Maisie's legs shook as she made her way back to her room in the darkness. She felt even more disgusted with herself for sleeping with the enemy. While she was far from being a virgin, she still felt violated, despite consenting. Standing alone in her room, her anger at herself mixed with her sadness and she exploded.

Drawing back her fists over and over again, she punched the wall until it was smudged with blood and tears ran down her cheeks. Leaning against the wall, she slid down it until she could draw her knees to her chest and put her head down against them, her pained hand cradled close to her body. She needed to stop putting herself in these positions for people she cared about.

She loved both Daryl and Carl too much to watch them rot under Negan's hold, but now she feared that fate for herself. She flexed her hands until her knuckles cracked and readjusted, closing her eyes tightly against the pain. It was becoming harder and harder to keep up the tough wall that surrounded nothing.

Her future looked grim.

〄

Maisie groaned inwardly at the knocking on her door. She hadn't slept well that night, and her knuckles still had a dull ache to them. When she finally dragged herself out of bed and opened the door, she was met with lips clashing with hers. The prickle of stubble against her skin told her it was Negan violating her space

There was more passion on his end than on hers.

"Now, let me tell you what the fuck I've been thinking about!"

Maisie stepped back from him, crossing her arms and giving him no inclination for him to continue, knowing he would anyway.

"We are gonna go to Alexandria, and tell them to admit defeat, because I have motherfucking won!"

"What am I, an accessory to your war path?"

"Oh, darlin', you think too much," Negan told her, reaching and holding her chin between his thumb and index finger.

"I want a gun."

"That's unnecessary."

"No, it isn't. The Alexandrians will be mad. Rick will be mad. I'll be deemed a traitor."

"Mais, my Saviors—"

"No. Their reflexes aren't nearly as fast as mine, I'm better off protecting myself." Maisie watched the man contemplate. "If I don't get a gun, I'm not going with you, and your point won't be as effective."

"You're really fucking serious about this, aren't you?"

"Damn right I am."

"Alright. You get a goddamn gun."

"One more demand."

At this, Negan cracked a smile.

"Well, aren't you just grabbing my balls in a fucking vice!" he exclaimed, leaning back slightly. When he straightened up, he ran his tongue over his lips. "Hit me with it, what the fuck are you waitin' for."

"Carl. He comes with us and he stays in Alexandria."

"I'm not sure if that can be arranged."

"Well arrange it," Maisie said fiercely, all traces of tiredness gone from her.

"You're just turning me on!"

"Good for you. Are we clear?"

"Crystal. But that's the last time I'm taking orders from you, girlie."

"Yeah, sure it is."

〄

"You didn't have to do that!"

Maisie turned to the teen and glared.

"Yes, I did. He would've killed you and you know it."

"I'm gonna die sooner or later, so why does it matter? You keep putting yourself on the line for people. You need to think of yourself sometimes."

"Damnit, Carl! Negan already took Glenn and Abe from me, from all of us, and he nearly broke Daryl, I couldn't let him take you from me either! Don't you see? I did this to myself because I care about you, and it would be nice to get some goddamn appreciation for it!" Maisie snapped, throwing herself on her bed with a huff.

She took a deep breath when she felt the mattress dip beside her.

"I always appreciate you, Mais."

Sitting up on her knees, she wrapped her arms around Carl's neck.

"What're you gonna do?" he asked into the crook of her neck.

"I have a plan," she replied shakily, "I always have a plan."

〄

Later that day, Carl and Maisie left the Sanctuary together, walking out to where Negan and his Saviors stood waiting by their large trucks.

"Took the bitch long enough," a Savior grumbled, earning himself a dangerous glare from Negan.

"What's the flatbed for?" Maisie asked, jutting her chin at one of the semis.

"A little stage," Negan replied. Carl and Maisie exchanged glances.

Negan ordered his Saviors to occupy the two larger trucks, including the flatbed, leaving the large, navy blue truck for Carl, Maisie, and himself.

Maisie cleared her throat as Negan started to hoist himself into the cab.

"I believe I get a gun?"

Sighing, Negan dropped down from the truck and walked over to her, pulling a gun from his holster.

"Just like I promised," he said, handing it to her.

Maisie inclined her head as she stuck it in the back of her waistband and nodded for Carl to go in ahead of her. She hoped Carl would take the seat in the front, allowing her to slip into the back, but nope, when she climbed into the truck, the front seat was open for the taking.

Reluctantly, she dropped into it, slamming the heavy door. Negan stuck his arm out the window, as though signalling, let's move, motherfuckers.

Maisie sat low in her seat with her feet propped up on the dashboard, examining the razor sharp silver blade of her knife in the sunlight that streamed in through the windshield. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Negan reach his hand out as he drove and place it on her thigh. She ignored it, thinking nothing of it, until he slid up to just below her hip.

It took every fiber in her being not to stab him enough times to sever the limb completely.

"No." Maisie said firmly, shifting her body enough that his hand slid off.

"C'mon, Mais, just a little pick me up before we have to kick some ass—"

"No. You had your fun last night."

Huffing, Negan placed his hand back on the wheel and glared at the road, as Maisie turned her head to the window, watching the occasional lone biters stumble through the unkempt fields.

The anxiety that held onto her heart like an iron fist seemed increase as they neared Alexandria's walls. With her window open to allow the warm air to filter in, she heard the guard yell for the gate to be opened, followed by the telltale rusty squeak.

Rick strode into the midst of the group that had already gathered, his heart just barely starting to beat against his ribcage, as he parted through the people and climbed into the guard tower. From there, he watched the scene.

Negan climbed out first, insisting on aiding Maisie from the truck. He backed off when her feet hit the pavement by themselves. Rick smirked. The woman wasn't one to accept help when she didn't need it.

"Negan..."

"Fine. Carl, go join your pansy ass excuse of a father."

Maisie's face lit up in a smile as she watched the teen fly up the ladder and into his dad's arms.

"Why are you here?" Rick called down, his arms still around his son.

"I'm here to tell you motherfuckers you may as well quit now. Maisie and I are to be married."

Rick's eyes quickly flicked to Maisie, but not nearly as fast as Daryl's did.

"I win, you fucking pricks."

"Wait," Maisie called, climbing onto the flatbed. With tears streaming down her face, Maisie pulled the glossy black gun from her waistband and held the muzzle to her head.

Tears began to pool in Rick's bloodshot eyes as Maisie turned in his direction.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her eyes drifting from Rick, to Carl, before landing on Daryl's contorted face, as her finger curled around the trigger.

"NO!" Daryl and Carl roared in unison, their cry of misery mixing with the sound of a single shell casing falling against the pavement.

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