Chapter 4- Knowing The Truth

"Rick?"

"Yeah, Chonne?"

"If our house started burning and everyone else, including me, the kids, and the rest of the family are safe, what would you take one last dash into the house to save?"

It was still early. The sun hadn't fully come yet, so the couple spent the time cuddling in bed. The atmosphere was serene and calming. With his lover's bizarre, but on-brand question, his lips pinched together in a hard line, unsure how to answer. He thought hard until he responded.

"My colt python."

"You would rather take a gun, than stuff like family photos?" Michonne arched an eyebrow in his direction.

Realising his mistake, his gears started turning. They'd been together for more than four years, his mother used to do it to his father. At this point, one would think he'd be able to navigate her traps.

It had to be a woman thing.

"Darling, now why would I do that when I know you'd take that stuff yourself? That's a waste of time just get nothing… Besides, my old man would kill me if I lost his gun. Don't want our kids fatherless now, do you?"

"Of course not, but I guess even the big, bad cowboy has an irrational fear of losing his damn gun."

"You mean that ain't normal?"

"It is if you're a cartoon character," said Michonne as her mouth split open wide in a booming laugh.

"Okay, little Miss Sunshine. Let me ask you one then…Which one of our friends is gonna survive an apocalypse…Hmm?"

"Daryl!"

"Daryl!"

"Grimes! You said it was my question!"

The two were in the mids of play-fighting when they heard a knock on their bedroom door.

"You stay; I'll get it."

Rick got up, and put on some bottoms, before heading to the door. Opening the door, he saw his younger cousin Maggie, knowing who it was for, he told her to wait a minute so Michonne could dress.

….

Meeting Maggie in her bedroom, Michonne carried herself to sit next to her on the bed.

"Hey"

"Hey"

"I hear you're preggers."

Both grinned and flushed as she tried to uplift the mood. They were silent for a bit.

"I'm not keeping it…I can't do this a third time; I just can't…"

"You're valid in feeling that way, Mags, but this isn't your decision alone… Glen should come back so you can work this out together."

"Why, so his parents can disown another of my children?"

"Maggie-"

"Do you know why he never takes us or the kids with him? It ain't business. Besides, I have my hands full with what I got."

"If that's true, Glen needs to make a decision; he can't have it both ways! The kids are the ones who suffer… I'm speaking from experience… He can't please everyone."

"I want more out of life…Everything I do is for my kids. I love them, but I don't recognise myself anymore… I don't know how much more of this I can take. I know I'm selfish…Everyone always tells me that, but I want more."

"Oh, Maggie."

"Your father calls you selfish, as in, 'Hey! The world doesn't revolve around you! You gotta live with your choices!' and he's right, which is why I'm making this decision... I'm tired, Mich."

"Life can get busy with work, kids, in-laws, family, and friends. You need to make sure you set aside some time to spend alone with your husband. Find a sitter for the kids and clear a night or two to spend together. Focus on each other and discuss things that are important to you both."

"That's easier said than done."

"Which is why you just have to go for it! Look, I love my boys to the moon and back. I will always be there for them and Rick, but I have to be the best version of myself so I can be the best for them. Don't be afraid to ask for help…Shit, I wasn't with all this mess Rick has going on, and the pressure from my father. Do you think I would've made it this far if I hadn't done so? Think about what I said, Okay?"

"Okay."

"And have a talk with Herschel; tell him everything, Okay?"

"Okay."

And with that, Michonne left Maggie's room to go check on the kids. She and the boy left that night.

Two days later, it was the day. The day Rick would find out whether his daughter was his.

….

"I'll go with you. Let me be by your side."

She put her hand to his face to stare into his watery blue eyes. He stood motionless, attempting to digest what he had just heard. She held his face steady and pulled him towards her so their foreheads could touch. She waited patiently. Rick felt to himself that he was suffocating since he was terrified to breathe. Everything is open to change. Everything would change.

I need to calm down.

"I want you by my side. I need you there." His entire being seemed weighed down; his eyes were black and cupped by thick pouches.

"And I will be."

"I love you..."

"I love you more…"

….

They dropped the twins off at Sasha's, given that she was free, and they proceeded to court. They arrived approximately eight minutes prior to Lori, who'd been joined by Shane today. The two sides said nothing whilst they patiently awaited for the magistrate to make his entry in order to commence the spectacle that followed.

….

Things had been going on for almost an hour when it had reached the time to hear what everyone present wanted to know. A sickening wave of terror welled up in both Rick and Lori's bellies. Rick kept his head straight while Lori turned to look at him. Regardless of what she said to him, part of her still wanted him to be the father of their little girl. He was a good father, and she still loved him.

Michonne took his hand and rubbed his back to soothe him. The small hairs across his body stood on end.

.

"If the tested father is not the child's biological father, the results will be an exclusion of paternity. The probability of paternity, in this case, would be 0%, and the Statement of Results on the report will read,"

The magistrate opened the folder to read the results. His skin grew clammy, but, Michonne held his hand as tight as she could. Shane stroked Lori's back. As they waited for the reading to continue.

"The alleged father is excluded as the biological father of the tested child."

And with that, Rick's strength left his legs. Black spots form in his vision as though he is about to faint. Michonne wrapped her arm around him to hold him up to her small frame while his lawyer, Andrea, helped from the other side as his tears began to fall.

"Rick, baby, I'm here, I'm still with you. We're going to be okay; I promise."

"Mr Grimes, I can not possibly imagine what you are currently going through. Given that the paternity of the child in question has been established, The divorce between you and your wife should go smoothly after this, that being said, the two of you already have another child to think about. I expect that the two of you will do what is best for your son during this difficult transition in his life and there will be maturity on both sides given that the little girl knows the two of you as her parents. I wish you both well. Court dismissed."

….

She drove them to her villa. She didn't like to drive but had no choice given Rick had been in a daze since everything happened. She helped him inside, all the way to the downstairs, guest bedroom. He developed a high fever and whatever she gave him to eat or drink; he threw up. Knowing it was going to be a turbulent night, she called her cousin to hold her kids till tomorrow. As she finish the call, she noticed a few missed calls from her parent; four from her mother and one from her father. It was then that Michonne was reminded that her folks would arrive tomorrow. She look at her boyfriend and couldn't help but think,

Oh shit!

Her father would not care about Rick's mental state nor make things easy.

"I know this is hard, but you are so strong, baby; you're going to get through this. We will get through this together as a family!"

She laid next to him, holding her beloved in her arms. He nuzzled into her chest and cried as hard as he could. He hadn't cried like this since he'd been a boy his voice degenerated into a childish whimper. He felt better but was so embarrassed he didn't want to look at her. After going for so long he swallowed dryly, unable to wet his parched throat. Michonne stoked his soft dark hair waiting for him to move at his own pace.

Finally, looking up at her, she handed him a bottle of water with a gentle smile on her soft pretty face. He sat up turning away from her to drink still mortified at his actions. It didn't matter to her she hugged him as snugly as she could manage, resting her head on his left shoulder.

He is so cute!

"You look like you just had an eureka moment. Your eyes are bigger than your head, Grimes."

"Flattering," said Rick.

Looking at a place somewhere over his shoulder, their eyes met, but he broke it off.

"What do I do now?"

"You move forward; we move forward."

"I know I got to, but that was my little girl…" His voice broke trying to choke the words out.

"I know it may seem cold but what the Magistrate said was both important and true. We have to pick up the pieces for Carl and Judith, for André and RJ too."

"I love you so much!"

"I love you too!"

Their eyes locked in a shared understanding as a tear strolled down both their faces. Closing his eyes Michonne pressed a soft kiss to his forehead as they lay down back on the bed, she caressed his back until he fell into a deep sleep in her warm arm.

….

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N.B

This chapter is a little shorter.

Next chapter you guys will meet Daddy and Mommy Hawthorne

Hope you all enjoyed it.