Prompt: How would Rick react if Negan held Judith

"What have we got here?" Negan picked up the baby monitor from the kitchen counter, smirking at the screen, "another one of yours Rick? How many of these fucking things do you have?"

Rick's held his anger as tight as he was holding Negan's bat, he could feel the frustration vibrating in every sinew of muscle and rippling over his chest in one long breath that forced through his nose like a raging bull.

"She's crying, what kind of father are you Rick? Aren't you gonna get her?" Negan's smirk grew wider as he stepped close. So close that all Rick could think about was the way he had ripped out a man's throat to save Carl.

"Oh," Negan's gaze dropped to the bat, "you're holding my baby, I get it…"

Negan didn't ask permission before he was walking up the stairs towards the sound of Judith's cries. Rick followed close behind, his heart hammering in his chest. What kind of father was he? What was he willing to do to protect his daughter? Whatever it took was the simple answer. If he had to do it, he'd kill Negan right now, grab Judy, Carl, Michonne and leave this place. He'd risk everything for his children if he had to, but he wasn't an idiot either.

Negan picked Judith from her crib and she didn't even struggle, her chubby hands landed on his cheeks inspecting his face, her big eyes inquisitive and perfectly satisfied. She didn't know any better, to her Negan was just another pair of arms there to hold her when she needed comfort. She was well accustomed to being in the arms of different people, what was one more?

Rick didn't like it, he didn't want the same hands that had killed Glenn and Abraham to hold his little girl and he didn't like the way Negan was cooing over her, his sarcastic smile beaming in mockery to Rick and the life he had here in Alexandria. "Put her down," his voice was low, one step from being a command but still fearful enough to show respect to the maniac who was destroying his community.

"What?" Negan cocked his head to the side, "what exactly do you think I'd do to a baby? Do you think I'd hurt a baby, Rick? Is that the kind of man you think I am?"

Rick didn't answer, yes, no, either one seemed the wrong thing to say. It wasn't that he thought Negan would hurt Judith but he believed Negan to be a man capable of anything, just like he was. Under the right set of circumstances Rick could kill his best friend, drive an axe through the skull of a stranger, leave a traveller in need by the side of the road or rip apart flesh with his own teeth.

"I asked you a question Rick."

The muscles in his jaw tightened, "I don't know."

"You don't know." Negan laughed hard and even Judith giggled, "you think I might hurt a baby but you let me hold yours, what does that fucking say about you Rick?"

It was all a game, a trap of words where there was never a right answer. He bit back anything he might have said and endured the silence that began to build.

"You know there are women at the Sanctuary that would fall to the fucking knees in happiness if there was a little rugrat running around." Negan strolled past Rick, Judith sitting comfortably on his hip.

"What are you doing?" Rick demanded, the bat in his hand swinging in readiness.

"Uncle Negan's taking little… what are you calling this thing?"

"Her names Judith."

Negan pulled a face that quickly turned back to a smile, "I'm taking little Judy for a stroll, you should be fucking thanking me Rick, childcare is fucking expensive."

Rick considered his options, he considered taking the bat and ending things right now.

"Well…" Negan's eyes hardened.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, but you know what…" he strolled back towards Rick, "I think I've changed my mind." He held Judith out, his arms outstretched, "screaming babies aren't exactly my fucking style."

Rick pulled Judith into his arms cuddling her tight despite the bat and inhaling a deep breath of her soft baby curls where the lemony smell of no more tears shampoo always lived.

"Maybe next time," Negan warned, taking his bat, his own baby. "You got a good thing here Rick, you think about that."