This chapter is about 1000 words more than…blah blah blah. Those that read my stories know this is where I always end up…in wordyville…so it is what it is. Chapter 6 will not be out next week because it needs a little more editing than I anticipated. But I will resume posting week after next. Sorry! I barely scrapped this one out. I was going to put it off, but did not want to get two weeks behind!
Episode 4 of TOWL was WOW, just WOW. Amazing.
For clarity, this chapter is a continuation of the last chapter with Rick sitting at the café table reflecting when both sets of parents meet the weekend before the doctor's appointment/marriage proposal. The chapter will end with Rick and Michonne continuing their conversation at the café table. Don't ask me why I wrote this story with all the back and forth…that is just how it came out of my head. Smh.
Enjoy!
Chapter 5-Baby Mama Coma Drama?!
The parents' dinner started off just like many other family get-to-gethers. A nicely prepared meal, an excellent dessert, and conversations filled with lies and deceit courtesy of the hosts, Rick and Michonne. Mostly Michonne. Rick was a shivering mess, especially under the very unusual, highly coincidental, and downright unbelievable circumstances.
The lying couple struggled but continued with the deceptions until Rick's mother called them on their bullshit, TWICE, with Michonne's mother seconding the motion each time. Once Sasha got the ball rolling with her scandalous question, Rick and Michonne were forced to come clean with the full, true, unadulterated story of The Case of the Missing Baby Daddy. And that was not the only shocker that was discovered that evening. But before everyone arrived and the fabrications and falsehoods began to drip from Rick and Michonne's dishonest tongues, Michonne noticed Rick was about as nervous as a cat trapped in a room full of bulldogs. Michonne decided it might be best to go over the plan with Rick one last time before the guests arrived and the Festival of Lies began.
"Rick, I swear, if you tell our parents that you knew my name, but I did not know yours when we made this baby, I will literally kill you in front of them," Michonne threatened, and Rick quickly but unwillingly nodded in agreement although Rick was convinced that once his mother gave him THE LOOK, he would risk death by Michonne and confess everythang, "Stick to the story. Okay? We are a team! We can't tell our parents we had anonymous sex!"
"We? You had anonymous sex Michonne! I knew who you were the whole time!" Rick disputed as he rubbed his hands together anxiously hoping Michonne would see the light and decide to be honest.
"Rick!" Michonne hollered.
"I'm just saying Michonne!" Rick countered with a desperate look on his face and Michonne did not like where this conversation was headed.
Michonne thought she already successfully brainwashed her fake fiancé.
"And how are you going to explain why you never tried to contact your pretend fiancé, Rick? Since, as you say, you knew who I was?" Michonne spat with her hands on her hips and Rick rolled his eyes, "My father will ask!"
Rick was amazed that even during this stressful time, Michonne still managed to get another zinger in. Rick still had not proposed like he promised during the confrontation with Mike, and Michonne was really salty about it.
"Because you wanted anonymous sex Michonne! And despite what you thought at first, I am not a stalker! I was not gonna knock on your front door without your permission!" Rick argued and Michonne shook her head knowing Sasha must have told Rick about her stalker accusation.
"Damn that Sasha," Michonne spat then refocused back on the problem, "Rick, please."
"Fint," Rick whispered so that Michonne would not hear he did not say fine.
This way he would not be lying to Michonne about lying to his mama. Rick was stuck between a rock and a hard place with that one. Rick watched Michonne put on her gold earrings as he sat on the edge of their bed.
"Did you say Fint, Rick? FINT! Do not play with me Rick!" Michonne hollered, turning to him panicked that he was not going to make it through the evening without incident.
"FINE! FINE MICHONNE! I will lie to my very own mama. You should be ashamed!" Rick responded with a smirk that spread to a silly smile.
"Well, I am not ashamed," Michonne grinned, secured her earring, and strolled over to Rick and stood between his legs, "This is for the best Rick! Do you think either of our parents want to know that we had what Sasha called "Stranger Danger" sex?"
"I guess not," Rick uttered still a little unsure.
"You guess or you KNOW Rick?" Michonne eyed her fake fiancé worriedly.
"I know, I know. I don't want my mama to get a bad impression of you off the bat for wanting anonymous sex. Of that I am sure," Rick decided and chuckled when Michonne cut her eyes and stared him up and down.
"Let's stop saying anonymous sex. You might slip up and say it accidentally to our parents," Michonne requested, and Rick chuckled.
"Let me say it ten times in a row to get it out of my system. Anonymous," Rick laughed but Michonne was not amused.
"Rick?" Michonne warned and Rick huffed.
"All right, no more saying what you did but what I didn't do," Rick joked and Michonne pursed her lips, but decided to take what she could get.
"Good," Michonne uttered and walked to the closet to get her shoes.
"You think our parents are still mad we kept them in the dark for nine weeks?" Rick asked noting the gap between the time when they met again at the fourth of July party, when he moved in with Michonne two weeks later, then started a real relationship a few weeks after.
"Yes. They are very upset, and I think you mean for eight months Rick. But they will get over it. It's still fresh. We only told them about everything a few days ago," Michonne stated matter-of-factly, and Rick bowed his head in shame.
Rick wanted to meet everyone immediately. He would have loved to gather both sets of parents that same day on the fourth of July. He was anxious to move stuff and thangs along with Michonne, meet parents, move in together, get married, and start their family. Michonne, however, wanted to hold off for a bit so she and Rick could get to know each other a little better. Mostly though, she did not want to come across to their parents as two lunatic baby-making strangers who lived together. Then, when they began a more intimate relationship, Michonne wanted time to settle into that newness, so they did not come off as two lunatic baby making strangers who are having sex. Oh, and that coma thing.
Michonne, however, did not consider that she and Rick were so much more than what she was describing in her head. Before that day on the stairs which led to their coupling, they took long walks together hand in hand talking and genuinely getting to know one another. They sat laughing on the couch playing silly games or sitting close to one another on that same sofa binging tv shows and eating popcorn at all hours of the night when the baby would not let Michonne sleep. Rick was right there on that couch with her at two in the morning every single time. Rick would rub her swollen feet, run her bath, and made sure she always had everything she needed before she could even ask.
One day, about two weeks after Rick moved in, he came home extra stressed about a case he and Darryl were having trouble solving. It was the first time Michonne saw Rick so tightly wound and Michonne was drawn to him, as if on instinct, to want to help Rick relax, especially in his own home, and she naturally knew what to do. Without thinking, she strolled behind Rick, whose head was leaned on the back of the couch, and began to run her fingers through his hair, massaging his scalp. Rick was surprised, but he closed his eyes deeply enjoying her touch. Since that first time, after a long hard day, Michonne would begin the head massaging ritual until he purred. After they became an official couple, Michonne would sometimes lay his head in her lap while she stroked his curls. Michonne, however, could not fathom that based on how they loved-on each other naturally, they would not come across as two lunatics, but rather as two people who sincerely loved one another. But Michonne's mind was overwhelmed with her coma lie and that was her main focus.
Michonne and Rick held the parents off as best they could, and it was a hard nine weeks of doing so. They did have a bit of a reprieve in the middle of it all because both sets of parents were out of pocket for a few weeks on vacations and other such escapes. But it was still seven weeks of….
"Why can't I come over?" Michonne's mother asked during a phone call shortly after Rick moved in.
"Mom, I am getting the kitchen renovated and there is mess everywhere!" Michonne lied, "I will come to your house for the next six weeks."
"With the baby, should you be there? Come stay at hour house until it is done!" Michonne's mother fretted.
"They have it closed off Mom. It's fine!" Michonne lied effortlessly.
"If it's fine, then I don't understand why I can't come over? You know what? I am on my way!" Michonne's mother demanded.
"MOM! PLEASE! I WANT IT TO BE A SURPRISE!" Michonne hollered in desperation.
"Why would it be a surprise for me? You know what, Fine. I don't want to stress you in your condition Michonne. But that kitchen better have my name engraved somewhere!" Michonne's mother demanded, "I wanted to see you before your father and I left on our vacation! We will be gone for ten days!"
"Good," Michonne muttered quietly to herself.
"What?" Michonne's mother asked with attitude.
"I said have a great time!" Michonne fibbed.
"I heard you. Nice to know you want to get rid of your mother," Michonne's mom snarked and hung up the phone.
Michonne immediately called Sasha and her sister smacked her lips but promised to back up her kitchen story. Michonne HATED disappointing her parents. Early on, when she told them she was pregnant with no baby daddy anywhere in the vicinity, it was a stressful conversation. They seemed so let down and that is when the lies started with, I'm pregnant, but the father is not involved because he was in an accident and is now in a coma, coverup.
Rick's lies were no better. He was just terrible at fibbing.
"Rick, your father and I want to come visit. Why can't we come to Atlanta?" Rick's mother asked for the third time in as many weeks, "We are going to be there anyway visiting friends before our vacation!"
"The second bedroom in my apartment is storage now. All my stuff from my old precinct is in there," Rick lied knowing full well he did not live in his apartment anymore.
"Don't worry about that. We have a place to stay anytime we come to Atlanta. You remember Malcolm and Camille? Our friends we met on the cruise a few years ago? I think you met them one time. They live in Atlanta. You know we can always stay with them!" Rick's mother countered.
"You mean you party with them, not just stay," Rick mumbled to himself.
"What?" Ella asked.
"Nothing. I don't remember them mama, but that was years ago in passing," Rick covered and tried to think back to meeting the people who his parents vacationed with.
Rick could not. He had no clue who those people were.
"You were too busy focused on that hussy to pay attention to anything else," Ella reminded then got back to her point, "So now that we have a place to stay, we will be down there before we go on our cruise."
Rick tried hard to think of another excuse.
"Oh! Plus, PLUS! I am still adjusting to the new job and for now I have to work most weekends. Give me six weeks to get settled please mama," Rick begged as he anxiously pressed his cell phone tightly against his ear.
This whole lying situation was stressing Rick the fuck out.
"They are working you too hard Rick! You can't keep working twenty-four hours a day!" Rick's mother hollered, "What is your captains' number. I will set his ass straight!"
"NO MAMA!" Rick hollered in a panic and shook his head.
"Well, I guess we will see you when we get back then. Make sure you are eating well son and take a day off from work and rest!" Ella suggested in concern for her overworked son.
"I will mama, and I'm glad you are getting away for a couple of weeks," Rick responded glad to get a break from all the tall tales to his parents, "You and daddy and your friends have fun."
Rick and Michonne, however, could only put their parents off for so long before time and impatience necessitated they finally come clean. A few days before the dinner, Rick finally admitted to his parents that he got a woman pregnant, and they were living together and was currently an official couple. Michonne told her parents the baby daddy woke up from his coma and came looking for her and declared his love. Rick sucked his teeth and rolled his eyes at his almost fiancé when he heard her on the phone telling that whopper of a lie. Michonne even went so far as to tell her parents that the reason she did not let them know earlier was because she was scared Rick might slip back into another long-term slumber. Michonne's father was skeptical. He was no fool.
Both sets of parents demanded a meeting soon or they would take matters into their own hands. Rick's parents wanted to meet the woman that was about to finally give them the grandchild they always wanted, and they were happy as all outdoors. They both prayed she was not another Lori. Michonne's parents had a million questions about her baby daddy's health and whether he would be able to fully take care of a baby, especially unsupervised. Waking from a coma was no joke! So, there they were, the second weekend of September, and everyone was finally about to come face-to-face.
"I hate they are mad at me before they even met me! This is all your fault Michonne!" Rick declared and began pacing around the room.
Michonne rolled her eyes that Rick was at it again. She had just calmed his honest ass down!
"Rick, let's not play the blame game, okay? We are a team, remember? It is BOTH our fault! Remember that, ok? Besides, they can't be mad because you were in a coma! You could not control that happening! Now how do I look?" Michonne asked with a grin and a twirl.
Rick shook his head at Michonne's thought process.
"Beautiful as usual. Except the back of your dress is tucked inside your panties," Rick laughed and walked over and fix it when she could not reach.
"Thanks! And stop worrying Rick. We have our lies down pact! I'm sure by now my parents are more anxious than upset anyway. For all they know I live with a person who was a deadbeat serial killer before you slipped into a coma," Michonne chuckled.
"You mean a deadbeat detective. About that. Remind me again, how in the hell am I supposed to convince your parents I was in a coma for six months? My parents are going to debunk that as soon as they bring it up!" Rick inquired trying to remember what Michonne told him to say and Michonne was annoyed at Rick's forgetfulness.
"I told you not to worry about that. I told my parents not to ask because you don't remember any of it and when anyone brings it up, you get all anxious," Michonne reminded but Rick had serious doubts about her plan.
"Michonne," Rick huffed shaking his head incredulously.
"Rick! I never thought I would see you again! I could not tell my parents the truth! Then I was at the point where I was about to beat them off with a literal stick if we delayed the meeting any longer. I had to cover for the first lie I told!" Michonne hollered and Rick chuckled.
Rick knew that none of this tomfoolery was going to work, but for now, to keep his 8-month pregnant girlfriend calm, he would agree. Rick gave Michonne a quick peck on the lips, then another longer one, then a full-blown tongue down the throat kiss. Rick moved his hands down to Michonne's ass and was about to give her rear a good squeeze, but the doorbell rang.
"Ok, you ready lie babe?" Rick laughed and gave her one final peck on the lips, "Should I walk like a zombie. That's the same as walking in a coma, right? The walking dead?"
"Don't start Rick! Are you ready? Because I am more than ready!" Michonne asked with a worried face.
Rick shook his head and went to answer the doorbell and chuckled when he saw who it was. Sasha.
"Hey Sasha," Rick laughed, "What are you doing here?"
"Rick, once I found out YOUR sister was coming to meet Michonne, I thought it was only right that I get to come too," Sasha reasoned.
"That's fair," Rick laughed, "Where's Darryl?" Rick inquired, looking behind her towards her light gray Audi A8 Sedan.
Rick thought it must be nice to be a plastic surgeon. Rick thought the same about Michonne's white BMW X3 SUV she purchased with her high-powered attorney salary. Then he looked over at his old ass truck. But Rick loved that old ass truck, so he was not bothered by it at all.
"He stayed home with the kids, but I have to FaceTime him once things get going. He made me wear this shirt with the pockets over my boobs so I can sit the phone inside with the camera pointing out," Sasha answered casually right when Michonne walked in.
Michonne rolled her eyes but did not protest. She knew her sister was going to make her way there one way or the other. Michonne went to check on the prime rib roast. She glanced at the meat thermometer and figured it needed another ten minutes.
"Sasha, since you barged into business that was not yours once again, get your nosy tail in here and finish the salad. Rick, can you check on the sides please. I timed the potato au gratin to be ready at the same time as the rib roast, but make sure it's not cooking too fast and get the green beans almondine out of the fridge. I think we can put them on now. They only take a few minutes," Michonne instructed as she went to check the mixed berry cobbler that was warming on the counter.
"Don't worry. Everything looks great Michonne. Tonight is going to be perfect. Except for all the lies we tell," Rick muttered and Michonne gave him some major side eye.
Sasha giggled as she chopped the tomatoes. Michonne never put enough tomatoes in her salads in proportion to the excessive number of cucumbers, which Sasha was picking out.
"You are starting again Rick! I am already nervous as it is!" Michonne fretted and Rick just chuckled.
Sasha was already thinking of a plan to stop the lies. She knew it was best to force all the dirty dogs out the doghouse and blast that bitch clean with a figurative high-powered water hose. Sasha figured when the moment came, she would know and seize it. Fifteen minutes later, the doorbell rang again and Michonne pressed the imaginary wrinkles from her dress and anxiously scurried to the front door to greet whichever set of parents arrived first. Sasha FaceTimed Darryl and put the phone in her pocket, both were giddy for the show to begin.
"Can you see?" Sasha asked her husband.
"Yup, "Darryl answered then hollered for his three-year-old twins to stop running in the house.
"Mom! Hey Dad! Come on in," Michonne grinned, and Rick smiled anxiously as she closed the front door behind them.
"Michonne, why is there a for sale sign in your yard? You have not been in this house for a year yet, have you? Has she?" Michonne's father asked his wife.
"Or is it a fake sign like your fake renovated kitchen?" Michonne's mother snarked with a smile full of scorn.
"It's real mom. We will talk about it at dinner," Michonne uttered with a hint of humiliation.
Rick noticed Michonne's mother looked friendly; her father however looked like he wanted to choke him to death. Rick wondered if he knew his coma was as fake as Michonne's remodeled kitchen. Rick chuckled that he received two death threats in the span of a single evening. Rick thought optimistically and figured it could only go up from there. He would be wrong.
"And who is this?" Michonne's mother asked with a sincere grin ready for the introductions to begin.
Michonne's mother was both surprised and impressed. Surprised that Rick was white. To her knowledge, her daughter had only ever dated black men, so this was….different. Sasha was her more open daughter not adverse to dating every color of the rainbow, which she did. Michonne's mother was impressed because the man she was eyeing was absolutely gorgeous. Rick also seemed familiar. Like she had seen or met him before. She tried to picture Rick without his dusting of facial hair but could not quite place his face.
"Mom, Dad, this is Rick. He is the father of my baby, and we are an official couple now," Michonne explained proudly, and she could tell her parents had questions.
"We know a Rick. Well, OF a Rick at least. Actually, you look rather…" Michonne's mother muttered but her husband's booming question refocused her attention.
"Was your coma real? Or was that a lie my daughter told to cover up the fact that you were a deadbeat?" Michonne's father demanded with a bit of angry curiosity.
"Well, uhhh, Sir," Rick stuttered and Michonne's father narrowed his eyes.
"DAD!" Michonne whined as if she was a small child, "I already told you he does remember those six months!"
Michonne had a right to be extremely worried about her coma lie. It appeared that her father was not going to keep quiet like she requested.
"I'm just checking Michonne," Her father questioned as he moved to hug his more honest daughter.
Michonne rolled her eyes at Sasha.
"Rick and I will explain everything once his parents get here, so for now, would you like some wine?" Michonne offered and she could tell her parents were impatient and wanted to ask a million questions right then and there, but they thankfully refrained.
Michonne's mother stared at Rick trying to place him. Her father stared at Rick trying to detect a coma lie so he could strangle him. Rick was looking anywhere but at Michonne's parents. Sasha and Darryl observed all of them and were already highly entertained. Michonne started sweating and began wringing her clammy lying hands.
"Have a seat please Mr. and Mrs. Hawthorne. I will get your drinks," Rick offered and was met with a gruff response.
"Why don't you get me some answers. For one, were you in a coma? You stuttered out many words but not one of them was a yes or a no," Michonne's father bit and Michonne ushered Rick quickly into the kitchen.
"Honey, stop," Michonne's mother shushed her husband, "Does he look familiar to you?"
"We both know good and well that man was not in a coma, I just…" Michonne's father began but was quieted again by his wife.
Michonne's highly doubtful father could not focus on anything other than the coma, so the familiarity of who Rick might be was ignored. Rick could hear the sly comments and became anxious. By the time Rick poured the drinks with shaky hands, the doorbell rang again. When Rick passed through the living room, Michonne's parents were already standing, waiting for Rick's parents to be escorted into the living area. Rick took a deep breath and answered the door, with Michonne standing just behind him.
"Hey mama," Rick grinned and hugged his mother, "Hey daddy."
Rick hugged his father and escorted them into the foyer of the house.
"Hey Rick. And who is this beauty?" Rick's father flirted with a wink.
Rick shook his head at his father who considered himself a self-proclaimed ladies' man. Rick's dad was very handsome, and he always got a double look from women of all ages. And while the ladies were peeking at his daddy, the men were ogling his mama. Rick wondered why he could not have nice, old acting parents instead of the beautiful kind that liked to party. Rick prayed his parents did not act like plumb fools tonight.
"Mama. Daddy. Maggie. This is Michonne. My girlfriend. And as you can see, mother to my child," Rick introduced proudly.
"Why does that name sound familiar?" Rick's mama whispered to herself as she stared at Michonne trying to place her.
"Heeeyyyyy, wait a minute," Maggie uttered starting to connect the dots but was interrupted before she could speak the possible revelation out loud.
"And I'm Sasha. Michonne's sister," Sasha introduced, and Maggie's hooted when it was confirmed who these people might be.
Ella smiled curiously and eyed both Michonne and Sasha as realization was beginning to manifest. Ella thought the names of the sisters had to be more than a coincidence, but her thought was interrupted by another introduction before she could ask the name of their parents.
"Hello," They heard from Sasha's pocket, "It's Darryl. Sasha's husband and Rick's partner! We met at the station a little after Rick became a detective."
"Nice to see you again," Richard laughed and bent down to look at the camera lens.
"Richard! It looks like you are staring at her chest!" Ella shouted with part embarrassment and part amusement.
"That's where the phone is Ella!" Richard answered with a laugh.
Sasha pulled the phone from her pocket and turned it around so they could see Darryl face-to-face.
"So, this whole time you were married to the sister of the woman that Rick got pregnant. That's a hellava coincidence," Ella uttered as she thought about the girl's name again, "What are the names of…"
"It is, aint it!" Sasha grinned interrupting Ella again and Michonne pushed her sister aside.
"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Grimes. Nice to meet you. Hi Maggie. My parents are already here. Follow me," Michonne offered anxiously worried about the look she was getting from Rick's mama thinking Ella must dislike her already.
Rick was worried too. His mama came off as unfriendly and that was not like her at all. Rick wondered if she disliked Michonne before giving her a chance, and if so, what could possibly be the reason. He wondered if this was another Lori situation. Rick prayed it was not.
Once Richard and Ella entered the living room, they froze. Rick's parents were eye to eye with Michonne's parents. Ella's mouth was gaped wide open and Michonne's mother's mouth was opening and closing like a fish because she was at a loss for words.
"You think they are about to pass out because of all the black people? Didn't they get the picture when they met you at the door?" Sasha whispered to Michonne ready to politely and respectfully dress Rick's parents down if that was the case.
Michonne closed her eyes and hoped Rick's parents were not the racist kind. When she opened them, both sets of parents were still eyeing each other in disbelief.
"Mama," Rick uttered confused as to what the hell was going on.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Michonne's father burst out in a booming voice.
"I was about to ask you the same thing!" Rick's father replied with a grin forming on his face.
Then they all heard the squeals from both mothers and were stunned when Ella and Camille embraced.
"Ella! Please tell me Rick is your son!" Camille grinned.
"Yes, and Michonne is your daughter? Oh my God Camille! I knew your daughters' names sounded familiar!" Ella elated with pure joy.
"What the Hell?" Sasha hollered confused and leaned forward on the back of the couch.
"PUT YOUR BOOBS BACK UP SASHA!" Darryl hollered and Sasha stood up straight again.
"Sorry," Sasha uttered trying to figure out just what was happening.
"Hold on! Hold on! Let's get something straight right now, once and for all. Richard, was your son in a coma for six months?" Malcolm asked his old friend with skepticism.
"Rick was in a coma?" Darryl asked with faux surprise from Sasha's bosom causing Sasha to giggle at her husband's shenanigans.
Sasha scanned her chest around the room so her husband could get a good look at everyone's shocked faces. Maggie giggled and sidled up to Sasha whom she surmised was the fun one. Michonne sucked her teeth because both her sister and brother-in-law knew damn well Rick was absolutely never in a coma. Seems the two were already starting mess and drama. Three counting Maggie.
"Hell no! I think I would have mentioned that six months ago when you came down to King County to pick us up on the way to Savannah!" Richard answered perplexedly and they all looked at Rick and Michonne.
Malcolm side-eyed his daughter and Michonne bowed her head when she heard Sasha and Maggie cackle. It was going to be a long night.
"Mom! What is happening here?" Michonne asked incredulously as she watched her father shake hands and hug Rick's father.
"Yeah! What is happening here!" Darryl hollered from the phone in Sasha's pocket.
"Michy, We have known the Grimes for several years now. We met on that cruise. This is Richard and Ella, our friends we vacation with a few times a year!"
"I mean, I knew you went on vacation with another couple, but I never really listened to your stories," Michonne admitted, and Camille crossed her arms, "What mom! It was boring!"
Malcolm rolled his eyes at Michonne and Richard chuckled.
"And Rick, you remember our first cruise, right? You still lived on the farm, and you had just started as a deputy for King County Sherriff's office. And when we got back that awful woman was naked in my house?" Ella spat out that last part in slight disgust.
"Mama," Rick warned Ella to keep things civil with just the tone of his voice and Ella paid him no mind.
"I told you then she was not the one for you Rick, but you don't like to listen and turns out I was right," Ella grinned needing to get that last I told you so out of her system.
"Anyway son," Rickard interrupted to give Ella a chance to cool off, "We met on that cruise and hit it off and spent the next six days all together. Most of those people on the cruise were duds who didn't know how to party and have a good time. We had a blast, especially with those drink packages in our system. We were drunk most of the time," Richard laughed.
Michonne eyed Richard and thought he was a handsome older version of Rick. Richard looked like he could party with the best of them, and her parents were definitely the best of them. Ella looked like she could out-party Camille, which was a damn feat! Michonne chuckled to herself because she pictured Rick's parents looking like the old farm couple from that famous picture, pitchfork and all. They were quite the opposite.
"Rick, we always talk about Camille and Malcom," Ella stated as if Rick should have known exactly who they were, "We were supposed to stay with them tonight after this dinner and tell them all the gossip!"
Rick rolled his eyes at his mama and Ella raised her brows. Rick chuckled and kissed his mama on the cheek.
"Looks like they are part of the gossip," Maggie laughed, "I was gonna stay here by the way. Rick my overnight bag is in the car."
Rick ignored his little sister.
"Yeah, maybe," Rick answered faintly remembering the names, "But you never mentioned they had a beautiful daughter named Michonne!"
"Yes, we did. We told you they had two daughters. Sasha and Michonne. You just weren't listening because you were focused on that Lori woman. It was very disappointing son. Lori had no education. No personality," Richard began but was interrupted by Maggie.
"No ass. No job. No fun. No life. I could go on," Maggie chuckled, and Richard tried not to laugh but he could not help it.
Ella struggled to keep a straight face and so did Michonne. Richard patted his son on the back in consolation.
"I thought I taught you better than that son," Richard uttered in jest, "but it seems you finally came to your senses and found yourself a stunner!"
Richard walked over to give Michonne a hug. Rick shook his head and grinned at his father's flirtatious nature.
"And we certainly must have mentioned Richard and Ella had a son named Rick a couple of times!" Malcolm added with confidence.
"You did daddy!" Sasha added knowing full well she had never heard of a Rick until he became her husband's partner.
Michonne narrowed her eyes at her sister. Sasha never listened to those boring stories either!
"Rick? Malcolm and Camille's names didn't sound familiar!" Darryl exclaimed from the phone and Rick was flabbergasted that Darryl was in on making shit worse, "How about you Michonne? Richard, Ella and Rick didn't sound familiar?"
"I remembered," Maggie chuckled, and Rick took a hostile step towards his sister.
Maggie just laughed harder at her silly older brother.
"Please, Rick always referred to his parents as "mama and daddy," Michonne uttered in annoyance.
"And you just mentioned "my parents, my parents!" Rick shot back in defense.
Sasha and Maggie grinned that Rick and Michonne were already throwing each other under the bus, and it has only been a few minutes since introductions. They were both ready for a fun night.
"Well, maybe if you told me more than three days ago about the baby and mentioned Michonne's name…," Ella shook her head.
Things were getting tense, and Malcolm and Richard cooled things down.
"All right, All Right. All that is water under the bridge. Let's let it go. We all know now and that is what's important," Richard intervened trying to keep the peace.
"Oh My God our kids are having a baby together!" Both ladies squealed and the change of tone gave Michonne and Rick a ray of hope.
"And it looks like we are about to see a whole hell of a lot more of each other Richard," Malcolm grinned, "We are family now it seems! When are you two getting married?"
It was quiet as a mouse and all eyes were on Rick and Michonne.
"One thing at a time! Let's get to know Rick a little and then get their answer over dinner," Camille grinned and Michonne huffed out a frustrated breath.
There goes that hope.
"WAIT. Before we get to know Rick and you two get to know Michonne, explain why Rick was not around for the first six months of your pregnancy. And if you say coma Michonne," Malcolm threatened and Michonne's eyes grew big.
"Coma? What's all this about a coma? Rick?" Ella asked curiously.
"My daughter said your son was not in the picture because he had an accident and was in a coma. Then about nine weeks ago Rick woke up and came looking for her," Camille explained with crossed arms.
All eyes were on Michonne. Maggie decided to help out her new future sister-in-law the best she could.
"Well, it's kinda true. Rick has been in two comas in his life. First, a coma from being boring for all thirty years of his life. Looks like Michonne woke his ass up a few months before his thirty first birthday," Maggie giggled.
"Maggie," Rick gritted through his teeth at his annoying sister.
"And the second time," Maggie continued ignoring her irritated brother, "was a double coma while he was married to that skinny bitch Lori Wayne," Maggie laughed and stopped when Ella gave her the evil eye.
"Watch your language Maggie," Ella uttered and shook her head even though she agreed with Lori's nickname.
Ella called Lori all kinds of bitch when she found out about her and Shane. She even called Lori a cunt before slamming the door in her face when Lori had the nerve to show up to her house a few months back for asking for help. Lori was hell for Rick, and Lori messing with Shane while she was still married solidified Ella's extreme dislike for that woman. Sasha chuckled and bumped Maggie on the arm in approval.
"Shut up Maggie," Rick gritted then turned his focus to Malcolm and began to stutter, "You, see, umm so I was in New York for a conference, and I knew Michonne was gonna be there and she knew I was going to be there."
Rick was trying to remember the lie Michonne told him to tell about how they met until he could think of a good lie about why he was an absentee father. Michonne was so sure her father would not ask about the coma that she neglected to think of a good cover story. Most of it was off the cuff because nothing was going to plan, and Rick's mind was muddled. Rick did not do off the cuff well at all. Rick glared at Michonne in an I told you so manner and Michonne avoided eye contact.
"Oh really? Where did you two lovebirds meet before New York?" Sasha asked with a smirk and this time it was Rick who rolled his eyes and his future sister-in-law.
Sasha was making it harder to lie. Michonne found satisfaction in Rick's eye roll because he was usually defending Sasha's behavior. Michonne proudly clasped Rick's hand in solidarity. Michonne eyed Rick nervously because every time he spoke, he was going off story. Shit was off the rails now.
"Yeah, umm because we were friends who just met right before at the…umm," Rick's mind went blank and looked at Michonne in utter terror.
"Courthouse. We met at the courthouse!" Michonne hollered pleased with herself and side eyed Sasha.
"Yeah, there…umm so we had dinner a few nights you see and then we went sightseeing. It was early January, and you know they don't take the Christmas tree down until mid-January or so, so it was like it was still the holidays and so we went to see the Christmas tree," Rick stuttered staring at the floor more than at the people he was trying but failing to lie to.
If he looked his mama in the eye, it was all over. Rick squeezed Michonne's hand a little too tightly and she yelped.
"And ice skating too! remember Rick?" Michonne added in a panic trying to remove her hand from his, but Rick was holding on for dear life.
"When did you learn how to ice skate Rick. You can't even roller skate?" Maggie asked curiously.
"I fell A LOT," Rick answered through gritted teeth ready to wrestle his sister to the ground like they used to do as kids.
Ella and Camille eyed each other every time Rick and Michonne lied. Ella was about to say something but there was a loud buzz from the kitchen.
"Dinner is ready! Everybody come to the dining room!" Michonne hollered glad for the reprieve and hurried as fast as she could out of the living room pulling Rick along with her.
"I hope dinner is better than the bullshit that's cooking out here," Ella uttered to Camille.
"I doubt it. By the end, the two of them will be eating crow," Camille huffed, shook her head, and headed to the dinner table.
Rick was sweating. Michonne was right all along. It was much easier to lie to the parents than to admit to having unprotected sex with a woman who did not even know his name. Once they were all at the table, it was quiet as they all took their first few bites. Sasha and Maggie looked around grinning. Darryl was grinning too.
"This is delicious Michonne," Maggie started the conversation.
"Thank you, Maggie," Michonne replied and when she looked into Maggie's eyes all she was mischievousness and hellfire.
Michonne blew a hard breath and closed her eyes in frustration.
"Rick, go ahead and finish your fake story son," Richard requested, and Rick took a hard swallow.
"All Right daddy," Rick started and Michonne kicked him under the table.
"It's not a fake story Mr. Grimes," Michonne smiled, "Go ahead Rick. Tell our parents the truth."
Rick looked at Michonne and cut his eyes at her then smiled with relief, but also with misunderstanding.
"Ok, so we didn't really know…,"Rick started and Michonne kicked him again much harder, "Ow!"
"We really didn't know where to go for dinner, so we asked the concierge," Michonne corrected and eyed Rick until he nodded in frustration.
Back to the lies.
"Yeah, and so we went to dinner. Not Christmas dinner because you know even though the Christmas tree and decorations were still up, Christmas had passed already. It was just a regular dinner. And then after dinner me and Michonne went to….well uhhh…," Rick stopped and looked wide eyed at Michonne for her to continue the story, but she quickly averted her eyes.
"Why do you keep talking about Christmas Rick? It's weird," Maggie asked with a naughty grin, "Unless you are gonna tell us Michonne was a late Christmas gift you unwrapped after your supposed Christmas dinner?"
Sasha cackled.
"Whoop there it is!" Darryl hollered from Sasha's breast and Rick almost choked on his green beans.
"Maggie!" Ella yelled in a threatening tone with a strong finger point to emphasize her seriousness.
"That goes for you too Sasha And DARRYL," Camille hollered, and Sasha's grin slowly faded and Michonne's grin widened.
"Yes, ma'am," Darryl muttered.
"All right. Enough with the bullshit you two. Tell us what actually happened and why you were not there for Michonne for half her damn pregnancy!" Ella requested tired of their antics.
Rick and Michonne were caught red-handed, and they both knew it.
"Please do," Camille added placing her fork down on her half-eaten plate.
Everybody put their forks down and stared at the couple who were more than ready to stop lying. Well at least one of them was.
"Well, Rick and I are adults, and everyone knows how babies are made and that is all you need to know!" Michonne snarked trying to sound confident with her humiliated head held high then slunk in her seat when she noticed both Ella and her mother's eyes began to narrow.
Michonne knew Camille and Ella were not going to accept that excuse and she looked at Rick who was literally sweating out a tsunami.
"Calm down Rick and wipe your face! Just deny and don't answer their questions! We are grown!" Michonne whispered to Rick who looked like he was about to ruin the whole pretend story.
Rick always had a hard time lying to his mama.
"We all know how babies are made dear," Ella affirmed , and Camille nodded her head in agreement, "What I am asking you Rick, is why your father and I did not know you were going to be a father for eight whole months?"
"Well, see I lost Michonne's number, and she didn't have mine and so I looked for her all over Atlanta, but other than her name I had no clue how to find her," Rick began.
"You are a detective son," Richard reminded, and Maggie, Darryl, and Sasha hooted from the far end of the table, "And I thought you said you knew each other before Christmas in New York?"
Michonne shot both Sasha and Maggie a dirty look. Then eyed Richard who looked confused.
"Wait, so are you telling me you did not know Michonne was pregnant for the first six months?" Camille asked Rick incredulously.
"All right, enough. CUT. THE. BULL. SHIT. What happened Rick and no lies this time." Ella warned, "Or else I am gonna take you out back like when you a kid."
Rick shifted in his seat.
"No lies Michonne," Camille cosigned, and Sasha found her moment.
"I still don't understand how you didn't recognize Rick's name once he partnered with Darryl," Sasha grinned with a smile, "they worked together three whole months, and I talked about Rick all the time! Rick Grimes this and Rick Grimes that! Can you explain how you did not recognize Rick's name as part of your true confessions Michonne?"
That was the infamous question that got the truth ball rolling.
"I KNEW HER FIRST AND LAST NAME WHEN WE MADE THE BABY! SHE DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW MINE!" Rick hollered in desperation and Michonne folded her arms in anger.
Michonne's eyes narrowed, and her teeth clenched in fury at Rick throwing her under the bus. No, not under the bus, Rick kicked her into the flames. Rick did not make eye contact with Michonne, but both sets of parents did. Michonne was busted. She had no more lies to tell, especially with Sasha's last question and Rick's bitch ass betrayal. Michonne threw her hands up and confessed her whole embarrassing story and by the end, Rick was bright red.
"Oh my God," Malcolm uttered in complete embarrassment.
Malcolm was shaking his head at his daughter and Sasha and Maggie looked like Cheshire cats. Michonne walked into the living room and began ignoring Rick, but with the constant, embarrassing follow-up questions, she was forced to call on Rick for support. Once everything settled, and the full true story was finally out, the future grandparents decided to wipe the actual unseemly story from their memory and instead focus on the future and began to make plans. The two mothers and Michonne were in one corner with Sasha and Maggie. The men were in the other listening to Rick's romantic proposal plan which both fathers approved of.
"I like that moonlight idea son," Richard gushed and slapped Rick on the back with pride. "Romantic just like your daddy."
"Just do it sooner rather than later Rick. My baby is about to burst with your baby!" Malcolm replied robustly with the most serious face Rick had ever seen.
"We have a doctor's appointment next week. I am going to propose a few days after. The moon is supposed to be full, and the sky will be clear," Rick smiled nervously.
"Sounds romantic, unlike tonight," Malcolm laughed, and Rick blew out a relieved breath when Malcolm broke into a wide grin.
Rick was going to tell them he had not proposed yet because of the constant digs Michonne was making about what she called, the pretend engagement. All the, thanks fake fiancé, or, if we are lucky Rick, maybe Scooby doo can marry us after the gang solves the case of the mysterious proposal! had Rickrolling his eyes at least three or four times a day. Rick ultimately decided to keep all the snark between him and his fake fiancé. Michonne was already pissed enough.
"It will be. I have the reservations at her favorite restaurant set for next Thursday. She won't see it coming on a weekday. I have the ring, and the flowers are ordered. I just have to pray the moon is extra bright that night. I can't control that part. If not, I have the flashlight on my phone I can use," Rick joked, and they all chuckled and took multiple sips of scotch.
"Good!" Ella and Camille exclaimed when they walked by and overheard Rick's proposal idea.
If someone would have told Rick that none of that romantic proposal stuff happened, and instead he proposed on a random Tuesday while Michonne lie on an exam table with a wand up her vagina, Rick would have laughed in their face and called them crazy.
By the end of the evening, Rick and Michonne were surprisingly relieved that the cat was out of the bag and their parents were happy and excited. They were a little worried because Ella and Camille had completely taken over the wedding preparations even though Rick had yet to propose. Michonne had to set some imaginary parameters and make-believe boundaries and she emphasized imaginary and make believe much to Rick's annoyance. The first imaginary parameter was, since this is both their second marriage, they wanted something small and intimate. Family and close friends only. Nothing fancy. Second, they did not want a wedding shower, which Sasha was bummed about because she and Maggie were already looking up male strippers on their phones. Third, she would rather have a baby shower instead. The grandfathers had their own set of parameters, well just one, they wanted the marriage to take place BEFORE the baby came in two months.
"And where will you live if this house sells quickly, which it will?" Camille asked knowing it was a sellers' market.
"This house is already pending, and Rick and I already found our home. We put in an offer, and it was accepted. It's not too far from here. We close at the end of the month. It's closer to Sasha than I would have liked, however. It's actually," Michonne hesitated still in disbelief.
"It's in my neighborhood! One block over!" Sasha added excitedly, "She is close enough for me to walk over."
Michonne rolled her eyes and shook her head. She could not believe she willingly bought a house that close to her sister, but it was just too perfect to pass up.
"The new house is better suited to our needs. It is bigger than what we need, but Like Sasha's, it sits on an acre of land, that was a big selling point for Rick along with the backyard that is twice as big as this one, technically, because it backs up to woods so we will never have neighbors behind us," Michonne grinned recalling how Rick's face lit up when he first saw the home.
Michonne also recalled how his faced dropped when he saw the selling price. Michonne assured him that they could afford it. Rick knew Michonne meant SHE could afford it, but if it made her happy, he would work triple shifts if necessary.
"Yeah, me and kids use those woods for camping…until they start crying to go back home. Baby steps," Darryl hollered through the phone.
"There is also plenty of room for you two when you want to visit," Michonne grinned at Richard and Ella, "You too Maggie."
"And most importantly, the primary bedroom is downstairs. And it has an additional bedroom downstairs that we can use as a nursery, and maybe an office when he or she gets a little older and wants to move upstairs," Rick added as he rubbed Michonne's tummy.
"Or you can keep it as a nursery for your next child!" Ella said excitedly.
"Hold on now mama. Remember this pregnancy is a miracle. We still don't know how it happened considering we both have fertility issues," Rick advised trying to slow his mama's roll and calm the rest of them down too.
"Well, it's evident that you don't," Maggie suggested with shoulder shrug, "You two should get a second opinion.
"Well, we tried with our first spouses and were not successful, even with those expensive ass fertility treatments, so it's most likely true," Rick answered his sister who still looked skeptical.
"And I don't need a second opinion, nor do I want one. This pregnancy is a blessing and if it happens again, then I will be happy. If it doesn't, then I will be joyful with the one baby that I have," Michonne corrected, and Camille hugged her daughter.
"And we will all be satisfied with that too, honey," Camille agreed with a smile.
"Ok, who wants mixed berry cobbler?" Michonne asked and they all made a beeline to the kitchen.
"That went extremely well," Rick whispered, "Well at least by the end it did. I told you we should have just told the truth in the first place."
"Please. Had your parents not been friends with my parents, it would not have turned out this well Rick. Thank God for cruises, drink packages, and parents, who like to party," Michonne huffed and joined their family in the kitchen for a large helping of cobbler a 'la mode.
Rick's father pulled him aside and whispered something in his ear and Rick vehemently refused.
"It's already decided and will be done first thing next week," Richard grinned and returned to join the fun in the kitchen.
Outside, Lori was sitting in her car watching the house. She needed to get Rick alone to talk to him about their future. Rick was her husband! She and Rick were supposed to grow old together! And THAT VILE WOMAN, a name Lori began to call Michonne, was keeping her precious Rick away from her. Lori's delusion was slowly escalating to obsession and riding the edge of insanity. Lori was so desperate to repair their relationship that she began following Rick everywhere in the hopes of catching him alone. Much to Lori's chagrin, Rick was always with his detective partner, or with THAT VILE WOMAN! Lori prayed as she sat watching the house that Rick would take the trash to the curb or take a break from whatever mess was going on inside that house, or even better, take a perimeter check around the home like he did when they lived together. Lori never realized that the "perimeter check" was simply an opportunity for Rick to take a breather from her constant complaining.
"Come on Rick. We just need a minute alone!" Lori uttered to herself, willing Rick to walk out that front door alone.
When Rick did not manifest, a frustrated Lori scanned the vehicles in the driveway and scrunched her nose in disgust.
"Why are they there?" Lori asked herself as she sat seething staring at Ella and Richard's vehicle.
Lori was peeved that she could no longer reach out to Rick's parents for information about Rick's situation. Rick's parents hated Lori and she always knew it, but Lori assumed that Mr. and Mrs. Grimes would come around once she gave them a grandchild. Lori smiled to herself.
"I bet that judgmental bitch really hates that husband stealing whore too," Lori laughed thinking about how Ella was probably giving THAT VILE WOMAN! the stink eye at that very moment.
As Lori sat stewing, Mike drove by the house and did not stop once he noticed all the cars. He too wanted to talk to Michonne alone. He wanted his wife back and needed to talk to her without that country bumpkin by her side. He noticed her parents' and sisters' vehicles but did not recognize the other two cars in the driveway. Mike assumed the truck was her new man's car. He had seen it when he drove by earlier that week and now, he wondered if they lived together. Mike noticed the for-sale sign and drew a breath and reluctantly decided to go back home and try again another time. He drove past Lori with no clue as to who she was.
"Yeah, you are right. Sasha was in rare form last weekend," Rick giggled and escorted Michonne into the café so she could get some food and settle her mind after Sasha's doctor appointment shenanigans.
Michonne always acted like Sasha's behavior annoyed her, but Rick knew she secretly loved it. He did too, but his was no secret. Rick laughed at Sasha often and openly.
"She was, but I know she knew how stressed I was about telling my parents how I got pregnant and just wanted to help in her overbearing but effective way," Michonne shook her head as Rick helped her to her seat.
"Yeah, Sasha pulled me aside and apologized about her part in it, but not that it happened, and I frankly am glad she did. The pressure of those lies was debilitating. Honesty needed to happen," Rick agreed and asked the waiter to bring them two waters.
"I know, she pulled me aside too," Michonne grinned, "Speaking of honesty, how are we going to decorate the nursery and still keep the sex a secret from everyone?"
When Rick told Michonne he loved her during the appointment, he whispered in her ear that he knew the sex of the baby.
"We can do a gender-neutral nursery. Did you want something that was more one than the other?" Rick asked with furrowed brows.
"Let's go to the baby boutique after we eat Rick. Get some ideas. I still can't believe you were able to dodge Sasha and get the gender without her knowing. I have been trying to do that since Dr. Carson started asking!" Michonne responded in amazement.
"I called him before we left for the appointment when I found out Sasha was coming and asked him to slip it to me on a piece of paper when we shook hands. He sounded excited to do it!" Rick laughed, "Remember when I went to the restroom right after he called us back?"
"Yeah," Michonne replied interested in the story.
"That's when I looked then I flushed the paper down the toilet. I can't believe we have to do all this cat and mouse with your sister. I like it though. It's fun," Rick chuckled.
"Ok, so that is why you and Dr. Caron were acting all strange. All right. Which is it? I think we are far enough away from Sasha that you can tell me now," Michonne grinned and rubbed her hands together.
Rick smiled and opened his menu.
"RICK!" Michonne hollered a little too loudly.
"I think I'll have the ribeye," Rick grinned and continued to peruse the menu while Michonne narrowed her eyes at the dead man walking.