Rick and Lee cleared the last of the walkers inside the supermarket.
Then started packing supplies into large storage containers they found. One by one, they hauled everything to the front entrance.
As they worked, voices drifted in from outside.
"Wasn't this place overrun?"
"Who cares... It isn't anymore."
"Let's see what we can find."
"Heh, better be something good."
Rick and Lee turned, exchanging a look. They slipped to opposite sides of the entrance, waiting.
The voices drew closer, bickering.
"You ready, fuckface?"
"I told you not to call me that!"
"Would you shut the hell up already?"
"Sorry, Tod." "Sorry."
"Come on!"
Three men stepped inside, spotting the stacked containers at the entrance. Their eyes lit up as they crept toward them.
Rick poked his head around the corner, caughting Lee's eye, and nodded.
They moved silently, quick as shadows. In one motion, Rick and Lee slashed the throats of two men from behind.
The third spun fast, pistol rising up, but Rick was faster. His machete drove into the man's gut, then ripped free and hacked down across his skull.
The bodies collapsed. Rick and Lee steadied their breathing.
Rick crouched and flipped one over. The carved W on the man's forehead confirmed his suspicion.
He sighed.
Lee muttered, "This reminds me of that group I had to take out in Macon."
Rick shook his head. "Why does trouble keep finding us?"
Lee gave a bitter laugh. "Meanwhile, Alexandria survives because of some damn walls."
Rick chuckled softly.
The sound of multiple vehicles pulling up outside cut them off. Rick's grip tightened on his machete.
He relaxed when a familiar whistle rang out.
They stepped outside. Joe stood there, blood drying on his hands.
Rick frowned. "What happened to you?"
Joe didn't answer, but Tara did. "He beat the hell out of Nic. Right in front of half of Alexandria. Now they're debating whether to exile him."
Rick's voice went cold. "That's not happening."
Joe gave a dark chuckle. "I know."
The laugh spread through the group, easing the tension.
Then Joe sobered. "Alright. Supplies first, then barbed wire."
Joe glanced around. The entire supermarket was fenced in, barbed wire lining the top. More than enough for Alexandria's walls.
They got to work. Rick's team finished hauling the supplies, then joined Joe and Noah in stripping the wire from the fencing.
With everyone pitching in, the job was done before dinner time.
They piled the coils high in the truck bed and filled the trailer behind it.
Once everything was loaded, the convoy rolled out, heading back toward Alexandria.
...
Father Gabriel hurried toward Deanna's house, eyes darting around. He knocked quickly, glancing over his shoulder until the door opened.
Deanna started to greet him, but Gabriel pushed past and shut the door behind him.
Her brow furrowed. "What's going on?"
Gabriel was sweating, his hands shaking, "I believe… there is darkness here. Your community... "
He swallowed hard, "You say it's not paradise, but it is. And I'm grateful to be here, so I feel I must tell you… You made a mistake letting the others in."
Deanna's tone hardened. "How so?"
Gabriel's eyes flicked wildly. "You can't trust Joe. Or his people. They've done terrible things... Unspeakable things."
Deanna shook her head. "He told me as much himself. He did what he had to do for his group to survive. That makes him an asset."
Gabriel twitched. "No. They lied. They're dangerous. You may believe it was survival, fear… but listen to me. One day, they'll put their own lives before everyone else's. And when they do, they'll destroy everything you've built here."
Deanna studied him. "Why tell me this now? After what Joe did earlier? After all this time?"
Gabriel's eyes shone. "Because Satan disguises himself. Joe is the same. He doesn't deserve to be here."
Deanna's voice softened, measured. "Thank you, Gabriel. I'll… think on this." She opened the door.
Gabriel hesitated in the doorway. "I should've come sooner. I just pray it isn't too late." He stepped out and walked away.
Neither he nor Deanna realized that Maggie had been listening around the corner. And by the look on her face, she wasn't happy.
...
Joe and his group rolled up to Alexandria's gate. Sarah swung it open and they drove inside.
He stepped out of the truck, the others following.
A crowd of Alexandrians waited, unease written on their faces. Deanna stood at the front.
Maggie approached Joe quietly, whispering at his side. "Father Gabriel turned on us. He told Deanna she shouldn't have let us in."
Joe gave a small nod. "I'll take care of it."
Deanna's eyes narrowed. "And what exactly will you be taking care of?"
Joe smiled faintly. "Nothing that concerns you. Not yet."
Deanna's tone turned sharp. "I run this place. Not you."
Joe nodded. "That's true. But if you keep on like this, you'll run it straight into the ground."
Deanna bristled. "You..."
Joe cut her off. "All this because I beat a man? A man who left one of our own to die. You said it yourself, we're supposed to be the same. But you don't see us that way, do you?"
Aiden blurted, "That's..."
"Shut up!" Joe barked. "The grown-ups are talking."
Aiden froze, his face red.
Joe's voice carried over the crowd. "I've treated you like my own. I've been showing you how to defend yourselves. Trying to prepare you for what it's like out there. But you don't get it."
Spencer muttered, "We can guess..."
"No, you can't!" Joe snapped. His voice rose, raw and furious. "Ever been hunted by a madman in a tank? Ever survived cannibals locking your friends up for slaughter?"
He tore his shirt open, scars on full display. "Ever been stabbed through the chest with a machete and then shot?"
Silence. No one moved.
Joe scanned their faces. "Didn't think so. You've got no idea what it's like. You're lucky I didn't kill you the second you opened those gates. Luckiest sons of bitches I've ever met... and you don't even realize it."
The Alexandrians stared, dumbstruck.
Joe's voice dropped. "I'm not going anywhere. You'll just have to live with that."
Deanna didn't reply. No one did. Even Joe's own people stayed silent.
He let the silence hang, then said flatly, "Now go home. Rest, and then decide if it's worth trying to force me out in the morning."
He turned and walked off. His group followed.
Rick lingered a moment, glancing at Deanna. "We brought supplies in the truck."
Deanna gave a stiff nod and motioned to Olivia and Jess. They opened the truck and then gasped.
Ten storage bins packed with canned goods, pasta, soda, snacks.
"Wow," Tobin muttered.
Reg checked the back and whistled at the coils stacked high. "There's enough barbed wire to wrap the whole community."
Jess turned to Deanna. "He's not a bad man. He looks after his people, and they adore him. Amy told me when she was pregnant, they were on the road for months. Joe gave her almost all his food. He lost fifty pounds in three months."
The crowd shifted, murmuring.
Jess's voice softened. "He's got a short fuse when it comes to family. But imagine if he treated all of us like that."
Eyes around her changed, their hesitation giving way to something closer to respect.
Reg stepped forward. "She's right. Joe's not a bad man. He cares more than he lets on. You should've heard the plans he laid out for this place."
Deanna exhaled, then spoke firmly. "Joe is not going anywhere."
Spencer and Aiden groaned in unison. "Mom!" "He can't just..."
"Quiet!" Deanna snapped.
Reg's tone turned sharp. "Rick saved your lives, and Joe spared you despite what you did. I was the one who asked him to let you tag along. How do you think your cowardice reflects on me?"
Spencer and Aiden wilted, silent.
Deanna's voice steadied. "Go home. Rest. We'll talk with Joe in the morning."
Reluctantly, they nodded and drifted away.
...
Joe and Maggie were walking slowly back toward the house when...
Splash!
Her water broke, soaking her pants. Maggie groaned as a contraction hit, clutching Joe's hand tight.
He steadied her, waited for the wave of pain to ease, then swept her up in his arms.
Neighbors heard the sound of her groans and peeked out of their doors.
They saw Joe carrying a pale, sweating Maggie, her face twisted with pain.
Jess spotted them and called out, "Over here, Joe!"
He jogged to her and followed inside. Jess led him to a bedroom where he laid Maggie gently on the bed.
"Go get Carol and Amy," Joe said quickly.
Jess bolted out the door.
Maggie screamed as another contraction tore through her. Joe gripped her hand, letting her squeeze with all her strength.
"Slow breaths, Maggie," Joe said, steady and calm. "In and out. Slow and steady."
She matched his breathing as best she could. He brushed damp strands of hair from her face.
"You're doing so good," he told her.
"I know," Maggie groaned, managing a weak smirk.
Jess, Carol, and Amy rushed into the room. Carol moved fast, pulling off Maggie's soaked clothes, then glanced down and nodded.
"Alright, Maggie," Carol said firmly. "You're already five centimeters. We've got this under control. Just keep breathing."
...
An hour later, it was time to push. Maggie bore down, crushing Joe's hand in hers.
Agh!
Wahh!
The baby slipped out smoothly. Carol caught her with steady hands. "Congratulations," she said, her voice steady but warm. "It's a healthy baby girl."
She rubbed the newborn's back,making surr her airway was clear, then wiped her clean before placing her in Joe's arms.
Joe looked down at his daughter, his hard face softening with awe. He leaned closer to Maggie. "Look, Maggie. Our beautiful little miracle."
Maggie's tired eyes lit up. "That's what she is. A miracle. We should name her that. Miracle."
Joe nodded, gently dabbing her face with a towel before handing the baby over.
The newborn's cries rose, but as Maggie lowered her shirt and nursed, they melted into silence.
Joe exhaled, looking at Carol and Jess. "Thank you."
Carol smiled. "Anything for you."
Jess waved a hand. "I didn't do anything."
Joe shook his head. "No. I'm still grateful."
Jess softened, smiling. "You're welcome."
A short while later, Emma, Andrea, and Beth came rushing in, with Michonne, Sophia, and Clem watching the other kids back home.
They crowded around the bed. "Is it a boy or girl?"
"A girl," Maggie said proudly.
Beth beamed. "What's her name?"
Maggie chuckled softly. "Miracle."
Just then, a knock sounded. Deanna and Reg stood at the door. "Is everything okay? The baby?"
Joe nodded. "They're both okay." He let out a sigh. "Look, about earlier… I'm sorry. I..."
Reg shook his head. "We get it. People were hurt. We're still getting used to each other."
Joe asked, "Want to come in?"
Deanna glanced at Reg, then nodded. "Of course. We have to look to the future."
Joe led them to the bedroom. Maggie, exhausted, had fallen asleep. Amy held Miracle, swaying gently. She walked over.
"Want to hold her?" Amy asked Deanna.
Deanna looked at Joe.
He gave a small nod. "Go on."
Deanna took the baby carefully, studying the dark hair, the green eyes. She was beautiful. Her lips trembled as she whispered, "New life… in all this death."
She showed Miracle to Reg.
He smiled as he took her into his arms, his voice low with awe. "This is what we're fighting for. Proof we can still build something better."
Around them, the room was quiet. For a moment, even the weight of the world outside felt lighter.
Joe lingered, then moved back to Maggie's side. He bent down, brushing his lips against her hair, and whispered, "Good job, Mama."