"Eeny…meeny…miny…mo…catch…a tiger…by…his toe…if…he hollers…let him go…my…mother…told…me…to….pick…the….very….best….one…and…you…are…it."

Rick gasped out a, "No."

Negan looked down the barrel of Lucille to see who was the lucky recipient and locked eyes with a very young woman. Unnerved, he continued.

"Anybody moves-"

"Excuse me?" A quiet, slightly accented voice interrupted him and his eyebrows raised, turning back to where the voice had come from.

"I was wondering if I could, just have a minute? To say goodbye…if that's okay?" The woman asked. Her voice wasn't scared, but her big blue eyes were pleading with him. Hell, he was going to kill her anyway, he could only oblige a polite young lady.

"Sure." He smiled, watching her reaction as he twirled Lucille. Her eyes glanced at it, but he didn't see fear there, just...he couldn't even pinpoint it.

"Uh...thank you. I just wanted to give you all a warm and fuzzy to leave you with."

A warm and fuzzy? What the fuck's that?

"Ra-" Rick groaned.

"Rick, you'll get your turn, hush now." She said, a touch of sarcasm in her voice but it was dulled by how gently she said it.

She looked to her left to the person at the start of the group and then back at him.

"Is it alright if I tell everyone a little something?" She asked. Still so polite. He corner of his mouth twitched up.

"Go ahead, as long as you say something about me." He smirked and she looked at him, nodding her head.

"I can do that." She said, continuing to nod as she looked back up to the first guy on the left. Her voice was surprisingly confident as she spoke.

"Eugene, you're one smart motherfucker. You keep doing that thing you're planning on doing. You work on anything that pops in your head. You could be the father of the new modern age. You're going to pull everyone out of the dark ages we're currently living in, so just know, you're not allowed to die. Okay? And don't ever cut your mullet off. By the time you die, I want that party in the back to be flowing in the wind like you're Legolas."

The man was already blubbering and nodding through his tears. Negan exhaled and shifted Lucille to his other shoulder.

"Carl, baby. You've grown up to be so strong, but I want you to remember to feel. When you're at home and you're safe and you don't need to be on the watch for walkers, I want you to read and have fun like a normal kid, okay? You need that side of you, even if you don't think you do. It's what will help you sleep at night. And you need that side for Judith. Okay? Will you tell her about me when she's older? I love her so much."
The boy nodded stoically. Future serial killer indeed.

"Aaron, I wish you all the happiness in the world. You're such a lovely man. Thank you for saving us. You're a damn good friend and you're part of our family now."

"Sasha, I know we don't talk much, but I know you've been going through a pretty dark patch after Tyreese and Bob. They were such lovely people, and you don't know how happy it's made me to see you getting better recently. You look so much happier. You're a damn good asset to the team, and it's good to have you back. Keep getting stronger, honey. You're a badass."

"Rick, my apocalypse buddy, we started this shit storm together and I'm sorry we couldn't end it together." Her voice cracked. "I really wanted to see how this crap panned out, but hey, maybe I'll still get to see, you never know. If I see Lori and Shane and Dale…and god, there's so many. Oh, I hope I see Hershel! I'll tell them all you said hi. Rick I know things've been tough lately, but I'm telling you now, you're not allowed to lose your shit again. Everyone needs you. You're such a good leader, you've got us this far, and even though I'll be smashed into the ground in a sec-" Negan's eyebrow arched again as he looked at her. Who was this chick? "-You gotta' keep on plodding and get the rest over whatever finish line there is. You made so many homes for me, Rick. I was stranded and you gave me your home and then you gave me your next home and your next and your next and when we didn't have a home, it didn't matter because you gave me your family, and I'll love you forever, you big bearded idiot."

She looked to the sick woman beside her.

"Maggie, you've lost so much and I hope you and Gleggie make it through too." She looked up at him pointedly then, stopping her warm and fuzzy. "We were on our way to a hospital, you know." She said contritely. "She could be having a miscarriage for all we know, but whatever, kneeling out here getting my brain bashed to pieces is another good way to spend the evening I guess." Her voice softened as she talked until she was practically joking with him and he just stared at her.

"Mags, you're a badass lady and you're doing a damn good job with Alexandria. Continue, my friend. Continue. And always remember that we're all here for you. We're your family too. I might be mush, but I'll do my best to haunt your ass."

She turned her head to the red-head brick house next to her.

"Abe, you're a damn fine soldier, you keep us safe, you always make me laugh, I always feel protected with you near me – I still feel protected with you near me. You give the best hugs and you're a fuckin' tank."

"Michonne, you walked in on the scene like someone out of an action movie and you haven't let up on that image. You're a badass motherfucker – I'm sorry, I keep saying badass, but it's true. I love your sword. You're perfect for Rick – send me postcards in Heaven if you have babies."
The woman in question appeared to choke on air.

"Daryl, you bring a lot to our family. I thought you were a bit shifty when I first met you – yeah, you know it – but you proved us all wrong, again and again and again. You're ace on the crossbow-" She looked back to Negan. You need to get that crossbow off Dwight and get it back to Daryl at some point, because it is a crime and you don't deserve the crossbow, Dwight! Or the bike!" She shouted. Negan stepped back, looking at Dwight, grinning wryly. Dwight didn't look too impressed.

"Daryl, you're my cinnamon roll…Give the world hell."

"Rosita, you are the personification of beautiful, strong, independent woman. You're going to rock this from here, and I know you've been struggling recently. It's all natural. You'll find your feet again. And you really rock the cap and pig-tails."

"Glenn, you were just a pizza delivery boy and now you're you. You being the guy that self-sacrifices at every turn, the guy that got the hot girl, the guy that I can trust with anything, the guy who I'm proud of."

"Dwight! I wanna' do one for you, my man. We met in the woods. You had your wife and that other girl with you. You were running away from this man." She gestured at Negan. "You stole Daryl's fucking crossbow and his fucking bike and I'll never forgive you for that. Then you turned up again with your fucked up face and no wife and I've heard things about Negan and wives and I'm wondering did he steal yours?" She looked at Negan now and pretended to whisper discreetly to him, part was still easily audible. "Did you steal his wife and burn his face for his efforts and now he's your lapdog?"

Negan couldn't help the smirk that crossed his face.

"You totally did!" And she mimed a whip cracking at Dwight. His hand was twitching on the crossbow he held.

"You killed Denise and she was a really nice person who didn't deserve a fucking arrow through the eye or to be just left there, so deal with the cards you're dealt, Dwight."

She looked around a second before pointing at Negan's second in command. He looked startled to say the least.

"You! You look the guy from Grand Theft Auto. That's all I have to say to you."

And then she looked up at him. There was a quiet strength to her. He could see that in the way she was holding herself up. And he could also see her cracks. The way she worried the right a piece of fluff on the left strap of her shirt. How her eyes seemed to be getting bluer by the second. He was surprised she was actually doing this thing with him, he'd just been joking.

"And…you, Negan! Holy cow, you're just..." She waves her hands at him to try and convey what she means. "I'm Tamara, by the way. Thought you should know that, though it probably doesn't mean anything to you…I mean, the leather jacket- I saw you walk out of that caravan and I was like, holy shit. That's a jacket. That's one hell of a jacket. You are wearing it. And it's so fitted. Like, so fitted. I can't even begin to comprehend it. And the scarf. I mean, no offense, but it should look gay, but it doesn't. Like not even a tiny bit. It just looks badass. I keep saying badass. I hope my last words aren't badass, bloody hell. And the pants too. It's unreal. You're unreal. Even your personality. It's so dominant. Like you walk out here and if I hadn't already been forced to my knees, I would've probably fell to them anyway. I didn't even notice your shoes. They're cool too. What the fuck. And dare I mention the bat. Lucille, did you call it? You named your bat. And it's covered in barbed wire. What are you on? That's rivalling how cool I think Michonne's sword is. I'm kind of glad that it's you who's going to be killing me, because I can honestly say, you're pretty damn amazing, all in all."

She sighed long and hard. Negan couldn't help but feel a little flattered. The honesty that was spouting out her mouth was something you didn't see everyday.

"Well…I think that's about all I got in me. I actually feel kind of exhausted. Okay. Alrighty then. This feels so unreal but then way too real at the same time. Make it a good first shot, will you? I really feel like I'm not going to be able to hold it together that well if I'm still kicking after the first round."

"I can do my best, doll." He answered her softly. Since when was he talking softly? She nodded, as if she understood she could very well still be conscious after the first blow and didn't blame him.

He huffed out a breath of air, and shifted his feet a little wider as he hoisted Lucille up onto his shoulder.

"Uh-" A timid voice from the first person she'd complimented. The crying man with the mullet she'd told to never cut. "Could…could we say something…to her?" He asked.

Negan deliberated that a moment. He couldn't really see why not, since there was nothing else to do. He had them exactly where he wanted them. He could see Rick cracking. Surely drawing this out even longer would just make it harder for them all. Widen Rick's cracks until his sanity just seeped out. He'd been hoping for a challenge with him, and what he'd gotten was a weathered man about to have a breakdown over one member of his group. The woman herself had bigger balls than him. She dared to halt his process, looking straight down the barrel of Lucille, and he had to respect that.

"Sure." Negan answered the man, the word rolling off his tongue like warm honey. The man looked surprised, but relatively relieved that he could say what was so obviously pressing on his mind.

"You wanna' give me a warm and fuzzy?" She said, a little shock lacing her tone.

"Um." He stuttered. What a great way to start, Negan tittered in his head.

"Tamara, I think we all know that you are a very nice person." The man had a halting way of speaking, like a robot. The only thing that made him sound remotely human were the snivelling tears he was failing to hold back. "From the moment I m-met you, you always seemed to understand that I was…different. But you treated me not in a way that made me feel different, but made me feel like I was normal. And I want to th- thank you for that."
Negan glanced at the woman in question and she had an odd look on her face, like she was thinking of something long ago.

"Could I-?" Rick's son wanted a turn and the crying man nodded. He looked pained, but he spoke confidently and genuinely. His interest had been peaked when he'd met the kid, but this was just adding to it. It was like he was a pillar and had accepted that role long ago. "Ra Ra-"

Ra Ra? Negan's mind quirked and he could swear he must have made a weird expression, if anyone was looking at him.

"-You never let anything that's happened change you. You've always been kind, you've always been helpful, you've always been there, you're always building people up. You have a…a power to keep people fighting because you give them back their strength in themselves, and we're all going to notice that when you're gone. Whenever we feel weak, whenever we feel down, whenever we feel that we can't go on – the only thing that's going to pop in our heads is you. Because I know you'll always be there, even if it's just the way we remember you. You'll always make us strong."

"Carl-" She whispered, but it was audible all the same.

Not bad, kid. Negan thought. Definitely wise beyond his years.

"Uh, Tam- Sorry, I know you hate being called that." It was the next guy's turn and Negan almost snorted. "I-I know we haven't known each other long, but when I was listening to you guys in the woods-"

Wait, what? Negan looked at him pointedly.

"-You stood out to me because, like Carl said, you were all in a pretty bad situation, but whenever things started getting really low, you somehow always managed to pull some half-cocked idea out of your ass that if I hadn't come and offered for you to come to Alexandria, you might have actually had something going. Survivalist, sure, but I recall you being frequently self-sacrificing and that really helped me decide that you were a group to be trusted. Knowing you personally now, you're one of the most trustworthy people I've ever met, and if I could cut out my heart-" His voice was breaking. "-and give it to you to protect, I know that you'd keep me safe."

Negan glanced back over to her and she was obviously struggling, her lip worried between her teeth as she watched the trees moving in the wind above her.

The next woman cleared her throat.

"Tamara, you're right when you say we haven't really gotten to know each other super well, but I'd like you to know, before you go, that sometimes…sometimes I'd sit near you, because I knew that you knew that I just…needed what you seemed to know that I needed- I sound so stupid-"

There was murmured 'no-s' and 'go on-s' from the group.

"You're…um, you're presence, is a comforting one-"

Definite nods from the group now.

"-And I'll notice when you're not there. I really…really will. And I want you to know, that if we get to take you home, I'll be visiting you. I'll be visiting you everyday, so you're not alone.

Tamara let out a frustrated and shaky noise and Negan saw her scrub her face as she struggled to stay composed. He saw her glance over at Rick who was about to speak, and seeing his face, she threw her head back, shaking her head.

"Fucking hell, Rick, don't look at me like that!" Her voice was warbling with how much her bottom lip was quivering.

"Ra," He started, pausing to wipe his nose with the back of his hand and rake his hair of his forehead, visibly straining the skin. "Ra… you are family. You'll always be family. You'll always be family."
Negan spotted Carl's mouth quiver.

"You looked after my babies, and you looked out for them like your own after Lori was gone."

Rick was visibly struggling to get this out, but he was persevering, Negan had to give him that.

"You've been consistently by my side. You're always there. I never felt like I had to watch my back during the winter because you were my…my damn shadow. Your thing…with Shane… I know it's haunted you, but I want you to know that if you hadn't been there for him…he'd have probably succeeded at killing me. He was going…insane, but you held him together, and it was obvious to everyone that you were his sanity. You're a damn rock."

Negan half wanted to know the story behind this Shane, now. Rick took a deep shaky breath.

"You've been with me from the start, you keep me moral, and you're the bird that whispers in my ear. You're the heart, and you keep track of everyone's emotional wellbeing and I think it's safe to say that along with Shane, you've kept us all sane, these long past years. It'll be interesting to see how long I keep it together after this, huh?" He grinned brokenly and she shook her head, smiling sadly.

The next people passed along with various things to say, but one requested to speak last. The one Dwight seemed to hate with such a passion. When it was finally his turn, he seemed to square himself as he looked straight at her.

"Ra, everyone's been…talkin' 'bout your personality and stuff. And I agree with all of it, but you were mentioning about how we all brought something to the table, and I just – I wanted to talk about your skills and accomplishments…'coz of…uh, what you told me a while back…'bout yourself."

And what was that? Negan wondered.

"First of all, you're damn good at taking out walkers. Never had to worry bout'cha. I always do, but that's just me. You're not shabby with Michonne's sword, I – hah – I actually think you liked that too much, and I was on the lookout for one for ya', but I never found one. If I do, I'll still bring it to you. You're smart as hell. Thought you were stupid always picking up books and rippin' pages out along the way, but you-you proved yourself with that shit. You just soaked that shit up, and got us through some stuff. We'll definitely be worse off next time we need to eat…mushrooms or somethin'. Your art is insane, and I…I told you that I threw that one away that you drew for me after we had that fight, but um, I want you to know that I kept it…and I'll…I'll keep it till the day I die. Just wish I'd gotten you to draw more, now, huh?

I want to go through the shit we been through. That you've survived. And I think this prick-" He growled at Negan who smirked at him, arching an eyebrow, "-Should know what he's ending, because you don't fuckin' deserve it!

You survived the start, which is no small thing, besides the fact you were in a country you didn't know and got separated from the people you did. You survived Atlanta, you…you survived Merle, you survived Shane, you survived the winter, you survived getting in the prison, you survived the shit storm that was that stinkin' Governor, you survived Merle again, you survived the sickness, you survived the Governor again, you survived being on your fuckin' own after the prison came down and you shouldn't have had to do that, you should have had someone with you, and then you survived them fuckin' cannibals, and you survived the Wolves and you survived that fuck!"

Negan turned to see he was indicating Dwight.

"And you survived this…up until now, all with those rotting geeks around every corner. But most importantly…you also survived you."

"Daryl," she moaned, covering her face.

"Because you told me that you had depression and anxiety all before this, and that you had to stop taking your meds. And so you've survived all this…while battling yourself everyday. You're the bravest person I know, and I feel like this is Beth happening all over again but this time it's being drawn out like a damn wound."

The sick-looking woman next to Rick made a pained groaning noise and Negan spotted several tears escape Tamara, her hands clasped over her mouth as if she was stopping herself from screaming. She took her hands away, and took a long controlled breath.

"Okay." She said. "Tell everyone back home I love 'em, yeah?" Those blue eyes looking back up at him. "Do you…do you mind if I lay down for this?" She asked.

He frowned. Lay down?

"Well…sure. No one's every done that before, but sure, go ahead, doll." Now she was 'doll', he had to stop himself from rolling his eyes at his own idiocy. Should've just clonked her on the head and been done with it. She started to bend, but straightened back up and pointed at him.

"Remember, try and do it in one shot, yeah?" She watched him for an answer and he nodded, unwilling to break eye contact. She proceeded to lie down and then abruptly burst into hysterical tears. He almost jumped.

"I'm sorry," She said, resting on one arm while she half waved at him, half tried to stop the flood coming out of her, "I'm just panicking a bit. Just ignore me."

She then lay down properly, but it kind of gave him the willies when she pulled her body into a fetal position and cried into her knees. It wasn't even annoying crying, it was just sad, and she was obviously trying to stop herself. He could see several of his men shuffling in discomfort in his peripheral vision. He moved Lucille to his other shoulder as he contemplated the way he'd do this. She wanted it done in one shot…he could take that as a challenge for himself.

"Wait!" She suddenly said, her head popping up as she looked to the other side of the group.

"Carl, do you have anything of Judy's?" She asked brokenly. Everything she said made Negan want to frown.

The boy hesitantly rustled in his jacket, trying not to seem like he was about to grab a knife and get himself shot. He pulled out a small pale green bear. Negan stared at it. The boy glanced up to him, silently asking if he could give it to her. He sighed.

"Dwight!" Negan barked. The scarred man jumped and stepped forward. "Give her the fucking teddy for fuck's sake."

The man nodded and snatched the bear from Rick's son, making his way to the still sobbing girl. He dropped it on her shoulder and Negan rolled his eyes. Fuckin useless. She shuffled to pick it up and curled back into her fetal position, tucking the bear within her body. He didn't miss the quiet "Thanks, Dwight." That made the man glance back at her before hurrying off.

Her crying was quieting now, and her breathing was less erratic. It was still heavy, but she appeared to be gaining control of herself.

The ginger guy next to her reached out slowly and took one of her small hands. He chose to ignore it as he could visibly see the vice grip she had on him.

Stepping closer to her, he was aware of the crunching noise his boots made on the dirt. It seemed so loud. Looking directly down at her, he could she was breathing directly into the bear, the cushioned body pressed straight into her face. It was such a small bear. It was going to be drenched in her blood.

"We love you, Ra." Someone whispered and she nodded frantically, starting a chorus of 'we love you-s'. This entire thing was ridiculous. Negan gripped Lucille tighter. The power he felt at that moment was almost uncomfortable. She was literally waiting for her to kill him, curled at his feet. How vulnerable must that exposed side of her face feel?

Negan paused for a second, glancing down at her.

"How old are you, doll?" He asked, genuinely curious. She was such a pretty thing, but she seemed to have so much experience crammed up inside her.

She sniffed, trying to clear her voice enough to answer him properly.

"Twenty." She said quietly. He felt ice trickle through his veins and he tried to discreetly take the staggering breath his chest needed. What was he doing? He'd killed younger.

But it was only one. Something in the back of his mind said. And it was a boy. A fuckhead of a kid. Not a frightened young girl.

He wanted to slap himself. Why was he doubting? It had to be done. Things had to be done, and this was one of them. He didn't take things back.

She shouldn't even be out here. His mind whispered. She should be locked up in her community, protected from this shit.

His head was whirling and he struggled to keep a blank look on his face.

"Fuck this." He muttered to himself.

And then he swung Lucille.

I really don't know if this is any good.

I can leave it there, but I do have a vague idea if you want me to continue this. I had this idea while just sitting in my room and I do this thing where I act out ideas, and afterwards I felt like it needed to be written down. I really just improvised this whole scene and remembered what I'd done afterwards, I didn't plan any of this so what you read is what I actually did. I was crying a bit as I was thinking of what Daryl would say but it was when I went to lie down that I actually had a bit of a breakdown and realised that's probably exactly what you'd do if you were doing that - it was quite confronting.

Let me know what you thought. Is it too corny or did you actually get upset? I never really have a gauge on my own writing and it's 4am…I need to be up for school in 3 hours…

Review, favourite, follow, let me know if you want to know what happens or if you want me to build a story from this, or should I just leave it as a one shot. I'll leave it up to you, and I'll try and get 3 hours sleep for my exams.