Chapter 3-Talking with an old friend
Daryl's P.O.V
Daryl stares at the man he once hated. "Rick said he killed you?"
"He was very close," Shane says.
"You know each other?" Morgan asks as the camp watches them.
"We were together at the beginning," Daryl says. "Until Hershel's farm. When he tried to kill Rick."
Morgan looks at Shane, who nods. "I did," Shane says. "It was a mistake, one I wish I could make up. Is he alive? Rick?"
"I don't know," Daryl says. "That's why I'm here. I'm looking for Rick. A lot has happened. Glenn, T-dog, Merle, Beth, Hershel, and Lori. They didn't make it," Daryl says.
"The baby?" Shane asks.
"Alive, her name is Judith," Daryl says. "Maybe someday you'll see her."
"Carl?"
"Alive, he's lost an eye, but he is alive," Daryl says. "So you're with them?"
"After the farm, I ran into them. I was with Alicia and Nick's mother before we lost her. They're my family."
"You wanna make up for everything you did?" Daryl asks Shane, who nods. "Help me find him. I'll be down here for a few weeks, seeing if I can find him. Help me."
"I will. Come on, let's get something to eat. You can tell me what has happened and fill me in on the details of what happened to Rick," Shane says as he leads Daryl away.
Maggie's P.O.V
Maggie sat in her office, staring at the list of their food. She looks at the door as there is a knock. She looks at the door. "Come in," She says, and Alden pushes the door open. "What is it?"
"Earl needs some more steel. Usually, we would get it from Alexandria, but that isn't a choice anymore, so I'm going to the Kingdom. I'll see what Ezekiel can spare," Alden says.
"I'm coming," Maggie says. "I have to talk with Ezekiel and Carol."
Alden nods as he walks away, and Maggie follows after a moment.
Carl's P.O.V
Carl was sitting in his house when there was a knock at the door. He was to the door and opened it. He looks at Abraham. "What's up, Abraham?"
"I need to talk with Michonne," Abraham says, and Carl nods as he lets the man inside. "Michonne," Abraham says.
"I'm in the kitchen," Michonne says, and the large man walks into the kitchen. "Is there a problem?"
"Yes, we have a council, Michonne," Abraham says. "That was the decision we made after Rick. There is a council, Gabriel, Carl, Aaron, Laura, Enid, and I," Abraham says. "You made a decision that affected us all without talking with any of us."
"Maggie is the reason that Rick is gone," Michonne says.
"That doesn't give you the right to make the decisions for all of Alexandria," Abraham says. "You need to call a meeting. Let us make this decision."
"I will not," Michonne says. "My decision is final."
"Of course, want me to get on my knees and call myself, Michonne? Rick would be ashamed of you," Abraham says before he storms out of the house, slamming the door shut behind him and leaving Michonne standing there as Carl stares at her.
Daryl's P.O.V
Daryl sat with Shane as he finished telling him what had happened since the farm. "Rick loved Glenn. I don't see why he would spare his killer," Shane says.
"He did it for, Carl. That kid...I hope you get to meet him. He's braver than any one of us and a great leader, just like, Rick. He's the future."
"I hope I get to meet him too," Shane says. "You said this man, Gabriel saw a chopper, and this woman Anne disappeared the same day as Rick," Shane says, and Shane nods. "How did he describe?"
"Black with three circles connected," Daryl asks. Shane looks around and sees Alicia.
"Alicia," Shane says, making her look at him. "Can you get, Al?"
Alicia nods as she walks away, and a few minutes Al walks over to them, and Shane motions for her to sit. "I made you a promise, Al. I have to break it."
"Shane, please."
"I'm sorry, Al. I owe this to Rick. Please let me tell him."
"Nobody else," Al says after a couple of minutes. "Listen, I saw a walker after our plane crashed. It was wearing one of their armors, and when I came back, I was knocked out by a woman, she didn't tell me much, but I saw her chopper, it's the same as the one that your friend saw and if they found your friend, Rick, alive. They might have taken him if they thought he could be useful or if your friend Anne went with them. She could have convinced them."
"Have you seen them since?" Daryl asks.
"No, but she said they fly to this area sometimes for supplies. I'm hoping to see her again," Al says.
"Thank you," Daryl says, and she nods as she walks away.
Alden's P.O.V
The gates to the Kingdom open, and Maggie rides into it with Alden. They climb off their horses and look at Ezekiel as he walks up to them. "What can I do for you, Maggie?" Ezekiel asks.
"We need steel," Maggie says.
"Alexandria has more than us. Why not ask, Michonne?" Ezekiel asks.
"Michonne has cut off trade between Hilltop and Alexandria," Maggie says. "She blames me for what happened to Rick. I did what I had to."
Ezekiel stayed silent for a moment before he spoke. "We don't have much to spare, but I am willing to give you some if you do something for the Kingdom?"
"What do you want?" Maggie asks.
"You have plenty of people," Ezekiel says. "Good fighters. The Kingdom needs fighters. Send me ten skilled fighters, and I will give you enough steel to last you two months. I need my steel, but I need fighters more."
"We have saviors who have moved to Hilltop. Some of them want fresh starts. I will send them and whoever else wishes to come here, but I will not force anybody to come here."
"I will give a quarter of the steel now, the rest when my fighters arrive," Ezekiel says. Maggie nods as they walk back towards their horse. "Maggie," She looks back at him as the gates open. "You're wrong. What you did it, it tour us apart. It made the war worth nothing," Ezekiel says before he walks away, and Maggie leaves with Alden beside her.
Daryl's P.O.V
Daryl sat down in front of his ten and started to make arrows. "Your friend? You know him before?" Alicia asks. Daryl looks at her.
"Nah, I met him during all of these. The first time I met him, I tried to kill him. He isn't my friend," Daryl says, making Alicia look at him confused. "He's my brother. In everything but blood."
"I've never been that close with anybody besides Shane, my brother, and my mother," Alicia says. "You mind if I sit down?"
"How'd you lose her?" Daryl asks.
"A group let a herd to the place we lived. My Mom saved us. She locked herself in the stadium with the herd so we could live," Alicia says. "She died for us."
"Rick, he led a herd of walkers onto a bridge and blew it up. He did it for us, for his kids," Daryl says.
"Looks like we have something in common. We were both saved by the person we loved most in the world," Alicia says. "I can tell."
"I wish I could have met your mother."
"I hope I get to meet Rick," Alicia says. "There's a run tomorrow. John, Nick, June, Dwight, and I are going on a run. We could use another."
"I'll come," Daryl says. "Might as well earn my keep while I'm here."
Alicia nods as she walks away.
Carl's P.O.V
Carl walked into the room that Negan's cell was in and looked at the former leader. "I heard some shouting," Negan says with a smirk.
"Abraham confronted Michonne about her choice to stop trade with Hilltop," Carl says.
"The big man scared the hell out of me. I thought about killing him, but I didn't."
"Why did you kill Glenn, then?"
"Because I wanted to crush your spirits, I saw the way all of you looked at him when he tried to protect Maggie, and that's when I knew he would be the one."
"You played a game with us, picked at random," Carl says.
"That is what I made you think, but it was bullshit. I would have killed your Dad, but I didn't want to kill him in front of you. I guess it doesn't matter. He got himself killed."
"Shut up," Carl growls. "He might still be alive. That's why Daryl left. He went..." Carl stops, and Negan smiles.
"Daryl is gone? Your Dad might be alive. Damn, this is interesting," Negan says.
"Yeah, he might be. Daryl left to find my Dad. He couldn't find him at the river," Carl says. "Sleep, Negan."
"Carl," Negan says, making the young man look at him. "I hope he's alive. You and your sister should have a father," Carl walks out of the room.
Maggie's P.O.V
Alden walked into Maggie's office that night and looked at the leader of Hilltop, who stood with a bottle on her desk. "Is that smart?" Alden asks.
"Everybody hates me," Maggie says.
"I don't," Alden says. "What you did, I understand why you did it, I know that someday they will forgive you, but first, you have to admit you were wrong."
Maggie was about to speak when Sasha came in. "I need to talk to her," Sasha tells Alden, who nods as he leaves the room. "He's right."
"You agree with him. I bet Abraham put some ideas in your head."
"We need all the communities, Maggie. We have to give up fighters so we can get more steel. If we still traded with Alexandria, they would ask for food, which we have plenty of."
"They blame me for something that isn't my fault. Rick shouldn't have walked on that fucking bridge. We didn't force him. If he had just kept his promise, none of this would have happened!" Maggie says in anger.
"Think about who you want to be, Maggie. Think about who you were. Think about who Glenn, Beth, and Hershel wanted you to be," Sasha says before she leaves the room, slamming the door shut behind her. Maggie pours herself another drink.
Thanks for reading. Next chapter, Daryl goes on a run. Alden tries his best to help Maggie. Carl tries to convince Michonne to listen to Abraham, and Abraham has a talk with Gabriel. As always, suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.
