I think I liked you better when you didn't have a knife in your hand, Peaches

Books and Owies

Twenty minutes later and Blake was out of her towel and back in set of fresh clothes from her closet. She noted that in her absence from the Sanctuary, her laundry had been done and her clothes placed back into her wardrobe beside Negan's.

She wondered how everyone had known she would definitely have been returning. Was it presumption? Or the fact that everyone was safe in the knowledge that all this had just been a blip in Blake's mental state, and that there was no way she could walk out of Negan and Mia for good? But was she really just that transparent? Or was it more the fact that everyone knew who much she adored and idolised the pair she had left behind.

For as much as Negan irritated the hell out of her, and she was still furious with his actions earlier today, she still loved him, so much. And it was upon seeing him on her doorstep yesterday that had ignited that fire and passion in her again, confirming her adoration for him tenfold.

But his sheer stubbornness was frustrating and Blake knew that locking Tara and Carl up really wasn't going to end well.

For if Rick found out...

Well, things were be bound to get a LOT worse!

The tall blonde let out a long sigh as she rounded the corner and stepped into the long hallway that led to the wives' old quarters.

But although the women's title has been rendered obsolete, Frankie, Michelle and Tanya had both remained in the lavish room once given to them as wives taking up the role.

And so, wiping down her palms on the hips of her tight blue jeans, Blake approached the door on the far end of the corridor, noticing now that it was ajar, hearing two soft voices floating out from inside.

Blake smiled to herself, recognising them at once, as she gave the door a gentle push open, her fingers curling around the wooden panel, peering inside the plush and sizable room.

Without the numerous women, that on Blake's first appearance here had been found draped over almost every item of furniture in all manner of short black and tight-fitting dresses, the room seemed empty.

The only stirring came from the floor in front of one of the expensive velvet couches where there sat just two figures. One with long red hair, swept today over one shoulder, and another figure, much smaller, nestled underneath her arm, both reading from what looked like a large picture book.

"...and the sun is not sunny, but we can have lots of good fun that is funny..." came Frankie's soft tones, as she read gently to Mia.

The little girl looked as perfect as she always did, with her soft short brown hair tied up with a teeny red scrunchie, had on a smart red sleeveless dress on with a navy blue top and leggings beneath, as she sat there, curled up, gnawing on her knuckles, listening to the story..

And despite it only being yesterday that Blake had last seen Mia, the blonde woman felt her heart begin to thud loudly in her chest.

God, she truly had missed her. And despite all the fog that had clouded Blake's mind of late, she could see now how important having Mia in her life truly was.

She was her family. Negan too.

If only she could find a way to stop the dark-haired leader being so completely pig-headed!

She gave a mild sigh of irritation, pondering this, as she edged into the room silently.

But her presence did not go unnoticed by Mia at least, who caught Frankie off-guard, pushing herself from the redhead's legs and giving a wild squeal.

"Mommy here!" she cried, running on chubby and unstable legs over towards the blonde, whose face broke into a humongous smile, bending down at once and scooping the little girl up into her arms.

"Oh, baby, Mommy's missed you," Blake said, smoothing back Mia's mousy tufts of hair and pressing kisses to her cheeks as Mia giggled and pressed a sticky paw to Blake, prising her away.

"Noh mor' kisshes naw, Mommy!" said Mia in a bossy little tone, causing Blake to laugh and pull back, admiring the little girl before her.

She really was something special and had changed Blake's life by just existing.

And although that though perhaps should have made Blake's sad. Knowing that her opportunities for having her own child had been so cruelly snatched away from her, Blake now truly realised how lucky she was, finding Mia in that vent all those many long months ago.

Frankie got to her feet, giving her own smile too and tossing the picture book down onto the couch behind her.

"Blake," she said blinking a couple of times with a look pleased surprise. "You're back!"

The blonde gave a nod, beaming in return.

"Yeah, I guess I am," she said with a small nod.

Maybe she hadn't planned on returning to the Sanctuary to suddenly and on such a whim, but being back here....well....it all felt right.

Like she truly belonged here.

But this thought only made Blake more determined to make Negan change his mind about all of this. And to make sure that this whole thing didn't get even more out of hand than it already had.

She gazed down at Mia, who was smushing Blake's cheeks with both hands now, a little distracted for a short moment, before shaking herself and staring back up at Frankie.

"Sorry...Frankie....c-can we catch up later....I need to go find Negan," said the blonde, reaching up and pushing a loose tendril of hair out of her eyes and giving a small, yet determined frown.

Frankie shot her back a look of concern at this, her eyes roving across Blake's features.

"Yeah, sure...you, uh...you want me to look after Mia again?" asked the red-haired woman sounding a little confused, and of course, Blake didn't blame her. She had barely been here a minute before she was racing off again. And after what had happened before leaving it was no surprise most would be wary of her disappearing on them again.

But Blake shook her head, fixing a smile to her face and bouncing Mia a little on her hip.

"No, it's fine. " she huffed gently, pressing her face gently into Mia's and smiling. "Me and this little lady are gonna go see if we can talk Daddy around. Aren't we, baby?"

Mia gave a little squeal of laughter, pawing at the blonde's face in delight.

"And I ca' show Daddy mai owie!" the toddler said proudly, brandishing her elbow to reveal a red and sore-looking graze, which caused Frankie to wince.

"She fell while running in the hallway out there," the red-head explained. "Sorry."

But Blake just smiled, pulling Mia's sleeve down over the mark.

"It's fine....but let's not tell Daddy just yet," Blake said carefully, exchanging a meaningful, laughing look with Frankie.

For both women were fully aware of just how protective Negan was of his own.

"Say bye to Frankie, Sweetie," said Blake murmuring the words into Mia's fine hair, as she turned on her heel and made for the door.

"Bai," waved Mia over Blake's shoulder, but the toddler was almost immediately distracted by sucking on a strand of Blake's long caramel hair instead.

"Bye," said the blonde, giving Frankie one last glance. "We'll catch up properly later. Promise."

And with that, Blake left the room, Mia in tow, determined to go find Negan.

For if a charm offensive from his two favourite girls couldn't win him over, then Blake really had no idea what would...