Blake gave a breathy gasp of air as she slipped into the hot, soapy water….which burned and caused her bruised skin to tingle.

Blake had walked in a daze for a long while….silently wandering the cool, gloomy corridors, having headed out of the evening sunshine and into the darkness beyond.

She was tired. Exhausted and breathless….the realisation of what she had just done not fully hitting her, until she had found where she wanted to be, that was.

Blake had shoved open the, already-ajar, door, and blinked, gazing around.

Everything was quiet here.

Calm and quiet….as her bloody fingers slipped quietly away from the door handle.

She looked down at them…..down at her sweater…covered in tiny red dots from Lucille.

Part of her should have cared. She knew that. But part of didn't want to. Not now. Not after everything.

And so, the caramel-blonde woman had moved over to the second room, flipping on the light and headed over to the large wash basin and turned on the faucet.

The water was, to her surprise, warm in the tap….and as Blake let out a shaky breath…looking down into the red…then pink…then clear water, as it washed away down the basin…her eyes travelled simply over to the large bathtub, set in the middle of the room.

She had, without a second thought, stood up straight and slipped her grey sweater from her body….

Her sneakers and pants came too….followed by her underwear.

And before Blake had realised what she was doing, she found herself slipping down into the water…the tub now filled with a white mountain of soap suds.

She had found a dusty, disused bottle of bubble bath on the floor nearby, doubting that Negan ever used it, so had helped herself.

For she really didn't care anymore.

More important things had happened today, than Blake using some bubble bath that didn't belong to her.

But it was here, in the hot water of the tub, that she finally let a small tear slip down her cheek….dropping quietly into the water below.

But that was all she would allow herself.

David did not deserve anything more.

It had taken Negan a long time to find her.

After he had searched her room…the bathrooms…the canteen…he had of course, known the next place he would check…

And he had been right.

Strolling into his quarters, he lifted his chin surveying the open bathroom door, light on…the smell of fragrant, humid air, drifting out towards him…

For almost thirty minutes now Blake had sat there, knees pulled up into her, head resting on her folded arms…staring into space.

Every inch of her felt more exhausted now that it ever had….but she couldn't close her eyes…

Not yet anyway. For she knew that if she allowed herself to lie back and drift into that dream world where David still existed, then she would likely never wake up.

Blake lifted a hand to her damp shoulder, kneading at her sore and aching muscles.

But as much as she ached…as much as she was in pain…she knew that that was it. That it was all over now…a huge weight being lifted off of her.

She was finally free.

Blake let out a long breath of air, just as there came a creak of floorboards from the doorway behind her.

She knew of course who it was.

But it was a long moment before he spoke.

"You alright, Peaches?"

Negan's voice was softer than it usually was, but no less husky, with that same drawling tone he always used.

He genuinely sounded full of concern, but Blake continued to stare straight ahead. Not yet turning around to look at him.

With her legs pulled up to her chest and the soap bubbles that surrounded her, Blake didn't care about the sight of her bare skin in front of him. But even if she hadn't had this protection, she still doubted she would have cared even then.

Blake gave a brief nod. Trying to communicate all she could within that gesture.

She was emotionally exhausted right now. Too much for words.

Blake had half expected Negan to yell at her on finding her here, using his personal bathroom and supply of warm water as though it was her right to. But the tall, dark-haired Saviour did not even touch on the subject.

She heard him let out a small sigh, running hand down his face.

"Listen, Doll-face," he said in a slow voice, pausing for a long moment. "What you did out there….I mean, jeez…..I just wanted you to know…"

He paused again, shaking his head.

"… whatever you fuckin' need…."

And with that, he trailed off….not uttering another word.

And less than a second or two later, Blake heard him turn on his booted heel and stroll back out of the bathroom. Leaving Blake alone, once again with her thoughts.

At least an hour had passed by the time Blake finally stepped out of the, now, lukewarm water.

Her eyelids felt heavy…like they were about to close at any moment.

She needed sleep…to rest….for what she had been through this evening. Well, it felt too much to bear.

Blake moved over to the back of the door and pulled down a large white, towelling bathrobe and shrugged it over her damp, naked body, tying it neatly at the waist.

She doubted this belonged to Negan or any of his wives, but she was in fact far too tired to dwell of this, right at this very moment.

Blake pushed her long caramel damp hair, that now hung loosely around her face, back over her shoulders, giving a heavy blink before padding slowly and tentatively back into Negan's large living quarters.

The room was illuminated now, by just a soft, warm lamplight…which made it look far cosier than Blake had ever expected it to look.

Her green eyes flickered slowly about, suddenly spotting the figure of Negan sat on his black leather couch, where she had initially found him, just a few short hours ago.

He had his back to her now, his black jacket and boots still on…but it was obvious that he noticed her come in.

He turned his head around slowly…his dark chocolate eyes coming to land on her, before he slowly got to his feet.

He moved about, looking down at the carpeted floor, and running a hand over his chin momentarily, before looking back up over at her. As if trying to search for the right words as he gazed at Blake.

The tall, bearded Saviour's eyes seemed to bore into hers. Reading her emotions better than she could explain them.

And it was then that Blake's own eyes flickered down to the floor, unable to hold onto his gaze.

He saw too much in her. She knew that.

"I-Is it alright if I borrow this?" she asked in a quiet, shaky voice, plucking at the oversized white robe, trying to act casual. But inside she was dying. The anguish and apian and exhaustion overwhelming her.

But Negan didn't answer her, merely closing the gap between them, coming to stand just an inch or two away from her.

A second later Blake felt his long tanned fingers reach her chin, suddenly lifting her face, so that her eyes met with his once again.

"Darlin', your fuckin' eyes should be anywhere but on the fuckin' floor right now," Negan uttered, his tone firm. "We clear?"

Blake just stared back at him. This usually unforgiving, dangerous man. This man that most called a monster. Here talking to her as if she was his equal.

Blake gave another tired nod, her shoulders slumping wearily as she looked up into Negan's eyes.

He wasn't smiling and yet right now he gave her more warmth that a hundred hot baths ever could.

Blake let out another shaky breath, as Negan's long fingers traced gently over the bruises at her neck.

And before she could stop herself….it coming as wholly a surprise her her…Blake let out a sudden sob…as tears drifted their way down her cheeks.

All this. It was too much to keep control of.

Negan parted his lips, titling his head, watching her. Looking for a moment as if he was about to say something, but the words never seemed to come.

But it was a brief minute before Blake swiped away those tears, gazing up the ceiling momentarily, before giving a heavy sigh.

She had needed that.

Those tears were not for David.

They were for her. For a life that had been lost over the past six months…that was now regained.

And then, without a word, Blake pulled herself away from Negan, instead moving over to his large wooden four poster bed in the far corner of the room.

She was dead on her feet…perhaps just wanting to rest her eyes for a brief few seconds. That was all.

But even so, as she sank onto the soft mattress, she half expected Negan to reprimand her or at least make smart-mouthed, inappropriate comment.

But that comment, as Blake carefully avoided his gaze, never seemed to come.

Not even when she gave an exhausted sigh , sliding up the bed slightly and curling up on her side, hand underneath her head…as her eyes met finally with his.

Negan raised an eyebrow, but didn't smile. Instead he just stood there surveying her, as Blake pursed her lips, communicating with him silently once again.

For right now, Blake didn't have the energy for wasted words.

But she knew, that Negan was, as always, fully aware how much she did not want to be alone right now.

And the Saviour, to her relief, seemed to understand.

Of course he did.

For after a long moment, the tall, dark-haired bearded man, moved around the bed and settled himself down beside Blake wordlessly. Lifting his hands up behind his head and laying back against his white pillows, boots and jacket still on.

But thankfully for Blake, Lucille was nowhere to be seen. And for that she was grateful.

And with that, Blake gave a quiet sigh, as her eyes suddenly drifted closed….

...sleep coming in….taking her exhausted body away…before she could stop it….

…taking her to a dream world….wherein Negan was stood guard….making sure that David was thankfully, nowhere to be found….

Sorry that was another angsty one. But I'm happy to say that we'll have more happy Blake and Negan fun coming soon. If you all want it, that is?

Thanks to Steph, ElysiumPhoenix, Vany, Cmarie1992, JudithMosalii, schick12, Shan1994, bookworm125, angelskull16, MichelleJoy, rawbsten, The Captains Muse, leahscil, Xmidniteangel,15X, blackcat711, a simple fan, JeremyL, Guest, srosal1, Shadowlover1222, MuiLOVR, FriendsWithTheMonster, Guest, CorinaL27, Keward2592, shaywilliams4151, whereshadowplays, UnitedPassenger,daigur3n, percyjacksonlovesme and LokiLover for reviewing (wow-that took me so long to type up today!)

To all the above reviewers, I also just want to say a huge thank you. I was feeling so, so down after yesterday, but after all of your wonderful reassurance I feel so much better again. You are all brilliant, amazing people and I am so grateful that you all take the time to read my fics every day. I adore you all. Utterly.

Thank you again!

Please review! :)