➳ I saw Hilltop from the top of the hill, wind whistling in my hair, and reminding me this used to actually be my home. Over the course of the last few years, both Paul and Tara have pleaded with me to stay here with them and the kids. I never could commit and leave Alexandria, though, and I don't know why.

We calmly made our way down towards Hilltop, seeing no soul in sight. They probably saw us coming and decided to hide inside before knowing the coast was cleared. Hilltop had grown since the last time I was here months ago. This place seemed almost unrecognizable now.

From the outside, this place seemed almost vacant and dead. Empty, too. I had only hoped since Maggie left, it hadn't gone to complete shit. However, with Paul and Tara leading the town, it should be blossoming.

"I'm leaving, Tess."

"Excuse me?"

"I'm leaving. Hershel and I are. I just wanted to tell you and hope that you will understand."

I noticed Dianne on top, from the guard post, with binoculars in hand. She saw us coming and, as soon as she saw Michonne, Saddiq, and I leading this crew of strangers, she would surely warn the others.

Dianne reappeared with her bow and arrows, making it obvious she wasn't playing games here. "State your business."

"We're here for Rosita," Michonne replied, as they should've known we were mostly here for our crewmate.

Saddiq quickly added, "We met your messengers on the road. They told us what happened."

Dianne heard him out before nodding her head to the back of the crew. "And the others?"

"They're good people looking for a home," Michonne stated, surprising the hell out of me. "I told them that Hilltop would consider taking them in."

Dianne readjusted herself up there, showing off her primary weapon of choice. Games weren't to be played here, apparently.

Then, without speaking any words, Michonne took off and tossed down her katana sword, followed by Saddiq throwing down his own weapons. I rolled my eyes and started to throw mine down to the ground beside me, too, which included my gun, knife, and my favorite machete.

Even Luke and his crew threw down their weapons, too, after we gave them back when we were trying to survive the Walkers before. We did this out of good faith, or at least, I hoped this was why we did it. If my brother was in there right now and knew I was here, he probably wouldn't have asked everyone to surrender their weapons. We would've just invited us all in with open arms.

Finally, the gates began to open, and I immediately hopped off of my horse, ready to see my brother and Tara after all this time. The girls ran up behind me, crashing into the back of my legs and holding their breaths for the gates to officially open and welcome us in.

Just as the gates started to reveal the inside of Hilltop to us, we started to walk inside altogether. I held my breath until my eyes wandered around before landing right on Tara, standing before everyone else, as like a bodyguard-type.

I stood back, still holding my breath in disbelief, just as my girls took off before me and crashing straight into her. She bent down and took Tara Rose up in her arms, kissing her cheek and holding her tightly to her. Mollie was tall enough now to just come up to her and wrap her arms around her.

"We've missed you so much, Aunt Tara," Mollie cried out, while Tara kissed her forehead and held her close to her, too. "We wanted to come see you and Uncle Paul!"

I only held back because I couldn't believe how much she had changed. She was different and yet so familiar, too. All I wanted to do was run up and squeeze her until I couldn't anymore.

Finally, Mollie stepped away, and Tara put my youngest down on the ground, but they remained close to her. She looked straight up at me, her eyes hinting at happiness to see me before she placed her arms out for me. Without any hesitation, I ran straight into them, and she immediately wrapped me up like a burrito.

I had my arms wrapped around her neck and squeezing her so tightly, nearly choking her without meaning to. Her familiar scent, clothing, and eyes... Everything came back to me, and I was beyond happy to be back with her. She was my girls' aunt and my best friend, even after all these years.

We started to separate, but I bent down my head on her shoulder before officially departing from her. I looked deep into her soft brown eyes and nearly melted down with them, just like chocolate.

However, Michonne and them started to walk up behind us, so I decided the girls and I should get out of the way for Tara and Michonne to talk first. Tara had dropped her smile in exchange for a frown, seeing Michonne after all this time.

Michonne glanced from me to Tara before asking, "Where's Jesus?"

Maybe she knew what my girls and I wanted to know, too. "Out with the search party looking for Eugene," she answered, glancing at me for a moment. What? My brother wasn't here?

Michonne was surprised when she asked for reassurance, "Eugene's missing? Since when?"

"I dunno," Tara claimed, shrugging. "Thought you would. He went out with Rosita, but... He wasn't with her when we found her."

I turned towards Tara and questioned, "My brother isn't here? Then, where the hell is he, T?"

She turned towards me now and shrugged again. "I don't know his precise location right now, Tess. All I know is that he's out there trying to find Eugene." I felt like I was lost for words now, feeling Tara Rose squeezing my hand and Mollie's eyes burning holes in me. Tara reached out and placed her hand on my shoulder, trying to find my eyes. "He'll come back. I promise."

Saddiq gingerly approached Enid, who stood closely beside me and asked, "How is she?" He was referring to Rosita, of course.

"She was unconscious when she got here, but she'll be fine," Enid confirmed, strict as an arrow. "It's dehydration and heat exhaustion, mainly. She should wake up soon."

Michonne was now confused when she stepped up and quizzed, "If she's been out the entire time, how do you know Eugene was with her?"

"Aaron told us," Tara claimed once more, confident in her answer back.

"Aaron's here?"

"No, he's with Jesus and Daryl."

"Daryl?" I stepped up, almost choking out his name. I started to shake, finally knowing he was actually okay now. "Daryl's with my brother?"

Tara nodded and added, "Daryl came down from his mountain with Carol and Henry."

"Henry?" Mollie now squeaked out, and everyone's eyes narrowed down to her. She appeared to be nervous but decided to back down and close her mouth now.

Mollie and Henry were old friends, growing up together in all this. It had been a while since they had seen one another, but I had hoped they were still somewhat close after all this time of separation. He was the only true friend that she ever truly had.

Tara smirked and added again, "It's like the old gang's back together."

I liked the idea and sound of that. However, I knew someone like Michonne wouldn't like it so much. Of course, I ended up being correct about that.

Instead of agreeing with Tara, Michonne practically rolled her eyes and sighed out, "Which way were they headed?"

"You can pick up their trail, but you're not gonna catch them before nightfall," Alden said out of nowhere, suddenly right behind Enid.

I have to admit, it felt a little awkward being here with Alden. We had something for a while there. It lasted almost three years if my math was accurate. Now, another three years later, we were strangers with memories.

I had actually come to love Alden, even expressing so much to him. He was like the proper father-figure my girls needed, especially Tara Rose. Yet, it sort of felt like we were always two kids in love than two adults with children.

Now, Alden was with Enid. I had no hard feelings towards either of them, especially the girls, who still love and cherish them both. I couldn't ask for better people in their lives.

"It's Daryl. Probably on their way back already," Tara stated, then saw some of her people coming in with all of our weapons in hand. They better take good care of my machete, or I'm going to be pissed. "You can have your weapons back when you leave tomorrow. As for the rest of you, you're gonna have to wait until Jesus gets back. And, if you want to stay, then stay. But, I'm gonna have to talk to him. And, you're gonna have to earn your keep."

Connie stepped up before the rest of them did and motioned her hand from her chin outwards. Kelly walked up beside her and translated, "She says, thank you." Kelly looked back at her crew and back to Tara. "We all do."

Michonne turned her head back towards Tara, which seemed to be something that she was waiting on, and simply breathed out, "Okay."

Tara spun around and started to walk away, but I was hot on her trail. I ran up beside her, and noticing it was just me, she smiled and reached out, intertwining our fingers together. "You staying for a little while after everyone else leaves?"

I hadn't really thought about it, but it all became clearer after reuniting with her what my kids and I had to do now. I smiled back and replied, "Yeah, for a little while. I'm starting to think that us moving here should be a permanent solution."

She suddenly stopped and faced me, almost shocked that I just said that. "Seriously?"

I gulped down something, but it wasn't hard or bitter. It felt good for once, and I glanced down at my two girls, who stood close to us. Turning back towards Tara, I nodded and responded, "Yeah, I think it's finally time for a change. What do you think? Think you and Paul could make some room for us here?"

She was breathless but smiling and nodding like crazy. "Of course!" She practically jumped on top of me, like I did her before, and wrapped her arms around my neck. "You guys could stay forever and ever."

I truly did like the sound of staying with her and Paul forever and ever...

-

- MOLLIE ROVIA -

➳ AFTER chatting with my mom, Aunt Tara, and Little T, I turned and saw the familiar blonde hair out in the distance. I decided to separate from my folks to go and reunite with him.

He had his back to one of the sheds, and his eyes aimed down towards his boots, seemingly disappointed about something. I walked up and decided to wear my award-winning smile on my face.

"Hey, Henry."

He slowly glanced up before his eyes became huge of surprise. "Mollie?"

I gulped and stepped up. "Henry... Long time, no see."

He lifted himself off the shed, and as if I could read his mind, I darted towards him. He took me in his arms, squeezing me until I could barely feel anything at all. And, yet, I didn't care. I wanted him to hold and squeeze me forever and ever, until I could not breathe anymore.

He had his head on my shoulder when I heard him say, "It's been so long that I..." Then, his head was up and close to mine, eyes connecting. "I didn't know when I would ever see you again."

He had his hands on my hips, and mine were holding his arms, keeping each other close enough. "I knew that I would see you again someday." Then, I leaned in and quickly pecked his right cheek. "I missed you."

He smiled and replied, "I've missed you more."

I rubbed his upper arms above his elbows, which was guarded by his armor and long-sleeved shirt. "I don't think that's actually possible."

Then, before I could control what happened next, he used the grip that he had on my waist and directed me to go between the two nearby sheds, where nobody could see us between them. Here, he leaned down and placed his lips to mine.

Even after all this time, I still enjoyed it when he kissed me. He had his eyes closed, and mine were, too. It was just him and I right here and now, stuck between two sheds, like time had never stopped.

We only grew up with time apart.