A/N The following story is for Futaiim who requested a little something to go along with a fab gif set she'd made on Tumblr where General Monroe teaches a Civil War History class….

Imagine, if you will… the blackout happened, but Bass never met or lost Shelly. He and Miles did form the Republic and they currently lead it together with the help of their advisor Jeremy. Bass drinks too much and is a known womanizer. He has a dark side, but he keeps it in check. For the most part, he is a good President.

Imagine also that Charlie is not the timid, sheltered girl who was abandoned by her mother. Instead she is the headstrong and confident daughter of supportive parents who want only the best for her. She is adventurous and bold and not afraid to go after what she wants.

Rachel and Ben have just moved to Philadelphia where they plan to open a scientific research lab for the flourishing Republic. Danny and Charlie move to Philly with them. Charlie quickly settles into a routine that includes enrolling in the brand new Monroe University…

Got it? Let's go.

Strategy Session

Bass, Miles and Jeremy are standing around a table that is covered with maps of the Plains Nation, an area which is currently in the midst of an ugly civil war.

"As long as they stay west of the Mississippi, we're fine." Miles says before pointing to a spot near St Louis. "This is the area I'm most worried about. There have been a lot of skirmishes here in the last few weeks. So far nothing has spilled over, but I'm concerned."

Jeremy frowns, "We don't want to get bogged down in someone else's war again. Can't we just sit this one out? We got lucky when we helped Georgia fight Texas. Who knows if we'd do as well with these crazy Plains Nation wackjobs?"

Bass nods slowly, "Let's send some troops to sit on the border near any of the hotspots and wait to see what happens. I agree. We don't need to get in the middle of this one. You know, in all honesty this reminds me of the American Civil War. So many of the same mistakes are being made…"

He's cut off by a collective groan from his two closest friends. Bass narrows his eyes at them. "What?" he asks.

"You talk about the damned Civil War all the time Bass. Give it a rest." Miles shrugs. "We have more important stuff to discuss anyway."

Bass smiles tightly at them and nods. "Fine. I'll stop for now. What do you want to talk about?"

"Ben and Rachel are finally settled into their new place. Thought we could throw them a little party?"

"Since when do you need to get permission for a party?" Jeremy asks with an eyebrow curved high.

"Since I want to have it at Bass's house. No other place is big enough for the kind of party I have in mind." Miles grins. "Nothing is too good for my big brother."

"It's fine. Use the house. I don't care. Where is all this overt brotherly love coming from though? I thought you two were on the outs." Bass frowns at his friend.

"Well, you're right. Ben and I are not seeing eye to eye right now, but his kids moved here too and they are the real reason I want to have a party. They're good kids."

"So a kid party? Like with clowns and balloons and shit?" Jeremy's smile has vanished. "I think I'll be busy washing my hair."

"They are not little kids, Assface. Charlie is 21. Danny is 19. Danny is pretty low key but Charlie has a wild streak just like her good old Uncle Miles. That girl can drink as much as I can." He's grinning proudly.

"Wow. I haven't seen Ben's kids in maybe a decade. It will be good to see them again." Bass says remembering the gangly girl and her skinny brother from all those years ago.

"You know," Miles says, "Charlie is going to be part of the first class at Monroe University. I talked to her the other day. She's a nerd about history the same way her parents are about science. You two might have a lot to talk about."

Bass smiles. He's very excited about his brand new university. "I'm glad to hear that someone we know will be part of the first class."

"That's what you should do Bass." Jeremy is looking at him thoughtfully.

"What?"

"All that boring Civil War bullshit you're always telling us about… maybe you should teach a class about that at that new school of yours?"

The Party

When Charlie arrives at the party, it is already well under way. She's torn. On one hand, she wants to see Uncle Miles. He's promised her some top shelf whiskey, and she does love to drink. On the other hand, she's promised her Mom she'd be a good girl tonight. Drinking with Uncle Miles does not usually go hand in hand with good behavior.

And then there's the dress. It was also her Mother's doing. Blue and silky, it clings, hanging all the way to the floor with a slit that goes up one thigh. Rachel had brought little silver shoes to go with the dress. Charlie feels like an idiot in this outfit. She is far more comfortable in jeans or plain skirts. She likes tall boots and tank tops. This dress is as far outside her comfort zone as is humanly possible. Rachel is worried that Charlie isn't usually feminine enough. She doesn't want her daughter to be just one of the guys. "I certainly don't look like one of the guys tonight." Charlie thinks as she climbs the stairs to the front entrance of the Presidential mansion. Two guards in Militia uniforms are standing at the door. One ogles her cleavage. The other is staring at a strip of exposed thigh that peeks out with every step she takes.

"You should probably know that General Matheson is my uncle." She says with a sugary sweet smile. "He'll slice you in half if he sees you looking at me like that. Hell, I'd do it myself but this dress doesn't allow a lot of room for my knife." The men look guilty and nervous, but both manage to keep their eyes off her curves long enough to let her pass.

She reaches the ballroom in moments. It is a very large room. The walls are lined with candles. A small band plays softly in one corner. A bar along one wall is lined with men and women ordering drinks. The dance floor is filled with swirling bodies. She has no sooner crossed the threshold when she hears her name being called out. Charlie grins when she sees Miles approaching. The two have become very close over the years. Miles had visited her family every summer. He is the biggest reason she had agreed to move to Philly in the first place. She'd simply missed him. When Miles picks her up and swings her around in a big circle, she throws her head back and laughs.

"You clean up good kid. Probably gonna have to fight off the slobbering goons all evening."

"Just another Saturday night then." She responds with a mischievous grin. "Now where is this whiskey you promised me?"

"Ah, thanks for reminding me." He wraps an arm around her shoulder and fishes inside his uniform with his free hand. After a moment he brings out a silver flask with a large C engraved on the side. "I missed your birthday this year. Here's your gift." Miles grins down at her as she takes the flask.

"I love it!" Charlie says, leaning up to give him a kiss on the cheek. "And it's full. Even better."

"I don't know where you're going to put it though. That dress doesn't appear to have any pockets."

xxxxxxxxxx

"Who is that?" Bass asks, his eyes glued to the woman he's spotted near the bar. She is easily the most beautiful creature he's ever seen and he wants to meet her. Hell, he wants to do a lot more than meet her, but introductions are good enough for now.

"Who's who?" Jeremy asks. He's already pretty drunk and isn't sure who Bass is talking about.

"In the blue dress by the bar."

Jeremy looks, squinting. He sees her and lets out a deep breath. "No."

"What do you mean, no?" Bass scowls. "I asked who she is."

"Yeah, and I'm telling you NO. I mean, sure I'll tell you who she is, but you have to stop looking at her like that."

Bass glares at Jeremy. "Why? Who is she?"

"That's Charlie Matheson, Dipshit. If you touch her, Miles will kill you and revive you just to kill you again."

Bass lets his gaze travel up and down Charlie's body which is somehow both lean and curvy. "Dying twice will be a small price to pay." He says quietly, savoring the view.

Jeremy just shakes his head. This will not end well. "You know he thinks of her as a daughter. They are really close. He's just not going to be okay with you and her doing well, anything …." he breaks off, seeing the steely determination in his friend's eyes.

"Introduce me." Bass orders, using his authoritative General voice that Jeremy hasn't heard in years.

"Your funeral." Jeremy agrees with a shrug.

xxxxxxxxxx

Miles has wandered off and Charlie is waiting for him to return when she senses that someone is watching her. She looks up and sees him. It's been ten years, but she would know him anywhere.

President Sebastian Monroe.

Charlie's heart skips a beat as she sees him approaching. She remembers the only other time she met him. Bass and Miles had been visiting Ben's family in Chicago at the time. They had only been there for a week, but it was a week she'd never forget. At eleven, Charlie's crush on Bass had been immediate and fierce. He had been sweet and kind to her, humoring the way she worshipped him. He said she reminded him of his sisters. He'd given her a hug when he left. She'd cried for days afterward.

In moments Bass is right in front of her. He is wearing his dress uniform. His curls are tamed. His eyes are ice blue. He is beautiful. She glances quickly up and down his form and has to catch her breath. The President is sex on a stick. Damn.

At first he doesn't speak. He just stares into her eyes and she feels her belly quiver with sudden and unexpected need. This is what raw lust feels like. All consuming want surges through her body. She meets his gaze head on. This is not a childish crush. What she's feeling now is new and hot. Never in her twenty-one years, has Charlie felt this drawn to another person without so much as a word spoken. It's as if the whole room has faded away and all that is left is the two of them.

"So, uh…" Jeremy is looking from Bass to Charlie. There is some serious tension between these two. "Charlie this is Bass… uh, I mean President Monroe. Bass this is Miles's niece Charlie."

Bass holds out a hand. "Dance with me?" he asks her, ignoring Jeremy completely.

She nods, placing her hand in his and following him to the dance floor in spite of Jeremy's protests. Bass pulls her into his arms and they begin to move as one. He is a very good dancer; his body is liquid grace, all hard and firm. His eyes still bore into hers. It is unsettling and confusing and oh so very arousing.

"You know, we've actually met before." She finally says, feeling the need to fill the silence with something. Anything.

"I remember." His lips twitch with the beginnings of a smile. "You were different then."

"I was eleven. You called me Kiddo."

A slow grin stretches across his face and the skin around his eyes crinkles. Need shoots through her and just like that, she's wet. Bass leans in close, his lips just barely brushing against her ear. "Well, you're all grown up now, aren't you? I promise I'll never call you Kiddo again." As if to reinforce this statement, his hand slides slowly down until it is resting gently over the swell of her ass. She sucks in a breath. Her body is on fire.

"Do you always move this fast?" she asks breathlessly.

He pauses, pulling back to look into her eyes, "No." His gaze drops to her lips and he leans in almost close enough to kiss her. "Definitely no."

She can feel his breath on her mouth and she purrs against him. "So why now? Why me?"

"I have no idea." And then his lips are touching hers. The kiss is feather light and so insanely hot that Charlie feels it in her bones. The kiss only lasts seconds, but they are both breathing heavily when they part. She looks into his eyes and sees something animalistic and needy in their depths.

"Seems like you're used to getting whatever you want." She says, her voice husky. She weaves the fingers of one hand into the curls at the nape of his neck. She feels his shiver.

"Always." He murmurs, biting down lightly on her ear lobe, their bodies swaying as one.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ben finds Miles at the bar. "Nice party Miles. Thanks for doing all this." He's clearly uncomfortable.

Miles takes a drink from the glass of whiskey he's holding and looks at his brother for a moment. "Glad to do something for you guys. Pretty excited to have you and of course the kids here in Philly."

"And Rachel too, no doubt." Ben frowns.

Miles sighs heavily, "Hey, you know that was over a long time ago. I don't know how many times I can tell you I'm sorry."

"I know." They just stand there quietly drinking for a minute before Ben continues, "You remember my father-in-law Gene?"

"Uh, yeah. I think I met him at your wedding."

"Well, he and Rachel's Mom were up for a visit right before we moved and he says that Charlie reminds him a lot of Rachel when she was the same age."

"Okay…" Miles says, clearly not sure what this means. "I didn't know Rachel then. What was she like?"

Ben chuckles ruefully, "Well, she was wild and adventurous and she pretty much always picked the wrong guys, to uh… be adventurous with." Ben shrugs.

"Why are you telling me this? Miles asks, not even slightly comfortable thinking about the possibility that Charlie is like that.

"Because back home when one of us would find Charlie making out with some local idiot I could say something to stop it."

"You don't think you can now?"

"Not when said local idiot is my President, no." he nods toward the dance floor where Charlie is dancing closely – far too closely – to President Monroe. As Miles watches, Bass's hand slides down over the curve of Charlie's ass, pulling her closer to him.

Miles is on the move in a split second.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"No. HELL NO!" Miles voice breaks through the fog they're in. Bass and Charlie pull apart slightly. Miles is shaking his head and he does not look happy.

"You." He points to Charlie. "Go talk to your family. Your Mom has been looking for you."

"You." He points to Bass. "Stay the fuck away from my niece, and definitely never ever touch her ass like that again." When Bass opens his mouth to argue, Miles moves closer. "I am not kidding. Stay away from her." Charlie moves away, and glances once over her shoulder at President Monroe. His gaze is smoldering.

This isn't over.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

"How's it going?" Jeremy asks Bass. The President has been sitting by himself at a large corner table. He has been broody and irritable ever since Miles cut his dance with Charlie short earlier.

"I've been better." Bass says shortly.

"Sorry, man but I told you that wasn't going to work."

"Oh, it will work. Just give me time. She may just be my Bathsheba, Jeremy."

"Your bath what?" Jeremy looks at him blankly.

"Didn't your Mom ever take you to church?"

"My mom ran a strip club. Church is not a place where we spent a lot of time."

"Well King David had everything he could possibly need, but one day he sees this woman taking a bath and he wants her. He doesn't care that she's unavailable. He wants her on sight. He has to have her. That's how I feel tonight…like no price is too high."

"Let me guess… things didn't end well for your King David?"

Bass shrugs, "He gets Bathsheba, but has to do some bad stuff to get her, and then God sort of curses him and his life is hard afterward…"

"But?"

"But he got her. Like I said, no price too high."

Jeremy shakes his head, "Charlie isn't married, but you are going to have a hard time getting around Miles. How did King David get around the fact that his lady was unavailable?"

"He sent her husband to the frontlines of battle where death was certain…"

"You aren't going to send Miles to St Louis are you?" Jeremy cocks an eyebrow.

"I guess we'll see. It all depends on how big an obstacle he plans to be." He looks up and meets Jeremy's eyes. The President is cold and determined. " I need you to do something for me."

"What?" Jeremy asks warily.

"Take this to her." Bass holds out a small piece of paper.

"No."

"Are you refusing to obey a direct order?"

Jeremy is pensive. He doesn't know what he should do. Bass and Miles are both like brothers to him. He doesn't want to be in the middle of whatever this is. "If I don't, are you sending ME to the front lines too?"

Bass smiles, but his smile is icy. "No price is too high."

"Fine, I'll do it." Jeremy takes the paper and leaves Bass to his table.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Charlie finds her Mom and gets the once over. "You look lovely Charlie. That dress is perfect."

"Thanks Mom. It isn't too bad."

Rachel shakes her head with a little smile. "No Sweetie, you are beautiful. I couldn't help but notice you dancing with President Monroe."

Charlie feels heat rise in her cheeks, "Yeah, he is a very good dancer."

"You know, he's the Republic's most eligible bachelor." Rachel tries to look innocent, but her lips twitch and Charlie can see something is up.

"Mom?" Charlie arches an eyebrow carefully, "Are you trying to set me up with the President?"

Rachel shrugs, "Well, you could do worse. He's kind and intelligent. He's got a steady job and he's very easy on the eyes. I'd like to see you settle down some so you can concentrate of school."

"Don't you think he's a little old for me?" But even as she says the words, Charlie remembers the feel of his body against her own and the truth is he did not feel old. At all.

"I remember how much you liked him when you were younger. I saw the way you looked at him tonight. The way you danced with him tonight… It seems like some things haven't changed."

"Mom, I'm not eleven anymore."

"Seems like he noticed that too." Rachel smiles coyly at her daughter.

Charlie just shakes her head, "I can't believe you are even suggesting…"

"Don't play innocent with me Charlie. Don't forget who walked in on you and Jonah Shipman in the barn two summers ago… or last year with that Militia recruiter."

Charlie smirks, "I never claimed to be an innocent…" her voice trails off as she remembers the way it felt to dance with Monroe. "The age difference seems big. That's all."

"I know. I know. Listen, if nothing is there then by all means move along. All I'm saying is if there is something there, maybe explore it a little. Happiness isn't guaranteed. Don't pass it up if you can help it. That's all." Her Mom's smile is sad, and her eyes wander to the other side of the room. Charlie follows her mother's gaze and sees she's looking at Miles.

"Even if something IS there, Miles isn't going to let it happen."

"Tell you what Charlie, if you decide you want to pursue something there, just tell me. I'll take care of Miles. Your Dad too, if need be. Okay?"

"Okay Mom. I'll think about it. I'm gonna go find Danny now."

Rachel nods absently and Charlie walks away. In moments, Jeremy has fallen into step beside her. "Something for you Miss." He says with a reluctant smile. "I'm giving you this because my Boss told me to and not because I support or don't support whatever is happening. I'm neutral. Just call me Switzerland."

She takes the piece of paper and stops, reading it silently. The note is simple. "Library at midnight". She looks up at Jeremy. "Where is the library?"

He points to one of the elaborate arched doorways. "Through that door, down the hall. Second door on the left."

Charlie nods, her thoughts whirling. "What time is it right now?"

He pulls a pocket watch from inside his uniform. "You have about five minutes." He says.

She grins at him, "So you read my note, eh Switzerland?" and then she's heading for the door.

He calls out after her, "I'm neutral Bathsheba, but I'm also very curious."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Bass is standing by the fire place in his library, staring into the flames. He isn't sure Charlie will show, but he hopes she will. He closes his eyes remembering the feel of her body and the way she responded to his touch. He doesn't ever remember being so attracted to anyone so quickly. Not ever.

Bass doesn't care what Miles thinks. Not this time. He wants Charlie Matheson. He wants her like a drowning man wants air.

He hears the door open and shut. He turns and sees her. The firelight shimmers off the fabric of her blue dress and Bass finds his eyes drawn to the shadowy space between her perfect breasts. That dress is amazing and she looks amazing in it. She walks toward him but stops before she's close enough to touch.

"I can't stay long." She says, her voice a sultry caress.

"Then why are you wasting time way over there?" his lips twitch with the beginnings of a smile, but his eyes burn hot.

She walks closer. The shimmery fabric of her dress clings to her curves. The candlelight casts soft shadows over her skin. She is breathtaking. "Your lackey just called me Bathsheba. Does this mean you are my King David?"

Bass chuckles, "Someone knows their Bible stories."

"Only the good ones." She responds as she reaches him, placing a hand on his chest, leaning in close enough to smell his skin.

Her nearness is intoxicating and he reaches out, tentatively stroking the flesh of her arm with the softest touch. He dips his chin lower, his lips trailing across her cheek. "How old are you anyway?" he asks, suddenly wondering if he needs to modify any laws before moving forward.

She laughs and her breath is hot on his neck. "Twenty-one." She says. "How old are you?"

"You don't want to know." He replies before using his free hand to tilt her face to his. Bass brushes his lips across hers. Charlie melts into the kiss, responding with a surprising urgency that matches his own. She slides her tongue between his lips and he pulls her closer still. Their bodies are now tightly locked in an embrace as the kiss deepens. Bass reaches down with one hand, sliding his fingers inside the high slit in her skirt. She purrs against his mouth as he runs his palm along her thigh.

Charlie pulls back from his kiss, "Like I said, I can't stay long."

Bass buries his face in her neck, inhaling her scent, "Why not?"

"Miles invited my family over to his place for a night cap." She feels a shiver as his lips brush against her pulse point.

"You could have a night cap right here." His hand slowly journeys from her thigh up her side before cupping her breast ever so lightly.

"That's…tempting, but I'd better not." Her voice catches as he squeezes her breast, tweaking the nipple through the thin fabric of her dress and sending waves of desire to her core.

"You are a fascinating woman, Charlie." His lips are on her ear, nibbling at the lobe, breathing hot with each word spoken.

Charlie shrugs, "Fascinating for being so young, you mean?"

"No. You are fascinating without any qualifiers. You. Fascinate. Me." He's looking at her now, his eyes an icy blue and she feels as if he is gazing into her soul.

She tilts her head slightly, eyeing him with curiosity, "Why?"

"I have no idea." Bass shakes his head as if he is truly confounded. "All I know is that I want you."

"And you always get what you want?"

Bass pulls her close, his mouth on her ear once more. "Always, Charlie."

She laughs as she pulls from his embrace. "Not tonight Mr. President. I have to go." Charlie turns to leave and Bass follows.

"When can I see you again?"

"Based on my Uncle's reaction to our dancing together… I'm going to have to say never." She answers with a smirk.

"That is unacceptable." His face is stony.

Charlie shrugs, "We'll see. I'm not willing to hurt my family just to get laid."

Bass closes the space between them and pulls her close again, his mouth on her ear. "I think you are underestimating how good getting laid by me will be." His hand moves down to stroke her thigh once more. He loves the feel of her flesh through the slit in her dress.

"Will be?" her voice is low and husky. "Look at you being all cocky again."

He moves, so that his erection presses thick and hard into her belly. "You could say that."

She finds his mouth with her own and kisses him thoroughly. "As tempting as that is – and I admit, it is very tempting - I really do have to go." Pulling from his grasp once more, she makes her way to the door.

"I want to see you again." He says.

Charlie watches him for a moment, torn between her childish crush on this man and the very grown up feelings he's stirring in her tonight. As she grasps the door knob she says, "You're the President of the Republic. I suppose if you want to see me again, you'll figure out a way to make that happen."

Bass watches the door close softly behind her. "Yes, I definitely will."

A Different Kind of Strategy Session

The next morning Captain Jeremy Baker is summoned to Monroe's office.

He enters without knocking and sees Bass staring out a window, his arms crossed.

"You rang, Sir?"

"I've decided to take your advice." Bass speaks without turning.

"Well, that's a first." Jeremy smirks as he perches on the corner of Monroe's desk.

"Maybe…" Bass says, "This is the first time your advice is worth taking."

Jeremy laughs, "Yeah, that's probably it. What advice are you going to take anyway? I'm sure I've given you lots of it."

"I'm going to teach a class on the civil war at the new University." Bass answers, still gazing out his window.

Jeremy is pleasantly surprised, "I think that's fabulous, Sir. What can I do to help?"

"Two things." Bass says, still without turning, "First, get your ass off my desk. It's an antique."

"Sorry." Jeremy says as he moves to a chair with a small smile. "And the other thing?"

"Go to Monroe University. Find the Dean. His name is Brewer."

"And what, pray tell, do I say to Dean Brewer?" Jeremy asks.

"You'll ask for Charlie Matheson's class schedule of course." Bass turns now and Jeremy can see the sheer determination on his old friend's face.

"Because?" Jeremy asks, apprehensive.

"Because I need to know which of the classes she's already enrolled in to replace with mine."

"Of course."

Bass arches a brow, "Something you have to say, Baker?"

"Well, one thing, yes."

Bass nods for Jeremy to continue.

"When this all blows up in your face, Sir… please do NOT say that it was my advice you were following."

Bass throws his head back and laughs, "Deal." He points to the door, still smiling, "Now go."

Jeremy stands and heads to the door, looking back over his shoulder when he reaches it, "You're sure about this?"

"No price too high, Baker." Bass is staring out the window again, his expression now serious. He does not turn when Jeremy lets himself out. "No price too high." Bass says again under his breath.

A/N: So this was going to be a quick little one-shot…but quickly grew to 15,000 words which is a bit long for one sitting in my opinion. So you'll get the second chap on Sunday and the final on Tuesday. The M rating comes into play in both of the last two installments. Let me know what you think. This is my first S1 fic, though its seriously AU, so not sure it even counts as S1. Ha. Regardless, I hope you like it – especially Futaiim, who inspired the whole thing.

FYI You'll probably see next chap of Sins by Wed and next chap of Fortune Teller by this time next week.