"How...did...this...HAPPEN?!"

Negan roared, the veins and tendons straining in his neck. He had been on quite the rampage since Lucy escaped. He had sent dozens, upon dozens of his men searching all over the states. So far, not even the smallest trace of her was found. Negan half expected to find her remains someplace, torn to pieces in either the woods or a swamp. Instead, nothing. He knew she was injured, and from what the doc had said with her head injury she might not even survive until the end of the pregnancy. Still, despite everything that had happened, she wound up right by his side. He was convinced it was fate, pure and simple. Meant to be. That the chances of everything happening, and her still coming back to him proved that she was his second chance. He suspected she would die soon, and if that was the case, he was going to make damn sure he got his child. She was responsible for his boys to die, she wasn't going to ruin this one. A lot had been happening, and Simon had returned from those garage people earlier. He hated to admit it, but he was preoccupied with trying to figure out where his Lucy had gone off to. It was now going on nearly two days, and he was beginning to suspect that as much as he didn't want to admit it...that Lucy was going to be found dead. Maybe just pieces of her somewhere, but dead. Between her injuries, and her stage of her pregnancy, there was no way she could survive out here alone without him. Still, even though he was busy building bullets, getting ready to take over the Hilltop, find Rick, and get his complex back in working order with these idiots, he was still sending men out to look. He knew many, including Simon disapproved, but he didn't care. All that mattered was that he would find her. If she was dead, well...he had himself to blame for that one. If she was alive, he planned on strapping her to the bed like he used to, and keep her alive until he could take his baby out. After that, he would have his family, and block his nagging ache that was constantly throbbing in his chest. Simon dropped his eyes uncomfortable, before Negan shook his head. He was frustrated, and earlier Eugene actually came up with quite the idea. When they went to The Hilltop, they would use walker blood and guts. If they couldn't kill them, might as well infect them. In fact, he had ordered to string up some walkers tomorrow in the front yard. He was going to show them exactly what he had in store for them.

"We can send another few trucks...but we really can't spare it with the Hilltop tomorrow..."

Negan glared up from his table, Lucille laying before him. He felt his blood pressure building, his temples pounding. Rubbing his chin, where a new grayish beard was coming in.

"Screw it, send it. We gotta find her...she's out there someplace, pregnant...and needs me."

Simon cleared his throat.

"How...did you two get separated? I know it was crazy the other night but..."

"Send the trucks...get them to find her, and drag her back. 100% rations for the man who finds her first, plus the woman of his choice for company, and one of the suites for a permeant living quarters. In fact, they can have whatever the fuck they want...just get them to get me my wife and baby back."

With that he grabbed hold of his baseball bat, got off his chair, and strolled out, swinging the bat, and whistling softly. Simon watched him, knowing this was impossible.

The next day...

"What about your wife? The young girl you've raped...that came to us begging for us to kill her? Was that new world you wanted to save including her?"

Negan glared in the darkness. He continued to hear Rick's voice.

"She told us everything...she rather be dead than to be with you."

Negan wanted to scream about one of Rick's people blowing that baby away, or fooling him into thinking she was that idiot with the bike Daryl. His blood boiled thinking about it. Instead, he continued crawling around for the first time in what seemed like forever...feeling actually scared.

Later...

Lucy was sitting in the forest, her belly full and round beneath her wine red sundress. She was humming, rubbing her stomach, before turning and looking straight at him, eyes sparking and smiling. Negan's eyes fluttered open, he hurt all over, and as his vision cleared he saw that he was sitting in a car. blinking, he glanced over and saw and saw that weird Garbage woman sitting behind the wheel, driving, actually looking quite clean. Grinning, he laughed. She must have saved him, when he truly believed Rick had his ticket punched.

"Well shit..."

"Shut up!" With that she whacked the handgun against the back of his head, knocking him out cold.

Elsewhere...

Lucy tied a bandana around her head. Thankfully the ugly scars and stitch marks that basically snaked all over her bruised skull didn't appear infected. The skin around it was purplish, and still very tender, but she knew as long as she kept an eye on it, she would be fine. Her eye was basically completely useless at this point. That eye was bloodshot completely, with a blood ring permeantly there. She had bags underneath her eyes, but actually for the first time in a while looked good. She had changed into loose white capris, and a T-shirt from the mall they had broken into. So far they had only had to destroy several walkers. They went into a gift shop, and were currently grabbing clean clothes. Lucy found the bandana, and tied it around, feeling much better. She stared at herself in front of the full length mirror that hung in the sitting room. She turned, and slowly her hands went down to her stomach. You could definitely tell she was pregnant now. She touched the skin, frowning, feeling the tiny little kicks from within her. The baby had been kicking up a storm lately since she had been on the road. She felt this was partly because she hadn't been sleeping well, scared, stressed, and now finally relieved. She knew she had put more than enough miles between Negan and her. She was safe for the time being, and with this young kid...who seemed more than just a kid. He was the person who helped her escape. He saved her. Last night had been wonderful, for the first time ever she had sex that wasn't unwanted. It was Mikey's first time, and it was gentle, slow, and felt amazing. They had attempted doing it several times last night in the hotel room, and fell asleep in each other's arms. Today they explored, and were going through the mall. Next was the sporting goods store to see what camping gear they could find. They knew if they stayed here, they could actually make this work.

Frowning, she hated that this was Negan's baby inside of her. She was too far along to get rid of it, but knew this baby was part hers. She wouldn't let what happened with the twins happen to this one. No, she would keep it safe, and even if it was the last thing she did...she would never let that monster see this child, or claim it as his. There was just then a gentle knock on the dressing room door. Smiling, snapping out of her thoughts, she turned.

"Come in."

The door opened and Mikey walked in, wearing shorts, and a T-shirt himself. Instantly he smiled.

"You look great!" Lucy smiled, hands still on her stomach.

"Thanks, feels great to be in new clothes..."

Mikey's eyes went down to her stomach and instantly he raised an eyebrow.

"You okay?"

He actually sounded concerned. Laughing, Lucy rolled her eyes.

"Oh, nothing...just starting to feel the baby kick."

"Can I feel?"

"Yeah? Sure."

Mikey walked over slowly, before reaching out, hesitating. Reaching, she placed her hand on top of his smooth warm hand, and firmly placed it there.

"Feel?"

Mikey waited, before the tiny little fluttering came from within her. Instantly Mikey's eyes lit up. Not the chilling scary light that lit up in Negan's...but something completely different. Something sincere, something sweet, and innocent. Instantly, Lucy smiled as Mikey stared down in complete amazement.

"Wow!"

Lucy closely studied Mikey's face before smiling.

"We're going to be okay...aren't we?"

Smiling, Mikey lifted his brown eyes and locked them with Lucy. With that, he leaned forward and gently kissed her. Unaware that the father to his baby was on the verge of quite a game changer. Something that would change all the rules...