Frost

Chapter 1

The ice was cold under his sock clad feet. Freezing really. Still, he kept walking, undeterred by the frosty air. He'd suffered worse. Much worse. The only time he had second thoughts about what he was doing was when he thought about what the others would think. They'd think he was crazy, they'd say he was obsessive, they'd think that he was paranoid. And they'd be right. But sometimes, paranoia is good.

The branches of the bare trees looked eerie and odd swaying in the wind as it picked up slightly. He didn't have a jacket on, only a t-shirt and jeans. He didn't even have shoes. That though was because he couldn't find them anywhere. The others probably hid them from him, thinking that would keep him from going out. He had to though. He had to protect the house.

Once he got to the wrought iron gates, the man pulled the keys out of his pocket before slowly unlocking it. He could fly over it, sure, but his wings felt nice and snug against his back. He didn't mind the cold, not really, but he didn't enjoy it either.

"And you thought you would just leave then? That I wouldn't notice?"

He froze for a moment, out there in the cold, before turning. He didn't have to see her to know who it was, but still, he had to respect her somewhat.

"It's not safe," he told her simply, not shocked to find that she was all bundled up in a jacket and a little beanie cap. That wasn't enough to protect her from the cold, of course, but it was a start.

"And it'll be safer with you out in the woods? What can you do, Fang?"

"I have to protect us, Max!"

She huffed, no doubt planning to blow her currently brown hair out of her face. There was no need for that, however, as the wind had blown it back, away from her face. Fang took a moment to…take inventory of the woman before him, slightly disappointed to find her jacket hid her boobs from the world. Well, from him.

"Come get back in bed. Now."

"Max-"

"Fang, you can't bring him back. You know that. He's gone."

He blinked, his eyes starting to also feel cold. Was there a way to protect your eyes from the cold? Goggles, maybe. He would have to remember that next time he went into town. That wouldn't be for awhile though, as the town at the base of the mountain they lived on was pretty shut down at the moment. Most everywhere was. They weren't in the middle of a blizzard, not this winter, but most of the roads were closed. The bird people that lived on top of the mountain could come and go as they pleased, but the rest of the people had lost their mode of transportation.

"So lock the gate and come back inside."

"Max-"

"Don't make me get one of the guys."

"Once you got them, I would be gone."

"Then I won't go anywhere."

He was breaking slightly. "Max, it's cold."

"You're out here in your jeans and a shirt, Fang!"

"I'm me. You're you." He coughed then, looking off. "You're pregnant."

She let out a long breath. "Yeah. I know."

"So…just go back inside. Okay?"

"Not without you."

"Max-"

"You can't protect us from what isn't there." Max gestured to the forest that surrounded their manor. "What killed him, what you're afraid of, it's gone. It's all gone now. We're safe."

"Max-"

"Even if you don't believe we'll always be safe, you have to at least believe that there's no way anything could get here. Not on foot or by car or anything. Everything's frozen for miles around. We're safe. For now." She took a step closer. "Come back to bed. I need you. It's…cold."

Again, he coughed, looking off. His feet were starting to go numb. "Well then. We'll go."

She waited for him, watching as he locked the gate back and slowly turned back around to face her. When he was close enough, the man pressed a hand to her stomach, gently pressing into it. It was a small gesture, but it got the point across and Max turned, allowing him to lead her back into the house before up to their bedroom and to their bed.

"The power's out."

Fang kept writing things down in the journal, not turning around.

"Can we use the generator?"

Still, he kept writing.

"Fang?"

He continued to ignore the questions, but that was okay. It was then that Max walked into the room and spoke for him.

"No, Nudge, we can't."

"But, Max-"

"If we use it now, we could run out of gasoline when we would really need it."

"But-"

"I said no. That's final."

"I'm cold."

"Then go out for a jog."

"Max."

Fang still just sat at the desk in the corner of the room, writing in his journal. It was nine a.m. He always wrote in his journal from nine a.m. to ten a.m.

"Here you go."

Max sat a plate of peanut butter bread on the desk next to him. He didn't even look up, only nodding slightly to acknowledge her.

"There's nothing to eat," Nudge called from the kitchen now. "Max-"

"Shut up. God. Everyone's asleep, alright?" Max still just stood behind Fang, not really focusing on the other woman as she watched Fang write. To him, she said, "She's right though. The power's out."

"Storm."

"I know why it's out, Fang. I just wanted to make sure you knew it was."

He was sure Max would have kept talking to him had Nudge not suddenly came back into the room and began to go around it, blowing out the candles. It was so cloudy and dark outside that they needed those. Well, Fang did. Of course, they had their night vision, but recently, Fang had been dismayed to find that his eyesight was starting to leave him.

"Nudge," Max hissed. "What are you doing?"

"Conserving candles. You know, Max, in case we need them later."

"You little-"

Fang stood then, angry that they were interrupting his writing. Leaving the room, he went through the kitchen and out into the garage. He was only out there for a minute before returning. Max and Nudge were still arguing, now about which one had upset him. When he came back into the room though, Fang just flipped a light switch and sat back down at the desk.

"How did you do that?" Nudge frowned. "The power's out."

Fang cleared his throat. "You guys just popped a breaker. Probably have too much stuff plugged in."

"If you knew that why did you-"

"Don't question him," Max ordered, frowning at the other woman. "Your power's back on now, so go away. Alright?"

"Whatever, Max."

Nudge left after that, headed back up the stairs. Then it was just Fang and Max up, alone, in the mostly dark house. Sighing, Max went and turned the light off before going around and relighting the candles.

"I know that you don't like how bright it is in here with the light on," she explained to him as Fang just got back to work. Little was usually said between the two of them these days. Since…

Promptly at ten, Fang finished what he was doing and set off to do a grounds check. He had to track down Max, who was by then rousing the others, and have her show him where she had hidden his shoes. Only after promising that he would be back in time for lunch, she allowed him to leave the house without supervision.

They all thought that he wanted to hurt himself for some reason. One time. One time you do something and they label you a self-abuser. He wasn't. He just missed his son.

Fang heard something behind him as he unlocked the wrought iron gate. It was a massive gate, though that didn't mean much. It was a massive house. To them at least. The ones that had spent their lives in cages, being tortured by people the age they were now. Turning, Fang was glad to find it was only Roy coming out of the house, dressed in boots and his heavy coat.

Roy was an outsider to the Flock, of course. He was Nudge's then boyfriend, now husband. Fang had been adverse to him moving into the house at first, but as Max had told him, they were all getting older. Eventually, they would all grow up and all bring in spouses. Still, Fang was wary of him and even now didn't like the other male much, but had grown accustom to him. At the very least, it was better than when Nudge would leave the house at all hours to go on dates and things. That disgusted him nearly as much as it did to know that Roy and Nudge were having sex just down the hall from him. God.

"Going out there, Fang? Out into the woods?" Roy called out to him. "Do you need help?"

"Ay," Fang called over his shoulder. "It would be more help if you cut the wood, out behind the house."

"I should get Dylan to help with that, yes?"

Fang shook his head, though that contradicted his words. "If you can find him."

With that, Fang headed out of the gate and into the forest.

They owned it all. Every bit of it. It happened after the world 'ended', back when the earth attempted to kill itself. Most of the Americas were wiped out, North and South. Europe was hurt too, but mostly it was built up by now. Asia was never really touched and was now the most thriving part of the world, while Africa had suffered about the same as Europe and was back to what it was before.

"Just here," Fang mumbled to himself as he walked through the forest.

Everyone that could fled what was once the New World and got as far away from it as they could. Fang personally had never been to South America, but as far as he knew, it was as desolate as North America. Max had gone once, back when they had that little island. That was years ago though. Who knew what it was now?

Fang didn't like to think much of what the world once was. It was easier not to. He was sure, on the other half of the earth, things still thrived much as they used to, but everyone left this side of the world alone. Like it was cursed. And wasn't it? The fires, the flood, all of it killing millions of people all at once, all without knowing. If anywhere was haunted, how can it not be this half of the hemisphere?

Not to mention, Fang liked being alone. Sure, down at the bottom of the sleepy mountain were people who had built a little town. It wasn't much. Just a few people. They rarely saw visitors. Even the Flock, who only went down there when they were in need of something, knew mostly everyone in the town. Everyone knew everyone. Who would want it any other way?

Now, as he walked through the forest, Fang had to duck a low hanging branch, the bare branches scratching his face as he did so. Still, he didn't mind, not caring at all for those little wounds, if they'd even show up. Max might chide him when he got back, but that was fine. At least she cared, right?

He made his way through the woods, followed his usual path, now headed towards the back of their property. When he got there, he found the little lake they had back there, smiling slightly as he saw it. It was frozen over now of course, as it always was in November. Still, Fang liked to see it, liked to be around it. It reminded it of so much. So much…

"Where do the ducks go, Daddy?"

"Hmmm?"

"The ducks," the little boy said, pointing at the creatures out on the pound, shaking their feathers and quaking at one another. "Where do they go?"

"Go? Like where do they live?"

"No," he giggled. "They live here. I know that."

"Of course you do," Fang mumbled, shifting on his feet.

He really needed to get back to the house. Max wanted to go down the mountain later, to get supplies. He had told her he would go along, but he had to take Jamie out first, on their afternoon walk. It was the only way the five year old would take his nap these days. He was starting to get too old for them, but everyone in the house liked him better asleep. Everyone.

"Where do they go though?"

"When, Jamie? Huh?"

"When it gets cold and the lake freezes." Jamie shook his long hair out of his eyes, giggling slightly as he ran in circles around his father. "Where do the duckies go?"

"Well," Fang began. He didn't know where to go after that though. "I guess…I don't know, buddy."

Jamie giggled again. "That's okay, Daddy."

"You must be real smart, buddy," Fang told him. "To think of that. I'd never think of something like that."

"I like ducks."

"I know you do."

"I like watching 'em. And I like the lake." Jamie stopped his circles, coming to stand next to his father now and watch the water. "I like when it's hot better than when it's cold."

"You like spring more than winter."

"Yes! Then I get to watch the duckies and I get to swim and I get to play in the water." The overly active boy stopped speaking for a moment, clearly thinking. "Daddy?"

"Hmmm?"

"How come I can't swim today?"

"'cause your mom said you couldn't."

"I don't like Mom as much as you," Jamie said, turning then and running off, towards the forest.

"Yeah, I don't like her as much as me either."

Giggling, Jamie picked his way under branches and over fallen logs. "Catch me, Daddy. Bet you can't!"

"Yeah," Fang sighed as he headed after his son at a much slower pace. "I bet I can't either."

Fang woke with a start, shooting straight up in bed. This disturbed Max, of course, who just rolled over, facing the wall now. His breathing was heavy as he felt around the bed, looking, always looking. He would never find what he was looking for though, never again. Max didn't say anything though, allowing him to do so, allowing him to not find their son, but his own reality.

"What time is?"

Max mumbled back in reply something about it being close to midnight.

"What?"

Groaning, she turned back to look at him. For a second, Fang felt stupid as he saw her stomach and realized he'd never find their son. Not unless he dug underground.

"You came back from looking around the grounds and passed out."

"What?"

"You took a nap. I didn't want to wake you."

"Max," Fang hissed, staring down at her. "Now my timing's all off. I have to-"

"You have to lay down." She shut her eyes again. "Don't you dare leave this house."

"I have-"

"Roy and Iggy took care of everything that you usually do. The wood, dinner, the kids. Everything's fine."

But everything wasn't fine.

Still, Fang laid back down, wanting to please his wife. Well, until she fell back asleep at least. Then he'd go and-

"You're not leaving this room tonight," Max told him as she laid a hand on his chest. Fang hated sleeping on his back, but he had no other choice now as Max settled herself against him. "You hear me? There's nothing out there."

"Max, I-"

"Fang, it hurts my stomach to think about you out there, in the cold, doing nothing, but freezing to death."

Max wasn't showing yet, but it every time Fang saw her stomach or thought about it, he was reminded that Jamie was gone. By the same token, there was a new baby he had to worry about. He couldn't fix what had happened to their son, not now, not ever. He could though protect the new baby. Why didn't Max get that?

"I have-"

"You have me."

He cleared his throat. "I've always had you."

"Then you know that I don't sleep if you don't sleep." She sat up suddenly, knowing Fang's eyes were on her. Max lifted up her shirt slightly before reaching out and grasping his hand. "You feel that?"

She had pressed his hand against her stomach. "Warm."

"Yeah. Would you rather I be cold? For us to be cold? Without you?"

He spread his fingers out, shaking his head slightly. "I don't…"

Max thought he meant that he didn't want her to be cold, for their new baby to be cold. However, Fang really meant something that he had only kept to himself so far. He didn't want a new baby. He didn't want another son. He wanted his son back. He wanted Jamie back. He didn't care if this new baby was cold or hot or even alive. He didn't want it. At all.

"Good," Max whispered then, content in her own mind as she laid back down. "Now go to sleep."

Fang couldn't though. He just laid there, staring at the ceiling until it was morning, real morning. Then, promptly at seven, Fang got up, leaving Max curled up in bed, cold and alone. No, not alone. She had the baby. Her baby. Their baby, his baby, was dead.

And he wouldn't be coming back.

"Uncle Fang?"

"Hmmm?"

"Calvin broke my car."

Fang blinked as suddenly, on his desk, a little toy car was sat over his journal. "Oh."

"Yeah. Fix it."

Again, he blinked. "Oh. Okay."

"Here."

Then there was a little wheel up there too.

"Calvin broke it. He pulled the wheel off. I hate him."

"Oh." Fang shook his head as he very easily snapped the wheel back onto the little car. Then, glancing down and to the right, he found a little girl standing there. Cassie. She was five now and thought that she was a big girl. She was. She was the oldest child in the house. Now.

"Here you go," he said, handing off the car to the little girl. It had been Jamie's car, once. Not anymore. Even before he died, he had given it to her. The women in the house, Max and Nudge mostly, always joked about how Jamie and Cassie would end up together. Of course, they probably would have been right, given the fact there really were no other options for the two kids, but now… Fang shook his head, as Cassie giggled, mimicking him.

"How come you didn't eat dinner last night, Uncle Fang?"

He shrugged some as Nudge's daughter got back on her knees and began pushing the car around on the hardwood floor. "I slept."

"That's what Mommy said. I didn't think it was very nice though, to eat without you." With that, she pushed her car out of the room, leaving him alone. Fang blinked again before turning back around and getting back to writing in his journal.

"Ew."

"Shut up, Calvin."

Fang sighed as he skinned the rabbit. Cassie smiled at him, watching as his hands got covered with more and more of that rabbits blood. She wasn't like her baby brother. She and Jamie had always liked watching Fang prepare meat for dinner. Now she had to watch alone.

"Nasty," Calvin said now, shaking his head. "Nasty."

"Shut up!"

Now being yelled at by his sister, Calvin began to cry. That was not Fang's job.

"Hey now," he heard along with the snow crunching under someone's feet. "What's with all the tears?"

"I didn't do it," Cassie exclaimed as Dylan came into the shed. Calvin immediately ran to the other man, knowing he would not get comfort from his evil older sister or very cold and calculating uncle. "I didn't."

"What happened?" Dylan asked, this now directed at the other adult in the shed. Fang still just sat there, continuing to skin the rabbits. Angel was making soup for dinner. She needed meat. "Fang?"

"Just get him out of here," Fang grumbled as he continued to prepare the meat. "Take him to Roy. Let his father deal with him."

Dylan followed Fang's orders, as he always did these days. Their rivalry was long dead. Most things these days were long dead.

"I don't like Calvin," Cassie told Fang as she climbed up into one of the chairs at the table. He glanced at her, smiling slightly as her long hair fell in her eyes. He liked Cassie. He had always liked her.

'Yeah," he whispered, going back to slicing.

"Can I help?"

"No."

"Hmph." She crossed her arms, staring hard at him now. When Fang looked back at her though, she broke into giggles.

Cassie looked like neither of her parents. She was mixed, her skin a tan color, her hair dark and long. Her eyes were dark too, the pupils such a dark brown they almost looked black.

Fang remembered once when she was first born, when Jamie was two, him telling Nudge that she was ugly, that she didn't look right. Nudge had gotten mad about that, but the real reason he thought that was easily explainable. It confused him how she came out looking the way she had. Nudge was black, he knew that. Roy was white, Jamie also knew that. When he mixed his white crayon and black crayon together, he did not get brown or tan. Something was fishy about that, to him.

"Uncle Fang?"

"Hmmm?"

"Mommy told me that you and Aunt Max are gonna have another baby."

"Mmmhmm."

"I don't think I'll like it."

"Yeah," Fang sighed, shaking his head. "I don't think I will either."

"I wish Jamie would come back."

She whispered that part, not sure if she was allowed to say that. When Jamie first went away, her mommy and her daddy told her she wasn't allowed to talk about him anymore, especially not to Uncle Fang or Aunt Max. It wasn't fair though. Jamie was her best friend and now he was gone. Why did they expect her to never mention him again?

"I do too," Fang told her in full honesty.

"Then we could play again."

"Yeah."

"…You think he misses me?"

"Mmmhmm."

"I miss him."

"Me too."

"…You think that maybe the new baby will be him?"

"No," Fang told her, shaking his head. "It won't."

"Oh." She looked back at the dead rabbits sitting on the table. "You don't think he'll ever come back neither, do you?"

"Nope."

"That's too bad."

"Yeah," the boy's father sighed. "It is."

Suddenly, Cassie jumped up, heading out of the shed. "I'mma go play with my toys."

"Okay."

"…Uncle Fang?" She has stopped at the door of the shed though, looking back at him.

"Hmmmm?"

"Maybe he will come back though. Maybe."

He wanted to tell her that he wouldn't, that he couldn't, that he was dead. D-E-A-D. When someone's dead, he wanted to say, they don't come back. They're just that. Dead. She would have to grow up eventually and accept it.

Instead, Fang just ducked his head, staring down at the table for a moment. The rabbits were dead. That was a good thing. Death was good. Sometimes. And sometimes it was bad. Maybe he could explain it to her that way. Maybe. That would make sense to a little girl, right? He didn't know. He had never raised one. Not really. Angel hadn't been his, she never had been. Jamie had been his. And look where that got them all.

"Maybe," Fang whispered to her. "Maybe."

Now, hope restored, Cassie headed out of the shed, allowing the door to bang shut behind her.

And once again, Fang was alone.

…Yeah, you guys should have known I wasn't going anywhere. You guys like this one? I'm not sure where I'm going with it, but I usually do better with finishing those kinds of stories.