The moonlight shimmered on the water while Daryl stood at the railing and he looked out at the darkness. He heard the door opening and footsteps when Negan appeared next to him and Negan looked out at the darkness.

"Damn. Can't believe Wild Thing's getting married," Negan said, but Daryl didn't look at him. Sighing, Negan turned to lean against the railing and he shook his head. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"What're you talkin' about?" Daryl asked.

"I am talking about you and Carol."

"What about us?"

"When are you two going to finally admit you love each other?"

"Done that."

"Then what the hell are you waiting for?! Ask her to marry her already!"

"Not yet."

"What does that mean?!"

"It means you need to mind yer own damn business."

Daryl stormed off as Negan watched him head for the door which led below deck and Negan smiled, shaking his head.

Oceanside

The gangplank came down after the Blue Dolphin docked and Mike stood at the railing. Carol, Negan, Maggie, Mercer and Hornsby walked on deck as Carol walked to Mike and he turned to look at her.

"Thank you for helping us find our friends," Carol said.

"Does this mean you're going to drop the charges?" Mike said.

"I'm afraid not. But I will be talking with the Governor," Mercer said after walking closer and Mike nodded.

Daryl, Caroline, Murphy, Katherine, Connor and Hornsby came on deck while they carried the boxes, plastic containers and the suitcases and Dog and the kids followed them.

"Is this where you live?" Katherine asked while looking at the buildings.

"No. This is Oceanside," Daryl explained.

"Ready to go?" Carol called out and Daryl nodded.

"Got any idea where we can put these?" Murphy asked after they walked to her and she looked at the boxes, plastic containers and the suitcases.

"We'll bring them to the command center then requisition some trucks."

"What about these guys?" Connor asked as he looked at Mike and Dawsons.

"They will have to go back to the Commonwealth and stand trial," Mercer explained.

"Let's go," Daryl said and they headed for the gangplank. They went down the gangplank when Carla Martins walked to them and she smiled. She had been made dockmaster and she lightly bounced on the balls of her feet.

"Welcome home," Carla said.

"Thanks."

"We need to bring these to the command center," Carol said as she pointed to the plastic containers, boxes and the suitcases.

"This way."

Martins led the way as they walked to the command center and the guard opened the door. The guard stood back so they could enter the building and Martins pointed to a long table for them to place the boxes, plastic containers and the suitcases.

"Did you receive my message?" Mercer asked.

"Yes. Guards were put in place the moment you left the ship," Carla said and Mike and Dawsons frowned. "They will place the crew in the holding cells until you are ready to leave."

"Thank you."

"I need to contact the Governor," Carol said.

"I will have someone take you to the radio center," she said then looked at Jeffrey, Connor, Murphy, Katherine and the children. "Hello. Who are you?"

"These are our friends. They will be going back to the Commonwealth with us."

"Has Doctor Lang seen them?"

"Doctor Lang?" Katherine asked.

"He is Oceanside's resident doctor."

"And you won't let strangers interact with others until they are examined and checked for bites and scratches."

"Yes. How did you know?"

"That was what we used to do back where we came from."

"We also need some trucks," Daryl said and Martins looked at him.

"I'm sure we can do that," Carla said.

"I'll take 'em to the clinic. You go talk to Ezekiel," he said to Carol and Carol nodded.

"I'll go make sure they placed the crew in the holding cells," Mercer said and he, Mike and Dawsons left the building.

"Hornsby and I'll stay here and look after that," Negan said as he pointed to the boxes, plastic containers and suitcases and Hornsby sighed, rolling his eyes.

"I'll go with you, Carol. Gotta check-in with Hilltop," Maggie said and she, Carol and Dog left the building.

"Come on. I know where the clinic is," Caroline said as she, Daryl, Jeffrey, Murphy, Connor, Katherine and the kids headed out of the building and Murphy lifted Nikki into his arms. They went up the stairs to the clinic a few seconds later as she opened the door to the clinic and they walked inside.

"Hello," Doctor Kyle Lang said while walking to them and he looked at Caroline. "Who're your friends?"

"These are new residents. We're taking them to the Commonwealth," Caroline said.

"Where are they from?"

"Paris, France and Barcelona, Spain."

She noticed the suspicious look on his face as she glared at him and Doctor Lang cleared his throat.

"He's not gonna give us shots, is he?" Nikki asked and Murphy saw the worry and fear in her eyes.

"No, Sweetie. He's jus' gonna examine us," Murphy said with a small grin.

"Like back at your place?"

"Yep."

"Is that his little girl?" Kyle whispered to Caroline.

"Once the adoption goes through," Caroline whispered.

"Wait. Do you have a working computer?" Katherine asked as she carefully removed the plastic case from her jacket pocket.

"No. I'm afraid not. Why?" Kyle asked.

"Our medical files are on this disc," she said as she showed him the plastic case.

"Guess we'll have t'do this th'old fashion way," Connor said.

"Who wants to go first?" Kyle asked.

"I'll go first," Katherine said.

Caroline and Daryl stood to one side of the room while Doctor Lang examined Connor, Katherine, Murphy and the kids and Doctor Lang felt bad for making Nikki cry when he had to take a blood sample.

"I need to explain something," Jeffrey said while sitting on the examination table and he told Doctor Lang about removing the tracking device from his right arm.

"Let me see your arm," Kyle said and Jeffrey moved up his sleeve. Doctor Lang removed the dressing as he looked at the stiches on Jeffrey's right forearm and he nodded. "Thank you for telling me."

"Are we allowed to go?" Katherine asked.

"I need to check the blood samples. Can you stay here until tomorrow?" Kyle asked.

"You want us to stay?"

"Yes."

"But we don't wanna stay," Chandler said."

"It's just fer one night," Connor explained and Chandler sighed.

"I'll go tell Carol," Daryl said and he and Caroline left the clinic. They headed for the radio station as Daryl opened the door and Dog ran to Daryl after Daryl and Caroline walked inside. Daryl patted the dog's head as he walked to Carol and she noticed the angry look on his face. "Were you able to get in contact with Ezekiel?"

"Yes. He was glad that you and Caroline are ok," Carol said while walking to him. "What's wrong?"

"Doctor Lang wants Jeffrey, Katherine, Connor, Murphy and the kids to stay at the clinic overnight," Caroline explained.

"Why?"

"He took some blood from 'em," Daryl said.

"Katherine took blood from us when we showed up and we were able to leave the hospital."

"She's right. I did," made they turn and Katherine, Murphy, Jeffery, Connor and the kids walked in the room.

"How did you get out of the clinic?"

"Doctor Lang went back to work after giving us some beds. I opened the window, we climbed outside then we went to find you," Chandler said with a grin.

"Humph," Daryl said.

"Let's go see if they have any trucks that we can borrow then go tell Mercer we're leaving," Carol said with a grin and they headed for the garage.

The Commonwealth

Ezekiel walked down the hallway with guards on either side of him while he looked straight ahead and the muscles in his jaw twitched. They stopped at Pamela's cell as she sat on the bunk and she looked straight ahead.

"They're back," Ezekiel said.

"Who are you talking about?" Pamela asked.

"Daryl and Caroline Dixon."

"You found them?"

"Yes. We did."

"And they are alive?"

"Yes. They are."

Ezekiel saw the disappointment in her eyes as Pamela sighed and he placed his hands in front of him.

"We also learned quite a bit about you," he said.

"Such as?"

"Such as you sending people off to your "friends" with full knowledge that they will not be coming back."

"I have no idea what you are talking about."

"We also found out who A is."

He swore her eyes slightly widened and he grinned.

"We also found the staff members who visited you over the last year. Didn't take much to get them to talk. Same with the guards," he said.

"Any testimony you were able to get from them will be dismissed in court if you received it under duress," she said.

"Didn't do anything, but talk to them. Turns out loyalty to you amongst your people is very thin."

Pamela heard the truth in his words, but she kept her face blank.

"If what you say is true about my association with this so-called A, how are you going to get him to testify? He is not in this country," she said.

"You're right," he said with a cold look. "But we do have proof which links you to him."

"Any proof can be fabricated."

"Yes. But the judge isn't easily swayed."

"Who is this so-called judge?"

Ezekiel stayed silent as he walked away and Pamela got off the bed.

"Who is the judge?"

She ran to the door as she looked through the small window in the door and she watched him heading down the hallway.

"Who is the judge?!" she called out, but Ezekiel kept walking and a soft growled filled his throat.

"Yumiko," he whispered and he walked a little faster.

Oceanside

Daryl watched Mercer and the guards load Mike and the rest of the crew into a truck and other guards were searching the Blue Dolphin. Daryl crossed his arms over his chest when the air turned ice cold, the sky turned green and he heard the sounds of drums, flutes and chanting.

"You're welcome," made his sigh and lightly shake his head.

"If you had been able to stop 'em, me and Caroline wouldn't have been taken," Daryl grumbled.

"Yep," Jeb said as he appeared next to Daryl. "How is yer sister?"

"She's gettin' married."

"To who?"

"Murphy."

"Who the hell is that?" he asked and Daryl pointed to Murphy and Caroline watching Nikki tossing a ball to Dog. "Is that one of her friends?"

"Yep."

"Hunh," Jeb said then glanced at Daryl. "What about you and yer woman?"

"What about us?"

"When are you gonna asked her to marry you?"

"Not yet."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"It means not yet," he said with a growl and Jeb shook his head.

"No need to get pissed off. Just askin'."

"Hmph."

They stood in silence when Jeb crossed his arms over his chest and looked at the horizon.

"Still feel the pull of the open road?" Jeb asked.

"Yeah. But I ain't gonna go far. Not after all this," Daryl said and Jeb nodded.

"Good. It's finally time fer you to plant yer roots and let the young ones take over."

"I ain't that old."

"Never said you were."

"Still want to go look fer Rick."

"You talkin' about yer heart's brother?"

"Yeah."

"Not a good idea."

"Why?"

"Not that I do it that often. But, after all this, I got in contact with some of the others. Asked around about certain people."

"Like Rick?"

"Didn't know his name until I talked with Little Ass Kicker before she left to help bring you home."

"Still don't like the idea of you usin' her, her brother and Hershel like that."

"Yeah. I get that. Anyway… She told me about him, what happened to him, her mom, why she left and how much they mean to not only her and her brother, but to you."

"Do you know where they are?"

"No. But I did learn somethin'."

"What did you find out?"

"He's got some really powerful evil on his ass. If they get hold of him and his lady, they're good as dead."

"If he and Michonne are in danger then I gotta go help 'em."

"Not a good idea. This evil? You don't wanna mess with it. You'll only end up gettin' yerself killed."

Daryl glared at him as Jeb sighed and shook his head.

"Ok. I get it. It's what you do. But do the one thing I didn't do. Take a good hard look at what you'll lose if you do. Friends. Family. A woman who will go into the fire with you. You'll lose all of 'em."

Daryl looked at Carol, Caroline, Maggie, Negan, Mercer, Dog, Judith and RJ. He thought about everyone he lost or failed. He flexed his fingers into fists at the thought of losing everything and everyone. Then he looked over at Connor and Murphy. What Caroline told him about their lives and the life of their father filled his head and he sighed.

"Is someone lookin' after Rick and Michonne?" Daryl finally asked.

"Yeah. Not sure if I trust 'em though. Bit of an asshole," Jeb said.

"Can you do somethin'?"

"If they come into my territory, and I'm able, yeah."

"No shit?"

"No shit."

They stood in silence as the drumming, flutes and chanting started fading and the sky was returning to normal.

"Thanks," Daryl said and Jeb nodded before he vanished. Daryl slid his right hand into the pocket of his jeans as he slid his fingers around the ring and he sighed.

"Daryl," made him look at Caroline walking closer and she stood in front of him. "You good?"

"As good as I can be."

"What's goin' on?"

Daryl explained as she nodded from time-to-time and he ducked his head.

"Do you wanna go look fer 'em?" she asked.

"Yeah. But then I think about what happened with Connor and Murphy. What happened with their dad. Don't wanna lose any more people," he said. She slid her arms around his waist as she hugged him and he leaned his head against hers.

"Ain't ever gonna lose me," she said with a grin.

"You shouldn't say shit like that," he said and she looked at him.

"You're right. But doesn't mean it won't happen."

"Maybe," he said then tilted his head to one side. "Need somethin'?"

"Just wanna tell you we're ready to go."

Nodding, he moved back as they headed for the trucks and Carol saw the serious look on his face. Caroline got in the back of the truck and Daryl closed the back of the truck. He and Carol walked to the cab of the truck as they opened the door, got in the cab of the truck and closed the door. He turned the key in the ignition as he started the engine and he put the truck in gear.

"Are you going to tell me what's wrong?" Carol asked and he glanced at her.

"Yeah," he said and he told her about the talk he had with Jeb.

"Do you believe him?"

"Dunno. Got to talk with Judith once we get home."

"Sounds good, doesn't it?"

"What?"

"Going home."

"Hell yeah," he said and she lightly patted his right leg. He glanced at her then smiled and she smiled back.

Hilltop

Lydia and Elijah watched while the trucks moved by the gates and Lydia smiled.

Mercer had taken the truck with Mike, Dawsons and the crew of the Blue Dolphin and the plastic containers back to the Commonwealth and Hornsby had gone with him.

Lydia smiled and ran to him after Daryl had gotten out of the truck and he laughed while hugging her. Caroline hopped out of the back of the truck then walked around to the driver's side and Lydia ran to her. They hugged while Carol and Daryl helped Jeffrey, Katherine, Connor, Murphy, Dog and the kids get out of the truck and they led them to Lydia and Elijah.

"Who's this?" Lydia asked and Daryl made the introductions. "Welcome to Hilltop."

"Is this where you live, Mister Daryl?" Peter asked.

"Nope. It's where Maggie and Hershel live," Daryl said as Maggie and Hershel walked closer and Hershel saw the angry look on Lydia's face.

"Uh-oh," Hershel grumbled.

"Do you have any idea how worried we were?" Lydia asked as she looked at Hershel.

"Yeah. I know," he grumbled then sighed. "Sorry."

"Don't ever do it again," she said with a grin.

"Has there been any trouble while we were away?" Maggie asked.

"Had a few traders come by. Made some deals. And a small herd of Walkers showed up. They were the usual type. Eli took down three of them at once," Lydia said and Maggie swore Elijah was blushing.

"Think you two would like to go to the Commonwealth? Ezekiel is having a welcome home party for Daryl and Caroline,' Carol said.

"Sure," she said and Elijah nodded. They headed for the truck while Daryl saw Caroline walking with Murphy and he felt sadness coming from his sister.

Caroline held Murphy's hand as they headed for the graves and they stood in front of Glenn's grave. Murphy lightly squeezed her fingers then she let go of his hand and went down on her haunches.

"Hey, Glenn. Just wanna tell you Maggie and Hershel are back. He's fine. Wanted to help rescue me and Daryl after some assholes kidnapped us. He told me that's somethin' you woulda done. Oh… This is my fiancé, Murphy," she said then stood and Murphy slid his arms around her.

"You wanna tell him how we met or should I?" Murphy asked. She started talking while he held her and the wind moved through their hair.

"Caroline! Murphy! We gotta go!" Daryl called out and Murphy held her as they walked away and the wind gently blew the dry grass near the cross back and forth.

Alexandria

The gates opened while the trucks moved by the gates and Aaron, Gracie and Anne walked to the trucks after the trucks stopped. Anne was holding Carl in her arms while the back of the truck opened and Negan hopped out of the truck. He quickly walked to her as he lifted Carl out of her arms and held the baby high in the air. Carl giggled and wiggled in his hands as Negan lowered his son to his chest and kissed his wife's cheek.

"Welcome home," Anne said and he smiled.

"Yes. Welcome home," Aaron said and Daryl and Caroline nodded.

"Mister Murphy," Nikki whispered while looking at the brace on Aaron's left arm. "He's missin' his arm."

"Yeah. Miss Caroline told me he lost it in an accident. Don't stare," Murphy whispered and she nodded.

"Now….," Aaron said as he looked at Judith and RJ and arched an eyebrow. "Do you two have any idea how worried we've been?"

"Sorry," Judith said.

"Sorry," RJ said.

"Have any trouble?" Daryl asked.

"Just a small swarm of Walkers. They were easy to take down," Arron said and Daryl nodded. Aaron noticed Katherine, Jeffrey, Connor, Murphy and the kids and he frowned. "Who are they?"

"They're friends of ours," Carol said after she walked closer. "Going to take them to the Commonwealth."

"One of them says he's Rick's brother," Daryl said as he nodded his head toward Jeffrey.

"Never knew Rick had a brother," Aaron said while Jeffrey, Katherine, the kids, Connor and Murphy walked to them. "Hello."

"Hello," Katherine said as a protective feeling moved through her. "Who are you?"

"I'm Aaron. Who are you?"

"I'm Katherine. Connor. Jeffrey. Murphy. Chandler. Peter. Mark. Nikki."

"Welcome to Alexandria."

"Thank you."

"This is my wife, Anne, and my son, Carl," Negan said and Daryl noticed the sad look on Jeffrey's face.

"Hey," Anne said and Katherine and the others nodded.

"Ezekiel is having a welcome home party for Daryl and Caroline. Think they can get along without you and Gracie for a while?" Carol asked.

"Sure," Aaron said with a smile.

"That goes for you two, too," Negan said while looking at his wife and Anne smiled.

"I'll have to go get Carl's diaper bag," Anne said and Negan lightly jiggled Carl up and down. He held her right hand as they headed for their house and Anne lightly swung their hands back and forth.

"Mister Aaron, is it true that a monster came outta the ground and hurt people?" Mark asked and Aaron frowned.

"Yeah. Mister Daryl told us about this guy called Beta. He was really big," Chandler said.

"Oh. Yeah. He was," Aaron said with a nod of his head then he told them about Alpha and Beta.

"But you don't have to worry. Mister Daryl and Mister Negan got rid of him," Carol said and the kids nodded.

"We better get goin'," Daryl said after Negan, Anne and Carl returned and everyone walked to the trucks. After everyone got in the trucks and Daryl and Negan closed the back of the trucks, Daryl and Negan started the engines and the trucks headed for the gate. After the gate was open, the trucks moved down the road while a large, black bear watched from the tree line, turned and vanished.

The Commonwealth

The welcome home party for Daryl and Caroline was held in the City Hall as the sound of laughter and talking filled the room and Carol introduced Katherine, Jeffrey, Connor, Murphy and the kids to the others.

Carol was watching Connie smiling as Nikki signed to her and Connie showed Mark, Chandler and Peter how to sign.

"Um…," made Carol turn to see Daryl standing next to her and he had something cupped in his right hand.

"What's up?" Carol asked.

"Got somethin' to tell you," he said then ducked his head. She had noticed how quiet he had been during the party and he had been staring out the window most of the time.

"You're not changing your mind, are you? I mean about staying."

"No. Ain't changed my mind."

"Then what's going on?"

Caroline was standing next to Murphy when she felt a mix of emotions coming from Daryl and she looked at him. He seemed a little agitated and she wondered what was wrong.

"Daryl, you know you can tell me anything," Carol said and he nodded.

"See… What I wanna say… I don't wanna sound like an idiot," he said with a sigh.

"Then just say it."

"Not sure how you'll react."

"Daryl…."

He looked down at his right hand. The skull tattoo seemed to be giving him a smug look and Daryl felt the ring pressing against the palm of his hand. He regretting giving up the habit of chewing his cuticle as he deeply sighed then took hold of her right hand.

"What are you doing?" Carol asked as they walked to one of the chairs and she saw the others watching them. He carefully sat her down on the chair then knelt down in front of her and Carol felt a little uncomfortable.

"Carol, you know I ain't one for big speeches," he said and she smiled.

"I know."

"Then I'll just come out and say it," Daryl said as he opened his fingers and she looked at the ring sitting in the palm of his right hand. "It's one of Murphy and Connor's ma's rings. Murphy gave it to me."

"It's beautiful."

"Yeah," he said with a nod and he held the ring in the fingers of his left hand. "Marry me."

Carol looked at the ring, at Daryl, at the others then she held out her left hand. He slid the ring over her left ring finger and they were surprised to see the ring fit. He got to his feet with a small grunt and she stood up. The cheering filled the room as they kissed and Daryl placed his forehead against her forehead.

"Is that a "yes"?" he asked.

"Yeah," she said with a grin and he kissed her lips a second time. He hugged her and laughed when Negan mouthed "It's about fucking time." then gave him a thumbs up. Moving back, Daryl looked at Carol and they smiled at each other.