Mending Fences – Chapter 25: "Decisions"

A/N – Hey guys! Exciting news! My website for my original stories is just days away from completion and launch!

I'm so excited and nervous to share this part of myself with you all.

I want to also apologize for the late update of this story. It's been almost a year. The plot for this chapter was in my head but the words eluded me. Please enjoy and thank you for your patience!

Sasha looked on amused as Abe double checked and triple checked Caleb's carry bag. It seemed like he was more nervous than she was at meeting the Grimes. She knows that Rick and his family are important to him and her making a good impression was on his mind. It was also on her mind as well.

She had heard nothing but good things about them. In his past talks to her about them, Abe mentioned that Rick was finding his way back to his family after an injustice was done to him. She'll admit she was curious but wasn't going to pry. She'll wait until Abe is ready to share that part of his life with her.

As for sharing a life, everything between them appeared to be going according to plan and falling in place. They received the Adoption notice four days ago and right now it was a waiting game. However, they already feel like a family. When they go out, several people commented on how cute their son was and it made her feel happy and contented.

His fears about him being a good father to Caleb had long dissipated. On a personal note, she and Abe have gotten closer. They haven't made love yet and wasn't for the lack of not wanting to. They discussed that they wanted to take that step after Caleb officially become theirs. In the meantime, they have kissed.

Lots and lots of kissing and doing other intimate things. It felt good. Abe knows what he's doing and left her in anticipation of what actually love making would bring. She giggled when he check the bag for the fifth time.

"We have everything." He looked up at her and she smiled. "And even if we don't I don't think Rick will hesitate in giving you anything you might need."

"I'm just nervous. That's all."

"You think they wouldn't like me?"

"Oh! They are going to loveeee you!"

She blushed.

"So what are you nervous about?"

"I don't know. I just can't put my finger on it yet."

She closed the gap between them.

"Should I be worried?"

He pulled her into his arms and looked at Caleb, sleeping on the sofa. He turned back to her.

"You take care of our son and let me do the worrying."

He kissed her on the forehead. She started to worry.~*~*~*~*

With Carl and the other kids at Carol's for the weekend, Michonne got some much needed deep cleaning done. Rick prepared the things needed for the dinner with Abe and Sasha and then worked in the yard around the house.

She smiled down at him through their bedroom room window. It was nice seeing him shirtless and sweating in the evening sun and it brought back pleasant memories, like Rick racing from the yard up the stairs when she gave him a playful semi flash of her boobs.

She was five months pregnant with Sophia at the time and he covered her with his sweat and blades of grass as they made love. He was extra passionate when she's pregnant. She opened the window and leaned out, whistling at him. He looked up and she winked. He dropped the shovel and raced inside the house.~*~*~*~*~*

When they drove up the driveway, Michonne opened the door and walked outside. She waited till they parked and when they exited, she greeted them warmly. She hugged Abe and moved over to Sasha.

"Hi! So nice to meet you again!" They embraced and she looked around. "Where's Caleb?"

"He's in the backseat. He's sleeping."

Abe gently brought him out and they followed her inside.

"Where's Rick?"

"He's in the shower."

"Okay. I'll put this little one in Andre's and Logan's room."

They smiled as he walked upstairs and they moved to the living room.

"Have a seat. I'm going to finish set the table."

"I want to help."

She cocked her head and beckoned Sasha to follow to the kitchen. She pointed to the ware cupboard and Sasha went to it and started taking out the plates.~*~*~*~*~*

Rick and Abe met in the upstairs hallway.

"You're here!"

"Yeah. Just arrived. Just put Caleb down. He's sleeping."

They walked back down the stairs and after the ladies insisted that they were good, they stepped out into the backyard.

"How's the adoption process going?"

He smiled.

"We received the official notice from the court. Now we have to wait four weeks for any challenges to be made. After that, we attend a hearing and official make Caleb ours."

"Ours? Hmmmm. I like how you are thinking."

Abe laughed.

"Well…he's already our son without the paperwork."

"Do you think Caleb's grandparents will seek custody?"

"I don't see they will. They didn't care about Nicole, their own daughter. They force her to stay with Jason knowing what he's capable of. They are partially to blame for her death. Why should they be allowed to raise Caleb? We all know she didn't want that."

"Still, they have rights."

"I don't care! If I have to take Sasha and Caleb and move to a non-extradition country I will! They are not taking Caleb away from me and they are certainly not taking him away from Sasha! I'll do whatever it takes to protect my family!"

Rick eyeballed his friend smiling internally. They are like two peas in a pod, both fiercely loyal and will protect their family at any and all cost. He knows Abe well enough to know that he meant every word he said. If things start going south, he will just receive a phone call from him, saying that he's in the Ivory Coast or the Ukraine.

"I don't think it's Augustus and Mary you have to worry about."

"I know. That animal is still out there. I have some friends putting out their feelers."

"The courts wouldn't give him Caleb."

"I don't think Jason is the type of man who would just sit around and wait for the court to hand over his child. He just needs one perfect opportunity to grab Caleb and run, that's why we have to find him."

Both men looked at each other. Rick smiled.

"You'll be a great dad Abe. Sasha and Caleb are lucky to have you"

"I'm the lucky one."~*~*~*~*~*

Shane noticed a change in Evette since her meeting the Grimes. He saw her reaction to Logan in particular and a nagging feeling plagued him ever since. His relationship with Evette has been turbulent at best. They meet in high school and became friends. In college they became lovers and broke up dozens of times since then. However, since seeing Logan, she has been borderline jumpy, sweating whenever the phone rings or rushes to answer it. They were sitting on the sofa, watching TV. Suddenly the phone rang and she flew up, eyes bulging. She moved to answer it.

"Don't."

She looked at him.

"It could be something important!"

"Well…if it is they will call back."

She looked between him and the ringing phone antsy.

"It could be my mom or yours!"

"They have our cell numbers. Let the phone ring."

She sat back uneasy. When the answering machine came on, she stiffened. The voice of their landlord Mr Brooks came on and he left a message explaining that maintenance inspection of all apartments was starting next week. Then it was quiet.

"What's going on with you Evette?"

"What?!"

"What's going on? Ever since we met Sophia and her family, you've been on edge."

"I don't know what you're talking about!"

He leaned forward to her.

"Really? So why did it look like you wanted to shit yourself when you saw Logan?! Do you know him?"

"Of course not! Where would I know that child from?! Why would I know him?!"

"I don't know! You tell me but something stinks!"

"What are you accusing me of Shane?! Spit it out!"

He glared at her.

"I swear to God Evette!"

"I didn't do anything Shane!" She jumped to her feet. "By the way why are you coming at me when you was the one all hugged up on that girl?!"

He genuinely shrivelled back.

"What girl?!"

"The teenager?! Sophia!"

"Are you fucking serious?! She's a child!"

"What's going on between the two of you?!"

It was his turn to be outraged. He sprang to his feet.

"Are you really accusing me of cheating?! YOU!" He laughed scornfully. "You gave me Chlamydia bitch!"

"I apologized for that and you promised you would never bring that up!"

"I know but clearly I had to remind you of who the cheater is in this relationship!"

They stare angrily at each other.

"I'm going out for a drink before I say something I'll regret."

He grabbed his jacket from behind the door and left.~*~*~*~*~*

He didn't have to wait long. Evette rushed out of their apartment building and five minutes later a taxi pulled up. She got in. She didn't see him parked lower down the street. He pulled out behind her.~*~*~*~*~

When the taxi turned up a dirt road, his blood began to boil and he started seeing red.~*~*~*~*~*

Shane parked his car a couple corners down and the taxi passed him on the way down when he was jogging up. The driver looked at him for a split second but continued on his way. He cut through some thick bushes and waited hidden. He watched as Evette paced up and down in the yard and a man came out.

He couldn't hear what she was saying but she was gesturing wildly at the man as he stood there agitated. When she was finished, he pointed to the road as if telling her to leave. She pushed him and he grabbed her wrist and shoved her to the ground. He had seen enough.~*~*~*~*~*

"You have to help me Dave!"

"I don't have to do shit! There weren't any cameras in the supermarket so there's nothing tying me to the kid and he's too young to remember me or give a description to the police otherwise they would have been here already! If you're having trouble with your conscience that's your business!"

"What kid?"~*~*~*~*~*

Evette whimpered when she saw Shane walking up to them. Dave looked annoyed.

"Look man. Get your lady out of here."

Shane ignored him, keeping his steely gaze on Evette who seemed to shrink several inches under him.

"What…..kid?!" He screamed at her dreading the answer. She opened her mouth to answer, looking at Dave for help. "You mean Logan?! That kid?!"

Dave laughed.

"That's his name?"

"Shut up Dave!" Evette shrieked at him before turning to Shane. "Baby, what are you doing here?!"

"Is that the question you want to be asking me right now Evette?! Answer the question!"

She looked at Dave.

"Don't look at me! That's between you and your beau?!" He turned to go back inside.

"Where do you think you're going?!"

Dave faced him.

"In my house. What are you going to do about it?"

"I need answers and I'm not getting it from her."

"And? How is that my problem?!"

"I'm making it your problem since you're mixed up in this!"

Evette grabbed Shane by his arm.

"Don't do this! Please!"

He ripped away from her grasp. Both men faced each other.

"What did you and Evette do?"

She stepped between the men and tried to push Shane back. He shoved her aside.

"Shane!"

He glared at her.

"Be quiet! You had your chance!" He faced Dave again. "Speak!"

Dave cleared his throat comically.

"Well…the short version is that when you broke up with your girl a couple of months ago, it seemed like she didn't get the memo. She started following you, saw you take a woman to the hospital, saw you visiting the woman in the hospital. She thought that was your new girlfriend so she started following her and asked me to help."

Slowly, Shane turned to Evette.

"Help?! What do you mean help?! What did you do?!" He stepped angrily towards her. "Answer me!"

"She didn't physically do anything if that helps but she was there at the supermarket when everything went down!"

" Everything?! What is he talking about? What did you ask him to do?!"

"I didn't ask him to do anything! I swear! He's lying!"

"She asked me to rough up your lady friend and tell her to stay away from you. We followed her and her family to the supermarket where I was going to do the deed but unfortunately the kid got in the way. He got hurt."

Shane took a shock step away from Evette.

"You attacked a child?!"

"He did!"

"But you were there! You asked him to do it!"

"Not Logan! Just his mother!"

Shane covered his mouth is disbelief. Realizing that there was no way out, Evette dropped to her knees and begged.

"I'm sorry! I thought you were with her!"

"I don't even know the woman! She was a stranger I helped after she was attacked in the parking lot!"

"I didn't know that!"

"It doesn't matter if you knew Evette! Don't you understand that? Even if I was dating her you had not right to stalk me or her! We were broken up!"

"Shane please!"

"And you let him hurt her child?! He could have died!"

"I'm sorry! I love you! Shane!"

Speechless and in complete shock, he began walking away.

"Shane wait! Where are you going?!"

"To the police!" He screamed back numbly.

"No! You're not!" A heavy voice boomed behind him and he heard Evette scream out. A sharp pain exploded at the back of his head and everything went black.~*~*~*~*~*