Chapter 40- Epilogue

Rebuilding wasn't easy, but it was ever necessary. The brief, but bloody, war with the Order had pointed out vulnerabilities, and awakened the idea that real, live outsiders could present a danger. It didn't need to be a crushing danger, but even the sense of fear could decay a settlement from the inside. After several days of intense negotiation, Negan and the other settlements, formerly under the Savior's charge, decided on a new foundation of relative law and order. Negan and his Saviors were formally withdrawn as the head honchos, along with their heavy-handed "taxation" policy.

Needless to say, it had taken every inch of self-control Negan had possible, and some borrowed from some deep breathing and counting backwards. But, when doubt began to cloud his mind, Lucy's assurances cemented that they were taking the best possible course for his people, for all of their people.

Negan served as representative council for Sanctuary, while Rick naturally had Alexandria. King Ezekiel, the dreadlocked monarch with a tiger sidekick served the Kingdom and Maggie, formerly of Rick's group, represented Hilltop. A handful of the smaller settlements agreed to consolidate for safety, and formed a new settlement called New Eden. The refugees from Typhon's reign were distributed amongst the settlements, based on any occupational knowledge they had as well as personal preferences. Many of the refugees wished to follow under Negan, and a handful found Rick more appealing. It forever served as a teasing point for Negan, when he felt Rick was toeing the line back into an annoying prick.

They drafted a document, formally titled "The Constitutional Agreement of The United Settlements" informally called "The Rules." It served as a check on their power (Negan swallowed this pill only with a little bit of bitterness) and a promise to their people to prevent tyranny, protect their safety, and ensure fair treatment. Rough territory lines were argued over, negotiated, threatened, and then ultimately (after enough whiskey) agreed upon.

Each settlement would take care of its affairs as the residents elected best, but would ensure the basic safety and rights of their people. Each settlement also pledged a duty to help and aid other settlements in need for the collective good of their people. Additionally, each leader was to have a council of advisors who would meet on a consistent basis with other settlement advisors to keep everyone abreast of issues. Citizens with specialized occupations were enlisted to work on improvements as needed. Much to Negan's annoyance, Lucy was in high demand for the first several months to help bolster up some of the settlement's defenses. Negan was kept equally busy, sometimes on what he called "bullshit tasks," since the insightful Kevin pointed out that his orneriness without Lucy seemed to quiet down if he was occupied.

Some of the Savior outposts were reopened with a varying mix of soldiers from each settlement. Each large settlement had their own outposts as well in their territory to keep the Settlements advised of herds or outside threats. Recognizing a boredom in some of his more… violence-inclined residents, Negan pledged his Saviors to make regular patrols in between each settlement to clear roadways. When this proved tedious after a time, they added safety measures so that Settlers could pass freely between each settlement with minimal threat. They also would go out in patrols to take down walkers in any settlement as a sort of "Walker Response Squad." The name stuck, and as a result, the imminent threat of walkers in the immediate areas began to minimize. Supplies still remained crucial, however.

As a result of the increase in safety and freedom, traders began to pass between settlements as well as courier services for delivering goods and messages. However, despite these improvements, life wasn't perfect, there were the usual frustrations and heartbreaks.

A year after The Order War, they were better prepared for future dangers.

Negan amended the credit system in Sanctuary. Basic provisions were available to all at rationed levels, and prices were evaluated regularly (at the delight of The Accountant) to ensure fair market prices.

After the first extremely uncomfortable, but necessary, public meeting Negan held with his people, it became clear that Sanctuary was no longer a viable location for his people. They wanted out of the gloomy factory, crammed like sardines with little privacy in dorm settings. Outside, there was land to cultivate, property to make their own. In the end, they would keep the factory as an outpost for manufacturing and scout out a better location that Sanctuarians could turn into theirs. It was a huge endeavor, but much to Negan's surprise, all the Settlements pitched in with supplies and labor to rebuild a new Sanctuary.

Despite the progress made, Negan struggled with all the changes. He wasn't used to compromising and negotiating, and he would storm in sometimes from sessions with his advisors with dark eyes and gritted teeth. But instead of searching for Lucille, he'd look to Lucy. She'd soothe his temper with words or food, or sometimes hand him a hammer to release his anger on some fence boards that needed fixing. As the weeks passed, he appreciated the reduction in pressure and stress.

He slept the best he ever had since before the collapse.

Lucy was kept thoroughly busy during the first stages of rebuilding. She loved every minute of it, feeling useful and making recommendations for areas of improvements. But after several months of non-stop travelling back and forth between settlements, the factory, and the new Sanctuary location, she needed a break. She slept poorly without Negan in bed with her, even though the dreams had stopped.

One day, after a long day's work she fainted and was immediately sent to Dr. Carson for the rest of the day. She was sent home, to the collection of makeshift tents and lean-tos in the outskirts of their new town. Later that evening, she a whispered the good news to Negan after they made love that night.

"We'll be going from two to three," she said, lazily tracing circles on his chest.

"Well, I'll be fuckin' damned!" Negan burst into laughter, then shot out of bed yelling "Hot diggity fuckin' dog!"

"Shut the hell up!" Someone shouted from another tent.

"YOU shut the fuck up! I'M GOING TO BE A FUCKIN' DAD!" Negan hollered.

A few cheers erupted out, then some shouting, then some more cheers as the news spread through the tents. Some more shouting followed, then a few scuffles broke out. Pretty soon, the whole damn town was up, some more scuffles broke out, then the liquor brought out. Someone started a bonfire, and then a few more, and it turned into a damn fine evening and a wonderfully unexpected party. It even turned into an annual tradition called "Bonfire Fight Night." Ironically, the original purpose was lost to the town (but not Negan and Lucy) but the tradition resulted in many an unexpected pregnancy for years to come.

After Lucy had shared news of her pregnancy, Negan didn't leave her side for practically a whole week. To get some peace and quiet, she finally had to banish him to a poker game. The next several months was spent amicably arguing over names, nothing seemed to fit quite right. Negan was also getting a bad habit of sharing baby names with Rick, and suddenly Rick's opinion became some third deciding voice. Lucy allowed it, on the pretense he would be godfather to their baby. Negan hemmed and hawed for a dramatic ten minutes, but got tired and wanted to go to bed. Plus, Rick wasn't a bad choice, really. Negan never admitted it out loud though, except to Lucy.

On a beautiful, breezy day at the entrance for the future Sanctuary, Lucy looked out at the progress made. She felt the swell of her belly, and the baby gave a hearty kick in response. Several dwellings and a large meeting center were in the process of having concrete poured for the foundations, and nearby residents were tilling ground where their crops would grow. A cow mooed in the distance. She watched with pride as Negan patrolled back and forth, hollering at the newly-married Kevin to put his goddamn safety helmet on and checking the measurements for their new home. He stopped on the foundation of their future home, and caught her eye. Negan gave a wave and a wink, and she smiled back in response. The baby kicked again, a response to the heart flutter she felt every time she saw Negan.

Yes, they were rebuilding all of their lives, and for the better. Strong foundations, strong people. Lucy wouldn't be anywhere else in the world, for this was where she belonged. With Negan, her sanctuary.

/ / / / /

AN: Thank you all so much for going on this journey with me! I've learned a lot and I hope you all have enjoyed this story. It has been a blast, and I appreciate each and every one of your reviews, follows, and favorites! I want to encourage each reader that has an idea for a story, but something is holding you back from writing it, you can do it! This started off as a Word Doc that I just wanted to tell for myself, as I had an idea about some crazy zombie maze some chick built, and it merged with my mild dissatisfaction with some of Negan's writing in the TV series.

Would you be interested in another story with Negan and Lucy? Negan and another OC? I have a few ideas in the pipeline, and a work right now in very very early stages, so stay tuned… and stay lovely, lovelies

xoxo

Updated 12/16/19: A new story is out! Follow the companion piece "Blue Ridge Breakdown" for a reimagining of events in this story. What if Lucy's life post-Collapse went differently? Check it out!