THE WALKING DEAD : SEASON 12

We Get To Do It Together

Section 1: The Long Road Home

The chapter begins with the group driving toward Alexandria, the familiar but scarred landscape stretching out before them. The roads are empty, silent, as if the world itself is holding its breath. Rick sits behind the wheel, his eyes fixed on the path ahead, while Michonne sits beside him, her hand resting gently on his arm. In the back of the vehicle, Daryl rides his motorcycle nearby, always keeping a watchful eye on the horizon. Carol and Negan are seated in another vehicle, exchanging brief glances but staying mostly quiet, the weight of their journey pressing on them.The quiet is almost overwhelming. The sounds of the engines, the occasional rustle of wind through the cracked windows, and the distant calls of birds are all that break the stillness. For a moment, everyone is lost in their own thoughts. They've been through hell—together and apart—and now they're returning to the only place that ever felt like home. But it isn't the same home they left behind. Too much has changed.

Rick grips the steering wheel tightly, his mind racing with memories. He glances at Michonne and sees the reflection of his own thoughts in her eyes. They both remember the last time they made this journey together, (back in Season 6), when they were leading a battered group back to Alexandria after facing countless dangers. Back then, they had found hope behind the walls of the community. They had believed, even for a moment, that they could build something real, something safe.But now, as they near Alexandria again, the hope is tinged with sadness. So many of their loved ones are gone—Carl, Glenn, Abraham, Rosita, Jesus. The faces of the fallen flash in Rick's mind like ghosts. Each name carries a weight in his heart, and as they draw closer to Alexandria's gates, the heaviness seems almost unbearable. It's not the same as it was. It can't be. Rick takes a deep breath, the sense of loss almost choking him for a moment. He feels Michonne's hand squeeze his arm gently, and he turns to look at her. There's a quiet understanding in her eyes. She feels it too—the grief, the weight of leadership, the never-ending struggle to survive and protect what's left. Yet in her gaze, there's also a glimmer of hope, something that refuses to die no matter how many battles they've fought."We're almost there," Rick mutters, more to himself than anyone else.Michonne nods, looking out the window. "Yeah," she says softly, her voice carrying a mix of nostalgia and determination. "We're almost home."

Daryl's motorcycle hums alongside their vehicle, and Carol's truck follows behind. Negan, sitting in the back, glances at the surroundings with a smirk. It's been a long time since he's been here, and for all his history with Alexandria, even he feels the pull of nostalgia. He turns to Carol, who is staring straight ahead, her face unreadable."You ready for this?" Negan asks her, his voice low and casual, but there's an edge of seriousness to it.Carol doesn't look at him, but she responds after a pause. "I don't know. Are you?"Negan chuckles lightly, shaking his head. "Hell no. But that's never stopped me before."The convoy finally approaches the outskirts of Alexandria. The walls, once a symbol of security and hope, now look older, weathered by time and countless battles. But they're still standing, just like the group. It's a bittersweet sight—a place that has been their refuge but also a reminder of everything they've fought for and everything they've lost.Rick slows the car as they near the gates. His heart pounds in his chest. Memories from years ago flood his mind. He remembers the first time they stood at those gates, weary and desperate, hoping for a chance at a better life. He remembers the countless times they left, unsure if they'd ever make it back.

This time feels different. It feels final, in a way. A return after everything, after all the loss, all the heartbreak. They're coming home, but it's not the same home they left behind.Daryl pulls up beside the car and turns off his motorcycle. He looks at the gates and then back at Rick. Their eyes meet, and there's an understanding between them. They've both lost so much, and yet they're still here, still standing. They've survived it all. But survival has come at a great cost.Rick looks ahead at Alexandria, taking in the sight of their home once more. There's a sense of peace. The world may never go back to what it once was, and neither can they.But they've made it this far. And for now, that's enough. "We're home," Rick says softly, almost as if he's trying to convince himself that it's real.Michonne smiles faintly, the corners of her mouth turning up in a bittersweet expression. "Yeah," she replies, her voice filled with quiet resolve. "We're home."The gates open, welcoming them back to the place they've fought so hard to protect. As the vehicles roll forward, a sense of both relief and uncertainty fills the air. They've come home, but what comes next? The future is unwritten, but they know one thing for sure—they're not done yet.