Her eyes stare into mine without a word. She looks stunned with fear but in her usual calm way. It's kind of the worst way to see fear. Especially from someone you're glad to see.

"Go inside." Dwight tells her, still pointing a gun at my back.

My eyes trail down. She's…

"How did you find us?" She finally asks with a harrowed rasp.

I look up to meet her eyes.

She stares with her lips parted from the question.

"Mommy!"

I see Nan's breath sharpen to a halt. I stare back at her, as if wondering if I really heard a voice calling for her.

"Mommy, I spilled my-"

Nan turns swiftly around. "Go back to the kitchen and wait for me there."

"But Mommy-"

"Right now!"

A little girl appears right beside Nan. She immediately looks right up at me. Her curious eyes arrest mine. Holy shit.

"Who are you?" She asks boldly.

"Birdie, let's go inside." Nan touches the back of her head with a tender hand.

The girl points. "Who is that man, Mommy?"

"Uh," Nan looks over with the same look of dread she had when she opened the door, "This is...Mommy's friend."

"Your friend?"

"Y-yeah," Nan nods slightly, glancing behind me, "He's come to visit."

I smile at her, even though she's not smiling back. God, I'm gonna get all sappy in a second. "Hey, darlin'."

"Hi," She puts out a brave little hand, "My name is Birdie. What's your name?"

My smile grows. I can feel the tears coming up. I go to shake her hand, but Dwight tugs me back.

"No."

"Dwight." Nan shakes her head.

"Daddy, why are you pointing your gun at Mommy's friend?"

Dwight's quiet for a minute, maybe trying to explain himself. Asshole.

"He just took Daddy by surprise," Nan comes up with the excuse, looking at me, "We didn't think he'd find us."

"I meant to write in advance, but I didn't have your address."

Nan's face doesn't look amused. Her eyes move. "Dwight."

"You're serious?"

She nods subtly at him.

"Daddy, you're not supposed to point guns at your friends."

Dwight sighs behind me and I can't help but grin a little. "Yeah, your right, baby. I'm sorry."

"That's okay, Daddy," Birdie looks up at me again, "What's your name?"

I smile. I point my finger to my chest. "I'm-"
"Negan," Nan cuts me off, "This is Negan, honey."

Birdie stares up at me and takes her mom's hand. She reaches out her free hand. "We can shake hands, if you want."

My smile grows. "I would love nothing more than to shake hands with you, darlin'." I look up at Nan for permission.

Her mouth flattens to an unpleasant line, but she permits.

"Alright, put her there." I reach my hand out and take my daughter's hand in mine. I can't describe how fucking emotional it's making me to shake her hand, even though she doesn't know that I've known her since the moment she was born.

She pulls her hand away and shyly holds Nan's hand with both hands.

I smile as I breath in with utter happiness. The aroma of food fills my inhale. "I didn't interrupt breakfast, did I?" I ask Nan. "Smells good."

Nan shares a look with the prick behind me. "Let's go inside."

"Well, don't mind if I do," I smile, "I am famished."

She doesn't say a word, she just encourages Birdie into the house.

I look over my shoulder. "Should I follow the Mrs. or are you gonna fertilize your yard with my brain matter?"

Fuck, I wish I had a picture of Dwight's scornful, bitter ass face. He stares at me like he wishes looks could kill.

I grin with a chuckle and then start to head in.

"If you try anything," His words pause me, "I will kill you. I don't care if Birdie thinks you're our friend, or not."

I salute him and walk into the house. It's nothing special. Looks like one of those cute little starter homes Lucille and I moved into when we first got married. Small, but homey. I did notice the outside was that yellow Lu always talked about.

A small arch way just off the front room brings the smell of bacon, which hits my stomach hard. Before I take another step, Dwight yanks me back. "Give me all your weapons."

"I only had a crowbar," I tell him, "It's about ten yards that way. I dropped it when I was coming up to the door."

He scoffs. "You don't have any knives, or…"

"Pepper spray?" I raise my brows in a good mood. "Tell you what, you can search all around in my pockets if you want, but I don't have anything."

I stroll into the kitchen before he has time to fire back. The kitchen is bright with the rays of morning sun coming in from the window. Nan's over by the stove, pushing around what look like scrambled eggs. I don't see the little one, so my eyes start searching for her.

Nan turns around and her eyes look cautiously at me as she walks over to the table with the frying pan in her hand. "Birdie, come help Mommy."

Out of nowhere, the little girl comes padding into the kitchen from another archway. "Is my eggs ready?"

"Mhm." Nan puts some eggs on three set plates, still watching me.

"I want sausage and toast."

"I'm getting it, honey."

The little girl lifts up her mom's apron and brings it over her head. "Good morning, baby. Can you hear me talking?"

I smile, choked up again. This has to be a fuckin' dream. I've had 'em like this before, so I know it can't be real life.

"Sit down." Dwight nudges rudely past me.

"Such gracious hospitality, thank you." I go to the kitchen table and pull back a chair where one of the plates with eggs is set. "Uh, can I get a fork? Please?"

Nan goes to a drawer, opens it, and then brings a fork over in silence.

"Thank you, darlin'."

She stands there for a moment. "Would you like some sausage and toast?"

"Oh, yes, please," I dig into the eggs, "I am fucking starved. Haven't had any real food in days. Can I have some water, too?"

"Sure." Nan stares at me for a moment, before moving.

Dwight picks up one of the plates and moves it to an empty spot beside one with a plate. He sits down at the head, or maybe the foot of the table without a plate.

Nan comes back with some water. Then the sausage and toast which she sets on the table. Once she's brought over two mugs, one for the both of them and a small cup of milk, she pulls a chair back. "Birdie, come eat."

"Oh, fuck, you have coffee?" I say with half my mouth full of eggs.

"Uh, yeah," She says, gathering her brows at me, "Would you like a cup?"

"If you'd be so kind."

Nan pushes herself up and goes to the coffee pot.

Birdie comes over from playing with a doll on the kitchen floor and climbs up on the chair where Dwight had set the plate in its new place.

"Mommy, cut my eggs."

"They're scrambled, Birdie." Nan walks to the fridge and gets out a squeeze bottle. She brings that and the cup of coffee to the table.

"Thank you." I drink it, despite that it's kind of hot. I watch Nan squeeze barbecue sauce generously over her eggs. I thought ketchup was the go to.

"Mommy, I want that, too."

Nan drizzles a little on the side of her plate. "There."

"Thank you." She eats her breakfast, looking over at me.

I smile at her as I chew and she looks away. I glance over at her mom and Dwight and see their hostile faces.

"This is delicious, Nan," I point at the food with my fork, "Who knew you could bake and cook?"

"Dwight made it."

I look at Dwight. "Oh, well, you make a mean breakfast, D."

Dwight doesn't say anything back. He just stares in contempt.

"How did you find us?"

I meet Nan's gaze.

"How did you know where to look?"

"Oh, from you."

"What?" She sharply says. "I never told you where we lived."

"Not in so many words."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"You told me you found Rick by the river," I remind her, "So, I figured you must live by the river and so when I discovered the door to my cell hadn't been locked, I found the river and followed it until I found those bad ass spikes you got going on a few miles away."

Nan looks over at Dwight.

"Don't be so hard yourself," I say, "It was a lucky guess, really. Although, a pretty fucking smart one, if I do say so myself."

They both look at me, unimpressed.

"Mommy, I'm done."

Nan turns her head. "You hardly touched your food."

"I'm done."

"Take two bites of your toast for me."

Birdie complies.

"And one more bite of sausage."

She takes a bite from her round little sausage patty.

"And just three more bites of your eggs."

Birdie pokes three pieces of scrambled eggs in her mouth, chewing them.

"Alight, good girl," Nan exhales, "Go play."

Birdie slides off her chair. She stares at me, before running off into what looks like a living room.

"Man, she is a beauty," I blink to meet Nan's eyes, "I always knew she would be, but goddamn, I didn't ever think she'd the little vision she is."

Nan just stares, unflattered. "Why did you come here?"

"Isn't that fuckin obvious?" I ask her, nodding towards the living room. "To find my daughter."

She doesn't look particularly pleased with my answer.

"Look, I know I've done some fucked up shit to the both of you," I set down my fork, "But I wanna make amends for all that."

"What?" Dwight scoffs, looking derisively at me.

"I wanna make shit right," I repeat, "Bury the hatchet."

He scoffs again. That may have been a poor choice of words.

"And I'll do whatever the fuck it takes to be in your good graces again," I shrug, "Or for once."

"You want to be in our good graces?" Dwight moves his finger between himself and Nan.

"That's right."

Dwight smiles incredulously.

"Yeah, I get that I'm not always the most sincere guy, but I've done some thinking in that cell over the years and I am ready to get out in the world and do right by the people I severely fucked over." My eyes meet Nan's. "Or hurt."

She breaks eye contact.

"Well," Dwight scoffs under his breath, "It's too late for all that."

I blink to him.

"We don't want your amends," He shrugs, "Don't need it either."

Nan turns her head, as if quietly taken back.

Dwight stands up from his chair. "The only kind of good you can do people for all the shit you put 'em through is to go back to your cell and that's what your gonna do, 'cause I'm taking you back to Alexandria." He touches Nan's elbow. "Come on."

She looks up at him, rising out of her chair.

Dwight glances at me. "Get up."

I stick my tongue in my cheek, before sighing and getting up.

Nan touches her pregnant bump. She looks at Dwight as he starts to move. "You're gonna go now?"

"The sooner the better," He walks towards the archway that'll lead to the front door, "Come on."

I look at Nan, wanting to plead my case to her. I follow Dwight to the front door instead. Fucking hell. I guess it was just a stupid fantasy to think I could convine them to let me stay a while. I look over my shoulder. Birdie's in the other room, coloring at the coffee table. Goddamn.

I head out in the hot sun to the front yard, or what would be a front yard if they didn't live in the fucking woods. We walk around to the truck parked off to the side of the house.

"You know, D, I really-"

"I don't care." He cuts me off, opening up the hatchback. He pulls some rope out of the back.

"Seriously?" I arch my brow. "Is that really necessary?"

He stares back in all seriousness.

I groan under my breath. "Fucking asshole."

I put my hands out and you bet your ass he tied 'em together extra fucking tight. I give a fuck you look and then walk around to the passenger's side of the truck. He opens the door for me and shoves me a little to get me in.

"Dwight?"

I look out the window and see Nan with Birdie holding her hand. Dwight goes over and I can't hear what she's saying, but she hands him a thing of water. Birdie looks over at the truck, at me, very lightly swing her mom's hand. At least I finally got to see her. Shake hands with her.

God, she's more beautiful than I ever dreamed up during those long days and years in my cell. Now, all I have to do is hold onto what she looks like when I go back. Whatever's in store for me back in Alexandria I can take. It was worth it coming here, even if it was only a few short minutes.

Dwight gives Nan a kiss on the cheek, which makes me roll my eyes, before he heads to the truck. Nan and Birdie stand there watching for us to leave. I lift up my tied hands and wave one. Birdie waves back like a kid would do. Nan just stares with a look that isn't indifferent.

Dwight gets in and shuts the door.

"Got any sweet tunes we can listen to?" I ask him sarcastically. "Or are we gonna bond the whole way there?"

"Shut the hell up." He sticks the key in the ignition and starts the car. "Shit!"

I raise my brow at him, confused as he just sits there, staring at the dash. "What? You gotta take a piss before we head out?"

Dwight turns off the engine and gets back out of the truck, slamming the door. Maybe he does have to pee. He stalks over to the girls. Nan seems to ask what's wrong. Whatever he tells her makes her eyes flicker to me.

Nan's mouth moves and her eyes look at Dwight with a concerned look on her face. He shrugs, shaking his head. She speaks and then he turns around to come back to the truck. He yanks open my door and pulls me by the arm.

"Get out."

"You gonna bury the hatchet in me and save Rick the trouble?"

Dwight shoves me to walk. He stops me at the garage.

"What are you doing?" Nan asks.

"Go open it from the inside." He tells her.

"We can't put him in there," Nan mildly argues, "It'll get too hot."

"He'll be fine," Dwight says, "It's just until I can get enough gas to make it to Alexandria."

"You don't know how long that will take."

"I'll go into Camden; there should be gas there."

Why does Camden sound familiar? I think one of the gals I used screw around with was from there. I don't remember her name; I only saw her a few times. She liked to pound the gin back too much. Nice ass though, but Nan's got a nice ass.

"He can't stay in the hot garage, Dwight."

"Where the hell are we supposed to put him?"

"Can't you just radio Hal or somebody?"

"The radio doesn't reach that far, you know that."

"I have a suggestion."

The both look at me. "Stay out of this."

"You could just let me crash on the couch until you get some gas in your tank."

"Yeah," Dwight scoffs, "That's not gonna happen."

"I don't think we have a choice, Dwight." Nan says, which makes both of us look over.

"What?"

Nan winces a little like she doesn't like her own conclusion. "He can't stay in the garage. It gets too hot in there. You remember what happen to that chicken that got trapped in there."

"Go open up the garage door." Dwight says, more adamant.

Nan looks at him and then me, before turning around and complying. She takes Birdie with her.

I look over at Dwight when she's gone. "You always boss her around like that?"

"Shut up."

"Hey, it's cool, no judgement," I shrug, "Some guys wear the pants, others let their wives wear pants. I've been on both sides and let me tell you it's always better to be wearing the pants."

Dwight rears back and punches me in the face, which makes me stumble to a fall because I can't balance with my arms.

"I said shut up."

The door to the garage lifts open. Nan's in the center of the garage, holding onto the pull cord to the door. When she sees me on the ground, in the process of struggling my way to my feet, she comes over and helps me up without a word or inquiry about the blood trickling down my nose.

Dwight goes in and start fishing around some shelves. "Put him up against the beam."

Nan pulls me by my tied hands to a beam in the center of the garage. Her eyes brave up to mine and we look at one another. She breaks her gaze and steps back when Dwight comes over.

He has a pair of handcuffs. I'm curious to know why they have handcuffs, but I'll ask later. He undoes my ropes. "Up against the beam."

"Okie doke." I put my hands around the beam and he cuffs them together. I wince at the all too familiar pain.

He then shuts the garage door. "Come on."

Nan looks from him to me, before following him out of sight. I hear the door to the house swing open and shut.

I take a breath, staring at the windows of the garage. It's fucking hot in here.

…

Sweat drips down my face. I flinch and scrunch my face to try and shake the tickle the sweat makes. It got hotter in here real fucking fast. I can see the fucking heat waves in the air. My balls are fucking dripping. My tongue touches my lips, begging for water.

I have no fucking clue how long I've been here but holy fucking shit. I'm drenched in sweat from the heat of the sun blaring in from the windows. I don't consider myself a wuss, but I wanna fuckin' cry it's so fucking hot in here. It's like a fucking oven. It's all I think about.

I wanna shout out for that fucking limp dick burn victim to let me the fuck out, but I won't bring myself to it. I'd rather die like that chicken I think Nan mentioned.

I must have been roasting in here for a long time, because I can feel myself wanting to fall limp. I think I hear a door open and slam shut, but I've kind of hallucinating that for a while in hope.

"Negan?"

I lift up my eyes. Fuck, my sight's a little blurry, but only from the sweat.

"Here, it's water."

Halle-fucking-lujah. This better fucking not be a mirage.

I feel something up against my lips and suddenly cool water touches cottonmouth tongue. I drink as fast as I can, which ends up choking me. I cough out painfully.

"Sorry, I poured it too fast."

"Thanks." I cough.

"Dammit," She curses under her breath, "It's too hot in here."

"Unchain me." I tell her, lethargic.

"I will," She softly says, "I just have to wait until-"

"No, please," I shake my loose head, "It's fucking hot in here, Nan. You gotta let me out."

I feel a hand touch my forehead, pushing my head back. "Open your eyes."

I struggle, but I manage to open my eyes.

I can barely see her. She looks like a vision. Almost like...No.

"I'll go get the key to the lock."

…

The clock on the wall ticks faintly from the kitchen. I sit politely on the couch, looking around the living room. The Sound of Music plays on mute. It's nice and comfortably cool in here. Dwight sits in a chair, polishing something with a square of sandpaper, doing his damnedest not to look at me.

They let me inside the house after Nan came to give me water. She was worried I was getting heat stroke, which honestly I thought I already had. She gave some water and plugged in a fan after sitting me on a couch. She then placed a cool rag on my forehead and I watched the three of them eat lunch while I deescalated from the heat.

I'm hunky dory now. Right as rain. Good as new. I'm just waiting for Nan to get back to have that little chat she said we'd have before she took Birdie to lie down for a nap. I don't wanna jinx it, but I have a feeling it's gonna be aces for me, which is why Dwight's so ass-chapped.

Nan finally comes back. We both look over. She makes eye contact with me. "Do you need any water?"

"Nah, I drank to my heart's content," I smile at her, "But thanks for asking."

She stares, curt as she rests her hand on that pregnant belly of hers. She looks to Dwight and they share a look, before he goes back to working on whatever the hell that is. He's so fucking pissed right now and it tickles me.

Nan breathes softly. "You're going back to Alexandria," She tells me, "As soon as Dwight can siphon enough gas to make it there."

I exhale. "Alright."

Her brows knit a little. "Alright?"

"Yeah, sure," I shrug, easy-going, "I'd be a dumbass if I thought you'd let me stay."

"You're okay with going back to the cell?"

"Yep," I nod my head, "I mean, no, but I told someone I'd come back if things didn't pan out for me here, so guess I'll be keeping that promise."

"Who knew you left?"

Fucking snitch. I stick my tongue in my cheek. "I'm afraid that's a secret."

She looks both concerned and puzzled.

"I don't wanna get 'em in trouble with Rick." I explain.

Nan inhales, as if deciding that it's not that important. "Until Dwight takes you back, you can sleep on the couch."

"Cool."

"But there are rules."

"Of course," I nod with a growing smirk, "Rules afterall are the foundation of every good system."

Dwight pauses his sanding, looking over. The fucking hate in his eyes is unreal.

"Under the right kind of leadership, that is."

Nan gives me a look to be on my best behavior. "If you break the rules, then you'll be tied up in the garage."

"Kinky."

She stares at me.

"Sorry." I motion as if I'm zipping my lips.

"We could kill you, you know," Nan informs me, "We could chain you outside in the hot sun like a dog, or trap you in the hot garage without water until you overheat and die."

Call me what you will, but I'm a little turned on. Nan's not the sort to make cruel threats with such seriousness. It's attractive.

"But we aren't going to do that, because it'd be something you would do and we're not you," She glances over at Dwight, "We're better than that."

I resent that, but I'll be quiet.

"The first rule is that you can't pick up any weapons or anything that can be used as a weapon."

"Can you write those down?" I ask her. " 'Cause there's a lot of shit that can be used as a weapon."

She stifles an eye roll. "Negan."

"I'm not trying to be smart," I say, trying not to chuckle, "It's a valid fucking question. Like, am I able to use a fork?"

"Obviously."

"But you can kill someone with a fork."

"We shouldn't give you a fork?"

"No, I can be trusted with a fork."

"That's the thing," She says, "You have to be trusted and we don't trust you."

I furrow my brows. "What? You think I'd hurt you?"

Her eyes stay fixed on mine. I see a falter in those beautiful blues. "The second rule is that you have to stay where we can see you. You don't have free roam of the house; you're not a guest."

"Fair enough," I say, "What if I gotta take a leak? Is Dwighty boy gonna watch me?"

If there were crickets outside, you'd hear 'em.

"Alright, got it. I'll stay in the open."

"Finally...we need to talk about Birdie," Her face somehow becomes tiger-like, if that makes sense, without her moving a muscle, "She is to know nothing about who you are. You're a friend who needs a ride back to Alexandria, that's it. If you tell her anything-"

"You don't think she-"

"No, I don't!" Nan fires so fiercely. "I don't think anything you think. I am her mother and I decide what's best for her and what she should know, do you understand me? You don't have any rights to her, got it?"

I stare back.

"I know you spent years thinking you knew better than everyone else, but you were wrong and when it comes to our daughter, you don't know shit."

Fuck, she's got me silent. I don't know if it's out of anger or dejectedness.

Nan takes a breath, closing her eyes a little tight.

"You alright?" Dwight asks, standing up.

She winces. "Yeah, it's just gas."

"You sure?"

"Yeah," Nan breathes through and opens her eyes again, "The last rule is that can't be alone with her."

I feel a little offended by that last rule. "You afraid I'm gonna make off with her?"

"Keep talking and you can go back to the garage right now." Dwight sneers.

I refrain from rolling my eyes.

"The rules are clear," Nan says, "Simple and easy to follow. If you break 'em, then it's back to the garage, if not worse."

"I'd rather you kill me than stick me back in that oven."

"Break a rule and we can make that happen." She retorts. Feisty.

I nod my head, exhaling, somewhat reluctant. "Alright. If that's what it takes, then I agree to your little house rules."

They both look sternly at me.

"I'll go for gas tomorrow morning," Dwight assures Nan, "Before it gets hot."

"Okay." She barely mouths.

Dwight goes off down the hall.

Nan stares for a few moments more, before sighing through her nose and going to the kitchen.

I can't help but smile. I don't know if it's luck, or some sympathetic bastard is looking out for me, but I fucking made it. Told you; aces.

Thanks for reading!

Sorry for the day's delay and the shortness of the chapter. I moved back into my student housing and began the nest quarter, so it has been a very hectic week.

But Negan has finally burst their little bubble and it's only gonna get fun from here! And dramatic, especially since Sherry was scarping the surface up until Negan's arrival.

Hope you all enjoy!