Rick's P.O.V

I didn't touch her last night. And this morning she was gone.

It mad me feel less of a man, to be mad over something so dumb.

I know she doesn't love him back but I can't help but to think of Shane and Lori.

Breaking me of my thoughts,the front door creeped open and Andre happily skipped in with a balloon in his hand and an ice cream cone in the other.

Michonne slowly walked in behind him, not even glancing at me as I sat dumb founded on the living room couch.

She made her way toward the kitchen with the bags in her hand.

"Happy birthday buddy!"

Andre smiled at me and ran over. He placed his balloon down and hugged me with his sticky hands.

"Thank you." He giggled.

I pulled away and stared him in the eyes, "I brought you something!"

"For me?"

"No, for the boy who's 5 today -- of course you." I laughed.

"Aw man! What is it?!" He exclaimed.

"You'll have to cover your eyes and come outside!"

He happily yet eagerly jumped down and grabbed my hand. His little brown fingers interlocked with mine.

"Well come on." And for a second, my heart fluttered. He was so full of joy and happiness and he had his mother's smile. The smile that brings me home everyday, the smile that makes everything worth it.

So I got up without remorse, covered his eyes and marched him out the house. I could hear Michonne behind me but I pretended she wasn't there.

"Look!" I exclaimed, removing my hands from his eyes.

Michonne took a few more bags from the car and stopped, she too stared at the small blue bike with golden handles.

"A bicycle! A bicycle!" He yelled "momma look!"

He turned to Michonne and she nodded with a smile.

My eyes met hers and the smile faded.

"Michonne," I called out, before she took off again.

"Hey, stay here okay? Try to ride around a bit but STAY in the grass."

"Yes sir." Andre nodded.

Such a good kid.

I kissed his forehead and trailed back to the front door, right when Michonne was walking out.

I blocked her in.

"Move." She shoved me.

"No."

"Rick, I'm serious. I need to get the food cooked for his party and I'm not gonna get started with you breathing down my neck."

"Do you need help with the bags?" I smiled.

"No. Go back to being angry like a little child."

She tried to move past me once more but this time I picked her small body up and carried her inside.

"Let. Me. Down."

"Why are you being like this?" I whispered. So Andre couldn't hear us.

"Because you're being ridiculous. Why were you mad last night, huh?"

I sighed. Ashamed.

"You know why."

"I do," she jarred "and it's so stupid. You didn't even kiss me goodnight, and that hurt me."

Damn it.

She's right, I didn't. And I feel so bad cause I never meant to hurt her.

"I'm sorry,"

I leaned in to kiss her but she stopped me, her hand on my chest so I couldn't get any closer.

"Michonne."

"Don't." She closed her eyes and sighed.

"Not today."

"Really!" I backed away "are you really going to be mad at me ALL day?! Why? This little argument isn't doing anything but ruining our---- your son's birthday.."

Her eyes shot open when 'our' left my lips, and a small grin was coming on. I could tell.

"Can we please be happy? For Andre, for me. For Grimes baby's sake." I stepped closer and placed my hand on her stomach, to which she placed her hand on top of mine.

"Yeah." She nodded.

"I love you, and I'm sorry."

"It's fine. We all get a little jealous sometimes," she chuckled, "you can grab the rest of the bags if you please."

So I did as told. I gathered the rest of the bags from the kitchen, left her to cook as she requested and played outside with Andre.

_____________________________________

2 hours passed. Carl was finally up, riding his rip stick, Andre was riding his bike and Michonne was cooking.

"Hey dad," Carl panted.

"Yes?"

"Do you know if Jay is uh, coming to the... party?" He whispered. So Andre wouldn't hear.

"He is." I nodded.

"Hecka lit."

"What?"x

"It's slang, dad."

"What the heck is hecka lit, Carl?"

"It means, like, awesome." He shrugged.

Well goodness why didn't he just say so.

"Please don't use the term." He laughed.

"So can I tell Michonne she looks hecka lit today."

"Dad no."

"Why not?" I pouted.

"Just don't," he laughed.

Oh but I insisted.

I playfully stuck my tongue at him and went back into the house, "sweetie?"

"I'm in here!" She shouted from the bedroom.

I quickly ran up the stairs and glanced at her as she sat at the edge of the bed, going through an old photo album.

She looked up and she had a small tear in her eye. But she smiled.

"Whatcha lookin at?"

I  walked over and sat beside her. The picture was beautiful.

It was of Andre. His 1st birthday.

He had the biggest smile on his face, with a cake in front of him,a dark skinned female and a small present.

"Where are you?" I asked.

"I took the picture," she sniffled "that's my mom." She pointed to the dark skinned lady who was fairly beautiful.

"I miss this." she smiled "but that's okay cause I get to experience it again. We get to experience it... together."

Damn, she makes me so happy.

I pulled her closer. 

"Two more weeks until we can tell people." She smiled.

My heart began to race.

"Oh...right, I have this thing in two weeks. I have to go to Logeran County for 3 days. They're having trouble down there and they need my help."

Her smile faded and she bit my lip.

"But Logeran County is dangerous." She whispered.

"That's why they need me."

"Ri--"

"I told them I'd think about it..if that makes it any better."

She nodded. "I guess."

I kissed her lips and stared back at her. Unknowingly running my hands along her thighs.

"We're gonna be okay." I smiled.

Her hands grasped my wrists and she smiled too.

"Did you mean that earlier? When you said our son?"

She was so happy looking... Like she won the lottery, and hell she did when she agreed to be with me.

"I mean, I'm raising him aint I?"

_____________________________________

Michonne's P.O.V

We arrived to the party at 3. Andre had no idea why were at the Greene's, but he was excited cause he always got to play with Glenn's video games.

"Hi!" Maggie exclaimed, running to me and greeting me with a big hug.

"Thank you Maggie." I hugged her tight and she rubbed my back.

"Everyone's inside. Ready for the birthday boy." She said.

I let go and glanced back at Carl as he carried Andre in, and Rick carried the dishes I cooked.

"And some guy named Michael showed up. He says he's Andre's father and Jay confirmed it." She shrugged "so I let him in.. but, Glenn swore he'd keep a good eye on him."

"Oh god." I sighed.

"What?"

"Today's gonna be trouble."