Chapter 1

***During this holiday season, I'd like to declare that I don't own TWD or anything to do with TWD.***

Me: This is a series of stories relating to Richonne and crew that I'm calling Richonne For The Holidays, all in the same AU with no zombies. Indulge Me was the first, this is the second. Readers of You Brought Me Back will recognize Michonne's family in a happier timeline here. See if you can spot all the references!

"So we aren't getting your parents this year," Michonne asked Rick while typing up the invite on Facebook. "Should I still include them on the list for the event?"

"Yeah, that's a good idea. Mam gets weird sometimes about stuff like that. Even though they'll be in New Hampshire with Aunt Stacey, she'd probably still be offended if we didn't at least ask." Rick shook his head a little, letting loose a chuckle over his impossible mother. He loved her...but she wasn't easy. "We're getting Odette, though, right?"

"Yup, Mama's coming. Langston and the boys, too. Genevieve will be going to her husband's family with Zara and Demetrius. Simeon will be in Louisiana visiting Daddy's family with Liane, since we went last year and he knows we're hosting this year," she explained.

"No Simeon and Liane? That's too bad." Rick liked Simeon a lot, but then again, her favorite brother was a lot like his wife. (He himself was an only child who'd never had the chance to grow up with a brother or sister) Rick enjoyed watching the two of them interact, plus Liane was a kind, funny girl who had the sharp wit of her father and aunt.

"That does it for family, now let's take a look at friends." Michonne spoke half to Rick, half to herself. "Glenn, Maggie, Enid and Jared for sure. Carol, too, though we may also end up with that guy she's seeing now, Ezekiel. You remember...we went to dinner with them a couple weeks ago."

"Yeah. He's the zookeeper that also does the Shakespeare stuff for community theatre, right? Nice guy, but the way he speaks is…" Rick trailed off, not sure how to say it without being rude.

Michonne didn't have Rick's reservations. "Oh, he's definitely odd. But I guess it helps him stay in character while he's working on a play and he makes Carol happy, so we can deal with it if we have to. Sasha and Abraham will be in Houston, and Andrea is going out to eat at Woodbury's with that new guy she started seeing, Phillip." A tone crept into her voice which made Rick crack up.

"Look, I know you're protective of your best friend but give this guy a chance! You've met the man exactly once. Didn't he lose his wife a year and a half ago and doesn't he have a young daughter? He's probably not keeping heads in a fish tank in his basement, if that's what you're worried about," he soothed her.

She huffed a little. "Okay, okay. But you know she doesn't have the best taste in men. Are you inviting Daryl?"

"I'd planned on it. You know how his family is, and Merle is overseas right now."

Her nose wrinkled. "Can you ask him nicely to please make sure he takes a shower? I know he's out hunting bounties for days on end but I'd like to make sure our guests smell only the food cooking."

"If nothing else, I'll have Carol bring it up. You know she's got a way with him. T-Dog might stop by after his church's event. You know what a big heart he's got. He's feeding the homeless again this year, him and Jacqui."

"I think that just about does it, since Maggie told me that Hershel's visiting Beth at Julliard for a few weeks. Okay! Event set. I said we'd take care of the bird and dessert, the rest we're going to farm out to our guests." She gave him a wicked grin. "Though I DO hope Carol brings those cookies!"

Rick reached over and took her laptop, shutting it closed and placing it on the nightstand. He brought his hand up to caress her cheek.

"Now that you've seen to our family and friends, Mrs Grimes, how about we see to each other?"

She responded by giving him a lingering kiss. "Sounds perfect. Let me go feed the cat first, though."

"That damn animal," Rick grumbled. "Should've drowned him after Lori left. She was the only one that loved him."

"Maybe, but now he loves me and Judith. Leave Shane alone. He's a good kitty!"

To Be Continued