Closing this story out is Thematsaidwelcome. We hope you enjoyed this story.

Please check out her other works on her FF page

-We're The Ones Who Write

Epilogue

"Alright, so we're clear on the new plans for the expansion and the new run crews?"

"Yeah, Abe and Tobin will start the expansion, adding 6 more houses on the west side. We're aiming for a completion date in three months." Maggie answered Deanna.

"And we're sure about the new run crew?"

"Spencer and Tara have proven themselves. They're ready." Rick responded, nodding his head and scratching his beard.

"They don't really have a choice do they?" Deanna asked Rick as she gave him a knowing smile. "We're not only expanding our walls, but our population. Maggie, when you leave here tonight, don't come back. Take care of yourself and that baby." Maggie rubbed her protruding belly, happy to be on "leave" at the end of her 9th month. Glenn had been pulled from the run crew and they were just waiting for their little bundle to arrive. "Unless anything pressing comes up, we'll hold off on the meetings until you're ready to return."

"Thank you Deanna, I really appreciate that, but you don't have to stop on my account. Women have been having babies for all of time, and the world never stopped because of it."

"That's true, but there's nothing wrong with taking a break and loving on that precious baby for as long as you can. Isn't that right Rick?"

"Yeah, there's nothing like it."

"Alright then, we're done here. Looks like the proud papa is ready to get back to his family." Deanna said of Rick who was noticeably antsy and ready to get home. "Have a good night and I'll be in touch if I need you." Rick stood quickly, shaking the hands of the men and nodding to Deanna. He walked Maggie to the door where Glenn was waiting to walk her home.

"The meeting go okay?" Glenn asked when they stepped out the door.

"It was fine. I think we're all set." Maggie took a deep breath and exhaled slowly thinking about all the steps she had to take to get to her home.

"You take care Maggie, I'll be by to check on you tomorrow."

"Hopefully you won't have to and this baby will come tonight." She smiled through her frustration and took Glenn's hand. "Go on home Rick. I'll be fine. Tell Michonne I say hey."

"Alright then. Y'all have a good night."

"Looks who's here. It's daddy." Rick sat down next to Michonne on the couch and held his arms out for the swaddled baby. She placed the baby in his arms and he placed a kiss to it's forehead, then gave one to Michonne. He had been anxious to see them since the meeting started two hours ago. With a wife and a two week old baby at home, talks of new run crews and expanding the walls was not as important to him as it was for Deanna. But seeing Michonne holding their daughter reinforced the reasons for keeping the community safe and expanding. This new world, although cruel, was still livable and nothing said living more than bringing new life into it.

Two weeks ago when Michonne went into labor, Rick was beside himself, the experience so different from when Carl was born. No private birthing room, with a team of nurses. No electronic beds that moved with the press of a button, or medicine to numb the pain. He was at Michonne's side holding her hand and coaching her through her breathing techniques. It was slow going at first, but after five hours Vivian Marie Grimes made her debut at 2:27am, weighing in at 8 lbs and 6.2 ounces. A head full of dark brown curls like her father, light brown eyes and a mouth shaped just like her mothers. She was the second baby born in Alexandria, with a few more to come in the near future.

"She's beautiful Michonne." Rick told her after inspecting Vivian and counting all her toes three times.

"Did you have any doubt that she would be?"

"Not at all. I just wasn't expecting her. When you found me in the woods, I wasn't expecting any of this. This... This is everything."

"Hey you said I could hold her after you fed her." Carl whined after seeing his dad with his little sister.

"You took too long coming back down. Vivian and I had a nice little talk though. She said she loves her big brother and can't wait for him to make her, her own knife."

"Well daddy can wait." Rick said to Michonne wanting to hold off on weapons training for his little girl for a few years. "We've got her until she's ready, right Carl."

"Yeah. I'll never let anything happen to her."

"Big brother Carl. Two little sisters. You've got quite the responsibility." Michonne mentioned while watching Carl look at Vivian.

"Nothing I can't handle. Can I hold her now dad?"

"Yeah, she's starting to get fussy and you're the only one who seems to be able to settle her down." Carl sat down next to Rick and Vivian was handed over to him. Immediately she stopped fussing just as they all knew she would. Everyone loved her immensely, but Carl was her favorite. The bond they shared was indescribable and melted Michonne's heart whenever she saw them together.

"Hey Viv, I need to finish telling you my pudding story. So I was just about to leave the kitchen when I looked up and saw a huge can of chocolate pudding…." Michonne laid her head on Rick's shoulder and they listened to Carl tell his story. She felt him take her hand in his and squeeze gently.

"This is good." Michonne whispered. Rick kissed her temple and closed his eyes saying a silent thank you to whichever higher power was still listening; thanking them for this moment and praying for more to come.

"Yes, it is."