Synopsis: Rick and Michonne spend time with their children.
Words: 2.3k
AO3
Their home felt different. Not in a way that it was unrecognizable, but just different. So much time had passed. They had lived so much of their lives behind those walls, but also away from there. Michonne and Rick were grateful that Aaron and Father Gabriel were gracious enough allow the Grimes family to move back into their old home. They were intent on making sure it felt safe and loving for their children.
The family sat up late into the night. Mattresses and pillows everywhere in the living room as Rick and Michonne told stories, and asked about what their children had been doing. Judith told stories of how she and RJ spent their time. RJ asked so many questions of his father. Rick offered them apologies as he listened to them with tears in his eyes. Michonne held her family close and told them how much she loved and missed them.
It was nearing midnight when RJ began snoring softly, nestled in between his mother and father. Judith had started to yawn, losing her battle with trying to keep her eyes open.
“You should sleep now, Sweetheart,” said Michonne, as she pressed a soft kiss to her daughter’s head.
“One more story,” Judith pleaded, though she yawned again.
“We can finish our stories tomorrow, Sleepyhead,” said Rick with a warm smile.
“Can we have a family fun day, too?” asked Judith, as her eyes finally closed.
“Yeah,” said Rick, happily. “We can do whatever you want.”
…
Growl.
Snarl.
Stab.
Slash.
Withdraw.
Repeat.
Gone were those days. Days stabbing and slashing. Days counting kills and hours. Rick had lost so much time. So much time with his family. With Judith. With Michonne. With RJ. He was determined to spend every waking hour with them now that he had been brought back home.
Breakfast was an almost raucous affair. Pancake batter and pieces of fruit were everywhere. Laughter wafted throughout the house as Rick tried to convince their children that he was actually good at making pancakes in the shape of teddy bears and bunny rabbits.
“They look like walkers!” RJ exclaimed as yet another batch of bunnies bled together in the pan.
“Oh my gosh, they do!” Judith joined in.
The pair began to laugh again as Rick stood looking faux-offended. Michonne came to stand behind Rick and wrapped her arms around his waist. She peered over his shoulder to see what he had plated up for their children.
“Hmm,” she said. “I’d better get my sword for these ones. Definitely look like walkers.”
…
The Virginian sun felt warm on his skin as Rick squinted out across the water. It was a fine day to spend outdoors with the ones he loved the most in the world. Judith and RJ came running up with the long jump rope as Michonne laid the blanket out on the grassy area.
“RJ, you and Dad can turn the rope, and me and Mom will jump first,” Judith directed.
“Aww, I wanna jump first,” RJ replied with a pout.
“You can jump with Dad,” Judith insisted.
“Okay,” RJ replied with a smile, and then turned to Rick to say, “Are you good at jump rope?”
Rick looked a little sheepish, glanced at Michonne, and then back at their son before replying, “I ain’t jumped rope since I was in the fifth grade, but I’ll give it a go for you.”
RJ presented his father with a smile and said, “I believe in you.”
Rick almost melted into the grass-covered ground in that moment. His chest swelled with adoration as a wide smile crossed his face. He was still smiling as he and RJ turned the rope and sang Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear while Judith and Michonne skipped, jumped, and laughed.
…
The food that RJ and Judith had prepared for their family picnic was a welcome treat after jumping rope and laughing all morning. The spread looked delicious as the two children served up food for their parents. They insisted that, after Rick’s scary-looking pancakes earlier in the day, they should do any and all food preparation for lunch. Their parents were happy for them to take the lead.
RJ plated up fruits, nuts, and a sandwich each for his mother and father, while Judith made sure they all had glasses of lemonade to wash it all down.
“This is lovely,” said Rick with a warm smile as he took the plate and cup. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Judith and RJ said in unison.
“Can we finish telling stories now?” asked Judith as she settled in next to her mother.
“Absolutely,” Michonne replied. “What did you want to hear about?”
“Ooh, I know,” RJ interjected excitedly. “Tell us about the helicopter ride.”
“Yeah!” Judith agreed. “What was it like being up in the sky like that?”
Michonne smiled at their children, then at Rick, and said, “Well, it’s actually pretty fun. You can see miles and miles of countryside from up there. Rivers and lakes. Hills and trees. You can see where other settlements are. Hordes of walkers. I never actually thought I’d get to fly like that again.”
“Wow,” said RJ, captivated by what his mother was saying.
“You used to fly before?” asked a curious Judith.
“All the time,” said Michonne. “Mostly for work. But sometimes for fun. Like going on vacation. I loved that. And Andre was such a good baby when we were on planes. He never made a fuss.”
“Andre went flying with you?” asked RJ, his eyes filled with wonder.
“Oh yeah, Baby. Andre went with me everywhere,” said Michonne with a nostalgic smile on her lips; Rick took hold of her hand and gave it a squeeze.
“Can we go flying with you on the helicopter?” asked RJ.
“Yeah, do you think we could?” Judith chimed in.
“Maybe,” said Michonne, before she turned to look at Rick and added, “Did you know your Dad knows how to fly a helicopter?”
“No way!” said RJ, eyes wide.
“Really?” asked Judith, not recalling that detail from all of the stories her mother had told about the Brave Man.
“Yes, really,” Michonne replied. “So who knows? Maybe one of these days we’ll all get to fly together.”
…
Rick laid back on the picnic blanket as Michonne dug through her bag to find the deck of cards, pencils, and books they had brought along. He watched happily as Judith and RJ were play fighting with sticks for swords. Judith was pretty good; you could tell RJ was still learning. Rick watched as his daughter showed his son how to strike and parry. Watched the determination on their faces as RJ tried to master a move; watched the joy that encompassed both of them when he got it right.
“She’s good at that,” said Rick to Michonne without taking his eyes of their children.
“She’s so good at that,” Michonne confirmed.
“And RJ’s a quick learner,” Rick commented proudly. “You did a great job with them, Michonne.”
He finally turned his gaze to lock eyes with his wife.
“I’m so sorry you had to do it on your own,” he added.
Michonne placed the books down and took hold of Rick’s hand.
“Stop apologizing,” Michonne insisted. “And I didn’t do it on my own. I had help from all of our friends and our family.”
Rick nodded his head and listened as Michonne continued.
“And in all honesty, I wasn’t alone,” she admitted, running her thumb over his. “I carried you with me the whole time. Your memory. Your values. Your good, kind heart. Your voice in the back of my mind. You were with me, Rick. The whole time. Even when you weren’t here, you were still here. In the way I raised them. In the way I love them.”
Rick gave his wife a small smile and then brought her hand to his lips as he pressed a lovingly gentle kiss to it.
“Thank you,” said Rick in earnest. “Thank you for taking care of our family.”
…
As the day progressed, Michonne and Judith decide that they should get some training done and let Rick and RJ spend some time together alone. Father and son sat on the blanket and chatted while RJ flicked through the books that Michonne brought. Rick took the moment to reach into the bag and retrieve a gift he had procured for RJ.
“Son?” said Rick, getting RJ’s attention.
“Yeah?” RJ replied.
“I got somethin’ for you,” said Rick as he held out the plastic-covered comic book. “Your Mama said you liked to read comics.”
RJ’s face lit up as he took the gift from his father.
“I love ‘em,” said RJ as he examined the cover.
“Hope you haven’t read this one yet,” Rick said, feeling like the warmth radiating from RJ’s smile was filling his soul.
RJ looked closer and then shook his head, “Not yet.”
He removed the book carefully from the plastic and looked at the image on the cover. He smiled to himself and then looked up to smile at his father.
“This is one of my favorite comics,” RJ explained. “It was one of Carl’s favorites, too.”
Something tightened in Rick’s chest at RJ’s mention of Carl. Of course Michonne and Judith would have told stories about Carl, too. It just hit Rick with so much emotion to hear his son who was still with him speak of his son whom he had lost. They looked so much alike. Had so much in common. It was heartwarming to know that they both shared a love of comic books.
“Invincible,” said Rick as he read the title. “So, your big brother loved it too, eh?”
“Yep,” said RJ. “Carl’s favorite hero.”
Rick nodded his head and watched as RJ skimmed through the pages. A comfortable silence settled around them. RJ looked at the pictures in the book; Rick looked at him.
“I hope Carl knew he was a hero, too,” RJ said so quietly that Rick almost missed it.
Rick felt his eyes begin to water and a lump form in his throat.
“I – I don’t know if Carl realized that, but he was. He was a hero,” said Rick. “He saved me so many times.”
RJ nodded his head and looked thoughtful, just like Carl.
Rick swallowed down the lump and said, “Y’know, your Mama saved me as well. You kids saved me.”
RJ tilted his head to the side and asked, “Me, too?”
“Yes,” said Rick, as he smiled and placed a hand to RJ’s shoulder.
“How?” asked RJ, wide-eyed and curious. “We just met. Plus, I’m not good with swords like Judith. And I’m good at everything like Carl was. What did I do?”
“First of all, you are good at so many things, Honey. So many things,” said Rick, as he gave RJ’s shoulder a squeeze. “Secondly, you’re here. Just you bein’ here is saving me. You are a hero, too. Okay?”
RJ smiled at his father and said, “Okay. Thanks, Dad.”
…
The sun was hanging low in the sky when the whole Grimes family decides to make daisy chains. RJ and Judith helped Rick to collect the flowers. There were so many different colored flowers that they could choose from that they almost cleaned out the whole patch. Michonne was really good at lacing and weaving the stems together. Rick found himself watching her diligently. Once he had gotten the hang of it, there was no stopping him. He made one for Judith that he helped fix to her hair. He made a smaller one for RJ that he helped fix to RJ’s wrist. And he spent an awful longtime on Michonne’s daisy chain, the kids noticed.
“Dad, what’s taking so long?” asked Judith as she tied her creation to the top of RJ’s hat.
“I have to get it just right,” Rick replied as he continued adding to the chain. “Gotta make it look like a crown.”
He glanced from the kids to their mother, and then added, “Because your Mama is a queen and it’s what she deserves.”
RJ giggled almost as loudly as Michonne did. Neither child rolled their eyes at how sappy their parents were being. Judith asked if that meant she and RJ were royalty, too.
…
After the sun had dropped and the moon had taken its place, the Grimes family settled in for an evening in their home. Michonne was helping Judith get ready while RJ and Rick were downstairs in the living room. After setting up the mattresses, blankets, and pillows, RJ and Rick got a quiet moment together. RJ, in his pajamas, settled in next to his father on the sofa.
“Can I tell you something?” asked RJ, breaking the comfortable silence.
“You can tell me anything,” Rick replied, as he turned to face his young son.
“I knew Mama would bring you home,” said RJ with a bright smile. “When she says she’s gonna do something, I always believe her.”
Rick smiled and said, “Yeah, me too. She’s pretty awesome.”
RJ nodded his head and then said, “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything,” Rick replied sincerely.
“Am I like you imagined I would be?” asked RJ, so shyly and sincerely that it almost broke Rick’s chest open.
A lump formed in his throat and he felt tears spill from his eyes.
“You are everything that I imagined you would be,” said Rick, as his voice cracked, and he draped his arm over his son’s shoulder. “Everything and more. I loved you before I even met you. I loved you as soon as your Mama told me that you existed. You are everything, RJ. You are everything to me.”
“Cool,” said RJ, as he leaned into Rick’s embrace. “You’re like how I imagined you would be, too.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“Yep, very good.”
Rick pressed a kiss to the top of RJ’s head and breathed in his scent.
“Good. I’m glad.”
Silence filled the air around them for a moment before RJ broke it.
“Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“I just want you to know,” said the small boy as he snuggled closer to his father. “I loved you before I met you, too.”
