In the woods.

I heard footsteps behind me and then a whistle.

Daryl "hey"

I turned around "Hey. Daryl Gabriel and Rosita just left with the first group. Did oceanside give an answer? "

Daryl nodded "Yes, and they'll take some. Luke's gathering up about a dozen of them. We can take the rest. "

Then he nodded at something behind me and nodded "Hey"

Maggi nodded "hi"

Two guys showed up.

I asked confused " Who's that? "

Maggie "These are my people. Is everybody okay?"

One guy " Hershel's fine. Don't worry."

Maggie " Everyone else? "

One guy "Holding tight at the rendezvous. Let's bring them back. "

Maggie nodded and gestured to us "Come on. I want you to meet my friends. Kendall, Daryl --Elijah and Cole. Hershel and I were living with their people Until recently. We lost the village."

Cole " And now we need to live with you. "

Maggie nodded "I thought I'd take them to hilltop. "

I looked at Daryl who was already looking at me.

Maggie asked confused "What is it? "

At the Hilltop ruins.

Maggie's jaw hit the ground when she saw what was left of Hilltop.

I sighed "Maggie. Negan was with the whisperers. That night. I wanted you to hear it from me, because --"

Maggie asked shocked " It was you? You let him out? "

Me "Alpha needed to die, and Negan was our best chance. We were gonna lose everything. Negan's a reason we didn't. "

Maggie looked away.

Cole " So, what now? What? Everyone's just supposed to go to... What was it?"

Daryl " Alexandria. "

Cole nodded "Right. So, we all go to Alexandria And live next door to the guy who torched this place? Same guy who killed her husband -- Is that right? "

Daryl looked at him "We're still figurin' things out. "

Maggie looked at me "Thanks for telling me. We need to get to Hershel and the others. "

Then she walked away.

I went to follow her but Daryl grabbed my hand and pulled me to him.

Daryl "hey, you didn't have to do that. "

I nodded "I did. I owe her that much."

Daryl " I'll try to smooth things over. "

Me "She's never gonna come around on him, you know. "

Daryl "like you?"

I looked at him confused.

Daryl " You and him looked kinda comfy earlier"

I scoffed, shaking my head " I was thanking him"

Daryl "you didn't need to touch him for that, princess"

I put a hand on his cheek and pulled him closer to me "listen here, grumpy old man, i love you, okay? you"

Daryl raised an eyebrow "what did you just call me?"

I smirked and kissed him "be careful, okay?"

Daryl asked confused "you ain't coming with us?"

Me "i am heading home and see if everything's okay"

Daryl nodded "okay, be careful"

I nodded.

He gave me a kiss before walking away.

A couple days later. At Alexandria.

The Whisperers had trashed the city and we all were kinda trying to rebuilt it.

I saw Daryl, Hershel, Maggie and her crew walk in through the gate.

Maggie looked at me before nodding.

I nodded back to her.

Daryl "the hell happened here?"

I shrugged "The Whisperers left us a surprise"

Daryl sighed annoyed.