Disclaimer: I don't own them!

This wasn't exactly what he had in mind when they left that morning for an impromptu supply run. Truth be told they weren't even supposed to be out right now but Dawn had convinced both himself and Faith that it was the little things that mattered and there were a few specific little things they all needed to boost moral.

Xander riffled through the empty boxes and containers on the convenience store shelves. The place had been picked over pretty well already but there was always a chance of finding a few hidden treasures.

They'd been given a long list of potential items to grab along with specific instructions to "pilfer anything that looks happy or tastes sweet" whatever that meant. He spied a bag of red vines in the far corner of a shelf and pondered if they looked happy enough. They were certainly sweet depending on your preference.

He grabbed the candy and tucked it away in his pack with the few other things they'd managed to find so far before turning to join Faith, who was currently occupying the beauty care aisle on the other side of the building. No doubt looking for more brunette hair dye to touch up her roots along with an armful of boxes for the other girls.

When he'd questioned her one day about why any of them bothered anymore she'd looked at him like he was stupid and really should know by now. "Because I wanna feel sexy during apocalypse seven hundred, ok."

Maybe it was one of those 'little things' that seemed to be in precious little supply these days.

While pondering the benefits of red vines and hair dye he rounded the corner and nearly ran smack into the chest of an entirely new person. They both jumped back a step and stared at one another as if they'd suddenly grown seven heads between them. Hands reached for weapons and it didn't take long for the new guy and himself to be caught in a stand off at the end of aisle four.

Xander sized up his opponent from over the barrel of his own gun and quickly came to the conclusion that he'd be pretty well fucked if he'd been here alone. This man was at least half a foot taller, which in itself wasn't hard to accomplish, but the rest of the package was enough to make Xander wish he'd spent more time at the gym before the turn. Rippling arm muscles were not his thing, but they most certainly were this guy's thing, as was the biker attire, crossbow and disgruntled expression that seemed to be conflicted between shooting him on principle alone or giving him a chance to speak his peace.

"Found a live one over here!" He called out to whoever was in his traveling party and Xander was quickly greeted by the faces of several other people. Apparently this store was the place to be today.

He raised one hand in surrender and slowly, very slowly holstered his weapon. He was outgunned here by a long shot.

"Hey there, new people." He tried with an easy smile that the biker merely grunted at and the others side eyed.

"Where'd you come from?"

This question was thrown at him from who he assumed was the leader. An overgrown beard and wary expression wasn't enough to hide the fact that he had authority over the small group. If there was one thing Xander could recognize it was an alpha personality. He'd spent most of his life living amongst hordes of them.

"Just doing some shopping. I come in peace."

"That's not what I asked. Where'd you come from and are you alone here?"

"He's really not." Faith appeared in the aisle behind Xander, sending a disapproving look in his direction as she closed the distance between them. "Seriously? I leave you for five minutes."

He simply shrugged at her. "What can I say, I'm a popular guy."

The leader was frustrated now and the appearance of Faith seemed to make his trigger finger itch. "One of you needs to answer me right now."

"I'm Faith, he's Xander. We're probably here doing the same shit as you. Scavenging. Looking for food. We're alone. We don't want trouble."

The words she spoke were placating but the tone in which she spoke them matched the intensity of the man who questioned her and he bristled. "We don't either but we're kind of at a crossroads here. Do you have a camp?"

He bit out the words, clearly expecting a straight answer this time and Xander let his eyes roam over the rest of the group.

The biker and the leader in front, weapons drawn. An Asain man and brunette woman off to the right, hands on their guns but pointing them downward. A black woman with dreadlocks next to a man with shocking red hair that had to come from a bottle and a smaller woman in the tiniest shorts he'd ever seen. A gray haired pixie a few steps behind the biker. A child in a cowboy hat two sizes too big.

A smattering of others further behind.

They all looked a few turns of bad luck away from being walker meat or dropping dead from starvation. He could almost see the outline of ribs through the t-shirt on the pixie.

Even without the depth perception one has with two functioning eyes it wasn't hard to tell the situation here.

The biker glared at him but didn't comment.

Xander took a moment to look properly scolded for eyeballing anyone's woman and then chanced a glance at Faith who was no doubt having the same thoughts at him. It was pretty easy these days to see who was just surviving and who had nefarious intentions, as Dawn liked to call it.

This group, they were trying to make it. They hadn't shot them yet either despite having a clear advantage. That was something. It had to be.

He cast a questioning look a Faith and she rolled her eyes. "You know what Buffy said."

"Yeah, but I also know what she meant."

They eyed each other a moment longer, the leader and biker getting anxious as each second ticked by but in the end Faith must have seen the same thing he did because she nodded with a long suffering sigh. "Yeah, we got a camp."

The eyes of the group went wide and Xander couldn't tell if they were pleased with this news or terrified of it. They'd all clearly seen better days and it was obvious they were struggling. Trust no one wasn't just a tv slogan anymore. It was real life now. A motto to live by or die trying.

Xander attempted to defuse the situation. "We have walls, food, you're welcome to come with us if you want. It's your choice."

"Why? You don't know us."

The distrust in the other man's eyes was palpable and Xander shrugged. "It's what we do. Plus, you haven't shot us yet so that's a few brownie points for you."

Faith cut into the conversation. "You have the advantage here. Maybe we could look at something other than the business end of your guns while you decide. "

The leader eyed the biker and gave him a short nod and they lowered their weapons. "We need details and we need 'em delivered straight. Don't think for a minute this means we trust you."

Twenty minutes later Xander and Faith had acquired reluctant new traveling companions who's names he'd already half forgotten. They had given enough details to pacify the others, though major facts had been glossed over to protect the innocent.

They were hesitant to accept the offer and he wasn't entirely sure they weren't planning on attempting to ambush the camp once they got there, but a part of him knew that wasn't plan A.

He'd listened to their argument during decision time and heard the hope in a few of those voices. They wanted this to be real. Wanted something solid and positive to hold onto and if it was delivered to them Xander was fairly confident they would take it.

Faith on the other hand did not share his positive outlook. She and Xander where in the front seat of the SUV they'd driven there, with Rick and Daryl behind them. Carol and Michonne in the third row. They had themselves a little convoy now, all headed back to base camp and he met her glare from his seat with one of his own.

"What?"

She handed him the radio and shrugged, her tone unaffected. "You're telling, B. I did it last time and you know what happened. I'm still angry over those Pop Tarts too."

"Who's B?" Daryl spoke up from behind Xander and he met his look in the rearview mirror. "She's our fearless leader."

"And she ain't gonna be happy 'bout this?" Daryl gestured to himself and his people.

"It's not that. She'll understand. It's just been a rough year is all." He raised the radio to his lips and heard Rick click the safety off his gun.

"You start speaking in code or I feel like something is off and we're gonna have a problem."

Xander nodded. Wondered if maybe he was wrong about these people after all.

"Dawn, you there?"

Static crackled over the air and a peppy voice responded in return. "Hey! You guys heading home? You get the stuff for the thing? Because I know it was a lot but I totally didn't expect you to get all of it and…"

He smirked and cut her off. "Easy there. We're fine and yes we got a few things but we also picked up some strays along the way. We'll have guests when we get back."

The radio was silent for a moment before Dawn responded again. "You know what Buffy said."

"Yeah, yeah, I know what she said. You sound just like Faith. I'll talk to her, just let the girls know we're all coming so we don't get a cold welcome. I only got one eye left you know."

"Ok. You want me to tell her too?"

Xander sighed. "Yeah. But…maybe tell her while you're also handing her a coffee and a kitten."

Dawn snorted over the radio. "I can't work magic, you know. That's not my department. Get back safe, you guys."

"Will do. Over and out and all that jazz."

The radio went silent and the entire car followed suit. The energy was tense and Xander suddenly wished they'd picked a different middle of nowhere town to scavenge in that day.

They didn't know these people. This could go really well or it could go really, really bad and he wasn't sure which would be worse. Threats they could handle. Threats were expected.

The last group hadn't been a threat though, they'd assimilated quickly and for a while it felt like The Scoobies were back on track. Saving the world, as per usual. It was no coincidence however that not long after their arrival Buffy had shut down the camp to new additions. The gates had a metaphorical padlock on them now and he'd struggled to get the key for a long time. If he was being honest with himself that was why he'd jumped so quickly to lure these people home with them. They were another chance, a way to convince her it wouldn't always turn out how it did before.

Eight months later history was repeating itself. He could only hope that this time, with these people, things would be different. That they'd all learned from their mistakes.

The driveway was long and winding and Daryl wondered if there was an actual house at the end or if they'd gotten stuck in a loop. The property itself was massive. Acres of three paneled horse fencing lined the edges and weeping willows graced the sides of the gravel drive. This was the sort of place he'd never have stepped foot on before the turn unless it was in a delivery van or while wearing a tool belt. The plantation style home that came into view didn't dispel this theory.

Four teenage girls stood at the wrought iron gates, brandishing pistols and eyeing up the convoy before pushing open the gates to allow them to pass.

"How the hell'd you find this place?" The curiosity was genuine. It was tucked so far back from the road you'd have squint and tilt your head just right to even see the entrance onto the driveway.

"Saved the owner from a pack of wild dogs about a year ago." He saw Daryl raise an eyebrow from the rearview mirror. "No really. Well, not just me it was a group effort but it was only luck that he lived here."

Daryl guessed there was more of a story there but didn't push further. Spotted two women approach their car from the house and the atmosphere went still.

This could be it. The moment when they found out if this was all some sort of terrible trick to eat the flesh off their bones or something else equally awful. Because it wasn't like they hadn't been there before. What was left of the world had turned into a very twisted place.

They all converged in front of the SUV, awaiting their answer to this unasked question. He could feel Carol close behind him and tightened his grip on the crossbow. None of them had drawn their weapons yet but it wouldn't take but a second for someone on either side to break and then it could be a bloodbath. Another Terminus all over again.

Two of the four girls from the gate entrance flanked them as the other two approached from the front. Their demeanor wasn't hostile but their presence left no doubt that no one was taking chances.

The short blonde who introduced herself as Buffy wasn't what he expected when he envisioned their leader, but who the hell was he to judge anyway. Especially these days. The younger one, Dawn, looked exactly like her voice sounded over the radio. Peppy and unworried.

Buffy, however, did not look unworried or peppy. She was a complete opposite to her counterpart with worry lines etched into her face and a tired expression and Daryl frowned slightly at the contrast. Watched as they stopped a few feet away from their group and she began to speak. Her stance was wide, arms crossed, face serious. This was someone used to being in charge and Daryl already wondered how soon it would be before he had to peel Rick off the ceiling over some disagreement between the two of them.

If they even stayed.

"You're…unexpected, but I'm sure Xander has his reasons for inviting you back here and I trust his judgement."

She must have noticed the condition they were in and the wary looks on their faces then because her expression softened and she tried for a half smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"You're unexpected but you're not unwelcome. You can stay as long as you like. We don't have much but it's safer here than most. If you stay everyone pulls their weight, that's just how it is. We work together, it's how we survive. If you turn out to be the stabby types that like to gut people in their sleep I'd strongly advise against that, just fair warning."

Rick was pondering this new information. He cast a look at Daryl and got a nod back in return. This seemed ok so far. He didn't get the feeling that they were about to be ambushed or lined up for slaughter. Not yet anyway.

Rick cleared his throat and directed his attention to Buffy. "If we stay we keep our weapons."

"Considering everyone else around you is also armed, that seems reasonable."

That was apparently the tipping point because Rick relaxed just slightly and nodded. "Ok. We'd like to stay."

Buffy smiled a thin line and gestured to Dawn. "This would be your area of expertise. Show everyone around and find them somewhere to set up?"

And with that she was gone and they were left in the hands of Xander, Faith and Dawn. Presumably to get settled in, yet all Daryl could do was marvel at this sudden turn of events.

They had been close to starvation not 24 hours earlier, roaming the woods aimlessly, and now here they were. With a new group that seemed to actually have their shit together, in some small capacity at least. He wondered how quickly it would fall apart again.

"I'm not sure how you all prefer your sleeping arrangements but we don't have a whole lotta room in the main house anymore. There's a pretty big guest house though and a smaller super cute shed type thing that I think the previous owners used as a drawing room or an art studio. I don't know, but it's adorable and could probably fit two of you in there with the rest in the guest house."

Daryl looked over at Carol next to him who was trying to hide a smirk at Dawn's ramblings and descriptions of the sleeping quarters. Like anything being super cute made any sort of difference whatsoever.

In the end they'd been shown both structures and then left alone to make their own decisions about who would go where. Xander called out as he and the other two walked off. "Once you get settled come up to the main house. Vi's making some kind of stew concoction for dinner that could be amazing or …something else. I say we all find out together."

Once they were alone Daryl immediately called dibs his preference.

"I'll take the adorable art shed." His voice was completely deadpan and Carol snorted. Then surprised him by volunteering to stay there with him.

She side eyed him. "What? I like art."

She did like that piece they'd found in Atlanta that looked like a dog wiped it's ass along the canvas. That was all it was. She liked art and he had just acquired an art shed whatever the fuck that was. Naturally she'd want to stay there. It all made perfect sense when he thought of it like that. Then he suddenly realized he was actually thinking about it and abruptly shifted his focus back to the others and their discussion about arrangements.

They split off to their respective spaces, the shed only a few dozen feet away from the main guest house which really was gigantic and easily accessible. Being separated wouldn't be that much of a danger if they could spit and hit their neighbor anyway.

Daryl entered the shed with Carol close behind him and they both stopped abruptly in the doorway. It was small yes, but Dawn's definition of a shed was entirely different than their own. He shook his head a moment and couldn't believe he was having the thought at all, but it really was fucking adorable. Dammit.

The space was open with a small kitchen at the back, cozy living area at the front, and a single bedroom in the corner attached to the bathroom. The floors looked like old barn wood planks and the kitchen cabinets where a soothing teal blue. By the window stood an art easel with a blank canvas and several other paintings on the ground. Some half done with images of birds and horses on them and others totally white.

He chanced a glance at Carol and tried to puzzle out her expression. "Ya'll right?"

She nodded, looking for all the world like she was most certainly not all right.

"Just feels…too good to be true. What if it doesn't work?"

He knew what she meant. What if they thought they'd found sanctuary when in reality they'd walked into a trap. Or worse. These people being legit wouldn't mean an end to the worry, they could be weak, a hinderance, and if they needed to be carried it would only be a strain on his already fragile group. They could barely carry themselves right now.

Still, he couldn't help but be hopeful. Even just a little. They'd spent so long struggling, didn't they deserve a rest? Hadn't they all earned it?

He nodded at her, chewed his lip a moment and then offered the only thing he could think of to say in response.

"What if it does?"