Chapter 171-His offer
Daryl's P.O.V
Daryl sat outside of where he and his family were staying in the Kingdom, watching the sunrise as he smoked a cigarette. "I thought you quit." Rick says as he walks up to him, a few feet away.
"I mostly did, just have one when every once and a while," Daryl says. "What are you doing up? Sun isn't even up."
"Couldn't sleep," Rick tells him.
"Me either." Daryl says. "So what are we doing today?"
"We're all going to go back to Alexandria, talk with Lance and then you need to figure out where you are going to go." Rick informed. Then he paused for a minute as Daryl heard Rick's voice go quieter. "I saw the flower on Carol's grave."
"Yeah." Daryl muttered, then his voice grew harder. "I hope you don't think I'm going to reconsider, I'm done, Rick."
"I know." Rick says as he sits down beside him. "I wish you weren't done, but I also understand, just don't push us away, Daryl."
"I won't." Feeling a sense of exhaustion he stood, not wanting to talk more about this. "I'm going to try and get some sleep."
Rick nods at him once as Daryl walks inside, feeling Rick's gaze the whole time.
Ezekiel's P.O.V
Ezekiel sat on his bed staring at the spot that Carol once laid with a blank look. "Boss?" Ezekiel looks at the door where Jerry stood.
"What are you doing here, Jerry?" Ezekiel asks solemnly.
"After I made sure you got into bed, I slept on your couch." Shrugging like it wasn't a big deal.
"You should be with your wife and kids." Ezekiel argued tiredly, rubbing his face.
"They'll be fine, you need me right now, boss." Jerry says as he sits down. "I got to look around the Commonwealth while Lance and Mercer were gathering their soldiers. They have an amazing hospital Ezekiel. They'll be able to take care of that tumor." Ezekiel stays silent as Jerry looks at him with a smile.
But it slowly faded seeing Ezekiel looking back at the bed, a tear in his eye already forming.
"It doesn't matter anymore, Jerry. I wanted a life with Carol, but I can't have that anymore."
"No, you can't, but Henry still needs you. He needs his father, he has already lost his mother and brother. I don't know what you are going through right now, but I know Carol would want you take care of Henry and have a life. He needs his father, Zeke, don't make this mistake, you'll regret it when you can't go back." Jerry says before he stands up and leaves the room.
Saying partingly "Cause if you don't I'll drag you there myself."
Negan's P.O.V
Negan wheeled over to Daryl as he put his bag and crossbow on his bike. "The last few days have been terrible, but this makes me happy." Daryl says as he looks at Negan.
"Glad I could lift your spirits." Negan grunted. "So I have to go and stay in the Commonwealth for a while, I guess. Until I heal from all of this shit that Beta did to me."
"Good, you need to heal and I don't need to lose someone else I—" Daryl freezes as Negan grins.
"Were you about to say you love me, boss?" Negan said, putting a hand over his heart dramatically.
"No, I would never say that. You're a pain in my ass." Daryl shook his head and Negan cackled as John walks over to them.
"Hey, Alicia wants to talk with everybody from the Camp." John tells the two men who nod as they follow them, Negan grumbling the whole time being wheeled.
Alicia's P.O.V
Everybody from the former community stood around in the house that Daryl and Alicia had slept in. "So why are we all here?" Kate asks, hands behind Negan's wheelchair comfortingly.
"Yesterday, Lance came up to me and offered all of us, a place in the Commonwealth." Alicia says. "I want to know what you all think."
"It's going to be pretty tight with everybody from Hilltop and Sanctuary going to Alexandria and the Kingdom. And we know Meridian and Richmond have already been filled up." Daryl says. "Negan is going to be in the Commonwealth to their hospital, we should stick together."
"All of our friends are going to be here. Eugene said the Commonwealth is over ten hours away." Shane protested.
"I know." Alicia quietly nodded. "But we don't have a home, I don't want to push Rick and Ezekiel's resources more then they already are, and after what has happened, I don't think a fresh start would be the worse thing." Alicia says as she looks at Daryl.
"I think we should do it." Daryl says.
"I agree."" John says. "We need to stay together, and if Alicia is there, she'll be able to keep them in the loop for however long it lasts."
"You don't have to decide right now but think about it, try to decide before tonight, I would like to give Lance a number, now get ready to leave for Alexandria."
Alden's P.O.V
Alden walks up to Maggie as she talked with Beth. "Hey, can I talk to you for a second?" Alden asks Maggie who nods as Beth walks away. "You're going to rebuild, Hilltop? Right?"
"We're going to try." Maggie said slowly, brow furrowed at him. "Why?"
"It seems like the people from home are going to move to the Commonwealth. I don't know If that is the best choice for me."" Alden smiled at her. "I was wondering if you needed an extra hand?"
"What?" She asked, startled.
Alden himself looked taken aback "Maggie, you were the first one to stick her neck out for me. I'll always remember that and be grateful for that. Least I can do is help repair your home."
"As much as I would love that, I'm going to have to tell you no." Maggie looked a bit pained, but resolved.
"What? Why?"
"I heard Magna's group talking last night, they're going to stay in the Commonwealth if Lance offers. That means Connie is going to be there," Maggie says. "You don't belong here with me. I belong with her, wherever she is. So if she goes, you are going and if you don't. I'm going to tie you up and throw you in one of those jeeps. You deserve to be happy and if someday she decides to come back, You'll always have a place in Hilltop."
"Are you sure?" Alden asks.
"Yes, if Al went I would go with her, you need this Alden." Maggie tells her friend who nods. "Alright?"
"Fine I see your point." He Sighed and then hugged her, as she hugged him back.
"But don't be a stranger." Maggie warmly stated.
"I won't."
Shane's P.O.V
Shane walked up to Madison as she put her bag in the wagon, his face grave with irritation. "We can't do this. Madison we barely know anything about these guys! We need to stay here."
"I'm not staying here, Shane." Madison says as she starts to walk to get the rest of her things.
"Everybody is here, Madison, our friends. Our Family!" Shane followed her, gesturing to the surroundings.
"My daughter is going to be there, so are my grandchildren and my soon to be born grandchild, I want to be by Alicia during her pregnancy." Madison says as she stops and looks at him.
"Alicia will be fine, she'll have Daryl." Shane pointed out sternly.
"Judith will have Rick, Michonne, and Carl." Madison pointed out her in particular, Shane drawing back. "I already lost one child, I'm going to be there for my other one. I'm not staying here while Alicia is at the Commonwealth. What you need is your choice, but I'm not leaving my child." Madison says before she walks away from her husband who watches her.
"Damn it." He cursed and closed his eyes
Lance's P.O.V
Checking things in his notebooks, Lance paused and saw a tired looking Negan sitting on a bench...looking over to see who Eugene said was Negan's de facto 'foster daughter' Lydia nearby, helping the King's son Henry plant flowers around a large impressive tiger statue.
"Mr. Smith?" Lance says with a smile. Negan looks at him and just stares at the man. The smile from Lance's smile falls for a moment as the former warlord just stares at him. Out of the corner of his eyes, Lance saw Lydia stand up straight looking at this but a small gesture from Negan got her to sit back down, not breaking gaze for a moment.
"You're Lance Hornsby?" Negan asks him after a moment.
"Yes, I am. I heard great things about you," Lance says as he holds his hand out to Negan who shakes it.
"Really? Cause I'm a dick. Oh also, it's just Negan. Mr Smith makes me sound older then I already am." Negan scoffed. "So you're the leader?"
"No, I am the director of the Commonwealth. But the Governor is Pamela Milton. I was glad to hear that you are coming to the Commonwealth."
"Don't have much of a choice." Negan says as he motions to the wheelchair.
"Lance." Mercer says as he walks up to them. "We gotta get ready to leave."
Negan looked over "Oh and you're Mercer huh? A Big fella ain't you!"
But Mercer just gave him a steady silent look, turning and walking off without another word.
"It was an honor, Negan. Have a good day," Lance bowed his head before he walks away, not sure why he felt his normally steady voice hitched like that.
But the whole time, Lance felt Negan's gaze burning a hole in the back of his head, a rare sense of unease filling his stomach.
Rick's P.O.V
Rick walked up to Regina as she talked with some of her soldiers. "You mind if we talk for a moment?" Rick asks Regina who motions for the soldiers to walk away.
"What's up?" Regina asks him casually, but Rick saw a bit of tenseness and he swore nervousness in the lines on her face.
"I just wanted us to talk, we didn't part on the best terms." Rick said, looking around...remembering her leaving soon after the New Frontier's attack, not liking the new deal with Oceanside after Cyndie and her people murdered several of her friends.
He won't lie, he could understand Cyndie's motives but the minute she put his family at risk for her vendetta made him lose sympathy for her.
Regina stared at that, then rubbed her head almost embarrassed "Yeah uh...fuck you're right. Did...they ever find out?"
"They learned after...after Hilltop. Hershel's understandable upset but...the rest still love him."
"Good." She looked back at him. "Rick I...look back then, I was so angry at everything. I guess I never got over the power I lost after the war. I held onto my anger from everything that happened and after Negan joined Daryl. I was pissed and then everything with Oceanside..." She paused to sigh, looking around "Leaving was good for me. I found my place at the Commonwealth and I'm going to do everything I can to make sure it works between the Commonwealth and the rest of you. I promise."
"What you did at the hospital, that makes up for all of it," Rick says. "I'm glad you found your place."
He paused "You talk to Him yet?"
Regina's confidence fell to an almost sheepish stare "He's not gonna want to see me."
"Even back then during his darker days, he trusted you. Maybe a friend, but he definitely trusted you." Rick calmly retorted "at least try."
With that he left her, with a conflicted look on her face.
Lance's P.O.V
Everybody stood by the church inside of Alexandria as Lance walked in front of them with a beaming smile. "Hello, everybody. I am Lance Hornsby and I come from a place called the Commonwealth. I am the deputy governor of the Commonwealth. When Eugene came to us and I heard your stories, I was on board immediately. You have all been to hell at one point or another and you have survived, but no only that, you have endured and made something amazing. The Commonwealth and your New World together will rebuild this world and that is what I and the governor of the Commonwealth want. We want to bring our worlds together, but first we must rebuild yours. The Commonwealth is at your disposal, we will be sending you supplies, to help you rebuild your communities and even make them better."
"What is in it for you?" Beth asks, arms crossed.
"We have more people, the world is all about people, the dead already own our world so the living, we must stay together, my hope is that one day, with our people together, we can remake the world." Lance looked at her then at the rest excitedly "We'll have schools, and hospitals. Parents will be able to drop their kids off at college, take them fishing or on a trip without them worrying about walkers, together I know that we can make that dream a reality. I want to start with a offer on top of my offer to help you repair your communities. I am offering to anybody here who wants it. A place in the Commonwealth, a fresh start for you and your family. Our leaders will work together to make an agreement between our people and hopefully that goes well but regardless, you will have our help and our hospitality. Together, we will make the world a better place for our future." Lance says with a grin.
"How long do we have to decide?" Madison asked
"Two days." Lance says. "We will leave the day after tomorrow to go back to the Commonwealth."
"The leaders of our communities are going so we can set up terms with the Commonwealth, whoever wants to come is welcomed. If you wish you can scope it out and make a choice." Rick says and Lance nods.
"Rick is absolutely correct, you are all welcomed to come and look at the Commonwealth and make a choice." Lance says. "That is all I have to say, thank you for your time and I hope together, we can remake the world."
With that Rick turned and shouted "Ok you heard him, let's spend today and the next to help start repairs and think it over!"
Lance nodded, truly impressed by the command Rick had of the room and looked around...then he saw it in the back of the room.
Lydia was behind Negan, the two motionless...Lydia talking with Kate next to her
And Negan kept staring at him, an almost blank look on his face.
Thanks for reading. Next chapter the group makes a choice on whether they will go to the Commonwealth, Jerry talks with Lance and Negan and Regina have a talk. As always suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.