Yes this is the "big time skip" because without Judith, I don't really feel the need to write a 10 year time gap, so... Yea. Anyways, this is what the characters look like 3 years later:

Ellie Dixon- age 15 (nearly 16)

Sophia Dixon- age 18 (nearly 19)

Carl Grimes- age 17 (pretend he's missing his eye lol)

Rosita Espinosa

Daryl Dixon (and Dog)

Carol Sutton

Michonne Grimes

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"RJ, put the knife down or I'll tell the tooth fairy that you've been a little shit." I chased after him. 

"No, no!" He laughed, stopping his run. I took the knife from him and put it on the table. "Tell her I've been a good boy?" He asked, begging me with those puppy dog eyes.

I rolled my eyes. "Fine. You're lucky I have these connections." I grinned putting him to sit on the counter. As he laughed, he knocked over a glass of water. "Oh no." I laughed, putting the glass to stand up as I grabbed a tea towel to wipe up the spilled water.

"Sorry." He smiled at me.

"Don't worry, buddy. Accidents happen." I assured him.

"Ellie, you good for nothing little shit! How hard is it to avoid a glass of damn water!" Isabella screamed at her seven year old daughter. "Go to your room! I don't wanna see you for the rest of the week!"

"Can we do something fun, Ellie?" RJ requested.

"You wanna play the Egg game?" I grinned, putting the tea towel away.

He nodded. "Yes, please."

I laughed, grabbing the eggs from the fridge before helping RJ down from the counter. I took his hand as we walked out of the house. We headed down to the cell where Negan was being kept. "Dickwad!" I called to Negan as I entered the room.

"Hello, Ellie Belly." Negan cheerfully greeted.

"Be a dear and come over here to the bars, would you?" I batted my eye lashes at him as I squatted next to RJ. Negan sighed, knowing what was coming as he walked over to the bars. "There you go." I whispered to RJ, handing him an egg. He laughed as he threw the egg through the bars and it hit Negan's leg. "Woah, great shot!" I patted RJ on the back.

I took an egg and threw it at his face. "You're so cool!" RJ laughed.

"I know." I grinned, handing him another egg which he threw at Negan and it hit his crotch. I couldn't help but laugh, Negan pursed his lips together, nodding.

"Ellie? What are you doing down here?" Gabriel asked, entering the room.

"Playing the Egg game!" RJ answered for me.

"Ellie, what have I told you about throwing eggs at Negan?" Gabriel raised his eyebrows.

"That I shouldn't waste perfectly good eggs on trash?" I responded.

Gabriel shook his head. I smiled, picking up the eggs and taking RJ's hand. I moved around the priest before leaving the cell room. "Until next time!" I heard Negan call.

"Ellie, come back." Gabriel called.

Me and RJ turned to him. "What's up, padre?"

"When are you gonna stop doing this?" Gabriel asked, shaking his head.

"Stop what?" I pushed.

"You know." He stated.

"Okay, here's the real question." I countered. "When are you going to stop trying to suck up to me just because you're crushing on Rosita?"

Gabriel let out a breath. "I'm not crushing on her, Ellie. We're together."

"And yet she's way outta your league." I responded, a sarcastic smile on my face.

"We're together. You're going to have to accept that sooner or later." Gabriel pushed. "Why don't you try coming to church?"

I scoffed. "I'd rather eat my own foot. Come on, RJ." I said, handing the eggs to Gabriel before starting to walk away from him. I noticed a bunch of people over by the gates. I picked up the toddler and put him on my hip so I could jog over there.

"Wee!" RJ called.

"Who are these people?" I asked Sophia, looking around the four people. Three women, one man.

"These are Magna, Connie, Kelly and Luke. Their friend Yumiko has gone to the infirmary." Sophia told me. "Carl found them."

"You know the rules. We don't bring in new people. Not after what happened." I looked to Carl.

"Their friend was hurt." Carl reminded me.

The pretty one with the boy on her hip doesn't like that we're here. Kelly signed to Connie.

"My name's Ellie." I told Kelly.

"You know sign?" Kelly asked.

I nodded. "I found a book and started learning it when I thought RJ here was deaf. Turns out he was just being a dickhead. I learnt it anyways cause I had nothing better to do."

RJ gasped. "You said a bad word."

"But you're a lovable dickhead so it's fine." I poked his nose.

He smiled to himself and pushed his face into my neck. I looked over to the gate and watched Michonne come in on horseback, she did not look very happy to see these new people. "You want to tell me what this it?" Michonne pushed, looking around.

"Five unknowns, all clean, one headed to the infirmary." Eugene told her. 

She had a good look at all of them before stopping in front of Magna and doing a body search on her. "All clean? You sure about that?" She pushed, looking at Eugene.

"They're whistle worthy, clean as a-wise." He responded. "They surrendered their weapons willingly and submitted to standard frisk procedure."

"And why are they here?" Michonne raised her eyebrows.

"It was my call." Carlos said.

"It's not your call to make." Michonne reminded him.

Carl stepped forward. "I decided. They needed help."

"Carl, you know the rules. You all do." Her eyes glanced to me as well.

"Mama, I had absolutely nothing to do with this. I was babysitting the kid." I defended.

"I have a name." RJ reminded me.

"So does Negan, but what do we call him?" I responded.

"Dickwad." RJ answered proudly.

"Good boy." I nodded, looking back to mama who shook her head. Michonne had been the one raising me, Carl, Sophia and RJ while also dealing with the death of her husband. The death she didn't know I caused. I moved back to Alexandria straight after what happened with Rick, I needed to be there to help my family. We started calling her 'Mama M' which evolved to just 'mama'. Carol was still my mum, Daryl was still my dad... But they hadn't been raising me. Dad ran off to the forest, and mum was raising Jessie in Kingdom with Ezekiel. Jessie was kinda like my brother as well now since he was calling my mother, 'mum'... It's a very complicated family tree.

"But the thing is. They're here now." Megan stated. Another thing, Carlos and Megan moved into Alexandria. It took a little getting used too... And I didn't call them my family... But, there they were. Again, complicated. "And one of them's badly hurt. Ackles is checking her out, but... Look, no disrespect, but maybe their fate is something we should decide together." Megan continued, I watched as Kelly translated for Connie.

"It'll be dark soon." Gabriel spoke up. "First thing tomorrow, we can bring them before the council for a vote."

Mama clicked her tongue. "Okay, put them in holding. Kids, home. Now."

"But Ellie was going to take me to the park!" RJ complained.

"I was?" I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Yea, you didn't know?" RJ grinned at me.

I laughed and handed him over to mama as she passed. She held him on her hip as we started walking home. "Your sister can take you after dinner."

"I really wasn't planning on taking him." I pointed out.

"Sucks." Carl laughed.

"Alright, captain Hook." I scoffed. Carl had swapped out his bandage for a black, leather eye patch.

"Will the pirate jokes ever stop?" Sophia asked.

"Never." I grinned.

The next day was the day of the vote. I didn't attend because frankly I couldn't be bothered. The politics of surviving had never been my thing. I was offered a seat on the council but I didn't accept. It wasn't me. I was sitting on the sofa, watching The Breakfast Club with RJ when mama, Sophia and Carl came back from the meeting. Rosita had moved out of the house to live with Gabriel, everyone else who lived here before had either left Alexandria or was dead.

"Hi!" RJ smiled, jumping up onto the sofa so Carl would pick him up.

"Hi, buddy." Carl smiled at his little brother.

"How'd it go?" I asked Sophia as mama headed straight upstairs.

"We're kicking them out." Sophia responded.

I nodded. "Can't say I'm surprised."

Sophia hummed as Carl spoke. "You want Sophia to give you your lesson now?"

"Yes!" RJ agreed, trying to climb to Sophia for her to pick him up.

"Ah yes, beginners machete." I scoffed.

"He's getting good. He'll be better than you soon, El." Sophia grinned.

"I prefer my boomerang." I laughed as she walked off with RJ. Carl slumped next to me. "How you doing?"

"I don't think we should kick them out." Carl stated.

"You are the one who brought them in." I acknowledged.

"I'm gonna try to talk to mama. Dad would've understood." Carl said quietly.

A pang of grief and guilt hit my chest. Sophia, Megan and Carlos were the only ones who really knew what happened that day. "Things have changed since then, Carl. We both have the scars on our backs to prove it." I reminded him of the X shaped scar on the left of our lower backs. The same scar the two of us shared with Sophia, mama and dad.

"But these people aren't like they were." Carl argued.

I hummed. "Maybe. Look, I trust your instincts. If you think they're really good? Talk to the boss lady upstairs."

Carl nodded, letting out a breath. "I will. Thanks, El."

The next day, I was bringing a tub of cookies to the group that were leaving. I saw Magna, Connie, Kelly, Luke and a woman I assumed to be Yumiko. "Hey, I brought cookies for you." I said, handing the tub over to Kelly.

"Thank you." She smiled at me.

Thank you. Connie signed.

I smiled at them. It's my mother's recipe.

"Michonne?" Kelly raised her eyebrows, looking a little shocked. Connie held the same expression.

I signed the words as I spoke them. "No, no... I have two mothers. Neither of which birthed me. I have a very, very complicated family tree."

Kelly laughed as Connie smiled at me. Carl and Sophia were standing by Luke and Dr Ackles. I heard the trotting of a horse and looked over to see mama approaching us. "There's been a change of plans." She announced.

I was helping escort the new people to Hilltop. Mama didn't want them living in Alexandria, but decided it a cruel sentence to send them back out into the world. I was shocked, but relieved. I did like them, and I didn't want them to die.

Mama, me and Ackles were on horses. Carlos and Yumiko were at the front of the cart whereas Sophia, Luke, Magna, Connie and Kelly were in the back. Carl was upset he wasn't coming with but someone had to stay with RJ. I was on Emily trotting next to the back of the cart while mama and the doc were up ahead. "So, this place we're going... Is it nice?" Kelly asked me.

I looked down to her and smiled. "The Hilltop? I think you'll love it there. It's a good place filled with good people."

"Do you visit this Hilltop often?" Kelly questioned.

I smiled. "Uh... I try too. Obviously, I'm mostly in Alexandria."

"My friend Enid lives in Hilltop. She'll make sure you're well looked after." Sophia pointed out. Friend... Yea, the long distance thing didn't really work out between them. It was obvious that they were still madly in love, but were too scared to really do anything about it. I felt bad for them both, but Enid didn't want to leave Hilltop, and Sophia didn't want to leave Alexandria.

We appreciate that. Connie signed.

"She says we appreciate that." Kelly translated Connie because Sophia didn't know sign, before she looked back to me. "So... You know the people in Hilltop?"

I laughed a little awkwardly. "Yea, I know them."

"Any boyfriends of girlfriends there?" Kelly questioned.

"My fifteen year old sister isn't old enough to be dating." Sophia pointed out, a certain protectiveness in her tone.

"Fifteen?" Kelly repeated, her pitch a few octaves higher as her sister and friends laughed at her. Kelly looked back to me, before slowly covering her mouth and sinking back into her seat.

"Why? How old are you?" I questioned.

"She's twenty three." Magna answered.

"If it helps I'm almost sixteen." I grinned.

"It does not help." Kelly shook her head. I laughed to myself as we continued on our journey. I didn't blame her, I'd had my "glow up" you could say pretty early on into my teenage years and could now easily pass for someone older.

"No, no, no." Luke repeated. On our way to Hilltop, we stopped at where they were staying before they were forced to flea. Due to "sickos" as they called the walkers. I always forget that walkers aren't the official name, that different groups of people call them different things. The place was pretty much torn apart. It was an old storage container in the middle of a field.

"The herd you ran from did this?" Sophia asked as they all got out of the cart to take a better look, I stayed on Emily.

"No, a bigger one must've come through." Yumiko replied.

"It has to be here. It's got to be here." Luke complained, looking through the stuff.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

He has an unhealthy obsession with rescuing musical instruments in need. Connie responded.

"I have a love of the musical arts-" Luke said.

It's a fetish. Connie cut in, making me laugh.

Luke laughed. "No, it's not a fetish. Not a fetish, it's not a fetish. Can you please just help me find it?"

I jumped off my horse. Signing as I spoke. "What is it?"

"A flute." Luke responded.

"Carlos, collect their weapons." Mama ordered.

"Hell, no! We're keeping what's ours!" Magna responded.

"I am not having my men and my daughters take five armed strangers into Hilltop." Mama denied.

"You aren't coming with us? So, not only have you not been to this place in a long time, but you aren't coming with us." Magna argued. 

"Dr Ackles, Carlos, Sophia and Ellie will take you the rest of the way." Mama confirmed.

"We're taking our weapons." Magna stated.

"You want your weapons? Take them. Then you're on your own out here." Mama stood her ground. I didn't blame her... Contact with Hilltop had been a bit off, but there were still people there we loved and wouldn't put them in danger.

"Michonne-" Dr Ackles started.

"You want an escort to Hilltop? A chance at something better? The weapons stay with us." Mama persisted.

"I vote for the second one." Luke raised his hand slightly.

"You don't need to raise your hand." I spoke quietly to him.

"Right." He nodded, lowering his hand.

"So, we're just supposed to trust her if she doesn't even trust us?" Magna asked.

"That's the risk you're going to have to take if you want to live somewhere safe. In a community." Sophia confirmed.

"Sophia's right, Magna. They wouldn't put us back together just to pull us apart again." Yumiko spoke up. Yumiko looked to mama. "You said we'd be there by morning?"

"That's right." Mama nodded.

Yumiko looked to her friends, she used ASL as she spoke. "Look, I know you don't like her rules, I don't either. But, we made it out here a long time on our own, with less than this. So, for a real chance of a safe place to live, we can make it a few more hours. Okay?"

Magna looked like a sulky child as she stormed off to the cart. I started speaking. "Sun will be down soon. We should find shelter. Nobody's travelling in the dark." I announced before turning to mama. "Especially not alone."

Mama nodded in agreement. A few years ago, the sanctuary failed. The people who used to be workers chose to join other communities, some of the saviours too... But a lot of them formed a group of people that just wonder. I called them the wonderer's anyways. They stole what wasn't theirs, beat you up if they felt like it... Some people who ran into them were never seen again.

I had been sleeping. Dreaming nice and peaceful thoughts of Chris Evans... Until I was rudely awaken by a scream. I instantly woke up since I'm a very light sleeper. I ran to where I heard the sound, my boomerang in my hand, ready to behead someone or something. "The hell's going on?" I asked when I saw Luke on the floor with his broken instrument. I started laughing when I realised what had happened. "Woah, mama. I think you killed the shit outta that violin." 

She side eyed me but I couldn't help but laugh. "Go back to bed, Ellie."

"Alright, keep an eye on his flute though." I grinned.

Sophia laughed, but stifled it when she saw the look she was getting. "Sorry, mama." She muttered, trying not to laugh.

After trying to ignore Luke's story about music being art, I went to sleep. In the morning, when I was just trying to have a peaceful sip of water, Carlos ran in from checking the area. "Walkers, come on, let's move!"

"Grab your stuff!" Magna ordered as we all headed outside. The only way out of the area from the abandoned factory we were staying in was blocked off by walkers.

"Hey yo, how are we supposed to fight without our weapons?" Kelly called.

"Michonne, Carlos needs to give us our weapons!" Magna yelled.

I said nothing as I ran out of the warehouse. Where the horses were tied up was secure from the about fifty walkers filling the area, but there was ten slowly getting towards them. I watched as Sophia took on ten single headedly with her two machetes.

I pretty much ignored everyone else as I used my boomerang to create a path straight to the horses. Once I got there, I took out all of the walkers on the path. I looked down and saw that they all had their weapons. No guns were being used, ammo was really low this far into the end of the world. I was secure and above them all, using my boomerang to take out any and all that I could.

I watched as they all gathered in a pretty clear area. Magna cried as they all looked at this one walker with a hideous shirt. I assumed that was the friend they lost. Bernie. "I'm sorry for your loss, but we really need to get this shit rolling!" I yelled down to them.

More of the journey to Hilltop was silent. There was a grieving atmosphere for the strangers, the rest of us were respectfully silent. "This is as far as I go." Mama announced when we were about an hour away from Hilltop. Before anyone could say anything else, we heard horses coming our way. We reached for our weapons when we saw that the two men on horseback had spears. "Those spears. You from Hilltop?" Mama assumed.

"We are. You?" One of the men responded.

"Alexandria." Mama replied.

"We're headed there now." He continued. "We have a message... We have one of yours. Rosita Espinosa."

"What's wrong?" I asked quickly, moving Emily so I was at the front with mama. "Is she alright?"

"She's been injured." He carried on.

Mama sighed. "Let the people in Alexandria know that Michonne and others are headed to Hilltop. That we're safe"

"I'm going ahead. I gotta get to her now." I said to everyone. I was slightly shocked that mama was going with, but my brain was fully focused on Rosita.

Mama nodded. "Be safe. I'll see you soon."

"You too." I responded quickly, before making Emily speed up down the road.

I completed the hour journey in twenty minutes. As soon as I was through the gates, Jesus came over. I handed him Emily's reigns. "Infirmary." Jesus said before I even asked.

My feet were moving before I even comprehended what was going on. I ran as quick as I could, pushed open the door and ran to her side as soon as I saw her. She was asleep. "What happened?" I asked Enid, sitting by her side.

"She went out on a run with Eugene. Mike and Jesus found her when she set off a flare. All that she could say was that she left Eugene in a barn." Enid explained.

"The Eugenius is missing?" I asked.

"A small group is going out to find him soon." Enid answered.

"I'll go with them." I muttered.

"Is Sophia with you?" Enid questioned.

"Yea, she is. On her way now." I responded. "With mama and a few others."

"Michonne?" Enid raised her eyebrows. I hummed. "I think they're leaving like now."

I nodded, leaning forward. I kissed Rosita on the forehead. "Please be okay." I whispered to her.

"She will be." Enid assured me, putting a hand on my shoulder.

I put my hand over hers. "I appreciate that, doc." I nodded, taking one last look at Rosita before leaving the infirmary. I took a deep breath when I left the infirmary, fighting off tears. Rosita had to be okay. I smiled when I saw mum with Jessie, dad close by with Jesus.

When dad saw me, he smiled, walking over with his arms spread. "Hi, baby." He said, expecting a hug.

"Daryl." I responded, ducking under his arm. 

"Ellie." Mum said, a way that was happy to see me, but upset I avoided my father. I hugged her tightly. "I've missed you."

"I missed you too." I replied. I pulled back. "What are you two doing here?" I looked between her and Jessie.

"I'm gonna apprentice as a blacksmith." Jessie responded.

"Hey, good for you." I grinned.

"How's Ben?" Jessie asked.

"Good, he's good." I nodded.

"I gotta get Jessie settled, but I'll meet up with you later, okay?" Mum smiled at me.

"If you're still here. I'm going out to look for Eugene." I answered.

"I'll still be here." Mum confirmed.

"I'll catch you later then." I smiled, she smiled back warmly before walking off with Jessie. I let out a slightly sad breath as I watched her walk off with Jessie. I then turned to Jesus, purposely avoiding my father's gaze. "So, who's going?"

"Your father, you, a man named Mike and me." Jesus replied.

"You got an extra horse? I just pushed Emily to get here quick cause I needed to see Rosita. She needs a rest." I responded.

"We don't, but you can ride on your father's bike." Jesus said, grinning slightly. I rolled my eyes, but Jesus spoke again. "Oh, this is Mike."

I looked and saw a man approaching us. "Hi. Most people call me Saint." He smiled, putting his hand out for me to shake but I ignored it, forcing a smile instead.

"Saint?" I pushed.

He laughed a little. "Yea, when they first found me out on the side of the road? I was wearing a white shirt, the sun was reflecting on it so it kinda made me look like a saint." The man explained. I nodded, forcing another polite smile.

"Let's go then." Dad's said. "Dog, come on!" Dad whistled to his pet. Begrudgingly, I got on the back. "You gonna hold on?"

"Not to you." I replied.

Dad huffed and muttered some words under his breath. Saint and Jesus got on their horses and started trotting down the road, before dad started his bike and followed Dog. Then, we left Hilltop to search for Eugene, and the truth about what happened out there.

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Mike (Saint) Twindale