The Colony – Chapter 1
A/N – Hi all! This is a new story I have been playing with in my head for some time now. I will also take this story to flesh out a little back-story to one of the most hated characters on the show. I think Negan has the potential to be something other than a murderous asshole with a warped sense of codes and morals. I have never read the comics so I only know what I was told about him…that he was married to Lucille and he cheated on her constantly before the apocalypse. This is not an attempt to soften or try to change the character's portrayal in the TV show or the comics. I do believe that under different circumstances he and Rick and TF could actually become friends and allies because of their common interest to protect their families. I also believe that if given the opportunity TV Carl would have reached Negan's "human" side. However, that ship has since sailed. Please note that this story is 1000% Richonne. As a Richonne writer that is the only end game for me so there will be no hanky panky between Negan and Michonne in this story. EVER! Hope you guys enjoy this one!
Five years ago (Before the zombie apocalypse)
Michonne held onto Negan tight as he wailed into her lap. They were sitting in the car while the rest of their family said their last goodbyes to Lucille, Negan's wife. Her battle with ovarian cancer was finally over.
When she took her last breath, silently they were all relieved. She was suffering. She looked out the window and saw her own three children Adrian, Corrine and Ky-mani comforting their cousins Sonia and Ryan with the lost of their beloved mother. The already close knit family grew closer because of Lucille.
They rallied around her during the last nine months of her life when St Frederick Community Hospital advised that they could do nothing more for her. Negan was livid at the hospital and doctors but as a doctor herself she understood their position. At this point Lucille needed to be made as comfortable as possible until her hour comes.
She consulted her father Ezekiel a retired army doctor on the best course of action. It was decided with Negan that Lucille should live out the rest of her days at home among her loved ones. Negan promptly retired from the US Marines to be with and comfort Lucille. She took a yearlong leave of absence from St Frederick's to be Lucille's home care provider.
It was difficult at first to rearrange everyone's schedules but after three months, everything was running smoothly. Family support was overwhelming and Lucille's last nine months of her life was her happiest. She was smiling and laughing a lot more at home.
However, as the disease ate away her body, her laughs became less and less and her smiled became painful grins. In the last month of her life, she was completely quiet. Even speaking brought her immense pain. Despite all that she was going through, Lucille's eyes told us that she loved us all, that she was ok and we would be okay.
On September 9th 2013 Lucille passed away in her sleep. Negan's howls woke her up and when she rushed into the room, Negan was holding Lucille in his arms begging her to come back. Their two children, 11 year old Sonia and 10 year old Ryan ran into the room.
They rushed to their father and cried for their mother. She walked over and cried with them. She, her father Ezekiel, her brothers Gabriel, Tyrese and Bob and her sister Sasha made all the funeral arrangements. It was the least she could do. He was there for her when Lincoln, her husband and his younger brother died three year prior.
She never knew she could feel so much pain until Lincoln death. He was killed in a bomb explosion in Iraq which was supposed to be his last tour. He had planned on becoming a physiotherapist for injured army vets so he could spend more time at home with his family.
He never got that chance as he was taken away from them. Negan was to be on the team deployed to replace Lincoln's. He got the news first at the army airstrip and asked that he break it to her. She had just come home from work and he was parked in her driveway.
It wasn't uncommon to see him there and he casually followed her inside. It took only a minute for her to put down her bags and go to the fridge to offer him a drink. When she turned around his eyes was red and he was fighting back tears. At first she thought it was about Lucille who was just diagnosed with cancer until she saw the envelope.
That dreaded white envelope with the red government seal that all military wives and families fear. She dropped to her knees screaming and Negan was right besides her whispering 'I'm sorry.' In spite of his own grief by the death of his brother, Negan was a rock for her and children.
Her father, brothers and sister was also shoulders she cried on. They took care of everything. She thought she would go insane but she didn't. She rubbed Negan's back into soothing circles and his cries turned into sniffles. It was hard seeing him so broken. She looked towards the graveside again and everyone was disbursing.
Adrian, Corrine, Ky-mani, Sonia and Ryan formed a hug ball of comfort for each other. Ezekiel walked to the car and tapped on the window. She sent it down. Her lap was soaked from Negan's sorrow.
"He's not ready dad. You guys go ahead. We'll meet you at the house."
He nodded and walked away.~*~*~*
In spite of Negan invitation, she stood a respectful distance to give him time alone at Lucille's grave. He had stopped crying but his eyes were red and puffy. He kneeled down placing a single daffodil flower at the base of the headstone which read:
"To my loving wife, defender, best friend, soulmate and mother of my children Lucille Cassandra O'Toole."
He whispered.
"I didn't want you to go but I'm glad you're at peace. No more pain, no more suffering. I promised to love you until death do us part and I did. You were ½ my heart and I promise to give the rest to our children and our family. I will never make them forget you as long as I live. I love you Lucy as I will never love another."
He kissed the headstone and walked back to Michonne. They embraced.
"Let's go home."~*~*~*
Four months ago (Two and a half years after the zombie apocalypse)
They looked down on Alexandria. It is gone. It is really gone. They can't believe it. After fighting so hard to find a place after the prison fell, Alexandria was their saving grace. When Rick and TF was recruited by Aaron and Jesus and brought to ASZ, they didn't know what to expect.
Alexandria's had a population of about 70 people and was led by a woman named Deanna who welcomed them with open arms. The resident Alexandrians looked at them like rabid dogs as they were caked in mud mixed with sweat. Rick remembered sporting a full brown dirty Santa Claus beard which looking back was scary in itself outside of his general appearance.
They were emotionally beaten and down trodden by the perils of the road. His first impression of their new benefactors was 'blissfully ignorant' and 'woefully unprepared' for any hardships in life. According to Deanna, since the world went to shit, they formed this community and hasn't ventured too far outside the walls ever since.
Her husband Arthur an engineer and his apprentice Noah worked tiredly to make themselves self sustainable as far as is possible. They had walls, solar panels and a well for clean water. There were one or two community members who had their own kitchen garden in their past life and grew small crops as best as they can.
Their plans worked for a while because they were aided by the dense forest on the East, West and North side of the community which prevented the handful of walkers that wondered nearby from reaching them. However, the shrubbery also masked hidden dangers like the Wolves groups that attacked them five months ago.
They barely recovered as many of the people were slaughtered in the dead of night. Many of the original Alexandrians didn't stand a chance as they didn't see the need to learn how to fight despite his pleas with Deanna that it was necessary. They saw the errors of their ways after that night.
When the dust settled and a body count of 38, including Deanna's husband Arthur and two sons Spencer and Archie, she ordered Rick to begin the immediate training of the remaining residents. However, that order came a little too late. The commotion of the Wolves invasion attracted a slow but steady enough stream of walkers along the distant and hidden forested borders along ASZ walls over the coming weeks.
The trees and dense forest that once protected them almost became the walls of their coffins. It was just a random detour of a patrol by Abraham and Daryl that brought their sickening horrifying reality to light. Thousands of walkers were advancing on Alexandria from all sides.
Abraham and Daryl almost lost their lives trying to fight their way back to ASZ to warn Rick and the others as the way they came was completely cut off. They reach ASZ but not with enough time to mobilize everyone to formulate a plan. The walkers descended on them pushing the walls over like feathers in the wind. Their only option was to flee.
Rick and TF escaped unhurt except for minor cuts and bruises. Some of the Alexandrians also escaped but others weren't so lucky because of their limited training. Deanna stayed back even though she could have escaped. Rick suspected it was guilt, that she felt responsible for the deaths of so many people because of her stubbornness.
She used herself as a diversion so that Rick could get the rest of her people to safety. That was about 18 people, including Noah, Beth's boyfriend. Rick's hand clenched as ASZ crumbled before his eyes. He looked over at Maggie who had only last week found out that she was two month pregnant. It was supposed to be a fresh start for her baby. Carl appeared next to him.
"Come on dad. We have to go."
He looked at his son and then turned to the rest of the group. He nodded and they began walking away from another home lost yet again.~*~*~*
Present day….
Ezekiel walked out on the balcony of his two storey home out into the soft morning sun. He looked around at the two acres of farm land in the country. When he retired from the Army and bought the property, his children, including Michonne laughed at him.
They wondered what he was planning to do with it. When he told them he planned to farm the land, it caused further laughter. He ignored them and bought material and properly fenced his land, build stables and pens. One year later he bought four horses, five cows, two bulls, sheep, goat, ducks and chickens and hired Donald and his wife Pearl to help him
On weekends while his children worked, his grandchildren flocked to his house for the weekend to help him. They also encouraged their cousins Sonia and Ryan to come as well. Everyone enjoyed themselves and soon his produced expanded. Two months later he hired Oliver to plant short crops on his land. Everything was going smoothly until that faithful weekend he got that phone call.
When Michonne called him and said that the dead were eating people, he thought she was joking. As usual, the children were at the farm with him. He moved away from them to a quieter place. She repeated what she said and asked if the children were ok. He told her they were fine and to stop playing games.
She screamed that she wasn't and told him to turn on his radio. He did and his body went numb. The radio announcer was shouting the exact same things Michonne was talking about. He turned it off and ordered that she and her siblings immediately come to the farm. If what was happening is true then the city will be hit first and the hardest. She assured him that everyone is coming to her house and they will be there soon. Before she hung up she warned him.
"Don't let anyone in dad! Don't let anyone in!"
Ezekiel ordered Oliver, Donald and his wife Pearl to bring their families to the farm to be safe. Later that evening, Michonne, Gabriel, Tyrese, Sasha and Bob were at the farm. He had told the children what was going on and they were scared and ran to their parents, aunts and uncles at the gates.
"Where's daddy?" Sonia and Ryan asked halfway to tears.
"I spoke to him. He's on his way!" Michonne assured them. "He and some of his former army buddies are coming to fortify the farm so we could live here."
Everyone remained inside the house. At 11 pm, four army trucks, one filled with soldiers and the others with building supplies pulled up at the gates. The trucks wheels were covered in blood. Some of the soldiers were also covered with blood. Negan jumped out of the back of one of the trucks.
"Sonia! Ryan!"
"Daddy!"
They flew into his arms crying and he told them to be quiet as he wiped their tears.
"Shhhhhhh! We have to be quiet! They are attracted by sound!"
He hugged Ezekiel and his in-laws. After a brief discussion, they decided to start work at first light in the morning. The family took shift sleeping to watch over the soldiers so they could get a full night's rest.
They worked three days straight to get the farm secured and each day the news on the radio got worse and worse. They section off several parts of the land as a failsafe that could be closed off and firebombed should any part of the outer walls were breached. The doors and windows of the two storied main house were tightly secured.
The three other small two bedroom concrete houses that were also on the property when it was bought were also secured. Small two man look out platforms were put at each cardinal point around the property. On the fourth day the population was being advised to kill immediately anyone who is bitten.
Ezekiel invited the soldiers to stay but they insist on going back to the city to look for their families but promised to return as soon as possible. Unfortunately none of them ever did and for months afterwards Negan felt guilty and wondered constantly about their safety and that of their families.
They left on the six day after being well rested for their journey. Before they left the farm, as payment for all their hard work, Ezekiel, along with Oliver and Donald slaughtered the remaining three cows left on the farm. Pearl picked and mixed strong seasoning bush and applied it to the meat.
It was packaged in large garbage bags. The soldiers were grateful. The last thing they needed to be worried about is tainted food. Then they drove away. He looked over the balcony and called out.
"Going out?"~*~*~*
Michonne strapped the katana to her back and looked up at the voice talking to her from above.
"Yeah."
He pointed at the gate.
"Well hurry up! Don't keep your posse waiting."
"I'm going!"
She pulled her locs in a ponytail, picked up a knapsack, slung it over her shoulder and began walking towards the gate. As she passed everything, she felt proud of how far they come. She will never laugh at her father again.
He may not have known that the world was going to end but he buying this place is what saved their family. It was their home for the past three years. Because of him, they were able to offer other families shelter as well. Now The Colony which her father christened it is almost fifty people strong.
There were old, young and middle aged people. There were conflicts among people but it was handled without any lasting damaged to friendships. Her daughter called out to her.
"Mom! Hurry up! Uncle Bob is cooking today and I want to be back before lunchtime so I don't miss out!"
She finally reached up.
"Patience Corrine! You know Bob isn't going to start sharing anything until you get back!
She grinned.
"Where is Adrian?"
Corrine pointed to her older brother up ahead killing a walker. His horse Pickles was grazing nearby.
"He said he's tired of waiting."
They started walking out the gate when someone screamed at them to wait.
"Wait! I'm coming! I'm coming!"
It was Sonia all geared up.
"I thought you were going out with Negan and Gabriel this evening?"
"I can't with Uncle Gabriel! Can you explain to me a man who is on the verge of tears every time a deer or rabbit get shot and has to say a prayer but has no qualms shooting a man in the face?!"
They laughed at her.
"And dad encourages him! I just can't."
They laughed at her some more.
"Gabriel is a priest and he prays for the innocent. Animals are innocent, people aren't…well atleast not anymore."
Sonia pointed up ahead. Adrian was gesturing impatiently at them to come on.
"Let's go before I strangle my first born!"~*~*~*
The group moved at a much slower pace because of a heavily pregnant Maggie. She was six months along and in addition to the morning sickness, she had chronic back pain and brutal leg cramps. All the painkillers were used up and it was becoming increasingly difficult for her to walk long distances over a period of time.
She was starting to feel like a burden but everyone rallied around her, assuring her that they will find a place before the baby comes. They stopped by a large fallen rotting tree for Maggie.
"I'm going to scout up ahead."
"I'm coming." Daryl said.
Rick smiled.
"I'm coming too." Shane announced.
The eyes of some of the group glanced at each other and inadvertently at Lori.
"That's not necessary. Daryl and I got this."
"You need all the help you can get."
"Your help is the last thing I need."
"You can't stop me from helping Rick."
"Fine. It's your choice." Rick answered tersely.
Shane ignored Rick's snappiness and touched Lori's cheek before going over to him.
"Be careful Rick." Hershel called out.
"I will." He turned to Abe and Glen. "Keep everyone safe. If a herd comes your way before we come back you know what to do. We will find you."
"Yeah."
The three men disappeared in the forest.~*~*~*
Lori knows that everyone have quietly treating her like a piranha. Her full blown relationship with Shane despite being married to Rick has become the focus of some very unpleasant conversation and situation. Her marriage to Rick was on life support for years and months before the dead started to walk she believed her marriage was officially dead even though divorce was never mentioned or discussed.
When their last daughter Izzie was two, she slept with Shane for the first time. She wasn't drunk or high or anything like that. Neither was Shane. She just wanted to feel something other than loneliness.
Rick worked extra shift to make enough overtime so that he would get enough money to start the renovation and expansion of their home from three bedrooms to four. She was primarily a housewife but did work a couple of temporary jobs so that she could get the money to buy stuff when Rick didn't have enough to give her.
Shane came by the house looking for Rick to tell him about a private job with a big payout. He said that he have tried calling him on the phone but to no avail. She didn't know what came over her but she pounced on him.
She knew Shane had a thing for her since high school and was told by a mutual friend that he wished it was him and not Rick that she was getting married to. She was hoping for him to push her off, to reject her but he didn't and they had sex. They kept away from each other until the day Rick got shot and Shane left him in the hospital thinking that he was dead.
It was easy to fall back in and start having sex again after that. Then a couple months later, Rick walked into their camp very much alive and kicking. She knows she couldn't see the shock on her own face but Shane was white as a sheet. It only took a couple of weeks of their body language and the overall atmosphere in the group for Rick to catch on.
Then one day he just came right out and asked her if she was having an affair with Shane. She couldn't deny it. She cried and confessed she did but they haven't had sex since he came back. That didn't make a difference to Rick. He didn't argue or cussed her out. He just stared at with his cold blue eyes then walked away. She immediately went to Shane and told him that Rick knew.
Shane waited for Rick to approach him, demanding an explanation for his betrayal but up till this day he never did. As months went by, Rick continued living with her, sharing the same bed but he never touched her again. He talks to her when he has to, protect her when the need arises and gives her whatever else she needs to survive…that's it.
Rick was now there physically but she felt more alone than ever. When they found Alexandria Rick put the final nail in the marriage. He still lived in the same house but he moved out of the bedroom. They had separate lives, their only link being Carl, Judith and Izzie. It was then she started a full relationship with Shane.~*~*~*
Carl did his best to stay out of whatever was going on between his parents and tried not to think about the part that Shane played in it. His main concern was to shield his sisters from the pending explosion that was bound to happen someday. At only sixteen years, he was forced to take sides several times in their silent battle.
Each time they lost a home and his father is forced to care and protect his mother as her legally married husband, tension always got worse and it affected the group. Judith who is twelve picked up the anxiety between their parents a few times and asked Carl about it. He would tell her that mommies and daddies sometimes don't like each other all the time. As of right now, he's just mentally preparing himself for Izzie's question.~*~*~*
Shane looked on as Rick and Daryl talk up ahead. They were on their way back from searching up ahead and the road is clear. He missed the days when Rick was his best friend. He broke the ultimate cardinal rule of brotherhood – don't ever sleep with your best friend's wife whether he's dead or alive. He has no excuse for what he did, is doing but knows it will never be enough.
In time of crisis, Rick still acts like Lori's husband and sometimes he's confused and doesn't know if he should official step up and claim Lori as his own or accept his position as the forever side dish. Rick and Lori is good as divorce but he is still afraid to claim her publicly even though everyone knows they are intimate. Maybe one day, Rick will forgive him.~*~*~*
They were moving again and Maggie did her best to keep up with great difficulty. Suddenly Rick and Daryl, who was up ahead held their hands up and everyone halted. They were hearing voices up ahead. Rick motioned for everyone to get down as he and Daryl moved ahead. They came to a semi clearing between some trees.
Two young ladies and a young man was talking and picking fruits from a nearby tree. One of the young ladies was carrying a katana strapped to her waist while the other had a large metal bat with spikes melted to it. The young man was packing some major heat with a 9mm and shotgun. The way he stood suggest he had some sort of military training.
"They're just kids." Daryl whispered.
"Yes but they could have food and water. They could have a camp…where Maggie could rest and have the baby."
"Are we robbing kids now Rick?"
"No but we need help."
"I'll step out first." ~*~*~*
The young man saw him first and screamed.
"Contact!"
Corrine and Sonia were startled and dropped the bags with the fruit. Adrian's shotgun was trained on the man with the long shaggy hair and bow and arrows while his other hand patted Pickles briefly to soothe her. Corrine unstrapped her katana and Sonia held her bat in pre swinging motion. The man held up his arms.
"I'm not here to hurt you. A member from our group needs help. She's pregnant and needs a place to rest."
"How do we know you're telling the truth?"
"You don't but I have no reason to lie."
"How many of you are in your group?"
"About thirty….forty."
"Where are they now?"
Daryl nodded in the direction of the thick forest. The ladies looked but the young man's eyes never left Daryl's face.
"Do you have a camp nearby?"
They didn't answer.
"Please!"
"Even if we have a camp, it's not our decision to take you there."
The young man finally spoke.
"Then who's is it?"~*~*~*
Rick was losing his patience with the 21 question being asked. He shifted nervously on his feet. He took one step forward and felt cold, sharp steel against his throat.
"Where do you think you're going cowboy?"~*~*~*
When Daryl saw Rick paraded out by a cloaked woman with a sword to his neck he pointed his bow and arrow to her.
"Mom!" One of the girls yelled.
The young man stepped closer to Daryl and between the two young women. The woman was wearing a shawl and her face was covered. She stepped to the side of Rick with the weapon pressed firmly at his throat. At first he didn't understand her move but realized that from that side angle it would be easier to take Rick's head off. Rick swallowed as slowly as he can but his Adam's apple grazed painfully against the sharp instrument.
"Tell your friend to put down his bow and arrow or you will lose this pretty head of yours with those luscious brown superman curls."
"Do what she says Daryl."
He refused, instead taking another step forward.
"Just give me the word mom..." The young man spoke again. He was one of few words and more action. He took another step towards Daryl. Now he was in perfect range to blow Daryl's head clean off without any residue remaining.
"Put down the weapon Daryl. We need their help."
Slowly he did.
"Now go back there and bring your people forward."
He disappeared and minutes later returned. This time the woman had changed position and had Rick directly in front of her. The point of the katana was pressed firmly against the base of his neck. One forceful push and he's instantly paralyzed.
She surveyed the group included the men who moved to the forefront upon seeing Rick in his vulnerable position. Their guns were cocked but still holstered. There was indeed a pregnant woman who was leaning against one of the men. A slim brunette rushed to move forward.
"Rick!" she cried.
She pressed the sword's edge hard into the Rick's
"My wife is pregnant. Please help her." The man with the pregnant woman said
In that instant, the woman doubled over pain.
"Oh God!"
Corrine gasped.
"Mom! She's bleeding."~*~*~*
Michonne sprang into action seeing the blood running down the woman's pant leg. She barked orders at the woman's husband.
"Get her to the horse now! Pickles know the way home. She will be attended too!"
"I must go with her!"
She hesitated. The man looked worried.
"Go!"
Once Maggie and Glen were on the horse, she gave another order.
"Tie the red bandana on Pickles. They will know what to do."
A smack on the butt and Pickles was off. The other young lady emptied the fruits from one of the back.
"All weapons in here…now."
Rick nodded in agreement and they complied. Once the weapons were safely in their possession that she finally moved the sword.
"Turn around." She ordered
He did and was stunned to see her weapon of choice.
"What's your name?"
"Rick. Rick Grimes."
She cocked her head to the side as if she didn't believe him. He had his own question.
"And you are?"~*~*~*
