The end of episode 3 got me HYPE! And remember everyone, poor Rick is just doing everything he can to make sure his precious Michonne is not stuck at the CRM. He hollered at her because he was scared that she might be trapped like he was and was desperate to get her to leave that awful place by any means necessary. Don't be too mad at him. I am sure his Michonne will get him straight next episode and savage Rick will make his return. I am not gonna lie, Thorne pissed me off, but I am still holding out hope that she is not a villain.
This chapter is about 1200 words longer than I would have liked but I did not know where to cut…let me know what I could have deleted! Don't say Lori! Because every story needs a villain/conflict to make it more interesting. Don't say Mike, because there is some future importance there. Also, I never liked writing smut and the last few stories had it here and there, but not much. I am not good at it like some of the other phenomenal authors. This chapter however has quite a bit sprinkled throughout, nothing too detailed or extravagant, but it's there. I Hope I did ok. Let me know…nervous biting my fingernails. And yes, this chapter jumps around a lot also….it is what it is. Sorry.
Thank you everyone for your great comments! I am so glad you like the story!
Enjoy!
Chapter 4-Baby, I'm Home! Baby, Damn, I'm Home!
"Michonne, which one is my room?" Rick inquired, trying to hold back his excitement as he glanced around her beautiful home.
Their beautiful home.
It was the third weekend of July, and the weather was perfect. The house was perfect. Michonne was perfect. Everythang in Rick's mind about what was happening was perfect. Rick thought he was dreaming the last two weeks. He could not believe he was actually moving into Michonne's home. His baby mama's home. The home of the woman he fell for head over heels with just six and a half months ago, and the woman he was attracted to just a year before that. It was icing on the cake finding out she was pregnant with HIS child, despite the fact that both were infertile. Rick was a giant step closer to having everythang he has ever wanted.
"Well, I thought you could choose. I have the guest bedroom downstairs that is smaller than the one upstairs, but it has a small en suite bathroom. The room upstairs is bigger than the one downstairs and has a walk-in closet, but the restroom is down the hall," Michonne explained.
Rick was fucking giddy. He was cohabitating with the potential love of his life. There was only one thing that could have made his joyful circumstance even better, telling his parents. Michonne, however, wanted to wait until they got settled and Rick reluctantly agreed. Michonne needed time to fix her "my baby daddy is in a coma" lie with her parents. And of course, even more time to figure out how to explain to her mother, and most importantly her father, that she fucked and got pregnant by a nameless stranger.
"Well, I don't mind the restroom being outside the bedroom. I mean, it was like that at my old house and my apartment too. And I would prefer to be closer to you in case you needed me in the middle of the night. I will take the upstairs bedroom if you don't mind," Rick answered with a shy smile.
"Upstairs it is," Michonne blushed, "Follow me!"
Rick picked up his box of clothes and followed Michonne up the stairs loving the view. She had an ass that could stop traffic and he turned red when he remembered just what he did to her marvelous backside that night six months ago in New York.
"Oh My God!" Rick clearly remembered Michonne shouting after he put his whole face between her ass cheeks and gave her a good lick and a couple bites.
"You like that?" Rick asked in a sexual haze that made him feel like he was drunk.
Rick let go of all the sexual inhibitions with Michonne that he was forced to conceal with his ex-wife because Lori was not as adventurous as Rick would have liked. Rick and Lori were not a good match in general, but even more so sexually. They were day and night. Rick loved the female body and desired to worship every curve with his eyes, his hands, his tongue and his dick. Lori was content with Rick getting on top, doing his business, and getting right back off. If Rick ever got a little feisty, Lori would complain, and Rick's hardened member would immediately soften. On a birthdays or anniversaries, Lori might let him hit from the back or suck his dick, but both were just as lackluster as they were few and far between. Rick would rather not even go there with Lori on those supposed "special occasions." Rick loved that Michonne allowed his freak flag to fly high that evening.
"Yes, I like that. I LIKE THAT!" Michonne shouted after never experiencing anything that felt that delectable before, especially after her nameless lover dipped his tongue just inside her anus.
Mike would never! Mike did not like to eat pussy, much less eat ass.
"Rick? RICK?" Michonne hollered confused as to why Rick stopped abruptly in the middle of her staircase, "Is the box too heavy?"
"Oh no, no I Um…I'm sorry. Sorry. Go ahead. I'm right behind you," Rick stuttered and smiled embarrassingly at getting caught reminiscing about their wild time in the hotel room.
While Rick was dreaming of their erotic adventures, Michonne was fantasizing about a repeat of that New York night also. When she was internalizing the advantages and disadvantages of Rick moving into her home, she was fighting one particular pro—sex. The pregnancy had made Michonne horny as hell. Michonne licked her lips and slyly glanced over her shoulder at Rick's bulging muscles in his tight black t-shirt and wondered if he wore it that snug on purpose. It fit him perfectly as if it was tailored just for him. Michonne could clearly see every defined muscle from his chest to his arms and it made her feel slippery in places from the sweat dripping between her breasts to the sticky, slickness starting to drip from her pussy. Michonne took one more look at Rick's firm hold on the box and recalled how he similarly gripped her just as firmly in the hotel room.
"Shit! Shit! Harder! More! Please!" Michonne recalled shouting in amazement at the size and feel of the stranger's outstanding dick.
Mike was a good size, but he was conservative in the bedroom. The sex was not bad by any means, but it was nowhere near as delicious as what this stranger was doing to her. Michonne's eyes were opened to what sex could be: fun, nasty, majestic, sensual, loving, wild, filthy. This gorgeous man blew her mind as well as her back.
"You are flexible," The stranger chuckled as he lifted her legs and pushed her knees to her cheeks.
"OH MY GOD!" Michonne yelled in the new position which allowed the nameless man to go so deep, she thought her brain was going to explode.
The stranger was not only huge, but he also knew how to fucking work his cock. Michonne closed her eyes and screamed in pleasure as the nameless man dicked her down and gave her exactly what she had been needing. Gave her what she had never experienced before. Pure Nirvana. The way his dick was beating up her pussy was marvelous. Michonne's eyes flickered opened and closed erratically. She wanted to look down to see if his dick was magic but could not. All she could do was feel the thumping, nonstop, rapid hip movement pounding her deep down into the soft hotel mattress. Feel his sweat dripping, the droplets hitting her sensitive nipples then him licking them dry before sucking them with vigor and getting them moist again. Her pussy was sopping. She could hear it. Michonne had never felt that wet before in her entire life. He was in the middle of stroking her so good and so deep when Michonne's eyes popped open in confusion and alarm when her nameless lover pulled out of her soaking wet pussy and flipped her on her stomach so fast, she had no clue what was happening. Her head was spinning.
"Put your ass up high and arch your back baby," The stranger requested and Michonne obliged quickly ready for more of his fantastic cock.
Michonne felt empty without him inside her and she was desperate for the stranger to fill her up again. The nameless man drove his dick back into her so suddenly she screamed but no noise came out. She placed her face into the pillow and bit down. All she heard was the wet, gushing sounds of her pussy and the slap of the strangers' hips repeatedly thrashing against her ass as he stroked her to complete oblivion. The stranger placed the tip of his thumb in her asshole and Michonne thought she was going to black out, especially when he reached around with his other hand and began to play with her…
"Michonne? You, Okay?" Rick asked, watching Michonne oddly stand still in front of the guest room door breathing harder than necessary.
"Stop it Michonne," Michonne whispered to herself and shook the sex from her mind and tried to calm her throbbing pussy by squeezing her thighs together.
"What now?" Rick asked, wondering if she was remembering their night together like he was.
"I said I hope you like your room," Michonne lied wide-eyed, and Rick chuckled.
Yeah, she was remembering too, Rick decided.
"This is a great house. I see what you meant by loft style. Up here looks almost like a small apartment without the kitchen," Rick commented as he looked around.
"Yeah, I liked the little lounging area right outside my bedroom. At the time I did not mind the primary bedroom upstairs, but now with this," Michonne pointed at her stomach, "It's a burden.
"Well, I'm here to help with that," Rick smiled, "If you want, I can help with that big backyard of yours too."
Michonne stared at Rick and wondered if he had a double meaning. Rick's smirk told her that he did.
"Thanks," Michonne grinned.
"Did you live here with your ex-husband?" Rick inquired as they walked into Rick's new accommodations.
"No, I got our old house in the divorce, and sold it a month later. It was just me, so I wanted to downsize. I bought this one to be a little closer to my sister. Not too close though, just close enough. She lives about seven or eight miles away in a different neighborhood. She wanted me to move into a house on her street, but I was like HELL NO! One, they are huge homes, and two, Sasha already barges in here without ringing the doorbell. She does not need easier access. I should have never given her a key," Michonne uttered as she walked Rick into his new room.
Darryl: I don't know how you convinced us to take your crap to storage while you over there carrying them light ass boxes. How does one man have so much shit!
Rick: I have the normal stuff
Darryl: A dresser and two nightstands! TWO! And a headboard and rails! I had a mattress on the floor and lined my clothes along the damn wall when I lived alone!
Rick laughed and Michonne grinned.
"Who are you texting?" Michonne asked then widened her eyes, "Sorry! None of my business!"
"It's your business," Rick smiled and eyed Michonne up and down causing her to want to get naked right then and there, "It's Darryl. The guys are mad I have so much stuff to take to storage."
"Rick! You could have brought your furniture here! I could have moved all the…" Michonne began a little concerned that she was not being courteous to her new roommate.
Rick: You lived like an animal. Sasha domesticated you.
"Nah, it was old stuff from when I was married. Except the bed. I threw that out and got a whole new one," Rick assured, "Most of that stuff needs to be thrown out anyway. I will eventually take it all to the dump."
Rick put his phone away and refocused on Michonne.
"Ok, if you're sure," Michonne smiled glad that Rick was not brining any of his old ass furniture.
Every room in Michonne's home was already fully and beautifully furnished and although she would not mind Rick decorating to his liking, she would prefer his old bachelor furniture to stay in storage.
"Where is your room?" Rick inquired looking inside his new walk-in closet before gazing back at Michonne with a sexy glint in his eye.
"On the other side of the lounging area. Past your restroom," Michonne whispered staring Rick up and down.
Michonne loved the taut fit of his tight black t-shirt, but his black jeans were driving her wild. They were suffocating his thighs and the boots added even more sex appeal. Michonne wondered again if Rick wore that outfit on purpose. She watched Rick walk past her and out of the room and that sexy bowlegged walk of his was doing stuff and thangs to her. Michonne closed her eyes and immediately regretted it. She was suddenly swept back to that night in New York watching him slowly saunter towards her with that bowed leg of his while she sat naked at the edge of the bed. She was so turned on she could barely contain herself. Michonne could not remember if it happened first or second or fifth. It was a long-ass, sweaty night.
"You waiting on sumthin?" Michonne remembered the stranger asking with a grin.
"Yes," Michonne breathlessly answered and looked down at his crotch.
The stranger was softly stroking his hard dick and she automatically opened her mouth, wide, and swiftly got to her knees on the floor. Michonne could not remember if either action was from shock, or if she was just hungry for what the stranger was about to give her. Michonne enjoyed sucking dick, but she never did it much with Mike because he refused to eat her pussy. Mike argued with her logic because she liked doing it, while he did not. So, it was a different circumstance. Michonne disagreed and kept her lips closed tightly and her head far away from Mike's junk. Michonne was excited to for the stranger's beautiful dick to hit her tongue.
"You want me to fuck that pretty mouth of yours darling?" Her nameless lover asked breathlessly and Michonne licked her lips and nodded.
Michonne moaned as he slid his dick across her tongue as he held the back of her head. She watched the stranger's head roll back in pure pleasure once he was fully sat in her mouth. The girth stretched the sides of her mouth, and the length tickled the back of her throat and her eyes teared up as they rolled back in pure pleasure when he began to slowly move his cock in and out. The stranger closed his eyes to focus because her mouth felt exquisite and his cum was already dripping down her chin with every pull out before mixing with her saliva as he pushed back in. The nameless man sped up the pace, fucking her mouth like he fucked her pussy just minutes before and his knees nearly buckled. Michonne was touching herself, rolling her fingers over her clit furiously as the stranger grabbed both sides of her head and increased his pace gagging her every few thrusts. Michonne placed her hands on his bare thighs, pushing him back just a smidge so that she could take control. Michonne lifted his dick and licked along the vein and back down before she inhaled his balls into her mouth. The stranger yelled out and grabbed a mass of her locks in both hands, pulling them slightly, enough to make Michonne's pussy throb in delight. She grasped the strangers dick tightly with one hand jerking him off, her other hand playing with his balls while she sucked her lover so superbly, he felt his soul leave his body right after shooting his cum down her throat, the rest dribbling down her lips and chin before falling to his knees and kissing her clean.
Michonne was mesmerized as she stood in the middle of her bedroom wiping away the imaginary fluids from her chin that had long since been cleaned from that single night of passion. Knowing then what she knew now, she regretted leaving the strangers bed in the middle of the night, scurrying back to her own hotel room to avoid a public walk of shame. Then leaving early the next morning to avoid running into the man that gave her the best sex she ever had.
Rick peeked his head back into the bedroom and watched her quietly reflecting.
"Michonne. You, okay?" Rick asked with furrowed brows, "You drifted off again. You ain't changed your mind, have you?"
"Uh, no…i mean yes, no," Michonne shook her head back and forth to get herself together, "I mean yes, I am okay, and no, I have not changed my mind."
"Good," Rick grinned knowing full well she had not, "I'm gonna go down and get another box. Come on. Let me help you down the stairs and you can rest on the couch while I finish getting my stuff."
Darryl: We are stopping for food. You want something?
Rick: Yes. Where are you stopping? Let me ask Michonne if she wants something too.
Darryl: I know her greedy ass wants something! She always does! I already know her order by heart. You know what, I'm getting you what I get. After all this work, you don't get to choose your meal asshole. And you are paying! I prefer apple pay, but cash app or Vinmo will work too!
"Darryl again?" Michonne felt more comfortable asking this time.
"He is getting us lunch," Rick informed and chuckled when Michonne's eyes lit up and she smiled brightly from ear-to-ear and did a little dance.
Rick grinned. He loved seeing Michonne that way. Between her multiple plates at the Fourth of July BBQ and her excitement about lunch, Rick made a mental note that Michonne loved food, so he now knew how to always make her smile.
Rick: I have cash and cash. I don't know what that other stuff is.
Darryl: Sad man. Just sad.
Rick put his phone away and took a step aside for Michonne to pass. As she did, Rick placed his hand on her lower back and led her to the stairs and Michonne just about purred. She remembered those hands grabbing her waist tightly as he laid waste to her pussy from the back, the side, the other side, and the front. Michonne tried to contain her smile when she remembered sitting the nameless man in the chair and riding the cowboy like she was breaking a wild horse. His face was buried between her tits for most of the ride. If she had a cowboy hat that night, Michonne would have waved it in the air as she alternated griding down hard on his dick in circles or bouncing on his cock making the stranger grunt like a bull. Michonne took a deep breath and focused on the stairs as Rick helped her down the steps. His hand stayed on lower back the entire trip. Michonne loved it.
Three weeks later, in Mid-August, Michonne was seven months pregnant, and her belly had expanded exponentially. As she stood in the mirror, she could not believe the growth in just thirty days and wondered just how much more she was going to swell in the next three months. That seventh month, however, was the beginning of Rick and Michonne becoming an official couple. It started with the stairs. They exhausted Michonne, and when Rick found her spread out halfway up when he got home one evening, he was determined to do something about the problem.
"How long have you been sitting here Michonne?" Rick asked worriedly and he helped her to her feet.
Five minutes, no more than fifteen. Any longer and I would have called Sasha," Michonne laughed as they walked inside her bedroom.
"The stairs are becoming a problem Michonne," Rick stated as they stood in the middle of her bedroom still holding hands.
Michonne noticed and could not stop staring at his fingers intertwined with hers.
"Yeah," Michonne whispered to herself recalling the fingers of his left hand entangled in hers while his strong forearm held her crisscrossed wrists in place high above her head, his other flat against the mattress near her cheek while he fucked her senseless seven months ago.
Michonne was starting to sweat.
"Maybe we can move to the downstairs bedroom? We can move some stuff down there? I know it's much smaller but…" Rick suggested and Michonne immediately focused on the plurality.
"We?" Michonne grinned as she took off her suit jacket leaving her standing in her sleeveless sheath dress.
"Yes, we," Rick grinned, "turn around and let me unzip you. I would feel more comfortable if I was down there too. I can take the couch."
"I am too big to not take you up on that offer Rick," Michonne blew out in frustration before turning around and lifting her locs, "And despite my big ole belly, I think there is room for two in that bed."
Rick smiled and sauntered behind her and leaned his head close to her neck as if he was going to place gentle kisses along it like he did in New York. It took herculean effort not to. It was a huge struggle to not do a lot of thangs over the last month, but nothing progressed past Rick's frequent lower back touches, or the hand holding both had become accustomed to when walking up the stairs or walking outside together. For the last two weeks, Rick started helping Michonne undress which was why he was now standing behind her, his nose almost touching her perfumed neck. Rick loved the smell of her. He liked the perfume, but he preferred her natural scent. The coconut smell from her soap and shampoo mixed with her personal aroma drove him wild too. Now, however, he was taking in the warm, fragrant but faded scent that she sprayed that morning.
"You smell good," Rick whispered and slid his middle finger ever so lightly along her exposed skin from the top of her neck to the start of the zipper.
The scent reminded Rick of her fragrant pussy as he ate her out until she screamed for mercy back in January. He inhaled huge whiffs of her aroma each time he sucked on her clit long and hard, licked the crease of every fold of her pussy with vigor, or snaked his tongue as deep into her heavenly abyss as he could. Rick did not miss a single scrumptious spot. Rick wiggled his nose and refocused on her zipper. Rick's slight touch sent tingles all over Michonne's body. He took a small step back and grasped the zipper and slowly unzipped her dress. Michonne's eyes were closed, deep in thought, fighting the urge to lean into Rick. When the zipper reached its end, just above the fleshy part of backside, Rick's battled his impulse to give his favorite area a little slap like he did that evening in New York. Michonne loved it and begged for more. As he fucked her from the back, every third stroke he slapped her ass and his cock got harder as he watched it jiggle. Rick felt his dick harden in his jeans and he tried to think of things that would calm his little Rick down. Rick figured it was best to head to her bathroom and start her bath water before stuff and thangs got out of hand. While Rick was resisting doing just a little bit more with Michonne, Michonne was busy surrendering to stop doing less with Rick. By the time the zipper reached the bottom of its line, Michonne had already made up her mind.
"Rick," Michonne almost cooed.
"Yeah," Rick answered glancing back.
"You think this time you can help me get into the bathtub? And maybe help me bathe?" Michonne asked softly.
Rick eyed Michonne up and down, smiled, and nodded.
"Let me go run your water," Rick grinned with his heart beathing a mile a minute, "Can you get yourself out of that dress?" Rick shouted from the bathroom.
"I can," Michonne hollered back unable to control her nervous jittering.
Michonne stepped out of the dress and was left standing in her bra and panties. When Rick stepped back into the bedroom, his breath hitched as he eyed Michonne, and he prayed he was interpreting her actions correctly. Rick slowly strolled over to Michonne and turned her around and unfastened her bra and took a chance by giving her a slight kiss where her clasp was just snug against her back. When Rick did not receive any opposition, he kissed her down her spine until he reached the top of her panties then slowly pulled those down to her ankles. Rick gave each of her ass cheeks a light lick and kiss, before helping Michonne step out of them. Rick picked up both her underwear and dress and tossed them into the laundry basket.
"Come on," Rick requested of a completely naked Michonne holding out his hand for her to take.
Rick sat with her and washed her back and ran his hands up and down all the places that made her tingle as they chatted about their day. When Michonne got to a stressful story, Rick remedied that by slipping one finger inside Michonne and then another and finger fucked her stress away. Rick smiled when she moaned, and his dick got harder in his jeans when he felt her warm cum soak his fingers despite the cool water. Once Michonne came down, Rick helped her out of the tub, dried her off, and assisted her into her evening attire. While Michonne was in the kitchen preparing dinner with a little more pep in her step, Rick began to move a few of their things into the downstairs bedroom. Michonne's pregnancy pillow was first on the list. Rick was excited to share a bed with her again, even if that monstrosity of a pillow might be an annoying barrier. By the time they were ready for bed, they had eaten dinner, talked, and laughed for nearly two hours. Michonne loved being downstairs. If she wanted a bottle of water, it would be easy for her to get up and get it, especially in the middle of the night, even though Rick would probably beat her to it. As they settled into bed, Michonne tossed her giant pillow to the bottom of the bed, laid on her side facing Rick, and ran her fingers through his hair. Rick inched closer and kissed her softly at first, then more passionately as they progressed.
"Help me take this off Rick," Michonne requested lifting her night shirt to try and pull it over her head.
Rick sat up and pulled off her pajama top, then her bottoms. He climbed behind Michonne, her back facing his front, and kissed the smooth dark skin of her neck and shoulders then down her back.
"You sure? Especially with you being high risk?" Rick asked cautiously.
"Yes, Rick. Just not like back at the hotel, I guess. Slow and gentle. I want you, Rick. I can't wait until after the baby comes. Please," Michonne begged tired of the daily throbbing every time she saw Rick move a muscle.
Rick kissed Michonne deeply and passionately. God Rick loved kissing those plump lips of hers. Intertwining his tongue with hers. He could do so for hours if she let him. Rick chuckled when Michonne reached over and patted his hip. Rick got the message and lifted her leg and gently pushed it forward. Rick rubbed his dick back and forth through the folds of her pussy, stopping to tap on her clit before resuming the rubbing motion. Michonne could tell he was rock hard and grew impatient.
"You like that?" Rick asked with a grin knowing she was ready for Rick to plunder.
Plunder softly. Gently. But plunder none the less.
"No! I Don't! I mean I do, but I would like it if you stop and just put it in! We can do the foreplay stuff the second go around Rick!" Michonne demanded and Rick chuckled until he felt the deliciousness of her tight pussy strangle his dick and moaned.
"Michonne," Rick whispered and stopped because he felt that if he continued, he would either cum right then and there, or ravage her too aggressively.
Neither were options. Rick needed a minute to gather himself and Michonne was not helping by wiggling and pushing her ass back against him. Rick held her still for a few seconds longer, before he finally started to move. Michonne moaned and saw stars. Rick slowly and tediously moved in and out of Michonne and she thought the whole world was moving in slow motion. It was wonderful and maddening all at the same time. Wonderful because she felt so full, she wanted to cry. Maddening because the pace Rick set was frustrating. Michonne wanted to feel him go deeper, wanted him to move a little faster, stroke harder.
"Rick, just a little more, please!" Michonne cried out and Rick increased his pace but only for few seconds before slowing back down then picking up the pace again.
The sensation from his altered movements drove Michonne wild and she screamed out in pleasure and tightened her pussy around Rick's dick choking it. Rick made a deep guttural sound and they both came at the same time. Both were sweaty, hot messes and the sheets were damp, but all they could do was lie there. Neither Rick nor Michonne thought going that slow could feel that phenomenal.
"Michonne, can you get up? I'm going to get some fresh sheets from upstairs," Rick informed but her response was a simple, but deep snore.
Rick wanted to sleep too, but the bed was just too wet. Rick slipped out and grabbed some fresh sheets and towels from the upstairs linen closet. When he got back to the room, Michonne had not stirred. Rick placed a couple of towels on the living room sofa then carefully picked her up and walked her out and laid her on top of the towels.
"You want some more of the good stuff Rick?" Michonne mumbled in her sleep still dozing hard and Rick chuckled.
Michonne was still dripping a little, his arms were wet. After changing the sheets, he got a warm washcloth and cleaned her up too, then placed her back in the bed. Rick scooted in beside her and covered both their naked bodies with the comforter.
"Goodnight sweetheart," Rick whispered before drifting off to some of the best sleep he ever had.
They were both too satisfied and too tired for any kind of makeup foreplay that night.
Lori
By the later days of August, Rick and Michonne were in a full-blown relationship. They were both the happiest they had ever been, and the joy they were exuding in front of the restaurant irked Lori to no end as she sat seething in her car observing the two. Lori noticed the love they shared for each other was evident even though she actively tried to make her brain deny what she was seeing. Rick used to look at her like that in high school and when they were first married. It was like a bright blinking neon sign for anyone to see and it bothered her because during their marriage, that light faded drastically. Lori missed his sparkle.
Shane looked at her like that for the first few months, but halfway through their tawdry affair, Shane's light dulled too. Lori could never manage to muster even a small flicker of light for Shane no matter how hard she tried. She even actively imagined her life with Shane and their children, but every time she stood in front of their imaginary house, with their imaginary picket fence, holding their imaginary children next to her imaginary husband, it was never Shane she saw. It was Rick. Lori did not want Shane. She wanted Rick. She always wanted Rick and she kicked herself for letting him go. Shane was not enough for her. Lori realized that no one would be enough for her. No one except for Rick. Lori regretted her rash decision to leave her husband that day in the parking lot. Lori began plotting and planning to get her husband back. She started by trying to get into good graces with Rick's parents, but that bombed epically. Walking away from the Grimes's home after they slammed the door in her face was when her pregnancy plan hatched. She could get pregnant and play the damsel in distress! Rick would fall for it! She only needed Shane for one thing now, and Lori pulled Shane into her bed every chance she could get. First, she will need a baby, then she will get her husband back. Lori grinned. She was about to get her second chance!
But now Lori was not so sure of that second chance because there it was again, that brilliance that shone from Rick's blue eyes for the pregnant black woman who he was currently kissing. Lori wondered if Rick shined like that at the beginning of any new relationship or if she was the one that dulled it out of him. Lori shifted in the car. In the back of her mind, Lori knew the truth, but she buried it choosing to believe the former.
"I need to find out just what in the hell is going on, and just whose baby that is. It can't be Rick's. It can't!" Lori hollered to herself in a state of panic.
Lori got out of the car with the intention of stomping into the restaurant to confront her ex-husband, but something prevented it. A dreaded feeling. A devastating sensation stopped Lori immediately in her tracks and she got back in her car and sped off. Her period had come. She was not pregnant like she first thought. Three days later, Rick and Michonne became an obsession to Lori. Any extra time that she had was dedicated to watching Rick and his new woman. By early September, Lori followed Rick to what she supposed was his and the woman's home and saw a "For Sale" sign out front. Lori picked up her cell phone and dialed the number on the signage.
"Hello, My name is Lo, umm Linda, Linda Boyer. I would like to schedule a time to look at the house on," Lori squinted at the number on the column on the outside of the porch, then down the street to the street sign, "5611 Lavendar Leaf Lane, please. Yes. I can do tomorrow morning at 9am. Thank you."
Lori ended the call and sat in front of the house a few minutes longer before leaving for work. She started her car and took one last look at the house her ex-husband and moved into with another woman. Rick was even willing to raise her baby as his own. Lori was perplexed.
"Nice to meet you Mrs. Boyer! I'm Tilly Stillwater, but please call me Tilly. You picked a wonderful home," Tilly smiled and watched as Lori look nervously all around the living room.
"Are the owners here?" Lori asked tentatively.
"No, we prefer the owners not be present," Tilly assured, "I am sure they are at work. Ok, so this is a three-bedroom home, with the primary bedroom upstairs. It's small but still big enough for a family. It's what we call a loft-style. Let's start in the kitchen. It is a homeowner's dream!"
Tilly loudly click-clacked along the hardwood in her high heels and Lori followed closely behind in her simple quiet flats. Lori searched for pictures but there were none. Just limited décor.
"Why would anybody leave this beautiful home?" Lori questioned gawking at what Tilly considered small.
Her and Rick's old home was half the size of this one.
"Well, the owners are pregnant and would prefer their primary bedroom to be downstairs rather than up. I guess for future pregnancies! They are such a cute couple! I already found them their forever home. They are hoping this one sells by the time they close on the other one. It will, by the way. I already have two offers, and we are expecting a confirmed sale by the end of the week. So, if you like this one, you need to move fast!" Tilly giggled and stopped when she noticed the sour look on Lori's face, "Well, this one has a lovely guest bedroom downstairs however."
While Tilly rambled on about the extravagant house, Lori was mesmerized. This was the kind of home that Lori always dreamed of having one day. When they first moved to Atlanta, they lived in an apartment, then they found a nice house in a working-class neighborhood. Lori was ecstatic at first about her first home. Then after a year, she began to tour homes in high income areas and the arguments started. Lori told Rick their house was not enough, his salary was not enough, the schools for their future children were not good enough. Lori wanted a millionaire lifestyle on a hundredaire budget. Then the fertility issues began, and the downhill trajectory of their marriage picked up speed.
"And look at his gorgeous, spacious primary en suit bathroom. It has a separate…" Tilly detailed, and Lori could barely contain her anger.
Lori's bathroom in her old house was not attached and she had to walk down the hall when she had to bathe or shit. Lori thought Rick was giving this new woman everything she wanted while Lori was given the bare minimum. Lori followed behind the real estate agent but paid no attention to a single thing she was sputtering. Lori was livid. Rick was living the high life while she was struggling in a small one-bed room apartment in a working-class neighborhood. Rick was building a family while she remained childless. And most importantly, Rick had moved on with another woman while her only option was Ralph who went on and on about soup cans and the newest cash registers, and some silly story game about dragons. Lori felt pathetic. Lori wanted her life back and she started to feel a little better when she realized she had a fighting chance to do so.
"Should be easy. That kid is not even his," Lori snorted full of confidence, "What does he even see in her? I mean, she is….."
Lori almost said she is BLACK out loud before stopping herself. She convinced herself it was not racist. She was not racist. It was just that Rick had a type. And Lori was his type. And she was white which meant Rick preferred white women if given a choice. Rick had to have baby fever and that was the sole reason he was with that woman.
"I apologize Mrs. Boyer. What was your question?" Tilly asked confused.
"Oh, is there a half bathroom down here?" Lori covered and Tilly smiled and walked her to the half-bath on the other side of the house.
"Maybe he thought he had no choice?" Lori told herself more quietly this time and smiled.
Lori felt good about approaching Rick, which was the next thing on her agenda. Lori paid more attention to Tilly after that, admiring the home for its many features and picturing herself, Rick, and maybe some adopted children since Ralph was evidently not capable of putting a baby inside her either. Or maybe they could try the fertility treatments again. Lori grinned. She was going to get her husband back. Her life back.
"Will your husband want to see the house too?" Tilly asked.
"No, he has seen this one before. He sent me to look at it, but I don't think this is quite my taste after all," Lori smiled and walked out of the house leaving Tilly perplexed.
Mike
"I am DONE! I can't listen to you talk about your ex-wife anymore. All day. All night. NO MORE MIKE!" Pearl hollered as she put the last few items she kept at Mike's condo into her bag.
The same week that Lori took her little tour of Michonne and Rick's soon-to-be-sold home, Mike was stunned when he saw Michonne wobbling down a crowded sidewalk. It was the first week of September, and the day was warm and beautiful. Mike and Pearl were having lunch on a café patio when Mike saw his ex-wife walking on the other side of the street. Mike grinned. This was the first time he had seen her since the divorce, and he missed Michonne. A LOT. Despite how great Pearl was, she was no Michonne and there was no comparison. When Mike noticed her almost eight-month pregnant belly, Mike lost his mind and nearly hopped over the gate to get to his ex-wife.
"Pearl please. I was just shocked! I am not still in love with her! I am the one who asked for the divorce remember!" Mike tried to convince but Pearl just kept packing.
"You are Mike. For the last week, it's Michy this and Michy that. What the hell kind of name is Michy anyway?" Pearl asked Mike who was standing there dumfounded.
"That's not her name it's just…" Mike began but Pearl rolled her eyes and kept packing.
"I don't fucking care what her name is Mike! Save it! Just know that I know that you are not over her and I am nobody's rebound. You know," Pearl stopped for just a second after putting her toothbrush in her bag and looked Mike in the eye, "I took a chance on you even though your divorce was still fresh. Believe me, I had MANY choices. I still do! I should have fucking followed my instincts."
Pearl continued to pack her few belongings before storming out of his condo. Mike sat on the edge of his bed in disbelief. Not about Pearl. He was still thinking about pregnant Michonne. He flopped back on his bed and thought back to the day at the café when he found out his one true love had not only moved on but was also pregnant by another man.
"WHAT THE HELL MICHONNE!" Mike hollered a few inches from her face and pointed at her belly garnering attention up and down the street.
There was only one person whose attention Mike needed to worry about, and based on his face, Rick was fucking livid and halfway to savage.
"STEP THE FUCK BACK," Rick hollered and moved in between Mike and Michonne.
"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!" Mike hollered.
"Calm down Mike. Right now. You are causing a scene," Michonne ordered, and Mike looked around and noticed people pointing and staring.
When Mike turned back around, all he saw was a pair of angry, blue eyes. Mike stretched his neck to peep around Rick and spoke directly to his ex-wife.
"Michonne, how? How are you pregnant? How? You can't even have children!" Mike wanted to holler that last part but controlled himself.
"Well, it's obvious that she can because…," Rick laughed and pointed to Michonne's belly, and she had to hold back a giggle.
Mike closed his eyes and clenched his fists. Mike was two seconds from knocking Rick out. Mike wanted to talk to Michonne and wanted Rick to go away.
"This is between me and my wife. Why don't you go somewhere and stay out of OUR business," Mike spat, and Rick laughed as if he was looking at a straight up clown.
"She is your EX-wife and no longer any or YOUR business. This is my fiancé," Rick made eye contact with Michonne and winked, nodded and mouthed the words 'very soon' before turning back to Mike.
Michonne did chuckle this time and shook her head in amusement at her boyfriend, or rather, her son-to-be fiancé. She almost forgot Mike was standing on the street acting a fool because she was too busy grinning and staring at her ring finger trying to picture her new engagement ring.
"What!" Mike stuttered looking at Michonne for confirmation, but Rick redirected Mike's focus back to him.
"MY FIANCE is carrying MY CHILD. Everything about her is MY business. So why don't you move along before you get hurt out here on this street."
"Michonne," Mike uttered softly begging with his eyes to give him a little of her time, in private.
"No Mike. You had your chance to talk. Instead, you divorced me. You don't get any more of my time. "Now leave me and future fiancé alone," Michonne ordered and grabbed Rick's hand and walked away leaving Mike to watch dumbfoundedly as they strolled away.
When Mike finally remembered his actual fiancé, his eyes widened and gazed over at Pearl who was angrily gathering her purse to get the hell out of that restaurant.
"PEARL! DON'T GO!" Mike yelled as he crossed the street in a hurry to keep her from leaving.
Now, Mike found himself alone in his bedroom with another good relationship ruined.
"Shit, not again," Mike uttered as he sat up from his bed and ran to the front door, but Pearl was gone.
Mike dialed her number. It rang with no answer. He sent two texts and nothing. Thirty minutes later he sent a third and got a response.
Pearl: I will block you and from this point forward I will never answer your call or your text. Please stop contacting me immediately. We are done. I threw your ring against your living room wall, and I hope it shattered. If you continue to contact me, I WILL file a police report and send it straight to your boss at your fancy law office. Do not test me. Lose my number and go fuck yourself.
Mike threw his phone against the wall and was pissed when his screen cracked. Mike wondered how he fucked up a relationship with two of the best women he had ever met.
"FUCK!" Mike yelled and fought but lost the urge to cry.
Rick and Michonne… and Sasha
"Oh my God Sasha, why are you here again?" Michonne asked in frustration while she lie on the exam table in Dr. Carson's office.
"Because I am your older sister," Sasha snarked with her hands on her hips, "And I was there when you found out you were pregnant, and I have been to every doctor's appointment. Just because Rick is here now doesn't mean I am going to stop coming to your appointments all of a sudden!"
Dr. Carson giggled and Michonne rolled her eyes. Rick walked into the exam room just as their argument started. He needed to use the restroom first. Michonne watched Rick and Dr. Carson make eye contact and she could swear Dr. Carson winked at Rick and Rick nodded back to Dr. Carson. She was about to ask what their shenanigans were about but Rick, as usual, defended Sasha which annoyed Michonne to no end.
"Baby, It's fine. I think it's nice that Sasha still comes," Rick soothed, and Sasha grinned before her eyes got big.
Michonne forgot about Dr. Carson's and Rick's tomfoolery and instead folded her arms across her chest and cut her eyes at her not yet fiancé.
"So y'all have progressed to pet names now huh," Sasha chuckled, "What does she call you Rick?"
"None of your business!" Michonne spat at her sister with an I dare you to respond look on her face.
"Noneya? It's not very romantic but I guess if it floats y'all's boat then who am I to complain," Sasha answered shrugging her shoulders.
Rick and Dr. Carson got to laughing and Michonne pursed her lips.
"I can't stand you three sometimes!" Michonne muttered with bite because once again, her sister got the best of her.
"I'm finna be like Darryl. When is the wedding?" Sasha asked ignoring Michonne's tiny tantrum and laughed when her sisters whole face brightened up.
Rick sucked his teeth. He knew what was coming.
"Well, I just got my imaginary engagement ring last week, so maybe next week we can have an imaginary wedding. Right Rick," Michonne asked a little perturbed Rick had not mentioned that fiancé comment since they ran into Mike on the street the week before.
Dr. Carson and Sasha fell out laughing and Rick rolled his eyes and shook his head. Rick already had the ring, and he was in the process of planning the romantic details: dinner at her favorite restaurant, a dozen long stemmed roses, a walk in the park where he would bend his knee under the moonlight and propose while the light lit up her beautiful face, but Michonne's constant daily digs about being his pretend fiancé were annoying, so he put it off for a little while to serve her right.
"Imaginary?" Sasha asked confused.
Michonne, however, could not help those little zingers because she was both impatient and excited about being Rick's wife. The moment Rick mentioned the proposal would be "very soon", Michonne became eager thinking "very soon" meant later that day. Or the next day. Or the next. By the fourth day of Rick ignoring his giant little comment, Michonne became annoyed and started with the little digs. Michonne felt Rick was her soulmate and that was the main reason she could not have kids with Mike. She was not meant for Mike. Michonne always felt an inkling of that spiritual attraction which is why she followed his fine ass into his hotel room that evening. Along with the baby she was carrying, Rick filled her with so much happiness, she thought she would burst from it all.
"Imaginary?" Laughed Dr. Carson ready for another good time.
By day seven of those constant zingers, Rick was maddened, but amused at his woman's impatience. When Sasha texted him to expect her at the appointment, Rick grabbed the ring and placed it in his pocket. He knew Michonne could not resist making another dig, especially with Sasha there. It was his turn to make a dig at Michonne and if she made one more unsightly remark, Plan A proposal was going down the drain. Now that she had, Plan A was dead. Bye, Bye Moonlight and hello sonogram wand up the vagina.
"You know what, here," Rick pulled the ring from his pocket and lifted her hand, "Will you marry me?"
"You think this is the right time, Rick?" Michonne asked softly and Dr. Carson was now bent over in hilarity.
"Imagine that it is. Yes or No," Rick asked again and tilted his head to the side.
"Well, yes I guess," Michonne reluctantly answered, and Rick slipped the ring on her finger.
"Darryl!" Sasha laughed after calling her husband, "You will never guess what these two fools just did!"
Both Rick and Michonne rolled their eyes at Sasha then looked at each other for a second and cracked up laughing too. Rick kissed Michonne, then gave a peck to her belly, then kissed his future wife one more time. Rick was happy. The happiest he has been in a long time.
"I love you so much," Rick grinned as he looked down at Michonne who was still laying on the exam table fully exposed to the world.
"I love you too," Michonne whispered with so much adoration Rick thought he was going to burst from it all.
"I am not kidding Darryl! No, I am not exaggerating either! He asked while she still has the wand in her woo ha! And Michonne said YES! Legs gaped open with the doctor right between them!" Sasha hollered, "Darryl I am not lying! You want to me take a picture?"
"Noooo!" Rick, Michonne and even Dr. Carson shouted in reference to the picture idea and Sasha sucked her teeth but continued.
"They are saying I love you right now with it still up in there Darryl" Sasha shouted as she laughed uncontrollably.
"SASHA!" Michonne hollered annoyed at her sister's love of telling people's business.
"Those two are some damn clowns! I will call you back Darryl," Sasha informed and hung up the phone drying her eyes from laughing so hard.
Dr. Carson finally got himself together and continued with the examination. He loved it when Michonne had her appointment. He always had a good time.
"As usual, everything looks good and perfectly normal. You are the most non-riskiest, high-risk patient that I have. And one of the funniest too," Dr. Carson added with a chuckle.
"I can feel it too. This pregnancy feels right," Michonne smiled and squeezed Rick's hand.
Before the end, Dr. Carson asked the same question he always did before the end of their appointment.
"Do you want to know the sex of the baby?" Dr. Carson asked, staring between Rick, Michonne, and Sasha.
After the appointment, Michonne was relieved when her sister had to get back to work snipping and cutting people's bodies, and Rick and Michonne decided to take a little stroll and grab some lunch.
"Sasha is so dramatic. She loves any type of juicy drama. It's like she can't live without it. She called us fools and clowns. Did you hear her? She's the fool!" Michonne spat thinking about Sasha's behavior during the doctor's appointment they just had.
"Yeah! She's the clown!" Rick laughed, "Don't tell her I said that ok?"
"Ok," Michonne giggled.
"You think Sasha's behavior was worse at the appointment or last weekend when we got our parents together to tell them about the baby?" Rick inquired reflecting how awkward coming clean to their parents already was without Sasha adding her crazy to the situation, "Speaking of your sister, Sasha better not tell your parents about my fucked-up marriage proposal. We need to lie."
"Look at you, making an honest effort to lie this time! Why couldn't you do this at our parent dinner, Rick? You cracked under pressure like a dime store…you know what, never mind," Michonne waved off the thought because she did not feel like getting mad all over again.
"I don't think you should put the words honest and lie together in the same sentence Michonne. And that was tense!" Rick hollered trying to make an excuse for caving so easily.
"It was very tense Rick. And no, Sasha was not worse today than she was that night. She was reveling in the muck and loving it right along with your sister," Michonne shook her head, "God, my father would not even look me in the eye after we told the truth. It was humiliating."
"Yeah, that was rough," Rick laughed and Michonne hit him on the arm.
"Rough for who Rick? You came off looking like a damn victim! You did not stand by me at all! We were supposed to be a team!" Michonne hollered and began to mock Rick in his country twang, "Well, if we are telln' the truth, I knew Michonne's first and last name. She didn't wanna know miiiiine!"
Michonne rolled her eyes and sucked her teeth just like she did when it happened.
"They caught us lying Michonne! We had to be honest!" Rick exclaimed, still trying to make excuses for throwing Michonne under the bus.
"NOT THAT HONEST RICK! Now I am mad all over again. Hurry up and take me to lunch before I stop speaking to you again," Michonne muttered and shook her head.
"When did you stop speaking to me?" Rick chuckled.
"I moved away from you in the living room that night Rick! And I did not say a word to you for like a whole hour! You didn't notice?" Michonne asked in shock.
"I did not notice that because you kept shrieking, "RICK, RICK, tell em the truth! Which were just more lies you wanted me to tell by the way. RICK why are you just sitting there staring like that? RICK! RICK! do you hear me!" Rick laughed and kissed Michonne on the cheek.
"I think I want Cajun food Rick, something spicy," Michonne muttered choosing not to acknowledge the truth in Rick words.
"No. Spicy food gives you severe heartburn and you suffer for the rest of the day and all night. Then I suffer. I don't know why you keep putting hot sauce on everythang," Rick mumbled and shook his head.
"It's not me Rick! The baby wants it!" Michonne hollered and Rick looked at his new fiancé in disbelief.
"Sure," Rick chuckled, "We will go to the café around the corner. You like that place, plus it's within walking distance. And technically, it was Sasha's fault we had to come clean about our halfway anonymous sex."
"Yeah, it was. I was so embarrassed. And Sasha and your sister were cackling out comments and making things worse up until our mothers shut their asses down. That was my favorite part of the evening. Those two are two peas of the same pod," Michonne muttered and tried to shake the memory from her head, "I need food right now Rick. I wish I could drink too."
Rick chuckled as they strolled to the café reflecting back to that evening a few days prior when they finally brought both sets of parents together to finally meet.