<span style="font-family: 'Georgia'">Maggie looked up when Rick entered the room, sat down beside her and spoke. She gave him a tiny smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Thanks, Rick..." She said softly. As he continued to speak, she turned and faced him. "Why are you apologizing? You didn't bomb us. You helped us. What was left of us. You and the others here, got us out of there, and took us in. I can't tell you how much that means to me. To all of us. We haven't always seen eye to eye on things. But, I've always  considered you a friend."<br/>
<br/>
"No, scratch that. I've always considered you family. I know how much you meant to Glenn, and how much he meant to you and the others."  When he finished speaking, she hesitated for only a moment, and then moved closer and  hugged him. God, how she needed this right now. She was trying to keep herself together for the others, but she was honestly one step away from breaking down. She ended the hug several minutes later, and pulled back. "I'm glad to be back, but yeah,<br/>
I wish it were under better circumstances."<br/>
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"As for you doing what you can, that goes for us, too. Sure, we might have only had something like 50 people or a little more, survive the attack on the Hilltop, but that's still a good bit of people. We can help you and Alexandria, Rick. We can plant crops, and have animals and all of that. The Hilltop has had a deal with the Kingdom where we traded, outside of the horrible deal with Negan and the Saviors. If we explain to the King what happened, I don't think he would have a problem with us continuing to trade, from here in Alexandria."<br/>
<br/>
"This way, everyone but the Saviors win. We can talk to Jesus and to Morgan. They're close to the King and have his ear. And so we rebuild, here. And we make this place better. But, I'm going to ask you and Daryl for something." The brunette ran a hand through her hair. "I need you to make my people from the Hilltop strong. Strong enough to help us get through this war with Negan and the Saviors. With the exception of Hilltop being burned down, they have no idea of what awaits them."<br/>
<br/>
"They haven't been outside the walls and can't defend themselves. I had started to make plans with some of the Hilltop residents to start training before our home was bombed, but I didn't get much support. They were happy to just stay behind the wall and bury their heads in the sand. But with this happening, I think they're finally getting it. And we can work with that. We can use this horrible thing that's happened, to make them stronger. If that's something you and Daryl would be interested in."<br/>
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___________________<br/>
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Carl lowered his gun when the girl started talking, but he didn't put it away. She introduced herself and then immediately started trying to get him to leave. He could see the desperation on her face. He could hear it in her voice. He considered his options. He could stay here and risk getting caught and killed by Negan, or he could leave and come back at a different time and take out more, happy in the knowledge that he had at least taken out a handful of his enemy's men.<br/>
<br/>
All of this went through his mind quickly, and he turned back to the girl. "Jennifer, thank you.." He said and raised his gun once more. He didn't point at her, but he had it at the ready to shoot anyone that tried to stop him as he left. As he took off for the door, he looked back at her and pointed to himself and said, "Carl.." After he had done that, he turned around and took off. As he did so, he made a promise to see her again.</span>