"Armond!?" Aramis called out while Carol walked out of the man-made shack and she walked to him.
"Is there something wrong?" Carol asked.
"It appears my grandson has wandered off."
Thoughts of what happened to Sophia moved through Carol's mind as she crossed her arms over her stomach and sighed.
"Does he normally do that?"
"Sometimes," he said when Maggie walked to her and Carol noticed the worried look in Maggie's eyes.
"Carol, have you seen Hershel?" Maggie asked.
"No. I haven't," Carol said then looked for any sign of RJ or Judith. "Now that I think about it… I don't see Judith or RJ either."
"That's not good."
"What's not good?" Negan asked as he walked closer.
"Armond, RJ, Hershel and Judith are missing," Carol said.
"How long have they been missing?"
"Not sure."
"Then let's go ask people if they've seen them."
"Go get Mercer, Mike, Dawsons and Lance. We'll cover more ground that way."
Nodding, Negan ran off as Aramis sighed and lowered his head.
"We'll find them," Carol assured him when Elisbeth walked closer and she was pushing Jac in front of her.
"Tell him!" Elisbeth demanded in French as she lightly shoved her son and pointed to Aramis.
"Tell me what?" Aramis asked in French.
"Jac saw Armond and his new friends leave the Tower."
"You saw them leave?!" Aramis asked Jac and Jac rolled his eyes.
"I don't see what's the big deal's all about," Jac said in French while shrugging his shoulders.
"The big deal is there are Macabre out there! You know no one should go out without weapons or backup!" Aramis said in French.
"Did you see which way they went?" Elisbeth asked French.
"No. I didn't," Jac said in French while Negan, Mercer, Mike, Dawsons and Hornsby ran to them.
"Have you seen the kids?" Carol asked.
"Nope," Negan said and Hornsby frowned after he heard what Aramis, Elixbeth and Jac were talking about.
"Excuse me," Lance said in French as they looked at him and he glared at Jac. "I didn't mean to overhear, but I think you should tell us where Armond and his friends went."
"Fuck you," Jac said in French and Elisbeth smacked the back of his head.
"If you know where they went, tell them!" she said in French.
"Ok. Ok. I heard Armond say something about the Church."
"They went to the Church!? You mean Notre Dame!?" Aramis demanded and Jac nodded his head.
"Why would they go off and do something so foolish!?" Elisbeth asked.
"I guess they wanted to be heroes," Lance said with a smile.
"Lance, what's going on?" Carol aseed and Lance told them where the kids had gone.
"They went after Daryl and Caroline?" Maggie asked.
"Yes."
"Then let's go get them back."
"How are we gonna do that?" Mike asked.
"We'll use the cart," Carol said.
"What if they won't give Daryl, Caroline and the kids back?" Negan asked.
"We'll think of something."
"How do they even know how to get there?" Maggie asked.
"I have taken Armond, his father and his brother to the Cathedral numerous times when I had to deal with the Church," Aramis said in English.
"Then you'll take us there?" Carol asked. Aramis saw the worry and sadness in her eyes as he pressed his lips into a thin line then nodded. "Let's go."
They headed for the cart while Maggie helped Dog get in the cart and Aramis and Carol climbed onto the driver's seat. The others got in the cart while Aramis took the reins in his hands, hitched the horses forward and he headed for Elisbeth and Jac. He stopped the cart when he pointed to Jac and Jac, grumbling something in French, climbed on the cart. Aramis pointed for him to sit next to Mercer as Mercer glanced at Jac and Jac sank down in the seat.
"Please stay safe and bring my baby, his friends, Mister Daryl and Miss Caroline home," Elisbeth said in French and Aramis smiled. He hitched the horses forward as he steered the cart to the gate and they left the Tower.
Paris - Notre Dame Cathedral
The car and the truck stopped near the bottom of the stairs while the guards ran down the stairs and one of the guards opened the back door. He bowed as Connor and Murphy exited the car and the guard closed the door. Katherine opened the driver's side door as she got out of the car and the guard got in the car. He started the engine as he steered the car down the drive and the other guard looked at the truck.
"It's alright," Katherine said in French and Daryl got out of the cab of the truck. Jeffery walked around to join him as the guard pointed his rifle at Jeffrey and Katherine placed her right hand on his left forearm. "He's a friend."
Connor and Murphy had opened the back of the truck as Murphy helped Caroline out of the truck and she smiled at him. They helped get the kids out of the truck then removed the plastic containers as they headed for Katherine and the guard looks at the kids.
"These are orphans we brought from Barcelona. In these containers is vital information which needs to be brought up to Cardinal and Bishop's private quarters," Katherine said in French and the guard nodded. The guard ran up the stairs as he summoned more guards and the guards ran down the stairs. The guards picked up the plastic containers as they headed back up the stairs and Katherine led the kids up the stairs. Daryl, Caroline, Murphy and Connor followed them up the stairs while the kids looked up at the cathedral and Nikki tapped Murphy's left shoulder.
"You live here?" Nikki asked.
"Yep," Murphy said and the guard opened the door. They walked in the main hall as the kids looked up at the ceiling or at the camp and a guard walked over to Katherine. Daryl saw the concern in the guard's eyes and he wondered what was wrong. The guard spoke to Katherine in French and Caroline frowned after getting bits and pieces of what the guard was telling Katherine.
"What's wrong?" Daryl whispered to Caroline.
"Some kids tried to break into the cathedral," Caroline whispered.
"Not a first time," Murphy whispered and adjusted his hold on Nikki.
"What will happen to the kids?"
"If they stole anythin', we'll have a talk with 'em," he whispered and he saw the question in her eyes. "No. We don't hurt kids."
"Sorry," she said, lowering her head. He lifted her chin as they locked eyes and she knew he wanted to kiss her.
Katherine walked to them as she sighed and lightly shook her head.
"What's wrong?" Connor whispered.
"Some kids tried to break into the cathedral," Katherine whispered.
"What did they do with th'kids?"
"They were put in a holding cell."
"How long have they been in there?"
"About three and a half hours."
"Has anyone come askin' fer them?"
"No."
"Which means they ain't local."
"One of the kids keeps saying if we don't let them go, there is going to be war."
"War?" Caroline whispered.
"Some people threaten that if they think the Church has wronged them."
"Any ideas on who this kid is?" Daryl asked.
"He says he's Aramis' grandson."
"Th'leader of th'Tower?" Murphy whispered.
"Yeah."
"Which grandson?" Caroline whispered.
"Sounds like you've met Aramis."
"Yeah. Rescued his youngest grandson when he got stuck on the Tower," Daryl said.
"If he's threatenin' war, it's gotta be Jac," Murphy said.
"Yeah. He's a real…," Connor said when he looked at the kids and Chandler, Mark and Peter arched their eyebrows up. "He's a pain in th'neck."
"Guess we better go talk with 'em," Murphy said.
"What do you want to do with the kids and Jeffrey?" Katherine asked.
"Take 'em t'the hospital and check 'em out,' Connor said.
"You have a hospital?" Jeffrey asked.
"A small one," Katherine said.
"But we ain't sick," Chandler said.
"I don't wanna shot," Nikki said as she sniffed and Murphy saw the tears in her eyes.
"Do you have a computer in the hospital?" Mark asked as he removed a plastic CD case out of his backpack. "This has our medical files on it."
"Yes. I do. Thank you," Katherine said as she took the plastic CD case from him. "But it's also a rule that newcomers and strangers need check out before they can be around the others."
"Let's go," Caroline said as she tried to remove Nikki from Murphy's arms, but the little girl held on tight to him. "Would you like me sit with you durin' yer checkup?"
"Yes," Nikki said with a small whimper. Caroline took her from Murphy then walked to Katherine and Katherine led Jeffrey, Caroline and the kids toward the door which led to the hospital. Daryl looked at Connor and Murphy as Connor frowned then pressed his lips into a thin line.
"Let's go," Connor said. They walked toward the guard as the guard bowed then led them to the door which led down to the holding cell. The guard opened the door as they headed for the stairs and Daryl walked behind them. They headed down the hallway while Daryl scanned the hallway with his eyes and they stopped at the guards in front of the door. The guards bowed as Connor pointed to the door and the guard unlocked the door. The guard opened the door as Connor and Murphy walked in the holding cell and they looked at Armond, Judith, RJ and Hershel.
"No," Armond whispered in French and Judith looked at Connor and Murphy. Murphy pointed to the doorway as the kids slowly headed for the doorway and the guards stood back. The kids were looking at their feet when Judith looked up and her eyes went wide when she saw Daryl. Daryl barely shook his head as she looked down and they headed for the stairs.
"Where are they taking us?" RJ asked when he and Hershel turned to look behind them and their eyes widened after seeing Daryl. Daryl barely shook his head as he pointed to the stairs and they went up the stairs. They walked into the main hallway as Connor and Murphy led them toward the door which led to the hospital and the guard opened the door.
"No!" Armond shouted in French as he turned to run, but he stopped when he saw Daryl. "Mister Daryl!"
Daryl placed his hands up to stop Armond from running to him then he pointed to the door. Nodding, Armond turned around. They went down the stairs then down the hallway and Daryl lightly placed his right hand on Judith's left shoulder. She glanced up at him as she smiled and he smiled back. They walked in the hospital when Judith, RJ and Hershel saw Caroline sitting on the examination table with Nikki and Katherine wrote some information on a medical chart.
"No way," Caroline said as she placed Nikki on the examination table, got up and ran to Judith, RJ and Hershel. She stopped when she saw the guards and the kids looked down at their feet.
"Well… Who do we have here?" Katherine asked in French then looked at the guards. "Dismissed."
The guards left the room while Daryl looked at Judith, RJ and Hershel then he knelt down on his haunches. Judith and RJ ran to him as they hugged and Caroline smiled when he made a little grunt from picked Judith and RJ off the floor. She walked to Hershel when Hershel turned and Caroline hugged him. Letting go, she held her arms out and Armond ran to her. She hugged him as he shivered and she made soft hushing sounds.
"Guess you know these kids," Jeffrey said as he walked closer. He looked at RJ when he noticed how much RJ looked like Rick and Jeffrey looked at Daryl. "Is this RJ?"
"Yeah. I'm RJ," RJ said.
"You look like your dad."
"You know my dad?!"
"Ever since I was a kid."
"Uncle Daryl, what is he talking about?" Judith asked.
"He says he's yer dad's brother," Daryl said. He had noticed the confused look on Jeffrey's face after she called Daryl her uncle. "Rick told me I was his brother once."
"Oh," Jeffrey said with a sigh.
"What's your name?" RJ asked.
"Jeffrey."
"And you're really my dad's brother?" Judith asked with a suspicious look on her face.
"Yeah. I am. You must be Judith."
"Maybe."
Daryl and Caroline glanced at each other as she barely shrugged her shoulders and Hershel walked to Daryl. Daryl ruffled the top of Hershel's head as Hershel smiled and Armond ran to him. Daryl picked Armond up as he hugged Daryl and Daryl looked at Connor and Murphy.
"Judith. RJ. Hershel. Armond," Daryl said as he pointed to the kids.
"Mind telling us why you were trying to break into the cathedral?" Katherine asked in French while looking at Armond.
"We're here to rescue Mister Daryl and Miss Caroline," Armond said in French. "If you don't release us, there will be war!"
"What did he say?" Peter asked Caroline and she translated.
"He's lyin'," Chandler said with a disgusted look and Caroline told Armond what he said.
"I am not! They took them!" Armond said in French.
"Bull poopy!" Nikki said in French and Murphy snorted a laugh.
"Nikki," Murphy whispered and she looked down.
"Sorry. I said a bad thing."
"Yes. You did."
He wiggled his right index finger in front of her nose until she giggled and he smiled when she took hold of his finger.
"Aequitas," she whispered, looking at the tattoo on his right index finger and down his hand.
"Do you know what it means?" he whispered.
"Yeah. Mama told me it means justice."
"Right."
"If they're not your prisoners, then what are they doing here?" Judith asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
Daryl and Caroline took turns telling them what happened when guards appeared in the doorway and Katherine looked at the guards.
"What's the matter?" Katherine asked in French.
"There are strangers outside. One of them is a soldier," the guard said in French and Armond smiled.
"That's Mister Mercer! He will make you give us back!" Armond said in French and Caroline frowned.
"He said Mercer's name," Caroline whispered to Daryl.
"Judith, is Mercer with you?" Daryl whispered to Judith.
"Yeah. So is Aunt Carol, Negan, Dog, Aunt Maggie, two other guys and Mister Hornsby," Judith whispered.
Daryl felt his heart slamming in his chest after she said Carol's name and Caroline felt a mix of emotions coming from her brother.
"What's wrong?" Caroline asked.
"Carol's here," Daryl said and he watched Connor and Murphy walking to Katherine.
"What do you want to do?" Katherine asked in Latin.
"Take the children, Daryl, Caroline and Jeffrey upstairs. Murphy and I'll talk t'them," Connor said in Latin.
"Not without backup."
Daryl saw the concern on Katherine's face as he walked to her and Daryl glanced at the guards.
"Those people outside. They're friend of ours," Daryl said.
"They are?" Connor whispered in English.
"Yeah."
"What are they doin' here?" Murphy whispered in English.
"I think they're here to rescue the kids. And us."
"What will they do if we don't turn you over?" Katherine asked.
"Fight."
Katherine saw the look in his eyes as she nodded and Daryl, Caroline, Connor and Murphy headed for the guards. The guards moved back as Daryl, Caroline, Connor and Murphy walked by him and Katherine looked at the kids and Jeffrey.
"Let's go," Katherine said.
"Where?" Peter asked.
"Upstairs."
"What's upstairs?" Mark asked.
"It's where we live."
"We're not staying at the camp?" Chandler asked.
"Nope," she said, picking up Nikki and they headed for the guard. They walked by the guard then down the hallway and Katherine hoped Daryl can stop his friends from attacking the cathedral.
Outside, Carol looked at the guards while Aramis held the reins in his hands and the guards were looking at Mercer.
"Knew we should have left the big guy back at the Tower," Lance whispered to Maggie.
"If we have to fight, we're gonna need him," Maggie whispered.
In the back of the cart, Dog sniffing the cart when the dog hopped off the cart and headed for the stairs. Carol noticed Dog when she started to stand, but Aramis gently touched her left upper arm.
"Don't move," Aramis said in English.
Carol sat back down while Dog sniffed the guards' feet and the guards looked at the dog.
"If he pees on me….," one of the guards said in French and his companion snorted a laugh. They turned as the doors opened and Daryl, Caroline, Murphy and Connor appeared in the doorway. The guards bowed to Connor and Murphy as Dog ran to Daryl and nearly knocked him back a few inches. Murphy shook his head to prevent the guards from shooting Dog and the guards put the rifles down. Daryl knelt down on his haunches while he ruffled the dog's fur and Caroline knelt down next to them. Dog licked Daryl's face then Caroline's face as Daryl and Caroline laughed then stood up.
"Daryl! Caroline!" Maggie called out as she waved her right arm and Daryl and Caroline headed down the stairs with Dog following behind them. Maggie, Negan and Carol got off the cart as Maggie walked to Daryl and Daryl hugged her. Caroline walked to Negan as he smiled and she hugged him.
"You good, Wild Thing?" he whispered. It had been a long time since he had used his nickname for her and Caroline nodded her head. "Heard you got shot."
"Yeah. I did. But I got better," Caroline said and he laughed.
"Where're the kids?!" Maggie asked as she looked at the cathedral.
"They're inside," Daryl said.
"Are they ok?"
"Yeah," he said then moved away from her. Connor and Murphy walked down the stairs as they headed for Caroline and Negan and Caroline moved away from him.
"It's ok. They're friends," Caroline said to Negan and walked to Murphy and Connor. Negan noticed the look Murphy was giving Caroline as Negan smiled and lightly shook his head.
"Hot damn," Negan whispered.
Daryl locked eyes with Carol and she folded her hands in front of her. She felt her heart slamming in her chest. He took two steps towards her when she ran at him and Murphy and Connor held their hands up to stop the guards from shooting her. Daryl made a small grunt after she slammed into him and they tightly wrapped their arms around each other.
"Lemme guess," Murphy whispered in German to Caroline. "That's Carol."
"Yep," Caroline whispered in German and she felt the love, happiness, joy and relief coming from her brother.
Carol didn't want to let go. She rubbed Daryl's back as he placed his head against her head and she felt him shaking. Memories of Terminus and him nearly knocking her down after he ran to hug her moved across her mind and she smiled.
"What are you doin' here?" he asked, even though he knew why.
"Rescuing your ass…again," Carol teased and he softly laughed.
"But this time you brought back up."
"Yep."
He moved back and she saw the tears in his eyes. Leaning closer, Daryl kissed her lips and she placed her hands against his chest.
"Uh….," made Carol turn to look behind her and Caroline gave her a sad look.
"Oh….! Don't think I forgot about you," Carol said, walking to her and they hugged. Carol suddenly remembered Caroline's injury and she moved back. "Sorry."
"About what?" Caroline asked.
"Your shoulder."
"Oh," she said and snorted a laugh. "I'm good."
"Mind tellin' us why you brought Mercer and Hornsby?" Daryl asked, walking to them.
"Mercer volunteered and Lance asked to go with us," Carol explained. "He also knows how to speak French."
"So does Caroline."
"You do?!" she asked, looking at Caroline and Caroline nodded.
"My friends taught me," Caroline said, looking back at Connor and Murphy. Daryl, Caroline and Carol walked to Murphy and Connor with Dog following close behind them and Caroline headed for Murphy. Carol noticed the smile Murphy gave Caroline and Carol glanced at Daryl.
"I take it you're Carol," Connor said in English with a grin while he and Murphy walked closer. "I'm Connor MacManus. This is my brudder, Murphy."
"Yes. I am," Carol said then looked at Caroline. "These are your real friends, right?"
"Yeah," Caroline said, feeling a little guilty about calling them that.
"Someone told me you and Daryl were helping them with something."
"Who?"
"She called herself the Blue Lady. She's also the one who told me you were shot."
Caroline saw the angry look on Carol's face as she glared at Murphy and Connor and Caroline sighed.
"How did you meet the Blue Lady?" Caroline asked.
"She showed up at the Eiffel Tower and told we talked."
"How did she know who you were?"
"An old friend told her."
Caroline knew she was talking about Jeb and she nodded.
"If you know th'Blue Lady, you better be careful. She's got a mean temper," Connor said.
"She does?" Carol asked.
"Last time we saw her, she tossed a rock at us."
Carol frowned while Caroline looked at Jac and Aramis and Aramis curled the reins around his fingers.
"I think I know why Aramis is here, but why is Jac here?" Caroline asked.
"Jac saw Armond, Judith, RJ and Hershel leave the Tower and didn't stop them. Guess Aramis wants to exchange him for them," Carol said.
"The way that kid acts? I don't think Murphy or Connor would accept him," Daryl said.
"Where is my grandson?!" Aramis suddenly demanded in French.
"He's inside with the others. He's safe," Caroline said in French.
"I want to see him!"
"He wants to see Armond," she whispered to Murphy.
"Fine by us," Murphy whispered and Connor nodded.
"They agree to let you see him," Caroline said in French and Aramis, Jac, Mercer, Mike, Dawsons and Hornsby left the cart. They walked closer as Caroline looked at Mike and Dawsons then she looked at Carol.
"What are they doin' here?" Caroline whispered.
"It was either help us rescue you and Daryl, face life in a cell or die," Carol explained and Caroline glanced at Mike and Dawsons.
"Sorry about breaking yer nose," Caroline said to Mike and Mike smiled.
"Not the first time I broke it," Mike said then she looked at Dawsons.
"Sorry about…."
"Like Mike said. Not the first time," Dawsons said with a grin.
"Still sorry."
"Water under the boat," he said and she laughed.
"Let's go," Daryl said as Carol took hold of his right hand and Dog went to stand by his right leg. They headed up the stairs with the others following them and the guards opened the door. The guards bowed to Connor and Murphy while they walked by them and Connor and Murphy walked to lead them to the staircase which led upstairs. They headed up the stairs while people below watched them and some of the people whispered to each other while looking at Mercer.
Daryl walked next to Connor and Murphy as they walked down the hallway and the guards in the front of the doors stood at attention. The guards opened the doors as they walked by the guards and the guards saw the stern look in Mercer's eyes. The guards closed the doors as one of them puffed out a breath of air and they both shook their heads.