Negan was never good with kids. At least, that was a lie he told himself his whole life.

Then came Judith, who always chatted with him about homework and wanted to know more stories about her parents, the angel he saved during a snowstorm once. Then there was also Lydia, who always hung out around him, the sweetheart that he couldn't help but feel responsible for.

There were others too — several, actually, all over his many years of teaching. Negan knew he wasn't fit to be a parent, and yet kids constantly stuck to his hip like chicks imprinting on him. Just his luck, huh?

And then finally, came you.

You were all alone, a poor little thing that ended up stumbling upon Alexandria's walls. Everyone was reluctant to take you in at first, but you were just a kid, and they couldn't leave you out there to fend for yourself. So, the doors finally opened for you.

It was unfortunate how none of the kids around your age seemed to like you, however. Maybe it was a result of the distrust formed against strangers ever since betrayals began to happen, or maybe it was just a result of bad parenting. Nevertheless, the constant bullying was getting bad.

Negan didn't know about it, not until he stumbled upon you one day while weeding out the gardens, sitting down on the soil with teary eyes and dirtied clothes — those damn brats had dumped their trash all over your head.

Of course, this wasn't something he could just turn a blind eye to. Negan approached you, crouching down and picking a candy wrapper out of your hair.

"You alright, kid?" He asked, sounding a mix of casual and concerned.