ELEANOR . NEGAN

099.

Memories of last night stayed close to her mind, Negan's word lacing into the very core of her own body. It was something simple but unforgettable. She wondered truly if his words were right and correct and maybe they were, but she couldn't see it.

Or admit it at least.

"How far now?" Frank asked, gingerly holding a machete in his hand just like before.

"'Bout twenty minutes." Negan admitted. He didn't need a map. "Don't get your hopes high though, this shit probably already ransacked."

Annie was walking behind the two men with quiet steps, eyes stuck to her feet as she walked. Annie only let a group of people know about her apparent pregnancy now all they needed was the confirmation.

The only one who wasn't joined in on this conversation was Eleanor. Fucking Leah. Everything was ruined because of this woman and maybe Elle was biased but it was how she felt. There was no safety, no nothing — not until she was dead.

"What'd you think, Ellie Belly?" Frank asked, grasping his jaw. Elle didn't say anything; she just grabbed her bottle and smirked when a boink noise filled her hearing. "Ow! Goddamnit!"

Elle rolled her eyes and sheathed away her knife, taking an extra stride to get closer to the group. "I think it's pointless." She looked at Annie. "Tests have expiry dates."

"I need to know, Eleanor." She then hooped her arm with Frank's. "We need to know." Negan rolled his eyes and she made a gagging noise. "Hah, now you know how we feel, Lovebirds."

"Assholes." They chirped together.

Annie just scoffed and elbowed Negan out the way, walking ahead with Frank as they followed the snow-lined street. It got soother; quieter if anything. Frank and Annie bundled together as they walked ahead with Negan and Elle following behind as if they were third-wheelers.

They walked in deep silence although it wasn't uncomfortable. Elle stayed close to the sparse treeline as they came closer to the town, Negan on the other side with Frank and Annie walking in front. It was sickening really; how he looked at her with such love and care — it was gross.

Although, perhaps maybe she should be used to that look.

"Spoke to Daryl yet?" Negan mumbled beside her, the name unspoken to the people ahead.

Elle gave him a quick look and shook her head. That was the whole thing; meet somewhere close to the border just to catch up. To soothe his feelings and hers. Except, nothing happened — it got quiet. "I- He's probably busy with Alexandria. You know?"

"Yeah," He said back. "Yeah, you're right."

None of them believed that though. It was either think the worse or think the best and right now, she really needed to think the best. Leah wouldn't kill Daryl and she couldn't take on Alexandria by herself.

"I need to find her." Elle whispered, quiet words hidden under the sound of gravel. "Leah, I need to find her."

"Not a chance, Sunshine." He bit back. "Her time will come."

"Well, can it hurry up?"

He huffed, "You're impatient."

"You're whiny."

"Shut up!" Their heads snapped forward to see Annie giving them a scowl.

Someone's hormones kicked in.

With a lasting stare, Annie looked forward with a chuckling Frank beside her. Yuck.

The closer they got to the concrete road that smoothed over under the untouched brick buildings, the closer the air felt more eerie. Maybe it was just Eleanor in constant paranoia or maybe it was something else but she held her knife tighter than ever.