The Ruins Part 2 (Sequel to The Ruins)

Chapter 25

"Mal!" He beamed, a youthful giddiness in his eyes. "Let's go to the bar tonight."

Mal blinked, eyes darting between the Vix and Lugh then to Lalon in the doorway and catching the not-at-all-subtle conspiratorial look they exchanged. "What's going on?"

"C'mon guys, let's have an official party together!" Lalon broke in excitedly, "Everyone, expect Mal, can drink and there's lot of booze. A lot of tequila!" Lalon grinned at them, huge and proud, and Mal couldn't help but return it. In fact, she felt herself biting back on a laugh.

"You, uh. You already taste-tested it for us, Lalon?" Lugh teased, eyeing the barest flush to the younger man's cheeks. Lalon rocked back on his heels, a move that drew Mal's mind to Negan and his way of dipping and leaning when he talked.

"I may have had a little on the ride back, yeah," Lalon admitted without a trace of shame. "It was past five."

Mal and Vix both snorted with laughter at that. "No shame in that, Lalon boy," Vix said. "So what do you say, Mal? I think it's a good time to take a break. Have some fun, and Negan and Alec will be there."

"I guess we can go. I'm in." Lugh agreed.

Mal shifted from foot to foot. On one hand, it did sound like a hell of a time- and it would be nice to unwind with her friends all together. She'd seen plenty of them over the last couple weeks of being here, of course, but they were rarely all together at once. The only thing was- "What about the kids?" she asked. "AJ's asleep, and the kids can't come."

Vix shrugged. "Sounds like you just answered your own question, Mal. The kids are old enough to stay here and watch AJ." Mal's discomfort must have shown on her face, because Vix reached out, squeezing her arm where she held it in a gesture of comfort. "Mal, you know that nothing's going to happen. It's not that late, plenty of people are still up. You can let yourself go for a few hours."

Mal looked at Vix's imploring face, and then to Lalon's eager one. Just a few hours, she told herself. I can give myself a few hours. I can let go for that long.

"Sure," she agreed. "Why not."

-:-:-:-:-

Negan was fucking thrilled to see Mal in the bar.

He sat on the stairs with his beer to see Mal and her friends chatting and laughing. He'd thought it would take a lot more to get Mal to give up her vigilant watch over their room for the night. He'd figured that it would take some cajoling and carefully constructed arguments as to why Mal shouldn't be worried about her kids' safety for a couple of hours so she could have fun. But no- Mal must have been feeling the burning need to get out of the room and let loose a little.

Some of the others were already there when they came in- Bud and a few people played up stage for a bit, playing the classic rock Negan loved, and didn't want to join in because of watching Mal. Lalon kept brining more drinks for them and drank, Mal took a sprite. Lugh went over to Alec, sitting close together on the far end of the couch, shoulders bumping as Lugh sipped honey-colored liquid from short glasses.m and chat about themselves on work and their days; both their heads lowered down in shyness. To Negan's surprise, Vix jumped in excitement and dragged Mal into the middle of the floor, and they started dancing. He grinned up at them when he saw Mal dancing, swaying her hips back and forth to the beat.

"Hey, Negan. Glad Mal, Vix, Lugh, and Lalon came this evening." Sheree passed glasses over to Negan. "We don't have much in the way to dilute it, unfortunately, so it's basically just straight shots tonight unless you want it on the rocks. I told Lalon to keep an eye out for margarita mix when he goes out next." She grinned and handed them their glasses, and Negan knocked his back quickly, relishing the warm burn the alcohol left behind. "So, anything interesting you're seeing?"