Disclaimer: AMC owns the story and characters of The Walking Dead, I just own this plot in particular, and the OCs, those too.

Author's note: I feel like I needed an early update to get me out of the funk after being sick all weekend (awful, too damn awful), giving you new chapters always perks me up and gives me inspiration to write more! So, I present you with a new chapter, a bit earlier. The countdown is going strong, with only 4 weeks until we meet the man. Now, onto the chapter…

After

Alexandria, VA

Jessie's eyes were red rimmed and her shoulders were hunched as she cried.

Tory offered her a cotton tissue and a cup of heavily sweetened chamomile tea, before sitting across from her at the kitchen island. They really didn't need words. Jessie knew that Tory didn't approve of her and Pete staying together for the sake of staying together to keep peace at Alexandria. Tory knew Jessie was too used to Pete and their way of life with their children to actually leave the man.

"Rick shouldn't have hit, Pete." Jessie started.

"Pete shouldn't hit you or the boys, it doesn't really stop him, though." Tory commented, trying to keep her voice warm for her friend, who winced anyway.

"Deanna called for a reunion tonight." Jessie deflected, sipping at the tea. "She wants' to discuss the new arrivals."

Tory groaned quietly.

"Now you sound like Pete, Jess!" Tory exclaimed without raising her voice. "That group needs a chance. Everyone here gave me and Dad a chance." The brunette defended.

"It was the two of you, Tory." Jessie defended. Tory blinked stupidly and then frowned.

"So, if it had been more of us things would have been different?" she asked. "Is that what you mean?"

Jessie sighed, knowing she'd made a mistake.

"Jessie, people can be dangerous alone too. You've seen my tape. You know that." Tory passed a hand through her hair, avoiding her friend's gaze. "And I wasn't out there that long."

"It was different, you were a kid." Jesse contradicted.

"So is Carl." Tory retorted. "If Deanna kicks Rick out, he won't go alone." No, they would follow him or take over Alexandria. Tory thought. "Think about his little girl, Jess. Carl is Ron's age, would you throw Ron out there? I was out there when I was their age."

Jessie's eyes watered again, thinking about the little blue eyed baby that Tory still had a hard time looking at. About her son and then her friend…

"The…They-" Jessie started to cry and Tory took one of her hands with both of hers. "I don't want anyone to get hurt."

"I'm sorry, Jess." Tory lied.

She wasn't sorry about Pete, not a bit. The young woman stood up and went to look for something inside one of the kitchen cabinets. After a brief search, Tory yipped in triumph, taking out a bottle of bourbon. "For your tea."

Jessie laughed, giving her young friend a watery smile. "Didn't you leave alcohol for good?"

The brunette shrugged. "I have some demons, Jess." Tory twisted the cap and opened the bottle. "So, let it all out, ma' girl."

Jessie wiped the tears away as Tory poured the liquor onto Jessie's tea.

Tory's arm trembled a bit with the familiar burn of her forearm as she twisted the cap of the bottle back on.

You better get me those numbers, Si. It's fucking important.

Jessie read the words aloud. "Not very polite right?" she commented. Tory shook her head.

"You have no idea."

Jessie closed her eyes and sighed. "I met Pete because of those."

Tory almost choked on her own tea. "What? You've got a soulmate? Is it Pete?!"

Jessie shook her head.

"He said the exact same words as my soulmate in the right moment." Jessie snorted in derision. "It was some shitty serendipity for him."

Tory's wide-eyed look made Jessie laugh.

"I realized until I was already married to him." Her friend said. "My soulmate died and I tattooed over the words." Jessie showed Tory the owl under her right breast. "I never wanted to read them again."

Pete had tricked Jessie.

And you want me to leave alcohol? Damn it, Jess. Tory thought, taking a longer sip this time and wishing the tea was all bourbon.

The Sanctuary, VA

"You looking at those number again?" a raspy sweet voice asked.

Negan turned his eyes to his bed and drank in the look of his naked wife over his dark grey sheets. Martha's coffee-like eyes were fixed on him.

"Someone's gotta do this shit." Negan answered, turning back to his books. "The Hilltop is not delivering their due."

Martha slid off the bed, taking the silky sheets with her to then sit by Negan's side, basking on the heat he offered. "What about the dove-place?" his wife asked, reading over the lines as well. Negan grunted something unintelligible, and Martha laughed.

"What's it?" she laughed.

"Doveport." Negan growled, whatever underline his tone, Martha preferred to ignore it.

"So, Doveport." Martha repeated.

"Doveport is fine, most of the outposts are fine." Negan said, scribbling something in another notepad. "It's just the Hilltop."

Martha sighed and leaned her head on Negan's shoulder. "Maybe they are having it difficult. You know we do too."

Negan sighed, closing his eyes and rubbing them softly, trying to get rid of the sleepiness he felt. "They can fucking go through this whole shit again, but M, we're providing them with protection." He said. "They gotta give something in return."

Martha nodded silently and rubbed Negan's chest. "Let me help you with those, you need some sleep."

"Angel-face…" he started.

"No, let me take care of you…a bit. Just once." She murmured, kissing his cheek softly.

Negan chuckled, he liked Martha so much right now…caressing her sweet face, he kissed her lips lightly.

As Negan removedhis hand away from Martha's face, he winced in pain and pushed away from her.

"What the hell, Negan?" she whimpered, completely astonished. It was too late though, she saw the words, marked in his skin in handwriting, dark and pretty.

I'm sorry, Deanna, he's gone.

"You have a soulmate." Martha whispered after her initial shock. "A damn soulmate."

Negan sighed and stood up. "Is just some shitty baggage, angel. Nothing for you to be concerned about."

Alexandria, VA

When had it had gone all to shit?

Tory and Tom exchanged looks, with similar thoughts running through their minds.

These people are right.

Whatever father Gabriel had told Deanna, Tory felt inclined to ignore and it seemed some other Alexandrians thought the same. Jessie stepped to the front, her arms crossed over her chest.

"I don't see Gabriel here tonight." she said. "If he said Rick and his people are bad, that is something he said to you, Deanna."

Deanna frowned at Jessie, her glaring eyes fell on Maggie. "Where's Rick?"

Maggie nodded and muttered a rushed 'excuse me' as she left the Monroe's patio. Tory saw Carol narrow her eyes slightly and she knew something was up.

Everyone wanted to protect their family, but no one wanted to act. Tory wanted to curse them all and their hypocritically worried faces and mutters.

Of course, throwing a cadaver in the middle of Deanna's patio was something to be frowned upon…and disgusting too.

Rick was bloody and out of breath as he stood straight. "There wasn't a guard at the gate, it was open!" he panted.

Tory gasped in surprise, watching Spence as he paled visibly, even in the darkness of the patio. Deanna's betrayed look just added to that. "I asked Gabriel to close it."

"Go!" his mother ordered.

Tory's eyes went back to Rick, who was still trying to regain his breath. The air was a bit humid and the stench of the dead body made Tory nauseous as they all watched the town's constable.

"I didn't bring it in. It got in on its own." He growled, as if daring those present to challenge him. "They always will." Rick continued, turning to Reg and Deanna. "The dead and the living, because we're in here. And the ones out there?" he made a brief pause and look down, shaking his head. "They will haunt us."

Tory felt a shiver run down her spine, the cool air of the night seemed to be permeating through her skin, making her shake. She knew what Rick meant.

"They'll find us, they'll try to use us, and they will try to kill us."

Damn it, Rick was right. And the scared faces of the people of Alexandria only made her feel worse, because she felt disgusted by their naivety. "But we'll kill them… We will survive." Everyone held their breath. "I'll show you how."

Deanna and Reg's faces told Tory everything she needed to know.

What they thought of Rick.

Crazy.

Deranged.

He certainly looked the part.

"Hell, I was thinking." Rick made a pause, looking at the dead roamer. "I was thinking how many of you I would have to kill to save your lives."

Tory tensed, wishing she had Henry's knife on her. Her Dad grabbed her wrist and exchanged a look with her.

"But I'm not gonna do that." Grimes nodded to himself. "You're going to change."

The tone of his voice changed then, it was more determined…leading. "I'm not sorry for what I said last night." He rasped. "I'm sorry for not saying it sooner."

Tom deflated besides her. This speech was not going to end well.

"You're not ready, but you have to be. Right now, you have to be." He approached the tiny crowd. "Luck runs out."

Tory caught Jessie shaking her head, side to side.

"You're not one of us."

Heads turned to the patio's entrance, where Pete was standing. He had Michonne's sword with him. "You're not one of us!" he shouted.

Reg tried to stop and calm him down. His comforting voice was being drown by Pete's unintelligible shouting.

"Pete, you-you don't wanna do this!" the oldest Monroe urged.

"Get the hell away from me, Reg!" Pete screamed.

"Stop, Pete! STOP!" Reg shouted over the surgeon. Michonne had her hands fisted as everyone held their breath. Pete's angry muttering escalated again as he fought Reg off. Tom's body stood in alert, ready to shout at them to stop when it happened.

The angle of the sword was turned up and Pete had a strong grip on the handle as he pushed Reg away.

"GET AWAY!" Pete exclaimed, slicing through the air with the katana, making the steel slide through Reg's flesh as if it were butter. Deanna and Jessie screamed in horror as Abraham and Michonne tackled Pete and wrenched the sword out of his hands.

Carol walked up to Rick and Tom noticing the gleam of a gun, but Tory pushed him behind her and ran to Reg and Deanna. Tory fell to her knees trying to stave of the blood flow as Deanna cried and Reg tried to tell her something.

There was nothing to be done. Nothing they could do.

"No, my love." Deanna pleaded to her husband as he stopped moving.

"I'm sorry, Deanna. He's gone." Tory said, feeling the leader of Alexandria shake with her husband's body in her arms.

She heard Deanna as the older woman gave her permission for Pete's execution.

The shot and Jessie's scream told her everything.

Tory took the pen she'd used to bun her hair earlier and looked for the soft tissue behind Reg's ear. Deanna cried as the grey-eyed girl punctured her dead husband's brain.

Deanna clutched at Tory's wrist and kept crying, muttering Reg's name over and over again.