LILIANA WAS THE first to act, running into the arms of her boyfriend. Y/N embraced her and gave the blonde a kiss.

"Are you all right?" He asked her amidst the hug.

Her reply was muffled against his chest. "I should be asking you that."

Y/N parted and moved some hair out of her face. He smiled.

"Of course I am."

He kissed her again but on the forehead. He felt that she was warmer the usual and wondered why.

"You're burning up." He remarked.

"Started getting a fever earlier today. I'm fine, though." She replied.

"Haven't gone to the clinic?"

She shook her head. "I'm not going just so Philip can hear about it and check on me."

Y/N understood. In the back of his mind, he thought of Hershel and his medical prowess back at the prison. Maybe he can do something.

Afterward, Ramon was next to greet his friend.

"Hermano." The man dapped up Y/N.

He brought him in for a quick hug and pat Ramon's back. Y/N went up to Erica last and hugged her.

"What happened to you?" Erica parted and noticed the blood on his clothes. "You look like shit."

He glanced back at Liliana and Ramon before looking back at the Latina.

"I ran into Philip..."

There was a moment of silence. Ramon broke it with a question.

"Is he..?"

"I didn't kill him. At least not yet." He replied. "Some bitch started shooting at me before I could."

"She a blonde?" Erica asked, to which Y/N nodded.

"That's Andrea." Liliana began to speak. "Her and Philip started...uh...getting close."

Y/N scoffed. Even after he sexually assaulted Liliana and possibly impregnated her, he still moved on to the next woman he fancied. He should've stabbed both eyes.

"We're all getting out of here." Y/N told them. "There's this place about eighteen miles out. It's where my...uh...colleagues are from."

"Are they cool?" Ramon asked.

The man shrugged. "They seem all right."

Y/N looked out the window, seeing soldiers going toward the warehouse where the pit fights were. They had someone with them who had a sack over their head. But based on their clothes alone, he could tell who they had.

It was Daryl.

"Shit." Y/N muttered. "Dumbass redneck."

"What?" Erica heard him and questioned.

"Y'all know where the car is?" Y/N asked as he walked away from the window.

"Yeah. At the garage." Ramon replied.

"Can you guys meet me there? There aren't guards there at the moment. They're all at the warehouse."

"Where are you going?" Liliana asked.

He sighed. "The warehouse."

"The fuck?" Ramon reacted. "Why?"

"They have one of my colleagues. He's an asshole...but I ain't just gonna leave him to be executed."

"You said it yourself, they're all in one place." Erica replied. "We have our chance to just leave now. Together."

He looked back at her, staying quiet for a moment before responding.

"I can't. I can't leave him behind. It's not—"

"It's not who he is." Liliana finished for him.

Y/N looked at the blonde. She went up to him and caressed his shoulders.

"You have a good heart. I know that."

The young man smiled. Their foreheads touched and Liliana spoke again.

"Just promise me you'll come back to me again."

Y/N nodded and kissed her. He started making his way to the door.

"Wait." Ramon called out. "You got a gun on you?"

He shook his head. The Hispanic man went to his drawer and brought out another gun. He gave it to Y/N, and he realized it was his M1911.

"Stole that from storage a couple of days ago. Just had a feeling." Ramon added.

Y/N smirked and nodded at Ramon. He checked the clip and saw that it was fully loaded. Unless he found some extra ammunition lying around, he'd have to make every shot count.

"Uh..." Ramon rubbed his neck and whispered. "So, what's the plan if you don't...?"

"I'll get back to you." Y/N reassured him. "I promise."

Rick and Maggie tasked themselves to find Daryl. They crossed the street holding their rifles but were seen by two other soldiers.

BRAKAKA!

BRAKAKA!

The duo took cover as they were fired upon. Rick peeked out and shot back, but missed.

GRATA!

He got back into the cover. There was a pause and the two soldiers chose to get out of cover and engage them. Suddenly, one was shot down.

POW! POW!

Rick and Maggie heard the shots and saw the soldier fall to the floor. The other was distracted, allowing them to get killed by Maggie.

GRATA!

The former cop looked to his left and saw Y/N holding his handgun. Maggie recognized him as one of the strangers who helped save her and Glenn.

"You guys looking for the redneck?" Y/N asked them.

"You know where Daryl is?" Rick replied.

Y/N nodded, picking up a rifle from one of the dead soldiers.

"They took him back to the warehouse. Come on!"

Rick was hesitant to follow, still not trusting him, but Maggie had none and ran with the young man. Rick took a breath and did so soon afterward.

They sprinted down the street and through alleyways until they returned to the warehouse. They could hear the clamoring of people as well as growls from walkers.

Maggie, Rick, and Y/N took cover behind a steel skip. They looked on and saw both Merle and Daryl back to back trying to fend off walkers being prodded at them.

GRATA!

Y/N was the first to fire. He killed a walker that was near Daryl. Maggie followed suit and killed another along with its handler.

GRATA! GRATATA!

Rick threw a smoke grenade and flushed out the area. Citizens scattered and ran away in fear while soldiers were looking around in a daze.

BRAKA! BRAKA!

Y/N and Rick shot out the lights in the area to mask their location as well as give Daryl and Merle a way to slip away.

Y/N got out of cover and neared the smoke, shooting down a walker that neared a downed man. It was Daryl.

"Get off your wallet, asshole." He reached out to him.

Daryl looked at him and immediately took his hand. He helped him up and the redneck called out to his brother.

"Merle! Come on!"

The other man punched a soldier and took back his brother's crossbow. He tossed it to Daryl and they all ran back to where Maggie and Glenn were. They all fled the area.

Amidst the smoke, a bandaged Governor shot down a walker and looked around. He saw no sight of the attackers...but knew that it was Y/N and the prison group.

The man stared out, his thoughts clouded with rage and anger.

The group made it to the gates of Woodbury. They could still hear the gunfire and shouts of people within the town as they dealt with walkers.

"They're all at the arena." Merle said. "This way."

"You're not going anywhere with us!" Rick shouted.

"You really want to do this now?"

Merle punched away at the sheet of metal on the gate with his metal stump. He finally ripped off the panel and called out to them.

"Rick, come on!" Daryl exclaimed. "We gotta go!"

Both rednecks and Maggie ran through the opening. Rick looked back and then at Y/N, who was standing around and staring ahead. He didn't know why, but Rick decided to call out.

"Come on!"

Y/N turned around. "I gotta go reunite with my people. They're at the garage waiting with the car."

Rick stayed quiet as he thought. Earlier in the day he had not a single ounce of trust in the young man. But after his assistance with Glenn and Maggie's rescue as well as Daryl's, his belief in him was building little by little.

"You know you're way back to the prison?"

Y/N simply nodded. Rick gave a quick nod back before turning around and walking through the hole in the gate. Y/N gripped his rifle and ran down the street.

He knew his way to the garage and the trek was easy thanks to all the soldiers being preoccupied. He entered the small building, seeing the sheet doors rolled up and the three by the car.

"Thank God." Liliana breathed out at the sight of him.

"Ready to go?" Ramon asked with the key in hand.

"This piece of shit still got gas?" Y/N asked.

"Please, I personally went on runs to make sure this perra (bitch) was full."

Y/N chuckled. The four entered the car with Ramon driving, Y/N in the passenger's seat, and the two women in the back. He seemed to get déjà vu from their run several weeks ago.

Ramon drove out of the garage, leaving the town for good and making their way down the road.

• • •

THE ROAD AHEAD was blocked by a broken-down car and a large tree branch. They weren't alone...as Y/N spotted a familiar olive-green car that had just rolled up as well.

"Who are these people?" Ramon asked.

"They helped me." Y/N simply replied and opened his door. "Stay here. Let me talk to them."

He left the car and his friends watched as he went up to the three. Rick, Maggie, and Glenn all eyed him, with the Asian perplexed at his arrival. Michonne was still in their car.

"Don't get any closer." Glenn warned and reached for the gun at the small of his back.

"Glenn!"

Maggie reached out and stopped him. Y/N also put his hands up.

"Whoa! Relax, man. Remember how I helped save your ass."

Glenn didn't remember him but Maggie corroborated his claim and also mentioned he helped rescue Daryl too. He became a little less tense and moved his hand away.

"I see we're met with the same problem." Y/N gestured to the blockade. "Mind if I help with that?"

Rick didn't respond and just nodded. Y/N looked around and noticed that Daryl and Merle weren't around.

"Where are the two rednecks?"

None of them responded. Rick called out to them about the truck.

"Glenn, get the brakes. You get behind the truck with Maggie and get ready to push."

Glenn opened the door but a walker popped out. The bruised Asian man immediately pulled it out and threw it to the ground, where he angrily stomped on its head until it caved in.

They were all stunned by his act, as Rick and Maggie had never seen him that way. They walked up to him while Y/N stood nearby at the truck bed.

"You didn't kill him." Glenn told Rick, mentioning the Governor.

"That's not why we went back."

"No. That's right. You went back for Daryl. And now he's gone again and the Governor is still alive."

"Daryl was the priority."

"I should have been there with you."

"You were in no condition."

"But my girlfriend was?" Glenn exclaimed.

"Glenn, this ain't about us." Maggie said.

"I should've been there." He repeated.

"Hey, hey, you didn't come back but with us 'cause you could barely walk." Rick shot back.

"What about her?" Glenn pointed at his girlfriend.

"What about me?"

"Do you know what he did to her?" Glenn exclaimed. "Do you know?"

Maggie shouted as well. "Leave it alone!"

Rick looked at Glenn and then at Maggie. Y/N did so as well, and both men had an inkling of what Glenn was inferring. Maggie exhaled and went to the truck bed with Y/N, ready to push the car.

"Let's go." She said.

There was silence for a moment before the young man spoke.

"There's...there's no correct punishment for a guy like the Governor. But he's hurting at the moment. I took his eye."

Glenn looked at Y/N. "And you didn't kill him?"

"I was about to before some girl named Andrea stopped me. Blasted several rounds in my direction that I had to flee."

Rick, Maggie, and Glenn took in his story. The Asian shook his head.

"That bitch." He breathed out, then looked at Rick. "We're up to our necks in shit. The psychopath is still breathing and Daryl's out there with Merle!"

"You want me to turn the car around, beg him to come back? Throw down a welcome mat for Merle?" Rick retorted. "This is the hand we've been dealt!"

Glenn looked at Y/N and then glanced at the car with his friends behind him. He stared at Rick.

"Are they're in the cards too? I can see where this is leading." He said. "We lose the one guy who's been there since the beginning and now taking in a few who we know nothing about. You're throwing down the mat for them?"

Before Rick can respond, Y/N spoke up.

"I'm not expecting room in your prison. I get how tight-knit y'all are, I understand. Right now I just want to my girlfriend checked on. She has a fever and she's pregnant."

"She's pregnant?" Maggie asked, to which he nodded.

Hearing that made Rick think of his newborn daughter, Judith. He thought about the possible complications that could happen to Y/N's unborn if they didn't treat the fever.

"Hershel can help with that."

"Once she's well, I don't care what happens. We'll be out of your hair if that's what you want."

Rick nodded. Maggie spoke to them.

"Let's just get this out of here and get back. Get some rest. We can talk it out there."

Glenn shook his head and walked to the driver's side door. "You guys do all the talking you want. I'm done."

• • •

BOTH CARS ROLLED up to the prison gates. The short-haired lady, Carol, and Carl opened it and let them in. Rick got out and spoke to Glenn in his car and Ramon in the other.

"Drive 'em up. I'll meet you there."

They did as told. Ramon parked the car and got out. Glenn, Maggie, and Michonne left their vehicle as well. Hershel and Beth were outside ready to reunite with their family member.

"Take your sister inside." Hershel told Beth after hugging Maggie.

"Daddy." He replied as she glanced at Y/N's group. "That girl is pregnant and is sick. You—?"

"I'll help her. Just go inside."

She nodded and went into the prison with her sister. Rick also told Carl and Carol to go inside. Y/N and his group walked up to them.

"You feeling ill, ma'am?" Hershel asked the blonde.

"Since the morning." She replied with Y/N by her side.

He nodded. "Go inside and I'll see you soon."

Y/N walked with Liliana. Ramon and Eric were going to follow but Rick stopped them.

"I'd prefer if you stay outside. We'll let you know how your friend is."

They glanced at one another before relenting. They walked back to their car and stood near it.

Inside the prison, Y/N and Liliana followed Carl and Carol to the cell block. He helped her down the stairs, not noticing the other group that was waiting in the room.

Suddenly, one called out to him.

"Y/N?"

The young man turned his head and looked at the group. His eyes widened...seeing faces that he thought he'd never see.

"Ty?" Y/N spoke.

It was Tyreese. Sasha. Ben, and Allen. The large man in a beanie stepped up to his friend and embraced him.

"Holy shit, man."

Y/N pat his back. "I—I thought you all died."

"We thought you died." He replied.

They parted and Sasha came up to hug him. She was also taken aback by his sudden appearance.

"Where have you been this whole time?" Y/N asked.

"Out on the road. Weeks ago, we came back from a run and found the camp...God..." Tyreese replied. "We've been on the move ever since."

"You are with these people?" Sasha asked him.

"Not exactly. I'm just here for a bit while they treat Lili."

Suddenly, Rick and Hershel came back inside. The leader didn't even look at the new group and went into the cell block to see his daughter. The old man went up to Lili and Y/N.

"We'll get you set up. A bed for you to rest in and some antibiotics." He told the blonde.

She thanked him. The blonde also quietly laughed, feeling as if this was a prenatal checkup at a clinic.

"Any chance I'm able to see an ultrasound?" She joked.

Hershel chuckled. She followed him into the cell block, where Y/N bid a quick farewell to Tyreese and his group before following as well.

Hershel had checked on Glenn and Maggie first before going into the cell where he had placed Liliana. Y/N sat on the small stool in the corner.

"I got some pills for you." He came in and handed them to her.

"Thank you." She replied. "I feel like I'm not saying it enough."

Y/N looked at the old man. "She's right. You don't have to do this. I appreciate it."

Hershel nodded. "You helped bring my daughter back. She even said you went out of your way to help Daryl. It's the least I can do."

Y/N softly smiled. He saw Liliana take the pills.

"I'm surprised you have meds to spare." He remarked.

"We don't. Just don't tell Rick." He started making his way back out and spoke to Liliana. "Get some rest. We'll give you something hot to eat later on."

He left the cell. The blonde laid back on the bed and let out a breath. Y/N just watched her. Liliana turned her head and smiled.

"What?" She asked.

He continued staring at her. "I'm just admiring. I haven't seen you in so long."

Although it's only been a couple of weeks, it felt like longer for Y/N. He was happy to be with her again.

"Was everything all right out there?" She asked, worried about what he had endured out on the road.

Y/N thought back at his time in the streets and the woods. All that was on his mind was getting back to Woodbury...and the only thing that fueled him were the words of his father, something he never thought he'd follow again.

"Yeah..." He feigned a smile. "I did all right."

Liliana smiled. She shifted her body and faced the sitting man.

"I'd lay with you...but that bed is really small. And I'm dirty." Y/N said.

She chuckled. "I wouldn't want you getting sick anyway. I feel like they're gonna need you."

"Who?" He questioned. "These people?"

"Feels like that other guy isn't as accepting as the old man. He might want you to earn your keep in a way if we're gonna stay here."

Liliana had a point. Hershel supported keeping her here until she got better but then after they'd likely be back on the road. He thought of their baby and their safety. There was no better place than the prison.

"You're right." Y/N replied and sat back.

"You should get some rest too. I can tell you haven't gotten a proper one in a while."

Y/N nodded. The blonde shifted her body again and closed her eyes, trying to go to sleep. The young man watched her for a moment, before doing so as well.

• • •

IT WAS THE next day. Y/N heard about Rick's sudden outburst that frightened Tyreese's group and caused them to leave.

He was disappointed, as he had just reunited with them and now they were back on the road. He hoped they'd stay close by so he can get them once things cooled down.

Rick's mind seemed to be in the clouds now as he was walking around the outside of the prison for a while. With their leader seemingly out of commission, Hershel stepped up as the voice of reason. He didn't want to send out any more people, deciding to take in Y/N, Liliana, Ramon, and Erica. They did the same for Michonne.

He'd deal with Rick's reaction later.

Y/N was invited by Glenn into the cell block as the group discussed a plan to deal with their current situation. He mapped out the layout of the prison on the floor with chalk.

"You said you found Tyreese's group here?" Glenn asked Carl.

"Yeah."

"We secured this."

Carl pointed at a section of the drawing. "He thought he came through here."

"Means there's another breach. Okay." Glenn replied. "The whole front of the prison is unsecure. If walkers just strolled in, then it's gonna be cake for a group of armed men."

"Why are we even so sure he's going to attack?" Beth asked, then looked at Y/N on the side. "Maybe you scared him off."

"Nothing scares him now. He had fish tanks full of heads. Walkers and humans. Like they were trophies." He replied. "Then there's the fact that I killed his undead daughter."

"Which was probably the only thing he lived for." Michonne added. "So, yeah...he's coming."

"We should hit him now." Glenn told the two.

"What?" Beth asked.

"He won't be expecting it. We'll sneak back in and put a bullet in his head."

"We're not assassins." Carol reacted.

Glenn stood up and walked to Y/N. "You know where his apartment is. You and I could end this tonight."

"You go. I go too." Michonne chimed in. "Could use the backup."

"I'll even do it myself." Glenn said.

After a brief pause, Y/N nodded.

"You won't need to. I'll finish the job." He replied. "And we should do this quick. Once he finds out I'm here with..."

He looked into the cell block where Liliana was currently resting. Maggie knew who he was referring to.

"What does he want with her?" She asked.

He sighed and rested his hands by his waist, even looking at Ramon and Erica on the side.

"The baby...uh...he thinks it's his. It wasn't her choice but he believes he has every right to it."

The prison group in the room knew what he was inferring, aside from Carl. Hearing that gave Glenn more fuel to want to kill Philip since it confirmed the monster he was.

"So we both know what he's capable of." He remarked.

Y/N simply nodded. Glenn turned around and was ready to plan out the attack. Hershel spoke to the young Asian man.

"He didn't know you were coming last time and look what happened. Daryl was captured. And you and Maggie were almost executed."

"You can't stop me."

They argued. Hershel brought up the deaths of past group members and said that there had been enough killing. He proposed that they all go on the road which Glenn immediately shot down.

A saddened Maggie didn't like seeing Glenn having that bloodlust, nor how he shouted at her father. She walked off, leaving Glenn regretting his outburst.

"All right. We'll stay put. We're gonna defend this place. We're making a stand."

Y/N was tasked along with Erica and Ramon with fortifying the fences with Carol and Axel. The two older folks went aside to double-check what they worked on while the trio stayed by the fence.

Glenn spoke with Hershel before going into a car. Y/N ran over and opened the gate for him, allowing him through. Afterward, the old man went up to the young man.

"I'm worried about that boy." He told him, referring to Glenn.

"I got a sense of what he went through." Y/N replied. "The Governor and his men... they're ruthless."

"I feel like a part of him thinks what happened to my daughter is his fault."

Y/N sighed and looked through the fence at Glenn in the distance. The old man did as well.

"He shouldn't." Y/N said.

Hershel turned to him, knowing his current feelings and remembering him mentioning what happened to Liliana.

"It ain't your fault either, son."

Y/N shook his head. "He seemed so charming, you know? He offered us a place after we almost died. There was trust there. And he exploited that. I feel like I should've seen through the bullshit then and there and declined."

"There's no way you would've known and it's not smart to dwell into the past. You have to think of the now and the future...the future that includes your and your friends."

Y/N nodded, appreciating the old wise man's words. He then walked off and was on his way to speak with Rick, who was outside of the prison.

The man walked back into the courtyard, going up to Erica and Ramon who were talking.

"Everything look all right?" Y/N asked them.

"It's as secure as it can be." Erica replied.

Ramon crossed his arms. "You really think Philip is coming here?"

"He knows where the prison is and he's pissed."

"You really took out his eye?"

"Was aiming for the neck, honestly."

"Good. More pain for that son of a bitch." Erica said with venom in her voice. "Swear to God, I see him again...I'll kill him for what he did to her."

Y/N couldn't agree more. The three then moved, walking up to Carol and Axel who were talking to one another.

"One time that son of a bitch—"

POW!

Blood splattered onto Carol's face as Axel was shot through the head. Nearby, Beth and Carl ran to cover. Bullets hailed into the courtyard.

BRAKAKAKA!

BRAKAKAKA!

BRAKAKAKA!

"Get down!" Y/N exclaimed.

Ramon and Erica took cover behind some bleachers. Y/N dove behind a stone table and sat up. Carol was under Axel's body and used him to protect herself from the bullets.

BRAKAKA!

BRAKAKA!

Y/N held his rifle and looked up, seeing that a gunman was in one of the guard towers. He aimed his rifle and shot him down.

GRATATA!

He looked over at Beth and Carl nearby and shouted at them.

"I'll cover you! Go! Go!"

The boy nodded and the two ran over to take cover behind a wall. Maggie saw Beth and ran to her.

"Beth!"

Erica looked at Carol, who was still on the ground under Axel's body. She shouted.

"Move! I got you!"

Carol got up quickly and ran away. Erica took out her handgun and shot in the direction of the incoming gunfire.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Then, there was a ceasefire.

It was quiet for a moment...until a truck rushed down the road and toward the entrance. It crashed through the gates and stopped in the middle of the yard. Shortly after, the back of the truck opened and walkers started to pour out.

"What in the fuck?" Ramon exclaimed at the sight of them.

BRAKA! BRAKA!

Another man got on the tower and shot at the people in the courtyard. Maggie noticed her father in the yard shooting at the walkers.

"Daddy!" She shouted and ran toward the gate.

"Wait!" Y/N exclaimed after seeing her.

Erica peeked out of cover to provide support for Maggie but was suddenly hit in the shoulder.

POW!

"Argh! Fuck!" She grunted.

Ramon glared and peeked out quickly, shooting the man straight in the head with a single shot from his gun.

BANG!

Outside of the gates, the Governor got into his vehicle and retreated, leaving the prison dwellers to deal with the walkers.

With the threat now gone, everyone took a breath and got out of cover. Ramon looked over at his sister.

"Puta madre..." He breathed out and checked her wound. "You okay?"

She nodded. Y/N ran over to his friends and he too saw her injury. Erica didn't want them to worry.

"I'm fine." She told them. "We have to deal with those muertos."

"You're fucking bleeding." Ramon shot back. "Let's—"

"Just help me up. Now."

Ramon relented, getting up and helping his sister to her feet.

Glenn had driven back to the courtyard and had Hershel and Michonne in his car. In the distance, Y/N also spotted Daryl and Merle with Rick running toward the gate, the two brothers had helped him earlier.

They all began to deal with the walkers in the yard. From there, it was time for them to recover from the Governor's first attack.

• • •

THEY ALL STOOD in the cell block. It had been almost twenty-four hours since the walker-bomb incident outside. Rick Grimes was present and he was as level-headed as he could be.

"We're not leaving." He said.

"We can't stay here." Hershel disagreed.

"What if there's another sniper?" Maggie asked. "A wood pallet won't stop one of those rounds."

"We can't even go outside." Beth chimed in.

"At least not in the daylight." Erica added, moving her bandaged shoulder a bit.

"Our initial plan was to stand our ground. I don't think we should deviate." Y/N said.

Merle was locked in the chow room and stood behind the bars. Y/N found out the group had a history with the older redneck and disliked him.

"No, better to live like rats." Merle remarked.

Y/N looked at him. "You got a better idea, man?"

"Yeah, we should've slid out of here last night and lived to fight another day. But we lost that window, didn't we?"

"We ain't scared of that prick." Daryl shot back.

"Y'all should be. That truck through the fence thing, that's just him ringing the doorbell. We might have some thick walls to hide behind, but he's got the guns and the numbers. And if he takes the high ground around this place, shoot, he could just starve us out if he wanted to."

Maggie was already annoyed with Merle. "Let's put him in the other cell block."

"No. He's got a point." Daryl said.

"This is all you." She exclaimed at Merle. "You started this!"

Merle simply scoffed. Hershel started to speak.

"I said we should leave. Now Axel's dead. We can't just sit here."

Rick looked at Hershel for a moment but walked away without saying a word. The old man got angry, getting up with his crutches and shouting.

"Get back here!"

Their leader stopped. Hershel walked up to him.

"You're slipping, Rick. We've all seen it, we understand why. But now is not the time. "

Rick turned to Hershel as the old man continued. Everyone listened to what the elder had to say.

"You once said this isn't a democracy. Now you have to own up to that. I put my family's life in your hands. So get your head clear, and do something."

Y/N was in the cell block with some of the group. Liliana has gotten better and was now out and about. Carol was stirring a pot on the stove and Michonne was doing exercises in the middle of the room.

Merle had just spoken to Michonne, who didn't respond to any of his words and simply let him talk. He saw Y/N walk in and smirked.

"Hey there, slugger." He opened up his arms as he sat on the edge of the table. "We haven't properly reunited."

Y/N walked over to grab the half-empty water bottle he'd left on a counter

"There's a reason why." He shot back.

"I hope there are no hard feelings. Was just following orders that's all."

He scoffed as he drank some water. Merle continued.

"Look, I let you go in the end. Went back home and told the Governor that you were dead."

"Aww, how nice of you." Y/N sarcastically replied.

"You were free to roam and do as you please until you came back in his sights. Now he knows I'm a lair and wants to kill me too."

"Whatever."

Y/N continued drinking his water. Merle looked at him and kept talking.

"I saw you back at the arena. Popped a couple asses. Even here during the attack. Your aim got better."

"No thanks to you."

"Nah, all the thanks to me." Merle chuckled.

There was silence again. The redneck's smile disappeared.

"I saw blondie walking by the cell block earlier." He spoke, albeit more seriously this time. "She all right?"

Y/N eyed him. "Why do you care?"

"I remembered what you said about Philip. How he raped her."

"And now you believe me?"

Merle let out an exhale. "Didn't think he was that type of guy at first. Then I saw how he forced the chinaman's girlfriend to be topless. A sick humiliation tactic. At that time I was already questioning my position there...that's when he put me against my brother."

Y/N looked at Merle. He could see that the redneck was kind of guilty and there was a sense of remorse for what he'd done and to whom he was loyal.

"You worked for a monster and now you regret it."

Merle just looked down at his only hand. That was all Y/N needed to know he understood. He thought back at Hershel's words from the day before.

"Well, now you're here. No use in dwelling in the past. We got to think of the now and the future, and that future hopefully involves Philip out of our hair for good."

Merle looked at him, giving the young man a nod.

Later that day, there was a commotion at the front gates. Someone had arrived...Andrea.

They checked her for weapons and made sure she was alone. They brought her into the cell block where she embraced Carol and a couple of others.

"Where's Shane?" She asked as she looked around.

Nobody answered. Y/N and his friends stood around, assuming it was someone close to them that had perished.

"And Lori?" She asked again.

Rick looked down. Hershel decided to answer for him.

"She had a girl. Lori didn't survive."

"Neither did T-Dog." Carol added.

"I'm so sorry." Andrea responded.

Andrea questioned how they got to the prison. She pointed at the cell block and was about to go inside. Rick stopped her.

"I won't allow that."

"I'm not an enemy, Rick."

"We had that field and courtyard until your boyfriend tore down the fence with a truck and shot us up."

"He said you fired first."

"That's bullshit." Y/N chose to speak. "He's lying."

Andrea seemed to finally realize the presence of the young man. She pointed at him.

"It's you. You're the guy who almost killed Philip."

"And you're the one who stopped me from finishing the job. Damn near killed me too."

"What's your deal with him? You came back because of some grudge?"

"Some grudge?"

Y/N got annoyed and stepped up. Liliana knew he was getting mad and tried to pull him back but he walked forward anyway.

"He hurt my girlfriend. Even taunted me about it when I confronted him. He sent me off to die! So I came back to snuff out that piece of shit's life. Only got to take out an eye before you came in."

Andrea didn't respond to his outburst. Daryl decided to add to his explanation.

"He killed an inmate who survived here. We liked him. He was one of us."

"I—I didn't know anything about that." Andrea said. "I didn't even know you were in Woodbury until after the shoot-out."

"That was days ago." Glenn shot back.

"I told you, I came as soon as I could."

They all stared at her. She could tell there was a sense of animosity. Andrea turned to Michonne.

"What have you told them?"

"Nothing."

"I don't get it." Andrea looked at her former group. "I left Atlanta with you people and now I'm the odd man out?"

"He almost killed us. And you heard what he did to Y/N and his friends."

The older blonde pointed at Merle, who was sitting on the railing on the stairs.

"Isn't he the one who kidnapped you? Who beat you?"

Merle just looked at her and nobody responded. Andrea exhaled.

"Look, I cannot excuse or explain what Philip has done. But I am trying to bring us together. We have to work this out."

"There's nothing to work out." Rick interjected. "We're going to kill him. I don't know how or when, but we will.

She shook her head. "We can settle this. There is room at Woodbury for all of you."

Y/N scoffed. "There's no way in hell I'm going to live in under the same roof as the Governor again."

"Unless you want the Yankee to slit his throat while he sleeps." Merle added.

"And that I'd do."

Hershel questioned Andrea."What makes you think this man wants to negotiate?"

"Look, he's gearing up for war. The people are terrified. They see you as killers. They're training to attack."

"I'll tell you what." Daryl began. "Next time you see Philip, you tell him I'm gonna take his other eye."

Y/N started to speak up again, standing a few feet behind Rick at a table.

"I've already had enough of his shit. He's hurt me, the people close to me, and he's also hurt y'all. That's too many in my eyes."

They all turned to him. The young man continued.

"The Governor wants a war? Fine. He's got one."