𝗧𝗪𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗬 𝗢𝗡𝗘, 𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗮

❝𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗟 didn't we just take Route 16! I'm gonna beat my dads ass when we get out of this car!" Carl yelled as they swerved through walkers.

"Carl! Stop yelling!" Tara yelled back.

"Sorry." Carl apologized. Ivy wanted to burst out laughing. Carl was terrified. He held onto Ivy's arm so tight,

After a few minutes of pure horror— and TERRIBLE driving, the group finally found an old building where they could stop.

Ivy waited anxiously alongside Maggie as the waited for the rest of the groups return. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door of the building.

Everyone ran out to see the group.

Ivy and Maggie ran to see Glenn. Glenn quickly took both of the girls into a hug. Maggie and Glenn kissed, and Ivy didn't hug back.

Glenn sighed as Ivy walked away to see Rick.

"What's wrong?" Maggie asked her husband. Glenn looked to Ivy, and Maggie immediately knew.

Glenn and Maggie watched as Ivy simply patted Rick on the shoulder, not even hugging him, or saying anything.

"She'll get better. She's just taking the recent deaths harder than most of us." Maggie assured him.

"She's just lost so much. Her parents, her sister, Patrick, Beth." Glenn listed.

"She's going to be ok. She's a strong girl—" The conversation was cut short when Aaron frantically started calling out for someone.

"Eric?" Aaron yelled.

"In here." A weak voice said from inside the building. Eric was nice. He asked Ivy for her name, but when she didn't answer, he just told her that it was alright and that he wouldn't answer himself either.

The group found themselves back in the building. Aaron walked back in.

"Excuse me." Aaron spoke. "Excuse me."

Everyone turned their attention toward Aaron.

"Thank you." Aaron smiled. "You saved Eric. I owe you. All of you. And I will make sure that debt is paid in full when we get to our community. When we get to Alexandria."

"Now, I'm not sure about you, but I'd rather not do anymore driving tonight." Aaron laughed, making the rest of the group laugh slightly— except Ivy, obviously. "Um, maybe we can hit the road tomorrow morning."

"That sounds fine." Rick spoke up. "But if we're staying here for the night, you're sleeping over there." Rick pointed to a corner.

"You really think we got to do that?" Maggie asked.

"It's the safe play. We don't know you." Rick told Aaron.

"The only way you're gonna stop me from being with him right now is by shooting me." Aaron stated.

Ivy's gaydar never fails her. She was right again!

Aaron stepped forward, but Glenn stopped him. "Woah." Glenn turned to Rick and moved closer to his ear.

"Rick, he told us where the camp is. And he really was only traveling with one person." Glenn whispered. "They're both unarmed. One of them's got a broken ankle. I want us to be safe, too."

"I can't give up everything else. I know what I said, but it does matter." Glenn spoke.

"All right." Rick announced.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗧 morning, the group was on the road. Ivy was excited, even though you couldn't see it on her face. She sat in the middle of Glenn and Maggie. The practically forced her down on the seat.

As Ivy looked out the RV window window, taking in all of the scenery, Noah walked up to her. Her and Noah haven't talked much, but when they did, he was a really sweet kid.

"Hey, Ivy." Noah spoke, making Glenn, Maggie, and Ivy all snap their heads towards the boy. He held a piece of paper anxiously in his hand.

Ivy nodded her head towards him and looked to
Glenn.

"What's up?" Glenn. asked. Noah handed Ivy the piece of paper nervously.

"Beth told me to give this to you.... you know, if she didn't make it out. She wrote one to Maggie too, but I gave it to her a while ago." Noah explained. Ivy's eyes started to fill with tears, but she stopped herself from crying.

"Thank you." Maggie smiled at Noah. Noah nodded and walked away. Maggie and Glenn turned to Ivy. "What does it say?"

Ivy began to read the letter.

Dear V,

Ivy read it in her voice, her sweet southern accent. The voice that she would kill to hear again. Ivy sighed and placed the letter down.

"Don't force yourself to read it if you're not ready." Glenn squeezed Ivy's hand. Ivy nodded and turned to Maggie, who had a soft smile on her face.

"You're so strong, V. We admire for that. But don't push yourself." Maggie spoke lowly. Ivy smiled slightly and sat back in her seat.

Ivy felt so safe around Maggie and Glenn. They we're basically her parents.

Every time Ivy thought of parents, she thought about watching hers getting torn apart. Every time she said her last name, she thought of her parents getting their skin ripped apart.

She thought about just changing her last name. Telling people that her name is Ivy Grimes, or Ivy Rhee. Maybe even Ivy Castillo Rhee— that's pretty.

Sooner than they knew, the group had to stop due to the RV having some problems.

Ivy found her way back to Carl and Judith. Ivy held Judith in her arm. Carl sat on the hood of one of the cars, staring at the wonderful sight in front of him.

"Can't believe we're finally gonna have place to grow up in." Carl smiled. "For Judith to grow up in."

Ivy rubbed Judiths head and bounced her up and down. Carl could tell Ivy was excited. Her face may be telling a different story. But Ivy was more excited than anyone.

Abraham and Glenn must've done something magical because the RVS engine started. The group cheered and clapped for the two men.

Ivy handed Judith back to Carl and nodded at him. Carl shot her a smile before she walked back to the RV.

Ivy hoped back in the RV, now sitting only next to Maggie. Ivy and Maggie held hands the whole way there. Maggie was the best role model for Ivy. She was strong, brave, bad ass, and intelligent.

As Ivy looked out the window, the group started approaching a town. A town that was secured and safe.

Ivy looked to Maggie with a nervous look, and Maggie gave Ivy her infamous smile. Ivy looked to Glenn for a moment, who had a huge smile on his face.

Ivy didn't know how to feel in the moment. She was nervous, yet excited. But then she started over thinking. She started thinking about how these people could be killers, or they just hate the group.

Ivy didn't know how to feel until she heard kids laughing.

Ivy's head shot up and a wide smile covered her face. Glenn and Maggie took notice of that and started laughing of happiness.

"Holy shit." Ivy breathed out. She began to laugh and she looked around the RV.

"Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit!" Ivy squealed.

Everyone in the RV laughed and cheered. They were finally going to have a safe place to stay. No more worrying about if you're going to be walker dinner. Ivy was finally able to be a kid. She was going to be able to have friends, do teenager stuff.

And it felt great.