2 months later: The Sanctuary

Negan sat next to Rick and held his hand. Well more like Rick was squeezing his hand for dear life. Without being able to administer an epidural, Rick would have to go for a natural birth.

The doctor was ready to do a c-section if necessary but the dangers of doing one without all the right equipment or medicines left it as a last resort.

"Your doing great baby. Our twin girls will be here with us in no time" Negan said softly as he kissed Ricks forehead. They had already been at it for four hours and still no sign of their girls.

Rick screamed out in pain as another contraction happened. Negan looked at the doctor with the eyes of a killer but Lucilles hand on his back relaxed him. Also, Laura and Sherry were giving him the same look he gave the doctor so he knew he better not push things.

The next couple hours went by the same until right around midnight their two little miracles finally came into the world. Rick held one while Negan held the other. Rick looked at Negan who leaned over and kissed Rick on the lips. "You did great baby" Negan said. "Now we just have to come up with names".

Rick laughed and said softly "how about Evelyn and Ada"? Negan smiled and said "going vintage on me there Rick, I love it" and kissed Ricks forehead.

"So, how do I feed them? Is it just formula?" Rick asked the doctor. "You are lactating just like women do" the doctor said off kilter. "My brother was right this whole time" he said as he walked over to write some things down.

"His brothers the doctor in Hilltop" Negan whispered and the two smiled at each other and then their baby girls.

"Ready for the next hurdle babe"? Negan asked and Rick said as he dozed off after feeding the girls for the first time "it's going to be a lot more difficult than giving birth was". Negan laughed softly and watched as the man who he loved more than life itself drifted to sleep.

1 month later: The Sanctuary

Rick took a deep breath as he realized the girls were finally asleep. He silently left the nursery and went into the living room. The fact Negan took an old factory and made into a home for all these people still amazed him.

He heard the door to their room open and smiled when he sawLaura. His face lit up even brighter when he saw Carl and Sophia.

They rushed over and both hugged him at the same time. It had been so long since he held both of them he couldn't help but crying.

"We missed you dad" they both said excitedly. "I've missed you both so very much" Rick said and hugged them again.

Laura watched happily but decided to silently take her leave to let the little family have some time.

"Laura came and said we could stay here while the other adults went to some meeting" Carl said already done with the hugs and snooping around the room. Sophia stayed with Rick and kept glancing at the open door.

"Would you like to see the babies" Rick asked softly. Sophia nodded and Rick took her in and let her see the two girls. "Their names are Ada and Evelyn" Rick said sitting down in the rocking chair. Sophia suddenly climbed up on his lap and said "those are so pretty. Can we help watch them sometime?" Sophia asked shyly. "Your always welcome here" Rick said trying to keep himself awake.

Knowing if he sat there much longer he would fall asleep he got up and led Sophia to the living room where he asked if they would like a tour of the sanctuary when the babies woke up. Both kids nodded and just as Rick was about to ask them if they had any questions about the whole situation, Dwight, Laura and Sherry came in.

"Things are getting heated at the meeting" Laura said. "I think you should go". "I can't just leave the kids" Rick said looking between Carl, Sophia and the nursery. "Sherry and I have this, go and calm things down" Dwight said.

Rick nodded and after apologizing to Sophia and Carl he left with Laura towards the old farm house where the meeting of the settlement leaders was taking place.

The old farmhouse: a couple hours earlier:

The heads of the four settlements were seated at a square wooden table. Behind Negan was his sister Lucille, behind Ezekiel was his wife Carol, behind Maggie was her brother Jeremy and behind Shane was Michonne.

"I called you all here because my loving husband Rick has asked that we try to form a commonwealth of sort" Negan said purposely invoking Ricks name to see who would react. And just like he thought, Shane's eyes widened and he looked like a man out to kill. Negan grinned and continued.

"Since The Sanctuary is great at making guns, billets and gates, The Kingdom has the greatest clothes makers I've ever seen, and The Hilltop and Alexandria have great soil and medicinal medicines I thought if we all worked together than everyone will always have what they need.

I propose that we build a wall around the perimeter of the four settlements and have an entrance right here in the middle of the fun. We would then make sure that each settlement had an underground passage that would lead outside the wall if needed".

The others remained quiet but Negan could tell by the looks on their faces that they liked the idea. Of course, Shane was the first to ask the main question on every ones mind.

"Who would be leader of this great place" Shane asked with venom seeping into every syllable.

Negan once again smiled and said "all of us. It would be a council made up of the four heads to make important decisions that would impact The Whole group, like crime and punishment laws. Other than that, each leader would have say over their own community". That shut Shane up quickly.

Within two hours they had drafted up a charter. It basically rehashed what Negan had said and outlined the crimes that would be considered an attack on all like murder, rape, kidnapping and the penalties for each would be decided by the council at a trial. For small crimes each settlement could have their own court and punishment system.

Each settlement was also to make sure that kids from six to eighteen were in school which all of them already did. They also would teach kids how to defend themselves against walkers but no gun training until fifteen.

They also started planing out a university system that would cater to all four settlements. They also came up with the plans for the wall. They figured with the man power they had they could have it built by the time winter came about. They also were going to build greenhouses for winter plants and a small hospital in each settlement as well as a main hospital for all four that would have more equipment if they were able to get it.

All four leaders signed the treaty, shook hands, and started to head home when Shane and Maggie cornered Negan out by his car.

The Old Farmhouse

Rick and Laura got there in time to see Negan being cornered. Rick ran over to Negan, pushing shape out of his way. "Are you ok babe?" Rick asked giving him a big hug.

"I'm ok Rick, these nice fold just want to have a chat" Negan said calmly. "Laura, Dwight, and Sherry said things were getting heated so we rushed over here," Rick said confused looking between Laura and Negan who both looked guilty.

"Now don't get angry with them Rick. I asked Laura and them to do that so you would come out here and face everything head-on. If we are going to be coexisting with everyone we have to clear the air" Negan said holding Ricks's hand and looking him directly in the eyes.

Rick had never heard Negan talk with so much passion and honesty before so he relented and calmed down.

"I'll be waiting in the car," Laura said trying to escape the awkward situation but rick grabbed her wrist and said with a smirk "oh no lady, you wanted to be a part of this so guess what we you have to stay for the whole thing".

Laura sighed but didn't make a move to leave again. She noticed Lucille watching the whole scene closely but not getting involved. Laura knew that if Lucille thought her brother's life was in danger she would've intervened.

"Rick, I'm so glad you are ok" Shane said but Ricj ignored him. "Maggie, I can tell you want to know-how Negan knows you, and here's the answer, after we picked up Rick, Negan had me keep an eye on Ricks son because Rick kept asking about him in his sleep

I saw how you and your far, whom I have enjoyed talking to lately, good care of Carl when that man shot him. I also saw how your brother put a bullet in the back of that man's head for what he did. Your both strong and when I saw you stare down Negan in that circle, I knew you would be a great ruler" Lucille said smiling at Maggie.

Maggie's face flushed. "Jeremy and I never trusted Otis and we didn't believe his bullshit story so we did what we had to do. I also appreciate the kind words and I hope I live up to your expectations" Maggie said holding out her hand to Lucille. Lucille laced her hands in her and gave Maggie a firm handsome cause Maggie's face to flush again. "Hey Lucille, you want to come back and join Tyreese and info dinner?" Maggie asked, her voice breaking a bit. Lucille looked over towards Negan who nodded and she said "sure, once things have calmed here".

Rick, who had been talking with Negan took a deep breath and said "whoever wants to hear better come now because I'm not repeating it". Rick almost regretted his acclimation when he had a huge group around him with Lori and Shane right in front.

Not making eye contact with either of them, Rick started his story...