Author's Note: This story was supposed to be coming to an end with this chapter, but there has been a bit of a change of plans. Most of this chapter was written when I posted the last chapter, but it was so long that I had to do a cutoff. After the wonderful ending to the The Ones Who Live, I decided to go for more with my work in progress, so there will be a few additional chapters to this story. Some things might be surprising, but this is fanfiction, and it's a powerful thing. It can right wrongs and change trajectories, and I am going to do just that. If you are reading, thank you, and settle in for more.

Rick pulled up to the gated opening of a large white cinderblock wall. The length before him was stunning enough, but he could find no way to determine where this wall stopped. The gate had a walkway going across, with scaffolding on each end of the opening. For sightline capabilities, it had a guard shack built on the left side and a fenced-in guard stand, at least ten feet long, on the right.

Beyond the wall, in the distance, past the large, wide-open valley, Rick saw what appeared to be a city on a hill. The military side of the Civic Republic in New Jersey was a huge compound, partially surrounded by water, with some green spaces, and overlooking a secret functioning city. It had all the comforts of Alexandria and more but with strident rules and little freedom. It had been a secure hell. Not like this place, that from the outside looking in, and from what RJ had shared, was safe, welcoming, and warm. Ezekiel must have really landed on his feet to become the leader here.

Instinctively, Rick's gaze met Michonne's. She seemed as stunned by all of this as he. RJ had told them it was secure, there was an army, and that the community was big, but big for a child and adult could be different things. Rick should've known that wouldn't be the case with his genius son, although RJ had neglected to mention that the guards on gate patrol would be wearing video game meets Star Wars white armor.

"What do you think?" Rick asked Michonne. "Will we have trouble?"

"Only if they keep me from my daughter," Michonne answered, touching the sword tucked between her and the door. "I don't want trouble. I just want to see Judith."

"I live here, Mama, there won't be trouble," RJ replied. "They'll let us in." Leaving the hat inside, he crawled over Rick's lap and opened the door, hopping out of the truck. Rick and Michonne followed quickly behind him. "It's me. Open the gate."

"RJ Grimes?" said the closest of the guards, pulling off his helmet. "Word just came through that you were missing. Why did you leave your group?"

RJ shrugged. "I just did, Jack. I'm fine."

"You had a lot of people worried. Your sister and Governor Sutton are on their way to the gate to go out and find you."

"Judith is on her way here?" Michonne said with a joyous smile just as an approaching automobile leaving a billowing cloud of dust sped closer to the wall.

Rick wrapped his arm around Michonne's waist and kissed her cheek. "That must be our daughter and your special close friend, Governor Ezekiel, now." He grinned.

"Don't you start," Michonne teasingly warned.

"Couldn't help myself, darlin'." Rick pecked her lips and waved Andre over from the truck. He needed to be here for this.

"Judith is going to be surprised," RJ said, backing up against his parents' legs and looking up at them. "Surprised and happy, just like me." RJ turned his gaze to Andre, who had made his way beside Michonne, and smiled at him. "Then we learn about how Buddy is our surprise, right?"

"That's right," Rick answered, tapping RJ's chest and giving Andre a smile. "That's right."

Rick's hands slipped inside Michonne's when the gate slid apart and a dark blue sedan came to an abrupt stop. Several moments passed with no movement from inside the car. Rick held his breath when the front passenger door finally opened and out stepped a young woman in a light top and blue jeans. A pretty young woman who had taken over the body of his adorable little girl. His Judith. She had grown up.

"Is this – is this real?" Judith murmured, glancing from Rick to Michonne, her eyes filled with tears. "You're all here?"

Michonne nodded. "Yes, sweetie, we're all here."

"Your mom found me," Rick added. "She found me, and we found the note you and RJ left at home. We're all together again, and that's the way it's gonna stay."

Breaking down in sobs, Judith sunk into her parents' open arms, with RJ in between them all.

They stayed in their prolonged group hug for untold moments until a sniffling Judith finally pulled away. "I missed you both so much." Judith wiped her eyes. "You can't know how much."

"I think we could." Michonne kissed Judith's forehead and tucked her long dark hair behind her ears.

"We definitely could," Rick agreed, wiping away his tears. "Your mom and I love you so much."

"So much." Michonne blinked and wiped tears from her eyes. "I can't get over how much you've grown up, Judith. You're a young lady now."

Judith sniffled. "I sorta feel like an old one, Mom. Especially when I heard this one went missing." She mussed RJ's hair. "I thought…" A sob broke her words.

"Shh-shh." Michone embraced her. "It's okay, sweetie."

"I was afraid I wouldn't see him again. That the last of my family had disappeared from my life."

"I'm sorry, Judith," RJ sadly offered. "I was exploring and found Daddy." He retreated behind Rick's leg.

"It's okay, son," Rick offered, smoothing RJ's back. "Your sister was worried, that's all."

"Mom, it has been so hard being without you, but you made that difficult time worth it." She smiled over at Rick. "You found him." Her tears refreshed. "Daddy."

Succumbing to more of his own tears, Rick brought his daughter into his arms. She was catching up to Michonne's height and looking more and more like Lori and Shane. That was Judith's genetics, but she was his and Michonne's. Their daughter. Their amazing, strong little girl.

"I have missed you so much, and I'm sorry I've been away so long, but we'll make up for lost time," Rick promised. "I swear it."

"When Mom said she had found some clues that you could be alive, I was shocked, but I knew if there was even a tiny possibility, she had to go. She did it. She brought you home." Judith pulled out of the hug. "Dad, where were you?" Her gaze shifted to Andre. He had taken a few steps back during the little reunion. "I'm sorry, who are you?"

Andre's eyes stretched as he looked from Michonne to Rick.

"Judith, I will explain all about where I was to you later," Rick said. "What matters is I'm here, we're all together, and this young man is someone your mom and I need you and RJ to meet." Making space between him and Michonne, Rick motioned for Andre to come forward.

"I met him already, Judith!" RJ happily explained. "This is Buddy. He's our surprise, and he's really nice. He let me help him with Mama's horse. Millie is in the trailer."

"There's more of a surprise to it, RJ," Rick shared.

"Okay, what's the surprise?" Judith asked.

"It's something wonderful." Rick looked to Michonne for her to continue as he squeezed Andre's shoulder. "The most amazing, incredible thing."

Michonne took Andre's hand in hers. "Do you two remember the stories I would tell you about my first little boy?"

"Yes, your peanut, Andre," Judith said. "He died a long time ago."

"Uh-huh." RJ nodded. "Our big brother after Carl."

"Yes, your big brother after Carl, but when I found your dad, I learned that Andre hadn't died. He had been taken years earlier to where your father was later taken."

Judith turned wide eyes to Andre. "Mom, are you saying Buddy is…"

"I am," Michonne answered as Judith's words trailed.

"RJ and Judith, this is your big brother," said Rick. "This is Andre."

Andre cleared his throat and took a tentative step forward. "I can imagine this is a surprise to the two of you," he said to his new siblings who stared at him wide-eyed and silent. "It's all still pretty surprising to me." He glanced at Michonne and exhaled deeply. "I'm still getting used to everything, so I don't want either of you to feel any pressure. I told RJ that he could call me 'Buddy' because I wanted to be his friend, and the same applies to you, Judith. Only if you two are willing and want that."

Judith's face brightened with happiness. "You're our brother!" she shouted.

"Yes, we want that!" RJ added as he and Judith rushed Andre with ready hugs.

Rick and Michonne shared a kiss and joined in the hugs. Their family unit was finally together.

The tightening of Rick's back with a dull ache called him from his slumber. He groaned softly and opened his eyes to the sight of Michonne nestled in his arms, sleeping peacefully. He blinked, remembering where they were. Commonwealth. On a couch in Ezekiel's home. The home Ezekiel had insisted they stay in upon entering the gates, stating he would be more than comfortable in the little apartment above his office in the centermost part of the town. Like Rick, Michonne had admitted she didn't realize their old friend had taken off at the start of their reunion with Judith, but both appreciated his open hospitality, his help in getting Millie settled and the truck unpacked, and his promise to keep everyone away so they could have some uninterrupted time together as a family.

Not that they would be getting a lot of visitors. Daryl and Maggie readily sprang to mind. Rick had not been in a hurry to see them, and after a few minutes with Ezekiel, he learned that even if he had wanted to, it wouldn't have been possible. It was a part of the reason why he had offered them his house. RJ and Judith were living with him, and it made sense to keep them where they were settled.

This living arrangement came to be when Carol got caught up in a drug habit and had suffered a fatal overdose that drove Daryl to who knows where to lick his wounds over his auntie/friend being gone. Then, it was shared that Negan suffered a walker bite while out on some mission with Maggie and she had brought the man back to get him help. The bite to the lowermost section of the man's gluteus maximus could not be treated, and Gabriel had to put him down as neither Maggie nor Daryl could or would do it.

Rick had a very hard time with those truths. He lost years with Michonne, all of RJ's life, and most of Judith's, and Daryl and Maggie couldn't kill this man after an ass bite when they had plotted behind Rick's back to do just that: kill Negan. If he wasn't sure before, Rick knew he never wanted to see either of them again. Maggie had taken off with Hershel to parts unknown after Negan's death, which was about the time things had gotten really bad at Alexandria. Weeks after getting to Commonwealth, Carol's overdose happened, and Daryl fled days later.

The final shock was the news that Eugene had played hero and rescued Rosita's baby girl from a pack of walkers that had circled their wagon while on a stop on their journey to Commonwealth. Little Coco was spared any harm, but Eugene was bitten several times. Any of the chomps to his shoulder, neck, and side would've been fatal, and after a tearful goodbye to Rosita, Aaron put Eugene down.

Thinking of anger and sadness was not on Rick's mind right now. His thoughts were on the future and his happy life with Michonne and their children.

Rick pressed a kiss to Michonne's forehead, rousing her from her sleep. "Mmm," she murmured, stretching. "Oh, God, my neck."

"Let me," Rick said, massaging the ache to her appreciative sighs.

"What happened?"

"I think our hours of driving and being up twenty-four hours caught up with us, and we zonked out. We were watching a video of RJ as a baby. The kids were in front of us on the floor. I don't remember after that."

"That's what I remember. We're at Commonwealth. Ezekiel's house. And we fell asleep."

"Soon after a bite of lunch, yes. Your neck better?"

"It is." She turned and kissed him. "Thank you."

"Anytime," he replied with another peck and turned his back to her. "Wanna return the favor?" He touched a spot near his lower back. "Right there."

"Sure." She massaged him. "How long do you think we've been asleep?"

Rick gazed at the window to the right. "It's dark out, and with the position of the moon, I'd say it's nearing midnight. It was around two after lunch, so we've been asleep a while. I definitely don't feel tired anymore."

"Neither do I."

"Your hands are magic." Rick moaned in bliss. "My back feels so much better."

"Great." Michonne stopped massaging and settled back into his arms. "Rick?"

"Yeah?"

"I don't want to stay here."

"Amazing." He chuckled. "I feel the same."

"Really?" She sat up, taking his hands.

"Yeah."

"Oh." Michonne sighed in relief. "I'm glad to hear that. It's not that it's not nice. The place is wonderful. Ezekiel told us the history. It's safe and big, with working telephones and a train system, but…"

"It doesn't feel quite right. It doesn't feel like home."

"No. You're my home, Rick. You and our children. I would be at home anywhere I am with you and them, but after all this time apart, I want someplace that we all start new together. RJ and Judith got on so well with Andre, and I have never seen him smile so much. I want new smiles and new memories with us. No leading or advising, just living, breathing, and growing together."

"Sounds like heaven, or something close to it. Maybe Eden?"

"Really." She smiled. "You would move there?"

"You made it sound like a great place, and I want a new start, too. We deserve a fresh start, and how could we not be happy in a place called Eden?"

"We could be." Michonne nodded. "We would be. You will love my friend Nat. You will love everybody. We will be so happy!"

"You know what else would make me very happy?"

"I think I could guess," she answered coquettishly, sliding onto his lap.

"That guess isn't wrong, but, ma'am, it's not what I was thinking."

Michonne laughed. "Seriously?"

"Hey, that answer is never wrong, but I was thinking we should get married."

"We did that years ago, Rick."

"Yeah, and it was wonderful, but it wasn't a ceremony. It was just you and me, promising forever together. I want to show the world how lucky I am, Michonne, and just how much I love you. I want us to have a wedding. You walking up to me looking so beautiful in an amazing dress, and us vowing before our children and friends to love, honor, and cherish each other for the rest of our lives. Rings, flowers, and music. I want it all. After the years we lost, renewing our commitment as we start our new life in Eden seems right. I want to make you, my gorgeous bride, the center of attention for one day, just like you are the center of my world every day."

Michonne pressed her hand to her chest, smiling. Clearly touched, and a little tickled. "My goodness. Did you rehearse that?"

"Off the cuff and from my heart. So, Michonne Grimes, will you marry me – again?"

"In an absolute heartbeat, Rick Grimes. Yes, I will – again. One more time."

Rick kissed her with all the love in his heart. "The last time." He stood and pulled her up with him. "Know what I want to do now?"

"I guessed before and I was wrong, so…"

"Like I said, that guess is never wrong," he said with a kiss. "I want to check on RJ."

"He's okay, Rick."

"I know, but I want to see him sleep. I get he's seven, but I missed everything, Michonne. The pictures and videos are so special, but they're a reminder of what I missed. I need to see him sleeping. To watch him the way I couldn't when he was a newborn. He's not a baby, but..."

Michonne stroked his cheek, smiling. "I get it. Take your time. I'll check in on Andre and Judith and then take a shower. Get a little hot water on this neck. Make sure it stays nice and loose after your wonderful massage." She claimed his lips in a soft, lingering kiss that held promises of more. "I'll wait up for you."

"Good thing we're well rested and all loosened up." Rick eyed her suggestively. "I won't be too long."

Rick kneeled at RJ's bedside, watching in awe as his son slept with the moon casting a soft glow upon his peaceful little face. He knew the pride he felt would remain a perpetual feeling. Rick hoped he could find a way to make up for all the years he missed with his little namesake. To show him how much he loved him and always would. How RJ's birth was a dream Rick had wanted for him and Michonne for so long. A dream that came true when he had been held as an unwilling prisoner for eight years.

That damn Pride had taken so much from him. He had taken so much from Andre. From their family. But it hadn't just been Pride. People he called brother and friend betrayed him first. Life was filled with strange and unexpected twists and turns. Things that brought long-lasting and life-changing events.

"No! Stop!" RJ shot up with a start, breathing heavily.

Rick readily shushed him and stroked his back. "Junior, what's wrong?" he asked, sounding as alarmed as RJ looked.

"Dad?" RJ blinked. Confusion erased the fright on his face once his breathing evened. "Who's Junior?" he said.

"You are. You're Rick Grimes, Jr."

"Yes, RJ. You want to call me Junior?"

Rick shrugged, taken slightly aback at the ripple of nervousness that touched his stomach upon hearing the question. "Only if you'll let me," he said, with the strong hope that he would. "You're named after me, and I think that's fantastic because you look so much like me. You're little Rick. My junior in so many ways. It kinda felt right to me."

After what felt like an hour-long pause, that couldn't have been more than a few seconds, RJ nodded and smiled. "All right, you can call me Junior, but only you, okay?"

Rick chuckled. "Okay. I will tell your mom and let your sister and brother know that 'Junior' is only for the Ricks in the family." He rubbed RJ's chest. "Now, tell me about before. Did you have a nightmare?"

"I think so," RJ answered. "I saw a man choking Andre. He had his feet off the ground, his arm around his neck like this." RJ placed his forearm under his chin. "Andre looked so scared. He called the man Dad."

Rick blinked. The description was way too accurate to be a dream or nightmare not prompted by previous information. "Did Andre tell you about this?"

"Uh-uh?" RJ vigorously shook his head. "That happened?"

"Yesterday, yes. And Andre didn't tell you about this?"

"No. We talked about Mom, you, and Carl, and he cooked Judith and me some dinner and made me get washed up and into bed at eight o'clock. Is Andre okay?"

"He's fine. Yeah." Rick had to admit that Andre had stepped seamlessly into the big brother role. In that respect, he was better than fine. But RJ knowing about that incident was something else. "He's good, son."

"How did I see that in my dream?"

"I don't know," Rick said, wondering if this cellular makeup was really at play. "Let's go talk to Mom, and maybe she can help us figure this out."

RJ shook his head. "No, Dad, Mama has a surprise for you." He settled under the covers. "I'm okay. We can talk tomorrow."

"What do you mean 'Mama has a surprise for me'?" Rick asked. Michonne intimated they would be catching up, and he was ecstatic about it, but it wasn't a surprise.

"I don't know." RJ shrugged. "Just a feeling." He closed his eyes, yawning. "Good night, Dad."

Rick kissed RJ's forehead and stroked his hair. "Good night, Junior."

The strangeness that occurred in RJ's bedroom kept Rick perplexed on his short trek to the guest room. How could RJ know about Pride choking Andre if Andre hadn't told him? Neither he nor Michonne had mentioned any of that to the children. And what did he mean Michonne had a sur–

The thoughts ruminating in Rick's head vanished when he opened the bedroom door to find Michonne in the middle of the bed, very naked.

"Surprise," she said with an alluring smile.

"Holy shit!" Blood drained from Rick's face. He had never felt so turned on yet completely freaked out in his life. RJ knew about the surprise. How? How did he know Andre had been choked? What was going on? "Michonne, I…I…" He couldn't stop staring at her gloriously hot body. Could he wait to tell her about Junior? No, he couldn't. "Shit." Rick stuffed his hands in his pockets, desperate for more room in the front of his jeans.

Michonne groaned. "Okay, I don't think that's the reaction I was going for," she said, covering herself with the bedspread and resting against the headboard. "What is it?"

"It's Rick Junior. Michonne, something is going on with him."

"What do you mean? Is he sick?"

"No, no." Rick joined her on the bed, debating pulling the spread away. "He's not sick. He's aware of things."

Michonne stroked his cheek, smiling. "Our son is a very smart boy. He's aware of a lot of things."

"Yep, but Andre being choked by Pride and your little surprise here for me shouldn't be among them," he said, ending the debate and pulling away the spread. They had eight years to make up for. Talking could continue later.

"What?" she yelped, pulling the spread back over her breasts and making it clear that talking couldn't wait.

"Yeah. Andre didn't tell him, and he shouldn't have known about this," he said, motioning at her and the spread, "but he did. He had a dream about Andre and a feeling about your surprise. Michonne, I don't want to think it, but…"

"The cells?"

Rick nodded. "The cells."

Thanks for reading!

~More to come!~