Rick's P.O.V

She is so pretty when she sleeps.
Like, a God in the most natural habitat. Her locks of thick brown hair fell below her shoulder, and all over the pillow too but that's okay cause I think she's beautiful. She drools a little when she sleeps but that's okay cause I think she's beautiful. And she sleeps curled up like a baby, with her hands between her legs, but that's okay cause I still think she's beautiful.

Waking up a bit before Michonne and watching her sleep is the highlight of my morning. Taking in such a beautiful woman is the perfect way to start a day. She is so beautiful, God knows she is. I see my sons in her and all I've ever needed and that is why I could watch her for hours. Just breathing.

I held the camcorder in place, sitting as still as I could as she began to open her eyes. At first she squinched, and closed them again. The light through our sheer curtains was far too bright.

"Happy 5 year anniversary," I whispered "I love you sweetie."

She smiled, her eyes still shut. It was the smile that gave her wrinkles beside her eyes, and dimples in her cheekbones..

"Has it been 5 years already?" she laughed.

"Yeah," I chuckled "5 best years of my life."

Her tongue ran across her teeth and she bit her lip unknowingly.

"Me too."

She opened her eyes and jumped back a bit, surprised at the camcorder I was holding.

"Why are you recording me?" She giggled, trying to cover her face.

"Cause you're beautiful."

I ran my fingers along her wrist and tried to remove her hands, but she fought and she giggled and I just decided that maybe I should enjoy the moment as I live in it.

Hopping on top of her, I kissed her forehead and sat up. Inches away from her face.

"I have a lot planned for you today."

"Oh yeah like what?" She scoffed.

I was gonna cook for her, then we were gonna take pictures and have Queen karaoke, the way she liked it (which was her singing into Judith's bruh and the kids laughing hysterically because their mother is a beautiful chaos), and finally, we'd take a night drive. Just us.

"How about you follow me downstairs and see." I smiled. My canine teeth against my lower lip.

I got up and hopped off the bed, in my plain white tee and my blue striped boxers.

I helped her sit up and she just stared blankly at the wall.
I turned to walk away when I felt her hand whiplash across my butt. She groped me.
Groped me!

"Why are you like this."

"Someone's been doing squats." she winked.

"You do that again it's only fair I do the same."

"What if I did this?" she laughed, and without hesitation, she hopped off the bed and onto my back and squeezed me tight.

"Off off and away my prince charming."

And as stupid in love we are, I'll never get tired of her. Ever. The night she nestled her head on my chest for the first time--- I knew that she was every bit worth dying for. Even living for since that is harder these days.
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I carried her down the stairs, humming the tune of "You are my Sunshine"  until we reached the kitchen.

"Let's make some breakfast." I exclaimed.

I sat her on top of the counter, kissed her lips and slid across the kitchen floor.

"Now, pancakes or waffles?" I asked.

"What's the difference?"

"Well... Carl picked up a waffle iron from his last run and I wanted to use it." I mumbled.

"Waffles. Whatever you want, love."

So for the morning, Michonne and I cooked and laughed and even sometimes cried because I was laughing so hard, then she started laughing cause I was laughing so hard.. And we wound up crying. And it was over the little things, like how bad I danced at our wedding, and how awkward Carl was the first time he called her mom.

Speaking of Carl, he busted through the door, hand and hand with Enid, and Judith trailing closely behind with the twins.

"Oh look its the party crashers," I panted, my hands on my knees from laughing so hard.

"What's funny?" Carl smiled. His hair in a low ponytail, with his beard covering his dimples.

"I wish you would shave," Michonne groaned, pulling Carl into a big hug.

"Hello sweetie." She kissed Enid's left cheek and Enid kissed Michonne's right. Some weird thing girls do.

Judith had already taken the twins by hand and led them to their personal play room Michonne and I designed.

"Hey son."
He walked over and gave me a small and quick hug. It was nice.

"Breakfast?" Michonne smiled.

"Oh no ma it's fine we a--"

Michonne doesn't take no for an answer when making sure her kids eat. She wants them all healthy and nice looking and happy.  She had already began making their plates.

"I guess we could eat again." Carl shrugged, followed by Enid's giggling at Michonne's strong will.

"It's been five years." he smiled, taking a seat near me. "You guys are what Enid and I inspire to be."

"Dawh, stop." Michonne smiled, handing Carl and Enid a plate.

"A couple that slays together stays together." Enid smiled "I remind Carl that everytime we go out on a run."

Young love. So sweet.

Michonne grasped my hand and I interlocked my fingers with hers.

"That's such a beautiful ring! Where'd you find it?" Enid exclaimed, staring at Michonne's long brown fingers.

There was a long silence. Carl chewed quietly and held his head down.

"Yeah," Michonne added "You never told me where you got it?"

"Can I be excused?" Carl outbursted. He pushed his plate and got up, then paced into the play room with the kids.

"It was Jay's."

And suddenly, a sharp pain reached through my stomach and the flashbacks of the bullet through his head took over my body. I couldn't stand.

"I'm gonna go."

I ran my fingers through my hair and backed away, only to find Carl leaned against the hallway wall, his hands in his pockets.

"You okay?"

"I'll be okay," he sighed "this day isn't about me---it's about you. And Michonne."

"Yeah." I pulled him into a hug and rubbed his back sympathetically. "It's okay to remember him and the great things he's done though."

"I don't want to think about him, dad. I don't. I just want to be happy."

Me too, but sometimes I wonder what'd it'd be like if Jaden was still here.

As soon as I pulled away from Carl,
Jay ran out the room and glanced up at me. His long brown curls bounced below his ears, completing his brown eyes as big as his mothers, and his caramel brown skin.

I love my little brown boy.

"I'm bored." he smiled.

"Wanna go on a walk?" I asked.

"Just me and  you and mommy?"

Mommy? Sure. I'm sure she would love that.

"What about Dre and Judy?" I asked.

"Well," he sighed "they want to stay here. They told me to leave."

"Rude!" I scoffed. "Hey, Carl, would you and Enid babysit those two?" I gestured to the play room and he nodded.

"I hope you feel better."

And with that, I took Jay's hand and trailed back down the hallway. Maybe someday I'll tell Jay how he got his name. He won't nearly understand how amazing Jaden Thomas was but that's okay.

"Lets go for a walk." I grabbed Michonne's hand and pulled her from her seat.

"I'm in pajamas!"

I looked her over. She wore one of my gray shirts, along with really baggy shorts and long knee socks. I couldn't help but laugh. I was in my white tee still, just this time I had on basketball shorts.

"Okay fine. Let's sit on the porch."

She nodded and smiled "that I can do."
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It was a lovely day in the hilltop. I could see Carol helping Daryl fix his bike, Sasha watching TV with Abe and Giovanni through their bay window, Glenn, Maggie and Hershel Jr all playing tag out in the front yard... Jay's cross still standing strong in the field, the house Jolene used to live in, but now she's gone and it belongs to Tyler.
5 years. 5 years in this place, 5 years with my wife, 5 years of hell but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

"You need to shave and Carl does too." she groaned, running her finger across my chin.

"It makes us men."

"Oh honey," she smiled "that's not the thing that makes you a man."

"You are so inappropriate, wow Michonne." I mumbled, with a hint of sarcasm. "But that's why I married you. Cause you're bad ass and beautiful and incredibly smart and just all around amazing. I knew I needed you in my life the day I saw you at the fence and through the worst of days, my love for you still hasn't changed."

"I don't need you to tell me that. I know you love me, you show it. So-- just keep on loving me, okay? Even when I'm a pain in the ass. Like most of the time---"

"I couldn't not put up with you." I chuckled "you're my backbone."

Truly, Michonne has been stuck up to me alot in the past but somehow we still made it in the end. All the times she used to run off, I'm glad she always found her way back home. Something deep down inside her knew she was meant for me, and Carl and Glenn, and Carol. Everyone here. And though we were complete enemies at a time-- love really does conquer hate.

I reached over, glanced at Jay as he laid in the yard staring at the clouds, and grabbed a dandelion that was sprouting in the flower bed on our porch. I placed it in her hand and kissed it, "for you Mrs.Grimes."

"I love you, Richard Grimes."

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