The weeks drifted by, with the crisp chill of Fall slowly slipping into the harsh cold of Winter.
Life at the Sanctuary had gone on as normal after Negan's run in with Simon. With the mustachioed man keeping a very low profile for a long while, before sliding back into the pack almost like nothing had happened, paying his dues silently, by going on runs and helping out whenever he could.
Everyone, including Simon, knew that he was far from forgiven for what he had tried to do, but the fact that he hadn't had his head bludgeoned by Lucille could only have been a good thing. And the whispers that Negan was 'going soft' soon dissipated to nothing.
But even so, no one here could deny that Blake's influence on the dark haired leader had not had an impact on the place. For the Sanctuary, despite another hard Winter setting in, seemed to be thriving. With a bounty of fresh food, properly stored and rationed, from the gardens, as well as the usual tributes coming in, the Saviours were better fed than ever before, going to bed with full stomachs and smiles on their faces.
This seemed, these days, far from the regime it may have presented as once upon a time, and far more a community, a family, a support system now.
Feeling happier and more content with Sanctuary life, almost every resident seemed to want to put back in. Whether it was those finding the time to make blankets or clothes, those who cleaned and kept the place tidy, or even those who went out on runs. It was like they all wanted to better the place, to play their part in making it a home for everyone.
And Negan had played his part too.
Not just in being a leader and keeping control, but ever since he and Blake had arrived back with a truckload of needy people looking for a place to live safely, Negan had been far more willing to open the gates again to certain folks in need of a home, found out there on the road.
And the sheer influx of new people had brought happiness in its own right to the Sanctuary. More chatter, more new relationships, halting the boredom of what once was.
Frankie had been seeing a handsome new guy named Sam for a couple of weeks now. And even Layla had been flirting up a storm with a few of the women that Dwight had brought back from a run.
Life at the Sanctuary seemed to be changing, but for the better this time.
To Blake, she and Negan were closer than ever. Both of them able to read each other so well these days.
The sex was good.
Family time spent together with Mia was good.
And both were more in love with the other than ever before, with everything feeling like it was finally falling into place for both of them.
And not having Simon at hand as much, meant that Negan had poured most of his trust into the blonde woman, asking her advice when he needed it, valuing her ideas and guidance that much. Even if he did try and dance around asking her directly on each and every occasion, playing it cool as he always did. But Blake was well aware how many ideas of hers were often implemented only the next day.
...A rota system for the kitchens so that families could get their turn to make their own food together every once in a while...
...Turning the unused garages at the back of the Sanctuary into a winter home for a couple of baby goats they had found several weeks ago with room to expand if any more livestock was found…
They were small things. But to the people of the Sanctuary they had a big impact. And Negan was fully aware of how much the Sanctuary residents loved Blake, speaking to, and about her, with such fondness in their voices, something Negan had never ever had from his people.
He was revered. Yes.
Feared. Yes.
But loved?
Definitely not.
But with Blake, it was obviously how the Saviours felt about her, maybe bar a select few like Simon, but everyone else. Well, they treated her like their queen.
Negan adored her, worshipped her. And of course, often spent his free time stalking her around the Sanctuary, annoying the hell out of her as usual (not that Blake minded all that much, a tell-tale smirk always playing on her lips).
But these days Negan didn't seem like the only one who had his eye on the blonde woman.
One morning two long weeks ago, one of the Saviours' trucks had pulled up at first light with a small group in the back, providing Sanctuary for them after a long time out on the road.
The group consisted of a three women of varying ages, two small children, and two men. One of which, the younger of the two, was named Nick.
Nick was annoyingly handsome, with dark hair, a muscular build, and a charming smile. And as he had a keen interest in helping out in the gardens, having helped run his Dad's farm before all this, he had instantly been steered Blake's way.
And that's when it had started…
"Boss," came the out of breath voice of Dwight standing in the doorway to Negan and Blake's room up on the third floor.
Negan who was sat on his squishy leather couch, a large accounting ledger balanced on one knee, looking up at the disturbance, a deep unimpressed frown gracing his brow.
In that second he knew what Dwight was here for.
"Again?" Negan growled out exasperatedly, as Dwight gave a nod.
"He's been out there for the last twenty minutes apparently," murmured Dwight sheepishly, hands stuffed into his pockets, never quite meeting Negan's eye.
"Son of a bitch," huffed Negan angrily, shutting the ledger with a snap, tossing it aside and getting to his feet.
Snatching up Lucille, Negan made for the door, patting Dwight on the shoulder as he passed him.
"You did good, Dwighty-boy," he said in a low voice, before stalking past him, heading out into the hallway.
This had to have been the third time today Negan had been down there. But ever since that asshole had arrived on the scene, Negan hadn't really had a fucking choice.
The first couple of days he could have forgiven it, brushed it off as a politeness on this guy's fucking part. But over the past week or so, this new guy, this Nick, had been tailing Blake around the place like a damn lovesick puppy.
At first Negan had tried to put a stop to it, so goddamn close to using Lucille on the guy for even thinking about talking to her.
But as soon as Blake had caught on to what his plans were, she had given him hell, told him to stop being so stupid, and stop acting so jealous over nothing.
But the fuck this was nothing, for Negan had seen Nick around her, flirting with her at every damn opportunity he was given.
Now he knew for a fucking fact that Blake would cut Negan's damn balls off if she ever found out he had been sending Dwight and a few of the others to keep an eye on her over the last few days.
But hell, Negan hadn't been able to help himself. Sure he trusted Blake whole-fuckin'-heartedly. But that motherfucker? He didnt doubt for one second that he wouldn't try it on with the blonde first chance he fucking got.
The dark-haired leader sighed heavily as he walked, dragging his gloved hand tiredly down his stubbly face.
Part of him knew that he was proabably actng like a goddamn pussy about all this, but shit, Negan knew how he felt about Blake, and after all they had been through togther there was no fuckin' way he was gonna lose her to some fucking thirty year old with not a single grey fuckin' hair and knees that didnt give him shit every five minutes.
Negan made it down to the gardens outside in almost record time.
It was freezing out here, and despite it only being mid-afternoon, the sky outside was already growing dark, a chilly wind biting at his face as he stepped out into the lot.
Since the garden wasn't good for much growing at this time of year, Blake and some of the others had taken to giving the space a good tidy, trimming back anything that needed it and helping to shift a lot of the stuff inside the factory, or into the three greenhouses the Sanctuary lots now housed.
But as the weather had gradually gotten colder, volunteers for this type of work had dwindled, leaving just a small handful of Saviours out here helping today.
For this reason Negan spotted them immediately.
Blake standing there like a goddamn goddess, dressed in jeans, a black beanie hat and a black sheepskin jacket, face lit up in a laugh, carrying a large grow-bag full of compost in her arms. While beside her, walked Nick, in his own thick brown coat, carrying two more grow bags of the stuff in his muscular arms, obviously muttering something that was making Blake laugh.
Negan gave a growl under his breath as he watched them turn and head over towards the greenhouse on the far side of the small walled space, eyes narrowed and dark, taking in their every move.
The way Nick leaned in close to Blake as he said something…
...the way she let her head drop in an audible laugh…
Negan felt his blood boiling, as a wave of utter jealousy coursed through him.
Clenching his jaw together hard, Negan let out a huff, his breath circling in the cold air around him, as he hitched Lucille up onto his leather-clad shoulder and began to pace across the lot towards the pair.
The sound of his heavy boots approaching behind them, was enough to cause Blake to look around.
She stopped suddenly, looking a little startled.
"Negan, what're you-" she began, her mouth dropping open and her green eyes narrowing.
Shit, she fucking knew didnt she?
But Negan played it cool, offering her a wide smile, as Nick beside her also came to a halt, turning around to face the dark-haired man.
He nodded almost immediately, lowering his gaze, to the ground. Like Dwight, not quite meeting Negan's eye.
But Negan, irritated with how close this asshole was standing to his girl, took a looming step into Blake, his free hand sliding around her waist possessively.
"You miss me, Peaches?" he growled out in a playful tone, running his tongue over his bottom lip.
But Blake still had her eyes narrowed towards him, her green orbs travelling carefully over his face trying to read him.
"Not since I saw you ninety minutes ago…" she retorted coolly, placing a hand to his chest and giving him a soft shove away, causing his hand to drop from her middle. "What's with you today? You checking up on me or something?"
Well, not checking up on her at least...
Giving a deep sniff, Negan took that as his cue to step back, leaning back against his long legs and giving a wide, forced smile.
"Just checkin' up on my favourite part of the Sanctuary, Darlin'," Negan teased, waving a hand at the ever-darkening lot around them. "That a crime?"
Blake raised both eyebrows, peering at him bemused, while all the while Nick stood there silent.
"Well if you like it so much out here," she uttered in a taunting voice. "Maybe you'd want to give us a hand out here sometime?"
At her words, Negan noticed Nick glance over at Blake and give a knowing smirk.
And fuck. Just that smarmy son-of-a bitch's look alone, was enough to rile Negan up.
And so feeling his hackles raise, Negan dug at the side of his cheek with his tongue, his mood switching suddenly.
"Sweetheart, do I look like the kinda guy that's used to shovelling pig-shit around the place. Hell I'm the goddamn leader of this place." His tone sounding far harsher than he meant it to.
But Negan was feeling petty. And shit, why the fuck shouldnt he?
This guy was moving in on Blake right in front of him and he was supposed to be fucking ok with that shit?
But it was obvious from the way Blake's smile immediately vanished, that his attitude with her was not appreciated.
She stared back at him looking almost hurt now, a small frown appearing between her perfect fucking eyebrows.
"That really what you think?" she asked in a quiet voice, her green eyes searching his, obviously not understanding where this attitude had come from. "That all this is beneath you?"
Negan made to open his mouth to argue, but obviously not in the mood, Blake turned on her heel not giving him the satisfaction of allowing him to respond.
"Come on Nick," she said bitterly. "Let's leave the leader here to get back to whatever he thinks isn't beneath him."
And with one last gulp and a swift sideways glance towards Negan, Nick quickly bowed his head and followed along behind her, hitching the grow bags up a little higher into his arms as he fell into step with the gorgeous blonde as he headed over to the greenhouse...
...leaving Negan alone, staring after the pair and allowing a long puff of frustrated air to leave his lips, where it curled above his head for a second before dissipating into the icy afternoon air.
Shit. What the fuck had he just done?
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