Winter had come to the Kingdom. With winter came problems. Rot and fires, but the boiler finally breaking was the final straw.

"So, we're leavin'?" Daryl asked.

"Yes," Ezekiel said with a sigh as he surveyed the damaged buildings.

"When?"

"In a few hours."

Nodding, Daryl walked away when he saw Caroline and he walked closer. She had been able to save her backpack, the large envelopes and her crossbow when the main house caught fire, but she had lost her quiver, her vest, the squirrel skull necklace and her motorcycle helmet. She stood next to the motorcycle as she sighed and Daryl stood next to her. He still remembered how happy she looked during the festival and how she jumped up and down when she beat him in the archery contest.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey," she said.

"We're leavin' soon."

"Yeah. Carol told me we're goin' to Hilltop," she said and he looked at the motorcycle.

"You gas it up?"

"Yeah, but it's not built for ridin' in the snow."

"I put mine in one of the wagons. We can put yours in there, too."

"We can?"

"Yeah."

He carefully turned her to face him as they locked eyes and they had a silent conversation. She nodded as he patted her shoulders and they went to go help the others get ready to leave.

The caravan was ready to leave as Caroline pushed the motorcycle by the wagons then she stopped when Jerry appeared in front of her.

"Daryl said you're traveling with me and my family," he said and she nodded then he looked at the motorcycle. "Let's get this in the other wagon.

"Is there gonna be enough room for my bike as well as Daryl's?" she asked.

"Oh yeah," he said with a grin. He picked up the motorcycle as he carried it to the wagon and Caroline half-ran to catch up with him.

As they approached the lead wagon, Jerry's kids waved to her as she waved back and Jerry smiled. He helped her onto the wagon as he closed the back then he walked around the front.

"Miss Caroline, why aren't you riding your bike?" Ezra asked.

"It's not able to move through the snow," Caroline said.

"Even if you go really fast!?"

"Ezra," Nabila said with a smile then she held out her hands. "Here. These are for you."

"Thank you," Caroline said, taking the rabbit fur hat and some fingerless gloves and she placed them on. A few seconds later, the caravan started moving and Caroline looked outside, watching Daryl leading the caravan down the road.

Sanctuary

Daryl walked by the others while the wind screeched against the glass and the snow swirled outside the windows. They had been able to get some fires going so they had heat and light and Nabila and some of the other women were serving food to those who were hungry. He thought about those they had lost before they had to leave the Kingdom and he slid his hands deep into his jean pockets. He found Caroline sitting against the wall as he walked to her then he sat down on the floor. He noticed the rabbit fur hat on her head as she pushed the hat up with her finger and she gave him a blank look.

"Nice hat," he said.

"Nabila gave it to me," she said. She went back to looking at the window across from her as she placed her wrists on her knees and he moved a little closer. They sat in silence when she turned her head to look at him and he waited for her to say something. "I used to love the winter."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Dad and I would make a snowman or have snowball fights. If school was closed, he would take me to the office so I wouldn't have to spend time with…"

"With her?" he asked and she nodded her head.

"I was never big on sleddin'. Or ice skatin'."

"I tried that once. Fell on my ass so many times, I gave up.," he said and she smiled.

"Just before Christmas, Dad and his biker friends would save up and rent a lodge in the mountains."

"Christmas sucks. I never got anythin' from Santa."

"Never?"

"Nope."

They went silent as she took the rabbit fur hat off and she placed the hat on her lap.

"Want me to tell you about the lodge?" she asked and he nodded. "It had a large main hall with the kitchen and the dinin' hall at the back. There were these big stone fireplaces and a huge pine tree was at the center of the room. The owner of the lodge said they built the lodge around the tree and they had someone who watered and took care of it. There was this fence around it so the kids didn't climb on it. The guest rooms were on the other three floor and Dad used to reserve the right corner room on the top floor. The view was amazin'."

"Sounds nice."

"It was. After we unpacked, Dad would go talk with some of his biker friends and I would go outside to hang out with the other kids."

"Did you get into trouble?"

"Sometimes," she said with a grin. "One of the things I know you would've liked is the huntin'."

"You were allowed to hunt?"

"Hell yeah. Though not with rifles. The noise might cause an avalanche."

"Is that how you learned how to use a crossbow?" he asked and she nodded.

"On Christmas mornin', we would wake up and have a big breakfast. After breakfast, we opened presents."

"How long did you stay there?"

"We stayed until a day or two after New Year."

He felt a sense of anger coming from her as he nudged her shoulder and she sighed.

"Sorry. I was just thinkin' about this one Christmas," she said.

"What happened?" he asked.

"We went to the lodge like we always did. I even went ice fishin' with some of my biker friends."

"I tired that once. Nearly froze my ass off," he said and she smiled.

"One of my presents was this cool leather jacket. It had a crossbow painted on the back with two arrows crossed under it," she said and she crossed her wrists to show him what the design looked like. "A week later, Dad and I were goin' to a bike show in Miami and I wanted to wear the jacket. I looked in my closet, but it was gone. I asked Dad where my jacket was, but he had no idea He went to ask her if she had seen it and she… She told him she had returned it to the store and she used the money to help pay for her new juicer."

"What's a juicer?" he asked. Smiling, she explained as he nodded his head and she gently bumped her knee against his. "What did he do?"

"He took the juicer, went into the garage and he used this small sledge hammer he had to smash it to bits."

Daryl snorted a laugh as she shrugged when he thought of something and he pressed his lips together.

"Why did he stay married to her?" he asked.

"I think he was afraid he'd lose custody of me if they got divorced. Or they would find out the adoption wasn't legal."

"It wasn't?"

"The place I went to when I found out I was adopted found out the adoption agency which handled the adopt dealt in illegal…black market…adoptions."

"The Old Man said he was paid to keep it a secret."

"Right. And, if they were found out, they would all go to jail and you, me and Merle would have ended up in Foster Care."

"Nah, I think Merle and I would've ended up livin' with Gram."

"Not if she couldn't afford t'take care of both of you."

He went silent as they looked toward the window and the snow swirled wildly.

"When we had that dream, I noticed somethin'," he said.

"What?"

"Jessie. She looked like a Walker. But it was the hole in her forehead that stood out. It looked she got one of yer fishhook specials."

"She did," she said. She was reluctant to tell him about what happened then she sighed and she told him. Daryl nodded his head while she blinked her eyes a few times and he placed his right hand on top of her left hand. "It's funny."

"What is?"

"When I had to say goodbye to my friends before I left Boston, I cried. When Dad died, I cried. When Benji… When I had to kill him, I cried. But I was surprised when I cried after she died."

"I cried after I killed Merle. I cried when… When Ma died. I cried when the Old Man died. I guess the reason we did was because it wasn't about what they did, but who they are."

Caroline understood what he meant as she nodded and she leaned to place the side of her head against his right shoulder. He looked at her when he moved his right arm around her and they watched the snow swirling outside the window.

It had been decided the best way to get to Hilltop was to cut through Alpha's territory, but the snow and icy cold wind made traveling slow. They had encountered some frozen Walkers and Caroline was surprised when Daryl had given her his lighter and some crossbow arrows before he, Michonne and Ezekiel had gone on ahead.

"Shit!" Jerry said as he fired his rifle and the Walker's head exploded. Caroline took aim as she pulled the trigger and the arrow slammed into the forehead of a Walker. She wished she still had her fishhook arrows as she sighed and reloaded the crossbow.

"Hey, C, wanna see a cool trick?" Benji's voice asked and she blinked her eyes a few times. Her mind quickly replayed the time he had taught her how to make fire arrows by using pine tar and she frowned.

"Where the hell am I gonna find pine tar?" she whispered and she pulled the trigger. She watched the Walker fall while Jerry fired the rifle and she reloaded the crossbow. Suddenly, a blast of cold air moved through her as the sound of chanting filled her ears and she lowered the crossbow to cover her ears. She then looked at the pine tree she was standing next to when she saw a thick liquid moved down the frozen bark and she smiled. She dipped the tip of the arrow into the pine tar when she adjusted the setting on the crossbow then she used Daryl's lighter to light the pine tar. She lifted the crossbow as she took aim then she pulled the trigger. The arrow sailed through the air then hit the Walker in the forehead and the Walker's skull flared in a red light before the Walker fell to the ground.

"Damn," Jerry whispered as he gave her a smile and Caroline nodded. They headed back toward the wagons, but they failed to see the large bear paw prints in the snow. A blast of snow covered the prints and the soft sound of flutes and drums floated through the air.

Hilltop

Daryl looked a little beat up as he approached Caroline after he walked by the gate and she gave him a small smile. He shook the snow out of his hair as he looked at her and she gave him a hug. A warm feeling moved through him then they moved back and he titled his head to one side.

"Where's yer hat?" he asked. Caroline hadn't noticed she had lost the rabbit fur hat at some point as she shrugged and he sighed. She noticed Lydia and Carol were missing as she frowned and she looked at her twin.

"Where're Carol and Lydia?" she asked. She had only talked with Lydia once or twice and she was surprised when she found out Lydia was Alpha's daughter. She knew what it was like to have a controlling, abusive mother and she had a long talk with her after Henry had been killed.

"Lydia ran off and Carol went to look for her."

"Why didn't you go with her?"

"I didn't know either of them were gone until Michonne told me."

They became silent as some snow fell around them and she saw the sadness in her twin's eyes.

"Are we stayin' here?" she asked.

"Nah. Michonne and some of the others wanna get back to Alexandria."

"I wasn't talkin' about them," she said. He understood what she meant. He had wondered if he could go back to Alexandria without Rick being there and he crossed his arms over his chest. She waited for him to say something when he sighed and he shook his head.

"No more runnin'."

"Right," she said, handing him back his lighter and he placed the light in his vest pocket.

"You wanna leave yer bike here? You can use mine if you wanna."

"Yeah. I'll go ask Jerry to look after it," she said as she ran off and he watched her talking with Jerry. Jerry nodded as she gave him a hug and Jerry laughed. After saying goodbye to Ezekiel and the others, Daryl led the way as Caroline walked with Michonne and they headed down the road.

Alexandria

The gate opened as they walked inside and Michonne ran to hug Judith. Dog ran to Daryl and Caroline as Daryl knelt down to ruffle the dog's fur and Caroline smiled. She saw Lydia and Carol walking by the gate as she nudged Daryl and he stood, looking at Carol. Michonne watched RJ crawling out from behind a snowdrift as she picked him up and Judith ran to hug Daryl and Carol. Caroline sat on a crate after she cleaned the snow off and Dog sat next to her. She watched Daryl starting a snowball fight with Judith and RJ as she smiled and she stroked the top of Dog's head.

"Hey!" made her looked over at Daryl when a snowball hit her in the face and he laughed. Caroline stood up as she glared at Daryl and Daryl felt a small sense of anger coming from her.

"Uh oh," RJ said after Caroline wiped the snow away and she made a large snowball. Daryl laughed as he tried to get out of the way, but she managed to hit his right shoulder and he made a snowball. She dodged it when she saw Gabriel tossing a snowball at Rosita and she got a sly look on her face.

"Hey, Preacher Man!" she called out. Gabriel turned just as a snowball hit him in the face and his mouth fell open. He wiped the snow away when he looked at her and Caroline shrugged her shoulders at him.

"I see that I am forgiven," he said and she nodded before she ran off.

Daryl and Carol were helping RJ and Judith make a snowman. He was kneeling down on his haunches, but he didn't notice Caroline sneaking up on him and she placed her right index finger against her lips. She carefully moved the top of his poncho back to slid some snow down his neck, but he stood up, spun around and she back up. He saw her drop the snow onto the ground as he arched an eyebrow and she cleared her throat.

"What were you gonna do?" he asked.

"Nothin'," Caroline said with an innocent look.

"She was gonna put snow down your back," RJ said.

"RJ!" Judith scolded.

"She was!"

Daryl glared at his twin as Caroline slowly raised her hands, but he made a loud growl and she ran. He took after her as she tried to find a place to hide and they heard people cheering Daryl on. She yelped after he came up behind her then he wrapped his arms around her waist and he lifted her off the ground.

"Put me down!" she cried.

"Say it!" he said, trying to keep his balance.

"Say what!?"

"Say Uncle!"

"Never!"

Her legs pumped as she tried to get loose when Daryl lost his balance and they fell backward into the large snowdrift. Snow flew around them as they rested on their backs and they glanced at each other. He flicked a handful of snow at her as they broke out laughing and they bumped the back of their hands together.

The snow fell around him while Daryl walked along and he saw people cleaning off the sidewalks, clearing the street or sweeping off the snow off the steps. He looked up as the snow floated down onto his face and he felt like he was floating up toward the sky. He lowered his head when he saw Caroline Judith, Lydia and RJ and they had their heads leaned back. He wondered what they were doing as he walked closer and he folded his arms over his chest.

"What're you doin'?" he asked.

"Catching snowflakes on our tongues," Judith said.

"Why?"

"It's fun!" RJ said.

Daryl leaned his head back as he stuck his tongue out and he felt a snowflake landing on his tongue. The snowflake melted as he slid his tongue back in his mouth and he frowned.

"You can't just catch one," Judith said.

"Yeah," RJ said, sticking his tongue out so he could catch a snowflake.

"Come on, Daryl," Lydia said. Sighing, he leaned his head back while he stuck his tongue out and he closed his eyes. Caroline felt a sense of calm and peace coming from her twin as she smiled and he opened his eyes.

"Now what can we do?" RJ asked. Caroline looked around when she saw a clean patch of snow and she got an idea. She turned as she fell backwards into the snow and she started moving her arms and legs. Daryl walked to her as he looked down and she smiled up at him.

"What are you doin'?" he asked.

"Makin' snow angles," Caroline said. RJ, Lydia and Judith went to join her as Daryl watched then he shrugged and he turned, falling into the snow. She told him what to do as he moved his arms and legs, but none of them noticed Carol watching them from the window. She smiled at Daryl having fun then she sighed, walking away.

Negan rested on the bed as he watched Michonne leaving the room and he sighed. He never wanted to be a hero, but he didn't like the idea of Judith or Dog freezing to death. The dull pain moving up and down his leg reminded him he was alive and he looked down at his feet.

"Hey," made him looked at the doorway as Negan looked at Caroline and Daryl and Negan nodded his head for them to enter the room. Caroline walked in first as she went to stand near the bed and she placed her behind her back.

"Well hello, Wild Thing. Choke the fuck out of anyone lately?" he teased.

"No, but I did set some Walkers' brains on fire," she said then told him about the fire arrows.

"Fuck, you are hard core."

"And you're still alive," Daryl said, walking to the bed and Negan looked at him.

"Not from a lack of trying. I was sure my ass was fucked when it started snowing and I was still in my cell. That preacher of yours decided to let me stay with them instead."

"He told me you went after Judith when she went to find Dog."

"Well, she's a nice kid. And I knew you'd be fucking pissed off if anything happened to your mutt."

"Yeah."

"Does this mean I'm not going back to my cell?"

"For now,"

Nodding, Negan sighed when he winced and he saw concern in Caroline's eyes.

"You good?" she asked.

"I'm a little uncomfortable. Mind helping me find a sweet spot?" he asked. Caroline looked at Daryl as Daryl nodded and she moved closer. Negan moved a little forward as she helped him shift position when she slid a chunk of snow down Negan's shirt and his eyes widened. "Son of a bitch!"

He slid his hand out his shirt as he removed the snow and Caroline smiled. He watched them head for the door when Daryl turned and he looked at Negan. He nodded his thanks to him as Negan nodded back then they left the room. Feeling the coldness of the snow moving over his hand, Negan folded his fingers over the snow then he tossed the snow at the wall.

"Damn," he whispered and his laughter echoed down the hallway.