No Sanctuary For Old Men [18+] |Negan| ✔️ Complete

XLI • Flowers Still Bloom

"Oh, no." Dr. Carson put his hands up as soon as Daphne entered the infirmary. "I finally got her calmed down after Regina overstayed her welcome, I don't need you riling her up again."

"Relax, doc, I'm not here to harass the murdering bitch," the blonde lieutenant sighed, though she couldn't help but shoot a glare at Maggie's back.

The pregnant prisoner was curled up on her side, facing the far wall, one hand cuffed to the bed.

There was a photo collage above her, and Daphne couldn't help but grin a little at Regina's method. The photos were of everyone who had lost their lives at the outpost. Their families. All looking so joyful, happy with their existence.

"What can I do for you then?" Carson asked gruffly, turning back to the counter where he'd been taking stock of some medication that had come in.

"I was hoping Mel was still here," Daphne replied. "Our scouting mission kind of got cut short, so I didn't get a chance to swing by her house. We're going to go again in a few days. I guess I just wanted to let her know that I haven't forgotten. And see how she's doing."

The doctor sighed. "She's been helping Talia out. Poor woman has been running herself ragged trying to avoid grieving. She's got quite the prenatal ward going on up there."

The blonde lowered her eyes. She hadn't been able to bring herself to go up there. To see Talia, her kids, knowing what they'd lost because she hadn't made it in time.

But it was time to put on her big girl panties and just go.

Daphne clenched a fist and shot one last angry glare at Maggie's quivering form, then left the infirmary.

Negan was just heading up the stairs with a bouquet of wildflowers when she rounded the corner, and she stopped dead in her tracks. He grinned, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"Heading up to the fuckin' Preggo Palace?" he asked, and she nodded. He held up the bouquet, stems flopping about with the movement. "Fat Joey gave me these, said Primo used to bring 'em for her every time he came home from the outpost."

"That's sweet," Daphne said, voice thick. She swallowed hard and started up the stairs, the two of them taking slow deliberate steps. She wondered if Negan was feeling the nerves too, that sinking dread of having been responsible for this man that his family had lost.

When they reached the landing, she froze. The Savior's wing had completely transformed. The common area was full of cots, and the couches had been moved to the hallway. There were makeshift rooms built out of blankets in some of the alcoves like children's forts.

And all of the people hanging out on public beds were Saviors, which meant that they'd given up their rooms to the Nomad victims.

Talia rushed out of one of the rooms, Lily on her hip and balancing a plate on her other hand. She had a satchel over her shoulder and her hair was wrapped up in a scarf, dark tendrils fluttering behind her as she moved. She set down the plate between two women huddled on one of the couches and they smiled their thanks at her.

When she turned around and saw the Big Boss standing there, whatever colour was left in her pale face drained away.

"N-Negan," she stammered, dark eyes big as saucers. "I'm sorry I rearranged without asking but everyone was offering and-"

"Shit, lady, I didn't come up here to fuckin' razz on you." His eyebrows hit the ceiling and he thrust the flowers out in front of him. "I came to offer my condolences. And thank you for taking such good fuckin' care of everyone up here."

A few timid heads popped out of various rooms, but Daphne's eyes were solely on the disheveled woman.

Talia shakily took the flowers, slowly bringing them to her face, closing her eyes to smell them. After what felt like hours, days even, a sad smile ghosted her lips.

"Thank you," she whispered, and then a sob ripped its way out of her throat. "I'm sorry!" She gasped, as Lily started to grab for the flowers.

"I'm fuckin' sorry." Negan stepped forward and pulled her into a hug, the baby securely between them.

Talia lost it then, full on weeping against him. He rubbed her back with one hand, taking the flowers with the other and setting them on a nearby cot before she dropped them.

She buried her face into her daughter's dress, full body racking with sobs as Negan held her.

Daphne's heart shattered for what felt like the millionth time, watching this hardass man snuggle a vulnerable woman and her child.

The women who'd been peeking came fully out into the hallway, relief etched on their faces at Talia's release of emotions. The Saviors hanging around mirrored the sentiment, a few of them looking a bit taken aback at Negan's gentleness.

When she finally pulled away from him, furiously wiping at her eyes, she smiled up through her tears.

"Thank you," she said, voice raspy from tears. "I think I needed that."

Lily gurgled loudly and reached up to grip Negan's ear. He laughed and scooped her up into his arm, holding her high enough that she could fully inspect the appendage.

"Your kid is fuckin' adorable." He shot Talia a thousand-watt smile, and she laughed for the first time in what felt like years.

Daphne thought her ovaries might explode as she watched Negan play with the baby, her gurgling turning to grunts as she desperately tried to remove his ear.

The dark haired mother of three turned and opened her arms, and the woman who felt responsible for her sadness flew into them.

"I'm so sorry," Daphne whispered into curly tufts, blinking back tears.

"You did everything you could," Talia pulled back and gripped the blonde's shoulders tightly. "You all did. Thank you."

Lily let out a full on belly laugh and the women turned, the baby's smile contagious. Negan tickled her stomach, peppering her face with kisses, and she smacked his cheeks with her tiny hands.

"That's something you don't see every day," Ariadne said as she stepped up behind them. She put a hand on the grieving woman's back, offering a small smile.

"Oh, I was just coming to find you." Talia turned to her. "Doctor Carson said there was a haul of prenatal vitamins. I thought we could count them out and portion them per patient? See how many days we have."

The nurse nodded. "Sounds great."

"How's Mel doing?" Daphne asked.

"Good, she's resting," Ariadne replied. "Grateful for your help."

"Let her know I'm still on it," the blonde said firmly. "Should have some answers for her in a few days."

"Will do," the nurse shook her head at Negan, who was now tossing Lily up in the air with a shit-eating grin on his face. "I can't even watch this," she said, though she was fighting a smile.

Daphne laughed. "You're ruining your reputation, Boss." Inside, however, her heart constricted and she flooded with warmth.

"Fuck all of you, she's cute as hell," Negan barked, and pouted playfully as he handed the baby back over to her mother. He rested a hand on Talia's shoulder and placed a kiss on her forehead, then Lily's. "I'll see about freeing up some space so you don't have people crashing all over the fuckin' hallway, okay?"

"No worries Boss, it's like a slumber party every night!" A lean man with big doe eyes called from what used to be the sitting room, and more than a few bystanders laughed.

Negan shook his head in amusement and offered his arm to Daphne. She waved to the girls and took it, following him regally back to the stairs.

When they were out of earshot, the leather clad King sighed in mock exasperation and said, "I think it's time to make a trip to Alexandria."