A/N: Okay so here we are. It's been awhile huh, and I'm not going to lie, I'm a little scared to be back to this story and have you all read this chapter. I tried really hard to write chapters to go along with the plot but I had fallen way behind and didn't know where to turn, so I turned here! I hope that you enjoy this one, I really wanted to get to Negan and get more on track and this is how I decided to do it. There will be flashbacks and memories so don't worry. Anyway, no more stalling. Enjoy and please review I love hearing what you all think, love getting ideas and suggestions! Be gentle! Thanks!

Chapter Forty-Eight: Redemption Day

"do you really trust these"

Negan watched as the youngest member of his team walked around the truck that held the slaughtered pigs. He watched as she jumped up into the bed, poking one with an arrow, kneeling and looking at the underside a look of disgust drawn across her face

"and why shouldn't I" the man spoke a small smile on his lips. He had grown to trust and respect this newest member, what she had to offer, what she knew, the quiet smartness, she was young but had seen and done so much. He took what she said to heart and would often rethink certain situations if she had an input

"just think it's a bit unusual that they always have so many pigs to sacrifice…they're up to something…." Negan watched as she jumped out of the truck wiping the arrow off on her jeans "and I plan to find out what"

Negan smirked "that's my girl"

Riley smiled back at the man following as he turned and headed towards the warehouse. She took a breath before rushing out the words she has asked countless times before "so…. can I…."

Negan laughed "all in good time goose…" Negan began using the nickname and had grown accustom to calling her it. When Negan first met Riley, she was in the woods and he was instantly taken over by her and the need to protect her, care for her and help her and after a few weeks the nicknames started and 'goose' was the one that stuck

"actually…" the man stopped, his eyes finding hers, he turned and placed a hand on the back of her neck "maybe tonight will be your lucky night…"

"what's tonight" Riley asked as Negan continued to walk, passing by a small group causing them all to kneel. Negan smirked stopping at Dwight's door knocking once with the tip of his bat "tonight we finally catch the mouse"

'Riley watched as the Walker herd broke loose, the whole quarry getting overtaken. It became a kill and don't be killed mission. She tried to stay close to her father and Glenn, tried to keep her eyes on the members of her family but the mass of dead became too much and she made a choice. She needed to run and give herself some distance, she wasn't that far from home, she would circle around somehow, find someone and get back to Alexandria. Once the sound of snarls had disappeared Riley took a breath. She stopped and leaned against one of the trees, turning her eyes towards the sky trying to gage how much sunlight she had left and if making it back home would be plausible. Hearing the slight movement of leaves on the forest floor Riley gripped her bow and took stock of where she was. Slowly she angled her body and shot an arrow, it landing right in-between the eyes of a Walker. It wasn't the Walker however that caught her attention it was the man, standing a few feet from where the Walker lay, he was dressed in a leather coat with a red scarf tied around his neck, he reached over never breaking eye contact, and pulled the arrow out of the decomposed body, he took a step forward, a small smirk gracing his lips with a barbed wire bat hanging loosely over his shoulder'

The afternoon had worn on and Riley sat in her room a large sheet of white paper laid out in front of her, she was drawing a plan to better utilize the Walker field that Negan had emplaced out-front. She was determined to separate the large area into parts and create a better system that would allow for the Walkers to roam freely letting them be of better use when it came to protecting the Sanctuary from the outside. She was staring at the plans her eyes focused on the small fencing unit she was hoping Negan would okay. Dropping her pencil, she rubbed her eyes and stood walking towards the window she peered out watching as Dwight walked with Simon putting things in the trucks and filling the various cars with gas. Looking back over at the plans she bit her lip

'Riley looked over at Maggie as the girl sat at the dining room table a pen held between her fingers as her eyes darted across a blueprint design that Deanna had given her a few days ago. Maggie looked up, away from the blurring of words and over at her friend. She smiled as she watched Riley peer over at the paper before also locking eyes with her "so…are you like a co-leader…" Riley asked unsure of what Maggie's job and title really was. Maggie laughed "hell no…" she replied "I like taking charge and don't mind lending a hand but right now…no…." looking back at the plans Maggie smiled "I'm just trying to make this something you know…Deanna has some really good ideas but she just needs another firm hand…someone who knows how to work the land, encourage people to see things through" Riley nodded "they look good" she answered gesturing over to the paper and the work Maggie had put in. Standing she grabbed her bow "going to go check in on Sam…." Maggie nodded and returned to her task "and just so you know…you could do it…." Maggie glanced up quickly "do what" Riley smirked "be a leader"

"knock knock knock"

Riley's eyes snapped towards the door her hand automatically going to her gun that sat on her hip. She froze and smirked as Negan leaned against the doorframe. She watched as he smiled "penny for your thoughts" he spoke pushing away and entering the room

Riley shook her head and walked towards the table "just thinking over the plans…hoping you'll okay them, I truly think they could work and make the outer fence more…"

She stopped talking as Negan let out a low chuckle "they look good kid" he answered peering over at the layout Riley had drawn, she had everything labeled down to the position of the Walkers that would somehow be attached and locked into place "you know I trust you…the ideas you have, the way you think it's something that I can relate to…whatever you think will work, let's do it"

Riley smiled shoving the pencil and sharpie into her back pocket "really…" she asked turning her blue eyes to Negan's darker orbs

"really…" the man replied placing a hand to the side of Riley's head "you know Riley…" the man spoke up walking around her room and coming to stand in front of the window "I hope you know that even though we have only known each other a few months I think of you as my own…" Negan stopped and glanced over at the girl "I trust you more than Dwight and Simon…I see potential in you…"

Riley kept her eyes on the paper located in the center of the table, listening to Negan as he spoke, she knew this was a good thing, that being on Negan's nice list was more important than anything and she was glad that even though she has only been here a mere three months that the man was showing his softer side, telling her that he respected her and trusted her was something not to take lightly. Negan walked around the table, coming to stand beside Riley, slowly he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her into him, kissing the top of her head. Riley couldn't see it but Negan's eyes took on a lost and distant look as he stared out at the sky through the window

"I know you mentioned a family before coming to be part of this family and believe me I know how hard it can be to lose people, lose those you love and who love you, but I want you to know, that I…. that I love you Rye and I see you as my daughter…"

Riley knew she had to play this just right, without too much hesitation she snaked her own arm around the man's middle and leaned in a little more "I'm glad I chose to stay" she mumbled, feeling the man squeeze her shoulder and lay another kiss to her head.

'Negan stood overlooking the front lot. He smiled as Riley came in through the side a backpack full of something she had caught on her hunt. The smile grew when he realized that she had actually come back. This was the first time she had been able to leave the grounds. Even though Negan had given her the option to leave…which he never did for anyone…he was glad that she had chosen to stay. He saw something in her, felt a pull towards her, wanted to guide her, help her grow and she was still young enough that he could mold her and make her see his way of living. Negan dropped the smile when Dwight came through the door and stood beside his leader. Dwight followed Negan's line of sight and bit his lip. Dwight didn't know why this girl was given so much free range, she had been here a total of two and half months and was already Negan's favorite new pet. "you still trust her…you actually let her go out, she was out there, who's to say she didn't meet up with someone from her past group and tell them about us" Negan watched as Riley glanced up and caught his eye, she smirked before decking under the fencing unit, heading inside. "she's just a kid…" Dwight couldn't help the sound of displeasure that left his mouth "she's at least twenty-four…" In a blink of an eye Dwight was pushed up against the brick wall Negan's hand pressed into his throat as his bat came to rest at his temple "I don't care if she's pushing thirty…she's still a fucking kid to me…she's going to be a part of this family…a part of my family and I will do anything and everything to make sure she stays safe while she's under my watch…" Dwight struggled against the bigger man, watching as Negan tore his eyes away from him and stared blankly at the wall "I always wanted a kid, a daughter, a little me…a little Lucille…" he mumbled trailing off, dropping the bat and shoving Dwight away "and if you can't deal with that…understand that, than we can arrange something" Dwight shook his head trying to regain his breath "no…no I understand, I get it and I'm sorry, I was out of line" Negan turned his back to Dwight staring back out at the land. It was quiet for a moment Dwight unsure of what to do, the tension was broken however when Riley came poking out of the door "Negan…you'll never guess what…" she stopped short at seeing Dwight the man still rubbing his throat. Negan turned and was transported back to his happy place "what you find baby girl…" he answered before quickly looking at Dwight "we're finished here" Dwight simply nodded before rushing pass Riley and back into the warehouse "is he okay" was the last thing he heard before pushing pass Simon and out into the back lighting a cigarette and rubbing his neck

Negan smiled and pulled away ruffling Riley's hair quickly before turning towards the door "get your bag ready we're leaving in an hour or so…"

Riley rolled up the plans asking over her shoulder "where are we going exactly…"

"to settle a misunderstanding"

Riley watched as Negan left the room whistling as he went. She wasn't sure what tonight held, she had heard rumblings through the grapevine that, tonight was the night they finally caught the people that had taken out a core group of Negan's men a few months ago. Negan had gone out for weeks, making notes, setting traps and signals in order to pinpoint out how this other group moved and worked and he was determined that the score was settled and tonight was the night. Riley wasn't sure what exactly would happen but she knew that once you piss off Negan there was no coming back.

Riley sat in the back of the RV. She was told to get in when the convoy had stopped it…trapped it… as it tried crossing one of the checkpoints that Dwight and Simon had established earlier in the morning. Negan told her to go to the back bedroom, shut the door and not peek or look through the window. As she sat in the room on the dirty and musty bedspread her mind ran back to the last time she was in an RV. As she sat staring at the faded paint of the bedroom door, she bit her lip, she wanted to peek, wanted to know what was happening, where they were but she knew if Negan opened the door and saw her attempting to spy she would pay…no matter how much he said he loved her…. you don't disobey Negan. It was quiet for a moment before the sound of the main door opening and slamming shut was heard, a second later the bedroom door opened and Negan stood in the archway.

"okay goose…you can come back up front"

Riley grabbed her bag and moved towards the main room of the RV, sliding into the booth and swinging her backpack onto the table pulling out the plans she had brought along. She glanced up watching Negan smirk.

"what…. you said to bring something to stay busy…plus I saw an old farmhouse on the way here thought maybe we could stop on the way back I'm sure there's old tools or something around there we can use…if it hasn't already been ransacked"

Negan laughed before sliding in the opposite side to sit in front of her, "you're too much kid…". She glanced up and smiled before returning back to her work, "listen for a minute though okay" he spoke placing a large hand on the center of her papers causing her to halt in her scribbling. Looking up Riley let out a low whistle

"whoa…the Negan eye…time to get serious"

Negan shook his head "you're right…it's time to get serious….and I don't do an eye thing"

Riley laughed "okay…. sure" she replied "it's like the look…something dads give their kids when it's time to ship up or ship out, you do it a lot at least to me…." Riley smiled looking at Negan "but I'm all ears what's up"

Negan was taken aback for a moment she said something "dads do" did that mean she thought of him as a possible father figure, this would have to be something he followed up on later "tonight…tonight could get a little messy…could get a little brutal"

He stopped watching Riley's body language, her eyes. She simply nodded her head "can I ask you something"

"of course, goose…."

"what you're doing…what you're going to have to do…" she stopped and looked him right in the eye "is it worth it…is it going to solve the problem, make things right…end whatever is happening or just…just get more people killed…get you…"

Negan let out a low sigh. He studied Riley for a moment, taking in the girl before him. She had been hurt in the past even before the world truly fell apart. She lost everything and everyone and wanted so desperately to find a home, a place where she could feel safe, with people who helped her with that feeling and who all worked together to stay alive. Negan could relate to those feelings, those thoughts, he had thought he lost it all, was fighting to keep what and who he had left alive, which is why they were here. He would do anything to keep the rest of his people alive…keep Riley alive and it started tonight.

"I can't make that promise baby girl…but I can promise that I will do everything in my power to make sure you stay safe, that we stay safe…"

Riley looked at Negan and for the first time saw the softness, the truth, could see how he was struggling with his own past. She still had hope of finding her own family, finding those she lost, who she still knew…still knew were alive, but as of now she had this man, this family and she was going to make it work until that time came.

Riley nodded "okay…I can deal with that"

Negan smirked as three loud knocks erupted from the door, sliding out of the booth Negan leaned over and placed a kiss to Riley's head "stay in here...away from the windows and door…no peeking no coming out unless I… and I alone come and get you, do you understand…"

Riley nodded once more "yes sir"

With a final smile Negan pushed the door open, Riley took this opportunity to cast a small look at the barren land, the light from the trucks headlights blocked and blurred her view but she was able to make out the outline of shadows on the gravel ground.

A/N: I was going to keep this chapter going but then I wasn't sure where to stop, so I thought I would end it here with this awesome cliffhanger. What do you all think? Riley is with Negan and has been for some time but don't confuse her actions with her true feelings. Riley is right behind the closed door where her family, her real family is. What is going to happen next! I have a whole plan ready and can't wait to start writing the next part…it's going to be good and sad! I'd love to hear your ideas and thoughts though! There will be a bunch of flashbacks happening because I agree there were a lot of great episodes that would have made great chapters but I just couldn't wrap my brain around them when trying to write, so flashbacks it will be! Hope you all enjoyed and the next one will be coming soon! Review Please, it means the world!