Chapter Eighteen: Before The Storm

Most people attending the Harvest Festival were having fun. The fact that they were being ruled by the Saviors was an afterthought in the plethora of food, music, and new people. It wasn't until the gunshot that that illusion shattered. Almost like walkers, Saviors, Alexandrians, and others stopped what they were doing to get to the sound of the bullet. Tara and a Savior reached the door of the Grimes's home at the same time.

"You better hope it wasn't my family," Tara threatened. There was no sarcasm or joke in her voice.

"I was going to say the same to you, bitch."

Tara opened the door to chaos. Negan's wife and Michonne were hugging; Michonne held her, but looked lost. Chenelle was covered in her dog's blood praying to God in front of Negan for her son's survival. Rick and Carl had their guns pointed at Negan. Tears fell down Carl's face. His son was screaming and he was panicking. Judith was nowhere to be seen.

Negan turned to the crowd with a large, friendly grin. "Hey fuckers, welcome to our fucking family reunion!"

"Wh-"

"Michonne Motherfucking Grimes is my fucktastic wife, Kiki's sister! Fucking crazy right?! So this doesn't concern you." Negan used his foot to slam the door closed. "Sorry about the audience. That's the fucking problem with small towns everyone's in your fucking business. Kiki, come get your nephew. He must have pissed himself with all his fucking hollering. Don't be such a fucking baby, little fuck." Kiki let go of Michonne and walked toward her husband. Kiki trusted Negan so much that the two loaded guns and Daryl's arrows meant nothing to her. Negan always knew what he was doing. Negan placed Miles in Kiki's arms. Negan liked seeing Kianga with a baby in her arms. "Sing him a lullaby. Something the family would like. Everyone's fucking testy."

Negan's gun hovered over the baby to keep their lives, Negan and Kianga's lives, insured. Kianga looked down at Miles with awe and fear. She hadn't realized until that moment how long it'd been since she held a baby. Kianga and Michonne's older sister was pregnant when the world ended. Was she alive too? What about their unborn nephew? Until now Kianga lived her life trying to forget her family so she didn't have to face the probability of their death. Seeing Michonne made her wonder about many things. She wanted to catch up. Unfortunately, their men were complicating the situation. Kianga hoped Negan would handle them soon. She wanted to talk to Michonne and Andre. Kianga was curious. She hadn't been paying much attention to the Grimes until she found out about Michonne. Now she wanted to know everything, especially whose baby was she holding? Negan said it was her nephew. Was this Michonne's son? A tear fell; Miles was beautiful. "What's his name?" Kianga wondered.

"Grimes." Rick answered gruffly. "Now hand him over."

"I will. I promise I will. Rick, Carl, lower your weapons. I know what just happened is messed up and we can talk about it. Negan will deal with everyone outside and I'll stand right here so Michonne can get her baby."

"He's mine!" Chenelle screamed.

"And Kiki's mine. I'll be back for her; and, if she's not as happy as a fuckless fuck on free fuck day when I return, no one will be." Normally he would walk out with Kianga and whatever she wanted, but since this was legitimately her family he felt reassured leaving her. Negan was proud of Kianga; she was handling this well. Maybe she was more than a body and pretty voice. He liked that. Going to Alexandria made him rethink his relationship with his wives. Alexandrian women didn't need protection from their men. They were fiercely independent, skilled in weaponry, and defense. That intrigued him.

"They won't hurt me, baby." Kianga knew her sister and husband. There was no doubt in her mind or voice with her assertion.

Negan dipped to give her a kiss. She seemed to melt from his touch. Kiki was in a hostage situation with a crying baby and guns drawn, but found herself ignoring it. She'd always trust Negan's judgment. He'd always taken care of her. Carl looked at Rick who looked at Negan. They agreed wordlessly. It seemed like the best way to get their baby back. Negan still had his gun trained on Miles, Kianga too since she was holding him. He was grateful for the Saviors surrounding the house; he wouldn't have left the house in one piece if it wasn't for them. Carl and Chenelle rushed to Kiki and grabbed Miles. Carl breathed a sigh of relief once he realized Miles was alright. Chenelle kissed her son until she noticed Smythe's blood on him. "I got him bloody. I-I got him bloody..." She was shaking.

"It's okay. It'll wash off."

"It's not okay. None of this is okay!"

Carl felt bad. "I couldn't protect him, Smythe either."

"No, it's my fault. I panicked and so Smythe reacted. I didn't think he would grab Miles; I didn't know."

"It's not your fault." Carl glared at Kiki. "It's Negan's."

Kiki glared back. She never liked this kid, but she'd tolerate him since he was her sister's stepchild. Kiki knew she'd never acknowledge Carl as anything more. Rick stepped in front of her view of Carl, Chenelle, and Miles. "Why are you still here?"

"I'm not concerned with you or your kids. And after what happened, yeah, I'll leave. I just want to hold my sister and Andre one last time." Her voice cracked. Kianga wasn't as clueless as she pretended to be. She knew what Negan was doing to their community and although Kianga didn't care, she knew the Saviors would never be the Alexandrians' favorite people. She could tell her sister was devoted to this family. Carl spoke of her like a mother, not a stepmother. This is why she didn't know Michonne wasn't a white woman until the Harvest Festival. Michonne appeared with a ferociousness that Kianga had never seen before; this was Michonne's family now. The Anthony sisters would never be the same. "Please let me see Dre. I miss him. I missed you. There have been so many nights I've cried myself to sleep forcing myself not to think of what became of you, Mike, and Andre, Zahara, Moe, Leizighia, Khadijah, MJ, and baby Maurice, mama and papa. ...you've changed. We don't have to be like before, but... Can we talk? May I just hold him again? Then I'll leave."

"No." Rick said. He wasn't going to put Michonne through the hell he'd gone through with Jeffrey.

"I wasn't talking to you." Kianga had enough of Rick's rudeness. Guns or not, she was Negan's wife. He frequently told her she was "the fucking queen of all this shit", she was going to be treated as such. "I was asking MY sister."

Michonne had been watching the interactions between the Grimes family and her sister. It was obvious they didn't like each other. Like Kiki had observed, Michonne noticed that her sister's loyalties were with the enemy. Kianga liked Negan, maybe even loved him. Her sister hadn't aged much in five years; she didn't have the gray hairs, wrinkles, and scars like she did. Negan had her immaculate and stress-free; there was no anxiety. Kianga was content as Negan's wife. She also had no problems with the things he did. Kiki didn't bat an eye when Smythe was shot; she followed Negan's directions without panic or need for clarification. Their arrangement wasn't against her will. A small part of Michonne wished it was; that way she could rescue Kianga and they would be together again. Michonne couldn't save a sister who didn't want to be saved.

Michonne walked to Kianga and pulled her in her arms. Kianga hugged her back. She only pulled away to look at her sister. Michonne kissed her forehead and temple. "I love you. I love you so much."

"I love you too, Michonne."

"All these years. You were here. How? Just- Are you okay?" Michonne didn't want to lose her.

"I'm okay. I'm okay; I promise. Are you?" Kianga whispered in Michonne's ear. "Because if you're not. You don't have to be here."

"I'm okay."

"Good." Kianga smiled. She wiped her eyes. "Aww..." Kianga wiped Michonne's eyes. "We can't let Andre see us like this. I can't imagine what he'll say. How old is he now? Eight? Nine? Not much of a peanut anymore."

"..."

"What?"

"...Kianga, you won't be able to hold Andre."

Kianga was about to protest when she realized what Michonne was saying. "Oh." Tears pricked. "Michonne, I'm so sorry. Oh my God." Kianga covered her mouth and tried to force her tears to stop. She couldn't. She kept thinking about her sweet nephew: her shy nephew who'd give her hugs then run, that sweet kid who loved the outdoors and getting dirty, one of the nephews she sang to at bedtime. It hurt knowing her little nephew was gone. "Excuse me. I-" Kianga went to their bathroom to collect herself.

Michonne watched Kianga retreat and the door slam. She stared at it for a while until she found that eyes were on her. "What?"

"Is your mind changing?" Rick asked.

"No. It's not. But she belongs here." Michonne didn't believe that even as she said it. Her sister was a Savior; she was happily a Savior.

Rick didn't like the thought of Kiki being in Alexandria. He didn't want Michonne to become blinded to the Saviors because of memories. He did the same when his brother walked into his life. Instead of questioning how one man could make it in the wilderness alone for so long; Rick saw a shy, nerdy kid who no longer existed. Rick was oblivious to Jeff's sociopathic behavior. Tara paid for his blindness. He still felt guilty about it. There was no such thing as coincidences. Rick wasn't going to take chances with his family. He just needed to convince Michonne. "Michonne, she is in every way Negan's wife. She's not the sister you remember. Trust me I-"

"You walked in my house a year ago after two years out there. You weren't the same Rick I remembered, but I still kept you close. No matter what you did, no matter what you said, I kept you close. And you did some fucked up shit."

"That's different," Rick protested

"It's not. And if I'm wrong, I'll end her. Just as I would have killed you."

Rick thought about her words the night before he ended his coup on Alexandria. Michonne told him with no uncertain terms that if he didn't leave Alexandria alone she would kill him. She told him that she loved him, but only to the extent that she won't let anything happen to him, but take him down if need be. "Okay," Rick conceded. He didn't like it; but, she had a point. Rick could hear Kianga crying in the bathroom. She was grieving for her nephew. Rick felt oddly jealous. This stranger, an enemy, knew more about Michonne than he did. She was sharing her pain in a way he wanted. Rick put his weapon away and focused on his immediate family.

Michonne debated checking on Kiki, but decided against it. There was something she needed to do first. She walked to Smythe and picked up his body. Michonne sighed; "I'm sorry the first time I touch you is to bury you. You've always protected the family. I'm sorry we couldn't protect you."

Michonne was never comfortable with Smythe; her cynophobia didn't subside no matter how useful Smythe proved. He'd protected her family, outside the walls and in. He'd taken down countless walkers, kept them away from dangerous routes, warned them of storms, hordes, and intruders. Michonne had been happy when Chenelle and Gabriel lived elsewhere because of Smythe. After Miles's birth, Chenelle was living with the Grimes again; however, Smythe stayed with Daryl or the Andersons. It wasn't right.

Chenelle held Miles in her arms and watched Michonne take her Labrador outside. Carl tried to get her attention and gauge if she was alright. She blinked the tears away. She looked at the only person she cared about and concentrated on nothing else. She didn't want to watch her dog being buried so she walked up the stairs with Miles and placed him in his crib. He was still crying. The sound was overwhelming. "I can't do this. I can't do it." Chenelle backed away and into Carl. Before he could ask if she was alright, she pushed past him and ran out. Carl went after her, but stopped himself when he saw her talking to Ron. Ron took Chenelle by the hand and made sure Carl could see them together. Seeing her with a friend he returned to get his son.

To his surprise, Judith was with him. She'd climbed in his crib. She wasn't holding him properly causing his discomfort. Judith looked worried. "He's bleeding! He got bit!"

"No, that's not his blood..."

"Oh, it's da bad guy's blood." Judith was sure of it. No bad man could hurt them and get away with it.

Carl wanted to tell her the truth, but knew that the moment he did, Judy would cry too.

Realizing their home confined them, the Grimes cleaned up and ventured into the festival. The Grimes weren't feeling remotely festive after the clusterfuck they had with Negan. Rick looked over his family; Judith was holding Michonne's hand. The poor child had no idea what was going on. Judith should have been dreaming in her bed. He could tell she was sleepy, but she was holding together for them. Rick was grateful for Michonne's teaching. He wanted to ask how she managed to teach Judith the importance of silence. That lesson stuck even with her time inside walls. Rick wanted to hold her hand, but he needed it free just in case he had to draw his Colt. Michonne looked around their neighborhood. She counted the Saviors she saw and took note of their locations. She was also looking for Kianga. Michonne wanted to talk. How did Kiki end up in Virginia? How did she end up with Negan? Where were they staying? Was it true that he had other wives? She heard singing. Michonne's body prickled with goose pimples. It was her sister; she'd recognize that mezzo soprano anywhere.

"Fucking beautiful right? Tell me was she a better singer before this goddamned world went a-fuck, or now?" Michonne said nothing. She looked more through him than at him. "Fuck, well there's a giant fuck you from my in-laws. Is this about the fucking dog? Fucking hell, I can get her a new fleabit fuck if it's that much of a fucking deal."

Rick felt himself go for his gun. "You can't just replace it. That dog was trained. It'd been with her for seven years."

"Way to make me feel like a fucking asshole. Next tribute I'll get her something nice. Fuck, I'll get you all something fucking good. You're my family after all."

"Bad words, mommy. Bad man."

"Well shit, how many fucking kids do you fuckers have?! I turn around and another lil' shit appears." Negan bent down to Judith's eye level. "Hi, I'm your Uncle Negan." Judith just stared at him. She didn't say a word. "What's your name kid?" More silence. Negan knew Judith wasn't mute, he'd just heard her speak. She was ignoring him intentionally. She stared at him in a way that reminded everyone of one person. "My, my, she's in every way your daughter, Michonne." Michonne also said nothing. "I really like this fucking town. Hell, Kiki does too. I think we'll stay an extra day."

"Depends where you're planning on staying?"

Later...

Rick and Michonne were lying in their bed and wide awake. A couple of doors down Negan and Kianga were in Carl's room, in his bed, having loud sex. Michonne wanted to throw up. Not only was their worst enemy in their home, again, he was screwing her sister. SLAM! SLAM! SLAM! SMACK! YESSS! Judith was wedged in between her parents. Surprisingly, she was asleep despite of the ruckus Negan and Kiki were making. This must have been her punishment for not speaking to Negan. Michonne knew this was more than Negan being an asshole. It was a power move. Their brother-in-law was letting them know under no uncertain terms that Kianga was his wife. Her loyalties, her body, and her mind belonged to him. He was telling them that he could do whatever the hell he wanted. No walls or doors could keep him out. Negan could screw Michonne's sister in their child's bed and they couldn't do anything about it. They were sure Negan was feeling mighty. They reminded themselves that it wouldn't last.

"Are you alright?" Rick knew this was harder on Michonne than him.

"No," Michonne answered honestly.

"What do you need me to do?"

Michonne closed her eyes. "You can't fix this Rick."

The clamor in Carl's room stopped. After a few soft giggles, a few curse words, and Kianga's moan it became silent. They were done for now. Rick turned to his partner. Before Michonne's reunion with her sister, he thought he'd be the one to have a night of passion with his wife. Michonne looked so beautiful in her up-do and dress. It looked right. Rick always thought Michonne was a natural warrior. He'd never seen anybody with skills like her; she was fast, strong, precise, and stealthy. It was like watching an old artisan work; it made him understand the term martial arts. Seeing her emerge from their bathroom dressed formally, he thought of visual art. He thought of artists who died trying to create the image of the perfect woman and those who tried to sculpt goddesses. She had to be what they were aiming for. It wasn't just her beauty; it was her vibe. Presentation was second nature. She walked with confidence and was assured in her looks. She didn't need to ask him if he found her pretty and she didn't need a boost in her self-confidence. Rick found himself obsessing over her again.

"You want all of me, but I'm still very much a broken person. I don't think I'll ever be whole, not after Andre. I'll tell you if you want to know." Rick wasn't expecting Michonne to speak anymore, especially to tell him this. "I'll tell you about myself, my family, before the dead."

Rick thought about her words. She'd been so guarded about her past. "Are you ready?"

"Seeing her, I feel so confused: happy, sad, scared, everything. But I'm sure you felt that with your little brother. It's easier to talk about since my family isn't completely gone."

"Yeah."

"I think I already told you about my parents. They were both immigrants that found their niche in America. My father came from Cameroon and my mother came from France. They were really big on education. Any grade lower than a 98 would set them off." Michonne smiled a little. "They would have lost it if they heard I let Carl drop out." Michonne gave a small laugh. "There was this one time Kianga pranked them by faking an expulsion from our academy. They were so mad that not only was she in trouble, but me and Zahara too. They whipped all of us and we weren't allowed to watch TV for months. Too much American influence, they said. It's funny now, but I was pissed. I loved music videos and missed like three months worth. Kianga was always getting us into trouble." Kianga brought trouble. Rick was sure not much had changed. "Zahara, our oldest sister, she was damn near perfect. Without trying she made the best grades, was active in nine different clubs in high school and college; she had a five octave vocal range, never really trained. Married her second boyfriend, a doctor, and had four beautiful kids: two girls, two boys. She could cook, clean, anything. All that talent, she chose to be a stay-at-home mother. Not that I blame her. They were wealthy and her kids were geniuses."

Rick loved the way her eyes lit up talking about her past. It sounded like Michonne had a great life before the turn. She clearly loved her family. He hoped she loved Carl and Judith to that degree. Michonne turned to Rick. "Zahara's husband was named Michael Muhammad. Their first son was his junior. She was pregnant with their second son, but I don't know... Anyway, I started dating a man named Michael too. All the men out there and I get stuck on a man named Mike. Kianga said she would find a man named Michael to complete the trend. It wouldn't surprise me if Negan's last name is Michael or Michelson, Michaels. Kianga was always funny. She really livened everything. When I think about my childhood and all the time I spent laughing, most of it was with her, or at her. Kianga made me smile from the moment she arrived. She was so wild and full of life. She was such a cheeky kid, so cute and smart mouthed. She was a trendsetter, the most popular girl in school as a teenager, but still weirdly rebellious. I was all about academics, but Kianga only did well in school to appease our parents. Kianga wanted to be a celebrity. She tried out for game shows, competitions, commercials, anything to get her face out there. She modeled for a couple years and had minor roles. She never stopped singing or trying. She had a lot of opportunities because she's multilingual. She was always out and about. I traveled for work, but she really traveled. A call at two, three in the morning I'd automatically know who it was." Michonne grew silent. "She dated. She dated a lot, but never had a boyfriend. It was too much commitment from her. She got rid of her sugar daddies for the same reason. To see her married, it's not like her. I suppose she'd say the same about me."

"You weren't married?"

"No. Mike and I, we weren't totally sold on the institution of marriage. We weren't religious and it would just be to appease my parents. With our jobs, there was never a right time to do it. But I did love him. Feelings mean more to me than titles."

"Is that why you never correct me when I call you my wife."

"Part of it."

Rick nodded. "Thinkin' about my childhood, I'd have to say Shane was the one to make me laugh and liven thangs."

"It must have been so hard to kill him, to kill Jeff."

"I don't want you to have to do the same. Do you still wanna go through with this?"

Michonne turned on her back. "I'm going to see this through. ...I know you want to know about Andre. It's still really hard to even think about him. I don't know if I'll ever be ready to talk about him freely."

Rick rubbed the side of her hips. "I know. You don't have to force yourself."

"Thank you."

Rick and Michonne sat up for a bit. They still couldn't sleep, but they weren't the only ones with insomnia. Negan and Kianga started messing around again. Rick turned to Michonne. Her face showed no emotion, but he knew it was getting to her. "If it wasn't for her I'd light this house on fire."

Michonne's mouth twitched upward. "Tempting. Very tempting."

"..."

"You want to talk more?"

Rick shrugged. "Sure."

"I don't think I have anything of substance to say. Maybe I'm just fighting sleep."

"It's fine." Rick just liked talking to her. "I admit, I'm a little jealous of your sister. The most you've talked to me is with her in the house."

Michonne frowned. "We've talked before."

"I know, but this feels different. It is different."

"We're different."

Rick leaned over and kissed her forehead. "I love you."

"I love you too."

The Next Day...

The morning came with an awkward breakfast. Rick, Michonne, and Carl were exhausted from not being able to sleep. Michonne said nothing as she made grits and distributed jerky. Kianga came downstairs before Negan. She had a pleasant smile on her face. Her eyes were shining and she was excited to see her sister again. "Good morning, Michonne." Michonne just looked at her. She didn't bother hiding her disappointment and disgust. Kianga frowned and sat down at the table. Michonne gave her a plate, but said nothing. Kianga felt bad. "Please don't hate me."

"You're not stupid, Kia. Why would you-"

Kianga folded her arms. "If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have found you. I know it's childish, but he's given me everything I've ever wanted and more. So if he wants it on this table during breakfast I'll do it."

Michonne didn't understand how her headstrong sister could reduce herself to Negan's plaything. "You're better than this."

"Better than what? Living well? Or what, a man who provides and protects me? Better than a man who treats me decently? Negan's the best."

"Do you know what he's done? What he does to people, these communities? He-"

Kianga rolled her eyes. "Look me in my eyes and tell me you've never overlooked something fucked up your husband's done." Michonne didn't say anything. "Thought so." Kianga started eating. "It's the new world order, Michonne. This works out for all of you, your Safe Zone too. We're Negan's family. He's always going to look after us first. Nobody will be able to harm you."

"Except him," Rick replied.

Kianga shrugged. "Well, yeah."

"Good fucking morning, family!" Negan boomed. Kianga got up and jumped in Negan's arms. He caught her and held her by her ass. "Still walking?"

"Thanks to a bath, not you." She purred.

"Really?"

"Really. Are you hungry or horny?" Kiki whispered horribly. Everyone could hear her.

"Fucking fuck... Who the fuck wouldn't be horny around you? What do you fucking want?" Every time Kianga was frisky, she wanted something.

She shook her head. "Nothing. But I wouldn't mind some more cock. If you want to give it that is?"

Judith looked confused. "Mommy what's-"

"Nononononononono!" Michonne choked out, stopping Judith from saying her newfound word. Kianga was pissing her off. This was too much in front of Judith. "It's a bad word and Kianga shouldn't have said it."

Negan tossed Kianga over his shoulder and grabbed her plate. "Sorry folks. I gotta feed a fucking cat some sausage. Get it? I'm talking about fucking my wife." With that he took Kianga upstairs and slammed the door.

"I've never wanted somebody dead so much in my life." Carl said, trembling.

(A/N) Apologizes for the lack of response. I would've updated sooner, but Hurricane Matthew hit.

Next Chapter: A storm blows through Virginia.