Next day. At Hilltop.

Dad and Michonne had left to visit the junkyard while i grabbed a car and drove Hilltop.

I walked through the open gates.

Looks like Daryl and he rest weren't here yet.

Enid, Mary,Carol and the rest walked to me.

Maggie asked worried "what's wrong?"

I looked at Enid "It's Carl..."

Enid shook her head in tears and broke down crying.

Maggie hugged me in tears and i started to cry again.

A few days later.

Dad and Michonne had shown up.

I haven't really gotten to see my dad which was both good and bad.

I walked out of the RV and saw Daryl coming my way.

Then I shook my head "i don't wanna talk"

Daryl nodded "okay. "

Me "Maggie mentioned she has lookouts out there. "

Daryl "Every half-mile, waiting to signal each other, I know."

Me "are you going?"

He shook his head "no"

I eyed him before sighing "Daryl, i'm fine"

He shook his head "no, you're not. I know what it feels like to lose a brother. "

I asked hurt "will it get better?"

He shook his head "you know i don't lie to you, princess"

At the gate.

Rosita drove in a car that had been parked outside.

she got out and handed Maggie a note "I don't know what the hell it is."

Maggie red it " "If you fill the crates with food or phonograph records, I will gladly exchange them for a key to your future"?"

Rosita "It lists coordinates for our meeting spot."

I looked at the note " This isn't the Saviors. They'd blow through the gates, make a big show. This isn't that."

Maggie " I wouldn't put nothin' past them. "

Rosita "Well, if it is a trap, it's kind of obvious."

Me "Which is what could make it a trap."

Michonne "What if... What if it's someone who actually wants to help?"

Maggie "If someone is trying to help us and we miss out, we miss out. If somebody's trying to kill us, we die."

Michonne shook her head "Not if we're careful."

Enid "Being careful is staying here."

Michonne "I'll go. I'll see what's up."

Rosita nodded " You go, I go."

Me "Dad wants us here."

Michonne nodded "I know. But the last time we took a chance like this, it changed everything. Rick didn't agree with me then. He may not understand me now. "

Maggie "He won't. "

Michonne "But eventually, he will.He will."

Maggie "Jesus and the others have been scavenging, and we're still starving.

Maybe this person does have something that can help. "

Enid nodded "Then, I'm coming with you."

Maggie nodded "Okay. I'll grab records, case this is real. You get extra clips in case it isn't."

Later. In the mansion.

Outside were the people that had sent us the car. Maggie had brought them back. Michonne was watching them.

Jerry " The handoff horn started up but no confirmation hits. Saviors could've slowed their roll.Let 'em. We'll slow 'em down more."

Maggie "That's good. Be dark soon.Get people ready. You know what to do."

Michonne walked to us " We should make the deal and let them go before the Saviors get here. I can't let her go, not with what they have. I got too many mouths to feed. They've quite of food in that van. People here could be starving soon."

I nodded "Maggie's right. We take their stuff. Otherwise, someone else will. Someone else will kill them."

Enid walked in " It's a miracle they're still alive, anyways. The Saviors are on their way. We're gonna fight, and some of us will die, so why should we give a shit about people who don't give a shit about themselves? I mean, out there, living like that? We take their stuff, and we use it. We stop pretending that things just work out. They don't."

Michonne "Carl rescued Siddiq, and now we have a doctor, and we have a friend. Carl was brave."

Enid's voice broke "And now he's dead."

Then she walked out.

I looked down in tears.

Maggie " Things don't just work out."

Michonne shook her head in tears "No. No, they don't. But I think he knew that.

He didn't give up on who Rick wanted him to be. And we can't on who he wanted us to be. We can't."

Outside.

Maggie walked out and put a box down in front of Georgie and her crew.

Gerogie "no spoken words?"

Maggie "I'm agreeing to your deal.We'll fill your four crates, then you can go. You're gonna want that to be sooner than later."

Georgie "I accept.But I'm changing the terms. This one, no more. In addition, you can have a sizeable portion of my food stores. From the looks of things around here, you need it far more than we do."

Maggie asked confused "You're giving us food? In exchange for what?"

Georgie "Records and good faith. To be clear, this isn't a gift, it's barter.I'll be back. Maybe not for a while, but I will, and by then, I expect great things.Here... is the aforementioned key to a future.Inside, there are handwritten plans for windmills, watermills, silos, hand-drawn schematics, guides to refining grain, creating lumber, aqueducts... A book of medieval human achievement so we may have a future from our past."

She handed Maggie a book.

Georgie "Yes, I know, the originals are in my head, but I made photocopies. Still, it's been an evolving document since the copy shop."

Maggie nodded "Thank you"

Georgie "Thank you. Build this place up. I want those other crates filled when I get back... Cheeses for Hilda, pickles for Midge. "

Maggie nodded "We'll see what we can do."

Georgie nodded "You will."

In the mansion.

I was playing around with Judith.

She was wearing Carl's hat and put her hands on my cheek smiling.

I looked at her in tears before kissing her hands and hugging her.

then i whispered in tears "Carl and i love you, little ass kicker, don't ever forget that. "

A few days later. night. at Hilltop.

We were all behind the fence.

Mary gave us a signal. the saviors were here but outside of the gate.

Maggie "Get ready."

Then she said into the walkie " Negan. I want to talk to Negan."

Simon "Well, hello there. You are speaking to Negan, but my birth certificate says "Simon." With whom do I have the distinct displeasure of speaking? - "

Maggie "Maggie. Maggie Rhee. The Widow. "

Simon " Well, then. Hello again, Widow Rhee, and allow me to offer my condolences. For what's happened and what's about to happen. In case it's not already plain as Hilltop potatoes, yours truly is speaking on behalf of Negan this go 'round. And I assure you that the man himself personally received your care package next day delivery. I noticed it was the box that I gave you in good faith... Trick's on me. But the bill's come due, and you and your people are gonna have to pay. Quite dearly, I'm afraid. "

Maggie "Your people are alive and breathing. Turn around and leave us be, and they stay that way. But if you don't, I have bullets that I will personally fire into all . "

Then she held the walkie over to Alden "It's too nice a night to spend it dyin' slow, don't you think, Simon?"

Maggie " How's this gonna go? "

Simon "Well, Maggie Rhee, this is highly regrettable, but the way I see it, the Saviors you're in possession of there are damaged goods. You know, they've got themselves into their own pickle, and this organization prizes those who, "A," avoid capture and, "B," figure out their own shit when said outcome eventuates. Which, in the end, is my way of saying screw them. "

Gregory " Did you really think that cockamamie play would work?"

Maggie nodded " It will. "

Suddenly i heard gunshots and i saw Derek drive in on the bike.

Then one of the guys drove the bus in front of the open gate and at the same time the car that drove in hit the bus' side.

Maggie yelled "Now! "

We started firing at every savior that came in.

Suddenly arrows came flying to us.

I hid behind a car. Suddenly is saw an arrow hit the car window next to my head.

my eyes widened and i rushed to Daryl " Maggie gave the signal. We gotta go. "

Tara nodded and we walked upstairs.

We lined up at the windows and aimed down.

Simon started to whistle as he walked up to the mansion with his guys.

Suddenly the headlights of the cars that were lined up in front of the house went on and we started to shoot at the saviors.

Simone yelled "damn it, no! Back to the trucks! Go! Go! Go!"

They all rushed out of the gate. Then i heard firing and yelling.

Dad and Morgan walked in with guns. Dad was in slaughter mood.

The saviors fled.

Morning.

The noise from last night attracted some walkers. they were banging against the fence.

Daryl walked over to me"Hey. You shouldn't be out here. "

I sighed "i am fine. I can help."

Daryl eyed me " What if you're really not?"

Me "Then it'd be my own damn fault. He's back with them because of me. "

I was talking about Dwight. should have killed that son of a bitch when i had the chance.

Daryl "No, he's back with 'em 'cause that's who he is."

Me " We... We got lucky. Finding ... Dad. It could've been different. It was, for me, when I was alone and then i found my dad. Or with the people who were with the Governor. "

Daryl "Yeah, but you weren't one of 'em. "

Me "Your brother was, though. "

Daryl" My brother? My brother ran the wrong way his whole life. If he were here, if I stuck with him when he left, we'd be with the Saviors, too, or some other group just like 'em. But I'd have figured out who they were just like you did. "

Me "Maybe that's what happened to Dwight."

Daryl " Is that before or after he shot you in the hip and used you to force me to do things?? Or is that all square now?"

I shook my head "of course not. And i want him as dead as you want him dead. But he helped us"

Daryl shook his head "No, he tried to kill you last night. "

I looked at him confused "What?"

Daryl "that arrow that hit the window next to your head?"

I nodded.

Daryl "he fired the arrow. i saw it"

I nodded "good that you saw that. "

Daryl sighed "Kendall-"

I shook my head "no, Daryl, i can't do this. "

He looked at me worriedly.

I took a deep shaky breath "how many more people have to die? haven't we lost enough? i lost my mom, I lost my best friend Glenn, i nearly lost you to Negan and not even 48 hours ago i was holding my dying brother in my arms. And now i can feel myself losing my dad too. I can't keep losing the people i care about. I-I can't even really grieve him because i can't have 2 minutes or myself. I can't have two minutes were i feel save enough to let my guard down to actually grieve my brother's death."

My voice cracked "but two fucking minutes of not being careful can get you killed in this world. soo.."

Daryl sighed "Ken-"

I shook my head and walked away.

In the mansion.

I walked over to Dad "you good?"

Dad turned to me "Ken?"

I shook my head "no, i am not okay. Wanna know why? Because my dad did the one thing he promised me not to do"

Dad looked down.

Me "and that was leaving me. Back when mom died..you left me and Carl alone"

Dad "i was there-with you"

I shook my head "no, you weren't. I barely got to see you, and when you decided to show up your head wasn't in the game. you weren't there when your kids needed you. and it's the same situation now. I needed you"

Dad "you had Daryl-"

I shook my head "you know that that's different, dad. I needed my father. I just lost my little brother"

Dad "and i lost my son. Parents should not survive their children "

I looked at him in tears before shaking my head.

Dad took a step to me but i stepped back.

Me "Where were you?"

Dad "on lookout. "

Me "you found him?"

Dad nodded " I broke away and tried to kill him. "

Me " you said "tried"...so you didn't?"

Dad "i couldn't. Ken-"

I nodded "i get it"

Dad sighed "Kendall-"

Me "you should get that wound checked. Can't risk getting it infected"

Night.

There was a walker in the mansion, biting people. Everyone was going crazy.

Michonne and Jesus lead out the people while Morgan turned on the lights.

Dad, Daryl and i killed off people that had turned into walkers.

Daryl "The hell happened? "

Dad "I don't know. Maybe walkers got in. "

Morgan "Maybe during the fight. "

Daryl "These are our own people, though. "

Suddenly we heard Carol scream upstairs.

we rushed upstairs. Maggie had joined us.

A walker Tobin was on the ground. Dead.

Daryl asked Carol " You alright?"

Carol " Yeah, just... He wasn't bit. But he turned. "

Dad " Negan's bat. When I was out there with him, it was covered in walker blood. I just thought he'd crossed some. But maybe... "

Maggie "They have us working for them again. Killin' our own. "

Bruce, who was on the bed, weakly "It's the fever. That's what it is. It makes sense now. One of you... you're gonna have to do it. I can't. You gotta do it for me. Please. Please. "

He was crying.

Dad nodded.

In Tara's room.

Rosita, Enid and Tara were in a room. Tara had gotten hit by arrow last night. t was Dwight. I don't wanna believe that ... Tara can't die. she just can't.

I walked in and saw Rosita and Enid aiming guns at me.

Me "Hey."

Rosita " Good out there? "

Dad "House is clear. "

Tara "How'd this happen?"

We walked in.

Daryl closed the door and took a deep breath ""Um... the Saviors did something to their weapons. Everyone they cut up... or got shot... they all got sick. Some of 'em turned."

Enid froze " What? No. "

Tara nodded "Okay. "

Daryl "When we were out there, and you said you were done waiting, I coulda killed him. I shoulda. "

Tara shook her head "No. He wanted to be here with us. And no matter what he did or how hard he tried, I wanted him dead. I just couldn't let it be anything else. Karma's a bitch, right? "

I sighed.

Outside.

I sighed and drove hand through my hair.

Daryl "Ken-"

I shook my head and turned to him in tears.

Daryl walked over to me and hugged me.

I tensed, confused "what are you doing?"

Daryl kissed the side of my head "giving you the two minutes you need. "

I broke down crying.

Daryl pulled me closer to him and i couldn't stop crying.