My Exception (sequel to No Exceptions)

Twenty Two

🎵Elastic Heart- Sia🎵

We sat in the doctor's office, Negan sitting a significant distance away from me. He'd perched himself on the edge of Carson's desk, squeezing the sides so hard that his knuckles went ghost white.

I didn't know what to say to him. How do you start a conversation with someone you thought was dead? Justify the actions I took, the grieving process I chose?

Negan's sharp singular whistle tore me out of my thoughts, "so Rackel..."

As hard as I tried to begin, I came out blank, "...where do we start?"

The whoosh of breath that he responded with acted as the precursor, "how 'bout we start with the fact that you couldn't wait to screw the redneck the second you thought I was dead. How 'bout that princess?"

He can't really think that can he?

My vision spun at the rate I shook my head, "it wasn't like that! I swear!"

He flung himself upright, but stopped himself from taking a step. "Oh right, is that fucking so?" The sarcasm so thick it dripped from his lips, "then I'm undoubtedly the father right?" My infuriated husband thrusted a shaky finger towards my stomach. "If you didn't fuck the redneck first chance you got, I must be the father right?"

All I could manage was a swallow, averting my gaze. But, this was enough for him to power on, his words hurting me more than his hands ever could.

"Well wife, just because you weren't a virgin anymore doesn't mean you needed to flash it about to anyone who showed any interest. The fucking redneck?" He began to walk towards me, his anger building at every step he took, "you went from the fucking King to screwing the help?"

I hadn't realised, but the closer he got, the more I shuffled over on the couch I sat on. Scared that he was going to hit me again.

You can't live like this!

When he reached me, the hairs on my arms stood on edge. My heart raced with fear and desire.

What the hell is wrong with me?

"I didn't realise I'd made you into such a slut. Even now you're panting, begging for it!" He leant over me, placing his hand over my throat.

That was enough, I had to pull myself together and start getting real. The swift kick to the thigh made him let go, while I found the sharpest thing I could. A ten blade.

"I will not be threatened Negan! I'm not just some livestock for you to use at your leisure!" My voice was lowered, the authoritarian tone hardly recognisable.

Finally, he showed some reservations. Approaching me with raised hands; but that mouth of his, "what you gonna do princess? You gonna kill me?"

My heart ached, vision clouded with tears, "I love you Negan," I pressed my free hand over my tummy, "but my babies come first now! And if you EVER come for me or my babies again, I will kill you."

Amber orbs searched mine before he realised.

I was completely serious.

Clearing my throat, staring him down I set the record straight. "You think I'm weak don't you? Why don't you try me baby?" I slashed the space between us, "try me Negan! See what happens!"

Relenting, he took a step back and bared his teeth, "come on baby, don't do something you'll regret."

I snarled, inching closer to him, "well don't make
me. I will not be fucked around anymore! By you, or by anybody!"

As I held the ten blade at his nose. I wanted to stop, but I was in too deep. He couldn't threaten me anymore, I couldn't be selfish with this.

He tilted his whole body smiling maniacally, "look at my smokin' hot wife, such a FUCKIN' BADASS!"

There was another intake of breath before I finished, "we have serious problems Negan. Seriously fucked up fucking problems." I shuddered, "do you love me? Do you really? Or am I just another fuck to you?"

Negan slowly reached for the scalpel, I relented as he threw it to the floor. "Of course I love you baby!" He held my hands, "I thought of you every waking moment whilst held, all the bullshit that happened..." My handsome husband's face seemed to age in front of my eyes. It was one of those life experiences that changed you forever.

Minutes passed, neither of us moving a muscle. He finally jammed his eyes shut, "Dwighty boy lost it, each day a different torture, trying to fuck with my body, fuck with my head. There were days I just wished he left me to bleed out." Negan looked heavenward, "the things he said he was going to do to you if he found you." My love faltered, first tear falling, "fucking Dwight, Amber and Frankie nesting in their batshit crazy lair."

My man smiled, "if there was one thing I'd thank that fucking redneck-" I interrupted with a soft kiss, I didn't want him to go to that place. Whenever Daryl came up it sparked him back up again, and we were both too raw for that.

I wanted to hold him, desperately. But, I kept myself at arms length, not wanting to cave so easy. Not admitting how much I love him, needed him.

The bond betrayed me, my yang pulled me in, holding my chin upward, stroking my lower lip with his thumb. "You think you're weak, that you're some meek little damsel in distress. You don't even realise you hold all the cards baby, for some fucked up reason you always have. I may be an impenetrable tank, but you're the fucking driver. You're the only one who can tear me from the inside out."

His confession tapped straight to my soul, giving me the stability to stick to my convictions. I loved this man with all my heart and he'd let me in, my tank of a man let me in. I stroked his cheek, before leaning in and kissing all the tears away. "Well I'm glad you fought, my love."

Sobs escaped me, wondering when all this gets easier, "I don't know what to do."

A throaty chuckle filled the room, though I couldn't imagine what he found funny. "I don't know darlin'," he stroked my belly for the first time, "but we'll figure it out. One way or another."