Ezekiel and Mercer stood at the bottom of the stairs as the jeeps and truck came to a stop and Carol and the guard got out of the jeep. Aaron, Maggie and Cyndi got out of the other jeep and Daryl opened the driver's side door. He and the guard got out of the cab of the truck and the guard walked to the back of the truck. The guard opened the back of the truck and helped Judith and RJ out of the truck then Michonne, Jeffrey and Rick exited the truck.
"Is that Grimes?" Mercer asked while looking at Rick.
"Yeah," Ezekiel said with a nod. They walked to Rick, Michonne, RJ, Judith and Jeffrey as Rick looked at Ezekiel and Ezekiel wasn't sure if he should smile at his old friend or punch him in the face. "Hello, Rick."
"Ezekiel," Rick said with a nod then looked at Mercer.
"This is my assistant governor, Michael Mercer."
"Hello."
Mercer just looked at him when he glanced over at Michonne and she flexed her fingers.
"Nice katana," Mercer said to her and Michonne kept her face blank.
"Let's go inside," Ezekiel said.
"I want to take the kids home first," Daryl said as he looked at Judith and RJ. Ezekiel noticed the hurt look in Rick's eyes as RJ and Judith walked to Daryl.
"Ok," Ezekiel said and Daryl led RJ and Judith down the sidewalk. Ezekiel pointed with his hands for the others to follow him inside and they headed up the stairs. Mercer opened the door as they walked inside and the doors closed behind them.
Daryl's old apartment
Murphy sighed as he felt someone sitting on his stomach and a content look appeared on his face. He had decided to take a nap on the couch before dinner and the soft tingle from fingers moving over his chest made him shiver.
"You have any idea how nice that feels?" he asked, half-opening his eyes and Caroline smiled down at him.
"Couldn't resist," she said as she leaned closer, but he lightly held onto her shoulders.
"Hold up. Where're Mark and Nikki?"
"They're next door at Connor's."
He started to move her closer when a knock on the door made him drop his arms on the couch cushions and Caroline carefully climbed off him. She felt a strong sense of worry, anger and frustration coming from behind the door and Murphy sat up. He got up as he walked to his wife and slid his arms around her waist.
"What's wrong?" Murphy whispered.
"Not sure," she whispered and Murphy moved away from her. He had blocked the bond he shared with Connor so Connor wouldn't sense what he was feeling and Murphy slid his right hand down to the knife on his belt.
"Caroline?" came from behind the door and she walked to the door. She looked through the peephole. She opened the door as Daryl looked at her and he lightly took hold of her shoulders.
"What took you so long?" Daryl asked then he looked at Murphy. Smiling when he saw Murphy was only wearing his pants, Daryl shook his head and Caroline lightly tapped Daryl's chest.
"Stop," she said in a soft voice and she smiled at Judith and RJ. She stood back so they could enter and Daryl watched Murphy putting on his shirt.
"Sorry," Daryl said.
"At least you knock. Connor woulda jus' walked in," Murphy said while buttoning his shirt as he walked to Caroline then he slid his arms around her. Daryl noticed Caroline was blushing and Caroline looked at RJ and Judith.
"Did you enjoy yer visit with yer dad?" Caroline asked Judith and RJ.
"Not really. The CRM showed up," Judith said and Caroline looked at Daryl.
"No one was hurt," Daryl said.
"That's because Aunt Carol went to talk with them while we got Dad and Mom out through the sewer," RJ explained.
"Where are Rick and Michonne now?" Murphy asked.
"They're talkin' with Ezekiel, Maggie, Aaron and Cyndi about if they can stay or not," Daryl said.
"Do you think they'll let 'em stay?" Caroline asked.
"Dunno," Daryl said with a shrug of his shoulders. Caroline and Daryl saw the hurt and pain in Judith and RJ's eyes and Daryl lowered his head.
"I gotta go back," Daryl said and he headed for the door. Turning to look back at Judith and RJ, he sighed, opened the door and left the room. Caroline walked to her as she held Judith and Judith felt tears rolling down her cheeks.
Ezekiel's office
The door opened as Daryl walked in the room and he saw Mercer standing near the window. Rick and Michonne were standing in front of the desk and Ezekiel leaned against the edge of the desk. Aaron, Cyndi and Maggie stood near the left side of the desk and Jeffrey was standing next to Carol, who was standing next to the right side of the desk.
"Are Judith and RJ alright?" Rick asked.
"No," Daryl said with a shake of his head as he walked to stand next to Carol. He saw the sadness in Rick's eyes and Michonne arched an eyebrow.
"Shall we continue?" Ezekiel asked and Rick nodded. Rick had told them what had happened after the bridge explosion and Daryl noticed the doubting looks on Ezekiel's face.
"Why did the CRM come to Alexandria?" Mercer asked as he turned to face them.
"They were looking for me," Rick said.
"Why?"
Rick and Michonne took turns explaining as Daryl glanced over at Carol then he crossed his arms over his chest.
"You thought it was a good idea to bring him to Alexandria?" Mercer asked as he glared at Michonne.
"I wasn't even sure where we were. That's when I saw Aaron on the catwalk. I asked him to let us in," Michonne said.
"Why did you let them in?" Mercer asked as he glared at Aaron.
"They were old friends and they used to live there," Aaron said.
"Did you send people out to make sure they hadn't been followed?"
"Yeah. I did. That is why I placed Alexandria on lockdown."
"Why did you want me to send the old group to Alexandria?" Ezekiel asked.
"I needed all the help I could get if it came down to fighting the CRM," Rick said.
"What about your kids?"
"I wanted my kids to know that I was alive."
Daryl and Carol saw the suspicious look on Mercer's face as the muscles in Mercer's jaw twitched and Mercer snorted a breath of air.
"Are you sure that's the reason you wanted them and your old group there?" Mercer asked. "You could have been setting a trap."
"Why would I want to do that!?" Rick asked. Daryl noticed the dark look in Rick's eyes. He had seen it numerous times and he knew Rick would explode if pushed too far.
"You work for the CRM."
"I am not!"
"Prove it."
"This is getting us nowhere. Let's go," Michonne said as she and Rick headed for the door.
"You can't take Judith and RJ with you," Ezekiel said and she spun around to glare at him.
"You can't be serious!"
"We're very serious. They are citizens of the Commonwealth and are under our protection," Mercer said.
Daryl noticed Michonne's fingers were moving in and out and he glanced at Rick.
"Show 'em the note," Daryl said.
"What note?" Mercer asked. He watched Rick carefully slip his right hand into the pocket of his jeans and Rick felt the intensity in Mercer's eyes. He walked to Mercer when he handed Mercer the piece of paper and Mercer looked at the piece of paper like it was going to explode. Mercer cautiously took the piece of paper from him as Mercer opened the piece of paper and he looked at the handwriting. "Who wrote this?"
"Jadis," Rick said and Ezekiel frowned.
Mercer looked at the note when he read what she wrote about Michonne and he frowned.
"Let me see," Carol said and he handed her the note. Carol read the note then passed the note to Aaron and his eyes widened when he read about Michonne. He handed the note to Cyndie as she read the note then handed the note to Maggie. Maggie's mouth dropped open when she read about Michonne and she handed the note to Jeffrey. He read the note then handed the note to Ezekiel. Ezekiel read the note as he glanced at Rick from time-to-time and Rick lowered his head.
"Is this legit?" Ezekiel asked.
"It's her handwriting," Rick said.
"Do you believe her?"
"No. But she wouldn't have done this if she thought she wouldn't get away with it."
"And if she doesn't get away with it? They'll return with more people and won't stop until they find and recapture you," Mercer said.
"Which is why we need to leave," Michonne said.
"And go where?" Carol asked.
"I don't know."
Daryl saw the sad look on Carol's face as he slid his right hand over her left hand and she wrapped their fingers together.
"Do you now understand why we cannot allow you to take Judith and RJ?" Ezekiel asked. "They have a home here. They go to school here. They have friends here. They have plenty of food and clean water. They wouldn't have any of that out there."
"What about Pamela Milton?" Michonne asked. "Judith told me about her. She reminds me of the Governor."
"Michonne," Rick whispered.
"We thought the Governor was gone for good. He ended up destroying the prison and killed a lot of our people," she continued as she looked at Maggie and the memory of her father, Hershel, being beheaded moved across Maggie's mind. Maggie glared at Michonne, but Michonne ignored her.
"Pamela Milton is dead," Mercer said.
"How did she die?"
"She was assassinated before she could be tried for her crimes."
"Who killed her?"
Mercer stayed silent. Rick noticed the angry look on Michonne's face as Rick cleared his throat and lowered his head.
"Judith asked me if Michonne and I were going to leave. I didn't have time to tell her my answer because the CRM arrived," Rick said.
"What would you have told her?" Ezekiel asked.
"I would have told her we're not going anywhere."
"You would risk the lives of everyone in Alexandria to protect your own?" Mercer asked.
Daryl knew Mercer was getting on Michonne's nerves as he let go of Carol's hand and walked to Michonne. He pointed with his right thumb for Michonne to follow him as they walked toward the door and he turned her to face him.
"Calm down," Daryl said in a soft voice and she locked eyes with him.
"He is getting on my last nerve," Michonne said in a soft voice.
"Yeah. He got on my last nerve, too. But he's got to think about what's good for everyone here."
"Rick said you've changed. The Daryl I used to know would have told him to fuck off."
"You're right. Did you see the note? Jadis said she told her boss that Rick, you and Judith are dead."
"Yeah. I did see it. She wrote that I killed Judith then killed myself."
"She also said the three of you were burned and yer ashes went into the wind."
"That doesn't mean shit if he thinks we're a threat. And they think it, too," Michonne said as she looked at Mercer, Ezekiel, Carol, Maggie, Arron and Cyndie.
"Then stop actin' like a threat."
Michonne thought for a few seconds after she saw the truth in Daryl's eyes. They walked back to Carol while Michonne looked at Ezekiel then she looked at Aaron, Mercer, Maggie and Cyndie.
"Are you going to let us stay?" Rick asked.
"What do you think?" Ezekiel asked as he looked at Aaron, Maggie and Cyndie.
"I don't have a problem with them staying," Cyndi said.
"Neither do I," Aaron said.
"They can stay," Maggie said.
Mercer stayed silent.
"What about you?" Michonne asked Ezekiel.
"Looks like you're staying," Ezekiel said with a grin.
"Thanks," Rick said.
"The next thing we'll have to is decide where you're going to stay."
"I thought we would be staying at Alexandria."
"That's up to Aaron," he said as he looked at Aaron.
"I don't see having them stay to be a problem. Just need to figure out where they'll live," Aaron said.
"There would have to be some rules," Mercer said.
"What sort of rules?" Michonne asked with a small growl.
"You would have to limit the number of people who see you."
"Why?"
"You wouldn't know for sure if any traders or strangers are working for the CRM. You would also need guards if you are going outside the gates."
"What about our kids? Would we be able to see them?"
"Only if accompanied by a guard or by Daryl or by Carol. We don't know if the CRM know what they look like."
"Judith was a toddler and RJ wasn't born yet," Rick said.
"He's right," Michonne said.
"You would not be able to use the radio. We wouldn't want anyone recognizing your voices. And you are not to be mentioned in any radio messages."
"What if Alexandria needs help and we're the only ones who made it to the radio room?" Rick asked. Mercer didn't answer. Rick sighed and Michonne glared at him.
"Would the same rules apply if we sent them to Oceanside or Hilltop?" Maggie asked.
"Yes," Mercer said.
"Sounds like you're puttin' them in a damn prison," Daryl grumbled.
Daryl crossed his arms over his chest when he could just feel something at the back of his head and he closed his eyes. He grinded the bottom of his hands into his eyes as he tried to clear his head then he lowered his hands. A sense of panic, worry and concern from his sister moved through his mind and he lowered his hands.
"Daryl, are you ok?" Ezekiel asked. Daryl had told him about the bond he shared with Caroline and Daryl glanced at them.
"I need to go," Daryl said. They watched him quickly head for the door as he opened the door, turned and Carol half-ran to him.
"What's wrong?" Carol whispered.
"Not sure. Felt Caroline in my head. She's upset about somethin'," he whispered.
"Let's go."
Carol looked at the others as she felt Daryl take hold of her right hand and she quickly looked down at his hand.
"We'll be right back," Carol said and they headed for the outer office door.
"Wonder what that's all about," Jeffrey said.
"Whatever it is. It's not good," Ezekiel said as he looked at Rick and Michonne and Rick saw the anger on Ezekiel's face.
Daryl's old apartment
Caroline paced back and forth while Katherine watched her and Caroline tried hard not to scream. Connor and Katherine had brought the kids over for dinner and the kids had gone into Mark's bedroom to play one of the boardgames Murphy and Connor used to play as kids. When Caroline went to check on the kids, she found the room empty. Murphy and Connor went to find the kids after she told them the kids were missing.
"Caroline," came from behind the door as she ran to the door, unlocked the locks and opened the door. She looked at Daryl and Carol then stood back for them to go inside the apartment and she closed the door.
"What's going on?" he asked as she walked to him.
"Judith, RJ, Chandler, Nikki, Mark and Peter are missing," Caroline said.
"What do you mean they're missing?" Carol asked.
"Connor and Katherine brought the kids over a few minutes ago and the kids went into Mark's room to play. I noticed it was too quiet and went to check. When I opened the door, the room was empty," Caroline explained. She watched her brother walk to the bedroom as he walked inside and he scanned the room with his eyes. Caroline was behind him and he walked around the room. He looked out the window when he noticed the window was unlocked and he opened the window.
"I think I know where they went," he said as he looked out and saw the fire escape had a ladder leading up to the roof.
"Let me guess. They're on the roof," Caroline said with a sigh.
"Yep."
"We told the kids not to go up on the roof."
"Judith always went up there when she was upset."
"Yeah."
"Where are Murphy and Connor?" he asked as he turned to face her after closing the window.
"They went to look fer the kids."
On the roof
The soft chirping sound came from the birdhouses sitting on the tables as some birds flew in and out of the birdhouses and some of the birds were eating the birdseed in the bowls on the tables.
Mark and Murphy had gone up onto the roof to do some painting when Murphy had found some old birdhouses sitting on weather-worn tables. Most of the birdhouses were beyond repair and bowls of rotting birdseed and stale water were also on the table. Ezekiel had given them permission to rebuild the birdhouses as well as given them new tables and Caroline, Katherine, Connor, Peter, Chandler and Nikki helped them find fresh birdseed.
Chandler stood next to Judith as they looked out at the view and the wind moved through their hair. Connor had talked to him about how he felt about Judith since the wedding, but he still felt like he shouldn't tell her.
"Neither of you are really family."
"Isn't Uncle Daryl her uncle, too?"
"No. More like a guardian."
"And her calling him that is like she's using a nickname?"
"Right."
"She likes Jamie."
"With th'way the world is? That might not last long."
"Should I wait?"
"If you wanna. Jus' don't wait too long."
"Because I might lose her."
"Yep."
"It's not fair," Judith said.
"Yeah. It's not. But at least yer parents are still alive,' Chandler said.
Judith knew about Chandler and Peter's mother being killed on a mission and their father being turned into a Walker and she barely nodded her head.
"What will you and RJ do if yer mom and dad have to leave?" he asked.
"Go with them, I guess," she said with a sigh.
They stood in silence when the door opened and Murphy and Connor walked outside.
"Told you they were up here," Murphy said.
"A gold star for you then," Connor teased and Murphy lightly shoved him. They walked to Nikki, who was holding a small cup of birdseed in her right hand. A small bird was sitting on the cup, nibbling on the birdseed. The small bird flew away as Nikki placed the small cup on the table and Murphy looked down at his daughter.
"Hey, Papa," Nikki said.
"Mind tellin' us why you're on th'roof?" Murphy asked with a stern look.
"We wanted to cheer up Judith and RJ," Peter said as he, Mark and RJ walked closer.
"By showin' them th'birdhouses?"
"Yeah."
"Why didn't any of you tell Aunt Caroline where you were goin'?" Connor asked while Mark went to stand next to Murphy.
"We forgot," Mark said.
"She's really upset."
"Told you we shoulda said something," Nikki said with an angry look on her face and she crossed her arms over her chest. Murphy tried hard not to laugh at his Little Mother Hen, he called her that when she got angry at the boys, and gave the boys a stern look.
"Let's go," Murphy said as he turned to look at Chandler and Judith. "Judith! Chandler! Come on!"
Chandler and Judith walked to them as Connor pointed to the door and they headed for the door. Murphy opened the door as they went inside and the door closed behind them. Connor led the way while Chandler walked next to him and Chandler looked at him.
"We're grounded, aren't we?" Chandler asked in a soft voice.
"Fer a month," Connor said then he lightly nudged him. "It was a nice thing you did fer 'em."
"Are we grounded, too?" Nikki asked while holding onto Murphy's right hand.
"Fer a month," Murphy said and she nodded.
"Does that include the week Mark is grounded fer eatin' the last of Aunt Carol's cookies? Mama said they were mine."
"Yep."
They headed for the fire exit door as Connor opened the door and they headed down the hallway.
Daryl's old apartment
They walked out of the bedroom as the door to the apartment opened and Connor and Murphy led Chandler, Peter, Mark, Nikki, RJ and Judith into the apartment. Nikki ran to Caroline as she hugged Caroline then looked up at her.
"Were they on the roof?" Caroline said as she looked at Murphy and she lightly carded the back of Nikki's head.
"Yep," Murphy said as he and Mark walked to her and Mark saw the angry look in his mother's eyes. Judith sighed while Daryl knelt down on his haunches then he looked at her then at RJ.
"Ezekiel, Aaron, Maggie and Cyndie are gonna let yer mom and dad stay," Daryl said.
"Are they going to stay here?" RJ asked.
"No. Aaron's gonna let 'em stay at Alexandria."
"Are we going to have to move there?"
"Only if you wanna."
Daryl waited for their answer as he sat on the floor due to the pain in his knees and he placed his wrists on his knees.
"Hey," Caroline whispered to Chandler, Nikki, Mark and Peter and she pointed toward the kitchenette. They followed her then stopped near the sink and she turned to look at them. The guilty look on their faces hurt as she sighed and placed her hands on her hips. "Wanna tell me why you went up on the roof?"
"Judith was upset about their mom and dad being railroaded outta town," Chandler said, softly.
"No one was railroadin' them outta town."
"They weren't gonna let 'em stay," Peter said, softly.
"We didn't know that."
"Yeah," Mark said, softly.
"We tried to figure out how to cheer 'em up. That's when Chandler said he knew somethin' that would cheer 'em up and we went up to the roof," Nikki said, softly.
"And what did you want to show 'em?" Caroline asked as she looked at Chandler.
"Was gonna show 'em Uncle Murphy and Mark's bird houses," Chandler said with a small grin.
"Why didn't one of you come out and tell me?" Caroline asked, giving them a hard look.
"We forgot," Peter said.
"Dad said we're grounded for a month," Chandler said.
"Papa said the same thing," Nikki said.
Caroline nodded then she looked at Daryl. She could sense his feelings of sadness and worry and she softly sighed.
"Well?" Daryl asked as he looked at Judith and RJ.
"We want to go talk with Mom and Dad," Judith said.
"Can we have dinner first? I'm hungry," RJ said and Daryl smiled. With a small grunt and tiny popping sounds coming from his knees, Daryl stood and Judith hugged his right side.
Ezekiel's office
The door opened as Daryl led Carol, Judith and RJ in the room and Rick saw the sadness in RJ and Judith's eyes. Daryl closed the door as Carol led them to the desk and Ezekiel looked at the kids.
"What happened?" Ezekiel asked while he looked at Judith and RJ.
"I needed to check on 'em," Daryl said.
"Why?"
"Felt like somethin' was wrong. Turns out they took off."
"Where did they go?" Rick asked.
"The roof of my old apartment buildin'."
"Why would they go on the roof?" Michonne asked with a slightly stunned look.
"I used to go up there sometimes," Judith said with a small shrug.
"Am I the reason you went on the roof?" Rick asked.
"Yeah. You and Mom. I didn't want you to leave."
"We decided they can stay," Ezekiel said.
"That's what Uncle Daryl told us," RJ said.
"But they're not going to be able to stay here. They have to go live in Alexandria," Judith said.
"It would be safer if they lived there," Mercer said and Daryl glared at him.
"For them or for you?!"
Mercer knew she didn't mean to snap at him as he kept his face blank and placed his hands behind his back.
"Like I said…," she said as she looked at Rick and Michonne. "RJ and I love both of you. But always wondering if either of you are going to leave hurts. I want…. We want our whole family in one place. I'm not talking about just the two of you, RJ and me, but Uncle Daryl, Aunt Carol, Uncle Murphy, Aunt Caroline, Uncle Connor, Aunt Katherine, Chandler, Peter, Mark, Nikki and Dog."
Ezekiel thought for a few seconds when he pushed off the edge of the desk, started pacing then he stopped to look at the framed map sitting over the file cabinets. He studied the map for a few seconds then he grinned, turned and looked at them.
"I think I've got an idea," he said and they gave him a confused look.