A/N: Hey all! I know I haven't kept my promise with the upload schedule of Sundays…but I'm trying really! Some chapters are just not as much fun to write because I feel like they are "filler" chapter just leading up to the main event type stuff. That being said they are still important to the storyline and I want them to be descent. I also am trying to not put as much pressure on myself in terms of writing, especially when it comes to reviews or comments. We should want to write because it makes us happy and is something we love to do and I'm trying to get back there with not caring if people don't review, but it is a work in progress. All of this BS out of the way, I'm super excited for where the story is going to go. I have some big ideas and can't wait to get to that part…I'm going to try and not rush it though. Last thing…. tomorrow is Rick Grimes's last episode. I'm so sad…he's been such a key person and character not just to the show and those characters but also Riley. Interested to see what happens! Anyway….love you all and thanks for the continued support XOXOX

Chapter Fifty-Two: Hands in the Sky

Negan walked the halls, bat hanging from his shoulder a gentle whistle escaping his lips. Simon had come back empty handed once again, while Negan wasn't upset as he knew she would be found, she would be back and she would pay, he was still disappointed. If he was honest with himself which he never was…he missed her, missed how she made him feel…human. It was early morning and he was headed to the one room he went to every morning since she left. It had become a routine a mantra. It put his mind at ease, being in the space she once occupied, sitting where she once sat, trying to get into her mind. She had left only one thing behind in her hast to get out and it had taken up residence in his pocket. As he pushed the door open he let his fingers dance over the object. Looking around the room, his eyes found the magnets and he let a sad smirk drift over his lips, before shutting the door behind him.

Riley leaned against one of the cars, watching as people walked back and forth ensuring everything…everything was ready for their journey, their venture, the war that was about to be set into motion. Daryl walked by and handed her a purple ribbon. Riley nodded and worked on tying it around her upper arm. It was decided that all the communities; Alexandria, the Hilltop and Kingdom would wear colored bands to help those know and know intensely that they were friends and not foes. It was decided that everyone would leave at a set time and therefore arrive at the Sanctuary at the same moment. Riley watched as Morgan walked by, head lowered and staff in hand. Pushing off the vehicle she jogged after the man.

"Morgan…" Riley called, coming into stride with the gentleman

Morgan looked over and smirked "I'm fine Rye…. I'm fine…."

Riley looked at the man and bit her lip, she knew not to pry, not to push. She hated when people did that to her and she refused to do it to others. Simply nodding at the man, she looked back towards the cars. "you ready for this"

Morgan too took in the rows of built up and reinforced transportation devices before nodding "it's what needs to be done…. we do it and we move on…."

Riley still staring at the cars "we move on or move pass…"

Walking away Morgan replied "whichever one we want…. whichever one we need"

An hour later, everyone was gathered at the meeting point at the center of highway 102. Riley got out of the car she was driving in with some members of the Kingdom. She glanced around the area and found her dad leaning against the hood of another truck, talking with Maggie and Jesus. She reached into the car, grabbed her bag and bow and headed towards the man.

"you sure you want to come…"

Riley heard Rick speaking quietly to Maggie as Jesus folded up the map and made his way back to his vehicle.

"I got the Hilltop to fight…. I need to be there at least for the first part"

Rick smirked at Maggie and wrapped her in a hug, before turning and taking in the vast amount of people before him, he spotted Riley and smiled opening his arms for the girl

"hey dad" Riley whispered into Rick's chest "you ready for this"

Rick pulled away and placed a hand on Riley's neck "are you ready for this…to see him again….to fight"

"I'm ready to end this…." Riley spoke "I'm ready if you are"

Rick nodded and kissed the top of her head before turning and jumping into the back of the truck bed.

Riley looked around the forming of people as her father spoke, speaking words of hope and understanding, of what could happen, what would happen, what will happen and how in the end we would have a new start, a new world. Riley locked eyes on Tara as she stood leaning against her own truck with Aaron. Riley gripped her bow and weaved in and out of people making her way towards her wife.

"hey" Riley murmured, kissing the side of Tara's head. Tara smiled and slide her hand into Riley's.

"you okay" Tara asked, keeping her eyes on Rick. Riley once again looked around the group of fighters, people who she may not have known yet, people who may not know her yet but people who were all willing to fight the same fight to deliver the same outcome.

"yeah" Riley replied quietly "you…."

Tara leaned into Riley and kissed her temple, her lips softly brushing the raised skin of Riley's face. It was in that moment that any fear or uneasiness that Tara had vanished "yeah…" she spoke steady and strong.

Negan sat in the cement room, his hands clasped in front of him as he listened to the bullshit that was being uttered from the lips of Simon. Negan let his eyes close for a moment, getting lost in a memory, a thought….

'Negan watched as Riley drew up a map, a blueprint of an idea for the outer fencing area to make it more reinforced, stronger and less likely to be taken down by a herd if one every managed to come this far out. "you know I don't like Simon…" Riley spoke not looking up but Negan heard the slight smirk in her voice. "and why is that goose". Riley stopped all movements for a moment "he's not a good seed…. he…. he does what he thinks you want to see, want to hear…. he will do whatever he needs to save his own ass and that means one day he will go against you…." Riley looked up and watched as Negan sat on the edge of the table "he's a virus….worse then the Walkers out there…he will slowly infect all those around him and make it seem like he was the one trying to save them" Negan looked down at the girl "you seem to have a good read on people…tell me about the others…."

Riley got out of the car and stood beside her father. She slowly nodded her head and looked through the cracks the rusted metal provided. Her eyes locked onto the door of the Sanctuary as it opened and Dwight, Simon and a few other of Negan's top men stepped out, followed by the man himself.

"well shit I'm sorry" she heard Negan shout "I was in a meeting…"

Riley peered away and glanced over at Maggie, Jesus, Tara and the others as they all steadied their weapons and waited for it…it….it

"Rick…Rick…Rick…we need to stop this whole "my dick is bigger then your dick game", I'm sorry to say but I care about my people and I won't let any more of them die because you're not a big enough man to admit it…. but you're here so what can I do for you"

Rick took a breath and looked back at Riley…his daughter, he just got her back and he refused to lose her or anybody else he cared about because of this man. Taking in Riley's face and the look in her eyes he glanced through the space in-between the cars and metal and spoke out.

As Rick talked, telling the Saviors that they all could have an out, that they didn't have to be under Negan's thumb anymore, didn't have to live this life. Tara came up and stood beside her wife. She could tell from her spot a few cars away how Riley was suffering, going through an internal battle of thoughts and memories. Tara was just about to whisper something to Riley when Negan's voice boomed out once more.

"there is one easy way to end this Rick, where we can all walk away, all just go back to how things were, just move on". Negan stopped talking and peered through the fencing at the cars lined up, trying to see if she was there, if she was watching, if she saw him "…. give me back Riley"

Riley stopped breathing, she looked over at her dad as he locked eyes with her. Rick could see the wheels in Riley's head turning "no" he mouthed

"no" Rick spoke out, before Riley could make a decision, make a call, "no….no deal…. Riley isn't a barging tool, she's my daughter….MY daughter"

Riley looked through, saw Negan, saw how the words seemed to cut through him "dad" Riley hissed. If all this could end, Carl and Judith being safe, the fellow communities being safe all for Riley going back….

"come on Rick" Negan called back "seems like a pretty good deal…. all your people, all the communities, everything just as it was…. all that just for one person…. missing a great opportunity here"

Riley lowered her head, she couldn't let all this continue. She knew that Negan was most likely lying that he wouldn't end this mission, this war just for her return, but it was worth a shot. If she was on the inside, maybe…. maybe she could get him to see. Negan clearly still had some feelings for Riley, still thought about her…. she could change this outcome, she could end this…she could end this….

"I'm done talking" Rick called out. Eyes still locked on Riley. Tara gripped Riley's shoulder, causing the girl to jerk over

"don't…. you are not handing yourself over to that man again…." Tara looked up and over at Rick as the leader turned and held up a hand "I'm not losing you again…. we're not losing you again" Tara then leaned in and kissed Riley hard "I love you" and with that she ran back to her spot beside Aaron, gun raised and ready

"I'm going to count down from ten…. make your choice but there is no going back"

Riley watched Tara for a moment and took a breath, this could all be over….at least for a little while.

"ten…. nine…." Rick looked at Riley and knew there was no getting to one, for her or for him. It needed to start and end now

"eight…. fuck this"

Shots rang out, vehicles moved, people ran and fences came down. Riley was able to reach her dad and watched as Negan crawled his way behind an overturned car. Looking around she watched as Tara and Aaron started their car and pushed a few others closer to the Sanctuary before turning and heading off. Slowly Riley saw the forming of a few Walkers exit the surrounding forest, the noise alerting them to the presence of people.

"dad…" Riley shouted as the man started to make his way towards the car which Negan huddled behind "dad…. we got to go…the Walkers…. he'll…. he'll…. we got to go"

Rick turned and watched as more and more of the dead emerged from the clearing. He nodded his head, sent one more shot and turned, running towards the truck. "get in your car and go…we'll meet back at the Hilltop". Riley nodded and turned watching as her father sped off. Racing towards the truck she watched as Gabriel weaved through the mess and debris and kneeled towards a fallen man. Biting her lip and clenching her jaw, she gripped her bow, shoved her gun into her boot and ran towards the man of God. "Gabriel" she shouted "we have to go…."

Stopping in front of the man she narrowed her eyes "Gregory" she spit out. Gabriel looked up. Gregory too took in the form of the hunter

"we have to help him" Gabriel called his eyes going behind the Dixon as more Walkers appeared

Gregory kneeled a bit more pushing himself up "please…" he begged.

Riley shook her head "fine…give him your keys we can ride together…. get the fuck out of here Gregory"

"thank you" the man spoke, before pushing Riley into Gabriel making both fall to the ground "if Negan can't have you the dead ones can" and with that the man ran, jumping into the truck and racing away

"screw you" Riley yelled, getting to her feet and helping her friend up "fucking dick…. are you okay"

Gabriel nodded but pointed over Riley's shoulder. Riley turned and watched as Walkers poured in from all directions "we have to find somewhere to hole up for a bit and hope it slows down…."

"where" the man of faith spoke fear lacing his words

Looking around Riley pointed "there…come on" pulling Gabriel behind her she reached an RV trailer and pushed Gabriel in before slamming the door behind her

Leaning against the door, Riley let out a breath "that man was not worth saving buddy…"

"everyone deserves a second chance"

Riley laughed "whatever you say Father…". She smirked at Gabriel, the man had come a long way and was slowly showing that even though he still had a lot to learn and develop he was an important member of the team...the family. The man smiled back, he had formed a bit of a bond with the Dixon, especially after the loss of Beth. Peering out of the dirty and fogged over glass Riley shook her head "we'll hide out here for a bit…hopefully it will slow down enough we can try and make a run for it…. something will happen to get them to turn…"

It was quiet for a moment until a low whistle sounded from the darken corner. Riley raised her bow and went to stand in front of Gabriel, she watched as the person stood and moved slightly into the small stream of light that shone through the window. Lowering her bow Riley swallowed. Her heart sinking.

"hey there goose"

A/N: thoughts...its going to get better, where headed into the juicy stuff now. May bypass some stuff or make my own "episode" chapter. Let me know suggestions, input or songs...enjoy tomorrow's episode and I'll make sure to touch base on it in my next chapters Authors Note.