Nights one, two and three were silent and still beyond the walls of the Manor. No one from the community went out on scavenging runs and due to the eerie nature of the crimes committed by the faceless enemy clan that lurked out there close by somewhere, the entire little town was on edge, not to mention the near-death experience Joseph experienced inside the walls.

Each time Negan returned home in the early hours of the morning Alexandra asked the one-word question, "Anything?" to which he responded, "Not yet."

Negan knew the 'yet' part of his response left his wife feeling uneasy but he was more than certain that the threat was alive, real and just waiting to show its face again at the right moment. He assumed they had members lurking nearby possibly getting the shifts and routines down of the people in their community. For that, he had suggested switching things up a bit with regard to shift changes among other things, something which Matt adamantly agreed to.

"I miss sleeping next to you," Alexandra told Negan as he joined her in bed just after five in the morning after patrolling the area throughout the night.

"You get me for a couple hours," he told her with a light laugh as he closed his eyes and cuddled himself behind her with a tired sigh.

"Try an hour." She smiled, "Lucy's up at six-thirty, seven o'clock most mornings."

Negan kissed her shoulder. "I miss it to. I hate fuckin' sleeping in here by myself during the day."

"Lucy's starting to think you're a vampire," Alexandra joked with a laugh.

He chuckled, "Does even know what that is?"

"Sarah said it one day and then we gave her a PG version of what a vampire was."

"I owe her a bed time story before I take off tonight."

"Yes you do."

Negan felt his eyes drifting shut and he thought of the kids and their future. He was always ready for battle but he didn't want that anymore, mostly for Lucy and Joseph's sakes. Their family, the community and others like them were living proof that things were a lot better than they had been. They had animals, gardens, people who baked and were beginning to pass down new and improved recipes to Sarah's and Christopher's generations. They were truly rebuilding and Negan knew one big battle, a collection of bullets and fires and killing, could burn all they had build to the ground.

Empathy was something that had build up in his repertoire. Negan felt like he had a little of it prior to the apocalypse, and what little he had died along with Lucille. From there his emotional turmoil turned into a fuel that led to the creation of the Sanctuary. His feelings he'd pushed so deep down that he felt they had quite literally died - that he could no longer feel. Killing became easy, manipulating became even easier and the charm he'd been born with he used to his advantage the way he always had throughout his life. The concoction led to meaningless womanizing, bullying his way to the top of an empire and crushing the dreams of Rick Grimes and other like communities.

Negan had said it to Alexandra before, but breaking his leg was the best thing that happened to him post-apocalypse. It led her to him. It allowed him to feel things he hadn't felt in so long and despite his efforts to fight off the feelings they hadn't faded. Alexandra allowed him to feel something real again, and with it came his humanity. Despite her loyalty to him in all his decision-making he saw clearly now and knew of his past sins. It's what made him hate this new group, whoever they were, for trying to jeopardize the humanity that Alexandra had built up inside of him. It had taken years, and with the arrival of Sarah into their lives and then their two children the humanity shined through even more.

I have a lot to lose, it was the last thought that crossed Negan's mind as his eyes began to drift shut. He knew it was true. "A lot to lose," part of the sentence left his mouth and he mumbled to himself before his breaths evened out.

Alexandra looked over her shoulder at him and realized he must have been talking in his sleep. She smiled and placed a hand over his around her waist before attempting to go back to sleep.

"Dad..." Pause, "Dad..."

Negan awoke to a pair of tiny hands shaking him and he snickered once reality kicked in and he realized the deep sleep he'd been in was interrupted. "Lucy. What time is it honey?"

She shrugged and plopped down beside him. "I don't know."

He pulled her forehead toward him and left a single kiss there before closing his eyes again. "Where's your mom?"

"Outside. She took us to the farm."

"JoJo too?"

"Yeah." Lucy held out her hand toward his face.

Negan sensed there was something close to him and re-opened his eyes. "What's this?" He squinted and reached for the tiny white object in Lucy's hand, smiling when he saw relief in her eyes.

"Eat it. It's garlic."

He laughed a little louder and twirled it in his hand. "Garlic?"

"The farmer man gave it to me."

"He did?"

"Yeah." Lucy waited with wide eyes and Negan laughed again.

"If Mom slices this up and cooks with it, I'll eat it."

Lucy shook her head, "No, Sarah said you need to eat it."

"Does this have something to do her vampire story?"

She raised her eyebrows and he pulled her to him.

"Look," Negan peeled a small piece off to appease her and broke it off. "Normally you're not supposed to eat garlic but..." He slipped the piece into his mouth, wanting to laugh again from the way Lucy studied him but he finished the bite and tossed the remainder of the clove in his hand. "See... not a vampire."

"Can I have a piece?" Lucy asked with a smile, reaching for it.

He made a face from the lingering taste and shook his head. "It doesn't taste good."

"Why do people like to eat it then?"

"Mom might cook with it," Negan attempted to explain and then waved his hand. "She'll teach you one day."

"One day when?"

He smiled wide. "You have so many questions today."

The front door opened and Sarah immediately ran up the stairs. "So... is he a vampire or not Lucy?"

Negan shook his head and pointed a finger in her direction. "Stop fuckin' telling her stories."

"Dad..." Lucy gave him another look.

"I'm sorry baby. I curse around you too much." He kissed her forehead again and then laid back down, prompting Lucy to remove the clove of garlic from his hand.

"He ate it," Lucy claimed, holding it out in front of her.

"Guess he's not a creature of the night," Sarah said, "How'd that taste?"

Negan subtly gave her the finger, making Sarah laugh and bounce away to the next door to her room. "Hey what time is it?"

"Noonish," she shouted back.

"Can you get up Dad?" Lucy asked softly, making Negan nod almost immediately.

"Sure." He sighed, "Come on. Help me up." Negan held out a hand and Lucy used both of hers to pull him. "You are getting strong kid!" he gushed.

Lucy smiled and laughed before beginning to tow him out of the room and down the stairs where they greeted Alexandra and Joseph as they entered.

"Oh honey... I told you to let Daddy sleep." Alexandra shook her head but ran her hand through Lucy's hair.

"It's alright." Negan leaned in and kissed her.

"She gave you the garlic huh?" Alexandra asked with a laugh, "I can taste it."

"Mmm... sexy right?"

"Very." She smiled. "So... nothing again then last night."

Negan shook his head and followed to the couch where Lucy hopped on and began patting the seat next to her. When he sat down she readjusted onto his lap and Alexandra sat on the couch opposite them with Joseph, who was already reaching for a toy car in front of them on the ground.

"Nope." He looked at her.

"But you think something will... eventually."

Negan looked her in the eye and hesitated. "I think there is a group nearby."

Alexandra swallowed hard and did as she always did, making it appear as if the news didn't bother her as much as it did. "Okay."

"Let's enjoy today," Negan offered. "It's a sunny day... you all went to the farm... Daddy's awake a few hours earlier." He raised his eyebrows at her. "Maybe we can teach Joseph how to... swing a bat." He made a motion with his hands and a popping sound with his tongue.

"And me," Lucy copied his movements and attempted to click her tongue the way he had.

"Of course you," Negan picked her up swiftly and tossed her in the air, making her giggle uncontrollably.

"Can you do it again?"

"Again?" Before she could respond with a 'yes' he tossed her into the air and made her laugh even harder.

Alexandra laughed with them, "Please be careful."

Negan caught Lucy for the last time and then glanced over his shoulder out the big picture window. "Want to go learn how to play some baseball?"

Lucy made the sound with her tongue again. "Yeah."

"Come on." He hoisted her into his arms and nodded at Alexandra. "Coming?"

She smiled at him and nodded back. "Yeah."

Negan held out a hand and Alexandra smiled as she took it, guiding Joseph along with them.

Despite the calm Alexandra knew there was danger lurking close by... too close. She just prayed it would be something that Negan and the others could put an end to on their own.