Chapter 2-Seeing Red

"What?" Rick's face fell as he was still processing what she said.

"Lori called me today. She was trying to get in contact with you." Even though she could see his anger creep up bit by bit, she continued.

"I told her I didn't know anything. You could guess from there." She got up from the table and poured herself a glass of wine.

"Rick?"

"Mhm"

She took a deep breath, then asked, "When was the last time you two spoke?"

He knew Michonne was on edge. At that realisation, he creased his brows in frustration, not at her but at himself. Ever since he woke up, he hadn't been the same. They both knew it. At first, he didn't remember much leading up to getting shot in both his chest and head. He was constantly in a state of agitation and confusion. He slept a lot and often slipped into a daze. Michonne wasn't there when he awoke, but his folks were. They soon explained that she was staying with her parents, that she had given birth there, and how she left to avoid drama with Lori.

He understood he was lucky to be alive, but with the whiplash of everything, he didn't take anything well. Mom decided it would be best for him to complete his recovery with them, so they did.

Rick developed a terrible temper after the incident. One where he was in therapy even now, and he was getting better, but that didn't change the fact that he had triggers, and Lori was one of them. She did a number on him psychologically.

Michonne down her glass of wine, then stabbed him with her gaze, waiting for him to speak.

He got up, picked up his empty plate and glass, and went to the sink, her sight not leaving him once. When he finished washing what he used, he turned to her to meet her huge, cosmic, all-knowing eyes.

He leaned on the counter and took a long, clear look at her before opening his mouth to answer.

"I saw her three days ago when I went to get Carl and Judith," she chuckled.

She couldn't believe he was trying to play with words where she was concerned. She is a damn attorney, and her father is a judge. Who the hell was he trying to fool? Unknown to him, his little attempt did make her night. Nonetheless, She wasn't going to tell him that.

"Grimes."

"Hawthorne."

He was testing her patience, trying to be difficult, but she wouldn't take the bait. She walked into his personal space, then used her hands to trap him where he stood. He looked down at her gorgeous face, and she could see a small, sly smile creep onto his lips as he tilted his head to the side. His blue orbs narrowed as they grew darker.

She admonished him. Her voice was calm but steady. "Don't play games with me, Richard. You won't win."

After a few seconds, he responded. " No. I didn't speak to her. I just took the kids and left."

He said it so bluntly, so matter-of-factly, that he left her speechless, something only he, her father, and her Mommy could do, all three for different reasons.

With Dad, she was like a small, frightened child standing in front of an adult after being caught in a grave crime; she loathed to disappoint him. With her mommy, it's habitually because she said or did something outrageous, like gifting my paternal grandmom a dildo for her 80th birthday.

Rick, however, had a nasty habit of doing things without including others. He didn't respect you, even more so. Carl, Daryl, and herself were the only three he discussed anything with.

He often looked to his father and Uncle Hershel, but that was more when he needed advice from an elder.

"It was my turn anyway. I don't owe her anything."

"Sweetheart, she's the mother of your children. If it were us," he immediately cut off what she was about to say.

"If it were us, we wouldn't be in this situation in the first place." He broke off from her and began to walk away. She quickly followed.

"Rick. Ric- Sweetheart. I'm not trying to take her side. Just listen. Please?"

He stopped and let out a ball full of heavy air, his hands wiping his face before placing them on his hips. She walked before him and rested her hand lightly on his chest.

"You're in the middle of a very tumultuous divorce with a woman you can't stand. Regardless of your personal feelings, you have two children stuck slab-dab in the centre of this mess." She quieted her voice.

"Andrea is gonna do her best to ensure you come out in the best position, and you need to do yours. You already know that you're always gonna be connected to Lori. You have Carl, and even if Judith isn't yours, I know you're still gonna be in her life because that's the kind of man you are, Rick. Try to be civil with her for the kids. You could hurt your chances at a fair custody arrangement."

"You think I don't know that!"

"If you know, then do the right thing! Look, Drea is a fantastic attorney. Just let her do her thing, and you play your role well."

She put her hand on his face and gave him a tender smile. She saw his eyes begin to tear up as he bit his quivering bottom lip.

"I'll find out next week." Rick leaned into her hand and put his over hers. He was scared; that's why he had been acting out. She wanted to kiss all his pain away. A tear finally rolled down his cheek as he looked at the sky. He opened his mouth to speak once again, and she could feel some of the heavyweight he'd been holding.

"I don't think she's mine."

"Oh, baby. Whether she is or she isn't, you still have us. I'll be right by your side. You're not alone, not by a long shot."

He pulled her into a tight hug and buried his nose in the warm nape of her neck.

She wrapped her arm around his back as tightly as she could and asked in a whispered voice.

"Are you tired?"

"Mhmm"

"Wanna take a bath and go to bed?"

"Yeah." He let out a long sigh and squeezed her even tighter. He picked her up and then swung her legs across his waist. He then walked upstairs so they could call it a night.

While walking, she murmured, "Je t'aime."

"I love you too."

He kissed her cheek, and she kissed his. They became lost in their tiny world.

...

When he got up, Michonne wasn't in bed. He knew right away where she'd been. She was ruthlessly strutting her stuff in the Industrial-style kitchen that she so adored. He strolled downstairs, his lover's French record playing in the background. At the end of the trip, he peered at his boys set in their high chairs, chowing down their mini pancakes, their creamy maple syrup brushing his nose. Rick tiptoed to the twin. This time, it was RJ who glimpsed him.

"Daddy, you're up!"

"Daddy!" Andre joined

"There are my boys!" The trio roared with laughter and cackled, letting Rick scoop them up in his arms.

Michone dissolves into fits of laughter; the sounds of the two balls of innocents help guide her there.

Michonne set Rick's plate on the countertop and hurried to make him his coffee. For a man with a sweet tooth, it befuddled her mind how he could drink it black with no sugar.

"Daddy?" RJ asked

"Yeah, bud?" "Are you staying today?" His bright brown eyes twinkled with expectation.

He and his brother hadn't experienced uninterrupted dad time in three weeks. Andre peered at his father, waiting for his answer.

"I'm sorry. I promised Grandpa and Grandma I would bring you and your brother to see 'em."

"Really!"

"Mhmm. Carl and Judith are gonna be there too. What, you don't want to?" Rick asked with a daring voice.

Andre quickly said, "Yes, we do!"

Slithering out of his father's arms, he dashed towards his mother with lightning speed.

"Mommy, we wanna go." Andre's brown pools glistened as little droplets formed in his eyes.

Michonne picked up the kitchen towel to the left, throwing it at Rick's face.

"Don't tease my kids!" He laughed so loudly that the neighbours could hear him.

She picked up Andre while Rick boldly made his way over and gave his girl a deep, long kiss before grabbing his plate and eating his breakfast with his free hand. The pancakes are heavy, fluffy, and sweet, smothered in maple syrup. Quite routine for him. He wiped the plate clean, then took the kids to get ready. Since she's an early riser, Michonne long prepared for the day.

...

By the time they were ready, Chonne had finished packing her silver Audi Q7. She originally had a red BMW M6 Cabrio but traded it in since it wasn't family-friendly. It amazed him how naturally she eased into motherhood. Was it because she'd been financially stable? Yeah, she did come from money, but she continuously made time for them. Him included. After she gave birth, she stepped away from her job for a while. Put all her focus solely on them.

"You're driving," she said, throwing him the keys. She took the boys and placed them in their car seats. He made his way behind her, grabbing her ass from the back.

"I should've told you earlier, but I love your dress."

Yellow made her dark complexion pop. Rick stared at the thin-strapped garment that clung to her body, stopping above her knee.

"Is that so?" she asked, her teasing apparent.

"Mhmm. It must be because a beautiful woman is wearing it." He confined her between himself and the passenger car door.

Bending his head, he nibbled her left ear. A giggle escaped her mouth.

"Grimes, we need to get going."

"We could stay. Enjoy the day. Lay lazily on the couch with the kids and watch movies all day. Sounds amazing, doesn't it?" His lips danced from her ear to her neck and shimmied across her shoulder. Michonne ducked and Flew under his arm to bypass him.

"Oh, Richard, It sounds just wonderful, but you made a promise, and you wouldn't want to disappoint them." She made a pouty face, pointing her chin to the kiddies in the back. She laughed as they got in the car.

It had been two hours since his drive started. Andre and RJ were asleep. She was extremely thankful because, If they were, her ears would shrivel up and die.

Michonne commenced dozing off until Rick's voice pierced her brain with his thick accent.

"We're almost there. Don't sleep."

She was about to respond when her ringing phone shattered her concentration. She peeked to see who was disturbing her family time. Her stomach twisted in knots, and her back straightened like a board. Michonne swiftly disconnected the call before catapulting the phone into her white coach bag. Rick latched on to every single move. With her twitching nose and heavy air, she let out her nostrils, to the constant tugging of her dress fabric.

Wanting to know, he bluntly asked, and though uncharacteristically gentle, his tone had a slight chill to it.

"Who was that?"

Her eyes widened as her head snapped in his direction. The only thing that came out at that moment was

"What?"

He turned to look at her for about three seconds before settling his attention back on the road.

"It isn't anyone important to us. Okay?"

"Nobody?"

She took a deep breath and then said, "It's Mike."

"As in your ex-fiance, Mike?" Rick chortled at the thought in disbelief as he continued.

"Has he no shame? Why didn't you answer?"

"It's embarrassing. I don't know how to face him."

"Why? Did you do something?"

"Cut the bullshit, Rick."

"You did the man a favour. You were a divorce waiting to happen."

"I wouldn't call leaving a man at the altar doing him a favour. Gosh, you sound like my father sometimes." She threw her head back and rolled her eyes.

"I'm nothing like that rigid old man; however, if you listened, you wouldn't have been with him in the first place."

"If I had listened to my father, you and I wouldn't be together in the first place. I don't regret my relationship with Mike. I wouldn't be the woman I am today without it. I wouldn't be the woman you fell in love with; I wouldn't be the woman who fell in love with you."

Rick turned, laying his pools of blue on her face one last time before driving into the street leading to his family's farm. There's a soft, warm smile.

This woman will be the death of me. That was the only thing that crossed his mind at that moment between them.

"We're here," Rick said.

They got out and collected the boys, careful not to wake them.

"If he calls again, I want to talk to him. Okay?"

"Okay." She hurled back quietly.

Just as they were about to make their way to the farmhouse, a black Hyundai Accent started coming from behind.

It was a cute car and well-kept, Michonne thought.

The black colour suited it well. Michonne, however, for the love of God, couldn't put a face to the vehicle. She looked to Rick for an explanation, only to be left speechless.

Rick knew exactly whose car it was. He balled his hand into a fist, and his brows scrunched together. Blood rushed to his head, and his face dyed red.

Why is he here?

His body swayed as he felt faint. His thoughts were all over the place, and his gut churned. Right then, a hand forced his right fist open and held on for dear life. Michonne was staring at him, fear and anxiety spilling out. He knew he had to reel it in; be that as it may, it was difficult considering there was an additional invited party.

"What the fuck is this?" He yelled, and then two people came out of the car.

One she knew was Lori, and the second she guessed was her boyfriend's former best friend, Shane.

Andre, who slept in Rick's arms, jumped awake from his dad's yelling. Lori and Michonne threw daggers as they ogled one another. It was she who spoke first.

"Hello, Rick. I wanted to talk, but I can't do that if she is here now, can I?"