Seeing Maggie asleep with her head against the wall, Negan smiled softly to himself.

My little green bird. I gave you the chance to fly, and yet still you stay in the palm of my hand. Even still, I kept my hand open for you to leave me at any moment. But now I understand. You want the same thing that I do. For me to grab you firmly and never let go.

It took some time for the man to accept that. His disbelief nearly cost him.

Negan touched the mark Maggie gave him then. Her initial carved onto the left side of his chest, right over his heart.

I had pushed her too far, but I didn't know how much I was putting her through. Her wanting – no, needing me to stay, I can still barely wrap my head around it. She calls me handsome. Calls me darlin. She smiles at me. Laughs because of me. I never thought I'd see the day…

Negan touched his wrist, which still ached sorely. For such a small hand, Maggie really held a lot of strength. He almost thought she was going to break his wrist for a moment there.

It had happened when he woke her up. Seeing him not in bed with her, Maggie's hand was quick to grip his wrist. Negan doubted Maggie even knew how much force she was putting into her hand to keep him at her side, but it was like iron.

It was that fear of me leaving. That desperation inside of her, thought the man as he traced the fingermarks bruised into his skin.

Negan didn't know before today how bad Maggie's fear of him leaving was, but know he knew it was pretty fucking bad.

Maggie had almost killed herself in the dead of night thinking he had left her. He should have considered her situation more properly. After what happened in the bathtub when he left to go get the clothes, he should have known something was amiss right there and then.

I can't keep stressing her out.

Every time Negan expressed doubt or hesitance on entering a relationship with her, Maggie would fight tooth and nail to dispel his worries and concerns. Everything was just too sudden. He didn't think carefully about his choice of words. Didn't think his doubts and hesitance only made her fear worsen.

No more. You promised her you'd stay. For as long as she needs you. For as long as she wants you. You promised her.

Negan had considered the end. Considered the possibility of Maggie killing him instead of letting him go. Considered how he'd spend his final days if she did grant him leave to return home.

Negan considered a thousand different ending to his story, but not once did he ever consider having a future. Least of all a future with Maggie.

Just the thought alone made the man's heart skip a beat. It was real, and it was happening. A surge of fear coursed through Negan. He wasn't prepared in the slightest.

The fear of the unknown never bothered the man, but now it wasn't just him he had to worry about. Now his life belonged to Maggie, and her life belonged to him.

Negan scoffed; smiled despite the fear that gripped his heart.

Nothing changes from before. Just do as you've always done. No matter the cost. No matter the price. I won't fail the woman I love a second time.

That was a promise Negan made to himself. One he'd bleed and die to keep.

The generator had been repaired with the new fuel lines, but seeing Maggie so deep in slumber, Negan chose to give her more time by siphoning the gas ahead of time from the broken generators into the one working.

Negan had been surprised when he siphoned the fuel. He had been expecting to see degradation since it had been seven years, but it was surprisingly well maintained.

Rick and the rest must have decided to still use this place as a base of operations. Must've been abandoned shortly after the war with the Whisperers.

Fuel degradation was a real pain in the ass. On the way to Sanctuary, it had taken days for the man to find a car that could still turn on, much less drive. Dead batteries, bad fuel, and rust buckets were all he found until he got lucky with the suburban.

It didn't take him long to siphon the fuel, and even after he finished that too, Negan would still have chosen to stand and wait for however long it took until Maggie woke up. However, the weather and choice of location didn't allow that for much too longer.

Though he was yet to ask, Negan had been keeping tabs on Maggie's physical health. Her hands had nearly gotten frostbite, and her knees and feet had suffered serious bruising.

Even though it wasn't cold anymore now that the heaters were operational, it was still a bit chilly down in the generator room. It didn't bode well in the long run for Maggie's health. She needed to be kept warm.

Only the main cache has medicine. Maggie isn't out of the woods yet. The warm bath helped to prevent the frostbite, but she might still come down with a fever or worse.

Negan made note of it and walked back to where Maggie was.

He leaned down and kissed her lips, gently waking her up before sitting down next to her and laying himself flat on the staircase steps. Despite the hard edges digging into his skin, Negan felt the need to rest for a minute and stretch.

''Give me a bit, sweet peach. I just need a minute before I pick you up and we get the hell out of here.''

Maggie yawned and took a second to wipe her groggy eyes.

''How long was I out for?'' asked Maggie softly as she scooted close to Negan.

''Not long,'' replied the man with a smile as he hugged her waist.

Maggie scrunched her nose and narrowed her emeralds. ''Liar,'' she murmured with affection. ''Be honest with me, darlin. How long?''

''Hmm. Maybe half an hour?'' Negan shrugged and yawned. ''Little more than that, give or take. I thought you could use the rest, so I went ahead and siphoned the fuel as well.''

Maggie smiled at his thoughtfulness. ''Thank you,'' she whispered gently as Negan rested his eyes.

She knew he was exhausted, yet still he hadn't rested. Not truly. It had been a month now since Negan found her as Alexandria burned, and since then he's been carrying everything on his shoulders.

Maggie felt a spark of guilt at not coming clean earlier, but her fears had made her stay silent until she had no other choice. It took her some time to accept that she wanted Negan. That she loved him. Took even longer still to take action.

Maggie shook her head clear of those thoughts. The past was behind them now. Negan was hers, and she was his. He'd promised her, and after all that they had been through, she trusted him entirely. With his word, her life, and her heart. She trusted him entirely with it all.

Maggie turned and put a palm lightly over his chest, barely pressing her hand against the mark over his heart that would scar permanently. She felt the strong beat of his heart that had comforted her tirelessly throughout the days and night, bringing her peace and happiness.

I can't go on without you…

The young woman smiled to herself and sighed, closing her eyes momentarily to relish in the life beneath her touch.

Mine…

Maggie decided to break the peaceful silence with a question. One she had nearly forgotten to ask.

''Now you know I'm from Georgia, handsome. But what about you? I've always assumed you were from around these parts, but are you?''

Negan put a hand over hers, pressing her outstretched palm firmly against his chest.

''I am,'' answered the man as he opened his eyes slowly to her. ''Though I never saw Virginia as home. It was just…a place to stay in the meanwhile.''

Seeing the question flickering in her eyes, Negan flashed a ghost of a smile and raked his hand through his tousled hair, his expression tinged with a hint of melancholy as he spoke.

''Ever since I can remember, I've always been a roamer,'' Negan confessed, his voice laced with sorrow. ''Here and there, going from one place to another. Never settling down, never stopping for too long. Never had a place I could truly call home. Not since…''

His words trailed off, and Maggie knew what her lover left unsaid. The name of the woman held on the tip of his tongue. She reached out, her touch gentle as she intertwined her fingers with his.

Negan sighed heavily; the weight of his burdens evident in his expression. Bringing Maggie's hand close to his lips, his expression softened as he pressed a tender kiss against her skin.

''My home is with you now, Maggie,'' he murmured, his voice a gentle caress against her skin. ''Where you go, I go.''

She moved her hand kissed by him, turning it to cusp the side of his face. ''And where you go, Negan, I go as well,'' replied Maggie firmly.

The man nodded, a faint smirk playing at the corner of his lips. ''Of course,'' murmured Negan as he let out a long breath. ''Together. Always.''

Maggie smiled down at him from where he rested, happy that they were finally on the same page.

''You never finished that thought, you know,'' she suddenly remarked with some mirth to her tone.

Negan's brows furrowed in puzzlement.

''About?''

Maggie couldn't help but move her hand to ease his expression, her thumb pressing tenderly against his brows.

''My voice,'' she clarified softly. ''Said there was somethin' about it, but you never said what.''

''I don't know how to put it exactly,'' said Negan after a minute of thought. ''But it's…like the rain. I love the rain, Maggie. And I love your voice for the very same reason. I get lost in it. I don't think about anything at all. I'm just…alive. Livin' in the moment. You make me feel that way, baby girl.''

As Negan finished speaking, Maggie felt a warmth spread through her chest, touched by the sincerity and vulnerability in his words.

Negan had said before when they laid in bed together how the world felt cold and bleak, and that she made him feel alive. That she brought color to his world. Maggie had fallen even more for the man then, and now his words only reaffirmed that her choice was the right one. That being with Negan – keeping him and loving him – was for the best.

''I've always loved the rain too,'' Maggie murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. ''But I never thought someone could feel that way about my voice.''

Negan's gaze softened as he met her emeralds. ''Well, it's true,'' he said, his gravelly voice filled with reverence. ''Your voice has a way of calming the storm inside me, Maggie. It's like... finding shelter in the midst of chaos.''

Maggie's heart skipped a beat at his words, feeling a surge of affection for the man before her.

Sweet talker…

Her hand cupping the side of his face moved then, tracing lightly with her slender fingers along his bearded jawline, cherishing the feeling of his warmth against her skin. Cherishing him.

''You don't know how happy that makes me, Negan. Knowin' I can bring you some peace,'' she replied, her voice tinged with emotion.

His weary image could never be forgotten. How he treaded for miles on end with her in his arms. How he so rarely let his guard down so as to protect her.

Negan never slept easy in the days before. Not until she began sleeping atop him and by his side. If it weren't for trying to get her out of her shell, Maggie believed the man hardly would have smiled or laughed.

It meant the world to her knowing she brought him peace. Because he brought peace to her as well. Joy, peace, comfort. He gave her all she had been deprived of and yearned for.

Negan leaned into her touch, his eyes never leaving hers. ''You do more than just that, baby girl,'' he said softly. ''You give me hope. Hope for a future where that dream I saw turns true. A future together with you.''

The weight of his words hung heavily in the air between them, and Maggie felt a lump form in her throat. She leaned forward, pressing a gentle kiss to Negan's lips, a silent promise of her own to the man who took her heart, mind and soul.

''Together,'' she whispered breathily against his lips, feeling a sense of certainty settle over her. ''Always.''

Maggie laid down beside Negan, the same corner steps that dug into him now pressing against her. She'd share everything with this man, take in all that he was just as he'd done with her.

Negan's past, pain, and sins – what was his to carry alone were now hers to bear. And just as he did since the beginning of their shared journey together, he would shoulder hers. Her pain, past, and future – they were now his until the end of time.

Laying by his side, Maggie turned her head to him, her emeralds meeting his tender gaze.

''Greene,'' spoke the young woman softly. '' I was born Maggie Greene. It's who I was before I met Glenn and took his surname.''

And now I met you, she thought wistfully in her heart. I'm not Greene anymore. Not Rhee. Now I'm just Maggie, but one day…one day I will be Maggie Smith. And on that day…on that day…

She looked at Negan, her emeralds burning with resolve as she made up her mind.

''I told you before not to call me Rhee, because I'm not that woman anymore. I'm not Greene, either. I'm just…Maggie.''

There was a look in her eye, something to her voice that made Negan frown with worry. Last night was still fresh on his mind, the wound over his heart still a dull burn on his flesh. The man swallowed hard, worked to unfurl the worry rooting within.

''What are you trying to say to me, sweet peach?''

Maggie was quick to turn then, hooking her leg over his waist and moving to straddle Negan from atop. There was an urgency to her movements, a need to assert her presence and her words. Even though her knees hurt and it was uncomfortable with them both being on the stairs, she felt the need to pin him underneath her for what she was going to say next.

''Maggie?'' Negan attempted to sit up, but her hands on his chest held him firmly in place.

As Maggie locked eyes with him, her gaze seemed to penetrate the very depths of his tattered soul. In those emerald orbs burned a fire. A fire no longer fueled by anger or resentment, but by something far more profound: Love.

''I forgive you, Negan,'' Maggie murmured. Her voice carried the weight of years of grief and pain, yet beneath the surface lay a newfound resolve to let go of the past that consumed her. In her heart burned brightly the flame called love, and it burned away all the hatred, sorrow and pain that bound her for so long.

It was a love Negan had extinguished long ago, leaving her to navigate the darkness alone. And now – against all odds – he stood before her once more, giving back the light Maggie thought lost forever.

You are my light now, my love.

Negan's world slowed to a still as Maggie's words of forgiveness reached his ears. His heart stopped as his eyes widened with disbelief.

The man almost questioned whether he had heard her correctly, but the sincerity in Maggie's gaze left no room for doubt. The pain of her nails digging halfmoons into his chest told him this was no dream, but reality.

''Maggie, what I did to you can't ever be for –'' he began, but her hand moved to cover his mouth, silencing him with a gentle, yet firm touch.

''You're wrong,'' Maggie interjected, her voice carrying an intensity that pierced through the air like a sharp blade.

Maggie's emerald eyes bore into Negan's with an unyielding resolve that left the man breathless, daring him to challenge her assertion as she leaned over him. Her long hair cascaded like a waterfall of black silk, shrouding Negan from their surroundings as Maggie pressed against him with an iron hold.

''Let me speak, handsome,'' she whispered, her voice a tender caress against his skin.

Maggie removed her hand from his mouth and instead buried her fingers in his long, unruly hair. And as she leaned into him, pressing her forehead against his, she caught Negan's lips with her teeth. She bit and kissed, tasted her lover's blood as she ran her tongue against his bottom lip.

'' You're mine. You can only ever be mine, Negan. I won't allow for anything else. What my heart desires – I won't let go. You told me that yourself, remember? You told me it was okay to be selfish. That I deserved it,'' she murmured against his lips, her words carrying a heat that matched the fire burning in her emerald eyes.

''And all I want,'' began Maggie, ''all I need…is you.''

In the depths of her heart, Maggie acknowledged the truth she had come to realize: I fell in love with you slowly, Negan, and then all at once. I can't ever go back after knowing the taste of you, my love. Knowin' that you make me happy and at peace. Knowin' that even after everything, I have another chance. That we both have another chance together.

Negan's throat tightened as he swallowed hard, the intensity of Maggie's gaze penetrating deep into his soul. The absoluteness in her tone, the unwavering determination in her eyes as she swore sovereignty over him, it was all so foreign yet undeniably magnetic. Here was the woman the man believed would be the end of him, now laying claim to him in a way he never thought possible.

Negan's heart raced, a tumultuous storm of conflicting emotions swirling within him. Memories of their past clashed with the reality of this moment, leaving him grappling with the weight of her declaration.

In that moment, amidst the chaos of his thoughts, Negan felt it – the pull of Maggie's love, fierce and unyielding, like a tether anchoring him to her. It was a sensation he never anticipated, yet one he couldn't deny. Despite the scars of their shared history, despite the bloodshed and the pain, there was something undeniable in the way she looked at him, in the way Maggie claimed him as hers.

Part of the man believed this couldn't last, but as he gazed back into her emerald eyes reflecting only his image, Negan thought maybe…just maybe…it might.

It just might.

The beauty of this angel named Maggie was blinding. The world could not keep her down for long, try as it did. Negan thought he was just another chapter in her book, a black stain on white meant to be buried.

But as he looked into her seas of green, Negan found that the truth he recognized was no longer the one he lived.

''I'm not that woman anymore,'' Maggie confessed, her voice barely above a whisper as she nestled her head into the curve of Negan's shoulder.

''Greene, she was too weak. Too slow to grow in strength. It cost her the people she loved most, and only after their deaths did she find herself. But by then it was too late. And Rhee, she was blinded by hate. Plagued by the past, she just couldn't live in the moment with what truly mattered most. Couldn't look to the future. All she wanted was revenge, and just like Greene, it cost her, too.''

Maggie sighed lowly against Negan's neck. ''I'm just Maggie, now.''

For now…

She smiled then, thinking about the woman she'd soon become.

Smith. Maggie Smith…A new future. A better one. One I won't let fail. Never again…

''I ain't blinded by the past. I haven't been for a long time now, Negan. Not when I showed myself to you last night, ending that man's life 'n not yours. Not when I put myself on your lap an kissed you of my own free will. I haven't been that woman for a long time, handsome. I forgave you for what happened that night seven years ago, Negan, when I chose to live the rest of my life with you.''

Maggie's gaze met his, her emeralds unwavering and firm.

''I forgive you.''

The weight of her forgiveness hung heavy in the air, yet still Maggie wasn't done. She could see the reluctance in Negan's eyes. The hatred in his heart for himself that blinded his sight to the good within. Maggie needed her love to understand. To forgive himself just as she had.

''What you did in the past can't be undone, but holding it against you – saying it's unforgivable – it doesn't do me any good, handsome.''

Maggie's touch was gentle, yet purposeful as she prodded Negan's chest with her finger, each tap a silent plea echoing the rhythm of her heart. ''And it doesn't do you any good either,'' she continued, her voice fragile with sorrow and determination. ''I can't live in the past anymore, and to do that I need you, Negan. I need you to forgive yourself. I need you...because I won't go on unless you're with me.''

Her words hung in the air, pregnant with unspoken longing and the weight of their past. In the quiet of the moment, Negan could feel the walls he had built around his heart begin to fracture, fissures forming under the relentless pressure of Maggie's unwavering love.

For so long, he had carried the burden of his sins like a heavy chain around his neck, each link a reminder of the pain he had caused and the lives he had shattered. But as he gazed into Maggie's tear-filled eyes, he realized that holding onto the past served only to suffocate the fragile flicker of hope that burned within him.

''I…'' Negan's voice faltered, choked with emotion as he struggled to find the words to express the storm raging inside him. ''I don't know if I can, Maggie,'' whispered the man hoarsely. ''I don't deserve…''

But before he could finish, Maggie silenced him with a tender kiss that stole his breath away. ''You deserve happiness, Negan,'' she whispered against his lips, her voice a gentle breeze stirring the ember of love buried within his soul – a yearning ache that had long sought solace in her embrace.

''We both do,'' whispered Maggie firmly, her voice invigored with the strength and certainty of love. ''And forgiveness is the key to setting us free.''

In her embrace, Negan felt the weight of his guilt begin to lift, replaced by a glimmer of hope so bright it threatened to blind him.

The man reached out to stroke Maggie's cheek, his touch gentle yet deliberate. He watched in awe as a radiant smile graced her lips, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears that mirrored the emotions swirling within his own heart.

''Your too good for me, sweet peach,'' murmured Negan with a sigh.

Like the rain, the enormity of Maggie's forgiveness fell down upon the man. He felt like all the sins that stained his heart black were beginning to wash away, but none of it felt right to Negan. She said he deserved happiness, another chance. A better man, perhaps. But him?

Who am I to deserve any of that?

He meant to let go, but Maggie held to his hand cupping the side of her face, pressing his coarse palm further against her smooth cheek.

''All I ask is that you try, Negan. Please. For me?''

Negan smiled faintly, his thumb catching a tear that threatened to fall from her emerald eye. ''I'll do anything for you, Maggie. You know that, right? I'll try.'' he whispered soothingly. ''For you…I will try. So don't cry, baby girl. I'm here, and I'm staying.''

I don't deserve any of it, but she does. And if that's me and this and everything in between, then so be it. I'll give Maggie the world and the sea of stars above if that's what it takes. So long as she's happy. So long as she continues to live and smile and keep going forward. Then I can try. For her…

''Thank you,'' whispered Maggie as she blinked away her tears, her voice trembling with emotion. ''For everything, Negan.''

Negan grinned then. ''Well, I am your man now aren't I? And you're my woman. It goes without saying, don't it?''

Maggie laughed and nodded, and her laughter was the most beautiful thing to have graced the man's ears in a very long time. Like bell chimes swaying softly in the wind, there was nothing like it.

The ghost of a smile on his lips faded then, replaced instead with a somber look. ''But seriously, Maggie. I'm the one who should be thanking you. You've given me a new lease on life. You've given me…hope. I wouldn't blame you if you never forgave me. Truth is, I don't feel like I've done enough to earn your heart – your forgiveness.''

Maggie frowned. ''Negan…''

He pushed on, insistent to speak his heart. ''And I hope I never do feel like I've done enough, Maggie. I can try to forgive myself for the things I've done, but I can't ever let myself grow complacent. I can't ever let myself think I've earned the right to your heart.''

Maggie's breath caught in her throat, her heart aching at his words. ''If I deserve another chance,'' Negan continued, his voice raw with emotion, ''it's because you say so, Maggie. Not because I judge that I do, but because you say so. So, thank you. For everything. Your forgiveness. Your heart. I – it means everything to me, sweet peach.

''I won't betray it,'' he vowed, his words a solemn promise that echoed in the quiet space between them. ''What you've given me, Maggie, I'll always cherish it.''

Maggie began to sniffle as tears once more blurred her vision. ''Damn it, handsome. You're gonna make me cry.''

Negan chuckled softly, bringing Maggie down to kiss her lips. And as he wrapped his arms around her trembling form, he knew that together, they would find the strength to heal the wounds of the past and embrace the uncertain future that lay ahead.

Together, and always.

''Volim te, my little green bird.''

Maggie's world momentarily stopped as Negan's words reached her ears. Her heart skipped a beat, and her belly danced a spell. A shiver ran down Maggie's spine at hearing Negan call her his little green bird in that gentle and endearing tone. It left her breathless, made her feel warm and giddy, small and secure in his embrace.

His little green bird…

His name for her echoed in Maggie's heart, intertwining with the memory of his story told earlier in the morning.

Every day I look up and see dark skies bleak and lifeless, but then there's you, Maggie. I see a lone bird colored emerald-green stretch its wings and fly, and I can't help but want to stretch out my hand and grab it. Grab the only color there is to this world. To hold you forever in my arms and never let go. It was then and there that I realized I had fallen for you. That I wanted you for myself.

Maggie's throat hitches at the weight behind his name for her, and it swelled her heart aflame with love.

His little green bird. His sweet peach. His baby girl. His angel and goddess.

Each of his names for her were unique, yet they all carried the same weight of love and care. Maggie found herself cherishing every endearing term Negan bestowed upon her, unable to get enough of the affection he showered upon her.

Maggie's heart skipped a beat every time he called upon her with these names crafted solely for her. With each whispered endearment, the young woman found herself falling for the man a little more deeply. Into his embrace Maggie sank, craving with even greater yearning Negan's warmth, love and heart.

''Your little green bird, huh?'' Maggie teased with a loving smile. She raked her nails against Negan's broad and well-defined chest, traced his throat and jaw with the crest of her lips blushed crimson with his blood.

Marked by her teeth, it was a small cut that adorned Negan's bottom lip – and just like the mark she'd carved over his heart, Maggie felt a surge of possessiveness for Negan each time she saw it. Each time she reopened it and saw the result of their need and want for the other.

''Mhm. Do you like it?'' asked Negan, his brow arched in anticipation.

Maggie's response was a soft sigh that brushed against Negan's jaw, her touch tender as she caressed the scar etched across his throat. There was a time when she wished for nothing more than for the wound to have been cut deeper, taking the man's life instead of leaving him with a glimmer of hope. A time when she burned with fury at Rick's decision to spare him, denying her the revenge she craved.

And now, as she touched the silvery scar beneath her fingertips, Maggie was so glad that it hadn't. That the wound hadn't claimed Negan's life. Because if it had, they wouldn't be here now, together and always.

''Like it? I love it, handsome,'' she replied, her voice carrying a gentle warmth that mirrored the affection in her touch.

And I love you…

The words hovered on the edge of her tongue, teetering between hesitation and longing. Maggie felt the weight of them, heavy with the depth of her need and want for the man, yet still she couldn't bring herself to speak them into existence. Uncertainty lingered, leaving Maggie unsure if the time was right.

Not yet…

Amidst the turmoil of her emotions, a glimmer of curiosity broke through. So caught up in his new name for her, Maggie had overlooked what Negan said before calling her his little green bird.

''And what does Volim te mean?'' Maggie tilted her head in genuine curiosity, only for Negan to flash that roguish grin of his at her.

He couldn't wait any longer. In one fluid motion, Negan rose to his feet, effortlessly lifting Maggie into his arms as if she were the most precious treasure in the world.

To him she was.

Before the hesitation could take root – before all the doubts and memories of the past could stifle his resolve – Negan found the courage to speak from the heart. If Maggie could find the strength to forgive him, then he could muster the bravery to voice the feelings that had long been buried within him since the day he realized how important Maggie was to him.

''I love you,'' Negan whispered, his voice a gentle caress against Maggie's ear. It was a mere three words spoken into the cold, frigid air, yet he never dared speak them into existence before.

Until now.

So short and simple, and yet…and yet they came directly from the heart.

''My heart will always belong to you, Maggie.'' His was a solemn vow spoken softly, yet firmly as he looked down at the goddess nestled within his arms.

Before she could utter a single word, Negan leaned in and pressed his lips tenderly against her skin. With a gentle touch, he kissed just above her breast, where Maggie's heart raced like the wild little bird that she was.

''My little green bird. Beautiful and fierce, I love you,'' murmured Negan fervently against her skin.

His kiss to her heart was a silent declaration in and of itself, a symbol of his unwavering devotion and commitment to her. As he pulled back, a soft smile graced Negan's lips, his eyes soft with affection for the woman of his heart.

''I swear to you, Maggie,'' Negan continued, his voice unwavering in its conviction. ''Always. To the end and beyond, I will protect you with all my strength, and love you with all my heart. My life is yours.''

He swore to never leave Maggie's side.

Swore to her that he'd take care of her until the very end.

And Negan swore for the third and final time that he would love her always. That his heart would only belong to her.

To the end and beyond…

Recalling all three made Maggie's heart clench madly with love. With each vow the young woman felt a wave of emotions crashing over her, threatening to consume her with their fevered intensity.

It had come so unexpectedly. She dreamt of this moment time and time again after she had accepted her feelings for the older man, but nothing could compare to the devotion in Negan's words, the worship in his eyes and the love of his heart.

No amount of imagination could ever compare to this moment in his arms. Safe and content, Maggie felt the peace that had escaped her for so long.

This is where I belong, Maggie thought as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He was her sanctuary, where she belonged. With him, she longed for nothing else. Negan's heart – his love – was all that she needed and desired.

I'm home, she thought, a simple truth that filled her heart with warmth.

Maggie gazed up at Negan as the weight of his words settled upon her, the tears she tried so desperately to hold back now falling freely from her emerald eyes. She had waited so long to hear Negan say that he loved her; to have his heart completely. All that yearned and ached in Maggie's heart for the man broke free, unchained by his vows of love.

In a sudden burst of raw emotion, Maggie threw herself at Negan, her lips seeking his with a fierce urgency that bordered on desperation. With her arms still wrapped around his neck, she moved to change her position as she locked lips with him.

No longer was she content to be carried like his bride to be. For the young woman, she felt this was too far apart, that her love was too far away. Maggie straightened herself against Negan, her breasts pressing against his broad and muscled chest as she locked her legs around his waist.

Negan, caught off guard by the sudden change in position and the intensity of Maggie's embrace, felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins. He coiled one arm around her waist in support, the other moving to palm her round, perky ass.

Maggie moaned into Negan's mouth, pushed further by his hand kneading into her flesh. She went wild in his arms, nearly making the man stumble backwards like earlier.

Maggie grabs Negan's jaw with one hand as the other wanders into the long, damp mess of his hair; she revels in how thick and full it is, at how much of it she can pull and hold onto. How it draws sound from the man she'd never heard. Sounds she never knew he could make.

Mine. He's all mine. Only I can do this to him. Only me…

Wild like the sea, Maggie came at him in waves, fallen to the throes of love and passion that consumed her. She raged like a tempest in her lovers embrace, a desperation in her actions as her lips crashed against Negan's; a clash of smoldering passion and love. The taste of him, his declaration of love, his promises, it all ignited something primal within Maggie that was never before discovered.

She raked her nails against his skin, prompting Negan to let out a sharp breath that Maggie only smothered with a deeper kiss. Negan, he would emit these rumbling, tantalizing exhalations that rattle Maggie's foundation, made her heart stir madly with need. She grazed his jaw with her nails, her teeth nipping at his lower lip with emeralds blurred with hunger.

Her mark over Negan's heart was merely the first, but never the last. Maggie was not satisfied with just this alone. She could never. Maggie began to mark Negan more; raking her nails against his skin, nipping with her teeth his lips, jaw, and neck – leaving lines of red to show that he was hers.

Maggie couldn't help but leave hickeys in her waking trail, sucking hard to leave marks that would last for days.

Now it was Negan's turn to be helpless. The times before he was in control, teasing Maggie and leaving her wanting and panting with need. But now and in this moment the man could do nothing but grit his teeth and breathe raggedly, maintaining what little was left of his composure as he led them up the stairs and to their bedroom.

Our bedroom… Negan could only string together the beginnings of that thought before Maggie shattered it to nothing with her fervor.

Negan lets slip another exposing noise as Maggie's nails scrape his scalp with just enough pressure to express the wanton ache she's experiencing.

Maggie murmurs as she tugs and presses her lips against Negan – to his temple, his ear, even biting his jawline – anything and everything to earn those pleasurable sounds that send shivers down her spine and straight to her core.

It's not nearly enough. Negan's confession tore down everything, leaving Maggie bare and raw in his arms.

I love you, Maggie thought achingly, only this time she didn't hesitate to speak her longing into existence for the man of her heart.

''I love you,'' Maggie growled ferally against Negan's lips, her voice a husky whisper laced with all the yearning and longing held in her heart solely for him. ''I do,'' she murmured. ''Have for a long time now, my love.'' Her fingers tightened on his jaw, not in aggression, but in a desperate attempt to anchor herself to him amidst the tempest of her emotions.

Negan gazed into Maggie's emeralds and saw no doubt, not a hint of hesitation as she spoke. He sat down on the edge of the bed, Maggie still coiled around him. Negan felt his strength leave him, his heart racing violently as her words echoed within.

The man could only reach out to stroke her cheek with his fingers, watch in awe as she nestled further into his hand. This moment in time would forever be etched into Negan's heart, Maggie's words of forgiveness and love. A cherished memory he would remember for the rest of his life.

''My heart will always belong to you,'' murmured Negan as he ran his fingers down Maggie's cheek, wiping away the glistening tears that fell from her jeweled emeralds.

A smile blossomed on Maggie's face from his words, and her belly danced a spell at the look of utter worship Negan held in his gaze for her. Maggie pawed at Negan's chest, needy and wanting for more.

''My little green bird, how greedy you are,'' whispered Negan softly with affection.

Negan's lips found the delicate curve of Maggie's neck, and he sucked right where her pulse quickened beneath his touch.

With a gasp, Maggie's eyes fluttered closed, overtaken by a rush of pleasure that left her lightheaded. In a whispered murmur, she called out his name, her longing evident in every breath.

''Negan…''

Maggie nips at the corner of his bottom lip, sucking a spell as she runs her tongue along its edge, stopping just short of the broken skin that bled from all the times she broke past with her teeth.

''I need you, handsome,'' murmured Maggie breathily into Negan's ear, her voice a desperate plea laced with longing. ''Please. Please, my love. I need you.''

Her petite hands began to wander, fingertips tracing the contours of Negan's chest, snaking beneath his long-sleeved shirt to find the warmth of bare skin beneath. Maggie's touch was gentle yet possessive as she flattened the palm of her hands against Negan's broad chest, her palms flush with the grey and dark hair that grew in abundance there.

Maggie felt the rise and fall of Negan's breath beneath her touch, the coarse texture of his grey and dark hair mingling with her soft skin. The contrast between his ruggedness and her softness created a tantalizing sensation that left Maggie short of breath with desire.

With deliberate intent, Maggie traced with her fingertips the contours of her mark carved into Negan's flesh and over his heart. With each stroke, she felt the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her touch, a reassuring pulse that entwined with her own. Her 'M' etched into his flesh served as a permanent reminder of their bond, a declaration that he belonged to her and her alone.

His heart is mine.

Maggie moved to push Negan onto the bed; to claim him, to lose herself in the passion of the moment, but Negan resisted.

With a low growl, he gently pushed Maggie back onto the bed, his eyes reflecting a mixture of desire and restraint. She looked at him then, pleading with her emeralds for him to come to her as she spread her legs and arms invitingly, but Negan could only let out a groan as he took a few steps back, the need for self-control warring with the intensity of his desire.

Maggie's relentless assault was quick to intoxicate the man, every touch of hers igniting a fire that burned within him, but still Negan clung to the last thread of reason that lingered.

''I want to, baby girl. Trust me, I want to. But…we can't right now,'' Negan managed to say, his voice strained and weak as he struggled to reign in the urge to go to her.

Maggie couldn't understand. Hurt filled her eyes, a slight whimper escaping her lips.

''Why?'' she asked, her voice heavy with aggrieved longing. ''I need you, my love. I need you right fuckin' now.'' Maggie growled out that last part, her words laced with desperation. She bit down on her bottom lip harshly; the pain felt a tangible echo of the ache in her heart at her lover's rejection.

Negan gritted his teeth, the weight of his decision heavy upon him as he shook his head in frustration. ''You need to heal, sweet peach,'' he insisted, his tone firm yet tender.

It pained him to deny her, to see the longing and hurt in Maggie's emeralds, but Negan knew they couldn't afford to give in to desire just yet. Ever since the thought came to him, he just couldn't get it out of his head. Though Maggie appeared fine right now, the looming threat of illness hung over them like a dark cloud.

And Negan couldn't bear the thought of making another mistake. Couldn't forgive himself if he put his own pleasure before Maggie's well-being. Her life was too precious, too fragile to gamble with.

I need to get those meds today. It can't wait for tomorrow.

Negan told her as much, explained to Maggie, ''It just…it don't feel right. I can't let loose putting pleasure before your life, Maggie. You're not outta the woods yet, and I need to get those meds. Just in case anything were to happen to you. The sooner, the better.''

His gaze softened as he continued, his love and desire for her evident in every word. ''Besides, sweet peach, I want to take my time with you. Enjoy the taste of you slowly. And I can't do that unless I know that you're safe and well. So please, just wait a little longer, Maggie. I swear. Can you do that for me?''

If looks could kill, Negan would've been a dead man ten times over already. Maggie snorted and huffed, even scrunched her nose at the man in annoyance, but in the end she still softened up, knowing Negan was only being thoughtful and putting her safety first.

Maggie reluctantly nodded. ''Okay,'' she murmured, her voice tinged with a bittersweet melody of emotions. She couldn't argue against her love when all he was doing was protecting her, even if it meant denying herself as well.

Despite her mixed feelings on the matter, Maggie still opened her arms to him, tentatively asking, ''Hug, then?''

Negan smiled and moved to hug her, yet just as he put a knee on the bed and began to lean towards Maggie, she put her bare foot on his chest, keeping the man back.

Negan's smile wavered as Maggie's petite foot halted his advance, keeping him at arm's length. Despite the playful defiance in her actions, there was a seriousness in Maggie's gaze that gave Negan pause.

''This is the last time you say no to me, you hear?'' Maggie's voice carried a hint of warning as she narrowed her eyes, pressed her toes lightly against his chest. ''Or else we're going to have problems, handsome.''

Negan couldn't help but smirk at his woman's feistiness. ''Oh? And what kind of problems would those be?''

Maggie rolled her emeralds.

''The kind you won't like,'' she retorted. ''Now get over here.''

A/N: This took longer than expected. This was a massive derailment from the initial outline of what this chapter was meant to be. Sometimes the story just writes itself, and the characters have a will of their own. I never planned on Maggie forgiving Negan, nor to have them profess their love aloud until much later, but it's what the characters wanted.

I wanted to do this moment justice, so I took my time to carefully write out the dialogue and responses. I hope everyone is pleased with how the chapter came out as well! It's just a smidge shorter than the 10k goal, but I stopped where it felt natural to me.

What I love is that the majority of this heartfelt chapter took place on the stairway to the generator room. It's hardly a romantic spot, nor a sight to behold, but it's realistic for the apocalypse world these two live in. Maggie perhaps could have waited until they got back into the bedroom to forgive him, but she just couldn't wait a moment longer, nor could Negan when he found the courage to voice his love to her.

Let me know your thoughts if you have any! Comments, kudos, and bookmarks are always welcome! All of which encourage me to continue writing. Lastly, thank you to everyone for reading up to this point. It's been quite the journey, and we're only just getting started!