All right, this chapter is the last gap filler and will end exactly the moment where chapter 9 left off.
I would love to hear what you thought about how I filled in the gap from the time jump with these last two chapters! I hope it met your expectations! Consider leaving a comment or review to let me know!
Your feedback is much appreciated! They are HUGE motivators! Writing is fun. I LOVE IT. For those that leave comments! i thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Editing is tedious. I DISLIKE IT SO MUCH. BUT reviews from all the readers can be the difference between throwing the covers over my head delaying the post or getting up and reading and editing a chapter for the 20th time to get it right and ready to post. Seriously. And I have seen several GREAT authors delete all their works because readers will not offer feedback and I get it. I really, really get it. Think of comments and reviews like our payment. So please, for all you silent readers, take just a minutes and tell me what you think. For those that constantly review, i smile every time i read them, and again when i reread them. Know you are appreciated.
Enjoy! And no, I did not stick to my word goal…ugh.
Chapter 11- The unInterruption of Rick and Michonne Part II
"Merry Christmas Carl!" Exclaimed Rick to his son who was jumping up and down on the couch that was Rick's bed for the holiday, "Your mama up too?"
"She said it's too early and threw a pillow at me, so I came here!" Carl explained and dropped on top of his father, "Get up Dad! It's Christmas!"
Rick was designated to the couch in the family room where Carl was already greedily eyeing all the gifts under the tree. It was pretty packed in the five-bedroom Greene farmhouse. Hershel had his room, and Ella had hers. Maggie's old room was now being used by Darryl and Sasha while she bunked with her sister Beth. Michonne and Carl shared a room, which left Rick without a room of his own. Rick could have stayed in his small one-bedroom apartment, but where Carl and Michonne were staying, Rick was staying too. Rick did offer his apartment to the Fords who declined and were currently sleeping in the den on an air mattress. Abe and Rosita did not want to miss even a minute of Christmas joviality with the family. Tyrese did accept the invitation to use the apartment since he was joining Sasha after finding out his parents were skipping Christmas in lieu of a cruise. Tyrese had been listening to Sasha brag about King County for weeks and was interested to see what all the hullaballoo was about.
They were all staying until the morning of December 27th, except the Fords who had to return a day early for work. The rest were going to spend the time after Christmas touring the town. Rosita felt some type of way about leaving a day before everyone else. Abe did too. Carl was staying with Rick in King County since Michonne had to work and Carl was off from school until after the new year. Rick previously picked up several extra shifts so that he could spend New Year's Eve and New Year's Day in Atlanta with Michonne and Carl. But until then, the Greene home was going to be tight for the Christmas holiday.
"Well, we ain't starting until everyone is awake Carl, especially your mother. Michonne would kill us for sure if she walked down the stairs to us opening presents without her. Your Grams would do worse, trust me," Rick chuckled and sat up forcing Carl to the side.
"Can I just open one?" Carl begged with pleading eyes.
"No, not even one Carl. Let's go check on your mother," Rick suggested with a yawn.
"She's up! Michonne will be down in a sec," Ella informed as she walked into the kitchen, "I'm gonna go put the turkey in the oven and make some coffee. I guess I'll microwave those frozen breakfast sandwiches since I don't have the time or the space to cook breakfast. Don't start opening presents without me!"
Carl bolted up the stairs with the intent of hurrying Michonne along and was delighted when he caught his mother halfway up the steps. Michonne did not bother to change from her pajamas, and instead just put on an old flannel robe she found hanging on the back of the guestroom door. Carl grabbed her hand, rapidly pulling Michonne down the steps and into the family room.
"Carl, we are going to wait for everybody. Besides, I need coffee first," Michonne uttered and walked into the kitchen.
Carl eyed the presents under the Christmas tree in frustration and bounded back up the stairs.
"CARL! The suns not even up yet!" Maggie exclaimed in her thick morning accent and a big yawn of annoyance, "BETH WAKE UP! If I gotta get up, you do too!"
"It's Christmas!" Carl yelled as he ran down the hall to wake up the Dixon's then to the den to do the same with the Ford's.
Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, much had occurred. Rick and Michonne continued their late-night chats in person when Rick could get down to Atlanta, or over the phone when he could not. He had made two trips to see his family in between the two holidays. A few conversations were not so nice, and several others were downright difficult, but both promised to hear each other out, listen to the message the other was conveying and find a way to forgive or create a solution to move forward. It was the equivalent of 'never go to bed angry' for a married couple. With Michonne's hectic work schedule, she was not able to make another trip to the farm since Thanksgiving, much to Carl's dismay. Michonne was getting tired of the excessive workload and knew at some point, something was going to have to give, but Michonne had no clue what that "give" needed to be.
Rick also got to work on trying to find Charles. Michonne could not remember the name of her father's old company, and when Rick searched, was surprised at how many architectural firms there were in Savannah. Rick hunkered down, and called each one until he ran across the right man. After the sixth call, Rick found a man with the name, but he had no clue who Andre Hawthorne was. After another half dozen calls, Rick hit the jackpot. Rick told Charles Johnson the reunion story, and Charles was delighted that Andre's daughter was found safe, and living a successful, happy life. Rick invited him and his family for Christmas dinner, and Charles accepted.
"What time is Charles and his wife coming?" Michonne asked excited to meet the man who helped her father.
"Around one, I think. Their daughter is spending Christmas Day with her husband's family in California, and their son is going skiing with his college roommate, so they are excited about the invitation," Rick answered then took a sip of coffee, "Then they are headed to Atlanta to catch a late-night flight to New York. Charles said he and his wife were excited to be able to vacation there without worrying about their children's holiday plans.
"Good for them," Michonne smiled and frowned at Maggie yelling from the family room.
"LET'S GET TO IT! I WANT TO GO BACK TO BED!" Maggie hollered as she laid out on the couch.
Carl was giddy, then frowned when all the parties were finally ready except one. Sasha was on the phone with her parents who were in Savannah at Ocean's Terminal waiting to board their seven-day cruise to the Bahamas, which is why they had to decline Ella's invite to Christmas dinner. Ella yelled out a greeting to Jacque who had been speaking with Ella and Letty often about business related first steps, and they followed her suggestions implicitly. Jacque shouted a hello though the speaker and informed Ella that she might have a good manager in mind for Serenity Woods and they would talk once she returned. Everything was rolling along. Sasha had set up an interview with a reporter to take pictures of Serenity Woods once they broke ground in January. Or rather demolished ground. The bulldozers were set to level the Grimes Farm in just a few weeks and Ella felt bittersweet about the process.
"AUNT SASHA!" Carl yelled impatiently and Michonne snatched Carl and pulled him down beside her on the couch and menacingly whispered something in his ear.
"Yes, ma'am," Carl sulked and crossed his arms and fell back on the couch.
Sasha felt bad that she was keeping Carl from his fun and ended her call.
"All right Carlito, get to it then!" Rosita exclaimed and Carl looked to his mother for approval, especially after she threatened to donate every unopened gift to charity if he did not calm his little ass down.
Michonne had an idea, and whispered it into Carl's ear, and Carl nodded his approval to donate at least three of his gifts to a children's charity. And not just the ones he liked the least.
"Go for it," Michonne permitted with a grin, and Carl bolted to the Christmas Tree.
As Carl ripped through one gift after another, Michonne stared blankly at the sheer number of gifts for Carl. She eyed Rick then eyed his mother. Then eyed the literal pile of gifts her son was currently swimming inside of. Carl was in Christmas heaven.
"Rick, I thought you promised that you and your mother were going to go easy? With all of our gifts added, it looks like a department store in here. Over there is the toy department. Right here is the clothing department. Oh, and there is the technology department. Is that a phone? What the hell Rick," Michonne exclaimed unbelievably.
"Me and mama had eight years of Christmases to make up for," Rick smiled and grabbed her hand and Michonne shook her head, "Yes, it's a phone, and if you agree, its one that Carl can only accept calls from preprogrammed numbers and only make calls to those same preprogramed numbers. And only you and I have the authority to program em. There is no internet and only three basic games on it. I figure for emergencies."
"That's a thing?" Michonne asked impressed, "We can try it out, at least until that stinker jailbreaks it and I have to stomp it and break it into a million pieces."
"So, what? Carl will get to use it a good week before that happens?" Rick laughed and Michonne snorted and agreed thinking she needed to make sure and check the phone at least twice a day.
"Those three are from us!" Sasha exclaimed as Carl continued to manically open his gifts.
Michonne shook her head, there were tons of gifts left and Michonne figured way more than three would be donated to whichever children's charity they decided. Rick wanted to see Michonne's perplexed face turn into a happy one.
"Carl, can you take a break and go get those gifts over there next to the technology department and bring em over here," Rick teased, and Carl nodded and did as he was told.
"Ow!" Yelped Beth who had fallen back to sleep under the mound of wrapping paper.
"Sorry!" Carl apologized for stepping on his cousin and carried the gifts to his father.
"You need to get up anyway Beth, we need to start dinner. Mrs. Letty will be here shortly. Go get dressed and come back down. And don't make me have to come up there and get you!" Ella warned knowing the teenager would probably try and get back in her bed.
"I will help too!" Maggie offered as she rose from the couch clutching her own gifts in her arms.
"NO!" Ella and Hershel shouted at the same time and Maggie brows furrowed.
Everyone tried to cover their laughs.
"I mean of course Maggie. Why don't you umm…" Ella looked at Hershel for some help.
"Maggie, you can cut up the…," Hershel stopped remembering all the celery they tossed out at Thanksgiving because she cut her finger while chopping.
"You can make the punch!" Ella exclaimed, who obviously wiped the taste of the sour Thanksgiving lemonade from her mind.
Maggie was just not good in the kitchen. Maggie's area of expertise was growing food, not cooking it. Maggie rolled her eyes and leaned back on the couch and watched her little cousin bring a third armful of gifts to Rick. Michonne grinned and left Rick's side to pass out the gifts she bought for the family and sat down to watch their delight as they opened their Christmas gifts. Maggie and Beth immediately perked up when they received every student's dream gift, an envelope full of cash. Michonne watched closely as Rick opened his own envelope.
"It's mighty thin for money, unless you're just cheap and only put a dollar in inside it," Rick joked as he pulled out the folded paper from inside.
Rick unfolded the letter and read it carefully. Then reread it and tried to keep his eyes from watering.
"Michonne, Thank you! This is the best gift you could have given me, aside from Carl and yourself of course," Rick smiled and reread the letter before handing it to his curious mother.
"Carl Ian Hawthorne Grimes," Ella read out loud, "You got his name changed?"
Michonne nodded and Rick pulled her into a hug and Carl jumped between the two to celebrate his new moniker also. Rick blew a breath and got up to gather the rest of Michonne's gifts.
"More Rick?" Michonne smiled with the giddiness of a child on Christmas.
"These are all yours. We have eight years to make up for you too!" Rick informed and stared into her eyes.
That right there is what escalated the physical aspect of their relationship from the hand holding, thigh rubs, lower back touches, and chaste kisses into a full blown make out session ten minutes later when Michonne pulled Rick out on the back porch. Ella and Sasha laughed when Rick and Michonne walked back in to watch Carl open the rest of his gifts with lidded eyes and swollen lips. By the time Tyrese arrived, Carl was taking a nap tired from all the excitement.
"Rosita, you missed it earlier. Rick and Michonne snuck off to make out then came back like nobody was gonna notice," Sasha whispered to a wide-eyed Rosita.
"Que Demonios! I was in the shower for like fifteen minutes! I got twenty bucks they have sex before she leaves back to Atlanta," Rosita stated sure she was going to win.
"Bet!" Sasha grinned and shook hands with Rosita before laughing evilly, "Where tramp? Carl is sharing a room with Michonne, Rick is sleeping on the couch all out in the open, and every single room in this house is full, and my brother is staying at Rick's one room apartment. My bet is on New Year's Eve when Rick comes down. Have my money ready."
"La Puta," Rosita uttered cutting her eyes as Sasha with irritation that she did not effectively think about their current sleeping arrangements, "That barn is available though."
Sasha and Rosita stared at each other seriously for a few seconds before they both burst out in laughter.
"I will take my twenty-dollar bill crisp. I don't want a wrinkly one," Sasha laughed, and Rosita shook her head.
By the time Letty, Morgan and his pregnant wife Jenny arrived, along with Charles and his wife, dinner was ready to be served and they all ate like kings and queens. As they let their food settle, Charles and Michonne reminisced about Andre for a while before the couple had to leave and catch their flight. Ella insisted they take two to-go plates filled with food and several dessert options to get them through the rest of the evening. They did not turn it down. The rest of the gang spent their evening sitting in the backyard by the firepit nibbling on leftovers and grilling Morgan about how he got into making cheese for a living. The next morning, they all rose bright and early and saw a sad Rosita and disappointed Abe off to Atlanta and the rest drove into downtown King County. Tyrese noticed downtown was a little small, but Sasha was building a mental picture for the group so they could see the huge potential that she saw.
"I see it!" Tyrese uttered and looked around then back at his sister with a smile.
"I do too!" Jenny repeated.
Sasha assured her brother and the Jones of the growth and after imagining the new and improved town in his head, Tyrese surveyed the area around downtown and made a note to speak with Andrea about his preferred franchise location. Jenny pulled Sasha to the side and made her own inquiry. Jenny would have to cut down on traveling once the baby came, and she saw a business opportunity also. The next day, Rick was melancholy as he watched Michonne leave but was consoled just a little that he would have Carl there to cheer him up.
"Smile boy. You will see her again in less than a week for New Years. Besides, you got a hell of a Christmas present from Michonne already," Hershel patted Rick on the back as they watched Michonne, along with the Dixons and Tyrese drive away from the farm.
"True, Carl's name change was a great gift, but what does that have to do with missing Michonne?" Rick asked Hershel, bemused.
"Not the name change son, the present she gave you for ten minutes on my back porch Rick," Hershel laughed, and left a stunned, red-faced Rick watching his uncle walk back inside the house.
Rick looked back at the dusty road and made an executive decision, then walked inside to talk to Ella to see if she would help him out.
"Of course, you don't even have to ask son. Carl and I have a few things we can get into!" Ella grinned.
"Mama, "get into" as you say has a whole new meaning when it comes to Carl Ian Hawthorne Grimes," Chucked Rick, "be watchful."
Four days later, Rick was on the road to Atlanta without Carl. Hershel agreed to meet Rick halfway on New Year's Day to bring his son back to Atlanta, but for New Year's Eve, Rick wanted to spend it with Michonne. Rick was not expecting sex to happen, but he most certainly hoped that it would. He still felt that kiss Michonne gave him on Christmas morning in his bones and he craved more. But Rick would be content just ushering in the new year alone with Michonne doing whatever innocent, or dirty thing she wanted to do that evening. Their alone time did not exactly work out how Rick initially envisioned.
"You sure I look, okay? Everybody here is all dressed up and I have on jeans, boots, and a blazer we got off the rack at Target this afternoon," Rick asked worriedly, eyeing the fancy dress Michonne was wearing and as well as the rest of the people at the ritzy rooftop party.
"Rick, you look perfect. I was not going to come to the party because I had Carl, now that we don't, let's have some fun tonight, besides, look a Darryl," Michonne grinned and lifted her chin over at the man in question.
Darryl had on a pair of old jeans and combat-style boots, a black T-shirt with the slogan, Leave Me Alone Fool, and his old, worn leather jacket. Rick felt much better about his outfit after that. Abe was more fashionable in a suit, but it had a casual feel with no tie and his shirt unbuttoned two buttons down. An hour before midnight, Darryl and Abe were ready to go, but stayed because the liquor was free, and the food was delicious. Exceptionally Delicious. Sasha looked for the chef and got his card, Tomichi "Tom" Okumura. Sasha thought the spa would need a great chef and took a picture of the card and sent it to Ella and Letty. Sasha left to search for Rick and Michonne who she had not seen in a while. Rosita, Darryl, and Abe joined the search, before Rosita sent the pair a text.
Rosita: Where are you two? The ball is dropping in thirty minutes.
Abe: I think the ball is already dropping, two of them.
Michonne: You are so crass Abe. Rick and I left. I was tired.
Sasha: Sure, you were. Do you remember a month ago when I told you it would be fireworks? I didn't think you would take it literally!
"Rosita, I am winning that bet!" Sasha giggled and Rosita rolled her eyes.
Rick was too embarrassed to text back and just let Michonne handle it. Michonne chose to handle it by not responding. Rick and Michonne left to go back to her condo early and spend New Years Eve sitting out on the balcony and watching the fireworks together. The club was too suffocating and Michonne decided she wanted to do with Rick what she planned to do with Carl had her son been there.
"This is nice," Rick smiled as he drank nonalcoholic sparking white grape juice from a champagne flute.
"It is. Carl loves fireworks and I love sitting out here, so it was gonna be a win-win for Carl and me," Michonne smiled and looked over at Rick who was staring at her intently.
"You look beautiful. "Don't know if I told you that tonight," Rick complimented and Michonne felt a rush of heat surge through her body.
"You did, several times," Michonne giggled, "But it's always nice to hear."
By midnight, Rick and Michonne were making their own fireworks in the bedroom. The guest quarters were about to go back to being a dusty storage space. Rick was in heaven. Being inside Michonne again was the most luxurious of pleasures and Rick silently thanked God and all his angels for the opportunity to lay with her again. Before, they were simply two kids who loved each other and winging sex the best way they knew how rather than really, truly satisfying each other. But now, it was a man and a woman who instinctively knew how to move their bodies together to intensify the adult stuff, and pleasure each other doing powerful adult thangs. Their first time that evening, at midnight, was slow and seductive. They moved together like glaciers, each kiss gentle, each stroke deliberate, each moan sounding as if it was playing at slow speed. The second time, about two hours after midnight and a small nap, the sex was more ravenous. The kissing was greedy. Rick's strokes were voracious and Michonne's movements were gluttonous. She wanted more and Rick gave Michonne her fill. She wanted it harder, faster, deeper, and surprised herself that she was so vocal about what she wanted without feeling the least bit awkward. It was a trust between the two that allowed both to be free, not only with their bodies, but their feelings, needs, and wants, too.
After that second round, Rick was breathing hard as he sat back against the headboard with the biggest grin on his face.
"That was great," Michonne uttered, and Rick's smile faltered when he saw her face did not match her words.
"I take it that is NOT a compliment?" Rick asked worriedly as he eyed her lying next to him, "what's wrong?"
Michonne was quiet for a minute then left the bed pulling the sheet leaving Rick completely nude and exposed and she immediately regretted using the linen to wrap around herself instead of her robe. She drew her eyes from his dick and back to his face.
"Looks like you have been practicing with all that," Michonne pointed to Rick's dick, "While I was pretty much celibate raising our son!" Michonne snared angrily at the thought Rick was out fucking and marrying women while she was forced to grow up to raise a child without a father.
Since Thanksgiving, sex and Rick's ill-devised marriage were the only topics they had yet to broach, and it seemed they were about to finally put that last issue to bed, no pun intended. Rick jumped out of the bed and rushed towards her, and his swinging dick had Michonne mesmerized, but his voice and his arms pulling her close to him snapped her from her trance.
"Michonne, it ain't like that. It was great because it was us! You and me together. It has only ever been good when I was with you. Only you!" Rick protested nervously, refusing to let Michonne shimmy out of his arms.
"How much fun did you have Rick?" Michonne spat angrily mostly at herself for having relations with Rick before they talked about their intimate pasts.
"When I got to college, I was angry, and I pretty much stayed to myself. Then I got excited about those flyers, and for the next year I was waiting for news from your father or calling your disconnected phone a few times. I even pretended that I was talking to you on occasion. I had whole conversations Michonne. Then a few months after your father died, I did look for a way to just numb my mind. I just wanted to turn my brain off for a minute. I got with this girl just to feel something again. I don't even recall her name, it was just a physical urge," Rick began his explanation and Michonne smacked her lips.
"So, like I said," Michonne interrupted, and Rick held up his hand.
"It ain't. I was with that girl once and didn't speak to her again. I am ashamed to admit this, but I ignored her. I felt guilty like I cheated on you. She told people that I was an asshole, and I didn't dispute it because I felt like one," Rick admitted and shook his head, "And word got around that I would fuck girls and never speak to em after, even though it was only that one time."
"Hmmm," Michonne hummed a little too upbeat for the situation.
"After that, I got evil looks from who I guess were her friends. Evidently, I also called her by another girl's name when I came. Yours. They said Michelle, but I knew they meant Michonne. By my junior year, my reputation recovered, and all seemed to be forgotten. I had sex with another girl and fucking did the exact same thing. I called her your name and ignored her after. I was bastard. I didn't learn shit from the first time. Then towards the end of my senior year, I thought I met someone that I actually liked," Rick started and Michonne pushed him away.
"I don't want to hear this Rick and put some pants on!" Michonne tried to walk into her bathroom, but Rick pulled her back and sat on the edge of the bed pulling her onto his naked lap.
Rick rested his head on her chest. He needed to tell her the story so that Michonne could understand that he never got over her. Never.
"Like I said, there was this one girl that I thought I liked. And I was so happy. I took her to dinner one evening and when she started eating with wild abandon, I smiled and then I was appalled. By the end of dinner, I realized why I liked her so much. She looked like you," Rick recalled and blew out a breath.
"Rick all black people don't look…" Michonne began to say, and Rick kissed her quiet.
"It was not like that. If I had a picture to show you, I mean you two could have been sisters. She wore her hair like you did, not now, with your locs, but how you used to wear it all wild and free? Remember?" Rick smiled and looked up at Michonne until she nodded then he rested his head back on her chest, "When did you get theses?" Rick questioned in almost a whisper as he twirled one loc around his finger.
"I got them a few months after Carl was born. I could not fool with Carl and my hair. One had to go. I was thinking about cutting it short, but then I saw Mrs. Thelma from the church with them and she took me to her stylist. She paid for my hair upkeep all the way until she passed when I was in law school. She was a sweet old lady. I miss her," Michonne remembered warmly, "Anyway, I don't need to hear about your women Rick. Lori was enough."
Rick ignored her request.
"I dated her for a month, and I fooled myself into thinking I was happy, but after that dinner, I realized I was happy in the most inappropriate of ways. But I didn't care. In my mind, I kept pretending that I had you back. It did not end well. I had sex with her for the first time that same night knowing full well what was happening in my mind," Rick admitted with disgust for himself.
"Rick, what were you thinking," Michonne probed incredulously.
"I was thinking about you. Always you. While we were fucking, I kept calling her your name, over and over. I heard myself that time, and I knew what I was doing, but I just kept calling out your name anyway. I didn't care. I had you back even if it wasn't real. I thought I could make up for what I did to you if I just kept pretending. She pushed me off before either of us finished and she dumped me right then and there and never spoke to me again. After that, I focused on graduating and didn't have sex with anybody else until Richard tricked me and Lori together. I'm sure I did the same thing with Lori too. Calling her your name I mean. That's probably why we had sex so few times for a newly married couple. That, and it didn't feel right being with her like that. And when I saw her pregnant belly, I couldn't bear to touch her because it made me think of you."
Rick could count on one hand the times they had sex while dating and married. Sex was a rarity with Lori and Lori was just as motivated to not have sex with Rick. It felt wrong to both of them for the exact same reason. They each loved someone else.
"Oh my God, Rick," Michonne expressed with slight aversion and a huge helping of delightful confidence.
"Believe me, I know," Rick uttered with disgust.
"And how was that marriage?" Michonne asked hesitantly, wondering how Rick and Lori got along.
"It did not last very long. We rarely talked and had sex even less than that. If I wasn't so out of it, I would have been more surprised Lori was pregnant and asked some questions," Rick chuckled, "I was more mad with Shane than Lori. I really didn't care that she was gone. I felt nothing about it. But I thought Shane had fucked me over again. Sex with those women, it was bland, gray. I felt nothing. But with you, everything is full of color. Full of joy. The feeling of me inside you is sublime Michonne. Right here right now, this is perfect. This is everythang."
"I feel the same way," Michonne admitted as she wiped the tears from her face.
Rick moved her hand and wiped away her tears with his thumb then kissed the tracks they left down her face.
"What about you? Never mind I don't wanna know," Rick ended shaking away the thought of anyone being with her.
Michonne did not let that deter her. She wanted no secrets between her and Rick so that they could make a fresh start. So they would know everything about each other with no surprises.
"There was really only one. Siddiq. I dated him right after I moved to Atlanta. I was too busy with Carl and trying to graduate to even think about dating before that. There were a few guys interested in me in college, but most of them, when they found out I was a mother, they disappeared just as fast as they appeared. Siddiq and I did have sex, and the first time was a mess because I hadn't…, well and the second time was much, much better," Michonne emphasized, and Rick groaned, "BUT, there was no emotion there. No feeling. So that was our last time and we decided we were better friends than lovers," Michonne explained, "I think he is engaged to be married now."
"Well, you and I are done with anyone else. You are mine and I am yours forever," Rick stated firmly and Michonne reared her head back to look him in the eye.
"Really? What if someone comes around and says something about me that…" Michonne started, and Rick did not let her finish.
"Never again Michonne. NEVER. We will communicate and I trust you. I always did, I was just too young and too stupid to realize it, and when I found out Darryl was gone too…I just," Rick paused and decided to leave that be, "but I will NEVER make that mistake again. I will never let you and Carl walk out of my life ever again," Rick affirmed adamantly.
Still sat in his lap, Michonne looked at Rick for a long minute and ran her hands through his curls. Rick closed his eyes enjoying the soft, intimate feeling of her fingers running through his scalp. Then she kissed the top of his head and laid her head on top of his. They stayed in that cozy position for a while as they soaked in all the new information, determined for the new year to be filled with love and leave all that hurt and pain behind. The more they learned about one another, the more enthusiastic they were about the future of their family.
After a while, Rick's idle hands became active, and he began rubbing them up and down Michonne's back. Eventually, he pulled the sheet down exposing her breasts. When he took her nipple into his mouth she grinned, then threw her head back and moaned at the way he playfully bit and nipped and sucked. Rick placed his chin on her chest and looked up at Michonne and when Michonne locked eyes with Rick, she determined this next round was going to be a mix of rounds one and two, and she was correct, and it put her out like a light. Michonne woke up early New Year's Day moaning. After already experiencing three full rounds of great sex, Rick was ready to solely focus on her pussy using only his mouth. The thought had him salivating in his sleep and he woke with determination. Rick wiggled underneath the covers until his head was between her legs. Michonne's eyes flew open when she realized what Rick was doing.
"RICK!" Michonne yelled not knowing if she wanted to scream for him to stop or yell for him to keep going.
This was Michonne's first real experience of being fully eaten out. Sort of. During the mess of a first time with Siddiq, he traveled there, but Michonne was way too self-conscience to allow him to get to his destination. The second time he tried again, but it still felt awkward, and they stuck to basic sex. Vanilla sex. This was Rick's first attempt at eating pussy too. Sort of. The second round with Michonne, Rick had the strong desire to taste her, and gave her folds a couple of full licks, but that was it. Rick loved the assault on all his senses, but he had never done that before, and although he wanted more, Rick was nervous and decided to stick with what he knew. When Rick and Michonne were young, Rick only really knew the "stick it in and pull it out and kiss titties" technique and he barely got that right. The times they did not use a condom, Rick struggled pulling out and that was how they got Carl. All night, Rick had been thinking about those mind-altering licks to Michonne's pussy and at 5am New Year's morning, he could no longer resist.
"You taste so good Michonne, God, I love you," Rick uttered between laps of pleasure.
Rick was basically just licking up and down and Michonne instinctively began to tell Rick what to do to please her, and he followed her directions well: sucking on her clit, fucking her with his tongue, and slurping her folds until he thought he was high on drugs. Rick paid close attention to her moans and movements and Rick learned enough to strike out on his own.
"Rick please, don't stop!" Michonne hollered as was upset when Rick did just that and turned over onto his back, "RICK! I said don't stop!"
"Sit on my face Michonne, please," Rick begged and Michonne appeared reluctant.
Rick saw the hesitance and pulled Michonne on top of him and grabbed under her ass, lifting her slightly until her pussy was over his mouth. Michonne fell forward and grabbed onto the fancy tufted headboard and almost ripped out the fabric.
"RICK!" Michonne yelled as he licked and sucked and fucked her with his tongue until she creamed into his mouth and Rick licked her clean.
Rick was hard, harder than he could ever remember being, and he was in the process of scooting her down his body to relieve his tension, but Michonne was not having it. She wanted to return the favor. Michonne turned her body quickly around and placed his dick in her mouth. Rick did not have experience eating pussy, he got his dick sucked from all four women he had sex with.
All except Lori was pissed when Rick did not return the favor before fucking them and calling out another woman's name. Two of the four were damn good and Rick immediately knew what he liked when it came to his cock in a woman's mouth.
"Oh God Michonne," Rick uttered and was more turned on that Michonne had is dick in her mouth than what she was doing with it, which was basically nothing.
Rick smiled and moved a smidgen inside her mouth to mimic what he wanted her to do, but she still seemed confused. Rick followed Michonne's earlier lead and began to tell her exactly what he liked and Michonne followed his directions very well too. Michonne thought she would feel embarrassed as she licked his shaft and inhaled his tip before taking him fully into her mouth until Rick's large mushroom head touched the back of her throat. She thought she would be uncomfortable as her saliva soaked his dick before twisting her hands around his thick girth in an opposite direction that drove him wild. Michonne was sure she would have felt mortified when she sucked on his balls and after a deep, hard suck, spat each out with a pop. Michonne rinsed and repeated the process and was stunned that not only was she not embarrassed, but also that her pussy was dripping wet as she felt her own orgasm vastly approaching.
"Fuck Michonne, you take instruction real good. Real good," Rick moaned and yelled out that he was close to cumming.
Michonne refused to detach her mouth from his cock, and Rick informed her through gritted teeth that he was going to gently hit the back of her throat a few times, and after doing so, Rick came all over her tongue and throat, and she swallowed every bit before she surprised herself again by cumming right along with him. When she moved up to give Rick a kiss, he was snoring.
A few hours later, Michonne lazily opened her eyes to Rick giving her a kiss on the forehead and pulling the covers up to her neck like she liked. She closed her eyes and opened them again, this time to a fully dressed Rick leaving the bedroom and she tried hard not to fall back to sleep but ultimately failed. Michonne wanted to ask where he was going so early in the morning, but a deep slumber called her name. When she felt Rick poke her on her shoulder after what she assumed was just a few minutes later, she was a little annoyed that Rick wanted to go another round. She was tired!
"Rick, I am so sleepy," Michonne whispered with a groan, "Let me sleep. Why are you dressed anyway?"
Michonne pulled the covers completely over her head to emphasize her 'no entry' stance.
"No Mom, it's me. Carl," her son corrected, and Michonne's eyes flew open, "Why didn't you come with Dad to pick me up? Why didn't you answer my texts?"
Michonne was confused. She was not supposed to get Carl until noon, and it was still early in the morning. She stuck her head from under the covers, careful not to expose her naked body as she tightly held the blanket firmly against her chin. She snaked one arm out and reached for her phone and noticed it was already 1:30pm and she had some missed calls and texts.
Carl: Happy New Year Mom! I texted Uncle Darryl and Uncle Abe and Aunt Sasha and Aunt Rosita! Dad too! I love my phone!
Carl: How come you don't answer? Grams said you are probably sleep. I will call you in the morning!
Carl: How come you are not here to pick me up! Where are you! Why won't you answer me? I called you this morning!
Michonne noticed two missed calls from her son and felt terrible.
"Hey baby, I missed you!" Michonne exclaimed to Carl and felt awful that she could not hug and comfort her son at the moment because she was naked, "I guess I overslept. I'm sorry I missed your texts and calls. I won't happen ever again. I promise. I need to get used to you having a phone now."
Carl wondered why his mother made no effort to get out of bed. When Carl entered the condo, he tore a path to his mother despite Rick assuring him that Michonne was fine. He asked Carl to wait a minute to give Michonne time to get dressed if she was still asleep, but when Carl saw her bedroom door wide open, the tyke darted inside. Rick kicked himself for not closing the door behind him before he left. Rick walked in behind his son and placed his hand on Carl's shoulder.
"Are you sick?" Carl asked checking her forehead for a fever like Michonne did so many times for him.
"No baby, I was just tired. Did you have a nice drive back with dad?" Michonne asked from underneath the blanket.
"Yes, I thought you were coming too?" Why are you still in bed?" Carl anxiously asked his rapid-fire questions.
Michonne was an early riser, and she had also ignored all his communication and Carl was immediately worried when Rick showed up without his mother. Carl was about to climb onto the bed, pull the covers down enough so he could see Michonne and determine for himself if his mother was okay. Rick held him back.
"Let your mama rest some Carl. She must still be tired from the party," Rick winked and Michonne held back a grin, "Carl and I stopped at the store, we are gonna fix some lunch. You stay in bed for as long as you need. We will call you when the food is ready," Rick informed and unconsciously slapped Michonne on the butt before ushering Carl from the room.
Carl furrowed his brow.
"Dad, why did you hit mom on the butt," Carl asked perplexed, and Rick's eyes went big when he realized what he did.
Michonne was officially up, and she was about to stammer out an explanation, but stopped when she heard Rick diffuse the situation.
"You ready to make the spaghetti and homemade meatballs, Carl? You can help me roll em," Rick tasked, taking the butt slap off Carl's mind, and giving Michonne and apologetic look.
"YES!" Carl exclaimed and, "Wait, mom, are you going to get up and help us?"
"Yes baby, let mommy take a quick shower and I will be right there," Michonne assured and watched as Rick shut her door for privacy.
"Dad, we have to wait for mom, Ok," Carl stated with pleading eyes and Rick nodded and walked him to the sofa.
Rick decided to have a private talk with his son.
"Carl, I know it's been just you and your mother for these last eight years, and your mother did a wonderful job raising you. I just want you to know that I am here for you too and I ain't never going anywhere. I ain't going to ever leave you and your mother again, OK? I don't want you to worry," Rick stated firmly to let Carl know he was serious, "There will be times that I pick you up, or drop you off, or it will be just you and me hanging out while your mother runs errands or hangs out with your Aunts. You ok with that?"
"Sure dad," Carl uttered but did not look as convinced as Rick would have liked.
Rick now fully understood that for Carl, Michonne was the only parent his son had known for eight and a half years and that broke his heart. Rick was at first confused when Carl panicked when he noticed Michonne was not in the car after meeting Hershel at the halfway point. Carl was a different kid the whole ride back to Atlanta. He was quiet and nervous. Rick wondered if Carl was tired, but once Carl raced into the house, and he saw the concern Carl had for his mother, Rick finally connected the dots and figured out why Carl was rattled on the car ride home. When Michonne finally came out all showered and fresh, Carl ran to her and gave her the tightest hug he could.
"I missed you mom. I love you. You have to answer my calls, ok?" Carl requested and Michonne smiled down at her son.
"I love you too Carl and I promise that I will answer all of your calls from now on, ok? I missed you so much that I need to give you a thousand kisses!" Michonne mused and bent down and started the KissFest.
"Mom! Ten will be enough!" Carl giggled as Michonne counted each kiss until she got to ten, "Maybe twenty!"
Michonne laughed and gave her son ten more.
Rick and Michonne needed to talk with Carl concerning their new rekindled relationship but decided to wait until after lunch and a bit of kitchen fun.
"Can we make the meatballs now?" Carl asked and ran into the kitchen followed by his parents.
The new year was fast and furious. Demolition began on the Grimes farm almost immediately; Eugene was not playing around about his timelines, and by mid-January the old house, barn, stables, and animal enclosures were leveled. Michonne came out to mark the occasion and Rick grinned as he watched Carl run around the newly bare property. All that was left was the fertile land, and Ella and Rick stood on the property surveying it with bittersweet feelings while Letty joined Michonne and Carl. Ella and Rick felt it was symbolic of their current situation, especially since Ella had asked Dale to start the divorce proceedings. Ella used the moment alone to update Rick on her separation from that demon Richard Grimes.
"When Dale filed the divorce paperwork after Christmas, he told me it could take four to six months, even if it's not contested. Richard should be served the paperwork any day now," Ella informed.
"Four to six months? He already gave you everythang? Why so long?" Rick grunted appallingly, "A deputy usually serves, you ask Hershel if anything came across his desk yet?"
"Once Richard is served, if he signs right then, then we file with the clerk at the courthouse, then the process will be over, and I will be a divorced woman. But Rick, let's not underestimate your father. That man is capable of anything. Who knows what he might be up to with all this time to think. I have not heard a peep from him. He stays to himself in that cabin he purchased," Ella spat shaking her head.
"You know where he lives? You been keeping up with him?" Rick asked worriedly.
"Of course I have, Rick! You saw what happened when we didn't pay attention before and just assumed he was a good man doing right by us!" Ella bit and Rick nodded, "Hershel said mostly he goes to his doctors' appointments, the grocery store, the pharmacy, then back out to that cabin. Sometimes he sits on the bench in town square before he goes home."
"All Right. I will ask Hershel to let us know when the paperwork is ready to be served," Rick advised, and Ella smacked her lips.
"I already did that son," Ella laughed and walked over to the rest of the group.
Rick watched his mother walk away. She was happy. There was a smile on her face and a pep in her step. As he scanned the property, Rick realized they were purging the land from all of Richard's hateful and foul actions that were so interred in the walls and seeped into the floors of their old house, that a person could have almost seen the dingy stains. Those imprints were gone now, just foul impressions lost in the rubble. They were both ready to begin the new year and leave that nasty man behind them for good. A few weeks later, Eugene arrived to supervise the marking of the ground for the foundation of both the spa and B&B. Ella and Letty were overjoyed to see the beginnings of their dream come to fruition. This was also their first taste of brilliant, but crazy ass Eugene. Both thought it was going to be a long rest of the year.
Rick and Michonne went from dating exclusively after the New Year sexy times, to fully engaged by Mid-February. Rick did not see any point in waiting since they had already wasted eight years. Michonne noticed some telltale signs that Rick might ask her to marry him and found that she was excited at the prospect. First, she found a receipt for roses, and Rick was all of a sudden acting all nervous around her for no reason. She noticed Rick had been talking to Rosita and Sasha a bit more than usual and one day she caught Rick digging around in her jewelry box looking at her rings.
There was one clue that completely went over Michonne's head at the time. When she went to help Rick pack up his apartment for his move to the Greene farm, Michonne did not know what to make of a picture of a house she noticed lying on top of the moving boxes. Michonne looked it over and shrugged her shoulders. 'The wrap around porch is nice,' Michonne said to herself and shoved the picture inside box before taping it up. With all the other clues however, Michonne was sure Rick was going to propose on Valentine's Day, which was also her birthday, and she was giddy.
"Rosita, YES, I am sure that's what it was!" Michonne exclaimed when she saw Rick hide the little black velvet box.
"Don't go looking in that box Michonne! At least pretend to be surprised by the ring!" Sasha demanded, "Has he given any other clues?"
"Of course he has Sasha! Carl is spending the night with me and Abe, which by the way Chica, you owe me big time! I can't believe I agreed to babysit on Valentine's Day!" Rosita exclaimed, "You need to move back here Sasha!"
"NO, Y'all need to move to King County!" Sasha countered, "It is growing faster than even I imagined!"
Rosita was pissed that Sasha moved to King County and she knew Michonne was going to be next. With the growth that was happening in the town, and her possible engagement, there was no way Rosita could see it any other way. King County was booming, and she felt she was slowly losing her friends. There were currently no openings for Medical Examiner in King County, she was keeping an eye on potential job opportunities but did not want to get her hopes up by telling her friends.
"Rosita, would you move here if a position became available?" Sasha wondered, and when Rosita did not answer right away Sasha added, "think about it. The town is growing, and the city departments are also. I bet the county Medical Examiner office will at least need an assistant soon. I will check into it and let you know while you think about it. If not, King County Hospital is growing too," Sasha finished and smiled when Rosita said she would think about it.
The Valentines/Birthday date had Michonne damn near light-headed. Rick gave her his birthday gift earlier in the day, the letters C and R encrusted in diamonds for her to add to the M necklace that Carl brought for her when he first came to King County alone on the bus. Rick also had a dozen roses, and her favorite chocolate candy, a Big Kat bar, but Michonne was waiting for something else to appear. Nothing. Michonne figured the proposal would probably happen over dinner and got excited once again.
Rick took Michonne to a fancy restaurant that Rosita suggested, and she looked in her Champagne glass before drinking in case Rick put the ring inside to surprise her. Nothing. She even slid her fork all through her slice of double chocolate cake just in case it was hidden underneath the frosting. Nothing. When they left the restaurant, Michonne just knew he was going to propose as they walked through the picturesque park snuggled together to keep out the cold. When Rick bent down, Michonne jumped for joy, but quickly frowned and narrowed her eyes when she realized Rick was just tying his shoe. Nothing again. Rick chuckled when they got back to her condo when Michonne was let down that there were no flower petals on the floor leading to the ring, or a surprise party where Rick would ask her in front of all their friends. Nothing. Just nothing.
"You all right?" Rick asked as he took his suit off and laid it across the chair in her bedroom.
"Fine," Michonne muttered and sucked her teeth as she headed to the bathroom to shower.
When Rick followed, she held her head up high and told him she wanted to shower alone. She rolled her eyes when Rick laughed, and she shut the door and locked it. Michonne felt a little better after letting the hot spray of water spray soothe her tight muscles and decided to salvage the evening by walking into the bedroom naked. Rick was nowhere to be found, but she got excited when she saw the little black box in the middle of the bed with a card that simply read: Happy Valentine's Day!
"YES, YES, YES!" Michonne whisper shouted and jumped around, titties bouncing every which way.
Michonne looked around for Rick who she heard fumbling around in the kitchen. Michonne was impatient and decided not to wait, and grabbed the box and took a deep breath before she opened it. Diamond earrings. A pair to match her birthday gift. Michonne cut her eyes at the box then at Rick when he walked in eating the leftover chocolate strawberries from earlier. Rick was thrilled and highly turned-on after noticing Michonne did not have on a stitch of clothing.
"You like em?" Rick asked as he salaciously scanned Michonne's naked body.
Michonne smiled tightly and nodded.
"Yes, they are lovely," Michonne muttered.
"Is this my gift?" Rick inquired tapping Michonne's bare ass.
Rick was amused at Michonne pretending like she was not going to put out that evening. Rick put the plate of strawberries down on the nightstand and eyed Michonne who was now sat on the edge of the bed with her arms crossed. Rick stood in from of her and knocked her legs open using his knee and stood between her thighs. He reached for the fruit and slid the chocolate covered treat along her lips.
"Want a bite?" Rick asked seductively, and Michonne tightened her lips.
Rick removed the strawberry from her lips and took a bite himself and closed his eyes like he was in ecstasy. When he opened them, Michonne was licking her lips. Rick ran the half-eaten, juicy strawberry across her lips again and this time Michonne bit into it.
"Ummmm," Michonne moaned at the taste of the sweet fruit mixed with the dark chocolate coating.
"See how nice I am to share. Now are you gonna share your goodies with me?" Rick asked seductively.
Michonne playfully shook her head NO and tried to sit stiffly in retaliation. Rick kissed her neck then pushed her back and told her to open her legs wider. At first, Michonne refused, but when Rick took a step back like he was going to give up, she opened wide, pussy to the world.
"That's my good girl," Rick whispered salaciously and ran the last bite of strawberry and its juice over her pussy lips before placing the treat in his mouth, "so good."
Michonne nearly passed out at his antics.
"Oh my God," Michonne purred as Rick licked her strawberry flavored pussy.
"You didn't like my gifts?" Rick asked as he kissed her body stopping at her breasts, her clavicle, her neck, and jaw before stopping at her mouth.
Rick was on top of her staring Michonne in the eyes and was not going to move until he got an answer.
"I loved them, it just…" Michonne started then stopped when she felt the tip of Rick's dick burrow into her pussy.
Rick stopped again.
"Just…what Michonne?" Rick asked as he slowly pushed his cock to the hilt, deep inside her pussy and Michonne's brain went fuzzy, "Were you expecting something else?"
Michonne opened her eyes anxiously. She did not want Rick to know she thought he was going to propose so she turned the tables on him and pushed him over so that she was on top to take his mind off her shenanigans. Michonne slid back down on his cock and leaned back and placed her hands on his thighs and rode him until he forgot his question. They both slept hard and deep after that, and the next morning when Rick left to go back to King County, Michonne was pissed.
"NO ROSITA! HE DID NOT PROPOSE! THEY WERE EARINGS!" Michonne hollered and rolled her eyes at her friend who was dropping Carl back home.
"I am so sorry Chica, get dressed. I will treat you to a sad sap Valentines lunch," Rosita stated and then called for Carl to put his shoes back on.
"Are you a sad sap too Rosita?" Michonne asked in a pitiful sorry little voice with a tiny hope of solidarity.
"No sweetie, since we were watching Carl for you, Abe and I celebrated the day before and Abe got me everything I asked for," Rosita smiled and patted Michonne on the back.
When Michonne walked inside the little café with Rosita and Carl, she became confused when as they were led to the outdoor seating area.
"Rosita, it's too cold to sit outside!" Michonne exclaimed but Rosita pushed her along.
"They have outdoor heaters, we will be fine," Rosita answered, "It's a pretty day."
"But…" and before Michonne could protest any further, her eyes were drawn to the rose petals by the patio door.
Michonne first thought the lazy staff did not sweep up after all the romantic Valentines dinners and proposals from the previous evening and rolled her eyes. Then she saw Darryl sitting at a table. Then Sasha. Then Abe and Ella. Hershel, Maggie, and Beth were there too.
"Hey Michonne! You look lovely!" Yelled Father Gabriel on FaceTime from Darryl's phone.
Michonne did not know what to make of them all being in the café. Carl grabbed his mother's hand.
"Come on mom, Dad has something to ask you," Carl spoke, then whispered, "I already said yes in case you were wondering, but Dad says that you need to say Yes too."
Carl smiled and that is when Michonne noticed Rick in a navy suit, bent down on one knee. Carl pulled her over to stand in front of his father before moving to stand next to his grandmother. Michonne had already started crying.
"Don't cry baby. This was eight and a half years in the making. You are my destiny. We were always meant to be together, and I am so honored that you forgave me and let me back into your, and Carl's life. I love you more than you can ever imagine. I never stopped loving you Michonne and I'm confident that I never will. You are my future. My everythang. Will you give me the honor of being my wife? Will you marry me Michonne?"
"YES!" Michonne exclaimed and hugged Rick then looked at the ring sitting in a completely different box.
A little blue one. Rick stepped back and took the ring and placed it on Michonne's finger.
"You have made me the happiest man alive," Rick grinned and gave Michonne a kiss then whispered in her ear, "serves you right for sneaking around."
Michonne threw her head back in a chuckle.
"You knew I was peeking?" Michonne asked, shocked because she thought she was being stealth.
"No, but the girls told Darryl and Abe you were on to me, and they thought it was funny that you figured it out. They helped me change the plans to get you back for being impatient," Rick smiled and Michonne shook her head.
"I should be mad at you Rick, but I am so happy. I never in my wildest dreams thought this day would happen. I thought I would never see you again, and that made me so sad. For me and for our son. I am so glad I listened and decided to be open. I love you too," Michonne stated still woozy from all the excitement.
Rick and Michonne decided on a small ceremony at the Greene farm in early August, but not before Carl's big 9th birthday celebration they planned in May. By the end of March, Rick was studying for his sergeant exam. Hershel had hired Shane a month back plus three additional deputies. Andrea was the new King County City Manager. Dale proclaimed he was running for mayor and was expected to win the race in a few months, and Michonne accepted Sasha's plea to partner with her at the King County law firm. Rick was overjoyed.
Sasha's media blitz had changed all of their lives for the better. The article about Ella and Letty's new business venture was the talk of Georgia, and Andrea began developing business contracts furthering the King County expansion. Andrea vetoed any business or construction project that did not align with the picturesque beauty of the town, and most came back to the table with more suitable designs. Andrea kept her eye on the population growth and made sure any new neighborhoods or businesses invested in the infrastructure of the town first. They had to build new roads before they built a single house. They had to update the pipes and plumbing before they renovated any old buildings in downtown King County to bring them up to code. The money from the new business property taxes helped upgrade old businesses, roads, and bridges. There was so much growth, plans were drawn up to add a new elementary school within the next year or so. Sasha Dixon and Andrea Harrison were damn dynamos. Andrea kept her promise to leave the small town feeling intact, as King County was starting to look like a small city. It was a win-win for everybody involved.
By Mid-April, Rick was parked on the side of the road learning just how smart his son was and thought they might need to get his little ass tested for MENSA. Carl had to be a genius.
"Well Rick, let me tell you a story about cupcakes and pyramids," Michonne started with a laugh.
Rick had an idea of what to do with his unruly son.
"Bring him down here. He can spend all of his suspension working at the farm, or Serenity woods planting. He can come with me to the station, or with Sasha at the law office, or Darryl at his worksite. There will be plenty work to teach him a lesson," Rick suggested, "I will drive down after my shift to pick him up. I get off at 3pm."
"Are you going straight back or staying here? Do you have to work tomorrow?" Michonne asked, hoping Rick could stay overnight.
"You miss daddy already?" Rick asked seductively.
"No, I mean yes, of course I miss you deputy," Michonne corrected, and Rick chuckled at how indifferent and unsexy she made his sexytime nickname sound, "but I could use the help getting Carl packed and fed. I have been tired and sluggish lately. I think I might be coming down with a cold," Michonne uttered yawing into the phone.
"If you are getting sick Michonne, then you need to take off work and come back with me and Carl. I don't want you there alone with nobody to take care of you. I don't go in until 10am tomorrow morning, so I can stay the night. We would all just need to leave by 7am." Rick ordered worriedly.
"I can't Rick. I have cases to finish up before my last day. With Sasha and Andrea gone, there is a backlog, and as a junior associate, I have to do all the grunt work. I really don't want to leave them in a pinch. I may need a reference from them in the future," Michonne explained, and Rick rolled his eyes.
"Michonne, what can you do when you are sick. You can't run yourself ragged. And I think King County will be your forever home, so there's that," Rick declared.
"You are probably right, but you never know. And I am already taking three days off in May before Carl's birthday party, and a couple of weeks over the summer before the wedding. I am already behind, so taking off extra days right now is a no go. I am sure I am just exhausted from planning a birthday party, a wedding, preparing to change jobs, move to a new town, and into a new house with my new husband," Michonne smiled into the phone and instead of arguing the issue right then, Rick decided to try and convince her later that evening face-to-face.
Rick hung up with Michonne, put his car in drive, and headed towards Serenity Woods to beg his mother to help with Carl, then turned right back around to head straight to the station to wait for T-Dog instead. Rick wanted to be there to see the look on Theodore's face when he marched Charlene and her never-healing herpes lip into the station considering it was the new deputy's first dealings with her. Rick knew Ella would help with watching Carl so the trip to ask was unnecessary. Rick's pettiness outweighed visiting his mother at the moment. Rick was happy as a clam. Carl was coming for three days, and despite the reason, Rick was always glad to see his son. He could not wait until he was able to see Carl every day once he and Michonne officially moved to King County a few days before the wedding.
After Rick got off work, he called his mother to let Ella know he was headed to Atlanta. Ella was displeased about the reason why Carl was spending three school days in King County, but like Rick, she was still excited to see her grandson no matter the circumstance. Ella told Rick not to stop and get her grandson breakfast on the return trip, then hung up the phone without so much as a goodbye. Rick wondered if Ella remembered that he was HER son and laughed that Carl was now getting all of Ella's attention. Rick did not bother to stop by the farmhouse since he had clothes at Michonne's condo and immediately got on the road instead.
While Carl was tossing his belongings in his little suitcase, preparing for what Michonne called his "three days of hard labor," he was miffed that his mother was not packing for him like she usually did. After fifteen minutes, Carl realized that his mother had no intention of helping and he stomped to her bedroom to demand she pack his suitcase. Carl found Michonne sat on her bathroom floor.
"Mom are you ok?" Carl asked worriedly noticing the toilet seat was up, "are you throwing up?"
"Carl, stay back. I think I have a stomach bug. I don't want you to catch it. I'll be fine," Michonne ordered and stood when she heard her front door open, "that's your dad."
Carl eyed his mother, and she waved her hands for him to back up, and Carl nodded and ran to tell his father that his mother was sick. Rick walked back to the bedroom to find Michonne lying across the bed.
"Before you say anything, I already feel better!" Michonne uttered, "Let me brush my teeth and I will be right out. Can you go help Carl finish packing please."
"Carl said you threw up?" Rick inquired and walked over to place his hand on her forehead to check for a fever.
"I thought it was a bug, but since I feel better, I think it might have been the sushi I had for lunch today. I didn't help that I had to scarf it down to run to get Carl from school after the principal called," Michonne assured that it was bad fish and nothing else.
Rick nodded and anxiously watched Michonne stumble into the bathroom and close the door. He was troubled that Michonne was working herself to near exhaustion.
"I just need to finish putting the rest of my comic books in my suitcase then I will be done," Carl answered and watched his father furrow his brow.
Rick almost forgot Carl was still in the room.
"Did you pack underwear? Pajamas? Socks? Toothbrush? Actual Clothes?" Rick asked concerned and shook his head when Carl ran back to his room.
Rick took out all the games and comic books and packed only the essentials for Carl and informed his son there would be no fun for the next three days and it was definitely not a vacation. All the fun stuff was staying at the condo and Carl pouted. Rick raised his brow to get his son in check. It worked. When Rick left Carl to check on Michonne, she was already in the kitchen trying to get dinner prepared.
"I got it," Rick offered, "You rest. That's why I'm here right. You feeling any better?" Rick inquired as he leaned on the counter.
"Yes, and thanks. If you don't want to cook, we can order in Rick," Michonne suggested before plopping down on the couch, "I really do feel better though. No more sushi from that place again!"
Rick was concerned as he walked towards Michonne and leaned over the back of the couch to talk with her.
"You sure you don't want me to pack some clothes for you too?" Rick asked one more time hoping she would say YES.
"I'm good. Promise. What are you cooking?" Michonne asked, trying to change the subject.
"It's already 6pm. I think I am gonna take your suggestion and order in," Rick decided and walked in the kitchen to look over all the menus.
Rick: Michonne is not feeling well. Will you check-in on her the next few days please.
Rosita: Of course. She did not tell me she was sick.
Rick: Yeah, she is stubborn. Carl and I are leaving in the morning, I told her to come with us and rest, but she won't.
Rosita: No worries. I will check on my amiga and let you know how she is doing.
Rick: Thanks
"Carl, what do you want? Pizza and some wings, or Chinese? And after we order, we are going to have a chat about your suspension and just what you will be doing in King County all three days."
"Any chance it will involve hanging out with Grams and Beth relaxing on the farm and riding horses?" Carl grinned adorably and Rick shook his head.
"I would say instead of riding horses you will be cleaning manure from the stables, but you seem to be already shoveling sh…" Rick started but stopped when Michonne yelped.
"Rick!" Michonne interrupted with a giggle.
"Shoveling poop," Rick fixed and narrowed his eyes at his son, "Hey, you got any more of them powdered donuts? I like those thangs."
"RICK!" Michonne hollered in disbelief and walked over to Rick with her hands on her hips.
"What? Why waste em?" Rick shrugged.
"I got you Dad!" Carl shouted over his shoulder as he ran to the guestroom where Michonne stored the treats.
"I tried to give the rest of the boxes back to Mr. Andrews, but it seems like Carl's business was so lucrative, Mr. Andrews made his money back with profit. So now we are stuck with a whole case of pastries," Michonne shook her head, "I already snuck in there today and ate three of those chocolate cupcake packs!"
"I wonder why you threw up Michonne. Sushi and six chocolate cupcakes?" Rick muttered in disgust.
"Just take the rest of them with you in the morning Rick and keep your judgment to yourself. Give them to the deputies before I put on even more weight. I gained three pounds in a week Rick!" Michonne uttered and looked down at her body.
"So, you are going to holler at me for wanting powdered donuts when you been in there sneaking cupcakes? Is that right?" Rick smiled and squeezed her ass to see if that is where the three extra pounds landed.
"That's right," Michonne cooed, "and stop squeezing back there. You already know that's where they went."
Just then Carl entered the room with two packs of donuts and a twinkie package.
"I would have brought you some chocolate cupcakes mom, but it seems you already ate them all," Carl muttered and handed the twinkies to Michonne.
"Boy, you know full well there are plenty of those cupcakes left!" Michonne spat and cut her eyes at a giggling Carl.
Rick threw his head back in laughter and then pulled out his phone and ordered the food. While they waited, Rick helped Carl bring his luggage and the huge box of pasties to sit near the front door. Rick laughed when he caught Michonne digging through the box in search of her favorite. As Rick peeked at her from the hallway, he saw her hurry over and hide her chocolate treats in the drawer of the side table. He did notice she had gained some weight and loved how it looked on her and licked his lips. Rick hoped she would eat every single one of the cupcakes in that drawer and thought before he left the next morning, he would dig out the rest and leave them for her in hopes she would eat those too.
"What are you doing?" Carl asked and then looked over to his mother who was now sitting innocently on the sofa.
The doorbell saved Rick from stuttering out a lame excuse concerning why he was peeping at Michonne from a distance. As they sat and ate the pizza, Michonne had heartburn and the smell of the wings made her gag, so she made herself a sandwich instead. Rick tried again to change Michonne's mind all through dinner and come to King County, but was unhappy when Michonne held firmly to her No.
It was a little after 9am when Rick and Carl pulled up to the Greene farm. Ella was usually at Serenity Woods by that time of morning, but not today. Just like Rick suspected, she had cooked a huge breakfast. Darryl and Sasha were chomping at the bit to start eating. Hershel and Beth too, but Ella made them all wait for Carl.
"Come on in here Carl, I fixed you some breakfast," Ella walked to the car and took her grandson by the hand.
"Wait mama, he needs to get his bags," Rick stated with his hands on his hips ready for Carl to start his penance.
"Oh, you can get them all Rick! You are a strong twenty-six-year-old man. Act like it!" Ella shouted over her shoulder and Rick shook his head.
By the time Rick entered the dining room, they had all started eating without him. Seems Ella was only waiting for Carl. Rick was kicked to the curb.
"You are starting with me kid; I got a lot for you to do at the auto shop this morning," Darryl informed to a confused Carl.
"But you aren't even open yet? You don't even have a building! You are working out of a tent!" Carl uttered and looked around the table for support.
"Don't mean aint a lot to do kid. After lunch, you can spend some time with your aunt at her law office filing and such," Darry informed and watched the wheels turning inside his nephew's head.
Darryl knew Carl well. He was already up to some antics.
"Darryl, do you like honeybuns? If you do, I got a deal for you!" Carl tried to negotiate some honeybuns for a reduced sentence.
"We talked about this in the car. There will be no deals, no running off, no leaving the side of whichever one of us you are you with. You understand?" Rick commanded firmly and Carl gulped and nodded, "Good, now pass me the biscuits and gravy please."
"Me and the baby like honeybuns," Sasha uttered softly which got the whole table laughing.
"Well then Sasha, not all of my son's products will be going to the deputies it seems," Rick smiled and took a bite of his bacon.
By the end of the third day of Carl's suspension, the tyke was exhausted after only being allowed to stay with Rick or Darryl. Ella and Letty were getting no work done because they were busy letting Carl drive the golf cart around the property. Carl was having a blast and Rick put a stop to it and scolded both women and shook his head. Sasha was eliminated as an option too. Rick took Sasha off the list when he went to check on the duo and Carl, Sasha, and Aaron were laid out eating honeybuns underneath a makeshift fort that Carl convinced them to build in the conference room. Carl was something else. Rick and Darryl worked Carl's little tail good and hard to make up for Ella and Sasha's antics.
Sitting at his desk in his office, Rick snapped out of his recollection of crazy Carl shenanigans from two weeks ago and wished he could time travel back to before all this shit with Merle and Joe. Rick took a deep breath and a long exhale. Rick closed his eyes and tried to keep his fear at bay as he dialed Abe's number right before he heard a ruckus at the front the station.
