Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Walking Dead. My enjoyment of creating this story is the only payment I receive.

Chapter 2: A Long Road Traveled

"Amazing….I had no idea something like this existed." I breathed as I stood in quiet awe looking up at the massive walls.

Rick nodded his head in understanding. It was an impressive sight.

"Open the gates!" Daryl shouted at a pretty hispanic girl on a lookout platform.

The door rolled to the side revealing what was hidden behind the walls. I followed Daryl through and saw houses. Tons of houses, gorgeous houses. It was unreal; kids playing in the streets and people actually gardening and cleaning up their lawns.

"Here we are.", said Rick. "This is Alexandria, a little community that has been here since the start. I'm going to get you settled in one of the houses for now. You will have to share the space with others, but it's not so bad. I'll wait outside while you drop off your stuff and then I have some people that will want to meet you."

"That's okay. I would rather keep my bag with me while I meet these other people" I replied.

This place seemed too good to be true, I had no intention of leaving my backpack of 2 water bottles and a few cans of tuna anywhere without me.

Rick nodded his head and started walking again. I just followed along behind him, trying to ignore the stares I was getting from some of the residents.

We came up to a house where a teenage boy was sitting on the porch. In his arms a little girl, not even a toddler yet. I couldn't help but stare at the pair. The boy had his head and eye wrapped in a white bandage. Sitting on top of his head, was a sheriff's hat. He stared at me intently back. The same stare as the man who I was following. These two were definitely related. I gave the teen a small smile and nodded my head in his direction as I passed by them following Rick into the house. His expression never changed.

Once inside, Rick took me to the kitchen. Bright and airy, something I would have liked before all this happened. I stood next to the island in quiet disbelief that all of this happened. Not even 12 hours earlier I was sitting next to a stream, cleaning off human remains from my body. Now I am standing in an upper middle class kitchen.

I shook myself out of my reflections as more people entered into the room.

"Alexa, here are some of my family I wanted you to meet." Rick started "There's Daryl, which you already know, Maggie and Glen, Carol, my son Carl and daughter, Judith."

As he said their names I glanced at each one. Maggie and Glen stood side by side, looking very much at ease leaning against the other side of the island. They had a welcoming look on their faces. Carol seemed to be a motherly type woman. She stood against the counter watching my reaction to Rick talking. Carl and Judith were near the entrance to the kitchen. Carl stood quietly, looking at his dad more than at me. Judith stared at me with open and childlike curiosity.

"We met Alexa here out in the forest earlier today. She was alone, and we offered for her to come back and join us if she wanted." Rick said.

"Hi Alexa", Maggie spoke in a pretty Southern accent, "It's nice to have you here. We haven't seen anyone around for a few weeks. Are you hungry? Can we get you a little something to eat?"

I wanted with every part of me to accept, but worried that if I did I would somehow have to pay it back. I shook my head "no" and just gave her a small smile.

"That's okay." I said, "I'm good for now and I have a few things with me."

"All right then…. You're all alone? You didn't have a group?" Maggie asked quietly and a little hesitantly.

I stood there, debating about how to answer. I didn't really want to get into much with them. Bring up the past.

"No, I didn't have a group when Rick and Daryl found me. I had been with a group, 4 of us, but they didn't make it. I had been on my own for a few days. I lost track. It hasn't been that long though."

"What happened to them?" Glen asked.

I stayed quiet for a moment, before answering, "They were killed. We found a group, we were low on food and out of water, pretty desperate. Well, we approached them, and when we didn't have anything to share with them, they got mad. And started shooting. We scattered, ran in any direction. Two were killed right there, not even a chance to get away. Sheila and I met back up in the forest. But she had been shot, kidney shot, and there was nothing I could do. She was one of the 4 that I mercy killed."

After I was done telling my short story, I took a breath and looked around. I didn't see any accusation, just understanding on their faces.

"So, about this place. It's nice of you to invite me here. But what's in it for you? What do people here have to do to earn their keep?"

"Well, we are a community. We all have jobs to do." Rick answered. "What did you do before?"

"I was a doctor. A pediatric oncologist actually. Another lifetime ago."

They all looked at each other, surprised expressions.

"That's fantastic! We lost our doctor, we have someone filling in and learning, but not an actual doctor. Would you like to see our clinic? We would love for you to be there. We could really use another doctor."

I looked at Rick. He seemed so genuinely happy that I was here. Against my better judgement, I actually started feeling excited. Hope for something better for me. And sad, that my husband wasn't here with me to share this. He would have loved seeing this. An actual community, where people seemed to care and want more. Not just surviving, but trying to build something.

I smiled at him. "Let's go. I would love to see your clinic and help if I can."

Carol pushed off from the counter that she had been resting against and spoke up, "Rick, she can stay in my house if she hasn't already settled somewhere."

"Great! Why don't you take Alexa and drop off her stuff and then head over to see Denise at the clinic?" Rick responded.

People started drifting towards to door, saying goodbye's as they left. I grabbed my bag and started to turn to the door as well when a hand on my shoulder stopped me.

"I'm really glad that you decided to join us back here. This will be a good thing for everyone. Come back after you talk with Denise and have dinner with us. We all would like to get to know you better and I'm sure you have some questions as well. I'll introduce to Aaron then. He usually does the recruiting; I know he will be anxious to meet you." Rick said as his hand lightly laid on my shoulder near my neck.

I had to take a breath before responding. I had butterflies from the unexpected touch. I couldn't remember the last time someone touched me out of kindness.

"Sounds good" I breathed staring into his bright blue eyes. "I'll see you later then."

He smiled and gave my shoulder a light squeeze before dropping his hand and stepping in front of me to open the door.

"See you" he responded.

I smiled and stepped through the door thinking it was crazy I actually had butterflies. I felt like a hormonal teenager. I heard Carol come up behind me and waited for her to lead the way. She passed by me quietly with just a smile and I followed.

Anxious to see the clinic and what was waiting there, I looked around as we walked. "Just amazing" I thought. It was hope. All around me; Hope.