Shambles- The Walking Dead [Alden x Maggie] [1/2]

21- Haunted

Alden sat on the front steps of the once empty trailer they had locked him into when he first arrived at Hilltop. That same trailer was his home now. He didn't mind that it was out back and at some distance away from the other trailers; it was peaceful. Not everyone had accepted him yet, some people still gave him odd looks or barely acknowledged him. His trailer was an easy escape. Although he felt the need to retreat less and less, each day more people seemed to accept him as a member of their communitie.

"Alden, do you think we can still pick some of our stuff up from Sanctuary?" Rose asked, lingering in the door frame behind him.

He looked back and up over his shoulder. "I don't know, I fear it might've been destroyed. That's why I warned you when we left with Sasha. And you said you had everything you wanted to take with you."

"I know. And I did," she replied, crossing her arms. "I'm not stupid."

"I didn't say you were. But if you didn't forget anything, why do you want to go back?"

"I took everything I could bring with me," she explained calmly. "But do you remember that quilt? The one with the colorful squares? I really liked it." She fumbled with her hands a bit. "I know they probably burned it or something. But I really liked it."

"It's no bother for me to look if it's still there. I'm going to help with construction there tomorrow anyway. Just don't get your hopes up because I can't promise anything."

"I won't," she insisted, setting her jaw.

The next morning Alden found himself standing in front of the old factory next to Laura. He needed a moment to take in how much it had changed already.

"I have to say that it looks a whole lot better without the walkers in front," he noted. "Maybe it's just the smell, or lack thereof, but it looks a lot more livable ."

"Does that mean you're planning on moving back in?" Laura asked.

"No, Rose and I were never supposed to be here," he shook his head as he spoke. "This place has too many bad memories anyway. I came back to help and hopefully bring some of our stuff back."

"Oh, your stuff's still there," she replied. "No one really cared enough to go in and get rid of it once we realized you were gone. Negan felt like you stole Sasha from him, he'd wanted to use her as a bargaining chip. He figured you went back to Alexandria, so that became what we were focussed on."

"I never planned on going to Alexandria, that's stupid. I wanted to go to the Kingdom. It was my safest bet because the Saviors never set a foot inside their walls. Sasha opted for Hilltop instead and we followed because she promised it was safe. Didn't even know where we were going till we came right up on the walls." He paused and sighed. "Alexandria being attacked was a given, I just couldn't let Sasha be used as a bargaining chip."

"I was glad you got out," Laura said softly. "You wouldn't have lasted long here."

"Uhm, thanks?" He tilted his head, a bit confused.

Aaron tapped Alden's shoulder from behind to get his attention. "The truck's empty, we could load it up already. Have it done before we're tired and want to head back."

"Sure." Alden nodded. He turned to Laura again. "See you later."

"You too, Al."

"So how come they all call you 'Al'? I heard them call you that in Alexandria too," Aaron asked as they headed up stairs on the metal stairs outside. "I haven't heard anyone use it in Hilltop, don't think it's something you're really happy about."

"Negan gave it to me. I didn't pick it. Never really liked it but I wasn't going to tell Negan that. Kinda helped with adjusting to the way things went here," he replied as they reached the top of the stairs and went inside. "I would prefer it if you just kept on calling me Alden."