The next day mom spent her morning chatting with Georgie on the phone. She practically threw us out, insisting that Rick and I go on with our weekend as planned just as long as we are back for Sunday dinner.

Before Rick and I left, we made Mom a light breakfast and that afternoon, we went for a rigorous jog in Crowder Park. Today is cooler than normal, the activity made the day go fast. We spent the chilly evening at my house, by the fireplace in each other's arms.

Sunday at noon we arrived at Mom's house. She looks a little tired but masked it well with good spirits, "Hello beautiful and handsome- early birds, come on in," her smile is bright as she greeted us.

"Rick, will you set the table, please" She hands him the basket of silverware wrapped in cloth napkins," The plates and glasses are in the cabinet by the grandfather clock."

"Sugar Bear, I need your help with making the cake frosting."

"Who went to the market?" I ask looking around the kitchen at all the food, fresh herbs, and vegetables, trying not to feel slighted. I'm happy to see Georgie is chopping, blending and seasoning away.

"Jenny and I went yesterday," Georgie said, handing me a green onion, "I would have called you, but Abby gave me my orders." She smiles at me and then turns to the cutting board in front of her, she's chopping fresh rosemary.

"Mom, I said I would go," I level my gaze and she causally shrugs in response.

"You did enough for me already," She licks the spoon with the cake batter on it, then tosses it in the sink, "I want you to spend as much of your free time as possible with my handsome future son-in-law." She smirks mischievously causing a hearty chuckle from Miss G.

"When she says 'spend time'," Georgie raises her hand and gestures with air quotes, "she means making her more grandchildren."

A chorus of laughter echoed throughout the kitchen as I stand mortified with onion in my hand, praying that Rick can't hear this mess. I peek into the dining room, Rick is on the other side of the room. He doesn't notice me, completely absorbed in his task while whistling the theme song to the Andy Griffin Show. I chuckle as I duck back into the kitchen.

Thank you, Lord!

An hour later dinner is just about ready; the sweet, savory aroma wafting through the entire house. Mom, Miss G and I are finishing up in the kitchen. Rick is relaxing on the couch watching a football game; he did a fine job setting the table. By the time Morgan, Jenny, and the kids arrive, dinner is ready.

The appetizers, creamy Deviled Eggs – everyone had a two except for Rick and the kids, between the three of them, they ate about two dozen. For dinner, we ate Pepper-Crusted Grill-Roasted Beef with Rosemary Chimichurri, Southern - Corn Pudding Casserole, Southern Style Cabbage Roasted Garlic Mushrooms with a choice of sweet peach tea or strawberry lemonade to wash it down. And for dessert, Homemade Caramel Cake with vanilla bean ice cream.

After dinner, Duane and Enid volunteer to help Jenny and I clear the table. The ten and twelve-year-old's are full of energy as any normal preteen would be. Jenny made a wise choice and sent them outside to the backyard to play.

"Stay clear of the flower garden," Jenny reminded them.

Morgan made some coffee to accompany our conversation. The topic - Dad...this was out of the normal causal talk about the weather and upcoming social events.

I'm not sure why listening to Mom and Georgie going on as if Dad could walk on water rubbed me the wrong way. Don't get me wrong, I love him, I miss him, but I know he was far from perfect.

"You make Dad sound like a saint," My face crumples, I didn't mean to spoil the mood, and I was surprised to see Morgan nod in agreement to my comment.

"Oh, no, your father was far from perfect, but he was a good man. He was a proud man. He was strict, disciplined and of high principle. He was short-tempered and did some wrong in his life but he had just been washed with a bad experience and born with many obstacles to overcome. He wore his pride like a stockade. I didn't know whether it was to shield him or not let anyone in," Mom smiles proudly, "But eventually, I wore him down."

My father was frequently away from home, traveling the world between conferences and car shows. I'm not complaining mind you, we lived well and he brought back such rich stories and even richer gifts. When he told a story, he didn't have to talk to be the loudest person in a room. His judicious intellect, precise eye and impetuous anger led to a profoundly tarnished reputation amongst his distant relatives. From my memories of him, I can recollect his tired worn eyes; it had seen more distress than happiness as if he had been fighting with life, all his life. He had the resounding presence of a fiery phoenix, he was bold, he never let people tell him what he could not do.

"From what I heard, so did other women," Morgan flinches at his remark, wishing he could take it back. But it was too late. The entire table held their breath in the thickness of the sudden tension.

Jenny lets out a gasp; I think she may have kicked him from under the table.

Although I agreed with what he said, I would have never in a million years said it to mother. I didn't see the point.

"Is that what you think too?" her wrinkles deepened as she frowned. She seemed truly confused by his comment, "Michonne, do you think that too?" I was so stunned; I didn't realize she was addressing me until she said my name. I want to sink into my chair and disappear. I'm still holding my cup and my throat feels like it has a toad in there, so I sip my coffee. When I set my cup down, Rick pours me some more. I was about to take another sip when Mom stops me, "Answer me, girl," Mom says sharply.

"Yes," I mumble, my eyes darting everywhere and nowhere at all.

"Well, what exactly did you hear?" Georgie asks, her expression and tone are smooth, she coolly entwines her fingers.

"We heard that Dad was a big-time player and he screwed around on you all the time," Morgan's delivery is straight. He's wanted to get that off his chest for decades. Still, I can't believe he'd be uncouth enough to say it to mom, and now of all times.

"That rumor must have been started by Dale's hateful ass," Georgie grumbles and glares at mom with a mixture of aggravation and awareness.

Mom's face mirrors Georgie, "He was always a liar and a bitter one," Mom nods at Miss G, "I had no idea this had been said about your father, and I'm sorry you'll have to deal with that, but I can tell you right now, those rumors aren't true," She pauses for a moment, pondering her next words, "you see, back in the early-seventies clear up until the late-eighties we lived what you kid's today call polyamory. Back then we just called it swingers," Mom straight up guffaws, Georgie snorts and her cherub cheeks turn bright red. My mom winks at her and they both burst into a fit of unrestrained laughter.

Jenny gasp, her eyes were bulging, her mouth hung open, "So you all did…with…oh my...!" one hand over her mouth and the other over her chest, her expression is downright comical.

"Yes, we did it all honey," Mom said unapologetically, she and Georgie explode into another round of laughter.

"I am not hearing this, no…no thank you," Morgan stood from the table, face resolutely unimpressed, he says nothing more, throws his napkin on the table and walks out of the dining room.

Rick's expression mirrors my own, it's one of understanding and relief. I open my eyes wider, keeping the smile. He nods and takes a sip of his coffee, offering no ongoing conversation of his own.

Although my father is our idol, as well as so many others. His reputation, depending on who was scrutinizing was something to be regarded as acceptable or infamous. Still, I don't see how this discovery would be pictured as anything better, but it does explain why mother never had a problem with all the women who fawned over Dad.

I relax a little when my niece and nephew reenter the room; the subject quickly changes to sports and Mom and Georgie turn back into the modest elderly southern-belles I am accustomed too. Soon, we're all being ushered to the backyard as guest judges and spectators to the 'Duane and Enid alley-oops contest'.

"Hey, Michonne, can I talk with you for a moment?" Morgan asks, seeing the shock register on my face before I could hide it. A small smile played on his lips, "It's about work," He adds.

I'm bursting with curiosity as I step inside, he closes the sliding patio door behind me.

"I've reviewed your succession plan proposal and I want to begin implementing it first thing tomorrow."

"Did the board agree to this?" I had my game face on now, inside I felt like jumping up and down, I feel like I just won the lottery.

"They have no choice; they need to begin mentoring the next in line."

"I agree," Oh boy do I agree!

"Good, I want Bob to be in charge of keeping the board members on task, I'll need you to be the source of support for the interns."

"Of course," I was too elated to question his change of heart, I just went with it because for the first time in a long time we were acting as a team.

"Do you think Bob is capable of leading a team of senior executives?"

"Yes," I answer confidently, "I would have had my doubt last year, due to his divorce," I add, "but now, he's performing well above expectation."

I'd seen him one too many times at Abe's having way too many drinks, but I never held that against him. I also never told a sole. He would flirt with me at the bar, and he admitted that he always had a little crush on me, but never acted on it in any manner. Bob was always a gentleman. If he came into the office hungover, I'd get him some coffee and cover for him until he got right. No one had the right to judge him. Who knows how anyone would react if the love of your life left you suddenly after fifteen years of marriage?

"Good," Morgan nods, "I believe he'll possibly need to replace a board member."

"Really, who?"

"Shane," He says, pacing between the small space amongst us.

"Why," I ask, feeling out of the loop, damn it sucks having no idea what's been going on in that board room…

Morgan crosses his arms and sighs, "Walsh…he's is nothing short of a conman. Fresh out of college my father took a liking to him and his ability to make the company high profits. He's one smooth talker. Once the ink was dry and we had the assets, all the promises he made died on the wind. An honest man would feel bad, they'd be terrible at his job, but he loved it. It was a thrill for him to turn them over while they gushed about what a great guy he was. He got everything we wanted as a company, everything we needed. He got the sweetest deals, taking over our competitors for a song while they grinned and hung on his words."

"It was his idea to sell me out, wasn't it," I ask him without really needing too.

"I'm going to make this right," He nods.

"Thank you, Morgan." I won't question him on how he'll do it, or why in the hell did this happen in the first place. I know it was not easy for him to admit he fucked up and I can't imagine how hard this will be for him to fix. I'm just thankful, he knows, it's the right thing to do.

"Thank you for making me see the light and come to my goddamn senses," I pull him to me, wrapping an arm around his shoulders, gently rubbing his arms, "and for coming back when you did."

I peer out the patio door to see mom looking back at us, her face beaming with joy.

Rick's in his world, running around the basketball goal with the kids trailing behind, his brown t-shirt clings to him as he makes a slam dunk.

Jenny is sitting relaxed under the shade -tree on the swing Morgan built by hand for Mom over a decade ago.

"I know it's none of my business, but how could you cheat on Jenny?"

"What?" He says gazing at me, his face bursting with confusion, "I'm not cheating on Jenny! Why in the hell would you think that?"

"Well, the rumor mill is spinning about Connie and…" He quickly cut me off before I could finish.

"Connie!" he laughed, outright laughed, "Connie is cute and all, but Jenny is fucking beautiful and I love her and would never, have- NEVER cheated on her, and we certainly don't do what mom and dad did...UGH!" He shuttered with disgust and I chuckled. I had no reason to doubt him.

"But you know she's sleeping with a married man on the board, and it's disrupting the workplace."

His face became serious again and it's the first in a very long time he beamed at me, and then he places his hand on my shoulders. I did not realize until now how much I've missed that.

"You do care about our company." He smiles like a proud parent does a child.

"Yes, and I will never do anything to have you doubting that, ever again." I grab my big brother by the shoulders and pull him in for another hug. I felt him chuckling inwardly as he hugs me back.

"It's Shane, Michonne, Shane is cheating on his Lauren again and I'm done covering for him. Once he gets busted, which is inevitable, he better not let his shit spill into the workplace or he's fired, same with Connie."

"I'll be there every step of the way."

"No more runaway-VP?" He snickers.

"Promise."

"You know when you had those tantrums when we were kids, Mom and Dad secretly change your name from Sugar Bear to War Head." His eyebrows rose together and then we laugh. We walk outside to join our family and the rest, as they say, is history.

6- years later…

Rick POV

I love family traditions, don't you? Aren't the traditional essences usually the best? Worth keeping them alive, don't you think? My favorites are the winter warmers, the ones that make cold days cozy. Is there anything better than peach cobbler with vanilla ice-cream?

I know they are for me. In the summertime, I love a good picnic in the park, fun for children and adults alike. But the best part is simply being with those I love. There is nothing better than the smiles of your nearest and dearest and that is a tradition I will keep forever.

Abigale's yearlong battle with cancer was a tumultuous one, she fought it hard and won. And she remained in remission, cancer-free for a little over five years. Through it all, she never missed a thing. Not one Sunday dinner, not one of Duane's baseball games or Enid's dance recitals. She met my family and of course they loved her and Michonne too. Miss Abby was there for our wedding and the birth of our first child Richard Grimes Jr. Just before RJ's sixth birthday and Abigale's sixty-eighth, her cancer relapses and she passed away on a Friday night. Michonne had just found out she was five weeks pregnant with our second child.

The ending of life is expected, we all live in this mortal plane; it's the cruelty of life that a heart can keep on beating even after it has been broken in two. I vowed that night to damn make sure my children know how amazing their grandmother was.

My children hold my soul in their hearts, and my heart is forever theirs. My children will be free to live, to learn and love whom they love... no rule can contain such a sacred thing. My children have my support for always and my guidance should they every wish to ask. I would walk through the gates of hell to keep them safe and feel honored to be given the chance, feeling only gratitude. My children are our sacred gifts, my wife and mine. We show our children our gratitude by loving them with every power we possess, letting them explore, be adventurous, take risks... yet standing by to catch them if they fall.

Our love is the platform from which our children can do anything they set their minds too.

MPOV

"I'd like to name her Abigale if that's okay with you," Rick asks me over dinner. I'm six months pregnant with our second child and we found out today that we're having a girl.

"Of course," I smile, inside I'm suppressing the grief surging with every expelled breath, that is yet to be sufficiently soothed; But with each passing day coping with the pain becomes easier, "Mom would have loved that."

"Oh, that reminds me; after we eat, we need to go to the garage I need to show you something."

"Oh, what is it? I don't feel like going anywhere. She's active right now and I want to try to calm her down. Being in the car keeps her up and jumping around like crazy." Something about the rumble of the engine gets to her. She's always ridiculously active when we're driving. I have a feeling she'll be like me when it comes to classics cars.

"No, Michonne it's a see not a tell, we won't be out long I promise," he gets up, taking our plates and dropping a quick kiss on my temple.

When we're all in the car and we're securely strapped in ─ he pulls out of the driveway with his hand firmly in place over my baby bump.

Rick's a middle-aged, suburban family man...

So... Are you wondering if he's still a dirty-sexy-beast in the bedroom and anywhere and everywhere in between?

You bet your sweet ass HE IS!

He has been for the last two years and legally for the last four years.

RJ is in first grade and I'm running McQueen Industries with Bob as my VP. Morgan is still chairman of the board and he merged a portion of the company with Herschel Greene of Green Enterprises in a very lucrative deal.

Rick has opened three more locations and now, as you know we have a baby girl on the way. Life is amazing; he's an insane and amazing husband. Loyal to a fault, which is something you would never guess Rick "The Womanizer" Grimes would be capable of. I know the sun will rise and set with this little girl I'm carrying and that very thought make my ovaries ache, hell I'm already pregnant with his offspring and I want more.

After Abigale is born, I'm taking a few years off to raise her, once she's in school I'll go back to work, unless we have another before then. With his libido that wouldn't be surprising.

"Baby, we're here," he unclicks my seat belt then comes around to let me out of the car.

"Mmm, okay, where to?" I ask as he unlocks the door of the shop at the dealership.

"Close your eyes," he covers my eyes with his hand and leads me through the building. "Okay, open."

"Oh, baby it's beautiful!" It's a 69′ Dodge Challenger. Let me rephrase that, it's a 1969 piece of shit Dodge Challenger missing a trunk lid, one of the bucket seats. If I had to guess there's no engine or transmission inside of it. I can see a little rust from where I'm standing.

He turns on the shop radio and as if my parents are smiling down on me their song is playing. It's my song too and I turn the volume up a little more and I sing along.

Gangsta whitewalls, TV antennas in the back

You may not have a car at all

But remember, brothers and sisters

You can still stand tall

Just be thankful, for what you've got

Diamond in the back, sunroof top

Diggin' the scene

With a gangsta lean

We dance around a little, my backside against his midriff, we are swaying from side to side.

"It's for RJ, I want to build it with him and he can have it when he's sixteen. What do you think?" Rick's bearded face is beautiful, his eyes are shining and he's practically trembling with excitement. "As soon as he's old enough to hold a wrench I'll have him building it with me. That way he'll appreciate it when he's old enough to drive it."

"It's perfect," I whisper, silent tears falling down my face. It's exactly what my dad did for me. I built my Katana, Daddy and I started when I was ten and finished when I was sixteen. He would let me drive-in parking lots, but never on the street until I got my driver's license that is. Rick knows this, and the fact that he's keeping the tradition overwhelms me.

"I love it so much, Rick. I love you so much," I throw my arms around his neck and sob into his chest.

"I love you too, Michonne."

We spend the next hour looking over the car and brainstorming ideas of what we would want to do with it. Ultimately, we'll let RJ choose, but we'll need to give him suggestions.

Through the arguments, his jealousy, my tears, his tears at our wedding, his insane mother that sings my praises daily for taming her son. The memory of my parents and the elation of starting our own little family – through all of that, Rick and I have remained ridiculously loyal and in love.

What started as a scary intense sexual situation has turned out as the greatest thing to ever happen to either one of us. I love this man and the life we've built, so very much. What I'm trying to say is it promises to be an interesting happily ever after.

~The End ~