The following morning, you awake with a quiet grunt. You had grown accustomed to sleeping on the floor ever since Negan and his men took away your mattress, but that didn't mean that you didn't have the slightest of pain at your lower back.

You rub your eyes, looking up to see both Rick and Negan leaning against the wall at opposite ends of the corner. They had fallen asleep once more and you quietly grab your bag, leaving the main room to head to the bathroom. Locking it behind you, you stare at your reflection in the mirror.

Negan and Rick both had said that you were a fighter, but right now, you felt too emotional to even consider yourself as a fighter. You run your hands along your long hair and take a deep breath, your eyes drifting to your reflection as you stare at yourself. You take note of the emptiness in your orbs before rummaging through the drawers for scissors.

You needed a change. You needed to cut your hair. You were about to embark on a new beginning and you wanted to start fresh.

"A-ha!" You say quietly, grabbing the scissors from the drawer. You look at yourself and back down to your locks. With a deep breath, you hold an ample amount of hair before allowing the scissors to cut through the thickness of it.

Once your hair sat perfectly at your shoulders, your eyes move to the cut hair on the floor of the bathroom. You had cut your hair before the apocalypse and you just hoped that it looked okay.

Raising your eyes to the mirror, you finally let a smile line your lips. You felt like a new woman. Your hair, with maybe a few touch ups here and there, would look natural but other than that, your straight locks were cut as perfect as it could be in this world.

However, you hear a quiet knock at the door following Rick's voice.

"Are you in there?" Rick calls out.

"Y- Yeah. I'm just – Just changing." You were glad that you had taken your bag with you and pulling out the new set of clothes, your eyes drop to the photo of you and your husband. You slip out of your blood-stained jeans and large t-shirt before collapsing to the ground with tears welling up in your eyes.

You bring the photo to your chest and allow yourself to release all your emotions. You didn't know when you would finally be alone without someone hovering nearby, but you just couldn't hold it in anymore.

Memories of your husband flash through your mind and you let out a quiet sob.

"Is everything okay in there?" Rick says. He must have heard your sob.

Stuttering, you try to reply. "I – I'm fine."

Instantly, you look up to see Negan barging in. His smile falters at the sight of your tears before he takes notice of your attire and also with the new hairdo. Though, he didn't bother making a snarky remark at this moment. His eyes drift to the photo in your hand and he steps aside the small bathroom to let Rick step in. He figured he would allow someone you were comfortable to calm you down.

"I just – I saw the picture and I couldn't help myself…" You say, looking up at both men with your knees close to your chest and your hand tightening around the small photograph.

Your eyes drop down to the photograph and instantly feel tears well up in your eyes. Your husband died before the apocalypse due to cancer but that didn't mean it hurt any less. Your run your thumb across the photo and instantly, you had to bite your lower lip from letting another sob escape your lips.

You looked so happy and he had that charming grin on his face. It was the day that you both found out that his treatments weren't helping. It was such a difficult day, such difficult news to grasp. He had insisted that he bring you to the beach to watch the sunset with a box of pizza – it reminded him of your first date.

"Is it Denny…?" Rick asks. You told him about Denny when Rick was in a slump over Lori's death. You knew what it felt like to lose your significant other, but you couldn't understand his pain or Carl's at the way that Lori passed away.

Negan furrows a brow, looking down at you. He didn't mean to eavesdrop, but he couldn't help it. He didn't know why he continued to feel sudden need to comfort you, to make sure you were okay.

Rick takes the photo from your hand, looking down at it with Negan hovering over his shoulder. Both men had seen it before. Negan would be lying if he said that seeing your smile – even through a photograph – wasn't captivating.

"He died before the apocalypse, but I just – I miss him so much…" You shake your head, trying to wipe any tears away from your cheeks, but it was no use. The tears continued to stroll down your face, continuing to stain your cheeks.

"From the way you talked about him, he sounded like a great man," Rick says, placing the photo back into your bag.

"I don't think he would have survived in this new world… He was too nice sometimes," you smile at that memory, shutting your eyes and imagining his smile from behind your lids. "My mom always told me that I scored big time with him. He was every woman's fantasy of what a man should be. Then … Then, we were both surprised when we found out he was suffering from heart failure. He was in so much pain. Used to joke around and blame me for taking his heart. Always told him that he deserved it because he took mine too…" You begin laughing at that and suddenly, you feel more tears run down your cheeks to your chin. You wipe it away slowly, looking up to see Negan watching you intently.

He looked deep in thought.

Clearing your throat, you stand up clad in your bra and panties before grabbing your shirt and jeans, pulling them on quickly as both men watch you carefully. Once you were dressed, you pull on a jacket and slip on your boots, looking up at both men.

"Sorry you had to see that… I'm fine. We should go now." You say. You couldn't stand the silence and you sure as hell couldn't stand the way that both men were looking at you.

"We're not going anywhere." Negan says which causes Rick to turn around to look at him. "You're not safe to go anywhere, doll. You're emotionally unstable right now. You'd be a threat in my community just as you would be in Alexandria. We'll stay here for a few more days and then we will head out." Negan looks over at Rick, holding his stare with one of his own.

"Do we have a fucking problem with that, Rick? I'm sure you're thinking exactly what I'm thinking."

Rick takes a deep breath and shakes his head. "No, Negan. No problem here. We should probably scout for some food then."

"I packed a few canned goods that will last us a few days. I'm not hungry, so you two can eat." You say, handing Negan your bag before you move to the main room to sit at the corner of the room. You look past the cracks of the barred windows and sigh when you see a few walkers walk past.

"My spaghetti must have been damn good if you aren't hungry," Negan smirks in your direction, following you to the room as he tosses Rick your bag. "Go and cook us something, Rick. I'm going to keep her company."

Rick grumbles under his breath and walks to the kitchen while Negan walks over to you. He takes a seat next to you, though he keeps his distance.

"I could handle myself, you know? I'm not emotionally unstable. I'm just fine."

Negan laughs quietly, shaking his head. When your eyes meet his, you take note of the grin he was wearing as usual.

"What did I say about fucking lying, doll? Being emotionally unstable gets you killed in this world. You ran away asking to die, didn't you? You didn't care what would happen to you once you were out of those walls." Negan says, his eyes moving to your length of hair. Usually he liked women with longer hair, but apparently you were an exception.

"I still don't understand why you're here, Negan. What I do shouldn't concern you. If I wanted to die, then who cares? One less fucking person to worry about on both ends, don't you think?" You quip back.

"And here I thought I was making it fucking clear that I like you, doll. Listen, I know we got off on the wrong foot with me bashing in your friends' brains in, but I do mean well. The only way this is going to work is if you understand that."

"How do you mean well, Negan? You're asking for half of Alexandria's shit, just like you're asking for half of the Hilltop's. Do you really think that our group, that Rick, wanted to kill your people? Do you think we wanted to kill all those men in their sleep? You're taking it out on the wrong group…" You admit. You knew you shouldn't have outed Gregory or the Hilltop, but you couldn't handle it anymore.

Alexandria was paying for Gregory's cowardice.

"What the fuck are you talking about? How do you know about the Hilltop?" Negan looks into your eyes. Shit. Maybe you shouldn't have told him that.

"Gregory wanted you out, Negan. Rick… Our group… We had no idea who you were and why that man feared you so much. He's a fucking coward who likes to hide behind people who could do his dirty work. We were desperate for supplies, so Rick made a deal. We take you out and then his community will help ours and vice versa."

Negan looked like he was about to bash your head in from the way he was gripping Lucille and you slink back against the corner, looking up at him.

"We're not bad people, Negan. We do what we have to do to survive, just like how you're doing with your own community. You can't lead the new world order if there are people wanting you dead." You tell him. Maybe if he understood what you were saying then maybe he would back off of Alexandria, but at this point, you had nothing else to lose.

"I'm going to kill that fucker Gregory." He mumbles under his breath, looking over at the kitchen to see Rick preparing the food. "And I'm going to have a fucking talk with Rick, so thank you again for the information, doll. Seems like you're starting to switch sides. I'd say I'm fucking growing on you."

Then there it was.

The damn smirk.

"Just preventing more people from dying."

Rick comes back into the room with each a bowl of beans and while it wasn't the best meal, it was something that could fill your stomach. Negan takes it from him, remaining close to your side as Rick narrow his eyes at the both of you.

His mind was racing with thoughts about you and the kiss from last night. He loved Michonne, but he also couldn't help that he actually liked when you kissed him.

"Rick, you know Gregory?" Negan asks innocently, taking a scoop of the beans and bringing it to his lips with a disgusted look on his face. "Holy fucking shit, this is disgusting. I cannot wait to go back home and have my chef cook me a damn good meal. This is pathetic."

Rick tightens his jaw, looking at Negan.

Interrupting Rick before he could even speak, you turn towards Rick, brushing your legs against the side of his own. You couldn't help the sudden want to be closer to him at that action.

He turns his attention to you, arching a brow with a small grin on his face.

"You're still eating it, aren't you? Stop complaining and be thankful that you have something to eat. There are worse things than this," you say.

Negan just scoffs, continuing to eat his beans with a slight glare. Rick nods in your direction as your eyes lock with his for a moment.

"You didn't answer my fucking question, Rick. Do you know Gregory?"

Rick stiffens for a moment, shaking his head. Fuck.

"Gregory? Should I?" He responds.

Negan laughs, finishing his food and setting his bowl aside. "Either you're a liar or doll, over here, is and since she's a bad fucking liar, I'm calling bullshit on your answer. I'm going to ask again and I want the right answer. Do you know Gregory?"

You send an apologetic look towards Rick before the other man sighs. "Yes. I'm aware of who Gregory is."

"Then you also must know Hilltop," Negan says.

"Yes. I know Hilltop."

"Small fucking world," Negan smirks, leaning back against the wall. His body slowly moves closer to yours and you couldn't help but want to lean against him, but you prevent yourself from doing so.

You figured that Negan would give Rick shit for trying to kill him, for listening to Gregory, and also for taking some of his supplies back at Alexandria. Though, half of what Negan retrieved from each community was his so it was simply moot point.

"Can we just go back to Alexandria, please? I just want to take a bath and be alone… Staying out here is dangerous, especially if there are only three of us." You plead quietly.

Negan looks down at you before back at Rick, grinning slightly.

"Technically, we're only going back to Alexandria to get your things and then you're coming back with me to my community."

Rick clears his throat, walking in your direction. "Can I talk to you for a second? Alone?"

You look up at him and see his hand extended for you. You bite your lower lip, glancing at Negan before you take it eagerly. Negan feels jealousy settle at the pit of his stomach once more, but he couldn't let it show.

"You will talk right fucking here," Negan says. You sigh, following Rick to the opposite end of the room. His thumb brushes against the side of your hand before he stares into your eyes. You could feel yourself drowning in his blue eyes, biting your lower lip.

"You cut your hair… Looks really nice." Rick says.

You blush slightly, dropping your eyes and letting your lips curl upwards. Negan watches you carefully. Damn it. Maybe he should have complimented you before Rick did.

"Figured I'd do something new for once. I'm glad you like it because I'm not sure how I feel about it yet. I'm sure it'll grow on me though."

Rick suddenly catches you by surprise when he cups your cheek to bring you in for a kiss. You lean against him, resting your hands on his chest as your lips move against his once you realize that he wasn't stopping anytime soon.

"Enough!" Negan says, standing up and grabbing your wrist to pull him away from Rick. "She was just talking and crying over her dead husband a fucking hour ago. And as much as I root on other men getting pussy, this one is mine."

Rick looks up at Negan with narrowed eyes. Fuck. Rick was staring at him in a way that he stared at the Governor – filled with pure anger.

"Careful how you're fucking looking at me, Rick."

You pull your wrist from Negan's grasp, shaking your head.

"I don't belong to you, Negan. And Rick… I don't belong to you either. You kissed me and it was nice, but you're too late. Now you have to face Michonne and tell her what happened." You say, grabbing your bag and tossing the keys at Rick, seeing him catch it. "We're leaving. Let's go. If you both want to argue, go ahead, but you won't stop me if I leave on my own. I'm giving you both the chance to bring me back now, so I think you should take it," you tell them.

Negan grins down at you. "Damn, doll. I sure love a woman who takes control," he winks. "You heard the woman, Rick. Let's fucking go."

The ride back to Alexandria was quiet with an uncomfortable silence between the three of you, but you couldn't help the fact that you were slightly leaning against Negan. He looks down at you and takes note of you inching your body closer to his and when you look up, you were met with his primal-like grin.

About an hour later, the gates to Alexandria open and you feel Rick stop the car. Negan quietly breathed a sigh of relief to see that his men had stayed overnight – fuck, they were going to be rewarded tonight.

"Grab your things, doll. We've gotta get going." Negan orders, motioning for one of his men to follow you to your place. You pack all the clothes that you had – which wasn't much – and place it into your bag. You look around the area and sigh quietly.

Once you leave your house, you approach Negan and realize that he was holding Judith. Rick looked like he was about to kill the man despite the consequences.

"Look at this little angel, doll." Negan tells you as Michonne stands nearby. You didn't see a threat whatsoever. If anything, it made Negan that much more attractive to you at the sight of him holding a baby.

"Let me – Let me say goodbye to her." You take Judith from his arms and instantly hold her against your body, feeling her rest her cheek against your shoulder for comfort. Rick, Michonne, and the rest of the people of Alexandria watch you share a moment with Judith.

You pull back to look down at Judith, the smile on the baby's face making tears well up in your eyes. "Hey, sweetheart. You be good for daddy and your older brother, okay? I'll see you soon… I promise." You kiss her forehead, stroking her hair back away from her face before handing her to Rick. You give Michonne a hug before turning to Rick once more.

Leaning in, you place a kiss on his cheek and whisper quietly, "Carl's at the Hilltop with Jesus. Get to him before Negan does." You pull back and take note of the look in his eyes before he forces himself to look neutral to not give Negan any clues.

"Alright, darlin'. Time to bring you to your new home!" Negan climbs into a truck and you take the passenger seat before the rest of his men take another car.

You were alone in a car with Negan. Great.

You look out the window once he begins driving away from Alexandria. Sighing, you lean back against the seat and stare at him for a moment.

"I can tell that you're fucking into me, doll. No need to hide it anymore."

You roll your eyes. "Stop trying to read me," you tell him, trying to end the conversation.

He grins, glancing over at you. "You didn't say no…"

"I didn't say yes, either," you respond.

"Well, at least we're fucking getting somewhere," he laughs.

Negan focuses on the road as you stare out the window, spotting a few walkers in the distance that posed no threat to you or the man you were with.

"Once we get to the Sanctuary, I've got a few propositions for you. I'll lay down the ground rules and whatnot. I've already given you the grand tour, so that's outta the fucking way."

You don't respond. Instead, you bring your legs to your chest and sigh quietly. You didn't know how you would be able to adjust to his rules, but you figure you had to try.

"By the way, you're not going to make me fall in love with you," you tell him. You heard him last night and his vulgar choice of words, but if you were being honest, it kind of turned you on.

"What about screwing your brains out? I'm sure it'll be enjoyable for the both of us, doll." He smirks.

"Not happening."

"We'll see about that." Negan grins.

After another hour, Negan pulls up to the gates of the Sanctuary. You glance around, taking notice of the zombie "moat" he had around his compound and your eyes instantly take note of Daryl once more.

At least you had an upper hand here. You knew Eugene and you also knew Daryl. All you had to do was gain Negan's trust and then betray him when he least expected it.

"Come on, doll. We've got a lot of shit to talk about." You climb out of the truck, placing your bag on your back as Negan leads you through the compound, seeing people kneel at his presence.

"Don't worry. You'll get to do that soon," he grins.