Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.

A/N: There is a flashforward in italics.

Carl woke up to his internal clock and rolled over, sighing and burying his face in his pillow. He had a full schedule today, jammed packed with lessons with Dad and Carol in the lost limbs and/or eye club—not really, it was just patrol—and checking in with Mika for the trip that had been postponed until tonight after the banquet. He rolled out of bed and into the shower, scrubbing up and drying off quickly to ensure he wasn't late for meeting his dad and Carol, and he was glad to know he wasn't the only one lagging today. He met up with them just as they were on their way to the check in post. He greeted them with a nod of his head and checked in with Lolly. He scribbled his name down and noted that Mika had taken patrol on the outside with Glenn. He wondered what excitement they were seeing, and he hoped they had a safe trek.

It'd been five weeks since the battle with the Shah concluded. Everyone who had been injured were recovered enough to either attend the banquet or head home. It was up to the leaders who had come down to check on their wounded and ensure the treaties that had been signed weren't hiding anything in their wordy scripts. It'd been a very prolonged five weeks, nothing left to imagination, and Carl was glad when everyone was back home where they belonged. He couldn't take the Hilltop's people eyeing him with pity, and he couldn't take how Enid hovered. He loved his people and Enid, but he couldn't tolerate the sympathy. He didn't ask for it. He was in his own recovery, and he didn't need their feelings weighing him down.

That was his favorite part of hanging out with Mika. She didn't see him as the man who had lost a great love. She saw him for who he was, who she had always known him to be, and he respected her even more for that. He had grown to care and love Mika. She was just the friend he needed, and he hoped this big adventure was one full of laughter and brought them closer together. If they could survive a trip together, they could survive anything, and he needed friends who could and would stand by him through anything and everything.

"Mornin', Lolly." Rick scratched out his name on the chart and noted Michonne had taken the wall this morning. Explained why he woke up alone anyway.

"Good morning, Rick." She smiled charmingly at him and took the pen back, signing off on his signature. "Good morning, Carol."

"Morning." Carol managed a smile and signed her name last. "How are you today?"

"I'm very good." She rested her hands in her lap. "I've been working with the new leader of the Kingdom for a visit, but she says she isn't up for travel. Pregnancy and all. So, I think I'll suggest to Maggie to make a visit up there." In her off hours, she was Maggie's assistant. She did a damn good job, but sometimes she did provide too much information. "She's worried it's a high-risk pregnancy, you see. She's an older lady, and you'd understand that, right? With having had Owen so late in life?"

Carol chuckled lightly. "Yeah, I understand that."

"Oh, good. Would you like to travel with us then? Perhaps you can provide some information for her?"

"I'll think about it." She set the pen down and stepped back, turning to her patrol and support group buddies. "You ready?"

"Yup." Carl nodded.

"Let's hit the road." Rick made a gesture that suggested ladies first. "After you."

They did a normal sweep of the area, checking all the nooks and crannies on the wall, anything that looked like it was wearing down was marked and noted, and they stopped by the pantry to pick up some drinks for their weekly support group. They sat outside in the picnic area that doubled as the "drive-in" movie area, and they talked about nothing serious for the first few minutes, sipping on homemade cherry soda and talking about the kids.

Carl sat that conversation out as he had no children, and he heaved a silent sigh at the thought of never having children. If the person he loved just got taken from him, what was the point in trying? He'd loved and he'd lost, and he didn't want to go through that process again. He knew his dad didn't understand. Women like Michonne didn't fall off trees, and he doubted he'd find someone as amazing and caring and open as Astrid ever again. She was one of a kind. There was no replacing her, and he didn't want to. He would probably date again, but love again? Nah.

"Awfully silent over there," Rick commented at his son, who rolled the glass bottle between his palms and watched the sun make its way up, up, up. "Racing thoughts?"

"No. Just…distracted is all." He turned backed to his father and Carol. "What's going on?"

"We were just talking about your trip with Mika." Carol crossed her legs carefully and rested her hands in her lap. "That's tonight, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it's tonight." He nodded and set the bottle on the table. "We don't want to waste anymore time or be stopped by any emergencies that may arise. We know you all can handle yourselves."

"Thanks for the faith." Carol smiled softly. "You two have gotten so close lately."

"Yeah, I suppose we have," he nodded his head. "She's great. She's really the best friend I've had in a long time. I wish I would have given her a chance sooner. I kinda always thought of her as a nosy little kid, but…she's got some wisdom in there."

"That she does."

Rick cleared his throat and cut a look to his son. "How have y'all be getting along?"

"Just fine. Why?" Carl instantly knew where this conversation was going. He'd been talking to his mom about him and Mika for weeks now, even hanging out with Mom and Mika, and nothing ever came of it, but with Dad? There was always room for romance.

"She's a…very pretty woman," Rick commented, cutting a look to Carol, who silently twisted her wedding band and avoided contact with him. "And you might get some ideas about that."

"I hadn't noticed," Carl flatly replied.

"C'mon, it's hard not to notice," Rick pried. "She's always smiling and happy and buzzin' around you. She's really blossomed the last few weeks with your training sessions, and I think there could be something there."

"Jesus, Dad, can we not do this?" Carl blushed uncomfortably. "Can't we just be friends? And that's all?"

"Yeah, yeah, you two can just be friends, but…a lot can change on the road. Relying on each other and only each other. The cold nights. It's always a question." Rick was serious this time, setting his jaw and locking eyes with his son. "If Mika does start to fall for you, she'll fall hard."

"She won't fall in love with me, Dad. We're just friends. We've both made that perfectly clear."

"But life on the road for weeks with just you and only you as her company?" Carol painted a picture for him. "She'll rely on you more and more, and relying comes from trust. Trust can turn to love so quick when nobody else is around, and we're just worried you might not be ready to return any feeling she might get. Or know how to gently put her down."

"Or if you fall for her on the road," Rick suggested. "You're still vulnerable after losing Astrid, and Mika is…sort of a gentle heart, easy to love. We just want to be sure you two don't rush into anything."

"Then why is this just a conversation had with me?" he inquired. "Because I'm older, or because I'm more emotionally mature?"

"Mika is the more emotionally mature between the two of you," Carol said. "And yes, you are older than her. She's barely eighteen, and you have more of a handle on yourself than she does."

Carl shook his head. "Look, if anything happens, which I highly, highly doubt, it will be between Mika and me. We're both adults. We can handle ourselves just fine. Nothing is going to change between us. She's just my best friend, all right?"

"Carl, best friends make the best lovers," Rick shot back.

"Oh, my God." He couldn't stop the flush of heat to his cheeks. "I don't want to continue this conversation. If you'll excuse me, I have more errands to run before the banquet."

They all parted ways, Carl headed to the pantry to speak to Olivia and gather the supplies she had set aside for them, and Carol and Rick went to join Daryl at the food line for breakfast, and so Carol could have some support with walking back to home once his shift was over. Her new leg was fine and walker-proof, but honestly, she was still new to it, and it did hurt now and then when she lingered on it for too long, so it was best for Daryl to be nearby.

"Here, I'll get you some breakfast." Rick sat her down and weaved his way through the crowd, greeting people and kissing his wife on his way, and Michonne, RJ and Judith joined Carol at her table. Today was the last day of having the troops being here, the last day of joined breakfast, and the last day to honor those who had fallen and those who had survived. That was why Daryl and Theo had prepared a breakfast burrito with some questionable sour cream and a whole side of fresh cooked veggies. It smelled amazing inside here. He couldn't wait to try it.

"Hey, Rick, c'mere." Daryl waved him over.

"Hey, man, there's line!" someone lightly griped.

"Sorry, sorry." Rick jogged over to the front of the line and winced when most people griped, Daryl told them to shut it, or he'd break out the oatmeal, and Theo busted out laughing. "What's up?"

"Here." He handed him a tray of five burritos stacked on one side and bowls of veggies and sour cream on the other. It was heavy, and he'd have to be careful carrying it. "Family special."

"Thanks, man." He smiled at him. "Carol's over there by the doors."

"I see her. Take care of her for me, all right? I gotta lotta hungry people to serve."

"All right." He scooped up the tray and carried it over to his family, who unloaded it and snatched everything up. He hadn't even blinked before the hungry monsters snatched almost everything item off the tray, and he sat down and held his hands up in a gesture of peace so they couldn't try and attack him for any hidden food.

"Ha ha, Daddy." RJ bit into his burrito and wrinkled his nose when Mommy pushed the tray of veggies over to him.

"Eat those, too." She tapped the table with her nail. "Or no dessert at the banquet."

"Not fair," he cried. "Daddy!"

"Hey, I'm with her, partner."

Carol smiled at the interaction and unwrapped her burrito. "What do you think this is?"

"Cheese, beans and pork," Judith proudly identified every item in the burrito by taste.

"That'd be correct." Daryl placed a kiss to her cheek, she blushed and squeaked out in surprise, and he laughed. "Sorry, didn't mean to spook you."

"S'ok." She dug into her food to focus on something other than staring eyes on her blush.

"Hey." Daryl sat down beside Carol, who immediately asked who he why he wasn't working. "Nellie relieved me."

"Oh." She smiled. "Have you eaten?"

"Yeah, first thing." He pointed to the sour cream. "This is real good with the burrito."

"I'm not really hungry." Carol had sampled a bit of everything, but ultimately hadn't eaten much. "I need to talk to you."

"All right, but only after you eat this." He pointed to the meal in front of her. "Every bite."

"Cruel negotiator." She picked up the burrito and bit into it.

"Wait till we get home," he murmured by her ear and kissed her cheek. "So, y'all talk to Carl?"

"Yeah, and pissed him off," Rick confirmed. "He doesn't see it."

"They never see it." Michonne drank from her cup of water. "Especially the kid who lost his good eye." No offense, Carl, she thought to her son.

"That's harsh," RJ stated.

"So is the truth."

"Don't argue with Mommy," Judith said to her little brother. "She always has a comeback."

He nodded and sat back on the bench to finish off his burrito.

"I just hope she doesn't come back pregnant," Daryl confided. "I can't strangle the kid, but I can lecture him into bein' celibate."

"Sure, you can, honey." Carol patted his knee and shifted on the bench.

"That's sarcastic and hurtful," he mused.

"Good. It was meant to be." She smirked. "Now, please, help me eat this."

He leaned over and took a massive bite of her burrito, RJ giggled at the dinosaur roar he gave for the kids' amusement, and Judith smiled and picked out the carrots from her veggie dish, and Carol thanked him with a kiss on his cheek to lick off a stray piece of meat that stuck there.

"Get a room," Rick jested.

"We intend to." Carol winked at her husband, who—with full cheeks not unlike a squirrel—turned beet red and ducked his head, and she ate the last bite of the burrito. She stood up and carried the tray of veggies over to Michelle, who was currently three weeks pregnant and offered them to her. She gratefully accepted them and thanked Carol, and Carol and Daryl headed out.

They passed the Greenes and Rhees on their way to church, saying a few words to each other as they passed, and Daryl waited until they fell out of sight before he scooped his wife up into his arms. Carol was grateful, because she had had enough of her prosthetic. He carried her the rest of the way to the house and inside as the door was unlocked, and he sat her down on the couch. He kissed her softly then moved down to unclasp the prosthetic, she moaned blissfully once it was removed, and he smirked at the sight of her.

"Better?" He climbed on top of her.

"Much better." She wrapped her arms around his neck. "I missed you last night."

"Had a late patrol with Theo."

"Been spending an awful lot of time with Theo." She wasn't entirely jealous. She had invited her on their morning patrols to talk about what it felt like to lose her hand, but she declined. She wasn't the type to talk about it. She said she spoke to Jack about it, but Carol wasn't sure. She didn't pry, but she did have a feeling flirty Theo was back. She had no problem with the flirting, but she did have a problem with the possible openness of Theo and Jack's relationship.

"Only 'cause we signed up for the same shifts." He shrugged a shoulder and unbuttoned her blouse to kiss the exposed skin there. "Don't mean nothin'."

"Uh-huh." She tried to concentrate with his tongue tracing soft circles into her skin, her eyes sliding closed when his tongue darted into her bra and caught her nipple, his lips gently sucking.

He lifted his head to meet her eyes. "What, you jealous or somethin'?"

"I'm just surprised she hasn't asked you to swing with her yet."

He smirked. "And if she has?"

Her eyes shot open and narrowed at him. "Has she?"

"It was more of a threesome suggestion with her and Jack," he confessed. "Ain't my type of party."

"Oh, you asshole." She lightly nudged him in the ribs to get him off, and he slid between her and the couch, and she rolled to face him. "Be serious."

"I am!" he laughed. "It was awkward, and I still ain't sure she wasn't playin' me."

"I can't believe that." She caught his laughter and smiled. "Wow."

"Are we gonna talk about Theo all day," he grasped her hands and laced his fingers through hers, "or are we gonna have sex before my next shift?"

"Such a gentleman."

"If I were a gentleman, would you like me as much?" he smirked.

"Take your pants off," she instead replied, kissing his fingers that were interlocked with hers, and lightly sucking on the tip of his index finger. He brought his hand up towards his mouth and caught her tongue with his, kissing her hard. They had plenty of time to just mess around, but for not he just wanted to taste and savor her. The rest would happen as it happened.

Maggie sat with Josslyn on her lap, Glenn and Hershel were at the alter saying a prayer, and Beth and Monroe were behind them, holding hands, and the boys were behind her with Noah. Oak was too jittery, pushing up and down on his heels, looking over his sister's shoulder, and Ash was picking his nails, simply waiting. He was a good boy, a shy boy, and he was very into God and the stories Mom told him. He was glad to be in church again. It'd been too long since he'd come.

Maggie kissed the back of her daughter's head and said a small prayer over her, so she would never know the pain and mental exhaustion her brother and Charlotte had met. She hadn't prayed for a long time, but the last few weeks God seemed to be calling to her. She couldn't ignore the urge to come back and pray, to introduce her children to God and His son. She couldn't make choices for them. If they wanted to believe, they would. If not, that was up to them, and she wouldn't judge them if they changed their minds later on in life. She questioned God herself. She could expect them to do not less.

She had gotten her voice back in bits and pieces throughout the past several weeks. She had learned sign language in an attempt to converse with people, but no one else knew it, so she learned a new language for the hell of it. She spent the last couple weeks writing on paper and in dirt to communicate with people. She was glad to have a small layer of her voice back. The rest would come as it came, for now, she spoke in soft whispers. She let Glenn do the punishments for now.

"Amen." Beth and Monroe said at the same time, and Beth picked her up and carried her over to Maggie, setting her down and kissing her brow, before joining her boys. She caught Ash by his hips and kissed his cheek, he giggled and tried to scold her for ruining his clear mind. She laughed softly and knelt beside him to continue her prayers. "Clasp your hands like this, baby."

"Like this?" He pressed his hands together like he did at dinner, and she nodded. "I got it?"

"Exactly." She wrapped her arms around him and clasped her hands by his in front of him. "Now, just say whatever you feel, whatever feels right, and remember you can say it out loud or in your head. God will hear you."

"Okay, Mommy." He inhaled and exhaled. "Dear God, I want to thank you for allowing us to wake up today. I wanna thank you for my mommy and daddy and my big sis and brother. I wouldn't want to be an only child 'cause it'd be stinky. I like having them to play with and having them to mess with. It's always fun to have siblings, so thank you."

"Say in your head," Oakley chastised.

"Hey, he can say it out loud if he wants," Noah lightly scolded his son. "C'mon over here if he's distracting you."

They moved to the side to let Ash say his prayers out loud, Beth sent a wink to her oldest boy and he smiled before closing his eyes and returning his prayers, and Ash continued to speak his aloud. They stood there for about ten minutes while he thanked God for his siblings and his cousins and his aunts and uncles and the food on their table and in his belly. And when he worried he might be taking too much time on thanks, because Daddy and Oakley had gone, Beth assured him God had nothing but time, and he nodded, continuing on then.

"He's so sweet," Maggie whispered to Noah, who had sat down on the other side of her and left Oakley and Monroe to their own devices on the other side of them. "I'm so glad we decided to do this."

"Yeah, me too." He smiled. "He has a lot of questions, but it's okay. Beth has a lot of answers."

"That's good." She kept her voice low as to not distract the praying baby boy, and it wasn't like she had much of a choice. "Y'know, I don't think I ever said this—or maybe I have, and my mind is too scrambled with bein' a leader and a mother to remember—but I'm grateful Beth met you. You complement each other well."

"Thanks, Mags. That means a lot to hear." He hesitated and confessed. "I used to worry Beth and I only happened, because we were trauma bonded through Grady, but after all these years I still love her just as much. And she looks at me like nothing has changed but time."

"You're lucky to have each other." Maggie reached over and gripped his hand. "And I'm lucky to have such a wonderful and thoughtful brother-in-law."

He arched a brow at her. "What do you need?"

"A babysitter." She laughed lightly. "Just for a couple hours before the banquet. We have a few things to sort out before we head over."

"All right, but you owe me."

"Yeah, I'll watch your kids so you can bone my baby sister." She rolled her eyes playfully, he blushed, and she laughed lowly to not draw attention to herself. "Why don't you go say a prayer for slow swimmers?"

"Maggie, this is the house of God." This came from Glenn, who turned around and smirked at them, and Maggie rolled her eyes. "Shush."

"Oh, just wait till we get outta here then we'll see how much God you talk."

Beth joined them with Ash, and they sat down on the pews, and one of the Tree Haven's people who used to be a nun gave a service for the few churchgoers. She spoke beautifully and thoughtfully, a parting passage to the communities members who she likely wouldn't see again, and they bowed their heads for a moment to honor those lost and those in recovery who had caught an ill-timed infection or weren't doing so well even after all this time, and they let the silence fill the air around them like a hug. It was meant to console, and it did.

Carol rolled over on the couch and watched Daryl zip his jeans up, adjusting the waistband, and she smiled when he turned around to face her, returning her smile. He leaned down and kissed her softly, stroking her cheek and searching her eyes.

"Girls'll be home soon."

"Then you shouldn't have made my legs numb."

"Real easy, only got one of 'em," he mused, and she laughed. "Too soon?"

"No, I think that's the first time you've openly joked about my leg and your abilities in bed." She sat up and let the blanket fall from her body. "I think I'll take a shower real quick." She grasped the prosthetic and adjusted it back under her knee.

"Want company?" He wrapped his arms around her waist the moment she stood up, kissing her neck through the curly silver locks there, and she chuckled lightly. "I'll scrub your back if you scrub mine."

"I don't think that'll help anything." She kissed his hands and pulled herself away from him. "I'll be ten minutes."

"Any later, and I'm comin' after you."

"All right."

He watched her pad up the stairs and sank back down onto the couch, grabbing up his t-shirt and pulling it over his head just as the front door opened and in came his kids. He waved to them, Mika smirked at the sight of his hair, and Charlotte went to the kitchen to get her homework done before she played. Owen went to the playroom, and Mika sat down on the couch across from her dad.

"You and Mom have a good morning?" Mika inquired innocently.

"Yeah, real good mornin'. Why?"

"Because I have a proposal for you both. I'll wait until Mom comes back down."

"She's gonna be a minute. She's gonna shower, brush her teeth and all that." He ran a hand through his hair and cleared his throat. "Wanna run it by me first?"

"Sure." She faced him. "I want to move out."

His face went blank and his heart dropped. "No."

"It's hardly up for debate. I'm practically eighteen, and I can make my own decisions."

"No. And that's all I'm sayin' on the matter."

"Dad—"

"No, Mika."

"Wait till I tell Mom, and she'll agree with me." She shot up and ran upstairs to catch her mom before she was in the shower. She wasn't so lucky, so she sat down at the foot of their bed and waited. She heard the shower turn off and stood up, straightening up her skirt and blouse to try and look more her age, but these damned puffy baby cheeks did nothing to help her cause.

Carol dried herself off and changed into the outfit she had set out for herself then opened the door to find Mika standing there. She could tell by how tall she stood and how adult she looked, so she knew this wasn't going to be a pleasant conversation. She closed the door behind her and sat down on the bed to brush out her hair, and Mika sat beside her.

"What's on your mind?" Carol set the brush down and looked over at her daughter, meeting her eyes with trepidation.

"I want to move out." She stood up and prepared to make her cause. "I am an adult. I can handle it. I am ready to be out on my own. I'm already taking on solo shifts and paired patrols. I can handle it."

"Absolutely not."

She visibly drooped. "Mom, c'mon, at least hear me out."

"You're too young to leave home." Carol rose up off the bed and cupped her cheeks, Mika tried to pull away, but Carol wouldn't let her. "The fact that you're acting out right now says that you're not ready. Baby, I want you to be ready to take that step, but you're just not there yet."

"Carl has his own place."

"You aren't Carl." She dropped her hands. "And you're not dating him, right?"

She flushed. "What? No."

"All right." This came from the hall along with giggling, and then came grunting, and soon Daryl came dragging himself into the room with Charli on his shoulders and Owen wrapped around his leg, and he was panting dramatically as though they waited bricks. "I got an idea for you, Mika."

"What? I live here under your watch until I'm thirty?" she snapped.

"Watch your attitude, or you'll be grounded." Carol warned. "You're still our daughter."

She huffed and kept silent.

"Why do you want to move out?" Daryl flipped Charli onto the bed, and she giggled, looking up at him with a huge toothy grin, and he mussed her hair, turning back to his oldest. "The core reason."

"I want independence," she replied. "I want space and a room of my own. I love you, Charli, don't get me wrong, but it's impossible to live my life with an eight-year-old in the next bed. What if I want friends over? Adult friends who think all the dolls in the floor are partly mine? It's embarrassing."

"It is embarrassing," Carol agreed. "I've taught her to pick up after herself for years, and it never caught on."

Charli stuck her tongue out and rolled over onto her stomach, sighing. "I'll pick 'em up. I just like when you do it 'cause we have talks."

"Oh, really?" Carol turned to her. "You like our talks?"

She nodded. "A lot. They're…just ours."

"Well, we can still have those talks if you want. Whenever you want, just let me know."

"Even if you and Daddy have the door locked?" She pointed to their bedroom door.

"Okay, not then. Daddy and Mommy have the door locked for our own talks. Very private." She winked at Daryl, and he chuckled. "You'll get into those talks when you're older."

"All right." She looked over at Mika. "I make your life harder, don't I?"

"What? No way." She dropped onto her knees in front of her little sister. "You make my life incredible, Charli. I love you so much, and I love our late-night book readings and talks, but I just need to room to grow. We're at such different ages, and you'll get it more when you're older, but for now, I need you to try and understand."

She pressed her lips together. "You still love me, but you just need space from me."

"Not from you, from your toys and childish associations. I need to be considered the adult I feel that I am, and you kinda hold me back a bit." She searched her eyes. "That doesn't mean I won't happily play dolls and warriors with you or read your favorite books to you. I just need some space from it sometimes. Me space."

She nodded. "Carl space."

"Oh, Jesus." She hung her head. "Mom, look what you did."

"I didn't do anything." Carol held her hands up. "I didn't even know she knew you and Carl were friends."

"She snuck him into our room one time," Charli corrected the lot of them. "They were whispering, and I woke up, but I pretended to be asleep."

"You did what?" Daryl exclaimed. "You had a boy over?"

Mika groaned. "I'm eighteen, okay? And it wasn't like that. I wouldn't do that with Charli in the room. She's a baby!" She stood up. "He… I… Ugh."

"He was upset," Charli said. "He was crying, and he said Mika was the only person he knew would be awake, so he came to see her."

"Oh." Daryl lowered his eyes. "Astrid, huh?"

Mika nodded. "Nightmares get the best of everyone."

"Fine, then listen to my proposal." Daryl picked his son up and handed him over to Carol, setting his hands on Mika's shoulders and guiding her out of the room. "Watch your step."

"What?"

The family went downstairs to the playroom, Carol set Owen down to play with his fire truck and warriors, and Daryl moved a bookcase out of the way. The trio of girls watched him do so without offering any kind of aid, but he made easy work of it. He panted softly and gestured to the wall with one hand and made a sort of doorway gesture, and they all cocked their heads to the side, unsure of this charade.

"I'll knock it down," Daryl verbalized, "build onto the house. An extra room so Mika can have her space. It'll be on the bottom floor with thick walls, and we'll have to establish some type of rules, but it'll be all yours. I can even make it any way you want it."

"Wait, you're serious?" Her blue eyes lit up, and he nodded. "Daryl, that's awesome! I'd love that!" She hugged him tightly. "It's perfect."

"That way we keep you home and off Carl's couch." He said couch, but both Carol and Mika knew he meant another word entirely. He rubbed her back and said he'd get started on it right away, just as soon as Abraham signed off on the supplies.

"How long do you think that'll take?" She pulled hair from her lips and looked from her mom to her dad. "A week or two?"

"Probably get pushed to the front since we work together, so by the time you get back from your trip with Carl, it'll be ready. Or close to it."

"Yes, that is…just awesome, Dad." She grinned widely and squealed. "I can't wait to tell my friends."

"You have friends?" Charli inquired, having only ever seen her with Carl.

"Jeesh, Charles, lay it on me today," Mika mused. "Yes, I have several friends. I'll introduce you to Dave and Amberly one day, but for now, I have to tell them the good news." Although she had hoped to get a place with them for a while, she was okay with how this worked out. She would be able to Carl and them over once it was said and done without bothering anybody or having Charli eavesdrop on the conversation, because not everything was about Astrid and the Shah's final battle. Some things were private. She'd like to keep them that way.

"Since that's resolved," Charlotte said, "I have a problem too."

"Oh?" Daryl was about to fling himself out the window at his girls and their "problems". Did she want a new room, too? "What's up, kiddo?"

"I wanna take Aunt Michy's arms class." She brought two fists up and punched the air. "And Uncle Rick's gun class, too."

Daryl's lips twitched, and he was on the verge of literally throwing himself out the window, and Carol stepped into ask what this sudden change in schedule was about. They had her on a strict schedule as per Denise's suggestion to try and keep her PTSD with the Shah under control with routine, and it seemed to be helping her. She had class then outside time for an hour then more class then training with Carol and Denise then she came home to do homework and help out with dinner, and she had playtime with Owen and Mika after dinner, and it was working, but this was straight out of the blue. What had changed?

"I just…want to change up my schedule a bit," she confided. "It's been weeks of the same stuff, and I don't feel…like anything changed. I still have attacks and anxious feelings, and I can't stop my nightmares…but I think if I get control over guns and fists then I'll feel better." She had talked to Aunt Michy about it for a couple days now, and she knew it was a good idea. Michy agreed, too. To mix it up. To exchange a useless class for more training. It was the best kind of healing, or so said Aunt Dee when she mentioned it to her.

"Those don't sound like your words." Daryl crossed his arms. "Who'd you talk to about this?"

"Aunt Michy and Dee." She blushed sheepishly. "I wanna learn, and they agree with me."

"They are not your parents," Carol informed her. "We'll think about it. The guns course is a no, obviously. Not until you're ten. We've discussed that, but hand-to-hand might not be so bad."

"Mom, she uses a spear in training," Mika reminded her. "A sharpened spear."

"A spear and a gun are night and day. Don't try and change my mind with this. We'll discuss it again when you show more maturity and responsibility," Carol told her daughter. "All right?"

She nodded but was pouty about it, her bottom lip practically hitting the floor. "Fine."

"The banquet's in a few hours, so why not get washed up?" Carol clapped her hands. "Showers and baths."

"All right." Mika picked Owen up and held him to her side. "I'll go last."

"You sure you don't mind bathing him?" Carol asked. "I can do it."

"I know it irritates your leg to bend over for long periods right now, and I don't mind. I love me some Owen time." She puffed up her cheeks to look like a monkey, and he popped her cheeks with two slapping hands. "Yeah."

Daryl chuckled. "All right, Charli, I'll run your bath then."

"Okay." She lost her pouty mood. "Lots of bubbles."

"Yes, lots of bubbles." He scooped her up into his arms and tossed her gently into the air. "Gettin' so big on me, girl. Stop this."

She grinned. "No way."

"Why not?"

"'Cause I wanna be big and strong and protect you like you protect me." She wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'll take great care of you, too, one day, Daddy."

That warmed his heart, and he kissed her forehead. "I love you, too, baby girl."

Carol set her hand over her heart and realized she had nothing to do to prepare for the banquet, so she went to the kitchen to throw together a pie for dessert. She knew Abraham and Noah were going to man the grill, along with Jack and probably Rick since they had to feed a massive group of people, and it was a huge grill. There was plenty of meat, so why not throw together a dessert?

Carl helped his siblings get ready for the banquet, hearing a knock on the door and going to answer it. He found Enid standing there all dressed up in winter gear and looking pretty attractive. She wore a glossy smile and offered him a small gift. It was just a bracelet she'd made with the kids today. It held the letter JSS on charms, and it was a good luck wish for his trip ahead with Mika.

"I don't believe in luck," he told her, accepting the gift, "but thank you."

"Well, I believe in luck." She crossed her arms. "And I believe in you." She leaned in and kissed his cheek, the corners of their lips meeting, and she stepped back.

"Thanks for that, too." He smiled awkwardly and slid the bracelet onto his wrist. "Fits well."

"I know your sizes."

"Yeah." He lifted his eye to hers and exhaled. "I'm not coming back to Hilltop."

Her smile lost its brightness and grew tight. "Why not?"

"Because I can't be around Astrid's brothers and have them know I couldn't do anything to bring her home again. I can't be around her people and tolerate their pity and their…looks." He shook his head. "I want to be here. I have attachments here. They mean the world to me, and I need them right now."

"Does it have to do with a certain blonde you've been hanging around?" she challenged.

"Yes, it does involve Mika, but not in the way everyone seems to think. We're just friends, okay? Fri-end-s." He groaned. "And besides it'll take more than a pretty face to force me to get over Astrid."

"But you think she's pretty?" Enid teased.

"I think a lot of people are pretty. It doesn't mean I want to be romantically involved with them." He heaved a sigh. "I have to get RJ ready for this cook out. I don't have time to argue with you. I'm not coming back for anything but a visit in a few weeks."

"Why the sudden visit?"

"It's a trip around the communities as a conclusion to mine and Mika's trip," he mumbled her name, and Enid couldn't keep the grin off her lips. "It's a recovery trip, nothing more."

"I said nothing."

"You didn't need to. It's all your face." He poked her cheek and pinched it, she groaned, and he let go. "Stop pairing me up with women, all right? I… I'm still struggling with my loss."

"I know." Her grin softened with love. "I'm here for you, Carl. Staying or going, I'm here for you."

"Staying, for sure."

"Then radio me." She stepped back. "I have to meet…someone, but I'll talk to you later."

"Someone?" He arched a brow. "You have a date?"

"Sorta." Her cheeks reddened, and she stammered. "It's—it's just a guy from Tree Haven. It won't mean anything. We live in two different communities."

"But he's coming to Hilltop?"

"Just to get the spare the radio Eugene built." It was her turn to mumble now. "And to get some supplies for the trip back."

"And how long have you been knowing this guy?" And by knowing, he meant boning, and she knew that by the flush to her hairline. "That long, huh?"

"Look. It wasn't intentional. We were both anxious about the battle with the Shah and were left behind to defend, and it just happened." She wet her lips. "And the next time was after our victory. We had a little too much to drink, and it just… Look, this isn't any of your business."

"Neither is Mika and me."

"But that would mean there is something."

He leaned in the doorway with his arms folded and swallowed. "There was something a couple weeks ago when I tried to drink my sorrows away and dragged her along, but it wasn't sex. It was just…something." Mika was a good friend and drank with him because he'd asked. It meant the world to him to have such a good friend, but he really shouldn't have made her drink. She was a lightweight, and he was no better. They made out a little and then laughed it off, but it meant something to him. He didn't know if meant the same to her or not, but they hadn't discussed it since, so maybe. He wasn't ready for another relationship, but if he were, maybe he and Mika were something to consider.

"Ooh, I see."

"Don't go making wedding plans." He pushed off the frame. "It could just be a quick fling. I'm good for those."

She rolled her eyes. "Shut up, Carl."

"I'll see you at the banquet with your boyfriend."

"His name is Alden, and he is not my boyfriend." She turned on her heel and stomped off.

"By the cherry lip gloss, I beg to differ!" Carl called after her, and she hurried in her steps away from him. He laughed and turned around to find his mom and baby brother behind him on the steps, watching him in amusement. "How long have you been there?"

"Oh, ten or so minute." Michonne smirked at him. "So, you and Mika, huh?"

He rolled his eyes this time and picked up the plate of salad they were bringing to meal. "Let's just go, all right?"

"After we have a little conversation about safe sex," Michonne said as she approached him. "Just in case."

"Please, let's not." He lifted the salad. "People will miss out on its fresh, crispness."

"Carl."

"Mom, don't worry about me. Enid never got pregnant, and neither will Mika. It was just a couple of kisses, and we laughed it off. It was just too much tequila."

"Tequila makes your clothes come off." Rick padded down the stairs with Judith at his side. "Who has it?"

"Nobody." Carl made a sweeping gesture to the door. "Let's go."

"What's your hurry?" Rick scooped RJ up onto his back and grasped his legs between his upper side and arms. "We'll make it there in time."

Carl sighed and headed out ahead of them, passing Maggie and Glenn with Joss and Hershel, waving to the kids, and Joss ran over to hug him. He smiled and hugged her back, telling her to be a good girl and maybe she'd win one of the prizes Beth had in place for the entertainment portion of the evening.

"Really? You think so?" Her eyes sparkled, and she nodded. "Okay!"

"Sing a song for me, Jossy."

"Please, don't ask her to sing," Glenn begged. "She'll sing all night."

"Then bring the mic to her." Carl grinned at Joss, and she ran ahead to find her aunt to pick out songs. "You might wanna catch up to the future star of Alexandria."

"When you have kids, I'm gonna ruin your life," Glenn threatened with a smile. "Sugar highs all night and loud toys."

"Bring it." He probably wasn't gonna have kids with Astrid out of the picture. "But don't hold your breath."

They walked to the banquet together, Carl handed the salad over to Theo who took it to the back to be put on ice, and he looked around at the small crowd that had already gathered there. Beth and Enid were warming up on the stage. Bass and Jack were tuning the instruments. Eugene and Olivia were playing the flirting game over some nuts and beers. Maggie and Glenn were signing Joss up to perform at some point in the evening. Hershel was sitting by himself, so Carl decided to join him, poke around in his head and make sure he was all right.

"Hey, Hersh." He smiled at him and sat down at the picnic table with him. "You all right?"

He pursed his lips and nodded. "I just realized I gotta marry her now."

"Huh?" Carl blinked his eye and scooted closer on the bench and frowned. "Marry who?"

"Charlotte."

"W—why do you have to marry her?"

"Because I made a promise to protect her, and I broke it, so now I have to marry her and protect her heart that way." He nodded his head. "Or so Judith told me."

"Hersh." He laughed deeply. "You don't have to marry Charli if you don't want to. You can marry whoever you want."

He paused. "What if I want to marry her?"

"Well, you have years to find out." He propped his chin on his knuckles. "But she'll grow up to be beautiful, so you don't have to worry about that."

"She is beautiful now, though."

"In a kid way, sure."

"You're kinda mean, Carl."

"I'm kinda too old to think a kid her age is beautiful." Maybe that meant he was old enough to actually say it. "Eh, what the hell? She is beautiful."

"Bad word." Joss climbed onto the bench beside Carl. "Put a stone in the swear jar."

"That's for your parents. I'm a lone wolf." He smirked and spotted Carol and Daryl entering the building with their kids and feeling eyes on him from Enid and Alden at the drinks table. "If you'll excuse me, I have to take this."

Across the room Mika and Charlotte were walking on top of each other to get to the signup sheet, mostly because Charlotte didn't want to sign up, but Mika was making her branch out. Mika signed her name and held the pen out to her sister, who shook her head, and Mika sighed and let her slide. She did sign Charli up to help clean up afterwards. She signed her whole family up for it. It was best to help out when they could.

Carol carried Owen over to a table with Daryl behind her and sat down, adjusting the cute little top she'd made for him while recovering, and Daryl sat beside her, wrapping his arms around her waist and his chin rested on her shoulder, looking at the groups lining up to sign up for the entertainment—mostly for the prizes Beth had pulled out of nowhere—and then to the people entering.

It'd taken about two hours for the place to become packed. The signup sheet was filled front and back. The adult drinks were passed around, the kiddy drinks were handed out, and Abraham gave a time for when the food would be ready. The entertainment began with an announcement from Michonne, who spoke for Maggie, who was too worn out from church to use her voice.

"I'd like to thank you all for your bravery in fighting our common enemies," Michonne began. "We lost many people who died for this future, and we're here to honor those people. To celebrate their lives and live the future they won't get to be physically a part of, but if we live every day and do our best and protect our communities together and overcome our issues together, then maybe they'll be with us."

She continued on with thanking the people who went hunting to provide meat, thanking the people who crafted or gathered up the drinks, and so on. She wanted everyone to feel welcome and have a good time, and she turned the microphone over to Eugene who would be playing the MC for tonight. It wasn't anyone's first choice, but he did win the straw drawing. The first people up were Enid and Alden. She was singing, and he was playing the guitar. Everyone welcomed them with a warm applause, and Enid began the first verse to Heaven.

"When the room don't like us, I'll be at your table. Yeah, I'll be sittin' next to you," she sang softly to the beat the guitar strung. "And when the world ain't righteous, it's rainin' Cain and Abels, I'll be tryin' dance with you."

Carl had heard Enid sing in the shower but never anything with such power, and he was impressed. He'd have to give her a flower or something to celebrate her singing voice. He already had Judy making flower napkins, so he'd just give her one of those for her trip back home. It'd last longer.

"Everyone they say that we don't work, but I could swear this is heaven, yeah." Her eyes slid shut on the chorus. "Every day I know that this might hurt but I don't care. This is heaven, yeah."

Carol tucked hair behind her ear and looked over her son to ensure he didn't spill any of this juice. They hadn't thought to bring his sippy cup, and she could hardly enjoy herself. Luckily Beth was the prepared mother that she was and offered her a spare sippy cup, and Carol could have kissed her. Beth laughed and begged her not to, so Carol kissed her cheek and poured his juice into the cup. He instantly approved of the green cup and sipped from it.

"Oh, everybody showing the scars. Patchwork hearts lighting up the dark. Love the dark, oh yeah. Everyone they say that we don't work, but I could swear this is heaven, yeah. Every day I know that this might hurt but I don't care." Her brow creased as she let herself feel the music and the lyrics, allowing them to flow through her and become more than just words. "This is heaven, yeah. This is heaven, yeah."

Charlotte was drawling a turtle for the kindly old woman name Rene who was visiting from Hilltop and who was learning how to be a doctor. She was nice and had a turtle tattoo on her shoulder, so Charlotte was drawing it. She hoped she liked it.

"Oh, you don't feel alive now. Say you don't feel alive now. You're looking for heaven." Enid opened her eyes briefly to look at the people who were captivated by her voice and smiled to herself. "Everyone they say that this don't work, but I could swear this is heaven, yeah. Every day I know that this might hurt but I don't care. This is heaven…."

Mika felt anxious about her song, but she had picked it out and practiced it just for this event. She was super stoked to get the chance to follow up some pretty awesome singers. She couldn't wait to get up there and break a leg or whatever. She just hoped she was good enough. Please let her be good enough. She wanted to win a prize to remember the night by, and she'd take it with them along for the trip. A badge of honor and hopefully something to use as a reminder of home.

Enid finished the song, and everyone applauded for her, conversation took over the air between the next show since Eugene's jokes were "too advanced" for the audience to understand, though Olivia chuckled lightly at the right moments to cheer him up. They were a cute un-couple. Mika was rooting for them! And so was anybody with eyes.

The next performer went onto the stage, Lolly and her flute, and it nearly put everyone to sleep. She had to change up the tone to keep everyone focused and alert, and it caused laughter to erupt throughout the entire room. She had singlehandedly caused an entire group of people to nearly doze off into a slumber, and she laughed about it, too, saying she'd stick to the check-in roster.

Carol went to refill her drink and spotted Jerry in the corner with a couple of the kids, making them balloon animals and doing a poor job of it, but they seemed to love it. They were giggling and cheering him on, and she spotted Charlotte was in line with Judith. They were giggling, too, and for a moment, all her scars vanished, and she was just a little girl in line for a balloon animal. There was no crown on her forehead, there were no nightmares, no bed wetting, nothing but laughter and a young girl being a young girl. It was…emotional for Carol, but she was proud of her little girl. She had come so far, and while she still had further to go, there was plenty of time for that. Everyone in the room had ensured that.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer." Glenn smiled at her and handed over a Polaroid. It was the last one they had with film, and everyone was allotted one picture. Carol had used her last one as a family picture for Mika to take with her on her trip, and this time she used it to snap a picture of Judith and Charlotte laughing and flashing a peace sign Uncle Abe had taught them. Better a peace sign than the finger, Carol had to admit. He was good with kids, and maybe he would realize that and try again with Sasha.

"Thank you." She shook out the picture and smiled how beautifully it had turned out. "Really, Glenn, thank you."

"Hey, it's what I signed up for. I'm the photo guy." He grinned and took the camera back. "You should try the punch. Maggie made it."

"I will. Thanks." She headed over to Jerry and smiled as a greeting. "Need a hand?"

"No but thank you." He smiled warmly. "I like being around the kids. Makes me think of my own back home. I can't wait to see them and not for a visit, but Queen's orders."

"Right, Nancy, wasn't it?" He nodded. "How is she? And the baby?"

"Both healthy. Strong hearts." He grinned. "I'll take care of the little prince and his sibling as soon as I get back there. It's the least I can do."

"I think that's a lovely idea." She reached over and showed him how to make a balloon cat. "Here, let me show you a trick. I made some for my daughter's birthday party." She wasn't allowed to have any pets, and this was the best she could do for Sophia. She loved it. And she was now using that seemingly worthless knowledge now to lend Jerry a hand. It was surprising how old life skills came in handy in this new life.

"You're much better at this than me. Maybe you should take over."

"I think they're more interested in the guy making the balloons than the balloons themselves." She smiled at him. "Here."

"Thanks, Carol."

"Any time." She rejoined her husband and son who were rocking out to Oscar and Ivan's rendition of Metallica's Enter Sandman, and Carol had never seen Owen so into music before, but there he was, bobbing his head and focusing on the music with more attention than he paid anything. Daryl, too. God, she never would have pegged him for a heavy metal fan, but honestly, she never did ask.

Beth rubbed the back of her leg as she sat at the table with her family, her boys practically wrestling over who got what toy, and Noah had to break it up. She smiled and felt the scar from the spear cutting into her. It hadn't had much force behind it, so it didn't do much but go through the skin. She'd gotten lucky. Any deeper, and it'd have cut through the bone. She tried not to think about it and instead focused on her family. She had been asked to sing, but she hadn't felt much like singing lately. She was still finding her way back to herself after physical therapy and everything. She'd be present for her children and family but at times like these when she was almost alone with no eyes on her, she found herself slipping away into a dark place.

"Hey, sweetie." Maggie sat beside her. "How are you feeling? You look pale."

"I'm okay. Just...excited about tonight." She removed her hand from her leg. "A little worn out from planning everything."

"I see." She wet her lips. "I signed us up to sing."

"You did not." Beth couldn't help the smile on her lips, and it wasn't happy, it just was. "Maggie Rhee."

"What? You sing well, and I know it'll help you feel better. You obviously won't be in the contest for a prize, but it'll be fun. You'll get some...stuff off your chest. Singing has always been an outlet for you, and I'll be damned if I sit back and let you miss this chance." She searched her eyes. "I know you've been hurting lately, and you don't talk about it, but I'm here for you. I'll listen whenever you're ready to talk."

Beth lowered her eyes but nodded. "Okay."

It had been a challenging trip back home for her. She had nightmares and still felt the pain of the spear going through her leg. She woke up in cold sweats and couldn't sleep most nights. It was terrible. She acted perky and cheerful for the sake of her family, but honestly, she didn't have the energy for it much longer. She just wanted it to be over, and while it was over for most of them, it wasn't for her. She had a lot of mental repairs to make. All because of a damned spear and how close it was to killing her.

It was no light matter, and she knew she could seek counseling about it, but she didn't know what to say to anybody. She didn't know how to express the emotions choking her. She normally used art to express herself, but art was a foreign concept to her right now. She had no desire to sing or dance, only pray and pray it helped. God helped those who helped themselves, right? That's what Daddy always told her, and it was time for her to help herself. She needed to be brave for her children and for herself. There was no other way around it.

"Thank you, Maggie." She smiled softly—genuinely—and grasped her hand. "What shall we sing?"

"Whatever you want. I'll back you up." She paused. "Just make sure I know it."

"I'll go talk to Alden." She giggled.

"Yeah, I'll go with you." She laughed and stood up. "Need a hand?" They were still holding hands, and Maggie wasn't just asking about Beth getting to her feet.

"Yeah, I do." She gripped her sister's hand for more than just physical support, and they left to go talk to Alden about what songs he knew the music to, and to see how it lined up with what they since it was so last minute.

Mika was at the drinks table, helping some of the little kids puncture the foil on homemade juice jugs, and she smiled when they thanked her, scooting along to their parents or their siblings, and she couldn't help but think of Lizzie. She used to do the same for her when they were younger. She was a weird older sister, clearly mentally ill, but she was still…one of the best parts of Mika's younger life. She would have liked to have seen her one last time without the blood, without seeing the twitching of reanimation, without…it being the last time.

"Care to open mine as well?" Donnic mused. He was a boy around her age from Tree Haven, the youngest doctor they had thus far. He was an understudy to their medics, and he did a decent job on sutures and setting up an IV bag. She had bumped elbows with him several times while learning basic first aid through Denise, and he was an all right guy. He was pretty cute and very sweet, but he had a jokey side that didn't always make sense to her.

"I think you got it covered." She leaned against the table and smiled at him. "How are you?"

"Honestly?" She nodded her head. "I'm glad to be going back to Tree Haven after tonight. It's a good sign, means we've all healed, and we can get our patrols and lives back on track." He punctured the foil and sipped it without the aid of a straw.

"That is true." She played with her necklace and glanced over at her friend who had a crush on him. She always thought long distance relationships were awkward before the world changed, and after having lived through one, she wouldn't recommend it. But good luck to you, Amberly.

"Well, if you're ever in Tree Haven, hit me up, and maybe I can show you a couple of old haunts." He nodded his head over to his brother. "Bring your cute friends with you."

"Oh, ha ha." She dropped her hand from her necklace and poked him in the chest. "You aren't funny, though."

"You're right; I'm hysterical." He flashed a grin. "You know you like me."

"As a friend," she stressed. "Though, honestly, I go back and forth."

He slapped a hand to his chest as though he'd been shot, gasping loudly. "That cuts me deep, Mika."

"Good."

"All right. I can sense when I'm not wanted."

"Oh, can you?" she joked.

"Yep." He nodded. "I will see you at the grill, maybe get a dance in before I am sent miles and miles away from you, and if I'm lucky—"

"You won't finish that sentence," she finished for him. "No thank you on the dancing. I know Amberly would love to dance with you, but I'm not big on dancing."

"Just singing then?"

"H—how did you know that?"

"I've heard you rehearsing in the cells. It has a good echo down there, and I listened in." He shrugged a shoulder. "You're good. Maybe not as good as Enid, but hey, you'll get there. It comes with age."

She narrowed her eyes at him as her lips drew a line. "You're a jerk."

"I am what I am, and that's honest." He drank from his little jug and swallowed. "If you want to do a duet, I'm here. I'm a good baritone."

"I'd rather chew glass." She smiled sweetly, and he looked even more wounded. "No offense, of course. It's just a one-person type of song I have in mind, and it's…sort for someone else."

"I see." He stepped back out of her personal space and laughed. "But glass? C'mon now."

"Okay, that was a bit much, I'll admit. It just came out." She giggled and brought her hand up to her mouth. "Sorry."

"No, don't apologize. You say what you mean, and I appreciate that." He cleared his throat. "So, Amberly, huh?"

"Jerk." She socked him in the arm, and he laughed. "But yes."

"She's the redheaded one, right?"

"With the freckles." She bobbed her head. "I hear she likes to travel, so it could work out, you know."

"You're traveling literally tomorrow."

"Yeah, but in the opposite direction and with Carl."

"Oh, so it's Carl the song's meant for," he teased.

Her cheeks flashed with heat, and she sighed. "Sure. Why not? It's for Carl."

"What's for Carl?" Carl inquired as he came by with RJ to get another juice box, Mika reddened even more, and Donnic snickered. "I don't think we've met before. I'm Carl." He held his hand out.

"Donnic." He shook his hand. "It's nice to meet you. Mika's told me all about you, and I've heard stories from the people I've met. You're one hell of a survivor."

He shrugged a shoulder. "I got…lucky." A strange sort of smile crossed his lips, and he felt the JSS letters grow cold upon his skin. If Enid were to hear that, she'd be tickled pink. Thank God Alden was distracting her with the sets of other performers.

"Luck doesn't have much to do it with. You either survive, or you don't." Donnic paused. "Well, maybe some luck is involved."

"For his trip back to the grove, I'd say it was pure luck he didn't bleed out." Mika had heard the story from Noah many times when they went over to the Greene's household for dinner. "To travel so far and be so wounded…."

"Like I said," Carl repeated, "I got lucky."

"And you're still gettin' lucky," Donnic dryly mused then recalled the man's recent love being lost and winced. "I'm sorry. I've had too much juice."

"S'all right." Carl picked up a small jug of blueberry juice for RJ and pushed a straw through the glued foil. "This is my brother, RJ."

"We've actually met." Donnic set the juice box down and knelt to be at level with the young boy. "Hey, kiddo, how's school comin' along?"

He shrugged a shoulder and sucked down the sweet juice.

"And our relationship is over thanks to juice." He laughed and straightened up. "I better go find my brother before he gets himself into trouble."

"Yeah, you probably should. He just stepped outside with one of the Fireside girls." Mika pointed to the now-closing door, and just like that Donnic was off.

"The strange company you keep," Carl mused.

"Like attracts like," she countered.

"Never said I wasn't strange." He picked his little brother up and moved closer to her to let a few people pass to get to the stage for their performance.

"We're all a little mad here," Mika mused, and he laughed. "How's the juice, RJ?"

"I like the clear one best," he admitted. "But it's all good."

"Aah, the lime one is very popular tonight." Mika reached up and stroked his cheek. "Are you gonna give us a show tonight?"

He shook his head with wide eyes. "Nu-uh."

"Oh, come on. The class loves your puppet shows." He would often take over the educational puppet shows at school, and he was a little jokester, so it was always fun. The other kids learned a lot through his peer-teaching method. Michonne would be proud of him. Well, prouder.

"That's for school," he whispered. "Only school."

"All right. I look forward to your next performance of Lincoln and Amos." She spotted Amberly waving her down and chuckled. "I have to go, but I'll catch you later." She set a hand on his arm. "You owe me a dance."

"Since when?"

"Since I said so." She smirked and walked off.

"And that's why women rule the earth," Carl told his little brother. "With that one little phrase."

"Mommy says that, too."

"She invented it. Did you know that?"

He shook his head. "Nope."

"Well, now you know." He smiled at his little brother and laughed. "I'm just joking, but seriously, don't ever try and invoke it from her. She'll make you think she invented it." He shuddered to think about the last time she said it to him, and he carried his brother back to their table then went on the hunt for something to drink for himself.

The next round of older performers went on stage to perform You Make My Dreams Come True by Hall and Oats, Mika was up next, and Daryl and Carol both made sure they were close enough to the stage to cheer her on.

Rick sat down beside his wife and smiled at her, she narrowed her eyes instantly, and he looked offended. She laughed and kissed him, and he asked her what he'd missed. He'd stepped out to the use the bathroom, and now all of his children were scattered about the room and Hall and Oats were being sang. Poorly sang, he might add.

Michonne filled him in. "Judy is making paper flowers with Charlotte and Monroe. RJ is on a sugar rush and pestering Jerry. And Carl is talking to Alden over there." She crossed her legs and turned towards him. "It'll be a long night if he doesn't get worn down."

"No more juice," Rick decided. "Just water."

"Good luck with that. He's been sucking up to anybody and everybody to try and get more juice." It was his first time having a juice jug like that. It was a recipe made by one of the Fireside's people using natural fruit juice and God only knew what else to hype up the kids. They only had a few kids in Fireside due to a cold that blew through there, so Yuko… or Yuki made a little too much. She was a sweet Russian lady, but boy did she overdo it with the juice. "And I mean everybody."

"He's a lady's man." Rick grinned with pride as RJ began to work over one of the older ladies who came over to get her granddaughter a dog balloon. "Like his father."

"Please." Michonne laughed. "If any Grimes is a lady's man, it's your firstborn."

"He does have quite the track record for such a young age." Rick had only been with Lori since high school, and now Michonne, so he didn't have much experience to go on. Carl had been in a couple relationships since Enid and before Astrid. They didn't always have meaning, and that worried Rick, but Carl was careful. He was smart. Thoughtful. Just a little lost still. He hoped he didn't blow through something good just to feel…something other than the loss of Astrid.

"It's not as extensive as you think," Michonne corrected. "Just…a couple girls."

"Still more than he should have at his age."

"That's…" She sighed. "There's not a set limit of people you should or shouldn't have dated by certain ages. Some people are luckier than others. That's all it is."

He shrugged a shoulder. "If you say so."

"I do say so." She shifted on the bench. "He's a good kid, and how many women he's been with doesn't change that. He's been…alone for a while now without Astrid. It's difficult for him."

"He hasn't been alone," Rick corrected her this time. "He's had Mika."

"Is that why you're pressing them together? Because she's just been supportive?"

"I…am keen to this type of things, and I know what I know." He smirked. "It's not like Nina and Daryl this time."

"It's exactly like Daryl and Nina in that it doesn't need your nose in it." She reached out and pinch his nose between her index and middle finger. "I know it's pretty big but keep it on your face."

He chuckled and caught her hand, kissing her fingers and lacing his fingers through hers. "I will try. I just want to see him happy again."

"He'll get there," she assured him. "With Mika's help or without it. He's a grown man. We can't control what he does or doesn't do, where he does or doesn't go—all we can do is support him on his way."

He nodded. "I love you, Michonne Grimes."

She smiled. "I love you too, Big Nose." She laughed when he touched his nose to measure it, and RJ joined them, climbing onto his mom's lap and breaking their interlaced hands. She wrapped her arms around him and saw he was sipping on some water finally. She kissed the top of his head. "We were just talking about your big brother."

"Oh, yeah?" He lowered the cup. "What about?"

"How he has to heal at his own pace, and that we shouldn't interfere with it."

"Well, duh."

"Oh." Rick chuckled. "Duh!"

"Yeah," RJ said. "It's like teacher says: everyone learns at their own pace, and you shouldn't judge slow learners 'cause they're just as smart as everyone else."

"That's exactly right. That's similar to how grief works, only everyone eventually gets to the same place."

"Right." He returned to sipping his water and frowned. "Can I have another juice?"

"No," they both said.

"It's Mika's turn!" Judy ran up to them, Rick let her use his lap like a seat, and she turned towards the stage. "Shh, shh!"

All eyes turned to the young woman on stage at Judy's loud shushing, Alden was backing her up with his guitar, and she wet her lips, closing her eyes to imagine being back in the cells, to calm her racing hearts. She lifted trembling fingers up to the microphone and exhaled slowly, shaking off her nerves. Performing in front of people was different than performing in the cells, but it was time to just go for it.

"You can be the potter. I'll be the clay," she slowly sang. "You can be the blacksmith. I'll be the blade. You can be the poet. I'll be the song. You can be the sunlight. I'll be the dawn. You be love. I will be your love." Alden sang the backup lines for her, (I will be your lover), and she continued on.

"Damn," Daryl whispered into his wife's ear.

"I know." Carol had no idea Mika had that kind of talent, but she was so proud of her.

"I will be your compass, if you'll be my north. I will be your sailor, if you'll be my shore." Her eyes opened and a smile bloomed across her lips. "You can be the gravity; I'll be the fall. You can be my everything. I'll be your all."

This was a song dedicated to her parents, both sets of her parents. To the different kinds of love they had, but they still managed to overcome every obstacle and stay together. In the case of her parents first, until they came apart, but for Daryl and Carol? It was for their love now. Love that wrapped around their children like a warm embrace and held them tightly all year long. Love that was something to work toward. Love she wanted for herself one day. Just love in general.

"If you were heaven, I would gladly take my last breath. If you are the edge, then I would gladly take the next step. Be the rain...coming down…be the flood. Come on take me 'til I, take me 'til I drown. I need you now." She looked over at Alden, who grinned at her, and she lost all of her nerves. She was near the end of the song anyway, but it didn't matter. She felt fantastic about it, and she was so glad she signed up to do this. "You be love. I will be your love (I'll be your lover). I will be your love (I'll be your lover). You be love. I will be your love (I'll be your lover). Love you like no other (I'll be your lover)."

Carl leaned in the corner of the room and listened to her sing with a smile on his lips. She would sometimes hum when they hung out, but he didn't imagine she had that set of lungs on her. He was impressed and liked the song. Of all the girly songs she made him listen, he never once heard this. He would have to scold her for that, and then he'd have to thank her. There were a lot of emotions inside of him currently, and he had a difficult time swallowing them. So, he closed his eyes and pretended it was just the two of them, hanging out on the porch, and there was no shame in tears.

Mika and Alden took a bow, Mika slipped off the stage and hurried over to her parents to ask how she did, and Charlotte tackled her in a hug from behind and offered her painted flower napkins. She knew there was applause from her performance, but still she had her doubts. She was grateful she'd done such a good job and had practiced so much. She couldn't stop smiling.

"You did splendidly." Carol grasped her hand. "I'm so proud of you."

She beamed. "Thanks. I'm glad I did, but I am much gladder it's over."

"Wow, Mika." Enid sat down at the table beside her. "Why didn't you tell me you could sing? That was beautiful."

"Oh, thank you." She blushed. "You were great, too."

"We should do a duet." She grinned. "C'mon, you and me, closing the show out."

"I don't know." She titled her head back and thought about it with a scrunched nose. "I'm kinda numb from nerves."

"I'll be right beside you, and I know most of the songs you listen to. I had that old music player before you did." She was begging. "Please?"

"All right."

"Great! I'll get Alden, and we can go over which song." She grasped her hand and hauled her off towards the door to play out a little rehearsal, passing Carl on the way. "Excuse us, please."

"Yeah." He moved out of the way.

"Food's ready," Jack called into the hall as Enid and Mika left. "Our hosts are first served, naturally."

Everyone moved into a single file line with plates to collect food off the grill, Carol carried two plates, one for her and one for Mika, and slowly but surely everyone received a hot meal. The entertainment kept up throughout the entire evening, and good food and good drink were passed around. Abraham gave a slightly inappropriate prayer over the food, Sasha hit him in the ribs lightly, and he snickered it off. Everyone laughed, though some were uncomfortable laughs, and they let it to Maggie to say the next round of grace.

By the time dessert was passed around and the last bit of entertainment was coming around, kids were winding down and falling asleep, the elderly were saying their goodbyes and good nights to turn in, and Mika and Enid and Alden took the stage for the final song of the evening and then to announce who won what prizes. It was a beautiful little serenade song by the both girls, and it was the best way to close out the evening.

Theo found her husband just before the end of the show and pulled him outside to talk to him. She had to speak softly so nobody else would overhear, least of her nosy kid sister, and she whispered news she had gotten from Denise into his ear.

"What?" He had to hear it again, because there was no way.

"Pregnant," she slowly repeated. "We're pregnant, Jack."

He stared at her, disbelieving. "H—how? I thought you were… No, that can't be. I'm…full of slow swimmers by now, and you… you're barren after we lost… No, don't do this to me, Theo."

"I'm serious." She explained the natural supplements Denise had been giving her and how they had done an excellent ass job at clearing out her system and removing whatever issue stood in her way. (Denise was a babymaker by sheer accident.) "I'm three weeks late, and—and I can feel it, Jack. I can feel our baby. Like a little grape or something."

He gaped at her. "You're serious?"

"Dead serious, you goob." She clapped his head between her hands and kissed him. "We are having a baby, Jack!" She embraced him, he wrapped his arms around her and spun her around, and she squealed.

"Oh, my God." Tears sprung up in his eyes, and he buried his face in her shoulder. "We're gonna have a baby."

"God, we have so many kids," Theo laughed outright. "We have so many kids."

"And they're gonna each get one hell of a hug when we get home." He kissed her hard. "I love you."

"I love Denise right now." She placed a hand on her stomach and met his eyes. "I get to be pregnant again. I thought that would never happen."

"We'll have to be careful with this baby," Jack told her. "I'll take every precaution to guarantee a safe delivery."

"Right. I should take myself out of the line of duty and stay back with the kids. No more training. No more lessons. At least until little JJ is born." She grinned and hugged him tightly. "Are you okay with the name, Jack Junior?"

"And if it's a girl?"

"Jacqui Junior." She giggled. "I don't know. I'm just so happy."

"Me, too." He set his hand over hers on her stomach and placed a kiss there. "Welcome to the world, JJ P."

"Ah, I love it." She squealed again and looked up at the night sky, thanking the universe for this blessing. Thank you, thank you, thank you. She was going to be the best mother she would possibly be now that the Shah were out of the picture. She was going to do right by her kids. No more absences because of the boy who was gone. No more. It was time to move on and make his memory a happy one.

They returned to the building to see what was going down, and it was time for the rewards Beth promised. After the prizes were given out to the lucky talent winners, dishes were collected by the volunteers who signed up to clean up after the event, and Carol and Daryl were happy—not thrilled, mind you—to help clear up the place. It was nothing too laborious, simply sweeping and cleaning up the tablecloths and such. It was a quick task, and Charlotte and Owen tried to help, but they could only do so much, and Owen was so sleepy.

"I'll put the kids down for the night." Daryl held Owen in one arm and Charlotte's hand in the other. "Why don't you and Mika stay and finish up?"

"That'd be good." She kissed her loves all on the forehead and said goodnight, approaching Mika who was sweeping the floor and Carl holding the dustpan. "You two about ready to turn in?"

"Yeah. Just give us a sec."

"I'll be by the door."

Carl tossed out the last bit of dustpan trash, Enid thanked them for their help before heading out, and Carl caught Mika before she went to the door and offered her paper rose. She grinned widely and happily, accepting the flower and seeing writing inside its twists. She untwisted it carefully and read it over, seeing it was for her performance and how well she did. She hugged him tightly and thanked him.

"This means a lot, Carl. Thank you." She twisted it back into its original shape.

"That song was…er, great. How'd…uh, how'd you come to decide on it?"

"Because of the people I love." Her megawatt grin revealed itself, and he was taken by it. "I…have a lot of love to give, so it just made sense to go with it."

Carl tucked his hands into his pockets and nodded his head. "It was cool."

"Thank you." She laughed. "I should go and get some sleep before we leave. I have my bag ready, and—" She cut off when he kept staring at her. It wasn't the same as looking at her. There was something on his mind, and she was curious about what it was. "Are you all right, Carl?"

"Could you just…stand still for a moment?" He whispered this. "Close your eyes."

She complied, holding the paper rose between her hands at her chest, and she inhaled, nearly flinching when she felt him invade her personal space, and she gasped when his lips ever-so-lightly came across hers. It was a brush of a touch, unlike the ones from the night when they were drinking, and then there was more pressure but still it was soft. His nose bumped against her cheek as he tilted his head to the side, and she leaned into him.

Her mind was reeling. She liked Carl. Loved him even, but she never thought it was this type of love. In love with love, simply just the more of the love she had to offer, but at the feel of his lips, she felt something stirring inside of her. A long-forgotten crush on him she'd forgotten she'd had back at the prison, and the girl inside of her was screeching as his lips came down on hers again, harder this time, and their mouths moved together so well. It wasn't a clumsy kiss by any means.

But she had to wonder where this was coming from. She liked him, clearly, and she cared for him, but he was still heartbroken after Astrid. She didn't understand why he was doing this when he was still in love with someone else. She wasn't going to be used as a rebound for his broken heart. She wasn't the type of person to tolerate that, so she had to end this kiss. She had to make him see he was being reckless by choosing a rapid end to the relationship they had built over the past month or so. She had to make this stop.

He broke the kiss and stepped back, freeing a hand from his pocket and bringing a hand up to his jaw, biting down on his bottom lip and thinking. "Huh."

"What was that for?" Mika searched his eye and swallowed.

"I had to know something, and now I know." He licked his lips and smiled softly. "Let's leave now."

"What?" She laughed. "I need a little sleep to prepare myself. Plus, I have to change out these clothes and get my backpack."

"Right. I don't have my stuff either." He shook his head. "Sorry, got ahead of myself."

"It's all right. I just don't know what to expect from you now."

"I still have love for Astrid," he admitted, "but I think I might have some…for you. It's different and complicated, and I'm not ready to explore it right now, but I need you to know that."

She nodded. "That's okay, Carl. We can wait, if you want. Or not, if you want. It's just… We have a relationship, romantic or no. We have one, and we decide together if it's one way or another, okay? Keep me informed, because…I'm okay with it us being one way…or another."

"I won't… I won't aimlessly lead you on."

"As if I'd let you." She smirked at him, and he chuckled. "Just keep me in the know, and if you say no, I'll go hit on Donnic."

"Damn, that was quick."

"I move fast."

"I'm sure you do." He reached up and stroked her cheek. "Give me time to recover then I'll know."

"I need time to sort myself out, too, so let's just get some sleep and head out fresh in the morning, yeah?"

"Yeah. In the morning."

"Good night, Carl."

"Good night, Mika."

They parted ways, Mika smiled widely as she caught up to her mom outside, and Carl rubbed his thumb across his lips. It was time to really figure out what he wanted. He wanted to heal and be happy, he knew that much, but he didn't know how long that would take or if he could ask Mika to wait. He would have to figure that out sooner than rather than later.

In the morning Carol made some donuts and eggs for breakfast, Mika was up and about already for her trip with Carl, and Daryl was up with rocking in the rocking chair with Charlotte who had woken up after a nightmare and wet the bed. Carol had run her a bath and changed her sheets, but she wanted her daddy, so they were rocking in the rocking chair and holding each other. Daryl was humming some song to her, low and deep, and Carol leaned into the playroom as he murmured some of the words.

"If I ever were to lose you," he tucked hair behind her ear and kissed her temple, "I'd surely lose myself."

Carol smiled to herself and stepped back to let them have this moment. She went to Mika who was wrapping up a donut for Carl, and Carol rested her arms on the counter, looking at her happy little woman. "Excited?"

"Very." She smiled at her mom. "We're going to roam territory mostly unknown and get some supplies and…heal."

"That sounds lovely, but I know you two kissed last night."

"It was just a friendly kiss. It didn't mean anything. We're still working it out."

"I know, but if you two happen to…knock boots, please be careful. I really don't need a newborn right now."

"Oh, my God." Her cheeks went blood red. "Mother, no."

"What? I'm being open with you. Don't get embarrassed."

"Well, I am." She collected the donut and her bag. "And I'm off. I love you." She kissed her cheek and embraced her then left the room to do the same with her dad and little sister, sending her love to the still sleeping Owen. She jogged out the front door and found Carl at the end of the drive. She smiled and handed him a donut, and he thanked her.

"You ready for our big adventure?" He bit into the donut.

"You bet!" She grinned and grasped his hand, pulling him towards the direction of the gate.

Back inside Carol helped herself to a cup of coffee, dipping her donut inside of it and smiling to herself. She thought about what the future would bring and all the changes that would occur, and she found herself blissfully lost in it.

Thick branches blocked the way ahead of them, the sun shined brightly overhead, and a bird's song filled the cool spring's air. Hershel Rhee stood beside Charlotte as they looked over the map of the area, fingering his beard as he tried to make heads or tails of the map, and Charlotte pulled her hair back tighter in its ponytail, the twenty years making the crown there on her brow practically smooth, but still apparent, and they looked back at the couple catching up to them.

Carl swept hair out of his eyes and said the way to City High was just through those branches. They were used to confuse and deter outsides from their walls, and they nodded, looking back on the slow poke behind them. Carl said not to pick too much fun at his girlfriend, because she a had lot weighing her down, and Charlotte jogged back to help her over the sideways truck. Carl had forgotten about it and went back to help, and together they hauled her up.

"Good looking out, Charles." Mika winked at her, sending a scowl to her boyfriend. "You just ditched me."

"I'm sorry. I just wanted to make sure we arrived on time." Carl leaned down and kissed her cheek, setting a hand on her round belly, and Mika pffted him away. "Hey, don't let my kid hear that. They'll think I'm a bad father."

"You let her travel from Alexandria to City High. It's two states away, buddy." Hershel grinned at his best friend, and Charlotte high-fived him. "So, yeah, bad dad."

"Look, she insisted." He gestured to her. "I couldn't keep her off—"

"Hello. I am a person who is perfectly capable of making her own decisions, and my son isn't going to stop me from deciding to see City High. It sounds amazing. A hydroelectric dam?" She grinned. "Very cool. I have to see this place for myself."

"Son?" Charli inquired. "I thought you wanted it to be a surprise."

"It will be, but I think it's a boy."

"It's a girl," Carl argued. "It's Julia Michonne."

"It's Liam James." She retorted with a smirk. "My body is housing this child, so I bet I'm right."

"Um…guys, can we get on with this?" Hershel asked, making a sweeping gesture to the branches.

"Right." Carl took the lead. "Let's go."

The four of them weaved through the thick branches, Hershel helped Mika through, and Charlotte and Carl greeted the people on the other side. They were kind and welcoming once they realized who they were, and guns were pointed down. They entered the city through the gates and were floored by the glory that was City High and their hydroelectric dam.

They were greeted by people instantly, Mika's belly was proudly stroked, and they offered them refreshments and some shelter from the early spring chill, and they went to make the negotiations with Christina and Stevie, thanking the people for their hospitality, because it was rare these days. After finding several towns who didn't want anything to do with them, they had to be cautious, but this time they could let their guard down. There was no Shah, no Negans, no anything but a chance to strength their trade and their communities. That was all they could ask for in this world.

Well, that and a healthy birth of Julia Michonne Grimes.

"It's still Liam."

Even in his thoughts he wasn't safe from his girlfriend, but he was used to that. They entered the compound where the hydroelectricity happened and met with the leaders instantly. Hershel and Charlotte were handling the business end of the meeting, and Carl and Mika were just there for support. Plus, it helped to see a pregnant woman in negotiations. It proved they had kindness and hope for the future in their community. It meant a lot to see Mika's round belly.

"Would you like more watermelon?" Christina asked the pregnant young woman, and Mika decline politely. "It's good for the baby."

"I know, but I'm so full." She laughed and laced her fingers through Carl's. "Thank you very much, though."

"Of course." She nodded to Stevie.

Hershel pulled out an agreement written up by his mother. "Let's begin negotiations."

At Seaside Naomi tossed a braid from her hair, the sun reflecting of satiny dark skin, and she continued to train hard with the new round of children, her younger brother JJ beside her to slowly demonstrate the stances and move, and she leveled a staff, following in the same movements as her mother had taught her. She showed them a basic move of defense, because defense was the best offense, after all.

Chuck and Jon guided the newcomers from New York through the town, giving them support and offering them snacks and drinks as they did so. It wasn't of the norm to be introducing new people to the town. They had pretty much cleared out the surrounding area, and people were settled in several of their towns, so newcomers were rare. They did a check on them to ensure they weren't wolves in sheep's skin, but there was nothing that flagged Theo or Nellie, their new leaders, and they were welcomed to Seaside. It was great to have new faces in the community, and it'd be great for the Community's Fair they had to move to a neutral ground that was monthly cleared. Kingdom wasn't big enough for all the people who wanted to attend, so they used the Neut—short for Neutral—as a party ground. It was gated with hidden weapons and gardens that were tended to by the elders who were still up for travel. They knew this year was going to be amazing. They couldn't wait.

Jasmine checked the area for stumblers and pulled her knife from her belt at the sight of them, a redhaired boy with hazel eyes stood beside her—Dylan—and they moved together to take out the dead. They were on guard duty for Tree Haven, using the skills Mrs. Dixon had taught them and they had built upon them. They were in charge of those lessons, and they frequently were in contact with her to get new routines and lessons. She was most helpful, and they were going to honor her with a home in their community, but she was rooted to Alexandria where her babies here still. Dylan couldn't judge her for that, but he wished she would come back for a visit. They longed to see some piece of his mother in her, knowing she fought by her side in the battle of the Shah.

"More." Jasmine crouched down behind a car and pointed out the stumblers coming out of the woods. "Take them by the left."

"You got it."

Another typical day in Tree Haven. They finished off the last of the walkers and cleaned their blades in the grass, holstering them, and Dylan made plans to go see Alexandria before the Community's Fair. He had a bit of a crush on the brunette with a crown on her brow, and he wanted to ask her out to the Fair. Even if she said no, he had to try. That was all you could do in life was try and try again.

Back in Alexandria, Joss was on the ham radio talking to Greenbrier about the new route through to Tree Haven, having secured their alliance after the war with Negan's people seven years ago, but now he was dead, and there was nothing to stop them from growing outward and onward. She was in charge of Alexandria while her parents were in Kingdom on vacation, and she didn't mind it. She loved doing her duty to the people, and she loved that her parents could finally rest and recover on vacation somewhere that wasn't down the street in a barely build house.

Ashton ran through the machete session with Daryl's aid, using the dummy they had built out of hay and demonstrating how to decapitate a walker clean and without any struggle. It was in case a quick kill wasn't an option, though he pushed for the clean kill right away. Daryl told them it would work the same on a human being, and they seemed to squirm at that, but the Negan war brought a lot of human kills on. It was brutal, and they lost a lot of good people.

RJ closed the gate as Oakley and Judith returned from their supply run. He checked them in with Jane and gave them instructions given to him by Monroe to come and check in with the pantry for any food they had found. They nodded and headed off, but not before Judy gave her kid brother a hug at returning home and scurrying up to catch up with Oak. The pair passed the graves, and Judith stopped and blew a kiss to the graves of her parents who didn't survive the war. They had died protecting the children some of the stragglers of Negan tried to kill, and one ill-timed bomb took them all out. They had buried a lot of children that day, and they still felt the loss of those lives, but they healed and were able to mend—slowly, like a seed sprouting in the spring. It broke Judith that day to know she had lost both of her parents, but she lived with them in her heart each day, and they were thriving there.

The pair passed Carol and Owen on their patrol, waving to each other as an acknowledgement, and Judy called after Owen to make sure their movie "date" was still on. He nodded and waved goodbye to her for now, and Carol teased him about his relationships with the ladies. He blushed and begged her to stop, but she couldn't help it. He was every woman's best friend in town, and he was single and ready to mingle, but Carol had a feeling he leaned more towards the other team, but it didn't matter. She and Daryl loved him no matter what or who he loved.

Coco jogged over to the pantry to speak with Monroe about their supplies for the City High haul in a few weeks, and Monroe confirmed the food they would be taking with them for the trip over. She had a horse and car carriage all prepared for them, and Coco was glad to hear it. She was worried with the news of City High and their still wet signatures on the agreements that Monroe might have overlooked the request, but she'd taken it seriously. She was grateful, because last time had been hell, and she nearly paid the cost of losing her parents. But that was past, and she had the future to worry about. Thus far it was looking pretty damn bright.

She and Monroe were best friends and talked about everything and anything that caught their attention. Like the recently single Hershel Rhee, who Coco had noticed becoming more and more filled out in the muscles and beard department. Charlotte and he were too good of friends to ever fall in love with each other, so that left an opening for Coco. He might have to watch his pretty self the next time he came to the community hall for drinks.

"You know he's my cousin, right?" Monroe put her hands on her hips.

"He's still sexy."

"Ew."

"I'm glad you're ewing him, because he's gonna be mine."

"If Charli doesn't beat you to it."

"Don't ruin my buzz, Roe."

"All right, all right. Good luck."

"Thank you." She grinned and headed out.

Gracie and Enid worked together to reinforce the Hilltop walls. They had a new shipment of lumber from Greenbrier, and it was only a matter of which wall to remove when. They had seen rot and decay and walker hands, and they were crumbling, but they had the construction crew working through the night to replace the walls, and Enid suggested starting on the west wall since it was the worst. Gracie concurred, and they got to work with the construction crew. It was only a matter of time before a storm or walker horde blew by and knocked their precious walls down, and they would never let that happen.

Grace was directly under Enid in the chain of command, and she was a proud supporter of her. She and Enid had grown close when her fathers moved her over to Hilltop, and it was for the best of everyone. She learned a lot throughout the years and used that knowledge for the benefit of her people, and she was Hilltop woman for life. She did often visit her old friends and made a few mistakes with Hersh, but that was hopefully in the past. She had to grow up and be her own woman, not bound by any man, no matter how weak in the knees he made her.

Enid called to her husband about which wall they were replacing, and Alden nodded, stopping his lesson with instruments for today and going to help the construction crew. Enid and he had married a couple years ago after the birth of their daughter, Kaitlyn, and it was a union the entire town celebrated. They were thrilled to see Enid marry and to know a man had a foot in the door in the office, but she kept work and home separate, even though some people seemed to believe she didn't. She didn't care if people were sexist against her. They were either long gone or evolving to the new way of life. That was the only way to survive this world after all.

EJ and Henry stood side by side, watching the people of Kingdom as they went about their daily lives, Henry was explaining their latest outreach attempt, and EJ nodded along, smiling to people who waved and called out to them, and Nancy smiled at her sons. She had seen then overcome much, but they were both still alive and both winning in this world. She was proud of them and grateful to a certain someone whom she hadn't thought of in years. She would look him up, but after the last time she saw him, she doubted he wanted to hear from her. He had wished her well and left without looking back. That was all she could ask for. She was gotten so much from him—a new life, a chance a love, a blessing baby, a painful loss—so, yeah, that was all she could truly ask for.

EJ departed from the building and went to talk to their people, Henry looked back at his mother and nodded, and Nancy went after her youngest to back him up in the new proposal they had for the Kingdom. It was an expansion towards unknown areas, but it would be advantageous for all. She hoped the people saw EJ as who he was and not who his father was, because there was no new King, only two princes who were finding their footing outside the great shadow Ezekiel cast.

It was time for the all community's day fair. Everyone from all the communities pretty much were in attendance, save for those who were left behind to guard the towns, and people cut loose and enjoy the spirits and cotton candy and candied apples. It was a lovely day in spring for it, and it was only a matter of time before the fireworks began. They weren't like the fireworks of the old world, but they were similar.

Carol and Daryl walked hand in hand around the fair, talking softly about the young ones who were scurrying about around them, and Daryl chuckled. She teased him again about braiding his brown-grey beard, but he refused to let her. He loved his beard in all his wavy glory, and only his grandson would be able to braid it. He was on Team Mika with the baby, and Carol was on Team Carl, and Carol scolded him lightly at the use of the word baby boy. She waited another little girl around the house when she inevitably had to babysit. Daryl wanted a boy around the house to show how to make Carol's cookies and throw the old pigskin around. Carol laughed at him, and they continued walking.

Hershel rubbed the back of his neck at the sight of Coco so dressed up for their first date, and she smiled shyly at him. It was the first time he had known her to be shy in her entire life. She was stunning, the picture of her mother with the skin of her father, and she was just blowing him away. He was nervous about their first date, but Charlotte encouraged him and here he was. If it didn't work out, he made her promise they'd still be friends. She promised, but he had a feeling it'd be damn near bloody if they didn't work out.

Mika and Carl were roaming around the food stalls so she could try everything, and he was loading up with half-bitten tries of food on his arms. He was juggling then when Enid came over and helped him out, throwing away the foods Mika didn't like and encouraging her to eat the ones she did so the baby would come out all cute and fat. Mika laughed at that, but Enid was serious. She was godmother to this little chunker, and she wanted it to be a little ham. It'd be so cute with all those rolls!

Carl shoved her gently back into the direction of her husband and returned to his girlfriend. The ring his mother had passed down to him years ago weighting heavy in his pocket. He was going to ask Mika to marry him, and he wished to God he could ask his parents for advice, but Negan had taken care of them years ago. He couldn't waste the energy hating a dead man, but it was days like this he nearly did. He would give anything to hear their voices again, but that was that, and he had to live for his life now. For Mika, for his unborn daughter, and for his family. (And if he truly ached to hear them, there were Deanna's tapes. He would show them to his daughter, so she would know who she came from.)

Judith and Grace were catching up by the popcorn stand, munching away as soft music played in the area, and they laughed at the memories they thought back on. Grace said she was sorry about her parents, but Judith had made Negan pay for his damned loose cannon grang of a comrades. She and Carl both pulled the trigger that ended his life after Shiva brought him down, and it was done. Grace nodded and apologized for bringing it up, but the anniversary was coming up, so it was inevitable. She could only make her parents proud and pass down the sheriff's position to her baby brother one day.

RJ and Oakley were in a fierce competition over Jasmine from Tree Haven, trying to win her approval at the water gun game that Eugene had rigged together. They were so into it, and Jasmine so wasn't. It cracked Dylan up, and he couldn't help but snicker as he searched for Charlotte. The pair were about to start a fight when she mentioned seeing a friend and darted off. They both sighed and decided to grab a hard apple cider.

Henry spotted Mika and Carl at the apple bobbing station and waved, having seen the pair together several times when their foursome came to Kingdom with food supplies or bullet trades, and he was a little bitter about it, but he was a work in progress. He hadn't been so lucky to find someone after Mika, and while he wasn't always alone, he wasn't at the same level of love he had with her when they were kids. He missed it. He missed her, but there was nothing to be had there. She had her loves, and he had his.

Ashton and Monroe were playing a ring-toss game to try and win the grand prize of a three-day vacation in the City High. It was the best suite in the hotel building they had, and it was such a romantic getaway. Ashton planned on giving it to their parents for their wedding anniversary, and Monroe wanted to take a girls' day with Coco and Charlotte. It came with a rare spa package, and Monroe was not missing out on that.

Denise and Tara were feeding each other "nachos" and drinking beer, and they were laughing. It was their favorite time of the year, and it was their special day. They were free of worries and work, and it was just a fun day at the fair. Their only day off in quite some time since it seemed to be baby season at home and go to far in training season, too. They needed the respite, and it was blessedly a long one.

Jesus and Paul were in charge of the dunk tank, and Jesus was the sorry soul who was being dunked. He was sobbing wet and his beanie was lost in the tiny pool. He pushed long hair out of his face to prepare for the next round, and to his surprise it was Owen who stepped up to the plate. He gripped the ball tightly in his grasp and unleashed it, dunking Jesus legs first into the water. He swam up to the surface and grabbed his beanie, extending it to Owen as the next dunkee. Owen almost declined, but it was a hot day, so why not?

This caught the attention of Ashton, who had lost to Monroe, and he nudged her to try and dunk Owen, and she rolled her eyes, saying his little boyfriend could wait. He flushed and told her to stop joking, but she wasn't, and he knew that. They weren't dating, just good friends. It wasn't like that. She simply said it was okay if it was like that and joined Jesus by the pool of water as he rung out his beanie and fitted the wet mess on top of his head.

Beth and Noah took a break from games and food to sit and rest their legs, Beth stretched her arms out and felt her leg aching. It was going to rain soon, and it'd be one hell of a storm. She knew they would have to round up the kids in an hour or so to beat it, but she wanted to enjoy the day so far. Noah and she were thrilled to be out and about with them—mostly—but would it kill them to pretend to be interested in their parents?

There was a commotion at the dunking booth, this caught the attention of both the Dixons and the Greenes as Ashton stepped up to the plate to dunk his friend, and Carol cheered him on. Owen cut a scold to his mother, who acted like nothing had happened then rooted for a good ol' dunk-a-roo, and Daryl laughed. Noah cheered on his son, and Beth cheered for Owen to stay dry.

Ashton stepped up to the plate and paid in a laminated ticket one single ball, knowing that was all he'd need. He took aim and chucked the ball at the target, dunking Owen instantly. He jumped up and cheered for himself, Noah and Carol both clapped for him, as did osme of his friends, and he jogged over to the tank to make sure they were no hard feelings. Owen broke the surface of the water and gripped the side as Ashton leaned up to speak to him, and Owen took that moment to lay one bit ol' wet kiss on his lips.

Daryl's blood ran cold at first, but Carol cheered, and Beth came out saying she knew it, she knew it, and Daryl tried to loosen up, but some habits died hard. His godmothers were gay, and having his son be gay was no problem. It was no problem. It wasn't anything but a new…change.

"Lighten up, please." Carol looped her arm through his and kissed his cheek. "Love is love."

He rigidly nodded.

"Daryl."

"Love is love," he repeated and offered a smile. "Hey, if the kid finds what we got, more power to 'em."

"Yeah." She kissed him. "That's my husband who makes me proud."

The ever-growing redneck.

"C'mon, let me through." Daryl came tearing through the crowd, Owen paled and ducked back into the water, and Daryl set a hand on Ashton's shoulder. "Let me have a throw. He's my kid, so I get to dunk him next."

Owen smiled softly. "You sure that's okay, Dad?"

"It better be. You're my kid after all." He winked at him and collected a ball. "Get back up there, son."

"Mom!" This was Mika. "Mom!"

Carol's panic mode instantly kicked in, and she pushed through the crowd to find her daughter. "Mika!"

"Mom!" Charlotte ran over and grasped her hand. "Her water broke. The baby's coming!"

"Oh, Daryl!"

It was giant screaming match, but luckily walkers were twenty plus years old and either melded some form of nature or dead, so there were no worries there. They still kept a guard up around just in case, and Denise and Tara seemed to show up out of nowhere. Tara was still eating a candied apple, not fazed by this as she had seen many births, and this was just another day of being married to a hot doctor.

Carl was carrying Mika over to a picnic table, Denise followed and asked people to stand back singe Mika wasn't on display here, and Carol, Charlotte, Owen and Daryl made body wall while Tara had them boil up some hot water and get the doctor's kit from the car. Judith and RJ ran over to lend a hand with their niece or nephew, and they made a shield wall beside Daryl and Carol and Charlotte and Owen, all but Carol facing away. Denise pulled her hair back and assessed the situation.

"You got this, sweetheart." Carol grasped her hand. "You can do this."

"God, it hurts." Mika cried out. "I think I'd rather be shot again."

"I know, trust me, I know."

"Aahhh!"

Carl clasped her other hand. "I'm right here. Tell me what you need from me."

"Clean towels." Denise grasped Mika's knees and exhaled. "Okay, so just breathe, Mika. You seem to be further along than expected, and the baby might be with us soon."

"How soon?" Carol inquired.

"Like…it's potentially crowning right now." She couldn't be sure until she removed her underwear, and then she was definitely sure. "Yeah, that's a head."

"Go, Mika!" Charlotte cheered. "Fastest labor ever."

"Oh, bite me, Charles."

"That's Carl's job, clearly."

"Mom, make her shut up."

"Charli, don't pester your sister right now, and Mika, focus on your breathing. It's the only thing you can control right now." She patted her hand, and in came Tara with the towels and doctor's kit. "Oh, thank God."

"Perfect timing, babe." Denise grasped the sterilized her hands and slipped gloves on, laying towns underneath Mika, and she prepared them for a quick birth. Mika's body was way ahead of, and this was just another sign of that. "All right, Mika, I hope you're ready to push."

"Do I really have a choice?" She was trying to joke her way through a contraction, but all she managed to do was turn Carl's fingertips purple. "Fuck!"

"Language!" Owen joked.

"Not now," Mika called back.

"All right, Carol, Carl, grab and hold up her legs." Denise wet her lips and positioned herself at the end of the picnic table. "Unless you want to stand, Mika."

"No, no, I'm—fine!" She was worried the baby would slide out and hit its head on the ground. Irrational fear, but there it was. "Aah!"

"Okay, big push, Mika. Use the contraction."

It'd taken exactly thirty minutes from the time her water broke to her delivering the baby, Mika was such a champ throughout the entire process, and there was zero wait time really. Because there at eight pounds and seven ounces—later acquired when they returned home—was Julia Michonne Grimes. She was beautiful, reflecting both of her parents evenly and greeting the world with a chubby little face and big happy smile. She was an angel.

Carl wept at the sight of his daughter, Tara wrapped her up in a towel and handed her to Carl while they dealt with the afterbirth, and Denise covered Mika up and let people meet the baby girl. Carl handed her over to Mika, who sat up with Carol and Daryl's aid, both keeping an arm around her, and Charlotte climbed onto the table for a better look while Owen insisted they clean the baby off. She was the first grandbaby born to Carol and Daryl, (the first Grimes girl), and she was perfect with ten tiny toes and ten cute little fingers.

She cooed softly at being in the world, and Mika smiled widely at her. "Oh, my God, look at you." She sniffled. "Look at her, Carl."

"Hey, Julia." He kissed her brow. "Hi."

"Let me see my granddaughter." Daryl hadn't held a baby since Judith, and he wanted to be the third person to hold her, and Mika happily handed her over. He looked over the little miracle in his arms, blessed to have her in his life, and he smiled widely, showing his teeth at the sight of her. "Hey, sweetheart, welcome to the world."

She was passed around the entire family before Mika needed to get cleaned up and sent back home. Denise drove her, Carl, and the newborn back to the town with Tara and some food. It was a longish drive back home, but they hardly noticed. Carl held both of his girls in his arms, saying a soft prayer that he knew his parents could hear, and he kissed the top of Mika's head. He would propose later, but for now, it was just the three of them and the soft hum of an engine.

Carol felt a hand on her back and looked over at her husband who was holding Charlotte in his arms, and she smiled lovingly at them. He leaned over and kissed her, and she held her arms out for Charlotte, and she came easily. She wrapped her arms around her mother's neck and kissed her cheek, nuzzling her head into the crock of Carol's neck, and Daryl helped himself to a donut. They were all bundled up together tight, and it was home. After so many years of chasing shadows and worry and regret, Carol could easily and openly say: she was home, and finally everything was all right.

A/N: Thank you for exploring this world with me, and thank you for your support and kind words. I truly appreciate it. You are all such a blessing, and I am grateful. I've enjoyed telling this story, and it's emotional to end it, but all things must come to an end. I hope I did this story justice. Thank you and please, Caryl on!