Dead Man Walking

cvi.

 Lance offered them all spots in the Commonwealth. Eugene hyped the place up, and told them all it was safe and functioning like the old world. They were given time to think about it. They didn't all have to go. It wasn't a group decision. So they didn't all talk about it together.

Hunter wasn't thinking for himself. He was thinking about what was best for his family. For his daughter, for Judith and RJ. If it was really safe then that's what he wanted. He didn't want them to continue fighting the horrors of this world. He needed to think of what was best for his family. And he needed to talk to Rosita about it.

"What are you thinking?" Hunter asks her as he paces around the living room with Coco in his arms.

Rosita shrugs, "Eugene said it was for real. It has walls and guards. Food. He said it was safe. He told me it was the perfect place for Coco to grow up. What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking, I hate politicians. They always have something to gain. Something they don't tell anyone about. I'm thinking I don't want to trust. But if it's somewhere Judith, RJ, and Coco can grow up then that's what I want," Hunter says, "If you go, I go. You stay, I stay. That's how it is. And if we go and don't trust it. We leave, or if we can, we take over. Just like we did here in Alexandria"

Rosita sighs as she rests her head in her hands, "What if it is safe? And you don't like it? You gonna try to take it from them?"

"Did you see the smile on Lance's face? He looked too happy. I don't trust people who smile that wide," Hunter says as he runs his fingers through Coco's hair, placing a soft kiss on her forehead, "I won't do anything unless you ask me too. If it's safe, then we stay. We'll do what we have to. As long as we're safe."

"So we're going."

Hunter exhales and passes Coco to her, "We're going. I'll talk to Judith and RJ. And then I'll talk to Maggie. Then Josh."

"I'll pack our things."

Hunter walked up the stairs to his house, he knew Judith and RJ were both in Judith's room as they waited for them to make a decision. He opened the door to Judith's room and they were sitting there on the bed already looking up at him.

"Hey, guys," Hunter smiles at them as he pulls up at chair to them, "What do you guys think about this Commonwealth? You like the idea of going there?"

"Do you?" Judith wonders as she meets her uncle's eyes.

Hunter purses his lips, "I don't like the fact that we'd leave this place. A lot of memories here. Carl's buried here. It's where you RJ were born. I don't want to leave. But the Commonwealth is safe. And it's a safe place you can grow up with other kids. You can have the life I want for all of you. The one Carl had and the one he also wanted for you."

"Eugene said they have ice cream there, I don't know what that is but he told me it was like candy," RJ says with a big smile.

"That's right, he sure did say that. It could be fun there, we'd be able to hang out a lot more that's for sure. And if you guys don't like it there we can leave and come right back here," He tells them, "The decision is yours. I wouldn't go without you guys. We go together or we don't go at all."

RJ glances over at Judith to see what she was thinking, "I wanna try the ice cream."

"Is that a yes from you, RJ?" RJ nods his head and he looks to Judith, "What about you Jude? You wanna give it a go?"

"What about mom? What if she comes back and we're not here?"

Hunter hadn't really thought about that. He had no way of knowing when or if Michonne was coming back, "Well, not all of us are gonna go. I know Aaron wants to stay here and build this place back up so if your mom comes back Aaron will let us know. And we will come back here or your mom can come to us."