Gemma spent the next several hours awaiting lunchtime. She started at the ticking clock so intensely she could burn a hole through it. She was nervous and excited and terrified all at once. She paced back and forth throughout the kitchen, stopping every time she passed a reflective pot or pan. She for the first time in seemingly forever she actually began to once again care about her appearance.

She combed through her hair with her fingers almost obsessively. She was taken aback by this newfound attitude, and she even began trembling.

What was happening to her?

She couldn't take it anymore and raced to the bathroom. She locked herself in and immediately ran to toilet and vomited. She proceeded to walk to the sink and let the cold water run. She rinsed her mouth out and even splashed some water on her face. Then she stopped and looked at herself in the real mirror.

At she first she could hardly recognize herself. Gone was her youthful glow and starry eyes. Gone was the shine in her hair and dewy skin she once took such pride in. Her eyes began to water has she mourned the girl she once was, the innocence she had lost, and the youth that was taken from her.

She cried sat in the corner of that bathroom for an hour, allowing herself to cry, allowing herself to actually feel something for the first time in ages.

When she had no more tears left in her, she stood and walked back to the mirror. She looked at herself and finally saw the girl she knew was inside her. Her face was flushed, but she was glowing. Her blonde hair had a suddenly healthy look. Her eyes were as blue as the ocean, and they were sparkling. A smile fell upon her face

She realized that in this moment, at this point in time, she was exactly where she was supposed to be.

He returned to the kitchen and was immediately taken aside by Lottie.

"So what's this I hear about Negan asking you to serve him this afternoon?", the girl asked.

"Oh god, well I met him this morning. It wasn't so much he asked me, more so her told me.", Gemma replied.

"Well duh, Negan doesn't have to ask for anything. Well.. except one thing. He could ask you to be his wife.."

"His wife? But I only met him a few hours ago. Why would he choose me specifically to be his wife? I don't even know the man!" Gemma could soon feel anxiety building within her, but also secret a bit of excitement.

"Oh don't take it so personally, The man has like a ton of wives. No, seriously. They all live in a singled off section of The Sanctuary, it's basically a harem. They do everything for him, and besides he other, he's the only person they're allowed to have contact with. It's kinda insane when you think about it, the fact that hes fucking so many women on the regular and they're all completely okay with it. Well hell, I mean it's not really a bad payoff. They get all their needs met and they don't even have to work for anything. And he is kinda pretty fuckin' hot. We'd all be lyin' to ourselves if we said we were at least a lil' bit jealous."

Lottie laughed at her last remark, but Gemma could notice a sense of pain in her face, a feeling of rejection.

Gemma tried laughing along.. "Like he'd ever be into me.. I mean, look at me, the guy definitely would be into someone with a lot more going on.. I bet he just wants to size me up, now that I'm a member of his community and whatnot."

She strangely found herself hoping she'd be wrong about that. True, Negan was definitely older than her, and he had some odd qualities.. But for some reason she couldn't help but be intrigued by him. He had such a strong, dominant presence; something Gemma hadn't seen in quite some time.

Another came and passed and before she knew, Gemma was being guided by and short stocky man, all the way to the other side of the factory. The pathways were so winding and there was no sense of order to any of them. She felt like this lack of organization must be purposeful, she she had know idea how she would grow accustomed to the layout.

Soon, she found herself walking through a desolate hallway, that end there was a large door with large men standing at each side.

She tightly gripped the tray of food she was carrying, for she realized this is it, the moment of truth. She knew that once she walked through those doors her fate would soon be decided for her.

The stocky man announced to the guards "Here she is", and the guards promptly knocked on the door 3 times.

After about 10 seconds, the door swung open.

And there he was.

Negan looked Gemma up and down, slowly. A sly grin formed on his face.

"Now this.. This pretty little picture is the kind of shit a man could get used too."

Gemma felt her face begin to heat up, she hated herself for blushing in a moment life this.

He immediately noticed.

"Aw hell darlin', I'm happy to see you too. Now why don't ya come on in and join me?"

Negan walking back into his room and Gemma followed nervously, but close behind.

The door shut right behind her and the two of them were now completely alone with each other.

The room was huge and the decor was minimalistic, but the was still a great aura of power. There was standard furniture; a couch, a few chairs and a large wooden desk. The was a mahogany wardrobe and vanity, and the whole floor was covered in a lush burgundy carpet. Across for the door, against the back wall and a ginormous bed. The room looked like it belonged to new world royalty, and in all honesty, it did.

Negan sat himself in an armchair that was turned to face the right side of the giant bed. Gemma brought him his tray and he placed in it on a the coffee table that was now to the left of him.

Gemma remained standing, not sure of what to do in this situation.

Negan, still smiling motioned to the bed. With caution, she walked over and sat down on his bed. She couldn't believe she was in this man's room. She couldn't believe she was on his bed. She couldn't believe she was feeling the way she felt.

She looked up at Negan.

"You look like youre about to piss yourself" He said with a chuckle.

"I feel like the big bad wolf and I'm a half second away from blowing your fuckin' house down. So why so tense sweetheart? You've got nothing to be afraid of. Hell, if anything I should be the one fuckin' pissin' my pants. Afterall, I'm completely alone with a stranger in my bed."

He winked.

For some reason, that put Gemma at ease. She smiled and said, "Well there must be some reason you've got me sittin' on your bed and not that couch over there. So.. you said you wanted to hear more about me.. What'd ya have in mind?"

Negan grabbed the sandwich on his fray and took a bite, never breaking eye contact with Gemma as he chewed. He swallowed and responded, " How old are you anyways?"

"20" She replied. Well, probably 20, she wasn't quite sure if her birthday had passed yet. It's not like she's been carrying around a calendar.

"Fuck, just a baby. You're making me feel like an old man, Gem. What the fuck am I supposed to do with a lil' girl like you?"

"I don't wanna burst your bubble Negan, but after surviving this long in this hell hole the world's become, I don't think anyone has the right to call me a little girl."

He took another bite of his sandwich. Gemma, gaining her confidence continued to speak…

"So what's the deal with the baseball bat, Mr. Big Bad Wolf?"

An intense look came over Negan as his voice lowered, "That there is not a bat, lil' lady. That is Lucille, and she is the fucking love of my life."

Gemma stared at him confused but interested.

"Do you wanna see her up close and personal? She right on the other side of this her bed."

Now she was definitely interested. She desperately wanted to go over and look and but still didn't fully trust that he was being serious

He motioned over for her to go and look, so she gave in and carefully crawled across the bed. She was bewildered with what she saw. Lucille was clearly a weapon Negan took great pride in creating, and by her stains she could see she was certainly a very trusty partner.

Gemma turned back around and was surprised to see Negan kneeling on the bed next to her.

There was hardly any space between them to even breath and she wondered how a man of such bulk could so silently sneak up on her. She looked up to see him staring down at her and he was a piece of eat, and he was a dog who had not eaten in days.

She didn't know what came over her, but in that moment she couldn't control herself anymore. She had to give in to what she had been feeling since they first made eye contact.

She wrapped her body around his, pinning him down. She was on top of him and soon, her mouth was locked with his. She felt like a teenager, home alone on a school night with a boy she knew she shouldn't be with. Deep moans came from Negan as he was getting what he wanted all along.

Suddenly, there was heavy banging on the door. Gemma leapt up, almost frightened with herself and the realization of what had just happened.

"Time's Up" boomed a guard. It was time for Gemma to return to the kitchen. Time for this moment to end. She stared at Negan apologetically and walked toward the door. She ot her hand on the knob and but then turned around.

She flashed him the same grinned and winked as he previously did to her.

And then, she was gone.

Negan laid back on his bed…

"Fuckin' FUCK."