Saved

XXV

"What is going on in here?" I asked, grinning as I stepped into my room to see Negan playing with Dale. He had set up a tiny little archery range in my room while I was gone, it wasn't large at all, simply an old dart board hanging on the wall, and a tiny piece of tape marking the spot to stand about ten feet away, but it was apparently working, since there were three of Dale's arrows sticking out of the board, two extremely close to the bulls-eye, and the other slightly to the right of center. 

"Just uh, getting the little man some practice. I came to talk to you, and the poor little guy was all alone in here with Dwight, so I decided to take over babysitting duties." Negan said, from his position sitting on the floor behind Dale, a huge grin on his face. 

"Hi mommy!" Dale said happily, dropping his crossbow and darting over to where I was standing, a huge grin on his face. 

"Hi baby, did you enjoy yourself with Mr. Negan?" I asked sweetly, bending down to scoop him up when he was close enough, and he wrapped his tiny little arms around my neck, giving me a big squeeze. 

"Yeah! Mista Nee is really nice! He gave me choc-o-late mommy!" He squealed, smiling his big smile, full of his nice pearly little teeth.

"Oh really?" I said, glancing over at Negan, who was still reclining comfortably on the carpeted floor of my room, looking completely at home here, which I guess makes sense, since this is all technically his. 

"Oh yeah, kids deserve some chocolate sometimes." He said, winking at Dale who let out a cute little giggle in return. 

"Uh huh. Well next time let's wait until after dinner okay?" I said gently, stroking the dark hair out of Dale's eyes, and he simply nodded, uncaring about future rules. 

"Alright baby, I need to talk to Mr. Negan, you mind playing with your toys for a few minutes?" I asked, setting him down and he nodded, running over to the pile of trucks that Negan had gifted him last week when he gave us this room. When I turned to look back at Negan, he was already standing, hands in his pockets as he gestured for me to leave the room first, and followed quickly after me, shutting the door behind us, leaving it open only a crack so I could still see Dale, but he probably wouldn't hear much of whatever he wanted to talk about. 

"So, what can I help you with?" I asked Negan politely, and he smiled down at me for a moment until he started talking, and his face turned deadly serious. 

"I think something is going on with Dwight. He's been talking back, and I've seen him and his wife and sister-in-law talking quietly in private. I want you to keep an eye on them, make sure they don't do something stupid. We just found them, and we wouldn't want them to be punished for being reckless." He said softly, staring down at me, and I agreed immediately. 

"Yeah, of course I'll keep an eye on them. I'll ask him to join me in the Garden tomorrow, see if that scares him straight." I whispered back, and he nodded, staring down at the ground like he was thinking about something. 

"Was there something else?" I asked, and he nodded, looking back up at me. 

"Who's the kid's father? He's not that old, so you must've been pregnant during the outbreak right? Well where's the dad?" I froze, Negan had been extremely careful about avoiding any topics about my time before the group, even going so far as to remove the requirement of me having to be interviewed before joining, but apparently that had gone on long enough. 

"Uh, well Dale's biological father's name was Ashton. He never knew about the pregnancy, he died the first day, and I hadn't had the chance to tell him. Didn't even know myself until a few days before, and I hadn't even been able to get an ultrasound before everything happened. I met Dale's dad a few weeks after the outbreak. His name is Daryl Dixon, he was in this group, my brother, Rick and I joined. Turns out Rick's wife and son were there, so we stayed. He was a dick in the beginning, but we grew together. Got married even. And then the prison we were staying at, it got overrun, one of the prisoners we had set free was pissed because we took their prison, and killed their leader when he tried to kill my brother. So he let some walkers in, set off the alarm to draw in more, and I went into labor. Almost died from the blood loss. But Daryl, Rick, and Carl, my nephew, they gave me six liters of blood in two days, and they saved my life. But I was in a coma for two months. Daryl... during that time he was lonely, and afraid to raise Dale by himself, so he became... uhm... involved with one of the group members, Carol. They were together for two months, and then I woke up, and he said he stopped sleeping with her which I found out later, but he didn't tell me, just refused to talk to me, or be near me or anything. Avoided me for weeks before Merle, his brother, and my best friend, told me the truth. I left. Took Dale and ran, I didn't get far before I ran into my friend Morgan, the man I was supposed to be meeting when you and I met. He kept us with him for a few months before Daryl, Merle and Carl found us. Daryl tried to explain, told me he hadn't slept with her since I woke up, and that he was afraid to be alone which is why he didn't tell me. Begged me to come back. But I couldn't. So I left again. Dale and I have been on the run for three years." 

When I finished talking, the man looked a mixture of surprised, pissed, and understanding. 

"Well, I'm sorry he did that to you. No man should ever cheat on a woman, let alone his wife. Is that bitch... Carol... is she still with them?" He asked, eyes blazing as he growled out his words. 

"Carl told me that they had kicked her out about a week before they found me, but I don't know if she stayed gone. I haven't had contact with any of them except for Morgan since I left." Negan nodded, and before I could do anything, he pulled me into a bone crushing hug. 

"I'm so sorry. I wish I could help you. I will help you. In whatever way I can. Just tell me and I'll do it. You want me to find them? I can do it. Will only take a few days." He said gruffly, and my head vibrated against his chest with every word he spoke, and even though I kind of felt like I was being smothered, it was also the safest I have felt since before I gave birth to Dale. The safest I've felt since Daryl. It wasn't the same, obviously, but it was so much better than the way I had been living. So much better than feeling empty, so I hugged him back, wrapped my arms around his broad waist, and enjoyed the feeling. 

"No... if you find him... don't kill him. I loved him... I do love him. I think he was the love of my life, and if he died... I don't know what'd I'd do. So please... don't look for him." I whispered, and he nodded, resting his head gently on top of mine, and simply held me, silently for a very long time, until the door next to us creeped open, and Dale stuck his cute little head out to look at us. 

"Mommy? Are you okay?" Dale asked, and it was then that I realized that silent tears had been streaming down my face, and I instantly wiped them, pulling away from Negan so I could kneel down in front of my wonderful son. 

"Yeah baby, I'm just fine. Let's go get dinner, okay? You wanna ask Mr. Negan to come with us?" I asked, glancing up at Negan who had a soft smile on his face, and Dale grinned eagerly, running over to Negan's leg, and pulling on his pants to get his attention, even though he already had it. 

"Mr. Negan, will you come to dinner with us?" Negan grinned down at the adorable little boy, and scooped him up with one arm, offering his other hand down for me to take, which I did, after only a split second of hesitation, and let him pull me back up to my feet. 

"Sure little man, let's go get some food in your and your mommy's belly, yeah? Let's go." He said, big grin stretched across his face, as he held my son to his chest, and drug me by the hand to the cafeteria, and when we entered hand-in-hand, I honestly didn't even care who was staring. Let them, Negan was new, and comforting, and he would keep us safe. 

A/N: Just a little bit for you Niley shippers (or is it Regan?)(Y'all will like the next few chapters ;)) Also, for you Diley (Raryl?) shippers, don't worry, their story isn't over just yet!