Hello.

So, it has been forever since I last updated, but this fic weighs on me, so I have made it my goal to get it finished this year.

If you're still here with me, thank you so much for sticking around, it means a lot.

I am going to try and become regular again, but at the very least I will be back updating.

I hope you all still enjoy this and like where it goes.

Thank you 3

Beth sat beside her sister, with her heart in her throat.

Rick had been right about Jesus – he did come from a camp. And not just a camp, a community – and one with resources. He had told them he was their acting scout, on the look out for other such communities they could open trade with.

Rick knew then and there that they needed to see this place for their-selves, and Beth had refused to stay behind. As Daryl had been boarding the RV she had stood there, arms folded, face set, whilst he tried to warn her against coming. But the Greene gene had won, and so she sat on the sofa in the back of the RV beside her sister. She was sick of being made to feel like an outsider in their family. It was time for her to carve her own place. Hadn't she proven herself?

There was a strange mood in the back of the mobile home – one of both excited and nervous anticipation, as none of them knew exactly what to expect. Who resided in this community they had never encountered before? What size was it? What resources did it hold? Was Jesus as trust-worthy as he seemed – or was this all a trap? Similar thoughts swam through each head as they drove, and so occupied they were that no-one really spoke.

They had gotten a little over half way when they encountered the upturned car.

Rick slowed the RV and turned towards the smoking car.

Jesus, who had been riding with them, got up from where he had been sitting behind Rick to peer out through the front window.

'It's one of ours.' He said.

Beth looked towards Daryl, but he was too busy looking out of the window to look at her. She wondered whether that was deliberate, but she had no real time to ponder it before people were moving.

Jesus was out of the vehicle, both Rick and Daryl hot on his heels.

The rest of them followed slowly, Beth behind Maggie, her hand on her knife. The thought that Jesus had set this whole scenario up did not evade her.

There were bits of walkers strewn around the upturned car, the heads that were still intact snarling at them from broken or battered bodies.

'If this is a trick,' Rick said to Jesus, raising his gun, 'this wont end well for you.'

'There are tracks right here.' Daryl said, pointing to the floor, his eyes already roaming intently across the gravel. He began to follow them, his stance low, crossbow raised; the other followed slowly.

The bloodied and scuffed tracks suggested multiple people, as well as one with an injured gait, but Daryl was certain it belonged to a human and not a walker. They led them across the gravel and through the woodland towards an old, rusted building.

Daryl paused and Rick took charge, stepping ahead of him to size up the building. He banged on the door.

'How we know this ain't fire crackers in a trash can?' Daryl grunted.

'You don't,' Jesus said.

'We'll get your people.' Rick said. 'But you stay here.'

Glenn looked to Maggie, and they silently shared an affirmation.

'Can you stay?' He asked her quietly.

'Yeah.' Maggie said. Beth took her hand, silently telling her she would, too. 'Y'all go. Be careful.'

'We will.' Rick said. 'You hear me whistle. You shoot him.'

Maggie dropped Beth's hand and put her hand on her own gun.

'I will.' She said.

As the others entered the building, Maggie raised her gun at this new man in their group. Beth kept her eyes on both.

Minutes passed.

'No shots,' Beth murmured. Maggie nodded briefly. Jesus, to his credit, stayed where he was, still, his eyes kept on the building ahead. He did not seem like a man waiting for a chance to strike – he looked like a man frightened of what lay in the building ahead. Beth allowed herself a little faith.

After what felt like both an age and no time at all, the door opened, and Beth's nearest and dearest fell back out in to the light – along with four new faces, one of whom was being propped up by Abraham.

Jesus went to them instantly, his hands out to help hold up the injured man.

'Come on,' Rick said. 'We're wasting daylight.'

Daryl made his way to Beth, gently placing a hand on her lower back. She nodded, and headed back towards the RV. It was a little more crowded once they climbed back on board, and the atmosphere had seemed to have changed once again, but Beth couldn't put her finger on whether it was relief or a heightened apprehension. She thought she could feel both. The men within the building had been genuine, which suggested Jesus was, but something had overturned their car and driven them there.

'We're here.' Jesus said after they had been driving for a little longer. 'This is us. This is Hilltop.'

One by one, they removed their selves from the RV and stepped out into the afternoon light; before them stood the large, wooden poles that made up the walls of this new community. They holstered their weapons and headed over on foot.

As they approached, two people appeared atop those walls, either side of the large steel doors.

'Stop right there!' The man shouted; Jesus raised his arms as those with guns raised them.

'You gonna make us?' Daryl shouted back.

'Open the gates, Cal.' Jesus called up. 'Freddie's hurt.' He turned to face the rest of them, from Daryl to Rick. 'Look, sorry about these guys - they get antsy standing up there all day doing nothing.'

'They give up the weapons. Then we'll open the gates.' Cal shouted.

'Why don't you come down here and get 'em?' Daryl shouted. 'Gentlemen, look, we vouch for these people, all right? They saved us out there.' One of the newcomers said. 'Lower the spears.' Jesus said. 'Look, I'm not taking any chances.' Rick said. 'Tell your guy Gregory to come out here.' 'No.' Jesus turned to him. 'Don't you see what just happened? I'm letting you keep your guns. Look, we ran out of ammo months ago. I like you people. I trust you. Trust us.' Rick looked at him for a while, then he sighed and nodded. 'Open the gates, Cal.' Jesus said.
Slowly, the gates opened inwards, revealing the place within; at the far back was a large house, which overlooked a farming community – chicken coops, pigs, goats, allotments. Beth breathed out, a sudden sense of home overcoming her. She looked to Maggie, who looked like she was thinking the same thing. 'That's Barrington House,' Jesus said, pointing towards the house before them as they walked through the gates and in to the grounds. 'The family that owned it gave it to the state in the '30s. The state turned it into a living history museum. Every elementary school for 50 miles used to come here for field trips. The place was running a long time before the modern world built up around it. I think people came here because they figured it'd keep running after the modern world broke down. Those windows up there let us see for miles in every direction. It's perfect for security. Come on. I'll show you inside.'

Beth followed in with her sister, as Jesus led them in to one of the flushest houses she had ever seen – a giant ornate staircase spiralled down into the open hallway they stood in now, adorned with intricate rugs on the oak panelled floor. As Jesus was telling them that most of the rooms were now living spaces, the double doors to their right opened, revealing a small, greying man in a shirt and jacket. 'Jesus,' he said. 'You're back. With guests.' 'Everyone, this is Gregory.' Jesus said.

Beth looked at the man in the doorway, her eyes sweeping over his face. He was smiling at them, but it didn't seem to reach his eyes.

'He keeps the trains running on time around here.' Jesus said.

Gregory spread his arms out around him.

'I'm the boss,' he smiled.

'Well, I'm Rick. We have a community –'

'Why don't y'all go get cleaned up, hmm?' Gregory interrupted.

'We're fine.' Rick said.

'Jesus will show you where you can get washed up.' Gregory insisted. 'Then come back down here when you're ready.' He walked close to Rick, and Beth felt herself holding her breath. 'It's hard to keep this place clean.'

For a moment, Rick didn't speak, only looked at the man smiling close to his face.

'Yeah.' He said. 'Sure.'

'Follow me.' Jesus said.

'You clean up first.' Rick said to Maggie as they followed Jesus to the bathroom. 'You talk to him.'

'Why?' Maggie asked.

'I shouldn't.' Rick said, his voice dark. 'And you gotta start doing these things.'

Whilst Maggie parlayed with Gregory of Hilltop, the rest of them waited in the wings. Beth looked around the room they were in, taking in the furnishings with one eye on Daryl, who was pacing.

It didn't take long for Maggie to leave the room – her face told them everything they needed to know.

She shook her head.

Rick sighed.

'We want to generate trade.' Jesus said after Maggie had told them Gregory had essentially turned her down. 'Gregory does. But ammo isn't something we urgently need.'

'Well, how's that?' Rick asked; he was sitting, but he still held such an air of importance. Even within these fine walls, and Gregory's clean shirt, Rick was in charge. 'The walls hold.' Jesus said. 'We just brought in more medicine. Gregory wants the best deal possible.' 'Yeah, well, we want things too.' Daryl said. 'We need food.' Rick said. 'We came all this way, we're gonna get it.' 'I will talk to him and we will work this out.' Jesus said. 'Circumstances change. We're doing well now, and you will next. I will make him understand that. Can you give me a few days?' Rick was silent; Beth watched as he glanced towards Michonne, who was sitting a little away from him, with almost the same air of importance as Rick, Beth suddenly thought. 'We can.' Michonne said. Rick took a breath. He nodded. 'Yeah.'

Jesus smiled.

Suddenly the door to the house opened and a man came in, looking a little worse for wear.

'They're back,' he breathed.

Clearly having heard the man, the door to Gregory's room opened, and he peered out over them, his face seeming a little paler than before. Rick stood up and led the way back outside without asking for further information. Gregory followed.

A man was walking towards them across the grass, his face set heavy and dark.

'Ethan,' Gregory said. 'Where's everyone else?'

'Dead.' Ethan replied.

'Negan?' Gregory asked.

'Yeah.'

'We had a deal,' Gregory said.

'He said it wasn't enough.' Ethan said.

'Was the drop light?' A man behind asked.

Gregory said no.

'They still have Craig.' A woman said.

'Said they'll keep him alive, deliver him back to us if I deliver a message.' Ethan said.

'So – tell me.' Gregory said.

The man placed one hand on the older man's shoulder.

'I'm sorry,' he said.

Then everyone happened quickly; the man named Ethan plunged a previously concealed knife into Gregory's gut – as he let out a shocked cry, everyone around jumped in to action. Beth and Maggie grabbed Gregory, applying pressure to the wound which was soaking through his clean shirt, whilst Rick and Daryl grabbed the man, pulling him backwards.

The man was yelling that he had no choice as Rick tackled him to the floor, his fist connecting with his face again and again. Rick was thrown off by another man, but before Rick's body hit the floor the man on him was snatched by the shirt by Abraham Ford, and Rick was able to jump back on to Ethan before he himself got to up. Abraham lost his upper hand on the second man, so Daryl grabbed him and tore him away, pushing him to the ground with a grunt and pulling his arm back until there was an audible snap. As this took place, Ethan struggled with Rick until he was able to flip them over, gaining advantage and holding him down, his body pinning Rick to the grass.

'Hey!' Glen yelled, grabbing his gun.

'Stay back!' Ethan yelled. 'Anyone who stops me is killing my brother!'

'Drop it.' Michonne warned, as the man held the knife which was already dripping with Gregory's blood to Rick's throat.

In the moment that Ethan glanced to Michonne, Rick was able to swing his own knife up and into his exposed throat, plunging his knife deep into his artery beneath his jaw. The blood poured out over Ricks hands as the man above him gurgled his last breaths away.

Dead, Rick pushed him off and got to his feet, blood covering most of his face – and Gregory's nice clean shit.

He stood shakily, slowly turning to look at the people around him – those who had attacked his own, and the onlookers, who looked to him now in fear.

'What.' He said.

'Ethan,' the man from the floor grasped, clutching his broken arm to himself with tears in his wide eyes. 'You killed him!'

'He tried to kill Gregory – then me!' Rick replied.

The woman who had been out with them ran to him through the crowd, punching Rick to the jaw; as Rick stumbled back, his eyebrows rising, Michonne was on her, knocking her to the ground in a classic display of solidarity.

'Drop it now!' A man yelled – Beth recognised him from the wall security – the spear he was brandishing at Rick gave it away.

'I don't think I will.' Rick swaggered, rubbing his chin and smearing the dripping blood over the palm of his hand.

'Everyone!' Jesus yelled, running between them. 'This is over! It's over! Ethan was our friend. But let's not pretend he was anything other than a coward who attacked us. He did this.'

Daryl had moved to Beth now, but she could see the fire was still lit in his eyes. She placed a hand on his hot arm.

'Y'alright?' He asked her.

She nodded.

'Things here aren't as simple as they look.' Jesus said. 'We need to talk.'

Back in the house, with the Doctor they had saved outside the walls, Gregory was patched up. But that was where the good news ended. Beth sat beside the window, watching the woman still crying over the now dead body of Ethan outside, and listened as Jesus spoke. He told them about a man named Negan, who had threatened them, killed one of them, in the name of a trade – half of all of their supplies in exchange for not killing them. It sounded like a bum deal, but even Beth could see these people here were not fighters. Not like her family. Not like Rick. Not like Daryl. Not like Michonne.

She sat and listened as a new deal was suggested. A deal in which her family offered their own extensive skill set.

'I'll take it to Gregory.' Jesus said.

'You know what this is,' Beth said softly as she walked slowly around the grounds of this new place with Daryl; Maggie had been asked to speak with Gregory as he recovered in his chambers.

Daryl didn't say anything.

'You're offering to kill in exchange for supplies.' She said quietly, noticing the way people were shrinking when they approached. 'You're assassins.'

Daryl still didn't say anything.

'Those aren't walkers.' She said. 'They're people. Humans.'

Daryl remained silent.

'Are you okay with that?' She asked.

Daryl sighed.

'Wha' y'want me t'say?' He grunted. 'We need the food. They need their man back.'

Beth swallowed.

'We got the skills they need.'

'The ability to kill?' Beth asked.

'Yeah.' Daryl said, stopping. He turned to look at her, placing a hand on her hip and pulling her slightly closer to him. 'Yeah. Someone has to.'

Beth sighed.

'It's going to be a fight.' She said.

'We'll win.' Daryl said.

Beth nodded, but it didn't sit comfortable with her. She placed a hand on her stomach, knowing that this would be a trip she would have to sit out on. She sighed, and Daryl took it as an acceptance. He let his hand fall from her waist and continued to walk – Beth knew he found it impossible to stay still and wait. He was antsy, waiting for the deal to be struck.

As they walked, they came across the Doctor they had saved earlier. He greeted them with considerable warmth despite the earlier bloodbath.

'Hey,' Daryl said. 'Yer the doctor.'

'Yes,' He said. 'Carson.'

'Y'got any o'that prenatal type shit?' Daryl said, surprising Beth.

Dr Carson looked at Daryl, then to Beth.

'For you?' He asked.

Beth nodded, placing a hand on the middle of her stomach. With her hand there, it stuck the fabric of her dress to her, showing the curve of her bump. Dr Carson nodded.

'I used to be an obstetrician,' he smiled. 'Come with me.'

Daryl let Beth take the lead as they followed the doctor in to one of the trailers that were set up around the commune. Inside was a reasonable doctor's surgery, almost as well equipped as the one back home. This one, however, had an ultrasound.

Doctor Carson gestured to it.

Beth looked to Daryl, who shrugged, despite the slightly clamour pallor of his skin.

Gingerly, Beth climbed onto the couch as the doctor set about setting up his equipment.

'Okay,' Carson said, 'if you could lift your dress for me.'

Feeling a little exposed in her knickers, Beth drew her skirt up to her chest. The doctor rubbed the gel on her stomach much like Dr Edwards had done back in Grady. But this was different, Beth thought, this was better. She looked over to Daryl, holding out a hand. He seemed reluctant, but then he came towards her and took it, and Beth found comfort in the warm callouses of his familiar palm.

Dr Carson rubbed the probe across the gel, and the monitor beside them came to life as the small room was suddenly filled with the sound of a steady heartbeat.

'All looks healthy,' Carson smiled as he applied a little pressure.

Beth stared, mouth agape, as her baby came into focus on the screen; back at Grady, it had been little more than a grainy blob, but now she could really see a fully formed baby.

'It looks like a baby!' She gasped.

Carson laughed.

'You're about 24 weeks,' he said. 'Baby is well proportioned. I'd like to check your blood pressure, but everything looks good.'

Beth nodded, but she couldn't stop staring at the screen, her own heart thumping in time to that of her babies. She felt tears come to her eyes.

She looked across to Daryl, who was also staring at the screen.

'What is it?' He said, his voice grainy. 'I mean – uh –'

'The sex?' Carson smiled. 'They're in a bit of an awkward position, but I can apply some pressure and get them to move. Do you want to know?'

Beth looked at Daryl, searching his face.

He looked down at her then, and his eyes seemed to clear. He smiled that slightly awkward hitched smile she loved.

'Nah,' he said.

Beth smiled back.

'No,' she smiled. 'Let nature take its course.'

Dr Carson nodded. He let them take in their baby for a bit longer, then printed them out a photo of the scan.

Maggie found them not long after they had left Doctor Carson's make shift surgery.

'It's on,' she told them, her face grave. 'He's accepted our terms. And some.'

'What you get?' Daryl asked her; Beth noticed his voice was a little shaky, but Maggie didn't seem to notice.

'Half of everything,' she said.

'Damn,' Daryl breathed. 'Well done.'

Maggie smiled, but she looked tired; there were lines around her eyes Beth didn't think had been there before.

'They're stocking up now.' She said. 'Come on. Let's get home.'

Beth reached out and took her arm before she could walk away.

'Wait,' she said, reaching in to the pocket of her dress. 'Look.'

She handed her sister the scan photo; Maggie took it, and Beth watched her face change as she looked at it.

'You just got this?' She asked.

Beth nodded.

'Oh, I wish I'd been there,' she sighed. 'Oh, look at that. Look… oh Beth.'

Beth found herself beaming.

'That's my niece or nephew,' Maggie laughed. 'Wow.'

Beth laughed, suddenly feeling a whole lot lighter despite the impending weight of what was soon to take place.

P.S. If you want to talk to me over on tumblr I will always appreciate the support or even just a chat. When I started this fic I was in uni surrounded by friends who loved the show and the fandom and so I had lots of people to bounce off of and come up with things with, or even just talk to about it. And sometimes I post art.

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P.P.S If you have enjoyed this work, I have set up a Ko-Fi page incase anyone would like to show some love that way. No pressure ;)

/bruteforceandignorance