of his new title of honor was both odd and exquisite to their ears. Michonne felt a little taken aback that Carl did not grab her hand like he usually did, but before she could dwell on it, Carl came back and pulled Michonne along too, which made her smile in relief. She was not ready to share her little boy with a whole new parent, and new grandparent for that matter. But at the end of the day, Rick and Ella were now a part of Carl's life and Michonne was going to have to get used to that. She also fretted on the day Rick would take Carl without her for the day, or weekend, or perhaps even for a long holiday. Michonne was just about to panic, but then took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"One day at a time Michonne," Michonne whispered to herself after taking a deep breath.

"What's that?" Rick asked with concern, and he saw the surprise in her face.

"Whale shark or manta ray? Which exhibit do we start with first?" Michonne replied with as much enthusiasm as she could muster.

Rick watched her with a worried smile. He saw anxiety running all through Michonne and he was about to throw a pity party for himself but then remembered those eight years were over. He had a chance now and was determined to help make Michonne feel at ease with him like she used to be. This was the first taste of happiness that Rick had in a long time, and he was not going to waste a drop of it on sadness, pitifulness, or miserableness. Rick had his son back, and for now, it would have to be enough. He was overjoyed with the turn of events and Rick was going to make the most of it.

"Well, I am partial to whale sharks," Rick grinned as he watched her lock her front door.

"This is actually kinda good. It's both salty and sweet at the same time," Rick assessed after reluctantly trying the French fry and shake combination at the burger joint across from the aquarium.

After an entire morning of a very animated Carl, running from exhibit to exhibit, they all burned enough calories for their stomachs to rumble with hunger. Rick did have some good conversations with both Michonne and Carl and learned quite a bit. Rick laughed at all the odd jobs Michonne had over the years, his favorite was a psychic at a carnival tent for two weeks. Rick found out how Carl got his name. Michonne wanted to name him Christopher because she thought the name Christopher Hawthorne sounded highly regarded. It was Darryl that liked the name Carl that he randomly picked from a book of names.

"So after he was born, his little face was so adorable, and when I called him Christopher, that adorable face turned into a little terror. He just screamed and kept crying harder. When Darryl called him Carl, he stopped. I thought it was a fluke of course, I mean he was just a few days old, but every time I called him Christopher, it seemed to agitate him. Carl did the opposite and calmed him. So, Carl it was," Michonne chuckled at how Carl picked his own name as they stood in front of the dolphin exhibit.

"It's a good name. It fits him," Rick grinned and looked over at Carl holding his grandmother's hand while pointing and explaining something to her about the exhibit.

Rick was not sure if Ella was excited about what Carl was talking about or just the fact that she was spending time with her grandson. Rick figured it was more of the latter than the former. Even after being at the aquarium for over four hours, they still had to pull Carl away. It took promises of returning for another outing soon, and the lure of a big juicy hamburger to get Carl to finally perk up about leaving.

"It's good! You gonna eat your fries with a shake now, right Dad!" Carl grinned as he dipped his fries inside his shake and shoved them in his mouth.

"Well, I mean, I wouldn't make a habit of it," Rick chuckled, "but I can definitely see its appeal every now and then."

Rick noticed Michonne had been checking her phone every so often, and as the day progressed, more and more. She looked irritated. Michonne was ignoring somebody, and Rick could only assume it was that Mike character she was dating. Rick tried not to think about it, he needed time to convince her that he was and will always be the one for her, just like Michonne was the only one for him. The phone buzzed again and Michonne rolled her eyes. Mike had left her twelve text messages.

Mike: Are you still out with your baby daddy?

Mike: When will you be home?

Mike: Why are you not answering my texts or calls?

There were several more with the same message and a couple of voice mails that Michonne assumed was Mike leaving a message. She had no clue why Mike was blowing up her phone, they were only dating and were not exclusive, and she told him she was going to be unavailable all day. Mike had never acted like this previously. The only difference Michonne could think of that might be causing Mike's unusual behavior was she was spending the day with another man and that must have Mike riled. Michonne threw her phone inside her purse with annoyance and smiled at Ella.

"Did you enjoy the aquarium Mrs. Ella," Michonne asked after wiping the ice cream from her son's cheeks.

"Michonne, I would enjoy sitting on the street curb outside of your condo all day as long as Carl was there. But yes, I enjoyed it immensely. Thank you for today sweetheart, Carl taught me a lot," Ella replied and looked lovingly at her grandson who was smiling back at her.

Michonne's phone buzzed again, and she pulled it from her purse ready to text Mike to stop fucking texting her and to leave her the fuck alone. Michonne was going to use those exact words, but it was Rosita in the girl's only group chat.

Rosita: Hey, did you take any pictures of Carl's father?

Michonne flipped through her phone and stopped at the photo Ella took of the three of them in front of the turtle exhibit. She pursed her lips in amusement at how Rick managed to wrap his arm around her waist before Ella snapped the picture. Michonne side-eyed Rick as soon as she felt his hand when Ella yelled for them to say CHEESE! Looking at the picture as she sat in that booth, Michonne had to admit they looked like a real little family. Michonne decided to flip past that picture and instead found a good one with just Carl and Rick standing in front of the Manta Rays and hit send.

Michonne: This was at the aquarium.

Rosita: Holy Shit Puta. That man is fine as hell. BE OPEN BITCH.

Sasha: Damn! That's Rick. GIRL! DAMN!

Rosita: Carl and Rick are twins.

Sasha: GIRL!

Michonne put her phone back in her purse with a huge smile. Rick's face fell at her obvious delight because he thought she was texting her boyfriend. Rick shifted around in his seat.

"So what's next?" Michonne asked as she looked at the empty plates in front of her then sucked her teeth at her buzzing phone again.

Sasha: Are you gonna give that fine ass man a goodbye kiss?

Michonne huffed and put her phone away.

"Well, I have to be going in a few hours. I have the late-night shift tonight and a double on Sunday. As soon as we planned for next weekend back at your condo, I called the Sherriff to trade some shifts with a few deputies so I can be here all next weekend," Rick answered and looked down at her purse when her phone buzzed again then back up at Michonne.

Rosita: (GIF of two people tonguing it down passionately)

"Is that where you slipped off too at the aquarium?" Ella inquired and Rick nodded.

Michonne noticed Rick move away from the group at the tropical fish exhibit and she too wondered who he was calling, but decided it was none of her business and turned away. She was a bit upset that he was spending the little time that he had with Carl on the phone talking with someone else. Michonne wondered for a quick second if it was a woman Rick was talking to and she found herself highly annoyed. She folded her arms across her chest and tried to stare at Rick incognito-like. Michonne wished she could hear the conversation and was frustrated when she could not. Michonne tried not to show it by putting on a fake smile and focusing on Carl, but Ella noticed and smiled.

As soon as Rick promised to take Carl to the Chattahoochee Nature Center, Rick was determined to make it happen. Rick wanted to continue the momentum and was not going to wait a few weeks to see Michonne and Carl again. Hershel assured Rick that he would make it work and within an hour of his call, texted Rick with his new shifts for the week and verifying his newly cleared weekend.

"Next weekend?" Michonne inquired confused as she played with her fries relieved that it was not a woman Rick was speaking with.

That feeling caught Michonne a little off guard and she quickly picked up her glass and slurped the last of her chocolate shake to hide her obvious pleasure. But Ella noticed and smiled. Ella was now one hundred percent not worried about the future of herself and Carl. Of Rick and Michonne either. Hershel was right, if Rick and Michonne calmed down and took it slow, they would both get to their final destination together as a family.

"Yes, I made sure to have next weekend free for the Chattahoochee trip we planned, remember? I will get the tickets Michonne," Rick declared and grinned when he saw Carl's face light up, "Oh, and I will drive. Both next weekend and back to your Condo. You drive too slow. Give me your keys."

"I drive safe!" Michonne proclaimed as she handed Rick her car keys without question.

Ella noticed and smiled.

"Driving slow is not always safe Chonne," Rick clarified using the nickname he used to call her just like Darryl did back in the day, "I was terrified in that car with you."

Michonne was a little stunned at Rick casually using her nickname and even more so that she liked it. Michonne shook it off. Ella noticed and smiled.

"So we are really gonna do this outside nature thing next weekend then? Like, for real?" Michonne uttered nervously and narrowed her eyes at her slick son.

Carl elevatored eyed his mother and Michonne reared her head back at her son. Rick saved Carl's life by answering her question.

"Yeah, it will be fun. I do have a favor to ask though," Rick asked turning to an intrigued Michonne.