So now that I have finished my night job and realized work shouldn't consume all my time... I have caught up on my reading and finally begun my promised 3rd segment of this story. It picks up 7 years later, but will include a number of flashbacks to a more adult version of how Charlotte and Bass fell in love and got married, a look at Miles and Nora and a 'present day' exploration of the children that populate this fantasy world I created. I hope you will enjoy reading this, and love to hear feedback/thoughts, so please comment. And, in case you are wondering, I don't own the Revolution characters...

Life in Your Years

7 years later – May

Strolling across University Park Bass made his way toward his new office in College Hall. In two days he would be retiring from the presidency of the Monroe Republic and, after what he believed was a well-earned summer of rest, next fall he would start as the chairperson and first professor of the newly reformed history department of the University of Pennsylvania. When he had approached Ben it had taken little convincing for the University president to expand the predominately medical course load to include course in early American history, Civil War history and the history of the Monroe Republic. Funny thing was it had taken a great deal more effort to convince his replacement as leader of the republic to step up, but it had all worked out and now as he slowly strode across the quad Bass wished he had done this years ago. Pausing to sit on a stone bench, Bass looked out at the young students laughing as they moved toward classes or sitting on the grass as they studied – this moment almost felt like it could have been happening pre-blackout. In the nearly 35 years since the blackout so much had dramatically changed, but somehow this sunny, beautiful May moment had not. Reflecting on the past 3 years, Bass knew he was right to transition power now, while he and Miles were still healthy.

They had spent a little more than 2 years helping Tre Blanchard defend Texas' borders from his father and the armies of California, after Frank had died – it had been easier to defeat and annex Mexico than to settle the crazy mess that was California. At one point he and Miles had even considered dusting off the amplifier and 'just ending this shit', as Miles had said, but that momentary consideration had led them to destroying the amplifier and pendants for good – they were comfortable knowing they could stop, but it seemed like tempting fate, that the wrong hands might somehow get hold of the power. In the end, Jr. had died in battle and California had fallen under Texas' control. Eight months had passed since the treaty and Bass and Miles had used that time to ramp up the propaganda machine and excite the people of the Republic to embrace the change. Miles intended to remain a consultant, but, at the party for his 65th birthday Miles would officially turn over command of the Militia to General Jeremy Baker, and that made both he and his brother smile.

That same evening would officially mark the moment that Charlotte became the second ruler of the Monroe republic. She was smart, compassionate and, at 40, she could rule for the next 20 years – giving the children the chance to grow up and allowing one of them to develop the skills to lead a country. The plan had been Bass' smartest idea, until he stupidly decided to discuss it with Miles before asking his wife… god that had been a bonehead move. But after she was done being annoyed that he had planned it all out with her father, he got to spend the day making it up to her in bed. It was peace time and Bass was confident that his brilliant wife was the perfect person for the job; besides the laws of the Republic stated any 'Monroe or Matheson by blood' could be appointed upon the retirement of the previous president.

Tre had even sent his sons up for the impending celebration. Bass was happy to have them here and had promised to watch over Troy Blanchard next fall when he and Ross started as freshman here at the university. Those two had been fast friends when they met at 10 and they were looking forward to chasing women while rooming together. Miles had mentioned that he heard them talking about reviving a fraternity house on the campus. Evidently, Troy had written about Greek life still being an active part of the University of Texas and highlighted the fun of starting a brotherhood here.

Shaking his head at the time he had let pass, Bass rose and moved quickly toward the building that housed is new office. As he walked along the quad, Bass noticed a stone with "Alpha Chi Rho" carved into it below the big window in the center of the front façade of the only house directly facing the center of campus. Noting the ΑΧΡ above the front door, Bass turned to judge the proximity to his office. He had no real idea what the inside looked like having been locked up all these years, but it was a solid stone structure and it was within clear viewing distance to his office, so Charlotte would have daily reports on the safety of her son – as if he couldn't be kept safe without his 'mommy'. Grumbling Bass remembered the argument they had had when he had proposed the idea of sending Ross off to the Militia academy. Bass had felt positive that learning to be a Marine like his father was a fine education for his son. Charlotte had threatened to remove his favorite body part if he ever mentioned it again. Funny thing was, Charlotte and Nora were the ones who had tossed out the idea that Nate, Noah, Marcus and Jake would benefit from a Militia Academy education. He suspected it was either that or the two women might go crazy trying to rein in their mischief. Continuing on his path, Bass laughed at the memory of Miles getting berated by Nora when he suggested, after a particularly challenging day, that it was nothing more than 'boys being boys' and she should 'let them have their fun'. In that moment Charlotte had turned on him and asked if he agreed. Not being stupid, Bass had said, "No! That is ridiculous behavior and it has to stop. I'll go upstairs immediately and confine them to their room." As he had walked past Miles, he heard the muttered, "Thanks a lot you kiss ass, dickhead." But Bass didn't care, because he escaped the yelling Nora and Charlotte felt supported.

Walking up the center staircase, Bass entered the 1870 Gothic building made of stones with and odd greenish hue and walked directly into Ben's office for their meeting.

- Across town: Independence Hall –

The small cast iron bell clanked to life as Charlotte pushed the door open and entered the greenhouse that had been built in the courtyard for Danni. Looking around the large plant filled room, Charlotte searched for her beautiful mini-me. The center row had two large work tables covered in plant clippings, herbs, and empty potters. Beneath the work tables 3 large canvas bags of composted dirt sat waiting. Turning to the glass wall facing the afternoon sun, Charlotte admired the stunning beams of green and blue light cast by the wall of hanging flasks reclaimed as planters for clippings to take root. The pear shaped flasks, Florence flat bottom flasks, Erienmeyer cone flasks and the Volumetric flasks, had been reclaimed from a series of old high school science labs and repurposed. "Mom, I'm back here." Danni called out.

Charlotte moved to the opposite wall and walked toward the back. As she turned the corner she saw, Danni returned a test tube to the rack after pouring the contents into a beaker held by a ring clamp and stand. Smiling Charlotte moved to sit on the bench and asked "What are you creating now?"

Smiling Danni answer, "You know very well I am working on the final touches to blend the sauces for the food on the party menu. I imagine this will be my best chance to show dad that a restaurant would be a success."

Reaching out to hug her daughter, Charlotte smiled before responding, "He just wants to keep you to himself. Someday you'll know - you'll meet a nice boy and have a family; and then you won't want to let go of your children either."

Her response was a hearty laugh and a bump of the hip, then a question, "So how does that explain that Nate and Noah will be joining Marcus and Jake next fall for school at the Militia Academy?"

"Your brothers and uncles are special…"

Continuing to shake her head, Danni responded between laughs, "Sure, if you define special as wild monsters."

Cuffing her daughter's bottom, Charlotte moved back toward the seat and began to stroke Danni's aging cat. "Let's just say, that the 4 of them together are aging me quicker than I would like."

Without looking at her mother Danni asked, "Do you remember when Claire and I were little and you used to tell us stories about how you and dad fell in love?" Charlotte nodded and then waited for her daughter to continue. The pause was longer than she expected, but the question came, "How did you really decide dad was the one?"

- A second floor window overlooking the courtyard –

The deep, gravelly voice interrupted Claire's thoughts, "Have you told them?"

Without looking Claire whispered, "No Robert; no I haven't. Is that question your way of telling me you made your decision about coming along on my adventure?" Claire smiled as she waited for the answer she had prayed for since they had discussed her plans.

Taking a seat on the bench along the end of her bed, Robert scanned the comfortable room. He supposed he was not surprised that she was willing to leave all this behind; he had been guarding her for 7 years now and all she had ever wanted was to travel. Her idea seemed insane to him, but he didn't think he could just let her go off into the world unprotected. Claire was sweet and innocent and beautiful, as much as he knew that he could not stop her from jumping onto a naval vessel bound for South America; he knew he would be going – and not because the generals would assign him to go. "When do we leave?" was his only acknowledgement of his decision to make the trip.

Spinning around Claire launched herself at Robert, knocking him back onto her bed. She smiled down at him as she lay draped across his body, "Thank you! I promise you won't regret this!" she squealed.

Seconds later the door banged open and an irate General Miles Matheson entered to find his granddaughter top her guard on her bed. As Robert attempted to extradite himself from her hug and put space in between himself and the murderous and imposing older man, he realized leaving the country might be the best thing he could do in this moment. Surveying the scene he had stumbled upon as he walked down the hall to meet Nora for a mid-afternoon nap, Miles bellowed "What in the hell are you thinking Pike? And you better damn well believe that you will regret being in bed with my granddaughter."