A scratched up black Mazda slowly made its way up the gravel driveway where Negan waited on the front step. He watched as three people, two men and a woman, exited the vehicle and immediately put their hands in the air.
"Not here for a fight," the front man spoke. He sported a black and red flannel shirt and jeans and put one hand on his chest. "I'm Matt."
Negan didn't say anything. He stood there with his gun in his hands and didn't move.
"This is Annie and behind me is Vince."
"What community are you a part of?" Negan asked. He wasn't about to say his name yet.
"The Manor," Matt informed them, "It was big neighborhood before the dead took over. We closed off a part of it and we've been living there for a while now."
"How many people?" Negan never set the weapon down.
"Fifty maybe."
Annie stepped forward. "We have a smile child too," she informed him. "He's two. There are supplies there that could be beneficial to your child."
Negan glanced over his shoulder for a second toward the window where Alexandra sat.
"Look," Matt went on, "I know it's odd that we were watching you, but it was for our safety and now it could help you. You'll run out of supplies eventually and then what?"
"Matt," Negan began. He took a step in their direction and then stopped. "Why in the hell do you want to help us out so bad?"
"We want numbers. We need numbers." He shrugged. "There are groups out there, some are good, some aren't. Either way, we're trying rebuild society again."
Alexandra opened the front door and stepped out onto the porch with Lucy in her arms, prompting Negan to whip around.
"Alexandra..." He stared at her.
"It's okay," she told him with a confident nod. Sarah came out a step behind her.
"You won't be able to stay safe here alone forever," Annie said, shaking her head. "That little one is too precious. We have walls. The dead ones can't get in."
Matt took a step toward them and Negan raised the gun. "Get back," he stated forcefully.
He put his hands up and took several steps back. "I'm not going to do anything to try to hurt anybody."
Alexandra put a hand on Negan's shoulder and he turned to look at her.
"I understand you're protecting your family," Matt went on, "You could help us out at The Manor too. Honestly, we need some tougher guys to help protect the borders. You seem like you could hold your own." He laughed nervously.
Alexandra pushed lightly on Negan's arm, urging him to point the gun downward. He took a deep breath and lowered the weapon but stared at them. "If you have a two year old son where is he now?"
"He's back home," Annie explained. "If we go out on runs together my sister Christina watches him. It isn't often we go out together." She shifted her eyes back and forth between Negan and Alexandra. "Is this your wife?"
"Yeah." Negan didn't take his eyes off the three of them.
"Where did you come from?" Vince finally chimed in.
Alexandra took the lead. "We were living in a community about an hour from here and another group of people attacked us. They broke down the gates with a truck and the walkers got in. They took him hostage, locked him in a basement. I was pregnant at the time, and I thought he was dead until Sarah discovered he was alive but imprisoned."
"We broke him out and found this house," Sarah finished.
"Who were these people?" Annie asked.
"Just a bunch of assholes with an agenda," Negan responded.
There was a brief silence and then Matt spoke again. "We'd love it if you would consider joining us. Let us show you what we have. People have jobs. There's food. We have a small orchard kind of growing with fruit - apples, pears..." He shrugged.
Alexandra looked to Negan again and he turned to her, and then back to the three strangers. "Give us a fuckin' minute."
"Sure." Matt backed away and towed Annie with him.
Negan towed Alexandra a few steps closer to the house and they spoke quietly.
"These people could be telling the truth," Alexandra whispered.
"They could be," Negan responded, "But they could also lead us into a fucking ambush."
"They could've brought people back here already. We didn't even know they existed, so it would've been easy for them. I think we should go look around. If the have walls and there are other children there."
Negan gritted his teeth and stared down at Lucy in her arms. "If something happened to you..." He shook his head.
"They're right," Alexandra went on. She looked down at Sarah as she stared up at them. "Sooner or later we'll run out of supplies, or someone else will come along and we might not be so lucky." She took a deep breath. "I think we have to try." Alexandra glanced down at Lucy. "I wouldn't put her life in danger. My intuition is telling me that this is okay."
"Mother's intuition..." Negan stared at and took a deep breath. He ran a hand over the top of Lucy's head.
"Exactly."
Negan pulled her forehead to his lips and kissed her. "Fuck... alright." He looked at Sarah, "What do you think kid?"
"What the fuck do we have to lose?" Sarah asked. A small smile took over her face and Negan managed a half grin. He then turned back to Matt, who sat on the hood of the car.
"We get to keep all of our weapons," Negan said. "And we'll follow you to your place."
Matt nodded. "That's fair. We won't try to take any of your things."
"You'll have your own house," Annie explained, "Whatever you have here you can bring with you. There's hot water. Electricity."
"That sounds great," Alexandra finally said with a smile.
Negan held a hand out as he approached them with Alexandra at his heels. He made sure he was in front of her just in case. "I'm Negan," he said, exchanging a firm handshake with Matt. "This is my wife Alexandra." He looked back at her as he said the word 'wife' and she smiled at him.
"What's your baby's name?" Annie asked.
"Lucy," Alexandra explained.
"She's beautiful."
Sarah cleared her throat and Annie laughed lightly. "This can't be your daughter, too..." She looked to Alexandra.
"This is Sarah."
"I'm kind of like the adopted daughter slash little sister, slash sidekick."
Matt smirked and then let out a chuckle. "We have some classes that kids your age take at our place, ya know. Like school."
"School?" Sarah made a face, but then looked at him more directly. "Other kids?"
He nodded. "Yeah... a handful of them."
Sarah looked at Alexandra and they shared a smile.
"So... what do you say?" Matt asked. He looked at Negan. "Follow us?"
Negan stared at him for a moment. "What's in it for you?"
"Just the additional numbers... and maybe some extra muscle from you in protecting our place." He held a hand out again and Negan looked down, shaking his hand once more.
"I'm all for being a part of a community," Negan explained, "But if you lead us into a fucked up situation..." He paused and looked down at the gun in his hands. "You'll be the first to go."
Matt shook his head and swallowed hard. "You won't be disappointed." He gave another nervous laugh. "I'm really glad you're going to be on our side."
