TOWL is AWESOME! Ok, here is chapter 3. Mind the typos. If they are excessive please let me know!
Also, this chapter jumps around in perspective/events just a bit. But hopefully I made the timeline clear.
Enjoy!
Chapter 3-And Baby Makes Three!
"Where did you want these award-winning, hit of the Fourth of July party, delicious beans Mrs. Dixon?" Rick grinned with wink that Sasha found sexy and a country accent she found irresistible.
"Ok! I see you Mr. Grimes," Sasha laughed captivated by his cocky but friendly first impression.
"I'm just saying Mrs. Dixon. It don't get any better than what's in this pot right here," Rick smiled already liking Darryl's feisty wife.
Sasha eyed Rick up and down and thought of Michonne and wondered if Rick would like a dark chocolate, six-month pregnant lawyer who thinks she knows more than her slightly older, but much smarter sister. Sasha pursed her lips and thought the pregnant part might be a no-go for Rick and pushed the matchmaking thought from her mind.
"You better call me Sasha! You are out there protecting my husband, so you are family! And as family, I will be the judge if those beans are award winning or not," Sasha grinned and gave Rick a wink of her own, "Go put them in the kitchen," Sasha directed pointing in the direction of the kitchen as she followed behind Rick, "Do they need to be warmed?"
Sasha had to admit, Rick looked just as good from the back as he did the front. She was pissed that Michonne fucked up and got pregnant by a no-good, conniving baby daddy because her sister could have had the fine specimen of a man that was strutting right in front of her. But then again, Michonne being pregnant was a miracle so she could not be too upset with the circumstance. Sasha thought Rick and Michonne would have made a perfect couple. Sasha was enamored and almost asked Rick if he was willing to date a pregnant woman but decided against it. Michonne would kill her.
"Yes ma'am, they do need to be heated. I made em last night so the flavors would have time to mingle and get all friendly with each other, "Rick chuckled, "They would need to sit on low heat for a little while. Glad I came early so my beans were not the reason dinner was pushed back. Because everybody would have wanted to wait for these beauties."
"I like your confidence!" Sasha giggled and pointed to the burner where she wanted the beans to simmer.
"Thank you, ma'am," Rick expressed, and Sasha raised her brow, "I mean thank you Sasha. I like your lively disposition too!"
After Rick placed the beans on the burner, he gave Sasha another wink and walked out to the backyard to join Darryl, Abraham, and T-Dog to help set up the tables and ice down the liquor. Sasha put the finishing touches on a few appetizers for the guests to hold everyone over until the food was ready to be served. She placed a sampling of snacks on a large tray and walked it out to the boys and they were mighty appreciative of the gesture and took a break.
"Hey, y'all can eat and work at the same time. Get those lounges out!" Sasha hollered and walked back inside the house.
"That wife of yours is a grade A ball breaker. I bet you got your two little nuggets wrapped in ACE bandages at least twice a month," Abe laughed, and shoved a loaded potato skin in his mouth.
T-Dog and Rick got to laughing and Sasha spung up again and hollered at them a second time for playing around. All four men jumped and grabbed a chair at once. Once Sasha left for real this time, they all got to giggling.
"Looks like you need an Ace bandage for your old, shriveled, red, hairy, balls too Abe," Darryl snorted with a little snap in his voice.
"Shit, I need four. My balls are huge," Abe laughed and that got them all to cackling again.
Sasha did not keep her promise. Once an hour passed and she heard Michonne's heavy snoring, she did not have the heart to wake her sister, deciding a few extra minutes would not hurt. Sasha figured she needed the rest. Next thing Sasha knew, another two hours had passed and almost all the guests had arrived.
"Sasha! Where is Michonne?" Darryl asked wondering why his sister-in-law had yet to make an appearance at the Fourth of July party.
"Shit! Shit! I forgot to wake her up! Rick, go stir your beans for me! They might be ready to come off the burner!" Sasha yelled over her shoulder as she sped out of the kitchen, "I will be right back!"
Sasha hurried to the guest room to wake Michonne and decided her sister could not possibly be too mad because she would awaken very well-rested. Sasha quietly called her name a couple of times so as not to startle Michonne out of her sleep. When that did not work, she gently shook her, but Michonne's eyes remained tightly closed. After another gentle call and shake, Sasha became impatient.
"MICHONNE! GET UP!" Sasha hollered and slapped her sister on the leg.
Sasha rolled her eyes when Michonne stretched her entire body like a cat, purring at the feel of her deliciously stretched muscles.
"God, I feel good!" Michonne stated gleefully, "That was the best hour-long nap ever!"
Michonne yawned and lifted her hand for a little assistance out of the bed.
"One hour, three hours, what's the difference," Sasha shrugged trying to be lighthearted about forgetting about Michonne.
"Sasha! Has it been three hours? I told you an hour! I still need to shower and do my hair!" Michonne exclaimed as she tried to hurriedly maneuver her way out of the bed.
"Your hair is fine, just…" Sasha began and noticed Michonne looking worriedly at her phone noting several missed calls.
"Shit," Michonne uttered and breathed out a hard breath.
"Who is it?" Sasha asked noisily leaning forward to take a peek at the phone.
"Rosita. I need to call her back or she will get all crazy," Michonne laughed thinking of her overly aggressive friend since middle school.
"You still haven't told her you got pregnant by a stranger yet?" Sasha asked curiously because she had not received a single frantic call from Rosita about it.
By now, if Rosita knew, she and Sasha would have had at least thirty different conversations about the situation. Michonne ignored the stranger comment.
"Hell no! She would drive me even more crazy than you do! And she would lose her mind because she is all the way in London. Hold on…Don't you say a word, Sasha. I mean it!" Michonne warned as she dialed Rosita's number.
"IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME YOU CALLED ME BACK! I CALLED YOU AT LEAST SIX TIMES IN THE LAST THREE HOURS, MICHONNE! Seis veces, Michonne!" Rosita hollered more than a little miffed at being ignored.
"HEY ROSITA! I MISS YOUR CRAZY ASS!" Sasha hollered from across the room.
"I CALLED YOU TOO PUTA!" Rosita hollered then paused, "I MISS YOU TOO SASHA!"
"SORRY!" Sasha laughed and shook her head.
"STOP HOLLERING! I have you on speaker, jeez!" Michonne chuckled.
"Aaron says hi too! He's not here anymore though," Rosita added.
"Tell Aaron we said hey!" Both Michonne and Sasha greeted at the same time.
"So, why didn't you answer Michonne?" Rosita inquired with a vexed attitude.
"Sorry, I took a long nap. Happy Fourth of July!" Michonne grinned and she could feel Rosita's ice shield already melting.
"Happy fourth amiga. Why are you sleeping? Aren't you over to Sasha's? Oh My God. I can't wait to get back home. The food over here estas muy insipida and weird. I ordered breakfast and they bought me pork and beans on toast. God. And don't get me started on blood sausages. Dios Mio. I am craving Darryl's brisket and ribs," Rosita uttered as she licked her lips.
"Gross," Michonne blanched then grinned as she rubbed her stomach, "I was just a little tired from work. What are you doing?"
"Believe it or not, getting ready for bed at 8:30pm! I can't wait to come home. Another couple of months and I will be done with this deal and the new law office will be completely set up. I will never take an assignment overseas again. The firm made it sound like it would be glamorous. It is not," Rosita admitted, "Hey tell the gang Happy Fourth and I will see them in September! We can have a BBQ to celebrate my return!"
"I will tell everyone but Ellen," Sasha grinned knowing Rosita had the biggest crush on Abe for years but would never admit it.
"Why? Donde esta Ellen?" Rosita asked curiously.
"In Texas! They are getting divorced!" Sasha replied while doing a happy dance.
"Really," Michonne asked in disbelief, "Thank you Jesus!"
"Really," Rosita muttered deep in thought.
"Won't he do it!" Sasha exclaimed and pointed her finger upwards, "Seems Abe will be ripe for the picking once everything is final."
Sasha grinned and Rosita tried to keep her composure and decided to change the subject.
"What else have I missed?" Rosita asked, still thinking about Abraham Ford.
Sasha giggled at Rosita's attempt at misdirection.
"I have a BIG surprise for you when you get back," Michonne muttered nervously.
Michonne hated keeping her pregnancy from Rosita, but Michonne needed to be as stress free as possible with this high-risk pregnancy and she could not take two overbearing people fawning over her day and night. Sasha was enough. Rosita would be worrying and calling incessantly. Rosita might even try to come home early and that might ruin her chance at becoming a partner down the line. It was better to wait until Rosita came home. Michonne strolled to the closet and noticed her party outfit was missing.
"Damn, I left my clothes for the party in my car! Why did I not bring all my stuff in yesterday!" Michonne exclaimed as she slipped on her shoes.
"Because your hands were full and your baby had you too tired to make a second trip," Sasha giggled.
"BABY? WHAT BABY?" Rosita hollered and Michonne narrowed her eyes at Sasha, "Are you dating someone? Tiene un hombre Michonne? Is he fine?"
"I was talking about her new secret recipe for coleslaw!" Sasha lied with a smirk.
"What's the new recipe?" Rosita asked, not ready to end the call.
Michonne had been out of pocket lately, and Rosita missed talking to her friend daily. Had Rosita known the project would take a year, and not the six months as promised by the law firm when she volunteered to go to London, she would have stayed her ass at home. Rosita was tired of London after the first three months.
"I will let you taste it when you come back Rosita," Michonne assured and slid on her other shoe.
"What's the surprise?" Rosita asked excitedly and Michonne shook her head and headed out of the room to retrieve her party clothes.
"I will go get it for you," Sasha offered and Michonne shook her head no.
"It's fine. I will get it. I need to move around a little bit and stretch my legs. The walk to the car will do me good," Michonne decided already waddling out of the bedroom.
"Michonne! The surprise!" Rosita hollered again impatiently.
"It would not be a surprise if I told you! Bye Rosita, sleep well," Michonne replied and was just about to hang up when she heard Rosita's final words.
"PUTA, YOU BETTER NOT HANG…." Michonne laughed as she put her phone in the side pocket of her dress and Sasha cackled.
"I will at least help you down the porch steps," Sasha laughed and followed her sister out the guestroom.
When Michonne rounded the corner into the living room, she saw a familiar looking man stirring a pot in the kitchen and stopped in her tracks mesmerized as she gawked at the man's firm back. She faintly recognized those curls that were touching his collar but could not quite place them in those few quick seconds. But her heart knew exactly who the man was, and it began beating rapidly. The man shifted and the sway of his ass on that bowed leg made her take a deep breath and lean against the hallway wall. Michonne gazed intently at the man, her mind still refusing to believe that her baby daddy might be standing in the kitchen. Michonne shook her head trying to clear the impossibility. But still, she could not peel her eyes from the man's thighs of steel as he cooked over her sister's stove.
"Michonne, what the hell," Sasha exclaimed as she bumped into the back of her sister who had made an abrupt stop.
The bump caused Sasha to trip, and she caught herself to keep from falling by slamming her hand against the wall which caused the picture hanging there to rattle. Rick instinctively looked to the left towards the noise and when Michonne saw his profile, she gasped and forcibly pushed her sister aside as she hurriedly waddled her way back to the guestroom. Michonne, in her wildest of dreams, would never have expected her one-night, New York, baby-making stand, to be in her sister's house cooking.
"What's wrong Michonne? The baby, ok?" Sasha asked, getting nervous as she watched her anxious sister.
"He's here?" Michonne stuttered, seeming to talk to herself more than to her sister.
"Who is here?" Sasha inquired, "Oh my God, is the baby coming out right now?"
Sasha went to grab hold of Michonne's dress to lift it up and Michonne swatted her hand away.
"No Sasha! Not my baby! My baby daddy! He is in your kitchen! I need a minute!" Michonne squawked as she paced anxiously back and forth.
"WHAT!" Sasha yelled in disbelief then ran out of the room to check on who was in the kitchen with Rick.
When no one else was there, she stared at Rick and placed her hand over her mouth after putting two and two together. Rick was the cowboy! Rick was the damn, lying, conniving, baby daddy!
"Hey Sasha, you all right?" Rick asked after watching her stand motionless with her hand covering her mouth for a few long, awkward seconds.
"Oh umm, Yeah, umm sorry," Sasha stuttered then took a breath and got herself together as best she could despite the shock, "Hey Rick, I can finish the beans. Go on outside with the rest and have some fun!" Sasha grinned looking at her sister's one night stand up and down.
Sasha had to admit, Michonne did pick a fine ass man to get pregnant by, but then she remembered the lying ass cowboy that told Michonne that he could not have kids and Sasha sucked her teeth and narrowed her eyes causing Rick to raise his brow in confusion.
"Ok, but they are ready. I turned off the fire, so the bottom beans won't burn," Rick grinned, nodded, and headed out of the kitchen towards the backyard.
Rick gazed back before he stepped out of the back patio door and noticed Sasha was still staring at him. Rick wondered what the hell he did to cause that reaction. All he did was stir his beans! Rick was just about to step outside but was halted by a question from Sasha.
"Hey Rick? Do you have a wife and kids, because if you do, they were invited too you know," Sasha informed trying to get some much-needed information.
"Ex-wife. No kids. I want them. But they are not in the cards for me," Rick uttered sadly and walked out into the backyard wondering why Sasha would ask him a question she already knew the answer to.
Rick did not inquire because Sasha already seemed a little miffed at him, so he just let it go. Sasha immediately felt empathy for Rick. In her gut, she knew Rick was being sincere and she wondered about his back story. Then she thought about Michonne. Hell, she was told she could not have kids either, but a miracle happened. Maybe Rick got the same miracle. Sasha grinned widely at the possibilities as she strolled to the stove to taste test the beans.
"Damn, these are delicious. One point for Chef Rick," Sasha uttered then calculated in her head, "Plus three more points for being fine as hell and not giving me an ugly niece or nephew. Two points for that damn walk and another for that sexy ass wink. Plus, two more points for that damn accent. Whew. Michonne picked a good one!"
Sasha was imagining all the possibilities as she stopped by the linen closet and retrieved a clean towel and washcloth for Michonne and placed it in the bathroom before heading back to her sister who was probably still pacing.
"Michonne, I am going to go get your clothes. Go ahead and start your shower. I just placed clean towels in there. I put Bianca's stool in the shower, so you have a place to sit if you need it. It's sturdy. I will put your clothes in the room, then once you are all cleaned up, we will figure everything out, ok?" Sasha instructed.
"Is he still here? Did you tell him?" Michonne asked and peeped her head out the door as if the kitchen was in full view from the room.
It was not.
"Yes. Rick is still here. He is staying for the BBQ. He is Darryl's new partner. No, I did not tell Rick that he has a baby on the way because that is YOUR business to tell. Like I said, go take a shower, get dressed and we will deal with it when you are ready," Sasha informed and walked out of the bedroom before turning around to offer a tidbit, "Oh, I asked him if he had a wife and kids, he said an ex-wife and no kids because he could not have them. I think he was telling you the truth Chonne."
"Ok," was all that Michonne could utter as she anxiously walked into the bathroom processing all that was happening.
Sasha raced to Michonne's car to get her party dress and placed it on top of the bed, then speed walked out to her husband and called Darryl to come inside so she could give him the juicy news.
"Give me one second baby. Let me check the chicken on the grill," Darryl hollered to Sasha then turned back to his friends, "You see gentlemen, I saved them for last since they cook faster," Darryl explained to the guys, and they all rolled their eyes.
Darryl was always trying to give them grill lessons as if he was the ultimate expert.
"We can grill too Darryl. You ain't the only one talented with your meat!" T-Dog hollered and turned red when he heard all the chuckles.
"Just how talented is ole Doctor Theodore, Jasmine?" Abe hollered over to T-Dog's wife, and she shook her head at her vulgar friend ignoring him.
"This is a family affair Abe," Morgan laughed warning the filthy-mouthed paramedic in jest.
"Ain't baby-making a family affair?" Abe asked which got them all to chuckling.
Sasha was pacing back and forth in the living room waiting for Darryl when she heard the shower shut off. She needed Darryl to come inside before Michonne was done getting dressed, and she went out and called her husband again. Darryl handed the tongs to Abe and darted inside.
"Where is the fire, Sasha? I need to time the chicken just right, so it comes off the grill nice and juicy. If the chicken is dry, I am blaming you!" Darryl proclaimed but when he saw the distress on his wife's face, he became concerned, "What's wrong?"
"Rick is the daddy!" Sasha whisper hollered giddily while looking down the hallway to make sure Michonne was not walking out of the room.
Confusion covered Darryl's whole face.
"What?" Darryl asked for clarification, "Rick is who?"
"Rick is the father of Michonne's baby. He is the one-night stand! She saw him standing in the kitchen and panicked and ran back into the room," Sasha explained with excitement.
Darryl stared as his wife for a few seconds.
"RICK IS WHAT!" Darryl hollered loud enough to gain Rick's attention all the way from the backyard.
Rick turned towards the patio doors and made his way inside the house figuring maybe the fire was still on and the beans were boiling over. He was just about to ask what Darryl needed when Michonne walked around the corner into the living room. Michonne froze, still stunned that the nameless man that got her pregnant was standing right in front of her in her own sister's house. What were the fucking odds. Rick was shocked. He stood perfectly still, only his eyes moving as they darted all over Michonne's face. He had not quite made it down to her belly yet. Rick had been wanting to see Michonne again for the last six months, so much so that it actually made his joints ache a few times. Now, finally, there she was. Darryl and Sasha took a step back, kept quiet and simply watched as everything unfolded before them.
"It's you," Michonne almost whispered to herself.
"It's you," Rick grinned wanting to pinch himself to make sure he was really seeing Michonne and not some mirage.
Sasha decided to speak up and formally introduce the two future parents, especially considering Michonne did not even know his name and asking might be a little awkward under the circumstances.
"Michonne, this is Rick Grimes. He is Darryl's new partner at the division. Rick, this is Michonne Hawthorne, my sister. But I see that you two seemed to have met already?" Sasha asked pretending to be surprised for Rick's benefit.
Rick grinned because he had thought of Michonne so often over the last six months and could not believe his luck. There were times he was tempted to look her up, but he always resisted once he remembered that she wanted their time to be anonymous. Rick figured him showing up at her front door might cause Michonne to scream in fear rather than smile in joy, so he quickly put that notion out of his mind and decided to respect her wishes. But he found himself repeating her name to himself in the middle of the night more often than not, believing that would just have to be enough. Rick's eyes roamed from her face to look her up and down, but stopped at her protruding belly and became a little envious.
"What the…?" Rick uttered when he saw her pregnant tummy and became a little melancholy.
When he thought of Michonne, he pictured a life with her, even their imaginary little caramel-colored children, but it seemed she was making a family with another man.
"Baby!" Michonne confirmed with a nervous smile.
"Congratulations. I remember you saying you could not have children?" Rick inquired with a tad bit of remorse.
"Ten percent chance and I guess the right man came along and exceeded expectations," Michonne answered with a smirk because for some odd reason, she had become very comfortable and relaxed around him, like it was natural for them to be together.
"How far along are you?" Rick wondered.
"Six months," Michonne replied fully expecting Rick to put two and two together.
Rick furrowed his brows and Michonne knew he was counting backwards in his head, and she saw the exact moment when he landed on January, the month she conceived.
"Wait, so you got pregnant around the same time that we...?" Rick uttered as he pointed between himself and Michonne assuming Michonne had another tryst since he could not have children.
"I became pregnant at the exact time when we…" Michonne corrected, and she mimicked Rick's actions by pointing back and forth between Rick and herself.
It took a few seconds for Rick's neurons to start firing in his brain.
"But I can't have children, well I only have a ten percent chance and…," Rick stopped talking and tilted his head now staring intently at Michonne's pregnant belly.
Rick felt butterflies in his stomach and excitement coursing through his veins but was cautious not to show it in case he misunderstood what Michonne was implying. Rick stood perfectly still waiting for more information.
"Your ten percent and my ten percent was enough to create a one hundred percent baby, I guess. There was no one for at least eight months before you, and no one since," Michonne explained, and Rick's blue eyes were now shining with full realization and joy.
"I did that?" Rick asked, pointing to Michonne's belly with a huge grin.
Rick tried to resist the urge to caress her belly, but he could not and stepped forward and placed both hands on Michonne's tummy.
"We did this," Michonne smiled relieved that Rick was excited about the news and placed her hands on top of his.
"What the hell? So, Sasha was not lying? This is the man that got you pregnant? The man who you had no clue what his name was?" Darryl asked shocked, "What are the damn odds! Congratulations, I guess. Y'all getting married?" Darryl asked a now stunned, wide-eyed Rick and Michonne.
Lori
It had been three weeks since Shane broke it off with Lori, and she was pissed when she heard that he was already dating another woman. Shane took his new woman to the King County Memorial Day Parade while Lori sat on her couch waiting for her microwavable frozen pulled-pork dinner to finish cooking. Lori found it difficult being alone with no friends or family. Her mother was working, and Lori lost far more friends than she made in King County. There was rumors Rick was in town visiting his parents, but try as she might, Lori never spotted him once. The judging eyes of the community drove her back inside her apartment.
Working in King County at the grocery store was even worse. It was dehumanizing for Lori. Everybody frequented the store at one point or another and Lori's reputation was trash and most had no issue reminded her of that. The community only tolerated her because of Shane's aggressive nature, and now that he was out of her life, the taunting began.
"I see Shane came to his senses," One store patron assessed as she passed the checkout stand where Lori was working.
Many snickered at her behind her back, and some were so bold as to ask Lori if she heard about Shane's new woman as she checked out their groceries. Lori would pinch her lips and continue to ring up their purchase without remark. She was livid when they would walk away laughing. Lori was enraged every single minute she was in King County. She nearly blew her top when one of the customers mentioned the new gossip. The nurse at the doctor's office recently saw Brandy, Shane's new woman, come in very sick, but walked out grinning. The nurse let it accidentally on purpose slip that she saw orders for a pregnancy test and the gossip spread. The two customers had a whole conversation about it within earshot of Lori. On purpose.
"Hey Lindie, you think Brandy is pregnant already? Her and Shane just started dating for goodness sake!" Jamielynn uttered while side-eying Lori.
"Maybe Shane will finally settle down, if it's true I mean," Lindee responded with enthusiasm.
"I hope so. He wasted all that time with tras…., Oh hey Lori!" Jamielynn smiled once it was their turn at the register.
Lori had to pack it up and quit after the constant mockery. Lori was ready to get her life moving in the right direction and she needed to find another man to get her pregnant. Shane was a lost cause to Lori now. As for Shane, he was finally happy, and the only thing that could make his life complete was making things right with Rick. The moment Lori was out of his system, Shane felt like a whole new man and was actively working on being a better one. Lori heard that Shane had been seen at Rick's parents in what she assumed was him apologizing. Lori was angry that Shane was able to move on and possibly create a baby with another woman in less than a month, when, especially after all those months of trying with her, Lori was still without child. Lori wondered just how far along this Brandy was.
"Was that asshole cheating on me?" Lori wondered to herself.
Four weeks before Rick would find out he had a baby mama in the middle of Darryl's living room, Lori was packing her bags in anger. After her unnecessary, bitter and drawn-out divorce from Rick, everything in her life seemed to only go downhill.
"FUCK YOU SHANE! AND FUCK THAT BITCH TOO!" Lori hollered as she threw her clothes haphazardly in her suitcases.
Lori was resentful and the only thing she had to hold onto was that Rick had to have been unhappy too.
"Who would want a thirty-year-old barren man," Lori falsely reasoned and came up with a plan to win Rick back after, of course, she found a man to get her pregnant first.
Lori knew one thing for sure, Rick would never take her back willingly. She was banking on Rick's soft heart, and seeing her pregnant and alone, Lori was sure she and Rick would be remarried before she even hit her second trimester. Lori needed to get pregnant fast and start a new life.
"No," Lori thought out loud, "I need my old life back."
First, she needed a wider choice of potential baby making men and decided to move back to Atlanta to find one and be closer to Rick, so that would kill two birds with one stone. Lori was desperate to have a baby and even more so for Rick to take her back and be the daddy. Lori was growing dangerously delusional.
By the middle of June, Lori started a new job at an Atlanta grocery store and used more of her divorce settlement money than she cared to for a deposit on a small Atlanta apartment. Lori had been working at the Atlanta grocery store for two weeks and was already grateful for the move. It was nice not being judged by every customer that came in to buy sugar for their sweet tea. During her afternoon shift, Lori eyed the assistant manager, and he was just as good a candidate for getting her pregnant than anyone else. And it would be easy. He was not an attractive man. He was not unattractive either, he was just average and he also he seemed kind of shy and a little dorky. His body was a little pasty and soft. He was no Rick Grimes by any stretch of the imagination, but he would do.
"Hey Ralph," Lori smiled obviously flirting with her supervisor.
"Hey Lori!" Ralph responded enthusiastically, excited that someone as pretty as Lori took an interest in him.
By the Fourth of July, she already had Ralph trapped in her clutches as they sat in the park watching the fireworks. Lori grinned. It was much better celebrating the holidays with someone, although she wished that someone was Rick. She wondered what her ex-husband was doing.
"Probably eating those famous beans of his alone in his apartment," Lori giggled hoping Rick was just as miserable as she was.
It would help to get Rick back if he was.
"Did you say something Lori?" Ralph grinned and Lori thought this was the perfect time to move to phase two of her plan.
"What do you think about marriage and kids Ralph," Lori smiled shyly, and Ralph grinned from ear-to-ear.
"I think I would marry you tomorrow and have kids right after!" Ralph exclaimed, still not believing his luck.
Lori was not going to make the same mistake she made with Shane. Before any fucking happened with Ralph, she needed to know if he was fertile.
"Ralph, my last husband and I went our separate ways when I found out that he did not want children and I did. In hindsight, I should have asked him before we got married," Lori lied preferring not to tell her new potential (fake) fiancé that she asked for a divorce from her husband immediately after finding out Rick was infertile and leaving him stunned in the parking lot a fertility clinic.
That information might paint her in a bad light, Lori reasoned.
Two days later, Lori showed Ralph her results from Dr. Daniels proving she was fertile and asked Ralph to take a test. While Rick and Michonne were preparing for their imminent co-habitation, Ralph was at his doctor's office getting tested. A week later, once Ralph showed Lori his results, proving that he was indeed very, very fertile, they began fucking like rabbits. At first, Ralph wanted to get married before sex, but once Lori lied and told him she wanted a fall wedding, all while wearing skimpy, cheap lingerie, Ralph became a sinning fool. Ralph could not believe he went from playing dungeons and dragons with his friends, to having a girlfriend that let him have sex with her whenever he wanted. And Ralph wanted it A LOT. It annoyed Lori, but she laid back and let Ralph play and tried to pretend it was Rick on top of her. She needed a baby and if this was the cost, she would happily pay for it two-fold. After five weeks of nonstop sex, Lori was late for her period. It was time to put step three of her plan into action. It was time to beg for her ex-husband back.
Lori rubbed her belly, bypassing taking a pregnancy test because she had never been late once in her whole life and just KNEW she was pregnant. Lori grinned the biggest grin she ever smiled. She was so close to having everything she wanted. Rick and kids. Since her calls were being blocked by Rick, she was forced to go to where he lived. For several days she knocked on Rick's apartment door, but she never got a response and decided to try his place of employment. Lori went to his old police department and was informed he had been transferred but not where his new station was located. Lori was frustrated, and she was about to leave when she saw the person that would definitely give her the scoop.
"Jessie! It's so nice to see you again," Lori grinned hoping her smile masked the distaste she always had for the blond secretary.
Jessie was married, but the entire time Rick was working at the precinct, Jessie would flirt shamelessly and ferociously with Rick, even when Lori was present. Jessie had a crush on Rick and the whole precinct knew it.
"Lori! What brings you here. I heard you and Rick divorced. If I wasn't married, I would have taken advantage of that. I can't believe you let that hunk of a man slip through your fingers!" Jessie commented with a cutting glee.
Lori assumed that Jessie probably tried to shoot her shot and had pre-signed divorce papers ready to deliver to Pete if Rick would have had the slightest interest. Lori was correct but Rick shot Jessie down so fast that her blond tresses were blowing like there was a hard wind inside the police station.
"Well, I wanted the divorce for your information. I slipped through HIS fingers!" Lori emphasized, "Anyway. I just got back to town and was looking for Rick. I have some final papers for him to sign, from our divorce, do you happen to know where he transferred to?" Lori asked hoping the gossiping man-stealing blond would give her the information.
"I am not comfortable giving out that information. I mean, if he wanted you to know, then…" Jessie started but was stopped by Lori.
"Listen Jessie. Tell me what I need to know, or I will go to your drunkard of a husband and tell him about how you were always hanging on my ex-husband and maybe he should watch closely and make sure there are no other men out here that you are trying to steal. I would hate for Pete to become enraged, because, you know…," Lori responded with bite while tapping her eye and Jessie could do nothing but open and close her mouth like a fish.
Lori had no morals. No values. Lori was just plain trash to make light of Jessie's domestic situation.
"He transferred to Division two. Rick is a detective now. I bet you regret asking for that divorce now, huh? Now, I am very busy, and I need to get back to work. It was NOT nice seeing you again. Let's NOT make this a habit. Okay?" Jessie spat then stomped away before stopping, "Oh, when you see Rick, tell him congratulations on the baby for me. I heard a few of his old officer pals talking about it the other day."
Jessie walked away grinning knowing that was just the comment to get underneath Lori's skin. Jessie could play the cunt game too. Lori was confused.
"What baby?" Lori whispered to herself perplexedly as she walked out of the station sweating and it was not because it was a very hot and humid last full week of August.
Lori was sweating because she was afraid Rick had moved on. Lori was in a panic. She ran to her car and quickly searched for the location of division two. Once she had the address in her GPS, she sped off to find out exactly what Jessie Anderson was talking about. Lori was nervous. Anxious. As she drove, she gripped the wheel so tightly that her knuckles were bright red against her pale skin. Lori pulled into the parking lot and drove around until she found Rick's old truck then parked a few rows back and waited as she obsessively rubbed her belly. Just an hour ago, she was so excited about getting her family back. Now, Lori felt dread in the pit of her stomach. Lori was so deep in thought that she almost missed Rick leaving.
When she saw Rick's truck backing out of his space, Lori snapped to attention. She was about to get out and wave Rick down, but something told her to follow him for a little while first. After following for a few miles, Lori pulled over and watched Rick exit his truck and what Lori saw after that made her stomach drop. Rick was hugging an obviously very pregnant black woman, but when Rick kissed her on the lips, Lori saw RED. Lori watched the woman giggle when Rick rubbed her belly, then he bent down to seemingly talk to her stomach which made the woman laugh harder. Then another two kisses, one on the tummy and the other on the black woman's lips again before Rick clasped her hand in his and led her into the restaurant. Lori sat watching the whole display dumbfounded.
"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 inside the car.
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. Lori closed her eyes and tried to fight the tears, but they dropped anyway. Lori got back in her car and drove to her small apartment. As she stood at the entrance to her bathroom, Lori hesitated in front of the door for just a second before going in to confirm that she had started her period. She was never pregnant. Just a week or so late was all, probably from all the stress. Lori sat on her bathroom floor and cried. Then she got angry when she thought of Rick and that pregnant woman. Lori was determined to find out just what the hell was going on.
Seven weeks before Lori's false pregnancy and observing her ex-husband kissing another woman, not to mention seven weeks before Lori's impending mental breakdown, Rick and Michonne were ginning at each other in the middle of Sasha's living room on the Fourth of July.
"Man, you gotta blink," Darryl laughed as he waved his hands in front of Rick's face.
"And breathe," Sasha added with a grin.
"So, like I asked before, when y'all getting married?" Darryl asked again and chuckled when Rick slowly turned his head towards him, now blinking excessively.
"Rick, don't listen…," Michonne began with her eyes narrowed at her sister and brother-in-law.
"I'm good with next week," Rick interrupted then turned to Michonne to see if the date was good for her.
Sasha burst out laughing and Michonne pursed her lips and rolled her eyes.
"Rick, let's think this through," Michonne started but was interrupted again.
"I am thinking it through. I know you wanted everythang to be anonymous," Rick began, and realization finally hit him, "Oh My God! I remember where I know you from! The fertility clinic. You were crying in the parking lot after some man drove off and left you because you couldn't have children. I was sitting on the curb pissed after my wife drove off and left me after asking for a divorce for the same reason," Rick explained stunned at all the coincidences then started laughing.
"What's so funny about that?" Michonne asked incredulously.
"Look at us now! Two infertile people getting together and making a baby!" Rick explained once his laughter died down a little.
Michonne's frown slowly turned into a smile and once she started laughing, Rick started laughing hard again too.
"So, wait a minute. Both of you were patients of Dr. Daniels? And both of you were at the clinic on the exact same day, and on that exact same day, both of you were in the parking lot at the exact same time and both your horrible ex-spouses asked for divorces? Then both proceeded to leave you stranded in that very parking lot, diving off and leaving the both of you sitting there, alone?" Sasha recapped flabbergasted, "Then you met up in a whole different state, had sex that got you pregnant? This was meant to be!"
"You two crazies are made for each other," Darryl mumbled.
"See Michonne! Rick is not a stalker after all!" Sasha exclaimed and Rick furrowed his brows in confusion.
"Don't listen to her Rick," Michonne uttered in embarrassment and Rick nodded both amused and bemused.
Michonne could tell Rick had questions about that stalker comment but refrained from asking to her relief.
"Anyway, Michonne. I thought about you almost every day since the conference, and to be honest, I had you in the back of my mind since the fertility clinic. I was drawn to you that day. I wanted to go over and comfort you. I remember that clearly, but under the circumstances, well I figured the timing was just about as bad as it could be for me to ask you out. I was wracking my brain when I first met you trying to figure out how I knew you. But I couldn't concentrate because I was blinded by your beauty in New York," Rick grinned his face reddening in slight embarrassment.
"Wow," Michonne uttered, "I didn't even notice you that day. I was so angry at Mike, that…"
"Well, I noticed you. And I was most certainly drawn to you at that Christmas tree in New York, but I was recently divorced and again, timing. But when I saw you in that session, timing went out the window. I will say I was disappointed that you didn't want to know my name or get to know me. I would have traveled every week from Atlanta to New York to be with you for the rest of my life, and I really mean that," Rick explained and Michonne could not help but to blush now too.
"Really?" Michonne grinned.
"Really," Rick answered, "That's why I think marriage would work. I have always wanted a family and from the very first time I saw you at that clinic, something inside me told me you were who I was supposed to be with. Not Lori."
"Lori?" Sasha asked.
"My ex," Rick explained then turned back to Michonne, "So what do you say?"
"I say. I say," Michonne struggled because she so wanted to say YES!, but the rational part of her brain took over, "I say we get to know each other first. Maybe date. Move in together later on?"
"YES! Darryl, Abe, and T-Dog will help you move in next weekend Rick. I don't like Michonne staying by herself in that big ole house of hers, especially with the stairs. Her going up and down and up and down," Sasha commented and now Michonne was flabbergasted.
"SASHA!" Michonne hollered in disbelief.
"My lease is up at the end of the month anyway. What do you think Michonne? We can carpool!" Rick laughed, hitting Michonne softly on the arm indicating he was joking around and most certainly not taking the moving in next week idea seriously.
Although he would love to live with and take care of his current baby mama, hopeful future girlfriend, and, with any luck, future wife, Michonne wanted to take it slowly and Rick was going to honor that and put in the work of winning her properly.
Michonne thought for a few long seconds about the advantages and disadvantages while Rick and Darryl were still laughing at each other's joke. Sasha was staring at her sister watching the wheels turn in her head. Sasha grinned as she watched Michonne consider Rick moving in as an option. In Michonne's head: Disadvantage—Rick is pretty much a stranger, and when she could not think of another con, her brain moved to the pros. Advantage—Rick is her baby daddy, Rick could be handy around the house, Rick could help her up and down the stairs when needed, Rick was a cop so there would be a sense of security, Rick could help set up the nursery, Rick would be nice company in that lonely house, and most importantly, Rick would keep Sasha out of her hair. No more Sasha demanding she spend the night. No more Sasha coming over to check on her and being bossy. No. More. Sasha. Michonne began to smile at the last advantage and before she knew it….
"I mean, I could use the help. And you can stay in the guestroom. I mean, only if you don't mind Rick. I would appreciate the help," Michonne answered stunning Rick who was standing there like a deer in headlights which caused Michonne to worry, "Oh, Rick, if you don't want…."
"I DO!" Rick shouted causing Darryl to snicker, and Rick cleared his throat and calmed down, "I do. I would love to help and be a part of everythang, and your guestroom would be perfect."
"So then, like I asked before, when are you two getting married?" Darryl asked, looking between the two.
Rick knew it was just a matter of time and stayed quiet and just smiled.
"I can't wait for mama and daddy to hear about this," Sasha grinned evilly and Michonne's eyes grew large.
"Shit! I told my parents you were in a coma Rick! And that's why you were not in the picture!" Michonne exclaimed anxiously.
Rick was shocked and Darryl and Sasha hit the floor laughing.