Jac's head snapped around when there was a knock on the door they were searching through. Negan instantly popped out of the kitchen while Simon and Arat were on the stairs instantly, guns in hand. She looked to Negan, at a loss for what to do. She was sitting in front of a window with the blinds open. When they walked up to the house they must have seen her while she was trying to get her second wind. When a walker came from around the corner of a house a few down she'd jerked and hurt herself. Negan hadn't been impressed with her and told her to stay put once they'd gotten into the house through the back door, via knocking out the window.

A knock sounded again before a male voice called into the house, "We would just like to talk! We… ah have some good news if you'll just talk with us for a moment."

Jac's head tilted off to the side as she stood up and moved a little closer to the door, only Negan was across the room in no time, "I doubt they're fucking girl scouts toting cookies, Sugar."

"Look!" A much more gruff voice started up, "We know the little one is hurt, and we want to give you somewhere safe to take her!"

Negan moved forward instantly, Lucille up on his shoulder as he swung the door open. He stood out of the way for a moment expecting that if shots were fired it'd be right away. He looked up at Simon and Arat on the stairs, but their weapons hesitantly lowered. Negan stepped in front of the doorway to see one man with light hair and a decent haircut standing with his hands up while the scruffier man next to him had his hands shoved in his pockets. His dark hair looked like it hadn't been cut in years and he wore a leather cut. "How fucking long you been watching us?"

"Since you parked back at the entrance really," Aaron offered gently. "Normally we'd watch for much longer, but you seem to be in need. I'm Aaron by the way, and this is Daryl."

Negan eyed the men in front of him for a moment. Aaron seemed awfully clean. "You got a doctor in that backpack? What's this fucking good news you're yammering on about?"

Aaron went to tell him, but the bat wielder became distracted when the young woman moved closer to the doorway. He instantly, but gently, urged her behind him, where she peeked around his shoulder. When Aaron was faced with the bearded man's glare he continued hastily, "We have a community that has a doctor, it's safe, with walls. We can show you, we have pictures, and we can take you there. We have food and water that we can share while we talk."

"To decide if you want to take us with you?" Arat said as she came off the stairs with Simon.

"We have questions you'll need to answer." Daryl insisted as his hands came from his pockets to hang by his side.

Negan glanced back at Jac for a moment before he took her hand with a sigh and got out of the doorway, so the men could enter. "Fine, come in." Negan led Jac back over to the couch urging her to sit down. He dropped down into the spot next to her setting Lucille against the couch near his legs, and his arm around her as the others came to sit with them. Aaron and Daryl moved to stand before them, in front of what had been an impressive flat screen when it worked.

Aaron took a moment to set out a two jars with a spoon each, "It's applesauce we have apple trees," a sandwich "peanut butter," and a granola bar still in it's package. He also put out four water bottles, "Those are for you guys, even if you don't come with us."

Arat grabbed a bottle of water and the sandwich in a Ziploc bag. Simon snagged one of the jars of applesauce, and a water. Negan looked at it all skeptically.

"Thank you," Jac mumbled when no one else spoke up. Negan grabbed her a jar of applesauce after he watched Simon start eating. He got a bottle of water for himself before he pet Jac's hair.

"Why don't we start with names?" Aaron asked, friendly, slightly awkward. "Si, and Sugar isn't much to go off of."

Everyone instantly looked to Negan first. Negan glanced around before he figured out he was first. More than that, he knew his name might get them in trouble. Last thing they wanted was for them to have heard about him. Since they didn't know any of them, and they weren't suspicious about Lucille it must have been a community they hadn't found. Negan said the first thing that came to mind, "John."

"Arat."

"Simon."

"Jac…" She breathed after swallowing the spoonful in her mouth, realizing it was definitely her turn, and everyone's eyes landed on her.

When the men in front of them seemed perplexed Negan supplied, "It's short for Jacqueline."

"Ah," Aaron nodded while Daryl grunted some next to him. "How many walkers have you killed?"

"A fucking lot," Negan offered simply before Jac offered him the spoon, he tried some before humming his appreciation and giving it back to her.

Arat thought for a moment, chewing thoughtfully on the sandwich before she said, "Somewhere in the ballpark of fifty."

"Less then him, more than her," Simon said pointing first at Negan with his spoon then at Arat.

Jac floundered as she tried to think about it, before she mumbled, "Maybe ten."

"Really?!" Simon asked, nearly choking on applesauce, as he leaned forward to see her. "I didn't think it'd even be that high!"

"Hey! Sugar is badass," Negan laughed as he nuzzled the top of her head.

Daryl knew his face softened, even if just for a moment, especially when Aaron grinned triumphantly at him. Stiffening back up he asked the next questions, "How many people have you killed, and why." His gaze was sharp on "John" and he didn't believe for a second that's what his name was.

Negan frowned deeply, "Ten, we were in a group and things went south. Five of those can be chalked right up to my defense and theirs while we were trying to get out during this fucking riot. One was trying to rape Jac before that. Three were going to turn anyway, and the first was someone who tried to attack me right in the beginning." Simon and Arat would know there were more than that, Jac would suspect, but these fuckers didn't need to know.

"Five, if we're counting people who were going to turn. two of those were self-defense while we were trying to get out." Arat explained firmly since they were doctoring their resumes.

"Seven," Simon said stiffly, "Four were in our defense, one in my defense, two in defense of a group I was with before them." When they were alone Negan would definitely rib him for lowballing it. He was still pissed about that one community.

When eyes came back to her Jac shook her head, "None…" She was trying to do her best not to stutter. Doing her best not to say much. For some reason it felt weird to say none. Maybe because the people they'd killed, or at least the ones they were admitting to killing were in their defense.

"How big was this group?" Daryl asked his eyes still narrowed on Negan.

"More than a hundred people strong, in a factory," Negan told him, knowing Daryl was going to be the one to decide if they got to go or not, "It provided safety and food in any case. You could work up the ranks if you could get on one of the leaders' good side. A smaller group within the overall group tried to overthrow them though. It became a free-for-all, we were caught in the middle, so we got the fuck out of dodge."

"You're awfully charismatic for a grunt," Daryl sneered crossing his arms across his chest.

"I never said I was just a fucking grunt, but they were already hurting my girl. I wasn't keeping her there. That's un-fucking-acceptable behavior. There were rules, rules I could live by! Rules any normal fucking society would have, and then there wasn't. She's just a little thing. Jac wasn't staying there, I wasn't keeping her there!" Negan only realized he was standing when Jac grabbed onto his sleeve, tugging to get his attention. When she patted the couch, her eyes cutting at him, scolding, he sat with a huff his arm looping back over her shoulders.

Aaron frowned first at Daryl then at the group on the couch. He was sure that they should bring the group along. Daryl looked half convinced, and perhaps that was as good as it'd get. "Excuse us for one moment," Aaron insisted as he moved him and Daryl towards the kitchen. Once they were probably out of earshot he whispered furiously, "I think we should bring them."

"I wonder if that girly knows she has a wolf on the end of a leash and not a house pet," Daryl griped as he looked at the group on the couch also whispering furiously at each other.

"He believes in rules, and guidelines," Aaron insisted. "He's obviously the leader of that group. They follow him, perhaps they'll follow Diana. It's obvious he's not against using that bat on people, but if we can get him on our side. Have him help Rick and Michonne, or the men and women on the wall. He could protect us."

"He'd be protecting Jac, not us," Daryl insisted right back.

"If Jac is one of us, he'll be helping the rest of the community by default," Aaron said with a wave of his arms.

Daryl let out a long sigh, it wouldn't be right to leave that little thing out here.

Back in the living room Jac was whispering as firmly as she could after she set down the applesauce, "You di-didn't have t-to yell at them."

"You know you've fucked up when Sweetheart is scolding you," Simon chuckled behind his hand and under his breath.

"I will waste you," Negan whispered lowly before he looked back at Jac. "Come on Sugar, they're just random people who showed up at the door."

"Th-they're checking t-to see if they can t-take us to their families," Jac huffed up at him, crossing her arms over her chest before she sucked in a breath at the sudden pain coming from her chest.

Negan sucked in a breath with her as he held her shoulders steady. When she pulled it back together he muttered, "Fine, I'll be good." After that is when Aaron and Daryl walked back into the room. Everyone regarded each other tensely before the tension broke when Aaron elbowed Daryl.

"We're going to take you to our community, but you even graze someone with that bat and I'll shove it so far up your ass it'll come out your mouth," Daryl told them their decision, before he warned John.

"Believe me, if someone hurts one of mine I'll be sure to make your threat look like childs' play." Negan growled back his arm curling around Jac's shoulders.

oOo

Negan let Simon take the wheel and he sat in the back with Jac. She was sitting, leaning against his shoulder the cat in the carrier next to her. It was starting to get dark when they rolled to a stop. "The hell?" Negan asked as Jac sat up straight out of his hold.

"I don't know, they stopped…" Simon insisted as he looked back at them.

Negan grabbed up Lucille as they saw the car door open and Daryl get out. He opened his door with a simple, "Stay here." He walked around to find Daryl talking to a dark skinned man in a long coat with a wooden staff of some kind. "What's going on?"

"He flagged us down…" Daryl told him distractedly looking at a map.

Negan looked and it said on it SORRY, I WAS AN ASSHOLE COME TO WASHINGTON. THE NEW WORLD IS GOING TO NEED RICK GRIMES.

"He's coming with us, get back in your car." Daryl scowled at him.

"Oh! He doesn't have to answer the questions?" Negan asked if only to be difficult, even as he walked away.

"Fuck you!" Daryl called after him.

"Only if you ask nicely!" Negan laughed before he got back in the SUV with his group. When he put his arm back around Jac he found her glaring up at him. "Whaat? I was just playing with him!" Negan insisted as he looked down at her, playing innocent.

"Don't p-play with h-him," Jac said with a shake of her head. "He don't w-wanna play wit you."

Arat chuckled insisting, "He sure as fuck don't believe your name is John either."

"John," Simon laughed as they got moving again, "What's your last name Doe?"

Negan frowned, before he shrugged and asked Jac, "What's your last name?"

"Thatcher?" Jac asked more than said. She didn't quite understand why he was asking. What good was her last name going to do them?

"There you go. John Thatcher." Negan announced his new name proudly.

"Wait then what's Sweethearts last name?" Simon asked looking at him in the rearview.

"Thatcher," Negan shrugged clearly not concerned. He had his reasons, and he was sure the nosey fuckers in the front seat would demand to know them.

"Wait is she supposed to be your daughter or your wife?" Arat asked as she turned in her seat to look at them. "You guys kissed outside, I'm pretty sure they saw that."

"Wife!" Negan insisted scrunching up his nose. "If they ask her maiden name Sugar can just say her mom's maiden name."

"I think they'll be more concerned as to why she agreed to marry your ass," Arat said as she pointed between them. "You two are cute as hell, but you clearly don't make a lick of sense."

Jac frowned up at Negan too, she didn't get why they had to lie. Sure, don't tell them his name in case anyone there ever learned about the saviors, but why did they suddenly have to be married?

"If we're married, and you seem into it they can't try to take from me," Negan insisted as he laid his forehead to hers. "Not going to let these fuckers try to tell me that you have to sleep somewhere else. My fucking girl. If they ask, we met at the factory, and I took care of you, and we got hitched."

"Sounds like you made her marry you for protection," Arat sniffed skeptically.

"Die," Negan said, deadpan, his eyes cutting to the woman in the front seat, before he looked back at Jac asking, "So, what do you think."

"They're g-gonna th-think wh-what Arat said…" Jac sighed as she leaned into Negan, nuzzling at him. She knew he was trying to keep them together. She wouldn't leave him, he wouldn't let her, but she still wanted to stay.

"Fine!" Negan let out exasperatedly, "So it was more a marriage of convenience, if you married me you got to sleep in my room where I could keep an eye on you. You agreed and now we really like sleeping together."

"In what context?" Simon snickered.

"All of the above," Negan laughed with him even as Jac blushed up at him. When he saw the warmth in her face Negan cupped her cheek saying, "You look just like that, and they'll buy it."

"Cradle robber!" Arat teased through a laugh.

"She's all nice and legal," Negan said as he kissed Jac's forehead.

"Barely!" Arat and Simon insisted as they laughed together.

"Still mine," Negan huffed as he gave her a soft kiss, that Jac leaned into.

oOo

When they got to Alexandria they parked with Aaron and Daryl as they were told by the person on guard that there was a meeting going on. They heard they guy tell Daryl "It's about Rick…" Daryl and Morgan were off like that, and Aaron looked at them awkwardly before he said, "We better go with them."

They started after Daryl, but first Negan grabbed Jac's hand whispering at her firmly, "You stay behind me." When Jac nodded he started leading her after everyone else.

With Negan holding her hand in his, Jac was free to look around as they went after the rest of the group. It was a housing development. The houses were huge, bigger than anything she'd ever lived in, and even in the dark they looked new and well kept. It was like the end never touched this place…

At least not until they heard the gunshot and turned the corner. A lot of people were sitting around the fire, everyone as stunned as the them. Jac had a hard time seeing exactly what was happening, but the man closest to them had small bandages on his face some gore touched his clothes he looked like he belonged in the world as it was now. He held a gun, and had obviously just shot the man on the ground.

Further back was a woman crying over a bloodied body…

Jac wasn't sure what this all was… but Negan shoved them back further. She could tell his knuckles were turning white as he held Lucille. Jac lightly touched his forearm, trying to keep him calm. "Ne…" Jac breathed so no one else would hear her as the man put his gun away. Negan looked down at her at that before he nudged her back behind him fully. "It's j-just a bad night," Jac spoke against his back.

Negan kept his face blank, but he wormed his hand behind his back to grab Jac's wrist. He was going to give this place a chance, but he wasn't going to let anything happen to Jac.

SO VERY EXCITED! I hope you all like the chapter because just, I'm happy! Also Happy Easter and such!

REVIEW REPLIES:

Brookeworm3: See they weren't doing anything sinister. Gotta remember this is a time and place that they don't know each other. They don't have the faintest idea that The Saviors are a thing, and Negan and co. don't know anything about Alexandria. Clean slate.

angelstuffing: I'm super excited too! I've been waiting for this! I am so ready!

BlueBloodsSVUOrder: Thanks I rather like them too! They're being good people, and Negan's suspicious, but still finds time to poke fun at Daryl. I am super ready too!

Soppl: Yeah, they were being cute and even Daryl recognizes it. I love it! And thank you for reading!

Nicole: Thanks! I can't take credit for Negan, but I'm pretty proud of Jac.

Guest: Thank you! I'm glad that you like it so much!

Lola: I'm happy I updated too! I'm trying! Thank you for reading!