Spring

It's March, two months and one week after Negan made an agreement with me to improve relations between the Saviors and the people of Halcyon. I'm happy, and pleasantly surprised, to report that things have actually been working out. He kept his word; the debt/service fees we owed to the Saviors was in fact lifted. We trade goods and services now like I had wanted. To be honest, it's almost surreal how well everything is going. Our people aren't holding hands, skipping around in a circle while singing "I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke" but the Saviors have been fairly cordial and my people will mirror what's given to them.

Because things have been going so well, I've been letting the boys stay with Negan more frequently. Not for a whole month like he'd like, but enough for the boys to miss home and want to come back. What can I say? My kids love their mother.

We've also swapped men for little projects here and there and so far it's been going really well. Turns out the asshole switch on the Saviors can be turned off. Simon's still an asshole but I don't think that'll change which probably why he doesn't get to come around.

Negan and I's relationship has developed nicely, too. We aren't arguing as much since everything creating tension has been amended and when we do squabble, it's usually over little silly things that don't have any heat to them. Getting along with him makes everything, both personal and professional, run smoothly.

Today, Negan's scheduled to bring back the kids after having them for two weeks and a half weeks. I know I'm being a sap, because it's only been a couple of weeks, but I'm excited to have the kids back. It's not so much that I miss them, which don't get me wrong; I do, it's just that I feel more at ease when they're with me and I know they're safe. I trust Negan can keep them safe, it's just a bit of a neurotic mom thing. Plus that factory skeeves me out; it just screams not child-friendly. The moment one of my kids comes back with a broken arm from falling down one of the many neverending stair cases, I'm suing the fuck out of Negan.

"Hey."

I look up from my work to Lourdes standing in the doorway. I look back down at my work. "Hey."

"Whatcha makin'?" She asks, coming in. "Smells good."

"Oh, just chocolate chip cookies."

"For the boys?"

"Yeah," I nod as I cross my t's and dot my i's, "I'm making eggplant parm for dinner."

"You're already their favorite, you know?" She chuckles. "You don't have to have their favorite food waiting for them whenever they come home from Negan's."

"I know that," I huff, trying to concentrate, "I just felt like having eggplant parm and I also had a sweet tooth."

"You just happen to have cravings for a meal that just so happens to be one of the kids' favorites and a craving for what happens to be their favorite cookie?"

"First of all, they're not cravings and everyone likes chocolate chip cookies and I haven't had eggplant parmesan in a while, because it's not eggplant season, so I thought it sounded good. Pound salt, lady."

"Where'd you even get an eggplant out of season?"

"Negan brought a few when he came to pick up the kids."

"They grow eggplant?" Lourdes leans against the table. "The only thing I've ever seen them grow is tomatoes and herbs and not well at that."

I inhale and exhale. "I guess they got it from somewhere."

"How's the inventory?"

"Great."

"What about-"

"I won't know until they get back."

"Oookay."

I tap my pencil against the table. "Hey, I had a favor to ask you."

"What?"

"Negan said he'd have the kids home by the evening, which means he's probably gonna stay the night."

"Right, so what do you want? A threesome?" She laughs at the face I make. "Sorry, couldn't resist. What do you want?"

"I was wondering if you could maybe watch the kids after dinner," I tell her, "Just for an hour or two."

"Why?" She inquires. "You can't just wait until they go to bed?"

"It's not about sex," I roll my eyes, "I just wanted to touch base with Negan and he tends to get a little distracted from talking business when the kids are around."

"Oh," She nods her head, "I guess I can."

"Do you have plans already?"

She shrugs. "I was gonna ask Connor if he wanted to come over..."

"I'll send over cookies."

"Deal," She shakes my hand, "I'll tell him to come over after."

I raise my brows. "Good thinking."

These two, I fucking swear. After Connor's little proposal of taking their relationship to a more serious level, which is to say a real relationship, Lourdes agreed to meet him halfway. Basically, they're carrying on the same way they were before, but have agreed to only be exclusive to one another. Baby steps, I guess, but whatever makes both idiots happy.

"Remember to take that off." She points to the necklace around my neck.

I touch the pendant. "What?"

"Before Negan gets here and sees it," Lourdes clarifies, "And asks who gave it to you."

I scoff at her. "Like I care."

"I don't see you wearing it when he's around."

"I forget to put it on sometimes."

"Hm, okay." She starts to walk off. "What time should I get the boys?"

"I'll send them over around eight."

Lourdes leaves and Cleo picks up from under the table and follows her out the door. I feel the necklace between my fingers when she's out of sight. It's the necklace Martin gave me for Christmas. It rests a little above the necklace Jolyon gave me. Maybe I should take it off...

…

"Mom!" Abel's voice carries. "We're home!"

"I'm in the back!" I call, rising out of the bathtub. I wrap a towel around my body. "Careful, I'm getting out of the bath."

"We're home!" Abel says again, as he comes around to the back of the house.

"Hey, how was your dad's?"

"It was good," He walks under the sheets, "Dad found us roller skates and we got to skate through the hall."

"Does that explain the bruise on your forehead?" I smooth my finger over a bruise the size of a dollar piece.

"I ran into the wall."

"Maybe skating in the halls is not the best idea, huh?"

"It's too gravelly outside."

"Uh-huh," I chuckle, "Go wait for me inside."

"Okay." Abel turns and leaves.

"Anyone home?" Negan's shadow stalks up to the partition.

"Yeah, I'm getting dressed."

"Well, don't cover up on my account," He comes around to see me, "You don't really have a lot to leave for the ol' imagination."

"Turn around, creep."

"In fact, I've seen you naked so many times, I could pick every inch of you out of a line up."

"Fuck off."

"I can even recall you from my memory," He taps his temple with a smile, "Whenever I damn well want."

"I repeat; fuck off."

"Which is always," He snakes his arm around me, "Because I always fuckin' miss you."

"If that was supposed to be cute, it wasn't."

"You're just a killjoy," He steals a peck of the lips, "A sexy killjoy."

"I saw that bruise on Abel's forehead."

"Well, it was a knot a couple days ago, so what you're seeing is an improved version."

"Why would you let them roller skate indoors?"

"Because the ground outside is made of gravel and hurts a hell of a lot more if you fuckin' fall on it."

"Is Jolyon okay? I tug my shirt over my head. "He's not missing a limb or anything, is he?"

"Bolt your trap." He pecks my lips again. "The kids are all in one piece. A few scrapes and bruises is part of growing up."

"Yeah, thank you dads with poor judgement and lackadaisical supervision."

"You're welcome." He puts his arm around me as we start to head in. "How was the time off?"

"It was nice cleaning the house and having it stay clean for longer than a day."

"Once again, you're welcome."

"How'd their schoolwork go over?"

"Oh, I didn't look it over," He says, "But don't worry, they brought it home for you to grade."

"Why couldn't you?"

"I won't lie to you, I just didn't fucking want to."

"You were a teacher!"

"Yeah, but I'm not anymore, so I didn't feel like doing the worst part of my old job."

I huff, walking through the open door. "Gee, thanks for leaving it for me."

"The florist's shop was closed."

"Hey, Jol."

"Hey, Mom."

I knit my brows. "You okay, punk?"

"Um, yeah."

I stare for a moment, perplexed, before I hear a noise. I look over to the kitchen. "Whatcha eatin' over there?"

"A cookie." Abel chews.

"Before dinner?"

"I'm hungry."

"Well, sit down at the table because dinner just came out of the oven."

"Dad's gonna stay the night."

"Says who?"

"He did."

"Well," I grab the salad from the fridge, "I'm the boss here and I needed a request form sent to me two weeks ago, so I'm gonna have to decline."

"That was a lame joke, Mom."

"Hey, I'm funny."

"Dad taught us how to play Uno, so we're gonna play after dinner, okay?"
"Well, actually, you and your brother are gonna hangout with Lourdes for a little bit after dinner."

"Why?"

"Because Dad and I have to talk about some stuff before he leaves."

"Why can't we be here?"

"Because your dad has a short attention span."

"We wanted to play Uno!"

"We'll play a game or two when you get back." Negan sits down at the table, peering over with a glinting smile and a roll of the eyes, "That is, if it pleases your control freak mother."

After a nice family meal, where I got to hear all about how Negan really is just an overgrown child, tenfold when he has actual kids to watch after. I sent the kids over with some cookies around seven forty-five to Lourdes' place and Negan groped my butt the moment they left.

"I thought we were gonna fool around."

"I said we needed to talk." I say, chewing a cookie with one leg hanging over the armchair. "What in the world did you think we were gonna do?"

"Don't get smart with me." He plops down on the end of the couch furthest from me.

"Oh, you thought we'd hide the salami?" I take another cookie. "What a dirty fucking scoundrel, you are."

"Right back at you, babe." He retorts. "How many of those are you gonna eat?"

"Until I'm so stuffed that I couldn't possibly think of doing anything other than going right to sleep at bedtime," I tease, licking my upper lip, "I had a hankering."

His smiling eyes grow mild and he clears his throat. "So, what is it you wanna talk about?"

"I thought we could touch base."

"I thought you said you wanted to talk?"

I snicker. "Shut it, I'm serious; what's your spring 30-60-90 goals?"

"Pardon me?"

"What are the Saviors seeking to accomplish within the next few months?" I elaborate, puzzled. "You don't write up a 30-60-90 for a new quarter?"

"What are we in sales?" Negan chuckles. "What the fuck is a 30-60-90?"

"It's a plan you write up on what you'd like to accomplish by one month, two months, and three months. 30-60-90. You honestly have never heard of that before? We were supposed to do them when we worked at Southcastle."

"I didn't."

"Huh," I take a bite from my cookie, "How the hell do you get anything done?"

"Easy, I tell my men what I want done and they go and fucking do it."

I roll my eyes. "So, you just decide in the moment what needs to be done?"

"And whack each mole as it pops up," He says, "Shit's not all that complicated."

I nod. "Right, I forgot; you've got a fat stack of meal tickets to keep you fed and healthy. Guess that makes things a whole lot easier."

"I'll remind you that some of what I give you comes from those meal tickets."

I nod again. "How are those communities by the way?"

"Still alive," Negan reports, furrowing his brows a little. "Why?"

"Just curious." I nibble on my cookie, trying to seem nonchalant.

"Huh," Negan sticks his boot on the table, "Jesus, another one?"

I flip him off. "I've had like five since they came out of the oven, asshole."

"Yeah, and five since the boys left."

"Like I said, I had a hankering." I feel Negan looking at me as I look off to the window across the room.

He clears his throat, leaning forward. "You ever go to the doctor?"

I turn my head, meeting his eyes. "I sort of jumped the gun; I got my period the day after you left."

Negan nods, glancing down.

"If I was pregnant, don't you think I'd tell you first thing?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

I look him over. I realize that maybe he got the impression that I was pregnant from me wanting to speak to him privately and maybe from my inhalation of cookies. I kind of feel bad. Should I feel bad? He's got a let down look on his face.

"You okay?"

"Peachy keen." He leans back on the couch, putting a boot up on the table.

I continue to stare. What a dink. Like I can't tell when he's sulky. "You sure? Because you seem a little bummed."

"Nah, I'm fine," He tells me, "I just thought-"

"That I might be pregnant?"

Negan nods silently, peering down at his hands. "Yeah."

I bite my lip, before getting up from the chair. I walk around to him, scratching his head as I go to the kitchen for some milk. "It's probably not the right timing anyway. We're just getting the ball rolling on getting our people to cooperate with each other."

"Yeah, you're probably right."

I sip my milk as I walk back. "Did you really not check the boys' schoolwork?"

"I glanced at it."

"Tsk-tsk," I sit back down, "I thought you'd take more interest in your kids' education."

"I was a health and gym teacher; I made sure they got plenty of exercise and come talk to me when they're going through puberty."

"You mean to tell me you couldn't check their spelling words and math sheets? Now that Abel's five, he needs to start learning how to read."

"I thought that was first grade."

"I like my kids to have a head start."

"On who? Jolyon's the oldest boy here, Abel's the second, and the only other kids I've seen around here are infants."

"I just like my kids to be ahead of schedule, okay, smartass?" I dunk a half eaten cookie in some milk. "Jolyon could read the first few lines of Coraline by time he was five and a half."

"What the fuck is Coraline?"

"A kids book that I didn't realize was maybe not age appropriate at the time," I fiddle with my ear, "But you take what you can get these days. Plus, I think after the things Jolyon's seen, a weird spider woman with button eyes is nothing."

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, I had my wives help them when I couldn't."

"No, it doesn't make me feel better to know that the kids had to ask their six stepmothers for help because you couldn't be bothered."

"Watch it, smart mouth."

I chuckle. "Is that not how the boys should refer to them?"

"They refer to them by their names, asshole."

"Stepchildren often do refer to their stepmoms by their names," I retort, "Note how the plural for stepmoms was literal there."

"If you say more thing about my out-of-commission wives, I'm going to-"

"Do what?" I stand up, slinking over beside him on the couch. "What will you do?"

"Well, I was thinking about doing something nice for you," He puts an arm around me, "But maybe I won't if you don't keep your smart mouth buttoned."

"Oh, no, you mean you won't have sex with me later tonight?" I feign disappointment. "I think I'll live just fine without a night of you sweating on top of me."

"That wasn't the thing I wasn't thinking of doing, but suit your fucking self."

I arch my brow. "Oh, what? You were gonna have me on top, you lazy bastard?"

"I was gonna take a trip down south, but after all the fucking lip serivce I just got, I think I'll reconsider."

I blink. "You mean to tell me that on the drive over here, you thought "I'm gonna go down on her" was a nice act of service?"

"What? You want me to make you breakfast in bed instead?"

I roll my eyes at him. "You're trash, you know that?"

Negan chuckles, kissing my temple. "Yeah, but I'm your trash, baby."

"Gee, how'd I get so lucky?"

"You started sleeping with a married man."

I snort. "Oh, so this is the consequences of my actions."

"I love you."

"Love you, too."

"What's your 30-60-90?"

"What?"

"You wanted to discuss this shit, right?" He says. "So, lay out your little plan for me."

I breathe against him. "I want to increase our agriculture production and reinforce our walls from the outside. I also want to build a schoolhouse."

"A schoolhouse?"

"Yeah," I smile, "The boys get distracted at home and we're gonna be in need of one when the other kids become school age."

"So, only you and the kids will use it until then?"

"Well, it can double as a library or something," I shrug my shoulder, "Right now, our library is upstairs in one of the other buildings and kind of needs to be moved. We've got books stacked on the floor."

Negan laughs against me. "That's it? The big 30-60-90 plan is more crops, a better wall, and a school/library?"

I shrug again. Among other things…

"Shit, I was a little intimidated there for a moment to hear you had blueprinted some awesome quarterly plan."

"Fuck you, at least I'm trying to improve my community instead of having everything brought to me, thinking I've solved the new world."

"Careful not to fall off the pedestal you've put yourself on."

I snicker against him. "Ditto."

"How long until the boys get back?"

"Hm, an hour and a half."

"I think that's plenty of time, don't you?"

I smirk, before looking over at him. "To discuss more business? Yeah, I think that's plenty of time."

"Real cute."

I give an exaggerated sigh. "Well, if you really didn't come prepared then I guess we'll just have to think of something else to do."

"Race you to the bedroom."

"First off, I'd clearly win since my bones don't creak everything I get up."

"Fuck you." He chuckles.

"And second, the image of you eagerly running to the bedroom with the anticipation of sex is sort of a turn off."

"Jesus, tough crowd."

"You wanna watch a movie instead?"

"Pardon?"

"Yeah," I smile, "We can do the hanky panky stuff later when the kids go to sleep. Let's do something normal people do."

"Like call sex 'hanky panky'?"

"Come on, I just borrowed Cruel Intentions," I plead, "It's a 90's teen adaptation of Les liaisons dangereuses that is totally unconvincing and sucks major ass and it'll be so much fun to watch with you, because you love ragging on teenagers even though we all know the actors in this film are too old to be teenagers."

"So, you want us to waste an hour and a half watching a movie that you know for a fact fucking sucks?"

"Yeah."

"Alright, I'm in."

"Cool." I get up. "Would you like any refreshments to pair with this evening's program?"

"Just put the movie on, you dork."

"Wait 'til you get a load of this hot water garbage."

I stick the movie in the VCR and go back to sitting beside him. He puts his arm around me and I lay my head on him.

I would have liked to discuss business further with him, but my stomach does kind of hurt from all the cookies, so it can wait.

…

The rest of the night went swimmingly. We watched the movie, which Negan thought was a riot and we had a good laugh. When the boys came back, Abel didn't forget about playing Uno, so we played two rounds before it was time for bed. Despite Negan having them for nearly three weeks, he still agreed to read a chapter of Matilda to Abel before bed.

We waited for both kids to be a hundred percent asleep before we took to the bedroom. Turns out Negan dropping the debt/extortion and improving contact between the Saviors and my people has had an amazing effect on our sex life. I know, who would have thought? And sleeping beside him doesn't feel grimy anymore and I don't feel like I'm turning my back on my people.

Whenever Negan's around, I wake up at five-thirty in the morning because he's an old man who wakes up way too fucking early. It totally explains why he starts yawning up a storm around eight at night despite not going to bed until like nine or ten. Anyway, because we both wake up two hours before the kids, we take the time to have sex again. Well, we were talking until Negan started to get handsy.

"Oh, no, Negan, that's not fair." I glower as he makes his way down past my belly.

"What?" He playfully chuckles, puzzled by my reluctance for him to go down on me.

"You should have done this when the kids were at Lourdes'," I complain, "Now I have to be quiet under tough circumstances."

He raises himself over me. "If you recall correctly, I fucking wanted to do this last night, but you wanted to watch that shit show with the dude who was trying to sound like John Malcovich and play a teenager."

"I don't care what fucking fancy ass prep school they went to, there's no fucking way teenagers have mastered cunning and wit like that."

"Is it fucked up that I was glad the one died at the end?"

"Ugh, I know and I hated the fact that Annette just forgave him and blamed it all on the sister when he was straight up garbage." I roll my eyes. "Poor men, manipulated into doing terrible acts by their hormones and seductive women."

"Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy."

"Being hit by a car?" I chuckle. "I love you."

"So, you don't want me to eat you out?"

"What have I said about saying that?"

"Not to, unless it's disguised in a tasteful quip," He says, smiling, "No pun intended."

"Watch it, buddy."

"So, yes or no?"

I think for a moment. "Alright, but chop chop," I snap my fingers, "I'm not gonna lie; I want the D."

"Have I ever told you that you have an eloquent way with words?"

"Voultaire can suck it." I softly touch his hair. "And you…." I arch my brow with a grin.

"Can skip breakfast later on?"

We laugh before we get down to business. Or rather Negan gets down. I close my eyes, feeling my body relax before my heart picks up. I breathe out through my nose sharply.

I'm trying not to be vocal, because it's forever my worst nightmare for my kids to overhear us. I'm sort of just left to make these frustrated, breathy mewls which are so annoying to the ear, but Negan seems to enjoy it though. He knows he's good and I can't stand the smug smile that I know he's gonna have when he's done.

I cover my mouth with my hand, feeling myself coming close. I let out a hard, hysterical sounding breath when he finally gets me there.

He lifts his head up with that fucking grin. "Am I that bad?"

"Shut up." I steady my breath.

He climbs over me with a toothy smile. "You wanna help me out?"

I look up at him and then glance down. "You're already hard."

"Yeah, but I wouldn't mind if you touched me, you cold, emotionless bitch."

I roll my eyes teasingly. "If I must." I reach down and do him a favor. I stare up at him. "You are so weak, you know that? I have everything I need to rule you in the palm of my hand."

"Oh, like I didn't just fuckin' sink your battleship just now?"

"Oh, please, denying you is my greatest pleasure, meanwhile I just have to accidentally graze it and you're had."

"Well, you do like to have one leg up on me," Negan chuckles, "Usually over my shoulder, but hey."

I give a light squeeze and he groans into another chuckle. I chuckle, too and he lays a kiss on my lips. He comes closer and, well, you know.

"Ho-ly hell." He groans when he's done, rolling off me.

"I'm gonna open a window." I lightly pant with hot cheeks.

"Can I say something without getting smacked?"

"You know you aren't allowed to ask that." I climb back into bed.

He smiles, putting an arm over my side to encourage me closer. "What if I really want to say it?"

"Then you have to take the chance, pal."

"Deal," Negan roams his hand along my body, "I was just gonna say that there is nothing like the feeling of slipping it into someone you love."

I frown, before picking up his hand and throwing it back to him. "You sick fucker."

He laughs throatily. "Wait, don't go. I'm sorry; that was a poor choice of words."

"When do you ever fucking chose the right choice of words?"

"I meant to say that it feels good fucking someone I care about," He tries to explain, "It's an entirely fucking different sensation."

"Than fucking some other woman you don't care about?" I scoff, putting on my pajamas that were on the floor. "Such as?"

"Cool your fucking jets, I was just saying that compared to, say my wives, who I used to fuck, you are something wholly on another fucking level."

"Well, gee, don't I feel special?" I wryly say, sitting down on the bed.

"Come on, don't be mad, I'm sorry. You can slap me if it'll make you feel better."

I look over at him. "I can?"

"Sure, smack away."

I huff, before I reach over and flick him on the forehead. "That's for being an asshole."

"You still mad?"

I lay back on the bed. "You really need some type of filter."

"Yeah, I don't know why I thought you'd be flattered."

"You thought something you had to request not to be hit over was going to be flattering?"

"You, on occasion, have been flattered by my dirty mouth."

I stifle an eye roll. "I don't recall."

"You definitely have, you awesome lady." He reaches over. "What's this?"

I glance down to the Temperance pendant between his fingers. "Oh, um, it's a necklace."

"No shit," He chuckles, "Where'd you get it?"

"Wouldn't you like to know who's giving your woman jewelry?"

"Who's been treating you better than me?"

We chuckle together. "No one; I found it while out on a run."

"Huh. I thought you weren't religious."

"It's a tarot card, you dope."

"Oh, so you're dabbling in the occult?"

I roll my eyes. "Gosh, dad, butt out!"

He laughs, looking down at the pendant. "Temperance, huh? Well, shit, if that doesn't suit you?"

"What time are you leaving?"

"Alright, I'll lay off," He sits up, "Rock, paper, scissors over who has to make breakfast?"

I cock my eyebrow at him. "Fine."

We both pound our fists three times in the air, before I lay out paper and Negan chooses rock. "Damn it."

"Oh, don't worry, I'm sure you'll leave my kitchen a fucking mess."

"Hey, he who cooks it, shouldn't have to do the dishes."

"Where was that principle last night when she who cooked dinner had to also do the dishes?"

"Hey, we've got kids, don't we? Should have had them do it."

"I've tried; they're lousy dishwashers."

He kisses my lips. "I love you, Pippa Anne Barnes."

"My middle name is not Anne."

"I'll get it right one of these days."

"Why not just ask?"

"Because it's more fun to guess and annoy you."

"What's your middle name?"

"Don't have one."

"What the hell do you mean you don't have a middle name?"

"Not everyone has a middle name."

"Are you lying? Is it embarrassing? Is it Theodore, or...Simon? Alvin?"

He furrows his brows. "Did you just list the names of Alvin and the Chipmunks?"

I shrug my shoulder. "I said Theodore and it took from there."

Negan laughs. "I don't have a middle name, you nutty, but sexy, asshole."

"Why don't you have a middle name?"

He shrugs. "Guess my parents figured there wasn't going to be too many Negan Smiths out in the world to need to specify which one I was."

"It's true, yours is one of the weirdest names I've ever heard. What is it? Danish?"

"I don't know, my folks were white trash."

"Well, at least they knew it would suit you."

"Okay, we can't all have regal fucking names like Pippa."

I snicker. "I like my eggs poached."

"I don't know how to poach eggs."

"Well, you better learn, son."

"Alright, but don't be disappointed if they come out looking like regular fried eggs."

I smile, walking to the window and glancing out. Everyone is still asleep or just getting up, so outside is still pretty quiet. I spy someone between two buildings and curiously watch, assuming they've smoked a cigarette there. I knit my brows when they peak their head out from the shadows.

"You see where my shirt went?" Negan asks behind me.

I bite my lip. "No, hold up; I'll help you look." I close the curtains.

…

As soon as Negan leaves, I set out towards the back of the Halcyon.

"Where you going, mama?"

"Just for a walk." I tell Lourdes as I lace up my boots. "I need a little fresh air."

"Can I come?" Jolyon asks me.

"Mm, not this time, babe; next time."

"But I-"

"You've got a retake spelling test to study for," I tell him, "Don't think I couldn't tell that you slacked off at Negan's."

"Can't I take it later? I really want-"

"Honey, we will take a walk together tomorrow morning, okay? I promise, but right now I'm going alone and you are studying to retake that test later this afternoon."

He looks at me with a saddened expression. He turns and storms over to the table. "Fine."

I furrow my brows and then look over at Lourdes who's just as confused. "I'll be back in a little bit."

"Bye!" Abel waves.

"Bye, baby."

"Check on Jol, would you?" I ask Lourdes when we exit the house.

"Yeah, he's been sort of moody since he's gotten home."

"Yeah, I've noticed." I secure my axe to my belt.

"You think he got in trouble or something at The Sanctuary?"

"Nah, Negan would've told me, especially if it was something still bothering Jolyon." I exhale. "See you in a bit."

"Enjoy your walk."

"Yeah." I huff under my breath.

I don't give an excuse as to where I'm going when the guards ask where I'm heading off to. I walk down into the woods, treading out of sight from the walls of Halcyon. The heat is muggy, which annoys me even more than having to walk out here.

I stop walking when I hear a twig snap behind me. I roll my eyes. "You really couldn't have just knocked on my front door? We really had to come out here?" I turn to find Jesus standing by a tree he might have annoyingly been hiding behind.

"I don't think your new friends would have approved."

I arch my brow. "Long time no see. Did your hair get longer?"

"Yeah, did yours?"

"Yep," I cross my arms, "Did you come to scold me about working with the Saviors again, or do your people need a loan you'll never pay back?"

"Wow, you are so arrogant right now," Jesus chuckles incredulously, "Did you forget the Saviors extort Hilltop? That they killed a kid?"

I breathe through my nose, irritable. "I made a deal with Negan that secured the safety of my people."

"Yeah, so did we," Jesus says, "After they killed Rory and we're still not safe."

"I made a new deal," I look down, stubborn, "We don't owe them anything. We're working together, in fact."

"Your people joined the Saviors?"

"We didn't join them, we're working with them," I clarify, "We trade goods and services. Kind of like what I wanted for Hilltop and Halcyon, but Gregory refused."

Jesus scoffs. "In exchange for what?"

"I just told you."

Jesus looks me over, confused. "So, you're really in good with the Saviors?"

"Yeah," I shrug my shoulder, "Turns out sleeping with the leader has its advantage."

"I'm sorry, what?"

I exhale again. "Yeah, I'm, uh, sleeping with him."

Paul's eyes grow softer, worried. "By your choice?"

I furrow my brows. "What? Of course!"

"He's not...I don't know threatening you?"

"What? Oh, my god!" I run my hand down my face. "Okay, look; I knew him from before?"

"Negan?"

I lick my lip, ashamed again. "Yeah."

"You knew him from before?"

"Yes, Jesus, yes!" I shout. "I knew him from before." I look up at the trees, sighing. "Do you remember when I was at the diner and I told you I was pregnant?"

Jesus' eyes look down, thinking for a moment. They pick up, wide in horror. "He's-"

"Abel's father," I tell him, "That's why I was able to get a good deal with him...that and I'm good in bed."

He huffs, looking back down. "Small world."

"Yeah, you're telling me," I dryly reply, "Look, don't tell anyone, alright?" He looks at me. "It could put Abel in danger."

"So, then why tell me?"

"Because I know you're a good person, Paul. You wouldn't do anything to hurt my kids."

"It all makes sense," He huffs again, "I couldn't wrap my head around you complying with him so easily and without anyone having to be killed."

I stop myself from rolling my eyes.

"You've made a deal with a pack of thugs and killers, Pippa."

"We've all killed."

"Yeah, only when it was necessary."

I glance away.

"And we never threaten and steal from people."

"Look, I know Negan, okay? I know what you've told me and I believe you, but you don't understand."

"No, I don't, Pippa. Not from someone like you."

"I am trying, okay?" I tell him. "I know how this looks, but Negan can be reasoned with."

"The rest of us don't have something he wants."

I scoff. "Don't talk about my kid that way."

"You said so yourself it was an advantage."

"Well, not just for me, alright? I'm trying to change things for Hilltop, too. If I can convince him to work with Halcyon, I know I can change his mind for Hilltop as well. Trust me."

"I want to, Pippa, I do, but I know the Saviors better than you."

"I've been-"

"If what you're telling me is true, then have you considered that maybe Negan is bullshitting you?"

"Negan's a bullshitter, but I know him and this is legit."

"You knew him," He retorts, "But these days, he's bad news and maybe the only reason he's entertaining you is because you have a kid with him."

"No, you're wrong." I insist. "I know what I'm doing, okay? I'm not some lovesick dame with rose-colored glasses. I have thought about this, came up with a 90-day plan to turn the tides."

"What?"

"There's things about Halcyon that Negan doesn't know and won't know unless things go sour."

His brows furrow. "Like what?"

I smirk, somewhat relieved. "I knew you didn't know."

"Know what?"

"Look, just trust me. I know what I'm doing."

"Pippa, trust me," Jesus urges, "This new deal or whatever is just a fantasy. Negan is just playing games with you; giving you what you want to get what he wants. The Saviors don't work with people."

"Negan and I made a deal and trust him."

"To not deceive you?" Jesus chuckles. "What? You mean like you and how perfectly honest you are in this deal?"

I frown. "I'm asking you to trust me, because I have never let you down, even though you or more specifically your people have never given me anything in return, but if you can't, then don't. I understand."

"Pippa, there are people who-"

"I don't care!" I cut him off. "I know what I'm doing; I'm reaching out and establishing community with the rest of the world and that will include Hilltop. Just give me time and I will prove that to you." I look him over. "Or, don't. Doesn't matter."

"What if you're wrong, Pippa?" He asks me, candid. "What if this deal only extends to Halcyon?"

I breathe in through my nose. "My people have always been what matters. Above all else."

Jesus nods, disappointed. "I see."

I change my expression. "But I will try to get him to break this extortion shit and to make the same deal with you that he has for me and if he doesn't, then I will use everything in my power to help you."

He smiles half-heartedly. "I wanna believe you, Pippa, but I don't know that I can."

I hardened up again. I nod. "Then I guess this is goodbye. For now."

He agrees. "Goodbye, Pippa. And good luck."

"I don't need luck." I start off towards Halcyon.

"Well, I wish you the best anyway," Jesus calls, "Even if you are being an asshole!"

"Fuck you, too!"

…

April

"Spell Cat."

"Um…" Abel stares at the paper for a moment, before writing something down.

I turn to Jolyon. "Spell Leisure."

Jolyon writes down a word on his paper.

"My turn!"

"Yep, okay, spell Rat."

"What's the next word?" Martin knocks on the open door. "Bat? Mat? How about Sat?"

I smile; Martin's been gone for two weeks, working on something for me. I clear my throat. "Uh, excuse me, but school's in session."

"Oh, well, don't mind me, I'm just here to inform you that we picked up Negan on the radio; he's five minutes out."

"Oh," My smile awkwardly sinks, "Uh, well, I guess send him our way when he gets here."

"Yep." Martin leaves just as soon as he came.

I look at the boys, embarrassed. "Uh, we'll finish the practice test and pick up later."

"Dad's coming?"

"Apparently," I glance back down at my book, "Uh, Jol, spell Labor."

About fifteen minutes later, Negan's whistle graces our presence before he does. "Knock, knock. Daddy's home!" That little joke never gets old.

"Dad!"

Negan accepts Abel's hug with a smile. "Hey, sprout, how's it going?" 'Sprout' is what Negan has affectionately decided to call Abel, I guess.

"I got all my spelling words right!"

"No, shit? Atta boy!" He gives Abel high five. "You get your brains from me, you know."

"You wish." I snort.

"And a hello to you, too, darling."

"What brings you by, dear? We weren't scheduled to meet for another-"

"I know, I know, I'm early and all that crap, but it's for a good fuckin' reason. Well...yeah, we'll call it a good reason for now."

"What reason?"

"Boys, go outside for a minute," Negan tells the kids, "Your mom and I need to talk."

I furrow my brows, but nod at the boys. "Go ahead, take recess."

"What's recess?" Abel asks as he and Jolyon head out. Jolyon looks over his shoulder as he goes.

"I tell ya, everytime that kid sheds light on how much he doesn't know about the old world, I fucking shit inside."

"Is that why you always smell?"

He flips me off. "Ha-fucking-ha."

I snicker. "He was born in the new world, dummy, of course he doesn't know too much about the old."

"Tragic."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, kids these days and all that, what is it you want?"

"Jeez, are you ever fuckin' glad to see me?"

I make a face. "I am happy to see you, but what do you want to talk about?"

Negan sits at the table, setting his bat down on top. "Man, how about offering me some water or something, you grand hostess."

"Would you like some water?"

"Nope, but thanks for asking."

"Negan."

"Alright, alright." Negan's amused grin fades a little. "I need to ask a huge favor from you."

"What?"

"There's been a little incident at one of my outposts."

Thanks for reading! Hope you all are well!

CLTex: Yeah, trouble can never been too far away unfortunately! This maybe the last chapter where things are nice for awhile.

nagi92: Glad you like it so far! I was afraid I was hitting a rough, boring patch, but I think things are gonna get a lot more interesting from here on out. :)