Chapter Text
Prologue- Post Apocalypse:
It had been a long been a long day working at the school, as the art teacher and the music instructor Gabriella's job got stressful fast. She had thirty kids in two music classes and only fifteen in her other two art classes, the difference in each kid will forever amaze her. Gabriella hummed as she brewed herself some coffee in the teachers lounge. The doors opened and a PE coach walked through the doors with a smirk.
“Morning Gabby!” Negan said with a wink and a grin.
“Morning Mr. physical.” Gabriella said with a giggle as he grabbed a cup of coffee and sat down with her. “Shouldn’t you be teaching a class?”
“Fuck em, they can wait for a few minutes. I never get to talk to you anymore anyways, your more important than a bunch of testosterone filled boys with the sex drive of a rabbit.” Negan said running a hand through his black hair rubbing his clean shaven face.
“Sounds like your having a blast teaching them baseball.” Gabriella said looking at Negan who was smirking.
“Of yeah plenty, i had two kids go to the nurse already because they got into a fight. Instead of ‘hand to hand’ like real men Slesenger hit Jacobs with a baseball bat in the head.” Negan said with a sigh taking a drink of coffee.
“Your getting sued.” Gabriella said in a singy song voice that made Negan laugh aloud.
“God i hope not, then i can't take you out for shots.” Negan said with a smile and Gabriella rolled her eyes with a smirk.
“Fine i'll agree if you can answer my two questions.” Gabriella said with a smile looking to Negan who looked intrigued.
“Better make em fast, i got a bunch of brats to teach.” Negan said and Gabriella rolled her eyes.
“Okay who is my favorite painter and whats my favorite flower.” Gabriella asked and Negan looked stumped, at least Gabriella thought he was.
“Please your favorite painter is Bob Ross and your favorite flower is sunflowers, to paint its roses or lavender.” Negan said with a smile.
“Drinks at 8 o'clock tonight?” Gabriella asked and Negan smiled triumphantly.
“Thanks princes you wont be dissapointed.” Negan said finishing his coffee and heading out the door. The way Negan said princess just made Gabriella feel tingly all over in the right way, she would never admit but she loved it.
____
Gabriella's clock read seven fifty and Negan had already texted her the location where they would be drinking. She finished dressing and grabbed her purse, she hear a knock on the door and she turned to open it with a smile.
“Holy hell you clean up nice.” Negan said with a low cat call whistle.
“Gee thanks, i can say the same thing about you.” Gabriella said with a smile her eyes looking over him taking in the way his casual clothes hugged his frame.
“Drinks?” Negan said with a smile and Gabriella took his hand. He lead her to his very nice looking truck and opened the door for her, such a gentleman .
They drove to the sound of Negan's cds which all consisted of some form of metal songs, not that Gabriella minded cause she caught herself singing most of them. “If i get you drunk enough do you think you could sing for me solo?” Negan said with a brow raised as he continued to drive.
“I'll sing without the liquor just find me a good song.” Gabriella said with a smile and Negan mimicked her but his was more hidden. He clicked his phone and she recognized the beat of the song.
“Tainted love, softcell!” Gabriella said with a smile, “oh but it's the Marilyn Manson version which its darker!”
“You a fan of Manson?” Negan asked amazed.
“Just because i look pretty doesn't mean i don't listen to the beautiful composer Manson is.” Gabriella said with a smile, “my favorite song of his has to be his version of This is Halloween or Personal Jesus.”
“His covers then?” Negan said with a smirk.
“Killing Strangers was also very good.” Gabriella said laughing.
“Tainted Love, Sweet Dreams, Personal Jesus, there all really good songs but The Nobodies is good song.” Negan said with a laugh, “A great fucking song really.”
“Marilyn Manson is a great fucking artist in general.” Gabriella said and Negan looked slightly shocked.
“Gabby cusses!” Negan said with a smile and he burst into a fit of giggles.
“Please i do not curse worse than you.” Gabriella said with a smile as they pulled into the bar. “You promised me shots.”
“I would say your an alcoholic but I’m damn sure your more responsible than me so.” Negan shrugged and got out of the car. Gabriella followed him into the bar which turned out to be more like a club.
Negan true to his words ordered two shots of whiskey, he raised his glass and Gabriella raised hers as well. She tossed her head back and let the whiskey burn her throat, she could feel it loosening her muscles.
“Got any family around here?” Negan asked and Gabriella looked at him.
“No all my family is in California, got a boyfriend at home though.” Gabriella said quickly regretting what she had said.
“No, no its fine. I got a wife at home.” Negan said quickly handing Gabriella another shot, “her name is Lucille, she's a good wife.” Negan said and a wave of sadness washed over his face and it was gone before Gabriella could even ask what the hell happened.
“To your loved ones at home waiting for us.” Gabriella said raising her shot. They knocked their glasses together and then tossed them back, the liquid fire burning their throats as it made its way down to their stomachs.
____
The night had gone by great actually, Negan was actually really funny and smart despite his gruff and nasty attitude to people. He had dropped her off at her house and left her with a kiss on her hand, like a princess .
Gabriella got into the house and instantly got into a screaming match with her boyfriend, he wanted to know why she was out and why she didn't tell him. Why she didn't get permission to have drinks with her friends. She ended up losing the fight but gaining a purple bruises around her wrists and one around her collarbone. She went to sleep next to a man she hated and prayed that tomorrow would be a better day.
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Gabriella woke up and got ready, turns out she ran out of concealer so she had to wear a scarf when it was going to be super hot. Her boyfriend James kissed her good morning and gave her breakfast. He grabbed his car keys and drove her to school, kissing her goodbye and fixing her scarf she headed to her classroom. She shut the door and took off her scarf no one was around anyways she hummed as she cleaned up the room slightly pissed something could get so dirty so fast.
Gabriella organized her papers and put away her cleaning supplies. She heard a knock on the door and she went to open it and then realized she forgot her scarf. She had to grab it and wrap it around her neck before answering.
“Took your candy ass long enough.” Negan grumpily said and Gabriella instantly went to a good mood.
“Oh is poor baby hung over?” Gabriella said mockingly and he raised a hand, Gabriella instinctively flinched and the look that washed over Negan was one of pain and sympathy.
He didn't question it, he put his hand in his pockets and looked to Gabriella, “no baby isn’t hung over. Baby is mad because that brats parents are actually suing me and the school just put me on leave until this is all figured out.” Negan said groaning rubbing his eyes.
“Holy shit, Negan I’m really sorry.” Gabriella said sympathizing with him.
“You got nothing to be sorry for princess, i saw the kid grab the bat and hit him over the head, i didn't mean to let it get so far though.” Negan said leaning back into the chair.
“I’m really sorry, Negan if their anything i can do for you just name it.” Gabriella said with a soft smile and Negan returned it.
“I’m thinking of two dirty things you could do to help me.” Negan said with a wink and Gabriella hit him playfully.
“Nasty!” Gabriella said sticking her tongue out.
“Three things.”
“Gross!” Gabriella said as the bell rang, “Want to stick around and watch me teach, it's going to be boring.” Gabriella said in a singing voice and Negan laughed.
“I've got to get home, Lucille and all.” Negan said, “I'll talk to you tomorrow?”
“Yeah I’d like that.” Gabriella said with a smile as she fixed her scarf.
____
It had been a few months afterwards, Nagen and her had become closer but nothing intimate. James for some reason kept getting stricter with his rules. If she disobeyed them she would be punished more severely each time. James saying it was for her own good, so she could learn. Months off this shit and she was getting sick of it,
Gabriella hummed a soft tune as she read in the teacher lounge, she never seemed to have any parent teacher conferences and that was great for her. She pulled her sleeves down and buried herself further into her jacket, it was still summer but it was freezing in the room.
Negan walked in with a disappointed look and Gabriella perked up once she saw him. “What's the matter with you coach?”
“I'm coming to collect my stuff, they fired me princess.” Negan said clearly sad, “Fuck em anyways.”
“Negan I'm terribly sorry I don't even know what to say.” Gabriella said with a sympathetic smile and Negan looked at her confused.
“Your all bundled up again.” Negan pointed out and Gabriella hummed. “And there's contouring on your neck.”
“I'm surprised you even know what contouring is.” Gabriella said with a laugh getting uncomfortable as Negan invaded her personal space.
“Who did this to you?” Negan said pulling off her scar making her yelp and fall into his arms. “Your bruised to God damn hell!” Negan said angrily checking her arms and neck over.
“Negan stop! I'm fine I just fell.” Gabriella said pushing him away and pressing herself upwards with the help of the wall.
“Bullshit you fell, those are hand prints. Who's abusing you princess?” Negan said anger in his actions but a calm in his voice.
“Negan drop it please.” Gabriella said with a frown. Negan hesitantly backed off but he seemed colder towards her. “Plans afterwards?”
“I've got to go to the hospital. Lucille hasn't been doing so well and she's been there for the past month.” Negan said looking guilty.
“Do you want some company?” Gabriella asked looking to Negan who smiled softly.
“That be great, are you okay to leave this shit hole?” Negan asked looking around. “I just need to grab some things and then i'll be fine.”
“Yeah sure, i'll come with you.” Gabriella said grabbing her book and walking with Negan down the halls.
“Its James isn't it?” Negan said looking down the halls at the kids ditching.
“ Drop it. ” Gabriella said with a glare and he laughed.
“It's not in my nature princess, im naturally nosy.” Negan said with a smirk and he opened up the door to the coaches room. “You going to come in or just hang around out here in the heat?”
“I'll come with you, i've never been in your office before so, that will be fun.” Gabriella said with a playful look. Negan returned it and lead her to the back of the main room. His office was really neat and he had a baseball bat in a frame.
“I hit my first home run with that bat, she means everything to me. I've had her since i was 10.” Negan said with a smile. “I'm taking you home honey.” he said talking to the bat and Gabriella giggled at his childness.
“Its nice that you take care of your things.” Gabriella said with a smile, “the only thing I've kept from childhood would have to be the ring my mother gave me.” Gabriella said with a smile rubbing her ring finger where the ring should be.
“Why don't you wear it princess?” Negan asked and Gabriella looked away.
“James doesn't trust me with such expensive items.” she whispered softly and Negan rested the bat on his shoulder.
“I'm going to bash his head in the next time i see him. Anyone who lays a hand on a woman who can't properly defend herself should be beaten fucking blue.” Negan growled out and his possessiveness made shivers run down Gabriella's spine.
“Leave it alone Negan.” Gabriella said with a sad look. He only nodded and looked away.
“Best be going, the doctors have not responded to me but they texted that i come to the hospital.” Negan said and Gabriella could see the worry in his eyes.
“Im sure shes fine, but we should hurry.” Gabriella said intertwining her fingers with his hand dragging him out of the building towards the hospital.
____
They made their way out of the hospital and was greeted by the walking dead. Negan was forced to carry Lucille and Gabriella was making sure they were protected. They had made it out and we're in Negans car driving to his house.
“I've got to get home, James.” Gabriella said and Negan grabbed her hand before she could leave.
“Stay, James be damned we need to get to a army camp.” Negan said glancing to Lucielle who was sleeping in the back of the truck.
“I'll meet you there, I just need to get my mothers ring.” Gabriella said and Negan looked hesitant but let her go.
“Be safe princess, I'll see you soon.” Negan said smiling and he headed off to where they were broadcasting.
Gabriella somehow made her way back home, she arrived safely and was met by a panicked and angry James. He told her to take the necessary and she took her mother's ring. Something small and light, she grabbed a change of clothes and a duffle bag. James had to check everything before they left. He was extra protective when the walkers started to attack. James had luckily taken self defense classes and was able to protect Gabriella from attacks. They joined a group called Hilltop and Gabriella has been completely dependent on James ever since the start of the apocalypse.
Gabriella was a farmer and helped make sure the crops were growing okay, James had not allowed her to be a runner like himself and she worried about his safety. She mostly stayed in her trailer James had stolen and kept to herself when she wasn’t farming. When she wasn’t farming she was forced to stay inside the trailer, if she left James would punish her, no one at Hilltop knew that Gabriella's life was threatened each day she stayed with that man.
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