Chapter 32-Answers

Daryl's P.O.V

Daryl leaves his cabin and is looking for Shane. It was the day after Dwight had come to see him, and he wanted to go talk to the man. As he walked past the gate, he saw a car pull through the gate. He stops when he sees Rick and Michonne step out of the car. "I thought you said a day or two," Daryl says.

"We did. We decided to get her today," Rick says. Daryl nods as Shane comes out of the cabin.

"We need to talk," Daryl says to Shane.

"I know. I need to talk to all of you. All three of you, alone," Shane says in a serious and firm voice. All three of them nod, a bit confused at the tone, and Shane leads them away to a cabin.

Beth's P.O.V

Beth sat on the stairs with her knife in her hands. The door behind her opens, and Tara walks out. She sits down beside Beth. "You want to help me with something?" Tara asks Beth, who looks at her.

"With what?" Beth questions Tara.

"Trade. I have to deliver some seeds to Alexandria, and they are giving us some more fuel. I'm not the biggest fan of being in the car alone. I would ask Lilly, but she is learning how to ride a horse," Tara explains. The blond thinks for a few moments before she nods.

"Okay, I'll come," Beth replies. Tara smiles as she stands up. She leads Beth to her car, and they climb in. They leave Hilltop heading for Alexandria.

Dwight's P.O.V

Dwight sat on the porch of his house, stabbing his knife into the stairs while looking at Negan. Negan looks at Dwight. He sets the wood he was carrying down and walks over to Dwight. "Are you going to continue stabbing that knife in that wood as you glare at me and look pretty?" Negan questions. Dwight stops and looks Negan in the eye.

"You are stepping on a thin line right now, Negan," Dwight tells the man who holds his hand.

"Didn't mean to p*** you off, even more, Dwight. I know you are mad because I left the walls and killed some walkers, but I did it to help Shane and protect the camp. Does that get me any trust?" Negan questions.

"No, because you are waiting for your chance to hit one of us in the bad and kill us like the snake you are," Dwight growls at Negan.

"I wish I could change your opinion, Dwight. You sound more and more like the widow," Negan says. Dwight freezes as Negan walks away. Dammit, I sound more like Maggie. I can't let him get under my skin like that. With that, though, Dwight stands up and walks away, looking for something to occupy his mind.

Kenny's P.O.V

Kenny was walking around Alexandria when he saw Aaron sitting on the porch with Gracie. He walks up to Aaron, who looks up at him. "You're the new guy Daryl brought back," Aaron says to Kenny, who nods.

"I'm Kenny," Kenny says.

"Aaron. I would shake your hand, but you know," Aaron says as he looks at Gracie. Kenny nods. "You can sit if you want."

"Thanks," Kenny says as he sits down. "Is she yours?" Kenny questions after a few moments.

"No, not by blood," Aaron replies. "I saw the kid your girl was carrying. He yours?"

"No, neither is she," Kenny tells Aaron, who chuckles. "I did have a son. His name was Duck," Aaron looked at Kenny, and he could tell by the man's expression that his son was dead.

"I'm sorry," Aaron says to Kenny, who nods. "Did it happen after?"

"Yes, he was bitten in an attack, and my wife killed herself before he died. I couldn't do it. So a good friend of mine did it for me. His name was Lee, and I don't think I'd be here today if it weren't for Lee. I know Clem wouldn't," Kenny explains to Aaron, who nods.

"He's dead, isn't he?" Aaron asks after a few moments. Kenny nods. His expression was darker, and he felt heavier talking about Lee.

"Yeah, and I couldn't do anything to save him. Lee should be here. Not me," Kenny says to Aaron.

"We can't change who is here, but we can honor them," Aaron says. "I think Lee would be glad Clem is with you," Kenny looks at Aaron and gives him a grateful smile.

"Thank you," Kenny says as Jesus walks outside.

"Mind if I join you two?" Jesus asks.

"Not at all," Aaron says as Jesus sits down. Kenny looks at the two men and smiles. He knew he was going to enjoy his life in Alexandria.

Shane's P.O.V

Shane sat across from Rick, Michonne, and Daryl. They were in a cabin that wasn't being used. "What are we here for?" Rick questions his ex-partner.

"I need to know something, and I need all three of you to be honest about it," Shane explains to the three who nod. "Why does Carl care so much about Negan?" Nobody says anything for about two minutes before Michonne breaks the silence.

"Carl wanted to kill Negan at the beginning. After what he did to Glenn and Abraham. He did, he threatened Negan when he first came to Alexandria, and he broke into the sanctuary and killed some men. That all changed after the first fight," Michonne explains to Shane.

"He had a dream. One in a world where everything was better. Judith was older, and I was an old man, and Alexandria was thriving, and everybody was happy. Negan was alive in that dream. Carl went out to save Siddiq, and he almost got bitten. When he got back, he told me about that dream, and he spent so much time after trying to fix things to make sure Negan didn't die, and I didn't die. I slit Negan's throat during our fight, and I was going to let him die. Then I saw Carl looking at me and I couldn't. I did all of it for Carl. Everything I've done since the start has been for Carl. I knew he was right. That war wouldn't have solved anything with Negan dying. Negan being alive is the only way the true new world can begin. It was Carl, not me. It was all Carl," Rick says. Everybody stays silent for a few minutes.

"Then why do people believe it was your decision?" Shane questions.

"I didn't want them to get mad at him or hurt him. I know it won't last forever, and I know Carl has told people and will continue to. I wanted to protect him," Rick tells them.

Daryl looks at him "Rick I get that...but he's a grown man who can make his own decisions."

"I know that." Rick said, gritting his teeth...but he sighed and pinched the brow between his eyes "Maggie's still furious...she said that I didn't ask for her opinion...and...I said I...I would follow her."

This came as a surprise to the other three who looked at Rick, who explained "I...so many had died...Alexandria had craters, we lost the Kingdom, Hilltop under siege...I didn't think I was the leader we needed...and I thought Maggie was."

Shane asked gently "What changed?"

"When Maggie said she was gonna start executing her prisoners, claiming it was cause they didn't have enough mouths to feed...her and Carl got into an argument over it...Carl said it's what Glenn would have done. We ALL know what he would have done."

After a moment...the group knew what Glenn would do if he had the prisoners

Shane looks all three of them in the eye, considering this.

"Is that it?" Daryl questions.

"No, I want to start taking Negan on runs," Shane says in a firm, steady voice. All three of them stare at him in shock.

Maggie's P.O.V

Maggie walks outside and walks down to Earl. "Earl," Maggie says to the blacksmith who looks at her. "Where's Carl?"

"I gave him the day off," Earl explains to Maggie, who nods.

"Daryl told me they got a plow over at the campgrounds. That would be useful here," Maggie says.

"Sure it would, but it won't be easy finding another one," Earl answers.

"Do you think you would be able to recreate it if I got it for you?" Maggie questions Earl.

"I suppose I could, but it won't be easy to get it. It is coming time to start to plant Maggie. They are going to want that," Earl says.

"I'll talk to Daryl about it later," Maggie says as she leaves to go find Carl.

Clementine's P.O.V

Clementine once again was sitting at the lake with AJ. The only difference this time is that they were sitting in the grass. Clementine watches the boy play with a smile on her face. "Not a lot of kids here your own age, huh?" Anne asks as he walks over to her.

"No, not really. I know Rick has a son my age, but they are at Hilltop," Clementine says as Anne sits down on the bench. She smiles at AJ, who smiles back at her.

"Then why choose Alexandria and not Hilltop?" Anne questions Clementine.

"It's better for AJ," Clementine answers. "This place is better for a kid to grow up in because it is closer to what the world used to be. I haven't been friends with kids my age for a while. It has been AJ, Kenny, and me for a while, and I'm okay with that," Clementine explains to Anne, who nods.

"I think you're pretty cool," Anne says to Clementine, who smiles. They hear Gabriel shout her name. "Gotta go," Anne says. She stops. "I'm Anne, by the way."

"Clementine," Clementine says to Anne, who nods as she walks away.

Tara's P.O.V

Tara drives down the road with Beth. She reaches into the console and pulls out a bag of beef jerky. "Where did you get that?" Beth questions.

"I took it from Cole when he first got here," Tara admits, making Beth laugh. Tara holds the bag out to Beth, who takes a piece and starts to eat it. "So tell me something about yourself, Beth. I know nothing about you, and you know nothing about me."

"I was going to be a vet like my Daddy," Beth admits to Tara, who nods.

"I was in training to become a cop. I told the Governor I was one," Tara tells Beth.

"Didn't Maggie ask you to be part of that thing Amanda is doing?" Beth asks Tara, who nods.

"Yeah, I said yes," Tara tells her. "I think she will be talking to Carl and Al about it," Beth nods as she looks at the field.

"What did Dwight do to you?" Beth asks Tara. "I saw you glaring at him when Maggie went there."

"I don't hate Dwight anymore, but it's hard not to glare at him. Dwight killed my girlfriend. After Daryl went into the woods, he shot Daryl and took Michonne, Glenn, Daryl, and Rosita hostage. That is how they ended up in the lineup," Beth nods.

"I'm sorry about your girlfriend," Beth says. Tara nods.

"How old were you when you started riding?" Tara asks, changing the subject. Beth smiles at her, glad that they could talk about something else.

Cyndie's P.O.V

Cyndie sat in her trailer with a bottle in her hand and a cup in front of her. She looks at the door as Rachel walks in. "What?" Cyndie asks.

"Is this what you plan on doing for the rest of your life? Drinking?" Rachel asks.

"It helps me think," Cyndie says.

"About?" Rachel asks as she sits down.

"Ways to kill Negan without starting s***," Cyndie says. "As well as the rest of the saviors."

"Have you thought of anything?" Rachel questions.

"Sure, but most of them involve a shootout with Daryl's group," Cyndie explains.

"We could win that," Rachel says.

"Yeah, we could, but then we kill Daryl, and we'll be dead or anybody there, and we will be dead," Cyndie explains.

"Well, what about the rest of the saviors?" Rachel asks.

"If we could get them here, it would be easy. Hell, we could pin it on Daryl with his crossbow," Cyndie says.

"Then we need to figure out a way to get the saviors here," Rachel says, making Cyndie nod.

After a moment, Rachel asked, "What about Hilltop's leader-"

"No."

Rachel looked taken aback, it being known that she was also furious with Grimes's decision...having done it without consulting the others "NO?"

Cyndie firmly shook her head "No. There's a chance, however small, that she won't for it and alert that damn redneck and Grimes. She stays out of this...got it?"

Her sister nodded and left the Oceanside leader alone, pouring another cup.

They were going to kill Negan and the saviors, and they were willing to no matter what it took or who they hurt.

Thanks for reading. So I will say that Oceanside is going to be a sort of bad group in this story. Not all of them but some of them for sure you will see that. The next chapter will continue the scene with Shane, Rick, Shane, and Daryl. As always, suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.