Negan went on to tell her all about his life since the turn. How he became the leader of the Saviours, the things he had to do to keep people safe. And how somewhere along the line, things became a little blurry.

He told her how Ricks group slaughtered a bunch of his men and women in their sleep, and that Daryl had blown up another crew with a rocket launcher. And as retaliation, he brutally murdered two of Ricks people in front of their friends and family to send a message.

Sparing no details he told her all. His power trip, his harem of wives, the war, the innocent casualties and the indiscretions of his psychotic murdering right hand man, who he then killed with his bare hands... even Lucille. He told her how it all ended with Rick slitting his throat and then having a last minute crisis of conscience before having their doctor save his life, only to lock him in a cell.

"Wow... I can see why these people hate you" Aurora spoke up. "But in all honesty, had someone slaughtered a bunch of my people, I would have been looking for revenge too" she told him.

"I've had a lot of time down here to think things over. I know my way might not have been the right way, but everything I did was to keep my people safe".

"You ever think you'll get out of here?" She asked.

"Fuck no. Rick will have my ass rot away in here until I die".

"Maybe it doesn't have to be that way?"

"I am who I am. Just like you Sweetheart. I can't and I won't change for anyone".

"I'm not saying you have to change. We've all done bad shit. Hell it sounds like Rick has done worse shit than you" she mused.

"Difference is, I'm in a cell and he's not".

"Maybe one day that will change".

"Believe what you will Rori. I won't be holding my breath".

"Thank you for telling me everything" she said with a small smile.

"Now you know all about me" he quipped.

"No, I know about a piece of you. That isn't all that you are Negan".

"Fuck I was totally right about you wasn't I?"

"About what?"

"That kind heart of yours Sweetheart. Do you see the good in everyone, or just poor old bastards locked up in jail cells?"

"Even before all of this undead shit, the world was an ugly place. So much hate, intolerance and judgement. I believe in kindness".

"That sort of shit will get you killed".

"I spent most of my time since the outbreak on my own, tagging along with a group every now and then. I'm still fucking alive aren't I?" She smiled smugly.

"Touché" he chuckled. "Thanks for finally talking to me Rori. I was starting to go a little crazy".

"You're welcome. And... you're not all that bad company for an asshole" she teased jokingly.

"You're not too bad yourself Babygirl" he grinned charmingly.

"Goodnight Negan" she said as she placed her book down and turned off her lantern.

"Night Rori".

She didn't know what had come over her, Aurora never intended to speak a single word to Negan let alone have an entire conversation with the man. Of course she hadn't forgotten about Rick's warning, but why shouldn't she talk to him. Why shouldn't she have the chance to hear both sides of the story and make up her own mind about what kind of man Negan was. She wasn't stupid, she knew better than to trust him, she didn't really trust anyone anymore. Not automatically at least. Trust had to be earned.

If there was one thing that Aurora had become good at since the turn it was reading people. She had a knack for knowing when people were trying to bullshit her. Only time would tell if Negan was sincere, or just trying to play her like Rick said he would.

It had been two and a half months since her first conversation with Negan, and despite what Rick had said she found herself looking forward to night watch and her talks with the man held prisoner.

The two of them would talk for hours every night until Aurora became too tired and was finally able to drift off to sleep. She found a strange sense of comfort in Negan, something she couldn't really explain. Since she had started sleeping outside his cell her dreams had been a little less haunted, and sleep came a little easier. She would still find herself waking at any small noise or movement, and that was something she was thankful for. You could never be too careful in this world now.

Aurora was curled up on her mattress, her rest disturbed by nightmares as she whimpered in her sleep. She bolted awake with a loud scream, as she realised what was happening she covered her mouth quickly and took deep breaths to calm herself.

"You okay Rori?" Came Negan's deep voice.

She looked up to see him standing at his cell bars under the blue light of the moon that was seeping through the window, looking at her with a worried expression.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Did I wake you?"

"No it's okay. I was already awake. You wanna talk about it?"

"There's nothing to talk about" she said trying to brush him off.

"Fucking liar" he said, a teasing tone in his voice. "C'mon Sweetheart, tell me about it. Maybe you'll sleep better".

"It's fine. We're all haunted these days".

"Rori... come here" he beckoned, and she looked at him sceptically. "C'mon Sweetheart, I won't bite" he chuckled. Although she talked to Negan every day and they had built some kind of friendship, she had never gotten close to him physically.

A little reluctantly she got up and walked over to his cell, just beyond arms reach. "Seriously? Do you not trust me that much?" He asked, a hint of hurt in his voice. "Have I ever said or done anything to harm you?"

"Don't take it personally I don't trust anyone".

"I just want to help you" he told her.

"What makes you think you can?"

"Worth a try right?"

She thought for a moment and nodded in agreement as she stepped closer. Negan placed his hands through the bars, waiting patiently for her to take them. Slowly she put her small hands on top of his larger ones, his palms warm against hers. He rubbed gentle circles on the back of her hands as he held them lightly.

"Tell me about your nightmare" he whispered.

"I relive my worst moment in my dreams" she told him. "A couple of guys... near the beginning of all of this, they tried to rob my Dad and I. My Dad tried to fight them off, and one of them accidentally fired his gun and shot him. He said he didn't mean to, but I snapped, and I killed the both of them. It changed me..." she whispered. "I've never been able to forget it. It plays over and over in my in like a loop".

"I'm sorry that happened to you. Your Dad... he live?" Negan asked, and she shook her head in response as tears began to slip down her cheeks. Without a second thought Negan reached up and wiped them away with his thumb. "Taking a life isn't easy. That shit stays with you. But don't let it eat away at you Rori. You're a good person, who was put in a shitty situation, that's all. You're not a bad fucking person, you know that right?"

"I guess"

"You guess? I know you have a good heart Rori. I see it every time we talk".

"Thanks" she whispered.

"Try get some sleep okay. I'm here if you need anything" he reassured her as he removed his hand from her cheek where it had been resting. Instantly she felt the loss of contact. Shit. Was this actually happening? Was she starting to feel something for Negan?

She sighed as she curled back up on her mattress and willed sleep to take her.

"Night Sweetheart" came that deep gravelly tone that she found so soothing. Fuck... she really was starting to fall for him.

"Negan?"

"Yeah Rori?"

"Can you talk to me?"

"About what?"

"I dunno, just anything. It helps me sleep" she confessed.

"Alright... umm" Negan began, his voice low and rumbling as he thought of what he could say. "Did you know that you sleep the same way every night?"

"Hmm?"

"Every night, you sleep the same way. On your side, either side, curled up in kinda like a foetal position. Your arms are always crossed over your chest. Whichever arm is closest to the mattress is always the one crossed underneath the other. And you grasp the shoulder or collar of your shirt in your hands" he explained in his deep tone.

"You been watching me?" She mumbled sleepily.

"Maybe a little" he chuckled.

"I'm not sure if that's flattering or creepy".

"Just be flattered" he teased.

"Mmkay" she whispered.

Negan wasn't sure what else he should say. He didn't want to creep her out with all the other things he had noticed about her. When you spend enough time with someone and develop a bond, it's hard not to notice all their little quirks. So instead he settled on reciting her an old folk story his mother used to read to him as a child. He spoke softly and kept going until he was sure she was asleep, before rolling over and trying to get some rest himself.