Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Twilight and the Walking Dead. Those rights are reserved for Stephanie Myer and Robert Kirkman. I do own the original characters created for this storyline. Please support the official release.

Writer's Notes: Double update! Enjoy!

Bella and Daryl got the duck prepared while Carol started sterilizing the water. Merle came over to where his brother was and Bella and sat. Merle reached over and tucked a strand of Bella's hair behind her ear and gave her a toothy smile.

Bella smiled back at Merle. She found him oddly charming.

Merle started coughing some, bringing his hand to his chest as he did.

Bella stopped what she was doing and steadied him, her hand moving his away as she rubbed circles on his bare chest under his shirt. She was instantly concerned about his lung cancer.

Merle caught his breath and it drew attention. Even Daryl was concerned, looking at his big brother cough like that. It meant that the cancer wasn't really gone and that it was back and there wad no medicine to help him. "I'm okay everyone. Just choking on my own spit." He brushed it off.

"Merle…" Bella murmured.

"Sweetness. I'm okay. What would make it better is if you give me a kiss. Kisses make everything feel better." He said with a grin.

Bella smiled a little and reached a hand up and cupped his cheek. "Merle Dixon, flirting isn't gonna save you." She meant it as the flirting wasn't a cure for his cancer and Merle understood.

"It wouldn't hurt sugar."

Bella smiled and leaned in and kissed his cheek.

"That'll do for now." Merle said with a wink.

Daryl saw how sweet Bella was to his brother and he had mixed feelings. He now understood why Bella was being so kind to Merle. Merle was hard to get along with and Bella got along great with him. Her empathy was so big and she cared so much about people. It was part of the reason why he was falling for her. He just looked back at the duck as he continued to pull the feathers silently.

Maggie returned to the barn with Sasha after the duck was ready to eat. "Guys we have something." Maggie started.

Bella got to her feet when a man walked in. Everyone was instantly on alert. Including Bella but she crossed her arms as she studied the man. He had dark hair, blue green eyes and he was cleanly shaven. He had a backpack on that looked like jt was used for hiking. He had his hands up on surrender.

Rick frowned looking at Maggie and Sasha before looking back at the man. "Who are you?"

"My name is Aaron. I am a scout for my town. Our town is completely safe. Walls high enough to stop the dead and others. There are houses we have electricity and running water. Children can play and go to school."

Rick shook his head. "We're supposed to believe you?"

"I have pictures. In my bag." Aaron said.

Bella stepped forward then before Rick. She unzipped Aaron's bag and looked inside. She grabbed polaroids and scanned through them, stopping on one picture. She flicked it around. "Where?"

Aaron looked at the picture. "That's Sam our construction manager."

"I know who he is. Where is this town." Bella said curtly.

"I can show you where it is. If you come back with me and my partner." Aaron said.

"There are more of you?" Rick went on the defense.

Bella held a hand up. "This man, he is important to me. Take me to him now."

"I have to make sure-"

"I said now." Bella said her voice dangerous sounding.

Daryl didn't know why Bella's attitude changed but he knew that it did and that she was taking control now. "How about a small group of us. Take us to your town."

"No. All of us." Bella said her eyes not leaving Aaron's.

Aaron was quiet a moment. "He said you were feisty. He wasn't wrong."

Bella pulled her dog tags from her neck and slapped them in Aaron's hand. "This means you take me to him. Am I understood?"

"Yes… Master Sergeant." Aaron said and took the dog tags. "I have transport. We'll walk back to the road."

Bella looked at Rick and nodded. Rick nodded back. He trusted Bella wholeheartedly so he would follow her lead. He motioned for everyone to gather their things.

Aaron pulled up at the gate with some of the group in his bus and his partner and husband Eric, pulled up with the others in a van. Aaron got out and went to the gate.

"Open, I'm back." Aaron said and the gate started opening. Aaron drove inside with the group and Eric right behind him.

The little town was called Alexandria. There were walls taller than the house, large sheet metal panels that were thick and welded. Steel beams were in place to reinforce the panels. There was a field with solar panels, providing electricity to the little town. People started gathering in the streets and stared as Bella and the others got out of the car.

"Weapons will have to be handed over. Just for safety." Aaron said and Rick frowned, not liking being stripped of his defense but a woman appeared then.

"Welcome to Alexandria. I'm Deanna Monroe. Come with me."

Bella looked back at her group and nodded and followed Deanna. The woman was older, her hair styles short about her shoulders and was a light auburn brown. Her dark eyes were crinkled with her age. They walked down the street, people staring on at them. Bella and her group were dirty, their time spent on the move for a few months and their battle with the dead. They went to a house, big with a wrap around porch.

"You'll surrender your weapons before coming inside." Deanna said with a smile.

Bella handed her bow to the girl with glasses with dark hair pulled back in a ponytail. There was a cart and she had a clipboard writing down all the weapons. She took her machete and handed it over and her throwing knives. She reached in her boot and handed her another knife and unholstered her sidearm that she rarely used.

Aaron looked at Bella. "You can go on inside to talk to Deanna." He motioned to the door.

Bella looked at Rick. "Trust me?"

"Always do." Rick said with a nod as he started handing over his own weapons. It was uncomfortable without the defense but he was trusting Bella.

Bella walked inside, looking around at the clean home.

"Do you mind if I record us?"

Bella looked over at Deanne and the sitting area. It was nice, the bookshelves behind the chair that Deanna motioned too reminded Bella of her apartment in New York. Bella loved to read. She walked over and sat down in the chair. "I first want to say that it took a lot for Rick and the others to give up their weapons."

"But not you?"

"I don't need a weapon to kill someone." Bella said simply.

Deanna nodded. "For the camera. What's your name dear?"

"Master Sergeant Isabella Swan." Bella relayed.

"Army. We have another-"

"Corporal Sam Uley." Bella cut her off.

Deanna studied Bella. "You were in Kuwait together."

"Yes. We were. I was his platoon commander. The fact that he's here means he came home to see his girlfriend, Emily." Bella said.

"We lost Emily a while back. Sam was saddened by her loss but he's doing better now. Tell me Master Sergeant. Your group. They're following you?"

"No, I'm not their leader. Rick is. He's trusting me because I trust Sam. That is the only reason Aaron is alive and we were able to walk in here."

"You're saying you're violent people?"

Bella made a snort sound. "Violent? No. Protective, yes. We have children to protect. A baby. Do you understand what it's like outside or have you been sitting here behind your walls since the start of this thing."

Deanne shifted a little. "I haven't been outside these walls. No."

"You have no idea. The horrors that are out there. The dead. You haven't seen the herds of them, coming for you like you are their last meal. You haven't had to fight bandits. You haven't had to fight people that just kill people in this world. I have seen more than you can ever possibly imagine. So I'm going to ask questions now."

Deanna was silent. "I don't doubt you haven't seen things. Tell me your story… Bella."

Bella sat back in the chair. "You can't handle my story. Is this place really secure? How many walkers have breached these walls?"

"None since we got the walls up."

"How many people live here?"

"102."

Bella nodded and looked around. "You have dedicated supply runners?"

"Yes."

Bella looked back at Deanna. "How many people know how to shoot?"

Deanne was quiet a moment. "Only a handful."

"Do you have a hospital?"

"We have a doctor and some medical equipment."

Bella nodded. "I want to say I believe you. But. It's one of those, I have to see it."

Deanna stood. "Bella, you and your friends will be safe here. We have houses prepared. Two of them. I know it doesn't seem like much but it's what we have available right now."

Bella stood then too. She held out a hand. Deanna shook it. "Are you interviewing everyone?"

"Yes, but I'll let everyone settle in." Deanna offered a warm smile.

Bella just nodded and she left, going back to the others. She looked at Aaron. "Two houses?"

"Right. We have two houses already prepared. I'll-"

"Take them to the houses. I want you to take me to Sam."

Aaron nodded. "Perfect. Though Sam isn't on site right now. He's building with the other team outside the wall for expansion."

"And?"

"Right." Aaron said and then looked at the others, standing. Judith was calm but she needed a bath and was probably hungry. "I'll take you to the houses and then, I'll show you the construction site Bella. "

Bella nodded to Rick and then they followed Aaron and the other girl that Bella didn't know her name yet but she was wary of the people. There was a brief time where Bella would have trusted easier but after everything they had been through, she wasn't willing to throw trust out there just yet.