Carol smelled pancakes.
She awoke in the guest room of Michonne's home, sat up and stretched. The sun was shining and beaming down on her through a window. It made her smile. The sun should always be this bright and pretty in the morning.
She got out of bed and went into the bathroom to shower. Carol found herself replaying her conversation with Michonne last night. The conversation where Michonne told her that she thought the Garbage woman had run off with Rick. Not only was it a lie, but it sounded half assed. Like it was created by a half assed person named Negan!
Before Carol left Alexandria today, she intended to try and convince Michonne to limit the amount of contact Judith and RJ had with that man. It was clear to most people living here, that that man was trying to take over Alexandria. And he was using Michonne and the kids to do it.
Carol decided to let her hair air dry and walked out of the guest room, closing the door behind her. She suspected Judith and RJ were still asleep, otherwise there would be as much chatter as there had been last night, coming from down below. She decided now would be the perfect time to have a hard talk with Michonne.
She hurried down the stairs and cut through the dining room. The smell of those pancakes was just mouth watering! Maybe she could take some back to the Kingdom for Ezekiel, if he had returned from God knows where. Carol told herself that this was something her 'King' had to get out of his system. Once he realized how impractical he was being, he would come home for good…
Carol stopped short when she entered the kitchen.
There were pancakes being cooked.
They were shaped like Mickey Mouse. And Michonne was not the cook.
Negan was.
"Well good morning, Carol! Why don't you pull up a chair and sit down!" he said cheerfully. Carol noticed he had the gall to be wearing an apron over a black t-shirt and jeans. The apron made him look very at home in this house.
"What are you doing here?" Carol asked in a level tone of voice. Negan shrugged.
"What do you mean?"
"You know damned well what I mean! Do you just make it a habit of showing up here before everyone is awake?"
"I don't get what you're asking." Negan said, sliding a pancake onto a plate and setting it on the table. "Aaron found some sap in a tree for syrup. Pull up a chair."
Carol folded her arms.
"Get out of here. And I don't just mean out of Michonne's house. I mean out of Alexandria. If you care anything about Judith and RJ, you'll leave."
"Well, hell, Carol, next thing you'll be saying is that I should leave for the 'good of mankind' as well."
"Something like that." Carol said coolly.
Negan put down the griddle and the spatula. He then slowly took off his apron.
"I'm here to make sure that Michonne and the kids are safe. You see, someone tried to burn down my bar last night. Michonne and I were in it, along with an employee and a few customers. Did you know that? I'm guessing not, because I didn't see you come over and try and help put the fire out." Negan said, his eyes locked on hers.
Carol shook her head.
"No. I didn't know. I went to bed early and slept soundly the whole night. How is Michonne? Was she hurt?"
Negan didn't answer that at first.
"You know, Carol, all of us that have survived this fucked up world so far, never really sleep a whole night. You have to learn to sleep with one eye open. You always struck me as the type that did just that. And yet last night you slept soundly?"
"What are you talking about, Negan? Huh? It sounds like you're accusing me of something! Just like it sounds like you're trying to tell Michonne that Rick ran off with another woman! You leave this house—NOW!"
"You don't live here so I'm going to have to pass on that request. I just told you someone tried to burn Michonne and I up last night. There's a fucking psycho loose around here so someone's got to look out for Chonnie and the kids."
"Stop calling her that. Stop pretending to care about her or those kids! You're trying to begin another Savior compound with your bullshit bar! Everyone knows that your customers are lushes that are stealing resources from other communities, just to drink here!"
Meanwhile, Judith was dressed and ready for the day. She slowly walked down the stairs, followed by RJ, who was still in pajamas. They both could hear arguing. Judith was about to pull out her gun, when she recognized the voices as Uncle Negan's and Aunt Carol's. The kids slowly made their way to the kitchen, where Negan was the first to spot them.
"Good morning! I've got pancakes, syrup and a bit of bacon that I'd been holding in storage over at my place. Judith, honey, set the table. RJ…"
"What's going on, Uncle Negan?" Judith interrupted. "Why are you fighting with Aunt Carol?"
Carol turned to look at the kids.
"Is he here every morning?" she asked them.
RJ shook his head and Judith squinted at her, before looking around her at Negan. Negan grinned carelessly.
"Kids, we aren't fighting. See, I caught Aunt Carol doing something bad and she's asking me not to say anything to you all." he lied. Carol slowly turned back to face him. What possible lie was about to come out of this sonofabitch's mouth now?!
"What, Uncle Negan?" RJ asked in a small voice.
"Well, your aunt here comes from a community that's poor. I came over here to make breakfast and let your Momma sleep in, when I found your Aunt Carol stealing food out of your refrigerator for sandwich fixin's. She's headed back home today and…"
Carol looked around, picked up a plate on the table and flung it at Negan's head! He ducked and it smashed against the wall next to the back door! RJ turned his face into Judith, who wrapped her arms around him!
"Stop it, Aunt Carol!" Judith yelled. "You didn't have to steal from us! We would've shared!"
Meanwhile, it was the plate crashing and breaking, that woke Michonne out of a restless sleep! She sat up and listened. She heard arguing and jumped up, putting on a robe! What the hell was going on?
She hurried out of her room and down the stairs. As she neared the source of the commotion, Michonne recognized the voices. And one of them belonged to Negan! What was he doing in this house before she was awake?
Michonne went into the kitchen and RJ pulled away from Judith and ran to her! Judith moved around Carol and stood next to Negan.
"What's going on in here?" Michonne asked, feeling RJ's unease. "What happened in here?"
"Uncle Negan caught Aunt Carol trying to steal food." Judith said calmly. Michonne looked from Judith to Carol.
"Carol, what is this all about?" she asked.
"I confronted this lying piece of filth and he told the kids that story! How often is he in this house before everyone gets up, Michonne?"
Sensing another 'Carol Lecture', Michonne set RJ away from her.
"Honey, go get dressed and then get ready for school with Nola."
"Actually," Negan drawled, "I could use some help cleaning up the bar."
"Why?" Judith asked.
"Someone tried to burn it down last night." Negan said. RJ gasped and Judith walked over to a window and looked out. The bar did look bad. She looked up at Negan.
"Why? Was it a customer?" she asked him.
Michonne interrupted.
"The kids are going to school. Other people will help clean up the bar." Michonne said to the kids. "Judith, help your brother get dressed, then come back down here and eat."
Judith did not contradict Michonne. She knew she would probably throw Aunt Carol out for what she tried to do. Negan put an arm around Judith.
"Do as your Momma says. I'll see you both after school."
Judith nodded and walked over to RJ, grabbing him by the hand. They quietly left the kitchen. Carol could not believe what she had just seen!
"Rick would be rolling around in his grave if he saw this! So would Abraham and Glenn, now that I think about it!"
Michonne was about to tell her to shut the hell up, when the front door opened and King Ezekiel walked in! Their eyes locked on one another for a moment, before Ezekiel looked to Carol. Carol ran into his arms!
"I was told you were here," Ezekiel said, giving Negan a look of distaste, "what is going on here? And do not tell me nothing. There was clearly a fire across the way."
Michonne dragged her eyes off of Ezekiel and Carol, and looked at Negan.
"Go." she said softly.
"Council meeting at nine?" he asked as a reminder.
Michonne nodded and Negan walked to the back kitchen door, opened it and left, closing it behind him. Michonne sighed and turned to face her lover and his wife.
"Carol, Ezekiel, there was a fire at Negan's the other night. While I was there."
"When were you there? When I went to bed last night you were watching a movie with the kids." Carol noted.
"Negan came by. He is having a disagreement with Eugene and Rosita that he wants called attention to before the council. While we were talking about it, someone set fire to the bar."
"But you are alright?" Ezekiel asked carefully. Michonne nodded.
"I'm fine. Though it was disheartening to not hear the sound of a siren. Aaron managed to find a fire engine and bring it back here. That might have helped."
Carol folded her arms.
"I'm sure whoever did it, was only trying to kill Negan. I think people around here thought he was alone in there. That's why no one went to get the engine."
"Carol!" King Ezekiel admonished.
"Ezekiel, I'm just saying that whoever did this, meant to only kill Negan! They probably didn't know other people were inside!"
"That would've been pretty hard to miss, Carol." Michonne said calmly. "And now I'm wondering if this is maybe the work of someone who just doesn't like the idea of a bar in Alexandria."
"You know," Ezekiel said, "it could have been a drunk customer? Someone that was displeased with the amount of liquor they received, versus how they 'paid'?"
Michonne nodded.
"Deb Morgan is looking into it. She's Maggie's sister-in-law and she used to be a cop. She's also looking for something to do around here."
Carol said nothing. It was her fear that either Maggie or Darryl had done this. And if they had, they might be asked to leave. Carol cleared her throat.
"Seriously, Michonne, about Negan…"
"Carol, the bottom line is that his bar does bring in resources. I am not a fool. I know what he is. I was there." Michonne said. Ezekiel looked from her over to Carol.
"I think we should be headed out. There is something I want to show you on the way back."
Michonne tried not to react, but she knew Ezekiel was in all likelihood, going to show Carol the prison. This was a good thing. Maybe if Carol had a much bigger place to be in charge of, she'd keep her nose out of Alexandrian business.
But Carol was not so eager to leave.
"I'd actually like to stay and hear what happens at the Council meeting. If for no other reason, just to see how another community handles problems. I'm going to go and see if I can catch up with Darryl." Carol said, before giving Ezekiel a quick kiss and walking out of the house.
Once the door closed, Michonne glanced towards the stairs. The kids were still in the house. She then looked at Ezekiel, who's expression was quite different now that Carol was not present.
"Tell me what was really going on here? Why was Negan in this house?" Ezekiel asked.
"I think he probably called himself protecting us. Because of the fire. I have no idea." Michonne sighed, before sitting down on the couch. Ezekiel sat down next to her.
"Really?"
"What do you mean, 'really'? Ezekiel, I can't have you doubting my common sense like Carol does."
"No one is doubting that, Michonne. Carol is worried. I am now worried. You left our bed because he was troubling people here. Now I come here to pick my wife, only to find her sparring with him in some way? You have a council. Why don't you take a vote to get him thrown out of here?"
"Because I don't think he would get thrown out of here. That bar of his, represents the old ways. It reminds people of what used to be. I do have to keep that in mind."
"No one says that bar has to go away. Just him." Ezekiel said cautiously. Michonne heard the kids coming down the stairs and stood up. It was time to get them fed and ready for school. Ezekiel stood up as well. Maybe Carol had had the right idea. He too wanted to witness a council meeting. Maybe he would bring up the idea of excommunicating Negan himself.
Deb hurried to the front door, found Negan about to knock and stepped on to the porch, closing the door behind her.
"Christ! What the fuck are you doing on this porch?! Huh? Dexter, Maggie and the kids are inside, eating breakfast!"
"Oh I can't come up on someone's porch now? Fucking Christ, I do live here too!" Negan complained.
"Oh cut the shit! You know why you can't be on this particular porch! What are you doing here?"
"Tell me you found out something! Jesus, I'm going crazy here trying to figure out who hates me enough to kill other people too, just to get me!"
Deb looked around, before answering.
"I've been working on it. Just so you know, Dwight didn't go anywhere yesterday. He's top on my list."
Negan eyed her.
"What do you mean? He's off with Aaron scavenging."
"Yeah, I thought that too. We all thought that. Aaron just got back this morning with quite a load. He bitched to me that he could've taken more if Dwight hadn't begged off. Apparently one of his twins was sick. I went to the house he lives in with Sherry and heard one of the kids crying. I knocked and knocked and no one came to the door. Eventually the baby stopped crying too." Deb said.
"So you think Dwight and Sherry were pretending not to be home?" Negan asked, wondering if that was much of a clue or not.
"Someone got the baby to shut up."
"Or maybe the baby just stopped crying on it's own. Hell, Deb, maybe something happened to Dwight and Sherry in there and they can't answer the door. If I gave a fuck, I'd check, but I don't so…"
"I get your point and yes, I think they were pretending not to be home. They know something about last night." Deb said. Negan looked around her at the windows.
"What about your creepy brother, his wife and that kid? The one that's not your brother's?"
Deb folded her arms.
"Dexter doesn't set fires."
Negan grinned!
"But he does do other shit, right? And there is always Maggie and Herschel."
Meanwhile, inside, Dexter was trying to set a good example by eating oatmeal with Harrison, but he couldn't stand it! Harrison burst out laughing!
"Come on, Dad! This stuff sucks!"
"You've been spending too much time around Deb."
"No I haven't! I didn't say 'damn' or 'fuck'."
"Harrison!" Dexter sighed. "I'm going to get us something else to eat."
"Where's Maggie?" Harrison asked.
"She didn't sleep well. That fire worried her." Dexter said, looking around. "Where's Herschel?"
Harrison shrugged. Dexter looked at him suspiciously.
"You two are as thick as thieves and suddenly you don't know where he is?" Dexter asked, not buying it. Meanwhile, Hershel, who was on a second floor terrace, picked up the bow and arrow set he had 'borrowed' from Darryl, aimed downwards and released an arrow towards Negan—the man that murdered his real father.
Unfortunately, the arrow missed Negan and buried itself in the wooden, porch railing! But Deb and Negan saw it and looked up!
"What the fuck?!" Negan almost screeched. Dexter heard that and he and Harrison came running out of the house! Dexter eyed Negan as he picked up the arrow, then looked at Deb.
"What's going on out here? What is he doing on our porch?" Dexter asked.
"I'm on your porch because it's a free fucking country!" Negan snapped. Dexter snatched the arrow out of his hand.
"Not anymore it isn't." he said and broke the arrow in half with his hands. He then looked at Deb again.
"Darryl has clearly lost his mind. Maybe you should talk to him." Dexter strongly hinted. Clearly he had tried to kill Negan and missed. But Negan had news for him!
"That wasn't from Darryl! Your step son tried to kill me from that balcony!" Negan snapped.
Dexter backed back off of the porch a bit but saw no one on the second floor. He then hurried back inside to find Maggie coming down the stairs and moving towards the door!
"Whoa! Honey, I'll deal with him!"
Maggie stopped and looked at her husband.
"I'll do it. It's about time I did anyway." she said, touching his face. She walked outside and gave Negan a smarmy look.
"Get off of my porch." she said coolly.
"Your son tried to kill me." was Negan's reply.
"Can you prove that?"
"I fucking saw him!"
Deb ran interference.
"Okay, Negan, I'm sure he was just playing around. I'm sure Herschel didn't mean to aim near you. What I want to know is how he got ahold of Darryl's arrows? Darryl lives way the hell near the gate. And he doesn't just leave his weapons lying around." Deb said.
"Her brat boy probably broke in and stole them." Negan said calmly.
Maggie did not respond. Darryl had left weapons in the basement of the house, in a back room that the two of them used in the middle of the night. No one really knew he was half staying there and sometimes, Maggie left her bed with Dexter and 'visited' in the middle of the night. Damn!
Meanwhile, inside the house, Herschel was unapologetic and surly!
"Is anyone going to care? Seriously, Dexter, why is he still alive? Harrison told me I should be avenging my father's death!"
Dexter turned to look at his own son with a raised brow.
"Really, Harrison?"
"Dad, we all know it's true! And that bow and arrow set was just lying on the bed in that basement room. I figured it belonged to you or Maggie." Harrison swore. Dexter frowned.
"What basement room?" he asked. Dexter realized he had been stupid not to check the basement as a possible kill room location. But he had not been down there at all.
"There's a guest room or something down there." Harrison said.
"And it kind of smells. Like someone had been down there." Herschel added.
"Okay, boys, eat your breakfast. I'm going to check the basement out." Dexter said. He watched as Harrison and Herschel went back into the dining room, before walking over to the window to look out. Negan was no longer there anymore and Darryl, Maggie, Deb and Carol were now talking amongst themselves. Had they had something to do with the fire last night?
Dexter's eyes fell on Darryl. What was his weapon set doing in a room down in the basement? Dexter turned to walk down the hallway that lead to the basement door. He opened it, turned on a wall switch and headed down the stairs. Once down there, Dexter noticed a door that lead outside.
And it was ajar.
Dexter looked around until he saw another door that possibly lead to a room. Was it impossible that Darryl was secretly staying in a room in THEIR basement when he had his own house? And if so, why?
Negan had decided to mosey back to Michonne's house, once he saw that Carol was not with Ezekiel.
He then walked past the school Nola ran and caught sight of Judith and RJ going in, along with some other kids. Those brats of Maggie's and Dexter's, apparently were too stupid to be there or something. But that wasn't the point.
The point was, Ezekiel and Michonne were now alone.
Meanwhile, King Ezekiel was propped up on one elbow, facing Michonne, as she told him about how Carol seemed to be feeling about the idea of moving. They were both naked and their bodies gleamed in the afterglow of their lovemaking. Yes, Carol could come back at any moment, but both of them knew that her closeness with Darryl, would probably make her visit with him take longer than expected. Long enough of the two of them to have some alone time.
"She is in love with the idea, that the two of you fell in love where you live now. You know I was thinking, maybe we could see if some of the people here could travel to the Kingdom and help fix up some things. We're neighboring communities. If you need help…" Michonne began.
But Ezekiel cut her off.
"Michonne, I have found another place for my people. I really believe once Carol sees the prison, it will be as if she never had any doubts at all." he said, giving her a light kiss.
"Are you planning on showing her the prison on the way home?" Michonne asked.
"Yes. The men are getting antsy. It is ready to be lived in as of now. We just need to move some things."
Michonne was about to answer him, when she heard something. Something awful.
Negan's telltale whistling. Oh Christ no!
Ezekiel heard it too and slowly rose from the bed, unclothed. Before he could move towards the door, Negan burst in, carrying his bat! Michonne jumped up and pulled the sheet around her to cover herself!
"Get out of here!" she yelled at him. But Negan grinned madly at her, as he twirled 'Lucille' and looked from her to Ezekiel.
"Balls of steel, 'Your Majesty'. Your wife is on the fucking premises and here you are, bare assed with her friend." he said, tossing Lucille into a chair and walking over to the action figures on the dresser.
"Get away from there and get out!" Michonne snapped. But Negan picked up the Rick action figure, held it up so that Michonne could see, then tore off one of the legs! Michonne screamed and leaped at him, losing her sheet!
"Michonne!" Ezekiel yelled, unable to process why Negan's breaking a toy, would cause her to act like that! Negan tussled with her nude form until he ended up subduing her, by wrapping his arms around her from behind!
"Carol is on her way over here! And even if you two got dressed, she'd want to know why the hell we were all upstairs!" Negan hissed. Ezekiel ran to the window and saw Carol headed back towards the house! Damn! How could he have been so careless!
Michonne wrenched away from Negan and stood before him. Negan's eyes roamed over her, unapologetically as an idea came to him. He tore his eyes off of her and looked at Zeke.
"You get dressed, go downstairs and tell Carol that you found Chonnie in bed with me."
"What?!" Michonne almost screeched! "He's not doing anything of the kind!"
The sound of loud knocking interrupted them.
"Michonne? Ezekiel? What's going on? The door is locked!" Carol yelled as she began pounding.
"She's going to begin looking through the windows," Negan said in a sing song voice. "Maybe she'll even climb the trellis…"
"I get your point." Ezekiel said, looking at Michonne, who looked miserable. She nodded to him.
"Do it. We don't have any choice." she said. Carol seemed to half think she was sleeping with Negan anyway. Ezekiel began to hurriedly dress, while Negan began to hurriedly undress! Michonne didn't like how eager he was to be naked and she averted her eyes. She picked up the sheet she had lost during her scuffle with Negan, and walked over to Ezekiel, who was now dressed again.
"It's the only way. We were careless." she said, touching his cheek. Ezekiel kissed her hand and Negan rolled his eyes. He was completely naked now.
"Would you get the fuck downstairs for Christ's sakes? Chonnie, get in bed!" he ordered her. King Ezekiel hurried out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Michonne slowly got into bed on her usual side, while Negan practically leaped in on the other! He turned on his side and looked at Michonne, who stared up at the ceiling, not saying anything. Negan reached out and tried to pry the sheet off of her!
"What are you doing?!" Michonne snapped.
"You know, my Lucille used to like soap operas. I tried watching a few with her but they were so fucking stupid, I couldn't take it. But you know what I noticed?"
"What?" Michonne asked, not really caring.
"How when they had bed scenes on the shows, the actors had sheets draped around them. It never looked realistic." he said, trying to pry the sheet from off of her.
"Stop messing with that!" Michonne huffed.
"Hey! You want Carol to believe this, don't you? Because she needs to think you're either with me, or her husband. And you need to look like you're enjoying this!"
They heard Carol screech from down below! Then footsteps could be heard running up the steps and headed their way. Michonne looked towards the door fearfully and that was when Negan took the opportunity to yank the sheet down from around her, revealing her bare breasts, before pulling her to him forcefully so that his hard muscled body molded with her own. Michonne's lips opened to gasp and Negan's mouth crushed her own. Finding her lips parted, he thrust his tongue between her teeth and tasted her mouth as thoroughly as he wanted to taste her body.
That was when Carol threw open the door and screamed! Negan broke off the kiss and half turned to look at her.
"First your husband and now you? You can't see that we want some time alone…"
"My God, Michonne! My God! You lied to me this morning! Hell, you lied to me last night, didn't you? He sleeps here! That's why he was here this morning, wasn't it?"
Ezekiel did not want Michonne to have to spend anymore time pretending to want Negan, than she had to! The sight of the two of them lying in the bed he had just occupied with her, made him ill!
"Carol, it is none of our business! Come!" Ezekiel said, pulling Carol out of the room and slamming the door!
"I can't let Carol believe this! I'm going to tell her the truth!" Michonne said and tried to move out of Negan's hold. But he was not quite so obliging.
"Do you really think Carol is going to believe that? She already half believes we're lovers anyway, Chonnie." Negan said and moved to kiss her neck. Michonne tried to move out of his hold, when she realized that his kisses were leaving this hot, trail on her neck. She didn't want to like his kisses, his touch or anything else!
"I can't have people thinking this!" she cried out desperately. Negan pulled his lips from her neck, and reached out to hold her chin.
"Do you hear that? That was the front door slamming. We're here alone now and there's no more pretending…"
Michonne wriggled out of his hold and stood up, shaking out her dreads!
"Negan, I appreciate what you do around here for Alexandria, I really do! The kids love you and you bring a lot to the table. But this…will never be real. It can't be."
Negan sat up but made no moves to get out of bed.
"Because I broke the Rick action figure?"
"Don't be ridiculous! You know why! I've told you why!"
Now Negan got out of bed and walked over to her. She ended up backing back against the dresser to escape his nearness, but it was becoming clear to her, that there would be no 'escaping' Negan. Not as long as they were both in Alexandria. And she would have to deal with that, somehow, someway.
Negan gently rested his hands on her smooth shoulders and said the last thing she expected him to say.
"How about we make a deal?"
Michonne could feel his bulbous penetration, pressing against her and tried to concentrate.
"What kind of 'deal'?"
"We get this council meeting over with, then we take a little trip. Just the two of us to find Jadis, or find out what anyone knows about her. If we find out Rick left with her, I'm moving in here with the kids and you. And this bed."
"And if we find out that Rick is dead?" Michonne asked challengingly.
"I move in here with the kids and you. And I sleep in this bed."
Michonne rolled her eyes!
"What kind of deal is that?"
"If we find out that Rick is being held someplace against his will, I'll help you find him. And I won't be a problem." he said sincerely.
Michonne said nothing for a long time.
Then she did.
"Maybe. That's all I will say on that for now. I'll go on the trip and we'll see about anything else and…"
"And?" Negan asked challengingly.
"You fix Rick's action figure!" Michonne almost yelled. Negan grinned at her and stole a quick kiss!
"Yes Ma'am! Oh and…I'll break things off with Ezekiel for you." he said, his tone turning dark as he glanced over at Lucille. He then began putting on his clothes again, while Michonne wondered just what she had actually agreed to do with this man?