My heart pounded in my chest as I quickly gathered up Winnie in my arms. Rick had gotten word to us that Negan's men were on their way. We were preparing our offensive and getting the children to safety as well as those who weren't able to fight. With her little fingers, she latched onto the shark-tooth necklace at the base of her neck, trying to put her mouth on it. If it wasn't such a dire situation we were in, I would've smiled. I'd decided to give her that once I'd gotten engaged to Carl.

I loved Owen and a part of me always would but...it was time - past time - to let go. Besides, I knew he'd want his child to have it. And I had found something different with Carl. What I had with Owen didn't compare to the love I shared with Carl - real, true love. And I knew nothing ever would. Stuffing the only few pictures that meant anything to me inside Winnie's baby bag on my shoulder, I walked out of the house with her on my hip.

My shoes were silent on the pavement as I handed her over to the ones in charge of the children. I didn't want to part with her - not one bit. But I knew she'd be safer with them. Besides...I needed to help Carl and Michonne. And Daryl who had returned once he found out about the incoming assault. I looked off into the empty town, pitch-black darkness all around us. We'd all agreed to leave under the cover of night in hopes of escaping before they got here.

My eyes scanned every house, every little nook and cranny before briefly resting on the infirmary. There was so many memories here... We had all worked so hard to build this place and now? Now it would become Negan's...just like everything else. I shook the thoughts away and it was then that it hit me: where was Carl?

He didn't seem to be among the others. I frowned, worry creeping up on me. He had to be somewhere. Walking out into the darkness, my eyes eventually adjusted to the lack of lighting out here and finally, my gaze rested on a lone silhouette. Carl. He was by himself it seemed, opening up the gate to the sewers below. What in the world?

"Carl," I said in to the darkness and slowly, he turned to face me, "I've been lookin' for you. We're about ready to head out. What are you doing?"

He stayed silent a moment before speaking.

"I'm helping someone," he finally admitted and I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms.

"You mean you're helping Siddiq," I answered for him and slowly, he nodded to me.

I groaned out loud, shaking my head.

"Carl! We don't have time for this! Look, he's a great guy and all and I want him to survive, too but we have to get out of here! Negan and his men will be on their way!" I told him in exasperation, disbelief rippling through me.

He frowned, about to speak again when suddenly, the metal of the town gate clanged loudly, making both our heads snap to the sound. The sound happened again and my eyes widened in terror as a voice spoke out - one I had hoped not to hear for a very long time.

"You may be wondering why your lookouts didn't sound the alarm... See, we are polite. I mean, I don't know when they're gonna wake up from that kinda shot, but they should wake up," Negan's voice came out loud over a sound system, making the blood freeze in my veins, "So let's just cut to it - you lose. It's over. So you're gonna line up in front of your little houses, and you're gonna work up some apologies, and then the person with the lamest one is gonna get killed. Then I kill Rick in front of everybody, and we move on. You have three - count 'em, three minutes to open this gate, or we start bombing this whole town!"

My hand had involuntarily latched onto Carl's through the speech and I felt him squeeze my hand in reassurance. But it did no good - my heart was racing in my chest and I could feel a tightness starting there.

"They got out," I breathed out and squeezed my eyes shut briefly in fear.

"Come on," Carl told me, making my eyes fly open as he shook my hand gently before tugging me along after him.

Once we reached the trucks, he released my hand and walked over to one of them. He began to fill up a bag with smoke bombs and my eyes narrowed in confusion. What in the world was he doing?!

"You need to make it look like we're escaping out back. Get to the woods, halfway to the quarry, and cut the lights," Carl began to explain the plan to everyone quickly, "Get enough of a lead on them, hit them, and get away on foot. You know where we'll be. Just have to get the guns, get everyone else here, and we'll meet you there,"

"Two minutes, people!" Negan piped up from the microphone, "Dig deep. I want these apologies to be memorable. Bonus points for creativity. Work up a poem, sing a song. I love that,"

Carl turned to me then, his gaze fixed on mine.

"Get going. There's gonna people in the infirmary. They're gonna need your help," he told me seriously and I began to protest when Negan interrupted again with another whistle.

"Look, we got guns. We can fight them," Tara spoke up then, gun in hand.

"We will, but not now. Carl's right," Rosita told her.

"Carl, we can't just let them have this place," Michonne disagreed earnestly.

"We can. All you need to do is survive tonight. This is my show. You said it," Carl said to her and she frowned, knowing he was right, " This is my plan, and you're gonna do it. You're all gonna do it. So let's go!"

"No. No, no, no!" I began to protest, feeling my heart begin to pound like crazy in my chest as tears formed in my eyes, suddenly scared for him, "I'm not letting you go off by yourself! I'm not! Carl-"

But before I could get out the rest of my words, tears already streaming down my face by this point, Carl had caught me by the arms, forcing me to look into his ocean-blue eye.

"Angel, listen to me: I need you to be safe. Okay? I need that. That's what I need from you. I need you, Winnie, and the baby safe," he said, his hands gently sliding up my arms to cup my face between his large hands, "And I need to do this. To protect the three of you. My life doesn't matter - but yours do,"

I shook my head, a soft sob bubbling up from my throat, "I'm not leaving you,"

"Yes, you are. And I promise you - I will come back after it's all over. I would never leave you without a goodbye." he told me and I sniffed, nodding to him as he pulled me into one final embrace.

It lasted for what felt like an eternity but in reality, was no more than a few seconds before he had broken away and sprinted off towards the gate. Michonne put an arm around my shoulders and led me as well as the others down to the sewers. Slowly, we descended - careful of the children and elders before we settles ourselves against the tunnel walls. It was creepy down here - the inky darkness enough to make anyone shiver. But as I gathered Winnie up into my arms, one hand resting on my stomach - I had to believe that everything would be alright.