sweet caroline | n.

iii. no one is family.

sweet caroline. chapter three.
SUMMARY ; negan stops something awful from happening to caroline.

❝ girl i'm not with it i'm way too far gone
i'm not ready, eyes heavy now ❝
——

CAROLINE AND negan were put on water duty, meaning they were in charge of scooping the water from the river into the plastic gallons. sure it wasn't the cleanest, but it was either this or thirst to death, alpha didn't allow them to scavenge for supplies, they killed their food, and drank from rivers.

"you know this shit is gonna taste like fucking sewer water, right?" negan spoke, as he and caroline were both sat on the ground right before the water began, leaning down and filling up the gallons. caroline rolled her eyes, as she screwed on the plastic lid to one of the jugs. "i'm aware. i've been drinking this for a long time now— and how do you know what sewer water tastes like?" caroline questioned, her curiosity getting the best of her.

negan chuckled. "pretty sure it's what i've been drinking for the last eight years," the man responded, caroline grimaced at the thought. the area fell silent amongst the two for a moment, though it didn't last long, which didn't surprise caroline.

"so uh.. that person that died— well i'm assuming died.. did anyone ever find out who it was? or what exactly happened?" negan questioned the girl, his curiosity getting the best of him. caroline kept her attention onto the water, watching the liquid drip over the sides of the top and back down into the lake. the girl shrugged her shoulders.

"no, we don't go looking either, i already told you that," caroline repeated herself. she felt like she was talking to a four year old sometimes, negan was often asking the same question time and time again, almost like he didn't believe her the first time. negan licked his lips, his eyes flickering over to glance at the blonde.

"right, forgot about that whole no one is family thing. jeez, ain't that a bit harsh? like damn," negan spoke, as he screwed the lid onto one of the water filled jugs. caroline ignored him, busying herself by reaching backwards to grab her last jug to fill. she dunked it in the lake, watching the water fill it to the brim.

"you can totally tell me to go fuck myself for asking this but... where's your parents at?" negan couldn't help but ask, curiosity filled in his voice. caroline looked up at him, her eyebrows raising in questioning as if he was being serious or sarcastic like usual. when his expression never changed, caroline directed her attention back onto her task.

"beta is my dad," caroline responded, she knew she never told him, but she kind of just figured he would know, with the girl being the only one he ever spoke to (besides their leader) with some common respect, and the only person caroline ever talked to, she thought he would just figure it out on his own.

"no shit, no fucking way. really?" negan asked in disbelief, his eyebrows raising as a grin tugged on the corner of his mouth. caroline nodded, her eyes glancing to negan for a quick moment to meet his gaze on her.

"damn, big ol' scary giant is your daddy? i would've never guessed," negan shrugged a shoulder. caroline furrowed her eyebrows, tilting her head up to give negan a hard stare. "why not?" the blonde questioned, her defensive side peaking through. negan licked his bottom lip, grinning at caroline's sudden change in demeanor.

"well... for starters you're absolutely nothing like him whatsoever," negan began, as he sat down the jug filled with water next to him on the ground, clasping his hands together as he rested his elbows on his thighs. "you're really small, too," a smirk spreading across his face, caroline rolled her eyes, her jaw clenching. clearly the two were having very different feelings towards the conversation.