AUTHOR'S NOTES: Thanks for reading and the comments on the last chapter.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Walking Dead or its characters

Apologies in advance for any spelling and grammatical errors. Thoughts in Italics

You, Me, We are Family

Chapter 21

"Now boys," Annette says taking a look around the fully equipped kitchen "Whilst the girls have an afternoon nap, we'll prepare dinner – any suggestions?" She asks opening Rick's fridge-freezer. They all gather around Annette and peer in to see what they had to work with.

"Owww, lamb shanks!" Glenn beams, picking the cellophane wrapped shanks up. "Slowly braised in a thick gravy on a bed of creamy mash with honey glazed baby carrots and green beans on the side!" He hums imagining the final dish once it was made.

Both Shawn and Rick turn to stare at Glenn, brows raised and lips twitched up into smirks. A funny noise comes out of Shawn until Annette nudges him to be quiet.

Glenn looked a little embarrassed being caught getting enthusiastic about cooking by two of the manliest men he knows. He tries thinking of an excuse but nothing comes to him. And then he didn't care, he didn't want to pretend so he just shrugs "Whatever!" hugging his shanks. He loved cooking, had a passion for it and his passion had grown once he met his mother-in-law who shared and taught him everything he knew so far. Annette showed him her tricks of the trade and he was learning his own and sharing them with her too.

"We're all family here, til death do us part, we're stuck together!" Glenn emphasises, head held high "So, might as well get used to this, I love to cook and I love to cook for Maggie and she loves eat it, so there! Make fun of me, I don't care!"

"And so you shouldn't dear!" Annette agrees smiling proud Glenn was beginning to speak up for himself. "Don't give up on what you love doin' especially if it brings you joy and happiness."

Rick's brow slips back down as does his smirk. During his divorce to Lori, he spent a lot of time in front of the TV watching late night cookery channels when he couldn't sleep. He had attempted to replicate many dishes and found it was quite therapeutic especially after rough shifts dealing with idiots, hooligans and Lori. He liked making cupcakes and muffins and when he'd wake up the following day, he'd have to take them to work because he'd made to many and dodged the question of who made them or said he bought them from the bakery or diner. He just didn't get so animated and show so much enthusiasm as Glenn did. But he couldn't deny, he did enjoy cooking and especially cooking for Beth, it made him happy and warmed his heart when she enjoyed whatever he rustled up for her.

Shawn pulls his eyes off his brother-in-law and his future brother-in-law and looks to his mom with a big sideways grin, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "Anything mamma decides to make, is fine by me!" He says kissing the top of Annette's head. He missed her cooking. The diners, drive-ins and restaurants on the road never compared to his mamma's cooking.

Annette squeezes Shawn's waist and looks up at her side "Rick, dear?"

"Fried Chicken," He answers spotting the plate of a whole chicken. Beth had mumbled in her sleep, Fried Chicken when he checked up on her. He had laughed listening to her mumbling and didn't have the heart to wake her up and tease her but would surprise her when she woke.

Carl appears out of nowhere and points to the minced beef "Meatballs!" He grins looking up at Annette from beneath his lashes "Please?"

Unable to refuse Carl, Annette ruffles his hair with a hum.

"I want that too!" Shawn agrees and high fives Carl who had to jump up to smack Shawn's palm. "Dude, let's grab front row seats and watch the magic happen!" he suggests to Carl.

Rick likes how much Shawn got along with Carl and Carl with Shawn. It was a huge relief.

Just as Carl rushes off and climbs up the stool and settles himself to watch, Shawn takes off after him but is pulled back.

"Whoa!" Shawn complains and then looks at the packet of minced beef being thrust into his hands, looks down at his mom confusedly.

"Your helping, dude!" She beams up, patting his gobsmacked cheek.

"Mamma?!" Shawn pouts staring at the mince, wrinkling his nose and then watching Annette giving Carl the last carton of grape juice – his favourite grape juice.

Both Rick and Glenn are sniggering. Rick couldn't believe this was the same guy who looked like he wanted to choke slam him into the table, gnaw off his face and snap him in half, mean and menacing.

"That's my grape juice!" Shawn mumbles beneath his breath walking over and standing there sulkily.

Glenn places a hand on Shawn's shoulder "Dude," he pauses "You've been out cuted by a cutie!" He confirms and looks to Rick for backup.

Rick rubs his hair-free jaw and nods as he lets out a breath. "Jus' one of those things I guess?" He shrugs and looks up holding Shawn's gaze, "Couple of babies on the way too, best get used to it! There's likely to be more on the horizon!" He says throwing Shawn a sorry smile, leaving Shawn to his thoughts.

"…MORE…MORE ON THE HORIZON!" Shawn snaps in disbelief, whipping around and setting off after Rick and Glenn who had picked up pace and took safety behind Annette who begins firing out instructions to her protégés.

Rick sits with his head bowed like everyone else. Hands joined with Beth and Carl which goes full circle around the table whilst Herschel says grace.

After a busy day, this is what he wanted to come home to. An evening meal with his family, Beth and the kids. A reward for the day's hard work. It would be their uninterrupted family time. Everyone present, sitting in their seat with no TV, smartphones, gadgets or telephone calls to interrupt the dinner they had cooked together. It would be a time to discuss how their day had gone, talk about matters which concerned everyone's input and where future family plans were made.

"Amen."

Amen, they all repeat after Herschel and then hands were diving in and grabbing spoons and dishing up food onto warm plates as conversation was at full swing around the table. Glenn feeds Maggie the Lamb Shanks he had slaved away over and he was rewarded with Maggie letting out a deeply satisfying moan when the lamb melted in her mouth like butter.

Rick uncovers a plate in front of Beth and when she sees the fried chicken, she practically jumps at it and grabbing a big drumstick. As soon as she takes a bite from a piece of leg, she falls back into her chair, letting out a moan of appreciation as her eyes rolls back into the back of her head. The chicken was crispy and well-seasoned on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside.

"How's your chicken?" Rick asks amused at how Beth's face had lit up.

"Oh my god, it's finger licking chicken, it's the best perfect fried chicken I've ever tasted!" She states opening her eyes and everyone laughs when she takes another huge bite and offers Rick to take a bite and he does.

"Hmmm!" He hums, not bad he thought pleased with himself.

"Mamma, you outdid yourself, it's gotta be the best batch so far! You're amazing and it's like you read my mind!" Beth grins chewing away.

"I'd love to take the credit on the most perfect fried chicken you've ever tasted but Rick's the amazing chef and it's his secret recipe which I'm working on trying to get so all credit's due to him honey!" Annette smiles nibbling on a chicken thigh.

Surprised but not sure why as she knew Rick was talented in the kitchen, Beth turns to look at Rick. A sweet smile tugs at her lips. She puts down the chicken, grabs his face into her hands and presses a sweet and tender kiss on his lips. She holds his face and smiles up into his eyes when she breaks away. "How did you know, I never told anyone?" She wonders.

A smile plays on Rick's lips remembering how cute Beth looked when she was talking in her sleep. "When you're hungry, you tend ta mumble repeatedly in your sleep." He smirks.

"I do?" She asks surprised and embarrassed.

He turns his mouth towards her cheek and hums "ah-ha!"

"What else do I mumble in my sleep?" She asks giggling enjoying the feel of Rick's baby smooth cheeks.

Rick had a mischievous look on his face which only spreads wider, "Crumpets!" He whispers leaning into her ear so only she can hear.

"Liar!" She laughs nudging Rick in the chest and he laughs along with her, knowing he was pushing his luck.

"But I'd love some crumpets later?" She blushes at what she was asking.

"Whatever you want, I'll give you everything." Rick promises sincerely and Beth leans back in and kisses him.

"Ewww Beth, not at the table!" Shawn scrunches his face, stealing a piece of chicken wondering what was so good about them and then he pauses when he takes a bite and then he realizes.

Herschel watches from his seat and smiles softly listening to the banter and laughter around the table. Rick, Shawn, Glenn and Carl were playing Monopoly. He looks over into the lounge where Maggie, Beth and Snowbell were laying on the individual couches with the cosy fire warming the room as they gossiped and giggled like when they were kids.

He was ready, ready to have the operation.

He knew if anything was to happen to him when he goes under the knife to have his leg amputated, he had three strong and capable men to look after his family. Rick being the newest addition gave him a lot more comfort knowing he would take care of Beth and would step up as the head of the family if the time called for it. Shawn was off around the world majority of the time. He knew the young deputy had his issues but watching him the past month and spending time with him, he sees how much Rick has grown and come a long way from the troubled and complicated man he once was. He saw the love in Rick's eyes for his daughter, the daughter who is his baby. He knows he can trust Rick, trust him with Beth and his family and all their wellbeing.

He looks down at his wedding ring and twirls it around his finger. Before he makes that call when he returns to the farm, he needs to visit his attorney and update his affairs and make any arrangements that need to be made just in case. He will talk to Annette once they get home. Life was good right now and he didn't want to spoil the atmosphere.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Herschel sees the steaming mug of hot coco being placed in front of him. He looks up into the loving eyes of his wife. He feels her warm hands gently rest on top of his. It was their wedding anniversary tomorrow. Thirty-five glorious years. There was nothing he would change about those thirty-five years he spent with Annette but he wanted to spend another thirty-five years by her side. He can hear her thoughts, she wished the same too.

Herschel takes Annette's hand into his and lifts it to his lips.

"We should throw mamma and daddy a surprise wedding anniversary tomorrow, it doesn't have to be grande and OTT like we had originally planned, we can keep it simple with just family and really close friends?" Maggie suggests to Beth watching their parents.

Beth turns to Maggie and nods her head. She wanted her parents to celebrate their wedding anniversary and because of her ill health, the party was cancelled and postponed. She was feeling better and wanted her parents to celebrate their special day and knew they would prefer it low key.

"Meet me in mine and Rick's room later tonight!" Beth whispers "And bring Glenn and Shawn too, we've got a party to organise.

"Is this before you and Rick get your freak on?" Maggie asks with a smirk.

Beth looks confused, not understanding.

"Thin walls Bethy, thin walls!" Maggie scoffs.