The next few days were slow and uneventful. The last he'd seen Negan, he was grinning as Rick fell through that damned portal. The last he spoke to him, though, was that morning.

"Don't forget to change your bandages."

Promptly, Rick began to tear at the bandage. He had changed it before he'd gone to bed, but his reaction was immediate. Rick turned his hand over, flexing his fingers. "Change 'em everyday," he said, holding his phone in between his ear and shoulder. Rick leaned across the bed and dropped the bandage on the nightstand.

"Right. Still got that stigmata?"

"What?" Rick asked, straightening up, and stared at the mark on his palm. He frowned. "I don't think that's the right word."

Negan laughed. "You still got it, then?"

"It hasn't changed much. Not as red. Only hurts once in a while, and when it does, it's this… deep muscle ache."

"Yeah."

"Is it gonna go away?"

"Honestly, Rick, I have no fucking idea. I'm sorry you gotta live with that shit."

Rick shook his head and lowered his hand. "It doesn't compare to what you lived with, though," he mumbled.

"You're right, Rick."

"How are you? How is… well, that?"

"I'm good, Rick. Everything is good and quiet."

"That's good," he said, smiling. "I'm glad."

"Should have done it sooner."

"Over and done with. No more shouldas, wouldas, or couldas."

"Excuse me?" Negan laughed. Rick held the phone closer. "Have I ever told you that Kentucky twang gets me off?"

"Shut up." Rick stood up, switching the phone to the other ear. He walked around the bed and picked up the bandage, crushing it in his hand. "Tell me." Rick opened the door and walked down the hall, stopping in the bathroom to toss the bandage.

"That Kentucky twang gets me the fuck off, Rick."

He huffed out a breath, smiling. "It better. I'll talk to you later."

"Hopefully we'll do more than fucking talk."

Rick ended the call and slipped his phone into his pocket. He went into the kitchen, where Carl and Judith were already at the table, eating breakfast. Rick ran fingers through Judith's hair as he passed, grabbing the box of Frosted Flakes. "Good morning." He leaned against the counter, opening the cereal.

"Bonnie told me she wants strawberries for breakfast," Judith said, mouth full with Cheerios.

Shaking his head, Rick set the cereal box aside and wiped his hands on his pants. "Let's see if there're any strawberries in the fridge."

1:34 PM
Any plans?

1:42 PM
I'm at the park with Judy
1:43 PM
You?
1:57 PM
That's cool too

Turning his phone in his hands one more time, Rick slipped the thing into his back pocket. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked ahead, watching Judith chase another girl around the slides.

"Hey."

Rick turned his head, narrowed eyes softening when he saw Negan. He smiled and looked back ahead. "Hey."

Negan stood next to Rick, crossing his own arms, mimicking him. "What's going on? Park stuff?" He lowered his arms, then, letting them hang.

"Yeah." Rick glanced at him. "You look tired."

"I drove here." When Rick huffed out a laugh, Negan nudged him. "I fucking did. I wanted to swing by your place later, but I don't know where you fucking live, so." He waved a hand. "I know where the park is."

Rick wet his lips and smiled again. "Okay."

"I stayed up a bit last night. Thinking."

"Dangerous thing to do."

Negan rolled his eyes and draped an arm over Rick's shoulders. He stuck his other hand in his pocket. "I'm telling the truth. Did you and the little gal walk here? I can drive you back home. Hang around for a bit." He smiled, raising a brow. "How does that sound?"

Rick watched Judith push the girl in the swing, the two of them giggling. The weight of Negan's arm was comfortable. He looked up at him. "It sounds… good."

"The hesitation hurts, Rick." Negan lowered his arm, patting the space in between his shoulders. "Haven't seen each other in days. Thought you'd be a bit more excited. Enthusiastic. Whatever."

"I know. I was thinking about Judith, and." Rick paused, chewing on his lip.

Negan began to lightly scratch at his back. "And…?"

"Keep doing that."

"Fucking unbelievable."

"How about this, Judith is gonna get tired soon, and she'll run over and beg for something. Probably ice cream. It's usually ice cream." Rick shrugged. "Take us for ice cream, then drive us home. We can hang out a bit, and you can meet Carl."

Negan let his hand drop, fingers trailing and nails dragging down. He studied Rick. "What about after?" he asked softly.

"Wanna stay for dinner?"

Negan smiled, teeth showing, and looked ahead. "Yeah. I'd like that." He reached over, lightly touching Rick's arm, squeezing. "Hey, Rick, can I kiss you?"

He laughed, smiled, and looked back at Negan. "Seriously?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah, okay. Kiss me. A quick one."

Negan continued to smile and leaned in, lips pressing to Rick's, short, sweet. He pulled back, then, and gave Rick a look, lightly touching his cheek. "How was that?"

"It was nice. Thanks for asking first."

"I'm such a fucking gentleman."

"You're ruining the moment," Rick teased, shaking his head and turning away. He looked ahead, Judith and her playmate hugging before she ran off toward her parents. Judith waved and made her way over to Rick, deciding that playing any longer wasn't worth it if she was alone.

Rick crouched down and scooped Judith in his arms. He held her on his hip. "Done playing for today?"

"Uh huh."

"Remember him, Judy?" Rick tipped his head to the side, to Negan.

Judith stared at Negan, a hand to her mouth as she began to smile. "Peacock!"

Negan laughed. "That's right, little lady." He reached out, ruffling her hair. She giggled. Negan lowered himself, getting to her level. "Can I tell you something, though? That's not my actual name."

Judith widened her eyes.

"I know. It's pretty dang shocking. Peacock's so normal, right?"

Rick cleared his throat.

Negan rubbed his forehead. "Can you say Negan? That's my name."

With her hand still to her mouth, Judy quietly said, "Negan."

He reached up and rubbed her arm. "There you go, sweetheart. Now, your daddy said something about ice cream. Would that be something you're into?"

Judith grinned, jumping a bit in Rick's arms. Rick tightened his hold and switched her to his other hip. "I guess that settles it."

Negan took his car keys out of his pocket and jingled them. "Let's go, then." He turned on his heel, and they walked out of the park.

"Thank you, Negan."

Twirling his keys on his finger, Negan smiled at Judith. "You're welcome, darling. But you should wait and thank me until after you get that ice cream." He winked and looked at Rick. He stepped closer, giving his arm a nudge. Rick nudged him right back.

"You got a little—"

"—huh? What?"

"Don't freaking move, Rick. Let me—" Negan leaned in, tongue dragging across the corner of his mouth. He pulled back with a laugh. "Mm, all gone."

Rick reached over and shoved Negan's shoulder, lifting his other hand to wipe his mouth. "Didn't have to do that." He dropped his hand and looked over at him. "You're gross."

Negan pinched him. "Yeah, I am." He picked up Rick's hand, fingers sliding in the gaps. Negan turned to look at the television, and then down at the floor, at Judith and Bonnie. She was feeding her carrots, small sliver after small sliver. Rick watched them for a moment before looking over at Negan and feeling, not for the first time, absolute adoration at the faint smile on his face.

"You gotta stop doing that," Rick mumbled, shaking his hand out of Negan's hold. He picked up their bowls of ice cream, reaching around Judith to get her own, and went into the kitchen.

"Doing what?" Negan asked, standing up and following Rick. He hovered in the doorway, narrowing his eyes.

Rick tossed the bowls into the trash can and turned, facing Negan with his hands on his hips. "You know what," he said. "Making my heart race."

Negan set a hand on his chest, leaning back. "Rick, I had no idea." Slowly, he smiled.

"Mr. Negan!" Judith called.

Before Rick could say anything else, not that he was about to with that look on Negan's face, Negan spun around and went back into the living room. "What is it, Judith?" he asked, crouching next to her and stroking one of Bonnie's ears.

"Wanna hear about the zoo?"

No hesitation in his voice, Negan sat down, crossing his legs, and smiled at Judith. "Yeah, I wanna hear about the zoo! What was your favorite animal?" He picked up Bonnie, setting her in his lap.

Rick walked to the couch and sat down, hiding his smile behind a hand. There it was again: a flutter.

"So, you're the magician?"

"Hell yeah."

"Little old for that, don't you think?"

Carl and Negan stood there, eyes narrowed. Negan pressed his lips together, but Carl, slouched and expression indifferent, wasn't giving him anything. Negan sniffed, rolled his shoulders, and pointed. "Got something on your shirt." Carl looked down, and Negan brought his hand up, flicking Carl on the nose. "Gotcha."

Rolling his eyes, Carl stepped around Negan, looking at Rick who was loitering in the kitchen. "Is he staying for dinner?"

Rick bit back a smile, giving a small nod. "Yeah."

Negan moved behind Carl and set his hands on his shoulders, shaking him. "Got a deck of cards? I'll show you a trick or two."

Carl groaned. Rick turned away to hide his smile, and busied himself with dinner.

Later that evening, Rick and Negan sat on the front porch, on the steps. It was starting to rain. Negan lit a cigarette with his thumb. "I like Carl," he said, blowing out smoke.

Rick hummed. "He wasn't nearly as aggressive as I thought he'd be." He looked over, smiling. "You could lay off with the magic jokes."

"Hey, that little shit started it." Negan pointed at Rick.

"Don't call my son that." Rick reached over and shoved on his shoulder, laughing. Negan didn't fight back, letting Rick push him into the porch's railing, laughing too, with the cigarette dangling between his lips.

He reached over, taking the cigarette away. Rick stuck it in between his own lips and shook his head. "Gotta stop smoking these," he told Negan after blowing out a stream in his face. Rick swallowed and looked ahead, at a passing car. "And get a lighter. Don't use your fucking finger."

Rick expected a comeback snapped right at him, but none came. He lowered the cigarette, knocking ashes off the porch, and looked over at Negan. Still leaned against the railings, he watched Rick with a smile, a small one. They sat there, Rick waiting and Negan doing God knows what. Finally, Negan tipped his head back, hitting it against a rail. He didn't look away from Rick. "So, it does fucking bother you," he said.

"I—" was Rick's immediate reply, but he didn't say anything else. He pressed his lips together and glanced down. Rick smashed the cigarette next to his feet. Truth be told, it did bother him, but this was Negan, and he wasn't going to make him change just because they were in love. Hide it, say something about the kids.

"Negan, look, it's just." If he thought Rick was "special enough", he would have never kept this going so long.

You are fucking special.

"Carl and Judith—"

"—don't give me a bullshit excuse," Negan said, straightening up. He grabbed the cigarette still in between Rick's fingertips and tossed it in the yard. "It fucking bothers me, too, Rick." Negan rubbed his face, sighing. He stayed there, hands covering his face, toes pointed inward.

Rick wet his lips, looking down, away, anywhere but Negan. His eyes fell on him, though, despite the resisting. Rick touched his arm, squeezed, and leaned, resting against him. "Negan," he said softly. "It's fine. It's just a cigarette."

Negan dropped his hands and looked down at him. "It's a lot of tiny shit that adds up." He frowned, just for a moment, and dipped down, giving Rick a kiss. "But thanks for trying to make me feel better," he mumbled, nose to Rick's.

"It's what I'm here for."

"I'm gonna get out of here."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

He stared at Negan's arm, rubbing his palm again his jacket sleeve. "Okay." Rick looked at him, putting on a smile. "Text me when you get home?"

Negan nodded, then leaned in again, giving Rick another kiss. This one lingered, and made Rick want to push Negan back on the porch and climb on top of him. But he didn't, though by the look in Negan's eye, he knew exactly what Rick was thinking. He said nothing, only smiled, and pressed a last kiss to Rick's forehead. "I'll miss ya."

Rick slid an arm around Negan's waist. "Me too." He listened to Negan laugh, and then flinched at the assault of wet kisses to the side of his face. "Holy shit, Negan." Rick pulled back, wiping at his face. "Damn, nevermind. I won't miss you."

"You're a goddamn mess, Rick."

"Me? I'm the goddamn mess?" Rick laughed and took Negan's hand, giving his fingers a squeeze. "Go on. Get outta here."

Negan lifted their hands, kissing Rick's knuckles. "See ya, gorgeous." He cupped the back of Rick's head, lips to his ear. "Love you."

Rick hummed. "Love you, too."

He stayed on the porch, watching as Negan walked through the faint drizzle to his car, keys twirling on his finger. Rick went inside when he no longer saw the car down the road.

7:34 PM
Back.

7:35 PM
:)

Rick pulled his t-shirt over his head and looked in the mirror above the dresser. He froze, eyes widening, when Negan waved at him, a huge grin on his face. Rick turned around and moved toward him. "What the hell are you doing here?" He grabbed Negan's arm, just to make sure he was real, before going to shut the bedroom door.

"Hello to you, too."

"Hi, Negan." Rick leaned against the door, staring at him. He was in that Prince t-shirt and sweats. "You're supposed to—you can't just. What if they saw you?" He shook his head.

Negan spun on his heel, facing Rick. He walked over, hands finding Rick's waist and pulling him close. "I wanted to have some fun," he said softly.

Rick set his hands on Negan's shoulders, sighing. He pushed, making Negan walk backward, across the room and away from the door. "You fucking popped over here to have sex?"

"I mean, I would have stayed the night, but I didn't want your kids to get the wrong idea about me." Negan leaned in, pressing kisses to Rick's neck. Rick closed his eyes and stepped on Negan's foot. "I can leave, if you want. I know I didn't fucking drive here but I figured, I'm fucking horny, you're readily accessible, I'm a screw-up, what can I lose?"

"Negan," Rick started, pulling back enough to look at him. "You're not a screw-up. You've made mistakes, and." He lowered his hands, touching his arms. Rick glanced down, chewing on the inside of his cheek. "I'm about as guilty as you because I've been thinking about this for longer than I'm willing to admit. Having you… here. Whenever I want." Rick stared at Negan, at his amused expression, and he wrinkled his nose. "Shut up," Rick said, and wrapped an arm around Negan's neck. He kissed him, all too rough, and not caring in the slightest if he seemed needy. Negan was the one who had no self-restraint.

Rick buried his face in a pillow, moaned, drooled, clung. Negan bit his shoulder, where no one would see.

Negan curled up behind Rick, an arm around his waist and a leg between his. He cracked his toes. "I'll leave before the kiddos wake up," Negan mumbled. "And this was just a one-time thing. Won't happen again. We hadn't fucked in days, and you looked so damn good today. Not cool."

"Negan."

"Yeah?"

"Shut the hell up." Rick moved his leg, nudging his foot against Negan's. "Tryna sleep. You can guilt me in the morning."

Negan held on tighter. "Guilt me in the morning."

Rick didn't know how, and he didn't particularly care about the specifics. As the light began to shine through the window, each of them woke and reached for the other. They kissed, not caring they were still half-asleep, had morning breath, and that their aim was less than stellar. Rick turned them over, hovering above Negan as he tucked in between his legs. Negan hummed, tipping his head back to look at Rick. "Ya gonna guilt me?" he asked, voice rough and a hint of a smile on his lips.

He wanted to congratulate Negan on remembering their nonsense sleepy conversations, but Rick held his tongue. Instead, he smiled, too, and touched Negan's wrists. Carefully, he squeezed and lifted his arms, pinning them above his head. Rick looked down at him, pressing a kiss underneath his eye. "I'm gonna fuck you," he said.

Negan made a soft sound, a bit intrigued, but it rang more on the desperate side. He moved, wrapping his legs around Rick's waist. "Damn, please, Rick."

"Just like this?"

"Yes, just like this. I'll be quiet." Negan shook one of his hands out of Rick's hold and stuck out his pinky finger. He smiled. "I swear."

Rick counted three pillow lines on his cheek. He hooked his pinky around Negan's. "Thank you." Rick kissed him.

"You're welcome." Negan gave him another kiss. "Now get the fuck on with it while I'm still feeling fuzzy."

He left Negan to his own devices as he rolled to grab the lubricant that had fallen to the floor, after their frantic actions the night before. Rick glanced over at Negan and straightened up, smiling as he hadn't moved, still where he had left him. Negan wiggled his hips. "Come on, Richie."

Rick dropped the lube next to Negan's head, wrapping his arms around his middle. He held Negan close and kissed him, waking up more and more with each one. "Good boy," he murmured. Rick bit his lower lip.

Under him, Negan squirmed. He pressed a heel to the back of Rick's thigh. "I'm a good boy?" he asked, voice cracking.

Rick cupped Negan's face in his hands, nodding. "Yes. You're a good boy."

"Oh, hell." Negan moved, lowering an arm to dig nails into Rick's back. "Fuck me and shower me with compliments."

"You're ridiculous." Rick grabbed the lubricant.

"That counts, Rick. That fucking counts."

The bedroom was quiet. They spent minutes recuperating, Rick watching Negan and trying to discern what was going through his mind while having such a soft expression on his features, but nothing came of it.

Negan leaned in and gave Rick a quick kiss. "I've stolen enough of your time." He sat up, hands running through his hair and trying to smooth it down.

Rick turned over, getting close enough to press his lips to Negan's side. Then, he sat up, too, getting out of bed. "I like having you here," he said.

"It's still time you won't get back."

Rick dressed, watching Negan in the mirror. He picked out fresh clothes while Negan pulled on the discarded ones from the floor. The soft expression was gone, replaced with one that Rick couldn't read. He turned around once Negan caught him looking, and walked over to him. Rick lifted a hand, cupping the back of his neck. "Time well spent."

Negan pressed their foreheads together. "I'll talk to you later," he mumbled.

"Yeah."

He took a step back, Rick dropping his hand. "Want me to text you when I make it back?"

"I'd appreciate that." Rick rubbed the back of his hand.

Negan studied him, head tipped to the side. He nodded, giving a small smile, a wink. "Alright, Rick." Slowly, he spun around, waving a hand. Next to him, a portal opened, and he stepped through without another word. It closed with a small pop. Rick stood there, hands on his hips, looking at the spot where Negan once was. He counted the seconds until his phone vibrated.

Nine.

Rick walked over and looked down at his phone. Negan had sent him a thumbs-up emoji. Rick sent him one right back.