Alexandria

Chapter 15

Rachel walks through the gates of Alexandria with a deer draped over her shoulders. Eugene stares at her awkwardly as he closes the gate behind her.

"You okay?" She frowns.

"You need to talk to Rick," he says.

"Why? Did something happen?"

"Just talk to Rick."

Rachel quickly drops the deer off with Joan, who had gotten much better at gutting and skinning and barely needed her help any longer.

She heads straight to Rick's house, stopping at the end of his yard as he sits on his porch.

"Eugene said you need to talk with me. What is it? Is it Negan? Is he.."

"Negan's fine," Rick says as he gets to his feet. "He came back a few hours ago."

"He did?" She asks, her throat dry.

Rick nods. "Yeah. He brought Alpha's head back with him."

"What? Where is He?"

"He's at the outpost half a mile from here," Rick says.

"You haven't locked him back up?" She asks in surprise.

"No." Rick steps towards her. "Tell me i'm not making a mistake. That he really has changed and this isn't gonna bite me in the ass."

"I.. i can't tell you that. I want to believe it, that he's changed. I mean, he came back. He didn't have to, so that's got to mean something."

"Let's hope so." Rick nods. "He stays out there. I can't have him living inside these walls. And when the time comes for us to fight the Whisperers, he's gonna be on the frontline. He's agreed to it."

Rachel nods. "I need to go see him."

"I thought you might. I wish you wouldn't, but i guess i can't stop you."

"No, you can't," Rachel says as she turns to leave.

"Rachel. If he puts one foot wrong, there are no second chances. Do you understand?"

"Yes, i do."

~

Rachel almost races towards the outpost, her heart pounding as she nears the small house outside Alexandria.

Dwight leans against the front door as he smokes a cigarette, looking at Rachel with a frown. "Rick know you're here?"

"Yes, i just spoke with him."

Dwight nods. "Lose your weapons."

Rachel places her bow and arrows in front of him before she takes off her rucksack and belt. She goes to step forward then remembers the knife in her boot, placing it down with her other weapons.

"He doesn't deserve you," Dwight says as he steps aside.

~

Rachel walks shakily down the small hallway between the kitchen and lounge, her heart almost stopping in her chest as she turns her head towards the latter. Negan lies with his back to her, reading a book with his feet up on the sofa.

"Hi," she says.

Negan almost jumps off the sofa, tossing the book to one side. "Hey."

"You came back."

Negan tilts his head. "Of course i fucking did."

Rachel almost runs at him, Negan wrapping his arms around her as her lips collide with his. He lifts her off the ground, his fingers digging into the small of her back as he kisses her needily, his hand running up into her hair.