Here's a little treat for you. I love this story and this little town so much, I finally decided to revisit the town and its residents. They really know how to throw a party.
Epilogue: Day 2192
Porter, VA - Population: 302
"Goin' to the chapel of love.."
Michonne stood in front of the floor length mirror, carefully studying her appearance. She wore a sleeveless pale yellow satin dress with lace overlay. The dress clung to her body and gleamed in the mid-afternoon sunlight streaming in from the open windows.
She listened to the sounds of wedding guests moving around the house. There were creaks on the floorboards, doors opening and closing, and the faint sound of buzzing conversation.
From her vantage point, she could see the arrival of cars as they parked along the edge of the street. Her eyes swept over the large blue house across the street. No ivy ferns adorned its sides and the cloud of gloom of the ghosts of the past that hung above it had disappeared. In stark contrast to the day she originally laid eyes on it and it's handsome occupant, it was a picture of springtime merriment.
She loved that house. Before she lived in it, she never gave much thought to living anywhere other than her apartment overlooking the city.
In the days when she imagined a dream house or the kind of place she would live, she was still occupied with childish fantasies and paper fortune tellers. Then as an accomplished moderately happy woman, she just stumbled upon a home that she longed to live in without even knowing it.
The house looked delightful, which was appropriate because it was a day of happiness—one she never anticipated when she first visited the town after her mother's hip injury.
The bedroom door opened behind her and she didn't need to look up or turn around to see who was barging in. "You look absolutely beautiful sweetheart."
"I'm only half-upset with you for talking me into wearing this yellow dress," She said turning to study her reflection from the side. "Yeah, I know. It's spring." She attempted to mock her mother's tone.
"And yellow is definitely your color," Maya continued, gliding across the room to stand next to her daughter in front of the mirror. Her ivory and gold dress billowed behind her as she walked. The dress was a physical embodiment of her personality. It was a sleeveless silk faille dress with gold floral trimmings along the neckline and intricate hand beading dispersed below the waistline.
"It's not bad," Michonne said, smoothing her hand over her distended stomach. There was a dull ache in her back that she tried to ignore. "I'm just being dramatic. Mostly because there's an eight pound beach ball in front of me and this color is accentuating that."
"Well It's about time you picked up some of my personality traits," Maya joked. "And it took a second pregnancy and bridesmaid duty at a second wedding to bring it out."
Michonne ignored her comment. She and Maya has always been polar opposites. It was a wonder they got along. Especially considering that they were neighbors.
Maya had been always good with giving her all the space she wanted though.
"You look really nice by the way," she complimented, reaching over to pick off some invisible lint from her mother's shoulder. "I'm so happy for you. It's nice seeing you so happy, well happier than usual."
Maya stared into the mirror, smiling at their reflection. "I'm getting married. Going to the chapel of lo-ove," she sang off key. She reached across to place a hand over Michonne growing stomach. "And I'm getting another grandbaby pretty soon too. I have a lot to be happy about, so you're gonna have to get used to all this sugary sweet happiness."
"Does it feel like before?" Michonne asked, mentally recalling the stories Maya told her about her first wedding day, long before Michonne was even a possibility.
"In many ways, it does. The sheer happiness..." Tears welled in her eyes. "You're gonna make me cry. We should've flown to Vegas, even though Elvis impersonators creep me out."
"Oh, Maya." She embraced her mother.
There was a knock at the door and they both exchanged a glance of suspicion. "Who is it?" Maya called out.
"It's me." Rick's muffled voice came from the other side of the door. "We were just looking for Michonne, sorry."
Michonne rolled her eyes playfully. "It's fine. You can come in. She's here."
The door swung open and Rick entered with their dark haired little boy in his arms. "I brought you your ring bearer."
"Mommy!" her four-year old leaned out of his father's arms, extending his arms for his mother to take him. He was the picture of cuteness with his little waistcoat and bow tie.
"Hi baby." She reached for him, giving him an awkward half hold because Rick wouldn't let go, fearing she might strain herself. She rolled her eyes, giving him a disapproving look that was met with a sheepish grin.
"Lots of people out there," he commented.
Maya patted his shoulder. "I've got a big backyard. Definitely not as much as your wedding though. That was Porter's Royal wedding. A fairytale that put those boring British ones to shame."
Michonne remembered when the entire three hundred person town along with her friends and extended family was at her and Rick's own wedding, years before. They opted for the church which doubled as the town hall building for their wedding venue because Rick was the most popular figure in Porter…
...
The bell in the old steeple rang as Rick and Michonne exited the church, stepping out into the beautiful spring day, exactly one year after they first met.
As she looked over at her new husband, she reflected back on her life since meeting him. A year prior, he was a kind stranger in a quirky little town and now she was headed down a new path with the love of her life.
Michonne spotted her mother standing among the waiting well-wishers who had begun to line the steps. They threw white petals at the couple as they descended the front steps and began to lead the wedding recessional down the streets of Porter. The flower girls and ring bearer followed directly behind them followed by Andrea—the maid of honor— and the best man, the remaining two bridesmaids and groomsmen, and Maya and Richard.
The live wedding band began to play their horns and wind instruments over the gleeful cheer of the following crowd, that walked along the sidewalks clapping and shouting the well wishes. The train of her dress— which was an A-line V-neck made of soft satin fabric—swept against the asphalt as she walked.
Porter was truly a town unlike any other when she imagined her wedding day, she never dreamed of a whole community being present or closed off streets or a celebration that would rival every major Porter celebration.
While Rick's mother wasn't there to celebrate with them, he had a two hundred ninety-nine person Porter family to represent him at the wedding.
"I love you," he said suddenly and from the look in his eyes, she knew his mind had drifted to the same place hers had.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she repeated the heartfelt phrase. They shared a lingering kiss as they approached the large blue house that was now their home and where the reception slash street party of the decade would be held.
She couldn't think of a better person to spend the rest of her life with. "I'm glad I married you Mayor Grimes."
"I'm glad you married me too…"
...
"You have a very important job today," Michonne said, leaning slightly forward to meet her son's eyes, who Rick placed at the edge of the large canopy bed. She would have attempted to stoop, but her back was beginning to ache more.
"I have to carry the rings!"
"Yes, and you're going to do an excellent job." Michonne glanced up and Rick and then her mother. "By the way, who has the rings?"
"Rings." Rick patted his pockets, searching for the bands and if he had patted even a second longer, she would have started panicking. "Got 'em right here."
"I love you, but I would have beat you bloody with my bouquet if you lost those rings," Maya said, doing a spin in front of the mirror, before gliding toward the door. "Get the boy ready. I'll be back."
"You know me better than that Maya," he chuckled. "I wouldn't lose your rings."
Maya spoke loudly from the hallway. "Well you do keep this town functional."
Michonne stood back, watching as Rick stooped down in front of the bed to help their son with his dress shoes. The years had been good to them. He was her steady rock. A wonderful man who strolled into a diner one spring day and stole her heart.
"Stop staring at my a-double-s in front of the kid," he teased, the smile audible in his voice.
"Well it's right in front of me...and he can hear you," she said through peals of laughter and lightly swatted the back of his head.
"You're right, I should have said ass because he obviously knows what I meant," he said, grinning up at her mischievously. "We've got a future spelling bee champion here."
Their son just looked between his parents as if they were a pair of confusing creatures he had yet to understand.
"Okay people we're about ready to begin," Sasha said, waltzing into the room, clapping her hands. When she's not putting makeup on dead people, planning funerals and managing budgets, she plans weddings. She produced a satin pillow and snapped her fingers at Rick. "The rings?"
He held out the delicate box, which she securely attached to the pillow.
"So, you're gonna want to head down and take your seat," she said to Rick. "We'll take it from here."
"See you outside beautiful." He gave Michonne a quick kiss before following an impatient Sasha's instructions.
Sasha let out a humorless laugh after Rick disappeared. "For a supposedly small, intimate wedding, this has been surprisingly challenging to coordinate."
"Not as challenging as mine."
"Got that right," she muttered, her eyes searching the room. "Now where is the bride? We're starting on time this time."
Once Sasha got them all in order, descended the stairs and waited near the back doors with Sasha's six-year old daughter who would serve as the flower girl and her son's walking partner. The serene sound of the violin crept into the house. It was tender, yet piercing as it reached a crescendo and the children started walking.
Michonne linked arms with Maya and the two women exchanged heartwarming smiles.
Michonne walking Maya down the aisle—just as the latter did for the former—was symbolic of them embracing their changing extended family as they let new love in. Maya moved to Porter for a rebirth and that is what they both received, whether they anticipated it or not.
"Mommy!" a little voice shrieked as Maya and Michonne walked out of the house and began approaching the aisle between the rows of white chairs.
Her son had made it halfway down the aisle before making a U-turn and running back to his mother. Michonne was grateful that Sasha thought to secure the box to the pillow, because as he ran, the pillow flopped in all directions beside him.
The guests erupted into indulgent laughter as Michonne bent forward slightly, opening her arms for her little boy, who hugged himself to her side. Rick gave an apologetic shrug as he joined in on the laughter.
"What's wrong? You don't want to walk alone?"
He shook his head. "With you. I'm scared."
"You want to help me walk grandma down the aisle?" she asked. "She won't mind if you walk with us."
He nodded, peeking up at his grandmother with a smile.
Maya held out her hand for her grandson. "You can hold my other hand."
He grinned, taking his grandmother's hand as his mother stood on her other side. They continued down the aisle, three generations as one.
…
The blue house, looked like a mixture of something out of a fairy tale and a wedding catalogue. The back garden was overflowing with flowers and joyful wedding guests. There a white canopy tent for the feast where the band played the instrumentals to every love song known to man.
Rick and Michonne had posed for more photos than they could count as the wedding photographer snapped away. Once Michonne had changed into her reception gown they made their grand entrance, which was met with cheers and the sound of trumpets.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I present Mr. and Mrs. Grimes!" David Porter's voice boomed as the couple emerged. The guests cheered as he announced the rest of the wedding party with an equal amount of pageantry and flair.
The wedding party sat at a long elevated table at the front of the immaculately decorated tent as their catered dinner was served. Once all the guests were seated and eating Morgan stood, hitting the back of a fork against his champagne glass.
"I've been told it's time for the toast," he announced, commanding the attention of the room. "As the beat man to that guy over there, I've got a few completely unprepared things to say. I may or may not have googled 'funny best man speeches' and it may or may not have suggested that I shower the bride with compliments. Maybe I thought that one up myself."
The guests laughed as he continued. "You look beautiful tonight Michonne and I think someone as caring, funny and sweet as you deserve a hell of a husband. Thankfully, Rick has always been an incredibly lucky man, so I'm glad she married him before she found one." Rick let out a belly laugh, shaking his head. "But seriously, Rick and I go way back and he's the bravest, kindest, and most talented person I've ever met and if you didn't marry him, I was seriously considering proposing to him myself. We've been friends through thick and thin and he's always been loyal. He is a wonderful man and he'll be an even more wonderful husband to you. So, let's toast to this lucky man and beautiful, brilliant wife."
...
At the end of the aisle, Michonne enveloped her mother in a hug, with her son squeezing in on the side to be a part of the loving embrace.
"I'm so happy for you," she said, before presenting her to the tall black man with salt and pepper hair who would be an official part of the family by the end of the hour. She took her son's hand and stood to the side.
"You can now be seated," Father Gabriel said to the guests. "We are gathered here this afternoon to witness this man and woman join together in holy matrimony."
Michonne looked on as the priest said his speech. Her eyes shifted to her husband (who was seated beside his eccentric father) as they began exchanging vows and she was filled with elation.
She remembered her own wedding day and the bundle of emotions that filled her when she came face to face with the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with in his strange, but charming town.
It was as if she married both Rick and Porter that day and she couldn't be happier for it.
Someone cleared their throat, breaking her out of her mental musing.
"The rings?" Father Gabriel asked, as if this wasn't the first time he was asking.
"Oh!" She gently nudged the little boy forward to present the rings.
...
"Alright. Settle down everybody. Mr. and Mrs. Grimes have just finished adding their tokens of love to the anniversary capsule, which they will open ten years from now." David's eyes were filled with mirth. "The bouquet toss is coming up real soon, I promise. First, they'll dig in to that very large cake."
Rick took Michonne's free hand in his as they began cutting into their massive six tier taupe and ivory wedding cake that stood front and center where all the guests could see.
There were multiple flashes of cameras and an eruption of applause and cheers.
Michonne held up a piece of cake and Rick took a bite before feeding her some as well.
They went on to do all the normal wedding rituals. They had their first dance on the dancefloor, they made their rounds, thanking guests, and they sat down and barely ate their dinner.
Sometime later, when Rick was satisfied that they had fulfilled all their wedding duties, he led her out of the tent and away from the partying townspeople.
"Enjoying yourself?" he asked, pulling her against his side.
"I actually am," she laughed. "I never dreamed that I'd have a big white wedding. I always thought it would be something super low key at a courthouse or something. This was better than I could ever imagine."
"Yeah, everything is over the top in Porter."
"So am I officially a member of the Porter family, now?"
He pursed his lips, looking her over in jest as they entered the house through the back french doors. "I'd say so."
Unfortunately for the newlyweds, another pair got the idea to slip away from the party for alone time. Their heads were close together, lips touching lips. They immediately pulled away once realizing they were no longer alone.
"Mom?"
"Oh hi sweetheart," she said, stepping away from the man and smoothing down her dress. "Have you met Dr. Stevens? He's a Philosophy professor at a college a few miles from here."
"Uh...Hi," Michonne said, recognizing the tall brown-skinned gentleman from seeing him around town. The situation was as awkward as it could possibly be, so she decided to continue with introductions. "I'm Michonne and you obviously know my husband, Rick."
It felt nice to refer to him as her husband. The word sent tingles down her spine.
"I do," his deep voice boomed. "I wouldn't be a proper resident of this town if I didn't know the mayor."
"Dr. Stevens and I were just talking about the philosophy of love and desire," Maya said, with a wink at her daughter. "I've got a great book recommendation to share with you later Michonne." She linked her arm through Dr. Steven's and began leading him out of the dining room. "Let's give the newlyweds some alone time David, I think I hear my favorite song."
Rick and Michonne exchanged amused glances as the pair exited the house.
"I think my mother just got herself a wedding fling."
…
"It is my honor and delight to declare you husband and wife. You may now share your first kiss as husband and wife."
Maya and her new husband kissed, eliciting exclamations of approval from the wedding guests.
"I am pleased to present the newlyweds, Mr. and Mrs. Stevens!"
Applause filled the backyard as the trumpets sounded and the bride and groom, followed by Michonne and the two children, walked up the aisle.
An hour later, music filled the backyard and Rick found Michonne, pulling her to the dancefloor for a dance.
"You know, it's the anniversary of the day we first met," Michonne said, as they moved back and forth on the dance floor. "It's been exactly two thousand one hundred and ninety-two days."
He stopped their movement, staring down at her with a furrowed brow. "You've been counting?"
"Of course not," she scoffed, playfully rolling her eyes. "I looked it up this morning when I realized what day it was. Counting would be more of your thing. You're the one that's always full of surprises."
"Am I?" He smirked. "At least I know I'm not boring you after all these years."
"No, you still manage to surprise me with your many talents."
"And what exactly might those be?"
"Maybe I'll tell you later," she said in a blasé manner, enjoying the banter. "I'll tell you one thing though…" she tilted her head up to whisper in his ear. "Best personal trainer I've ever had. I'm looking forward to catching up on exercise."
He smiled, drawing her closer to his body. "Want to get out of here?"
"We've stayed a whole hour," she said, nodding in affirmation.
They glanced toward the table where their son sat with his grandfather and Eugene Porter. The man had spread a long piece of paper across the table and was moving a pencil across the paper with wide strokes as his grandson looked on with rapt attention.
Ever since the day Richard Grimes Sr. flew above the little town of Porter on the night of the annual turnip festival, something in him changed. He was no longer the hermit father of the most famous man in town who lived in a secluded cabin in the woods. He was now the eccentric—formerly hermit—father of the most famous man in town who lived in a charming cabin in the woods.
By Porter's standards, it was an immense upgrade in social standing.
"Let's make this quick," he said, taking her hand and beginning to lead her away for a quick round of 'exercise'.
They crossed the empty street and made their way up the driveway of the blue house when Michonne stopped suddenly. She felt a mild popping sensation in lower body followed by a trickle of fluid between her legs. Her grip on Rick's hand tightened.
"Rick."
"What's wrong?" He asked, looking her over with a furrowed brow.
"I think my water just broke," she whispered breathlessly. Her water never broke with her first child, so a flurry of questions buzzed through her head. Particularly since she wasn't sure if this meant she was in labor or not since there were no strong contractions yet. "Oh my…"
"Oh shit! That definitely didn't happen last time." He ran his hand through his hair, looking down as if expecting to see a large puddle pooling out beneath her. "I guess that's a no on the exercise plan."
"Of course your mind goes to sex!"
"You're the one who suggested it," he muttered, looking between her and the house as he tried to decide the next course of action. "Okay, so you wait here and I'll get your bag and my keys and we can go."
"We should probably let…" Michonne threw her hands up, as Rick bounded into the house, leaving her standing in their walkway. "Just when I thought we were going to have a nice normal day."
She rubbed her belly and considered walking back across the street to get Maya who was a doula during her younger years. The idea of potentially disrupting the reception kept her in place.
In record time the garage door opened and the car backed out into the driveway. She started walking across the lawn and toward the car. Instead of stopping as she expected, the car backed completely out of the driveway, the tires squealing it sped down the street like a bat out of hell.
Michonne laughed humorlessly as she watched, stunned, as her husband rushed off to the hospital without her. "I'll kill him. I..." She sighed, wadling back toward the house to change her clothes and wait for her husband to discover he left the woman in labor behind.
By the time she was slipping out of her dress, she heard his voice echoing downstairs. "Michonne?"
"Forgot something?" she called back.
She listened as his feet pounded against the steps in his mad dash to get to her. "I couldn't find you," he said breathlessly. "I took off and you weren't in the car."
"Yeah," she laughed, as she slipped into a loose sundress. "I thought you'd figure it out soon enough."
He walked over to her, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. "I'm sorry baby."
"You're forgiven for now."
"Before you say that, I should tell you that Maya and a handful of other people know."
She gave him a disapproving look, rolling her eyes. "Rick."
"I couldn't find you, so I thought you went over there," he explained. "I can't believe I forgot you. This is our second time, so it's not like I'm some kind of amateur. It's fine though. I told her we have everything under control. She's on babysitting duty until this little one gets here."
"In a few hours we're going to be parents to two kids."
"Yeah." Their eyes met and they shared a silent, but profound, moment reflecting on their current position in life and the immense joy they shared.
"Let's try this hospital thing again, with me in the car this time."
"Right," he chuckled, sheepishly.
~...~
On the morning after Porter's newest newlyweds were joined in matrimony, a room in the maternity ward of the County General Hospital was filled with well wishers who were all trying to catch a glimpse of Porter's newest resident.
"She has your father's smile," Maya Moreau-Stevens said, cradling the newborn in her arms. "Hello darling. I'm your grandmother."
"She's absolutely precious," Dr. Stevens said, looking over his wife's shoulder to see the baby she was hogging. "A wonderful wedding present."
Rick sat down beside his wife taking her hand in his as they watched their family fawn over the little person they made. He watched as Maya took a seat to show their son how to hold his sister while Rick's father looked on with a proud smile.
"I can't believe she's here already," Michonne murmured. "We have a daughter."
"Me either. Time has gone by really fast this time around. We've just raised Porter's population to three hundred and three," he said softly. "Eugene's probably putting out a sign as we speak. We really don't waste time, do we?"
"Two thousand one hundred and ninety-three days," she reminded him with a grin.
"And counting," he added, leaning in to kiss her. "Thousands more to come."
FIN!