The next morning, Negan awoke, confused by his surroundings at first

He then realized he was in one of the bedrooms in the Higgins Haven cabin, lying next to Michonne. Negan also remembered what last night had been like with her. It had been a long one, mixed with bouts of passion and a need for this woman that was unbridled and inexhaustible. He went back to sleep, his head filled with images of things done, and things said from the previous evening.

Negan had almost wept when Michonne told him she loved him in their afterglow, before he fell into a deep sleep, one in which he felt sated and somewhat triumphant. Negan had no idea that Michonne had sobbed once he was asleep, over the words she had uttered or that she even meant them. She told herself she had lost control of herself during their lovemaking and that she hadn't really meant what she said.

Actually, Michonne hoped Negan hadn't really heard her say what she said at all.

On this morning she sat up and looked over at Negan, who was sleeping on his back and lightly snoring. There was something else about last night that she could not get out of her head: the visions of Maggie and Beta having sex in his cell at Alexandria WHILE Negan and her were making love.

God, it had been disturbing! Why would she have seen something like that, while she herself was having sex with someone? Michonne shook it off. It had to have been a dream. Maybe it hadn't happened while she had been with Negan?

Michonne got up and looked for the robe she had worn when she had been with Negan here, yesterday earlier, and headed towards the bathroom. It was as she was about to close the door, that she first heard something smash and break down below!

Michonne looked over at Negan, who was had turned over on his stomach. She saw her katana, headed towards it and picked it up. She would handle whoever this was, and then come back up and shower. It was probably a walker that had gotten inside the cabin.

But as she began to head down the spiral staircase, she saw something else. Or someone else.

"Your name is Grace, right?" Michonne asked as she reached the bottom step. She held the katana menacingly at her.

Grace was holding a gun and pointing it at her.

"Yes. Look, we can't just leave this stuff for someone else." she began but Michonne pointed her sword at her.

"We're not someone else. This stuff belongs to my people at Alexandria."

"We went there last night. Carol and Darryl took us in. They couldn't have been kinder. We know everything."

"What do you know?" Michonne asked calmly.

"I know that Morgan is heartbroken about his friend, Rick. I know he fought a battle against that monster that's upstairs in bed with you. I know good people died. I also know what it's like to need someone. Even when they aren't good for you." Grace said sympathetically.

"Morgan doesn't know you're here, does he?" Michonne asked, ignoring her words. This woman had no idea what she had been through. She had no idea what it was like to leave a baby with it's father and come back and find him, and his friend, high, while a walker was shoving her baby down his throat! All Michonne could see, it was all she could still see, was the rest of her baby… Andre's little feet, being swallowed by a monster. She had lost it in that moment. There was a part of Michonne that wanted to ask this woman in front of her, if she had ever lost a child in such a horrendous way?

But Michonne didn't ask. Maybe because she was afraid of what the answer would be. In this world, anything could happen to anyone. Grace cocked her gun.

"No. Morgan doesn't know I'm here. I got up and left early to come back here and take some things. Things needed at the prison. I could see that our making it a home bothered you yesterday." Grace told her.

Michonne just stared at her.

"I don't want to have to use this." Grace said.

"I'm not worried." Michonne found herself saying, as she eased the katana down and walked to the front door. Two walkers bounded in, as if they were damned near jumping for joy! They went barreling over towards Grace and she shot one, then fought the other off! Michonne stabbed it in the head with her sword, just as Negan hurried down the stairs and took Grace's gun from her!

"What. The. Fuck?" Negan asked slowly, looking at Michonne. "How come you didn't wake me up?"

"I handled it." Michonne said, staring down at Grace, who looked horrified!

"Morgan thought those walkers ignored the two of you yesterday but now…you somehow had them attack me, didn't you?" Grace asked, her voice sounding sad. Negan looked over at Michonne, who admitted nothing. He noted the open door and the dead walker, before he moved over to Michonne's side, his robe loosely belted.

"You came here why? Where's Crazy Morgan?" Negan asked.

"They were both taken in at Alexandria last night." Michonne answered dispassionately. Negan sensed she was still recovering from summoning the walkers, and he moved behind her to put his hands on her shoulders, before looking at Grace. He motioned his head towards the door.

"Go. Before we change our minds. And leave that car here. You leave on foot." Negan told her.

"I don't know this area!" Grace began to protest but Negan let go of Michonne and walked up to her.

"And yet you found your way back here to try and rip off our supply find! Now that vehicle AND this cabin…along with everything that's in it, is ours. Now go!" Negan snapped. Grace slowly got up from the couch and left the cabin, her eyes downcast. Negan walked behind her and slammed the door closed! He then faced Michonne, who slowly sat down on the couch.

"Are you alright?" Negan asked, his eyes caressing her form.

"I don't know where all of that hate came from." Michonne said, eyeing the dead walkers. She put her head in her hands. Negan slowly walked over to the couch and sat down beside her. He rested one hand on her bare leg and tried to not think about how soft and supple it was…

"Where it came from, is that you were trying to keep our stuff from being taken! Why would Morgan send his woman here alone to rob us?"

"She said he didn't know she was here. We need to get back to Alexandria with as much stuff as possible. We don't know how many people Morgan could send here to clean out this place." Michonne noted.

"Yeah, but there are the other campsites. They probably don't know about them." Negan said, giving her leg a squeeze before standing up and looking towards the window! He then rushed over to it, before looking back at Michonne!

"What's her name again?"

"Grace! Why?" Michonne asked, jumping up and hurrying over to the window as well! Sure as shit, Grace tried to get back into the Dodge Caravan! Negan walked over to the door and opened it!

"Hey! What did I say?! Leave the truck!" Negan yelled out. "Otherwise you know what will happen!"

"Or what?!" Grace snapped back. "Your girlfriend is going to order her walker children to kill me? Let's see if they can catch up to me in this!" she shouted before starting the car! Negan looked at Michonne!

"Order those things to surround that truck." Negan said quietly. Michonne shook her head!

"Let her go, Negan. She didn't get anything of ours…"

Negan reached for her shoulders and turned her to face him!

"Do it, Warrior Princess before she gets away with OUR truck!" Negan ordered her. Michonne turned towards the window and somehow, someway, connected with walkers in the woods around the cabin. They came barreling out and quickly surrounded the vehicle! Grace tried to run them over but they began to get stuck under the truck, spinning her wheels and halting her getaway!

"Now, go out and finish her off." Negan told her. Michonne pulled out of his grip!

"Morgan loves her."

"Morgan doesn't love us, now does he? And we don't know that he didn't send her to do his dirty work! Kill her and we say she got surrounded by a hoard…sorry…and that's that!" Negan argued.

Michonne's response was to look out of the window again. The walkers backed off and moved off into the woods. Negan sighed with disappointment and reached for her, but Michonne shied away and went upstairs. Grace jumped out of the vehicle and ran off down the dirt path! She had a knife on her! That weapon would have to do until she could get back to Alexandria—and Morgan.

Meanwhile, Negan followed Michonne, who had went back upstairs and into the bathroom. She turned on the shower and was about to drop her robe when he entered. She favored him with a dirty look!

"What?" he asked innocently. "You sicced two walkers on her inside this cabin! And then you saved her. She was willing to kill both of us to get the stuff here. What I asked you to do was not out of line."

Michonne dropped her robe and stepped into the shower. She pulled the shower curtain closed. Negan dropped his robe and climbed in with her!

"I don't want company." she said, glancing behind her.

"Okay. I won't talk." Negan lied, reaching for a bar of soap. "I'll just help you with your back."

Michonne knew that was a mistake before she could stop him. His lips replaced the soap and before she knew it, she felt herself melting. She turned and found herself locked in his arms.

"I know you're having trouble with what you can now do. But we don't know that these powers of yours aren't permanent, Michonne. You need to learn how to deal with them and when to use them. You let an enemy get away today. She's going back to Alexandria where our children are. Think of them before you allow someone like that to get away from you again, okay?" he asked softy, kissing her nose.

Michonne didn't really agree that Grace was an 'enemy', but she nodded. He did have a point about Judith and R.J.. They had been gone too long. Beta was within the walls of Alexandria and now, Morgan and Grace had arrived to free Dwight and Sherry. They both needed to get things under control, otherwise, things could spiral out of control again. Like it did with the Whisperers.

Negan knew Michonne was hesitant. And that was because the months she had spent looking for 'Rick the Prick' had softened her warrior senses. The idea of Rick's never coming back—ever—excited him beyond comprehension, as he backed Michonne into the shower tiles and lifted her on to his waiting penetration. He moved within her, almost fiercely until he was overcome with the heat from the water and emotion.

He then told her he loved her too.

Maggie set Herschel's breakfast plate down and called upstairs for him, just as Darryl walked in and closed the door. Maggie gave him a wan smile.

"Hey! I was just getting Herschel ready for the day. Is Michonne back yet?"

"No." Darryl answered. "They must have got caught in the storm. Morgan is here though."

Maggie's face registered surprise!

"Really? When did he get here? Where's he been?" Maggie asked.

Darryl did not answer that.

"He's here for Dwight and Sherry. They are part of his group and he wants them released." he told her. Maggie folded her arms.

"I feel badly for them, the truth be told. I know where their coming from when it comes to wanting to kill Negan. I say we let them go." she replied.

Darryl stared at her.

"What is it? Is there something more?" Maggie asked.

"I saw you leaving Beta's cell the other night. In the rain. You really think it's smart to start up with him again like that?" Darryl asked. Maggie looked from him over to Herschel, who came bounding down the stairs!

"Herschel, your breakfast is on the table. Darryl and I will be in the living room, okay?" she asked. Herschel nodded but looked at Darryl.

"I didn't do anything. Mom told you that, right?" Herschel asked him. Darryl nodded.

"I never believed you did. I'm going to talk to your mom. Eat your food." he told him and Herschel smiled, before turning and heading into the dining room. Once he was gone, Maggie and Darryl ambled into the living room. Maggie sat down but Darryl stayed standing by a window.

"If Brian is going to be a part of this community, we need to start calling him by his real name—which is Brian." Maggie said firmly. "And all of us have lost our way during one time or another. Carol is fine with him being here."

Darryl squinted at her!

"That wasn't what I asked you. I understand you have feelings for him, but sleeping with him again…look, I'm sorry. You had something with him. This is none of my business. But I'm here to run something by you and it could affect what you're trying to build with Beta…Brian."

Maggie raised a brow.

"What is it?"

"I just talked to Dwight and Sherry. They think that Negan and Heath were working together. We can't prove it but those two were just as much victims of Negan's as we were. He's capable of anything."

"You'll get no argument from me about that." Maggie said. "I believe it. Maybe we can take this argument before the council and Michonne will see him for what he is."

"Yeah. Michonne." Darryl said. "I think we need to take a harder line here. Negan's got her half believing that RJ could possibly be his. Not to mention this thing between her and Beta. Where it seems like she has a hold over him. Negan is trying to take advantage of that too."

"So we sic Brian on him and that's that." Maggie said.

"How does that work? I mean do you let him out and hope that he only kills Negan and not someone else? How does that exactly work?" Darryl asked.

"Why are you asking me that? Because I get the feeling you don't believe in that plan." Maggie replied, now eyeing him. Darryl was beating around the bush about something. Something he needed to say.

"I have another plan. One that will ensure that Michonne puts Negan out of here for good. Did Rick ever tell you, that Negan told him that he wanted to ask you to be one of his wives?"

Maggie visibly reacted to those words with a look of horror!

"What?" she whispered.

"Yeah. Rick and Gabriel put together a makeshift grave. He came here, took our stuff and then asked about you, since you had been sick that night."

"No. Rick never told me that and I'm glad. Why are you telling me this now?"

"I think he's using Michonne. I don't think he gives two shits about her. And I think if he had the chance, he's have sex with you in a hot minute, if for no other reason, because he knows you hate him. He's sick like that."

Maggie slowly stood up.

"You want me to sleep with Negan? Is that what you're asking, Darryl?"

"Yes. And I want Michonne to see it. I would take care of that part. Her finding out. We tell Beta that he forced himself on you and yeah…between Michonne and Beta, our Negan problem is solved."

Maggie shook her head wildly and looked away from Darryl!

"No." she said.

"You don't think I feel like living shit asking you this?!" Darryl hissed. "But Negan is getting more of a foothold into this place with each day! He told RJ he was his real father!"

Maggie looked back at him.

"I know. He came here and told Herschel that he didn't think Negan was so bad. They are no longer friends now. And that lie he told Carol about the two of you…"

"And now this kidnapping shit with Heath! I shouldn't have had to kill Ezekiel, because none of that should have ever happened. Negan's plan was to get rid of every person in Alexandria that could get in his way with Michonne. We need to do something and it needs to happen fast." Darryl said.

Maggie swallowed before speaking.

"Fine. I'll see what I can do, but I don't know if it can happen fast. He's not just going to suddenly believe I want him. He'll be suspicious. I'll do it but you have to do your part."

"My part?" Darryl asked.

"Michonne cares for you. That I don't doubt. You just need to be a little more aggressive when it comes to making it clear how much you care for her. And God help me I hate to say this, but you need to fight fire with fire."

Darryl said nothing to that at first.

Then he spoke.

"You mean be 'Negan Aggressive'."

"If that's what it takes." Maggie replied stoutly.

Morgan had just handed Carol a letter from a member of his group that she had once known, when Negan and Michonne returned. Carol had told him she was going to talk to Aaron about Morgan's finally getting to see Dwight and Sherry. He had been kept from them the other night because of the storm, and because Darryl didn't think it was a good idea at the time. But Morgan fully planned on getting them both out of there and taking them back to Georgia with himself and Grace.

The gate opened and Negan and Michonne rolled in in the car that Morgan and Grace had traveled in! Morgan looked at Carol!

"That's my car! I hadn't even realized it was gone! Have you seen Grace?" he asked her. Carol shook her head, sensing trouble. Darryl came out of Maggie's home and joined them outside. The car tires had bits of flesh on it.

Morgan walked over to the car to confront them. Dwight and Sherry watched from their basement cell window…

"What are you doing in my car? Where's Grace?" he asked Negan, who got out of the driver's side. Michonne walked to the back trunk and began pulling out supplies. Lydia, Judith and some of the other residents, came over to help, seemingly in awe of some of the haul.

Negan looked around Morgan at Darryl.

"I don't suppose you want to come over and help?" he asked and then looked at Morgan. "I don't know where your girlfriend is. But we caught her trying to steal this shit from us!"

There were gasps from some onlookers! Carol folded her arms.

"I'm sure she wasn't trying to steal…"

But Negan walked up to her.

"She pulled a gun on us and tried to take this shit. Why was she let into this community last night? And when she was, why wasn't she put into a cell? Why isn't this crazy fuck here in a cell? Dwight and Sherry are in one. So is Beta. I thought we had a policy!"

Michonne moved to his side to calm things down. She looked at Morgan.

"Once we unload, you can use the car to search for her. But she did try and steal from us. I suggest you find supplies closer to Georgia." she told him.

Darryl and Carol looked at one another. Georgia?

"You're headed to Georgia, Morgan?" Darryl asked.

"He's headed to the prison. He's made it a home for his people." Michonne said. "And he wants our stuff to help do it."

Carol eyed Morgan.

"Half this stuff would spoil before you got there." she noted. Darryl and a few other men surrounded Morgan.

"I'm sorry, but until this gets sorted out, you're going to have to be locked up." he told him. Morgan looked at Darryl.

"Just look for Grace, please?" he asked. Darryl nodded and watched as Morgan was escorted away. Negan grinned and slammed the driver's side door. He walked over to Darryl.

"We need to take another truck back and get more loot." Negan told him, just as Michonne walked up to both men.

"While you are doing that, I'm going to down to talk to Beta." she said.

"No!" Negan and Darryl said in unison. Michonne smiled wryly.

"I'm not thrilled about it either. But I need to know why I'm tied to him. Once and for all." she said before turning to walk away from both of them so she could face her fears—and a singer formerly known as Brian Heriot.