I love spoilers, so I am going to give you a hint concerning where we are headed-In chapter 1- I mentioned at times the story will be slow, we are in the slow part. I wanted the chapters to be almost day-to-day so you can get the tiny little details of Rick, Michonne, and Carl's relationship building right after they reunited. It's those little moments and small things that make you see things clearly over time and mean so much more than grand gestures, I think. I could not get that level of detail with time jumps. Chapters 7/8 will continue the daily/weekly slower pace—with 8 finally getting to the Chattahoochee Nature Center!

To break up the monotony, in Chapter 9 there will be a six-month time jump and we see where Rick/Michonne are in their relationship and what's been happening all around them. Then chapter 10/11 will fill in the gaps of that time jump with how they got there (10 will also tell the story of Michonne's father). Chapter 12 picks up after the time jump from chapter 9. Chapter 12/13 is the outside conflict (those dastardly criminals), then in 14-17 we start to progress in bigger chunks of time that covers several months and finally even bigger monthly/yearly jumps for chapters 18-20. I hope you enjoyed this little glimpse! And I hope you stay with me till the end!

Chapter 7—A Meal Interrupted, Fight On

"Rick, are you ok?" Michonne asked worriedly as she gently rested the icepack on Rick's jaw.

Rick lifted his head from its resting position on the back of the couch and looked Michonne directly in the eye. Rick took a deep breath and rushed out his requests.

"I don't want that man around my son Michonne. I don't want him around you either, but I know I can't make that demand of you. But I feel like I can with Carl. While I'm at it, I would also like to get Carl's last name changed to Grimes and if I'm not on his birth certificate, I would like to be added there too," Rick petitioned then thankfully took the ice pack and placed it on his sore jaw with a slight wince.

Rick figured as long as he was making demands, he might as well bring up the subject of Carl's name change while the momentum was on his side. Michonne nodded. She looked at the front door and shook her head before turning her eyes up to the ceiling. Mike was a cocky ass bitch. And a damn lunatic to boot. Michonne exhaled. Her Friday was going so well before pandemonium struck.

Friday morning, Michonne was in a panic and after being at work for only a few hours, mostly ducking and dodging Mike, she decided to take the rest of the day off. Michonne would need to have a talk with Mike about professionalism in the workplace, but not that day because Michonne had some important business to take care of. When Rick finally arrived, two and a half hours earlier than anticipated per Michonne's request, Michonne tried to rush him out of the condo before he could properly put his overnight bags in her front foyer.

"We need to go shopping for clothes and gear Rick," Michonne stated swiftly.

"Gear? We are going hiking. What kind of…," Rick began but Michonne interrupted.

"I had no idea what to buy to hike and canoe and when I went to the camping store, I was overwhelmed with too many choices. Darryl just grunted and told me to buy some cargo pants and hung up the phone," Michonne stated in annoyance then pointed her finger for him to follow her back out of the apartment.

'Is that why you wanted me to come early?" Rick asked a little disappointed, "let me just put these groceries away in the kitchen first."

Rick thought Michonne wanted to have a talk to discuss their future and how to move forward, possibly with him by her side as her significant other and future husband. Rick heard his mother's voice say Bless his heart in head as he threw the bags haphazardly into the refrigerator while Michonne was hollering for him to hurry.

"Let's go! It's already 11:45am and we need to pick Carl up from school at 3:30pm. That only gives us two hours to get everything we need," Michonne ordered, and Rick was doing the math in his head.

"That gives us three hours and forty-five minutes Michonne," Rick chuckled as he strolled back to the front door.

"I'm hungry Rick! We have to eat lunch first!" Michonne explained and pushed Rick out of her condo.

After Michonne's hunger was sated, the rest of the day went by in a blur. Rick was a basic country boy and having to navigate function and fashion with Michonne was difficult. Add Sasha and Rosita to the mix on FaceTime, and Rick was exasperated, but he smiled because he was with Michonne. The craziness that was shopping with her, and to an extent her friends, was worth more than gold. Rick was happy to give his opinion on her choice of attire, thrilled to sit and watch her model the many outfits she tried on, jubilant when Michonne needed help with a buckle, or button, or zipper. Rick's favorite part was when Michonne would grab his hand to pull him along if he was sauntering too slowly. Once Rick caught on, he made sure to always keep his pace unhurried. They held hands a lot.

Rick grinned and supported Michonne through every silly step and did not have the heart to tell her that most of the items she purchased were either useless or excessive. By the time they were ready to pick up Carl from school, they had gotten everything they needed. Rather, everything Michonne wanted. Need was a bit of a stretch. Darryl and Abe were upset at all the shopping shenanigans, and Rick was highly amused at their conversation as he and Michonne drove to pick up Carl.

"Really Michonne? You had to call our wives? Now we have to spend all night returning all the basic but essential items that we already bought so they can buy prettier stuff? It's gonna take us all night!" Darryl exclaimed through the car speaker.

"You really itch my inner ass Michonne," Abe muttered and Michonne cackled, and Rick grinned at his colorful language.

"And you just let it happen Rick?" Darryl yelled in frustration, "You let her buy all of them fancy things like that? That shit is too much! A designer backpack? What the fuck is a cargo hat, Rick? Did you tell Michonne that was not a real thing?"

"What the hell do you need a trekking pole for? What is a trekking pole anyway? It's on the damn list Rosita gave me," Abe hollered.

"It's a stick that will help me climb the hills and I can also use it to poke the animals away!" Michonne exclaimed as if the item spoke for itself.

"RICK! GOOD GRACIOUS IGNACIOUS," Abe hollered, "I ain't buying no poles to hike a damn trail! Who is gonna carry all this shit? WE ARE THAT'S WHO!"

"What was I supposed to do?" Rick asked cluelessly with a wide grin and looked over to Michonne who was making a funny face at the speakers.

"I don't know, maybe tell Michonne, who ain't never been hiking, that the stuff was unnecessary? We were ready! Done! Who in the hell needs purple designer hiking boots? And what in the hell is a puffer jacket! Goddammit Michonne!" Darryl shouted.

"We had a cold front Darryl! It's cold outside! It's gonna be cold tomorrow too! I needed a warm jacket!" Michonne tried to rationalize, and Darryl scoffed.

"It was a cool front Michonne. You do not need a jacket for a damn high of sixty-four degrees," Abe corrected, and Darryl grunted in agreement.

"I'm cold-natured," Michonne uttered trying to reason with Darryl and Abe.

"Whatever Michonne. We gotta go shopping. I can't believe you two," Darryl uttered before disconnecting the call.

"They sound fun," Rick grinned eager to meet them all officially.

Rick was excited when Michonne pulled into the parent pick-up line that was already forming in front of the school. In his enthusiasm, Rick exited the car and stood outside waiting for Carl thus refusing to follow Michonne's explicit instructions, which got Michonne highly annoyed and extremely nervous.

"RICK! Get back in the car! There is a process! You are gonna get us in trouble!" Michonne belted looking around for the parent-pickup monitor.

"No," Rick answered simply as he leaned his back against the passenger door.

Michonne narrowed her eyes at Rick's ass that was pressed against the passenger window. Michonne rolled it down causing Rick to jump forward.

"You always pick him up?" Rick asked, turning to peek through the rolled down passenger side window.

"No, I carpool with two other parents who live in my building. This is Mrs. Sanchez's week, but since you wanted to pick Carl up, I told her I would get him today. Now get back in the car! Please!"

"No," Rick repeated and turned away from a frustrated Michonne and faced the dismissal doors.

Michonne explained to Rick on the way to pick up their son that parents were supposed to stay in their vehicles, no exceptions. If the parents needed to get out of the car, they must find a parking spot and walk over to the pick-up area. Rick was already breaking the first rule. Maneuvering in and out of the already tight parking lot in front of the school was a huge hassle, only the kindergarten parents did that, and even they gave up after a month into the school year. Michonne was not willing to fight that monster lot. Once, it took her almost fifteen minutes to exit the lot because the parent-pickup line had the right of way. It was infuriating and Michonne was never going to make that mistake again.

Once in the car line, the kids exit the building in an orderly and efficient fashion and climb inside their designated car without haste. The parents quickly move forward out of the pick-up lane and onto the main street. It was the perfect assembly line. The process was in place to avoid a traffic build-up, and Rick was about to fuck it all to hell. Rick informed Michonne that technically they were following the rules because a parent was still inside the vehicle. Michonne scoffed and tried not to stare at Rick's ass that was blocking the passenger window again. When Rick shook it a little, Michonne knew he was chiding her, but the view was lovely, so she did not complain. But Michonne was desperate and desperate minds do desperate things.

"Rick, if you get inside the car, I will be so appreciative that I might give you a kiss on the cheek as a thank you," Michonne cooed not above using her feminine wilds in this particular precarious situation because Mrs. McGuire, the parent pick-up monitor, was a damn monster.

Rick quicky turned around and almost got back inside the car, but decided he had all weekend to try and get a kiss, but this was the only time during his three-day visit he was going to witness his kid storming happily out of the school building. In that moment Carl took priority. Rick was in dad mode.

"No," Rick answered and turned away.

Michonne was shocked at his reply, but then she calmed down and smiled remembering she did the same thing when Carl started kindergarten. The school Carl attended in Virginia was worse than his current one. Michonne recalled being forced to arrive at the school at least forty-five minutes early just to find a parking spot. She used the time to study for her law classes, so it all worked out in the end. Close to dismissal, Michonne would stand and wait for Carl, and he would always excitedly run into her arms with his superhero backpack that was almost bigger than he was bumping right behind. Michonne would walk hand-in-hand with Carl back to the car and talk about his day while they waited for the lot to clear.

Now, Michonne did not have that kind of time. She usually had to get back to work once she dropped Carl off at home. And if her regular sitter was unavailable, she would have to get out of the car and beg her elderly neighbor to watch Carl for a few hours. Michonne's routine turned from walking Carl leisurely to the car, to speeding off before Carl could properly shut the car door to avoid a confrontation with the monitor. Michonne held her hands up in surrender and let Rick have his own moment with Carl just like she had years before. Michonne was still nervous though, and she would have to settle for the next best thing.

"Rick please! As soon as Carl comes out, jump in the car, Okay?" Michonne begged as Rick was already making a tense situation even more stressful.

"Ok," Rick answered with a grin as he eagerly waited for the dismissal bell.

Michonne huffed in slight relief and folded her arms across her chest on constant lookout mean ole Mrs. McGuire. While she waited, Michonne pulled out one of her shopping bags and held up her pair of purple hiking boots. She sneered when she remembered what her pretty new boots were going to be used for and then hurriedly placed them back in the bag when she heard the dismissal bell. She needed to be ready. Michonne's hands gripped her steering wheel tightly. She was third in line and the pick-up monitor could get really mean if a parent was taking a second too long to move out once their child was firmly buckled in. A PARENT COULD NOT HOLD UP THE LINE! PERIOD!

"Dad!" Carl shouted and ran to Rick jumping into a hug.

"Hey son! How was your day?" Rick inquired and before Carl could answer Michonne was hollering through the window with purpose.

"Get inside before Mrs. McGuire comes over here and yells at me!" Michonne demanded already eyeing Mrs. McGuire who was narrowing her eyes at her, "You can talk about the day in the car!"

The two cars in front were about to move, and Rick hurriedly opened the back passenger door and helped Carl with his seatbelt.

"Rick! He is eight, he can put on his own seatbelt. GET IN THE CAR BEOFERE I LEAVE WITHOUT BOTH YOU AND CARL!" Michonne demanded and Rick jumped in the front seat double time and Michonne sped off two seconds before that mean old monitor was about to knock on her drivers-side window.

This was the only time Michonne sped when she drove, and it gave her anxiety every time.

"You would have made us walk home?" Rick laughed at Michonne's after-school pick-up antics.

"Of course not. Carl, tell your father the emergency plan," Michonne requested eyeing Carl from the rearview mirror with deadly seriousness.

Michonne shivered thinking back to when she developed the plan right after getting dressed down by Mrs. McGuire. That old biddy even dressed Michonne back up just to dress her down a second time after Michonne messed up the parent pickup procedure. It was brutal. Michonne was shocked that all that bass could come from that sweet little old lady's voice box. Mrs. McGuire was the terror of Piedmont Elementary.

"I wait at the front of the school, while you park down the main street and when I see you standing at the end of the sidewalk, I walk to you," Carl recited as he dug into the shopping bags examining his new items, "We only had to do that twice so far Dad."

"And it was your fault both times Carl! What possessed you to run back and give your principal a high-five. Give him high-fives at lunch! Not afterschool!" Michonne argued and shook her head at the memory.

Rick chuckled at the insanity of elementary school rules and procedures but was ready to participate fully whenever he could. That brought his mind back to moving to be near his family, and his mind was a jumble of what he needed to do first. After dragging Michonne's purchases into the condo, Carl went wild tearing through the bags and gathering all his new outdoorsy gear. With his hands full, Carl ran to his room eager to try everything on. Michonne and Rick discussed dinner and she was surprised that Rick was serious about making dinner.

"You cook?" Michonne inquired and wondered when Rick developed that particular skill.

"I do. I am a single man Michonne. I can't live on takeout alone, and King County ain't exactly full of places to eat," Rick laughed eyeing all the takeout menus hanging on Michonne's refrigerator.

Michonne followed Rick's line of sight and crossed her arms over her chest.

"I cook! It's just sometimes with Carl's after school and weekend activities, or when I have to work late, it is easier to just order in Rick!" Michonne defended and Rick chuckled.

"Well you can cook for us on Sunday night. Saturday we can get takeout once we get back from the nature center, and tonight and Sunday morning I will cook. Deal?" Rick asked to negotiate peace.

"Deal! What are you cooking?" Michonne asked already licking her greedy lips.

"Sunday morning? Pancakes. Tonight," Rick revealed as he pulled out the grocery bags that were messily thrown inside refrigerator, "Roast Chicken, scalloped potatoes, and green beans. The mac and cheese my mama sent over. I can't claim that. Just have to heat it back up. I even got some chocolate cupcakes from the Triple Threat Bakery down the street for dessert," Rick grinned wondering if chocolate was still Michonne's weakness.

"My friend's mother owns that bakery! Their baked goods are to die for! They just opened their third location down the street!" Michonne enlightened as she tried to open one of the boxes.

Rick snatched it from her grasp and held it high.

"After dinner Michonne. You are gonna ruin your appetite. Now, what you CAN do is peel those potatoes while I chop these vegetables to stuff inside the chicken," Rick ordered grabbing the aprons that hung on the side of the refrigerator.

Rick held up the aprons and laughed when he noticed they looked brand new. He gave Michonne the larger one before wrapping the smaller one that he assumed was Carl's around his waist. Rick was a little disappointed at the extra coverage hiding Michonne's cleavage and immediately regretted giving her the full-sized one.

"Why are you stuffing carrots and onions and a lemon inside the chicken?" Michonne asked as she watched Rick roughly chop the veggies.

"Aromatics," Rick responded, "My mama's recipe. Then I will butter and, can you pull out those seasonings from the bag please? I didn't know if you had any or not."

"I have seasonings Rick!" Michonne tiffed and then eyed the labels knowing she did not have most of the ones he was using.

Michonne watched as Rick rubbed butter and seasonings both underneath the skin and on top. She had to turn away when she remembered how he always rubbed her pregnant belly the same way. She turned red when she recalled how much he loved to rub her ass too. They spent the next half hour in quiet conversation putting the dishes together to get ready for the oven. As they were wrapping up the preparation, Rick asked a question that was heavy on his mind since the first time he saw Michonne walk inside the Sherriff's office.

"Do I have a chance at getting you back Michonne," Rick asked in almost a whisper and did not lift his eyes off his task of mixing the cream, cheese, and butter for the potatoes.

Michonne paused and looked at the side of Rick's face. She would be lying if she said no. Being with Rick felt right after all these years, but the wound of what Rick did, of what he said to her that day, was still open. Still seeping. Michonne was not sure if it would ever heal, so she was as honest as she could be.

"I don't know," Michonne whispered back with a deep breath.

Rick nodded.

"That means there is a chance. So, I am gonna do everything I can to make it right Michonne. The scar that I left on you, I promise to kiss it every day to make it better. And I PRAY, I PRAY Michonne, that the scar is on your ass," Rick pled trying to hold a straight face but ended up bursting with laughter.

Michonne laughed out loud at Rick's silliness and gave him a playful push with her shoulder, and when she looked at him, he had that charming grin across his face and her body tingled. Michonne went back to slicing the potatoes thinly, per Rick's instructions, and ignored the heat resonating throughout her body.

"Ok," Michonne uttered willing to be open to give whatever they were experiencing a solid chance.

"But your ass aside, I mean it Michonne. I want to make it right. I want you in my life as my friend, my lover, my wife, the mother of my children, my everythang," Rick repeated with all seriousness and all Michonne could do was nod in a daze.

The food was in the oven and a delectable smell was wafting through the house as Rick and Michonne were sitting on the couch tickled pink at Carl modeling his new outdoor gear. Rick laughed out loud when Carl mimicked hiking using his new trekking pole that Rick was absolutely going to hide later that evening. He was also gonna hide a few other accessories. Darryl and Abe were right. Carrying all that pointless gear was lunacy.

"Can you send me Darryl's number? I want to thank him again before I see him tomorrow," Rick asked and Michonne shrugged her shoulders and sent the contact information.

Rick: This is Rick. I am going to hide the pole, the hat with attached half body mosquito netting, that big ass jacket, the glove and scarf set, the leg warmer things, the heavy-duty flashlight, and the extra set of clothes for her and Carl in case they "fall in some mud."

Darryl: Good! I will tell Abe. We will do the same. Sasha bought a damn emergency beacon.

Rick: I'm gonna hide the purple boots too. I bought some trail running shoes that will be lighter for her and Carl.

Darryl: Good. Abe and I did the same for our wives. They will be less mad when they see Michonne wearing hers.

"Dad! You have to watch!" Carl hollered and once he got Rick's attention, Carl continued acting out hiking up a hill with his pole.

"Looking good Carl!" Rick laughed and put away his phone.

Carl used the back of his hand to wipe the imaginary sweat from across his forehead and then widened his eyes at a realization.

"I need a towel!" Carl hollered as he ran to his bathroom to find the most perfect one for the trip.

Michonne shook her head and was just about to yell for Carl to not unfold all the towels in the linen closet when her doorbell rang. Michonne assumed it was Sasha. She was anxious to meet the famous Rick Grimes in person. She wanted to see if that picture did Rick any justice and was too impatient to wait until Saturday Morning.

"Sasha, you are so impatient!" Michonne exclaimed before her face dropped after opening the door.

It was not Sasha. It was Mike who was standing at her door uninvited. The same Michael Anthony that Michonne informed would not be meeting her son because they were never exclusive. The same Mike that was notified that her son's father was in town and wanted no outside distractions to take away from their father and son bonding time. The same Mike that Michonne was very clear had no right to decide who came to her home and who spent the night. The same Mike Anthony that after their dinner, Michonne directly stated that their relationship was over. That same Mike was currently standing at the front door of her home as if the conversation the previous evening had never occurred.

"What are you doing here? How did you get past security?" Michonne uttered in disbelief and glanced down the hallway expecting to see the guards heading her way.

Usually security called residents when there were unexpected visitors.

"Are you going to invite me in Michonne?" Mike smiled charmingly and Michonne was too pissed to be stunned.

"No. And it is inappropriate for you to be here. You need to leave. NOW!" Michonne demanded and that got Rick's attention.

Rick jumped up from the couch and stood near Michonne close to the door but out of Mike's view. Mike was well aware that her baby daddy was somewhere in the condo, and with all seriousness, he looked Michonne deadass in the eye.

"I think I have the right to meet my competition. The right to see who might be fucking my girlfriend because she sure ain't fucking me!" Mike exclaimed with bitterness.

This time, Michonne was shocked at his words. This was a completely different Mike than she was used to. He was even different than what Sasha described. This Mike seemed off the rails crazy. Rick stepped from behind the wall and was now stood to the side and slightly in front of Michonne.

"That's enough. The lady asked you to leave," Rick spat with absolutely no fear in his squinted eyes.

"This him?" Mike laughed with a desperation and a wildness about him that seemed strange and out of place.

Mike's need to win overshadowed his better judgement and all he saw when he looked at Michonne was a trophy. Michonne realized that Mike's was completely out of sorts and not himself. He was not acting cocky, or confident, just aggressive, and stupid. Michonne looked around for her phone to call security, but Rick's voice brought her attention from her phone back to the two men.

"It is," Rick growled, and the guttural sound made Michonne instantly remember wrathful Rick.

The furious Rick that appeared when those few King County residents used to question their interracial relationship. The enraged Rick when a person would call Michonne out her name. The threatening Rick that had people cowering when he balled his fists. That Rick was on full display. Rick's adrenaline was pumping, and he had not felt this level of emotion in eight years. Rick was awake and his emotions were like a live wire since Michonne returned to his life. The level of love he felt for Michonne matched the hate he had for Mike. This Rick was dangerous and Michonne gazed at him lustfully. Michonne snapped out of it then tried to intervene to save Mike's life.

"Mike, what are you doing?" Michonne inquired, praying Mike would come to his senses and leave immediately before he started shit, she knew Rick would finish, "Please just go."

Mike was not leaving. He was too far gone. After they parted from the French restaurant, Mike tried to call Michonne over and over and her lack of response made him desperate and irrational. Michonne, taking off from work earlier that day threw another wrench into his plans. Mike cursed her because ignoring him was unacceptable to the cocky asshole. When Mike left work Friday afternoon, his mental state was unstable and bordering on insanity.

"Who is she to ignore ME!" Mike spat to no one as he paced around his high-end apartment planning his next move.

Mike quickly realized that Michonne was in fact the best of all the women that he knew. Michonne had it all: education, looks, a prestigious job, money, and a banging body. Her only flaw was Carl, in Mike's opinion. He did not want a wife with what he considered baggage, and Carl, to Mike, was the very definition of baggage. But Michonne? Michonne, Mike recognized, despite Carl, was someone he could proudly prance around town, before placing her back on the mantel at home. Mike had an epiphany as he marched around his living room looking for his car keys, Michonne was a rarity and he needed to fight for her. Before Mike could sanely think things through, he was already in his car driving to her home ready to act a plumb fool. With each mile he drove, his mind became more rash, more unsound, and more unsteady. Mike focused most of his anger towards Rick Grimes.

"HE HAS NO Right!" Mike hollered and beat his hands on his steering wheel.

Mike needed to stake his claim on Michonne and figured this grand gesture of showing up to her home would put him back on top. As Mike drove his luxury Range Rover, he pictured himself barging in and sweeping Michonne off her feet. In Mike's head, Michonne would come to her senses the moment she opened her front door. She would happily drag Mike to her bedroom and sex him wildly while her baby daddy could only listen and cry with envy.

"Yeah, I will give it to her good. Make her scream loud so he can hear!" Mike laughed delusionally.

Mike manifested an idea in his crazed, delusional mind that he would spend Saturday with Michonne, pretending to like hiking or whatever bullshit they were going to participate in. He imagined Carl and Rick walking miles behind them, never quite able to keep up with the beautiful super couple. Mike pictured himself sitting at the breakfast table on Sunday morning being served coffee and toast and omelets before finally waving her baby daddy a sarcastic goodbye as he left on his way back to bumfuck Georgia.

"What the hell was she thinking of having a baby with a damn country bumpkin," Mike thought out loud and pressed his foot on the gas.

Mike thought it was fate when he found a parking spot right in front of the building. It was like he was meant to be there. Everything had to go his way because he was Michael Anthony. He was top tier. He was every woman's dream. Michonne would realize how privileged she was that Mike picked her out of all the other women at his fingertips. He grinned that Michonne might even thank him with a blowjob for helping her see the light.

"That's right. She will get on her knees happily after this!" Mike almost sang as he walked inside Michonne's residential building whistling.

Mike was in a full-blown delusion. A state he had never experienced before in his entire life. Mike did not think about the risk to his job, and quite frankly, his freedom. In his daze, he easily bypassed the security guard who was looking at the cameras watching another guard do his rounds. The Head of Security was in his little office doing whatever the Head of Condo Security did on his shift. Little did the Head know; he was about to earn every penny of his paycheck plus some that evening.

Mike eased on into an open elevator before the guard at the station noticed.

"Sir, SIR!" The guard hollered and he stumbled over his chair in an effort to get to get to the elevator before it closed.

Mike stepped inside the elevator and was still whistling as he pressed the button for the eleventh floor. Mike chuckled at the paralegal that he tricked into reminding him Michonne's apartment number. As the doors shut, Mike heard the security guard beat on the doors.

"We have a red alert!" The guard screamed on the radio startling the Head of Security out of his office.

"What floor!" The Head shouted and ran over and watched impatiently as the elevator slowly rose before finally stopping with a ding, "You take the stairs!"

The scenario was playing out perfectly in Mike's head, and he took that as another sign that he was supposed to be there fighting for what he mistakenly thought was his love.

"THE LADY SAID LEAVE. NOW!" Rick hollered in the most threatening of voices that had Mike shaking just a little bit.

But not enough for Mike to come into his right mind and leave the situation and never return. Mike was int the middle of a complete mental break.

"CARL, YOU STAY IN YOUR ROOM!" Michonne shouted but Carl, being Carl, came out and stood at the far edge of the living room holding in his iron man pajamas in one hand and his green lantern pajamas in the other.

Carl planned to let his father pick which ones he should wear to bed that evening, but now, Carl was all about protecting his mother. Carl was relieved that his father was there, but he was not about to let Michonne out of his sight until he knew his mother was safe. Carl was rattled and wondered if he should run and get Darryl. In that moment, Carl realized just how much of a little kid he was.

"I AIN'T LEAVING! THIS IS MY GIRL! MINE!" Mike shouted and charged up on Michonne like he was about to lay his hands on her.

Mike was indeed going to lay his hands on Michonne, and his lips, and whatever other body part he could touch once he pulled her into a tight hug. But Mike's erratic actions appeared more violent and Michonne flinched. Rick jumped into action and quickly grabbed Michonne by the arm and moved her out of the way. Mike became enraged that Rick moved his girlfriend from his sight and balled his fists ready to attack. Rick's years of police training allowed him to recognize when a person was about to strike, and Rick shifted into a stance to braced for a hit that he knew was coming from the arrogant dead man walking. Rick was not going to throw the first punch but knew he would most certainly land the last.

Michonne was screaming for Mike to leave, and for Carl to listen and go back to his room. Rick kept his focus on Mike, but in the back of his mind, he was preparing to talk to his son about listening and doing what he was told. All that eavesdropping, going to pawnshops, and riding the bus from city to city was gonna stop immediately. But for now, Rick needed to stop Mike's madness.

"This is your last warning," Rick growled, and Michael Anthony made a mistake that, when he looked back on it, he would never fully understand.

Mike was not a violent man. Mike was most certainly not a person that would ever think about physically fighting another person. That was beneath him. But in his temporary insanity, Mike WAS a violent man and he punched Rick Grimes in the jaw with all the strength he had. That was the first and only hit Mike landed, and it was a doozy that caused Rick to stumble back. Mike grinned widely, but only for a split second because the rest of the fight was just wave after wave of constant pounding from Rick's fist to Mike's face.

"RICK! THAT'S ENOUGH!" Michonne shouted and placed her hand on Rick's bicep before Rick could strike Mike again.

Rick moved back from a battered Mike who lay there slowly coming to his senses. It took a minute for a shaky Mike to stumble to a standing position on his own and Rick was ready for round two if necessary. Michonne noticed Mike looked out of sorts, but a different out of sorts than before the fight. Mike looked confused, but aware, as if he was wondering how in the hell he ended up at Michonne's home.

"How…" Mike uttered as he looked around then winced when he tried to talk.

Before Mike could speak his next word, BOOM, two security guards knocked his crazy ass to the ground. Mike could barely breathe.

"TAKE HIM TO THE OFFICE!" The head of security hollered a bit out of breath and watched his two men walk Mike to the elevators, "Miss Hawthorne, I apologize that he got though. Do you think you can come down to the office?"

"Sure, give me a minute and I will be right down," Michonne agreed, and the guard apologized again before leaving.

They secured Mike and walked him down to the security office on the first floor. Sitting in that room, Mike snapped to his senses and was horrified. Mike felt like he was the walking dead, unable to control his thoughts or actions for his brief time of insanity. A damn zombie. The remainder of Michael Anthony's life flashed right before his eyes. Jail. Possible Disbarment. Trailer Park living. That one crazed moment was about to ruin the rest of his life. Michonne wanted to make sure Carl was okay and Rick was calm before she left to deal with Mike.

"Call Darryl down, and I will go with you Michonne," Rick directed but Michonne did not need any more drama.

Darryl would want to storm down to Mike also.

"No Rick, you stay here with Carl. I'll be fine. The guards have him," Michonne instructed and after everything that happened, Rick was reluctant.

"Mom, is everything ok?" Carl asked nervously as he slid between his parents and wrapped his arms around his mother's waist.

"It's fine sweetie," Michonne smiled, "I'm sorry you had to see that. Are you ok?"

"I'm glad Dad was here. I didn't know if I could have helped you by myself," Carl stated looking up at his mother with tears in his eyes.

Michonne embraced Carl and glanced at Rick who was staring down at his son with worry. Carl was shaken and realizing Carl saw himself as a protector for his mother because of his absence broke Rick's heart.

"I will be right back, ok?" Michonne kneeled down and kissed her son, "Stay here with your dad."

After Michonne left, Rick decided to take the opportunity to apologize that Carl had to see him fight another man. Carl was less concerned with the fight and more that his mother was downstairs with the man that caused all the trouble. Rick assured Carl, and himself, that Michonne was surrounded by security and would be fine. Rick had a good talk with Carl and when it appeared that his son was somewhat alright mentally, he broached the subject of Carl's listening abilities.

"When your mother told you to go to your room, you should have gone Carl. I know you were worried, but her priority, like mine, is always to keep you safe," Rick explained and saw Carl's rebuttal coming from a mile away.

"But," Carl started and Rick stopped him.

"No buts. No more Carl. No more running off on your own. No more making deals. No more hanging out in pawn shops, and definitely no more not listening to your mother, or myself, or Darryl, or your aunts and uncles or your grandmother. You got that?" Rick asked firmly while watching son closely.

"I will try dad, but I can't make you any promises," Carl grinned, "I get my best stuff from pawnshops! And I met you by riding a bus. And I am great at making deals! I can't help that I'm good in DEM STREETS! You can't teach an old dog new tricks!"

Rick tilted his head and squinted his eyes at his son.

"You're still a puppy Carl. You got some years before you reach old dog status and until then, I am not asking. You understand me? "Rick commanded firmly looking Carl straight in the eye.

Rick noted that there was a firmness that needed to be had with Carl, and when Carl eyed his father and saw no wavering, he decided it was in his best interests to listen and do as his father told.

"Yes Sir," Carl uttered before scurrying off towards his room.

"Carl!" Rick called his son back and Rick got on his knees to speak to Carl at eye level.

"I love you. And sometimes love means being firm because at the end of the day, my job is to keep you safe. And I will promise to always try and keep your mother safe too. I want you to know that I am proud to be your father, and I am proud that you are my son. And it's out of love that your mother and I have these rules. You understand?" Rick asked and Carl nodded and gave Rick a firm hug.

"I understand," Carl huffed, "But I'm gonna need some time to get DEM STREETS out my blood Dad. There are gonna be some slip ups!" Carl giggled and ran to his room.

Carl was not as worried as he was before. His father was there, and Rick made him feel safe, just like Darryl did. Carl was still anxious for his mother to come home, but he was no longer afraid. It took Rick a few minutes to snap out of his shock and figured he was going to have to be vigilant with Carl.

"Old dog," Rick chuckled and decided to talk with Michonne and work on Carl as a team.

Rick needed a wingman. While Rick was shaking his head at Carl, Michonne was shaking hers at Mike. When Michonne walked into the office, she was furious.

"What in the hell Mike? What were you thinking?" Michonne shouted at the man whose face was rapidly swelling.

"I…I don't know," Mike uttered confused.

Michonne was watching a completely different Mike from the one that was upstairs less than twenty minutes ago. This Mike looked sane. He appeared to be rational and remorseful. Any trace of cockiness, aggressiveness, and foolishness was gone.

"What happened?" Michonne asked in a much softer tone to help elicit an explanation.

"I really and truly don't know Michonne. One minute I was at my house, and the next I was here getting brutally punched in the face. I…I just don't know how I got here. I remember being so mad, but…. I am so sorry, and I make no excuses for what I did. I snapped. I…I am at a loss. I really don't know what happened," answered a bewildered Mike who looked Michonne in the eyes with such genuineness that Michonne saw the truth in them.

Michonne could tell Mike was legitimately trying to put the pieces together in his mind, but one plus one was not equaling two and Mike was beside himself.

"Sasha says you are not used to women telling you no Mike. I think she was right. I told you no and you lost it. I mean it broke your damn mind. That's what happened Mike," Michonne theorized with her hands on her hips and Mike absorbed her wise words.

"Ma'am. You want us to call the police? You want to press charges?" Asked one of the security guards who after a good look recognized Mike as the same man that made a stink just the day before.

Michonne looked at Mike. There were no pleading eyes. No rambling excuses or begging for her to not call the police. Mike was just as stunned about what he did as Michonne. Both Mike and Michonne both quietly contemplated for the same reasons. This one mistake, this one possible isolated incident could ruin his whole life. If Michonne saw malice, arrogance, or awareness in his eyes, she would have pressed charges and walked out of that security office without a second glance. But instead, she saw confusion, remorse, and disillusionment.

"No, that won't be necessary," Michonne stated and saw the shocked looks on all the guards' faces.

On Mike's face too.

"Michonne," Mike whispered with gratefulness.

"Mike, this is not over. Once everything settles, we are going to talk and figure out the next steps. That cougar you are sexting got your nose wide and your fool head big!" Michonne chuckled and Mike smiled a sincere smile.

"Who Shelly?" Mike asked and Michonne nodded, "Cougar? She is thirty-two Michonne only three years older than us!"

"Only three years older than you Mike!" Michonne clarified "Seven for me. I'm younger than you remember."

"Alright, seven years older than you," Mike chuckled and wiped the corner of his eye with the back of his hand, "And you are one to talk. You are twenty-five with an eight-year-old kid. You're a MILF Michonne!"

"You want me to call the police Mike?" Michonne giggled and Mike grinned wider now more himself than before.

"Sometimes I forget that. That you are younger than me, I mean. You are so put together. You are confident in who you are and after this, I realized I am not as confident in who I am," Mike admitted and Michonne could tell there were tears in his eyes that he was trying to avoid spilling.

Then Mike suddenly started laughing and crying at the same time. Mike took a deep breath and looked up at the ceiling, then smiled back at Michonne. She saw the beginnings of his true self-emerging. Not the one Mike hid behind every day trying to prove to the world what a great man he was, or the maniac that just fought her baby daddy, this Mike was the real Michael Anthony, or at least who was meant to be. Michonne wondered if she met this real Mike first, could she have fallen head over heels? Would they have been well on their way to building a good life together? And where would Rick have fit in to her life? But this was not the Mike she met first and Michonne felt a little sad about that. She hoped the next woman in Mike's life was lucky enough to meet the authentic Michael Anthony from the very start.

"Don't tell your baby daddy, but for a minute, I saw my life flash before my eyes. That man is strong! As I was getting punched, I realized that I was a bunch of hot air and no real fight. I was scared Michonne," Mike exclaimed with a nervous chuckle, "But I did not know how to stop being cocky even when my damn life literally depended on it. When security came, I thanked black baby Jesus AND the holy ghost!"

Michonne giggled and observed the conflicting emotions Mike was experiencing. As she watched Mike laugh though his tears, she also saw fear in Mike's body language. Mike was scared that he had a serious problem, and his mind was overwhelmed with how to fix it.

"Boy, you are crazy," Michonne chuckled, "Literally and figuratively."

Michonne could not help the dig.

"No, Michonne, you laughing, but I actually felt my soul leaving my body and I was trying to take my expensive ass Gucci shoes with me. I have a damn problem. My priorities ain't right!" Mike animated but then turned thoughtful and somber, "But seriously. I am so sorry about this Michonne. This will NEVER happen again. I promise you that. To you or to any other woman in my life."

Michonne saw the sincerity in his eyes.

"For now, go home Mike. Or better yet, can you get yourself into urgent care? Rick and I can take you if you can't," Michonne offered and before Mike could decline her gracious offer one of the security guards offered to take him.

Michonne nodded her appreciation then looked back to Mike.

"We are going to talk soon Mike. You hear me?" Michonne repeated and Mike nodded.

"Yeah, but I think I need to seek counseling first. I can't be this man Michonne," Mike uttered not knowing how to finish the sentence, "Maybe after some time has settled, we can talk and maybe be friends?"

Michonne doubted it, but she would always be kind and courteous and professional with Mike. They did work for the same firm. But Michonne did not have the heart to tell him that outright, and she just smiled, nodded, and squeezed his shoulder for support. Mike knew he would be indebted and grateful every day for the opportunity that Michonne afforded him by not pressing charges. Once Michonne returned to her Condo, she noticed Rick was pacing around the living room waiting for her to return. She saw a slight swelling from the hit to his jaw and ran to the freezer and pulled out an ice pack. Carl came running from his room to hug her, then ran back to his room to put his scheme into action.

"Rick, are you ok?" Michonne asked worriedly as she brought an icepack for Rick to place on his jaw.

"I don't want that man around my son Michonne. I don't want him around you either, but I know I can't make that demand of you. But I feel like I can with Carl. I would also like to get his last name changed to Grimes and if I'm not on his birth certificate, I would like to be added there too," Rick commanded as he thankfully took the ice pack and placed it on his sore jaw with a wince.

"Ok," Michonne answered eyeing a weary Rick and chuckled when he shot straight up.

"Ok what? Ok to not seeing that lunatic anymore? Ok, to the name change? Or, ok to all of it?" Rick questioned, praying that it was a yes everything.

"Ok to all of it," Michonne confirmed, and Rick grinned so wide that he winced forgetting about his bruised jaw.

Rick wondered if he should have snuck in Michonne being his official girlfriend as one of the demands.

"Okay," Rick repeated, Did you press charges? So he knows he can't come around here like that?" Rick asked and snarled when Michonne shook her head no, "Michonne, I need to know you and Carl are…" Rick started but Michonne held her hand up and stopped his rant.

"We will be, I promise. Everything is taken care of," Michonne assured but Rick did not look convinced and decided to make sure Darryl kept an eye out.

Rick and Michonne stared at each other for a few moments until Michonne noticed Rick's raw knuckles.

"Rick, let me get some peroxide for your hand," Michonne rose and headed to the bathroom.

"It's fine Michonne," Rick shouted but knew it was useless as he watched her disappear into her bedroom.

On Michonne's way back to Rick, she scrunched her nose in aversion, she smelled something burning, then her eyes widened when she realized what they all forgot.

"Oh Shit Rick! The food!" Michonne hollered as she ran into the kitchen with Rick following closely behind.

Rick opened the oven, and the potatoes were burned to a crisp and the chicken looked like zombie skin. Dinner was ruined. Michonne was extra salty when she saw the macaroni and cheese was busted too. Michonne smirked and nodded at the takeout menus that Rick thumbed his nose at earlier.

"Nah, Let's go to a nice restaurant and sit down and have a good dinner. My treat," Rick offered and Michonne agreed.

"We can clean this mess up when we get back," Michonne stated then called for Carl, "Hey you like snails? I know a great French place?"

Michonne tried not to laugh as she watched the terrified look on Rick's face, but she could not hold in her giggle and Rick shook his head.

"Who the hell eats snails?" Rick laughed, "Is there a place we can go have a normal dinner? Maybe one that has roast chicken and scalloped potatoes on the menu."

"I know a place," Michonne grinned and looked at Carl who was standing there in his Green Lantern pajamas.

"But mom, I already showered and put on my pajamas. Will I have to shower again," Carl asked knowing full well that he did not put any soap on his body.

"Carl, did you take a shower or just put those pajamas on?" Michonne snapped and Carl ran to go get dressed without answering her question.

"CARL WHEN WE GET BACK, YOU WILL TAKE A SHOWER! Michonne hollered and then turned to Rick, "It's like he is allergic to bathing. Since you want the full dad experience, you can be in charge of getting him clean this evening when we get back from dinner."

"I look forward to it!" Rick grinned.

It was late when they returned full and happy. Rick was stuffed and sleepy, but he was determined to hold up his end of the bargain with Carl. It was definitely not as easy as he thought it would be. The first obstacle was trying to get a lethargic Carl to get up from his bedroom floor. Rick asked Michonne why Carl was there and Michonne informed Rick that Carl knew she would throw a conniption if Carl crawled under his clean linen in his filthy clothes.

"CARL, come on now. Get up off the floor. I got your towel here and I put your washcloth in the bathroom already, come on," Rick pled but Carl started to fake snore.

"Do you need help Rick?" Michonne asked with way too much glee in her voice.

"I got it," Rick assured and turned to look back at Carl who seemed to be snoring even louder.

"CARL!" Rick hollered with a little more boom in his voice.

Nothing. Rick was not going to give up and solicit help from Michonne. Rick was a father now and he would need to learn how to deal with his stubborn son. Michonne passed by Carl's room again and Rick rolled his eyes.

"You sure you got this?" Michonne chuckled.

"Your bedroom is way on the other side of the condo, why do you keep coming over here?" Rick asked teasingly and Michonne laughed.

"Fine," Michonne shrugged and walked towards her bedroom.

"CARL!" Rick hollered and went to shake his son awake.

Rick did not know how well Carl could fake a slumber yet. After a second shake, Carl pretended to wake up into a stretch and a yawn. Carl heard his mother say she was going to her room, and he used this information to his advantage.

"Yeah, Dad? I'm so sleepy," Carl uttered and pretended to be exhausted and dropped his head back on the floor with dramatic effect.

"I need you to get up and take a shower. I will lay your pajamas out while you are in there," Rick asked anxiously and watched as Carl turned to his side.

"Can I just take it in the morning. I might fall asleep in the tub!" Carl yawned adorably and Rick, being the new father pushover that he was, thought it was a good plan.

"Alright, but just sleep on the floor. Don't get in the bed with your…" Rick tried to negotiate but Michonne who was standing around the corner listening took over.

"CARL! GET YOUR TAIL IN THAT SHOWER AND YOU BETTER SMELL LIKE SOAP ALL OVER OR I WILL BATH YOU MYSELF! YOU KNOW BETTER!" Michonne hollered as she came around the corner shaking her head at Rick, "You can't let him con you, Rick!"

"Sorry," Rick muttered and narrowed his eyes at Carl who was high tailing it to the bathroom.

Taming Carl was going to be much harder than Rick thought. Rick yelled through the closed bathroom door to make sure he brushed his teeth. That was not a problem for Carl. He inherited an obsessive dental hygiene procedure from his mother after he had to sit though getting a cavity filled a year ago.

"Make sure he does not put back on his Green Lantern pajamas, they are dirty, so put them in the hamper. Get his batman ones, they are in the third drawer. And clean underwear. Smell him to make sure he is clean after he gets out and BEFORE he gets dressed Rick," Michonne ordered then went to pour herself a glass of wine and retreated to her own bathroom to take a relaxing bath.

Michonne officially left Rick to take care of Carl and Carl's bedtime shenanigans. Rick was overwhelmed already, but he was enjoying every second of the tomfoolery and looking forward to all that came with being a father to Carl.

Meanwhile, back in King County, Merle knocked on the shack that Bud called home and his scantily clad mess of a woman answered the door. When she licked her lips, Merle took a close look at her mouth and scrunched his nose in disgust.

"Look here girl, where's Bud?" Merle asked, hoping the idiotic dope was home.

"He's out back behind the trailer. You wanna come in first and have a little fun?" Bud's girlfriend asked and Merle left the porch without so much as a word.

She was a hard pass for Merle.

"Fuck you, Merle! You ain't better than any of the rest of us!" The woman shouted before slamming the door.

Merle did not think he was better, but even he had standards. Merle bed some downright unpleasant individuals in his lifetime, but gross was Merle's line in the sand. That woman had a cold sore on her lip bigger than a damn nickel. Merle wondered how Bud tolerated that woman.

"Nah, she ain't MY woman, she is one of MY WOMEN, if you know what I mean," Bud laughed and winked at Merle.

"Who is paying for that shit?" Merle asked but decided he did not want to know and instead asked about the reason for his visit, "Did you talk to your sister? Get information on Rick and his little multicultural family?"

"Yeah, Jenna said Jessie didn't know much," Bud answered, and Merle waited for his friend to continue and when he did not, Merle rolled his eyes.

"Well asshole, tell me the little she did know!" Merle stated with annoyance.

"Alright, Alright. Calm down. According to Jenna, Jessie ain't happy. Even though she is marrying that doctor, she had her sights set on Rick, but his old girlfriend made a return and ruined her chances. Rick has been on cloud nine and went up to Atlanta where his girl and his son live, and Rick's mama went too. Your brother Darryl is there. He is married to another lady. Rick was all excited when he got back. According to Jenna, Jessie said Rick went back up to Atlanta this weekend and planned to bring them down to the Greene farm soon. That's all she got for now."

"That's it?" Merle asked wondering how they were reunited in the first place.

Bud went on to explain how Carl came to King County twice all alone.

"THAT THERE IS IMPORTANT INFORMATION!" Merle hollered then calmed, "Alright. Keep me posted. I can't do anything with them in Atlanta. I need you to let me know when Rick brings his Nubian queen and their little black panther to King County.

Bud nodded and watched Merle leave wondering exactly what the newly released jailbird had planned. Bud did not mind a small stint in the county jail, but after a two-year sentence in an actual prison, Bud swore to never go back to that hellhole. By the sound of what Merle was planning, another prison sentence was probable. And Bud knew firsthand what prisoners did to criminals who messed with children. Bud needed a way out.

"Bud! Why are you standing out there looking like a fool!" Bud's gross-lipped employee asked.

"Why don't you worry more about covering up that herpes sore on your lip and less about what I'm staring at and maybe you might get a damn john willing to poke you with his pecker!" Bud hollered and herpes girl went back inside the trailer and slammed the door again.

"AND QUIT SLAMMING THE DOOR BEFORE YOU BREAK IT! FIND A BAND-AID FOR THAT SHIT!" Bud yelled before sauntering off to sit back behind his trailer for just a little bit of peace.

Bud then thought about Joe. Joe was different than Merle. Joe had less morals. No values. Joe would stomp on his own baby's throat if it meant he would gain a dollar. Bud thought about not telling Joe anything, but if Joe found out he was holding back information, it would be his own neck on the line. Bud would tell the head of the Claimers gang something, but maybe not everything. Bud shook his head as he thought about Merle and Joe.

"I'm fucking going back to prison," Bud breathed and dejectedly walked back behind his shack to try and figure out what in the hell he was gonna do to try and stop whatever shitstorm the two criminals were about to unleash.