Dawn waited for no one, and despite Carrie's measly few hours of sleep the previous night, she awoke the moment the first slithers of light began shining through the windscreen of the delivery van. Warm in the back, and comfortable despite the way the foot of Judith's new crib was pressed against her back, Carrie cracked open her eyes, glad to see she wasn't the only one awake. Inches away from her, Rosita was awake in her own sleeping bag, the two women having moved closer together for warmth during the night.

"It's a trick," Rosita mumbled, closing her eyes again. "Don't fall for it."

"What is?"

"The sunrise. Stay asleep."

Carrie grinned at this, amused by Rosita's reluctance to get up. Lifting her head, she looked through the windscreen at the sky. "But it looks beautiful."

"You're just saying that."

"Yeah, I am…it looks awful out there."

At this remark, Rosita actually opened her eyes and looked. Her expression softened when she saw that Carrie had tricked her, and she gave a dramatic sigh. "Alright, it's beautiful. But I still don't want to get up."

"I'm going to do it," Carrie decided, fumbling around the find the zip on her sleeping bag. The faster she opened the sleeping bag and leapt out of her warm bed, the easier it would be.

"No," Rosita moaned, protectively grabbing her own zipper.

"Come on…"

"No."

"I'll make you tea."

"There's no tea left."

Carrie faltered at this. "What?"

"There's none left in our kit, and the rest are in the trucks. Good luck getting permission to open them just for a tea bag."

Giving up on the day already, despite their imminent arrival in Alexandria, Carrie closed her eyes and snuggled back down. "Alright, I'm staying in bed. I do not need to pee…I do not need to pee."

"That's the spirit."

They enjoyed perhaps another thirty seconds before the back doors of the delivery van opened without warning, Daryl telling them to rise and shine, or else. Crying out softly, both woman buried their faces a little while longer, making the moment last for as long as they could before finally giving in. Opening the zip with a flourish, Carrie threw off her sleeping bag and grit her teeth against the cool morning air, rubbing her eyes as she found her weapons and gun. Though they wouldn't be lingering to have much of a breakfast, the camp stove was already boiling water, Nicholas and Tobin organising hot drinks for them to travel with. Greeting them, she peered into the plastic tub that normally contained all of their tea and coffee, annoyed to see that Rosita was right. They were indeed out of green tea…all the tea in fact.

"Another glorious morning," Abraham declared gruffly, stretching his arms above his head after climbing down from atop the military truck. "It makes me sick."

"Always a pleasure," Carrie muttered, patting him on the arm as she and Rosita passed.

Joining up with Michonne, the three of them headed into the trees to make a quick bathroom stop before their departure. Calling shotgun, she took care of herself first before standing watch for the others. The three of them making quick work of the task, they headed back for where the others were packing up, Carrie catching sight of a Walker near by. Not wanting it to get back to the others and cause a distraction, she withdrew her knife and confidently approached it from behind. The actual killing of the Walker posed no problem, but as more blood than expected flowed from the base of the neck she quickly tried wrenching her knife back.

Giving an embarrassingly loud yelp, Carrie lost her footing in the soft ground and promptly slipped down to her knees, cringing in disgust when momentum moved her forward onto the dead Walker. As Michonne and Rosita rushed over, she merely wrenched her knife out from the base of the Walkers neck and then looked down at herself, completely exasperated.

"You alright?" Rosita asked, tentatively approaching on the soft ground before helping Carrie back to her feet.

Stumbling up out of the mud, Carrie nodded and looked down at herself again. Maggie's jacket, which needed to be returned to her, was now covered in blood spatter, and the lower half of both her legs were covered in mud. Grumbling under her breath, Carrie sighed as she saw Michonne's expression. After ascertaining that she was alright, Michonne shook her head and slowly began to clap.

"Ha, ha, ha," she teased.

Knowing she deserved it, having relentlessly mocked Michonne the day she fell ass first into mud as she relieved herself, Carrie just grit her teeth and nodded. Her shoulder's slumping, she had no choice but to walk back to the cars covered in mud and to let them clean her up. Working quickly, for their departure would not be delayed for mere cleanliness, Michonne and Rosita splashed water over her hands and helped her clean up, using a stick to wipe the worst of it off her jeans.

"Here," Daryl muttered, passing her the red rag he carried in his back pocket. "There's blood all over your face and neck."

Though she questioned how clean the cloth was, having seen him cleaning Carl up with it the day before, she took it gratefully, using her reflection in the car windows to wipe herself down. Giving it back, she looked around the camp to see what they was that needed to be done, and quickly occupied herself with helping to top up the drinking water in each vehicle. It took less than five minutes for their group to be ready for departure, and as the prospect of arriving in Alexandria grew nearer, Carrie knew her less than ideal start to the day was insignificant. She had food in her stomach and a group she trusted…and they were about to take her to the safe community behind strong walls. Today was a good day.

"Carrie," Rick called out, approaching her.

Looking around, she maintained a poker face when she saw that he had made her a hot drink. Well accustomed to the skills of her favourite downtown barista, Carrie had long ago developed a strong dislike for instant coffee. Nevertheless, a drink had been made with her in mind, and she was not too wasteful to turn it down. She'd choke it down if she had to.

"Thank you," she said, gratefully taking the travel mug from him. He just nodded and then gestured to the Hyundai, his request clear. However when he went to leave, no doubt having other things to take care of, she grabbed his sleeve urgently. "How did you…" Trailing off, she smiled as she turned the mug around and gestured to the tea bag that hung from underneath the lid. "I thought there were none left."

"I saved it for you last night," he said nonchalantly.

With that said, he turned away and headed back over to Abraham, the two of them discussing their plans for what must be the third time. A strange feeling settled in the put of Carrie's stomach, a part of her feeling like he had simultaneously brushed her off and been thoughtful of her. It was an odd feeling, but she tried not to read into it. Seeing that Carl was waiting by the car, she headed over and made small talk with him, offering the front seat just in case he wanted to ride shot gun next to his dad. He politely refused her offer though, and Glenn's arrival with two comic books in hand explained this.

"Okay, you're going to need to take me through this from beginning to end," he said in exasperation.

"Can't you just-"

"I'm not siding with you just because you disagree with Michonne. Make your case."

"Fine," Carl said proudly, opening the first comic book with a flourish.

As Carl launched into an in depth discussion about Werewolves and swimming, something that had been the subject of heated debate for days, Carrie listened on in amusement, sipping at her tea. It was nice to see him animated and smiling after yesterday, his affect following the sudden attack being rather low. Taking her last opportunity to stand for a while, Carrie kept watch on this side of the cars as she awaited Rick and the others, unsure of when she'd have the opportunity to stop again.

While she waited, she started thinking of Alexandria again, feeling nervousness growing in the pit of her stomach. A few streets of houses protected by a wall…electricity, running water…it still sounded too good to be true. There was a part of her that still felt like it wasn't real, that despite with Rick and everyone else were striving for, there was really nothing waiting for them in Washington. She remembered how it felt the day Sue and Tim came rushing back to their group as they went scavenging through a neighbourhood, telling them excitedly about the major stock pile of food they had found. The couponer's house had been a God send to their group, and she remembered in the simple pleasure of using toilet paper again, of having a toothbrush and being able to wash her hair. At the time it had been the epitome of luxury…it would be nothing compared to the comforts of Alexandria.

Thankfully the others began filing into the cars, Carl's detailed explanation continuing as he and Glenn took their places in the back seat. Waiting for Rick, for she wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to stand, Carrie lingered a little while longer, smiling at him when he came over. However he didn't return her smile, merely giving her a polite nod. Again feeling like he was brushing her off, even though he wasn't, she kept her poker face as she opened the passenger door and went to get in.

"Dammit, wait," he said urgently, spotting something.

He rushed around to her side, grimacing to himself. Stepping aside for him, Carrie watched as he leant into the passenger footwell and picked up what looked like a reinforced briefcase, the emblem indicating that it was a Police laptop. Watching as he carried it around to the trunk of the car, his eyes avoiding hers, she wondered what he had been using it for. It hadn't been there when they stopped last night to make camp…was that why he had asked her to wake him at five o'clock that morning?

"Is everything okay?" she asked as he closed the trunk.

He looked startled by her perceptiveness, and there was a moment of hesitation in his eyes. Clearing his throat, he gave her a reassuring nod as he came around to the drivers side of the car. Subtly gesturing to Carl in the back seat, he silently explained. Accepting this, and not letting herself dwell on the strange way he was making her feel, Carrie just nodded and then took her seat. She could spend hours trying to read into the subtleties of each and every gesture and conversation between herself and another person, but it wouldn't get her anything except bitten fingernails and an array of poor conclusions. Trusting Rick's explanation, she focused her attention back on the things she should, such as the fact their convoy was departing. Her excitement grew exponentially, as did her nerves.

They travelled in a comfortable atmosphere for two hours, Carl occasionally engaging she and Rick in the debate with Glenn, though Carrie noted that Rick made a point of listening and nodding, but definitely not getting involved. Given that it was Michonne who Carl generally held these debates with, she figured this was a strategic move on Rick's part. Thinking on that, Carrie looked forward to the idea of one day playing a game of scrabble against her, suspecting that she would be a formidable wordsmith. It was the little thoughts like this that got Carrie through the morning, her excitement about their impending arrival filling her with hope for the future.

Travelling on back roads and only occasionally taking Highway 7, they travelled for a little over two hours before they stopped for gas, needing to top up before the final leg of the journey. Distracting herself, Carrie volunteered for the task of pumping gas, fearing that if she took watch she'd be metaphorically chewing her fingernails in nervousness. But with every pump of the handle, ever strain of her arms and shoulders, she was getting closer and closer to her new home. She was so close now she could almost taste it. Forty minutes later they were back on the road again, and she wasn't surprised when Rick took the driver's seat again. She got the feeling it was not because he didn't like or trust other people driving, but that he actually enjoyed it. Still nervous about their impending arrival, Carrie tried her best to relax a little, to put her head back and enjoy the scenery out the window.

"Carrie."

"Mmm?" she mumbled, lifting her head. Rubbing her eyes, she realised that her poor night of sleep had gotten the better of her, and she had fallen asleep unexpectedly. She looked around at Rick, recognising his voice as the one who roused her.

"Look ahead."

Following his instructions, Carrie frowned as she looked forward, seeing only the back of the truck ahead of them. Rick just smiled and pointed forward again, glancing into the back seat to make sure that Carl was also watching. Waiting patiently, Carrie took a moment to enjoy the scenery outside, to enjoy the fast pace of the cars as they sped down the highway road that was clear of abandoned cars.

"What's the-"

"Look!" Rick implored, cutting her question off.

Exasperated, Carrie turned her head forward again, but this time she caught what it was he wanted her to see. As the road ahead of them curved and the truck moved out of the way, Carrie silently gasped as she saw the expansive valley below. The city of Washington was below, and in the most regard looking just as it had before the outbreak, before civilisation collapsed. The Washington Monument stood proudly, the sunlight glinting off it and reminding her that despite everything, some things still remained. Enjoying the skyline, which was admittedly a little lower to the ground than Manhattan's, she took in what she thought might be the Lincoln Memorial, and the Capitol building.

"Worth waking up for?" Rick enquired.

Carrie nodded in silence, not sure of what to say. Seeing something like the Washington Monument again wasn't something she'd ever anticipated, wasn't something she'd ever thought would bring her hope. Yet that's exactly what it filled her with, the hope and longing for her future rendering her speechless. Reflecting back on who she had been three weeks ago, a mindless wanderer with dehydration and hunger that was never fully relieved, she could hardly believe where she was now. She'd spend such a long time wishing to die, happily welcoming the relief it would bring…and now she was approaching her future. Taking a deep breath, she glanced at Rick and gave him a short smile before turning back to the view and watching it disappear as their car turned down the highway.

"Was it as good as seeing it last time?" Rick enquired, glancing at Carl in the back.

"Better," he replied. "This time we know what we're going to."

At Carl's words, the nerves Carrie had been feeling all day suddenly bloomed in her stomach once again, and she felt her hands beginning to shake. Her fears that someone was about to pull the rug out from underneath her, while not rational, still preyed on her mind. She wasn't going to believe it until she was there, and even then it was going to be difficult. Glancing at Rick again, she wished she had the words to express her gratitude to him, knowing that his decision to let a complete stranger join his group was not something he did lightly, or often. She knew what she wanted to say, she knew she wanted to tell him that she owed him for so much more than keeping her alive. But no combination of words she put together felt like enough, felt adequate to convey what she felt.

"You nervous?" Rick asked perceptively, looking at her as he drove.

Carrie paused before answering, knowing that she could be honest with him. "Yeah," she said quietly. She felt the urge to wring her hands together, to find a pen and start twirling it in her fingers like she did beneath the table at business meetings. "Were you?"

"What, nervous? No" he said, raising his eyebrows. "I was terrified."

Carrie managed a small smile at this, his honesty putting her at ease. "Is that why you punched Aaron when you first me him?"

Rick nodded, his eyes darting up to the rear view mirror to look at Carl, who was still talking with Glenn. "I didn't want to go…I didn't believe it was real. It wouldn't have been the first place I took my family that wasn't safe."

"That thought has crossed my mind," she admitted. "That's it's not real, that you're all just pretending or something."

He laughed shortly. "You'll figure it's real the moment you step under that hot shower…we're about thirty minutes out."

Although she echoed his laugh, Carrie was only marginally comforted. She didn't need her nerves to indicate how important this was to her. This was the start of her new life, and it was starting in thirty minutes. Trying to distract herself to pass the time, she listened to the conversation in the back seat, quickly catching up on their new topic of focus.

"Wait…Dumbledore dies?" Carl said quietly. "When?"

"You didn't know?" Glenn asked with a frown.

"I'm only on the fourth book."

"You've been reading that the entire trip!"

"It's a long book!" he protested defensively. "When does Dumbledore die?" he asked again, sounding heart broken.

Glenn panicked now, trying to recover from his revelation. "Relax, I was just joking. Dumbledore doesn't die, he's the most po-"

"Yeah right, like I believe you now. Next thing you'll tell me one of the Weasley's die."

Not knowing what to say, Glenn just looked out the window.

"You're kidding me…" Carl groaned. "Which one? Is it Percy? Tell me it's Percy."

"Can we get back to the Incredible Hulk and Thor?"

"I'm asking Michonne, I don't believe you!" Carl grumbled, diving for the radio in the centre console.

Ever swift, Rick grabbed the radio and moved it out of Carl's reach. "You're not using the radio for that, sit down. And put your seatbelt back on."

Revelling in every word said, Carrie listened to the debate continue, Carl now firmly denying everything Glenn had said. It was a welcome distraction, one that helped put her at ease for the rest of the journey. With her hands clenched into a fist in her lap, she tried not to watch the time passing, instead smiling and contributing to the debate as requested. Soon their convoy moved off the highway and onto some back roads, passing through a small town centre before travelling through the woods. As the convoy started slowing down, the nerves that Carrie had so far been managing came back in full force, and she felt the palms of her hands start to sweat, her heart starting to speed up a little. This reaction was unusual for her, having spent so many years in business learning how to hide physical reactions to nervousness.

As they slowed down to a near crawl, the convoy ahead began turning left, disappearing into the dense woods as the rest of them followed. Giving the truck ahead plenty of space, Rick hung back a little, his eyes scanning the road to check for Walkers.

"We're going to have to get rid of that sign," Glenn muttered.

His discussion with Carl had fallen silent, and he now gestured to a sign on the side of the road. Looking at it, Carrie tried to hide her smile as she saw the name Alexandria.

"Yes," Rick agreed darkly, following the others down the left turn. "We are."

Looking around, for she figured this was an area she was going to get to know very well in the future, Carrie observed the dense woods as the winding road took them closer and closer to Alexandria. She saw only a few houses and crossroads, nothing of great significance yet.

"Knock, knock," Abraham's voice came over the radio, signalling to Alexandria. "Daddy's home."

Carrie grinned in amusement. Abraham never failed to entertain.

"I said, Daddy's home," Abraham repeated impatiently. "Someone pour him a God damn drink."

There was a long pause before any sound came across the radio again, and Carrie could tell that Rick was waiting apprehensively. She saw the moment he was struck with relief, a new voice coming across the radio, slightly breathless.

"Did you say Daddy's home?" a man asked, his voice sounding young and hopeful.

"That's right," Abraham confirmed. "Daddy's home, and he's bringing five presents for his little Alex."

"Is Aidan there?" the man asked, apparently abandoning all type of code words. "Aidan, are you-"

"Yeah, I'm here, calm down," Aidan's voice came across the radio's next. "Get off your ass and come open the gate for your big brother."

"I am!" he insisted, sounding even more breathless now. "I'll be waiting. Is everyone back? Everyone's alright?"

"Of course we are. Now, could you organise that rent-a-crowd we discussed? The welcome home parade?"

"I dunno man, you know how it is here. We're busy people."

"Well on that note, we're expecting balloons."

"No balloons for you, big bother. You're grounded. Mom says you're a week past curfew."

Carrie laughed at this, listening to the banter of the two brothers. "That's Spencer?"

Rick nodded, he too managing a smile. "He's right…we're a week over due."

"We're five minutes away," Aidan said impatiently. "We want balloons! Oh, and tell Mom we've got a surprise for her."

Her heart shuddering, Carrie knew that she was the surprise, that no one in Alexandria was expecting a new face. With this thought, her nerves only grew even more. Once the initial celebrations of their family's safe return and their supplies had settled down, she was going to be the centre of attention. She had no idea how she was going to prepare herself for that, how she was going to cope with so many curious faces and questions. Having heard much about how innocent these people were, she suspected there was going to be a certain amount of gawking coming her way, especially if they came to learn anything about her back story.

At this, Carrie's stomach twisted with anxiety, once again thinking about her interview with Deanna. While she had been assured that her place within the community was certain already, that she wasn't required to prove herself, she'd still be interviewed upon arrival. Deanna would want to know about her story…her life both before the outbreak, and after. She'd ask how she had survived for so many months on her own, and given her somewhat sheltered lifestyle in Alexandria, Carrie wondered how well her technique of smearing decaying fleshed on her body would be received. Reflecting on what Rick had told her about these people, that they were too innocent for their own good, Carrie hoped that it wasn't true.

Faster than she was ready for, they were there. As Spencer's voice welcomed them home over the radios, Carrie tried to look ahead, but her view of what they were coming up on was obstructed by the other vehicles ahead. Excited tension filled their car, and glancing over at Rick, she noted how tightly he was gripping the steering wheel, that he was barely holding back his elation to finally be home. Feeling her gaze upon him, Rick looked at her and smiled, sharing her excitement. He held her gaze for a moment before pointing forward, and when she looked she was speechless with astonishment.

Barely twenty yards ahead of them was an unmissable sight, the twelve foot walls exactly as Aaron had described them. They loomed up upon them, and in seconds they were passing through, their car instantly greeting by a loud and excited crowd of people. Carrie's jaw dropped open at the sight of so many people, and she physically shrunk back in her seat as she looked at them all. Men and women stood on what must be a side walk as the five vehicles entered the walls, children holding balloons and welcome home signs and cheering as they drove in. Behind them, a large bed sheet with the words 'Welcome Home' painted in red was being strung up between two poles.

Rick pulled the car to a stop and killed the engine, and from then on things happened too quickly for Carrie to really process. Leaning in from the back, Glenn clapped Rick on the shoulder and thanked him gratefully, the two of them exchanging a brief hand shake that for now would count as a hug. With that done, Glenn practically fell out of the car and disappeared, no doubt running off to find his wife in the crowd. Carrie watched as everyone else departed their cars and looked around, hastily greeting the loved ones who had waited for their return without knowing for sure that it would happen. Overwhelmed, Carrie delayed getting out of the car, and she glanced beside her at Rick. He gave her a reassuring nod and then opened his mouth as if to say something, perhaps to say he'd be by her side, that he wouldn't let her be swarmed by curious enquiries…but something else caught his attention.

He seemed torn, and it didn't take Carrie long to see what it was. Approaching their car was a woman she could only presume to be Carol, but it was the fair haired baby asleep on her shoulder that held Rick's attention. Not wanting to make him wait, Carrie ushered Rick to go, and he seemed grateful for this. Leaving the keys in the ignition, he stepped out of the car and headed over to Carol, his body language indicating how hard he was trying not to break into a run. He lifted his daughter off Carol's shoulders and brought her to his chest, tenderly holding her in his arms as he kissed the crown of her head. Judith started to rouse, her face screwing up in confusion as to why she had been awoken unexpectedly.

"Carrie?"

Turning around, Carrie was startled to see that Carl was still in the car, that he was waiting with her for a moment. Giving him her attention, she waited as he started getting his crutches organised.

"Do you want some last minute advice?"

"Yes, please," she smiled, willing to take on anything he had to offer.

Carl just gestured towards the woman standing by Rick. "That's Carol. You should watch her."

"Why's that?"

Thinking about his choice of words, Carl carefully gave his advice. "Whatever you do here…make sure they underestimate you."

Breathing out slowly, Carrie nodded, but sought to clarify. "Why's that?" she repeated.

"You'll see why."

He departed without further comment, giving her only a reassuring nod before he too went straight to his sister, everyone around them giving cries of horror to see him on crutches. Having waited for as long as she could, Carrie braced herself and then went to open the door, her heart leaping when it opened of its own accord. She breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Michonne's friendly face, and she was grateful someone she felt comfortable with was there. At her encouragement, Carrie got out and took a brief look around. Behind the crowd of people she made out a row of brick town houses and solar panels, and the expansive space of nothing must be their lake.

"It's pretty overwhelming, isn't it?" Michonne commented gently, gesturing to the crowd and the walls.

Feeling as though there was a lump in her throat, Carrie managed only a nod of agreement, knowing that her voice would fail her if she tried to speak. To her great relief, the Alexandrian's seemed to keep their distance from her for now, though she could feel and see them gawking at her in surprise. But ever supportive, Michonne stayed by her side, forgoing the reunions with her friends and family that she surely wanted to have. Being attentive, Carrie listened as the residents were pointed out to her, paying attention to the names and faces as best she could, knowing that these people were hers now, that this was her community, her group.

The more she listened and took it all in, the harder it was for Carrie to keep herself together. As her eyes watered, she looked away and wished her heart would slow down, that it would descend from the base of her throat and back into her chest where it belonged. She was ready to burst into tears, to fall into a blubbering mess as the emotions tried to fight their way out of her. Understanding, Michonne supportively clapped her on the shoulder, and then asked her to look at her.

"The fight's over," she said firmly, squeezing her shoulder. "You're home now."

Clearing her throat, Carrie took a few deep breaths before raising her head again, smiling at Michonne and thanking her. Michonne knew what was going on in her head, she understood the impact of suddenly realising that the fight to keep surviving every day was done with. Taking a few more deep breaths, Carrie felt herself settling now, calming even more when she looked up again and saw that Rick was watching her. He still held Judith in his arms, stroking her blonde hair while Carl patiently awaited his turn with her. Watching Carrie, it seemed that he too understood what was going on in her head, because how could he not? Giving her a nod of reassurance, Rick let his gaze linger for one more moment before turning his attention back to his children. Passing Judith over to Carl, he turned his back and started greeting those around him.

"You ready for this?" Michonne asked, her voice light hearted and kind.

To her surprise, Carrie managed to emit a small laugh, for the question spoke to her on so many levels. Was she ready to put to rest the desire to lay down and die? Was she ready to meet new people? Was she ready to take the biggest chance of her life, and start living again? In the end, she found the words came out of her mouth without needing to think about it.

"I'm ready."

The relief of hearing Spencer's voice coming over the radio was utterly indescribable. Since before he had even left, Rick had been plagued by the thoughts of what he might come back to, of all the things that might happen in his absence. It wasn't easy for him to leave half his group behind, for him to leave Judith…it went against every instinct he knew, and yet he did it anyway, and in the back of his mind fear lingered. Fear that he would return to nothing, fear that what happened back in Alexandria was completely beyond the scope of his control. But the moment he heard Spencer's voice over the radio, picking up on the happiness and elation that his brother was returning, Rick knew everything was okay back there. Somehow before he even got there, he knew that all was well, this his group were still alive. He didn't need to see them himself…he just knew.

Driving through the gates was a bittersweet moment, one whose magnitude was not lost on him. When they'd departed, he had braced himself for the possibility that one or more of them would not be returning, that it might be himself or one of his group. The notion that he was in fact returning with more people than he had left with was beyond comprehension…he hadn't expected them all to survive.

Thinking on Carrie, he kept a close eye on her as they approached Alexandria, having noted that she was understandably nervous. She seemed to be paying close attention to the debate going on in the back seat, perhaps using that to her amusement in attempt to distract herself from what she was about to face. He remembered how he had felt the day they arrived in Alexandria, and he was glad that while she was nervous, she wasn't scared the way he was. It had been a fear of more than bringing his family somewhere that might not be safe…but the fear that it was indeed safe, because how the hell was he supposed to begin to comprehend that notion? So while Carrie was nervous, he was glad for her sake that she didn't have to be scared. She'd sent too long being scared, too long without hope.

He had every intention of staying right by her side when they got to Alexandria. Wanting to ensure that she didn't get swarmed by the curious Alexandrian's, his intention had been to linger in the car with her for a short while, to help brace her against what she was about to face. She'd have her interview with Deanna soon enough, and she'd likely need a friendly face to give her encouragement before she attended that. Yet, even as Rick decided he'd stay with her, he knew in the back of his mind that he wouldn't be able to…and he was right.

The moment he saw Judith, every instinct told him to run to her, to sweep her into his arms and not put her back down ever again. Thankfully, Carrie seemed to understand this need, and at her encouragement he abandoned her in the car and went to his daughter. Seeing that she was asleep against Carol's shoulder, Rick held himself back from rushing over, instead gently taking her and bringing her against his chest, his greeting to Carol a mere afterthought. Judith began crying as she awoke, confused and anxious as to why she had been so suddenly roused from her morning nap. As he comforted her, suddenly everything felt right in the world, like he'd gained his equilibrium.

"Hey, Judy Pie," he soothed her, not caring who heard the name he liked to call her.

Kissing the crown of her head, he stroked her hair as tears started rolling down her cheeks. It took a few moments for her to realise what was going on, to recognise the voice she heard and the arms that held her. She looked up at him in confusion, her brow furrowing as she blearily tried to make the connection. Talking to her again, he smiled as her eyes lit up and her pink lips curved into a smile, and this time it was he who was crying, not her. Wiping at his eyes before he made a spectacle of himself, Rick gratefully hugged Carol and then looked around, kissing Judith's forehead as he took stock of all the people there. Picking out the key faces, he reassured himself that all the people he had left behind were still there, Maggie and Tara now giving horrified cries when they saw Carl on crutches.

"Rick," Carol said urgently, looking around with a panicked expression. "Rick, where's Daryl? Is he here?"

"He's here," he said, looking around and then pointing him out for her.

In typical fashion, Daryl had opened the back of the truck to check on Merle's motorcycle, neglecting his reunion with Carol in the process. Rick watched in amusement as Carol marched over and impatiently got his attention, scolding him for making her worry. Flicking his cigarette to the ground, he shrugged apologetically before embracing her, much to the surprise of some Alexandrian's who happened to be watching. Rick's attention being clamoured for, he turned back to Judith and smiled at the way she was trying to grasp his facial hair. It wasn't long enough for the type of full on tug she used to wake him up with when they were on the road, but she tried nonetheless, eventually giving up and turning her attention to Carl. Stroking her hair while she cooed at her brother, Rick remembered the other person he was supposed to be paying attention to, and he looked back at the Hyundai.

He was relieved to see that Michonne was by Carrie's side, her hand resting supportively on her shoulder. Carrie looked as though she was on the verge of tears, the magnitude of finally arriving somewhere safe taking its toll on her. She was looking at the ground, one hand pushing her loose hair behind her ears before she finally looked up at Michonne. Her smile was strained, and her emotions were written all over her face. In that moment Rick wished he could go to her, that he could embrace her and bring her comfort in a way she probably needed. But he knew he couldn't, and instead settled for giving her a brief nod of reassurance when she eventually looked over at him. They looked at each other for a long moment, and he could tell even from a distance how grateful she was for this.

Later there would be time for them to talk, but for now he had other responsibilities to attend to first. Finally handing Judith over to Carl, he turned away from Carrie and greeted the rest of his family, hugging Tara and Maggie in turn before looking around for Sasha, pleased to find her talking to Rosita not far away. Taking his time, he looked around and allowed himself to enjoy the apparent festivities, taking note of the hand made signs the children had made and the balloons that had been hastily blown up. Judging by the large Welcome Home sign strung up in front of the lake, they'd been well prepared for their imminent arrival.

As he anticipated, it wasn't long before Deanna made her way over to him, and Rick mentally braced himself. He knew what she'd be asking about…there wouldn't have been time for Aidan to share what had happened between the two of them, and so that left only the unexpected arrival of Carrie. Happy holding Judith in his arms again, he habitually looked around for Carl and found him talking to Ron. It felt strange that he no longer needed to make sure his son was within sight at all times, that they were all safe again. He knew it would take some time for him to get used to that.

"Deanna," he greeted her.

"Rick," she said in return, giving him that knowing smile that said a great deal without words. "I see you've brought me someone."

"I have," he nodded, glancing over at Carrie. She and Michonne were talking to Reg now, Carrie clearly at ease with his friendly nature.

Deanna turned and echoed Rick's stance, watching Carrie from a distance. "Given that she's here, I take it she has your approval."

"She does."

"And to think you told me not to open the gates anymore." She looked up at him as he said this, giving him that smile once again.

"I did."

"Are you going to talk in monosyllables all day?"

Rick paused before answering, and he looked at Judith affectionately. "It's good to be back," he finally answered, speaking honestly.

"I'll bet. I expect you had a long, hard journey."

"We did," he agreed, his mind struggling to think back on it all. Their departure almost three weeks ago was but a distance memory. "We brought back a lot of supplies. Generators, food, weapons, a couple of luxuries. Pete will be happy, there's plenty of medical supplies and medicines."

"That's incredible, Rick," Deanna praised, turning on her heel and looking at the military truck, the new truck and the delivery van. "What you've achieved…Aidan and Nicholas couldn't have done that without your group leading them. Please know that I acknowledge that."

"Thank you," he said, not surprised she acknowledged this. Deanna had always been one for calling things as she saw it.

"We'll catch up properly another time," Deanna told him, patting him on the arm as she left. "But for now, I'll leave you to your family."

Getting back to everyone else, he smiled as he greeted the rest of the community, unwilling to give up his hold of Judith just yet. With her happily perched on his side, he watched as Olivia stood at the back of the open truck, gaping at everything they had crammed in there. Already he was mentally planning what they would unpack first, knowing they needed to prioritise the plants in the greenhouses on the back of the military truck. But first perhaps a shower, followed by food and coffee…there was nothing on the trucks that couldn't wait a few more hours to be unpacked. Thinking on that, he reminded himself about the listening device he still carried in his pocket, knowing he would need to speak to Maggie straight away.

"Rick," Daryl grunted, gesturing to behind him.

Looking around in concern, Rick's eyes narrowed in frustration when he saw what Daryl was indicating to. Deanna and Carrie were alone now, the two women heading down up the road and away from the welcome party. Michonne, who up until then had been by Carrie's side, was returning to the group, and she gave Rick a shrug when she noticed him watching. He immediately felt annoyed with Deanna…why did she have to conduct Carrie's interview now? There was no urgency about it, there was nothing at stake here. Surely she'd want to properly catch up with her son.

"Here, take her," he hastily said, lumping Judith into Daryl's arms.

"Hey, Ass Kicker," he greeted, happily taking her. "We bought you presents."

Without another thought, Rick slipped through the crowd and hastened to catch up with Carrie and Deanna, ignoring the knowing smile Michonne gave him as he went past. Though he knew she could hold her own, Rick felt increasingly protective of Carrie, and a part of him wanted to intrude on the interview, to be by her side as though Deanna needed his supervision. While he knew this was irrational, at the same time he understood his need to be protective of her…he had brought her in her, and already she looked like a deer caught in the headlights.

"Carrie!" he called out to her, rushing to catch her. She looked around in surprise, her brow furrowing to see him rushing over. As she and Deanna both slowed to a stop, Rick caught up to them and felt a flicker of uncertainty…he had no idea what he was going to say, no idea why he had stopped them. "Could we have a minute?"

Carrie looked to Deanna, who nodded politely. "Of course. I'll go on ahead…Rick, would you walk Carrie up to my home when you're done?"

"Sure."

Without further fuss, Deanna smiled kindly at Carrie and then continued up the street, leaving the two of them in privacy. There was a long pause in which they just looked at each other, and when the silence grew uncomfortable, Carrie looked away and let her eyes roam over the large wall to her left, admiring it.

"You have no idea why you stopped me, do you?" she questioned, looking back at him.

Laughing shortly, Rick nodded in agreement. "I'm figuring it out…"

Giving him a wry smile, Carrie looked down at herself, brushing her loose hair behind her ears. "Do I look presentable for my interview?"

Echoing her smile, Rick looked her up and down. Dried mud was smeared all over the front of her jeans, complemented by the blood spatter across her neck and Maggie's light brown jacket. "You look a damn sight better than I did."

There was an awkward pause now, and Rick quickly scrambled to say something.

"This interview…you don't have to tell Deanna anything you don't want to."

"I won't tell her about us."

He was taken aback for a moment. "No, I meant about the things you've had to do…people you've killed and why. You don't have to tell her that."

"What if she asks me?"

"She might, but you don't owe her an answer. I ask those questions, not her. You don't owe her anything, alright?"

Carrie just nodded. "What about you? Did you tell her the things you've done?"

"No. She knows I've done things, but I've never laid it out for her."

"Thank you," she said quietly, taking it all in.

They started heading up the street now, passing the other townhouses on their way to Deanna's. Walking a little slower than necessary, he observed the way Carrie looked at the nearby walls, both admiring and critiquing them. Moments later they reached the last town house, and Rick reluctantly slowed to a stop, indicating that they were here.

"Carl gave me some advice," she said quietly, the two of them climbing the steps and then lingering in the threshold of the open door.

"Oh?"

She nodded. "He told me to make sure they underestimate me."

"That's good advice," he told her. "You should take it."

There was a pause now, and he could tell that she was nervous, seeing the way her eyes kept darting to the open door. Her hands were in her pockets, her boot restlessly pawing at the ground as they both waited, not sure of what else needed to be said, but knowing that there was something.

"Rick, I just want to tha-"

"Don't," he cut her off, knowing what she was going to say. He didn't want her thanks.

"You saved my life, more than once," she continued, perhaps feeling as though she needed to vocalise her gratitude for him. "You brought me here. At least let me say thank you."

He shook his head. "You're one of us. My group have saved my life before…my group brought me here too."

"I thought you brought them here?" she enquired, curious for his answer.

He shook his head again. "No, it was them who brought me."

"It doesn't matter," she said patiently. Taking a deep breath, she tucked her loose hair behind her ear yet again. "Thank you," she said emphatically.

Accepting her need to say it, he finally let her. "You're welcome."

Glad it had been said, Carrie looked back into the house again, her jaw flexing as she mentally prepared herself for what she needed to do inside. "I should get in there," she said offhandedly.

"Yes," he agreed. Encouraging her to go in, he moved down onto a lower step, kindly ushering her forward. "Good luck."

"Thanks," she muttered, going forward and taking a step inside. She lingered for a moment before turning back to him, her hand resting on the door knob. "I'll see you around," she smiled.

"See you."

He turned and left before he could say anything else, before he could delay her interview any longer. Descending the stairs and turning left to go up the street, Rick looked up into the sky and exalted at how clear it was, admiring the warm sun that was welcoming his group home. He suddenly remembered something Glenn had said to him the first night of their return to the prison, having noted that Rick didn't yet call Alexandria home. He supposed it just hadn't felt that way yet, and to a certain extent it still didn't. He was still an outsider here…the people had not accepted him they way they needed to, they hadn't accepted the qualities he and his group would use to protect them all.

But today, it felt a little different here. After almost three weeks away, he had of course developed a certain gratitude for the luxuries Alexandria afford his family, the least of which was the increased safety and ability to go about their lives again. Returning to the group, he stopped in the crossroads by the lake, standing on the corner opposite Jessie's house as he looked down at the five vehicles his group had returned with. It was an incredible feat that not only had he safely returned his whole group, but that those he had left behind were still waiting for them. Feeling an immense appreciation for what had been afforded to him, he looked away from his group and turned down the street.

Rick finally began to feel as though he had was home.

Preview of the sequel - The New Resident

Standing in the threshold of Deanna Monroe's townhouse, Carrie took a moment to brace herself before going in, knowing that the first impression she made would say a lot. Rick had just left, and despite Deanna's warm nature, Carrie couldn't help but feel rather alone. She wished that Rick had come in with her, that Michonne hadn't believed her when she said she'd be okay on her own. Standing in the hallway, Carrie listened to the sound of a kettle boiling, and it took all her courage to clear her throat and speak.

"Deanna?"

She waited nervously as she heard footsteps, and taking advantage of her last few moments alone, she forcefully told herself to snap out of it. Years ago she had learnt how to hide the physical manifestations of her nerves, her colleagues and mentors teaching her how to carry herself with confidence and poise. Two years ago the thought of being interviewed for a position wouldn't have perturbed her in the slightest. Lacking confidence and showing how nervous she felt was something new to her these days.

"Carrie," Deanna greeted her warmly, appearing in the hallway. "Welcome. Come on in."

Deanna had the distinct ability to put someone at ease, her nature and intensity of her smile making Carrie feel as though she had the woman's entire attention. Her nerves beginning to recede, she came forward at Deanna's encouragement and followed her through the living and dining room. Walking slowly, she looked around in curiosity, amazed that everything seemed so…homely. The townhouse was nicely decorated and comfortably furnished, and it was clearly someone's home, not a space they simply occupied. That was a strange concept for Carrie to consider…she hadn't had a home for a long time. She remembered her Upper West Side apartment as though she'd been there only that morning. It was practically a show home, perfectly neat and organised because she was hardly ever there.

Looking around, Carrie felt like there was something strange about this townhouse, something that she couldn't quite put her finger on. Slowly beginning to put the pieces together, she kicked herself when she realised that what was throwing her off was the electricity…she'd known about the solar panels in advance of her arrival, and yet it was disconcerting to see that the lights in the kitchen were on, that the LCD screen on a stereo player above the fireplace was illuminated. It was all very strange to see, and it made her feel like she was in another realm, that neither she nor her surroundings really belonged here. Looking around some more, her heart skipped a beat when she noticed that a video camera had been set up on a tripod, pointing directly to a lone armchair in front of the windows.

"I'm going to start with a very important question," Deanna began, heading into the kitchen.

Feeling the pressure of the sudden question, Carrie followed her in and prepared herself.

"Have you eaten today?"

Her eyes widened in surprise, much to Deanna's amusement. That was not the question she had been expecting.

"It doesn't escape my attention that living out there, food can be difficult to come by."

She questioned whether Deanna really knew how difficult food was to come by. "I've eaten," she said softly, trying to find her voice. Their meagre breakfast had been hours ago, but she didn't think she had it in her to stomach eating anything right now. "Thank you."

"Well can I get you something to drink?" Deanna offered next, sounding concerned. "I'm making myself tea, but I also have coffee or juice. There's soda too, or water of course."

The question felt harder to answer than it should. "Water would be nice, please," she said, latching onto the familiar.

"Cold, or tepid?"

Again, Carrie struggled to answer. There was an option…she had an option of which water she wanted. With startling clarity, she remembered the half bottle of murky brown water she had carried three weeks ago, that despite its filth it had tasted like liquid gold. She remembered licking trees and leaves to collect the morning dew, literally laying down in puddles to take as much moisture as she could get, barely keeping herself alive. And now she had the option of how she wanted her water served to her? It seemed ridiculous…excessive.

"Cold, please."

In astonishment, she watched as Deanna fetched a clean glass and then opened the refrigerator, allowing Carrie a glimpse at the food inside. Taking a jug out of the door, she poured the glass of water and then put it back and closed the door. Still amazed, she looked at the glass of crystal clear water when Deanna gave it to her, only just remembering to thank her for it. She was almost hesitant to pick it up, part of her still believing that it wasn't real, that this was all a joke, a well crafted illusion. But when she did pick it up, there was no mistaking that it was real…that it was indeed cold.

She gratefully sipped at the water and watched Deanna from the corner of her eye. Pouring herself a cup of tea and then leaving it to brew, she refilled the kittle and returned it to the cradle, and Carrie's eyes were now fixed on the kitchen tap. Water had just flowed from that tap…she'd seen it with her own eyes, and here Deanna was, acting as though it wasn't incredible. Getting herself together, Carrie knew that to Deanna, it was completely normal. She'd been in Alexandria from the very start. Rick was right…Carrie had known her all of three minutes, and she already knew that Deanna had little knowledge of the world outside. This understanding made Carrie want to shout and scream at her, to take her by the shoulders and shake the knowledge into her.

Given that Deanna had only welcomed her into her home, offered her food and gave her water, this reaction was a little extreme.

"This must feel very strange for you?" Deanna commented perceptively.

Carrie just nodded, not knowing what to say.

"It's strange for every newcomer," she said kindly, throwing her teabag in a small compost bin before adding a little cold water. There was a short pause, and she looked at Carrie with a mixture of sympathy and curiosity. "Shall we get started?"

A/N Wow, that concludes The Stray Passenger! Thank you all so much for your readership and your reviews, particularly those regular reviewers who keep me up to date on how they're enjoying the story.

I'd like to extend the biggest round of applause to AngieB/angelcat70. She has been (and still is) an absolutely incredible beta to work it. Not only does she painstakingly edit the more poorly written aspects of my work, but her help with the plot, character development and ideas has been incredible, particularly so for The New Resident. Angie is the MVP of this story, and I'm very grateful for her help, enthusiasm and frequent LOL moments.

This conclusion only brings us to the next story, titled The New Resident. The first chapter will be posted next week, so either keep an eye out for the title, or sign up to author alerts to get the notification. The New Resident will be a change of pace from the supply run to Georgia, a much welcomed change of pace for people like Rick and Carrie. They're going to be settling back into life in Alexandria, and Carrie's going to be focused on finding her place, on where she fits in. The burgeoning relationship between Rick and Carrie will of course be a focus, there'll be plenty of ups and downs for this couple, but in the end it will be worth it. This story will also dip in and out of the final half of season 5B, and I'm taking creative liberty with the story line. I think you'll enjoy it, and I'm very, very excited for you to read.