Out to Get You part 2: Out to Get Me

by demeter11

This time Negan is in the mix while father to be and newlywed Carl Grimes fights his deep attraction to and real love for his dad, Rick's girlfriend Michonne who happens to not only be his wife's aunt but fighting her own battle about her feelings for him, too. Meanwhile, we learn more about Daryl's past as well as Negan's.

14. Chapter 12- Mother, Mother

Negan – Isn't It Though?

"Bob Dylan is overrated. Pure and simple," Jagadamba said rubbing her gloriously round belly soothing her quivering little ones as the credits to I'm Not There rolled.

"Oh, God, Richter. Clearly, she was switched at birth. Because there is no way this Philistine is our kid," Negan said laughing.

Before her mother could respond, Jagadamba rejoindered, "Congrats, Nic. That is the first sentence I have ever heard you say that didn't have the word fuck in it. I am not your kid."

"Keep telling yourself," he said poking her knee.

"Admit it. Bob Dylan can't sing. Songwrite maybe. Lay Lady Lay is sexy as all get out. Jazz, it sucks too. Only the pretentious and the clueless or the both pretend to like jazz and Bob Dylan.

And mariachi is the same. No way Mexicans like that shit. They produce it and listen to just to piss off and annoy the rest of us," the teen said before burping.

"Goddamn. You ain't got no fucking home training. And that's just racist," Negan laughed.

He was crazy about the girl. He really did see her as his daughter. He loved her.

"It's true. Mariachi music suuuucks," Jagadamba reiterated.

"Not if you know spanish," Priyanka interjected rubbing her own burgeoning belly.

"You taught me. I am fluent. I just hate the way it sounds."

"True. But, most of that shit is basically death metal," Priyanka explained.

"I guess. You know what song has been stuck in my head lately? Pressure by Billy Joel."

"What do you know about him?" Negan said impressed.

"He was daddy's favorite," she said missing Bushrod and Jayanthi something fierce.

"I always accused Bush of being a white man trapped in a black man's body," Priyanka laughed.

"He wasn't. He taught me to like my blackness. He said when people look at you they don't see an Indian. They see a black woman. He was right. I am more black than anything. Plus, I am still miffed at about the fact I am part German. I don't want to be white."

This was of course a dig at Priyanka. Jagadamba stayed low-key, passive aggressive toward her mother.

Negan interjected, "Said the mother of white children. Carly-Jayne looks like a little white girl. Her hair is pale blonde. She's pink. She's not going to darken up. They are going to be Caucasian as fuck, too. They daddy and granddaddy are like super white, " Negan eating popcorn.

"His mom's mom was half Cherokee and part Italian on his dad's side. So not really. That's why his hair is so dark and fabulous. And he's never really pale. That's Native American hair," Jagadamba defended.

"Looks like a peckerwood to me," Negan scoffed.

"Well, you're stupid."

Negan laughed this off.

Teenagers, he thought.

"Eh. You love me, Allie." he refused to call her Jagadamba as did her mother. After the second week, she quit protesting.

She secretly liked it. Made her feel like she had parents again. Though, she would literally die before admitting that.

She had good memories of Nic from her childhood.

So imagine her shock when she saw him in all his Negan glory for the first time four months ago.

FOUR MONTHS AGO,

She was looking down from her second story window when she saw him with Carl walking towards the house.

Reading their lips, she knew Negan was asking for her and that Carl told him to wait here.

This was right after, Carl had threatened him in the infirmary.

Carl bounded into the house and ran to his wife.

"Babe, we're fucked. He knows we killed them. We were right. They were Saviors," he said out of breath.

"Carl, I know him. That's Nic. He was a private school guidance counselor and Soccer coach. He was nice. The only boyfriend that she ever had that she allowed me to meet. He was so handsome. Still is. Fucking asshole. Shit, I need to redress. I look like a streetwalker. I need to look wholesome. Like he remembers me or like a Madonna. Jesus' mom. Not the glorified karaoke singer. Tell him, I am in the shower."

Carl nodded.

He ran back down.

Tomeka was standing there looking terrified.

Since that night in woods, the two of them had spent many sleepless night reliving what happened together. It bonded them.

Almost in tears, she murmured, "I can still feel the barrel of his gun on the back of my head. I can hear him pull the hammer back."

She seldom shared any of this with Jagadamba. She didn't want to upset her.

Apart of her was actually a little mad at Jagadamba for not taking them back to the Hilton.

She had liked it there. She felt they would have had a better chance at self defense if she had kept to the original plan took Alexandria over. For the first time, she resented Jagadamba.

Carl put his hand on her shoulders and said gently in her ear, "He doesn't get our fear anymore. You survived watching your father kill your mother and stepfather. You survived seeing him do the same to your baby brother. You survived your dad. You can survive anything."

She silently nodded and stood up straight.

Carl opened the door and of all things gave Negan permission to enter.

To which a bemused Negan replied, "What part of all your shit is mine don't you understand?" Negan had not stepped in yet.

"The all part," Carl said.

"Like I said big man sized balls."

"They made three people. So," Carl was careful not to include Enid. That would just one more thing he could use against him and his family.

Carl had no idea how much that comment stung Negan. The man caught the measles as a child and it left him sterile. The news never stopped him from his futile trying.

Negan sniffed and replied, "I thought it was twins."

"Doc found a third."

"Huh. Good for you. Always wanted to be a grandpa. Hi, Tomeka."

One could audibly hear her skin crawl.

He came in and Dwight and another one of men followed.

Carl protested.

"Only you. Your butt monkeys can stay outside. This is my house where my wife, your stepdaughter and our children live. You married to her mom, right? That means something. Unless, wife is just another word for sex slave to you like it was Cortez. I am sure you have heard of him by now," the day before his wife had made the comment.

"I know Janie's Got a Gun over there is his kid. And that she killed him. I'd watch her. She's dangerous. Just based on that. Killing a parent no matter the reason fucks you up inside. She's a time bomb," Negan had no idea he had just stung Carl back.

He had no reason to know Carl took out his mother.

"You don't know her," Carl said in a defeated whisper.

"We'll see," Negan said motioning for his men to stay behind. In essence, respecting Carl as his family. Or so it seemed.

He closed the door behind him but didn't lock it.

Carl took note.

Negan began to walk about the living room like he owned the place. He did.

He saw a picture of Carl and Carly-Jayne embracing on their birthday.

This was a normalcy that Negan secretly craved.

He commented, "She looks so fucking much like Alice. Just white passing."

"She doesn't go by that name," Tomeka said.

"She will," he said darkly.

Carl and Tomeka looked at each other.

"So, where's the tyke? Tykes? You got two little burrito babies?"

"Wow. That's not racist at all," Carl said frowning.

"I am not. I got black wives, Hispanic wives, biracial wives. Priyanka alone. Pussy is pussy. It's all pink."

Carl scoffed and said, "My kids are aren't here. C.J. is with her brother and sister and the Garcias are with them."

Carl timed when Negan was coming and wanted the children away. Judith included. He told Jagadamba and she told Rick since father and son weren't speaking at the time. He agreed. In fact, all forty children were shipped off to the Hilltop much to Gregory's chagrin.

"We don't know what they are going to do. Children don't need to be here. One less thing to worry about," Jagadamba said to Rick.

At that moment, Jagadamba came downstairs. She had been listening at the top.

Her countenance was au naturel. Just big, slanted eyes and freckles. Her hair allover her head dressed in a blue maxi dress that hugged one of her waist and belly fully displaying her fifteen weeks with multiples baby bump.

When Negan saw her, he felt more emotion than he thought he would.

Looking at her stomach, he said, "Goddamn. I remember when you were one of those your Momma was trying to hide under her shirt.

You are so beautiful. You haven't changed a tap.

Who in their right mind could look at that angel face and would want to cause you harm? You didn't deserve what those fucking pieces of rat shit did to you. You were a child. Still are. I am so sorry about what happened to you. I am sorry I wasn't around to protect you. I am sorry," he began to cry. Like tears.

This took Jagadamba by surprise. Only other person to apologize to her like that was Carl and later Rick.

"Okay. I believe you, Nic" she began to cry too.

Tomeka was flabbergasted.

"You know this piece of shit?" Tomeka asked angry they were embracing.

No one acknowledged what she said. Carl cut his eye at her but he was equally appalled.

After their moment, Negan said, "Despite our history and the fact you are my daughter now. I can't let what you and bite size Jason Voorhees did slide. I have to punish you both. You know that don't you?"

She nodded.

Carl's heart began to beat so fast.

"Please. Don't hurt him. He's been hurt enough. Please don't take him from me. He means everything to me. Only thing I love more than him is my children," she grabbed on to Carl and he to her.

He was scared now. As was everyone in that room that wasn't Negan.

"Kill him?" Negan scoffed.

He continued, "What earthly good would that fucking do? I am not trying to start a war with Rick or the Pharaohs. Killing Cyclops here would definitely do that. I am in the business of peace. Just do as I say and there will be peace. It's as simple as that. And as such, I have to punish the two of you. You killed twelve of my men," he said.

"No, we didn't. It was only nine," Carl spoke up.

"Five got away. Had to kill three of them to set an example. We abandon no one. They abandoned those nine. Wherefore you killed twelve of my men."

"That's bullshit," Carl said.

"No, kid. That's life. So. What am I going to do to the two of you? Let's see. What is the most brutal and bloodless way to go about things? What would break both your hearts and Rick's?

I know. You, and you, Carl, I am talking to you. I know your name. I know you two met when you were two. Been crazy about each other from the first moment you met. The boy next door.

Way Richter makes it sound, the two of you were inevitable."

"We are," they said in unison.

"Aww. I think I just fucking threw up in my mouth a little," Negan said.

Tomeka thought, You too?

Tomeka felt a pang a jealousy. It was not the first time.

Since the night they were caught and more specifically when Negan brought her along for the ride when he wanted to put Rick in his place- the elder Grimes had been somewhat diminished in her dark green almost hazel eyes.

Carl on the other hand, she could see the man in him. That started at baby Mohinder's funeral.

Carl had been there for her. He was kind and loving. Not manipulative or selfish or sexual. Funny. She was in denial about it but she kinda in love with him.

Tomeka was obsessed with Twin Peaks.

At first, she thought Rick was the upstanding Dale Cooper and that Carl was reckless Bobby. Now she was not so sure.

Back to now.

Negan had been slowly walking towards the door as he continued to listen to himself talk.

". . . how to punish two lovers? Separate them."

They both bursts into tears and held on to each other tighter.

Negan continued, "You are not going to see your triplets get born. Neither will your dad see his twins. Yeah. She put two babies in Richter.

I will decide when it's acceptable for you two assholes to see your kids. Keep me happy, I might relent. See them a day a month or you get to see her a day a month. Never both. You don't deserve both. Killed too many of my men. I can never stand for that," he was dead serious. This was Priyanka's proposition verbatim.

Jagadamba instinctively knew that.

That dirty bitch. Dirty, ingenious bitch, she thought.

Jagadamba understood something Negan and her husband didn't- Priyanka was setting up a war.

Priyanka knew Rick and Carl were only going to take this proposed punishment for so long before it became apparent what it was truly- an insult. A nut grab in its rawest form.

The Grimes men were capable of something Negan just wasn't. They were baby makers. Virile Cyrils. Not sterile Steves. They both were a threat to him in the basic sense. They both could do something as men that he couldn't.

Then Negan said the clincher.

"Carl, you know what happened to your wife is your fault, right? She ran away looking for you. That's how those motherfucking pieces of cheap, ugly baby-raping shit got a hold of her. All because of you."

Apart of Carl all ready felt that way. He began to sob guiltily.

He said in a low whisper, more a nod, "I know that."

Jagadamba replied, "I don't see it that way, baby. It's no more your fault than mine."

"But, isn't it, though?" Negan said smirking.

Jagadamba knew by his insistence only one person put that horrible idea in his head.

Angered, Jagadamba replied, "I don't know what my bitch mother-"

"Don't call her that," Negan said.

"I will call that unforgivable bitch anything I want. I thought that maybe she loved me because what she did for Carl that night. But, nah. That was for Rick. She just fucked him after all. She's all about power.

She's the reason Carl and I got separated. I wanted to ride with him and his mom and their friend down to this camp but she insisted I ride with her and my brother instead. Which would have been fine if she stuck with the plan. She didn't. She intentionally took another turn. She wanted to separate us. If she hadn't done that. I never would have ran away. She provoked me to anger. Parents aren't supposed to do that.

You know my pregnancy is her fault," Jagadamba said.

"What? She held you two at gunpoint? Forced you to fuck?"

"Sorta. She encouraged me even after I told her that I wasn't keen to. She even gave me a fresh box of condoms. That she had poked holes in and resealed the box. It was dark. And more importantly I trusted her."

This angered Negan.

"That's a fucking crime. That's low. She didn't?" He was truly disgusted.

"She left out that little nugget? I bet. It Wanna know about my son's funeral?" Jagadamba asked.

Four hours passed.

Jagadamba was settling in at the Sanctuary while Negan made his way to her mother.

He was not pleased.

"She's here," Negan said flatly.

Priyanka couldn't hide her joy.

"May I see her?" She asked.

"That's up to her. So few things have been," Negan said.

She knew then the two of them had talked.

"I-"

"You say I a lot. As one selfish asshole to another, I get it. Just had Alice examined. Her blood pressure is high. It's triplets not twins."

"Damn. Those Grimes men are fertile. Is my granddaughter here?"

"No. Unlike you, she protects her kid. Kids."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Priyanka asked.

"Doctor recommends bedrest. Between the puking which she did for two hours almost and her small stature and age and the strain on her kidneys the fact medical care is rudimentary at best- she could die. She and those babies could die. You have succeeded where those two assholes who kidnapped and raped could not.

Her own mother. The moment you poked holes in those rubbers you put her life in jeopardy. Do you understand what I am saying to you?"

"I do. I-"

"Shut your trifling ass mouth up. I am as ruthless as they come. Not with kids. You don't use kids like pieces on the chessboard or like a credit card. Especially your own. She's your daughter. Not your sister. Hell, you're a shitty sister and a shittier mother. Her son's funeral? Really?

Anyway, I am telling you if that little girl dies, I am gonna wait until you give birth. Then I am taking your ass out too. I don't usually kill women but for you, I will make an exception. Do you understand?"

In tears, she nodded and said, "Not if I beat you to it."

Priyanka began to climb out the bed. She was certain he was about to kick her out.

He said, "Where are you going? Get naked."

Negan knew this was the last time she would want to do after being threatened. Perfect way to punish her. Give her a taste of what it felt like to be her daughter.

Dwight- The First Time He Saw Her

When the door flew open, Dwight felt a flutter in his chest he hadn't felt since the first time he met Sherry.

Oh, my God. She is more beautiful than her mom. How the he'll is that possible? I want to protect her.

He saw she had a bag in her hand. He took it. They made eye contact in the process.

Her face was full of sympathy. She knew what it was liked to be burnt.

Carl was behind her with her heavy bags.

He didn't like this. Not any of it but at the moment. What he going to do but go along?

Negan instructed him to lead her straight to his car.

He gladly did so.

Once they were alone, he asked, "You must Alice."

"Jagadamba or JB. Or Mrs. Grimes. If you were twenty years younger I would let you call me mommy," she flirted in a weird round of about sort of way.

He laughed. Something, he seldom ever had a reason to do.

Over the course of the next couple hours they became fast friends. They both complained about their derelict teenaged mothers. Though he made no mention that Daryl was his mother.

Two months passed.

Negan didn't like for Jagadamba to walk the bigger she got.

"I am pregnant, not crippled," she complained.

Negan tsked and said, "Your mom is pregnant. Healthy as a horse. You are what we call sick. Your little ass has been through a lot. Time to sit down. Relax. Get in the wheelchair. It's my job to keep you and my grandbabies alive."

Though, she felt like arguing, she realized she was being loved and decided not to be a bitch about it.

She knew there was no way she would be babied to this extent if she were at home. After all, she was Momma.

Here she was Jagadamba or Alice or as Dwight teasingly referred to her Mrs. Grimes.

He primarily was her bodyguard. In fact, she was kept under constant guard lest she wander around and get the lay of the land. He couldn't have that. She was still technically the enemy.

And Negan foolishly trusted Dwight more than he led on.

Still, he let her go out on the balcony because sunshine was good and her apartment didn't have windows.

During one of those times, she had feel asleep out on the balcony. She woke up to Dwight and Daryl embracing. Then lovingly putting their foreheads together as they wept.

This caused Jagadamba to wonder, Are they in love?

She waited a couple days until they were alone on said balcony.

"Can I ask you a question about Daryl?" She asked.

"Sure," Dwight hunched.

Jagadamba got out of her wheelchair.

"Girl, come on. If he sees you," Dwight warned.

"He ain't gonna do shit," she said confidently.

"To you."

"Okay. Fine," she kicked the wheelchair down the way.

"God, you are mean," he said absentmindedly putting arm around her shoulder.

She leaned on the railing then said, "You know you wouldn't have me any other way."

"What's your question?"

"I just want you to know I am as bisexual as they come. If not for Carl, I would definitely have a girlfriend or maybe even a wife right now. That said, what's up with you and Daryl? I saw y'all share a moment the other day. It was intimate. Are y'all in love? It's okay. I am just curious"

Dwight let out a quiet chuckle.

"In a matter of speaking. I guess we are."

"How long?"

"Day I was born."

She looked at him quizzically.

"He's your dad?" She asked.

"Try mom," he said.

Jagadamba's jaw hit the floor.

"Daryl is Cordelia?"

"He is. Transman. Got a dick and everything."

"Mind. Blown. You never know about people."

"She, he apologized. Said everything I ever hoped he would. And I decided to forgive him. And it feels good. I feel free."

"Hmmph. She's never gonna say what I need to hear. Only what benefits her. She's done some shitty things to me. My whole life I thought she was my sister. Who does that? Protect me. That was done to protect her so I wouldn't ruin her future. I was incidental. Everybody always kisses her white passing, posh accent having, blonde, sculpted ass. Carl feels the same way about his dad."

"Maybe y'all should lighten up. They are trying."

"I like you better grumpy," she said.

"Being angry is exhausting. I mean. You are mother. You're bound to fuck up. Don't you want to be forgiven when your time comes?

Besides, I am saving my anger for Negan. He's taken so much from me. He did this," he pointed at his face.

Negan had been careful not to iron anyone since her arrival. He also warned everyone not to discuss it.

"He burnt you?"

"Ironed me. You know Sherry."

"Yeah. She's cool. And gorgeous. I bet she'd make a good wife. She's so hot."

"She is and does. She was my wife first."

"No mentioned that to me. Sorry," Jagadamba said frowning.

"Well, see my baby sister was your age, a smidge older and diabetic. She was a low man on the totem pole- we all were and it was hard to earn enough credits to get what she needed. So dumbass offered to marry her."

"What?!" She lost all respect for him in that moment.

All the love and care Nic has shown me is an act. Does anyone care about me? Truly care?

"She said yes but didn't want to go through with it. She was a virgin. Seventeen. Cute as a button. He's old and gross to a girl your age."

"Because he is."

"So, we stole the meds and ran away. Then my sister got ate."

"I am so sorry. That's fucked."

"It was all for nothing. So, we were hungry and tired and had no choice but to go back.

Negan was going to kill me to make an example. So Sherry offered herself to save my life. He accepted. But, insisted my trespass couldn't go unpunished. After all I stole his meds and his fiancée. And being ironed is the penalty for messing with his women. Most of them die of infection. I was lucky."

"Lucky. I was burnt by my ex husband. He scalded my back with oil and water."

"Goddamn. No wonder you killed that motherfucker."

"That wasn't why. He murdered my son and promised to rape my daughter after her first period. I was nine when I had mine. He was already grooming her.

She's a daddy's girl. Negan's no different. He's grooming me. Keeping me isolated. Being extra nice to me. That motherfucker. Why do all the adults in my life such monsters?"

"I am an adult," he said.

"So, am I. And?"

"Naw. Not really."

"Whatever.

So, Daryl is complicated. Who knew? Judged him wrong. I just thought he was a dirty white boy. Explains his mannerisms. Why he doesn't say much. He's not confident his voice is manly enough. He always throws his head back like he has long hair. Has the sweetest smile. And a beauty mark. I can imagine him being a chick."

"Apparently, I have a sister. He gave birth in prison. She's half black. Last he heard her adoptive family named her Connie and she went deaf."

"Damn. What about your dad?"

"My mom's my brother."

"Oh. That blows. And here I am complaint about shit. Sounds petty."

"Your pain is not petty. Being lied to hurts. Your identity is not what you thought."

"Exactly. When did you find out?"

"I always knew."

"Oh. Sounds like a burden."

"No more so than finding out your big sister is actually your mom and your brother is genetically your third cousin, your dad is your second cousin and your mom is actually your grandma. That's fucked up."

Jagadamba burst into tears.

He put his arms around her even though to do so was a no-no. She let him.

"I love her so much. I always have. I think I apart of me always knew deep down. Her approval was everything. I thought she loved me, too. She used to before the apocalypse but after. Not so much. Why?

Rick hates me. He tries to pretend but he doesn't like me. I am the competition. I saved the day. Not him. They were about to starve before I got there even with the food from the Hilltop. He gives me no credit for that. He's ungrateful.

My aunt doesn't like me either. My brother, who knows? I thought maybe Nic loved me. But, he did that to you. There's no good in him.

My husband. I hope he loves me. I love him with all my everything. He makes me feel good about myself. Mostly.

My daughters and son need me. I am not a person to them yet. I guess Priyanka isn't a person to me yet either.

Anyway, I know the Daltons love me. I guess. I just feel so alone. And on top of everything. I could die. My babies could die. All because my selfish bitch of a mother sabotaged me. Carl and I were responsible. She's poison. My dad's dead cause of her. Guess I am just next."

"You're not gonna die. They aren't either."

"You don't know that."

"Neither do you."

"Touché."

They remained embraced as the sun began to set. They were both thinking about their respective significant others. Missing them.

"This is nice," Dwight said.

"It is. Yowza. They're kicking," Jagadamba said.

"Ooh. Can I feel?" He asked.

She nodded and partially broke the embrace to guide his hand on her belly.

"That is amazing. Wow. I always wanted this with Sherry."

"I always wanted this with Carl."

Feeling extraordinarily sorry for themselves, they did something foolhardy. They kissed.

It was a comfort.

When they separated, she said, "I am ready to go inside now."

Dwight went and retrieved her wheelchair and they did just that.

Four hours passed.

Dwight and Daryl were getting ready to settle in when there was an aggressive knock on the door.

"Ma, I got it," he said.

"Nawl. Let me," Daryl insisted.

Dwight hunched.

When Daryl opened the door, he was pushed to the floor. The two men went straight for Dwight. They dragged him out. Daryl was behind.

There in the hall, there stood Negan with Lucille in tow.

"What is this? I have done nothing wrong," Dwight said.

"Dwight, Dwight, Dwight. I have abided your squirrelly ass because you were useful and my sweet Sherry asked me to.

You know having a woman is luxury. A reward here at the Sanctuary. One your Freddy Krueger ass hasn't earned. And yet, a little birdy told me you touched my daughter. You put your cocksucking lips on my princess'. I can forgive a lot of things. Violating her. Not one. She's seventeen and pregnant and married."

Defiant, Dwight said, "Tina was seventeen. That didn't stop you. It was only a kiss. It was comfort. Nothing more."

Dwight knew Jagadamba didn't snitch.

It was the forever sneaky Arat.

Negan continued, "I was going to wait until she was eighteen and willing before I turned her out.

You're missing the point. You fucking touched my kid. There are consequences for that."

Negan raised Lucille.

Daryl sprung into action. He jumped in front of his son putting his body on top of his.

To which Negan replied, "Goddamn. Did he kiss you, too?

He shot you the shoulder! Are you the 'he punched me and it felt like a kiss type?' If that's the case, you should be sucking my dick right now," Negan grabbed himself.

"He's my son, you crass piece of shit. What you want to do to him. Do to me. I can take it," Daryl said ready to die.

Dwight blurted out before he knew it, "Ma, no."

Negan threw Lucille over his shoulder and knelt.

Amused, he said, "Come again? Did you say Ma?"

With every ounce of pride in his heart, Daryl confessed, "Yes. I am his mother."

Negan was blown away.

"You have a dick and balls. I have seen them. Who did your sex change? Jesus?

I have a proposition. More of a demand really. Let me see your scars. Show me your scars and Dark Man here keeps his sorry life. Unless your pride means more to you than your boy."

Without being precious about it, Daryl quickly disrobed while thinking, One of these days, I am going to wear your face as a hat. I am going to tear your ass apart.

Daryl was naturally humiliated. A feeling he was accustomed to since childhood. But, he hid it. Standing there emotionless but avoiding eye contact.

Out of pure lowdowness, Negan ran his hand across his stomach as he circled him like a vulture. Peeping him. After all, he had been trained to read signs of abuse.

He grabbed Daryl by the chin and looked at him.

"You were beautiful, weren't you? Still got a beauty mark. What happened so bad you decided to cut your tits off and get a dick? Was it having Dwight? I can totally understand that making you hate your body. Who hurt you?"

"I was born in the wrong body. Dwight and my daughter were the two good things it ever did."

Negan decided to go another route.

"Just going by those arms, hard to believe you used to have a pussy. Bet your tits were huge," he tweaked a nipple and said, "What a waste."

The men laughed. Dwight was beyond angry.

"You got bullied a lot even though you gave as good as you got. Poor, piece of country trash like you. I bet your dad diddled you. Tried to set you right in his fucked up mind.

Wouldn't be surprised if old Dwighty here was also your little brother."

The men there laughed again.

Negan hit Lucille against the wall. He didn't appreciate the rudeness.

"There's nothing fucking funny about that.

It's tragic. But, clearly, you're not a pussy. Shit, I kind of admire you. You didn't let it kill you. You got big brass balls. Get your head on straight. You would make one a hell of a Savior. You saved yourself. That's step number one. I can see you going far.

Get dressed. Go back to y'all's apartment."

Daryl quickly did so.

Dwight began to get up and Negan put Lucille on his shoulder and said, "I didn't tell you to move."

All this did was make Dwight and Daryl hate him even more.

The latter hung around.

Arat taking Negan's cue, "Want an invitation? Take your ass on."

She looked his way for approval. He gave her a nod before turning his attention back to Dwight.

"And fuck nugget, stay the fuck away from my daughter and her mother if you want to keep from speaking in falsetto and if you want your mom to live. Got it?"

"Yes, sir. Loud and clear."

"Take your punk ass on. Tomorrow I want you bright and early in the infirmary. Sherry mentioned she was coming by. Been terribly nauseous lately," Negan laughed sadistically.

Dwight's heart broke.

It was all he could do to hold in tears as he trudged through the hall to his apartment.

When he opened the door, his heart broke even harder.

His mother was lying the fetal position on the floor weeping.

He slammed the door shut and joined him on the floor.

"How did he know? Am I that easy to read?" Daryl asked.

"No. I spoke out of turn. Priyanka must have told him. I told her about us. Jagadamba is right. She is a dirty bitch. I am sorry. I thought she was my friend."

"I don't think she told. She's not the type. Telling on us wouldn't benefit her. He read me. Carol read me. That's how we became best friends. She grew up similarly. I am so ashamed."

"You told them I was your son. That you are my mom. Are you ashamed of that?"

"Never. I will scream it to the high heaven. I thought you were shame of me."

"Never, Ma. I love you."

"I love you, too, D.J."

"Daryl junior?"

"Yep."

"Dwight's better," he laughed.

Dwight laid his head on Daryl's chest and began to weep.

"I think Sherry's pregnant with that motherfucker's baby," he lamented.

Daryl cradled him.

"He's bluffing. He has no children. Why do you think he so territorial about Rick's daughter in law? His ego? He would have a kid with every woman here if he could. He can't. He's a loser masquerading as a lion. He's our dad with a little power. He is familiar," Daryl said.

"You really think so?"

"Yes, I do," he said.

"I hope you're right. Because I know for a fact, she would kill herself if she had his baby. I can't lose her."

"Why did you kiss Jagadamba?"

"Comfort. I missed my wife and she missed her husband. We were proxies for each other. No more, no less."

"The fact she's a ridiculously beautiful girl didn't phase you one bit? She is good looking pregnant. That's hard."

"I am not blind. I just want Sherry," he scoffed.

Daryl offered, "I got somebody at home, too. Her name is Elliott. . ."

They talked all night. Falling asleep in the process. Last time mother and son were this close, he was in the womb.