The next morning Deanna had me on patrol on the walls. Since I wasn't allowed to leave, this was the closest to the outside I could get. I knew she was still conducting interviews with the whole group. There were a lot of them and we knew it would take time for them to settle in. The group would have a hard time getting used to this whole new safe community thing. I was just happy to have my whole family back where they belong.

Sitting up on the wall I knew deep down that they would think this community was weak. They are, but that's why they started taking insiders. To help make them stronger. Deanna was still trying to figure out jobs for everyone. That night after my shift and while I was trying to get ready for bed she came and saw me. The knock at the door is what brought me out of my thoughts. I headed over and opened the door leaning against it as I crossed my arms over my chest.

"It's late." I said quickly.

"I know, I need your help with something." She asked and motioned inside. "Mind if I come in."

I let out a sigh and nodded, stepping aside, closing the door as she walked by and sat at the table just to the right of the living room.

"What do you need help with?" I made my way over to my cup of coffee I had just made that was sitting on the counter.

"You know this group. You know where they might fit in the best. Help me assign jobs for them." Deanna looked over at me with almost pleading eyes.

"That group is my family. Not just some group. And I thought you knew how to read people so why don't you just trust your gut. Or ask your husband for help. Hell I'm sure Aaron would have an idea too," I sat down across from her drinking my coffee.

"Some of them are...hard to read. I feel like they are putting on fake faces." I sighed, having an idea of who she was talking about.

"Fine. Who do you want to start with?" She smiled at me and nodded.

"Rick and Michonne." I nodded, Rick was a leader. So was Michonne. I could read it on her from when we first met.

"They are both strong leader types. Rick was a cop. But you probably knew that already. He was good at his job. They both have an urge to protect those they care about and will do that at any cost."

"Sounds like you." I gave her a dry laugh

"Yeah well when you grow up with someone it's hard not to copy each other."

"I think I have the perfect job for them." I nodded and took another drink as I watched the gears turn in her head. "What about Carol?"

"She's been broken since she lost her daughter. Her husband used to beat the shit out of her. You can't trust her. Carol has a way of sneaking around and planning shit behind your back. But she's got good motherly instincts. And she can cook so." Deanna nodded and shifted in her seat.

"Daryl Dixon?" I felt my heart leap at the sound of his name. I still hadn't seen him since they had just gotten here. I was waiting for my redneck to come and find his lost little bird.

"He's a lone wolf. He never had to take care of anyone but himself. Not till our group. He's protective of us all. Great tracker and scavenger. He can hunt too." My mind was flooded with all the amazing things that I loved about the younger Dixon. Well now, the only Dixon. "He's lost a lot. And he's very antisocial around people he doesn't know or trust. It takes a while and a lot to earn his trust. But, he's a good man." My fingers traced the rim of the glass as I thought about him.

I glanced up at Deanna and she had a strange smile on her face. "What?

"How long have you been in love with him?" I laughed and shook my head to hide my shock and figure out what I did to give it away.

"I think old age is getting to you Deanna."

"No one talks about a man like that with that look in their eye unless they were in love with them. So?" I rolled my eyes.

"It's not that simple. We have. History. Yes but its more complicated than you think." She nodded and stood up.

"Thank you for your help. You've given me a lot to think about." I stood up and opened the door for her.

"Sure." As she started to walk out I stopped her. "Deanna, don't kick them out. If they leave, I won't stay here. They're my family and I won't lose them again."

"You're an asset here, Raven. We need you. I will think about what you're saying but, don't give up safety and a community for a group who left you behind." I felt the anger rise in me as she walked out and towards her own house.

Deanna's words had haunted me all night long. I knew they didn't leave me behind. We got separated and we all spent those months trying to find each other. But that voice in the back of my mind questioned if she was right. It was back to my rough night of sleeping. That morning I spotted Rick walking out the gates and ran out after him. I knew what he was doing. I did the same thing when I got here.

"Rick." I said as the gate closed behind us and he paused to look at me.

"Raven." He gave me a soft smile and hugged me tightly like we were seeing each other for the first time all over again. "What are you doing out here?"

"I figured you could use the company. And I know what you're doing." I gave him a reassuring smile and he started walking.

"Never could hide anything from you." We both laughed as he checked the support beams along the wall. "You think this is gonna stay?" He asked me and I looked up at the wall.

"Has the whole time I've been here. We've gotten a few small hordes but the walls stayed." I said as I walked along the metal letting my fingers follow the groves in it.

"How long have you been here?" We walked along the tree line and I tried to remember how long I was there for.

"A while. Not too long after the prison fell." He nodded and we kept walking the perimeter till we came up on a barn with a walker coming out. Rick reacted quickly, pulling out his gun and aiming.

"Wow, slow down cowboy. No bullets unless we have to. Don't want to attract more." I gave him a smile and pulled out a knife. "Watch this." I said and threw the knife hitting the walker dead between the eyes and his body fell to the ground.

"Good aim." I smiled at his compliment.

"Thanks. When they took my guns I decided I needed to get better with my knives." I walked over and pulled my knife from the walker and we kept walking. I was essentially just following him to wherever he was going. The walk was quiet for the most part. Some light small talk but we were just enjoying eachothers company again.

That was till we came up on an old run down house. I had seen it before. I used it as an escape when I couldn't handle the people inside the walls anymore. Rick went digging in a pile before opening a blender. He was looking for something. I didn't know what but, whatever it was he didn't find it and it upset him.

"Rick you good?" I asked and just then came the snarl of a walker close by. Then there was more than just one. As they started coming Carl walked out of the woods. Rick and I just looked at him for a bit before turning back to the walkers.

There were only a few and we took them out one by one quickly. Watching them take out the walkers reminded me of what we used to be on the outside. "Let's get back, I'm not supposed to be outside. Deanna has me on lock down for not checking in."

We headed back and as I got back Aiden was starting shit with the new people. Again. I watched Glen clock Aiden in his perfect annoying face and there ensued a fight. It was satisfying to watch Aiden get his ass handed to him. He had been a thorn in my side since I got here. "Fucking hell." I watched Daryl tackle Aiden's buddy. "Rick, grab Daryl." I said as I walked over and I pushed Aiden back.

"That's enough, I said that is enough." Deanna was yelling and I knew that wasn't going to work. I watch Rick grab Daryl and pull him off the other guy. Aiden got up and I stood in front of him.

"You wanna end up on your ass again?" I said looking up at Aiden and he just took a few steps back. I watched Daryl start to pace and Rick was the only thing standing between him and kicking someone's ass.

"I want everyone to hear me, okay? Rick and his people are part of this community now in all ways as equals. Understood?" Deanna bellowed out for everyone who was standing close by to hear. I knew she was mostly talking to Aiden. So I walked away to let Deanna do her thing and to see the rest of the group.

That night Rick had gotten his job as constable. Basically he was a cop again with Michonne as his right hand. It was a perfect fit for him and her. They made a good couple. Even if they weren't there yet. I knew they would be eventually. I also knew they were all still staying in the same house. I walked over and smiled seeing him in the uniform Deanna gave him. Carol had just walked out as I got closer. Then I spotted him. My Daryl was on the porch smoking. I had forgotten just how much I missed him. I walked up the steps and sat on the railing.

"So you guys staying? If not I'll leave with you." I asked and Rick took a few steps closer to me.

"No, I think we can start staying in our own homes. Settle in." Rick gave everyone a soft smile.

"If we get comfortable here, we let our guard down– this place is gonna make us weak." Carol said and I knew I was right. They were all thinking the same thing I did when I first got here.

"Carl said that. But it's not gonna happen." Rick walked over to the railing I was sitting on and stood next to me. "We won't get weak. That's not in us anymore. We'll make it work. And if they can't make it... then we'll just take this place." Rick spoke like he knew they weren't going to make it. Deanna did a good job of running this place but, in the end. I knew if the walls were gone the only ones who would survive are those who knew what life was like outside the walls. Everyone else would end up dead.

I had those thoughts. Taking over this place and running it. But, I was alone then. I knew I couldn't do it on my own. So I kept my distance and made sure that if we lost anyone in here I wouldn't care. But now. I had my family back and we could take this place and run it just fine. Hell maybe even better than Deanna. It would just be a matter of when.

Another morning came and I woke up early like every morning and made my way to gate duty. I saw Sasha leave and I could tell by the look on her face she was definitely not doing good at all. I know they lost people while we were separated and even now that will still fuck you up. Just changes how you lose them, but not how you cope with that loss.

Deanna had announced a welcome party she was hosting in honor of my family being here. I never was one for the parties this place threw. But If my family was going to be there I knew I would be there too. I was still on wall patrol when I noticed Rick and Carol walking down the street. I could tell from the look that Rick gave me when we locked eyes. They were planning something, and I knew if they were caught. They would be thrown out. And I wasn't going to leave my family again. So every bit of strength this place had would walk right out those gates.

These people live in blissful ignorance. Forgetting what really lies beyond the wall they had built. Some of the people we had brought in from the outside knew a place like this with people like this. I wouldn't stand for long. But a place like this with people like my family and I. This place really could thrive into what Deanna believes it could be.

After my shift I went out looking for Daryl, I couldn't seem to find him. One of the neighbors had told me that he left and Aaron left with him. Deanna was keeping a closer eye on him, because he distanced himself from everyone. I gave up on looking for him and made my way back home to try and figure out what the hell I was going to wear. I always came to these parties late because I never knew what to wear. Tonight was the same.

In the end that night I went with my black ripped jeans, a black sleeveless shirt, red flannel on top, and finished it with some black heeled boots that one of the girls gave me. I let my natural curls down and headed to Deanna's house. Only reason I was there was to see my family. I got there shortly after Rick did.

"Rick, well don't you look dapper." I gave him a soft smile and he smiled back.

"Thank you. You look good, a little dressed down." I laughed

"God not you too. I don't do dresses okay." Rick laughed a little and looked at Judith.

"Can I hold her?" I knew Rick was scared to let her go with anyone but, I was me.

"Yeah of course." Rick handed me Judith and she smiled at me.

"Hello beautiful girl." I missed her just as much as I had missed the rest of them. I was more scared that out of everyone she would be the one most likely to not make it. But she did with her shining blue eyes and cute smile.

Hours later the house was filling up with lots of people. I could tell some of the group was still trying to get used to everything. I hadn't seen Daryl at all but this was definitely never a Daryl type of thing. I was standing across the room still holding Judith. If it wasn't for them I would definitely never be able to stay at this shit party. As a Marine our type of party came with broken or sprained bones and a shit ton of liquor.

I handed Judith off to an elderly couple that I knew. They were nice and just the sweetest old people ever. I picked up a beer and headed out onto the back porch to get some air. Too much of this socializing shit drives me crazy. Michonne walked in just as I was walking out. "Hey." I said and she smiled at me.

"Hey, how are you?" She asked with a smile.

"I'm good. How are you adjusting?"

"Fine. I think. We'll be okay." She reassured me.

"Good. Go on, I'm sure someone is missing you. I'm just gonna get some air before heading back in." Michonne smiled and nodded.

"Okay, I think Abraham is still out there." I tilted my head to the side.

"New guy to the group?" I asked out of curiosity.

"Oh yeah, we picked him up with Rosita and Eugene." I smiled

"Well guess I better meet them since they're part of the family now too. I'll catch up with you later." I smiled and she patted my shoulder.

"It's good to have you back." I smiled and nodded before she made her way inside and I made my way outside. I was met with a broad back covered in a green sweater and a head of red hair. "Um, Hi. I'm Raven, you must be Abraham." I watched as the man's shoulders stiffened and slowly he turned to face me.

"Holy shit." The man standing before me was my Sargent from when I was a Marine. The last time I had seen him was when he saved my life. The same day I lost Johnny. It was like staring into the face of safety and my past. That memory replayed in my head over and over. It was like seeing an old friend you thought you'd never see again.

"Son of a dick." He said and I had to stifle the laugh that wanted to escape. I put my beer down on the window ledge and stood at attention. It was what I was trained to do. Abraham set his own beer down. "At ease, Corporal." He said and my posture softened.

"Sargent Ford, please tell me my eyes aren't playing tricks on me again." I said my voice was a little shaky as all the memories from when I was in service with him as my head of command. The fun drinking days we had with the kill squad. How we would both try and out drink each other but ended up getting wasted. It was good memories and even the bad ones that made my skin burn at all my scars.

"They aren't Raven." He gave me one of his signature kiss ass smiles and I moved wrapping my arms around him.

"But. How?" I asked as he hugged me back tightly.

"The rest of us were called home not long after your rescue." He said as he pulled away from me and we just stared at each other.

"I can't believe you're here. I thought I would have lost everyone from there. I mean seriously. I thought I'd have no one from that life." I said as I took a step back.

"Well you haven't lost me, little bird." Abraham smiled and leaned back against the railing and picked up his beer. I grabbed mine off the windowsill and walked over standing next to him.

The rest of the night we spent talking about the good old days and how it was before everything happened. We talked about how he found Rosita and Eugene. How they were supposed to come here to Washington and make a cure. That part made me laugh because even I could smell the bullshit from that story. Abraham and I had a few more beers before I walked off and headed home for the night. I knew by the way he talked about Rosita that he had feelings for her but that also meant that he had lost his wife and daughter. All I could do was hope that it wasn't from walkers.

Once I was home I went to bed and decided to try and get some sleep especially with all the drinking I did with Abraham. I ended up staring at the wall before getting up and walking around my own house for a few hours. Like I was a stranger again. Like I was brand new to this place. I could feel that tonight or even tomorrow something was going to happen. I didn't know what but I knew it was coming.