Rick's P.O.V

When I stepped foot into the house, Andre and Carl by my side, everyone burst out into melody.

"HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU--

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU--

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BOY THAT IS 5!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANDRE!"

Oh, not the usual birthday song-- but it was still nice. Andre's face had the widest smile.

"Happy birthdayyy!" Beth sung. She's always had a nice voice, and I love hearing her sing.

"Thank you!" Andre exclaimed.

"Now, let's get this party started!" Hershel rooted, and everyone bursted out in cheer.

The crowd swept Andre to the next room, leaving me holding several bags staring blankly at the table.

"Need help?"

I quickly shot around and --- Mike.

"What the hell?" I jarred.

"I'll take that as a no?"

"What are you doing here?"

"Celebrating MY sons birthday. I could ask you the same." He smirked.

"Well," I smiled "I'm doing just the same."

I placed the bags of food on the table and turned back around, his face of pure aggravation.

"Shouldn't you be in the living room with the others since you're so worried about Andre's birthday?" I snapped.

"Oh-- of course. I was just seeing if Officer Friendly needed a bit of help."

"Don't call me that."

He shrugged and narrowed his eyes at me.

"Now, I'll be going --"

As soon as the words left my mouth, Michonne and Maggie trailed into the house.

"Oh hello Rick." Maggie greeted me with a big hug but I kept my eyes on Michonne as she nervously backed away from Mike.

"Hey sweets." I pulled her away and smiled.

"Did the party already start? I planned some really clever games and you don't wanna miss out!"

"We won't," Michonne chuckled "we we're just heading in there now."

I nodded and Maggie slyly smiled.

"Okay guys."

She pranced off into the living room and it was just me, Michonne and Mike.

She quickly pecked a kiss on my lips and pulled me along, leaving Mike standing in confoundment.

Ha, take that 'baby daddy'

I learned that term from Jay.

Speaking of Jay, as soon as I stepped foot into the living room, he swept me off my feet, snatching me away from Michonne.

The kids were currently in the middle of the crowd, playing pin the tail on the donkey. Some adults were playing  too-- only the ones with golden personalities though. Like Beth and Noah, and Glenn too.

"I have something to tell you," Jay urged "it's really important."

He tugged me along until we were standing face to face in the corner.

"What?"

"Mike." He panted "He's got something up his sleeve."

"What do you mean?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

"So I was walking outside, chillin with my man Ron--"

"Why him?" I scoffed. I didn't even bother to say hey to the kid, he's definitely on my bad side. Breaking my son's heart and all.

"I was asking him how I should ask Carl to homecoming. I've got a pretty solid idea. I'm gonna hold up a sign that--"

"Back to Mike." I bellowed.

"Right," he nodded "Ron went off to pee. So I continued walking, checkin out the rides. Cause yall white folks got some good money and nice cars."

"Jay stop being so tangential."

"Stop being so damn smart," he snapped "big ass word."

"It means off topic. Stop going off topic, please. Tell me what Mike did."

"I saw his truck right. I was checkin it out cause he got some nice rims. I started to look through his window and what do I see? This man got a glock forty five in his cup holder."

"A gun?" I whispered.

"My man, is you dumb? I said a glock, what do you think it is?" He rolled his eyes and anxiously straightened his hat that was on backwards.

"Dammit," I sighed.

"What?"

"Do you think he's gotten a gun permit?"

"Hell no. Mike never does anything legally." 

"Great." I groaned "I could've arrested him."

"Why can't you?" He asked, as interested as ever.

"I'm not on duty."

"Call him in or something."

"No," I sighed "I'm not gonna ruin Andre's birthday."

"Ugh!" Jay balled up his fist "who does he think he is coming back around here anyway after forcing MY cousin out of Atlanta."

"He didn't force her. She left. On her own will." I mumbled.

"Oh come on Rick, you really believe that? Michonne don't give up that easily on something she love man. He and his family drove her crazy till she couldn't take it.

"Oh.."

"Keep him away from her, okay?"

"You have my word, Jay."

"And I'll do the same."

_____________________________________

Michonne's P.O.V

The party went by faster than expected. We played games, went to the barn and let the kids hit a piñata then we danced around, karaoke -- which Beth completely killed, sending everyone in applaud, even Daryl.. who doesn't speak much. And now we're all sitting and standing around Andre as he stands in the middle, opening presents.

Today has been amazing, like, somehow I've managed to ignore Mike and enjoy life, enjoy this day with my son.

"This one's from me." Carl stepped forward and handed Andre a present then backed away, holding his head down.

Carl's never loved the attention, especially with his eye patch and his ex in the crowd but he was confident enough to step up.

Andre quickly opened his present, and once he laid eyes on the small Nirvana shirt. He freaked out.

He and Carl LOVE Nirvana. Sometimes, after Andre gets out of school, they sit in Carl's room and jam out to Nirvana together.

Personally, I think Nirvana is overrated and Queen is underrated but that's just my opinion.

"Oh thank you so much!" Andre hopped up and hugged Carl with all his might.

"You're the best best friend ever!"

My heart!!

Suddenly, a hand wrapped around my waist, pulled me closer and kissed my head.

It was Rick.

I can sense his cologne from a million miles away.

It's the smell of home. When I am in his arms I am home and that's what I love about him.

His fingers crept along my waist and onto my stomach, unknowingly gripping me firmer.

"You know I love you?"

I closed my eyes and nodded. He makes me so damn happy it's crazy.

Crazy!

"I do." I whispered "and I love you more."

When I opened my eyes, nearly everyone was staring at Rick and I. For no apparent reason and it was so embarrassing I could've died.

"What?" I laughed.

"Y'all are so cute." Beth fanned her eyes.

Rick nodded and I smiled bigger than my cheeks would allow me.

Showing all my teeth.

Okay, scratch Rick's arms. This is home.

With Sasha and Abe, and Andre,  and Beth --- Noah too, and oh let's not forget bout Hershel Greene. Everyone here (except Mike of course..) I am completely in love with. I am in love with the way they smile, and accept me, and laugh at my stupid jokes, care about my son, and never look at Rick any differently, no matter what he's been through. This past year has been completely amazing. Sure, Rick and I had rough patches in our relationship with the public, his job and my job, his mourning and my yearning, his drinking problem and my trust issues but we are here and we deserve each other. This is the love and happiness I've been searching for for thirty four years! And it's all laid out in front of me. Home.

Everyone's attention went back to Andre as he continued to open his presents excitedly, and in the corner of my eye-- I could see Mike approach me.

I tried so hard to avoid him and pretend like he wasn't behind me but I just couldn't. He tapped at my shoulder and Rick and I BOTH flipped around and shot him an aggravated look.

"What?"

"Can I have a word with you? In private?" He urged.

"Why?" Rick chuckled. "I think she doesn't want to miss this moment."

He pointed to Andre and I nodded my head in agreement. He is completely right.

"I'm not here to woo you over or anything, I just want to talk. About my son. That should be an exception, yes?"

I glanced at Rick and he stared blankly. As if, it was tempting.

"What is it that you want to talk about?" I mumbled.

"In private Michonne please, stop playing strangers with me."

Strangers? Huh.

After inhaling and exhaling calmly for a good 5 seconds, I agreed.

"Okay. But only 3 minutes." I sighed.

"That's really all I need then I'll be out of your hair."

"Great."

_____________________________________

We met in the gravel, I kicked rocks behind him as he led me to the tree. I tried not to get too close to old memories aka him.

"Look, Michonne--"

"I'm looking."

"I didn't cry when you left at first, but now that you're gone it hurts-- and there's one thing I need to know, where did our friendship go?"

God. Here we go.

Mike's always been poetic. Ever since I met him, we fell in love over poems-- and how much we both appreciated art in literal and figurative sense. I bet he worked on That line all night.

"I thought this was about Andre."

"Okay fine," he smiled "we don't have to pretend to be happy. Not even for our son."

"I have someone to be happy with."

"God dammit Michonne!" He threw his hands in the air and sighed "I am sorry, the universe knows I am so damn sorry. Stop throwing me under the car."

"Okay, sure." I rolled my eyes and tried to walk away but he gripped my arm so tight I almost snapped.

"Get your hands off of me, Michael."

I clenched my eyes tight and tried to think of happy things, not the night his hand jacked me against the wall.

"I'm going to file for  joint custody."

HELL NO

I quickly shot around, my eyes wide and filled with agony.

"No." I shook my head and backed away.

"You can't have him."

"He's my son too, M."

"Don't call me that." I flared my nose and pursed my lips "you can't have him and you won't."

"It's not your decision anymore. It's the court's."

"For Christ's sake, I'm a lawyer! And much more educated than you."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yes. They're damn sure not gonna let you see him when you're on drugs, sleeping with different women every night, and a damn woman beater."

"I've changed." He grinned "I wouldn't dare do anything to hurt him, or you."

"Yeah?" I smiled "well get out of my life."

As with that, I turned around and tried my hardest to speed walk back into the house so he wouldn't catch me.

Walking away from him, I was scared. I was so scared.

I know he said he wouldn't do anything to hurt me but he twitched. And, I've been with Mike for 7 years and he twitches when he lies. And when he said that, he couldn't control his blinking.

I wonder what kind of messed up drugs he's on now to be thinking whatever he's thinking.
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Lol guys idek where I'm going with this but the next chapter is hell.

Thanks for putting up with my shitty writing and updates and still reading. I appreciate you and all your votes and funny ass comments!

Also, updates should be out sooner. I've got time on my hands.

And if anyone cares, I'm doing good. Life is great, I'm living out my dreams and I am in completely in love with being alive. I sound so cliche but ive let go of the past and I'm hecka lit. So, if you're tied up, let go of the past guys. It's a chain breaker.