Fayetteville, Georgia

Sophia whimpered as she began to stir, her eyes glistened with tears as she pulled herself from her nightmares. She had taught herself a long time ago never to wake up with a cry or scream, least it woke her daddy up. That was somethin' she never wished for. Since she knew her daddy wasn't a nice man and was always so mean to her and her Mama. Her dark brown eyes tore away from the wall she had been staring at, to see that she was in a very familiar room, it was a room she hadn't been in for a long time. Her blonde eyebrows furrowed, as her eyes looked over all the toys put neatly in her toy chest and all her clothes either neatly folded or hung up.

A frown graced her lips, curling them downwards as she slowly swung her legs over the side of her bed. Why am I back here? She wondered, as she cautiously stood up from her bed. Her feet padded dully against the scratchy carpeted floor as she walked cautiously to her bedroom door. Nervously, Sophia gripped the door knob and turned it slowly before pulling it open carefully. Her blonde head peaked out first, the sound of pots and pans clanging reached her ears, quickly followed by the smell of breakfast cooking.

Her stomach rumbled with hunger. She released the doorknob at the noise and gripped her stomach with her hands. As if she'd be able to silence it that way. The last time she had eaten, it was before she ran from those Walkers. A shiver ran down her spine at the thought. She hated those things, they scared and frightened her something fierce. She could remember vividly being chased by them. The relief of being found by Mr. Rick brought a smile to her lips. She sometimes wished he was her daddy. Carl always spoke very highly of him and the way Mr. Rick acted towards her was just how she imagined a daddy should act, caring, kind, and loving.

With a small smile, Sophia carefully made her way down the hallway that led to the kitchen. She paused in the doorway at the sight of her Mama cooking breakfast. A frown graced her lips again as she stared at her mother's hunched shoulders and careful movements. It had happened again, she sighed with an upset expression.

It took the young girl a moment, before she recognized the sounds of the television playing, the voices of a newscaster speaking about the daily going on's. Once that notice occurred, Sophia began to notice the other sounds, the hum of the lights and clicking of the gas coming from the stove. It surprised her, as it had been awhile since she's been faced with working electricity and gas. The surprise of them working distracted the blonde girl from her surroundings.

"Oomph," Sophia grunted suddenly when her father appeared from behind her and shoved her out of his way and into the wall. It always amazed her that her father could be so quiet when he had such a loud presence. She watched her father silently, noticing his expression was different today, he seemed lost in his thoughts.

"Where's my food woman?" Ed grumbled to Carol as he took a seat at their small kitchen table. The chair gave a squeak when he took a seat.

"Right here," Carol replied quietly while setting his plate in front of him. "Sophia hunny, come an' and eat," she greeted with a small smile at her daughter. Her own blue eyes showed love, warmth, and awe for her daughter. As if just the sight of her, brought tears to her pretty blue eyes. She loved her daughter, and seeing her standing there, it took Carol's breath away.

"Mornin' Mama," Sophia greeted quietly. A smile graced her lips when her mother kissed her on the forehead. It always sent a warmth of emotion through her chest whenever her mother gave her a kiss like that. At least she had one parent that loved and cared about her. "Thank you Mama," she picked up her fork after her mother set her breakfast down in front of her. It had been a long time since she had eaten like this. The fluffy yellow scrambled eggs, crisp bacon, golden hash browns, and buttered toast made her stomach growl again. With little hesitation, she began to eat the delicious breakfast with a happy hum.

She wanted to ask her Mama if she remembered too, but she wasn't sure if Mama did or not. With the way she was actin', it didn't seem like it, but her Mama had always been good at hidin' her emotions behind a mask. It's somethin' that she's learned to do too when home or out in the public. She always had to make sure the teachers and staff at her school didn't notice anything wrong.

Sophia's attention turned to her father, watching him as he grumbled to himself about "nothin' showin' dead walkin' 'round" while he read his newspaper. The young girl's heart constricted at those words. Afraid her father would see her expression, Sophia looked back down at her plate and slowly continued to eat. She fought her hands from shaking as her mind ran over the knowledge that while her Mama didn't remember, but her father did.

What should I do? What could I do? Sophia mused to herself as she watched her parents from the corner of her eyes. An idea popped in her head suddenly, making a small smile curl her lips upwards, she knew what she was going to do. She would get rid of her father somehow, but first she'd call Mr. Rick and see what he could do. He must know what to do, he was a police officer after all. She just knew he'd be able to help her and her Mama. All she had to do is find his number and contact him...somehow.

With her plan in mind, Sophia continued to eat her breakfast in a content silence. She'd protect herself and her Mama, if her Mama couldn't do it for them.

Duluth, Georgia

"Gods damn motha' fucker!" Merle Dixon bellowed abruptly as he jolted up and stumbled out of his bed with a loud crash. His icy blue colored eyes looked rapidly around the small cabin bedroom he was in. "Wha' the fuckin' god damn hell is goin' on?" He demanded as he stood from his bedroom floor. He shouldn't have been anywhere near this godforsaken hellhole. He looked down at having two working hands in surprise. "I'd be damned and fucked sideways, how's in the hell do I have two fuckin' 'ands 'gain?" The man's blue eyes roved over his hands, curling the hand he had lost with shock. This should not be fucking possible.

The last thing he could remember was the pig ass mother fucker of a Governor shooting him in the fucking heart. It shouldn't be possible, that he was awake and back in his old bedroom from before the apocalypse bullshit. He had died, he knew he had, and yet he had woken up here? If this was some reaction from a bad trip he was fuckin' callin' off the drugs. He wasn't goin' to die this time and he was certainly not going to work with that shit stain Governor again.

Within the small house the Dixon brothers lived in, was quiet. The hum of electricity could be heard, like a buzzing of thousands insects just out of eyesight. The dim lighting of the sun filtered through the window, giving the room a yellow golden glow. The distant sounds of motor vehicles could be heard, along with the sounds of nature. It was off putting, to hear electricity again, when silence had been commonplace.

"What the fuck is yer pro'lem Merle!" His baby brother hollered as he stood in the door with an irritated expression. His hair was neatly brushed, as if he'd been awake for awhile already. He was dressed in his usual dark blue jeans, a plain black shirt, with his angel wings vest over it, and his brown biker boots. Incensed green eyes burned into Merle, but the older man couldn't find himself caring worth a damn. He was alive and gettin' a second chance and he wasn't gonna screw it up this time.

"Baby bro' yer up earlier than usual," he replied cheekily with a smile that he knew got under his baby brothers skin. He ignored his younger brothers question. It was the older Dixon's duty to irritate his baby brother, otherwise he wasn't doin' his job as big brother. Merle searched the room and began to pick up a pair of blue jeans, a plain black shirt followed by a plaid shirt, and some socks for his feet.

"No thanks to yer dumb ass," Daryl replied darkly. Merle was always stirring some shit up. Or causin' some sort ah trouble, it didn't matter what it was, it was always something. "What's got ya fucked up head in a mess now?" He questioned exasperatedly. If it was because Merle was coming off of somethin' again, he was gonna be pissed. Stupid asshole was always causin' them some sort of trouble. Whether it be knockin' up some fling of his, gettin' arrested, or nearly gettin' them killed, it was always somethin' with him.

"Bad fuckin' nigh'mare," The older Dixon responded as he plopped down on the bed. The bed squeaked and groaned at his weight, appearing to be only seconds away from collapsing. "Yer wouldn' 'appen tah 'ave any nigh'mare 'bout dead fucks eatin' humans huh?" Merle asked his brother in his southern drawl. His dark eyebrow raised in question at his baby brother.

Daryl stared blankly at his brother, no recollection showed in his bright green eyes. There was confusion and irritation shining in his emerald green colored eyes, when he looked at his big brother. "Yah high or somethin'?" He asked his older brother with annoyance. "There ain't no thang 'bout dead eatin' humans Merle. Yah need tah lay off the drugs," he replied to Merle with a grumble. He hated his brother when he did drugs, the guy was a bigger asshole than usual.

"W'at I dreamed was no fuckin' joke Darlena. If w'at I dreamed is gonna 'appen, I ain't gonna die this time 'round," He decided with a nod of his head as he stood from the bed and grabbed the clothes he had scavenged up from the floor. He slid his jeans on and buttoned them before sliding his black t-shirt and plaid long sleeve on. Slipping into his aged brown biking boots he glanced at Daryl, who merely looked back at his older brother with a raised eyebrow.

"W'at the 'ell yah talkin' 'bout it Merle?" Daryl demanded as he followed his big brother out of the small bedroom and back into the main area of the cabin. It merely held an open spaced small kitchenette, a living room, dining area, and a bathroom through a door to the right of the cabin. It was nothing special, just a small place that they lived in.

"Gonna give Officer Friendly a call, tha's wa' I'ma do," Merle decided as he grabbed his truck keys from the wooden dining table while he walked past the table to the front door.

Daryl's eyebrows raised at Merle's statement. Officer Friendly? Who the fuck was that? Was his brother gonna call some cop? What the hell was up with Merle? His brother was a loose cannon when he wasn't clean. The younger Dixon followed his big brother, their booted feet making dull thuds as they walked across the wooden floors. While he didn't understand what the hell Merle was talkin' 'bout, he wasn't about to let the dumbass go by himself. Gods know he would wind up causin' some sort of trouble if he did as gettin' arrested in the process. He always caused some sorta trouble when he was let out in public.

Atlanta, Georgia

Midtown

Jacqui Prescott stirred awake in a sweat induced terror. Dark brown, nearly black eyes, scanned her darkened bedroom with fear thrumming through her body. Her heart raced rapidly in her chest at the terror she was feeling. With a shaky hand, she pressed it to her chest, feeling its brisk beating against her clammy hand. Her mind was consumed with memories of something that shouldn't be possible. She had to have dreamed it all...right? Her mind went over everything she remembered and it made the terror raise anew once again.

"It has to have been real," she murmured to herself. She swung her feet over the bed and pushed herself to stand. From within her apartment, she could hear the sounds of a television playing as voices laughed, the noise of cars honking and people hollering, and doors opening and closing. The noise was something that startled Jacqui, as it had been a long time since she'd heard such life outside. Often times, it was the deadly sounds of groans from the Walkers and screams from people dying that rang in her ears.

Jacqui walked unsteadily to her desk. She was caught off balanced at the sounds and sight of her laptop and desk lamp innocently sitting on top of it. The older woman carefully touched the objects, feeling their smoothness against her palm, before pulling the supple leather desk chair out from beneath the desk and taking a seat. She pushed the laptop screen up and pressed the power button on and waited for it to load. Reaching out with a shaking hand, she turned the light switch on with a flick of her middle and pointer finger, and squinted against the sudden bright yellow glow it emitted.

Jacqui's hands anxiously tapped the desk table, her eyes flickering over the pictures on her desk, and stared at the ones of her mother and baby brothers. Her mother Nadine, looked so full of life in that moment. She was sitting in a chair, hands loosely laying in her lap, as she looked up towards a hummingbird that was drinking from the bird feeder. She looked so happy and in awe at that moment, that it brought tears to Jacqui's eyes. How long has it been since she had seen her mother and heard her voice? It felt like such a long time to have gone without.

She turned her eyes to the next picture on her desk, where her younger brothers, Raoul, Laurent, and Auguste. All three of her brothers hand their arms thrown over each other's shoulders. In the background was their grandmother's farmhouse. It was a white charming house, with its rustic appearance of dark green shutters and wood paneling with a wrap around porch. But it was the sight of her brothers in the front of it, cackling over a crude joke Laurent most likely had told, that had her attention. Knowing her brothers, it was likely that Laurent had caused them to laugh. He was like that, always the one breaking the tension that built up between them all with a well played pun or joke.

A smile graced her lips at the thought of her brothers. She loved her family fiercely and having lost them like she had, it had broken something inside of her. It caused her to resort to committing suicide in the CDC, but she didn't think she'd be able to do it this time. Not if she had the chance to save her family, and she would save them if she had the chance.

Jacqui drew her attention back to the laptop and clicked the icon with her name, which quickly loaded and opened to her account. Jacqui's eyes were drawn to the date of the bottom right hand corner of the screen. Her eyes grew wide in shock at what it displayed: 3/5/2010. The time showed it was 5:18 AM.

With her index finger she used the mouse to open a browser and quickly typed in a name: Rick Grimes. It was one person she could vividly recall. As Rick had made a lasting impression. The response that came with searching his name was immediate. Google loaded pages worth of information on Sheriff Deputy Rick Grimes from Kings County Georgia. "It was real," she muttered with shock. Her lean frame inclined back into her desk chair at the realization. "That means I'm back, but why?" Jacqui asked herself with a frown.

Her hands trembled as she typed in, Rick Grimes phone number. If there was anyone that could or would help her, it had to be Rick. He was a good man and had saved them when they were locked in that store. She grabbed the phone that was plugged and charging beside her laptop and pulled the cord out. It displayed a 100% sign in the upper right corner of the phone. Good, that meant she could give Rick a call and figure out what to do.

Atlanta, Georgia

Virginia Highlands

"Papa! Mama! It's time to wake up!" A young innocent child's voice called out through the closed bedroom door. A banging knock on the door disturbed the couple sleeping within the bedroom.

"Okay Jed, I'll be up in a minute," Jim Rothenberg muttered tiredly from his position beneath the comforter and sheet covers. It took the older man a few seconds to realize what he had heard and muttered sleepily. He jolted abruptly with a start at his son's voice. The comforter and sheets fell into his lap as dark brown eyes looked rapidly around the familiar master bedroom of his home. He had to abandon it, he remembered, when the dead started walking, he had to leave but...Jim's thoughts trailed off as he looked to the left to see his wife. Her chest was raising up and down in a sign of sleep.

"Jessie," he muttered with a voice thick of awe, love and emotion. His eyes burned fiercely with tears he wasn't willing to shed as he stared at his beautiful wife.

"Mmm? Jim, you okay baby?" Jessica Rothenberg asked tiredly. Her brilliant steel gray eyes connected to his dark brown with worry and concern.

"I'm fine Hun, just got startled by Jed's hollerin'," Jim replied. He reached out with a calloused hand, caused from long days in the mechanic garage using his hands, and gently cupped his wife's cheek. "I love ya somethin' fierce Jessie," he said while leaning down and giving her a small tender and loving kiss. It was something he hadn't been able to do for a long while. Not after he lost her and his kids. The thought of his children brought tears to his eyes again.

"I love you too Jimmy," Jessica muttered in their kiss. Slowly the married couple pulled away at the sounds of their children hollering and fighting with each other down the hallway. "It never ends," she sighed fondly, her red hair curled around her shoulders in messy waves. Her grey eyes sparkled as she stood from the bed. While passing the closet she grabbed her robe that was hanging on a hook and slid it on over her flowing nightgown. "I best go gather the youngin's, least they cause mass mayhem," she joked with a smile over her shoulder before she walked out the bedroom door. "Come done for breakfast in a bit!" Jessica hollered over her shoulder to her husband.

"Will do Jessie love!" He hollered back with a smile. Was it all a dream? Jim wondered as he stood from the bed and grabbed his pajama bottoms and shirt to slide on. It couldn't have been, the grief was too intensely present to be anything else. The knowledge that he may lose his wife and children, along with his sister and her family again, it caused an ache in his heart. He wasn't going to lose them this time, he was going to save them.

Jim looked around the room, noticing the little things. The alarm clock glowed with red letters, depicting the time as 5:58. The early morning sunlight was filtering through the curtains, permitting rays of light to shine in the room. The electricity's hum and the sound of rushing water distracted Jim for a moment. How long had it been before he died, that they had running water and electricity? It was like being in a whole new world, and with this new world, he had another chance to save his family and he knew just the man to call; Rick Grimes.

Atlanta, Georgia

Centennial Hill

"Glenn! Glenn! Glenn!" A young female voice called out through Glenn Rhee's sleeping nightmares. The sleeping twenty-two-year old groaned and awoke. His dark brown, nearly black eyes, connected with hazel eyes.

"Lily," Glenn muttered in shock as he pushed himself slowly up from the couch he had fallen asleep on. "What's going on?" He asked with a yawn. He rubbed his tired face, his mind going back to the nightmares he had. That couldn't have been real...right? The vivid nightmares flashed again in his mind, the pain he had experienced couldn't be faked. The emotional pain of losing a loved one to the Walkers or living, was too intense to be anything else but real.

Then there was the physical pain. His whole body flinched at the remembrance of being bludgeoned to death by Negan and his bat Lucille. He could vividly recall the stifled cries of his family, as they tried to stop Negan but couldn't. Glenn's heart rate raised as his stomach turned violently at the lucid recollection of the extreme pain he had experienced. Without warning, he gagged and turned on his side, bile spilling from his mouth and onto the floor beside the couch. His stomach muscles clenched and spasmed as he dry heaved over the floor.

"Glenn! Are you okay?" His little sister Lily cried out in alarm. Her concerned sea green eyes were shadowed by her black bangs. Her hands wrung together in distress, unsure how to help her big brother.

"I'm okay, Lils," he choked out. His stomach still twisted at the horrific memory of his death, before remembering he had left behind two very important someones. "Maggie," Glenn groaned with tears in his eyes. He had left behind his pregnant wife. Did the baby survive? Did Maggie get help? His head pounded with his racing heart as tears slid free and down his pale cheeks. Was anyone else remembering this? Glenn glanced at his youngest sister and chuckled weakly. "I'm okay Lily, I promise," he wanted to believe it too, but his head was still consumed with his worries and concerns.

"Who's Maggie?" The twelve-year-old asked with furrowed eyebrows and confusion shining bright in her hazel eyes.

Glenn ignored her question. He was too lost in the realization that he was alive, back before everything started. Now that the panic and recollection was lessening a little, he started to hear traffic outside the apartment building, the sounds of voices and electricity thrummed loud in his ears. It was off putting, to such clear signs if life. Especially since when he died, they barely had a full community worth of people. The largest group he'd seen before he died, was Negan's Saviors.

The fact that he was alive with another chance, it meant that his younger sister's were still alive. It meant that his aunts, uncles, cousins, and their families, were all currently still alive. Those very thoughts, the realization that his family was still alive, made his chest constrict. He hadn't been able to save them last time, but he had to save them this time. He didn't think he'd be able to handle seeing them die this time, not when he had the chance to save them, but how? How can I get them to believe me and go with me when leave? He asked himself as he considered all the supplies he would need to get. Maybe his older cousins and their spouses, who worked in the medical field, would be able to help him get a hold of all that? When he was able to get them to believe...if he was able to.

He knew he would need to get in contact with Rick. He was the only one Glenn could think of that might believe him about everything that would happen and has happened. Rick was a good man and leader. He had saved their lives countless times and protected them all at one point or another. He was also good with speeches, and seemed to have some sort of power to get people to agree with him through that ability. Glenn nodded to himself in agreement with his thoughts. Yeah, he'll call Rick...as soon as he cleaned himself up a bit first.

Macon, Georgia

Michael "Mike" Hardison has had a pretty good life for the most part. He has his girlfriend Michonne and their adorable little boy Andre Anthony. He has best friend and a nice house. Growing up in a foster home with his twin brother led Mike to desiring a better life for himself. So he went about acquiring that ability by using any methods he could, even if at times it wasn't legal methods, it worked.

Mike awoke that morning to memories of a hellish world, sweat cling to his skin while his heart pounded away in his chest. He abruptly realized that maybe he should cut the drugs from his life, after the memories of his other life settled in his mind. His addiction the last time had caused more than just his death. Dark brown eyes glanced over at the right side of the bed and saw the sleeping figure of Michonne. Her dreadlocks were splayed out around her head like a halo. Her breathing was calm and steady with her chest rising on every restful breath.

Mike stood slowly from the bed, his toes curling inwards into the soft comfortable carpet. He reached into the dresser drawer, and grabbed the small bag filled with white powder inside it. He rubbed his head as he walked into the bathroom and dumped it into the toilet. There was no hesitation in his movement when he flushed the toilet, allowing the coke that was his addiction flush away.

He was startled at the soft touch of his girlfriend's hand on his shoulder. "You okay?" she asked softly. It was not a question filled with concern. With brown eyes that he loved so much, Mike knew he had to do this for his family and for himself.

"Yeah...I want to get clean," Mike replied softly. His hand raised and gently squeezed hers, where it was still on his shoulder. "I can't let these drugs consume me," he continued with grief and regret clear in his tone. His mind went back to his baby boy. How I could have been so irresponsible with his safety? He felt disgusted with himself. He was going to do things different this time. He wasn't going to allow himself to hear the sounds of his son's dying screams happen again. His son wasn't going to die if he had anything to say about it.

Michonne stared at her lover, not understanding why he was so upset. She knew the drugs he took was no good, but she didn't understand this grief and regret Mike was feeling. "Will you go to the rehabilitation clinic I found for you?" Michonne asked her boyfriend. She had already found a drug rehabilitation center in a small town known as Kings County, it was a good six hours away from where they lived, but the money they had at their disposal, she wasn't worried about the cost of finding a place to rent. The only reason she chose that particular location was because it had loser guidelines and rules that individuals had to follow. And it didn't take a long process to be able to sign up for it.

Mike nodded his head at Michonne's question. He was going to go, not just for himself, but for his girlfriend and son. He had a feeling that Michonne had everything planned out already. Before he could ask about it, the sound of fierce knocking on their front door drew their attention away from each other.

"I'll get it," he stated with a small smile. Michonne acknowledged him with a nod before she disappeared down the hallway and into Andre's bedroom, the sound of their son awakening having caught her attention. "I'm comin'!" He hollered when the pounding knocking started up again. He unlocked the door and opened them to the sight of Terry in a distraught mess.

"I don't know what was in that shit, but after what I dreamed, I ain't takin' it again. I can't let my nephew die," Terry said with tears in his eyes.

"You don't have to man. Come with me to the rehab clinic." Mike replied with a firm squeeze to Terry's shoulder. He brought him into the apartment and shut the door behind him.

Center For Disease Control

Edwin Jenner awoke to the sounds of activity. The murmuring sounds of voices, the clattering of objects being moved, and doors shutting and closing. Brown eyes opened and stared at the plain white ceiling above him. He pushed himself slowly up into a sitting position. His eyes roved around the room, studying the small queen bed he lay in, the small desk in the right corner, and the clock on the wall, that was ticking away with the time.

The last thing he remembered was Rick Grimes and his group. They had stayed for a few days, before learning about the truth. Had that really happened?, Dr. Jenner asked himself. Could I change what happens? He wonders as he thinks of what had happened to his wife and some of his co-workers. He considered the options he had. His first option was that he could stay here in the CDC and work on the disease, but there wasn't going to be much success with that after most of the other scientists and army deserted. His second option was to leave. He could wait until everyone else ran off, and then grab one of the abandoned trucks and pack it up with all the food, medical supplies, and science equipment that was left here. These supplies would be helpful in future situations.

Edwin began to consider his third option when the sounds of the door knob turning and then being pushed open, snapped his eyes to the figure standing in the doorway. "Cyn?" He gasped out, his dark brown eyes brimmed with tears as he stared at his beautiful wife. Those hazel eyes he loved so much, stared back at him tearfully. There was recognition in them, a remembrance of a time when they had to say goodbye to each other, after she was bitten. Watching her burn from the inside out because of the disease. It had killed whatever was left of him in the inside. He had nothing left to live for after she died.

"Ed," she murmured with a small tearful smile.

Edwin stumbled out of the bed and reached out for her. Cynthia fell into his arms, they held each other as they cried. They had been torn apart last time, but this time they weren't going to lose each other to death. They were going to fight for each other, and for others that deserved to live too.

"You have a plan" Cynthia murmured to her husbands chest. Her cheeks were tear streaked. Her hazel eyes glittered in the bright overhead lights. There was a strength of steel in them, showing she was ready to follow him, whatever he decided.

"I have a plan," he agreed, his mind going back to Rick Grimes and his group. Maybe it was time to take up the other man's invitation to join them. And maybe he'd be able to save some of the soldiers and scientists here. More brilliant minds would do wonders for what he was already considering doing.

Jacksonville, Florida

Tyreese Williams groaned as he awoke from his slumber. Dark brown eyes looked around the bedroom he was in with confusion. He could vaguely recall being in this room before. He rubbed his hands over his eyes, and slowly sat up. He froze as he recognized the pictures and awards hung upon the walls. He quickly looked to the left, where his nightstand was, to see the time in bright red light: 5:39. From the dim darkness shown outside the windows, he could only assume it was early morning. Shaking his head Tyreese looked around his warmly furnished bedroom.

It had been a long time since he's woken up in his old bed. He's almost forgotten what it feels like to sleep on something so comfortable. There was a loud crash, thump and thud that comes from the other room, right next to his. From what Tyreese recalls, it was Sasha's bedroom that was making those noises. It's only a few minutes later and his bedroom is slamming open. It bounces against the wall, leaving an indent in the gray painted walls, and nearly swinging shut again before his younger sister catches it.

The siblings share a look, both silently recognizing that they each remembered what happened before. It can be clearly seen in the haunted looks in their eyes. "What happened to you?" Tyreese asked in concern and worry for his sister. He can see it in her eyes, glazed over with tears and turbulent emotions that show a hardship she's gone through.

Sasha released a choked laugh, tears finally slipping free as she walked further into the bedroom and took a sleep beside her brother. "I lost Bob, you, Abraham, and a lot of others we considered family," she replied sadly. "I lost myself to the grief, it was suffocating. The anger...the sadness...the hate," Sasha shook her head at her remembered emotions. "It felt pointless to keep living," she remarked with quirk of her lips. It wasn't a happy smile or sad frown, but just a way to express herself.

Tyreese looked over at his sister sadly. He never wanted her to have to deal with losing anyone else after Bob. His mind went back to those dreams he had, of the dead walking again and killing others. To the thought of how he lost Karen, to the disease that spread in the prison, who was then killed by Carol. He wanted to look for her. Her last name was Delgado and she lived in Denver, Colorado before everything started. He had learned this information during a conversation about their family and where they had both lived before. They had talked about more, but those conversations weren't important at the moment. The knowledge of where Karen was, that was important.

"We should find Bob and get him cleaned," Sasha remarked as she glanced over at her brother. There was a hesitancy at her suggestion. As if she expected Tyreese to say that they shouldn't.

Dark brown, nearly black eyes, looked over at her. His eyebrow raised in question. "Do you know where he is?" The big man asked.

"He used to live in Billings, Minnesota," Sasha replies with a small smile. "Born there actually. He lives in Jefferson City, Missouri with a couple of friends now," she added with a slight smile. "He moved their when he was in her mid twenties, and should still be there now," Sasha considered aloud with a small smile at the thought.

Tyreese gripped her hand in his, and nodded slowly. "I'd like to find Karen too, I know where she lives," he stated as he looked over at Sasha. The younger sibling nodded slowly in agreement. She remembered how devastated Tyreese had been to lose Karen. "I also want to get in contact with Rick too, before we go. If anyone would remember, I bet it'd be him," The former NFL player added. "Then we'll go look for Bob and Karen," he finished with a gentle squeeze of Sasha's hand.

Sasha nodded at her brother in agreement and understanding. She can do that, as long as they do finally get to leave and find Bob. When they find Bob and Karen, they'll start getting ready and preparing for what will happen.

Houston, Texas

Abraham Ford used his left hand to rub his eyes tiredly as he leaned his right hand against the bathroom counter. His red hair was damp from the hot shower he had just taken. Water dripping down his face and onto the bathroom counter. He had almost forgotten what hot water felt like. At Alexandria it was refreshing to experience it, but he hadn't used the hot water as intensely as he had now. In the distance he could hear the sounds of his wife Ellen cooking breakfast. He could hear AJ and Becca laughing and talking as they played around in the living room.

It had been disorienting for Abraham to wake up to the sight of his wife and children alive and well. After their deaths, he had been able to really think about his family, and realized that they had been afraid of him even before then.

He can recall now the flinches and wary looks sent his way when they thought he wasn't looking. The silences and shared glances, it all pointed to his family having been frightened of him before he murdered those men. He knew it was because of his wartime experiences, and how he had gradually formed into an incredibly brutal and malicious person. It wasn't just the dead walking that made him this way. He knows his aggressive demeanor has heavily strained the relationship between him and his family a great deal, but he loved his family, he would never hurt them. He would do whatever he could to ensure that they survived this time.

Abraham pushes away from the bathroom and wiped his face before stepping out of the decently sized room. A towel was wrapped around his waist, slowing the cool breeze of the air conditioner to brush his skin. He shivered at the feel and quickly picked out his outfit for the day. He tossed the clothes on the bed, and was consumed with the plans his mind was running through. He was forcing himself to ignore the sounds coming from outside. The sounds of cars driving, people talking, and children laughing as they walked to school. Everything was so loud, after he had lived with so much silence around him daily. Walkers honestly didn't make as much noise as one thought, unless they were stirred like a hornets nest. Their groans and moans only really kicked up when they saw a person they considered dinner.

The red haired man considered what he should do next. He'd need to start stockpiling on supplies. Probably should get in contact with the others, see if they remembered. If Rick recalled their other lives, he was most likely already making plans and figuring shit out. It's why Abraham likes and respected a man like Rick. He was what people called a good strong leader. He knew what to do and how to get it done when it was needed. He wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty and dish out punishment or justice when it was called for. But he wasn't a dictator like the fucked up asshole Negan. Rick actually listened to others opinions and was willing to hear their sides before making a decision. Rick was certainly someone he would get in contact with.

Abraham dressed swiftly into the clothes he'd chosen for himself. A pair of his jeans, plain shirt, and boots were Putin quickly. He forced himself to ignore the residual pains of how he died. Being beaten to death by a bat wrapped in barbed wire? It was a fucked up way to go and it wasn't something he needed on his mind right now. Especially since he had other things to worry about, like getting started on getting shit ready for when the apocalypse happened.

Charlottesville, Virginia

Riley Teller had been born into a family of outlaws, criminals, manipulators, and killers. He had been witness to many of the atrocities that had occurred within his family's legacy as part of an illegal biker Club. As the oldest child, it had always been Riley's duty as the big brother to take care of his younger siblings. Once his adoptive/step-mother had been murdered, followed by his grandmother and step-grandfather, then his father committing suicide, all falling within a short seven month time span, had left the young man reeling. He had seen the disastrous cycle occurring and could only watch helplessly as his life spun out of control. Following the death of his family and the disappearance of his Uncle Opie,

Riley had waited just long enough to get through the funerals and legal proceedings, before leaving his hometown behind. He had driven across the country, with his younger siblings and son, in the backseat of his biological mother's black 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500 Fastback, to a new place to stay. Until he found a place for them to officially settle down.

He hadn't wanted to remain in his hometown, in a place that only held bad memories for him. So he left and ended up in Virginia, living in a small city that he passed by once, in another life. He had taken it upon himself to take care of and raise his younger siblings, but he had never expected to awaken that morning to memories of another life flashing through his mind. To have memories of the dead rising and ripping people apart. Of being shown the deaths of those he cared about, of meeting strangers while he was in Georgia, and came to consider them his family. When he started travelling with them, he grew to have a larger family, where they all protected and killed for each other, if they need came for it.

Rick, Daryl, Michonne, they had been like the parents that he didn't have any longer. Negan had ended up becoming a father like figure to him, after Rick died, Daryl lost himself to grief, and Michonne was left raising RJ and Judith. The older man was related to him, as he had found out, and hadn't known what to do with that information. Glenn and Maggie had been like older siblings to him. They teased and joked with him, protected him and pulled him out of his head when he began to sink too deep. Carl, he had truly been someone special to him. Just the flickering thought of Carl sent his heart skipping a beat. He and Carl had a love like their parents had before they died. They had been through thick and thin through the apocalypse together. They fought and argued like all couples did, but they preserved and saved each other too. Losing him like he had, had nearly destroyed Riley. He had lost himself to the madness of his grief. He had lost most of his younger siblings over the seven years he had Carl. The only ones in his memory that hadn't died was Eli and Layla, but they were his kids, he'd do anything for them. Abel, Thomas, and Harry had all died at some point in that alternate timeline.

Riley roughly wiped his eyes as he sat on the stoop of the small Virginian house he's currently renting. How am I going to do this? How am I possibly going to save my baby brothers and keep them safe? How am I even going to raise them? He asked himself with a growing sense of frustration. While he had the memories of his alternate life, It had only been a long year where he lost everyone he cared and loved.

He didn't know what to do now. He didn't know how he going to manage any of what was going to happen, especially when he was back to looking like a seventeen-year-old kid. He knew how to fight and use weapons, but it was hard to fight while having to take care of kids on your own. Especially against a shit storm that was supposed to occur in just a few months. He's dragged from his thoughts by the sound of the house phone ringing. He stumbled to his feet and walked back into the house. The screen door slammed shut behind him, as his rough calloused hands picked up the phone and held it to his ear.

"Hello?" He asked into the phone.

"Riley?" That voice nearly sent Riley to his knees, as he forcefully sat down on the chair behind him with a dull thump. His hands shook at that voice and his eyes blurred with tears.

"Carl?" The blonde haired teen choked out through a tight throat. He was so glad that Carl had remembered. God, he had fears that his partner wouldn't have remembered. Even though his younger lover was currently in his twelve-year-old body, now that he thought about it. "How did you find my number?" Riley asked curiously.

"Yeah, it's me Ri," his voice sounded choked up when he spoke. As if he was fighting not to cry. "I'm so glad you remember," Carl added thankfully. There's a tearful smile that could be heard in his tone. "I found your name and number through google. I forgot how amazing technology is," he chuckled through his tears of joy and grief.

Riley hadn't been so thankful to hear someone's voice then he was now. By the time of his death, Riley had been in his thirties. It had been around eleven years since he'd last seen or heard Carl's voice. He'd started to forget the little things about his younger lover. It had been so long since his death that his memories had begun to blur. He hated that he was starting to forget things about his younger partner, when he had really nothing left of his lover. He'd longed to hold him in his arms, hear his laugh and see his smile one last time. To get that scent that reminded him of fall and fresh cut grass after a rainfall. A trembling smile curled his lips upwards as he listened to his lover speak.

"I missed you Carl, so much," Riley replied with a wet laugh as the tears finally slipped free and slid down his cheeks. He shakily wiped them away and chuckled at his own lack of control over his emotions. It'd been a long time since he'd recalled crying or laughing much, after losing so many loved ones, it felt difficult to find anything to be happy about. The children were the only ones that could ever really bring him happiness.

"Me too," Carl responded with clear concern in his youthful voice. "Are you going to be coming to Georgia?" the younger boy asked in interest and hope. Riley could imagine the look of delight shining in his beautiful blue eyes, his smile stretching his lips into a wide grin. "Dad, Mom, and Shane remember everythin'," the brown haired added with a small smile. "Dad's already makin' plans and everythin' for us," Carl added with a chuckle. Everyone who knew Rick Grimes, knew he always made plans and tried to prepare for all types of scenarios.

"Yay, I actually have some suggestions to give Rick. I want to see what he thinks 'bout them," Riley replied with a hum as his mind went over his plans. "There's ideas I've come up with, over the years before I died," the seventeen-year-old stated to his younger partner. His bright green eyes looked to the clock ticking away on the wall. All the furniture in the place came with the rental. So it wasn't anything special if he and his siblings had to suddenly pack up and move. He would keep his biological mother's black 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500 Fastback and use it to drive to Senoia, Georgia.

The car was something that his parents had built together when they were teenagers. He also has his father's black 2003 Harley Davidson Dyna Super Glide Sport in the garage with the car. It was his father's second spare bike, and not the one he used to commit suicide with. He'd just buy a trailer and put the bike and any supplies in the back.

"He'll be glad to hear any idea, I think," Carl replied with a smile. "When do you think you'll get here?" "I should be down in about nine, almost ten hours. Likely around the evening or nearing midnight, depending on rest stops and traffic. I'm planning on stocking the fuck up on shit on the way down and on the way to Georgia," Riley had quiet a few ideas on what sort of things he should buy now, on his way down to Georgia.

"Okay, I'll let dad know you're going to be on your way here," Carl replied with some excitement. He had missed Riley and he wanted his older boyfriend, where they still boyfriends?, back at his side. Before Riley could say anything else, Carl hung up. Shaking his head in amusement, the young man placed the phone back in its cradle before calling out to Abel and Thomas, "Abel, Tommy! Get ready and dressed, we're going out!" With the rather vast fortune that Riley had at his disposal; from the life insurance money from his parents (his mother mainly), his grandmother and Clay, and the money that his father had hidden away (that had been the Clubs), Riley was happily willing to spend it all before the end. It wasn't like he wanted it in the first place. It was all blood money as far as he was concerned.

With the sounds of his younger brothers getting ready, Riley prepared his youngest brother and infant son to get ready to go. They had a shopping trip to prepare for and a trip to Georgia that was going to be interesting, to say the least.

Author Note:

In this chapter, there are a quite a lot of characters that make an appearance. Not all of them are likely to be expected, but each have a connection to Rick.

Rick is the common factor for all of them. They all know Rick, have had him as a leader, acquaintance, or enemy, at one point or another. In my opinion, Rick is an individual that everyone tends to turn to when a situation is bad and they need his help. In this case, it's due to the beginning of an outbreak starting.

There is an Original Male Character, that is a primary character. The short background of him is that his name is Riley Teller. He's seventeen-years-old at the beginning of the outbreak, and was Carl Grimes' partner in the original timeline and will be in this timeline. The pair didn't start anything sexually until Carl was around 16, even though Carl wanted to when he was 14. Riley has been a part of Rick's group since the start in Atlanta. He's a badass like all of Rick's group, and you'll learn more about his past throughout the story.

I do apologize for any grammatical errors or what not. I'll likely be reading this chapter over a few times to find any I missed.

Also, I'm still trying to get some of the characters personality and what not. So I do apologize if they might seem OOC or something. I am watching the Walking Dead again to help me get into their mindsets, as best as I possibly can.

If you have any questions, feel free to send me a PM or leave a review, and I'll be sure to respond.