THE YOUNG MAN walked into the cell block. He knew that Liliana would be there and wanted to see her. Upon entering, he saw the blonde sitting at the table with a little girl he had seen around.

"What will you name it?" She asked Liliana.

The woman shrugged. "I honestly haven't thought about it much. Depends on if it's a boy or a girl too."

"I think a boy. My sister and I always wanted a brother."

"In that case..." Liliana thought about it for a moment. "I do have an idea for a name."

Y/N went up to them and they halted their conversation. He smiled at the two and greeted them.

"Hey." Y/N leaned over and kissed his girlfriend, then looked at the little girl. "Ah. Who's this?"

"This is Mika." Liliana introduced her.

"Hi." She greeted him with a wave.

Y/N grinned. "Hi."

"They were part of the group Glenn and Maggie found last week." Liliana added.

"Oh, all right." He looked back at Mika. "I hope everything's been all right for y'all, and I'm glad we were able to find you."

She simply nodded. Y/N glanced at Liliana and smiled.

"Overheard baby name talk. Without me?"

"It led to it. We began with girl talk that is top secret." Liliana jested and looked at Mika. "Ain't that right?"

The two of them laughed. Y/N chuckled as he placed a hand on Liliana's back.

"Fine. Don't interrupt when I have guy talk with Carl then." He pointed at her stomach. "Or when Junior comes out."

"So you think it'll be a boy too?" Mika asked.

Y/N shrugged. "I got a feeling."

"But we'll be fine with either." Liliana added before looking back at Mika. "Maybe a sweet little girl like you."

The eight-year-old gave a toothy grin. Suddenly, her older sister, Lizzie came into the cell block.

"Mika! Dad told us that they are going to start doing story time!"

"Right. Carol was gonna do that, right?" Y/N asked Liliana.

Mika was excited. She got out of her seat and went with Lizzie.

"You two have fun." Liliana called out.

The two girls waved goodbye and walked out of the cell block. Liliana propped her elbow on the table and rested her chin on her palm as she looked on. Y/N rubbed her back.

"That girl's sweet." He remarked.

"She is." Liliana replied with a smile.

He nodded and looked at her. "And I gotta be honest...that little girl looks like you a bit."

The woman laughed. In all honesty, she had to agree. She saw a little bit of her younger self in Mika, from her jovial attitude to her sweet nature.

"Yeah, I know."

The young man smiled. Y/N moved his hand from her back to the top of her head and started stroking her hair.

Y/N's red-stained fingers kept running through the blonde locks as he looked ahead in silence. He sat in the passenger's seat of the abandoned SUV, his arms around a sleeping Mika as she stuck to him like a koala.

In the backseat sat Michonne who also had Carl sleeping with his head by her lap. She looked down at him, also caressing the top of his head.

Rick, Daryl, and Ramon were outside. The former officer was bloodied and in a similar state as Y/N, who was in a daze from what he had to do to the Claimers.

Y/N kept staring out through the dirtied windshield of the SUV. He kept holding onto Mika, hearing her soft breathing and feeling her chest rise with every inhale.

He wasn't going to let go. He felt like keeping her close to him forever.

"I had a son." Michonne abruptly spoke, breaking the silence.

Y/N looked at her through the rearview mirror. She was still looking down at the sleeping Carl as she continued.

"His name was Andre. I—I called him my little peanut." Michonne tried to smile. "He was my everything...he was my everything and he was what made me think everything would be okay."

Y/N kept listening. Finally, Michonne started to tear up.

"Then he was taken away. That's when I felt like I lost everything. I had nothing. I just walked among them...the dead...because I felt dead."

Michonne quietly inhaled before letting out a shaky breath.

"Then I found Andrea, then I found you, I found the prison. Rick, Carl, Hershel...for some time I felt revived. I wasn't dead anymore. I felt alive again."

Y/N took in her words. Despite the time they've spent together and the runs they went on the last several months...he had never seen her that emotionally vulnerable nor did she allow herself to be, until now.

"I'm alive enough now that I'd be willing to die for them." Michonne added as she continued stroking Carl's hair. "I'd die for you."

The young man kept looking at her in the mirror. Throughout her speech, Y/N continued softly cradling Mika. He started to speak.

"My life doesn't matter anymore. It used to. I was at the forefront. My name meant something and all I cared about was myself. My money...my following...my accolades. I realize that was all bullshit. I don't care about myself anymore. All that matters...is you. You, Mika, Carl, Ramon, Rick, Daryl."

Y/N took a beat as he looked ahead, then stared into the mirror again at Michonne.

"So you say you'd die for me? Well...not before I decide to die for you. Before I die for them."

Y/N meant everything he said. He thought he lost everything once Liliana died, but Mika was there to keep him going. It was just the two of them and he thought that'd be it...but he found Rick, Michonne, and Carl.

Then, along with Ramon and Daryl, they were about to be taken from him. He couldn't let that happen...and he wasn't going to from now on. He'd do whatever he had to do to keep those he cared about safe.

As he thought, he looked back out through the window. Ahead was his father, standing with his arms crossed and smirking at him. He could hear a line he used to tell him and his brother.

"If you don't protect what belongs to you, then sooner or later, it belongs to someone else."

His father had a point. He had to take care of those close to him. If not, he'd lose them. Just like how his friends were about to belong to the Claimers. Belong to them so they could be killed.

Michonne broke the silence again and took him out of his miniature trance.

"Not if I do so first. I'd probably kill you before I let you die."

Y/N took a beat before letting out a small chuckle, for which Michonne reciprocated. The two finally shared a laugh after what seemed like hours of somber quiet in the car.

"Michonne..." He began, a serious expression now on his face. "It's always just been me and my brother...my mom wanted a girl but was still happy with two boys. I imagined what it'd be like to have a sister...but I feel like I know now."

Y/N finally turned his head and looked back at the swordswoman. She stared back at him.

"Probably the best one I could ask for."

Michonne smiled back, appreciating that the young man referred to her as his sister. And she felt the same way. The two met under similar circumstances, both had the same goal in mind, and both overcame their dire circumstances.

Like she was his sister...he was her brother.

• • •

THE GROUP MOVED alongside the train tracks. Rick walked ahead, carrying a duffel bag that contained the weapons the Claimers once had. He also spoke with Michonne, who wanted to check on him. The man was more worried about her, though.

"Are you okay?" Rick asked Michonne.

"Yeah." She replied with a nod.

There was a beat. Rick turned to her and spoke up.

"I'm okay."

"I know."

"How?" Rick asked.

She smiled softly. "Because I'm okay too."

Behind them walked Daryl, Ramon, and Carl. A couple of feet behind the three were Y/N and Mika. She was walking slower than the rest and Y/N decided to keep the same pace so he can always be beside her.

Ramon slowed down and started walking with the two. He had a bag slung over his shoulders.

"I'm glad to see that you're all okay." The Latino told Y/N.

Y/N's smile was barely noticeable. "I'm glad you're all right too, brother."

There was a moment of silence. Ramon let out a sigh and finally broke it.

"I'm sorry about...those guys. I knew they were trouble. Daryl and I were gonna leave them that night."

"Ramon—"

"I didn't think they were that horrible. God...I'm so—"

"Ramon." He stopped him. "There's nothing for you to be sorry about. And think of it this way...if you weren't there to warn us, if Daryl wasn't there to intervene...we'd all be dead."

Ramon nodded. Y/N lightly tapped the side of his arm.

"Everything's all right now." He reassured him.

Ramon smiled back. They kept walking and he looked down at the nine-year-old.

"I'm happy to see you too, Mika."

The little girl just smiled back. Ramon felt his waist and remembered something.

"Oh. Bro."

He unbuckled the belt and holster he had and handed it back to Y/N. It even had his M1911 still in it. The man chuckled.

"Well, shit."

"I held on to it." Ramon said. "Gun is empty though. Sorry. Had to get out of a bind."

As he walked, Y/N put the belt back on himself. He looked at Ramon and pat his back in thanks.

They kept moving and stopped by another Terminus sign. Y/N stepped up to it.

"This damn poem again." Y/N jested as he glanced at Mika, recounting what she said the day before.

"Poem?" Daryl asked.

Y/N pointed. "You don't see it?"

"Nuh-uh." He mumbled.

Rick put his hand in his pocket and held the duffel bag.

"Should be close." He said before gesturing for them to move.

The group kept walking. Rick had gotten beside Y/N, wanting to speak with him too.

"All good?" He asked the young man.

Y/N nodded, understanding that he was checking up on him because of what happened. Not of what happened to them...but of what he did to the Claimers. Rick knew better than anyone that it likely affected him.

"You?" He asked Rick.

"I am."

There was a beat. Y/N and Rick looked ahead at the tracks.

"I don't like killing people, Rick." Y/N began. "But...killing the right people? People like the ones back there? I'm fine then. They deserved it."

Rick couldn't agree more. The former officer nodded.

"They did."

Y/N spoke again. "When he kept beating me, I thought about Mika. I thought about Carl. I felt that sooner or later I'd probably lose consciousness and I wouldn't be there to help them...that it'd be too late. Then...all I saw was red."

Rick recalled Morgan saying the same thing a year ago. Y/N continued.

"That man said I should've killed him back in Yatesville. And he was right. I should've. Next time...I won't make that same mistake again."

Rick nodded, looking down as he thought.

"Back when I first met Hershel and his daughters at his farmhouse, there was this young man who ran with violent men. He stumbled upon us. The group went back and forth on whether to let him go or kill him. Many of us feared he'd go back to his friends and they'd come back to hurt us. It was a hard choice then...but now it's not. You put me back there now, I'd have instantly put a bullet in the back of his head."

Y/N turned to Rick. "Because those are risks you can't afford to take now."

"Right." He replied.

As cold-hearted as it sounded, he had a point and the two were on the same page.

"And that doesn't make us bad people, Rick." He reassured him. "That just makes us survivors."

• • •

LILIANA LAID ON the bed. Y/N was seated beside her, his palm on the swell of her stomach. She was already about four months along and the bump was rather sizable.

"Oh, I think I felt a kick." Y/N said, although he actually hadn't. "He's trying to break out."

The blonde laughed as he put his ear on her stomach and listened. He kept jesting.

"I hear them."

"What are they saying, then?" She asked.

"They want to move around. Been in this bed all day. Please, momma, get up. Get up."

The two of them laughed.

"I've been up all day yesterday. Can't I have a little rest day for once?" Liliana said.

Y/N smiled and kissed her stomach, keeping his hand on it. Liliana put hers on top of his, in which he decided to hold it. He caressed the top of it with his thumbs and looked down at it.

Liliana noticed the expression on his face turn warmer. He had a faint smile and she wondered what he was thinking.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

He kept rubbing the top of her hand. "It's nothing really."

"Come on. What's up?"

He sighed and looked back at her.

"I was never going to have kids. After what I went through with my father I just didn't think I'd—that I'd be able to raise one. I feared that if I did...down the line, I'd just become him and do what he would do."

"But you aren't him, Y/N." She reassured him. "You have something he didn't have...a good heart. Mercy and compassion over wrath and hate."

He nodded, looking back down at her hand and kissing it.

"And I know that now. Because of you. I'm going to give this child the life it deserves. And I'll be the father it deserves."

Liliana smiled and touched the side of his face.

"And I couldn't have asked for anyone better."

As they talked, someone came into their cell. It was Rick, he knocked against the wall.

"Sorry if I'm intruding." He apologized.

"Don't be." Y/N replied as he turned to him. "Everyone out there already?"

Rick nodded. "Came to finally get you."

"What's going on?" Liliana asked.

Y/N stood up from the seat. "Hershel came to me earlier about farming. We got seeds and such...thought maybe they could use the help. Imagine that, a garden and other crops out there in the yard."

"Ooooh." Lilliana smirked. "Farmer Y/N and Farmer Rick? All you need are some overalls to complete the look."

"Nah. I'll pass on that." Y/N replied with a chuckle, then tapped Rick's chest. "Might look good on you though."

Y/N walked away as Rick laughed. The former officer bid farewell to Liliana and followed Y/N out of the cell block.

In the yard, they were continuing to dig. Rick, Carl, and Y/N had shovels while Hershel was on a knee tilling the soil with a hoe. Beth was also with them carrying Judith.

"Put it in at more of an angle." Rick instructed his son after seeing his form.

He walked to him and demonstrated how to do so. Carl copied their movement but his sheriff's hat fell.

"Whoa." Rick picked it up and shook the dirt off of it. "Gonna have to get you a farming hat."

Carl chuckled. Rick then put the hat on Beth.

"There's a new sheriff in town." He jested.

Beth smiled. "How does it look?"

"Looks good." Y/N chimed in with a chuckle. "Wear that around the kids and they'd get in line for sure."

They all laughed. Hershel did so as well as he looked at his daughter. He then tossed some gloves to Rick as he walked back to the hole he was digging.

"It can be like this all the time." Hershel told Rick.

Rick looked at the people in front of him contently as he held the gloves.

"It's like this now. That's enough."

Y/N agreed. He bent down near the hole he made and used his hands to take out some more dirt.

Y/N took out some more dirt until the hole was big enough. He called for the duffel bag full of weapons and Rick handed it to him. Y/N put it in the hole.

"Just in case." Rick said.

The young man nodded. They both agreed to bury the bag in case things went awry at Terminus. They had just reached their gates and weren't going to get in there with everything they had.

After burying the bag the group hopped over one of the side fences of Terminus. They weren't going to use the front and reveal themselves as they were still wary about the whole place.

Y/N helped Mika down and they followed the rest, gripping their weapons. They made it to an ajar door and quickly went inside. They started walking slowly down the corridor until they entered an open area within the warehouse.

People were at tables drawing maps. One lady was at a desk with headphones on and speaking into a microphone as she read words on a page.

"Sanctuary for all, community for all. Those who arrive survive. Terminus. Sanctuary for all, community for all. Those who—"

Rick went up to her and spoke. "Hello."

She stopped, turning to him and immediately removing her headset. Rick looked at all the others and called out to them as well.

"Hello."

They looked back at the seven strangers. One of the men let out a sigh and spoke to his colleagues.

"Well, I bet Albert is on perimeter watch." The man walked up to the group but stopped a few yards away. "You here to rob us?"

"No." Rick holstered his handgun. "We wanted to see you before you saw us."

"Makes sense." He replied, deciding to step closer. "Usually we do this where the tracks meet. Welcome to Terminus. I'm Gareth. Looks like you've been on the road for a good bit."

"We have." Rick started to introduce everyone else. "I'm Rick. That's Carl, Daryl, Michonne, Ramon, Mika, Y/N."

Gareth waved at them before eyeing Y/N. He pointed at him and smirked.

"Wait a minute...aren't you—? You're Y/N L/N, right?"

The young man didn't respond. Gareth continued.

"Yankees first-baseman."

"Shortstop." Y/N finally corrected, but with a stoic expression.

"Ah." Gareth hit his own head. "Sorry. My brother, Alex, is more of a baseball fan."

He pointed back to his sibling who was just smiling. There was silence afterward. Gareth opened his arms and stepped closer.

"You're all nervous. I get it. We were all the same way. We came here for sanctuary. Is that what you're here for?"

"Yes." Rick replied.

"Good. You found it." Gareth looked back and called his brother over and continued.

"This place isn't as pretty as the front. We got nothing to hide but the welcome wagon is a whole lot nicer. Alex will take you, ask you a few questions. But first...we need to see everyone's weapons. If you could just lay them down in front of you."

Each group member glanced at one another. Eventually, the gaze fell upon the leader. Rick relented and unholstered his handgun.

"All right."

Rick put the gun on the floor, followed by everyone else putting down their weapons. Y/N took out his M1911 and knife, putting it down too.

"I'm sure you understand." Gareth said.

"Yes, I do." Rick replied with his gaze still on the young man.

They stretched out their arms as Gareth signaled for a pat-down. He checked Rick and Alex did Daryl. He noticed the bloodstains and bruising they had.

"I'd hate to see the other guy." Alex remarked.

"You would." Rick said.

Alex pat down Carl next. "They deserve it?"

"Yes."

He finally checked Y/N. Alex was grinning since he recognized the MLB All-Star.

"Yeah, I wouldn't want to mess with you people." He told them.

Alex looked at Mika and Michonne. Y/N eyed him, expecting him to pat them down too.

"You could put 'em down." Gareth told the ladies. "Sword is enough and I trust the little one."

The men also dropped their arms after being checked. Gareth continued.

"Just so you know, we're not those kinds of people. But we aren't stupid either. And you shouldn't be stupid enough to try anything stupid. As long as we're clear on that, we shouldn't have any problems. Just solutions."

They didn't say a word. Rick kept staring at Gareth.

"Okay." The Terminus inhabitant said and walked away.

Alex picked up Michonne's sword and handed it back to her. He also grabbed Mika's gun and slowly gave it back to her. Alex bent down to pick up Daryl's crossbow but the redneck quickly did so himself.

The rest retrieved their weapons and holstered them. Alex smiled at the new guests.

"Follow me."

They did so and exited the warehouse. Daryl and Ramon walked behind Alex.

"So how long has this place been here?" Ramon asked him.

"Since almost the start. All the camps started getting overrun and they found this place. I think it was instinct, you know? Follow the path. Some folks were heading for the coast, others out west, north, but they all wound up here."

They made it to an area with tables and a small garden. There was a red-haired woman at a grill cooking meat.

"Hi." She greeted them. "Heard you came in the back door. Smart. You'll fit right in here."

"Hey, Mary?" Alex spoke. "Why don't you fix these folks a plate for me?"

She obliged. As she started preparing the food, Rick looked around and gazed at the people. Y/N did so as well, which was why he'd been unusually quiet.

"Why do you do it?" Michonne asked Alex. "Why do you let people in?"

"The more people become a part of us, we get stronger." He replied. "That's why we put up the signs. Invite people in. That's how we survive."

Y/N looked to his right and spotted a familiar-looking orange bag. It was the same one Rick, Michonne, Carl, and he found near King County last year. Rick also noticed a man wearing riot gear, the same one from the prison that Glenn would wear. Y/N also saw a woman wearing a poncho, the same one Daryl owned and had given Maggie.

"Here." Alex handed Carl and Michonne a plate of food, which they took.

He turned around to get another plate. As he did, Rick looked down and saw a pocket watch hanging from his waist.

It was Hershel's watch. The same one he had given Glenn back at the farm.

Rick stepped forward as Alex held out the plate for him, but he slapped it out of his hands.

Rick took the watch out of his pocket, putting Alex in a chokehold and pressing the handgun to his head. Mary reached for her gun but Daryl kept his crossbow aimed at her. Everyone else took out their guns and kept the other Terminus members at bay.

"Where the hell did you get this watch?" Rick asked Alex.

He didn't answer. Rick asked again.

"Where in the hell did you get this watch?"

"You want answers? You want anything else? Just put down the gun—"

Rick looked up. "That man on the roof with the sniper rifle. How good is his aim?"

Alex didn't answer. Y/N also had enough of his silence and chimed in.

"Not as good as mine. I could land one between his eyes from down here."

"Where'd you get the watch?!" Rick exclaimed again.

"Don't do anything!" Alex shouted to the people and the sniper. "I have this. Just put it down. Put it down!"

The sniper lowered his rifle and crouched down. Alex pleaded with Rick.

"Listen to me. There's a lot of us."

"Where did you get the watch?"

"Off of a dead one. I didn't think he'd need it."

"What about the riot gear? The poncho?"

"We got the riot gear off a dead cop." Gareth spoke up as he came out. "Found the poncho on a clothesline."

"Gareth..." Alex said. "We can wait—"

"Shut up, Alex."

"You talk to me." Rick told Gareth, still holding the man's brother at gunpoint.

"What's there left to say? You don't trust us anymore."

Alex was afraid. "Gareth? Gareth—"

"Shut. Up. It's okay. It's okay." Gareth held up an open palm. "Rick, what do you want?"

"Where are our people?"

"You didn't answer our question."

Immediately, Gareth closed his palm and signaled a gunman behind Rick to fire. He turned and used Alex as a shield, protecting himself but also killing the man.

GRATATA!

The Termites fled the area, which was surprising considering they could've fired back. Rick took out his handgun and fired at some of them.

BANG! BANG!

"Carl! Get down, now! Go!"

They all ran one way but gunmen on the rooftops fired at their feet.

BRAKAKAKA! BRAKAKAKA!

"Come on!" Daryl exclaimed.

They went the other way as they shot the floor behind them. They were about to reach a door but they shot at the ground in front of them.

BRAKAKA! BRAKAKAKAKA!

"Back! Back!" Y/N exclaimed as he blindly shot at the gunmen above.

BANG! BANG!

Rick and company ran into a garage and spotted the opening, but once they got close the sheet door was shut. Y/N looked around, keeping Mika close.

"Here!" Ramon pointed at a gate nearby.

They ran to it but it was locked. Rick looked back and saw another doorway. The letter "A" was painted beside it. He motioned them to follow.

They made it back outside and continued running. The Termites on the rooftops started shooting again.

BRAKAKA!

BRAKAKAKAKAKA!

BRAKA! BRAKA!

Suddenly, Gareth shouted from above. "Get them off, B!"

BRAKAKAKA! BRAKAKAKA!

They shot the floor ahead and forced them to stop. The group ran the other way as Rick fired upon the shooters.

BANG!

They entered another building and stumbled upon an open area filled with lit candles and writing on the floor. Daryl gazed around in confusion.

"What the hell is this place?" He asked.

"These people, I don't think they're trying to kill us." Michonne said.

"They're not." Y/N agreed. "They were aiming at our feet."

Rick gazed at the wall and saw bold writing across it.

NEVER AGAIN

NEVER TRUST

WE FIRST ALWAYS

"There." Rick pointed upon seeing another doorway.

They walked toward it but it was quickly shut. Daryl turned around and spotted another door...marked again with "A".

"There!"

"Go!" Rick exclaimed.

They exited the building and were met with more gunfire by their feet.

GRATATATATA!

BRAKAKA! BRAKAKA!

They were nearing the fence but once they were close, people came out of the bushes and aimed their guns at them. Snipers on the rooftops also kept their sights on the group. They were cornered.

Y/N looked back at Mika, who was panting from both the running and of fear of the situation. Carl was doing the same, which Rick noticed.

"Drop your weapons!" Gareth shouted from the rooftop. "Now!"

They looked at all of the armed Termites. Gareth shouted once again and Ramon was the first to drop his knife.

Rick, Michonne, Daryl, and Y/N followed suit. The children did so as well and dropped their handguns.

"Ringleader!" Gareth called out to Rick. "Go to your left. The train car, go."

Rick looked at the train car, which was also marked with "A". He didn't move. Gareth shouted again.

"You do what we say, the boy goes with you. Anything else, he dies and you end up in there anyway."

Rick looked at his son for a moment before following his orders.

"Now the archer." Gareth exclaimed.

Daryl stared at Gareth before walking to the train car as well. The Terminus leader yelled at Michonne.

"The samurai."

She glared at him as she walked toward the train car. Y/N still stood there with Ramon, Carl, and Mika.

"Uh...the Mexican. I don't got a name for you so just deal with it."

Ramon shook his head and looked at him as he moved along. Gareth brought his gaze to Y/N.

"Now the shortstop."

Y/N didn't move initially as he stared back at Gareth. The man was becoming impatient.

"You don't move, the kids get shot down right now. You still go in there. You really want that?"

Y/N exhaled and looked at both Mika and Carl. He glared back at Gareth as he made his way toward the train car.

"Stand at the door. Ringleader, archer, samurai, Mexican, shortstop, in that order."

They stood in front of the steps. Y/N looked back at the children who were still standing out in the open.

"The children!" He shouted at Gareth, not wanting to go inside without them.

Gareth looked at the boy and girl below. "Go."

Carl and Mika started walking toward the train car. They were halfway there when Gareth shouted at Rick.

"Ringleader, open the door and go in."

"I'll go in with them." He exclaimed back.

"Don't make us kill them now."

Rick looked back at the door. Carl and Mika were still walking to the train car.

Finally, the man opened the door and stepped inside, where Daryl, Michonne, Ramon, and Y/N soon followed.

Y/N waited outside the room. It had gotten quiet after hearing the exertions and shouts within. Lizzie and Mika were with him along with Carl, Rick, Michonne, Ramon, and Erica. They could see how jittery the young man was.

"You're shaking so much." Lizzie remarked.

"I am?" Y/N looked at his hands and chuckled. "Oh, yeah."

They waited a little bit more until Maggie came out of the room. She motioned Y/N inside and even invited the little ones.

He went into the room, seeing Hershel sitting on the stool and Liliana on the bed. She had the sleeping baby in her arms.

"Oh..." Y/N breathed out, which was all he could say.

"A healthy boy." Hershel whispered. "Congratulations."

The sisters looked at the baby in wonder. Liliana smiled at them before looking at Y/N. He got closer and saw the baby's face.

He let out a breathy chuckle. "He—he looks like you."

Liliana simply shifted her body and allowed Y/N to carry the boy. He carefully reached out and held his son.

"What are you going to name him?" Mika asked.

Y/N cradled the baby and looked at Liliana. They had discussed it before, thinking of names for both genders, and came up with one if it turned out to be a boy.

"Alan." Liliana answered. "After my dad."

Y/N agreed, smiling at the sleeping infant.

"So, like...Alan Junior then?" Mika questioned.

"That's only if the dad was named Alan, sweetheart." Hershel said.

"In this case, it's Alan the second." Maggie added.

"Aww." The nine-year-old looked at the baby. "If he was, AJ would've been a cool name."

Y/N turned to the girl. "AJ?"

"Yeah. My class had a pet gecko. We named it AJ."

He chuckled. Liliana smiled as he glanced at her boyfriend and her son.

"AJ rolls off the tongue well." She remarked. "AJ L/N."

Y/N smiled at her, still cradling the baby. It made his heart swell that Liliana wanted to give their son his last name...which was also his mom's maiden name.

"Sounds all right to me. And who cares about naming etiquette now anyway?"

They shared a quiet laugh. The baby started to fuss and he carefully gave it back to Liliana.

"Must be hungry again." Hershel said. "Let's leave them be."

"I'll stay." Maggie told her father.

Y/N kissed Liliana and then the baby before leaving the room with everyone else. Outside, he was congratulated by the rest of his friends...people he now considered family.

Mika also hugged him. Y/N reciprocated the embrace.

"Congrats." She said.

He smiled and rubbed her back. At this point, Liliana had treated her and Lizzie like she was her own daughters. So to Y/N, it felt the same way. The two girls basically had a brother now.

"Thank you, Mika."

Y/N embraced Mika once she finally came inside with Carl. He rubbed the top of Mika's head and held her close. The doors soon closed and the seven of them stood there in the darkness.

They then heard a thud from within the train car. There was also rustling and could see faint figures in the dark. Footsteps approached them.

"Rick?"

One of them stepped out. It was Glenn.

Soon afterward, Maggie revealed herself as well as Sasha and Bob. Rick along with the rest of his group were in awe.

"You're here." He spoke, looking at each of them. "You're here."

They also noticed a few others behind them. They consisted of a bulky ginger, a man with a mullet, a Latina with a cap and pigtails, and Tara.

Ramon pointed and was about to question them. "Who—?"

"They're our friends." Maggie told him. "They helped save us."

Y/N eyed the strangers. His expression was stoic as he did so. His gaze landed on the Hispanic woman, and her stare was as unwavering as his.

The simple mention of them being essential in their survival post-prison attack was enough for the young man to trust them. And since they were now in the same predicament, they had to work together.

"Now they're friends of ours." Y/N said.

"For however long that'll be." The mustached ginger replied.

"No." Rick abruptly said.

There was silence after his statement. They watched as he paced around and walked toward the train car door. He peeked out of the small gap.

"They're gonna feel pretty stupid when they find out."

"Find out what?" The man asked him.

Once again, there was silence. Every single one of the prisoners looked at Rick as they awaited an answer. He turned to the rest of them.

"They're fucking with the wrong people."

END OF PART 1: SCORN