Disclaimer—I don't own or make claim to the characters from The Walking Dead. I only own my original characters.

We pull out of the Hilltop and once we reach the interchange I take a right. Jesus gives me a quizzical look. "You know it'd be faster to get to The Kingdom if we went left back there?" he queries.

"I know," I say. "But fast isn't the most important thing today. And I have a stop I want to make on the way."

He looks at me inquiringly, but stares out the window again after I make no move to enlighten him. Just before Dumfries, I see another roadblock ahead and slow down. Jesus looks at me. "You sure you don't want me to just meet you on the other side of Dumfries?" he asks.

"No," I reply. "I have a plan, don't worry."

I pull up to the roadblock and stop. "Too late now," Jesus mutters under his breath.

Oh ye of little faith, I think to myself as I roll down my window.

"Well hello again Gavin," I call out. Gavin walks up and says, "Sandi? Is that you?"

"Yep," I reply. Gavin bends over and sees Jesus. "Jesus? What're you doing with Sandi?" he exclaims in astonishment.

"Oh, I just dropped a friend off at Hilltop for some medical attention. Jesus asked for a ride since I was headed in this direction. Scavenging again, was it?" I ask as I turn my head to look at Jesus and wink at him while I'm at it.

He catches on and speaks up, "Yeah, I saw a good vehicle at a Whole Foods over on Duke that I wanted to pick up. That store looked like it might not be picked clean yet either. It was convenient that Sandi was headed that way already."

Gavin stares at us. "Huh," he says, "Well good luck in the scavenging. Find us something good!" He grins at Jesus. Then he turns and motions for his crew to let us through. Once they've moved things enough that we can get by, I slide the van through and continue on our way.

I look over at Jesus. He gives me a huge grin. "You're crafty, you know? I'm gonna have to keep an eye on you!"

I laugh and we continue on our way. Soon I see the road I want and take a right, heading toward the atlantic. Jesus eyes me as we slowly make our way across a bridge that I have to weave around obstacles. It appears there was a fight here at one time.

He finally asks, "I know this isn't the way to The Kingdom--not even a creative roundabout way. Care to share where we're going?"

"Just another possibility I want to check out. I had a friend who lived over here. I suspect she had a larger community than what she admitted to. Even so, she told me how to find her if we ever got into trouble."

Soon I see a sign for Oceanside Cabin Motor Court and turn in toward it and stop the van. "Come on kids, we're going to have to walk a bit from here." I look at Jesus. "They aren't very fond of men from what I understand. You might want to sit this one out."

Jesus steps out of the van. "I can take care of myself." I laugh and say, "Famous last words."

We hike through the vegetation for about 15 minutes before I can sense we aren't alone anymore. I stop and motion for the kids to stop as well. Jesus comes up beside me.

I yell, "My name is Sandi Jones. I am friends with Cyndie. We helped each other out of a tight spot a while back and she told me where I could find her if I needed her. These are my kids and my friend. We mean no harm, I just need to talk to Cyndie." I put my machete and gun on the ground. I motion for the kids to put their weapons down as well. Soon, faces melt out of the trees. They come silently and tie our hands behind our backs and march us to their camp. After waiting for a while in a room, Cyndie and an older lady appear. Cyndie runs over and gives me a hug. "I hoped it was you," she exclaims and starts untying my wrists.

"Cyndie," the older woman says as she reaches out to stop her from releasing me.

"No Grandma. Sandi isn't here to hurt us, and she wouldn't be friends with anyone who wants to hurt us either. Negan killed her husband. She has just as much reason to hate him as we do."

Her Grandmother considers and then nods her head. But looks at Jesus and says, "Leave him tied up." Cyndie nods, grateful she can release me and the kids at least.

I sit and speak to them. I explain about Alexandria where I've been living and Hilltop where Jesus is from. I tell them all about the events of the last week, the satellite outpost, Negan's roadblocks, them hunting for Alexandria, all of it.

Cyndie's grandmother, Natania, says, "I saw the roadblocks. They are uncomfortably close to us." I look at her, "Natania, I know you want nothing to do with the outside world. But Negan is coming closer every day. He's going to find you and your group will be right back where they were before, serving him and working for him. Join us. Alexandria and Hilltop are going to fight back. I'm going to get The Kingdom to join us as well. We'll be holding a war council tomorrow in Alexandria. I know their locations, I know their manpower and I know their weaknesses. We're going to end this so we can all live in peace again. We're going to kill Negan so he can never hurt anyone again." I turn to look at Cyndie. "Join us Cyndie. Please."

At first Natania is adamantly opposed to the idea. But I watch in amazement as Cyndie slowly sways her grandmother. I guess they had a visitor a few days ago who found them. Cyndie convinces Natania that more people will find them and they can't just kill everyone who does. She shares a story of the time we spent together when I got us out of a tight spot. How I'm good at that kind of stuff. I look down, I don't even know how I'm good at that stuff, but I do seem to be. I can just see pieces come together in my head and then plans form. Funny what talents you'll find in the apocalypse.

In the end, Natania finally agrees and Cyndie puts together a pack so she can come with us. Jesus just stares at me in amazement as he's finally untied. As we hike back out to the van he says, "I just watched all of that unfold and I still don't believe it."

I grin. "Did I ever tell you I had a degree in Public Relations?" I laugh. He smiles. "I thought you worked in medical records?" he asked.

I smirk, "I did. But I started down a different road early in my life that ended up being useful later. Gotta be able to talk people into stuff, especially Doctor's. They tend to be grouchy about being told what to do. I put my PR skills to use in that job like crazy!" Jesus laughs.

We load back up in the van and head to The Kingdom while keeping an eye out for any roadblocks. On the way I notice a Best Buy set back from the road that doesn't look in too bad of disrepair. I pull the van off the highway and head toward it. Things seem fairly clear of walkers for now. "Pit stop, I need to check something out," I tell everybody.

Cyndie and Jesus insist on helping, so between the 3 of us and the kids, we're able to clear some straggler walkers out pretty quickly. I get to the right section of the store and hit the jackpot. I load 2 shopping carts full and the kids help me take them out and load them into the overhead carrier on top of the van. Jesus and Cyndie give me querying looks and I say, "I'll explain later, it's a piece of the plan that's coming together. Let's hurry and get to The Kingdom before dark."

They nod, and we load back into the car and get back on the road.

Within the hour we approach the gates of The Kingdom. Riders intercept us so I have to stop. I roll down the window and a rider yells out, "Who dares trespass on the sovereign land of the Kingdom?!"

"We seek an audience with the King!" I declare with glee. Jesus grins and says, "You don't have to play it up quite so much," as he gets out of the van. I just grin at him. In my mind, if the guy calls himself a King, it's only right to play it up. I may as well have fun with it, right?

The rider looks at Jesus. "Paul, is that you?" he asks. "What're you doing here? Have you seen all the roadblocks? It's not safe to be out there today!"

Jesus replies, "Hi Richard, like she said, we'd like to speak with the King. We've seen the roadblocks, and Sandi here," he gestures to me, "has gone through 2 of them today. I'd like to introduce some representatives from like-minded communities to you." I get out and join him.

Richard eyes me and says to Jesus, "You said they're a like-minded community. Like-minded how?"

Jesus replies, "We live, we trade, we fight the dead. Sometimes others." Richard looks at Jesus assessingly.

Jesus continues, "We're going to war, Richard. We're going to take out Negan once and for all. We need to speak to the King to see if he'll join us."

Richard gets off his horse and approaches Jesus and I. "That's the best news I've heard all year! You may even have a better chance to talk him into it today too."

Jesus asks, "Why, what's happened?"

Richard snorts. "The saviors happened, what else? They've been getting tougher and rougher with each pickup. I've been warning the King that they'd soon kill someone, but today it happened. They killed Benjamin and the King was mighty fond of him. He was just a kid. If that won't push him over the edge to war then nothing will."

I ask, "Can we ask him?" Richard nods and says, "The van stays outside. You gotta hand over your guns." I nod and hand over my gun and motion to my kids to do the same. Cyndie reluctantly turns hers over.

Richard says, "OK, follow me." I motion to the kids and Cyndie to join us and we follow Richard into the gates of the Kingdom.

As we walk in, I see people milling about in a big square. To my surprise I see Morgan. I break away from the group and run over to him. "Morgan," I yell. He turns around surprised to see me. I give him a hug. "It's good to see you! Where's Carol, did you find her?" I ask anxiously. Morgan hesitates and finally admits, "Yes. And I got her help, got her wounds taken care of. But she left. She wants to live alone now."

My face falls. "Well, I'm glad she's OK at least. Maybe with time..." I trail off.

"Yeah, give her some time," Morgan says.

I rejoin the group telling Morgan I'll catch him later.

We enter a big auditorium. Richard says, "He's a good guy, just a little dramatic," as we walk down the aisle. I have heard a lot about the King from Jesus along with workers and Negan's Lieutenants at the Sanctuary, so I thought I was prepared for him. I knew he was dramatic and speaks like Shakespeare. Even so, I was not truly prepared for the King. As we walk down the aisle, I notice the backdrops on the stage are of castle walls and grin to myself. They must have been mid-production of Camelot when the world ended or something. But then I see not only a very large man with dreadlocks lounging in a throne, but a, holy cow, a tiger. An actual tiger prowling around the stage letting out low rumbles.

"Jesus!" the King calls. "It pleases me to see you old friend!"

The big guy with an axe next to him yells, "It pleases him indeed."

The King glances at the man and says, "Jerry." His tone indicates that he felt his statement was unnecessary. I keep a wary eye on the tiger, but smirk. I'm already enjoying Jerry's sense of humor.

"Tell me, what news do you bring good King Ezekiel? Are these new allies you've brought us?" the King asks. I bite my lip to stop a giggle. Oh man, he even speaks of himself in the third person. I glance at my kids to make sure they don't openly laugh, although I can tell they are holding themselves back. Even Jordan is doing a good job at keeping a straight face. Mostly. I glance at Cyndie and she just looks gobsmacked.

Jesus replies, "Indeed, they are, your majesty. This is," he turns to gesture to me and sees the look on my face as I continue to eye the tiger. "Oh right, I forgot to mention..." I interrupt. "Yeah, a tiger."

Shiva chooses that moment to let out a large growl as Jesus grins at me.

Jesus continues, "This is Sandi Jones of Alexandria. And these are her children along with Cyndie of Oceanside."

King Ezekiel says, "I welcome you all to the Kingdom, good travelers. Now, what brings you to our fair land? Why do you seek an audience with the King?"

"King Ezekiel," I bow my head at him. "Your majesty, may I also introduce Cyndie of Oceanside?" I motion to Cyndie and she steps forward and hesitantly bows her head while looking at me like I'm crazy for going along with this. Hey, the guy can have his delusions. He has people and supplies. I don't care if he thinks he's the King of England as long as he'll fight with us.

I continue, "Alexandria, Hilltop, Oceanside and The Kingdom all have something in common. We are all having to deal with the Saviors. They haven't found Alexandria yet, but it's only a matter of time before they do and try to subjugate us as they have other communities. Oceanside lost all of their men to the Saviors in an utter manslaughter."

I continue speaking and explain about Alexandria where I've been living. I tell them all about the events of the last week, the satellite outpost, Negan's roadblocks, them hunting for Alexandria, all of it. I tell him about being forced for work the saviors, the attack on my daughter, my husband's death and circumstances of my release.

Richard, says, "I saw the roadblocks. I saw what they did to Benjamin. They are only escalating the violence, King Ezekiel."

The King digests all of this and looks at me and asks, "And what plans have you, Sandi Jones of Alexandria?"

"I came to ask The Kingdom, to ask you, to join us in fighting the saviors. Fighting for freedom, for all of us," I reply. "I have a plan coming together. I'd like you to join us tomorrow at Alexandria for a war council. There we can discuss and plan how to take on the saviors, to take out Negan. There will be leaders from Hilltop, Alexandria, Oceanside and, I hope, The Kingdom there. Come hear what these people have to say. Let us make a plan. Together."

The King is silent for a few moments as he stares at me. "What you're asking is very serious," he finally replies.

Jesus speaks up. "I used to think the deal was something we could live with. A lot of us did. But things are changing. So let's change the world, your majesty."

I continue, "King Ezekiel, I know you were hoping for a peaceful resolution. But the saviors escalate everyday. More and more people are dying. It isn't enough for them to subjugate us, they have to grind us into the dirt. They enjoy killing, so the killing will never stop. Join us. Alexandria, Oceanside and Hilltop are going to fight back. I know their locations, I know their manpower and I know their weaknesses. We are going to end this so we can all live in peace again. We're going to kill Negan so he can never hurt anyone again."

King Ezekiel responds. "The hour grows late, Sandi Jones of Alexandria. The roads are too dangerous for you tonight and you've given the King much to ponder. I invite you all to sup with us and stay till the morrow. I shall deliver my decree in the morn."

I nod. "We would enjoy that," I reply. Soon Richard escorts us to our rooms. We are able to freshen ourselves and join the King and his entourage for dinner. It is pleasant company and I think it does him good to see we can all relax. The kids especially enjoy themselves, making friends quickly.

After a restless nights sleep, the kids and I join Cyndie and Jesus in the square. We are ready to leave for Alexandria regardless of the King's verdict. I hope and pray it'll be in our favor though. My half-formed plan depends on it. Soon the King approaches.

"I have reached a decision," he declares. I resist rolling my eyes at his dramatics. "The Kingdom will join you on this journey to create an alliance. We will fight with you and shall defeat them so that no one will suffer under their capricious malevolence again!"

I breathe out a sigh of relief. My plan truly depended on the Kingdom joining us. I feel renewed energy filling me. We have a chance, we can do this! And maybe, just maybe, that can result in the kids and I having a permanent home in Alexandria.

A/N This chapter shows how persuasive Sandi can be. It appears she has decided Alexandria has potential as a home and wants to fight for it. Or does she just want Negan dead, so she'll help anyone who could do that? Or is she just setting the scene and then she'll sit back from a safe distance with her immunity and let them all fight it out...see who wins? What do you think of the King? I admit, I had fun with this one. ;)

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