PAUL and I led the way to the decayed parking lot that would eventually lead us right to the gates of the Kingdom. I did not remember how to get there every step of the way, but my brother did, though.

Along with myself and Paul, almost everybody else was with us. Rick, Michonne, Tara, Daryl, Rosita, Sasha, and Carl came along with us for the ride. Maggie and Enid stayed back at the Hilltop. We had all piled into this somewhat small SUV while I was nearly in Tara's lap for the whole time — which she seemingly did not mind at all.

As soon as we all began to pile out of the vehicle when it had been cut off, Rick asked again, "It's called The Kingdom?"

Causally, Paul nodded and somewhat grinned. "Yeah," he replied, shrugging it off. "I didn't name it."

As I came up to the front of the SVU, I propped myself up against it while I let the wind cool me off. Rick was standing there beside Paul as he looked around his surroundings, suspiciously. "How much farther?"

Paul also looked around, but ended up struggling in return. "Well, technically, we're already here," he answered, which made Rick glance back at him once again. "I mean, we're always here, but we are here we are — at the Kingdom. Well, it's outer-edge."

"Hey," Daryl called out from now getting out of the truck to where he was almost on the roof. "What the hell we waitin' on?"

Smiling, my brother pointed forward and passed Rick's head. "Waiting for them."

I looked right when everyone else did, hearing the hooves before we seen them approaching. Coming on two almost identical horses was Alvaro and Richard from the Kingdom.

"Who dares to trespass on the sovereign land of the—" Alvaro was rehearsing his normal lines with his sword raised before. "Oh, shit. Jesus and Tess, is that you guys?"

"In the flesh," I mocked, lifting off of the truck and dusting myself off. Lifting his hand up to wave, Paul smiled — but did not utter out any type of greeting just yet, though.

Richard looked around to everyone and asked us, "Who are all these people, guys?"

"Hi, Richard," Paul finally said something to them and began to walk over their way. "Nice to see you."

Richard nodded and nicely replied back, "It's good to see you, too. You as well, Tess." I nodded back as my quiet response. "Your friends, though... Who are they?"

Standing before everyone, Paul began to introduce everyone — beginning with Rick. Pointing to him, he said, "This is Rick Grimes. He's the leader of a like-minded community. These are some of his people. Tess has actually relocated there recently. We would like to request an audience with King Ezekiel."

With that said, Richard took in what my brother had just delivered to him before he stepped down from the horse's back. He made his way over, looking over everyone that was already out and in the car, too, where Tara, Carl, and Rosita were still inside.

"Get out of the car," Richard demanded in a normal tone. Just like he instructed, they did and joined us. "You say they're a... like-minded community. Like-minded how?"

"Well, for one, they took me in when the Hilltop threw me out on my ass. Oops, I'm sorry. I meant to say, when Gregory threw me out on my ass," I spoke up first, which caused Richard and everyone else to look at me. "They took me in when they knew nothing about me. They fought like hell to get myself and Daryl back from Negan and his ass-wipes. They are good people that would give you the shirts off their backs if you needed them."

Richard nodded, taking that information in. Yet, he still seemed very confused. "Wait a minute... When Negan took you? You were there against your will," he remembered, sighing afterwards.

"So, Paul, what else?" Richard asked of my brother as soon as we were done talking.

Relatively happy about what I just said, Paul continued, "We live. We trade. We fight the dead. Sometimes, others."

Richard glanced down at my brother when he said this, but ended up slowly nodding in return. "Line-up."

Immediately, Daryl spoke up by grunting out, "Okay. This is a waste of time. Come on. Let's go." Obviously, he was not having any of this.

"Maybe you're right," Richard countered, obviously not giving two shits about Daryl. However, the rest of us began to line-up in front of our truck. I was stuck between Carl and Michonne. "This King is a busy man. And, it's a dangerous world. We don't usually allow a pack of strangers to waltz through our door."

"We want to make the world less dangerous, and we are all here to show the King how serious we are about that," Michonne said to Richard to reassure him. She was already doing a great job at it.

I shrugged and quickly added, "Take it or leave it, man. We ain't here to suck your dick."

Both Tara, Carl, and Sasha all smirked at me, trying hard to contain their laughter. Everyone else did not think it was so funny, though. Yet, it was the truth, though, and nobody here could deny that.

"The car stays outside," Richard suddenly announced, seemingly having his mind changed. "Also, Tess? Your attitude does, too. You know how the King feels about that."

"Aye-aye, captain," I mocked, slightly lifting my hand from my forehead.

"You all gotta hand over your guns, too," Richard continued on with his requests and demands.

"We only have two," Rick quickly claimed, which was not all of the truth since I had one tucked in my back. Rick motioned towards Carl, who had the other one than him.

They handed them over to Richard, who then turned to stare down right at me. I was puzzled by why, but then, I realized that he already knew. I sighed loudly, lifted my head up to face the sky above us, rolled my eyes, and stomped my foot. I yanked out my PPK Stainless Steel from my back and slowly handed it to him as well.

"I was going to tell you," I simply said to him, which he obviously did not believe when he rolled his eyes back at me.

Now standing back by Paul, Richard nodded and simply said, "Okay. Follow me."

Altogether, we began to walk and follow behind the two horses that led the way. Alvaro was still on his horse while Richard decided to just to walk with the rest of us, while holding onto his horse's leash. He and Paul talked the whole way there while the rest of us lagged behind.

I had caught up to Tara in the back with purpose because I wanted to talk to her in private. "Hey," I smiled at her and she did the same back in return. "I need to talk to you about something."

"Sure, what's up?"

"It's about Denise," I said the name and Tara almost froze right in place there for a minute.

All color had drained from her face as she gulped, kept on walking, and faced me. "What about her?"

"I...," my voice trailed off as I looked down to the ground for a moment. I kept my eyes glued down to my boots as they were looking rough with all they've went through — especially this old dust and rocks. "Tara, I..."

"You can tell me, Tess," her voice was so polite and sweet. I wanted to cry on her shoulder and have my own little 'pity-party' again. But, it is time to be strong. "What is it?"

Finally, I had to suck it all up to tell her the truth. We had not really got to talk today since we have reunited. So, it now or never...

I finally looked up from the ground and looked at her while we walked. When our eyes met, I took a deep breath and confessed, "I wasn't there when she died, Tara. I wasn't there because I decided to hang-out with Glenn that day. I wasn't there..."

"It's not your fault—"

"But I was there for when Negan lined us all up in that circle and placed us on our knees," I was now whispering this part with my eyes back to being glued to the ground below me. "I was there when he threatened everyone's life and, eventually, took Abe's life. I was there when he killed Glenn, too. I wanted to die for such a long time there — after letting everyone down, including you."

"Tess, please—"

"Glenn told me that he made you a promise to keep me safe while you were gone," I was now speaking by staring her down. "Yet, I couldn't keep him safe... Or, Denise, either. And, Tara, I am so sorry about that."

"Stop it, Tess," she demanded, now making us stop. She placed her hands on my shoulders and held onto them. "Now, just stop it. Because, hey, it's okay. You didn't know that she was going to go out there and get killed. You didn't know that all of that would lead to Glenn's death, either. So, it's okay. I promise."

With that said, she brought me in closer to her and threw her arms around my neck. We held each other close for a good minute, without being left behind. I had my arms underneath hers as I held her as tight as she had me. I closed my eyes, breathed in her familiar scent, and closed my eyes.

What Tara did not know was... I knew that it was going to happen. I knew that somebody was going to die at the hands of Negan, sooner or later. I knew that if we pushed his buttons enough, he was going to find us and kill us one by one.

What is worse is that she does not know that the ghosts like to follow me around and keep up at night...

—

WE all entered the Kingdom all together as an unstoppable family and team, under Richard's guidance. I had not been within the walls of the Kingdom for about a year now. It has blossomed since then.

Everyone who was apart of the Kingdom was walking around and doing their jobs. Most were carrying on conversations with others and some were by theirselves to keep at their jobs.

By the look on Michonne's face the most, she was impressed. "They have the numbers."

"But can they fight?" Rosita asked, almost as impressed as Michonne is.

"Oh, they can fight," Paul quickly answered, nodding with a smile. "Just ask Tess. They helped train her."

I nodded, all while having my hands on my hips. "They did," I agreed, supporting what my brother had just said. "They're all just a couple of low-key badasses."

"Maybe," I heard Daryl mutter from behind me. He still was not so impressed.

"Morgan?" I suddenly heard Tara squeak out from behind me. We all looked back at her when she called out the familiar name.

Coming from being beside Richard stood Morgan there in the flesh. I had almost forgotten that he was here, after all. Yet, I was still stoked to see him again. He was okay. Thank God.

He cracked a smile and said to Tara, "Hey." He hugged her as she hugged him back. Her heart keeps getting bigger and bigger.

I ran up to him and hugged him next before anyone else could. I practically ambushed him, almost knocking him down completely. I smiled as he did, too, and almost even laughed. "Hello, Tess."

Then, as I let him go, Sasha was next in line as they embraced each other, too. He said to her, "Hi."

After their embrace, Richard asked aloud, "How do you know each other?"

Keeping his eyes on Morgan, Rick simply answered, "We go back to the start." To that, Morgan smiled back at Rick, which warmed my heart completely.

"Well, the King is ready to see you," Richard finally said, nodding as to let us know to follow him.

I was about to step out when I was caught-off by when Rick immediately asked Morgan, "Did you find Carol?"

Carol? Oh, damn. She left. I remember now. Between everything that has happened since then, I nearly forgot.

Rick, myself, and Daryl hung back to hear what Morgan had to say. "I did, yeah," he answered, nodding.

"Where is she? Is she okay?" Daryl began to ask all the right questions.

"Did she make it?" I asked, too, myself. I had almost forgotten all about Carol, to be perfectly honest. It was not because I wanted to — it is only because the same day that she disappeared, was the same day that myself, Glenn, Michonne, Daryl, and Rosita were kidnapped by the Saviors. It just slipped my mind, I suppose, unfortunately.

"She was here. And, then, she left," Morgan answered so casually, which still rose little hairs on the back of my neck to rise. "You know, she wasn't too happy, me following her. She wanted to get away from us, from everyone. But, when I found her, she was shot. It was just a graze. I got her back here. They got doctors. They're good."

"Thank God for the Kingdom, I suppose," I commented, letting it slip away.

"Was it them?" Daryl asked, referring to the Saviors.

Morgan looked to Daryl, but looked like he did not want to answer him. Daryl had always been so over-protective of Carol and, if Morgan answers the right way, it will not bring anger upon Daryl anymore.

However, Morgan managed to nod and say back, "It was. She had crossed with some of them and one of them followed her, tried to kill her, but I stopped him." Rick, especially was more concerned as he looked to his old friend. "I killed him. I had to. Carol was here. She got help. Now, she's gone."

It was surprising to me to hear that Morgan had taken the man's life that brought harm onto Carol — since everyone knew good and well that he did not believe in killing anyone anymore. He saved Carol's life, though, and that is enough. It was either Morgan kill the man or the main kill Carol. Morgan made a rational decision, but it had to be done.

Unfortunately, this meant that both Carol and Morgan do not know about the deaths of Abraham and Glenn just yet. It is going to break them apart, I am sure. Especially Carol, who had been by Glenn's side since the beginning.

With that said, Rick led the way into the King's theater room without saying another word. Daryl, Morgan, and myself followed behind our leader, looking for the answers to all of our questions.

As soon as we got there, we were stopped by everyone else, whom had halted at the door — due to the King's tiger, Shiva. A beautiful and young tiger, who had been the King's best friend for a long time now.

Paul was up front while I decided to follow right behind him, knowing good and well that Shiva was not going to attack — unless needed to. We are no harm to her or the King, so everything was going to be okay.

As soon as I came into view next to my brother, the King called out the us, "Jesus! Tess! It pleases me to see you, old friends."

"It pleases him, indeed," Jerry called out, rising his left arm up with a smile across his face. Young Ben stood beside him.

"Jerry," came the King's warning tone. "Tell me, what news do you bring good King Ezekiel? Are these new allies you've brought me?"

Paul cracked a smile and answered, "Indeed, they are, Your Majesty. This is..." He paused just as he turned to see that the rest of the Alexandrian's were still frozen back at the entrance of the door.

"She's not gonna bite," I teased, revealing a smile. Then, I nudged my brother and whispered, "I suppose Shiva scares them."

Paul, then, realized that he had failed to mention that the King had a tiger. So, almost in a whisper, he goes back to the Alexandrians and tried to explain, "Oh, right. I forgot to mention that—"

Rick quickly cut him off and finished, "Yeah, a tiger." This is when Shiva roared out, which actually made me jump out of surprise.

Nevertheless, Paul turned back around and joined me back in the middle. He finished what he was saying before to the King, "This is Rick Grimes, the leader of Alexandria, and these are some of his people."

"I welcome you all to the Kingdom, good travelers," King said out to those he did not know. "Now, what brings you to our fair land? Why do you seek an audience with the King?"

It took a moment, but Rick got started, "Ezekiel. King... Ezekiel. Alexandria, the Hilltop... and the Kingdom — all three of our communities have something in common. We all serve the Saviors. Alexandria already fought them once and we won. We thought that we took out the threat, but we didn't know then what we know now. We only beat one outpost. We've been told you have a deal with them, that you know them. Then, you know they rule through violence and fear."

It was a good speech, but I did not have a moment to think about it before Paul said aloud to the King, "Your Majesty, I only told them of the—"

"Our deal with the Saviors is not known among my people... For good cause," King cut my brother off, making deadly eye contact with him while Paul nodded and looked down from his demanding eyes. "We made you a party to that secret when you told us of the Hilltop's own travails, but we did not expect you to share—"

Raising his own voice above the King's, Paul interrupted and exclaimed, "We can help each other!"

"Don't interrupt the King," Jerry demanded, shining the spotlight back on my brother for his mistake.

With that said, the King continued, "We brought you into our confidence. Why did you break it?"

"King Ezekiel, if I may," I said aloud before Paul could say anything back to him. I stepped forward and the King slowly nodded. "I was thrown out on my own after Gregory banished me from the Hilltop. I didn't have anywhere else to go, but Alexandria — Rick Grimes — took me in without question. He trusted myself and my brother immediately. Ever since then, I have resided at Alexandria over my old home at the Hilltop. When the Saviors — Negan, to be exact — took over, they took myself and Daryl with them. We escaped, but barely. This is my extended family."

I remember the sacrifices that both Abraham and Glenn made for all of us. I felt everyone's eyes on my back and sides, especially Rick.

The King had heard me out, yet he asked again, "That's very heartwarming, Tess, but I want to know why you and your brother broke our promise?"

"Because I want you to hear Rick's plans," Paul immediately said back, which made everyone look to Rick now.

"And what plans have you, Rick Grimes of Alexandria?" King Ezekiel asked aloud, his eyes dead on Rick in frustration and question. At least, he was willing to hear him out.

"We came to ask the Kingdom, to ask you, to join us in fighting the Saviors, fighting for freedom for all of us," Rick replied, already making a statement of his own.

"What you are asking is very serious," the King commented, looking off to the side for a moment.

"Several of our people — good people — were killed by the Saviors, brutally," Michonne added, reminding all of us of that unforgettable night in the woods.

"Who?" Morgan immediately asked, as we all looked straight at him where he was off to the side of us.

"Abraham," Rosita said his name, which Morgan took note of.

"And Glenn," I added, which made Morgan's attention focus on me, too. "They're gone. They're all gone."

"Spencer, too, and Olivia," Rosita continued to call out the deceased names one by one. "Eugene was taken. They took Daryl and Tess, too. They escaped. Every second they're out here, they're a target." To that, Morgan slowly nodded, but Rosita was not going to stop, though, as she leaned forward over the chairs and questioned Morgan, "You gonna say that you were right?"

"No," Morgan quickly answered, sounding sad by the sudden upsetting news. "I'm... I'm just real sorry they're gone."

"Negan murdered Glenn and Abraham, beat them to death," Rick explained, sounding sincere in each word that he spoke. I felt sick to my stomach every time that I ever think about them and that horrible night.

"Terrorized the Hilltop, set loose Walkers just to make a point," Sasha added, speaking up for the Hilltop as a whole. This is some real bullshit.

"I used to think the deal was something we could live with. A lot of us did... But that's changing," Paul concluded after it all. "So, let's change the world, Your Majesty."

"I want to be honest about what we're asking," Rick dragged himself back in and we all looked to him once more. "My people are strong, but there's not enough of us. We don't have guns — not enough, at least. Not a lot of weapons, period."

"We have people," Richard chirped, instantly on our side about this. From my personal knowledge, I know just how much that he hates the Saviors and Negan through-and-through. "And weapons. If we strike first, together, we can beat them. Your Majesty, no more waiting for things to get worse beyond what we can handle. We set things right. The time is now."

Everyone, for the most part, nodded in agreement to Richard's statement. I definitely was, wanting to get my hands dirty for fighting the Saviors with the rest of my family and community. Ezekiel looked to be in deep thought, considering the options and opinions here. Maybe he liked Rick's plan or Richard's dedication. Either way, he was thinking about it all.

Alas, Ezekiel looked down at Morgan and said aloud to the man, "Morgan, what say you?"

Morgan looked from the King, over to us, and back up at him. "Me?"

"Speak," demanded Ezekiel to Morgan, whom he had came close with recently.

Morgan glanced down at his feet and back up again to meet the King's intense gaze. "People will die. A lot of people, and not just the Saviors. If... If we can find another way, we have to. Maybe it's just about Negan – Just capturing him, holding him. Maybe... I—"

Morgan's voice trailed off, falling silent to being on both sides to each community. However, it was perfect timing for the King to rise to his feet and say aloud, "The hour grows late." Shiva growled aloud next to him. "Rick Grimes of Alexandria... You have given the King much to ponder."

Rick did not seem to like that, so he took a extra step forward and began to tell a story of his own, "Well, when I was a kid, uh, my mother told me a story. There was a road to a kingdom, and there was a rock in the road. And, people would just avoid it, but horses would break their legs on it and die. Wagon wheels would come off. People would lose the goods they'd be coming to sell. That's what happened to a little girl. The cask of beer her family brewed fell right off. It broke. Dirt soaked it all up, and it was gone. That was her family's last chance. They were hungry. They didn't have any money. She just sat there and cried, but... She wondered why it was still there... for it to hurt someone else. So she dug at that rock in the road with her hands till they bled, used everything she had to pull it out. It took hours. And, then, when she was gonna fill it up... She saw something in it. It was a bag of gold."

"Alright," Jerry smiled, enlightened by the story. I was impressed as well.

"The king had put that rock in the road because he knew the person who dug it out, who did something, they deserved a reward. They deserved to have their life changed for the good. Forever," Rick concluded his story, which the King had allowed him to do. I was surprised, but inspired by the story, itself, though — just like Jerry up there, too.

Ezekiel heard Rick's story out, looking over to Morgan and Richard, before saying aloud to all of us, "I invite you all to sup with us and stay till the morrow."

Rick nodded, but declined, "Yeah, we need to get back home."

"I shall deliver my decree in the morn," Ezekiel concluded and banged his staff to end this meeting.

Rick stared, yet something in his eyes told me that it was all going to be okay in the end. Somehow.