The night's sky was inky and black, and despite it almost being 4am, there was no sign of the sun rearing its head any time soon. Fall was certainly upon them now.

It was quiet here, on the North side of the Sanctuary, far away now from the commotion,and this area was empty save for a few lone Saviours patrolling the lots beyond.

But making to head out of the door and into the dark night, Blake felt a sudden tug on her hand.

She stopped in her tracks, wiping tears from her eyes and giving a swift gulp before turning around to face Tara who was staring back at her, a look of sadness etched across her features.

"Blake…" she said mumbling out the words. "What you did back there…" The dark-haired woman's eyes were sad and imploring. "Thank you…"

Blake stared back at her, a hurt coursing through her as she thought of just what she had sacrificed for ensuring that her friend left the Sanctuary in one piece.

But the blonde woman was stubborn and tired of death and blood. All she wanted now was a life away from it all. Away from the blackness and the loss that came with this life these days. And if Negan was willing give up her and Mia, and everything it had seemed like for a time he had loved, then so be it.

But that fact alone killed Blake to think about...especially after all they had been through together. But she had seen the look in his eyes, the willingness to sacrifice all of that just for payback and revenge.

Blake shook her head, chewing on her bottom lip, dragging her eyes away for fear of bursting into tears again.

"I-It's fine. L-Let's just get you out of here…" she muttered in reply, pulling Tara through the door and out into the lot before her dark-haired friend could speak again.

If truth be told Blake just wanted her gone. The sooner that happened, the sooner Blake could rest easy.

The two lieutenants on watch, turned her way almost immediately, one of them stepping forward, perhaps not recognising her at first, guns raised and pointing at Tara, the traitor, knowing she didn't belong here. But the second man held and arm out, lowering the first's gun.

They both knew of course there would be no punishment more severe than for the person responsible for hurting Blake in any way. So they held off, earning themselves a grateful nod from Blake her way of telling them, she had negan's permission for this. Despite that fact not being one hundred percent true of course.

And so they held back nodding back at her reverently as she dragged Tara past the chain-link fences and to the outer perimeter, where a shorter fence stood with a small gate set into it was chained up with a padlock. But Blake, privy to almost every hidden piece of information here at the Sanctuary knew was always left unlocked in case of emergencies. The perks of being just that close to Negan coming in handy.

Blake stopped finally at said-gate, snatching the padlock swiftly away.

"You'd better take the south road out of here if you want to avoid anyone from here coming after you…" she mumbled.

But a sudden gentle hand to her face caused her to turn and look up at Tara who was staring back at her imploringly.

"Blake….you didn't have to do any of this...not for me…" she said with tears flooding from her eyes. "I came here to see you...to make sure YOU were ok-"

"And you did," said Blake, feeling her own tears welling once more in the corners of her eyes as she stared back at her friend.

But Tara shook her head, sounding mortally upset. "No, no I didn't….and you weren't ok…" she sobbed now. "You lost your baby...and I had no idea….t-they had no idea…if they had..."

But Blake gave a frown now, wiping at her eyes with the hand clutching the padlock as she stared up at Tara once more in confusion.

"W-Wh...What do you mean they?" she asked, her voice all of a sudden going very quiet.

But Tara just stared back at Blake, her eyes big and round.

"I'm just so sorry…." she said giving a deep sniff or two. "What you went through with David and now this. I should have been there for you. I should have been there, Blake!"

And with that, Tara grabbed the blonde woman around the neck and pulled her into a tight hug, encapsulating her in her arms.

Blake closed her eyes at the warmth and love emanating from Tara at the this very second. Only wishing that things were different. That life was different. Wondering that maybe someday whether things would change... Whether them being friends, being able to see each other to catch up and hug and spend time together, would ever happen? But with tensions between Negan and Rick the way they were, Blake's very much doubted that.

"Don't be sorry…" she murmured back with another sniff, pulling back from Tara and placing both hands to her cheeks, staring into her tearful eyes imploringly. "It wasn't your fault. But...Tara... y-you need to go. If you wait any longer...I-I just don't want any of them to change their minds…"

Blake's mind flitted back, to not only Negan now, but Simon too.

She had seen the looks of determination in them, both obsessed with punishment and rule.

Had it always been this way? For maybe Blake had just never seen this side of Negan. Never been privy to the heavy toll of his regime...the torture...the murder...or maybe she had just been blind to it.

For wasnt that how she had gotten here? She had killed her own fiance out in this very lot. Beat him and shoved him out of this fence to be torn apart from walkers. Maybe she was as bad as Negan was...as the Saviours were?

But no more. For Blake was tired of all of it now.

Losing her baby had shown her that some things were not worth the death and destruction.

For being set on revenge and payback left a bitter taste in the mouth. And killing people would do nothing to bring back the child they had lost. Not now, not ever.

All it would serve to do, was leave them with nightmarish images that they would never be able to shake. Blake knew that first hand... and knew it needed to end.

Turning, Blake gave the gate beside them a shove, holding it open for Tara to go through.

But the dark-haired woman made no move to do so, tears slipping from her cheeks and landing on the lapels of her hooded jacket. "I-I can't just leave you…" she said with another shake of her head.

But Blake pursed her lips tightly together.

"Tara, I was happy here…" said Blake speaking very suddenly. "I love Negan. And I know he can seem like a monster to anyone on the outside, but he saved me. He let me grow and gave me more than anyone else ever could."

Her words were honest as her tears matched Tara 's. That was the truth, she di love him. Although she didn't want to admit to her friend that things said back there may have changed their relationship for the worse...For she knew that if she did, then Tara would refuse to leave and risk her life to get Blake out of this place. And that couldn't happen, it just couldn't.

"No matter what happens now...I-I can't go with you back to Alexandria...I just can't," Blake said honestly, toying with lock in her hands. "That's not my home anymore, please understand that."

And it was an long, long moment before Tara finally nodded, but her tears had stopped now and she was staring at Blake with a look of utter concern etched upon her every feature.

"I get it….I do….but, Blake, you've got to promise me you'll be careful…"

Blake shook her blonde head.

"Don't worry, Negan would never-"

But Tara interrupted her, clutching hold of Blake's forearm suddenly.

"I dont mean Negan…" she said quickly, her voice hushed as a hard gulp slid its way down her throat.

Suddenly it was as though the entire world had gone quiet.

"What do you m-"

But Tara spoke again before the blonde could say another word, squeezing her arm tightly.

"They're coming, Blake, theyre coming. A-And when they do, t-this time they won't miss…" said the dark-haired woman in a trembling voice, opening her mouth to speak again.

But before she could say anything more, the door to the lot behind them swung open, with a clang and out stepped Negan, his eyes hard and set finding the two woman immediately at the far end of the lots.

And with a backward glance of worry that the leader of the Saviours had changed his mind, Blake gave Tara a hurried shove, knowing that they had run out of time.

And despite how desperate she was to find out who on earth her friend was talking about... WHO was responsible for shooting her in the first pace, she knew this was now or never, and Tara needed to get out of here.

"Go, Tara, please, you need to go!"

And with that, her friend hurried through the gate as Blake padlocked it behind her quickly.

And with tears in both of their eyes Tara's eyes met with Blake's one last time, their fingers meeting through the rungs of the fence.

"Go…" Blake murmured out desperately.

And to her utter relief, her old frind did as she was told, hurrying away and heading off into the treeline beyond, disappearing out of sight…

...leaving Blake wondering when the next time she would see her would be...but after her ominous confession, if she ever got to see her at all…

Sorry if this chapter wasn't really up to my normal standard. I've not been very well and am on strong painkillers so am a little spaced out if truth be told, so having a hard time figuring out my writing. And also sorry I've been a bit MIA of late, always the way when you're not feeling too great unfortunately. Again accept my apologies, hopefully I can get back on my feet sooner rather than later.

Next chapter- What will Negan and Blake have to say to one another….

Thank you to kaylee00, Guest, stacey40, Moonwolf27, Lucy, sreid045, Green, CLTex, LJH, Guest, Guest, angelvoice15, BlueBloodsSVUOrder, Guest, Rumbelle96, Guest, Guest, Starbucks18687, Megshinkley and H20 Ferrum Dominus for commenting on the last chapter.

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