The days at the villa passed peacefully. Song Ji Hyo and the group had established a rhythm of chores, patrols, and shared meals. The lake acted as a perfect natural defense, giving them all a rare sense of security.

But in this world, safety was never guaranteed.

---

The New Arrivals

It was a cloudy afternoon when Ji Hyo, Rick, and Daryl decided to scout beyond the villa for supplies. The Hummer rumbled down the cracked road, its engine a low growl.

“We’ve picked this area clean,” Daryl muttered, scanning the horizon with his sharp eyes.

Ji Hyo nodded but kept her hands steady on the wheel. “Sometimes we miss things. Let’s give it one more pass.”

As they turned a corner, they saw something unexpected: a small group of people fending off walkers.

“Stop the car!” Rick shouted.

Ji Hyo slammed on the brakes as Rick and Daryl leapt out, weapons drawn. Ji Hyo grabbed her shotgun and followed.

The group was outnumbered, but they fought with determination. A tall, muscular man with a red handlebar mustache swung a rifle like a club. Beside him, a woman with a confident air and a machete slashed at walkers. Another man with a mullet scrambled behind them, yelling something incomprehensible. A younger woman with short hair fired a pistol with precision.

Rick and Daryl quickly joined the fight, taking down walkers with practiced ease. Ji Hyo shot a walker sneaking up on the mulleted man, who turned and stared at her, wide-eyed.

Once the last walker fell, the red-haired man turned to the group. “Thanks for the assist. Name’s Abraham Ford. These are my people: Rosita, Eugene, and Tara.”

Rick extended a hand. “Rick Grimes. This is Daryl, and that’s Ji Hyo. We’ve got a safe place nearby.”

“A safe place?” Rosita asked skeptically, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

“Yeah,” Daryl said. “You comin’ or not?”

---

Back at the Villa

The new group was stunned when they arrived at Ji Hyo’s villa.

“Holy crap,” Tara said, taking in the solar panels, the barn, and the sprawling gardens.

“This… this is exceptional,” Eugene said, his voice tinged with awe. “A prime example of self-sustaining architecture.”

Rosita smirked. “He means it’s nice.”

Abraham looked at Rick. “You weren’t kiddin’ about the safe place.”

Ji Hyo gestured toward the villa. “Come inside. You must be hungry.”

---

New Dynamics

It didn’t take long for Abraham and his group to settle in. Abraham and Daryl immediately started working together to fortify the villa’s defenses, while Rick and Rosita coordinated supply runs. Eugene, with his extensive knowledge, helped Ji Hyo improve the villa’s solar setup and irrigation system.

Tara quickly bonded with Glenn and Maggie, sharing jokes and stories as they worked in the garden.

One evening, as the group gathered for dinner, Abraham raised his glass of scavenged whiskey.

“To Ji Hyo,” he said gruffly. “You’ve got one hell of a place here, and we’re lucky to be a part of it.”

The group cheered, laughter breaking out for the first time in weeks.

---

A Quiet Conversation

Later that night, Ji Hyo found Eugene on the porch, scribbling in a notebook.

“What are you working on?” she asked, sitting beside him.

He adjusted his glasses nervously. “Just some ideas for improving the villa. This place is… extraordinary. It’s the kind of place that could survive anything.”

Ji Hyo smiled softly. “It wasn’t always like this. It took a lot of work.”

Eugene hesitated before speaking. “You’ve created something rare in this world, Ms. Ji Hyo. Something worth protecting.”

Ji Hyo looked out at the moonlit lake. “We’ll protect it. Together.”

---

A Growing Family

Over the weeks, the group began to feel like a family. Abraham and Daryl became unlikely friends, trading stories over late-night watches. Rosita taught Beth and Maggie some self-defense techniques, while Hershel shared his wisdom with Eugene and Ji Hyo about managing the animals.

Tara became the villa’s unofficial morale booster, her humor and lightheartedness bringing smiles to everyone’s faces.

One day, as the group worked together to build a new chicken coop, Rick looked around and felt a rare sense of peace.

“We’ve got something good here,” he said to Ji Hyo.

She nodded. “And we’ll fight to keep it.”

---

Foreshadowing

But even as the villa flourished, storm clouds loomed on the horizon—both literal and figurative. A larger world awaited them, and with it, new threats.

For now, though, the villa stood as a beacon of hope, a reminder that even in the darkest times, humanity could endure.

And Ji Hyo, once alone on the hill, now had a family to share her haven with.