The group waited as the gates began opening; a rustling sound came from the bush, causing them to prepare their weapons; a possum ran out of the bushes, and Daryl shot it with his crossbow and picked it up. When they turned back around, a curly haired man was glaring at Daryl. Chloe knew instantly that he was going to be difficult to get along with.
"We brought dinner." Daryl joked, as the group made their way through the gates.
Aaron sent Eric off with another man, heading to the infirmary.
"Before we take this any further," the man started. "I need you all to turn over your weapons; you stay, you hand them over."
We don't know if we want to stay," Rick implied.
"It's fine, Nicholas," Aaron stated. "Let them talk to Deanna first."
"Who's Deanna?" Abe asked.
"She knows everything you want to know about this place," Aaron replied. "Rick, why don't you start?"
Before Rick could answer, a walker walks up to the closed gates, snarling.
"Chloe."
Chloe turned around, and shot the walker in the head.
"It's a good thing we're here," Rick stated, walking away.
The group was taken to an apartment building and told to wait outside until they were called in; they were to give an interview to determine what they would do while living in Alexandria. Chloe watched the children playing, and noticed people having conversations.
"What do you think?" Morgan asked.
"I think this could be a place for us to live," Chloe answered. "But in all honesty, I don't want this for me. That Nicholas guy looks like he's a butt load to deal with."
"You don't know that," Morgan implied.
"Do you ever miss the old world?" Chloe asked.
"In the old world, I had a wife and son," Morgan answered. "That's the only thing I miss about it."
"I still miss my brother, but I wouldn't want to go back to my old life," Chloe admitted. "You know what, I'll be damned if this place is going to become another Woodbury. This Deanna woman better not try anything funny; I could tear a new one faster than-"
"Chloe, that's a little too violent!" Milton implied. "I know you're still in survival mode, but don't threaten anyone."
"Sorry, Dad." Chloe said. "Won't say that again."
"You better not," Milton warned. "And it's your turn."
"I don't know what I'm supposed to say." Chloe said, nervously.
"Well, for starters, you can keep all sarcastic comments to yourself," Milton replied. "You'll be fine, now get in there."
Chloe walked in to the apartment, which she noted was well furnished and very kept up. A woman walked to her with a smile on her face, and held out her hand; Chloe accepted the handshake.
"Hello, I'm Deanna Monroe."
"Chloe Mamet."
"Right this way, Chloe." Deanna stated, leading her into the living room. "Sit right there on the couch. You don't mind if I film our interview, do you?"
"No, not at all." Chloe replied, sitting on the couch.
"You seem nervous," Deanna noted. "Never given an interview before?"
"No," Chloe replied.
"Just do the best you can," Deanna advised. "What was your life like before all this?"
"I grew up in Fayetteville, Georgia," Chloe started. "I was a high school student, although I would have already graduated by now. I played on my school's soccer team, and was team captain; I was editor of the school newspaper and a member of the National Honors Society. I was planning on attending the University of Atlanta, but look at how things turned out."
"So, you had a busy life," Deanna noted. "What has it been like for you surviving?"
"In the beginning, I didn't want to live," Chloe admitted. "My father and I were in a town for a while, almost like this one. We left after a family friend went crazy and tried to kill us. I killed him; I had to. But I didn't do it to save me, I did it to save my father. I've killed many others, too. I've watched people get ripped apart. I had gotten to the point where I thought I was too far gone. It's either give up and die, or get off your ass and fight."
"What have you done for the group?" Deanna asked.
"I've gone on runs, pitched in with chores," Chloe answered. "Helped take care of Judith, saved their hides more times than I can count. They're my family; and while we're on the subject, there's something I need to discuss with you."
"Tell me what it is," Deanna said.
"My mom is pregnant," Chloe implied. "I need to know that this is a place where she can safely have the baby and he or she can grow up here and not have to worry about surviving."
"I promise you, we'll do everything we can." Deanna said, reassuringly. "In fact, Andrea brought that up, too when she was giving her interview. We have an infirmary where we can set up an ultrasound machine for her to check on the baby. And another thing, Chloe; your father told me that your biological mother and little brother died early on."
"Yeah, that was tough," Chloe admitted. "But I'm past that now. If one day I ever wake up and someone tells me I have to go back to my old life, I'd tell them to take a hike. Just out of curiosity, is that clock telling the actual time?"
"It sure is," Deanna replied.
"And those lights are working, and the faucets have running water?" Chloe asked.
"We have all the necessities," Deanna answered. "We have solar panels located on the Northeast side of this apartment building."
"So, if I wanted to play music on the radio, I could do that?"Chloe asked.
"You sure can," Deanna replied. "I'm thinking a supply runner for you, though I may change my mind about that."
"Great," Chloe said. "Just one more thing; do you have a soccer team? Or am I going to have to put one together?"
"I"ll give it some thought," Deanna responded, standing up. "That's all for now. I believe I have one more person to interview."
"I'll send him in." Chloe said, getting to her feet.
Chloe walked out of the apartment, and told Garth that it was his turn.
"And don't give her a hard time!" Chloe shouted after him as he walked into the apartment.
After the interviews were given, Deanna and another woman, Olivia brought a bin for the group to put their guns in. Carol pretended to struggle with getting the rifle off her shoulders.
"They're still your guns," Deanna noted. "You can check them out whenever you go beyond the wall, but in here we store them for safety."
"Should have brought another bin." Olivia joked, as she struggled with it.
The group was given two houses to live in; Rick decided that they would sleep together in the same house, in the same room for a few nights. Chloe noticed that Daryl was feeling out of place; he was out of his elements and had never had anything like this before in his life.
Chloe had been so busy looking around that she almost didn't notice a clean shaven Rick.
"Oh, my God!" she exclaimed. "Who are you and what have you done with Rick Grimes? And you got a hair cut, too!"
Rick chuckled. "I was expecting that kind of reaction from you."
"You look really good," Chloe said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go take a shower.
After taking a long hot shower, and changing into some clean clothes, Chloe took a pair of scissors and trimmed her hair, then put it up in a nice ponytail. Upon walking downstairs, Garth gazed at her.
"Garth, knock it off," Chloe responded "And go take a shower."
"Anything for you," Garth replied.
That night, the group prepared for bed; Deanna stopped by to check on them, waking Chloe in the process.
"Staying together." she noted. "Smart. You said you were a family."
"Everyone said you gave them jobs." Rick noted.
"I have something in mind for you." Deanna replied. "I'm just trying to figure out the others. I'll leave you all alone now. I see that I woke Chloe up."
Deanna left and Chloe was able to go back to sleep, only the be woken up by Garth, offering her a breakfast of dry cereal.
"Eat up, we're going to explore."
Chloe and Garth ate, then walked outside to explore the community and met several residents. Upon returning to the house, they found Carol stepping outside wearing khakis and a cardigan sweater, and Daryl gutting the possum he killed the previous day. Carol announced that her job was to make meals for the elderly, mothers who didn't feel like cooking and people who couldn't cook.
"Get to meet a lot of neighbors that way." she added. "Daryl, have you taken a shower? I'm going to wash that vest. We all need to keep up with appearances, even you."
"I ain't about to start." Daryl replied.
"I'll hose you down in your sleep." Carol said, as she walked down the steps.
"I'd like to see that." Garth whispered to Chloe.
"You look ridiculous!" Daryl shouted after Carol.
"I have to agree with him on that." Chloe whispered to Garth.
That afternoon, Chloe, Glenn and Noah checked out their guns, then met up with Nicholas and another man.
"Glenn, Chloe, Noah?" The man asked. "Nice to meet you, I'm Aiden; Deanna's son. You met Nicholas pulling gate duty."
"Hi," Nicholas said.
"We're just going to do a dry run today," Aiden replied. "Show you the terrain outside the walls. I understand that you all have experiences making supply runs."
"That's right," Glenn noted. "I saw your pantry, you guys seem to do pretty well."
"Yeah, well, had some training before this; ROTC," Aiden stated. "Was nearing lieutenant when this crap blew in."
"My dad did ROTC," Noah announced. "He didn't make it."
"I'm sorry," Aiden responded. "Come on, I"ll show you the ropes. Just follow my orders and this will go smoothly."
Aiden and Nicholas filled the three newcomers in on everything; increasing the radius, splitting the groups in two, sending a flare if needed.
"You have a good system," Chloe implied.
Aiden also noted that they had lost four people the previous month, who didn't follow the system.
Aiden and Nicholas lead the trio to a sight where they had a walker chained up.
"This roamer killed our former crew." Aiden announced "We managed to capture and restrain it. Remind us what we're up against."
"Hey, not to be a buzzkill, but your friend has escaped." Chloe replied.
"Crap!" Aiden exclaimed. "The blood is still wet, it's close."
The walker was found, and had tried to attack Chloe. Glenn jumped into action, stabbing it in the head, causing Aiden and Nicholas the be furious.
"I told you to follow my orders, listen to everything I said!" he shouted. "What the hell?"
"Yeah, what the hell?" Glenn asked. "You almost got Chloe killed!"
"You three need new gigs, you're not ready for runs yet!" Aiden chided.
Once back at Alexandria, Glenn accused Aiden of incompetence, causing Aiden to take a swing at Glenn, who dodged the fist and punched Aiden in the face, knocking him to the ground. Deanna rushed over. Daryl pushed Nicholas to the ground; Rick rushed over, pulling Daryl away.
"We don't need this." he said.
"Aiden, that's enough!" she scolded. "I want everyone to hear me; Rick and his people are part of this community now in all ways as equals. Understood?"
"Understood."
"All of you turn in your weapons." Deanna commanded, as she turned to Aiden and Nicholas. "Then you two come talk to me." she then turned to Rick. "I told you I have a job for you; I'd like you to be our constable; that's what you were, that's what you are. Do you accept?"
"Okay.." Rick replied.
"And you?" Deanna asked Michonne.
"Yeah, I'm in." Michonne replied.
Daryl scowled, as the grabbed his crossbow, and walked away. Deanna turned to Glenn.
"Thank you." she said.
"For what?" Glenn asked.
"For knocking him on his ass." Deanna responded.
That night, Rick decided that the groups could begin settling into their own homes; he also reminded the group that they should never let their guard down. They would make it work. If not, then they'd have to take this place.
