Something New – Chapter 16

I want to send out a shout-out to everyone. I hope you guys are coping well and keeping safe in this trying time with the Coronavirus ravaging the world. I hope that all your relatives, friends and everyone in between are safe as well. We will get through this with Jehovah's help. All of you are in my prayers.

I also want to apologize for the delay in the updates. I was swarmed with work and personal issues and had absolutely no time to write. I was also experiencing writer's block for some of my other stories as well. I'm slowly getting my mojo back. Thank you for your patience.

Rick squeezed her hands several times on the drive home from the clinic. He tried to get her to tell him what was said between her and Lori's mother but Michonne remained mum. He made a detour to Crimson Park. Once there, he bought a double scoop of vanilla ice-cream.

They sat on a bench and when she rested her head on his shoulders, he softly kissed her forehead. He watched her text Atiba to let him know her whereabouts and he responded as quickly, telling her to be safe. She twirled the cone between her fingers uninterested with it's contents.

"Talk to me Michonne…." His voice broke. "Please….."

In response, she took several licks of the ice-cream then exhaled.

"Lori's mom said it was my fault you and her are not together and that I belonged with Desmond. I know that's it not true but….."

He continued her thought.

"But it still bothers you. It struck a nerve."

She didn't look at him.

"Yes."

"Well don't let it. Even if I didn't fall in love with you, Lori and I would have been done. She cheated on me with someone I considered a friend. I couldn't tolerate or forgive that."

"Okay."

"Would you have stayed with Desmond?"

The question caught her off-guard and she looked up at him.

"No! Of course not!" She smiled. "However, having you at my side made things much easier. I don't think I thanked you for coming to the tribunal. Seeing you there was so helpful. I know it can be intimidating."

"You don't have to thank me. Even if I wasn't a witness I would have still attended. Just for you. To support you and yes, it was intimidating. Standing infront of so many royalty is nerve racking."

She chuckled.

"Really?"

"Are you kidding?! Yes! Your world is intimidating. You have Kings, Queens, Princes and Princesses. You guys are the real deal and very few people can say they got a glimpse into that."

"True. I'm glad my father doesn't have to deal with Desmond and his parents anymore. He never liked them. He only held back because we were dating and they made the mistake of attacking my character. Anyone who knows my father knows that is a serious no no."

"He scared the crap out of me at the Tribunal."

She laughed.

"They were lucky my mother wasn't there."

Suddenly, a text rang out on his phone. He frowned.

"What?"

"It's the clinic. Lori just left the clinic. The results will be in four days' time."

He jammed the phone in his pocket angrily.

"I'm sorry." She whispered.

He cupped her face.

"I just want you to know that no matter what happens, I'm not giving you up."

They kissed. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Later that evening…

Mrs Buchanan stared at the young woman standing in her front door. She knows her but couldn't remember her name.

"I'm Andrea, a friend of Lori's."

She eyed her.

"I know who you are!" She was snippy and reluctantly stepped aside. Andrea cautiously walked in. Suddenly she called out behind her.

"Lori! One of your useless friends is here to see you."

Andrea brushed of the remark as the woman disappeared. It was quiet as she stood in the middle of the living room, not sure if to actually stay or leave things alone. She had not spoken to Lori since she was caught having sex with Desmond and last saw her at the Tribunal months ago. She hadn't had contact with Rick, Maggie or any of the others.

Like Lori, she was a pariah to the friends she had known since diapers. However, she chooses not to dwell on the past. Her boyfriend Cole had given her one last chance that she doesn't intend to squander. She's been on a tight leash but she doesn't complain. It was the only bright spot in her life since her parent still has spoken to her in their relationship reveal.

When she told them that she was moving in with him, they fired him as the family doctor and in response, he opened his own private practice which is doing very well. Three weeks ago, she found a magazine on wedding rings at their home office and she was thrilled. She is hoping he pop the question soon. Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted.

"What are you doing here Andrea?"

She turned around and had a sharp intake of breath. Her eyes were glued to Lori's belly and the silence was excruciating.

"What do you want?"

"I…I just wanted to check in?"

Lori laughed amused.

"After all this time? Why?"

She took a step towards Lori who instinctively cradled her belly.

"Look, I'm not here to judge you."

Lori scoffed.

"You think you can Andrea?"

"No. Of course not. I…."

Lori cut her off.

"The one person I thought would have had my back was you but you disappeared like Rick, Maggie, Sasha and all the others."

"I was dismissed from the inner circle, Lori, same as you. None of the others are speaking to me either."

"You could have defended me Andrea! Everyone was attacking me!"

She genuinely gaffed.

"Defend what?! We can't defend what we did Lori. We made this mess and we're paying for it! It's as simple as that!"

"Oh wow! That's easy for you to say! Cole forgave you!"

"At a price!"

"Yeah? What price is that? Did you have to buy him an expensive watch or something?"

The disdain in Lori's voice was evident but Andrea didn't take it personally.

"No but Cole doesn't trust me. I'm still trying to earn his trust."

"You know what?!"

She turned and began walking to the back patio and she followed.

"What Lori? Say what you have to say."

Lori swung around angrily.

"It doesn't matter! You still have someone! I have no one!"

"Well maybe you should try to make amends to the people you've hurt."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. Did you apologize to Rick and Michonne?"

"A thousand times! Rick isn't talking to me!"

"Okay. What about Michonne? Did you apologize to her?"

Lori stared at her, staying mum. She closed the gap between them and was mortified by the look in Lori's eyes. She stepped back.

"Oh my God. You really don't think you did anything wrong, do you?"

"I made a mistake!"

Andrea had had enough and pointed to her belly.

"This is more than a mistake! Until you take fully responsibility for your actions you will be alone! You have to see that!" Lori turned her back towards her and minutes passed.

"You really think an apology will help?'

"A genuine one. Yes."

Lori was thoughtful and was about to answer when her mother's voice boomed behind them.

"What rubbish are to telling my daughter?!"

Andrea couldn't take it anymore.

"With all due respect, I know Lori is not a good person but I can see why she is the way she is. Having a mother like you is any child's nightmare. You are not human!"

"Get out of my house bitch!"

Andrea laughed and turned to Lori.

"I'll call you later."

Lori quietly nodded without looking at her mother. They watched as Andrea left. She turned to her mother.

"I'm going to do this mom! I'm going to apologize to Rick and Michonne and this time, I'll mean it! I'm tired and I'm lonely. I want my friends back! Rick is never going to forgive me! I have to accept that but I'll settle for him being civil towards me."

Her mother smiled wickedly.

"Do what you want Lori. So will I."~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Michonne was straddled across him and they were kissing heavily in her apartment. She didn't want him to go. He didn't either but he had to. They were already pushing the boundary limit of their intimacy and even though they wanted to be with each other fully, they can't. He loved her way too much to compromise her traditional vows.

"I'm sorry…" She whispered in his ears causing his heart to race more.

"Me too…." He croaked.

They kissed again and she slowly slid off him. The strain against his jeans was beginning to be too much to handle. He exhaled in relief. They walked to the door and when they opened it, Atiba was standing awkwardly outside his own. Michonne smiled.

"Don't worry. Nothing happened. He's leaving."

He eyed Rick who quickly confirmed. He retreated inside.

"I think he doesn't like me anymore."

"It's not that he doesn't like you. This situation compromises me and he not here for it. My father asked him to keep a closer eye on me and he is a traditionalist. So like the Council, he believes that if the baby is yours, we shouldn't continue the relationship because it will be better for everyone involved. It's nothing personal."

"Oh." He paused. "What does your father think?"

"My father likes you but unfortunately, he's a traditionalist as well."

"And your mother?"

"She thinks it will be hard. Very hard but if it will work is up to us."

"Hmmmm."

"I'm a princess Rick and will be queen someday. I will be responsible and accountable to my people. Having a white westerner as my husband is taboo enough but one with an illegitimate child? It will not be tolerated." She paused. "I don't want this baby to be yours Rick because if I'm honest to myself, a piece of me will die if it is."~*~*~*~*~*~

Rick never pegged himself as a religious person even though he was raised catholic but he has never called the name of the Lord so many times in this life. He had two sleepless nights since learning that having a child is a deal breaker in their relationship. In his frustration, he got snappy with Ariel and had to apology several times as well as buy her the new Taylor Swift CD and concert tickets for her and three of her friends to make amends. His parents stayed out of his way but did check up on him without being too nosey which he greatly appreciated.

They were on edge as well about the DNA results as it could mean being attached to Lori and her mother for life. That is not something they are looking forward to. It was 1:30 pm and he lumbered into the bathroom to take his first shower for the day with a Hail Mary on his lips when a text came through on his phone. He stumbled out and picked it up. It was from Dr Ebeleme. The results were in and were requested to be in the clinic in three hours. He closed his eyes and began praying out loud.~*~*~*~*~*~*

It was 3pm and Mrs Buchanan waited patiently in her car down an alley. Unbeknownst to Lori, she had installed the app "Copy Me" on her phone which imprinted a code and allowed her to get any call or text that comes to Lori's phone. Once the code was imprinted she deleted the app. She was mortified when she received the text that the results were in. It was too soon and she had to scramble to implement her plan. She dialed a number and arranged for an emergency meeting. Suddenly a car crawled up and stopped along side her. The window rolled down.

"I'm sorry but we have to do this now."

"You said four days."

"I know but things have changed."

"That is going to cost you extra."

"Money is not a problem. Do it right and there will be an extra 10 grand in it for you."

The man eyebrows shot up and he nodded. She slipped a photo, a paper with writing on it and a brown envelope bursting with cash. The man looked at the photo and read the info.

"Hmmm. Looks young. Are you sure you want to go through with this?"

"Yes and don't question me. Just get it done."

She drove off.~*~*~*~*~*~*

As you probably suspect, we are coming to the end of this story. I am hoping to wrap up Rick and Michonne's trials and tribulation in about two or three more chapters with an additional chapter or two showing a glimpse into their future.