Aurora left the others in charge of the garden for the morning and waited with Negan for Rick to return.
"Thank you, for everything you said about me" Negan smiled.
"I only spoke the truth. I just hope they see reason".
"Don't get your hopes up Sweetheart" Negan sighed. "These people still fucking hate my guts".
"Whatever happens, nothing changes okay. Us... bars or no bars... I'm still here".
"I'd have lost my mind a long time ago if it wasn't for you Rori".
"Good thing I came along then huh" she smiled. Aurora sat against the cell bars, holding Negan's hand in hers, anxiously awaiting the council's decision. It felt like forever before Rick finally returned looking rather solemn and Aurora's heart sunk.
"Rick?" She spoke as she stood up and looked at him.
"I'm sorry Aurora. I tried. They're just not ready. They need more time" Rick tried to explain.
"More time? He's been caged like some kind of animal for over a year! How much more fucking time do they need?" She angrily.
"I honestly don't know".
"How is he supposed to prove himself if no one will give him a damn chance?"
"Look I know you see good in him. Maybe I see it a little too. But everyone else can't right now. All they see is the man who killed their friends, their family".
"And they won't see him as a person if they keep him locked away, pretending like he doesn't exist" she countered. "Ignoring a problem doesn't solve it".
"This is a very unique situation".
"This whole world is a unique situation Rick. You were a cop right?"
"Yeah?"
"Then you should know a little something about the justice system? Prison only works if the people being locked up have a chance to better themselves. Without the possibility of rehabilitation, it's just pointless. All that promotes is recidivism" Aurora argued.
"You are right Aurora. You're absolutely right. And you are wise beyond your years. You can see the bigger picture that others are failing to see. But I can't just make them see it, you understand that right?"
"What do they want from him? What is he supposed to do to earn his freedom?"
"Right now they don't want him to have freedom... ever" Rick spoke. "They're still angry".
"I'm fucking angry. This is bullshit Rick and you know it" Aurora growled, struggling to keep her emotions in check. She thought that Rick would have her back on this.
"Rori... it's okay Sweetheart. You tried. Rick tried. Just let it be" Negan spoke gently as he grasped her hand through the bars.
"This isn't right" she cried, a tear slipping down her cheek and Negan reached up tenderly wiping it away.
"Look, the council think it would be best if you were taken off Negan's protective detail" Rick told her.
"What!? No Rick... please. You can't. Don't let them do this" Aurora cried, tears now freely spilling from her eyes.
"Believe me, I don't want to do that" he told her with nothing but truth in his eyes.
"But you will? You're gonna let them destroy everything we've been working towards. Do you even see how far Negan has come? Do you see how far I have come? How much he has helped me? Being down here with him... I've had my first peaceful nights sleep since the beginning. Please Rick. I'm begging you. Don't do this to him. Don't to this to us".
"I'm sorry Aurora. It's out of my hands" Rick sighed.
"Rick" Negan spoke up, his tone deep and serious. "Man to man... don't take her away. Don't punish her for what I've done. She doesn't deserve that. Please, I am begging you" he said as he dropped down to his knees before Rick. "Do whatever you have to do to me, keep me locked in here forever... I don't care. Just don't take Rori from me please Rick" Negan begged. "I need her, and she needs me".
Aurora looked to Rick with pleading eyes as he looked between the two of them. "Aurora I'm sorry. I have to apologize for that. I needed to see how far each of you were willing to go for one another. The council insisted upon testing your loyalties, before a final decision was made" Rick told her.
"What are you saying? You were fucking wih us this whole time?" Negan asked.
"The Council is prepared to grant parole so to speak. A probation period. But first they needed to know that you weren't blinded by your feelings. They needed to know you wouldn't turn on us if things didn't work out the way you hoped. Honestly, I'm a little surprised that Negan would so willingly remain in here if it meant you could stay with him. That proves to me that this is real. There is no hidden agenda here" Rick explained. "I will go back and talk to the council about Negan's release and work out the details" he smiled. "Again... I'm sorry about the test".
"Thank you Rick... thank you" she whispered as she hugged him before he left the room.
"Please don't ever hug him again" Negan chuckled.
"What? Are you jealous?"
"Fuck yes I am".
"You better keep that in check if you want to get out of here" she smiled.
"Yes Ma'am" he teased. "You did it Rori... I can't believe you made this happen" Negan smiled. "No more bars between us"
"No more bars" she grinned.
"Fuck, you have no idea how much I have been dying to hold you in my arms" he whispered as he held her face in his hands, his thumb tenderly stroking her cheek.
"Are you going all soft on me Negan?" She teased.
"Oh I am anything but soft Sweetheart" he grinned devilishly. "Trust me"
"Prove it" she dared him with a sly look.
"Are you fucking serious right now? You want me to just whip out my junk right here?"
"No I'm joking!" She laughed.
"Fuck Rori... you are a dirty girl! I actually thought you were serious... I was gonna do it"
"You were?"
"Fuck yes" he grinned. "I'd do anything you asked me to Sweetheart"
"Anything huh? I'll keep that in mind" Aurora grinned mischievously.
"Stop it Rori" he growled lowly. "You're gonna get me all excited".
"Where's the fun in that" she teased.
"Fuck..." he groaned making her laugh. "You're a fucking tease".
"Don't worry Negan... I'll make it up to you" she smiled with a cheeky wink.
"Jesus! Someone get me the fuck out of this cage right now" he laughed.
"Eager huh?"
"You don't know the half of it" he said in his low growl he knew she loved so much.
"Why don't you give me a little taste?" She smiled.
Reaching through the bars he snaked an arm around her waist pulling her close. Negan pressed his lips to hers in a soft and gentle kiss before trailing his lips along her jaw, down her neck and across her collarbone despite the bars making it difficult, his actions sending delightful shivers down her spine. His fingers danced along the soft skin of her hips just above the waistband of her pants making her tremble slightly.
"Fuck Negan" she moaned as she melted beneath his touch.
"Now who's eager huh?" He chuckled.
"This has been a long time coming" Aurora grinned.
"It sure as fuck has Sweetheart. Just you wait until I get you alone... Jesus the things I wanna do to you Babygirl".
"Try to keep it in your pants a little longer" she giggled.
"I've been locked up a long time baby, and I've been wanting you for months" he confessed.
"And I'm yours Negan. All yours" she grinned as she pecked his lips once more.
"God Rori... Rick better hurry the fuck up" Negan laughed.
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