NEGAN

    A smile tugs at my lips when Hershel's childish laughter fills my ears, his happy grin erasing any bad thought that dared cross my mind. The sound is so pure and without corruption, and what makes it all that more special is that it's aimed at me.

    A couple months have passed since calling a truce with Maggie, and due to Hershel taking a liking to me I've been spending more time with her. I'm not going to complain, and I don't think Maggie is either.

"You're good with kids." she observes as I hand him a wooden, bright yellow building block. "Did you have any of your own...before all this?"

I shake my head, lifting my gaze to find her staring at me. "No," I start to say, "I didn't. I wanted to, but the possibility of me being able to get her pregnant was iffy." I explain with a sad smile.

Maggie frowns, seeming to understand what I mean as she nods slowly.

"I'm sorry." she tells me, and I can see her statement is genuine. I smile at her, allowing Hershel to plop himself onto my lap as he continues to build a small, uneven tower.

"Don't be. I wasn't exactly winning any 'husband of the year' awards, so I didn't deserve it. After we found out it'd be difficult things went downhill in our relationship." I say, remembering the women I'd been seeing and how poorly I'd treated Lucille. Things are silent between us for a few minutes as we watch Hershel play, and just when I'm beginning to think the conversation is over she speaks up.

"What happened to her?"

The question throws me off guard, and I have to clear the lump in my throat before I'm able to speak. "She, um... she got sick and died— right at the beginning. Cancer really is a bitch." I let out a humorless laugh and try to focus my attention on anything but her as I'm sure her expression matches what I'm feeling.

"I wanted you dead. For a long time I was angry with Rick for letting you live." she admits softly, and I let out a small snort. She had every right to want me dead, as there was a point in time I would've had her head along with Rick's on a spike outside the Sanctuary.

"Well, if we're being honest, I'm glad you didn't." I try to make it sound playful, but the seriousness of my words is still very much evident.

Maggie looks at me for a moment, chewing at the inside of her cheek as she thinks. It's a cute little habit she has, and I don't think she's completely aware she's doing it most of the time.

Eventually she speaks up, her words filled with caution and voice soft.

"Me too."

A/N So guys..this story is #39 in Maggie currently and I know that doesn't mean much but I love it!

Hope to hear what you guys think so far!