The jeeps came to a stop at the gate to the house located not far from the school and Ezekiel looked at the house. The house was made of a red brick with white brick trim, gray shingles on the roof with sharpened iron spikes embedded between the shingles and sharpened iron rods were embedded in the white brick trim. Barbed wire was wrapped around the chimneys on either side of the roof. Metal bars were in front of the upstairs and downstairs windows and white shutters were on either side of the windows. A half-circle staircase led up to the front doors and a metal plate covered the front door. A red brick circular drive was in front of the house and a large oak tree was in the center of the red brick circular drive. A large, cement wall surrounded the grounds and a cement path led up to the red brick circular drive. Sharpened, iron spikes were on the top of the walls and barbed wire was laced between the spikes.

"Where are we?" Rick asked after they had gotten out of the jeeps.

"This used to be the Governor's mansion," Mercer said as he walked to stand next to Ezekiel. "When the Estates were built, Milton moved everyone to the new mansion."

"Has anyone been in there since the move?" Carol asked.

"Yes. Milton wanted the mansion kept in pristine condition in case they had to return to town."

"Has the house been checked for traps or listening devices?" Chandler asked and Mercer gave him a puzzled look.

"No."

"Shall we go in?" Ezekiel asked as he walked to the gate and he looked at the keypad near the gate. He was surprised to see the keypad still had power and he turned to look at Mercer. "Do you know the code?"

"No. I don't," Mercer said.

"Hold on," Mark said, walking to Ezekiel. Mark removed a small, black box from his jacket pocket and he placed the small, black box near the keypad. Ezekiel watched Mark pushing the buttons on the keypad when the green light appeared on the keypad and the gate made a low clicking sound.

"Thank you," Ezekiel said with a smile. He pushed on the gate as the gate opened and they walked by the gate.

"Whoa," Caroline whispered while looking at the slightly overgrown lawn, the overgrown hedges and bushes and there were dead flowers in the flowerbeds.

"Guess we're going to have to do some gardening," Carol said and Caroline nodded.

Ezekiel showed them the grounds as they walked to the back of the house and they saw the empty pool, storage sheds, dirty lawn furniture and the shaded area with a rusted barbeque.

"We're gonna have t'get rid of that pool," Connor said.

"Or we could use it as a Walker trap," Rick said.

"No. Wouldn't want the kids fallin' into it," Daryl said.

"What is in the sheds?" Katherine asked as she looked at Ezekiel.

"Mostly gardening equipment," Ezekiel said as they headed for the storage sheds.

"Does anyone have the keys?"

"I am afraid those were destroyed in the fires when the Estates was destroyed," Mercer said.

"That's convenient," Murphy whispered and Connor nodded.

"How many bedrooms are there?" Carol said after she turned and looked at the house.

"There are eleven bedrooms. Each has their own bathrooms," Ezekiel said.

Carol looked at everyone when she did a quick headcount and she barely smiled.

"Does the house have its own power supply, running water and heating system?" Katherine asked.

"Yes. The generator, furnace and water pump are located in the basement," Mercer said.

"Where is the garage?" Daryl asked.

"It's this way," Ezekiel said as they walked down the path to the cement building. Metal bars covered the windows and a metal plate covered the door. A keypad was near the door and Mark walked to the keypad. He used the small, black box to get the password then he walked to Murphy.

"Looks like the house has fireplaces," Jeffrey said as he looked at the chimney.

"There are two. One in the living room and one in the kitchen," Mercer said.

Ezekiel watched Rick as Rick did a perimeter walk around the grounds while Rick looked at the house, the walls and the gate then he walked back to Ezekiel.

"Well? What do you say?" Ezekiel asked.

Rick stayed silent as he placed his hands on his hips and he looked at Michonne, Judith, RJ and the others.

A year later

Rick adjusted the strap of the rifle on his hack as he walked by the walls and he looked up at the barbed wires wrapped around the sharpened, iron spikes. He headed for the gate as he checked the keypad near the gate and LOCKED shined in the darkness in red lettering. He started walking down the paved drive as he walked to the large oak tree and he looked up at the leaves. The leaves barely moved in the breeze and Rick looked down at the cement slabs around the tree. He could just see the initials written in the cement and he smiled.

"Why do we have to do this?"

"It shows who lived here."

"Oh."

Rick headed down the paved drive as he walked around the left side of the house and he looked up at the roof. They had removed the fireplaces and the chimneys and Rick remembered the shock look on the kids' faces when they found the bodies of dead birds in one of the chimneys.

"They must have gotten stuck in there."

"Can we bury them?"

Rick turned to look at the small, wooden crosses which marked where they had buried the birds and small stones encircled the graves. He walked to the back of the house as he looked at the cemented over area where the pool used to be, the new storage sheds, new lawn furniture and a small fire pit was at the center of the shaded area. There was also a doghouse for Dog when he wanted to stay outside and Connor and Murphy had built a play fort for the kids. It had a rope swing, a place to sit and read comic books in the hammock, a slide, wooden steps and an underground hiding place in case of Walker attacked.

Rick sat on the picnic bench as he placed the rifle on the picnic table and he looked up at the night sky. He watched the stars twinkling in the darkness as his mind drifted off and he sighed.

Alexandria – a year ago

Ezekiel had thrown a party at the City Hall to welcome Michonne and Rick home and Rick was surprised with how many new people there were as well as how many people they had lost.

He had met Lydia and he saw the fear in her eyes. Maggie told her she had told Rick about Alpha and Beta and Rick assured Lydia that he didn't blame her for her mother's actions.

Carol and Daryl had taught Michonne and Rick some sign language so they could talk with Connie and Connie was very understanding about them not wanting to do an interview.

"Guess you're surprised to see me outta my cage," Negan said while walking toward him and Negan was holding his son in his arms.

"Yeah," Rick said with a nod. Maggie, Carol and Daryl had explained about Negan's help in taking out Alpha and Beta and Rick glanced over at Judith. "Thanks."

"For what?"

"For saving Judith when she got lost in that blizzard."

"You're welcome."

"Did anyone tell you about what happened to me?"

"Daryl did."

"Would you…? Would you have gone with him if he had found out I was still alive?"

"Don't think he woulda let me. Might have gone off on my own."

"Why?"

"Truth? I would have done it for Judith. She just lost her brother. Damn sure wasn't gonna let her lose her dad, too. Or her mom."

"Yeah," Rick said as he looked at Michonne talking with Daryl and Carol. "Did you know? About Carol and Daryl, I mean."

"Hell yeah. Had to be blind not to see it."

"Or, like Daryl, things just kept getting in the way," Rick said and Rick looked at Negan's son. "He looks like you."

"Nah. He looks like his mama," Negan said with a smile. "You want to hold him?"

Rick felt nervous as he reached out for Carl then held the little boy against his chest.

"Carol said you named him after Carl," Rick said.

"Yeah. Wanted to honor him. Carl Joshua Smith."

"Your last name is Smith?"

"Yep."

Rick smiled as Carl reached up and lightly pulled on Rick's right earlobe.

"Sorry. He does that," Negan said.

"That's ok," Rick said as he smiled at Carl.

"Still getting used to it. The whole dad thing."

"It's not easy."

"Tell me about it," Negan said with a small laugh. "Mind giving me some pointers?"

Rick gave Negan a slightly stunned look then smiled. Rick moved Carl up and down when Carl became fussy and Negan sighed.

"Guess I better go find his mama," Negan said as he took Carl from Rick and Rick felt an empty place in his chest. Rick watched her walk away when Caroline walked to him and he saw the large envelops in her hands.

"What's in there?" Rick asked as he pointed to the large envelopes.

"Proof," Caroline said.

"Proof of what?"

"That I'm Daryl's sister."

"Caroline…. I told you I didn't need any proof."

"I know. Just feel better if you'd look at it."

Rick softly laughed as they went to sit on one of the couches and she showed him the proof. He promised not to use her or Daryl's middle names and was surprised when she told him about Murphy and Connor.

At the house, Rick got up then walked to the right side of the house, walked to the front of the house and he headed for the half-circle staircase. He walked up the stairs when he opened the door and went inside the house. He closed the door when he pushed the buttons on the keypad near the door and the soft sound of the metal plate sliding down in front of the front door came from behind the front door.

"Hey," made him turn to see Murphy, Jeffrey, Daryl and Connor walking down the hallway and Rick smiled.

"All clear?" Rick asked.

"All clear," Jeffrey said.

"Did you check the basement and the attic and lock the back door?"

"Yeah," Daryl said with a nod.

"Then let's go."

They headed for the staircase while Rick flicked the switch and the lights on the second floor clicked on. Daryl flicked the switch to turn off the downstairs lights and they walked up the stairs.

The second floor had six bedrooms with their own bedrooms, a storage closest, a linen closet, a staircase which led down to the kitchen and a playroom. A red carpet ran down the center of the hallway and Rick looked at the furniture, paintings on the walls and the lights embedded in the ceiling.

Daryl watched Rick walking to the door to the bedroom on the left and Rick looked at the wooden nameplate on the door. Judith's Room was burned into the wood and a katana was burned under her name. Rick opened the door enough to look in the room and he could just see her sleeping on the bed. He closed the door when he walked across the hall and looked at the door leading to RJ's bedroom. RJ's Room was burned on the wooden nameplate on the door and a sheriff's hat and badge was burned under his name. Rick opened the door enough to see RJ sleeping on the bed and Rick closed the door.

"They're asleep," Rick whispered then he walked to the staircase which led up to the top floor. They watched him and Jeffrey head up the stairs then Connor walked to the door to the bedroom next to Judith's bedroom. Chandler's Room was burned in the wooden nameplate on the door and a rifle and a truck was burned under his name. Connor opened the door enough to see Chandler sleeping on the bed and Connor closed the door. He walked to the door to the bedroom next to Chandler's bedroom and he looked at the wooden nameplate on the door. Peter's Room was burned into the nameplate and sticks of TNT were burned under his name. Connor opened the door enough to see Peter sleeping on the bed and Connor closed the door.

"They're asleep," Connor said and he headed for the staircase. They watched him go upstairs then Murphy walked to the door to the bedroom next to RJ's bedroom and Murphy looked at the wooden nameplate. Mark's Room was burned into the wood and a computer and an easel was burned under his name. Murphy opened the door enough to see Mark sleeping on the bed and Murphy closed the door. He walked to the door to the bedroom next to Mark's bedroom and Murphy looked at the wooden nameplate. Nikki's Room was burned into the wood and cat faces were burned under her name. He opened the door enough to see her sleeping on the bed and Ebony was sitting on the night table. He closed the door when he walked to Daryl and Murphy sighed.

"They're asleep," Murphy said.

"What's wrong?" Daryl asked.

"Jus' miss seein' Nikki holdin' onto Ebony when she sleeps."

They headed for the stairs then they walked upstairs and Daryl lightly patted Murphy's right shoulder. Daryl flicked the switch to turn the light off and Murphy saw the concerned look in Connor's eyes after they got to the top of the stairs.

"Jus' sad about Nikki not holdin' Ebony when she sleeps," Murphy whispered and Connor nodded.

Rick glanced at them then he looked at the wooden nameplate to the door to his bedroom. Rick and Michonne's Room had been burned into the wood. A Colt Python and a katana was burned under their names and Rick lightly moved his fingers over the wooden nameplate. He opened the door as he walked in the room and closed the door behind him.

"All clear?" made him turn and he could barely see Michonne sitting up on the bed.

"All clear," he said with a smile. She watched Rick strip down to his underpants as he headed for the bed then he slid under the bedding. He settled on his back as she moved the bedding up then she placed her head against his right shoulder. She was angry with Ezekiel still not allowing them to go into town, but she was glad he allowed Rick to see one of the psychiatrists at the house. Rick even agreed he felt better.

"Why do you still do a perimeter check?" Michonne asked.

"Old habits," he said with a smile.

"Are the kids asleep?"

"Yeah," he said with a yawn and she watched his eyes close. She watched him drift off to sleep then she closed her eyes and placed the palm of her right hand on his chest.

In the hallway, Jeffrey headed for the door to his bedroom and he smiled at the wooden nameplate on the door. Jeffrey's Room was burned on the wood and a panda bear face was burned under his name. He softly laughed as he opened the door, went in the room and closed the door behind him.

Connor walked to the door to his bedroom when he looked at the wooden nameplate and smiled. Connor and Katherine's Room had been burned into the wood and a coil of rope and a stethoscope was burned under their names. He opened the door when he walked inside and he closed the door behind him. He stripped down to his underpants when he walked to the bed and moved the bedding back. He went onto his back when he moved the bedding up, turned onto his right side and slid his left arm around Katherine's waist.

"All clear?" she asked with a sleepy tone.

"All clear," he said with a yawn.

"Did you check in on the boys?"

"Sound asleep."

"Did Chandler tell you he found his first chin hairs?"

"Yeah. Gonna teach him how t'shave in th'mornin'."

"He said he wants to keep them for a while."

"Ok."

"Who taught you how to shave?"

"Ma."

"Really?!"

Connor snorted a laugh as he shook his head and she lightly pushed on his left shoulder. He lightly kissed her lips then they closed their eyes and he placed his head against her head.

In the hallway, Murph headed down the hallway when he stopped at the door to his bedroom and he looked at the wooden nameplate. He remembered Caroline showing him the wooden nameplate Thomas had made for her and Murphy had a small stand made for her to display the nameplate. Murphy and Caroline's Room had been burned into the wood and a crossbow and a pair of guns were burned under their names. He lightly moved his fingers over the wooden nameplate when he opened the door, went in the room and closed the door behind him. He stripped down to his underpants when he looked at the bed and he frowned.

"It's me," he said in a soft voice and could just see a flash of light from the blade of the knife. He walked to the bed when he carefully removed the knife from Caroline's right hand and placed the knife back on the night table. He hated the fact she still kept a knife near the bed, but he also knew she felt safe with having a weapon nearby.

"Sorry," she said in a soft voice. She watched him get under the bedding as he went into his back and she snuggled closer. She placed her head against his chest and he wrapped his arms around her. "All clear?"

"All clear," his voice rumbled in her ear and she smiled.

"Did you check on the kids?"

"Yep. They're asleep."

"And that makes you sad?"

"How do you know I'm sad?"

"You made this deep sigh. You do that when you're either really tired or sad."

"Guess I am a little sad. Nikki doesn't snuggle with Ebony at night anymore."

"I noticed that."

"Why can't they stay little forever?"

"Dunno."

"Um….," he said and his voice hummed in her ear. "I was thinkin'…"

"That's not good," she teased then softly yelped when he tickled her side.

"I was thinkin' about you and me. Are we still in our romantic movie or has it changed into one of those tv comedies about friends movin' in together and weird shit happens?"

"I think we're in one of those tv comedies about a family who moves in together to raise the kids and weird shit happens."

"I think I know which one you're talkin' about. Didn't they have a friend who lived in th'basement and th'uncle rode a motorcycle?"

"Yeah."

"Hmmm."

Murphy sighed as he closed his eyes and she listened to his breathing evening out. She looked toward the door when she felt worry coming from her twin and she moved slightly on the bed.

"Where're you goin'?" he asked in a sleepy tone.

"Daryl's worried about somethin'," she said and he smiled.

"He usually is."

Caroline lightly poked him in the chest then she closed her eyes and sent calming thoughts to her brother. She heard Murphy humming the song he used to calm her down and Caroline yawned. She drifted off to sleep as Murphy lightly rubbed her back then he closed his eyes.

In the hallway, Daryl stood in the hallway as he looked at the red carpeting running down the middle of the hallway. The five bedrooms had their own bedrooms and there was a storage closet, a linen closet, a staircase which led down to the kitchen and a door which led up to the attic. He looked at the furniture, paintings on the walls and the lights embedded in the ceiling then he felt the calming thoughts coming from his sister.

Smiling, Daryl walked down the hallway when he stopped in front of the master bedroom door and he looked at the wooden nameplate.

"No."

"Daryl…"

"It ain't right. You and Michonne should have it."

"But I'm not the head of the family anymore. You are."

"Didn't ask to be."

"You didn't ask to be the leader either. But you stepped up and kept everyone safe."

"Not everyone."

"Yeah. What I am trying to say is I knew from the start that you were a good person. A true leader. You just needed a chance to prove it to yourself."

"By havin' you fuck off and leavin' me to do all this shit."

"Yeah. Want to know something?"

"What?"

"I am damn proud of you."

"I'm damn proud of me, too," Daryl grumbled and he moved his fingers over the wooden nameplate. Daryl and Carol's Room had been burned into the wood and a crossbow, a bow and a motorcycle was burned under their names. He opened the door when Dog looked out at him and Daryl motioned for Dog to move back. The dog moved away from the door as Daryl flicked the switch to turn off the lights, walked in the room and he closed the door behind him. He watched Dog head for the dog bed Daryl had found in a pet store and the dog got in bed, spun around in a circle then settled down on the bed.

"All clear?" Carol asked and he looked toward the bed.

"All clear," Daryl said. She watched him strip down to his pants as he slid under the bedding and settled onto his back. She moved the bedding up then placed her head against his chest and Daryl wrapped his arms around her. Carol moved her fingers along his right side as he shivered and she smiled at him. "That feels so good."

They became quiet as Daryl looked at the ceiling and Carol moved her fingers over his chest.

"What's wrong?" she asked and he frowned.

"What makes you think there's somthin' wrong?" he asked.

"I have been around you long enough to know when something in bothering you. What's wrong?"

"Like I told Caroline… I learned blood isn't the only thing that makes someone family."

"You mean blood ties?"

"Yeah. See... Rick. Jeffrey. Abe. T-Dog. Glenn. Connor. Murphy. Eugene. Ezekiel. Aaron. Hell. Even Negan. They became my brothers. Maggie. Beth. Katherine. Connie. Kelly. Michonne. They became my sisters. Dale. Hershel. Maggie's dad. They became my dad. Patricia. She became my mom. Hershel. Chandler. Peter. Mark. Nikki. Little Carl. They became like my niece and nephews. Judith. RJ. Carl. Henry. Sophia."

"They became your kids?"

"Yeah."

"Sophia always wanted you to be her dad," she said and he made a deep sigh.

"That's why losing her hurt me as much as it hurt you. Felt like I failed her."

"You didn't."

"Then there's you," he said and she heard the love in his voice. "Don't think I could have a family without you in it."

She felt the tears in her eyes as he kissed the top of her head and she lightly stroked his chest.

"I don't think I could see having a family without you in it either," she said.

"Then you get why it was so hard for me to feel that I have a happy endin'?"

"Yeah. I get it. But it's been a year. Ok. We have had some problems with Walkers and those scavengers who tried to take over Hilltop."

"Nearly lost Maggie, Negan, Anne, Carl and Hershel."

"But we didn't."

"Yeah."

Daryl yawned as he slid his left hand under his head and he half-closed his eyes. Carol felt his body relaxing as she looked at him and she smiled.

"And they lived happily ever after," she said and he opened his eyes.

"What the hell does that mean?" he asked.

"That is what is written at the end of a fairy tale after they get their happy ending."

"Oh."

Daryl moved on the bed as she rolled off of him and he carefully crawled on top of her. She felt him slide his hands under her shoulders as he lightly kissed her lips then he looked down at her.

"Wanna screw around?" she teased and he softly laughed.

"Hell yeah," he said.

"Are you gonna take your damn time."

"Got no reason to rush."

"And you do have a happy ending."

"So do you."

"About damn time."

He softly laughed as he nodded and she kissed his lips.

"Love you, Pookie," she said.

"Love you, too, Muffin," he said.

Dog had been watching them when the dog placed its head on its paws, closed its eyes and the dog's tail wagged back and forth.