ELEANOR . NEGAN

011.

When Negan awoke in the early morning, the sky painted a darker blue that was lighting up as the sun rose, he noticed the absence of Eleanor beside him. He didn't react poorly, or frantically, almost as if he was coated in some sort of blissful feeling. Until he remembered Eleanor was technically his prisoner.

Shit.

He frantically got up for his bat, a feeling of betrayment and annoyance that she wasn't here anymore. He was quick to slide on his boots, to grab anything else he needed - until he noticed Eleanor's shoes scattered across the room (from when she chucked them last night) and then he simply felt dumb.

Scratching his jaw, he got up and started to look for Eleanor. It wasn't long until he saw her through a gap in the nursery door, her knees to her chest with her layered hair cascading down her back. He felt... he felt stuck. Wanting to make a joke, wanting to make her annoyed - wanted to make her something. But he just stayed there and looked at her.

She was sitting with a purple unicorn teddy in her hand, her fingers brushing the mane like it was a real animal. Eleanor always had moments like this - those aching and sad moments that she was alive and the less fortunate were not.

It's even worse when it comes to children. The nursery was... it was like a step into the past before the outbreak. There was a box of nappies opened, a half empty wet wipe bag, toys scattered across the floor like the baby was playing. She felt even more horrible when she saw the picture frame on the dresser - a young family. Maybe 19 or 20, with a cute smiling baby in their arms.

It was untouched, like everything stayed how it was.

Negan cleared his throat and Eleanor was quick to put the teddy down. "Thought you did a runner on me, doll."

She laughed solemnly. "Maybe I did and you're just dreaming I'm still here."

Negan smirked. "Well, I do dream about you, doll. But not something depressing like that." He winked, she rolled her eyes - typical. "You doing alright?"

"Me? Oh, I'm doing great." It sounded sarcastic, but when is she not sarcastic? It was hard to differentiate at times. "Thinking how this stuff would be good for Judith."

"Mhm, you sure about that?"

She rolled her eyes and stood up. "Fucking positive."

Eleanor brushed past him with a little bit of muscle into it but she didn't get far. His large hands pressed against her stomach to pull her back. She looked at him, and he looked down at her. "I get it." He admitted. "But you can't dwell on this shit, alright? You're the one living, you focus on-"

"It's a baby, Negan."

"And so is Judith." Eleanor stopped herself. "And she's doing fine back at Alexandria." Negan raised his brows. "You ain't the only group living, doll. You got that? That little family might be thriving on their own, you don't need to worry about them." She went to speak but he raised his hand and pointed at her. "Okay?"

She sighed. "Okay."

-

After a bit of exploring, Negan found a truck that was in decent use to just about get back to the Sanctuary. The ride at first was rocky and annoying, an awkward silence from the nursery conversation before. But it wasn't long until Negan spoke up to fill the silence with his rugged voice.

"Ellie," he dragged. "What was you before all this?"

Elle looked at him with furrowed brows and shrugged. What she told Joey was the truth—she is... was a soldier. A good one at that. Her childhood was rough and rocky and she had nothing left for her back in Wales, so she joined the Royal Army for a sense of personal control. She was quick, and logical, and people began to realise her worth.