Anna shoved the bed frame against the wall and stepped out of the shed before shutting the door. She'd grown tired of the skeleton in her room, a bleak reminder of what was taken from her. She wiped her hands on her jeans as she started across the backyard toward the house.

As she made her way up the porch steps, she saw Rick standing in the dining room with Jessie. Anna sighed and stepped inside the house.

"Anna, hey," Rick said at her entrance.

"Rick," she greeted with a nod.

"Aaron and I are goin' on a run for supplies. We're gonna go out pretty far," Rick explained. "I was just stoppin' by to see how you were doin'."

"I'm fine," she said, crossing her arms over her chest.

Rick and Jessie openly looked at each other before turning back to her. Anna rolled her eyes and adjusted her stance. "Can you get to the real reason you're here?"

Rick bowed his head and scratched the bridge of his nose.

"I need you to be in charge while I'm gone," Rick finally said.

"No."

"Anna, please, I don't—" he rubbed his face— "I'd ask Michonne, but she left to scavenge this morning. Please, I know I can count on you."

"I'm sure you've got plenty of people to count on," Anna waved him off, heading to the hallway.

"I'm askin' you," Rick stated simply.

"Ask someone else," Anna snapped. "I can't."

"Yes, you can. I know you can," Rick insisted.

"And if the Saviors come back?" She asked.

If Isaac is with them?

"You'll handle them. But they won't be back," Rick assured.

Anna ground her teeth, knowing that Rick wasn't going to let up. Once he made up his mind, it took a hell of a lot to change it.

"Fine," she huffed.

"Thank you," Rick said, and she heard him head out the door.

"I think this'll be good for you," Jessie said. "It'll give you something to do."

"Yeah, sure," Anna mumbled as she headed to the office, Jessie following close behind. "I was hiding in a closet this morning, but I can totally take charge," she snipped.

She found her satchel and put a notebook and pen inside—along with her voice recorder— before she pulled it over her head and adjusted it on her shoulders.

"I've got tower watch, so if you need me," Jessie started.

"That's where you'll be," Anna finished.

Jessie nodded before he turned. Anna watched as he left the room and listened to the front door open and shut. Her eyes flicked to the office door. She walked up to it and gently closed it so that she could see the wall behind. She reached out and pushed her fingers into the dent in the drywall where the doorknob had broken through. Her other hand found the bruise still throbbing on her cheek.

With a huff, Anna opened the door and walked out, pushing the hole in the wall and the bruise on her face from her mind. Maybe Jessie was right; this could be good for her. A distraction from it all could be just the thing.

So, she left the house and started down the street toward the pantry. A few people waved at her as she walked by, but no one seemed inclined to talk.

The pantry was nearly barren when she arrived. Doing a quick mental tally of the people they had to feed, she calculated that they had enough food to last them about a month if they stretched out their rations as far as possible. Anna decided she would go hunting when Rick returned. Yet another good distraction.

Dissatisfied with the pantry, Anna made her way around Alexandria, checking on the guards posted strategically at the wall.

Holly seemed frustrated with the way of things but was resigned to focusing on her job rather than complaining. On the other hand, Scott had no qualms with voicing his distaste with the Saviors and their inability to rectify the problem. Eric primarily stuck to passive aggression but was overall compliant. Tobin, however, wanted answers.

"How are we getting out of this?" He asked.

"We talked about this," Anna said, already exhausted.

While having something to do to keep her mind from spiraling was good, it was hard keeping a strong facade up for longer than a few minutes. She already had a headache, and all she wanted to do was curl up in her closet and sleep.

"Rick talked about it," Tobin corrected as he followed her down the street toward the front gate where he was scheduled to be in a few minutes. "They said you were with the military. Surely there's something you can come up with to get us out of this."

"Seven months after the turn doesn't make someone a one-person army. That's what we need to beat them—an army," she sighed. "I don't suppose you have one in your back pocket?"

"What about the Hilltop?" He pushed.

"The Hilltop is in the same boat as us. No guns. Except they have the added disadvantage of not having fighters either," Anna explained. "And by the time we'd get them trained, the Saviors would probably know what we were planning."

"So, that's it? We just let them take everything? After what they did?" Tobin asked as they reached the front gate. "Glenn was your best friend," Tobin insisted. "Daryl—"
"Stop," Anna snapped. "This conversation is over."

"Uh, guys," called Shawn from the gate platform.

Tobin and Anna squinted up at him as the rumble of engines approached. Tensing, Anna turned to the gate, the shadow of trucks looming just beyond. She could hear them pull to a stop and the engines idle as a door opened and slammed shut on the other side.

"Open the gate," Anna said.

"But—"

"Open the gate," she repeated more firmly.

Tobin huffed and walked to the gate, pulling the latch before rolling the gate back to reveal Negan standing there, bat in hand and Carl at his side.

What the shit?

"Hello again," he grinned. "Where's Rick?"

"He's out scavenging," Tobin answered.

Negan stepped to the side with Carl, allowing two trucks to pull through the gate and park. Anna's hands shook as she waited for Isaac to climb out of one of the trucks.

"Why don't you go ahead and shut that gate," Negan said.

Tobin glanced at Anna and she nodded. He pulled the gate closed and locked it.

"So, who's in charge while your fearless leader is away?" Negan asked, looking around at them.

"Me," Anna said reluctantly, scanning the Saviors that gathered around them. She didn't see Isaac anywhere, and she felt her heart calm.

Negan looked to her, raising a brow.

"You? You're Rick's right hand?" He asked, incredulous.

"More like his pinky," Anna muttered. "Why is Carl with you?"

Negan clapped Carl on the shoulder and laughed. "This little pirate decided to storm the castle," he said and Carl grimaced. "Killed some of my men. But I brought him back 'cause I am just such a nice guy."

Anna made no outward reaction as he moved toward her, standing in her space.

"When should we be expecting Rick's return?" He asked.

"He went out pretty far. It'll probably be awhile before he gets back," she said evenly.

"Then I guess I'll just put my feet up till he gets here," he said. "Carl," he called, gesturing for the teen to follow him.

Anna watched as they started down the street. Negan stopped and turned back.

"What's your name?" He asked, pointing at her.

"Anna," she said.

"Well, Anna," he said. "Come along," he ordered before he headed off.

Anna rolled her eyes and looked to Tobin.

"Don't do anything stupid," she hissed before following after them.

Negan used his bat to tap on the yellow door of Rick's house and Olivia answered, her face paling at the sight of the man. She quickly stepped aside, allowing him entrance as she looked to Carl.

"Carl, where's—"

"Enid's fine," Carl assured.

Anna furrowed her brow; she hadn't even noticed the girl was missing.

"Great, great, great, great, great, great," Negan cheered.

"Rick's not here," Olivia said. "They might not be back today."

"Right," he said.

"We're running really low on everything. We're practically starving here," Olivia huffed.

"Starving?" Negan turned to Olivia, looking her up and down. "You? By "practically," you mean "not really,'" he corrected.

Olivia's lip began to tremble and she whirled around as a sob ripped from her lips. Anna grimaced uncomfortably. Negan looked between Anna and Carl.

"Really?" He chuckled. "You people seriously don't have a sense of humor." He turned back to Olivia and sighed. "Excuse me. What's your name again?"

"Olivia," she ground out, wiping at her face as she turned to him.

"Right, Olivia," Negan began. "I am sorry for having been so rude to you just now. And it looks like I'm gonna be here for a while, awaiting Rick's return. And if you'd like, I think it would be enjoyable to screw your brains out," he said, stepping toward her. "I mean, if, you know, you're agreeable to it."

Anna jumped at the sound of Olivia's hand slapping across Negan's face. Negan shook himself and grinned down at Olivia.

"I am about fifty percent more into you now. Just sayin'," he laughed.

Olivia took a step back with a look of disgust.

"Olivia, would you be a lamb and make us a little lemonade?" Negan asked, stepping away from her to look around the room. "Now, I know I left you all some of that good powdered stuff."

"Well, I'm supposed to be with—"

"Make it," he snapped, his expression hardening. "Take your time. Make it good."

Olivia nodded and quickly scurried out of the house. Negan clapped his hands and looked to Carl.

"Alright, kid! Take me on the grand tour," he said, waving his arm out to the rest of the house.

Carl glanced at Anna before they started around the house. Negan was openly excited as he ran the kitchen sink and flipped the lights on and off in each room they entered. He played a bit of darts in Carl's room and took his shoes off in Rick and Michonne's room to feel the carpet on his feet.

"Are you okay?" Anna asked after Negan brushed past them.

"I'm fine," Carl assured.

"What the hell were you thinking?"

"What's in here?" Negan asked as he approached another room.

"Oh, i-it's just a water heater," Carl insisted, hurrying to block his path.

"Are you serious kid? Come on," Negan scoffed, pushing the door open. "Oh-ho, my," he exclaimed. "Look at this little angel."

Anna watched intently as Negan pulled Judith into his arms and bounced her on his hip. She furrowed her brow as he cooed at her.

Is this guy for real?

"How about we go get some fresh air?" Negan asked, carrying Judith out of the room.

Carl and Anna followed him downstairs and out onto the front porch.

"Here, hold her for a moment," he said, passing Judith to Anna.

Anna took her and he removed his jacket, folding it over the arm of one of the rocking chairs before he gestured for Judith's return. Reluctantly, Anna handed the child back and Negan sat down, rocking back and forth as he began to hum.

"Well, sit down," he ordered.

Anna nodded to Carl, and the teen sat in the other chair as she crossed her arms over her chest, hovering just behind them.

"Oh, this little girl is precious," he grinned as Judith laid her head on his shoulder. "Hey, neighbor," he called, waving as Tobin walked past. "Why don't you come by later? We might grill out." Tobin hurried on by without responding as Negan chuckled. "Oh, I like it here. I might just have to stay here. You know, I was thinking about what you said earlier, Carl. Maybe it is stupid keeping you and your dad alive. I mean, why am I trying so hard? Maybe I should just bury you both down in one of those flower beds, huh?"

He moved Judith so he could pucker his lips at her.

"And then I could just settle into the suburbs. What do you think about that?"

Negan let Judith lay back on his shoulder and closed his eyes.

"So, Anna, tell me about yourself. How did you end up being in charge while Rick's away?" He asked.

"No one else for him to ask," Anna shrugged.

"Come on, now. Don't sell yourself short. I'm sure you've got plenty to offer," he said, looking over his shoulder at her. "Come on around here, let me get a look at you."

Anna frowned and moved to stand in front of him, not bothering to hide her impatience.

"How old are you?" He asked.

"Twenty-seven or so."

"Twenty-seven or so?" He echoed. "How old's Daryl?"

"About thirty-six," she said, working her jaw.

Negan gave a low whistle. "That's quite the age difference."

Anna ground her teeth but said nothing.

"What's the relationship there? Are you two, like, a thing?"

She shifted on her feet and pressed her lips together as she glared at him.

"Well, excuse the shit out of me for asking," Negan said, raising a brow at her. "I couldn't help but notice your reaction when he hit me and my guys took him down. Kinda made me think there was something—" he waved his hand at her.

"It's none of your business," she snapped.

"Oh, she's got some spunk. Is that what got you that bruise?"

Bite me.

"You know, there's an open cell next to his," Negan grinned. "Your attitude could stand to be brought down a couple of notches."

"Can you just leave her alone?" Carl asked.

Negan glanced between the two of them.

"For now," he finally said, then the corner of his mouth twitched up into a smile. "Maybe I'll talk to Daryl about it first, see what he says."

Anna looked first at Judith, content on Negan's chest, then at Carl—that was all it took to keep her mouth shut.

"Now, what do you have to eat around here?"