Chapter 151-Meeting Alpha

Daryl's P.O.V

Daryl walked into the radio room after being told that Rick needed him, still sweating from the latest attack. "I'm here, Rick."

"She wants to meet Daryl," Rick tells him.

"What?" Daryl growls, knowing who the 'She' had to be.

"One of them was just here, told us that if we want the attacks to stop that we need to go the north border and wait. We're going to Hilltop, All of us. We'll talk more there." Rick tells Daryl.

"Okay, I'll meet you there. And...Rick. Hershel knows." Daryl tells Rick, who stays silent for a minute.

"We'll deal with that later. Right now, we need to meet Alpha." Rick tells Daryl, who nods as he leaves.

Maggie's P.O.V

Maggie sat on the steps to Hilltop and looked at the gate as it opened, and Ezekiel, Carol, Daryl, Alicia, Negan, Morgan, Rosita, Arya, and Lydia came in. Daryl climbs off his bike and walks up to her.

"Daryl." She greeted quietly, seeing Carol and Ezekiel look at this worriedly, Negan with an expressionless face

"We gotta talk," He says as he goes inside, and Maggie sighs as she follows Daryl into the office. Daryl shuts the door and turned to her, his face full of aggravated exasperation. "Hershel radioed me, and I already told Rick. Why the hell did you tell him, Maggie? Now, of all times? We should have waited until after Alpha and the rest of her freaks were dead."

Maggie sighs. "I couldn't. I don't know when that will be or if I'm going to be alive; none of us could have expected the damage she was going to do. The Sanctuary is gone, and Reilly is dead. He needed to hear it from me." Then she paused, looking away. "He hates me, Daryl. For letting him live."

"That ain't your fault, and I told him that. We didn't give you a choice either time. I made the decision to let him out. Hershel should be pissed off at me or, hell, even Rick or Carl. Nobody else." Daryl asks. Then he thought a dark thought and asked gravely, "Maggie, did you ever tell him...how he died?"

"No, never. I just said he was killed by a 'Bad Man,'" Maggie says. "Are you going to tell him?"

"Not all of it...but...my role," Daryl says softly.

"Daryl-"

"Don't say it wasn't my fault," Daryl says as he sits down. "He was done, he killed Abraham, and he was done. If I hadn't punched him, Glenn would still be alive. You told him what you needed to. Now it's my turn." Daryl says as he looks at her. "Is he coming?"

"Althea's bringing him back," Maggie says softly, and Daryl nods as he stands up, and Maggie stops him. "I'm not going to stop you, but you know if you tell him this, he might not see it the same way I do. He might hate you and never forgive you."

"I know." Daryl sighed before he left the room, leaving Maggie alone...and a rare prayer that her son wouldn't hate Daryl as well.

Carl's P.O.V

Everybody was gathered outside as Rick started to speak on the front porch of Barrington. "We have to meet with her. I don't like it either, but we don't have a choice. If she is offering peace, we have to take it, at least until we find the herd and figure out a way to fight her on even ground."

"It could be a trap," Tara says.

"You're right. It could be." Daryl says. "We've been fighting these herds for about 28 hours, and Sanctuary has already been lost. Reilly's dead. How long until it is Kingdom, Alexandria, Hilltop, or until she finds the Camp? My point is we can't beat her right now. She knows where we are, but we don't know where she is. We don't know where that herd is," Daryl says. "It might be a trap, but it's a risk we have to take."

"Daryl's right, but so is Tara. It might be a trap. That's why Daryl isn't going." Rick says, making Daryl look at him.

"What the hell do you mean I'm not going?" Daryl growls.

"Because it could be a trap. You're not going. If worse comes to worst, I know the people are in good hands. You've done a better job than me for the last ten years, better together, but we need you here." Rick says firmly, and Daryl stays silent for a moment before he nods.

"So, who goes?" Negan asks.

"We shouldn't do this!" Carl looks down to see Frankie push herself to the front, face red and full of fire. "We shouldn't even be considering peace. We should go there and kill her. Reilly died fighting her, so I want to know what we're going do to put the bitches head on a spike like she did to us!"

"She would likely see an attack coming," Ozzy said in their defense.

"Oh, like you're such a fucking expert. Last time we relied on you, our people got taken!" Tara snapped at him angrily, causing several of the Highwaymen to stand in protection of their leader.

"Rick." Blinking, Rick turned to see Lydia speaking up to many startled expressions as if surprised to see her here "This isn't like her. She's never called for a truce."

Nearby, Kenneth gave her a cold look, memories raw from the death of his mother

"Why is she-"

But he's cut off by Negan suddenly standing, eyes locked on him, daring him to say another word.

"Enough!" Daryl shouts, causing everybody to stop talking, Carl in mid-movement to calm Negan down. "All this is for is to buy us time to prepare, to kill her. I promise you, we promise you. Alpha will die for what she did to our people. Now listen to Rick." Daryl says, and everyone stays silent.

"Carl and I talked about this. Myself, Carl, Ezekiel, Beth, Sherry, Gabriel, Alden, and Daniel." Rick says, many of them nodding, but then one voice spoke up.

"I want to come." And Carl was stunned to See Kate there, arms crossed.

"What the- Oh fuck no, you're not getting near her." Negan protested.

"I have to. She almost took my head and killed our daughter, And I'm going to show her I'm not gonna be afraid of her." Kate snapped.

"But-"

"I'm not asking your permission. I'm going." Negan just stared in defeat at that.

"Alright then," Rick says after a moment. "We leave in an hour."

Hershel's P.O.V

Hershel watched as Rick's group left and the gates closed. "Let's talk," Daryl says from behind him.

Turning, Hershel said exasperated, having an idea what he was going to say, "Uncle Daryl-"

"That ain't a suggestion, Hershel." Daryl said to him firmly...then slumped his shoulders, "Please."

Knowing his Uncle Daryl meant well, Hershel took his hand and led him around his home...and realized he was at his father's grave, which he and his mother visited at least once or twice a week.

"Here, really?" Hershel asks Daryl, who nods.

"We didn't lie about that part...Negan did kill your Dad, but he's dead cause of me." Daryl bowed his head, touching the cross.

"What?" Hershel asks. Daryl turns to look at him, sitting on the ground at eye level with the boy.

"Dwight had killed someone; her name was Denise, and I went after him. Your Dad, Grandma Michonne, and Aunt Rosita came after me, and we got caught. The next time we saw everybody, we were on our knees before a large group of people, with Negan coming out. He wanted revenge for us attacking his people and wanted to punish us for it. He killed Abraham, and he was done, but he put the bat in Rosita's face. She loved Abraham, and it pissed me off, and I punched Negan. He killed Glenn after I hit him. He killed him because I punched him. Negan may have swung that bat, but I'm the reason your Dad is dead, Hershel," Daryl says as a tear goes down his eye. "You can hate me; just don't hate your Mom or Carl or Rick."

Hershel stared, wide-eyed, before backing up a step...then running into his house.

Negan's P.O.V

Negan watched Hershel as he walked away from Daryl. "He told him," He turned around and looked at Alicia. "How Glenn died, the reason why he blames himself."

"Why the hell would he do that?" Negan says.

"He said it was because Hershel deserved the whole truth, but I think it's because he doesn't want you taking all the blame," Alicia says.

"I deserve the blame, though. He doesn't. He loves the boy almost as much as he loves his own kids. When I put that bat in Rosita's face, I knew one of them would react. I needed them to see that I wasn't lying. It isn't his fault."

"He'll never listen to any of us about that," Alicia says before she lays her hand on his shoulder and walks over to Daryl.

Kate's P.O.V

"Kate-"

Kate sighed as she sat in the armory, getting a gun. "Clint, I'll be fine."

The Richmond council leader slumped. "I know, but Javier would have my head if you're harmed. He's coming with a squad from Richmond right now. He said he'll be here by tomorrow or the day after at the latest."

Pausing, she turned with worry. "Gabe?"

Holding his hands up, Clint said, "In Richmond, he's the one in charge. Javier said he wasn't happy about it, but he's gonna watch the roads in case the worst happens."

Sighing in relief as her former stepson's son was at least out of danger, she said, "Alright, let me know when he gets here."

Nodding, Clint left, and Kate went back to gathering her ammo, but as she headed up...

She found Lydia waiting for her. "Why are you going?"

"...Lydia..." Kate stared. "Rick won't let anything happen."

"You don't know that. What if my Mother does something? What if she takes you all again? What if-" Lydia started to tear up and sped up talking...cut off by Kate putting her hands on the girl's shoulder tenderly.

"Listen...to me. I will be back before you know it, and you'll be fine here." She pressed her lips together. "Did you also want to come to see her?"

Lydia shifted. "I...maybe if I talked to her-"

"There's no talking to her, sweetheart." Kate said frankly, yet gently, "She made her choice when she came back after the winter...I know she's your mother, but you have a family here."

Shyly, Lydia looked down, causing Kate to hug her reassuringly, their heads together...as Kate once more wondered how such a kind girl came from such a cruel woman.

Rick's P.O.V

That night, Rick, Gabriel, Carl, Ezekiel, Kate, Beth, Daniel, and Alden stood by the spikes, watching a herd of walkers as they moved in a circle. After a couple of minutes, they tensed as they saw many Whisperers emerge, and as they got closer, one of them revealed their mask.

Rick tensed as with the others as there was Alpha, pacing back and forth almost stiffly and unnaturally, then she stopped staring at Rick with her cold, almost inhuman gaze.

"There was one rule between our people. One law. Stay where you are. Yet you disobey."

"We only crossed once." Rick started fingers in his belt, meeting her gaze unflinching.

"Two times." Alpha corrected. "I know everything, Rick Grimes," Alpha says as she stares into his eyes and then looks at Carl. "This is your boy. And I already met your daughter."

"Don't look at him, and don't you dare speak about Judith." Rick growls.

"They're strong. I could see that. My daughter...she was strong as well."

"Is."

Alpha turned cold, dead eyes to Kate as Rick gave her a pleading look.

Kate smiled unpleasantly at the woman who came an inch from putting her on the spikes. "Is. Not Was. Sorry Rick, just clearing up a grammar issue."

For several long moments, Alpha stared at Kate rigidly as Rick saw several Whisperers glancing at each other silently as if confused.

"Where is the other one, Daryl? Aren't you both the leaders of your 'New World'?" Alpha resumed speaking, looking back at Rick almost tauntingly.

"He stayed behind, just in case," Rick says, nerves steady as he gestured with a finger to his son to remain steady, not breaking his gaze from the merciless Whisperer Leader.

"Ahhh, wise. Just in case we killed you like you did my people. We found them when we returned." Alpha said darkly.

"I apologize," Rick says. "Shane, Madison, John, and Strand. They lost someone, Nick. He was Shane and Madison's son and Strand's friend. John lost his Father."

Alpha sneered, "There was retaliation when you assaulted our camp. But I remember them both. Nick talked quite highly about his family, as did the old man, right before I took their heads."

Rick grips his hatchet as he stares at her but stops as he hears an angry voice.

"Nick had a daughter, you fucking lunatic!" Sherry shouts as she moves towards Alpha, but Daniel grabs her.

"Not now," He growls. "Not now," Sherry stopped but never broke her gaze from Alpha as she backed up, who remained unmoved.

"I'm sorry about that." Rick tried to say, but Alpha cut this off.

"I don't wanna hear it from you." As she kept staring at Sherry.

"Sorry," Sherry said through hissing teeth after a moment.

"You are forgiven," Alpha says before she looks at Rick. "Not only did you cross my border and kill my people, but then you crossed again, no doubt looking for my herd. For that, there must be punishment." Alpha says as her people remove their weapons, Rick holding up a hand as Beth draws her rifle and Carl draws his own Colt, unafraid

"But..." She continued, causing Rick to blink, unsure what she was thinking. "I am merciful. Your people lost someone. I understand that you were scared. So I offer peace."

"What's the catch?" Carl asked out loud.

"More land. The creek that winds into the valley that is your new southern border. We will mark the new border to the north."

"That'll cut off our hunting grounds!" Beth protested. "We don't have to stand and listen to this-"

"Beth!" Rick cut in harshly, eying Alpha as he called over to her.

"This what?" Alpha asks.

"To this bullshit!" Beth continued, eyes angrily glaring daggers at Alpha.

"That's it. Come on. We're done. Let's go." Carl says as he walks towards her.

"We're not," Alpha says as Carl freezes, hands an inch from his guns, looking between his father and Alpha as if awaiting a signal.

"Not until this one lowers her eyes to my feet."

Beth just shook, staring back at her.

"You were with them, Lily, the one with the boy. You were with her sister...the rat told me about you two. He had much to say about all of you. The Liar Rick Grimes, his 'Fool' of a son, the Priest...and you. Her sister was your wife; she begged me not to kill her, and the one known as Jesus, he was your friend. I remember the sound of their heads coming off." Alpha said with cruelty and a vicious smile.

Beth aims her gun at Alpha. Rick grabs her arm and pushes her arm down as she fires, and the bullet goes into the dirt, as Alpha steps back, the Whisperers raising their own weapons. "I apologize for my friend," Carl says as Rick holds Beth. "We have not slept, and she lost family."

Alpha looks at Beth. "I forgive you," Alpha says as she pulls a stick out, pointing at them as the Whisperers took aim at them. "This is my land now. You better run."

"Let's go," Rick says as he pushes Beth towards the woods. They get into the woods. "What the fuck was that?" Rick growls.

"Doesn't matter. She isn't dead. Let's get home," Beth says as she walks away, and Rick looks at her, then at the border as the Whisperers began to leave.

Looking at it, and how quiet it had been when it arrived, an idea started to form.

Thanks for reading. In the next chapter, Daryl and Rick deal with Beth and form a risky plan, while Alpha deals with unrest among her People. As always, suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.