Author's Note: Keep in mind some circumstances for my story have changed..such as Woodbury did not happen. Just roll with it. XD

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I awoke late the next morning to the sound of something clanking and muffled voices. When I opened my eyes Michonne was leaning up against the wall and a woman I didn't recognize had a tray with some non-perishables and water. The woman had short cropped gray hair, but didn't really look all that old. She offered me a hesitant wave after she set the tray down on my lap, "Just about to wake you."

I looked to Michonne and she offered a small smile before I reached over and devoured the water quickly. "I'm Carol, the others told me about you." I nodded lightly and responded, "I'm Vicki, and it's nice to meet you Carol. Thanks for this."

I placed the water back down before taking the canned food and inspecting the contents with curiosity. "Not much, but we try and ration what we have. We have plenty for a while, at least since clearing the prison."

As Michonne spoke, I nodded, downing the beans and canned fruit within minutes. I wiped my hand on the back of my mouth and Carol looked to me with mild amusement. "Figured you'd be hungry." Carol took the tray from me and I chuckled lightly.

"I didn't wake anyone up last night, did I?" I asked cautiously. Carol hesitated with the tray and looked to Michonne. Michonne furrowed her brows before shaking her head no. Carol also shook her head agreeing with Michonne. Daryl hadn't told anyone.

I felt a little relieved at that. I didn't want the newcomers knowing the details of my nightmare that turned into almost killing Daryl. On accident, of course.

Carol looked to me and shrugged light heartedly, "Even if you had, don't worry about it. We have all been there before."

Michonne placed a reassuring hand on Carol's shoulder and in that moment I saw the connection some of the people here shared.  Carol looked to Michonne and smiled and then back at Vicki.

"Time to get you up and walking around now. Feelin' up to it?" I nodded enthusiastically at Carol.  I needed to stretch my legs.

"Yeah, this being bed-ridden thing is not my style." Michonne cracked a smile and helped me up. Carol looked to my dirty clothes and offered kindly, "We have a lot of extra clothes. We all help out with the wash, so if you need anything don't hesitate to ask. We also have showers here, so when you're ready let us know and we'll show you around."

I smiled at Carol warmly and shook my head in disbelief at being with normal human beings, "I appreciate all the kindness, I really do." Michonne nudged my shoulder lightly and responded seriously, "You didn't hesitate to kill that man that had Carl. We owe you."

Once I was up, I caught my reflection in the mirror and my breath caught. I stared at the slightly familiar girl that reflected in the mirror. The girl's eyes were still green, but the shine was dimmed down. The strangers hair was a dulled down shade of auburn brown. However, her locks were as thick as ever and quite long now. Her layers were completely grown out and her side swept bangs now blended with the rest of her hair.

Her usual round face was now slimmer, yet her cheeks still contained the dimples she grew up with. Deep within her eyes though there lay a fire still burning, refusing to be extinguished. It wasn't a stranger though....it was me! I quickly looked away, but knew they had been watching me quietly.

Once they walked me down the stairs and into the cellblock, I looked up and sucked in a breath. There were people. And quite a few of them. I felt an odd swarm of emotions hit me once. Everyone looked at my way and I felt my cheeks burn a shade of pink. The introductions started quickly.

I'd already met Rick, Michonne and Daryl, so they sat out on the introductions. Carol had gone to stand next to Daryl who played with an arrow, twirling it around while looking at me and the others every so often. I offered him a small smile, but he looked to me impassively.

Rick introduced me to everyone; I met Tyrese, his girlfriend Victoria and his sister Sasha. They also had a little girl named Lizzie with them who they had saved before meeting Rick's people on the road.

The girl looked to be about eleven or twelve. She stared at me with bright and eager eyes, but something about the girl was disturbing. Tyrese and Sasha both looked a little standoffish. Lizzie started to hum to herself and I turned away as not to meet the girls eyes again.

"It's kind of a long story..how we all found each other. I'll fill ya' in soon enough." Rick mentioned in response to my awestruck gaze at all the different people. I nodded in understanding. I briefly wondered where his son Carl was and the baby Daryl had talked about, but I was torn from my thoughts by meeting more people.

I met another man, Theodore, but he went by T-Dog. He nodded in a silent greeting to me. Then there was an older gentleman who looked somewhat like Santa Claus with the all-white bushy beard and mustache, but was not nearly as round. He was tall, broad shouldered man. I learned his name was Hershel Greene. He had the kindest eyes, but I saw grief hidden in them.

All of these people had experienced some kind of loss at some point. It broke my heart and for a brief moment I saw my father in his eyes. When he shook my hand and called me 'young lady' I felt my cheeks redden.

He backed away from me just as a younger couple walked into the cellblock from the outside. The girl had her hand in the boys hand and it looked as if they had been laughing. They were looking at each other and not paying attention until the silence of the room brought them back to reality.

They stopped abruptly and then looked at me; the newbie. I noticed the girl had short, cropped wavy hair and the roundest eyes I'd ever seen. She seemed hesitant towards me, but once she heard Rick say my name she looked slightly more enthusiastic and asked aloud, "This her, Rick? Nice to meet you, I'm Maggie Greene."

Maggie had come right up to me while Rick nodded to Maggie's question. She stuck out her hand to me and added for good measure, "I'm sure you already met my father, Hershel." I was a little taken back, but it seemed her country charm resembled that of the hospitality I learned down in Texas. It was refreshing to see.

I looked to Hershel and then back to Maggie before seeing the resemblance in their smiles. I looked beyond her to the boy standing very still near the doorway to the cellblock and I froze. He hadn't followed Maggie and I already knew why. He was in shock.

His shock was equally reciprocated by me. I let my jaw hang open and breathed out in a daze, "Is that really you?" Glenn's face twisted into a goofy grin, one of delight and astonishment at seeing my familiar face. "Vicki!" He exclaimed out loud. Maggie backed up slightly and arched a brow between the two of us. In that moment, I forgot about everyone else in the room.

Without another word I crossed the distance to Glenn and he matched my stride evenly. We embraced in a bear hug without hesitation and I allowed myself this moment of happiness. The world was a vast place full of death and decay and I had found a friend. A familar face. "Pizza boy.." I whispered and Glenn laughed lightly, "Yeah, Vicki, it's me. I'm alive."