𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗧𝗬 𝗘𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧, 𝘄𝗮𝗿 𝗰𝗿𝘆

𝟲 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗦 𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥

❝𝗢𝗛, 𝗛𝗘𝗬, 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗟𝗘𝗧 𝗛𝗜𝗠 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪 that I still need more room in the garden?" Enid asked Ivy. Ivy was sort of The Hilltops co-leader. Ever since Maggie left, Jesus took over because Ivy thought she was to young to lead, but since then, she became Jesus's helper.

"Of course." Ivy smiled before walking out of the infirmary. She made her into the main part of Hilltop, clipboard in hand.

Oscar walked up to her. "Oh, Ivy, I'll have the ag output to you in a couple of hours." Oscar stated.

"Awesome. Thanks, Oscar." Ivy smiled at the man before walking out the gates towards where Dianne was training.

Ivy obviously started a conversation with the woman. "And added one more recruit, so that makes three total this month." Dianne explained.

"Nice." Ivy patted her shoulder before running back into the gates and into The Barrington house.

Ivy walked up the stairs and saw Jesus sitting on the couch listening to an old record. He stopped the record when he saw the girl.

"Hey." Jesus greeted.

"You're spending a lot of time with Georgie's records." Ivy pointed out with a small smile. Jesus nodded vigorously.

"It's a good collection. I appreciate the gift." Jesus stated. He folded up his letter, and held out one to Ivy. "Momma Mag sent you another letter."

Ivy smiled at the man. "Thank you."

"She's good. Happy." Ivy nodded at Jesus' words before sitting down beside him. She rested her head on his shoulder and sighed. "What's up?"

Ivy flashed him the clipboard. "Got a list of people that want to talk to you." Ivy stated, letting out a small yawn. "I have 20 minutes before i have to be back to the infirmary, but I might make Tara go."

"Hit me." Jesus said.

Ivy sighed before looking at the list. "Okay, Tammy Rose wants to expand the crop fields, but she needs to see how far she can cultivate. Um, Enid still needs more room in the garden for medicinal herbs. Um, Alden also needs your okay to send another team out for scrap metal. There's a noise complaint from trailer 7. And..."

"Why did you give that kid a kazoo?" Jesus laughed.

Ivy shrugged. "You find a kazoo, you give it to a kid. I'll deal with it." Ivy held up a piece of paper. "And there's this. Congrats on being re-elected leader of Hilltop."

"Yeah, well, a win is a given when no one runs against." Jesus states. Ivy laughed a bit. "At least I'll have some competition when you start running."

"Yeah, you better watch out. The people love me." Ivy joked, although it wasn't much of a joke. The people really did love her. "You need to clean this place up. Just take my moms office."

"Nah... that's for you one day. But, I'm gonna go check on those crop fields for Tammy." Jesus stood up and looked at the girl. "I'll tell Tara to go to the infirmary for you."

"Dude, I have a list of things to go over!" Ivy groaned.

Jesus smirked. "And you can ask me them when I get back." Jesus stated. Ivy sighed and rolled her eyes.

"You suck ass, Jesus."

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗧 𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗥𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗗 around faster than expected. The day before, Jesus and Aaron brought in an injured Rosita. Ivy was obviously sent into a state of panic when they couldn't find Eugene, but her main concern at that time was Rosita.

"Alright, Rose." Ivy sighed. "I think I just heard the gates open, so I'll be back."

Rosita was still unconscious, but Ivy still talked to her. Ivy walked out the doors of the infirmary. The sun met Ivy's face as she approached the gate.

Ivy ran to the gate when she saw Daryl. "D!" Ivy yelled and hugged him tightly. "How've you been?"

"Just, ya' know..." Daryl trailed off as he pulled down the bandanna covering his face.

"Just being Daryl," The archer nodded, making Ivy laugh a bit. "Yeah..."

Ivy turned and saw Carol and some boy getting off a wagon. Ivy furrowed her eyebrows, but her jaw dropped when she realized who the boy was.

"Henry?" Ivy called out. The boys head peaked up and he quickly got off the wagon. "Holy crap!" Ivy walked up to him and gave him a hug. She had to look up to speak to him now. "You got so tall, oh my god!"

"This is a pleasant surprise." Jesus spoke as he walked up to the group.

"Y—Yeah, I— I got a bit taller." Henry stammered out as Ivy looked up at him. Ivy almost laughed at the blush forming on his cheeks. "I mean, a little bit."

Ivy felt someone wrap their arm around her shoulders. "You're not trying to steal my wife, now are you, Henry?" Carl asked. Henry's smile dropped and Carl chuckled. "Sup, man." Carl pulled the kid into a hug.

Ivy let the two boys reunite, so she went to Carol and gave her a quick hug. "He wouldn't stop talking about you." Carol whispered to the girl. "Henry. He has a big crush on you." Ivy giggled slightly, and Carol did too.

"So, what brings you guys all the way out here?" Ivy asks.

"Henry." Carol answers. Carl met back with Ivy and grabbed her hand. Ivy had noticed that for the past 6 years, Carls hair was the exact same length. She didn't know if he had been trimming it on his own, or what, but it was the exact same. Just, minus the hat, because he gave that to Judith. "He's taken a stubborn interest in blacksmithing."

Jesus nodded. "Oh, we might be able to help with that." Jesus replied. Aaron approached the scene and hugged Daryl.

"Thought I heard a bike." Aaron greeted the group. Jesus walked away, patting Henry's shoulder.

"Good to see ya man." Daryl smiled. "Whatchu doin' here?"

Carl sighed, and Daryl looked at the man. "Sup, kid." Daryl greeted before walking up to Carl and pulling him into a hug. "What's up?"

"Jesus and Aaron found Rosita outside the walls yesterday. Eugene's missing, too." Ivy answered.

"She here?" Daryl asked. Ivy nodded

"We're headed out to go find him." Aaron added. "Ivy's not. She's staying here." Ivy frowned slightly. "Could use a good tracker."

Daryl looked over at Carol. "Go." Daryl nodded at the woman's words.

"Then, I'm going, too." Henry spoke. Carol shook her head. "Mom, but—"

"Mother knows best, Henry." Ivy shrugged. "I'll meet y'all in a second to help get him settled."

Ivy turned and looked up at Carl. "You be safe, okay?" Ivy told him. Carl nodded and kissed her lips.

"Of course." Carl smiled. Ivy leaned into his ear and smirked.

"You come back in one piece and maybe we could, you know, do somethin'..." Ivy whispered. Carl closed his eye tightly and sighed. "Alright?"

"You gotta do this to me right now?" Carl asked. Ivy nodded and smiled.

"Be safe. I love you." Ivy kissed his lips three times before pushing him away gently.

"I love you, too!" Carl called back before meeting the men at the gate.

Nobody tops Carl Grimes.

𝗜𝗩𝗬 𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗗 𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗞𝗡𝗜𝗙𝗘 and placed it in her thigh holster, she then grabbed her gun, placing it at her hip. She stood up and slipped on Carls flannel. Whenever he was out doing something, she liked feeling close to him.

"Riders! Riders are coming!" Ivy heard from outside. Her head peaked up and she quickly ran out the Barrington house. When she stepped outside, she saw the gates open and everyone run inside.

Most of the main group had the same idea and ran to the gate, Ivy going first. "How many?" Ivy asked Dianne who was taking watch. Tara, Enid, and Alden all stood behind her.

"Six!" Dianne answered. "No, wait..." Dianne turned and Ivy nodded. Ivy knew who it was. Michonne and Ivy had crossed paths on trails, but had never been directly to each other's communities.

"State your business." Dianne called down.

"Just let them in!" Ivy yelled up to Dianne.

Dianne shot them all a look that Michonne immediately knew. Everyone stripped their weapons and the gate opened.

Ivy's eyebrows furrowed when Michonne and Siddiq stepped in with a few unfamiliar faces. After the death of Rick, Michonne wanted nothing to do with anybody other than Alexandrians— and Carl. She basically cut ties with everyone. Ivy hadn't even seen Judith or RJ. Luckily, Carl has and that's all that matters.

"Hey, Michonne." Ivy greeted, shaking her hand. "Long time no see."

"Where's Carl?" Michonne quickly asked.

Ivy looked down at the ground and crossed her arms. "Not here." Ivy answered. Ivy looked over at Siddiq and smiled. She quickly took the man into a hug. "Hey, Siddiq."

"Hi, V!" He beamed. "How've you been?"

"Good. Thanks for asking!" Ivy smiled before removing herself from the hug. "Um, Eugene's still missing."

"Hows Rosita?" Siddiq asked Enid.

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

"If she's been out the entire time, how do you know Eugene was with her?" Michonne asked.

"Aaron told us." Ivy responded.

"Aaron's here?" Michonne inquired, raising her voice a bit.

"Nah, he's with Jesus, Daryl, and Carl." Ivy answered. "Daryl came down from his mountain with Carol and Henry. Looks like the old gangs back together."

Michonne nodded. "Which way we're they headed?" Michonne asked.

"You can pick up their trail, but you're not gonna catch them before nightfall." Alden injected.

"They have Daryl tracking. For all we know, they could be on their way back already." Ivy shrugged. "You can have your weapons back when you leave tomorrow."

Ivy looked up over at the unfamiliar group. "As for you guys, you'll have to wait till Jesus gets back. I can't make a decision this big myself. But, I'm not gonna leave you guys out there." Ivy stated. Ivy noticed one girl signing to another. Ivy nodded to herself, basically writing a little mental note in her head.

A woman with curly hair stepped forward, and signed, "Thank you."

Ivy nodded and signed, "You're welcome. Anytime." The woman's mouth gaped at Ivy's ability to sign. "Learned in middle school. Had a deaf friend." The woman nodded. "You're name?"

"Connie." She answered. "That's Kelly, Magna, Yumiko, and Luke."

"I'm Ivy. That's Alden, Enid, and Tara." Ivy told her. Connie nodded. "Well, Tara will show you where to go."

Tara nodded and signaled them to follow her. As the group walked past, Ivy caught herself looking at who she now knew as Magna. And not just her, her ass. Ivy laughed to herself. It nots a crime for a woman to admire another woman, right?

Ivy turned to Michonne and Siddiq. "It's good you guys are here. Seriously."

❝𝗦𝗢... 𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗧 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟?" Ivy asked Enid as they walked towards the welding table. Enid shrugged.

"We act like a couple... I guess we are without the label." Enid explained. Ivy nodded. "I'm fine with it. I really like him, too."

"You're not fine with it, are you?" Ivy asked. Enid let out a breathy laugh.

Enid shook her head. "No, not really." Ivy patted her best friends back before approaching the welding set up.

"Hey, Henry!" Ivy greeted. Henry quickly looked up at the woman. "How's the first day going?" 

"It's good." He answered. "Good. Yeah, um Alden is showing me how to make a spearhead."

Alden nodded as he worked on a spearhead. "He's picking it up fast." Alden put forth. Ivy smiled at Henry.

"Well, of course he is." Ivy shrugged.

"Maybe we should keep him and send you back to the Kingdom." Enid added. Ivy nodded.

"We could totally make that happen." Ivy joked. The group laughed before Enid turned to Alden.

"You got a sec?" Enid asked the man.

Alden nodded. "Yeah, sure." Alden answered. He handed the spearhead to Henry. "Be right back." Enid flashed a smirk to Ivy, which the Grimes girl inaudibly screamed.

"Henry, you got plans after dinner?" Earl asked the boy. Ivy watched Enid and Alden— and Henry watched Ivy.

"Huh?" Henry broke out of his gaze.

"After dinner." Earl repeated. "Thought you might like to come over and spend the evening with Tammy and me."

Ivy gasped when Alden and Enid kissed. A wide smile spread across her lips.

"Oh, actually, that reminds me..." Henry turned to Ivy. "Ivy, do you have any plans tonight?"

Ivy frowned and nodded. "Yeah, sorry Henry." She answered. "You never know being married is a full time job until that ring is on your finger."

Henry's smile dropped. Shit! She's been married for 6 years! Henry thought. Ivy saw out the corner of her eye Enid walking off.

"Oh, yeah, where's Carl?" Earl asked. "I was looking for him today."

"Oh, he's with Jesus and Daryl—" Ivy was cut off by the sound of someone yelling her name.

"Ivy! Ivy!" Rosita yelled. Ivy quickly ran up to the woman and grabbed onto her shoulders. "Carls in danger. In so, so much danger."

Ivy's eyes widened. "What?"

𝗜𝗩𝗬 𝗪𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗠𝗜𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗡𝗘 to find the men with no hesitation. Whenever Carls life is on the line, she never once questioned it. But, when she heard about talking walkers, she thought Rosita was going crazy. But Rosita didn't hit her head hard enough to even think that.

"Eugene." Michonne whispered as her and Ivy pushed the gate. Eugene whipped his head towards the sound.

"Michonne, Ivy, honest to god, am I happy to see you." Eugene rambled. "The gates obstructed by topsoil erosion. We can't get out."

"We need you to push." Ivy told him, keeping her eye out for Carl. Eugene pushed as hard as he could, and Ivy and Michonne pulled on it roughly.

Suddenly, a new set of hands joined them. Ivy looked over and saw Magna standing beside her. "What the hell are you doing here?" Ivy asked.

"Earring our keep." Magna answered. Ivy looked over and saw Yumiko also pulling at the gate. Yumiko and Magna began digging at the bottom, which helped.

They managed to open the gate, freeing Eugene.

Jesus looked at Carl and Aaron, "Get him out of here." Jesus instructed. The two men just stared at him. "Go, I got this!" Carl and Aaron nodded before running off.

Carl ran out the gate and hugged Ivy tightly, but Ivy's attention quickly shifted to Jesus. He was fighting the walkers by himself. He kicked one of them back and then sliced another ones head. He stabbed another one, then turned around and ran up another walkers body, sending it to the ground, and stabbing the walker behind him.

Ivy watched as he killed a few more walkers.

"Jesus! Come on!" Aaron yelled.

Two walkers made their way towards the gate, and Jesus easily sliced one of them. He then went to stab the other one, but it ducked his sword and stabbed his back.

Ivy gasped as Jesus fell to the ground. Ivy grabbed onto the gate and began crying. It looked like the walker whispered something to Jesus.

"Jesus!" Ivy screamed. That scream reminded Michonne and Carl of when Beth died. She felt her throat burn as tears fell rapidly down her face.

Ivy ran into the cemetery and charged at the thing that just killed Jesus. He quickly ran away, and Ivy couldn't catch up.

As everyone killed walkers around her, she dropped down to her knees besides Jesus. Ivy cried as she placed her hands on his wound.

"Y—Y—You know what th—this means..." Jesus wheezed out. Ivy shook her head. "You're the leader."

"No, no, no, no, no. No!" Ivy cried. Jesus' eyes closed and Ivy's sobs picked up.

Ivy's breathing heaved before she let out the most blood curling scream. The scream was deafening, but powerful. It wasn't just the scream of sadness.

It was a war cry.

𝗔𝗨𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗥𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗘
if Ivy screams, just know a LOT of people are about the die...