The following morning Negan went to visit Father Gabriel. He knocked on the door for warning and then immediately entered the room to find the man sitting quietly at the desk reading the bible. Of course he was.
"Good morning Father" Negan greeted politely.
"Good Morning" the man smiled in reply.
"Now as you know. I have brought you here for a reason" Negan began. "I have something very important that I need done, by a holy man such as yourself" he told him, trying his best to keep the curse words at bay. "I need to know that I can trust you".
"I am a man of god, you can trust me" Father Gabriel told him.
"Have you killed people?" Negan asked.
"I have" he replied simply, his head bowed in embarrassment.
"Do you think God will forgive you?" he asked curiously.
"I don't presume to know what the good lord will and will not do, but every day I do what I can to atone for my sins".
"What I need done is very important" Negan said. "And it requires the utmost fucking discretion" he continued.
"I understand" the Father smiled.
"Good. So I can count on you to keep this between us then? Because god help you if anyone finds out about this… Lucille will be none too happy about it" Negan said, as he waved the weapon about for dramatic effect.
"What is it you wish for me to do?" Father Gabriel asked.
"Have you performed a marriage before?"
"Many".
"Well then… you are the perfect man for the job" Negan smiled.
"You want me to marry someone?" he asked, a little surprised. "I don't understand why that has to be a secret".
"Because Father… you are not just marrying anyone. You are marrying me and my woman" Negan told him. "Do you see why no one can know about this?" he asked, and the man nodded in response. "Because in this world, there are too many people looking for leverage over one another, and I cannot put her in danger by having anyone know about this. And if anything… and I mean anything were to happen to her, there would be hell to pay for anyone involved".
"So why me? I mean… I am from Rick's group. Why would you involve me, why not just marry in secret on your own? With the way the world is, I doubt it matters if it's official or not" Father Gabriel told him.
"It fucking matters to me Father" Negan told him. "Now… do I have your word that you will keep this a secret? Because the way I see it these are your options… you either do this for me and keep it quiet and I let you go back to your group. Or I force you to do this, and then you stay here a prisoner" he offered. "The choice is yours Father, what will it be?"
"I will perform the marriage for you willingly" he agreed. "There is too much hate and violence in this world. I would be happy to spread a little love" he smiled joyfully. "I would like to go back to my group and be with my people, you have my word, I swear upon God that I will not speak of this to anyone".
"And what will you tell Rick when he asks why I took you?"
"That you wanted me to perform a funeral?" Father Gabriel suggested.
"That'll work. Good on you Father" Negan smiled as he clapped the man on the back. "I'll be back for you later" he added as he turned and left the room, pleased with how things went and little threatening was needed.
Later that afternoon Negan came to the infirmary to retrieve Sky, telling her and the others it was for a short supply run. Taking a small truck they headed out of the compound, it was the first time Sky had been outside the walls since Negan brought her here. She took in all the scenery as they drove, occasionally seeing a few undead roaming around.
