Jessamine Dixon lives in the apocalypse

Heart Still Beating

"Against the grain, kid. Always against the grain." Negan told us while we watched his shave his beard. I was sitting in the bathtub and Judith was standing in my lap. Carl was sitting on the edge of the tub.

Negan finally set the razor down and we looked at him un amused.

"Ah. Damn, that smells good." Negan said and took a bite of the sauce he had made.

"Mmm! Want a taste?" He asked Carl which Carl rolled out the dough. He didn't say anything and Negan laughed.

"Okay." He said and I held Judith on my hip.

"Do I have to be here?" I asked and Negan looked at me.

"This is a family dinner! You are in the family. So. Yes!" Negan said and I heard a knock on the door.

"I'll get it." I told them and walked to the door. I opened it and sighed.

"Is he really here?" Anthony asked me in a whisper.

"Yes, and it's not a good time to be here." I whispered back.

"Why does it smell good in here?" Anthony asked.

"Because according to him he's making a freaking family meal." I told Anthony and he tried to look around me but I wouldn't let him.

"Jess, honey, who's at the door?" Negan asked.

"Don't call me honey." I told him.

"Fine, does jack ass work for you?" Negan asked.

"I love it! It's my own nickname for you." I called back and I could hear Negan walking towards us.

"Well, jack ass, whose at the door?" Negan asked and I shut the door enough so he couldn't see Anthony.

"He lives across the street." I told Negan and looked back at him.

"Does your friend want to come in?" Negan asked.

"No, he doesn't. He was just wondering if I wanted to go knife throwing." I said and started closing the door. I saw Anthony and he looked at me confused.

"I'm sorry." I told him.

"Bye, jack asses friend, sorry she's being a jack ass." Negan said and I closed the door. I looked back at him and he shrugged his shoulders.

"He seemed nice." Negan told me and I walked around him.

The door opened and I looked at Olivia walking through the door with another thing of lemonade.

"Who brought it?" I asked in a whisper.

"Tara." Olivia told me and I looked at the door.

"Is she still out there?" I asked.

"I told her to go." Olivia said and walked around me.

I was walking back down the stairs and they were down there setting the table. Olivia had Judith and was forced to pour drinks.

"Let me take her." I told Olivia.

"I told Rick I'd watch her." Olivia told me and I grabbed Judith from her.

"I'm her god-mother and I'm here right now." I said and started walking around the house with her sleeping on my shoulder.

I sat at the other head of the table opposite Negan. Judith was passed out in my arms and there was silence.

Negan was looking at each of us well tapping his fingers and he finally let out a sigh.