forever - [book two in the amorous series]

twelve - happy halloween

Rick

"Smile, my babies!"

Michonne snapped endless photos of the children. 

We were all dressed minions from Despicable Me. We even convinced Carl to dress up with and go door to door with us. 

"You guys can't show anyone these pictures," he looked at me, sighing. 

"Well... too bad. They're going on Facebook." 

He let out a deep groan in regret before flashing a playfully false smile for the camera. 

"These are so cute!" Michonne squealed, looking at the pictures.

"Mommy, can I see them too?" Andre reached his arms up at her and the camera. She kneeled down to show him all the photos we'd taken.

"Okay, guys," Michonne stood up after showing Andre the photos, "It's almost 7. Time for us to start ..." She paused for emphasis, "trick or treating!" 

"Yay!" Andre jumped up and down, grabbing his bucket. He looked over at a seemingly emotionless Carl and grabbed his hand. 

"Aren't you happy we're going trick or treating? As a family." Andre smiled a semi-toothless grin at him.

"Course I am, little bud." Carl squeezed Andre's hand as we prepped to head out. 

I put Judy and Jada in their strollers and opened the door. 

"Carl, keep an eye on Andre. We'll be right behind you." I nodded at them to leave out. 

"Wow," I looked at Michonne as she closed and locked the door behind us. 

She giggled. 

"What?" 

I shook my head and smiled. "We're trick or treating as a family. This is our first real Halloween together."

We walked alongside each other, one child's stroller in either of our hands, as we watched Carl and Andre go house to house. 

"Yeah.." she trailed off.

"What's the matter?" I glanced over at her. 

She shook her head. "Nothing. I'm just thinking."

"About what?"

She chuckled. "The last year we've spent together. Just.. what are the odds, you know? I've always wanted a big family. Three or four kids.. Healthy marriage. I just lost all hope after Michael. I truly thought that after him, true love wouldn't be possible." 

I nodded slowly as she continued. 

"I don't know," she began, "I feel like I say this same thing to you over and over again.. And each time it becomes more and more true. It's just surreal sometimes. I got everything I wanted and more. This family is everything I imagined." 

I leaned down to kiss her forehead as we waited for Carl and Andre to return to the sidewalk from the porch of the house they'd stopped at. 

"God, I love you." I sighed. 

She smiled up at me. 

"I love you so much more."

The next house we approached looked oddly familiar but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. When the door opened and I saw the face, I knew exactly why I knew the house. 

Lori's mother. 

She gasped when she saw Carl. 

"Oh, my stars! Lenny, get over here! Quick!"

Michonne and I approached behind the boys. 

"My goodness, Rick! Please come in!!" 

I nodded but spoke cautiously. 

"Hi, Mrs. Williams. Mr. Williams. This is my family, so if I come in, we're all going to."

She nodded vigorously. "Please, please!"

She opened the door as wide as it could go to accommodate the size of Jada and Judith's strollers. 

We entered their home, which hadn't changed much since the last time I'd been. She closed the door and invited us in, and told us to feel at home.

"Rick," she began, but stopped abruptly when she saw Judith. She looked up at me with wide, bright eyes before speaking again.

"Is this you and Lori's baby?" 

I nodded and looked down at Judith. She was fast asleep in her stroller.

"She is beautiful." 

She looked over at Jada. 

"And who is this gorgeous little one?"

I smiled a little before speaking.

"This is Jada. She's my daughter with my fiancee, Michonne." 

I looked over at Michonne, and so did Mrs. Williams. 

"Oh, my.. You are stunning! This gorgeous baby looks just like you!" 

Michonne smiled. "Thank you." 

Andre peeked out from behind my legs at the seemingly strange woman in front of him. 

She kneeled down as much as her legs allowed. "And who's this handsome little guy?" 

I turned and put my hand on his shoulder, reassuring him. 

"I'm Andre."

"Hi, Andre! It's so nice to meet you!"

After she finally calmed down from this 'new family shock', she led us to the living room where we all had a seat, Andre and Carl chose to sit on the floor and sift through their candy together. 

"Lori told me about what happened.. But she'd said that you cheated on her with Michonne and then she retaliated with Shane. I always knew they were sneaky. The times she'd tell me and her father that she and Shane had projects to do for class.. She'd close the door and lock it. And it wasn't just Shane. I'm so sorry that I didn't tell you. I didn't know you two would end up married and all of that.. I should've butt in when I realized that you were taking her as seriously as you were." 

I nodded. 

"You definitely should have. But it's okay because look at me now. Look at my family.. I had to go through what she put me through so that I could find Michonne. And finding her was the best thing that ever happened to me. I would go through all of that and more again if it meant that she was on the other end of it all."

Mrs. Williams smiled. 

"How did you two meet?"

"Well at first, a gas station," Michonne chuckled, "And then Carl's school." 

"Wow... What are the odds, huh?" Mrs. Williams smiled.

"I know," I pulled Michonne closer to me, "I think about that almost every day."

Mr. Williams smiled. "You two thinking about any more children?" 

Michonne kept a smile on her face. "We're not sure yet. But its not exactly like we're young enough to be waiting too long so.." She shrugged her shoulders. 

I looked over at her with a knowing glint and put my head down as I smirked. She wants another. She's waiting for Jada to get a little older and for her body to feel normal again. But she wants another. 

Mrs. Williams smiled at us. "I'm so happy that a remarkable man like you finally found what makes you happy in life. And you," she turned to Michonne, "You seem like an amazing woman. I'm happy that you two found each other." 

"Thank you. So are we," I looked over at Michonne and took her hand in mine.

"So are we."