Chapter 99-Clearing his head

Carl's P.O.V

Carl walked through the campgrounds the next day as everybody prepared to return to their communities. He walked up to Earl and sat down beside him. "Good to see you haven't forgotten about me yet, kid," Earl says with a smile.

"Sorry,"

"I'm giving you shit, kid," Earl says. "You ready to go home?"

"Yeah, it will be nice to sleep in my own bed again. So you're staying here until Hilltop is repaired?" Carl asks Earl, who nods.

"Yeah, it's going to be a little crowded here for a little while," Earl says with a sigh.

Carl stays silent for a moment before he speaks. "Why don't you come back to Alexandria? It will be less crowded, and we have a forge now. We could work together again," Carl offers. Earl looks at him and smiles.

"Sure, kid. Let me go talk with Tammy and Kenneth," Earl says as he stands up and walks away from him. After a moment, Carl stands up and walks to Negan's cabin. He knocks on the door.

"Come in," He hears Negan say from inside. Carl pushes the door open and walks in. "Have you come to put me out of my misery?" Negan asks as he lies on his couch.

"You're being dramatic," Carl says as he sits on the edge of the couch. "My Dad has been doing this for three years."

"Your Dad survived a bridge explosion. I'm convinced he just can't die."

"We're leaving soon. I just wanted to say bye."

Negan nods as he pushes himself up and throws his legs over the couch. "You better relax, kid. Spend some time with a daughter. Hopefully, we can have a couple more years of peace before something else tries to kill us. So enjoy it."

"Are you going to use the peace we have?" Carl asks him. "Maybe try and live a little."

"Maybe I will."

Carl nods as Enid opens the door. "Carl, we're leaving."

Carl nods as he stands up. "Try and stay out of trouble."

"I'll be my best," Negan says with a smirk. Carl nods with a smile as he leaves the cabin.

Alden's P.O.V

Alden sat on his porch holding the ring he was going to give Luciana. "Hey," Maggie says as she walks up to him and sits down beside him. "You looked tired."

"Didn't sleep much," Alden tells her. "Didn't even sleep in our bed. Slept on the couch."

Maggie nods as she lays her hand on Alden's arm. "I can't say I know what you're going through. I lost Glenn, but I still had Hershel. You lost both."

Alden nods as he puts the ring in his pocket. "I think I'm going to leave for a little while."

"Go to another community?" Maggie asks Alden, who shakes his head.

"No, just leave. Everything here reminds me of her, what I've lost. It's crushing me, Maggie. The pain is excruciating. I need to leave, clear my head for a little while."

"You'll be alone."

"I know. I think I need to be alone right now. I'll come back. You guys are my family. Daryl and Morgan left. They came back better, different. Maybe it can have the same effect on me. Give me some time to clear my head."

"How long?" Maggie asks him.

"I don't know, but I think I need to do this."

"You do what you have to do, Alden."

"I'm gonna go talk to Daryl," Alden says as he stands up. He walks away from Maggie and towards the infirmary. He walks inside and looks at Daryl, who is sitting with Alicia. "Can we talk?" He asks Daryl, who nods as he stands up and follows Alden outside.

"What's up?" Daryl asks him.

"I'm leaving, going to go on the road for a little while. Clear my head," Alden tells him. Daryl nods, understanding where the man was coming from.

"Let us get you a car and some supplies."

Alden nods as he walks away.

Shane's P.O.V

Shane, Madison, Marco, John, Kate, Charlie, and Rachel step out of their cars at the construction site. "Javier said they should be here soon," Kate says as they walk through the site with their weapons out. They get to where wood and metal are being kept.

"You think this will be enough?" Marco asks.

"It should be," Shane says as he looks at it. "Marco, take Charlie and Rachel and check the trailer," Shane tells Marco, who nods as he walks away with Charlie and Rachel behind him.

They turn around as they hear trucks. Three trucks come into the construction site, and Javier and Gabe climb out of them. "Is there enough?" Javier asks.

"Yeah," Shane tells him. "You might have some extra after you are done."

Javier nods as Marco comes out of the trailer. "It's clear," He tells them as Rachel and Charlie follow.

"Well, let's get to work. We have a lot to move," Shane tells them as they begin to work.

Negan's P.O.V

Negan sat on his chair on his porch, reading a book. He looked up when he heard someone clear his throat. Maggie stood on the steps to his porch staring at him. "You aren't here to kill me, are you?" Negan asks Maggie, who shakes her head. "I can't help with much. What do you need?" Negan asks.

"How's your leg?" Maggie asks him.

"Hurts like hell," Negan tells her. "Probably makes you happy."

"I won't lie, it does make me a feel a little better. You risked your life, and because of that, I was able to get back to my son. I still don't like you, and you were right. I will never forgive you for what you did to Glenn. But, thank-"

"Don't," Negan says, cutting her off. "Don't thank me. I don't deserve it. Just go be with your son."

Maggie nods as she leaves the porch.

Alicia's P.O.V

Alicia slowly stood up with Daryl's help. "We'll take it slowly," Daryl tells her as he helps her slowly walk out of the infirmary. He helps her down the steps. Alicia looks at Merle and Ofelia, who were playing with Hershel and dog.

"Where are Rosita and Morgan?" Alicia asks Daryl.

"Big cabin," Daryl says as he helps her slowly walk over to the big cabin. They go inside and see Morgan, Al, Rosita, Coco, and June.

"How are you feeling, Alicia?" June asks.

"Weak," Alicia says as Daryl helps her sit down. "When are you guys starting the repairs on Hilltop?"

"Daniel, Strand, and Cole are getting the supplies from the warehouse right now," Al tells her.

"And where is everybody else?"

"Getting supplies for Richmond," Morgan says. "Alden is packing."

"Daryl told me he's leaving for a little while. He lost his girlfriend and child on the same day. I couldn't imagine that," Alicia says as she takes Daryl's hand.

"Hopefully, none of us will have to go through that," Rosita says. "I'm going to go lay Coco down," She says as she leaves.

Alden's P.O.V

Alden walks up to Negan's cabin and looks at his former leader. "I heard you are going out on your own like a big boy," Negan says as he looks at him.

"You're an asshole," Alden tells Negan, who chuckles. "You're the only person left here I need to say goodbye to besides Daryl and Morgan. I remember when Daryl let you out. I was pissed, not like Maggie, but I didn't like it. Looking back at it now. I'm happy they let you out. You're still an asshole, but you're a better man. Take care of them, asshole."

"Take care of yourself. I'll do my best to keep them out of trouble."

Alden nods as he goes to his cabin, grabs his bag, and goes towards the truck. Alden set his bag in the back of his truck and looked at Daryl and Morgan. "You sure you don't want to wait for the others?" Daryl asks him.

"No, I don't want all those goodbyes. You guys will see me again," Alden tells him. "Thank you, both of you, for what you've done for me. I would have never met Lucy without either of you. You guys gave me a chance here."

"You're one of us, Alden. Always, regardless of what happens out there. You will always have a home here," Morgan tells the man as he hugs him. Alden nods as he lets him go and hugs Daryl.

"You have any idea where you are going to go?" Daryl asks him.

"No. I'll just see where the road takes me," Alden says as he goes to the driver's side door. He opens the door and climbs in before leaving the campgrounds.

Carl's P.O.V

Carl walks inside his house and puts his bag down on the table. Enid grabs his bag and goes upstairs. He looks at Arya as she sits down. "How did your training with Rosita go?"

"Good, I bet I could kick your ass now."

"Language, Arya," Carl tells her. "Maybe another time. I would like to lay in my bed and sleep for a week."

"What's it like? Fighting other people? Killing someone?" Arya asks Carl, who sighs as he takes off his hat and sets it down beside him as he runs his hand through his hair.

"The first person I killed was a boy from Woodbury, the Governor's camp. We'd lost Mom, T-dog, and Merle. He came running into the woods, and we held him at gunpoint. He was giving up his gun. But I killed him anyways."

"Why?" Arya asks.

"Because I was scared," Carl says as he looks into her eyes. "I hope you never have to kill anybody, Arya. You don't forget it. Dad took my gun from me after, and I'm glad he did. Never kill anybody if you don't to,"

"I know," She tells him as Enid comes downstairs.

"Arya, come help me make dinner," Enid tells her daughter as she walks towards the kitchen. Arya nods as she stands up and follows her. Carl picks his hat up and puts it on his head. He stood up and looked at Enid and Arya with a smile. He stood there and hoped that this peace would last forever.

Thanks for reading. I have plans with Alden leaving. We'll check in with him throughout these chapters. The next chapter will feature a time skip. Probably a couple of months. As always, suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.