Disclaimer: I own anyone you do not recognize. Everyone else belongs to Kripke.

A/N: This is a continuation of my previous A/U story 'The Unexpected.' I strongly urge you to go read that before diving into this because you need to know the story line as this starts right where the other left off.

November 2019- Seven Years After the Blackout

The sound of glass breaking, followed by a low, irritated voice caught Nora's attention immediately. She reached for the knife resting on the desk next to her and stood up, trying to make as little noise as possible. As she rounded the corner into the hallway, she scowled, and crossed her arms over her chest.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Mia jumped, nearly hitting her head on the shelf behind her, and turned to face her sister. She had left two hours earlier for school, looking prim and proper in a nice blouse, skirt and shoes. Now she was in dirty riding clothes, hair up in a messy ponytail, and definitely not in class.

"You're supposed to be at school."

"And you're supposed to be with Miles."

"Plans change."

"Yes they do."

"Don't get sassy with me." Nora gave her a cold glare as she bent down to retrieve the broken glass on the floor. Her eyes scanned the back door, noticed the empty pane closest to the doorknob. Mia followed the gaze, then back to her sister. For a moment, neither said anything, then Mia gave a lazy shrug.

"The lock picks weren't working."

"The lock picks weren't working. One, why do you have lock picks and two, why are you breaking into my house at ten o'clock in the morning?"

"Jeremy. You never gave me a key."

"You don't need a key because you're supposed to be in school and typically either myself or Miles is here to let you in once you get home. You're about four hours early. So, what I'm getting from this is you're cutting class and sneaking into my house when I'm not here, or when you think I'm not here."

"I thought it was our house."

"Maybe you should start acting like it is then. Why aren't you in class?"

"Don't act like you're Mom. You're really bad at it." Mia rolled her eyes as she started to walk away.

"Excuse me, I'm not finished so you can get back here." Nora took a deep breath to keep herself calm even though she felt her anger pulsating. "I asked you a question and you're going to give me an answer."

"I don't want to be in school and I don't need to be. I'm seventeen and can make my own decisions."

"Okay. So, as a big, hotshot seventeen year old who can make her own decisions, you didn't feel comfortable enough to make a case for not having to attend school? You figured it'd be better to sneak behind our backs."

"Don't. Our backs. Don't act like it's you and him against me."

"We're not against you but we are your guardians. I don't care if you're seven, seventeen, twenty seven. As long as we are your guardians and you live here, you're going to show both of us respect. Let me explain something to you. You came to me for help. I willingly gave it. I would do anything for you. You are my sister and I love you. So don't you dare stand there and act like this is some awful scenario you're in. You have no idea how lucky you are."

"Oh yeah, I'm so lucky. Forced to stay here and do what you want. Finish school, expected to take some nice, comfy desk job as an assistant, or learn a trade and work in the city at one of the shops or restaurants. Find some nice Militia boy and settle down. Guess what! I don't want it and you can sit there and try and shove your happy, domestic way of life down my throat like you do to everyone else but it's not going to work."

"Do you know what's happening right now, all across the Republic? Kids, your age and younger, are being taken from their families to serve in the Militia. The rest of the kids who can't serve yet? The majority of them live in substandard conditions and are struggling to get through each season. There aren't many kids who get the options you get. Miles and I worked hard to keep you out of the Militia and get you into a school and-"

"You didn't do anything! They're scared of him and will do whatever he says! Everyone looks at me like I could snap my fingers and he'd come running in and slit them all open."

"You have every amenity available to you. God, you live in a fucking palace practically. Anything you need or want, you get it. We're doing everything we can to make sure you're comfortable and happy and instead you're acting like some selfish, ungrateful brat! You came to us! This is what you asked for!"

"You don't do shit! You didn't care back then and you don't care now. I know I'm a burden and you don't want me here and I'm cramping your living style or whatever. Hell, you left me and ran off with him so you could go screw each other and fuck the world up even more! I didn't ask for any of this! I asked you to find Dad and you didn't. All the fucking resources in the world and you would not find him. But Miles's family? You'd walk to Antarctica if you heard they were there!"

"You are unbelievable you know that? I left you with Dad because I knew you'd be safe there and you needed stability. You were a little kid and I wanted what was best for you. I didn't stay because Dad and I never got along."

"Oh so Miles had nothing to do with it."

"It was a lot of things, yes, Miles being one of them. But I never wanted to leave you. I wasn't trying to get rid of you. I just wanted you taken care of and I couldn't do that on my own."

"You were being selfish."

"Mia, we almost died when we were on our own! I wasn't much older than you are now. I can guarantee we would have not made it to Dad if it wasn't for Miles and Bass. It would have been selfish for me to keep you. And as far as finding Dad goes, right now I can't."

"Why?"

"We have other things going on. I can't just go off for personal reasons."

"But you can for Miles."

"That is different!"

"Because it's him and he actually matters!"

"No because his brother was needed for something in relation to the Republic. We were on an actual mission, not personal. So stop pitting yourself against him. I'm sorry that you feel like I'm taking his side more than yours because that's not the case at all. All of this whining and ridiculousness just proves how immature you still are. It's not one or the other. We're a family."

"He's not my family and you're useless. You could find Dad if you really wanted to and you're refusing. So I decided I'm not waiting around for you. I'm going to go find him."

"No you're not."

"I am. I talked to Bass and he has me working with Hudson. That's why I haven't been in school. I've been training. I'm going to learn what I can from him. After that, I'm going on a couple of hunts with Garrett, then when I feel ready, I'm going to find Dad."

"You're not doing this."

"Too late."

"Mia,"

"You can't stop me. You don't own me, you can't control me. You didn't even know I was cutting class. Just goes to show how aware you are of me and how much you really care."

"Right. You're absolutely right." Nora crossed her arms tightly over her chest, trying hard to keep herself under control. She wanted to reach out and slap her sister. "It makes perfect sense to leave the two people who actually give a damn what happens to you. You go ahead and try and find the man who deserted you twice and didn't care if you were alive or dead either time. You clearly know what you're doing and understand the risks of it all. So have fun. What time was your lesson with Jim? You don't want to keep him waiting. Just make sure you let me know when you're leaving so I don't waste any time wondering if you're coming home."

"Bass,"

He lifted his head from the papers he was reading and raised an eyebrow as he saw Nora in the doorway of his office.

"This is a surprise. Close the door." he stood from the chair, buttoned his jacket, and walked towards her. "What's going on?"

"Mia told me you arranged for her to start bounty hunting."

"Yes I did. I figured she'd have the same knack for it that you do."

"What are you doing?"

"Allowing an up and coming young woman to refine her skills. Always plan ahead. I've watched her. Quite remarkable. Crazy to think that little, talkative, Disney know-it-all kid turned into her."

"Miles and I specifically said she wouldn't be involved with anything and you went behind our backs."

"She's not technically involved in anything. When the time comes, she'll be a contracted help, much like yourself. If anyone went behind your backs, it was her."

"You could have made us aware of what she was planning."

"According to the law, she is an adult. I don't need to make you aware of anything."

"Bass, she just turned seventeen. She doesn't know what she's getting herself into."

"What do you want Nora? Tell me. I'll make it happen."

"I want you to tell her no." she paused, rethinking her sister's words. She swallowed, knowing eventually, Mia was going to get her own way. "Just for now. Give her an extended training period but do not send her on hunts."

"Fine."

"Really?"

"Of course."

"Thank you." she started to turn away but his soft laugh made her look back at him. He shook his head slightly at her.

"I'll do it... but you need to do something for me." he moved in closer and she froze, tensing up immediately. "Relax. I'm not going to bite. I just want one thing."

"Bass,"

"Shh." they were practically touching at that point and then his arm was around her waist, locking her tight against him so she had nowhere to go. She clenched her eyes shut, breathing deeply. She attempted to move but his grip was too strong. His head tipped down to hers and he leaned his forehead gently against the side of her head, nose pressed into her hairline. He sighed quietly, murmuring her name against her ear.

"Bass,"

"How willing are you to keep her safe?" his free hand came up, caressing the side of her neck lightly. "Hmm?"

He pulled his head back so he could look her in the eye and smirked as he saw the grimace on her face.

"Open your eyes and look at me." his hand moved up to her cheek and he dug his fingers in, making her hiss and her eyes popped open reluctantly. "I'll do it. I will. Just give me what I want."

"No."

"No?" he leaned in and she tried to lean her head back but he quickly moved his fingers into her hair and kept a tight grip on her. "You sure? I could do whatever you want, more so than Miles can. You tell him about Mia, he'll put an end to it. I'll just override him."

Now, he moved in completely and brushed his mouth over hers, making her whimper loudly and struggle against him. It wasn't a complete kiss but he remained there, whispering against her lips.

"So you'd put Miles over Mia. Is that it? Guess it doesn't mean as much as you think then. If you truly wanted her to stay, you'd be willing to do whatever it took."

"You're despicable. You know that?"

He chuckled and finally released her. She moved away quickly and glared at him as she blindly reached for the door.

"She leaves the day after Christmas. But if she keeps making as much progress as Hudson says, it will most likely be sooner. As always, the offer stands. Just let me know if you change your mind."

Once the door slammed behind her, she quickly made her way through the halls to Miles's office. She didn't know if he would be there. He had been taking care of various matters with Alec and he had told her not to expect him to be around most of the day. Yet he was there when she opened the door, shaking visibly and close to tears.

"What the hell?" he immediately stood up and was in front of her in a second. "What's the matter?"

She broke down into quiet sobs and pressed her face into his chest. She didn't know what she was crying for. It could have been Bass, the fact he had kissed her, the fact she had technically betrayed Miles even if it was against her will. It may have been that she had, for one slight moment teased the idea of sleeping with Bass just to keep Mia safe, or it was the fact that she had chosen her loyalty to Miles over Mia, reiterating her sister's harsh yells that she would pick him over her and she did not matter.

"Honey, you gotta tell me what happened. I don't know what's going on." he rubbed her back gently, then took a step back in order to look at her. He cupped her face in his hands, wiped tears away, but the gentle gesture only made her cry harder because it reminded her of Bass, bringing the whole scenario full circle once more. She should have known that going to him would have ended badly. She was so stupid to think otherwise. "Nora,"

They stared at each other and she was ready to let it all out. But as she looked at him, she could not find the words to let him know what his best friend- his brother- had done because she knew how much it would hurt him. It would cause so many more problems and even though he had told her to let him know if something like this happened, she couldn't. Instead she would let him know about Mia. That in itself was enough to drive her to tears and make a believable cover story.

She inhaled a deep breath, then let out another choked sob, but managed to find her voice, "M-Mia is uh- she told me this morning she's planning on bounty hunting because she thinks I don't care about her or finding my dad so she's going to take matters into her own hands."

"Oh. Babe, don't let this bother you. I'll take care of it."

"No. She's... she's been cutting school and training with Hudson. She's-" she ran her tongue along her lip, letting her eyes close. All she could hear was Bass telling her he'd override Miles's order. "It doesn't matter. She's going- one way or another. Miles, I- I tried so hard."

She wasn't sure what the last part was about. It was definitely about she had tried so hard to take care of Mia but there was the underlying part that she tried so hard to stay away from Bass.

"Do you want me to talk to her?"

"She's not going to listen." more tears spilled over and he pulled her into another hug, holding on tightly. She clung to him, trying to focus on the feel of his touch and let it erase away the memory of Bass's. It didn't and she felt sick to her stomach.