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ODETTE WALKED NEXT TO NEGAN as they entered the Sanctuary together. A grin forming on his bearded face as each of his minions that they passed kneeled at the sight of him, while Odette quickened her steps slightly hoping to reach Rigby quicker.

She didn't have the time nor patience to deal with his dramatics right now. Her body ached from sleeping in that old truck and she was in desperate need of a hot shower and new clothes. The damp, rotten, sweaty smell that filled her nose was coming from her skin and it made her stomach turn.

It has also been twenty four hours since the brunette had last seen her daughter. A dread filled her nervous body as she thought about how nervous Rigby had been spending a night with out her. The mother-daughter duo hadn't been separated from each other since the world went to shit. Before that even. Sure there were nights when Ozzy and Gia took her for a night or Gia would babysit her a few times, but it had always been just Odette and Rigby.

"Where's the fire mama bear?" Negan smirked as he reached out with gloves hand to pull Odette back closer to his side. "I can't have you walking a head of me. It doesn't look so good for me." He whispered into her ear, leaving his hand resting on her arm.

Negan could see the frustration in her doe like blue eyes as she stared up at him. A small chuckle left his mouth as he kept his hand on her arm. They smelled, he could smell the rotten earth on them as they walked down the long hallways of the Sanctuary, and it bought him back to last night.

Negan hadn't slept at all in that fucking piece of shit truck. He tossed and turned, keeping an eye out for walkers while also keeping an eye on Odette. It surprised him that she had fallen asleep so quickly. She looked at ease for once while she slept, like everything that was weighing heavily on her disappeared.

It was painfully obvious the brunette wanted to get back to her baby cub, but Negan wanted a few more minutes with her. Why? He wasn't sure.

"Negan."

Odette's wide eyes looked away from Negan's face and saw Simon approaching them quickly with Dwight following behind. Negan's right hand man looked relieved as he stood in front of them.

"You're back. We got worried last night when you didn't come back." Simon spoke as he eyed Negan's hand on Odette's arm, but made no smart remarks about it. "I sent a team out to search for you this morning." The balding man added as Dwight stood there silently staring at Odette.

A chuckle left Negan's throat. "A lot fucking good that will do. That piece of shit truck broke down last night and Mama bear and I got stuck in that fucking rain."

There was a look on Negan's face that scared Odette. He wasn't smiling at Simon or appreciative that the man had sent out a team to find him. No, he looked angry. A look that promised that something was going to be done about his incompetence later.

"Get that fucking team back now. I'm not going to waste anymore people especially with those assholes at Alexandria." Negan ordered as he reluctantly and finally let go of Odette's arm.

Simon nodded and hurried off while Dwight stood there waiting for his orders.

The two men stared at each other in silence. Negan smirking and running a hand over his beard while Dwight's face was void of any emotion. Odette watched the two men with confusion. It was clear there was tension between them, but she didn't know why.

"Can I go see my daughter now. Please." Odette was exhausted and growing frustrated with each passing moment. She just wanted to hug Rigby and apologize.

Negan nodded as he tore his gaze away from the scarred man's face— the scares his had given him. "Dwight take Mama Bear to her room." He ordered with his eyes staring into Odette's wide blue ones. "I want you and baby cub to have dinner with me tonight." It wasn't a invitation it was an order.

Odette nodded. It didn't matter that she didn't want to—she had too. Negan was the king of this castle and it would do well to obey the king.

IT WAS QUIET IN THE ROOM AS Odette held a sleeping Rigby in her arms. Rigby had given her mother a big hug when she saw her while Odette repeatedly apologized for not being there, though the small dark haired girl kept saying it was okay and that some nice woman named Sherry watched her last night.

It relaxed Odette a little to know someone had kept an eye on her daughter but she didn't know this Sherry woman and she certainly didn't trust anyone—especially the people here. She needed to meet this woman.

A knock on the door pulled Odette from her thoughts, slowly she removed Rigby from her arms and softy got out of the bed, hoping her movements didn't wake her sleeping daughter.

Opening the door slightly the wide eyed woman came face to face with Dwight who wore a bored look on his half scarred face.

"What?" Odette questioned as she stared at the man. If she came off a bit brash she didn't care. Her mind and body were over exhausted and she had still yet to sleep.

A small scoff left his mouth as he stared at her. He didn't understand why Negan wanted her so badly. He had Sherry and others yet he it seemed he had become enamored with this wide eyed woman for some reason. Why it was the innocent look she wore so well.

"Negan wants you to wear this to dinner." He tone was monotone as he held out the outfit Negan had picked out for her. "He wants you and the kid there at six." He added.

Odette stared at the dark fabric in his hands before grabbing it from them and closing the door on his face without saying another word. A sigh left her chapped lips as she held the dark red dress in front of her face. Did Negan think this was fun for her? Did he think everything was all a game? She planned on getting answers from him tonight.

AN —
I really love writing this fic. I really need to update it more often. Odette is so much fun to write and I love writing scenes between her and Negan.