Chapter 81: Mending


KPOV

~Earlier that day~

Needing to take some time out, after being comforted by Sherry, I needed some space for myself. So I could think, so I could figure out what my next step would be now that my brother was here and ruining my plans.

I had hope that Negan would continue our deal, because if he broke it, I didn't know how I'd carry on. I'd be fuelled to end him but it would only take me down with him. There was much to think over.

Letting the cool fresh air hit me, I had focused on my breathing and shut my eyes. The sounds of walkers so close to me by the gates, I let it cloud away all my thoughts. "Kat," I heard a whisper from in front of me. "Kat," I heard my name again.

Opening my eyes, I thought for a moment I was hallucinating but when I saw who stood in front of me, I couldn't believe who I saw. "Jesus?" I was stunned to see Jesus, from the Hilltop, was actually here. "What are you doing here?" I asked him.

"Doing a favour for Sasha," Jesus answered my question. "Why are you?" he asked me in return.

Not wanting to answer him on that one, I knew that in time, they would figure it out what I was doing. "Are they alright? Is Maggie-..." I needed to know. Turning my back on him as I leaned closer to the fence.

This way, if anyone watched us, they couldn't tell that I knew him, only that I was out here alone. And maybe that I looked a little crazy as I talked to myself. "They're fine," Jesus reassured me, I could hear this smile in his voice. "The baby is fine," he told me.

This news warmed my heart and made me laugh out a cry. Looking to the skies, I was thankful that Glenn's child would live. "I have some news for you to take back to the others," I told Jesus with a serious tone in my voice. "I'm pregnant," I finally revealed to someone who wasn't myself.

"Congratulations," Jesus congratulated me after a few seconds of processing the news. "Is it-" he went to ask.

"Daryl's, it's Daryl's," I answered him quickly, cutting him from having any doubt on who the father was.

I could feel him nod behind me. "So what's the plan?" Jesus asked me.

Bowing my head, I looked to the floor because of this question and how much it actually weighed on my mind. "I'm going to have to lie. I'm going to have to say its Negan's," I told Jesus part of my plan.

"I need to find out more, to help us win," I was already ready for a fight. I had to be, not just for Maggie, but for all of us.

"Let everyone know I love them and that I'm always thinking of them," I cried, thinking of all those I no longer could see, or hold or talk to. "Can you do that for me?" I pleaded with him through my tears.

I heard Jesus let out a soft sigh. "I promise," Jesus gave me his word he'd tell everyone back home my messages.

Blowing out my tears, I nodded and hoped the others would still believe in me. "They'll be taking Carl back to Alexandria soon, it'll be your best bet to get to where you're going," I advised Jesus on the information I knew.

Before Negan had left the room, I heard whispers between his men saying they were going back to Alexandria early and guessed it would be to take my brother back. "Thank you," Jesus appreciated the Intel I had.

"Kat?" Jesus called to me, making my head rise to listen to him. "I advise you to tell Negan soon, it might offer you more protection from these guys," Jesus gave me a word of advice.

Thinking about that, I had hope that might be a good side to it. But the bad side still outweighed the good. "But it'll also mean I'll have more eyes on me, which I can't have," I agreed with Jesus. "Hide, quick," I warned him as I heard the door open.

I could hear footsteps slowly walk behind me, like he was going to retreat. "And Jesus...thank you," I appreciated him just as much for doing those favours for me, considering he was already here for Sasha.

"You're welcome," I could hear a smile in Jesus's voice. "Look after yourself," he encouraged me to stay safe.

Thankful for people like Jesus, I rose my head and saw Davey storming down the stairs. "Katherine!" Davey yelled down at me. "I leave you for two minutes!" he complained. "What the hell are you doing out here?!" the arrogant Savior shouted down at me. "Making me look everywhere for you," he complained once more.

Swallowing hard, I began approaching him slowly as I leaned away from the fence. "I felt a little claustrophobic in there, I needed some fresh air," I lied but stayed close to the truth. I did feel nauseous, so I needed fresh air.

Davey rolled his eyes at me. "Women," Davey scoffed. "Negan's asking for an audience, it's time for the iron. Let's go," he ordered for me to get moving. Following after him, I glanced over my shoulder and saw Jesus was no longer there anymore.


PRESENT DAY...CPOV

Keeping Negan entertained until my dad got here, Negan was coming up with the activities he wanted to do and the lessons he wanted to give me. "Against the grain, kid. Always against the grain," Negan had told me as he shaved himself while facing our bathroom mirror. Judith herself, wasn't entertained by this at all and neither was I.

Later, we made spaghetti together, I was making the dough balls and Negan was making the sauce and boiling the pasta. "Ah. Damn, that smells good," Negan was wafting the steam into his face. "Mmm! Want a taste?" Negan asked me, after he tasted the sauce and offered it to me.

Chuckling because of my silence, he brushed it off. "Okay," Negan had brushed past it before returning to cooking.

Then I had been told to set the table, Negan had clicked his tongue at me. "We're gonna need another setting," he told me while Olivia was making the pitcher of lemonade.

Sighing, we had been waiting for what felt like forever for my dad to get here. "I'm not waiting for your dad anymore," Negan told us openly. "I don't know where the hell he is, but Lucille..." he then sat the bat up where my father was supposed to be seat.

"Is hungry," Negan declared, which only meant bad news. "Carl, pass the rolls..." Negan ordered but when I didn't move to get them, he waved his arms around and looked to me. "...Please," Negan had finally asked for it.

Handing Negan the rolls, I had hope my father would be home soon, so he could go back to his prison of a home.


DPOV

Sitting in my cell, staring at the note, I had deliberated for a few minutes what to do. If I should trust the note or not. Looking to the door, I didn't hear anyone outside, I didn't feel like anyone was out there. There was no music on, it was just me locked in a cell.

Taking the bobby pin and the key, I used the bobby pin to unlock the door and when I slowly opened the door to peek out, I was completely alone. Slipping out the cell, I began to sneak my way through the halls. I need to get out of here. I need to get Kat out of here...


KPOV

Going back to my room, once the girls all started leaving to be in their rooms too, I went to lay down, to rest my head and cuddle my pillow. Feeling and hearing something crumple underneath it, I reached for whatever made that strange noise.

Finding a piece of paper, I unfolded it and examined what was written on it. In Dr Carson's office. - Sher The note had said. Knowing it was Sherry, I had to go find her, in case it was something important.

Opening my door, I had expected Davey to be stood outside my door, or Fat Joey, which were usually the ones who were watching over me. "Davey," I went to call for him but when I was met with a new face, I was left a little shocked.

"It's Benny," the guy had told me. "Davey left with Negan," he informed me of why my regular guardian wasn't on guard duty.

"Benny..." I said his name softly, the same way a mother would talk to her child. "Could you be a dear and fetch me something to eat?" I asked him.

Benny and I began to argue over the fact he couldn't leave me alone, but I pleaded to him that I was so hungry, that I could eat a horse. "You don't want me to tell Negan you're not taking care of me, do you?" I warned him.

Thankfully, this did the trick. "What do you want, Miss Grimes?" Benny asked me, losing the fight against me.

"A beef burger including lettuce, tomato, pickles, cheese, barbecue sauce, mustard and bacon sounds lovely," I gave him a long list of things he'd have to get and cook in order to keep my satisfied. "Oh, and a side of fries and onion rings," I added, only to give him more to do.

"Sounds like a whole ass heart attack but if that's what you want..." Benny commented and I quickly thanked him as I shut the door.

Waiting for a few moments, until I felt comfortable he was gone, I slipped out of my room and began looking for Sherry as I made my way down the halls. What could she possibly want me there for?


RPOV

Walkers were floating and surrounding the whole of the boat place. To get there, we needed a good and solid plan. As swimming was far too risky. In front of me, sat a boat but as I inspected it, I noticed it was punctured by bullets.

"All these bullet holes, this'll take on water quick," I informed Aaron of this issue we'd have. If we had found anything and had to bring it back in this boat, it would get soiled and ruined.

Looking into the distance, there was a canoe and a lot of walkers surrounding the boat house in the middle of the lake. "We can probably make it to the canoe," I suggested as I went to put my axe into my holster. "Probably," I emphasised this word.

Aaron didn't look to confident by my words. "If you want to stay back-" I had offered him a way out of this one.

Knowing this was too risky, I couldn't fault him if he wanted to sit this one out. "I'm going to pretend you didn't just say that," Aaron cut me off. Aaron then went off to break off a panel of wood from the sign and had split it in two.

Making his way back over to me, I knew his plan was to use them as oars as I had began pushing the boat out of its jammed position. "I'm seeing this through We both are," Aaron spoke with confidence. We're doing this. As a team.


KPOV

Finding Sherry where she told me she'd be, she was no longer wearing her black dress, she had slipped into something comfortable, something that was made for being out on the run. Rummaging through the cabinet, I saw Sherry pack some stuff into a bag she had.

"Sherry?" I called to her, once I had closed the door behind myself.

Dr Carson wasn't in the infirmary, leaving us alone in here with all of it and the door was unlocked. Maybe Sherry knows how to unlock stuff without a key. "Kat," Sherry stood up with a smile on her face. "I'm leaving," she said as her smile quickly fell.

"You and Daryl, you can both leave too," Sherry said confidently as she looked over her shoulder at me.

Blinking, I was already feeling tense as it was. "I-I can't," I stuttered. Even if I had wanted to go, I couldn't. I haven't finished here yet.

Sherry had looked me up and down. Like she was judging me slightly. "Well," Sherry paused before saying anything else. "I've already helped Daryl out of his cell," Sherry informed me. "It's your choice if you want to leave with him," Sherry sounded so sure Daryl would leave.

Not that I didn't doubt it either, I just didn't think he'd plan on leaving without me. "And where would you go?" I asked her, watching her walk past me to head for another chest of drawers. "You know they're going to look for you," I warned her.

"Which is why I'm going to go as far away from here as I can go, however far it may be," Sherry's voice shook a little. "I just have to make it until they either give up or think I'm dead," Sherry told me, her eyes sad as they gazed into mine.


RPOV

Getting into the boat, the first few minutes were almost peaceful as we began forcing the boat through the lake as quickly as we could. Trying to get as close to the canoe as we could. "Almost at the canoe," I told Aaron as we were almost there.

Walkers were starting to swim over to us, or were getting far to close for us to realise. "We're taking on water quick, man," I warned Aaron as we were slowly but surely sinking with each stroke of our oars.

"I know," Aaron shouted back at me through the splashing of water and the walkers approaching us quicker. "Rick, on the left!" Aaron alerted me as one jumped up to clasp my side of the boat.

Rocking began as walkers began to surround us. Using the sharp end of my oar, I would stab walkers in the head until they fell off the boat. With them trying to climb in, it only pulled the boat further into the water. Taking on water quicker than before.

Working with me, myself and Aaron made quick work of each walker that tried to get in. "We're almost there," I said as we continued paddling our boat along.

Trying to reach across, Aaron had done so far quicker than I had. A walker rose from inside the canoe and went to grab Aaron. " Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" Aaron began to panic as he went to climb back into our boat. "No, no!" Aaron shouted.

Leaning over, I took my knife and used it against the walker that had tried to get a piece of Aaron. Thudding as I fell into the canoe, I heard a soft "Oh!" before I saw Aaron sink into the water with the walkers.

"Hold on! Hold on!" Aaron yelled to me as I tried to to get into the canoe properly. "Stay in the canoe!" Aaron shouted at me as he began getting swarmed with walkers. "I can-just-" Aaron shouted at me as his head would bob in the water along with his body.

Hearing another "Oh!" I saw Aaron get pulled under and walkers surround him, floating over him as he sank into the lake.

Panting as I looked around for any signs of air bubbles, I needed to find him. And I needed to find him quick. "Aaron! Aaron!" I yelled as I looked around for any sign of him. Too many bodies were floating and still shifting with the gentle waves being created by the live walkers.

"Aaron!" I continued to yell, sitting close to the edge, I was looking for any sign of Aaron in the water. Suddenly, a gasp sounded and Aaron's head popped out to the surface.

His hand rose when he finally saw me. "I'm okay. I'm all right. I'm okay. I'm okay," Aaron reassured me as I began paddling the canoe over to him.

Already, Aaron had climbed into the boat. Climbing the ladder, Aaron offered out a hand and I took it. Flopping into the boat house, I landed with a thud and tried to catch my breath with Aaron as we both laid there and stared at the sky for a few minutes.


DPOV

Sneaking through the halls, the note in hand with the key, I tried to be quick and I could hear a woman arguing with someone. Just as I went to pass their door, bottles clashed and fell, spilling all its contents all over the floor close to my feet.

Stepping back, away from the mess and broken glass, I had to hide and quickly, before they saw me. Searching for an open door, I slipped into an empty room and began making sure it was as empty as it appeared to be. Peeking through a room, it appeared to be empty.

Finding peanut butter on-top of a fridge, I took it and began scoffing it down using only my hands. Glancing around, I looked for anything I could use. Seeing clothes lying around, I looked at mine and realised I would never slip past wearing a point earner's outfit.

Taking a cloth, I wiped my hands and cleaned my face before I started getting out of my prisoner clothes and into something more regular. Dwight had mistaken me for one of them in the past. Maybe these will now.

Putting on a shirt after removing mine, I had noticed figurines of wooden soldiers propped up on a chess table. Instantly, I recognised the craftsmanship. This is Dwight's room...


KPOV

"I advise you do the same," Sherry told me, encouraging me to leave the Sanctuary behind and escape with Daryl. Watching her turn back to the other cabinet, she was stuffing a few things into her backpack.

Stopping her rummaging around through the drawers and cabinets, she looked over at me. "I found your pregnancy test," Sherry revealed to me. "You need to find a better hiding spot for it," Sherry advised me on this, too.

Turning to face me, Sherry kept a calm expression on her face. "I know it's not Negan's," Sherry could already figure that out. "Who's is it?" Sherry wanted to know the truth.

After all she did, I thought she might of earned it. She'll be gone by the time they get here. That means her knowing won't harm me. "Daryl's," I told her truthfully. Not needing to lie to her after she had been honest to me this whole time.

"When Daryl gets out of here, they won't stop hunting him..." Sherry warned me as she slowly walked over to me. "Not until he's dead or brought back," she gave me the only conditions in which they'd stop.

Her eyes searched mine kindly. "And when they find him, they'll only kill him or make it worse," Sherry warned me of what could happen. "If you want a better life for yours and his child, you'll leave and get as far away from here as possible," she suggested this be the choice of action I should go for.

Even if I wanted to leave and take Daryl, to take our child with me, I couldn't bring myself to. "I-I can't," I stuttered as I fought for words to leave me as my brain was a mess.

Sherry had left her bag unattended as she approached me slowly. "I'm only trying to help," Sherry told me what her plan in all of this was, when it involved me and Daryl. I knew Sherry owed Daryl so I supposed she now felt she owed it to me.


RPOV

Finding guns, it was at least a start on something we could give to Negan and keep him happy. Aaron had gone to open a box and let out a small scoff. "Bit of a sore loser," Aaron commented as he showed me a poster the owner of this place made.

It was a few words and a drawing of the middle finger saluting at us. "Huh," I reacted to the message. "Looks like the only thing he ran out of was ammo," I told Aaron from what we'd found so far. "We got to get this back now," I said while walking out the room.

"Yeah," Aaron agreed with me. "Well...he's got paddles," Aaron announced as we approached the canoe. Now we had to find a way to get all of it onto the truck.

"And with the wind picking up, it shouldn't take long to drift back to shore," Aaron pointed to me as he had then suggested we just row the house to the shore instead of making endless trips using the canoe.


DPOV

Using a spoon to get to the very end of the peanut butter jar, I needed all the energy I could get and a full stomach if I was going to get out of here. Slowing my eating, I thought over everything again now that I comfortably sat in an armchair.

Should I find Kat and take her with me? Would she want to go with me? Where would we go? She wouldn't want to just leave everything and go with me. She made her choice. She picked Negan over everyone else.

No one knew her plans and I doubted even she knew her own plans. Part of me wanted to take her, just because of our history and my emotions towards her. She said she loved me. Then why did she come here for Negan?

I wanted to believe she loved me, that she was here because she wanted to figure out a way we could both escape. But I knew Kat and I knew nothing was so simple. Kat is planning more. I just can't figure out what.

Telling myself that she decided this for herself, I didn't see the point in dragging her into anything with me. If she wanted to leave, she would have never come here in the first place...

When I heard the couple in the other room getting at whatever they were doing, I placed the spoon in the peanut butter jar, put it to one side, took the hat that sat on the lamp and tossed the chess table while getting to my feet.

Enjoy cleaning up this mess...asshole.

Leaving the room, I was ready to get the hell out of there. Leaving the note somewhere for Dwight to find, hoping he'd get the blame for it. Asshole deserves more than what he got.


KPOV

Having to think of what I'd say next, I did have one thing to ask of Sherry. "If you really want to help us..." I began. "Where would I find the maps, lists and anything that can tell me information about their numbers?" I asked her. "I need to know," I took her hands in mine.

It was urgent and I needed her to tell me this. Looking to my hands, her eyes then glanced up to me. "I think I saw some files in Negan's room but he always moves them," Sherry told me, which was good enough for me.

"Thank you," I felt overjoyed that someone was finally helping me here. Someone who wasn't a threat and who wasn't Daryl or my brother who were on my side.

Or at least, I had still hoped Daryl was on my side. Going to leave to find the files Sherry was talking about, before my hand touched the door, I heard her call to me. "Kat?" Sherry had said my name.

Turning to face her, I wondered what else she wanted to tell me. "Here," Sherry had reached into her bag and tossed me a bag of pills. Catching it, I examined the pills but couldn't tell what they were. "They're prenatal vitamins, take one every day with water," Sherry informed me of what I was holding. "Knowing them, they'll just going to think that I took them with me," Sherry told me.

Sherry was willing to take the blame for these pills going missing. "But-...they'll think you're pregnant," I warned her, confused as to why she was doing this. "Won't that make them look for you more?" I questioned her.

Sherry shrugged her shoulders, whilst I tucked the pills she gave me into my bra. "I don't care," Sherry laughed her response out. Nodding with a smile on my face, I went back to leave her to it. "I just hope you know what you're doing," Sherry called out to me. "Try not to get caught," she advised me.

Looking over my shoulder, my hand on the door knob, I was ready to go finish my mission. "Same goes to you," I wished her well. "Good luck," I told her.

"We're both going to need it," was the last thing Sherry said as I turned the knob, looking both sides of the hall, when I saw it was clear, I began to move and felt the plastic bag with my prenatal vitamins in my bra finally warming up.


RPOV

Rolling up the doors once we got the boat house to the shore, we used more of the sign as planks for us to walk along. Shifting boxes and other things into the truck, I only hoped all of this would be enough for Negan and the others.

"You know, back there, I didn't mean that you couldn't do it," I tried to explain what I had meant earlier to him. "It's just... going this far, risking this much to get things for them-people don't agree with it," I was hoping he understood what I meant.

Helping him shift boxes, we kept things moving. "I wouldn't blame you if you didn't," I hoped Aaron knew I was understanding, regardless where he stood on this fence.

We had moved the next box into the truck in silence. "I was there. I saw what happened on the road," Aaron reminded me that we had all gone through a horrible night together.

"What we're doing is gonna keep people living. We get to do that, it doesn't matter what happens to us," Aaron agreed with me in a sense as he understood it better than Michonne did.

At the end of the day, we were doing this to protect our loved ones and to live another day. "Michonne doesn't think this is living," I was finally talking out my problems with someone who wasn't Michonne, or Carl, or Kat.

Seeing as Kat was with Negan, Carl didn't talk to me and Michonne was the main issue with jumping on board with this, it felt nice to talk to a friend. "Well, committing to a choice like this, after living how we did, free-..." Aaron began telling me.

"I get it. It's hard," Aaron understood Michonne's point of view too. "It's giving up everything, right up until your own life. But either your heart's beating, or it isn't," Aaron said with such clarity, like he knew it all.

The wisdom that poured out of him was a nice thing to be a witness to. "Your loved ones' hearts are beating, or they aren't. We take what they give us so that we can live," Aaron summarised perfectly as we loaded up the last box.

Shutting the door, we climbed into the truck and started to make our way back to Alexandria. Let's hope this is enough.


MPOV

Driving with the woman, I didn't care for her name but I was curious to know more about her choices. "So, how long you been with Negan? Why were you out there alone?" I began asking her questions but she didn't say a word.

Cocking my gun, I rose up from my seat to stare her down, aiming the gun directly at her head. "Tell me," I ordered but she didn't say a word. "You think talking won't change how this ends for you. But you don't know me. Let's see what happens," I warned her slowly as I sat back down in my seat.

Sighing, I looked ahead and hoped she was taking me where I needed to be. "I'm not gonna kill him today. I'm gonna find the way that we win. I'm gonna change how this ends for me," I told the woman who sat silently beside me.

But I knew I might as-well have been talking to myself. "That's why I'm out here alone," I decided to tell her why I was here. I hoped this would break the silence between us.


DPOV

Sneaking around in the halls, I would race past doors, hoping to keep my feet light as I came across a room that had its door wide open. Music echoing in the halls, clutching a kitchen knife I had found in Dwight's room, I would use it, should anyone spot me.

Hearing what I could only imagine as chips falling onto a table and men mumbling to one another, I kept my back to the wall and glanced inside as I rounded the frame slightly. It had been a group of men playing poker.

Seeing as they were distracted, I went to dash past the door when no one was looking. Finding a large metal pipe, I took that with me as I tried to stay hidden in the shadows. I need to get out of here. I need to get away.


KPOV

Remembering the path I needed to take to get to Negan's room, it was a trek I needed to take to get there quicker. Checking to see if the door was open, it wasn't. Getting to my knees, I took out a bobby pin from my hair and used it to unlock the door.

Doing it as quickly as I could as I would listen and look out for anyone approaching. The moment the door clicked, I opened the door and slipped right in. Not having time to lose, I started searching for the file everywhere. Completely forgetting to close the door behind me.

From his drawers, his dresser, his cabinet, his en suite and when I found it tucked under his bed, I propped it on the table. Flicking through, it had information about what they had, what they'd taken from where they took it from.

A punishment tally, a list of what everyone was and just when I searched for other outposts, I heard footsteps run towards me and slow. My eyes rose quickly, my head whipping to the sound and when I saw Daryl, my heart sank.

He wore regular clothes, ones that weren't his style but was no longer a prisoner's outfit. A pipe in his hand, his body panting as he stood there by the door and stared at me. "Daryl?" I was shocked that he was here.

Then I realised, Sherry had got him out and he had done just as she predicted. But then I also realised, that maybe, he wasn't going to attempt to find me to convince me to leave with him. Staring at each other, it was all we did.

Daryl didn't respond and he didn't do anything but stare and try to calm his breathing. Say something. Instead, he took off. "Damn it," I growled as I closed up the folder and tossed it under the bed.

Running after him, I couldn't let him leave without him knowing that I still loved him. I didn't want him to think I was actually choosing Negan over him.


DPOV

Coming across a door that was propped open with a card of sorts, I thud into it as I finally found my way out the same way I had done before. Making sure the coast was clear, after what happened last time, I slowly slipped out and ran over to a bike.

Trying to see if the key worked on any of them, I then heard footsteps approaching. "What the hell?" I heard someone say as they spotted me. When my eyes rose up and saw who it was, I felt myself become defensive.

It's him. It was Fat Joey, someone who was stuck to Negan's side like glue. He was holding a piece of an almost finished sandwich as he then noticed me with the pipe. "Whoa. Whoa. It's cool, I swear," Joey rose his arms up in surrender as he dropped his sandwich.

Not trusting him, after all the times he obeyed Negan, I felt my anger boil. "Buddy, you can walk right out that back gate there, and I won't say anything to anybody," Joey pleaded with me as I approached him slowly.

He had showed me a small act of kindness, only to lead me into a trap. He lead me into what happened the first time I was out here in this very spot. I haven't forgotten. "I'm supposed to be there now, but, listen, I'm-I'm just trying to get by, just like you," Joey tried to stop me.

"Please," Joey begged but even after all the mercy we had pleaded for, we didn't get any in return. Unable to control my anger, as awful thoughts always clouded my better judgement since I got here, since I met Dwight. I slammed the pipe over and over again to Joey's head.

I had heard someone calling to me but I was too busy smashing the pipe over and over again into Joey's head. I didn't believe Joey, not for a second. For everything they did to me. To Glenn. To Abraham. To Denise. To Kat. To Carl.

I wanted revenge for everyone. Panting at the mess I had made, it only gave me flashbacks to Glenn. To the picture Dwight had put in my cell of him. All of it was bad memories. "Daryl," I heard a voice call to me.

Looking up, I had seen Jesus glance between me and the corpse I had just created. Seeing something resting on Joey's hip, I realised it was Rick's gun. Taking it back, I was making it my goal to take it back to its rightful owner as I dropped the pipe.

Panting as I glanced between Joey's corpse and Jesus, I knew he must of thought I was a mad man. "It ain't just about gettin' by here. It's about gettin' it all," I corrected Joey's statement. "I got the key. Let's go," I encouraged for us to get the hell out of here.


KPOV

Running to find Daryl, there was a door propped open, as it didn't shit and hovered in an ajar space. As I approached the scene, I came across Daryl, Jesus and a dead Fat Joey. "You should go," I encouraged as my eyes were glued to the mess Daryl had made.

The pipe he had held before, was on the ground, covered in blood. I guess Daryl got his own revenge. "You should come with us," Jesus encouraged for me to come. "We can hot-wire one of their trucks," Jesus suggested.

"Nah, I got a key for a bike," Daryl had bluntly cut me out of the picture.

Feeling my heart breaking, I knew Daryl had been hurt because of me. "I can't leave, not yet," I rejected Jesus' offer. "I need to find out more about them," I explained to them.

"But you're-" Jesus went to reveal my secret to Daryl.

"You can tell him when you're both somewhere safe," I stopped Jesus from revealing the truth. If Daryl had found out, I knew he wouldn't of left me and he would of forced me to go with him. "Not now," I was being stern about this.

Daryl began rolling the bike back as he was getting ready to take off. "Daryl," I called to him. "I meant what I said to you that day I visited you in the cell," I told him as his eyes met mine. "I meant every word and that hasn't changed," I was firm in my words.

He didn't say anything, all he did, was listen bow his head with sadness. "You might not see it now but this is my way of trying to help us," I tried to get him to see my side of this all. I still love him.

"I hope that, one day, you can find it in your heart to forgive me," I said to him, knowing that this whole Negan mess was only causing us to break more.

Jesus had nodded to me. "Get back to us soon, okay?" Jesus suggested to me. "And take care of yourself, Kat," he told me again and I knew he was saying that because of the baby I was carrying in me.

Wiping at tears I didn't know had fallen, I cleared my throat and straightened up. "I'll know my chance when I see it," I referred to the chance of my escape. I'll know it when its presented to me.

What I did next, was watch them leave and feel my heart feel both light at the prospect that Daryl was going to be far away from Negan and breaking. Daryl was getting away from Negan and from me and I didn't know if he'd ever forgive me.

Once they were gone, I wiped away my tears. Then, I slipped Sherry's note to me into Fat Joey's pocket. I didn't want any traces leading back to me and now that Joey was dead, it was my best bet that they would think Fat Joey helped Sherry escape but tried to stop Daryl from leaving. I hope this works...


MPOV

The drive was fairly short after my little rant, where the Savior beside me, didn't speak at all. I never lowered my gun as I was waiting for the car to come to a stop. Finally coming to a halt, as the brakes squeal and gearshift clicked, we stopped at the very top of a hill. Looking down, there appeared to be a few small campsites, with plenty of space and buildings taking up the area. The watch-points in itself must of held many people.

"That's Negan," the woman announced to me.

Her eyes were glued to what she was showing me. "Is he down there?" I asked her and realised there were lots of numbers. They could of had the biggest army I feared to have against us.

But I knew what we were capable of. I knew how strong we could be. "Yeah. We're all Negan," the woman said the same words that Kat had told me not long ago. Stating to me that those she killed, the guy we held hostage during our rescue of Kat, Maggie and Carol, had said the same thing.

These people were willing to kill to have a better life than everyone else. "Whatever you're trying to do, you can't," the woman warned me. "But you still have some choices. Go home. Burn this car, roll it down into a lake, make it disappear," she gave me ideas.

"There's a silencer in the glove compartment," she added and I saw her jaw shift, her eyes fall and it was as though she had hoped I would kill her. Was she trying to get away from them?Deciding to not risk her going back and telling them what I had done, I took the silencer and shot her.

Shifting her body as best as I could to the back, I swivelled the car and drove it to get the hell out of here and to get rid of it. They'll never trace this back to me. Ever.


RPOV

Driving up to the gate, we waited for the gates to open. What we didn't expect, was the fact that the Saviors were already here. I do hope Kat is okay. The thought of my daughter was what kept me pushing, what kept me providing.

I had to, as her life was as easily on the line as ours were. Climbing out, I let Aaron continue to drive the truck through the gates. "Where is he?" I asked as I approached the same Savior that opened the gates for us.

"Negan?" the Savior asked me. "He's in your house, asshole, waiting for you," the guy wasn't being nice about it.

Moving past him, I was ready to go find Negan, hoping he didn't see Judith and that Carl had kept him busy. I had hope he didn't kill anyone for my absence. A Savior strolled up to me, chuckling as he forced me to stop.

His hand came up to push me back. "Whoa, hey," the guy laughed. "Just like that?" he taunted me. "See, we've been waiting for hours just to see what you gonna bring us, huh?" the guy had pushed my face, really testing my boundaries. I'm about a second away from breaking this guys ribs.

Grabbing my shoulder, he held me close to his side. "Why don't we have a look first?" he suggested, acting like he was more important than his boss this way.

Aaron soon jumped out, opened the truck for them and they began inspecting all we had scavenged for them. "Not bad," one said as he was inspecting a gun from one of the boxes.

"We had to go out pretty far," Aaron told them as he walked away from them.

The female that was with them, had opened a box and found a piece of paper inside it. "What the hell's this?" she asked as she read the paper. Instantly, I recognised it. "Congrats for winning. But you still lose?" she had read what the note said.

The one who was pushing me around, had taken the note from the girl. "You leave us a little love note?" the guy asked Aaron as he began to approach him defensively.

"No, I just-" Aaron began trying to explain himself. Chuckling as the guy began approaching him, angrily, Aaron was backing away from him. "I mean-" he fumbled for words. "We wouldn't, obviously-" Aaron tried to say something but didn't find the right words.

Gesturing to me, Aaron was being serious about us, as we were on board with it all but these guys just didn't believe him. "Wait. What?" the guy had to make Aaron stop as Aaron was now pressing up against the truck's side. "Did you just say it's obvious?" the guy questioned.

Grabbing Aaron from his jacket, he forced Aaron's back to slam into the truck."Ohh!" Aaron yelled from the harsh contact against the truck. They're a load of bullies. My lips twitched in anger at the sight. "We didn't do that," Aaron told him honestly.

Approaching them slowly, I was ready to break them apart. I was ready to protect Aaron if I had to. "It's not about the damn note!" the guy growled.

Aaron rose an arm to tell me to stay back. "Hey. Don't," I tried to stop them as I got closer.

The one who opened the gate approached me, blocking me from getting any closer to Aaron and the other guy. "Run along to Negan, Rick," the guy warned me who blocked my path. Next, he went to Aaron, patting his shoulder, all before he landed a painful blow to Aaron's stomach.

Aaron fell to the floor, screaming from the pain before the guy stood over him. "But your friend here-" the same guy who told me to run along said as he looked directly up at me. "He's got no place to be," the man said with a smile and a shake of his head.

When the guy looked down at Aaron, I knew what was coming next. He's going to beat Aaron. A kick to his chest and I was ready to break his neck. "You-" I went to shout at him but the woman forced me back with a hard shove.

"Back up!" she cut me off as she rose her gun at me, aiming at my head. Panting, I looked on and stayed, because I wasn't leaving until they were done. I can't risk losing him too...


KPOV

Slipping back inside, I went straight to Negan's room, keeping to the shadows, as the door was unlocked, I made my way inside.

Returning to my research, I began flicking through all the pages presented to me, as it showed me how many more outposts he had, stating how many women and men guarded each post. Along with what shifts people took.

Needing to find out more, I couldn't find any maps in the file and knew Negan must have hid them somewhere. Trying to look everywhere in his room, I could hear footsteps coming closer as my name was being called.

Closing the file and hiding it back under Negan's bed, I quickly went to take a seat on the couch, crossing my legs, making it appear as I was simply waiting there for Negan. "Miss Grimes, why are you here?" Benny asked as he found me in Negan's room.

"It's rude to not knock, Benny," I told him coolly.

Benny instantly realised he had just barged into the room. "I'm sorry," Benny apologised to me promptly after I spoke.

Sighing, I knew I now needed to explain myself to him. "I thought Negan was back so I was waiting for him in his room," I lied. "He said he wanted to end the night spending it with me," I only reiterated what he'd said.

Benny sighed and held the door wide open for me. "No, he's not here yet," Benny hated breaking the news to me. "I'll escort you back to your room," Benny had kindly offered.

"Will you let him know I came looking for him?" I asked of Benny, who accepted my request as he lead me back to my room. Trying my best to walk without making the pills shift inside the bag inside my bra.


CPOV

Watching Negan playing a game of pool with Spencer, they had at first, playfully mocked my father. Spencer would then state that my father was a problem. That he understood Negan's work, his order and his reasons. This guy is a total kiss ass.

While Negan listened on, to hear that Spencer understood him, Spencer then claimed my father didn't work well with others. That he had a history of it. He began talking about his mother, how she was the leader and that since my dad got here, people were dying.

His mother, his brother, his father, all of them were dying because my dad was here. Negan would falsely sympathise with him. Stating that my father wasn't in charge anymore, that Negan was. The more they played and drank and talked, the more I wanted to zip Spencer's mouth up, lock it and throw away the key.

He claimed my father was out of control because of his ego, that he was capable of going against Negan to regain control. The same way he did to his mother. That's bullshit and he knows it. Negan questioned what Spencer wanted from this conversation.

Spencer wanted to be the leader his mother was, trying to make Negan believe that he should put Spencer in charge instead of my father. The more I listened, the more I felt that Negan was catching onto the bullshit Spencer was selling.


RPOV

Each punch, each kick, each groan from pain, I watched on and panted. I wanted to save him but one step closer and I would be shot. Aaron...he needs me. More hits were given to him, straight in the face as he grunted and groaned in pain.

"Alright, alright, alright," the one guy who opened the gates said to himself as he threw a few more punches to Aaron's face. "Point made," he finally stopped and scoffed as I walked past him to get to Aaron.

Coughing out blood, I did my best to pick him up and hoist his arm to wrap over my shoulders. "My heart's still beating, right?" Aaron asked me before grunting from pain. Carrying him to find Eric, both of us were panting as I dragged him across the courtyard.

I need to get him to Eric or someone who can patch him up. Angry with the guys for doing this to him, it was unnecessary and was done only to prove a stupid point. But at least he is still alive.


CPOV

Negan began to state what he thought, that my father was an angry man towards Negan. He was a man filled with hatred for Negan, but he still went out there and went scavenging for him. My dad still got things done for him, even if it pained him to do so. All so he could keep us safe from Negan. Negan claimed it took guts for my dad to do all that.

But Spencer, he waited for my dad to be gone so he could creep up to Negan and convince him to do Spencer's dirty work so Spencer could take over. Negan questioned why Spencer didn't just kill my dad himself if he so desperately wanted to take control of Alexandria.

Spencer stuttered, trying to say it wasn't what he wanted. Negan whispered to Spencer, saying he had no guts. Only to stab Spencer through the gut, making it fall to the floor and for Spencer to be clutching onto it as his intestines dangled out of his opened stomach.

Last time I had seen anything this brutal happen to someone alive, it was Dale as he was dead on the floor because of a walker. Gasping, my eye was wide with anger and fear. He didn't have to do this. Olivia had gasped but Rosita had finally had enough.

When Spencer died and Negan tried to joke, to say he did have guts, that he was wrong and that he'd found the guts he was looking for. Negan then told us to clean the mess up, that someone could take over the game Spencer and him didn't finish.

Rosita rose her gun, shooting at Negan and missed. Instead, the bullet caught into Negan's bat and Negan got angry. Arat had her on the ground. Everything went insane from there. As Negan inspected the bullet and figured out it was made from scratch.

Eugene. I had remembered the night Glenn and Abraham died, that Eugene knew where and how to make bullets. Negan made Arat put her knife to Rosita's face, when Negan asked who made it, Rosita lied and said it was her. Negan called her bluff and got angry about it.

Asking her again, Rosita let the blade cut her skin as she lied again. Negan was impressed by Rosita's dedication to being the strong woman she was. Telling Arat to kill someone, she turned and shot Olivia beside me, straight through her eye. Dropping down, I was shocked to see the gun had rose to me but just as sad to see Olivia bite the dust.

Dad is going to be pissed. Or at least, he better be...


RPOV

Shuffling forward with Aaron's arm wrapped around my neck, I had seen they were putting people at gun point, after one of Negan's people had shot Olivia and as I got closer, I saw that Negan had cut Spencer open. "We had an agreement," I growled as I let Eric take Aaron from me.

"Rick!" Negan greeted me hoarsely. "Look, everybody, it's Rick," Negan croaked a little as he gestured to me and announced me here with a huge smile on his face. "Ah, your people are making me lose my voice doin' all this yelling," Negan excused himself for his breaking voice.

"Rick...how about a 'thank you'?" Negan asked from me after a lick of his lips. "I mean, look, I know we started this relationship with me beating the holy shit out of your friends, and because of that, we're never gonna sit around and braid each other's hair or share our deepest, darkest secrets, but how about a little credit?" Negan spoke one sentence in a huge few breaths.

Negan got closer to me with a smile on his face. "I married your daughter and now she is being treated like a queen in her new home," Negan made a first point to a long list, or so it felt like it. "And I just bent over backwards to show you how reasonable I am," Negan continued.

"Your son, he hid in one of my trucks and machine-gunned a bunch of my men down, just to try and get his sister to come back home to you guys," Negan informed me, making my head whip over to look at him.

Squinting at him, Carl looked me right in the eyes as he slowly stood up, no longer crouching beside Olivia's corpse. Is he trying to get killed? "Instead, I brought him home, safe and sound, kept my word to your daughter and I fed him spaghetti," Negan informed me with a happy smile whilst I trembled with fear, with anger.

"Another one of your people, well, he wanted me to kill you and put him in charge. I took him out...for you," Negan was making it seem like it was a favour he did for me. "And another one, here-" Negan gestured to Rosita.

Raising his bat, Rosita looked at him with a glaring side eye. "She shot Lucille, trying to kill me just now, so I gave you one less mouth to feed," Negan announced. "And by looking at her, that mouth did some major damage," he fat shamed Olivia.

Asshole. "Now, personally, I wouldn't have picked her to be the one to go, but Arat," Negan sighed. "I don't know, didn't trust her," he made up some excuse for his soldier.

I had enough of him. Of his ways. Trembling, I glared at him and held his gaze. "Your shit's waiting for you at the gate," I growled at him. "Just go," I encouraged him to leave. Before I change my mind and kill him right here.

"Sure thing, Rick...right after I find the guy or gal that made this bullet," Negan smirked before looking around and showed me the bullet between his fingers. "Arat?" Negan encouraged his killer to raise her gun at the next person.

Negan was willing to go to extreme lengths to find out who made the bullet. "It was me!" Tara said before Arat could shoot either Eric or Aaron.

Whimpering was heard behind me. "No, it wasn't," Eugene spoke up, making my heart sink. Sniffling because of his tears, Eugene was beyond afraid. He was terrified. "It was me. It was only me," Eugene owned up to it.

"You?" Negan asked as he approached Eugene. Not understanding a word Eugene said, he had explained how he made it, I assumed as he quivered and cried his words out. "Shut up," Negan ordered. "I believe you," Negan didn't doubt Eugene would be the one to make it.

Breathing deeply, Negan had taken a few steps away from Eugene and rose his bat. "Lucille, give me strength," Negan spoke to it before he sighed. "I'm gonna be relieving you of your bullet maker, Rick. That and whatever you left for me at the front gate," Negan announced to me whilst turning to face me.

"And however much you scavenged, it's not good enough, because you're still in a serious, serious hole after today," Negan growled at me, leaning closer to tell me this. I was debating on taking his bat and beating him senseless with it.

Before I could do anything, he turned to the others behind him and yelled "Let's move out!" before they took Eugene with them. Rosita had begged for them to take her instead of Eugene. Laying on the floor, she cried as she watched Eugene leave.

"Rick, I ain't gonna lie," Negan stopped beside me. "Your kitchen is a goddamn mess," he told me with a soft chuckle leaving him towards the end. "I'll see you next time," Negan said with a smile as he left, his bat propped onto his shoulder.

Staring at him as he left, with Eugene, after everything that happened, it was like I could finally see. Kat's with them but she won't be for long. I won't let it. Not her, not Daryl, not Eugene. Maggie was right. We need to fight.

The sound of growling beside me alerted me. As the sweat poured down my skin and a tear fell from my eye at the hope that my daughter was being smart about what she was doing, that the others with Negan would be safe, I had to bring myself back to reality.

Turning to face the sound, I saw Spencer slowly coming back and was now a walker. Getting my knife, I dug the knife into his head and watched him fall. I'm sorry Deanna. I tried...


MPOV

Opening the door that lead to the cell, I closed it slowly behind me. I had found Rick, staring at a note that had blood on it. After talking to Carl, he briefed me in on everything that happened and where I could find Rick.

On his knees, he was staring at the sheet and the hatchet laid beside it. He's really shaken after everything that's happened. It's starting to make him unhinged. "Carl told me you were in here," I said as he slowly looked up at me and got to his feet.

"I..." I sighed, not knowing the words to say to him. I wanted to apologise for not being here and for all he had to do, to see, without me. Coming up to me, his hands went to the sides of my neck before bringing me in for a hug.

Holding him to me, I knew he was struggling but he was trying. He was becoming crippled by a huge bully who enjoyed bringing fear to people. "I found what I was looking for," I told him once he slowly let me go while I pushed him away from me.

"I wanted to go with you and Aaron, but I couldn't. I had to go my way," I was being honest with him. "But when I found it..." I let out a sad chuckle. "...I realised that...I didn't want it to be my way."

What I wanted, I didn't have but I was going to do my best to have it the way I wanted it. "I wanted it to be ours. Me and you," I told him as I got closer to him. Tears were building at the realisation that I was slowly but surely, falling for him.

That what we did together, what we could still do as a team, it was us, together that I wanted things done. My partner. In and out of crime. "There are more of them, even more than we thought. We are outnumbered. It's not even close," I gave him the information I found today.

Rick would look away but would then hold my gaze. "But that doesn't change the way that I feel, because it doesn't change the way that things are," I was giving him my own thoughts. "We're still alive, Rick," I reminded him.

Thinking over all the bad, all the good and the ugly. We'd survived so much and we did it, together. "So much has happened, so much that we shouldn't have lived through. And...and in spite of it or maybe because of it, we did," my voice had quivered as tears welled up.

Memories of everyone we loved, like Hershel and Andrea, Bob, there were so many on that list that we still had kept going. We were still the ones that lived.

"We're still here, the two of us. We're still standing, and we're gonna keep standing," I was confident in this because I had to be. "So, what do we do with that? How do we make that mean something?" I asked him as I held his gaze.

Rick didn't look away, as he stood there and listened to me vent to him. "We're the ones who get things done. You said that," I pointed to his chest, letting my finger rest over his heart. "We're the ones who live," I repeated the words he would say to us, over and over again.

"That's why we have to fight. Not for us, but for Judith, for Carl, for Kat, for Alexandria, for the Hilltop. For all of us," I listed all the reasons we had to fight. I know Kat isn't here but I know she's fighting, her own way. She would never turn her back on the ones she loved.

In the back of my mind, I knew Rick knew all of this too. "We can fight them, Rick. We can find a way to beat them," I had to get through to him, because all of our lives, it was depending on us. "We can do this. But..." my voice shook from the tears.

"But...only if...we do this," I repeated my terms to him again. That it had to be us, or no us. Whatever we did, I needed to be sure that we did this together. As a team.

Looking to him, I waited for his response as he looked down and thought it over only briefly. I had hope that I broke through to him but I couldn't contain my tears. Please tell me yes. Please do this with me. "Yeah, I know that now," Rick nodded at me before taking a few more steps closer to me.

"I know that now," he said more firmly, making my cry tears of joy as he stared into my eyes with a sincere and strength behind his eyes. As his hand went up to cup one side of my face, I cried tears of joy.

My hands grasping onto him, as he leaned in and closed the distance between us. Our lips pressing with an intense passion. My heart soared at the thought that I finally had the Rick I loved back. We'll find a way. We always do...


RPOV

Making the decision to go to the Hilltop, we had parked our car not far, as Michonne, Rosita, Tara and Carl had decided to come with us. All of us were ready to fight the Saviors. To get Kat, Daryl and Eugene back. To avenge the ones who had fallen.

We needed Maggie, we needed Sasha and the Hilltop to be on our side. We needed to join forces and find a way to keep fighting them. A war was coming and we needed allies. We knew as much and I had a feeling Jesus knew where to find them.

As we approached the gates, I looked up and saw Maggie on lookout, a huge smile on her face as she saw us. When the gates opened, we walked through and were met with Sasha, Enid and Maggie.

Taking me into her arms, Maggie held onto me tightly, her hand caressing the back of my head. I am so glad to see her. I'm glad to see she is alive and looking well. She looked strong. "You're okay?" I asked into her ear.

Pulling back from our hug, she held onto my back firmly with her hands. "I'm okay," Maggie answered me. "The baby's okay. All of us," Maggie went on as she looked into my eyes, reassuring me that all of them were okay.

Nodding, this news was the best I had in days. Glenn, I wish you could of been here. "You were right..." I admitted to her as I looked into her eyes. "Right from the start," I nodded, needing her to know that I should have listened.

Lately, I realised I should have been listening more to the wonderful women who inspired me every day. Kat. Michonne. Maggie. I should have listened to them all sooner. "You told us to get ready to fight," I was telling her what I was referring to as she looked to those behind me briefly.

I had a feeling she had looked over at Carl, who was not far behind me. "I didn't listen, and I couldn't," I had thought that if I had just done as Negan asked, we'd be safe but I was wrong. We were never safe with someone like him.

Holding her arms, she gazed up at me and her eyes had softened as they looked at me. "I can now," I told her with a nod of my head.

Out the corner of my eye, in the distance, there was movement. A figure came out, one I recognised instantly the second I realised who it was. Looking between Maggie and the figure, I saw Maggie smile when she realised I had finally seen him.

Daryl. With Jesus not far from him. Moving to meet with him, he looked tired, a little beat up but he was well. He was safe and he wasn't with Negan. For a moment, I had hoped Kat would be close behind him but when she didn't show, I knew she hadn't left.

I hope she's okay. I hope she knows what she's doing. Rushing to Daryl, he met me in the middle and when our eyes met, I was concerned for him, for my daughter. With a sad bob of his head, making his chin rise and then lower down to his neck. He blinked away tears.

He's been through hell. And in his eyes, I could see he held plenty regret. Over Glenn. Possibly even over Kat. As she didn't show. But my eyes were stern. None of this is his fault. I was trying to let my gaze tell him.

As he got closer and bowed his head, tears pouring through his eyes, I held onto him, supporting him and made him feel as safe as I could. Regardless what's happening, he's family. Before he was my son in law, he was my brother and he will always be family.

The way he held onto me, was like he hoped for everything to be alright. Looking to Jesus, I gave him a nod and saw his eyes weigh with something. Like he knew something we didn't. Like he saw something we hadn't.

Slowly letting Daryl go, he took a few steps back, tried to regain his composure and went to hug Tara. Thereafter, I looked around the Hilltop. I saw Enid and Carl smile at each other. Sasha and Rosita were giving looks of understanding to one another.

And Michonne then hugged Daryl, only to kiss his cheek and hold his face. Jesus had his arms crossed in the distance, as he watched everything play out in front of him. He knows something we don't. I can feel it.

In the back of my mind, I wondered if it had something to do with my daughter. When Daryl then looked to me, it was like he remembered something. Taking out something from behind his back, he handed it to me.

When my eyes saw what it was, I felt something settle in me, something build up too. He has it. My gun. Taking it from him, I felt a weight I was familiar with. A strength that came with it, too. We're going to beat them. We're going to take back what's rightfully ours. We're taking our lives and freedom back.

Checking to see how many bullets it had inside it, the chambers were full and it made me smile. There's nothing stopping us now. When I looked back at Daryl, I returned my gun to its rightful place on my hip.

A look of belief crossed Daryl's eyes. He still believes in me. Looking around, we were all ready, ready to fight and ready to win. Most of all, I could see how they all looked to me with pride. They all still believe in me.

Nodding, I then felt Jesus slowly approach us. "There's something I have to tell you..." Jesus told me. "It's something you're all going to need to hear," Jesus informed all of us as he glanced to each individual here. "Let's talk inside," he encouraged us to go inside.

Leading the way, everyone either followed or stayed close behind me. Let's talk. We have a war to plan.


DPOV

Hearing news that Rick was back, myself and Jesus quickly went to find them. When my eyes landed on him, my steps slowed. My heart sped up and my feet felt heavy on me. He's here. He's actually here.

When he finally caught sight of me, he had to do a double take and eventually moved away from Maggie to rush up to me. Meeting him in the middle, I slowed my step and tried my best to act like I was okay. But I wasn't.

The torture. The beatings. The music. The way they treated me. The way that they had made me blame myself. The fact they did horrible things to everyone and anyone. How I was locked in a cell for days. Naked. Alone. Afraid. Hungry for days and eating bread with dog food.

Then, it was Kat. How I had seen her hand herself over to Negan back in Alexandria. To see her in my cell. To have to watch her kiss him. How Carl was there. How I feared for the kid. How I would have killed for the kid.

Thinking of Kat, I then remembered that I had left her behind. That she didn't want to come with us. That she still had something she needed to do. I couldn't stay, as the memory of her kissing Negan had plagued my mind.

It wasn't because I hated her. But because I loved her. And I couldn't stop it. I couldn't stop any of it. Then, there was Glenn. Something I could have stopped if I never did anything in the first place. It's my fault Glenn's gone. It's my fault this all happened. It's my fault that Kat's not here.

I had seen it in Rick's eyes the second he saw me. It was as though he waited for his daughter to follow after me and Jesus but his heart had dropped when he realised she wasn't here. Feeling my lip tremble as my throat closed in and his eyes told me it wasn't my fault.

Bowing my head, I walked into his embrace, as he held me. I clutched onto him. I couldn't let him go. I want her back. She should be here. Glenn should be here. And Abraham. As I let a few tears stain his shirt, he held me tightly, giving me the strength I needed.

He doesn't blame me. He doesn't hate me. He still loves me. He still makes me feel like a part of this family. But then I knew. Even if I'm his son in law, he's still my brother. My best friend. Without Rick, I'd lose a huge part of me and now that I was back with him, I could fight.

We have to fight. We have to get Kat back. We need our lives back. We need to avenge the ones we lost.

As Rick let me go, I felt the love from Tara, who held me and Michonne, who gave me a loving squeeze in her embrace. Her kiss to my cheek, her hands on my face, reminded me of the wonderful person Kat saw as her best friend. I could see why they loved each other so.

Once the round of hugs had passed, I looked around and saw Rosita was here and Carl. His smile was warm, content to see me here too. I'm just glad he's safe. Taking the gun out from behind me, my eyes falling on Rick reminded me of what I had for him.

I might not have his daughter back...but I did have something else. When Rick saw the gun presented in front of him, he glanced between me and the gun. I was safe and I was surrounded by people I trusted. People who cared about me.

Feeling Jesus's eyes on us, Rick had taken the gun and checked the ammo stored inside, when he saw he was fully loaded, he smirked and put the gun where it rightfully belonged. On his hip and in his hands.

When his eyes met mine, I felt such a calmness to know we were together again. To know he was willing to fight. That he was ready to fight. We need to get Kat back. We'll fight until she's here, with us. We'll fight until every single last one of them was dead.

And with Rick and his gun, I knew he wasn't going to stop until they were dead. Until Negan was defeated. And more importantly, until Kat was back with us. We can do this. I know we can...

"There's something I have to tell you..." I heard Jesus say from behind me. Taking a few steps to one side, I looked to Jesus curiously. "It's something you're all going to need to hear," Jesus declared to all of us as he looked to each and every one of us.

"Let's talk inside," Jesus had encouraged for us to discuss whatever he wanted to say to us further, inside the house. Following closely behind Rick, we were ready. We had to be. We're going to win. I can feel it...


A/N: Hope you liked this chapter. Finally, Rick is going to fight. They're going to get Kat back and Kat...is more than likely up to no good. Or is she?

So, here is the mid season finale of season 7. Now, may I please, please, please with a pretty cherry on top, have 10 reviews for this chapter. I won't be able to write until I get back home. Which won't be until very early Saturday morning back in England.

10 REVIEWS AND I'LL POST THE NEXT CHAPTER ASAP.

Questions you can answer in the 10 reviews:

1) What did you think of this chapter?

2) Favourite scene in this chapter?

3) How do you feel about Kat being pregnant?

4) How do you think the others will take the news?

5) What do you think Kat is up to?

Until those 10 reviews are up...

Much love,

HeroJustInTime90