Chapter 5 - "I Don't Want To Know What's Good For Me."

"Push! Give me one more push!" Kate yelled, and the woman laying on the table in front of her did just that.

Before she knew it, Kate was holding a newly born baby boy. She cried and laughed, amazed at the joy that filled the small room. She cleaned the babe off and wrapped him in a small blanket, and handed him to his mother.

Kate stood and took in the scene. There was so much happiness, so much love in that moment. She wanted to remember it for as long as she could, so she could take it with her. She knew there would be many times in the near future when she'd need to find a small space of happiness.

After washing her hands and congratulating the mother and father, she walked outside to get a breath of fresh air. The night had turned bitter cold, and the chill in the air hit her hard. She turned her head and saw Simon leaning against the building, smoking a cigarette.

"Good news?" He asked, taking in a long draw and blowing it out.

"Yes. Mother and baby are doing great." She rubbed her hands together and blew on them to warm them up.

"Where's your coat?" Simon asked, tossing the butt of the smoke on the ground.

"I think I left it in the main office of the clinic. I'll be right -," but Simon cut her off with a gesture and walked inside to retrieve it.

He'd been chain-smoking out in the cold, waiting for her to finish her job. It seemed like hours, and the butts that littered the ground attested to that. When he walked inside the office, he quickly found her coat. Looking around to see if he was alone, he held it to his face and inhaled. It smelled like lavender, with a trace of musk. He started to head back outside, but he stopped and grabbed a small piece of paper and a pen. Writing a quick note, he stashed it in Kate's coat pocket and left the room.

He handed her the coat and she thanked him. Their hands touched again, and she looked up to find him turning away. Maybe she had injured his feelings in some way, but she wasn't sure. She was exhausted and simply wanted to find a bed and go to sleep. She would talk to him in the morning.

She found her room and changed from her filthy jeans and t-shirt, into a long flannel nightgown. It was soft and comfortable. She shook out her jacket and, as she was hanging it on the hook on the back of the door, noticed a piece of paper fall to the floor. She picked it up and unfolded it.

"In the land of Gods and Monsters, you are an Angel."

She placed the paper to her lips, and knew right away who had written it.

Kate barely knew Simon. And what she did know of him was that he was ruthless and could be cruel. He was Negan's 'Right Hand Man', and his place of honor didn't go unnoticed. People bowed to him, for crying out loud. And he loved to torment people, to piss them off. He enjoyed getting a rise out of people and seeing if he could start a fight.

But Simon was also the man who saved her life. He was the one that was always there in the shadows, not watching her as much as watching out for her. When she worked late, he made sure that she had something to eat. When she had to amputate a man's limb, he seemed to appear out of nowhere to help her. And now, he had stood before her, almost declaring his desire for her, and she had tried to push him away. She knew he was right; the world was burning, and nothing was promised anymore. Living for the moment was the only way to live.

Kate rose from her bed, opened the door, and looked across the hallway. The door to Simon's room was shut and the light was off. She hesitated at first, but then reached for the door knob. It turned quietly in her hand. She pushed the door in slowly and walked in. Simon heard the noise and, grabbing his gun, sat up in the bed.

"Simon." Kate whispered.

He saw her silhouette in the darkness and put the gun back on the table. His heart began to race. He couldn't believe that she was here, with him, alone.

"Are you okay?" He asked, moving to sit on the side of the bed.

Kate pulled off her nightgown and revealed her naked body. Simon drew in a quick breath, and stood.

"Kate, you don't have to do this." He remained frozen in place, waiting for her to make the next move.

Kate stepped in closer and her warm naked body pressed against his. He leaned his head down and kissed her, deeply, pulling her to him. She ran her hands up his neck and the back of his head. Kate felt like she was on fire as she pushed Simon down to the bed, onto his back. She kissed his neck, his chest, his stomach. As she pulled off his boxer shorts, she could feel his hands run through her hair as she took him into her mouth.

Simon moaned with pleasure. Kate moved slowly at first, then fast, then slow again. She ran her hands over his thighs and he cried out for her. It had been almost a year since she had been with anyone so intimately, and this, she could feel, wasn't like any other time she had been with a man.

"Kate. Come here." Simon begged as she lifted her head and climbed the length of his body.

She gently glided over his hips and felt him slip inside of her. She closed her eyes and moaned. Simon ran his hands over her thighs and pushed himself deeper inside her, wanting to feel all of her. She cried out his name, pumping faster on top of him. All that mattered in that moment were the two of them. Everything else ceased to be.

Simon rose and flipped her over, taking control of their love making. With every thrust she arched her back higher, calling out his name. He pulled her up to him, still inside of her, wrapping his hand in her hair and pulling it tight. The pain felt like pleasure and she screamed out for more. He quickly flipped her over onto her knees. Moving faster and harder, he pulled her hair while he pushed himself deeper into her. Finally, as she climaxed, he did so with her.

Simon fell down onto his back and sighed. He hadn't felt like that in years. The women he had access to could never compare to what he just did with Kate. He looked over to see her curled up on her side, staring back at him.

"What was that?" He asked, moving to be closer to her.

"That was Heaven, what I truly want." Kate smiled.

"You found my note. Is that why you came over here?" Simon asked, gently tracing invisible lines over her bare breasts.

"I didn't know you knew that song. But then, there are a lot of things that I don't know about you. And I came over here because I'm done fighting. I'm done being alone."

"Don't fight it anymore. You're mine." Simon pulled her close and kissed her.

Those words sent chills down her spine. You're mine. In a world run on chaos and barbaric actions, those were serious words. Simon could, in reality, lay a claim to her. She knew that he would protect her, that she would be his, all his. She kissed him again. For once, the thought of being owned didn't seem to worry her anymore.