Chapter 60 Moving On to the Future

Aaron stepped out of his trailer and stretched. He looked around the yard at all the busy Hilltop people just getting their day started. The gardens were being tended to. The goats and the one cow they had were being milked. Some of the children were throwing feed to the chickens. And over to the right, where the sun was already touching a patch of grass, Paul was teaching a group of about a dozen people his fighting skills. Aaron watched Paul move slowly so that they could see his form. He spun and kicked, his muscle control phenomenal for someone moving at a fraction of the speed. He made it look like a dance, and Aaron was slightly jealous of his moves.

When Aaron first settled at the Hilltop, Paul offered to teach him his fighting skills, but he turned him down. Aaron's first responsibility was to baby Grace. She'd taken a liking to him, and he felt he needed to be the one to raise her. It was a huge decision on his part, but one that didn't take him much convincing, and he had a lot more spare time on his hands these days.

It had been six months since the end of the war. In that time, he was learning to be a father, something he never would have imagined happening to him. Grace was not too difficult of a child, although she had her moments. He wished he'd known how old she was or when she was born, but he was sure she wasn't a year yet. Grace was orphaned because of the Saviors, and in a way, Aaron felt the same. He'd lost Caleb, who was as close to having a son that Aaron had ever been. He'd lost many friends from Alexandria too, people who were like family to him. Most tragically, he'd lost Daryl, but in a different way. It was painful to think about him, but Aaron couldn't help it. From time to time, he wondered what he was doing, how he was getting along at the Sanctuary. Aaron had heard through reports that Daryl was doing as well as could be expected. He had the trust and respect of the majority of Savior survivors, but there were still those who rejected him. They were still heavily influenced by Negan's rule, even though their leader had been dethroned. Negan sat in a prison cell beneath Alexandria, with no chance of ever getting out.

Maggie kept her word, and worked hard to improve their way of life at the Hilltop. They had more crops than before, and they were producing weaponry that supplied not only themselves but the Kingdom also. The old FEMA trailers were refurbished and new housing had been built to accommodate all the new residents from Alexandria. The smithy had been expanded, and quite a few young men, as well as women, were learning the trade. It really was an amazing time of growth at the Hilltop, but Aaron couldn't deny the fact that he missed his home in Alexandria.

He'd learned through a letter from Rick to Maggie, that a lot of the houses had been damaged or destroyed. Aaron's house escaped the fires, but a hole had been blown into the front. The door and windows were gone, as well as part of the porch. He wished to see it for himself, but he couldn't afford to leave, not with Grace needing him all the time.

Enid was a huge help with the baby. It was because of Grace that Enid took up an interest in medicine. The baby had gotten sick, and Enid worked with Alex to learn the symptoms and what natural remedies would help. She started a medical herb garden, and learned quite fast about the different plants and their healing qualities.

"Good morning, Aaron," said Sheila, as she handed him a cup of coffee. She had been Caleb's girlfriend in a brief relationship just before his death. The poor girl had been completely distraught over losing him, but Aaron took her under his wing.

"Good morning," he smiled as he took the cup from her. He wrapped his hands around the mug to warm his fingers.

Sheila stood next to Aaron and followed his line of sight. "You thinking about joining Jesus' group?"

"I've been pondering it for a while. I think it would be good to learn another form of self-defense," he said.

"And the teacher is kind of hot," she teased, nudging Aaron's shoulder. "I gotta say, I like the new man-bun he's been sporting."

He laughed at the awkward moment. "Jesus is a friend, nothing more."

"Come on Aaron. You gotta live a little. I know you're still getting over him, but it's been six months and not a single word from Daryl or the Sanctuary."

"We were together for a long time, and it was serious. That's not something anyone can get over quickly. Besides, as I said, I don't see Jesus in that way. He's a friend, a close friend," Aaron argued.

"A close friend who you could get even closer to if you'd join his defense class, if you know what I mean."

"Sheila," Aaron started to complain.

"All right, I'll stop." She laughed when she saw the pink of his cheeks. "Still, I think it's a good idea to learn those moves. That would come in handy out there. I'll even babysit for you if you want to run over there and talk to him."

He knew she was still trying to set them up, but he really did want to talk to Paul about joining. "I'll just be a minute."

"Take your time," Sheila said, giving him a wink.

Aaron rolled his eyes at her, and made his way across the yard.

"Great. Good job everyone, and thanks for coming out here so early. I promise next time we'll begin at our usual time," Paul was telling his students. A couple people approached him to ask a question. Aaron stood to the side and waited for him to finish. As Paul was explaining a technique, he saw Aaron waiting for him, gave a quick smile, and continued with the young man inquiring about positioning. When everyone left, Paul went to Aaron. "Hey, what's going on?" he smiled in greeting.

"Not much. I was just watching your class. They're looking good," Aaron said.

"Thanks. They've come a long way. I think we're really making some progress," Paul said, proud of his students.

"You got a minute?" Aaron asked.

"For you, of course."

"I was wondering if I could join your group."

"I thought you said you were too busy with Grace," Paul pointed out. He had asked Aaron to join them before, but he was turned down.

"Sheila and Enid volunteered to babysit for me. And I'm needing something to do around here. Besides, I want to learn to do what you do."

"All right, but under one condition," Paul said.

"What?"

"You let me give you private lessons."

Aaron looked at him curiously. "It's because I'm not caught up with your class isn't it?"

"Actually, I've seen what you can do, and I know you're a fast learner. I think my class wouldn't be advanced enough for you. Let me teach you one on one, and I'll show you how to fight like me," Paul offered.

Aaron thought about it a moment. It would be nice to have a tutor, and he'd seen what Paul could do. Aaron wanted to learn all those unique moves. "Okay. Where do you want to meet?"

"You remember the secret stairs?" Paul asked, and Aaron nodded. "We'll meet on the roof to start with. That way we won't have any disturbances. Is tomorrow okay with you?"

"Yeah, that would be good," Aaron agreed. "Do I need to bring anything? My knife or a gun or something?"

"No. What I'm going to teach you, you won't need a weapon."

"Cool. I can't wait," Aaron said and smiled.

"Hey, have you had breakfast yet?" Paul asked.

"No."

"Want to grab a bite?"

"Sure," Aaron said, and they made their way to the dining area.

While they ate, they talked about a range of different subjects. Mainly, Paul was interested in Aaron's experience at being a father. He had a lot of questions about it, and Aaron was happy to answer him.

"At first, I didn't have a clue what I was doing, but I learned as I went along and now . . ." Aaron paused and smiled. "Now, I wouldn't trade it for anything. The best thing in the world is making her laugh. Grace has such a cute laugh, a real hearty giggle, you know? Aw man, it just warms my heart every time." As Aaron went on about Grace, Paul sat silent and attentive, watching Aaron talk, and keeping a smile as he listened. After a while, Aaron noticed and felt like he was dominating the conversation. "But you probably don't want to hear about it."

"I think it's fascinating," Paul said.

"You're just saying that. Most people don't want to hear about other people's children. I know because I use to be one of them."

"Actually, I think it's kind of awesome. I grew up in foster care, and I moved around a lot. I never really connected with anyone like you and Grace have. It's just nice to see it. I missed out on all of that. Then again, I was older when I went into the system, and everyone looks for babies when they're adopting." Paul sounded a little sad as he spoke.

"I'd like to know more of your story someday, whenever you feel like taking a trip down memory lane."

"Sure," Paul said. He studied Aaron's face a moment, as though he was trying to read his mind. "Have you … have you heard from Daryl lately?"

The light hearted mood switched to something a little tenser at the mention of Daryl. Aaron shook his head, and looked away from Paul. "We, uh, haven't talked or had any contact since he went to the Sanctuary. That was six months ago."

"I'm really sorry to hear that. I thought by now he would have sent a letter at least."

"I don't know what happened to us. For so long, things were really good. And of course, we had our moments. There were some really heated arguments followed by silence, but we always found our way back to each other. One of the last things he told me was that he needed some space, and I gave that to him. Not that I had much choice. But giving someone their space usually means keeping some form of contact. I worry that one day he'll tell me that it's definitely over between us."

"Aaron, it's been six months. I'd take that to mean it's over," Paul said. He regretted it as soon as the last word left his lips.

"I haven't given up on him yet. You don't know Daryl like I do. Space for him has a different definition than most people. And you can't push him either. That just makes things worse," Aaron defended. He knew it sounded pitiful, but he refused to give up on hope.

"So you're okay with waiting for Daryl to come around," Paul said, driving the point home. "No matter how long it takes."

Aaron stuck his chin out in a pugnacious gesture. "No matter how long." He could see Paul didn't agree with him, so he tried to explain further with excuses. "He's running the Sanctuary for goodness sake. I imagine that takes up a majority of his time. It's an important job he has now."

"More important than making amends with the man he loves?" Paul accused.

"He knows I'm there for him. He's needed somewhere else right now, but I know when he has a handle on it all, he'll come back and we'll finally be able to talk it out," Aaron said. It made perfect sense to him. "I know what I'm doing."

Paul put his hands up in surrender. "All right. I won't say another word."

Aaron nodded and went back to eating his breakfast, though his appetite was somewhat lessened.

The lessons started out as a once a week occurrence. They soon turned into several days a week, usually during the midday when Grace was napping. Week after week, Paul and Aaron met. Their locations changed depending on the lesson. Lately, they were training outside the walls, increasing the danger, but it wasn't enough. Aaron wanted to fight a real threat, a walker. It was the only way he was going to really know what he was capable of. Fighting Paul was fun, but he was never in danger.

"I don't know, Aaron," Paul said when approached with the suggestion. "I don't like the idea of you being out there with one of them just yet."

"You don't think I'm ready?" Aaron asked. He wanted to know exactly where he stood.

"You're doing a great job."

"Then let me take on a walker so I can test drive these new moves."

Paul studied Aaron a moment. He was determined to do this, but Paul was unsure for one major reason. "You have more to think about than yourself now. You have someone who depends on you to be there. You're not just playing dad. You're actually a father now."

Aaron looked Paul in the eyes. "I know, and that's why I need to do this. I didn't ask you to teach me just because you have some awesome moves," he said with a smile. "I need to be stronger … for Grace. When Caleb died, I felt like it was my fault. I said I would protect him when I agreed to let him participate in the war. I failed to do that. But now, I have this little innocent life that needs me as much as I need her, and I will do whatever it takes to not only keep her safe, but to make a better future for her to live in."

Paul smiled sweetly at him. "You're a real softy, you know that? All right, twist my arm already."

"So you agree to it?" Aaron said, excited about a new opportunity at learning.

"I do, but I'm going to be right there with you the entire time. If I feel like things are going south, I'm stepping in," Paul agreed with conditions.

"Great!" Aaron was ecstatic.

A few days later, they were in the woods near Hilltop. They spotted a lone walker, but Paul checked the area to make sure there wasn't a small herd lurking nearby. When they were satisfied, Paul signaled to Aaron to take on the enemy. Paul stayed within sight as he carefully watched. Aaron approached the walker. He took the correct position, bouncing from one foot to the other. When the walker was within range, Aaron spun around, his leg kicking out to the side as he did so. His foot kicked the walker in the chest, making it stumble backwards. Aaron stood back and waited for it to come back. Being predictable, he knew what the walker would do next. When it came at him again, Aaron did a double kick, and his foot made contact with the jaw. He felt ecstatic knowing he could kick his leg that high. As it stumbled backwards, Aaron kicked again, and it fell to the ground when the brittle bones of the corpse's legs snapped.

"Ha! Would you look at that?" Aaron said, excited to see what he could do.

"Don't lose concentration," Paul instructed.

Aaron looked at Paul with a nod of his head, but before he knew what happened, he felt a strong hand grasp his ankle and pull him to the ground. Another hand grabbed his other foot, and Aaron couldn't get up to get away.

"Aaron!" Paul shouted before he came to assist.

Aaron tried kicking his legs, but this walker was strong. Its hands clawed at his ankles and then his legs. He knew its mouth was dangerously close. Luckily, he had on thick boots and pants, but it was still too close for comfort.

"I got this," Aaron called to Paul, wanting to get himself out of the dangerous situation. He kicked his legs, and he thought he was about to get an advantage, but Paul came in last minute, and stabbed it in the head. This angered Aaron. He wanted to push himself, and he didn't feel that Paul gave him a chance to get himself out of the ordeal.

His breathing was rapid from the rush of adrenaline, and he felt a little light headed from it. He stayed sitting on the ground to regain his composure. Suddenly, there was a hand in front of him, and Paul offering it to help him stand. After a couple stubborn moments, Aaron took Paul's hand, and with his help, got back onto his feet. Still a little wobbly, Paul held onto Aaron's hand. Then his arm came around Aaron's waist to steady him.

"Are you alright?" Paul said with concern. His eyes met Aaron's.

Aaron noticed the closeness between them. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine," he said, realizing that Paul was holding onto him longer than necessary.

Paul must have felt him tense up, and he released him. "You scared me for a minute."

"I had it, if you'd just given me some more time," Aaron complained lightly. His side was still warm from Paul's hand resting there. Why was he noticing this?

"All right. Well, not bad for your first fight," Paul said.

"Thanks. Hey, did you see how high I kicked?" Aaron smiled with pride.

"You've been stretching," Paul noticed.

"Every morning. Those techniques you taught me have really helped. It felt natural."

"Good. That's the way it should be," Paul smiled. "See, I told you you were more advanced than the students in my class. Do you want to head back?"

"Sure," Aaron agreed, and they made their way back to the gates. Once inside, they made plans to meet again, and went their separate ways.

Something odd happened out there, and Aaron was taken aback by it. He'd known Paul for a while now, and in the last nine months or so they'd gotten to be much closer as friends. But in all that time, Aaron hadn't noticed him in the way he had when Paul's arm was around his waist. He didn't think he should be feeling that way. Paul wasn't just a friend. He was a best friend, someone to confide in.

It was probably nothing, he told himself. After all, it had been nine months of being on his own, raising a child, concentrating on others while letting his own personal issues fall to the side. Nine long months of going to bed alone every night, and still grieving the loss of Daryl in such a way that there was no closure. But he was a man … a man with certain needs, and with all this recent training, he was a man in his athletic prime. Things stirred, he told himself. It didn't mean he had to act on his impulses. Paul was a handsome man, and even though he was a friend, it was still possible for his body to react to such noticeable things. That's all it was, nothing more. Aaron pushed the ridiculous thoughts aside and went on with life as usual.

Weeks passed and Aaron fell into a busy routine taking care of Grace and training with Paul. Actually, he was spending a lot more time with Paul than he did in the beginning. He was learning so much so fast, and he enjoyed the time they spent together. With every day that passed, his heart mended a little more, but he still missed Daryl. He had heard that Daryl had been to Alexandria a few times to meet with Rick, and report on the status of the Sanctuary. Aaron never really understood why Daryl agreed to become a leader there. Maybe it was his way of facing his demons. It took balls to do something like that. Aaron had to give Daryl credit for his bravery. But it was because of the Sanctuary that he and Daryl were no longer together.

Aaron was getting ready to head out and meet Paul for another lesson when a messenger intercepted him. Maggie had sent for him, and he went to her office to see her.

"Aaron, come in," she greeted when he poked his head in the door. He went the rest of the way into her office and sat down after she offered him a seat with a gesture of her hand. "How are you?"

"I'm good. Keeping busy, as I assume you must be too," he responded.

"Hershel hardly gives me a moment's peace," she said, but her smile proved that she didn't mind in the least. "So I hear you've been training with Jesus."

"Yes I have. He's taught me a lot of his techniques for fighting."

"That's a good thing to know," she said.

"It is." Aaron furrowed his brows and cocked his head slightly to the side. "So, what's this about? Why all the small talk?" He could tell there was something going on.

Maggie got up from her desk, came around to the front and leaned back on the edge. "I received a letter from Rick yesterday. He's calling for a meeting. Two people from each community, including the Sanctuary, and as many Alexandrians that are willing to come back home."

"Come home?" Aaron asked.

"Apparently, enough of the houses have been restored, and Alexandria is ready to inhabit again. It might be a little cramped for some. They'll have to share houses until more are ready."

That was something Aaron wasn't prepared to hear. He was comfortable at Hilltop, and he was enjoying the time he was spending with Paul. "If I go I have to take Grace with me, and I don't think anyone wants to be bothered by a crying baby in the middle of the night." It was true, but it was a good excuse also.

"Rick specifically told me to tell you that he has an apartment ready for just you and Grace. I think he wants you to come home, Aaron." Maggie smiled sympathetically. She knew how much help Aaron was around the Hilltop, and how close of a friend Jesus had become to him. "It's time to bring the communities together so we can start rebuilding the future."

"But there's still so much to do here."

"And Hilltop appreciates your help, but Alexandria needs its people back so that it can grow too." She crossed her arms and tilted her head to the side. "So, as I said, Rick is calling a meeting. He wants to restore the bridge that collapsed when that large herd crossed it a while back. He says it's beneficial to keeping the communities in contact so that we can all work better together."

"Wow, that's a huge project to take on." Aaron was impressed.

"It's going to take a lot of people doing many different things to bring this together."

"I'm in. You know that. I'm just not too keen on settling down in Alexandria. I feel like I've just made my place here," Aaron argued.

"Alexandria is your home. Rick is depending on you, especially with Daryl leading at the Sanctuary," Maggie pointed out. "He'll need you to help organize this whole project."

Aaron stood from his chair and went to the window. If Rick was calling two people from each community, then Daryl would probably be there too. It had been nearly a year since the last time Aaron saw him. He didn't know how to feel about that. He should be excited or nervous even. Aaron found that he wasn't looking forward to facing his past. He was just getting comfortable with the present, and living in Hilltop, and his weekly training sessions. He looked down at the people in the yard. Everyone was moving about, tending to their chores and such. There was a genuine sense of community at the Hilltop, and he was very comfortable with that. "I like it here, Maggie. What if I don't want to go back home?"

Maggie came up behind him and put a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Take a couple days to think it over, and if you're ready, you can travel with me and Jesus."

Aaron nodded his head. "Thanks," he said.

Maggie's hand moved to his arm and gave a squeeze. "I know you'll make the right decision."

Finished with the meeting with Maggie, Aaron headed out to find Paul. He was late to his lesson, but he hoped they could still get some time in. As he left the gate and stepped outside, he saw Paul coming back. Paul raised his arms in the air when he saw Aaron.

"What happened? Where were you," Paul called out.

Aaron kept walking towards him so he didn't have to shout to talk. When they were close enough, he answered. "Maggie needed to talk to me."

"What about?" Paul asked curiously.

"Rick sent a letter. He's calling us back. Says it's time to begin putting plans together. He wants to repair the bridge," Aaron told him. "He's asking for representatives from each community. Get ready. Maggie volunteered you to go with her."

"Wait. When you said he's calling you back, do you mean on a permanent basis?"

Aaron nodded and looked away.

"Are you going?" Paul asked.

"I don't think I have much choice," Aaron answered. He sounded disappointed.

"When are we leaving?"

"Maggie said in a couple days."

Paul watched Aaron, and seeing his discouragement, smiled and clasped a hand to the back of Aaron's shoulder. "Then I guess we better make the most of it. Come on, we've got training to do."

Aaron felt a little better. Training would be a good distraction from the reality he was facing. He never imagined he'd feel so dissuaded about going home, but in a way, he felt like he was already home.

Paul took him to an area where they'd already been before. There was a clearing at the edge of the trees, and they could practice in the open where they had a good view of the surrounding area. They started with stretches, and evolved to leg kicks. Aaron punched out at Paul's hands for a bit, and then they were ready to fight. Paul would start it, and Aaron would answer to his moves, blocking, kicking, spinning and ducking to avoid being hit by Paul. He was getting faster with each practice, and Paul was punching more air than flesh. Aaron tried to get one over on Paul by attempting to kick his legs out from under him, but Paul saw it coming, and moved out of the way in plenty of time. The move resulted in Paul grabbing Aaron by his arm, reaching for his thigh, and slamming him to the ground. Aaron was short of breath and laid there a moment. Paul was breathing a little harder than usual. Perhaps Aaron was making him work harder too. That was a good sign.

Paul held his hand out to help Aaron up, but caught off guard, Aaron used it against him and pulled Paul to the ground. In the same move, Aaron jumped to his feet and put his boot to Paul's neck. He was careful not to actually hurt him of course. Paul smiled, excited for the challenge, but he wasn't done just yet. He grabbed a hold of Aaron's foot, and twisted his leg, incapacitating him long enough for Paul to knock Aaron's other leg out from under him. Aaron was back on the ground, and in an instant, Paul was straddling him, holding an invisible knife to Aaron's throat.

As they fought, Aaron wasn't just learning. He felt he had entered into a fine tuned dance, and their moves matched like poetry. It was exciting to say the least, and Aaron's adrenaline was coursing wildly through his veins. Paul sitting on top of him was also having an adverse effect on him. Looking up at Paul's sweaty face, his long hair draped down over his shoulders, and his eyes wild with the excitement of winning a fight was making Aaron see him in a slightly different way. And knowing that soon Aaron was going back to Alexandria had him wondering.

He forced the thought away as he averted his eyes, but then he felt gentle fingers touch his chin and make him look up again. Aaron sat up on his elbows, and both men stared at each other for longer than friends should, but this felt different, and neither one wanted to be the first to look away. When Paul started to lean into him, Aaron watched as his eyes shifted to his lips. When Paul's lips connected with his, Aaron allowed it, noticing how soft and warm it felt. It shouldn't have felt good, but it did, and Aaron's carnal desires wanted to continue. He pulled away first, though. This was all he would allow himself for the moment.

"I'm … I'm sorry," Paul said. He quickly stood and took a few steps away from Aaron.

"It's okay," Aaron replied. "Actually, it was kind of nice. I just … I haven't … not since Daryl and I . . ."

"Yeah, I get it." Paul turned to walk away, but he stopped. Aaron stood and watched to see what he would do. Paul turned back to Aaron. "Are you saying you … might?"

Aaron looked down and away, searching for an answer on the ground at his feet. A sign, anything right about now would have been a help, but there was nothing. "I don't know."

"Should I remind you that it's been almost a year?" Paul pointed out carefully. He seemed to regret mentioning it instantly. "Not that I–"

"No. I know. I know exactly how long it's been, and I don't know why I hold out any kind of hope."

"You still love him," Paul told him. "That's understandable. But life moves on, even in this fucked up world. We're getting to a point where life is rebooting, and not just our communities, but its people too. Carol and Ezekiel are proof of that." He paused to laugh.

Aaron laughed too. "Yeah, I didn't see that coming." He'd known Carol for a long time now. In the past, she was always playing a role, even when she was with Tobin. She always seemed lost, and afraid to allow herself to be truly happy. And now, when Aaron had seen her and Ezekiel together, he could see the genuine smile on her face as Ezekiel made her laugh.

"I just don't know I'm ready yet. And I know it's been a while and all that. I'm not saying no, but I'm not saying yes either. I guess I don't know what I'm saying," Aaron said, confused with his emotions running in different directions.

"I hope this won't affect our friendship," Paul said gently.

"It didn't before. It won't now," Aaron smiled. "Now, let's get in some more practice before we have to go back. I've only got a couple days left. After that, I don't know what I'm going to do."

"So you mean to go back to Alexandria?" Paul asked to confirm.

"I think I should, don't you?"

Paul nodded. "Yeah, but honestly, I wish you wouldn't. I like coming out here with you."

"I like it too," Aaron smiled.

They finished up with their practice for the day and headed back inside. Later that evening, after Aaron put Grace to bed, he sat on the couch in his trailer and picked up a book. He tried to read, but he couldn't concentrate on the words. He kept thinking about the kiss he shared with Paul. He could still feel the warmth of his lips upon his own. It was kind of thrilling to know the touch another man's lips. Of course, this wasn't the first time they kissed. There had been that incident in the watchtower, a strange night and an odd twist of events instigated by Daryl. Looking back, Aaron saw it as the beginning of the end of their relationship. Daryl had never quite been the same after being captured and held prisoner at the Sanctuary. He couldn't be alone in the same room with Aaron for very long because of the recurring nightmares that happened to him there. And then he came up with the most ridiculous way to keep Aaron from leaving him when he got Aaron and Paul drunk on hooch, and suggested they sleep together, a surrogate sex partner. Aaron shook his head just thinking about it. But the night did produce a kiss between Aaron and Paul, before they figured out what Daryl was up to. He didn't remember much of it because he was drunk as a lord, and he had been led to perform. This time was different. It was mutual, and he was shocked to learn that he liked it.

Aaron shook his head at the thought. "I can't, not now. I'm going back to Alexandria, for one. Paul and I are best friends, for another. And Daryl is going to be at this meeting. I want to see him again. It's been so long. I want to know he's all right. I really want him to look at me like he used to, and maybe even rekindle what we once had. I still miss him. Paul's right. I still love him." He came to the conclusion that starting something with Paul was not an option. They should remain friends as they were now, forget the kiss they shared, and get back to business as usual. That was the best thing for everyone.

The ride back to Alexandria was long without many incidents. There were the occasional walkers, but Paul and Aaron took care of them. Maggie decided she couldn't step foot into the same place where Negan still dwelled, and she sent Tara instead. To show there was no animosity, Maggie sent some vegetables from their crops at the Hilltop, as well as some ethanol made from spoiled corn. The Sanctuary was supposed to be producing the corn based fuel, but nothing was coming out of that place recently. It was just one more problem that needed dealing with.

Tara drove the wooden wagon, and Paul sat next to her. Aaron rode his horse, and Grace traveled in the back of the wagon. By now, they'd given up on cars. Gas had become difficult to find, but horses were the best form of transportation. It was amazing how they had to learn to go back in time, and live as they did before technology. It was more difficult than it looked, especially when Aaron thought about the old western movies. There was a lot more involved in keeping up with the day to day life.

They spent the night on the road after one of the horses got a rock stuck in its shoe. Jesus fixed it, having a little bit of knowledge about shoeing horses. It was an easy fix, he said, but the horse was favoring its foot. To give the animal a break, they stopped and made camp. That night, Aaron kept Grace close to him, protecting her as he always did. He laid next to the burning embers of an earlier fire, and tried to get some rest, but he was nervous about having Grace out in the open as they were. Instead of sleeping, he found his mind returning to thoughts of Daryl, and the anticipation of seeing him for the first time in a very long time. Would he even say hello, or was Daryl still not talking to him. He would find out soon enough.

As he gazed at the fire, Aaron caught Paul watching him from the opposite side. The warm glow from the embers lit his face just enough that Aaron could make out his piercing blue eyes. Paul smiled and Aaron smiled back. It helped to ease his troubled thoughts for a moment.

"You okay?" Paul asked from across the way.

"Yeah, just wondering how the meeting will go."

Paul huffed. "Wondering about seeing Daryl again," he pointed out. "It's all right, you know."

"Yeah, but I still can't help being a little nervous. It's ridiculous. I know him better than he probably knows himself. I can almost hear what he'll say and how he'll act. It doesn't ease my mind though," Aaron admitted.

"You're worried about being rejected again."

"How is it you know all of this?" Aaron said as he sat up, keeping the sleeping baby close to him. She was bundled up in several baby blankets to keep her warm through the cold night.

"I observe a lot. It pays to be the quiet one," Paul laughed.

"I used to be the quiet one, until I met Daryl, and then my world got pretty noisy."

"It still is by the looks of it."

"Only in my head," Aaron said.

"A little tip for you. When you're fighting, make sure your mind is quiet." Paul watched Aaron fidget across the way. "You really are nervous, aren't you?"

"I can't help it. What if he still won't talk to me? And if he is talking, what will he say? What if he still doesn't want anything to do with me? It hurt a lot the first time, and I'm afraid of what it will do this time around," Aaron admitted.

"I'm here for you no matter what happens. Remember that. You won't have to go through it alone," Paul told him.

Aaron nodded and gave a slight smile. "Thanks, Paul. You really are a good friend."

Paul smiled and nodded in return, but Aaron could see how the use of the term friend bothered him. Paul wished for more, but that was something Aaron couldn't give him, at least not right now.

The next day, they finally arrived at Alexandria. The wall was repaired, and they now encompassed more of the surrounding area than before. There used to be burned out houses outside of the gate, but that land was now inside the walls. And there was a new sign. It used to read 'Mercy for the lost. Vengeance for the plunderers.' Now it simply said, Welcome to Alexandria.

"That's new," Aaron mentioned, looking at the new sign.

Tara came up next to him and pointed. "What's that?"

Aaron and Paul looked and saw the top of a building. It looked like a tower, but they weren't sure. "Only one way to find out," Aaron said. Just as he spoke the gate started to open.

Aaron's breath hitched when he saw inside the walls. A lot had been done since he was here last. Homes had been rebuilt, and some new structures replaced old ones. The townhomes were all still intact. Across from the townhomes was the church, which had been burned during the war, and was now good as new. At the opposite end of where the church stood was the building they spotted. It wasn't a tower, but a windmill. It looked like it wasn't quite finished, but close. It still needed its blades, but it was a very impressive looking structure. Between the windmill and the church was farmland, where several plots had been planted. There was also a small silo and a corn bin to the side. Along the far wall that ran parallel to the fields and the church, it looked like stables and livestock pens. He could see some goats and pigs in one pen, and a couple cows in the other. Alexandria looked like a stable, well working community. It was absolutely amazing.

Rick came out of one of the buildings and approached them with a smile. He went to Aaron first and gave him a hug. "It's good to see you, Aaron. It's been a long time."

"Good to see you too, Rick," Aaron said.

Rick released Aaron, shook hands with Paul and gave Tara a hug. Then, Michonne came from the same house and greeted them all.

"I like what you've done with the place," Aaron smiled. "It really is incredible."

"You're surprised?" Michonne said.

"Actually, yes. I didn't know what to expect," Aaron said, still looking around at everything.

"We've got some smart engineers and construction crew who stayed on to help with the new Alexandria. We're more self-sustaining now," Rick explained.

Suddenly, Aaron felt guilty for not being there to help. "I guess you could have used me around here. I should have come back sooner."

"No," Michonne said, putting a hand on Aaron's shoulder. "You were right where you needed to be. You've got a little girl now. This wasn't a good place to raise a baby before. There was too much destruction." Michonne smiled and looked past his shoulder. "Where is she?"

Tara came from the wagon holding Grace in her arms. She took her to Michonne, who gently held the baby, and made silly faces and cooing sounds. Aaron's heart warmed at the sight of the women fussing over Grace. He felt better about bringing her here and raising her at home. That's what Alexandria felt like once more … almost. It would have been better if Daryl was still a part of his life.

While the women were busy with the baby, Rick approached Aaron, grasping his shoulder as he did. "We've got some good ideas for rebuilding the bridge, and with everyone's help, I think it will be a success."

"I'm anxious to hear all about it," Aaron replied.

"Aaron!"

Someone shouted his name, and he turned to find Carol and Ezekiel coming from the direction of the church. She hurried to get to him, and when she finally was close enough, Carol took Aaron into her arms and hugged him as though it was their last.

"Aaron, it's so good to see you. I've missed you so much," she said. Carol released him and took a step back. "Look at you. I like the beard." She took his arm and started squeezing it. "What's this? You've been working out or something?"

"Jesus has been training me. We get together at least three times a week and work on my fighting skills."

Carol glanced over at Jesus, who was speaking with Rick and Michonne. She cocked an eyebrow and looked back at Aaron. "Training you, huh?"

"It's not like that," he said, and he felt his face heat. Not much got past Carol. "We're good friends, nothing else."

"Uh huh," she said with a skeptical tone.

"Carol, leave the man alone," Ezekiel interrupted.

"How are things at the Kingdom?" Aaron asked to draw attention away from his questionable relationship with Paul.

"Good. Very good," Ezekiel said. "And Hilltop?"

"Growing by leaps and bounds. Maggie has really turned it around. There are crops and livestock, and the blacksmith has been producing some amazing weaponry. They're army has almost doubled, and there are plans to extend the community. Maggie's plan is to eventually not have to depend on walls for protection, and then they can sow fields outside of the gates."

"That's a bold plan," Carol said. "I don't think any of us are ready to live without the protection of walls and gates."

"What are your thoughts about rebuilding the bridge?" Aaron asked.

"It's a good idea, though it mainly benefits the Sanctuary," Ezekiel said.

Aaron crossed his arms and tilted his head. "How so?"

"Having the bridge working again means a shorter and safer route between Alexandria and the Sanctuary," Carol answered. She looked over at Rick before she spoke again. "If it were up to me, I'd cut them loose. They're not contributing in any way."

"Why? What happened? I thought they were supposed to be producing corn," Aaron inquired.

"They couldn't get their crops to grow. And then, they were supposed to use the bad corn and produce ethanol so that the rest of us can get our generators back up and running. They claim the crow population has grown considerably, and they aren't able to keep the birds away. They devastated whatever was left."

It sounded like the Sanctuary was having a rough time, and that meant it all fell upon Daryl as their leader. Aaron thought about how difficult it must be for him right now.

"He's not here yet, but he's supposed to be," Carol said softly, as though she knew Aaron was thinking about Daryl. "He's bringing Laura with him. I hear she's kind of his right hand man, or lady as the case may be."

"I'll leave you two to catch up," Ezekiel said. "I'd like to have a word with Father Gabriel." As he said it, he gave Carol a devious smile.

Carol rolled her eyes at him. "Don't you dare, Zee," she threatened, but he ignored her and walked away chuckling softly to himself.

Aaron nudged her shoulder. "Zee?"

Carol sighed and shook her head. "It's a pet name. It's stupid, I know, but–"

"You don't have to explain to me." He had the sudden urge to hug her, and he did. "I'm just glad to see you happy." He released her and stood back. "You are happy aren't you?"

Carol smiled genuinely. "I am. He's a bit goofy at times, but he has a big heart. I like that about him. And he treats me like a queen, no pun intended." She looked down at her fidgeting hands. "I've … never had that before. Ezekiel watches out for me, makes sure I never go without. He holds the door open for me, pours my wine, tells me how special I am, and how much he … loves me. It's sweet."

"And what about you? Do you love him too?" Aaron asked.

She was silent a moment, as she looked off into the distance. Slowly she nodded her head and allowed a slight smile to appear on her lips.

"So, is that why he's slipping off to go talk to Father Gabriel?" Aaron teased her.

She rolled her eyes again and shook her head. "I told him not to do anything ridiculous, but he keeps pushing it. He got me a ring, you know that? I found it by accident, but I didn't say anything. Don't get me wrong, I like Ezekiel, and … yes … the L word falls into that category too, but I'm not ready to . . ." She paused and looked around to make sure no one was listening to her. ". . . to marry," she whispered dramatically. She linked her arm with Aaron's and they started slowly walking to the church, where the meeting would take place. They went in silence for a bit, looking at the growth of Alexandria, and taking it all in.

"It's so much different from the last time I was here," Aaron said. "That was right before the war. I wasn't here for the destruction. I never saw the devastation, but I heard about it."

"Have you been by your house yet?" Carol asked.

Aaron shook his head. "I'd rather not. Too many memories. Besides, Rick has me settling into one of the town homes. That house is too big for just me and Grace."

"You still love him, don't you?" Carol said. She was careful of how she asked.

"I probably shouldn't, but … yeah, I do."

"Maybe now is a good time to made amends," she suggested. Her arm tightened in his.

"I don't know. He changed back then. He turned into someone I didn't even recognize. He … he just wanted to kill and . . . The last straw was after it was over, and we were at Hilltop. He had Dwight in the truck, said he was taking him out somewhere, and not to expect to see him back. I thought he was talking about himself, but he was talking about Dwight. Daryl had always sworn he would kill him once we didn't need him anymore. I begged him not to go, not to do it, but he left anyways. I'll never forget the look he gave me, so full of hatred. It scared me." Aaron sighed and looked out across the way. "After that, he was gone. I haven't seen or heard from him since."

"That was almost a year ago," Carol said, as she did the math in her head.

Aaron pulled his thoughts together and took control of his emotions. "Well, I've moved on. I've got Grace now." He paused and smiled. "She's helped me through a lot of the tough moments. It's amazing how your perspective changes when someone depends on you."

"And none more than a child," Carol smiled. "I never would have imagined that you'd end up a father, but I know you are a great dad. That little girl is very lucky to have you."

The church filled with people from Alexandria, in addition to Hilltop and the Kingdom. Aaron left Grace with one of the wives of a construction worker, who was beyond thrilled to have a baby to take care of. Aaron thought she would be a welcomed addition to his tiny family. Her name was Sarah, and before the end of things, her and her husband had been trying to start a family. They were newlyweds and anxious to have children. She told the story of finding out she was pregnant the same day that reports came out about people getting sick and attacking others. It was before they really knew what was happening, when a lot of people were dying and turning, and everything sped out of control. Her husband was a victim of a friend who turned. And then, after running and hiding, and trying to stay alive, she miscarried, and lost the only link to her husband. Eventually, she made it to Alexandria, and met her current husband. Again, she tried to conceive, but discovered that she no longer could. There was no telling what changed, but it was never going to happen for her and her husband. Instead, she started a daycare service to some of the other women in town, those who went back to work taking care of and rebuilding the town. Sarah now had her own space where residents could drop off their children and pick them up at the end of the day. She insisted that Aaron become her newest client. It had been a long while since there was a baby in the town.

Finally, Rick came in and looked around at all the people before him. He started the meeting, and talked about his plans to unite the communities by building the bridge. Without modern tools, it was going to take a long time to accomplish, but in the end they would all be better off.

While Rick was talking, the door at the back of the church creaked open. Sunlight beamed in through the open doors. Aaron looked over his should to see who was just now showing up for the meeting, and his heart sped up at the sight of him. Daryl and Laura walked in and came down the aisle to have a seat up front. Aaron quickly turned back to face the front of the church, and stared straight ahead. He didn't look at Daryl until he passed him.

Daryl still wore his winged vest, though it was looking a little more tattered. His hair was longer, and there were a few new worry lines marking his face. Otherwise, he looked very much the same as he had almost a year ago.

Aaron watched him wait for Laura to slide into the pew, and then he slid in next to her. As he did, he dared a glance toward Aaron, paused to look at him, and then had a seat. Aaron could feel his heart beating in his throat as their eyes made a brief connection. He wasn't able to internally calm himself until Daryl was sitting with his back to him.

Paul sat next to Aaron, and witnessed the entire exchange. He leaned into Aaron and spoke. "You okay?"

"Fine," Aaron said tersely.

They continued listening to Rick's plan, which basically had the Saviors doing most of the hard labor, since this bridge would benefit them the most. Aaron wondered if it was a lesson to them for not contributing to the other communities. They were still being punished for their involvement with the war almost a year ago. The Sanctuary wasn't allowed any weapons, and no tools while working on the bridge. They would have to do a lot of work by hand while others not from the Sanctuary were allowed hammers, shovels, saws and such. The plan was to make everyone work together to accomplish a task that would benefit all. Aaron thought it was a good idea, but he wasn't sure how the Saviors would see it. Although some of them were willing to work with the other communities, there were still some that were loyal to Negan and his rules.

By the end of the meeting, everyone agreed with the plan. And in order to get it done as quickly as possible, a camp would be set up at the sight of the bridge. People would work in shifts, and live at the camp while they were on duty. The Kingdom would stage guards around the camp, and there would be guard posts along the way between the communities. Making travel as safe as possible was first priority, so they came up with a way to send a signal as quickly as possible so that herds could be rerouted away from the worksite.

"There's a lot to do even before we start working on the bridge," Aaron said to Paul.

"I volunteer for the security job. How about you?" Paul said.

"I'm game." Aaron was actually excited about pulling security with Paul. They made a great team, and it would give him a chance to try out his new skills. "We'll speak with Rick afterwards. I'm sure we can come up with some ideas about guard posts too. We both know the area pretty well."

"Finally, something to do besides grow green beans," Paul joked.

The meeting was done, and as Aaron and Paul discussed their ideas they would take to Rick, Daryl walked by. Aaron saw him, but he chose not to pay attention. And then Daryl stopped next to where he was sitting.

"Hey," Daryl said.

Aaron looked up briefly, but then he turned his head away. "Hey."

"Hello Daryl," Paul smiled at him. "It's been a long time. It's good to see you."

"Yeah, you too," Daryl said quietly. His hair was in his face, hiding his eyes, and making Aaron uncomfortable. "How've you been?" he asked Aaron.

"Fine," Aaron said. "You look good."

"So do you," Daryl said, continuing the small talk. "I heard you're a dad now,"

"I am. Grace … the baby from the outpost."

"Yeah, I remember," Daryl answered. "I was kind of surprised to hear you'd taken her in."

"I was the only one she'd stop crying for. That's how it started. You, um … if you want, you can meet her."

"Aaron. Jesus. Got a minute?" Rick called out to them.

Aaron looked up at Daryl, and he moved out of the way so Aaron could get out of the pew. "It's good to see you again," Aaron told him.

"Yeah, you too," Daryl responded. He watched Aaron walk away to join Rick.

It wasn't a lot, but it was the first they'd seen of each other in almost a year. Aaron wished they could have had a much warmer reunion, but he wasn't sure where they stood at this point. Daryl had done something that Aaron wasn't sure he could forgive. He'd taken Dwight out to the woods and killed him. Maybe he wasn't that person anymore, but he had been then, and Aaron feared that darkness had always been and would always be there. It was too soon to tell, but at least, for now, they were civil toward one another. Only in time would they figure out how much was still between them.