We woke early—no one needed to be told. The air was still cool, but the silence was heavier than usual.
Three vehicles, fully prepped thanks to Glenn fixing up Abraham's old truck the night before, sat idling as we packed the last of our gear. We ate quick—ration bars, leftover stew, a couple of scavenged cans of peaches.
Then we hit the road.
No one spoke much. The cab I rode in with Daryl, Glenn, and Michonne was quiet. Eyes forward, thoughts inward.
Well—except for Eugene, of course.
He kept muttering in the backseat, trying to justify his past lies with big words and pseudo-science, directing most of it toward Rosita—who didn't even look at him.
She sat by the window, arms crossed, jaw clenched. Cold. Distant.
Eugene's voice eventually died down. Even he knew when to quit.
A few hours passed—trees lining the road gave way to familiar terrain. When we made the final turn, I slowed the lead car and looked ahead.
And there it was.
Home.
The Right Arm Compound—fortified walls made of steel plates, vehicles, concrete, even shipping containers. Watchtowers at each corner with figures posted, rifles slung, eyes alert.
Our banners fluttered slightly in the morning breeze.A place built not just to survive—but to thrive.
I glanced in the rearview mirror.
Abraham, riding shotgun in the second vehicle, leaned forward, eyebrows rising.Rosita stared at the walls, lips parting slightly.
Even Bob, who had seen some dark corners of the world, looked like someone who had just caught a glimpse of something he didn't think still existed.
Tara whispered to Lily in the back. Meghan, the little girl, pressed her palms to the window.
Eugene just muttered,"...structurally impressive. That tower's elevation grants a near-360 field of surveillance... concrete reinforced… likely sustainable…"
I smiled to myself as I rolled down my window and waved to the gate guards. They recognized me instantly and began sliding the large steel gate open.
Welcome home.
The newcomers were silent—stunned, really—as the gates slowly creaked apart to reveal the compound within.
Wide streets. Organized housing. Solar panels. Farming plots. Training areas. Workshops.
People. Order. Civilization.
Just as the gates fully opened, one of the guards—Miguel, a sturdy man with a sharp eye whom I recognized from our early days—approached the car with a quick stride.
"Already radioed in. The others are gathering," he told me with a nod.
Before I could thank him, another familiar face appeared from within the compound—Morgan.
He walked calmly toward me, that quiet strength in his posture. Without thinking, I stepped forward and pulled him into a brief but firm hug.
"Good to see you, man," I said.
"You too," he replied, smiling faintly. "Looks like you brought company."
I turned slightly, gesturing to the new group behind me.
"Show them around, will you?" I asked. "Let Abraham and the others see what we've built here. Give them the full tour. Let them feel what it's like to be home."
Morgan nodded. "You got it."
I turned to Glenn, who had just stepped down from the second vehicle.
"We'll have a council meeting tomorrow," I told him quietly. "There's a lot to discuss. But for now, I need to see Maggie and Carl."
He understood right away. "Go. We've got it covered."
Without wasting another second, I made my way through the familiar streets of the Right Arm compound, people waving as I passed, some surprised to see me back early.
I moved quickly toward our home.
Carl wasn't there—probably off training or helping somewhere—but Maggie…
She was.
I saw her walking slowly through the garden path toward the porch. Her hand rested gently on her now more pronounced belly, the weight of new life carried with care.
She looked up as I approached, her eyes lighting up in that quiet, relieved way that only Maggie could make feel so real.
"Rick…" she said softly.
I stepped forward and caught her as she leaned into me. One arm wrapped around her waist, the other rested protectively over her stomach.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
She smiled, tired but happy. "Yeah. I'm fine. Just… glad you're finally home."
I nodded, brushing her hair behind her ear before placing a kiss on her forehead.
We stood there for a while, side by side, her head against my chest as we talked. She told me how things had been while I was away—how Beth and Kara checked on her every day, how the community had stayed strong, and how she had made a new best friend during my absence.
"It's Leah," Maggie said with a small grin. "She's been with me almost every day. We've grown close."
I kissed her again—this time on the lips—before whispering, "Thank you for holding on."
Then I told her I'd be going to check on Carl, but not before Beth and Kara arrived. I wouldn't leave her alone, not now.
A few minutes later, the two women came walking in with warm smiles, bringing light conversation and soft laughter with them.
I exchanged a quick word with all three—grateful, grounded.
"I'll be back soon," I said to Maggie as I stepped outside. "I just want to see how our boy is doing."
She smiled and nodded. "He'll be happy you're home."
So was I.
As I walked through the compound, still searching for Carl, I turned a corner—and nearly bumped into someone familiar.
Carol.
She blinked in surprise. "You're early."
I nodded with a small smile. "Yeah. Things moved faster than I expected."
She glanced around before meeting my eyes again. "Looking for Carl?"
"Yeah," I replied.
She gave me directions, pointing toward the east courtyard near the orchard. Before she could walk off, I stepped closer and gave her a brief, comforting hug.
"How are you?" I asked.
She smiled gently. "I'm good. Ed's not a problem anymore, and Sophia's doing great."
I gave a small nod of relief. "That's good. Really good."
She started walking away but turned briefly with a half-smile. "See you around, Rick."
"Yeah. You too, Carol."
I followed the direction she gave, and just like she said, I found Carl near the orchard—laughing with Sophia and Duane. They were holding a wooden staff, pretending to spar, guided by Lori, who watched with a small, proud smile.
As soon as Lori saw me approaching, her eyes widened a little—but without saying anything, she gently pulled Sophia and Duane aside, giving Carl and me some space.
Carl turned around, spotted me—and his face lit up.
"Dad!"
He ran toward me, and I caught him in a quick hug, smiling.
"Hey Carl, what's up?"
We sat down together beneath the shade of one of the trees. The soft golden light of the afternoon filtered through the branches.
He immediately launched into conversation, telling me how he'd mastered his shooting stance, and how he'd been training harder than ever.
"I wanna join the army. I'm ready," he said with so much confidence that I couldn't help but chuckle.
I reached over and ruffled his hair. "Sure you do. You're growing up fast, huh?"
We talked for a while—about everything and nothing. He told me about his friendships here, especially how close he'd become with Jimmy.
"We're like a team," he grinned. "Always the first ones up during training. He's funny too."
I was glad to hear that. Carl was finding his place in this world, despite how broken it was.
I didn't even notice how long we stayed there until the sun began to set, casting the whole compound in warm amber light.
"C'mon," I said as I stood up and stretched. "Let's head home."
Carl nodded and followed me back. That night, he stayed with me—choosing to visit Lori and Judith tomorrow instead.
He also told me how Beth and Sasha always checked up on him, and how they'd become like big sisters to him.
I looked down at him as we entered the house and thought to myself—
This? This is what I'm fighting for.