A/N: Enjoy!

10. Hey

I mindlessly drummed my fingers on my desk as I stared out my office window. The sun was shining bright and the sky was a never-ending sea of blue, but the beauty of the day was lost on me. It had been five days since I'd moved out of Rick's house, and while I went through the necessary motions to function every day, I felt like the walking dead.

I hadn't held Nugget in over a week.

Rick and I still weren't speaking.

I'd been avoiding Gleggie and Daryl.

Truth be told, my sense of normalcy had been uprooted, and I was struggling to find my footing on the foundation of a new normal that didn't include Grimes-infused routines.

My weekday mornings now started at 8AM, but for the past five months or so it had started two hours earlier. One of the first things I used to do after waking up was check on Nugget. He'd become such a sound sleeper, rarely waking up before I did, so I loved taking a peek at his peaceful little face while he slept. After my heart was thoroughly warmed by the sight of him, I'd start brewing my hazelnut vanilla coffee, iron my work clothes and then take a shower.

I'd wake Nugget up around 7AM and spend time cuddling him before giving him a bath. His breakfast followed his bath time, and once his belly was full and he was happily gurgling away, I'd make breakfast for myself and Rick, who normally walked through the front door by 7:45.

Rick would greet me with a hug and take Nugget from me for cuddles before we sat down to eat together. At times, Rick would be too tired from work to chat with me. At times, I'd be too cranky from spending a long night with a fussy Nugget to chat with him. Other times, we'd talk about whatever serious or silly thing crossed our minds. The last silly thing we debated over breakfast was whether sporks should permanently replace all the forks and spoons in the house. They would not, much to Rick's disappointment.

After breakfast, Rick would take a quick shower and I'd wash the breakfast dishes. Nugget would babble endlessly, keeping me company until Rick was out of the shower.

By 8:45, I was heading off to work. I always gave Nugget a kiss goodbye and Rick a low five on my way out.

Our evening routine worked similarly. After my workday ended, I'd normally make it to Rick's by 6PM. Rick and Nugget would greet me at the front door, unless Rick was feeling playful. On those days, Rick and Nugget would hide from me. It never took long to find them because Rick hid in the most obvious places. And when I did find them, I was rewarded with their brightest smiles and Nugget's infectious giggles.

I would change out of my work clothes into something more comfortable and enjoy evening cuddles with Nugget while Rick prepared dinner. After we ate, Rick would wash dishes and then give Nugget a bath. I spent that time unwinding from my day, usually by getting comfortable on the couch and reading a comic book or calling or texting Maggie.

Once bath time was over, Rick would bring a fresh and clean Nugget to me so that I could read a bedtime story to him. Rick would sit next to us with his legs stretched out on the coffee table, watching his son's reactions as I read about some make-believe world. Although the story was meant to put Nugget to sleep, the sound of my voice would often put Rick to sleep as well. I'd let him snooze for about an hour before waking him up to get ready for his night shift.

He'd leave for work around 9PM, giving both Nugget and me a gentle kiss on our foreheads on his way out.

I adored those routines. I desperately missed everything about them.

I sniffled and wiped away a stray tear.

"Get it together," I whispered, grabbing a case folder.

As I was reading through it, my desk phone rang. Only a select few had my direct work number, and of that select few, only one person used it to call me regularly before he went silent on me.

I slowly exhaled before answering the phone.

"Michonne speaking," I answered in my no-nonsense work voice.

"Michonne, uh... hey," the voice on the other end said anxiously.

It wasn't Rick, but I couldn't help but to smile.

"Hi, Glenn," I said warmly.

After making myself unavailable to Gleggie and Daryl all week, I was genuinely delighted to hear Glenn's voice. I hadn't meant to shut Gleggie and Daryl out, but I wasn't ready to articulate how broken I felt without Rick and Nugget.

I was running out of time to say something to them, though. Nugget's first birthday only two days away. Rick apparently hadn't said anything to them either, and I had no idea if or when he planned to.

Glenn cleared his throat. "Hey," he repeated.

I waited for him to continue. When he didn't, I knew that something was wrong. Glenn and Maggie were the talkers in our family. If words weren't flowing freely, there was a problem.

"Glenn?"

"Yeah, so... um… well," he sputtered.

"Is it Hershel?" I whispered, gripping the receiver and starting to panic.

"No! No… Hershel's still recovering," he said before clearing his throat once more. "It's just that... well..."

I wondered what could have him so tongue-tied. "What is it, Glenn?"

"It's just that I know. Michonne, I know."

My jaw dropped.

Did Glenn finally know that Maggie was pregnant? That he was going to be a father? He didn't sound thrilled at all. Was Maggie right? Was the idea of fatherhood-

"I know you moved out of Rick's," he said, cutting off my thoughts.

Oh.

That's what he knew.

I sat back in my chair and let out a defeated breath because if Glenn knew, then Maggie and Daryl knew too. If Glenn was upset, then Maggie and Daryl were upset too.

This wasn't good.

This was very, very bad.

But, if I had to be confronted by one of them, it was best that Glenn was the one doing the confronting. When Daryl was upset, he tended to take things to a ten right off the bat. When Maggie was upset, she tended to go off the charts completely.

Glenn was the most level-headed and reasonable of the three. I could talk this through with him in a calm and rational way.

"What the shit, Michonne!" Daryl shouted.

Shit.

"Why didn't you say somethin'!" Maggie shouted.

Shit!

I pinched the bridge of my nose and cringed as all three started talking at once. And it was in that moment that I decided three-way calling was the worst technological advancement to plague humankind.

When I heard a knock on my open door, I looked up and saw Mika, my administrative assistant, standing in the doorway.

"Is everything ok?" she mouthed, stepping into my office.

She looked genuinely concerned, but I could also see the anxiety on her face that had nothing to do with me.

I glanced at the clock and immediately felt terrible for losing track of time and delaying the start of her weekend. Per the terms of my employment agreement with the firm, my Fridays ended at 1PM, which meant Mika's Fridays ended at 1PM. As it was, our day should have ended seventeen minutes ago.

Unlike most twenty-something year olds, Mika's Fridays were devoted to her sister Lizzie after the workweek ended. Lizzie suffered from severe emotional problems and lived in a group home outside of Atlanta since it was the closest facility equipped to treat her.

Mika was normally driving to Atlanta by now to spend the rest of the day with Lizzie.

I pushed the mute button on my phone and held the receiver against my shoulder, although I could still very clearly hear Maggie's high-pitched voice.

"Everything's fine," I told Mika.

She looked like she didn't believe me.

"Seriously, there's nothing for you to worry about. Go ahead and get out of here. I'm sorry for holding you up."

"Thanks, Miss Danvers! Give Carl a big birthday hug and kiss for me on Sunday!"

I smiled as she all but ran out my office, and then I rubbed the bridge of my nose and groaned. From the ranting Gleggie and Daryl were doing, it sounded like Daryl found out I moved out after stopping by Rick's house this morning. Rick wasn't home, but since Daryl had a key, he let himself in. When he noticed some of my things were missing, he checked my bedroom and realized I was gone.

Naturally, Daryl called Glenn, and Glenn called Maggie, and Maggie demanded that the three of them conference call me.

I cringed when Maggie's voice rose to an extraordinarily high pitch. I was hesitant to unmute the call, but I put the receiver back up to my ear and unmuted.

"Am I gonna have to choose? I don't wanna have to choose between you and Rick!" Maggie shouted. "Glenn, I don't wanna have to pick!"

"Mag-" Glenn started to say before she cut him off.

"Daryl, tell them they can't make us pick!" Maggie shouted.

Daryl grunted.

"Oh my GOD!" Maggie shouted. "Did you and Rick already discuss this, Michonne? Is that why we haven't heard from you all week? Did Rick get custody of us?!"

And then she started sobbing.

"I love you both s-s-so much," she wailed. "This isn't fair. You... are... my... closest... fr-fr-friends," she choked out.

After about a minute or so of listening to Maggie sniffling, it seemed like a window of opportunity was finally open for me to speak.

"Maggie," I said in what I hoped was a calming tone of voice. "Please calm down. You-"

"You calm down!" she shouted.

And then she hung up.

Glenn sighed deeply. "She's been a little all over the place lately," he said apologetically. "I think her," he paused and then whispered, "period is coming."

"Come on, man," Daryl groaned.

"It's a natural bodily function, Daryl. Anyways, I get it, Michonne. I know how hard leaving must have been… how hard not being there must be. But why are you and Rick keeping it a secret? I thought... I just thought we were close enough to share things like this."

"We are," I quickly acknowledged. "I wasn't keeping it a secret. We weren't keeping it a secret. It's-"

"But you didn't tell us," he interrupted. "You're only saying something now because Daryl happened to stop by Rick's."

That was true. I wouldn't try to refute it.

"Things obviously aren't ok between you and Rick, and that's between you and Rick. But what does that mean for all of us?" Glenn asked. "What about our family game nights and family dinners? What about our pizza nights? What about just hanging out?"

I wasn't sure how to answer his questions.

In a way, Nugget was who brought Gleggie into our lives. It made sense that they'd be concerned by the sudden and drastic change in dynamics between me and Rick.

"Listen, I'll talk to Maggie. Just know we're here for you and Rick and Carl. Always. No matter what," Glenn said.

"I know," I said softly. "Thank you, Glenn."

And then he hung up.

Shit.

I'd pissed off a pregnant lady and disappointed Glenn. I felt awful.

I sighed, sat back and waited for whatever Daryl had to say.

"You just up and left?" he shouted.

"Rick obviously didn't tell you either," I pointed out.

"We're not talkin' about Rick! We're talkin' about you! He'll get his later," he grumbled.

"You told me to take a step back, D. Remember? That's what I'm doing."

"I didn't tell you to disappear on us!" he shouted. "What happened?"

"Rick decided he can't be what I need, so I decided I can't be what he needs."

"What the hell does that even mean, 'Chonne?"

"Talk to Rick."

Daryl didn't say anything for a while, and when he spoke again, it was in a quiet voice. "Michonne, whatever is happenin' between you and Rick, I don't like it."

"I don't either, but maybe the reality of the situation is that Rick and I are growing apart. It happens."

"Nah. That ain't it," he huffed.

I wanted to believe him, but as the days passed without Rick reaching out to me, I wondered if our friendship would ever be salvaged.

"I visited Merle this mornin'," Daryl said, his voice shaking.

I sat up in my chair, gripping the receiver tight. "What?!"

"I stopped by Rick's afterwards and..." His voice broke, and he took a deep breath.

"Where are you?" I asked, jumping up.

Daryl rarely visited his blood relatives. When he did, the visits almost always ended with him reliving the physical and emotional trauma he endured as a child.

"Michonne, sit down. I'm fine. I'm back at my house."

"Daryl-"

"I'm fine. Sit down," he said firmly.

I slowly sat back down. I'd have to let my questions about the visit go because Daryl wasn't going to talk about it right now.

"You, Rick, Carl, Gleggie... you're my family. My true family, Michonne. You and Rick need to fix this. Bein' friends has never been hard for you two. It shouldn't be hard now."

"It is when he's being a stubborn jackass," I snapped. But in a much gentler voice, I said, "And we'll always be family, but it's not on me to fix this Daryl. That's on him."

"But you do want him to fix this?"

"Things will work out however they work out," I replied noncommittally.

Of course I wanted Rick to fix things, but Daryl didn't need to know that. If Rick was going to make things right between us, I didn't want him to do it because Daryl told him that I wanted him to do it.

"And what about Carl?" Daryl asked. "When's the last time you saw him?"

I was ashamed to admit how long it had been. Maggie brought him to my condo last week when my ankle was sprained, but I hadn't seen him since then.

"So Rick's not the only one bein' a jackass!" Daryl barked.

This was another statement that I couldn't refute, so once again I didn't try.

"You already know Rick would let you see Carl regardless of what's goin' on between you two."

"I know," I weakly replied.

"If you know then why haven't you seen him? He doesn't need another Lori in his life!"

Me?

He was calling me Lori?

"I'm not-"

"You've been there for him since day one! Don't forget that. You have to be the bigger person for Lil Asskicker if Rick won't. I love you and Rick both, but I love that kid too, Michonne. You and Rick don't compare to him."

"I got it, D," I mumbled, feeling even more ashamed by how I'd been neglecting Nugget.

"Damn right I'm right!"

After he grew quiet, I sensed there was more he had to say.

"Spit it out," I ordered when it became clear he wasn't going to speak his mind.

"Did Rick tell you anythang that night at the hospital? When you went off to talk?" he finally asked.

I scoffed. "He told me all about how he couldn't-"

"I'm not talkin' about what he said he couldn't do, Michonne. He didn't mention anythang else?"

"What else would he have to say?"

And then I recalled the look Daryl and Rick exchanged in the hospital elevator.

"What else would he have to say, Daryl?"

"But when he called me that night to say he was stayin' at your place, it didn't seem like you two were arguin'," he said, ignoring my question.

"I was too tired to argue with him… Daryl, what else would Rick have to say to me?"

He grunted, and I knew he wasn't going to give me an answer.

"You still comin' to Lil Asskicker's birthday party on Sunday?" he asked.

I gasped loudly.

"You don't have to get dramatic. I was just askin'," he grumbled.

"Of course I'll be there," I replied curtly, seething a little from the question. After a few seconds, I corrected myself. "Mike and I will be there."

I waited for what I knew was coming.

"Fucking Panty Man," Daryl muttered under his breath.

Between Hershel's accident, my sprained ankle and moving out of Rick's house, there hadn't been a good time to set up a meeting between Mike and Daryl and Gleggie. There was already a feeling of animosity towards Mike, and I now feared that Daryl and Gleggie would ice him out completely.

"I'm sure I can count on you to be on your best behavior with Mike? No Panty Man talk?"

I felt my chest tighten as I waited for his response. I didn't want to fight with him over Mike.

"Yeah, ok," he halfheartedly agreed. "I'll behave when I meet Mike. But if he's an asshole first, all bets are off."

"Fair enough," I sighed.

I was about to ask Daryl when he'd last seen Nugget when I heard a woman's voice in the background call out his name. I tried to listen to their conversation, but Daryl must have covered his phone because their voices sounded muffled.

When everything went silent and it sounded like Daryl was back on the phone, I casually asked, "Who was that?"

I could hear the panic in Daryl's silence.

And then he hung up on me.

Daryl Dixon, who had never had a serious girlfriend or a friend with benefits or a one-night stand, had a woman in his house who he was trying to keep a secret!

I grinned as I called him back.

He sent me to voicemail after the first ring.

I rolled my eyes and called him again.

"What," he grumbled.

"Well?"

"Well what?" he grumbled.

"Don't make me interrogate you," I threatened. "Who is she?"

"Hold on, I got a call comin' in," he said, sounding relieved.

He put me on hold before I could protest.

"It's Gleggie," Daryl said when he got back on the line. "Maggie wants to call Rick. Gotta go. I'm not pissin' off a pregnant lady too."

My jaw dropped. I had no idea how he knew Maggie was pregnant, but I wasn't confirming anything.

"Bring your mystery woman to Nugget's birthday party, Daryl. We're meeting her," I told him before hanging up.

I let out a soft sigh and looked out the window.

Rick was about to deal with the wrath of Gleggie and Daryl… Daryl had a new friend… Maggie's pregnancy secret was no longer just mine to keep… and I didn't feel the need to avoid my family anymore.

Suddenly the day seemed just a little brighter.

Saturday Morning

I pulled my covers over my head and curled into a ball.

Since I'd moved back into my condo, I hadn't been sleeping. I'd get a few hours of sleep here and there, but I spent most of the time tossing and turning.

Last night was no exception.

Allowing my ego and my anger to become more of a priority than Nugget's well-being made me sick to my stomach.

"We got this." Those were the words I'd used to comfort Rick in the hospital after Nugget was born. That was my promise. That was my commitment not just to Rick but to Nugget.

I wasn't one to make empty promises. I wasn't one not to fulfill my commitments.

It was completely unacceptable that I had no idea who'd been helping Rick take care of Nugget. It was completely unacceptable that I hadn't told Nugget I loved him since I'd last seen him.

If my friendship with Rick was unsalvageable, I would come to terms with he and I failing each other as friends. But I would never be at peace with Rick and I failing Nugget as co-partners.

I needed to see my precious little Nugget. I needed to hold him, to apologize to him, to promise him that I'd never fail him in this way again.

He turned one tomorrow. I had to set things right today.

I threw back my covers, jumped out of bed and ran to my bathroom. I very quickly brushed my teeth and then pulled my locs into a bun on top of my head. I glanced at my pajamas in the mirror and rushed to my closet. There was no time to change. I grabbed a cardigan to put on over my pajamas and grabbed the first pair of shoes that weren't heels—my shiny, black rainboots.

I had one boot on when my doorbell rang.

I had no idea what time it was, but it was too early for visitors. I glanced at my clock.

7:11AM.

Anyone who knew me would have called or texted before coming by so early. Even my neighbors knew not to bother me before 10AM on a weekend day. I ignored the front door and put my other boot on.

The doorbell rang again.

"Coming!" I shouted on the way to the door.

My hand froze on the top lock when a thought crossed my mind.

Mike.

Mike was probably on the other side of the door. He'd been out of town on business since Tuesday and was scheduled to return this afternoon. He'd probably come by to surprise me. While I appreciated the gesture, I did not appreciate his timing. I needed to go see Nugget.

I swallowed a groan and plastered what I hoped was a pleasant smile on my face before opening the door.

My smile fell when my eyes locked on the man standing in front of me.

My breath caught in my throat when my eyes traveled down to the baby asleep in his arms.

"Hey," Rick whispered.

I looked into his blue eyes.

"Hey," I said.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Please take the time to leave a review. It's appreciated!