Redemption - The Walking Dead

You were wonderful tonight

"Negan, I heard you killed five walkers to save that baby. That's awesome, I'm glad you got her back safe."

This was the second time Negan had been stopped as he walked home with Carol from the hospital.
The news of his tribulations and return had travelled fast. The news of the baby he brought home with him had spread even faster. There was nothing the people of Alexandria loved more than a new baby. New life brought with it new hope.

He pursed his lips and nodded as the kind stranger patted him on the shoulder as they left.

Carol laughed, "There are more walkers added to that story every time I hear it!"

"What can I say? Your man's a goddamn hero round these parts." He shrugged and grinned as Carol linked her arm with his while they continued to walk.

"Tell you what though, I am never gonna get used to people praising me, usually they're telling me to go eat shit."

Carol smiled at him. "Well, that's what happens when you do good. People start to notice, eventually."

Negan stopped walking and kissed Carol's forehead. "I'm gonna grab some fresh clothes then I'll be right over, all right?"

"All right, sweetie."

He kissed her head again.

•••

knock knock knock

Finally. It took him longer than Carol had expected it would. She swung open the door to greet a furious Negan.

She couldn't help but smile. "What'd I tell you about knocking?"

"Someone's taken all my fucking shit! It's all gone."

"Really?"

"Yeah! My place is empty."

Carol held back her laughter.

"Why's that funny?"

"I um, moved you in while you were gone," She shrugged. "I wanted it to be a surprise."

She laughed again at the lost expression on Negan's face that quickly turned into a smile. He looked so damn cute.

"Are you shitting me?"

Carol grinned as she shook her head. "I'm serious."

"Damn." Negan wiped his thumb across his lip and looked up at the house he would be living in. "And will the powers that be allow that?"

"I don't care, Negan. If this week has taught me anything, it's that I don't want to wake up without you beside me if I don't have to."

Negan had a rare quiet moment of reflection. He looked over the house again. Never in even his wildest dreams did he think that he would have somewhere he could call home again.

His eyes were filled with tears when they met Carol's. She was softly smiling at him. He realised his whole world stood there in that doorway.

"So are you coming inside our house or you gonna stand there for a bit longer?"

Negan stepped forward over the threshold and took Carol's face into his hands. He kissed her with more passion than he'd ever kissed her with before. He poured every bit of love he felt into her. His hands slid around her body, he held her so tight and close. He didn't care about the ache in his broken ribs, he needed to feel her against him.

"I'm never gonna leave you ever again, okay?" He told her as his kisses trailed down her neck. "Not ever."

Carol leaned back against the wall and let out a small happy sigh as she felt Negan's rough beard and his warm breath hitting her skin while he buried his face into her neck.