Thanks to everyone for reading.
Thanks to gaara king of the sand for the help.
"What do we do now…?" Carley asked Michonne from her seat in the living room.
Michonne didn't respond, but Carley noted she had a far away look in her eyes.
"Michonne. Michonne, can you hear me?" Carley asked.
"Donna!" Michonne suddenly exclaimed making Carley jump a bit at her yell.
"Who's Donna?" Paige's voice grabbed their attention as the woman entered the room.
Michonne quickly snapped out of her daze and looked a bit confused.
"You okay?" Carley asked Michonne.
"…Just thinking about someone I once knew." Michonne answered.
"It's okay, I do that too." Paige said. "John, he...he went to talk to the kids, make sure they're alright. While I watched over you two… well three." She tried to offer a kind smile to Danielle, but the girl shyly looked away. "Sorry about this. John isn't big on people he doesn't know."
"What's the rifle for?" Michonne asked noticing the gun in the corner.
"Rabbits, mostly. Possum once in a while, if we get lucky. Possum actually tastes decent, if you cook it right." Paige replied.
"How are the kids?" Carley asked.
"I don't know… Can't be good. They're brother's dead, sister's shot… I mean… fuck, right?" Paige sighed. "How's your girl doing… I'm sure she's seen some shit."
"Don't worry about her… She's okay…" Carley replied.
"If you say so…" Paige muttered. "…So, yeah, this is where I apologize for almost shooting you. Emphasis on "almost". I was just worried. About Sam. I get a bad feeling every time she leaves the house."
"Don't worry about it. Happens more often than I'd like to admit…" Michonne said.
"Way too often…" Carley agreed.
Paige looks at Alex outside through the window, and Michonne joins her.
"That patch of dirt? His mom's buried there. A year or so back, she just..." Paige paused then imitated shooting herself in the head. "She was sick. Not in the head...something with her heart."
They see John walk up to Alex and puts his hand on his shoulder.
"She couldn't handle it, I guess. I never understood that. We were safe here..." Paige said.
"Sometimes this world is...too much for people." Michonne said.
"Sometimes? You mean all the time." Paige said. "If it wasn't for Sam..."
"No, Greg... I just need more time!" Sam suddenly exclaimed, grabbing their attention. "More..."
Paige, Carley, and Michonne run into the room where Sam is resting, a sling around her arm. She is talking in her sleep. "No, no..."
"I'm here, Sam." Paige sits on the bed, and Sam jerks awake. "Hey, don't move, okay? Don't move."
Sam doesn't listen as she tries to sit up.
"Sam, no..." Paige said.
"W-We have to help him!" Sam exclaimed.
"You're too weak..." Sam tries to get up, but Paige grabs her shoulder.
"Let me up..." Sam said.
"Just stay down, Sam." Michonne said.
Sam shook her head. "I need to help him..."
"You're hallucinating, Sam." Carley told the girl
"I..." Sam trailed off.
"Greg isn't here, okay?" Michonne said.
Danielle, who has followed watches with a frown from the doorway.
"Sam..." Paige helps Sam lie back down. John walks past the room, carrying Alex.
"I know John can make a strong first impression. But he's what's keeping this entire family from being buried out there. You gotta fight like hell for what you care about, right? Something that makes all this shit worth it." Paige said.
"Yeah, fight until the day you die." Michonne said.
"I need a word with you two. In private." John spoke as he entered the room.
"Okay… Dani, stay here for a bit." Carley said to the child.
Danielle seemed nervous at the suggested. "But—"
"You'll be alright. I'll be right back." Carley said.
Danielle slowly nodded.
John goes outside, and Michonne and Carley follow him.
"I need to know… I need to know what happened." John said.
"Sam and Greg… they stole from this woman, Norma…. From their community. Sam done it before and got caught… But Norma let her go… This time they weren't so lucky… Greg's death… it wasn't supposed to happen. It was an accident…" Carley explained.
"An accident? How in the hell could it be an accident?" John asked.
"The guy wasn't trying to shoot him… But he did…" Michonne said. "We managed to escape… but they chased after us… Sam ended up getting shot on the way here…"
"We lost sight of them, but that doesn't mean they're not looking for us. It might be wise to leave this place as soon as you can." Carley said.
"This is my home. My family's home. I won't let anything force me out of here." John walks into the middle of the courtyard, followed by the two women. "Do you have children? A son? A daughter?"
"Two daughters." Michonne answered.
"The little girl inside, is she yours?" John asked Carley.
"I'm looking after her…" Carley said. "But she's not my blood."
John walked over to a grave. It is a flat hexagonal rock engraved with "Mom we love you" and has two handprints on it. "It snowed the day my wife died." He knelt down and touched the grave. "Her heart gave out. Sam found her, she...she passed in her sleep. We buried her so the boys wouldn't have to see her like that. The snow, it...it covered her grave, erased it, like she'd never been there at all."
"I'm sorry for your loss." Carley said.
"…Thanks…" John walks away from the grave. "Ever since Sophia...I've tried to keep our family from harm. But we're falling apart piece by piece. And now that Sam's hurt and Greg's... I could really use your help. You seem like people who can hold their own. It would be good for all of us. The little girl, I'm sure she could use some stability."
"I'm sorry, but our people are still out there. I have to find them." Carley told him.
"Please...stay until morning. Perhaps you'll reconsider." John said.
"My girl's out there. And she's pregnant." Carley replied.
"She's expecting? How old is she?" John asked.
"Sixteen…" Carley answered.
"So young…. Same age as Greg…" John frowned.
They reach the gate and see the severed walker hand.
"Children shouldn't have to see this." John picked up hand. "Greg...never turned into one of these things... Did he? Those... Whatever they are."
"…Yeah. Yeah, he did." Michonne sadly replied.
"My boy... I should have never let him leave." John said.
"He's at peace now…" Michonne replied.
"I want to believe that… I just…" The man trailed off. John opens the gate and tosses the hand outside, then cries. "I... I'm sorry. I'm trying to keep it together. But what if you just found out your daughters were dead?"
Michonne frowned at those words, not responding.
John continued, "And you weren't there. You were miles away, safe and sound. How would you feel?"
"You have to stay strong for your kids." Carley said.
"You… You're right. What's left of my family- that's what I'm living for." John said.
Before anyone can speak another word, a gunshot is heard, and John suddenly collapses. Randall and his group point their guns at the women. "Peekaboo."
Michonne and Carley run up to the house and hide on the porch.
Randall and his group enter the courtyard and close the gates. "Got them trapped like rats now. Find them!"
Randall's group walks across the courtyard, searching for the two women.
Paige stands at the door and looks outside. Michonne shakes her head, letting her know not to come outside. Paige backs away and runs through the house.
As a guard gets closer Carley speak, "We gotta do something. We can't let them get into this house."
"Right…" Michonne nodded. "I'll take the one near the fountain. You get the one near the garden."
"Got it." Carley said.
The two women jump over the railing and sneaks toward their targets.
As Carley approached one of the guards, she noticed him activate a trap: a spiked stick smashes into his leg. He frees himself as Carley gets to him. He spins around quickly and hits her in the face. He takes out his flare gun; Michonne wrestles it toward him and fires it under his chin. He screams as the flare burns in his mouth.
Michonne meanwhile handles the other guard, using her machete to slit his throat. The guard falls to the ground and Michonne picks up his shotgun just as a second one rushes towards them, gun drawn. Michonne aimed the gun at him and fired before he could shoot. The guard on the ground attempts to aim a handgun at Michonne but the woman noticed and stepped on his hand before using the shotgun to shoot him in the head.
As they finish taking out the guards, they hear a gunshot. The two quickly rush towards the garage where they see Paige and Randall wrestling for a gun.
Randall hits Paige in the face with the gun, then tosses her aside. Michonne runs up to him and tries to strike with her machete, but he knocks it away with the end of the gun.
Carley rushes towards him grabbing the weapon. Michonne takes the chance to punch him in the face repeatedly. Randall manages to hit Carley with the gun, shoving her away. He then tackles Michonne and punches her repeatedly. Carley quickly grabs the fallen gun and aims it at his head.
"What are you waiting for, go on and shoot me?" Randall scoffed.
Instead, Carley uses the gun to hit him on the side of the head. He falls over but recovers and stands up, he lunges towards Carley trying to free the gun from her grip.
Michonne gets up and stumbles, disoriented but rushes to help Carley, grabbing Randall only for him to headbutt her in the face. Randall grabs the woman and twists one of her arms behind her back and puts her in a chokehold. Michonne struggles to free herself, but he dislocates her shoulder. She backs up and slams him into the wall, making him release her and drop his radio. She elbows him in the face, then repeatedly slams his head against the table. He collapses to the floor.
Paige runs up to them and puts Randall's hands in a vise on the table above him. "Lock him in!"
Michonne turns the handle, crushing his fingers in the vise.
"You alright, Michonne?" Carley asked.
"Not dead yet. You?" Michonne replied.
"I'm fine…" Carley said.
Michonne pops her shoulder back into place. Carley picks up her machete and returns it to her as Paige closes the garage door.
Norma was getting anxious; night had fallen, and her brother had yet to return. The woman had become more irritated and worried. She was now pacing to and fro.
"Norma!" A guard called approaching the agitated woman.
"What?!" Norma snapped.
"We found some folks…" The guard said.
"I told you to find my brother! Not go out and find a bunch of strangers." Norma hissed.
"I know... but we found these people hanging around not far from here. We figured it looked suspicious with all that is going on." The guard explained.
Norma huffed at this and said, "Keep them tied up and put them with the other two."
The guards obliged to her order.
"Where are you taking us?" One of the men asked.
"Just shut up and walk." One of the guards ordered.
The new captives were escorted to the area where Clementine and Pete were being contain. When Pete noticed them his eyes widened in shock.
"Holy shit! Berto, Oak, and Siddiq. Are you guys okay?" Pete asked.
"Pete?" Siddiq said as the others also looked shocked.
"Wait. You all know each other?" Clementine asked.
"This is my crew." Pete explained.
"What the hell is going on? The people tie us up, blindfolded us, and brought us back here." Berto said. "We have no idea who these people are."
"How the hell did you get mixed up in this?" Oak asked.
"It's a long story." Pete sighed.
"Who's the kid?" Siddiq questioned.
"This is Clementine… Unfortunately, she's been wrapped up in all this shit too…" Pete said.
"It doesn't seem like they found Randall... I hope they find him soon. That man is a bomb waiting to go off..." Clementine sighed.
"Who the hell is Randall? What is going on here?" Berto asked.
"Like he said it's a long story." Clementine said.
"Well, it looks like we have time kid." Oak replied.
"Okay then…" Clementine said.
The two began explaining how they ended up in the situation. Moments had passed before an irritated Norma made her way into the room.
"It's been far too long. Your friends, do you think they'll harm my brother?" Norma asked.
"If he threatens them." Clementine said. "And that would be on him."
Norma narrowed her eyes at that. "Do... do you think they would kill him?"
"Of course not! They're not like that." Pete claimed.
"Not unless they had too..." Clementine said.
"They better not. If they kill my brother, I will kill every last one of you." Norma shot Clementine a look, "Pregnant or not."
Clementine felt her heart jump a bit at the threat. "You don't have to do that. We can talk this through. We'll sort things out."
"I heard gunshots over the radio! I think we're beyond talking!" Norma said.
"He has a radio. You can call him. Call him on the radio. You can find out if he's okay." Clementine said.
"I'll try…" Norma huffed. "He better be okay."
"Well, shit. You must be pretty proud of yourself, huh? Caught yourself a golden goose. But if you think I'm shittin' any eggs...forget it." Randall spoke with a smirk.
"I'll be asking the questions." Michonne said, picking up the radio. "Does Norma know we're here?"
"She doesn't even know I'm here. Otherwise, you'd be hearing a neighborly knock on your door right about now." Randall responded.
"How'd you find the house?" Michonne questioned.
"You know, I probably never would have. Except you left a trail of walker parts right at the front door." Randall said.
The others exchanged looks.
"Like some fucked up fairytale." Randall huffed.
No one could speak another word before the radio went off and Norma's voice was heard through, "Randall? Randall? Are you getting this?"
Randall sent Michonne a look. "You wanna get that for me?"
"We heard gunshots. If you don't check in, I'm sendin' everyone in that direction." Norma said.
Paige's eyes widened at that. 'Shit. She sounds pissed."
"Randall, pick up, goddamn it." Norma ordered through the radio.
"You gonna answer?" Paige asked Michonne.
"We have to talk to her…Give me the radio, I'll do it." Carley said.
"You sure?" Michonne asked.
"I used to be a reporter. I know a thing or two about talking to difficult people." Carley said.
"Where the hell are you? Randall?!" Norma called.
"Yeah, tell her my hands are vised up and I've swallowed a pint of my own blood." Randall said.
"Where the hell are you?" Norma continued.
"That's exactly what she wants to hear." Randall added.
"Randall?! I'm not fucking around here. Pick up the goddamn radio. You hear me." Norma's voice was become more and more urgent.
"Hello, Norma." Carley spoke into the radio.
"Carley?" Norma huffed through the radio. "I'm surprised you want to speak with me now."
"I don't but it's not like I have much a choice." Carley said.
"Where's my brother?" Norma asked.
"Tell her. Don't spare her any gory details." Randall urged.
"I have him here." Carley simply replied.
"I want the truth on this, you hear me? Did you hurt him?" Norma asked.
"No more than we've had to." Carley responded.
"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?! If you so much as breathed on my brother, I'll find you and make each and every one of you suffer! That's a fucking guarantee!" Norma snapped.
"Randall shot an innocent man in the head. Anything I did to him- he deserved." Carley said.
"What Randall did, that was a mistake- and I'll make sure he knows it. But I'll punish him, not you. This little game you're playing- I don't fucking like it." Norma hissed. "Okay, okay, okay… Let's wind this down a bit. If you've had his walkie-talkie the whole time then you already know, we heard the shots. We know where you are. But if you let Randall go, maybe we can walk away. Randall is the only family I have and I'm not leaving him behind, one way or the other."
"You want him, he's yours then you can leave us the fuck alone." Carley said. "But I want to know that my girl is okay. This goes both ways."
"She's fine... I haven't touched her. And I won't unless you push me to that point." Norma said.
"I don't plan to. All we want is for your brother to leave us alone…" Carley said.
"Be reasonable. That's all I ask. We'll be there soon." Norma said.
With that the radio clicked off.
"You know, this alone time, you and me together...it's been real nice. But that all ends when my sister gets here." Randall said. "I'm gonna take that wrench and break your skull. Then Sam's, and then yours, and last but not least...those kiddies too. I saw their little heads in the window."
Michonne picks up the wrench.
"Kids, you know, their skulls don't break so much as...kinda melt. Like a rotted pumpkin." Randall continued.
"Shut the hell up." Carley huffed, tightening the vice, causing Randall to scream.
"We're not letting you hurt anyone." Michonne said.
"Well...not until Norma gets here and I skip bare-ass free out the front gate. And that will happen." Randall said.
Sam and James enter the garage and Randall looks to the two. "Well, hey now, don't you two look like your daddy? Back when he still had a face."
James' eyes grow wide in horror. "W-What?"
"Yep. Got a big hole there now." Randall chuckled.
James sobs and hugs Sam.
"... Is that true? Please tell me he's fucking with us. Please." Sam said, fighting back tears.
"I'm sorry, Sam…" Michonne said. "He…"
Sam began sobbing. "No! No!"
James cried as well. "No…" The child suddenly pulled away from his sister's embrace and ran out of the garage.
"James! If he killed my dad... Then why isn't this son of a bitch dead?" Sam inquired.
"First good question asked all night. They've just been fumblin' around like a bear cub fuckin' a football." Randall said.
"He keeps opening his mouth, he'll be dead soon." Michonne replied.
"We should do it right fucking now!" Sam exclaimed.
"Randall has more value if he's alive. Gives us something to bargain with when Norma gets here." Carley said.
"Listen to me... that won't work. They only bargain with bullets." Sam kicks Randall in the leg.
"All she wants is her brother back, that's it. She'll leave us alone after that—" Carley said.
"MY BROTHER IS DEAD because of them!" Sam snapped. "You need to kill him...or I will."
Sam turns to leave.
"Sam, wait!" Paige follows Sam out of the garage.
"Michonne, we can't do this…" Carley said.
"Why not? When this dance is over...you're fucked either way. Kill me and Norma hunts you down until you're all dead. Fucked! Let me live...and I do even worse. Fucked. But we both know how this is gonna end. Michonne, you like killing. And you'd like killing me, wouldn't you? Just tell old Randall the truth. I've got thick skin. You won't hurt my feelings." Randall said.
"You're right about that." Michonne said.
"Feels good to get that out in the open, don't it?" Randall said.
"Michonne, don't listen to him…" Carley said. "Think about Pete and Clementine."
"Carley, Carley, Carley, maybe...maybe you think you can "rise above" all that. But there ain't no heaven up there, honey, and there ain't no hell down below. There's only this shit every day until you die. Then you know what's the fuckin' kicker? You get up and keep walking. Now that's some biblical shit, ain't it?" Randall said.
"There's still a chance we can make things better." Carley said.
"Don't tell me you still believe that, Carley?" Randall said. "This is the world your kids are dying in."
Carley notices a far away look in Michonne's eyes.
"Or died in. Or are in that walkin' purgatory." Randall continues.
"Shut up. Don't talk about them." Michonne said.
"Michonne," Carley called.
"Either way, they're sufferin'." Randall said, meeting Michonne's gaze. "And mommy isn't there."
Michonne raises the wrench, seeing this, Carley quickly grabs at her arm.
"What are you doing, Carley? Let her do her thing." Randall said.
"Shut up! Michonne, listen to me… You don't want to do this!" Carley said.
"We all have our demons, honey. Some are on the inside. Some are sitting right in front of us. Wondering what kind of a mother brings a child into this mess of a world. Ain't no blue skies for them anymore." Randall said.
"Michonne, please… Don't do this…" Carley told the woman.
Michonne seems to return to reality and Carley continues to urge her to spare the man.
Michonne slowly drops the wrench and Carley sighed in relief.
"Come on… Let's go…" Carley said.
"Guess that means the dance is over. Oh, well, Norma will be here soon. Your funeral." Randall said.
The two women leave the garage without a word.
"My brother can be reckless, but he has good intentions. He's only trying to keep people safe." Norma said.
"Was he doing that when he got Greg killed? That boy was only a kid himself..." Pete said.
"I... I will admit that he fucked up severely. But I know he didn't intend for that to happen?" Norma said.
"How do you know?" Clementine asked.
"Because I know my brother." Norma said.
"Sometimes those who know a person the most are the ones who turn a blind eye to their wrong doings." Clementine replied.
"I'm not turning a blind eye. I can acknowledge that he's done things wrong. I know my brother can be more than a handful, but he doesn't mean it. And I would do anything to keep him safe." Norma said.
"I get that, but if your brother keeps going on like this, he's going to get himself and a lot of other people killed." Clementine said.
"I won't let that happen." Norma said.
"You can't protect everyone from everything." Clementine said.
"I damn sure will try my best." Norma said.
"I guess that's all you can do." Clementine sighed.
"I guess so... You better get some sleep. We're headed out at first light. And I'm going to keep my promise, if they touch so much as a hair on my brother's head, they're gonna regret it." Norma said.
"If he was difficult, he may have deserved it... I doubt they would kill him, but if he was asking for an ass-kicking best believe they gave it to him." Clementine said.
"They better not have hurt him..." Norma said, narrowing her eyes. She then called to a guard. "Take the girl to the medical bay and lock her inside. She'll sleep there until morning."
The guard nodded motioning for Clementine to follow.
"Are you sure you wanna do this?" Paige asked.
"I need to see him. I need to see that bastard's face." Sam said.
Paige opens the garage door. She, Sam, and Michonne enter.
"Well, hey there. Sam, I knew you couldn't stay away." Randall smirked.
"Don't fucking talk to me." Sam kicks Randall in the ribs several times. Paige grabs her and holds her back, but she continues to kick him.
"Sam, stop!" Paige ordered.
"Easy, alright?" Carley said.
Sam didn't listen and Paige quickly tried to restrain her. "Little help here! Please, I need a hand."
To their surprise, Michonne pulled Paige away, allowing Sam to get another kick in before the girl huffed and turned away.
"Hey! Let go of me!" Paige said. "I'm just trying to help. We can't have this guy more damaged that he already is. She could have killed him."
"We wouldn't have let that happen. Sam clearly needed it." Michonne said before asking Sam, "Feel better?"
"Not until he's dead." Sam said.
"We can't let that happen." Carley said.
"What are you- why are you protecting him? You know what he did." Sam huffed.
"We need him alive." Carley said.
"I'm not upsetting you, am I? When I get out of here, I'll do a lot more than break a few of your ribs." Randall said to Sam.
Sam shot him a glare. "You're done talking. You're the one who should be dead!"
"Sam, calm down—"
Sam's look of anger now turned to Paige. "My dad isn't even in the fucking ground yet and you want me to calm down?!"
"I...I didn't mean—" Paige stammered.
"He ruined everything! He killed…." Sam trailed off.
"I know. I know." Paige said.
"You don't know!" Sam snapped.
"Pick up, Michonne." The radio was heard.
"Wait... You hear that?" Michonne spoke.
"Michonne, it's Pete. Please pick up. Something's happened." Pete said through the radio.
Michonne picks up the radio.
"I don't have much time." Pete said.
"Aww. Your buddy misses you. Cute." Randall chuckled.
Michonne quickly answered the radio. "Pete! Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. There's something you have to know. Norma and her people... They- they have the crew. Siddiq, Oak, Berto." Pete said.
There was a brief sound of struggle over the radio before Pete's voice was replaced with Norma's.
"Don't worry, they're all in good hands here. But them stayin' that way is up to you, so listen closely... I'm willing to make this trade: my brother for your friends. But anything you do to Randall, I'll do to them. Do you understand?"
"Like Carley said earlier, that goes both ways." Michonne said.
"I'll see how badly you hurt him." Norma said.
"Where's my girl, is she okay?" Carley asked.
"She's fine. I haven't put a hand on her… Yet." Norma said. "Don't make me have to do something I don't want to."
"Michonne… you don't owe us anything. I just want to keep them safe..." Pete said.
"Don't forget my deal. Keep your palms off my brother. Got it?" Norma said.
"Anything you do to them, I'll do to Randall." Michonne huffed.
"You better not touch him!" Norma snapped. "We'll be there by sunrise. Be ready for us."
As the conversation ended Randall began laughing. "So... what do you think's gonna happen next?" He asked before more of his laughter filled their ears.
Clementine found herself unable to sleep. She was worried about Carley and Danielle. Hell, she was even worried about Sam and Michonne despite not knowing them for long. She was beyond concerned and her mind was racing as she wondered what to expect when the morning came. She was just hoping that things would be okay.
The girl gave a tiny gasp as she felt her baby give as sudden kick. She placed a protective hand over her stomach. She wondered if her baby was feeling her emotions right now.
The girl rubbed her hand over her stomach as she felt her baby moving. "You're really active right now, huh? You got some strong kicks. I'm gonna have to teach you how to play soccer once you're born." Clementine spoke to her belly.
Her baby gave yet another kick in response.
"Why is it that you're always so active at night? Are you night owl, kiddo?" Clementine gave a light chuckle as she asked this. "Alright... It's bedtime, baby. We got a long day tomorrow. And I promise you no matter what, mommy's gonna keep you safe. I love you."
She would protect her child no matter what. And if that meant make a hard decision if things went south tomorrow, then so be it.
No one was harming her baby.
Paige pushes Randall, his hands bound, into a chair and ties him to it.
Randall laughed, "What? There somethin' on my face?"
"The bruises aren't so bad...right?" Paige puts a bag over Randall's head.
"I'm pretty sure she'll notice the fingers." Randall said.
"Shut up." Carley said.
"Maybe it won't matter." Paige said. "This has to work."
"Keep on hoping if you want." Randall said.
"Norma's not going to be happy." Michonne said.
"At least he's alive." Paige said. "The bag will help cover his injuries. Some of them at least."
"She's gonna want to see his face. Norma's not gonna be happy when she sees him like this." Michonne said.
"Then we don't let her see him." Paige said.
"How long do you think we can keep that up?" Carley asked.
"I don't know. I've never done this before." Paige said. "Maybe we can stall her."
Sam shook her head. "The minute you hand him over, she's gonna take that bag off his head. What then?"
"You all have no idea what you're in for." Randall laughed.
"He's right." Sam said.
Sam turned to leave the room, and the others follow her. "Norma's not gonna leave us alone. She won't stop just because we gave her her brother back."
"How do you know that?" Carley asked.
"I- I just do." Sam said.
"So we run. After you trade for your friends, we haul ass to the back gate and get the hell out of here." Paige said.
"But she'd take the house." Sam said.
"Let her have it!" Paige replied.
"Wouldn't she expect us to run?" Michonne asked.
"So what?" Paige said. "She knows where we are now. Hiding isn't an option. So let's just go.
"Stop." Sam huffed.
"Where do you propose we go?" Michonne asked.
"I don't know. Does it matter? Anywhere would be better than here." Paige said.
"It might work." Carley shrugged.
"We just have to be quick. The minute your guys are inside, we're out of here." Paige said.
Sam narrowed her eyes and said, "I can't fucking listen to this."
"W-Wha-?" Paige stammered as Sam walked away.
"Sam, come back here!" Michonne called.
Sam didn't as she left the house.
"I'll stay here and keep an eye on Randall." Carley said.
Paige and Michonne nodded before following Sam outside.
"Carley," Danielle's little voice called.
"Dani, are you okay?" Carley asked, looking the child who seemed to be nervously clutching to Flopsie.
"…What's going to happen to us?" Danielle asked the woman.
"Nothing's going to happen. We're gonna be okay." Carley replied.
"Is Clem gonna be okay?" Danielle asked.
"She'll be fine, kiddo. Clem is tough." Carley said.
"I know she is. I'm just… scared…" Danielle said.
"Don't be scared. We're going to be okay. Just like we always are." Carley reassured the child.
"Okay…" Danielle nodded.
"How about you go keep the kids company?" Carley suggested.
Danielle gave a hesitant nod. "Okay…"
As the child went off, Carley walked towards the window.
"Does it make you feel good to lie to your little girl like that?" Randall huffed. "You know everything's not gonna be okay. Once Norma sees me, you're all as good as dead."
"Shut the hell up, would you." Carley said. She kept her gaze outside, seeing Michonne talking to Sam. A while later she notices Michonne helping Sam move John's corpse over to a patch of dirt.
They began digging a grave for the man, clearly intending to bury him.
Paige reenters the house and Carley speaks, "Is… Sam okay?"
"No… No, she's not." Paige said. "I don't know what to do."
"She needs time." Carley said.
"We don't have time. If Norma's on here way here, who knows what the woman will do." Paige said.
"Hopefully she's stand by her word." Carley said.
"I hope…" Paige sighed. "I'm gonna take a moment upstairs."
Carley nodded and took a seat to continue to keep an eye on Randall.
Several minutes pass before Michonne returns into the house, she heads for the living room only to see James searching through a duffle bag and holding a pistol. The boy jumps as she approaches. "I was just... Wanted to know what it felt like... I wasn't gonna shoot it. Just...
"Careful. You don't want to shoot yourself." Michonne sets the duffel bag on the bed and sits down. She takes out a gun and checks the magazine. It's empty.
Michonne fills the magazine with bullets. James sits next to her. "Can I help? I want to do something."
"I don't know if that's such a good idea." Michonne said.
"…Okay." James stood from his seat and a moment of silence passed before the child spoke. "How could they just...die like that? Greg and Dad... I thought we were safe here. What am I supposed to do?
"It's okay to be scared…" Michonne said. "But it's gonna be okay."
"The guy who did it...who killed my dad... He's gotta... I mean... The things he said... The way he was laughing about Dad. He can't get away with it." James said.
"You want to hurt him, don't you? Careful. Feelings like that can get you in trouble." Michonne said.
"I heard you guys talking. There's more people coming...to the house. Sam's hurt. If...if she... They can't hurt her too. We have to stop them." James said.
"Your sister will be with me. I'll make sure she's safe. But she's tough. You don't have to worry about her too much." Michonne assured the child.
"Here." James hands the gun to Michonne. "I-I don't know if I'm ready... You know, to have one"
"Don't forget what I told you..." Michonne said. "Norma's on her way, things could go wrong in a hurry.
James nodded his understanding before leaving the room.
Michonne sighed as she looked to the gun James had handed her. "Wish it didn't always come to this."
Michonne puts the duffel bag over her shoulder and leaves the room. As she walks past Randall, the radio crackles.
"…Janey, Rich...what's the hold up?"
"Prisoners aren't cooperating. What do you want us to do?"
"We don't have time for this. Get 'em moving."
"Norma'll see right through this." Randall said.
When Michonne didn't respond Randall huffed, "I'm a guest in this house. Where are your manners? You just gonna keep ignoring me? Not gonna stop and say hello?"
Michonne ignores his comments and goes outside. James sits in the yard near Sam, who is digging a grave.
"Hey, Sam." Michonne greets.
"Hey... Thanks for...before. I couldn't have moved him myself." Sam muttered.
"No problem, Sam… I'm sorry thing is happening…" Michonne said.
"Me too…" Sam said.
"I ran into James inside... You should really go talk to him." Michonne said.
"I know, I just...I know nothing I say is gonna make it any better." Sam said. "Paige thinks we're not safe here. That we need to move on. I bet she's trying to convince you to leave too. She's wanted out of here for a while. Guess she's found her chance."
"I'm not leaving without you." Michonne said.
"I wouldn't blame you if you did. You're here to get your people back, and that's fine. None of this is your mess." Sam said. "It's just...so much of this place is my dad. It's all of us. He worked his way up from nothing...took a job cleaning houses, paid his way through law school... When he bought this house, it was...it was proof that he'd made a better life for us. We grew up here, I... Maybe I'm crazy, but I can't let that all be for nothing. He was so proud of what he'd built. This place kept us safe... We were happy here."
"It's still a house, Sam. Just wood and brick. The people inside, Paige and your brothers, they're who you need to protect." Michonne said.
"That's what I'm trying to do. They won't survive out there. I can't protect them. I couldn't with Greg- this is the best chance they've got."
"I understand how you feel…" Michonne sighed. "Here?"
"Oh. You found the bag." Sam said.
"Yeah," Michonne handed her a gun.
"Thanks." Sam said. "I should get back to work."
Michonne nodded in response and decided to head back into the house.
"You know, my hands hurt a little bit. You got any ointment lyin' around?" Randall's voice was heard.
"You just never stop talking, do you?" Carley huffed.
"Whatever… When Norma gets here, she'll bust down that little gate of yours...and tune you up good. Just march on in... Majestic as fuck..." Randall said.
"Come in here just like you did? Didn't work out too well for you." Michonne piped in as she entered the room.
"…Yeah, well…" Randall trailed off.
Michonne approached Carley, "If Norma doesn't stop we're going to have to fight back. She may say she wants to make a deal, but I don't believe that for a second."
"We'll have to find out. This is our best option to make sure no one gets hurt." Carley said.
"Bullshit…" Randall scoff.
"Well, no one else." Carley said.
"Alright… I trust you on this." Michonne said. "You doing okay?"
"I'm fine, Michonne. We just need to make sure everyone else is ready when Norma comes." Carley replied.
"Yeah… You're right." Michonne agreed.
"I'm gonna check on the kids. I told Dani to go play with them." Carley said.
"She might be with Alex. James is outside with Sam." Michonne told her.
"Alright." Carley nodded.
"Alex… doesn't know… About his father." Michonne said.
"I… I'll tell him. He should know…" Carley sighed.
Michonne nodded in agreement.
With that Carley headed upstairs. From outside one of the doors, she could hear music.
She slowly approached what looked to be a closet where she noticed Danielle and Alex. Next to Alex is a music box engraved with "Emily".
"Can I come in?" Carley asked.
Alex nodded and Carley entered the closet, closing the door behind her. She sat down in front of the children.
"You okay?" Carley asked.
"Dani was showing me Flopsie." Alex said.
"That's nice of her." Carley said.
Alex nodded in response.
"That's pretty music." Carley commented.
"Thank you…" Alex said.
"You doin' okay in here? I bet that was scary before, when I brought your sister in like that. But she's okay now—"
Alex cut her off. "Nothing can hurt me in here. As long as I stay in my fortress, I'm safe. It keeps all the bad stuff out. I put pillows and blankets against the wall."
"Looks pretty sturdy. I bet it's kept you nice and safe for a long time. That's good." Carley said.
Alex nodded, "It has to. Because of them…I know what those monsters out there are... Wendigo. Grandma told me about them. It's what happens when someone...eats another person.
"I've heard of Wendigo before." Carley said. She had, being a reporter, she heard of a lot of different things.
"Do they scare you too? They make lots of noise. Even at night." Alex asked.
"I'll tell you a secret. They scare me too sometimes." Carley told him.
"Really? But my dad's not scared of them. I've been waiting for him." Alex said. "Where is he? Why didn't he come get me yet? Where is my dad?"
"Your dad's not coming. He's...dead." Carley told the child with some hesitation.
"What?!" Alex exclaimed.
Danielle's eyes widened in surprise as well.
"…He got shot outside. I'm sorry, Alex." Carley informed the boy.
Alex shook his head. "No! I don't believe you. I want to see him! Please."
"Sometimes...awful things happen. And there's nothing we can do about it." Carley said.
Alex sniffled a bit. "Did…Did my dad...become one of them? It's what happens, right? He did, didn't he?"
Carley shook her head. "No. He was shot in the head. When someone dies, you put a bullet or something sharp in the head… they don't turn. Okay?
"It's not fair. I want my dad. I want my dad and I want Greg back. I want everything to go back the way it was." Alex whimpered.
"Alex, you need to be strong, okay?" Carley said.
"I can't..." Alex cried a bit.
"I know it's hard… But it's going to be okay." Carley said.
The child didn't respond.
"Thanks for letting me see your fortress. Look out for him, Okay, Dani?" Carley said.
The little girl nodded and did her best to comfort the boy as Carley headed out of the room.
As Carley left the room she noticed Paige in a room with the door crack, looking anxious. Carley knocked at the door.
"Who is it?" Paige asked.
"It's me." Carley said.
"Come in…" Paige said.
Carley obliged. "You okay?"
"I'll be honest, I don't know. Everything's so fucked up. I've never seen Sam like this. She's...she's just not thinking. Do you think digging a hole is a good use of Sam's time?" Paige huffed.
"She might need the closure… She clearly wants to defend the house. She wants to fight." Carley said.
"Which is a bad idea. Norma's got more people, more guns...there's no way we win that fight. I don't know why Sam thinks she can protect her brothers here. It doesn't matter… I'll be out of your hair soon enough." Paige said.
"You want to leave?" Carley asked surprised to hear that.
"I think it's the best bet. Never belonged here anyway. Same as you. That's one thing we got in common. Squatters in other people's lives." Paige said
"But that's not why you're leaving." Carley said.
"I mean, it's part of it. Call it self-preservation, but I've gotten pretty used to knowing when it's time to cut and run. Norma's gonna be here soon, if they're not ready... I won't stick around just to watch this fall apart. She's so...stubborn, though. I just hope it doesn't get her killed this time." Paige said.
"You can't leave James and Alex. They've lost enough today." Carley said.
Paige frowned. "I know, I know... I'm not trying to hurt them. The Fairbanks kept me safe, but...I don't know if I can do the same for them."
"Am I interrupting something?" Michonne's voice grabbed their attention.
"No… Come on in." Paige said.
Michonne entered the room and offered Paige some ammo. "Here, we need to all be ready."
"Yeah… Thanks…" Paige sighed. "I'm gonna take some time to think if you two don't mind."
The two nodded and exited the room.
"What was that about?" Michonne asked.
"She's thinking about leaving…" Carley said.
"Really? What about the kids…?" Michonne asked.
"I guess that's what she wants to think about." Carley replied.
"Speaking of the kids, did you tell Alex?" Michonne asked.
"Yeah… I did…" Carley replied.
"How did he take it…?" Michonne asked.
"As bad as I thought he would… Poor kids…" Carley said.
The two women headed downstairs just as Sam entered the house.
"Oh, hey, I'm looking for Alex. Have you seen him? I want him to be there when I say a few words for Dad. He wasn't at Mom's funeral. He should be there for this." Sam said.
"You'll find him in his "fortress" with Dani." Carley said. "I uh… told him what happened."
"…Thank you… I didn't know what to say…" Sam said. "I'll go get him and Dani… I'll meet you outside?"
The two nodded and Sam walked off.
Carley and Michonne headed outside, and before too long Sam joined them with a sobbing Alex and a sad looking Danielle. Danielle silently made her way over to Carley and took her hand while Alex hugged James, who wrapped his arm around him. The group stood there in silence for several moments. Sam takes a few deep breaths.
James looks to his sister with worry. "Sam? You okay?"
Sam could only cry. "Greg and Dad...? I just...I don't really know what to say. Where am I supposed to start? I don't know..."
"Maybe you don't need to say anything. It's okay to just...be here together." Michonne said.
"We'll give you a moment." Michonne said before motion for Carley to follow.
Carley took the hint and lead Danielle a bit away.
"Dad was...always thinking about other people. He once told me that he'd be happy suffering if it meant keeping us happy and healthy. But I think he suffered more than he even deserves. With Mom, and Greg..." They could hear Sam begin to speak.
Michonne and Carley headed back to the house.
"You know, I envy them a little. They've managed to hold onto something we all lost a long time ago. Something like normal. I know whatever normal is… doesn't really exist anymore. No matter how much you want it to, but still." Michonne said.
"Yeah… I know what you mean…" Carley sighed.
Paige soon joined them outside and greeted them with a soft, "Hey."
"Hey…" Carley said back.
"I decided to stay. For the kids..." Paige said.
"That's good." Carley said.
"And don't get cocky, it had nothing to do with what you said." Paige joked with a small smirk.
Carley rolled her eyes playfully. "Uh-huh." Carley then became serious. "I know it's going to be tough. But they need you… You're going to get through this. You just have to stick together."
A while had passed, and the "service" had ended. The group headed back inside, moods all glum.
Alex had headed into his room, Danielle joining him to keep him company.
"I know how you feel… I know how it feels to lose someone. My mommy passed away." Danielle explained.
"Sh-She did?" Alex asked. "How did she pass?"
"By bad people... There's... a lot of bad people in this world..." Danielle said. "This is all I have left of her… Flopsie is the only thing I have to remember her by."
"I'm sorry about your mommy…" Alex said. "I lost my mommy too… But… But where's your dad?"
"I… never had a daddy… I don't think he wanted me…" Danielle said.
"That's mean, why wouldn't he want you?" Alex said.
"Because some grown-ups are just mean… and bad…" Danielle said.
"I… wish they weren't…" Alex said.
"Me too." Danielle agreed. "But Clem and Carley... They taught me how to be strong... You have to be strong too."
"H-How can I? I'm scared..." Alex said.
"I get scared too... But just because we're little doesn't mean we can't be brave. Clem tells me that all the time." Danielle said.
"Who's Clem?" Alex asked.
"She's my friend. She's the bravest person I know. She has a baby in her tummy." Danielle said.
Alex's face lit up a bit upon hearing that. "A baby? Like a real baby?"
Danielle nodded."
"Wow. I haven't seen a baby in a long time. I wish I could hold it." Alex said.
"They're not born yet. Maybe once they're born you can hold them." Danielle said.
"That'd be cool!" Alex replied.
"Super cool! I can't wait to meet them!" Danielle said, excitement now in her tone.
A small knock came at the door and James soon entered.
"Hey..." James muttered.
"Hi..." Alex said back.
"Are you okay?" Danielle asked.
"I... I guess so... I'm just sad..." James said. "Alex, mind if I... stay in here tonight? I don't want to be... by myself."
"That'd be great! We can have a sleepover!" Alex suggested.
"But... You're both boys. I can't sleepover with boys." Danielle said.
"You can take the bed. And we can sleep in the fortress." Alex said.
"Are-Are you sure?" Danielle asked.
The two boys both nodded.
"Okay... Thank you." Danielle replied.
A while had gone by. Carley had checked in on the children to find them all asleep. The adults however remained awake, feeling anxious and on guard.
"What are we going to do?" Sam asked.
"Exactly what we discussed. We're going to be okay." Carley said.
"But… But what if we're not…" Sam stammered a bit.
"Don't think like that. We will be." Carley replied.
"I want to believe that. But everything… Everything's so fucked!" Sam exclaimed.
"Shh… We don't want to wake the kids." Michonne hushed.
"…I don't know how they can even sleep like this…" Sam said.
"They're scared but kids… they're resilient." Carley said.
"Our whole lives, just ripped apart in one day… And it's all my fault." Sam mumbled, looking down.
"Don't blame yourself, Sam… You just… You have had to stay focused on surviving and being strong for your brothers." Michonne said.
"I know… I just… I don't know what to do…" Sam said.
"Grieving takes time… It's okay to feel how you feel." Carley said.
"I guess…" Sam sighed.
"Why… don't you try to get some rest. Michonne and I can keep watch." Carley suggested.
"After what happened today. I don't think I'll ever rest normal again." Sam replied.
"It doesn't hurt to try." Carley said.
"I'm scared that if I close my eyes, everything will replay… Like a fucked-up movie…" Sam told her.
"We'll wake you if it happens." Carley said.
Sam nodded. "…Okay…"
Hours went by with Sam drifting in and out of sleep. Paige, Carley, and Michonne remained awake, checking on Randall every so often and keeping watch on the doors.
Before long they could see the sun beginning to rise through the windows and knew it wouldn't be long before Norma arrived.
Sam had awoken and began pacing by the door as the waited anxiously for what would happen next.
They could only hope things would go smoothly.
The kids soon awaken and make their way downstairs. Little Alex complains that he is hungry.
"I can probably make you something really quick. How about—"
Paige couldn't get another word out before a suddenly banging is heard from outside.
"She's here!" Sam fights the urge to panic. "I thought we had more time."
"It's okay. It's gonna be okay." Paige said.
"Sam?" Alex looked to his sister with concern.
"Just go upstairs with your brother, okay? I need you to hide until I come get you."
"What's gonna happen?" James fearfully asked.
"Is she gonna hurt us?" Alex asked.
"You'll stop them, right? Right?" James asked.
"Just get upstairs." Sam said.
"We're just going to talk." Carley assured the children.
"Wh-What should I do?" Danielle asked.
"I want you to go upstairs and stay with the boys." Carley said.
"O-Okay…"
"No matter what happens we'll protect you. Everything will be fine." Michonne said.
"Stay together. No matter what." Sam said to her brothers.
James nodded. "We will."
"Okay…" Alex said.
Sam knelt down and hugged the boys. One they broke the hug the children run upstairs.
"I can get a clear shot of the front gate from upstairs. I'll cover you. If I can... I hope it doesn't come to that. This is worst-case scenario, right?" Paige told them.
"Are you sure?" Michonne asked.
Paige sighed. "Not really... But I'll do my best."
"Thank you." Carley said.
"Paige, if anything goes wrong, I need you to take care of James and Alex." Sam said.
"Don't talk like that!" Paige reprimanded.
"Paige, please." Sam said.
"Sam, you know I'll—"
Paige doesn't get to finish before they hear a crashing sound outside. Paige quickly races upstairs to cover them.
"Grab Randall and meet us outside." Michonne said.
Sam obliges and goes to grab the man.
Before long Carley, Sam, Michonne, and Randall, walk outside. Sam holds onto Randall and points a gun at him. Paige watches from a window, holding her rifle.
"It's quiet out there. You ready out there?" Sam asked.
"Anything goes wrong out there...We have each other's backs." Carley said.
Sam nodded, "Right."
"Just stay alert and be ready for anything. We don't know what Norma's planning." Michonne said.
"You got it." Sam said.
"Don't provoke her either." Carley added.
"I… I won't." Sam replied.
Michonne pushes the gate open and steps outside to find Norma seemingly alone.
"It's just me." Norma spoke.
"We can see that." Carley said. "What the hell is going on here?"
"I had my people hang back a bit. I wanted to talk first. Just us. Clear the air a little."
"What's your game?" Michonne asked.
"No game, I just want to talk." Norma said.
"I don't trust her." Sam said.
"Look, I'm not really interested in hearing what you have to say. I just want my people back." Michonne said.
"And you'll get them. Just give me a chance." Norma said. "You and I...we've each taken from the other. All I want now is my brother back. And he better not be hurt too bad. That's all. And I'll leave you be.
"You buying any of this?" Sam huffed.
"That's it? Just like that and you walk away?" Michonne asked.
"Been enough killing these last few days. I'd like to just get past it, if we can. A show of good faith, then." Norma takes out a flare gun and fires it into the sky. Walkers take notice of it. "Any minute now."
Eventually, the rest of Norma's crew arrives with Clementine, Pete, Berto, Oak, and Siddiq.
"Safe and sound. Just like I said. Now...give me Randall and we can go our separate ways." Norma said.
"You can't let them walk away! They stole from us." One of the guards snapped.
"We never stole a thing." Clementine said.
"That's enough! Now be quiet!" Norma said. "Please...I just want my brother. Let's be done with this. Deal?"
"We want our people first...then I'll give you Randall." Michonne said.
"Fine, I can be reasonable." Norma slowly cut Pete's bindings.
Pete made his way over to Michonne. "Thought you could get rid of me, huh?"
"Good to see you." Michonne hugs Pete the hands him a gun.
"Now. Give me Randall." Norma said.
"What about the rest of our people. What about my girl?" Carley said.
"I think I've been reasonable enough." Norma said. "I've given you what you wanted. I just want to see him."
"He's right here." Michonne said.
Sam shoved Randall outside the gate.
"Randall, you okay?" Norma called.
Randall tried to respond, voice muffled by the bag on his head. "Just get this fucking thing off me!"
Sam pulled Randall back inside the gates.
"Just hang on. I gotcha. Now hand him over and we'll be done with this." Norma said. "We can work together. Release that one." She motioned to Siddiq.
The guards hesitated.
"It's okay, we just need this to be over." Norma said.
"Let him go, Gabby." Another guard urged.
Gabby huffed but did so, cutting the man's bindings.
"I made good on my end now it's your turn." Norma points a gun at Oak's head. "Give me my brother."
"Oak!" Michonne gasped.
"Hey! Put the gun down." Pete said.
"Norma, you don't have to do this." Clementine said.
"I could shoot him and still have two more to spare. So, you're gonna do what I've asked. Now. I came here, willing to talk. But if you're gonna insist on being difficult..." Norma huffed
"Don't hurt him, alright?" Pete said.
"Randall isn't worth all this shit." Gabby grumbled.
"Gabby, listen to me!" Norma said.
"After everything they've done, you're still giving them more chances! We deserve retribution." The woman aimed her weapon, but Clementine quickly rushed forward, pushing her and causing the gun to drop.
"You little brat!" Gabby spat, slapping the girl across the face.
"HEY!" Carley snapped, ready to aim her weapon only to be stopped by Michonne.
"Gabby, stop! Everyone put your guns down!" Noma said.
"I knew we couldn't trust them!" Sam exclaimed.
"Don't! Stand down! Please. No one has to get hurt!" Norma said.
"If you're not gonna do anything, we have to!" Gabby snapped.
Norma shook her head. "That's not your call! Please..."
"You better get your people under control." Michonne said.
"I am! Just stop…" Norma said. "Look, just let me see my brother. Take that bag off him. I want to see his face. Let me get a good look."
Michonne obliged, pulling the bag from Randall's head.
Norma's eyes widened upon seeing his bloodied face. "What did you do to him? Answer me! NOW!"
"He killed Sam's father. An innocent man. He deserved worse." Michonne said.
"Just hand him over." Norma gritted out.
"You want, Randall, okay, you can have him." Michonne said.
"Good." Norma said.
The onlookers jump as the sound of walkers reaches their ears. The guards began firing at the approaching creatures.
"Here we go." Pete mumbled.
Michonne shoved Randall, and he goes over to Norma.
Oak and Siddiq run over to the others.
As the others finished taking out the walkers Norma noticed Randall's swollen hands, clearly broken. A look of anger filled Norma's features however she recalled the words Clementine had said to her. How they would only hurt him if they had to.
"What did he do that made you do this to his hands?" Norma inquired.
"Besides killing an innocent man? He threatened to kill Sam and her family. Including children." Carley said.
"Norma, I—"
Norma interrupted Randall, "Shut up."
"What?" Randall looked surprise.
"You're lucky I don't do worse. What the hell were you thinking? Threatening to kill children and KILLING their father?" Norma snapped.
"What are you punishing them after all the trouble they've caused us?" Randall said.
"We're trying to SAVE People. I never planned on killing Sam OR her brothers. I only wanted them to stop lying to me. IF they had been honest then MAYBE I'd help them in the future. There was no reason for you to go out and kill anybody!" Norma snapped. "From what I've heard from Clementine, most groups out there are savages. Any other group would have killed you without care. Would have wanted a war. But these people are different. They just want things to end. Let it go, Randall."
"They stole from us." Randall said.
"And they have lost enough. So have we. Let's leave before we lose anymore." Norma said. "Let's go… We're done here." Norma motioned for her crew to follow.
The others obliged but Randall lingered back for a moment.
As Carley and the others start to head into the gate, Randall suddenly rushes towards them. He tackles Michonne to the ground, holding down her gun-wielding hand and strangling her.
"Get off her, asshole!" Sam tried to aim her gun, but Carley quickly stopped her.
"Sam, no!" Carley said, restrained the girl.
"Let me go!" Sam snapped.
Pete went to Michonne's aid, him and Siddiq yanking Randall off the woman.
"Randall! What the hell?!" Norma exclaimed.
"We can't let them get away with stealing from us!" Randall said.
"Walk away while you still have the chance!" Carley said.
"Fuck YOU!" Randall spat.
"Randall, stop! It's over! Just stop!" Norma called.
"Like hell it is! You fucking people—"
Randall couldn't get another word out before a swift hit to his head by a pistol made them all flinch. The man fell, unconscious from the impact.
"NO!" Norma screamed in horror.
"Relax. He's unconscious. Not dead." Clementine spoke. "This is what I was warning you about. Your brother has a temper and if you don't get that under control... He's not going to continue to be so lucky..."
"I... I know..." Norma said.
"Just keep it in mind." Clementine said. "Get him out of here."
Norma motioned for her people to grab her brother. She shot Sam a look. "Samantha, don't let my people see your face again."
"Likewise, Norma. Likewise." Sam said.
"You're a tough girl, Clementine. A smart girl... And if the world really is like what you say... I'm gonna have to keep a tighter leash on my brother... Thank you for opening my eyes..." Norma said. "And thank you all for sparing him... I won't let him or anyone else in my group turn out like those people from those communities you told me about, Clementine."
"I really hope not, Norma. You got a good thing going there. Keep it that way." Clementine said.
"I will..." Norma began to walk away with her group members but not before uttering a small, "Good luck." towards Clementine who gave a nod in response.
"Come on. Let's get inside." Sam said.
Upon entering the house Sam called to her family that all was safe.
Before long the children came downstairs. The two boys quickly rushed to hug their sister.
"We're safe now, right? The bad people won't come back, will they?" Alex asked.
"No, they won't. We're safe now." Sam said.
When Danielle spotted Clementine, she rushed to embrace her. "Clementine!" Danielle beamed.
"Dani! Are you okay?" Clementine asked.
"Uh-huh. I'm okay..." Danielle nodded.
"Thank Goodness." Clementine said.
Alex looked to the girl curiously and slowly approached. "You're Clem?"
Clementine looked down at the child. "I- Yeah. Yes, I am."
"Dani, told me about you." Alex said.
"Did she now?" Clementine ruffled the girl's hair a bit. "What's your name, little guy?"
"Alex..." The child replied. "Dani told me you have a baby in you."
"Yeah. I do." Clementine said.
"Can- Can I see it?" Alex asked.
"Well, you can't see them, because they're not born yet. But... you can feel... if you want." Clementine said.
Alex's eye widened with excitement. "Really?"
"Sure... Go ahead." Clementine said.
She soon felt the boy's little hands against her pregnant stomach. "Whoa..."
"Can- Can I feel too?" James spoke with some hesitation.
"Sure... What's your name?" Clementine asked.
"It's... James..." The boy replied.
"Nice to meet you, James." Clementine offered the child a smile.
"You too..." James said, slowly feeling her stomach along with Alex.
"How'd they get in there?" Alex asked.
Clementine smiled down at the two boys and replied, "It's magic."
"Wow... Magic…" Alex smiled. "…I felt something!"
"Wh-What was that?" James looked surprise as well.
"Don't worry, guys. That was just the baby kicking." Clementine told them?"
"Kicking?" Alex asked.
"Yep." Clementine nodded.
"That's so cool." Alex said.
The others smiled at the sight.
"You're welcome to stay here. As long as you like." Paige told the group.
"We appreciate it." Carley said.
The others nodded in response.
Days had gone by, and things had quieted down. Though things would never be the same the family became more comfortable. They had bonded with their new guest and been taught different survival skills so they wouldn't have to resort to stealing.
They were taught how to fish and hunt. They were taught how to sow and mend clothing. And with permission young James was taught how to properly handle a weapon.
A week or so had gone by before they were sure Norma, and her people were out of their hand and they no longer had to worry about them. With this relief the guest readied themselves to move on.
"Are you sure you have to go?" Paige asked Michonne, Pete, and their crew.
"As much as we'd love to stay, your place is pretty crowded as it is." Pete said.
"You're still welcome to stay. We can make more space." Paige said.
"Nah, we're used to sailing. We appreciate the offer, but it's best for us to move on." Pete replied.
"I... I understand." Paige said.
"We're moving on as well..." Clementine spoke up.
"Are... you sure that's a good idea?" Sam asked.
"Hmm?" Clementine rose a brow.
"I mean... Your baby could be due any day now." Sam said. "You could stay here, have your kid and give them a place to stay. Somewhere to grow up around other kids."
"That'd be nice but... I want to move on... Your family has enough to worry about as it is. We'll be okay." Clementine said.
"Believe me, when Clem's made up her mind, she's made up her mind. This girl is stubborn." Carley said. "But we'll be alright. Really."
"I... I hope so... Just be safe out there." Sam said.
"We will." Clementine said.
"And... Thank you all... Thank you for everything. I don't know if we would've made it out of there without you." Sam said.
"Just stay safe. Remember what we taught you and survive that way. No more stealing." Carley said.
"No more stealing. Ever again." Sam said.
"Good." Carley replied.
The next morning the group readied to head out. Clementine and Carley offering Michonne and Pete's people a ride to their next destination. The group agreed.
As they gathered their things and prepared to walk out the door they were suddenly stopped by a little voice. "Dani, wait!"
Danielle turned to see Alex running up to her.
The little boy's face was flushed, and he held a crayon drawing in his hands. "I- I made you something."
"You did?" Danielle asked.
Alex nodded and offered her the picture. "It's something to remember me with."
Danielle slowly accepted the picture with a small smile. "I'll never forget you."
Alex smiled back.
The adults fought the urge to awe at the two children.
"You all be safe." Paige said.
"We will." Carley said.
The group headed outside and began their walk towards the gate. Clementine gave Danielle a gentle nudge and smiled, "Looked like someone had a little crush on you."
"Wh-What? No, he didn't." Danielle quickly shook her head.
"It sure looked like he did." Clementine giggled.
"Boys are gross they have cooties." Danielle said.
"Whatever you say, kiddo." Clementine said with a small smirk.
The group continued walking passing through the gate and eventually leaving the house behind.
After a trek to their ship, they did as the promised dropping Michonne's group of to a destination not from the crews' ship.
"So, what's your plan? Are you all going to be okay here?" Carley asked.
"We'll manage." Michonne said.
"Siddiq's gonna take the ship to Monroe... See if we can get any help." Pete explained.
"Are you sure about that?" Carley wondered. "Going back there, I mean…"
"It's worth a shot..." Pete said.
"Just be careful." Carley said.
"We will..." Michonne said. "You three stay safe out there. Or should I say four, considering the baby."
"We will be." Clementine said. "You all stay safe as well..."
Michonne and Pete nodded.
As Carley, Clementine, and Danielle walked towards their own ship Clementine spoke, "Well, this settles it, as soon as we find a safe place to stay. I'm never getting on a boat again."
"Me either." Danielle agreed.
"You know what, I don't blame either of you." Carley said. "Sooner we find a place to stay the better."
Both girls nodded in response.
The three continued onwards. Once again on the move with the goal of finding a safe home in mind.