Alpha led her warriors towards the town that was holding her nephew. On the outside she was confident, walking with her head held high, her back straight and her chest out. She had learned long ago how a leader should walk and look. A leader should show no fear, no weakness. She had perfected how to put on a mask of confidence. But on the inside she wasn't so sure.

She knew her people were grumbling about coming back to the town to get Omega. She also knew it was her fault. She had built her world on only the strong mattering, she had indoctrinated her people to believe that the weak were something to be ignored and left to die. How could she explain why she kept trying to bring this little boy back? Why she cared? She knew the reason though. Deep down inside she loved her nephew. Even though she was harsh with him, and she didn't protect him the way an aunt should have, she did care about him.

She glanced over at the man who was the leader of the town they were about to attack. He was nothing but a boy himself, but she could tell he cared for Omega as well. In her heart she knew that living in a town was a better existence for a young boy like Omega. She knew he wouldn't have to fight for food and sleep out in the open like her people did. He could sleep knowing that he was completely protected. He wouldn't have to wear a mask to be safe. She knew this, but she couldn't bring herself to let him go. He was all she had left of her sister. All she had left of her real family.

You are Alpha, you cannot second guess your decisions. You cannot change your mind now, it'll make you look weak. You will be victorious. You will get Omega back.

Beta lead the group and walkers towards the backyard where there was an opening to the tunnel. Five warriors pushed the junk car away from the entrance to the tunnel and climbed down.

"Alpha!" one whispered from inside, loud enough to be heard but soft enough to not draw attention from the walkers, "If we herd the walking ones to the edge of the hole they will fall down and continue through the tunnel."

Alpha nodded. She made a hand signal and the Walker People on the outsides of the herd extended their hands outwards to make a gate, pushing the walkers closer to the tunnel opening. The walkers, instinctively following each other, began to move forward, falling into the tunnel.

Alpha turned to look at Carl and was slightly startled when she didn't see him. She turned around, searching the herd of walkers for the blindfolded boy who was covered in blood and being guarded by Sigma.

Alpha immediately knew what had happened. Sigma had betrayed her. That girl would die with the rest of the townspeople.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Would your people take me in?" Carl heard a voice whisper in his ear.

Slightly startled, he turned his head towards it. "Yes" he whispered, "yes, just like they did Omega. If you help me I can vouch for you."

There was silence. Carl's heart began to beat faster. This could be his way out of here. His way home.

"How do I know I can trust you?" the voice asked, and he realized it was the girl who had blindfolded him.

"You don't" he answered honestly "but I swear, if you help me I will find a safe place for you."

Carl didn't hear anything but walkers moaning for a few seconds, and he wondered if he should've said something else, but then he felt a hand wrap around his arm, pulling him.

"Come" she whispered, "if we are caught we'll both be killed."

Carl allowed himself to be led away by the girl, his blindfold making it difficult to follow her. He bumped into her multiple times.

"Slow down" she whispered, "you're walking too fast. You must look like the walking ones."

"Sorry, I can't see" he whispered back.

She quickly ripped the blindfold off his face. They were surrounded by walkers who were being herded forwards towards a back yard.

"Duck down, my people are on the ends of the herd, steering it."

Carl ducked down so that no one could see his head moving in the opposite direction of the rest of the walkers. As they approached the ends of the herd they could see some of the walker people with their arms out, pushing the herd forward.

The girl whispered in Carl's ear. "I distract. You run!". He nodded and she confidently strolled over to two of the Walker People.

He couldn't hear the conversation over the moans and growls of the walkers, but the two Walker People nodded and they suddenly started to change the direction they were pushing the herd in. While they were distracted, Carl sprinted into the forest, desperately trying to reach the cover of the tree line. He ran, desperately trying to get as far away from the herd as possible. He considered if he should actually wait for the girl who had helped him escape or if he should keep running, but he knew he couldn't just leave her.

After running to where he considered a safe distance he stopped and waited for the girl. A few minutes later he heard a single person running through the woods. "Here!" he whispered.

Hearing his voice, the girl jogged over to him.

"We must go! Alpha will know we're gone by now."

"They're heading towards my town. I think they're gonna use the tunnel Gregory took me through… We have to get to the front gates and warn them."

"How? We won't get there first."

"We have to try."

Carl took the lead as he sprinted off towards the Hilltop.

"What's your name?" he panted as he ran.

"Alpha named me Sigma, but my real name is Lydia"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Michonne sat on the couch in Carl's living room, staring at the door. She had no idea how long the team had been gone, or when to expect them back, but she definitely wasn't sleeping tonight. Neither were the kids, who she didn't even bother trying to put back to bed. After the Hilltop defense team left with Rick, Enid, and Gregory, Michonne called the children into the living room. She had Judy collect all the pillows and blankets and they all built a pillow fort which was now occupying most of the small living room. It was a welcome distraction for the kids and for her, and she laughed uncontrollably as Judy, Joy and Omega chased each other around the fort.

"Mommy you come in the fort too!" Joy called to her.

Michonne chuckled. "I can't baby, I'm too big. Mommy's belly will knock it down!"

Joy and Judy both giggled at that while Omega just looked on with a smile.

"Mommy can we stay up all night? Pleaseeeeee?" Judy asked.

"You can stay up for now honey. We'll have to see what time Carl and Enid and daddy come back."

As she spoke those words Michonne's heart sank. She was truly worried, and a dark part of her was preparing for what to do if they didn't come back soon. She unconsciously rubbed her belly as she got lost in her thoughts. Suddenly, she felt the baby kick.

"Hey little one" she said to her belly "You awake too?"

"He's awake?!" Judy squealed excitedly. "Can I feel him?"

Michonne laughed at Judy's assumption it was a boy. She had been calling the baby him for the past 8 months, even though Michonne had reminded her many times it might be a girl.

"Come quick" she said to Judy. Judy rolled out of the pillow fort and practically leaped on to Michonne's lap. Michonne took one of Judy's hands and moved it to the spot that she had felt the baby kick before, but now it was still.

"I don't feel him" Judy said, disappointed.

"Maybe if you talk to… him" Michonne said, giving in to Judy's preference for a brother.

"Ok" Judy said a little shyly. "Hi baby! This is your big sister Judy. We need you to move around a little bit so we can feel you. Ok? Just a little bit."

Joy, always Judy's little shadow, quickly made her way over to join in the conversation. "And this is your big sister Joyjoy, and I want to feel you move too!"

Michonne laughed at both of her daughter's antics, temporarily forgetting her worried state. Both girls placed their hands on Michonne's stomach waiting for a response. Suddenly the baby began to turn, making both girls squeal in delight and Michonne feel slightly queasy as it felt like the baby was rearranging her internal organs.

"Ugh… well… you got what you asked for Judy" Michonne moaned.

"Omega, you wanna feel my brother?" Judy asked. Judy then turned to look at Michonne, asking her if it was ok. Michonne smiled and nodded. Omega got up and approached Michonne shyly. Michonne took his hand and moved it to her belly where the baby was still doing what seemed like backflips.

Omega gave a big smile. "It's moving" he whispered.

"He's moving" Judy corrected.

"Mommy can I name him?" Joy asked.

"Hold on, why are the two of you so sure it's a boy?" Michonne asked, amused.

"Cuz we have too many princesses. We have to have enough princes." Joy explained in three year old logic.

"And Joy doesn't want to share her room" Judy cut in.

"Well how do you know you won't end up sharing your room with the baby?" Michonne asked Judy teasingly.

"Cuz I'm the biggest sister" Judy said as if the question was ridiculous.

Michonne smiled at her precocious daughters, but as her eyes wandered to the clock her smile slowly faded.

Omega, who was watching the whole conversation and especially Michonne's face, whispered "they'll be back soon", stunning her. She turned to look at this small boy who had obviously seen much more than a child should, and had been through things that a child never should go through. She grasped his small, skinny hand and squeezed.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Rick sprinted back towards Hilltop with Enid and the rest of the defense team right behind him. He couldn't believe that huge herd of walkers was headed in Hilltop's direction. He was pretty sure the walkers couldn't get through the gates, but who knew what the Walker People had up their sleeves. The last time they attacked, thirteen people died. And now they had Carl, thanks to Gregory.

Rick shot a look at Gregory who was lagging behind. Two guards had guns aimed at him at all times, but he was falling behind the group. Rick, suppressing the urge to shoot him right then and there growled "hurry up!".

"Rick!" Enid called, "they're not heading to the gates, they're going back towards where the tunnel is… they know where it is…"

Rick spun around towards Gregory and Gregory dropped to the ground, terrified. "Please Rick… I didn't tell them where it was, I swear! I don't know how they could know where it is! Maybe Carl…" but Gregory quickly ended his sentence, realizing he was going too far.

Rick punched Gregory in the face so hard he fell backwards, stunned. "Carl wouldn't tell them shit! He's not a coward like you."

Gregory, knowing what was best for him shut his mouth.

"We need to get back NOW!" Enid yelled. "No one is gonna expect walkers to be coming out of that tunnel. And Carl is with them."

The team continued running towards the tunnel, and the guards who were watching Gregory were practically dragging him forward. As Enid ran she could feel her mental and physical exhaustion. She would never admit it to anyone but she knew this outing was pushing her pregnant body to its extremes. She could feel a cramp in her side, and her feet were killing her, but she continued to run.

Carl is with them. Carl is in danger. You have to get to Carl.

They finally reached the tunnel entrance and everyone froze. It was obvious that a large herd had gone through the area. The grass was trampled, and the car that had been blocking the entrance had been rolled away.

Rick ran to the entrance of the tunnel and could hear the faint sound of walkers. They were in. They had made it inside.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Michonne laid back on the couch as Judy and Joy attempted to braid her long waist length locs. They were really making large knots in her hair, but she didn't mind. Omega was staring out the window, seemingly lost in his thoughts. Michonne couldn't help but think how aged the little five year old seemed.

She sighed and closed her eyes trying to calm her frayed nerves. Joy, sensing her mother's mood took one of her locs and tickled the side of her face causing Michonne to smile. Michonne was about to say something when Omega took in a sharp breath.

Michonne's eyes snapped open.

"The walking ones!" Omega exclaimed, leaping away from the window.

Michonne shot up from the couch so fast she startled Judy and Joy. She ran over to the window and her mouth dropped open as she watched dozens of walkers wandering down the streets of the Hilltop.

"Shit!" she exclaimed before she remembered who was in the room with her. "Sorry" she mumbled. "Judy turn off the lights! And then all of you get into Enid's room" Michonne ordered.

"But mommy…" Judy began. "Now!" Michonne snapped, the tone of her voice scaring Judy enough that she knew this was serious.

Judy went to turn off all the lights as Michonne grabbed her katana. Omega stood in front of Michonne. "It's Alpha!" he said "She's here. She's come to get me." Tears started to spring from Omega's eyes. "I don't want to go back. Please don't let her take me."

Michonne kneeled in front of the shaking boy. "She won't take you. I won't let her. I promise." Omega nodded, believing Michonne. Michonne ushered the children into the room. "Judy, you lock the door and all three of you get under the bed. Don't open the door unless I tell you to." Judy nodded. Michonne looked at Judy and Omega. "You two are the oldest. Protect Joy, ok?" Michonne could see Omega's chest stick out as she included him in protecting Joy. She knew this boy had lived with rough people and probably had to protect himself before. She pulled out a knife and handed it to Omega. He looked into Michonne's eyes and nodded.

She quickly shut the door and she could hear Judy lock it behind her. Michonne took a deep breath. The Walker People were here looking for Omega. If they wanted him they'd have to get through her first.