Carl and Rick woke up early the day Michonne was supposed to return. They got Judith bathed and dressed and made her breakfast, but neither of them ate. Rick usually would suggest that Carl eat, but he knew Carl was just as nervous as he was and he didn't push it. Everyone was on high alert, and they had piled all the supplies that they were giving to Negan in the center of town. Rick took Judith to be watched by an elderly couple, far from he and Carl. He didn't want Negan to think Judith was connected to their family in any way.

Carl, Rosita, and Father Gabriel were manning the gates, when Rick met them there after dropping off Judith. Rick climbed up to the perch that Carl was on and stared over the top of the gates. Carl took in the worried look in Rick's eyes.

"She's ok dad. She's coming back today" he reassured Rick.

"Yea I know" Rick agreed, "she and Daryl."

The two peered into the distance in silence together. They paced around the perch for hours, waiting for a glimpse of a car, or any kind of movement, but there was nothing. Every hour that dragged along caused Rick's stomach to tighten more and more. He was so worried he physically felt sick. Rick noticed that Carl looked the same way he felt. Carl was pacing back and forth and he looked pale.

"Carl, you should go back to the house for a little while. Get something to eat, it's almost three and you haven't eaten anything yet. I promise if there's a sign of something I'll send someone to get you." Rick suggested.

"No" Carl said, staring out into the distance. "I don't want to eat and I have to be here when she gets back. I have to."

Rick just nodded. He felt the same way Carl did. The watch shift changed and Rosita and Father Gabriel were replaced by new people, and still Rick and Carl waited in silence for Negan to show, but there was nothing.

It was almost six o'clock when Rick said "I'm going out to search for her."

Carl nodded and followed his father to an available van. Rosita and Spencer who happened to be outside saw the duo getting into a van and ran over.

"Rick, what are you doing?" Rosita asked with concern.

"I'm going to look for Michonne" he said matter of factly as he started the engine.

"I'm coming" Rosita responded and immediately jumped into the van. Spencer followed suit and the four of them drove out of Alexandria's gates.

They traveled along the roads searching for any Saviors' vehicles.

Maybe they ran into a herd? Or they went off the road? Maybe she's hurt. Maybe she had to escape from them and she's on her way back? Rick thought.

Rick tried to think of any scenario that would explain why no one had shown up but he couldn't.

They scanned the roads in silence until it got too dark to stay out. Rick knew they had to go back home but he couldn't bring himself to say it out loud, and Rosita and Spencer didn't have the nerve to tell him. Finally, Carl said "dad we have to go back now."

Rick sighed and nodded, his hopes of finding Michonne tonight deflating. He turned the car around and headed back to Alexandria, hoping she'd be there when he got back.

When they arrived, the supplies were still piled up, and Rick was crushed.

"They wouldn't travel in the dark. They're not coming tonight." He said to Carl, as Rosita and Spencer climbed out of the car.

"What happened? Why didn't they come back?" Carl asked, even though he knew his father knew just as much as he did.

Rick opened the door to the car and sighed. "I don't know Carl. Something must've happened."

"Dad she's ok. She said she'll be back. She keeps her promises." Carl said with a confident voice.

"Yea Carl, she'll be back soon" Rick said, but it was unconvincing.

"You know Michonne, she is a survivor. She will come home. She can survive anything."

"I know Carl. I know she can. But if she's not back by tomorrow afternoon, we're gonna go find Negan and kill him." Rick said calmly.

Carl's head snapped up at Rick's words. A small smile flashed across his face. "Yea. We will."

"Go ahead home. I'm gonna be on watch tonight. Make sure you eat something." Rick said in a voice that Let Carl know he was serious.

Carl nodded. "Ok dad".

As Carl walked off towards the house, Rick headed to the watch post, dismissing the person on duty. He sat down and rested the rifle in his lap. As he sat there alone, he thought of all the possible reasons Michonne wasn't back yet. As much as he tried to focus on watching the horizon for cars or signs of anyone approaching, he couldn't stop his mind from wandering to all the things Negan could be doing to his love.

It has to be Negan. Is he keeping her to mess with me? Was he planning on keeping her all along? What is he doing to her? Did he beat her? Rape her? Is he holding her prisoner? Is Daryl even still alive?

In his mind he pictured Michonne chained up in a dark basement somewhere, beaten, raped, and alone. A sob burst from Rick's mouth and he put his hand over his mouth to stop himself from making noise, as his body shook with his cries.

I will find you. I will find you Michonne. Please just be ok.

Rick took two deep breaths and wiped the tears from his eyes. Crying wouldn't help Michonne. Planning would. He spent the rest of the night outlining a plan to find Negan, get Michonne back, and murder him if she was harmed in any way.

Meanwhile, Carl had just put Judith in her crib. He went downstairs to grab an apple and a glass of water. He told his father he'd eat, but he wasn't in the mood for a meal. Not with Michonne missing. Not when he knew she was with a murderous lunatic who had already shown that he had some kind of attraction to her. Carl set the apple and glass of water in front of himself and then sat at the kitchen table and pulled out his gun. He unloaded it and began to clean it thoroughly. After he removed any dirt from the barrel, he carefully reloaded it and placed it in it's holder on his hip. He was ready. If Negan had harmed her, Carl would shoot first and ask questions later.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Tynesha shook her head at Michonne and backed away, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"You can't beat Negan. You can only survive him. You're as helpless against Negan as I am. If you try to do anything he'll kill you and your people." Tynesha said.

"He can't hold everyone down forever. He's one man. He has weaknesses…"

"No!" Tynesha said loudly, "I can't. Don't ask me to."

Michonne just stared as Tynesha turned around and faced the window again. Michonne, realizing that Tynesha was done with the conversation, turned around and went back into the living room.

A few hours later

Michonne's lack of sleep or food was starting to take its toll on her body. She sat on the couch, still in the lingerie Negan had forced her to wear, but as she sat there she could feel her eyes closing involuntarily. She'd realize she was sleeping and jolt herself awake, but within a few minutes her eyes would start to close again. After a few times of being jolted awake, her tired body finally overrides her brain and she fell into a deep sleep.

She was sitting in the living room of her home. It was dark in and outside the house, it seemed like no one was home. She slowly rose from the couch and looked around the empty house.

"Rick?" she called, "Carl?"

There was no response. "Judy?" Michonne tried, but she could tell there was no one home.

She walked to the front door and opened it, freezing in horror. Her community was on fire, the houses were burning and there were bodies in the street. The front gates had been knocked down. She could smell burning wood and flesh, but there were no sounds. Not a single living thing. It was like a graveyard. She stepped off the porch into the desolate town, searching for anyone who was alive. She searched for her family, her friends, but Alexandria was a ghost town.

Negan. She knew that Negan had done this.

"Rick?!" she called down the street, knowing in her heart that he, Carl, and Judith were gone. Dead. As was all her friends and family. She was truly alone. A scream escaped her mouth as she collapsed on the ground in tears, willing herself to die too. Suddenly she heard shuffling behind her. She turned around to see a walker Rick making his way towards her, his mouth open in a snarl, his blue eyes now dead and bloodshot red as he growled and reached towards her. Not fighting it, she closed her eyes and waited for his bite.

Michonne's eyes shot open as she was startled awake, and then she got a second shock as Negan's eyes were staring down into hers. She leaped off the couch which she had been laying down on and scrambled to her feet, her heart racing.

"Damn, you ok?" Negan asked, "you were fucking screaming in your sleep."

Michonne stood there panting, trying to get her bearings and calm down. Negan looked her up and down, staring when he realized her robe was now open and he could see every curve of her body. Not like the sheer robe hid much, but the sight of her bare skin made him itch to touch it. Michonne quickly slowed down her breathing and noticed Negan's eyes rolling up and down her body. She pulled the robe together and tied it with the belt that was attached.

"Are you ok?" Negan asked again, concern creeping into his eyes.

Michonne didn't answer.

"Fine. Ladies!" Negan called angrily. As usual, his wives quickly made their way into the room, each kissing him as they arrived. "Let's go eat" he said quickly, grabbing two of his wives, one on each arm, and walking out of the room leaving the other women to follow.

Michonne was grateful he didn't want her to walk with him. She was still upset from her dream, still picturing Rick's dead eyes staring at her. What scared her the most was she knew if he wanted to, Negan could do what she'd dreamed. He could destroy everything, kill everyone that ever meant anything to her, and they wouldn't be able to do much about it.

During dinner Michonne sat a few chairs away from Negan and she was grateful for it. Maybe his fascination with me is wearing off she thought to herself. She looked over at him out of the corner of her eye and could see one of his wives was trying to talk to him, but he was staring over his wife's head at Michonne, barely blinking. Guess not.

Still looking straight ahead, Michonne watched Tynesha out of the corner of her eye, who was sitting on her other side. Tynesha was moving rice and beans around her plate, but she didn't seem to be eating much. She must've noticed Michonne watching her because she looked up and glanced her way before she shoved a forkful of rice into her mouth. Michonne wondered if it was a mistake asking Tynesha for her help. The woman was in a dire situation, but she had lived under Negan's rule for so long, maybe she was brainwashed into believing that he was invincible. Even though she didn't agree to help, Michonne sensed that she wouldn't tell Negan about their conversation. I hope I'm right Michonne thought.

Michonne looked down into her untouched plate. She was starting to feel dizzy from her two day fast, but she knew the end was near. She was going home tomorrow, no matter what.

After Negan finished eating, he called two of his men over and whispered something into their ear. He then stood up and left the cafeteria. The two men stood behind Michonne, alarming her and causing her to grab the fork that was on the table in front of her.

"None of that" one of the men said, nodding towards her weapon. "We ain't gonna hurt you. Negan asked us to bring you to the garden. Let's go."

Michonne snarled in annoyance, but dropped her fork on the table and stood. The wives that were at the table watched as the two men led Michonne away. She was taken into an elevator and brought up to the rooftop garden that she'd been taken to on her first day at the Sanctuary. The two men led her inside and then turned around and left. She was alone. She paced up and down, anxious about why she was here and what Negan expected from her. She walked up to one of the large windows and could see her reflection in the glass. She felt vulnerable walking around in underwear, being held prisoner in an unknown location with a man who had already slaughtered two of her friends and tortured another. She sighed and adjusted the robe, trying to hide more of herself. Just a few more hours left Michonne, then you're going home. She took the time to think back to her last night with Rick, the way he made her feel loved and safe. She missed him and Carl and Judy so much. Before she could stop it, a tear quickly rolled down her face, and she moved to wipe it away.

The sound of the doors opening startled her, and she spun around to see Negan entering the garden.

"Hi" he said as he walked towards her. Michonne stood where she was and watched him, her eyes narrowing as he approached.

Negan cleared his throat and put his hands on his hips, giving Michonne one of his maniacal smiles. "Guess you're wondering why you're up here huh?" he asked.

Michonne just looked ahead blankly as Negan continued.

"Shit, I don't know how to say this, so I'm just gonna fucking say it. I can't fucking get you out of my head Michonne."

Michonne's eyes widened in shock. "What?" she gasped.

"I've never felt this way about anybody. Not even Lucille. It's actually fucking annoying as fuck." He sighed as her expression turned to disgust. He took a step forward and she took a step back, bumping against the glass of a window. Her eyes searched around, looking for a possible escape route if she had to run.

He saw her eyes searching around and he stopped moving closer, dropping to his knees in front of her, startling her. "Stay Michonne. Please. You could have a good fucking life here. I can be different if that's what you need. You could help me run things the way you want them to go. I can change" Negan begged her.

Michonne opened her mouth and then closed it again, not believing that he was begging her to stay here. She inched away from him further and he didn't follow her, staying on his knees and watching her intently.

Is he serious? He's lost his mind!

"So if I say no are you going to throw me into a cage?" she asked, finally regaining her voice.

"No. But I'll be fucking disappointed." Negan responded.

Michonne went quiet again as she thought.

"If you're serious about what you're saying and you really want me to stay that much, let Daryl out of the cage." She commanded.

Negan got up from the floor and Michonne tensed up again. She didn't trust him for a second.

"Ok done. I'll let the little bitch out. Come." Negan said as he turned around and started walking. Michonne followed him on high alert, not knowing what he had planned. He took her downstairs to Daryl's cell and unlocked the door. Daryl had eaten the food she brought him for breakfast, and was now sitting upright against the cage walls. His eyes opened as the lights came on.

"C'mon bitch, your owner's come to pick you up" Negan taunted as he swung the cage door open. Daryl looked at the open door in surprise. His eyes then moved from Michonne to Negan, obviously thinking it was a trick.

"It's ok Daryl, you can come out" Michonne said, reaching out her hand for him to take. He stared at her hand for a few seconds, still skeptical about getting out the cage, but then he reached for it and she helped him crawl out of the enclosure. Once out he plopped on the floor, seemingly unable to stand.

"Get up" Negan commanded him.

Daryl tried to stand but immediately fell back on his butt. Michonne put an arm around him and gave him support so that he could get to his feet, but he was so shaky that if she let go he'd fall on the floor.

"He needs a bed" Michonne said, looking towards Negan. He led them down the hallway to a cell that had a cot and a chair. Michonne helped Daryl onto the bed and turned to look at Negan. "I'm going to stay here with him" She declared.

Negan rolled his eyes. "Fine, but think about what I told you. You see I'm willing to cooperate. Give me an answer when I come to get you in the morning." Negan looked Michonne up and down one more time and then turned around and closed the room door, leaving the two of them alone.

Michonne dragged the chair up to the bed that Daryl was laying in and sat down next to him.

"Why'd he let me out?" Daryl asked softly.

Michonne sighed and held Daryl's hand. "He asked me to stay here. He… he likes me, or is infatuated with me or something. I don't know. But he wants me to stay here."

Daryl squinted his swollen eyes and shook his head in disbelief. "What? Michonne did he… did he touch you?" Daryl asked. Michonne looked up to stare at Daryl. "No. He hasn't. This outfit is the worst he's done to me. He said I can stay and change the way things work here. Maybe… maybe I can get him to leave Alexandria alone. I can keep everyone safe."

Daryl shook his head. "No Michonne. Nothing is worth you staying here. We can end this, but we're not sacrificing you. That man is a monster. Look at what he's done…" Daryl suddenly paused and wiped his eyes. "He's a murderer and a piece of shit. I'll be damned if he turns you into one of them wives he has. And you know Rick will come for you if you stay here. Think about Judith and Carl. Think about everyone who loves you."

Michonne stroked Daryl's hand. "I am"

"Don't do it" Daryl warned. "Nothing is worth that".

Michonne nodded her head. "You need to get some sleep Daryl, we have a long ride tomorrow. I'll stay up, I'll keep watch."

Daryl began to protest but Michonne stared him down. "Go. To. Sleep" she demanded. He quickly gave up his protests and closed his eyes. He laid quietly for a few minutes as she sat in the chair thinking about her situation. "'Chonne?" Daryl called softly, with his eyes still closed. "Yea?" Michonne asked. "You look hot" he whispered. She gave a surprised chuckle and smiled, and within minutes Daryl was softly snoring.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Michonne must've dozed off for a few minutes because she was rudely awakened by the cell door being slammed open and hitting the wall. She jumped from her chair, instinctively reaching for her katana which wasn't on her back. Daryl was awake and attempting to lift himself into a seated position on the bed.

Negan and three guards entered the small cell. "Morning Michonne" Negan said pleasantly, "You're looking as beautiful as ever. Have you made your decision?" he asked, a glint of hope crossing his face.

Michonne swallowed and then said "I'm not staying".

Negan's face changed to anger. "Fine. Crawl back to fucking Rick. See how much better your life is" he spat. "Have fun finding supplies for me."

Negan nodded and the guards quickly wrapped blindfolds around both her and Daryl's eyes. They were then dragged from the room. As she walked she could hear Daryl grunting as the guards roughly guided him, probably pressing on his many bruises. They walked for a while until she could feel that they were outside. She felt gravel under the stiletto heels she was wearing, making it hard for her to walk. She tripped once or twice, but finally she could hear a car door opening and a man said "watch your head". Someone pushed down on her head as she climbed into a van. She could feel Daryl roughly pushed in next to her.

"Let's go visit your boyfriend shall we?" Negan called from the front of the van. The van started and took off down the road. As they traveled, Michonne could hear Daryl breathing heavily next to her, and could feel the bumps from potholes. She reached over to where she knew Daryl was, and felt for his hand, quickly patting it to give him reassurance. She was surprised when he held on to her hand and squeezed it. She squeezed back and they sat hand in hand as the van drove. They must've been traveling for at least 45 minutes when the van squealed to an abrupt stop, throwing both of them against the seats in front of them.

Michonne could hear the driver mumble "What the fuck?". Suddenly Negan began to laugh. "Well lookie here Michonne, we have company. It's for you."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXxx

Rick, Carl, Rosita, Father Gabriel, Spencer and Tobin had been driving around the roads for hours searching for any signs of Saviors, or a car wreck which could explain where Michonne was. Rick hadn't slept all night, and judging by the bags under Carl's eyes he hadn't either. They woke up that morning, loaded the supplies for Negan into a truck, just in case Michonne was ok and they ran into the Saviors, and they set off searching. Two hours in, they ran into the convoy of cars and vans and Rick knew immediately it was Negan.

Rick and Carl immediately hopped out of the car and walked towards the vehicles. The rest of the group hung back with their weapons at the ready.

Negan climbed out of the van with a big grin on his face. "Just the steer I wanted to see, how motherfucking convenient it is to meet you on the road like this" he announced.

"Where's Michonne?" Rick said, walking straight up to Negan ready for a fight. Carl stood next to him with his finger on the trigger of his gun.

"Well, that's part of the reason I was on my way to your little hovel of a town. I can't wait till you see what I've done to your girl."

"Where the fuck is she?" Rick said, his eyes widening in a panic. Carl pulled his gun and leveled it at Negan's head causing the rest of Negan's men to draw their weapons.

"Oh no no no Rick" Negan said with a smile. "You and your mini me are at a disadvantage here. You go around pointing weapons at people, and poof, there goes your boy's other eye. And he'll never get any pussy if he's blind. Who wants that shit?"

Rick looked over at Carl. "Carl, put the gun down" he said. Carl stared at Negan with disgust, but aimed the gun downward."

"Good boy Carl. Wouldn't want anything to happen to mommy would you?" Negan asked. Carl practically snarled at Negan.

Negan chuckled and brought his attention back to Rick. "Where's my supplies?" he asked.

"Where's Michonne?" Rick asked again.

Negan laughed and began to circle Rick and Carl. "Let me make this clear Rick" Negan whispered into Rick's ear from behind, "You do what I want, when I ask you to do it. If I wanted, I could just shoot you and your bunch of losers, take the supplies, and no one would be the wiser. Fucking kiss my ass like a man, and you might just get your boo back. Now where the fuck are my supplies?"

Rick glanced at Carl who was shaking in rage. He knew he had to give in. "They're in the van" Rick grumbled. "Good boy" Negan said, patting Rick on the head like a dog. Negan motioned to some of his men to get the supplies out of the van.

Rick and the rest of the Alexandrians stood there helpless as Negan's men took all the boxes from the van they'd brought. There was still no sign of Michonne or Daryl. After the van was loaded, Negan stretched as if he'd just woken up from a long nap. He turned and began walking back to his van.

"Well, I guess I'll be going then, nice doing business with you Dick. Until we meet again…" Rick leaped from his spot and tackled Negan to the ground, pressing his gun to the back of his head. Carl held his gun up to cover his father, as the other Alexandrians took positions to cover both Carl and Rick.

"Don't fucking play with me" Rick growled into Negan's ear. "Give me Michonne and Daryl NOW, or I swear I'll shoot you now and deal with whatever consequences come after that. If they're not here, you're not walking away from this."

Negan was shocked by the surprise attack, but he quickly laughed it off. "You sound just like her" he chuckled, "and look at the cyclops, he's ready to shoot me too! This is rich."

Rick clicked the safety off his gun.

"Stop! Stop it!" Rick could hear someone yelling from the van. He immediately recognized Michonne's voice. "Michonne!" Rick yelled, temporarily distracted, and Negan used the opportunity to spin around and kick Rick in the gut, making him drop the gun. Carl moved forward and pointed his gun at Negan's head, making him freeze.

"Let her and Daryl go NOW" Carl demanded. Negan gave Carl a big smile. "I really like you kid, you have the biggest pair of motherfucking balls I've ever seen on a kid your size. I'm impressed. How did a badass like you end up with such a wimp of a father I'll never know. Michonne must've taught you well" Negan said with a wink. "I'll let them out the van, but you and the rest of your loser friends need to put your guns down and kneel".

Carl looked over to Rick and Rick nodded slightly. Carl put his gun down and then kneeled in the dirt, as did all of the other Alexandrians.

"Good" Negan said, rising and dusting himself off. "Let 'em out".

Rick could hear the doors to the van slide open and he could see Daryl exit first. He was in bad shape. He looked like he had been beaten badly, and he had dried blood stuck to him from the gunshot wound that hadn't been treated by a doctor. His eyes were also black and blue, but when Rick noticed two of his fingers were missing he almost broke down in tears. His friend had been tortured.

Carl's eyes widened in surprise at Daryl's state, but he was glad that he was still alive. Daryl's appearance made Carl immediately nervous for Michonne. Did they do the same things to her?

Rick kept staring at the van until he saw Michonne being pulled out. Both he, Carl, and the rest of the Alexandrians stared in disbelief when he saw what Michonne was wearing. Rick's mouth dropped open and a blind rage seared through him.

Negan made her wear that. Negan saw my Michonne naked. He humiliated her.

Rick was about to jump from the ground and tackle Negan for a second time when Carl beat him to it. Carl punched Negan in the face and stomach so quickly no one had time to react.

"What the fuck?" Negan shouted as Carl continued to pummel him. Michonne who had taken off her blindfold saw what was unfolding. She also saw Negan reach for his gun. She ran towards the fighting pair and ripped Carl off Negan, throwing herself on top of Carl as a shield, just as Negan aimed his gun.

Negan was panting from the beating he'd just received and his hand was shaking as he aimed his gun at Carl. Rick crawled over and placed his body in front of Michonne and Carl.

"Shit" Negan said, wiping some blood from his nose. "If I wanted to hurt her kid, I would've. You've got a fucking wild right hook. Good aim for a cyclops."

Michonne could feel Carl shaking underneath her and she put a hand on his chest to calm him down.

Negan stared at the three of them on the ground in front of him and slowly lowered his arm. "I can't believe you chose him over me Michonne" Negan said sadly, shaking his head. "You're a queen among fucking peasants that's for sure." Negan spit on the ground in front of Rick and then turned on his heel, signaling his men to leave.

Rick, Michonne, and Carl stayed on the ground until the cars drove off. Rick then stood and helped Michonne up as Carl got to his feet. Rick took his t-shirt off, and helped Michonne to put it on, as Carl took his outer shirt off and gave it to Michonne who wrapped it around her waist. Rick quickly kissed her on the lips, and then he and Carl helped Daryl over to the van so they could go home.

Author's Note: Thanks for the suggestions, I tried stringing together some of the things you guys requested, hope you liked it. The next chapter will probably be the last one, so if you have some suggestions for what you want to happen, let me know and I'll see if I can incorporate that in. And also, please leave a review!