New Beginnings *6 years later* (December)

Mikko knew that Negan didn't want to just see Kai. She also figured he would use the kid in some way. But that kid was her way to getting Anton back.

And what kind of mother would I be if I didn't try everything to get my son back? I'm not asking you to let me take him, I'm telling you I'm going to talk to Kai and let him decide if he wants to save his friend or not.

Laz grabbed Mikko by the arm and walked her to the front door. You can wait for Eugene and Evelyn outside. I better not catch you near Kai!

Mikko wiped around and yelled back. That man will burn this community to the ground all because of you!

Lilo gave Ally the phone to look through all the photos she wanted, a chuckle " those little hybrids would welcome the hugs. they are both quiet affectionate children." she assures the young woman beside he smiling down at Judith.

" Lead on Sherriff, you are not wrong we should get and stay warm so we are not catching a cold for when we are needed." and more seriously still, " sorry Erica had to go, I know she looks forward to visiting you all and spending time here." And she felt a stab of worry for her queen, the hatching eggs miles and miles away and her little alien buddy. But Erica was not just a human any more, Don was on hand with April if the hatchling needed medical care and Stitch was incredibly durable so she swallowed down the worries and got ready to follow Judith where ever she took them.

Back home Sandy was happily eating her fish taco dinner. Michonne greeted Daryl when he came in.

How did it go? She asked, hoping, but doubting that he got through to the woman. I'm glad you took care of it, I would have just punched her in the face.Is everything alright? She asked sensing some worry from him.

Abby gave Sherry a quick hug and hurried to the kitchen to eat.

Sherry hugged her back. She loved getting hugs from the girl, they were far and few between and she wondered if the girl could actually feel the emotions related to hugs. But she pushed those thoughts aside for now and wrapped her arms around Dwight.

welcome back. Everything alright out there? I saw there was a new girl that came back with the others.

No. It was a quiet day as usual. I suspect your day wasn't though. The missing shoes, the new woman. I'm guessing you ran into trouble. I hope it wasn't too bad. I hate when you have to go out there, I'm sure Mikko could take a truck out there on her own least we don't have to worry about her.

Maggie sipped her soup and laid a hand over Glenn's hand.

Now that we have a new family member on the way maybe you can think about staying back more often.

Of course, Mikko insisted on making a scene, shouting blame, but luckily Laz was quick to escort her out...

"Yeah, just shift the blame because you cannot be a responsible parent! Your child just runs around hurting others...one day it isn't going to be just a bite, and what then?!"

Lexi was perfectly aware of what Negan was capable of, and the fact that he knew where they were a d he was after her son scared her to no end. At least Mikko's kid was safe. He could not die. Kai could, and she knew Negan would do whatever he could to hurt her...

Hearing the heated tones, Eugene was quick to gather his now sobbing daughter, and spared Lexi and Laz an apologetic look as he quickly joined Mikko....

Kai, buried beneath the blankets of his bed, overheard everything.

Anton was being held captive...because of him. Negan could destroy their home, and possibly kill his parents and little sister...because of him...


Climbing from his bed, the seven year old loomed in the doorway of his bedroom, quiet tears streaking his cheeks. Confusion, the hurt he felt over his parents' secret, overwhelming to someone so brave, yet so young...

"It was...eventful...The girl, Ally...she is from that Whisperer group that Lexi told us about years ago...the feral people that she ..survived.. with. Mikkokilled her brother trying to help me...there was a fire...walker got my shoe...we got out through the addict. Daryl, Michonne and Lilo showed up. Ally made her moves on me...Mikko set her straight...we came home....all before dinner..." True to Glenn form, he told his wife everything without breaking for a breather...


When she placed her hand on his and mentioned wanting him home more, he was quiet for a long moment, shifting his hand to intertwine his fingers with hers, giving her hand a squeeze as he rose it to his lips, pressing a kiss against her knuckles...

"...I thought you didn't want me home fussing over you..." He reminded her of what she had said soon after delivering the news of the current bun in the oven..

..he figured it was her hormones talking....


A hint of a grin threatened his lips... "It was the promise of massages, pampering and tons of se..." He stopped short, remembering one of his sons could hear. . a brow wiggle would have to do!


"I was going to bring it up next meeting. I like scavenging, but I want to be home to take care of you and the kids. I was going to suggest Dwight take my place and partner with Mikko. He has come a long way. Or, that pot head guy. Gabriel..Jumanji? ..wait.. Giovanni? ...Juvanni..." Well, maybe he said it right...

Mikko could feel her blood presser rising. What was she suppose to do? She didn't ask to bring back an undead child. Wade dragged poor Anton back from the dead then abandon both of them! Now she was stuck with a child that could bearly be controlled, and what was she suppose to do when she wasn't here? She was out there making sure Glenn stood alive!

All of this would have spewed Mikko's mouth if it wasn't for Eugene coming back with a crying Evelyn. The sight of her youngest scared and crying soften Mikko and she took a deep, calming breath.

Shhhh...It's ok baby. She said softy to her little girl as she took her from Eugene. Lets go home and get some dinner. I'm sure you and daddy are starving.

Evelyn rubbed her eyes. Where's Ant?

He's ok. He has to stay with some other people for a few days to calm down, but I'll pick him up soon and bring him back ok. Mikko gave Lexi one more hard look before turning and leaving the house.

Laz felt bad for Eugene. Poor guy had to put up with so much. He waved to him and evelyn as they left then closed the door behind them.

that went well. He said pulling Lexi in for a hug. He gave her a squeeze before letting her go and walking to Kai's bedroom to check on him. He saw his son peeking out of his bedroom and offered him a warm smile.

Hey bud. You doing ok?

Back at their cabin in the trees, Carl helped Beth set the table with the food that Lexi so generously provided them with. Unfortunately he would be unable to stay...


Moving over to Beth, he wrapped his arms around her, hugging her softly.

"I wish it was one of those quiet, uneventful nights..." He sighed. "I know you have to be hungry. Go ahead and eat. I will find Judith and send her home, then start my rounds and get the council together..." Another gentle squeeze as he kissed her forehead. "Everything will be okay."

Dwight allowed the embrace to linger, never passing g up the opportunity to be close to Sherry. He still had nightmares of what the outcome could have been all those years ago...


At her question...he hesitated for a moment. The trauma that Negan had inflicted on Sherry and himself was felt every single day. He would forever wear the scar and feel the discomfort of tight skin that gave him the appearance of a monster...

"Yeah...Glenn and Mikko brought 'er back..." He replied, avoiding the bigger question...for now...


...but she deserved to know..


Taking in a deep breath, the growing pain in his lungs threatening to make itself known...

"Negan...he found us..."

Judith had thought that Stitch would be staying as well, but she had misunderstood. As much as she adored the little blue furball, she understood that he was needed back at his community...


..and she knew that Lilo had to be a little upset that she couldn't be back home during the birth of the little one.

"This way!" She signaled to the two women as she walked ahead, eager to get them out of the elements. Indeed, it was too cold to stand around for extended amounts of time.

"Are you two hungry? I can get you food once you are settled in..." She promised as they neared their destination. A large, vacant treehouse with one large bedroom and two beds, a joining dining and den area. A cozy abode that temporarily belonged to a pair of adult siblings that had decided to leave the community after clashing heads with Carl. They felt he was too young to run the community and constantly challenged his authority.

"Starving. Glenn's jerky wire off already..." Ally piped up, admiring the large structure nestled in the trees.

Beth didn't like that Carl wasn't going to rest for a moment to at lest eat something. She shoved some bread in his hand.

Eat something at lest. She told him. It was hard for her to believe everything was going to be ok, nothing would ever be truly ok with negan still around. She hated violence and killing, but maybe it was time to just end that man for good.

Giving Carl another tight hug before finally letting him go she opened the door for him to leave.

Fill me in on everything when you get back. And do go out and do anything crazy.

Wait...Mikko had to get her off of you? You didn't get her off of you yourself? IS she pretty? Maggie pouted And I think we're just calling that guy J. He seems like someone Mikko would hang around with so they can go run around and be chased by walkers. You don't need to risk yourself. You have too many kids to worry about. And I can't handle these grimlins on my own.

She downed her soup, starving now eating for two.

Don't fuss over me. But I wouldn't mind a massage every now and then. Unless you are too busy with that other girl. She added with another pout.

Eyes widening, Glenn was taken aback by Maggie's comment...

[color=olive]"What?...No..nonono... I pulled away, Mikko just set her straight! She told her I was married. I would have, but I mean...I was stunned...that kiss came out of nowhere..."He tried to explain...hoping she wasn't upset.

Hearing that she did in fact want him home was a huge relief. But then the topic turned back to Ally and her last comment made him frown. She was upset!

Scooting closer, he braved a kiss... "Babe, you know it's not like that. You're the only one for me..."

Noah, who had been so eager to go show Sandy her caterpillar, was now struggling to keep his eyes open. A full tummy, and now his eyes were fluttering as he fought to stay awake, head resting against the table, trying to focus on the jar...

Maggie returned the kiss and ruffled his hair. I better be. I wouldn't want to have to beat up the new girl.

Maggie looked over to her boys and spotted the sleepy Noah and Logan who was crawling out of his seat done with his food.

If you two want to invite Sandy to sleep over tonight you can. If you're not too tired that is. She signed to Noah that he could go get his friend if he wasn't going to fall asleep first.

Glenn was relieved that she wasn't mad. He definitely didn't want to sleep on the couch tonight!

He also noticed his sleepy son, but when Maggie signed to him that Sandy could sleep over, Noah was quick to slide from his chair. A huge smile stretched across his face as he climbed up into his mom's lap and hugged her, then slid down, signing to his brother... 'You coming?'


Glenn was always worried when the kids left the house, but their community was surrounded by a fence, and he was unaware that Negan posed a threat...

"Think I should go with them?"

Maggie returned the hug and attacked Noah's face with kisses before letting him go. Nah, they'll be ok, they aren't going far. Get Sandy and come right back. She told/signed to the kids.

Logan gave a thumbs up to his parents and hurried after Noah out the door.

Once the boys were gone Maggie slipped in Glenn's lap. Ready for a third one running around?

"As good as it coulda, I guess. She still don't get it.. " Daryl told her, snagging a taco. He knew that sticking around for dinner wasn't going to happen, as much as he wanted to...

"Negan knows about this place. I gotta find Carl and make sure he knows..."

Glenn...worried. But as soon as the boys were gone, Maggie gave him the perfect distraction, sitting in his lap. They rarely got time alone, so this was definitely nice!

A grin tugged across his lips as he wrapped his arms around her waist, nuzzling soft kisses against her shoulder..


"Mmhmm...I'm excited..." He told her, sliding one hand beneath her shirt, rubbing and massaging her tummy...

"How about you?"

Maggie didn't worry too much. She felt the community was safe. She was maybe too comfortable in their home.

She laid a hand over Glenn's and nodded. Excited and nervous. It's always worrying having a child out in the wild. Even prepared things can go wrong we got lucky with the boys. But I'm trying to push those worries aside. For now. I am kind of hoping this ones a girl. Need another lady around here.

...and Glenn was the opposite of Maggie. Always worrying that something could go wrong and Walkers, or bad people could get in. But, six years had passed without any major incidents. The longest in history, so he tried to swallow down those worries to keep from upsetting Maggie...


Though, hearing her concerns about this pregnancy caused his own to rise. He remembered before the boys, he had been so careful not to get her pregnant, because of what happened to Lori. Carl had to put his mother down after a gruesome c-section.

..but Maggie had been persistent, wanting to try for a family. Glenn wanted that, too.. and finally gave in. They had two beautiful boys, and while Noah was born with issues, he was thankful that Maggie convinced him that it was okay to live life and have a family.

Now while excited, she was remembering those risks, and while it also reminded Glenn that things could go wrong, she needed his reassurances that everything would be okay ...


"It's going to be okay.." He told her, sliding his free hand underneath the back of her shirt, fingers rubbing softly against her skin. "Rhe doctors here are great, Lexi is awesome at delivering..and Lilo is just a community away..." He tried to reassure, pressing soft kisses against her neck and shoulder...

Hearing that she wanted a girl earned a smile.. "I hope it's a girl, too. We can't have you being too outnumbered..." Another series of kisses against the length of her neck as he continued to massage, gently working his fingers into her tight muscles..

"I missed you..."

The chill of the wind was enough to fully wake Noah, but he couldn't be more excited! Sandy was having a sleep over! He could show her Pickles, and teach her how to play with legos, a d draw lots of pictures!

He tried sprinting, but after a tumble a d lungs burning from the cold, he decided to slow it down. The wolf walked protectively by the twos side, ears pricked and shifting, listening for any signs of danger.

With a mischievous grin, Noah reached down, scooping up a handful of snow. He took great care forming it into a perfect snowy ball, then threw it at his brother's head!

Maggie laid her head on Glenn's shoulder and closed her eyes. Yeah you're right. Nothing to worry about. And I think this is the perfect time to have another, with the boys at their age now. They will be so over protective of the baby it it's a girl, especially Noah. And if we have another boy...we will let the boys name him.


Logan stopped in his tracks the moment he was hit by the snowball. He looked over at his brother then grabbed some snow of his own and threw it at Noah. Mom said to go right to sandy's house. Logan reminded him.

She gets it. She just doesn't care. Michonne corrected folding her arms across her chest.

Hearing that Negan had founded them caused her stomach to drop. She nodded to Daryl who said he needed to inform Carl. She was sure by now he had heard but it just in case it was good to make sure that those who needed to know knew.

Hearing a yelp from outside, Michonne glanced out the window and saw the twins playing in the snow. Now worried about the saftey of the kids in the community with Negan out there she hurried to the front door, opened it, and called them inside.

Get inside now you two! She called and motioned for them to come inside.