"Rachel," Rick nods. "I can't believe you made it out of the prison."
"Yeah, well. I'm made of strong stuff," she smiles nervously. "Judith?"
"She's fine," Rick smiles.
"What are you doing here?" Rachel asks.
"Carl said he'd seen you, up at the sanctuary. And i spoke with Daryl this morning," Rick says.
Rachel's eyes widen. "Is Daryl okay?"
"Yeah. He's at Hilltop," Rick says.
"You shouldn't be here, Rick. Negan's got eyes and ears all over the place," Rachel frowns.
"We were careful," Jesus says.
Rachel nods. "What do you want, Rick?"
Rick tilts his head, letting out a deep breath. "Your help."
"With what?" Rachel asks, surprised.
"This needs to stop. Negan's out of control, do you know how many people he's killed of ours?" Rick asks.
Rachel rubs her temples. "Not even close to how many we lost to you."
"It's not the same," Rick says.
"Why? Because it's your people? Who are you to dictate which lives matter?" Rachel asks.
"You know he killed Glenn, right? Maggie's pregnant, and now, he's left her a widow," Rick says.
Rachel looks down at her feet. "What do you expect me to say?"
"That you'll help make this right," Rick frowns.
"What about my people?" Rachel snaps. "I was at the outpost when you attacked us. You think you would've spared me?"
"Well someone did, otherwise you wouldn't be here," Rick points out. "You're a good person, Rachel. You don't belong with the saviors. You belong with us."
Rachel shakes her head. "What makes you think that you're the good guy? You killed people whilst they slept!"
"We had to. Negan and his saviors are nothing more than violent thieves. They just take what they want, and to hell with anyone else," Rick says.
"So what's your plan?" Rachel frowns. "You're going to take out all the saviors? There's too many of us, Rick."
"It doesn't have to come to that. If we take out Negan, that should be enough," Rick says.
Rachel grinds her teeth. "You really think i'm going to let that happen?"
"It's what needs to be done! You know that!" Rick spits.
"No, i don't know that. I'd take a bullet for Negan, do you understand?" Rachel stresses.
Rick stares at her. "Why don't you kneel like everyone else? Daryl said he's never seen you kneel."
"I.. i just don't," Rachel says.
Rick tilts his head. "Negan expects everyone to kneel, so what makes you so special?"
"I'm not special, i just-," Rachel starts.
"No, i'm not buying that for one second. I know you're with him," Rick says.
"So. That doesn't make me special. And if you knew Negan, you'd know that," Rachel says.
Rick raises an eyebrow. "I know all about his wives, if that's what you mean. But you're not like them. Daryl said they never leave the compound, and that Negan's different around you."
"Daryl's been quite observant, hasn't he," Rachel quips.
"You know the difference between right and wrong, Rachel. Taking people prisoner, burning people's faces, that's not you," Rick insists.
"Things aren't that simple anymore, Rick. You can't tell me, that you've always done the right thing. Only that you've done the right thing for your group," Rachel says.
"Daryl said you were too close to this. He said he still thinks you're good, but that you wouldn't help, because you're letting Negan fool you. You remember Andrea?" Rick frowns.
Rachel frowns, her face growing red. "Oh come on, Rick! This is nothing like Andrea and the Governor!"
"It's exactly like that! You just can't see it!" Rick shouts.
"I'm under no illusions with Negan! I know what he can do, i've seen it!" Rachel snaps.
"Then why? How can you be with someone like that?" Rick asks.
"You're on the outside looking in. It's easy for you to think you're the good guy, because everything you do, you do it for your people," Rachel says.
Rick's face drops. "You love him, don't you."
Rachel stares at her feet. "That's none of your business, and it doesn't matter."
"It does matter. I came here, asking you for help. I need you, we, need you. Don't turn me away," Rick pleads.
Rachel clenches her jaw, her eyes brimming with tears. "I can't. I won't tell Negan about this, but i can't help you, Rick. I'm sorry."
"So you're gonna fight against us? Because that's what it'll come down to," Rick points out.
Rachel grits her teeth and walks away.
"You're gonna have to pick a side, Rachel. You can't sit on the fence forever!" Rick shouts after her.
"Well that went well," Jesus says.
Rick shoots him a nasty look. "It could've gone better."
Jesus shrugs. "So plan b then?"
Rick closes his eyes and sighs. "Plan b," he nods. "But not yet."
Rachel heads back to the sanctuary empty handed. She goes straight to Carson's office, but finds it empty. Rachel heads to Negan's room.
"Hey, beautiful!" Negan smiles, getting up from the sofa. "You catch anything good?"
Rachel shakes her head. "No."
Negan frowns. "Really? That's not like you."
"I don't feel so good. Have you seen Carson?" She asks.
"He's spending some time in the cells," Negan says.
"What? Why?" Rachel frowns.
"Found a note from Sherry in his office," Negan says.
"Oh come one, Negan. You're not stupid enough to think he had something to do with Daryl and Sherry escaping?" Rachel frowns.
"I'm not one hundred fucking percent! That's why he's in a cell, and not fucking dead!" Negan says. He takes a look at Rachel. "Hey, you don't look too good, baby. What did you want to see him for?"
"Nicotine gum," Rachel says. She suddenly feels lightheaded, her mouth fills with warm saliva. She runs to the bathroom, and throws up her previous meal. The room becomes darker, as Negan leans against the door frame.
"Are you pregnant?" Negan asks softly.
"What?" Rachel asks, grabbing a tissue.
"It's just, you were sick yesterday, i heard you. It wouldn't be a bad thing, Rachel. In fact, i think it would be fucking awesome!" He smiles.
Rachel wipes at her mouth, and turns to face him. "It'd be a fucking awful thing to happen, Negan. You really think this is a good world to bring a child into?"
"We're making this world better," Negan says.
Rachel shakes her head. "No, we're not."
Negan pouts childishly. "So you're not pregnant then?"
"No, it's just stress. I can't have anymore," she assures him.
"Oh," Negan furrows his brow. "Hey, wait. Did you just say you can't have anymore?"
Rachel looks at him nervously. "I meant i can't have any, you know what i meant."
"Rachel, did you have a kid?" Negan asks.
Rachel opens her mouth to speak, and closes it again. She goes over to the sink and begins brushing her teeth.
"Rachel, talk to me," Negan says softly.
Rachel points at her toothbrush.
"Well, when you're done with that then," Negan says.
Rachel finishes brushing her teeth, and looks in the mirror. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Rachel, you can talk to me about anything," Negan assures her. He walks over to her, slipping his arm around her waist.
Rachel turns to him. "He'd be seven now," she looks down at the ground. "His name was James. He was the best thing i ever did," she smiles. "I got an infection not long after he was born, it left scarring on my womb. I couldn't get pregnant after that."
Negan brings his hand up to her face, stroking her cheek. "Why don't you ever talk about him?"
"Because it hurts, it's easier to forget," Rachel says.
"What.. what happened to him," Negan asks softly.
Rachel shakes her head. "I don't know. He was back in England with his dad, so i don't know," she sniffs, tears rolling down her cheeks. "And, i'll never get to know."
"Jesus," Negan frowns, pulling her close to him. He holds her as she sobs against him, stroking the back of her hair.
"I don't want to talk about it again, ever," Rachel mumbles against his chest.
"Okay," Negan nods. "We don't have to."
They hold one another for a while, standing in the bathroom in silence.
"It's late," Negan says. "Maybe we should go to bed."
Rachel nods. She wipes at her eyes with the back of her hand.
They both undress for bed, Negan stripping down to his boxers. And Rachel slipping into one of Negan's t-shirts. They lie together, holding one another.
"So, you don't think you can have anymore?" Negan asks.
Rachel shakes her head. "But why would i want to? Why would anyone want to bring children into a world like this?"
"I'd like to," Negan says.
Rachel sits up on the bed. "Negan, don't you think it's a little strange?"
Negan raises an eyebrow. "How is wanting kids strange?"
"That's not what i meant. I mean, you have six wives," Rachel says.
"Seven," Negan corrects her.
Rachel frowns. "Seven? Since when do you seven?"
"Amber," Negan smiles.
"Right, i forgot about her. You know, this conversation is turning really weird," Rachel says.
"You fucking started it," Negan grins.
"Anyway. My point is. You have, seven wives, and not one of them has ever gotten pregnant," Rachel points out.
Negan's face drops, his smile slowly fading. "What are you trying to say? Are you saying i've got slow swimmers?" Negan frowns.
"Maybe, i mea-," Rachel starts.
Negan's face goes red. "I don't have slow swimmers. That's fucking bullshit! My swimmers could win a fucking olympic medal or some shit!"
"Negan, i didn't-,"
"No! I'm not having this fucking conversation!" He stares at her, a confused look on his face. "You know what? For that, i'm not putting out!" Negan lays down and turns away from her.
Rachel sits there, her mouth agape, not knowing what to say. "Do you want me to leave?"
"No!" He snaps. "You can stay right fucking there, just don't fucking talk to me."
Rachel slowly lays down, staring at the back of Negan's head. She lies that way for five minutes, before she wraps her arm around him. She nuzzles her nose between his shoulder blades, gently curling her fingers through his chest hairs. Negan breathes deeply and holds her hand. Rachel kisses his shoulder, slowly grazing her teeth over him till he breaks out in gooseflesh.
Negan turns to her, running his hand under her t-shirt. He kisses her softly, sucking on her bottom lip.
Rachel rolls on top of him, running kisses over his neck. She moans lightly as he runs his hands all over her body, his kiss becoming more passionate and needy. He pulls her t-shirt over her head, then tugs at her panties. Rachel pulls his boxers off, feeling his erection against her thigh. She feels him twitching beneath her as she rubs herself against him. There's no foreplay, just pure raw need, as she slides him inside her. Rachel claws at his chest as he fills her completely.
Negan groans deeply, as she rolls her hips slowly. He trails his fingers down her back, his hands settling on her hips. "Oh, Rachel, i've fucking missed this," he groans, his breath heavy.
Rachel kisses him hard, her hand tangled in his hair. She rolls her hips faster, biting on his bottom lip.
Negan wraps his arms around her, pulling her closer against him. He lifts his thighs up off the bed, going deeper inside her.
"Negan," Rachel moans against his mouth. She rocks her hips against him, her thighs tensing as she feels herself getting close.
"Come for me, baby," Negan growls against her ear.
Rachel rolls her hips faster, as Negan pushes his further off the bed. "Negan, oh god!" She cries, clawing at his shoulders as her orgasm hits her.
Negan feels her pulsating against his cock, and that's enough for him to meet his own release. "Fuck! Rachel!" He groans, his legs tensing as he shoots his load inside her.
They lie that way for a while, stroking one another.
Rachel rolls off him, her breath still heavy. Negan grabs her waist, rolling her towards him.
"Maybe we can make a deal?" Negan suggests.
"What's that?" Rachel asks.
"I won't ever mention your son, if you don't ever mention, you know, my swimmers," Negan says.
Rachel nods. "Okay."
Negan kisses her forehead, and wraps his arms around her.
