AN: Thank you so much for the follows and favorites! Here's another chapter for you! Enjoy!

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Sunshine-Matisyahu

Chapter Two

As soon as she noticed the day's eye start its ascent into the sky, Daisy quietly removed the sheets from around her and pulled on a fresh pair of underwear and her bra before putting on a pair of yoga capris and a generic t-shirt. She grabbed her socks, sneakers, and battery powered mp3 player and tip-toed out of the room.

Richard joined her on her run around The Kingdom not long after, neither one of them saying anything. Once people started to rise and start their morning routines she stopped near the wall. Richard halted as well and she pulled out her earbuds.

"I have a plan. You'll know what it is later. I'm going to tell Ezekiel in front of everyone. You, my uncle."

"Why in front of everyone?"

"Because your voices of reason…" she answered, starting the walk back to her home. "I'm going to need them."

"You don't think he'll like your plan?" Richard asked as he walked with her.

She gave him a look that said that's exactly what she thought. "Just…don't do anything rash until I've figured this out. Okay?" She knew Richard was getting antsy about The Saviors but he needed to be patient.

He nodded, although it seemed halfhearted, before they parted ways.

Ezekiel was up, dressing for the day, when she entered the room. She went to him and he immediately pressed a kiss to her temple and wrapped his arms around her.

"Did you have a nice run?" he asked when she pulled out of his arms to change into jeans.

She nodded and smiled at him. "It's a beautiful day today."

He reached for her just as she was pulling her jeans over her hips, causing her to giggle as they fell onto the bed.

"Ezekiel," she started before his lips met hers. She kissed him back eagerly. "We have to meet our guests for breakfast."

"Do you want to go back with them? Be with your family?"

She could see his insecurity on his face, hear it in his voice. She reached a hand up and stroked his cheek adoringly. For him to assume that she would want to leave him so easily made her heart ache. "I love them. They mean the world to me and I still can't quite believe they're actually here, but you are my family too, Ezekiel. The Kingdom is my home. And besides," she smiled. "Shiva would miss me way too much."

She smiled when the laughter she'd been aiming for left his lips. "That she would. As would I, but if you want to go, I won't stop you."

Every thought she'd had while lying awake that night came to mind. Her smile faltered and Ezekiel didn't miss that. "Are you alright?" He sat up so his weight wasn't on her anymore.

"I'm fine. Just hungry." She kissed him once more before standing to zip and button up her jeans.

~O.o~

Daisy watched her uncle and his group with tired eyes as they stood outside and Ezekiel told them exactly what she knew he would, that they would not be helping Alexandria and Hilltop fight to take out Negan and The Saviors. She could see they were disappointed, but not surprised.

It was now or never.

"Wait," Daisy said. "Morgan's right. His way is the best way to go about this. If we can just get Negan."

"And how would we even begin to go about that?" Ezekiel asked her.

She hesitated a moment, "There's something you need to know."

"And what is that? Have you been keeping something from me my love?"

"What?" Rick said at Ezekiel referring to his niece as his "love," but Daisy spoke. Although she'd hoped it wouldn't, she knew this would come out one day, the day Ezekiel had spoken Negan's name. She'd been barely able to eat for a few days afterward and Ezekiel worried that she was coming down with something and had insisted she remain on bed rest until she felt better. A couple days of that and she had sorted her thoughts and was back to her usual self. But the day she'd feared had come and as she stood before everyone she was truly terrified about how they would react to her keeping something like this from them.

"When you described Negan…you mentioned a dark red scarf…that scarf…it used to be mine."

The group around her was utterly silent as Daisy looked up into the eyes of the man she loved and her heart pounded in her chest. She tried to ignore the looks on everyone's faces: shock, disbelief, confusion.

"You know him?" Rick said, disbelief painting his face.

"I knew him," she answered, her eyes not leaving Ezekiel's. She could see the uncertainty that had been on his face earlier that morning return and her heart ached when he took a step back.

He'd always had the utmost trust in her, but not so much in himself and her feelings for him, despite her reassurances. She could see that at this moment he was doubting everything she'd ever said to him and for a moment she regretted saying anything but she'd let the cat out of the bag already.

"Soon after everything started…I was stuck. For a few days I was stuck in this abandoned cabin. I was sick. I had a fever, no medicine, very little food and water, and no one. That's when Negan found me. He kicked in the cabin door, looking for food, and I barely had the energy to sit up. I'm sure since most of you have met him, you can tell me if he still has that asshole charm," she looked to her uncle for a moment.

"You could call it that," Rick said, hands on his hips as he waited to hear more.

"Well, he broke down the door and found me like that and…and he said, 'Well, sweetheart, you look like shit.' He took pity on me, said we could make a deal if he found some medicine and food for me and helped me get better. I was desperate, so I agreed. I did tell him that I was on my way to Georgia, that that's where my family was."

Rick interrupted. "I take it that didn't fit into whatever deal he wanted."

"He said we'd work it out. After a few weeks I was back to my usual self, but, Negan and I, we had a routine. We'd settled there almost. He said since I was better and he'd kept up his part of the deal, it was my turn. I asked him what he wanted." She turned her gaze away from Ezekiel; she didn't want to see his face when she related the next part so she looked at her feet. "He said he'd take a kiss…but…"

Ezekiel spoke, and most people would probably miss it, but she could tell his voice was strained. "It turned into more."

She forced her eyes to meet his again. "Not at first. It really was just a kiss. But it was just us, and the wasted, and…he was just so…I don't know? Just so…Negan…and one night it turned into more." She quickly finished her explanation when she noticed Ezekiel's jaw clenching. "We ended up staying in that cabin for almost three months."

"And he just let you go?" Sasha asked.

"We were collecting supplies in this little town, but we got separated by a huge herd. I woke up the night before and he was awake, admiring my scarf, and he said…" she quickly swiped at the traitorous tears that escaped her eyes. She looked up and Ezekiel's eyes were on her, absolutely unwavering and unreadable. He was putting walls up and she felt a rush of panic go through her so she focused on her uncle instead. "He joked that the scarf would look better on him and then he said he loved me." She heard several snorts, but ignored them. "I told him I loved him too. At least, at the time I thought I did, and I told him I wanted him to have the scarf and he gave me this bracelet he'd found when he went out looking for provisions a few days before." She lifted her right arm, the silver bracelet with a Saint Michael charm dangling from it glistening in the light.

"You still have it?" Ezekiel asked, the hurt he was feeling tinting his voice. He tilted his head as he looked at it, even though he knew very well what it looked like. "Even after what happened…after you found out what kind of man he really is…after us."

"Yes, as a reminder. That people aren't always what they seem."

"Yes, I understand that to the utmost extent at this very moment," Ezekiel said, his eyes slightly narrowed.

Her brow furrowed and Ezekiel didn't miss the pain that flashed in her eyes, causing him to immediately regret his words.

"Well," she looked away from him, "It's a good thing I kept it, because it's going to come in handy."

"How, exactly?" Richard asked from her left.

She turned and looked to Morgan. "Because Morgan's right. If we can just get Negan, we can potentially save a lot of lives. I'm sure if he's gone The Saviors would be scrambling. To find him, to replace him, whatever."

"And how do you plan on doin' that?" Rick asked.

Rosita spoke for her, "She's going to go to him," she said, a little smirk on her face.

"Is that so?" Ezekiel asked Daisy.

She nodded.

"Absolutely not. As your King I forbid it."

"I don't think it's such a good idea either," Rick said.

"It's the best one we've got right now, with the least amount of lives lost. Our only other option right now is to go in guns blazing. He knows me! I can show up on his doorstep, begging for help, then act totally shocked to see him."

"And what if he asks you to be one of his wives?" Rick asked.

She sighed. "I'd heard about that. I certainly don't want him." She looked at Ezekiel, imploring him with her eyes to hear her words. "Not in any way, but the closer I can get to him the better."

"I forbid this" Ezekiel stepped closer to her and pressed his palm against her cheek. "I will not lose you."

Daisy placed a hand over his as she looked up into his eyes. "The queen has to protect her king. And their people."

Ezekiel dropped their hands and turned from her. "There will be no further discussion. The answer is no."

"I'm not asking for permission. From anyone. I'm doing this."

Ezekiel's back was to her and the air was tense as he spoke next. "Absolutely not."

"What are you going to do? Lock me up with Shiva?" Daisy said, exasperated.

Ezekiel turned back to her, "Of course not, but that is what he will do to you if you agree to be one of his wives. And if he finds out? If you accidently let something slip?"

"Then he may very well beat me with that bat of his." Ezekiel flinched at the image, but she continued, unwavering. "But at least I'll have tried. And if I'm successful?"

Everyone remained quiet as they watched the couple.

"No."

"Like I said before, wasn't asking. I'm doing this." She turned to Jesus. "You've got that radio right? Can you figure out ahead of time when Negan might be going on a run? A week's time maybe? I'll stop bathing, eat only enough to keep me from passing out, muddy up some clothes. I have to be believable. He can find me…walking on the side of the road perhaps? Coming to the compound would be too suspicious."

Jesus hesitated, looking between his two friends. "I'll let you know as soon as I hear something."

Daisy nodded. "Good. It's settled then."

Rick shook his head. "I just got you back." He was torn between keeping her safe and having a chance to take out Negan.

"This may be our only chance at peace Uncle Rick. I know it seems ridiculous and rash, but…if it works…?" It had to work. For The Kingdom, for everyone, so Judith could grow up without fear of Negan or The Saviors.

Ezekiel shook his head. "I offer our friend Daryl asylum, for as long as he requires it. He will be safe here. The Saviors do not set foot inside our walls."

"How long do you think that's gone last?" Daryl said before walking away.

The others followed Daryl and after Morgan left it was just Daisy and Ezekiel. They stood looking at one another, only a staff's length apart, but it felt like much more to both of them. Daisy finally turned to follow the Alexandrians and say goodbye to them before they left.

"Wait!" she yelled before the gate opened. She hugged Carl first.

"Are you really going to do this?" he asked her.

She nodded.

"We're still goin' to keep lookin' for guns, ammo, anything that can help us, just in case," Rick said.

"Of course."

"Be smart about this Daisy."

"I will," she said as they hugged one another and Rick kissed her on the cheek.

Once the gates closed Daisy, Morgan, Richard, and Daryl stood in an awkward silence.

~O.o~

Daisy was now covered in soil since she'd been helping out in the garden. Ezekiel was absent at lunch and she hadn't seen him since that morning and it worried her. What if he wanted nothing to do with her now? She'd kept something big from him. And she hadn't just known Negan she was with him and now she was going back to him. She desperately wanted Ezekiel to know it wasn't because she actually wanted Negan or wanted to leave Ezekiel.

"You remember him well," Ezekiel's familiar voice filled her ears and she straightened up.

"He's not someone you easily forget." Daisy stood and dusted her hands off on her pants. "But I will not stand by and let more people die, because of fear. Fear of failure, fear of him. I can't."

"Your mind is set then."

She nodded and her stomach dropped as he turned and walked away.

Later, after bathing and changing into a clean t-shirt and pants, Daisy went to dinner. When she sat at the table her eyes sought Ezekiel's, but he ignored her.

"Ezekiel…please."

"I don't want to discuss this now," he nodded his head towards Henry and she nodded. After barely touching her meal and helping Ben with the cleanup she went to bed only to find Ezekiel was already asleep.

She pulled her jeans off and got under the covers, whispering, "Maybe you'll be glad for me to leave now that you know."

"How dare you think that," he hissed, startling her. He sat up and pulled her so she was straddling him, his arms tight around her. "You are the one true thing I treasure in this world, if I lose you…"

"I'm sorry…I never thought you would even need to know," when tears started flowing Ezekiel brushed them away with his fingers.

"I was cold to you earlier. I apologize. I wish you'd told me in private and now you've decided to leave me, just like that."

"I'm leaving for you. For The Kingdom, Alexandria, Hilltop and any other communities out there that he and his Saviors have under their thumb. I'm doing this because I love you. I love this place. It's my home and I don't want to leave but…you've refused to join the fight and I believe Morgan is right."

"And how will you do it? How will you take him out? How long will it take?"

"I have no idea, but please don't shut me out like that again." Her tears had subsided and Ezekiel moved them so they were laying down. The knots that had taken up in her stomach since that morning finally went away.

He ran a hand through her hair, looking at her in the moonlight that streamed through the window. "I love you."

"I love you too," she said softly before pressing her lips to his and snuggling into his embrace.

AN: Fun fact: The word daisy comes from "day's eye."