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"𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮."

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.・. .・゜✭・.・✫・゜・. .

The door creaked open, and Sunny didn't have to look up to know who it was. She hadn't slept the night before—couldn't remember the last time she had, honestly. She lay there, staring at the crack of sunlight sneaking through the closed curtains, listening to the heavy, familiar sound of Negan's boots hitting the floor as he sauntered in, his presence filling the room. He never let her be.

"Good mornin', Sunbun!" His tone was almost too cheerful. "You still got that sourpuss look, or did we finally tuck that shit in for the day?"

Without moving her head, Sunny slowly raised her hand, flipping him off.

He laughed, shaking his head. "Ah, that's my girl. And here I was thinkin' about spoilin' you today—lettin' you tag along on a nice little road trip to Alexandria. Guess that's off the table now."

Sunny's head shot up, her frown melting into surprise. Alexandria? For a moment, her guarded expression softened, and she finally looked at him with genuine interest.

"Wait, you're... you're goin' to Alexandria?" she asked, unable to hide her curiosity.

Negan tilted his head, a sly smile creeping onto his face. "Oh, now I've got your attention, huh?" he teased, clearly enjoying the shift. "Maybe I am, maybe I ain't. Depends on if my girl here's gonna behave herself."

Sunny's mouth pressed into a thin line, her mind racing. Alexandria. If there was even a chance, she needed to know. Her eyes narrowed, and she tried to keep her voice steady.

"What do you mean, 'depends'? Just tell me if you're actually goin' or not."

Negan chuckled, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall, clearly enjoying every second of this game. "Well, you've been givin' me the silent treatment, flippin' me the bird every time I try to do somethin' nice. Makes a guy wonder if you even want to tag along."

Sunny clenched her jaw, holding back her anger. "If you'd actually let me out of this cell instead of playin' mind games, maybe you'd get a different response."

"Whoa, slow down there, firecracker," he said, smirking. "You don't get to make the rules here, much as you'd like to. See, I'm offerin' you an opportunity. A chance to get a little fresh air, some sun on your face, maybe a look at those pricks you're so torn up about." He shrugged casually, though his eyes remained fixed on her. "You just gotta show a little appreciation."

Sunny's face hardened, but she couldn't hide the spark of desperation in her eyes. "So what, you're danglin' Alexandria like a carrot? That's low—even for you."

Negan tsked, wagging a finger. "Oh, come on. Now you're hurtin' my feelings. I'm tryin' here, Sun. Really. Figured you'd appreciate some quality time—at least get outta here for a while. But if you're gonna be all stubborn about it..."

She glared at him, feeling her anger bubble up. But the thought of Alexandria, of seeing Daryl—even for a second—made her swallow her pride. "Fine. I'll... go," she said through gritted teeth. "If you're really takin' me."

He grinned, pushing off the wall. "Now that's the spirit. We leave in an hour, so you better look alive, Sunny. And eat some shit, long day ahead." He spoke, throwing a granola bar onto the bed.

Sunny didn't hesitate to eat, even as her stomach twisted with the familiar swirl of nausea. She tried to ignore it, focusing instead on the thought of going home. The thought of seeing her family felt like a lifeline.

Negan stood by, watching her with a smirk. At first, the idea of her going anywhere near her so-called family had irritated him. But he realized, with a little satisfaction, that taking her to Alexandria would not only give him a chance to parade her in front of Rick, showing just how much control he had—it'd earn him some points with Sunny, too. It was a win-win.

"Now, I see you're excited, but I got some rules if you wanna come along," he said, raising an eyebrow as he studied her reaction. Sunny let out an exasperated groan, already guessing this wouldn't be simple. "First rule—no grumpiness. I'm doin' you a favor here, so I expect some damn appreciation. Second rule—you're not talkin' to any of those assholes."

Sunny's brow furrowed, and she scoffed, crossing her arms. "So, I'm not allowed to talk to 'em? What's the point of lettin' me come then?"

Negan shrugged, unbothered. "It's either no chatting with them, or you stay here another day. Your call."

Sunny glared at him, reluctantly conceding. "Fine," she muttered under her breath, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. He was impossible.

Once Sunny was ready, she and Negan headed down to the yard. Men were scattered everywhere, gearing up for the run, and Sunny shot them all a glare. She hated every single one of them.

Then her eyes found Daryl. Her throat tightened as she caught sight of him, dressed in a beige tracksuit with a bold "A" spray-painted on the chest. His face was bruised and swollen; it was clear he hadn't been getting anything close to the treatment she had.

Without thinking, she started moving toward him as he was dragged along by Dwight. "Daryl?" she called, her voice trembling, breaking with worry. Their eyes met, and Sunny felt the overwhelming urge to break down.

But just as she was closing the gap, a hand clamped down firmly on her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks. Negan's hand tightened on her shoulder, his voice low but laced with that familiar, mocking drawl. "Nuh-uh, Sun. Remember the rules? No talking to the help," he reminded, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth as he turned her back toward him.

Sunny's eyes flashed with anger, but she bit her lip, the frustration building in her chest. Daryl was right there, barely ten feet away, looking worse than she could've imagined. But with Negan's grip like iron on her shoulder, she was stuck. She glanced over her shoulder, catching Daryl's gaze one last time. She could see him silently telling her to keep calm, to hold on.

Negan chuckled as he caught her looking back. "Eyes forward, kid. I'm showin' you some goodwill here, but only if you play by my rules," he murmured, giving her shoulder a firm squeeze as he led her back toward the line of trucks.

She swallowed hard, her heart aching as she fell back into step beside him, Daryl's bruised face seared into her memory. It wasn't fair, why couldn't she just speak to him? 

With a heavy sigh, Sunny climbed into the passenger seat of Negan's car, steeling herself for what was sure to be a torturous ride. Of course, she'd have to sit beside him the whole way to Alexandria. She kept her gaze fixed out the window, scanning the yard one last time for any sign of Daryl, though she knew it was useless. 

Negan slid in behind the wheel and started the engine, a smirk playing on his lips as he glanced her way. "So," he drawled, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, "is this little road trip gonna be the one where my darling daughter finally shakes off that grumpiness? Or are we in for a joyride of silence?"

Sunny gave him a flat look, crossing her arms. "You said I ain't allowed to talk, remember?"

Negan rolled his eyes, letting out an exaggerated huff. "Grumpiness it is, then." He muttered, steering them onto the road, clearly unfazed.

They drove in silence for a while, with Negan occasionally glancing over as if he expected her to say something. Finally, he couldn't help himself. "Look, I get it. You got that teenage angst brewing up in there, probably makes you feel like everyone's against you. But maybe, just maybe, a little thank-you for this field trip wouldn't kill ya."

Sunny bit back a scoff, her face resolutely turned toward the window. "Thanks," she murmured. She didn't know how she was going to last so many hours in the tight space.

.・. .・゜✭・.・✫・゜・. .

After hours on the road, hours of Negan attempting to talk to her, Sunny's eyes lit up as she finally caught sight of Alexandria's gates on the horizon. A surge of excitement and nervousness bubbled up inside her; home was right there, just within reach. The trucks in front of them came to a stop, and their car rolled to a halt right behind them.

Negan threw her a grin as he unbuckled, catching the look on her face. "Alright, Sun. Let's get this shit over with," he said, his tone almost mocking. He swung the car door open and stepped out, clearly enjoying the moment a little too much.

With his bat in hand, Negan sauntered up to the gate, lazily dragging the bat along the metal bars with a loud clang, the sound echoing through the quiet. Then, in a loud sing-song voice, he banged the bat against the door, belting out, "Dun-dun-dun!"

He leaned back and yelled, "Little pig, little pig! Let me in!"

Sunny braced herself, hands clenching as she waited for a glimpse of anyone familiar on the other side. Part of her wanted to run forward, to call out for them—Carl, Rick, Michonne, anyone—but the other part felt a chill run down her spine, knowing exactly what kind of power play Negan was making here.

As the gates creaked open, Sunny swallowed hard, her heart pounding.

Spencer pulled the gate open just enough to stare at Negan, eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Well?" Negan said, raising an eyebrow. He clearly wasn't thrilled with the hold-up.

"Uh... who are you?" Spencer asked, a hint of nervousness in his voice.

Sunny fought the urge to roll her eyes. Oh, brother.

Negan threw his head back in a loud laugh, almost doubling over. "Oh, you better be jokin'!" he said, still chuckling. "Negan, Lucille—ring any bells? I know I made a pretty strong first impression."

Before Spencer could respond, Rick approached the gate, his gaze cold and narrowed on Negan. Sunny's heart pounded as she caught sight of Rick; she wanted to run to him, to wrap her arms around him and tell him everything. But she couldn't. She wasn't even allowed to speak.

Negan's grin widened as he saw Rick. "Well, hello there!" he greeted with exaggerated cheer. But when Rick didn't budge, his smile faded. He leaned in close to the gate, voice dropping with a dark edge. "Do not make me have to ask."

Rick's jaw clenched as he opened the gate, not hiding his reluctance. "You said a week. You're early," he muttered.

Negan smirked, sliding past. "I missed you."

Just then, Sunny heard the unmistakable growl of a walker behind her. She spun around, but Negan stepped up, raising his bat with a grin. "Hold up, Sunbun. I got it—callin' it!"

With a swift swing, he struck the walker, sending it to the ground. Sunny flinched at the sickening thud, the sound echoing in her head as Negan broke into laughter. "Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!"

He straightened, clapping his hands together. "Alright, everybody!" He turned back to the Alexandrians, flashing his usual smirk. "Let's get started."

Sunny surveyed the large group of Saviors, all of them heavily armed and radiating intimidation. But once again, her gaze settled on Daryl. A frown tugged at her lips at the sight of him; he looked utterly broken, and she felt powerless to help him. Her father was the one causing him pain, and that realization gnawed at her insides.

"Hey, Rick! Did you see that? Now that's what I call service!" Negan called out, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "We could've been turned away at the gate! Who is that guy, anyway? Should I get mad? Throw a fit? Bash some ginger's dome in? Nope! I just take care of one of these dead pricks who could've taken one of y'all out. Service!" He exaggeratedly bowed, relishing the attention.

Sunny tensed. Even after days had passed, he still made light of killing Glenn and Abraham, and the mere thought of it churned her stomach.

Negan strolled past Rick, casually tossing him the barbed-wire bat. "Hold this," he said, striding away. It was clear he was taunting Rick, forcing him to grip the very weapon that had destroyed their lives. The man was pure evil.

"Hot diggity dog! This place is magnificent!" Negan continued, surveying the community with an exaggerated awe. "An embarrassment of riches, as they say. Yes, sir, I do believe you're gonna have plenty to offer up."

Rick's eyes shifted to Daryl as Negan turned around, striding toward him. "Daryl, hey—" he began, but Negan cut him off.

"No," Negan said sharply, stepping between them. "Nope. He's the help. You don't look at him, you don't talk to him, and I won't make you chop anything off him. Same goes for my girl over here." He moved to Sunny, slinging an arm around her shoulder. She tried to squirm away, but he just tightened his grip. 

"Alright! Let's get this show on the road and see what kind of goodies you've got in the cupboard," Negan declared, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

"We put aside half of the supplies," Rick interjected, trying to assert some control.

"No, Rick. No. You don't decide what we take. I do," Negan said, his tone turning serious. "Arat!" he called out.

A woman stepped forward, gripping her gun tightly. "You heard the man! Move out!" she yelled, prompting the Saviors to disperse into the community.

"Alright! You and Sunbun gonna show me around or not?" Negan asked, looking at Rick with an expectant smirk.

With his expression filled with barely contained rage, Rick began to lead the way. As Negan focused on the unfolding chaos, Sunny caught Rick's gaze. His eyes were filled with unspoken questions, but there was too much to say in that moment. All she could offer was a small nod, hoping it told him that she was okay, even if that was far from the truth.

.・. .・゜✭・.・✫・゜・. .

In just under an hour, the Saviors had begun to ransack the houses, hauling away furniture, food, and anything else that caught their eyes.

"You see this? This is the kind of thing that just tickles my balls. A little cooperation, and everything is as pleasant as punch," Negan said, strutting ahead of Sunny, Rick, and Daryl. "You see, we really are reasonable people once you get to know us. Honest."

Reasonable. Sunny felt a laugh bubbling up at his words; there was nothing reasonable about anything he or his people did. They stole from other communities to benefit themselves, plain and simple.

Negan then bent down and pulled a can from an icebox. He took a swig before tossing it to the ground. "Damn, I love this place!"

"Negan, something you might wanna see," a Savior called out, approaching and handing his leader a camera.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here? I got my fingers crossed for a little freaky deaky," he chuckled.

The man pressed play, and Sunny could hear Rick's voice coming through, followed by Deanna's. It was the same camera she had used to record their interviews.

"Jee-hee-sus! Is that you, Rick? Underneath all that man-bush? Shee-ot! I would not have messed with that guy. But that's not you anymore, is it?" He said with a cruel smirk, shoving the camera in Rick's face.

Sunny frowned as she took in Rick's expression—completely defeated, utterly broken. She hated what Negan was doing to him and wished he would just disappear. Why did he have to be here? She hated herself for wishing he was alive out there.

Negan turned his attention back to the camera, flicking through the videos until one caught his eye. In that moment, Sunny wished she had just stayed in the room back at the Sanctuary.

"My mom... she's gone... and my dad, well, he's not around anymore either."

Sunny's voice rang out, and Negan's brow furrowed as he focused on the screen. He was fully invested in this glimpse of his daughter, who looked so different from the girl he knew now. Dirt and dried blood streaked her body; her hair was ragged, her face marred with cuts and bruises. It twisted his gut to see her like that.

"From what I've heard, Daryl is someone you're close to," Deanna's voice echoed.

"Yeah, I guess... he's important to me. He's different, not like the others. He looks out for me. I don't really know how to explain it."

Negan turned off the camera, his eyes flicking up to meet Sunny's. The raw emotion on her face twisted something inside him. He had no idea what his daughter had witnessed, what she had endured, and it pained him to think of it. Hearing her speak so fondly of Daryl stirred a dark mix of jealousy and anger in him—feelings he wouldn't dare admit aloud.

But just as quickly as that surge of vulnerability washed over him, his facade clicked back into place, his trademark smirk creeping onto his lips. "Well, well, well, Sunbun, looks like we've got ourselves a little heartthrob situation going on here," he teased, raising an eyebrow. "Daryl? Really? I mean, the man's got the charm of a wet sock, and yet here you are, all starry-eyed. What kind of spell did he put on you?"

He chuckled, the sound light and mocking, but beneath it lay the weight of his feelings. Sunny shot him a glare, but he just ignored it as he continued to shake his head.

The man glanced around the community, lost in thought. "Whatever happened to that sick girl? That seemed like a hell of a stressful night for her. The way she was carrying on, she was married to number two, right?"

Sunny tensed, her nails digging into her palm. She knew he was talking about Maggie, and the way he referred to Glenn as "number two" ignited a fiery rage within her. Glenn had a name, damn it, and after everything he'd endured, he deserved to be recognized as more than a number.

Rick's eyes narrowed at Negan, reflecting the anger that simmered in Sunny's chest.

"Careful. Careful how you're looking at me, Rick," Negan warned, making Rick glance away. "Widows, especially ones that look like that... they are special. I love 'em. Right after their husbands go... they're just empty inside. But usually not for long." He finished with a sing-song tone that made Sunny's stomach churn.

She could barely contain her rage. How could he speak about Maggie like that? He had taken her husband from her, and now, once again, he was making sick jokes at their expense. It was infuriating.

"Stop it," Sunny said, glaring at him, her anger palpable.

Negan swiftly turned to face her, a smirk playing on his lips. "Nuh uh, Sunbun. What were our rules for today?" he asked, feigning disappointment.

"Ain't my fault you're bein' fucking disgusting," she shot back, her hands clenched at her sides, every word dripping with defiance.

Negan's expression shifted, the playful glimmer in his eyes hardening into something more serious. "Listen here, Sun. You wanna keep that mouth of yours running? Fine by me. But let me make one thing clear: if you don't zip it, you're gonna find yourself over with the trucks. And trust me, you don't want that." He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a low, menacing tone. "So, what's it gonna be?"

Sunny frowned, bowing her head, frustration swirling inside her. She didn't want to leave without at least attempting to talk to her family; she needed to.

Negan laughed, pulling his arm around her shoulder as he turned his gaze to Rick. "You see this attitude of hers? Shit! Outta my sight for a little bit, and you pricks forgot to teach my girl some manners," he declared, his voice dripping with mockery. He gave her a playful squeeze, then released her, stepping back with a flourish. "Now, I know I can be a hardass, but it's only 'cause I care. A little respect goes a long way, Sunbun."

Negan shifted his focus back to their earlier conversation, shaking his head in mock dismay. "Ahhh. Anyway, where is she? I haven't seen her around," he said, referring to Maggie.

"Do you care to pay your respects?" Gabriel suddenly interjected, materializing out of nowhere.

"Holy crap!" Negan exclaimed, spinning around to face the man. "You're creepy as shit! Sneakin' up on me with that collar and that freaky-ass smile."

"My apologies," Gabriel replied, forcing a small, uneasy grin. "I'm Father Gabriel," he introduced himself.

Negan turned back to Rick, frowning. "She didn't make it?" he asked, his tone shifting as he noticed Rick bow his head and swallow hard.

Sunny's heart sank as she furrowed her brows, staring at Negan. Why hadn't he said no? Where was Maggie? She couldn't be dead. She just couldn't be. No, Rick had to be wrong, he had to be. 

Maggie had to be alive.

.・. .・゜✭・.・✫・゜・. .

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞

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I had a lot more ideas planned for this chapter, but I realized it was gonna be too long lol so imma have to split it into the next chapter too, apologies :PP