Then next morning, Negan awoke to find the bed beside him empty of the two girls he normally shared with.

He let out a grizzled sort-of huff into his pillow before easing himself up onto elbows and staring around.

He had had a surprisingly good sleep and didn't remember being woken even once during the night, but he saw no sign of either Blake or Mia now, lifting his hand and running it down his sleepy face.

"Peaches?" he called out, wondering if maybe she was in the bathroom next-door, but there came no reply.

It was so like her to just disappear without telling him where she was going. She was a pain in his ass like that, but he still liked that about her. She was like a goddamn constant challenge to him. Keeping him on his toes, whether he liked it or not.

Giving a groan, Negan pushed himself from the bed and ambled into the bathroom, running his hand through his dark, mussed-up hair as he went.

He switched on the light and moved over to the washbasin, grabbing his toothbrush from the plastic tumblr beside Blake's, getting down to brushing his teeth, gazing at his reflection in the mirror above the sink as he did so.

Negan had truly never thought he would slot back in to this kind of life again.

After Lucille he had resumed his bachelor ways, fulfilling every fantasy he had with a near endless string of woman along the way. But that had soon become tiring and even the excitement of sleeping with a different woman every night had quickly become stale and boring.

For it was a life like this he had truly yearned for a long time.

Having a fucking family.

Something real.

And Blake had given him that.

Sure it had taken them a long long time to get here, but they had. And every moment of happiness she gave to him, made all the pain and sadness of everything else, worth it.

Negan finished up at the washbasin, stripping swiftly out of his boxers before heading over towards the large tiled shower at the far end of the large bathroom.

And within ten minutes he was out again, shrugging on his leather jacket over a white t-shirt and grey pants, and grasping up Lucille.

But Negan had barely made it across the room, heading towards the door, when it was swiftly shoved open…..and in walked Blake, eating an apple.

Negan grinned at the sight, immediately cocking an eyebrow up at her. "Early bird catches the fuckin' worm, huh?" he commented, as Blake gave him a smile in return.

She looked in a far better mood than yesterday, which of course might have had something to do with the tension-relieving fun they had had in that bathtub last night.

"I don't know about a worm," she smirked. "But I got us breakfast."

And with that, she tossed him a second apple, which the dark-haired man promptly caught, grinning as he did so.

"You seem pretty fuckin' chipper this mornin', Doll-face," he growled lifting his chin a little and gazing at her. "My fingers really do that good of a job last night?"

Blake offered him a smile at his words. "Oh most definitely," she purred, walking over towards him now, her free hand reaching up and toying with the zipper on his leather jacket.

Negan narrowed his chocolate eyes at her.

Yeah granted, his performance, as always, had been pretty fucking impressive, but Blake was certainly in a better mood than she had been in a while.

"Beansprout, alright?" he asked in a bemused voice, staring down at her.

But the blonde woman just smiled.

"Yeah she seems much better today," she replied, with a small, contented sigh. "Tanya and Michelle have already collected her. They're making princess crowns. Mia's already decided."

Negan quickly chuckled at the sheer cockiness of the three year old toddler.

"That mean I get Mamma-bear all my damn self today?" he uttered nudging her nose with his.

But Blake's lips curved into a wide grin at his words, as she pulled her face away from his a little teasingly, pursing her lips together, as if thinking hard.

"You can….." she said slowly, her eyes peering up at his. "But maybe not here."

A frown twitched its way between Negan's eyebrows, but Blake spoke again before he could question her.

"Listen, we've not exactly been on the same page lately, and with everything that's happened, Mia coming back, me...well…" she reached down placing a hand to her stomach. "Well, we haven't really had much time together. Just you and me. And I thought it might be good to get away from the stress of this place. Even if it's just for the day."

Negan stared at her.

"Oh yeah?" he said, a little taken a aback. She had obviously been thinking on this for a while. "An' where exactly were you thinking?"

But Blake just smiled and shrugged, coming to rest both her arms over his shoulders, as his, still holding onto both Lucille and his apple, slid their way up her slender sides.

"I don't know. Anywhere." she murmured, wrinkling her nose lightly. "Just somewhere we can get away from everything...just for a few hours. I've been a hormonal bitch this last week or so, and I want to make it up to you."

He could hear the hint of pleading in her voice, her obviously knowing that after his actions yesterday he was likely to say no.

Ok, Negan had been a hard-ass. But it was only because he wanted to keep the woman he loved, carrying his baby, safe.

But he understood now that she needed her own breathing space. And being cooped up her wasn't good for either of their sanities.

The pair of them had been arguing a lot lately. Mainly about the smallest and most petty of things, and as much as Negan knew that that that type of shit was normal in any fucking relationship, it still sucked-fucking-ass. Totally and utterly.

He missed the good old days when it was just the two of them pissing the other off, with the only reason behind it being because they wanted to. And not because either of them were scared, or worried, or frustrated for any reason.

"So….what do you think?" Blake asked him hopefully, tilting her head to the side and causing her long blonde hair to trail down one shoulder. "Daddy up for taking me out on a road trip?"

Negan was silent for a lengthy moment before the corners of his bearded mouth suddenly twitched up into a wide grin.

"Oh most fuckin' definitely," he said grinning. "As long as Momma is up for givin' Daddy a damn blow job in the front of his fuckin' truck, we are good to. fuckin'. go."

He watched, chuckling, as Blake rolled her eyes.

"Hmm, well we'll have to see about that one…" she purred with a smile, giving him a sudden sharp, yet playful, shove away from her, before heading over towards their closet.

Of course half her shit was here now, outfits tangled in with his. Not that he minded that one little bit.

"Alright then, well I guess I'd better go get loadin' shit up, seein' as the damn queen's given her orders," said Negan in a goading voice, giving a faux-heavy sigh, as Blake opened the closet door and stared at him in the reflection in the full length mirror hanging inside the door.

"Just make sure you pack some tomatoes for lunch for me," she said pulling out a black sweater.

But Negan waved an easy hand at her.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," he sighed. "Can't keep Peaches from her damn cravings now can I?"

But Blake merely smirked in his direction, as Negan turned on his heel chuckling again before taking a big bite of his apple and heading swiftly out the door, shutting it closed behind him with a small snap.

"You off somewhere, Boss?"

Almost a half hour later and Negan, who had been standing outside in the drizzly lots that surrounded the Sanctuary, was loading not only Lucille, but an entire range of numerous weapons into one of the nicer pickup trucks.

Negan knew that if they were going out there, then there was no way he was letting his guard down. Not for one goddamn second. Not with Blake carrying his goddamn offspring inside of her.

And sure he wasn't stupid enough to vocalise his worry for her out loud again, not knowing how much it irritated the hell out of her. But that didn't mean he wasn't gonna keep a close eye on any fucker, dead or alive, who tried to cross them out there.

Negan quickly swung around on his booted- heel to see Simon stroking towards him, thumbs hooked through his belt loops as he surveyed the leader of the Saviours and the shiny dark blue truck behind him.

"Peaches, wants to go grab some fresh air," he replied stiffly. "An' I, not bein' fuckin' idiotic enough to argue with a pregnant lady, have agreed to escort her outta here for the day."

Simon offered him a chuckle.

Negan knew it wasn't often that he was seen leaving his people, especially without an entire damn convoy of Saviours to back him up anyway. But he would make an acception on this occasion. And he knew the place would run smoothly without him here. For today at least.

"I'll be takin' my radio, so if shit just happens to hit the fan while I'm gone," he continued. "Make sure you call me. Do not leave me hangin', Si, you understandin' me?"

Negan stared at his tall and mustachioed right-hand man for a long moment, pursing his bearded lips together.

He and Simon had had their moments in the past, and on a few occasions Simon had tried to take the lead from Negan. Tried to be the bigger fucking badass. But he had soon learned his place was at Negan's side. Although Negan still needed to remind him of that from time to take, pushing him back into line.

But on this occasion, to Negan's relief, Simon gave a prompt nod of his head.

"Loud and clear," he said obediently. "But if I were you, Boss, I'd go west if you're taking your gal out. The outposts tell me they've seen people from the Hilltop and Rick's place, scouting as far north as Haley Ridge-"

"An' I don' wanna be runnin' into any of those cock-suckers and their goddamn fuckin' vendettas now do I?" Negan cut in, clenching his jaw.

Running into anyone else today and risking Blake and his unborn kid's life was not particularly high on his list of priorities for today, so Negan knew he should take Simon's advice and head west instead.

He clapped his second in command on the shoulder proudly, lifting his chin, just as a sudden figure appeared just behind the mustachioed man.

"So I've got bottled water, snacks, a gun-" said Blake suddenly strutting over towards them, dressed now in a navy jacket throw over a black sweater and jeans, her long blonde hair tossed over one shoulder as she looked down into the pack she carried in her hands.

But at her words Negan leant right back on his long legs, eyeing her.

"Now where'd the FUCK you get a gun from, Peaches?" he said in a loud voice, almost marvelling at her.

Fuck, she really did have the fucking run of this place didn't she?

"What? You think I don't have access to your guns cache?" she said narrowing her eyes at him. "I'm having your baby, Negan. I own half of your shit now."

And there it was- the reason he fucking loved her.

Negan whined out a laugh, as she moved to the pickup truck, shoving her pack onto the passenger seat through the open window.

"Yeah you fuckin' do, Darlin," the dark- haired Saviour muttered. "But I guess that mean that I own half of this too-"

And with that, he suddenly grabbed her round jean-clad ass and gave it a hard squeeze, causing her to jump on the spot, shooting him a look.

Her eyes darted to Simon in embarrassment.

"Ouch….Negan…." she reprimanded with a mumble, rubbing at her sore ass cheek, as he retracted his hand with a throaty chuckle.

But at their side Simon gave a grin of his own, nodding at the pair of them.

"Have fun," he said before turning around and sauntering back over towards the large looming factory buildings just as the rain began to fall a little heavier all around them.

Negan watched as Blake looked skyward, suddenly looking disappointed.

"Oh….no…..I thought we could have a picnic or something….damn it…." She whispered.

But Negan nudged her, strolling around to the drivers side of the truck and pointing at her with a gloved finger.

"Well that's your fuckin' fault for bein' too damn optimistic, Doll-face," he said curtly. "An' I don't think any sort of fuckin' picnic out there is gonna be very relaxin' with those dead pricks on our tail the entire time."

But Blake shrugged, pulling open the passenger side door.

"You're probably right," she mumbled letting out a heavy sigh. "I was just thinking of something romantic."

But Negan's gave a huff of his own, as they both hopped into the pickup, slamming the doors closed behind them.

"Well, y'know," said Negan offering her a poignant look and turning the key in the ignition. "If its romance you're lookin' for, like I said, I am still up for you blowin' me in the front seat, Darlin'."

And with that he gave a grin gesturing to the space between his legs.

Blake, of course, gave an immediate roll of her eyes at this, leaning her elbow against the passenger side door.

"Ugh, now who's being optimistic. And I don't think getting down on my knees for you while your driving is really gonna help with my morning sickness," she said pressing a hand to her temples and rubbing away some excess rain water that lingered there.

The engine spluttered into life as Negan quirked an eye at her for the smallest of moments.

"That why you were up so early this mornin'?" he asked sounding a little concerned.

But Blake just looked back at him, smiling softly.

"Partly, but Mia was up and getting a little fussy anyway…" she said gently.

Negan's eyes searched Blake's face now, as rain began to hammer down upon the windscreen before them.

He knew how fucking tiring this must be for her and that was probably a good fucking excuse for her rattiness towards him this last couple of weeks.

But as though reading his mind, Blake looked at him with those big green eyes of hers. And for a moment Negan was transported back to that first time, out there on the road together, in the front of that van on that rainy night.

He had had a fucking soft spot for her back then, but he hadn't fucking realised that this would be the woman that would be carrying his child. His fucking kid.

She was truly fucking incredible. And he was truly in awe of how far they had fucking come.

But Blake looked at him a little sadly now, shifting in her seat.

"I'm sorry," she said suddenly her voice earnest. "For being such a pain the the ass these last few days."

Negan blinked at her now, but she continued before he could say anything.

"I think I'm just a little anxious…" she confessed, pulling at a thread on the sleeve of her jacket absentmindedly. "A-After those miscarriages and after David….well, I just didn't think I'd ever get the chance to be pregnant again. And it's all happened just so fast…"

Negan stared back at Blake now, with hard eyes, as she trailed off, her gaze falling into her lap.

"You havin' second thoughts?" he asked, lifting his chin slightly, and feeling his chest constrict.

But at once Blake shook her head, her eyes reaching his once again.

"No. Not at all," she said hurriedly. "I just…"

Rain hammered down on the roof of the truck.

"I'm happy…" she said her face suddenly full of hope. "But I guess I'm not used to feeling like this. Having you, having Mia, having a baby...I guess I'm just scared of being too happy….in case it all falls apart again. I-I can't lose you...o-or Mia again. I just can't. And I'm sorry if I've been pushing you away. I know that all you've done is care about me. But I've just not been talking to you...I-I've not been talking to anyone…"

Negan knew she was right.

He could see the fear in her eyes sometimes when she obviously thought no one was looking.

He had chalked it down to annoyance with him, obviously raising her hackles the moment he brought it up.

But Negan with one hand on the steering wheel, merely stared at her now.

"You ain't gonna lose us Peaches," he said with a meaningful growl. "I ain't fuckin' goin' anywhere. And all I fuckin' want is for you not to have the goddamn weight of the world on your shoulders. Look, we've got a long few fuckin' months ahead of us, an' hell, I ain't got a fuckin' clue what I'm doin', but you've gotta realise that you ain't alone. An' I am gonna be right here, day or fuckin' night."

He grinned at her, licking his lips now as he continued, cocking his dark head to the side.

"If you want a run out, I'll get you a fuckin' run out. If you want a damn foot rub at 2am, then you just wake me up, Sweetheart. An' hell, if you want fresh tomatoes from that damn garden of yours, then I will go down there an' fuckin' pick them for you."

At his words, Blake smiled, her hand moving over her abdomen lovingly.

"Thanks, baby," she said in a soft and gracious voice.

But Negan, smirking, merely reached his hand out and grabbed for hers, before pulling it to his lips and pressing a kiss to her smooth knuckles.

"Don' mention it, Peaches," he eased out in a low voice. "Although I'm gonna take back what I said about goin' into that damn garden and pickin' tomatoes for you. Hell, I've got a reputation to uphold, an' I don't want my people seeing me as a mother-fuckin' goddamn farmer."

Blake gave a small laugh, now, shaking her head.

"Oh I don't know…" she purred. "I could see you dressed in a flannel shirt and some gardening gloves, on your knees, gettin' all down and dirty."

But Negan just grinned back at her now, as he gave a single shake of his own dark head, pressing his foot onto the gas driving the truck out of the lot.

"Nu-Uh. Not in a million fuckin' years, Sweetheart."

Thank you to Guest, Green, Guest, JasminJW, Elysium Phoenix, Guest, Guest18, Lee, LJH, Guest, CLTex, MJ, elljayde, Nicole, Gorjess0242, Negab, Guest, lizzie and ellaaa for reviewing.

I'm really very sorry that a few of you aren't really liking Blake or the story at the moment. That makes me truly sad.

So because of that, I'm going to take a short break away. I've had a very stressful and crappy time of it lately, and I'm off on vacation next week so wont have a chance to update. So I'll have a little think while I'm away, to see if I'd like to carry on. I love writing this story so much, so I'm sad some of you aren't enjoying it.

But I really just want to say thanks to everyone for reading so far, and I hope you all have a really nice weekend. xoxo