Daryl stared at the guards while Carol held onto his right hand and he wrapped their fingers together. He felt a cold chill moving through him, but he had turned off the bond with Caroline so he could keep what he was feeling to himself.

The door opened while Michonne walked out into the hallway and she looked at them. Carol saw the blank look on Michonne's face as Michonne walked to them and she nodded to the guards. The guards headed for the stairs then went downstairs. Michonne looked at the doorway then she looked at Carol and Michonne sighed.

"Follow me," Michonne said and they walked to the doorway after Carol let go of Daryl's hand. Daryl saw the shocked look on Carol's face when he quickly walked to her and Michonne and he looked into the room.

"No way," Daryl whispered. He and Carol headed into the room as they walked to the bed and Daryl felt the knot forming in his throat.

Sitting up against the headboard was Rick Grimes. He was wearing a white undershirt and the bedding was tucked around his waist. He looked tired. His hair and full beard were peppered with more gray and white hair then he had when they last saw him. He was thinner and Daryl and Carol saw the sad look in his eyes.

"Hey," Rick said in a tired voice. He smiled as Carol quickly walked to the bed, sat down on the edge of the bed and he moved a little forward so she could hug him. She was shaking and crying and he gently rubbed the back of her head. She moved back as she sadly smiled and he took hold of her hands.

"We thought you were dead," Carol said.

"Thought the same about you back at the prison."

She softly smiled at the memory of them seeing her after she had escaped some Walkers and hiding in a solitary cell. If Daryl hadn't found her, she knew she would have died and turned.

She stood so Daryl could sit on the edge of the bed and Rick watched him cautiously walking closer. Rick remembered when they had left Daryl in exile after Glenn and Abe were killed and how Daryl reacted to seeing him again.

"Are you going to cry?" Rick teased while Daryl sat on the edge of the bed and Rick carefully moved closer. "It's ok, Brother. It's ok."

Daryl lowered his head as Rick hugged him and Daryl started crying. Michonne told Rick how hard Daryl looked for him after the bridge exploded. The guilt he thought was gone returned in waves and Rick started crying as he placed his head against Daryl's head. Carol pressed her fingers to her lips while she watched Rick and Daryl holding onto each other then she glanced at the doorway. Caroline stood in the doorway while she looked at Daryl and Rick and Carol motioned for her to come closer.

"It's alright," Carol mouthed. Caroline slowly headed for the bed as Rick looked up. He blinked the tears out of his eyes as his vision cleared and his eyes slightly widened.

"Shit. Michonne was right. She does look a little like Daryl," Rick thought then made a tiny smile.

"You must be Caroline," Rick said with a crack to his voice and Daryl moved back. Daryl looked behind him as Caroline stood at the foot of the bed and Daryl saw the worry and fear in her eyes.

"It's ok," Daryl said with a small crack to his voice then he stood up. He walked to his sister as she looked at him then at Rick and Rick bent his legs up. He placed his forearms on his knees and Caroline placed her hands in front of her. She had forgotten to wear her fingerless gloves and Rick saw the scars on the back of her right hand.

"Damn," Rick said. Caroline looked down at her right hand as she covered the scars with her left hand and he shook his head. "No. It's fine. Michonne told me about your hand."

"Go on," Daryl said as he nodded his head toward Rick and Caroline barely shook her head.

"I ain't gonna bite," Rick said with a small smile, but she stayed where she was. He sighed as he lowered his head and flexed his fingers. "Do you do that thing that Daryl does? Know when someone's bullshitting you?"

"Yeah. I do," Caroline said, softly.

"Look me in the eyes," he said and she locked eyes with him. "I wouldn't have sent you away when you showed up. Nor would I have needed to see proof. I can tell just by looking at you that you two are brother and sister. Do you believe me?"

Caroline walked by Daryl when she walked to the edge of the bed, sat down and Rick hugged her. He felt her shaking as he placed his head against her head and she cried. He gently held onto the back of her head as she held him tighter and Daryl and Carol sadly smiled. Caroline moved back as she wiped her eyes with her left hand and Rick waited for her to say something.

"Hello, Rick Grimes," she said and he laughed.

"That's exactly how he said my last name when we met," he said.

"Um… Sorry t'interrupt, but is it ok fer us t'come in?" Murphy asked and Rick looked at the doorway.

"That's my husband and his brother," Caroline said.

"Tell them they can come in," Rick said.

"You can come in," Caroline said as she looked back at the doorway. Rick watched as Murphy and Connor walked in the room and stood at the foot of the bed.

"Who are you two?" Rick asked.

"I'm Murphy," Murphy said then pointed to Connor. "This is my brudder, Connor."

"Hey," Connor said with a nod.

"How did you meet Caroline?"

Caroline locked eyes with Rick while she told him how she met Murphy and Connor and Rick softly laughed at her pointing a gun at Murphy.

"She's never lets me ferget that," Murphy said and Rick swore he was blushing.

Daryl noticed Rick was getting tired. Daryl nodded his head toward the door and Caroline stood up. She, Murphy and Connor followed Daryl out of the room while Carol walked to the bed and Rick looked at her.

"Michonne said it was just you, Daryl, Caroline, Murphy and Connor. Where's everyone else?" Rick asked.

"Before we could sanction having so many people go off at once, I had to make sure this wasn't a trap," Carol said.

"Are things really that bad?"

"Depends on what day it is," she said with a small grin.

"Right," Rick said with a nod and she left the room. He looked at the doorway while Michonne walked in the room and she went to sit next to him on the bed. He slid his arms around her as she placed her head against his left shoulder and she looked at him. "Things really have changed."

"Yeah, they have," Michonne said with a sigh as they went silent and Rick stared straight ahead.

Hilltop

The gates opened as Daryl, Murphy, Connor and Caroline steered their motorcycles by the gates and they parked the motorcycles near Maggie.

"What's going on?" Maggie asked with a confused look on her face.

"Let's go inside and I'll explain," Carol said.

They headed inside the main building as Daryl and Caroline took the rear and Daryl scanned the area. They walked into Maggie's office as she closed the door and headed to the desk.

"Ok. Tell me. What's wrong?" Maggie asked as she leaned against the edge of the desk.

"You got the letter from Aaron, right?" Daryl asked.

"Yeah. He said he had something to tell me and wanted me to bring some people to Alexandria. He didn't say why."

"Rick's alive," Carol said and Maggie's eyes widened.

"Where has he been?"

Carol explained and Maggie nodded her head now and then. Carol could see the anger and worry in Maggie's eyes as Maggie sighed, pushed off the desk and went to stand in front of the window.

"What do you think we should do?" Maggie asked.

"If this had happened shortly after he had blown up the bridge? I would say we wait until he recovers and throw him a big welcome home party," Carol said with a grin.

"What about now?"

"I think we need to tread carefully. If what Michonne says is true. He's not the same Rick we knew all those years ago."

Maggie folded her arms over her stomach as Daryl walked to her and she glanced at him.

"Do you think he ever forgave us for what we did?" Maggie asked softly.

"Dunno. But it wasn't all on us. Negan…," Daryl said and her eyes widened.

"Negan, Anne and Carl are at Alexandria. If Rick finds out…"

"I talked with Negan. He told me he'd bring Anne and Carl here fer the time bein'."

"I really hate this."

"Me, too."

"Hershel was just a baby when Rick… When he disappeared. He wouldn't even recognize Hershel."

"Yeah."

"What about Caroline? Did Rick meet her?"

"Yeah. She's not sure if she can trust him."

"Did he believe her when she said she was your sister?"

"He said he did."

They stood in silence when Carol cleared her throat and they turned to look at her.

"We also have another problem. I talked with Michonne shortly before we left. She told Rick about our trouble with the Whispers," Carol said.

"Does she know that Alpha and Beta are dead?" Maggie asked.

"I told her."

"Did she tell Rick about Lydia….," she said and Carol nodded. "Damn."

"That's why we don't want you to tell anyone about Rick until we talk to Ezekiel," Daryl said and she nodded. Maggie led them to the door and Maggie opened the door. They left the office as she led the way and Carol held onto Daryl's right hand. Maggie saw Caroline as she, Connor and Murphy talked with Hershel and Hershel laughed at something Connor said.

"Hey!" Maggie called out and Caroline looked at her. They walked to the motorcycles as Caroline glanced at Daryl and he barely shook his head.

"Mom. Mister Connor once tore a toilet out of the floor," Hershel said and Maggie gave Connor a doubting look.

"Long story," Connor said then he explained.

"Damn," Maggie said as she smiled and Connor shrugged his shoulders.

"We gotta go," Daryl said as he looked up at the sky to check where the sun was.

"Will you bring RJ next time?" Hershel asked.

"Yeah," he said with a nod and Daryl got onto the motorcycle. He started the engine while Carol got on the back of the motorcycle and slid her arms around his waist. Caroline, Connor and Murphy got onto their motorcycles after starting the engine and Maggie watched them head for the gate. The gate opened as they left and Hershel looked up at Maggie. "Mom, are you ok?"

"Yeah," she said with a small grin then she looked straight ahead.

The Commonwealth

Ezekiel stood by the window when the door opened and he turned to see Daryl and Carol walking in the office. They stopped in front of the desk as Ezekiel walked to the desk and leaned the palms of his hands on the desk.

"What's going on at Alexandria?" Ezekiel asked.

"We found out why Aaron wanted us to send members of our old group to Alexandria," Daryl said.

"Why?"

"Rick's alive," he said and Ezekiel's eyes widened.

"He is?!"

"Yes. He is," Carol said then she explained what was going on. Ezekiel frowned a few times as he stood straighter, walked around to the front of the desk and stood in front of them.

"Let me see if I got this straight. The CRM found Rick after he blew up the bridge, took him to their base, tried to convert him, he escaped and they have been hunting him ever since."

"Yeah," Daryl said with a nod.

"Michonne found him in an abandoned hospital, removed and destroyed the tracking device she said he told her they had implanted in him, nursed him back to health after an infection, escaped the hospital then arrived at Alexandria."

"Yes," Carol said with a nod.

"And the CRM are here?"

"It's more like they're somewhere near Alexandria."

"Which means Aaron will have to deal with them at some point."

"We don't know that for sure."

"And you think it would be a good idea for us to go to Alexandria to see him?"

"No. I don't. The risk is too great."

"What about Judith and RJ? Are you going to tell them their dad's alive?"

"Yeah. We're gonna tell them," Daryl said.

"I want you to take guards with you if they decide they want to go see them."

"I was going to do that," Carol said with a nod.

Daryl and Carol noticed the sad look in Ezekiel's eyes. He pushed off the desk as they headed for the door and he opened the door.

"I really hate this," Ezekiel said.

"So do we," Carol said and they left the office. They headed out of the outer office then down the hallway and they left the building a few minutes later. Glancing at Daryl, she sighed and he slid his right arm around her shoulders as they walked down the sidewalk.

Carol's apartment

Judith and RJ were confused when Daryl showed up at Jerry's house. He didn't say a word the whole way home and Judith wondered what was going on.

Daryl opened the door as they walked inside and he patted the top of Dog's head. He closed the door after RJ and Judith walked by him and the kids looked at Carol and Caroline.

"What's going on?" Judith asked. She had felt worried since she woke up that morning and she hoped nothing bad at happened to Gracie. They had only started talking again.

"Sit down," Carol said and the kids sat on the couch. Dog went to rest near the couch and Caroline, Daryl and Carol walked to the couch. Daryl carefully sat on the edge of the arm of the couch as the kids looked at him then they looked at Carol and Caroline. "We need to tell you something."

"Has something happened to Gracie?" Judith asked.

"No. She's fine."

"Is Mister Aaron alright?" RJ asked.

"Yes. He's fine. This has nothing to do with anyone in Alexandria. It had to do with your mom and dad."

"You found them!?" Judith asked while looking at Daryl.

"More like they found us," Daryl said with a small smile.

"They're home?!" RJ asked with wide eyes.

"Yes. They are. But…," Carol said then sighed. "But we're not sure if you should go see them."

"Why not!?" Judith asked with anger in her eyes. Daryl looked at Carol while he barely nodded his head and Carol explained. Caroline felt the mix of emotions coming from Daryl and she placed her left hand on his right shoulder. Carol finished her explanation as she looked at the kids and Judith leaned back against the cushion. "You really think Dad would do something to hurt us?"

"No. I don't think he would. It's the people who are after him."

"That's why we're lettin' you decide if you wanna go see them or not," Daryl said.

RJ and Judith looked at each other while they waited for them to decide and Carol noticed the worry and anger in Judith's eyes.

"We'll tell you in the morning," Judith said as she got up and she headed for the bedroom she shared with her brother. RJ got up as he followed his sister into the bedroom and Judith closed the door. Carol looked at the door while Daryl frowned and Caroline patted his shoulder.

"That went well," Carol said as she went to start dinner.

Later that night, Daryl and Carol rested under the covers while her head rested on his right shoulder and her fingers moved up and down his chest. His chest expanded as he sighed and she moved her right hand across his chest to his left side. A soft tingling feeling moved through him as he looked at the ceiling and Carol lightly moved her fingers up and down his left side.

"Do you think they'll want to go see him?" Carol asked.

"Dunno," Daryl said.

"Did you see his eyes? Rick, I mean. They seemed so empty."

"Yeah."

"I get he's been through a lot. More than any of us can imagine. But why lead the CRM here?"

Daryl remained silent as her fingers moved along his side and he made a shaky sigh.

"I often wondered what I would say or do if I saw Rick again. He was more than just our leader, he was one of my best friends," Carol said.

"Was?" Daryl asked.

"Like I told him. I thought he was dead. Gone. I never forgot him, but I also came to the realization that he wasn't coming back."

Daryl nodded as she moved her hand back across his chest and he took hold of her hand, wrapping their fingers together.

"Used to wonder what I'd say if I saw him again. Most of the time, we'd just talk. Other times, I would punch him in the mouth," Daryl said while looking at the ceiling.

"Why would you do that?"

"Because I was pissed off. He knew I didn't wanna be a leader. That I was more comfortable being out there then locked behind walls."

"Guess he knew you'd be ok. Being a leader, I mean. You kept us… Kept me going during that whole thing with Alpha. Hate to say it, but it would've been a hell of a lot worse if he had been around."

"Yeah."

"What about Jeffrey? We haven't told him about Rick," she said and he pressed his lips into a thin line.

"I think we should take him with us. If nothin', it might confirm he really is Rick's brother."

"Do you think we should take guards with us if the kids want to go see him?" she asked.

"Yeah," he said with a nod then Daryl closed his eyes and placed the palm of her hand against his chest. She watched him drift off to sleep then she looked toward the wall and blinked the tears out of her eyes.

Alexandria

Michonne stood on the top of the front stairs while she watched the jeeps heading down the road and she smiled at the sight of Judith and RJ sitting in the back of one of the jeeps. She then noticed Jeffrey and three guards in the other jeep. The jeeps came to a stop as Judith and RJ got out of the jeep and Michonne ran down the stairs. She started to cry after they ran to her and she hugged her kids.

"Damn. I swear you two have gotten taller," she said with a grin and RJ laughed. She noticed the serious look on Judith's face. Daryl, Carol, Jeffrey and the guards walked closer as Michonne moved back and placed her hands on her kids' shoulders. "Why did you bring guards?"

"The Governor sent them," Carol said and Michonne frowned.

"The Governor's dead."

"She's talking about Mister Ezekiel. He's the Governor of the Commonwealth," Judith said with a slightly cold tone.

"Oh," she said then looked at Jeffrey. "Who are you?"

"I'm Jeffrey," Jeffrey said.

"Jeffrey who?"

"Jeffrey Grimes."

Daryl noticed the stunned look in Michonne's eyes and she moved the kids back.

"Jeffrey Grimes?" Michonne asked with a suspicious tone.

"Yeah. Rick Grimes is my brother."

She looked at him then at Daryl and Daryl barely shrugged his shoulders.

"Can we go see Dad now?" RJ asked.

"Sure," Michonne said. She turned them toward the stairs, but felt angry as the guards ran by her and headed for the stairs. One of the guards barely opened the door as he looked into the hallway then he turned to look at Carol.

"Clear," the guard said then opened the door. He and the other two guards walked in the main hallway as they spread out, checked the downstairs rooms then walked back to the doorway. "Clear."

"Is this really necessary?" Michonne asked Carol.

"Yes," Carol said.

They headed inside while Judith went to walk next to Daryl and Michonne noticed her sliding her left hand into Daryl's right hand. The guards headed up the stairs as they checked the hallway and the other rooms, but pointed their rifles at the guards in front of the door leading to Rick's room.

"Stand down," Carol said as she and Michonne walked by them and the guards moved back. "Is he awake?"

"The last time I checked," Michonne said as she opened the door. She softly growled as one of the guards walked into the room and she and Carol headed into the room. Carol saw Rick sitting up under the bedding and he had a confused look on his face.

"What's going on?" Rick asked, looking at Carol then at Michonne.

"Sorry. Just a precaution," Carol said. Rick watched the guard checked the room then the guard nodded at Carol and Rick frowned. She walked to the foot of the bed as she placed her hands in front of her and Rick crossed his arms over his chest.

"Carol, what's with the guards? Is the CRM here?"

"No. But we were told to bring guards if Judith and RJ wanted to come see you."

"Who told you that?"

"The Governor of the Commonwealth."

"And that is….?"

"Ezekiel."

"Ezekiel thinks I'm going to do something to my kids?"

"Not you as much as the CRM."

"Look. Are Judith and RJ here or not?"

"Yes. They're here."

"Where are they?"

"They are in the hall with Daryl."

"Will you tell Daryl to bring them in?"

Carol walked to the doorway when she looked out at the guards, Jeffrey, Judith, Daryl and RJ and she nodded. Daryl led the kids into the room as the guards followed and stood on either side of the doorway. Carol saw the anger in Rick's eyes then he looked at Judith and he blinked his eyes a few times. Memories of her as a toddler moved through his head and he swallowed the lump in his throat.

"Judith?" Rick asked. He waited for her to run to the bed and hug him, but she just walked to the foot of the bed and looked at him. Judith didn't speak and he felt a dull ache in his chest. "Aren't you going to say anything?"

"I was only a little kid when you left. Mom, Aunt Carol, Uncle Daryl and the others told me things so I wouldn't forget you. But I told Rosita that I was starting to forget you and Carl. I couldn't remember what you looked like or what your voice sounded like," Judith said in a soft voice and tears formed in her eyes.

"Damn."

"When Mom left? I thought I would forget her, too. I didn't. But I was afraid to tell Aunt Carol or Uncle Daryl why she left. I thought they would leave and RJ and I would be all alone," she said then paused. "I don't mean to say this to hurt you. RJ and I love you and Mom. But I need to know if this is only temporary. That once you're recovered, and the CRM or some other danger shows up, you and Mom won't leave. Or you will leave because you think it's too dangerous for us to go with you."

Rick's face was blank. He felt like she had slapped him. He also knew she had all right in asking him if he and Michonne would stay if the CRM or anyone else attacked or would they just leave in order to protect her, RJ and the others.

Daryl glanced at Judith as the urge to tell her not to talk to Rick like that moved through him, but he knew he had to let Rick deal with her.

"I…," Rick started to say when Aaron appeared in the doorway and Carol and Daryl turned to look at him.

"Sorry to interrupt, but one of the guards just saw soldiers in black body armor heading this way," Aaron said and they turned to look at Rick.