Chapter 2:

Watching from the window in Bass' second floor office Charlotte smiled that the temperature had risen enough this afternoon to allow the girls' nanny to take them into the courtyard. The family of snowmen looked surprisingly familiar, but she was not sure how Bass or Miles would react to their dress uniform jackets being used to decorate their likenesses. She knew she didn't appreciate the mop being used for her hair, but limited options led her to decide congratulating her daughters on their creativity would be a better idea. She watched as her little devils ran to the center of the courtyard and dropped to the ground, flailing their little arms to make snow angels. Technically Charlotte was fairly certain she should return her attention to the cabinet meeting, or at least listen to the reports being given, but if she asked, she was confident Jeremy would brief her later. Three years ago Bass had decided it would just be simpler to have her listening to the reports herself and advising him, instead of him pronouncing that he would reflect on their recommendations only to ask her to devise a path. Charlotte loved that he valued her thoughts; she remembered the first idea of hers that he had implemented.

- 18 month after the Blackout: December 19th -

Uncertain if she really liked Philadelphia, a seven-year-old Charlotte charged through the park across the street from Independence Hall. She could hear Danny calling for her to slow down, but was certain those ridiculous militia guards Uncle Miles – no wait, she had to stop calling him that, he was her father. At least that was the point of the argument that she overheard days after they had arrived in the city 2 months ago. If Miles was her dad, and Ben was Danny's dad, and they walked all this way to Philadelphia because her mom made her dad promise, before she died, then adults were ridiculous and liars and way too confusing for her to understand. Clearly, Miles couldn't be her real dad because he didn't hug her or put her to bed or read her stories or even tell her that he was her father; and if he was her real dad then he wouldn't have left her to go fight with some woman named Georgia that attacked some woman named Virginia. "He is ridiculous, and I hate him! It is almost Christmas and now I am followed by two mean trees with swords everywhere I go." She kicked the snow as she walked past the doorway to an enormous, timeworn vacant building.

"Who is ridiculous?" a soft whisper asked as she was almost past the dingy opening.

Turning Charlotte saw a little girl about her age huddled in the corner of the door with a younger girl on her lap. They both looked dirty; their clothes looked like thin rags and Charlotte was somehow sure they were hungry. She stopped and looked toward the voice. Tilting her head before responding, in a defeated tone, "My dad, he left me here to go fight with Georgia – like she is more important than Christmas with me!"

The girl gave her a strange look before responding, "Georgia isn't a girl, it's a country that is evil and killed my dad and stole our farm. Now we have to live in this old empty building because my mom can't find work anywhere! If your dad went to fight them then he is a hero and I love him!"

Catching up to her the Militia guards began to yell at the girls to stay away. Charlotte held up a hand before turning and pronouncing, "You will not yell at my friends! Be quiet or I will tell my father."

The guards looked their pint-sized charge up and down, pausing dumbfounded. Their orders had been clear – this was General Miles Matheson's daughter. He was the Butcher of Baltimore and Commanding General of the Monroe Militia; she was to be kept safe at all cost. Of course, if she told on them – depending on what she said, it could likely end just as badly.

Returning her attention to the girls, "You can't live here. It is cold and snowy and winter. You can come with us; your mom can work for Uncle Bass. Where is your mom?" Turing her little body around on a swivel, as if the woman was somewhere near by waiting to be spoken to, Charlotte announced her commands to the guards. "You," pointing her little finger, "will take us home. And you will wait here and bring their mother when she gets here. We will wait for her in the kitchen and drink warm milk with honey and cinnamon." Charlotte reached a hand out to the girl, "I am Charlotte, this is my brother Danny and those are our guards."

Confused and very scared, the girl looked at the proffered hand for a long moment, before hesitantly reaching out, "Nora," she responded "and this is my little sister Mia. She is 7 and I am 10. Will you really help us?" Smiling Charlotte nodded.

Hours later, as she was getting ready for bed, Charlotte remembered Nora's story. She really thought Miles was a hero for fighting those people. Charlotte thought Nora and Mia's mom was the hero. She had grabbed her daughters and ran into the woods when the soldiers came. Then she tried to save their dad. Charlotte's own mother had just stood there and let someone steal their food and then almost got them killed by screaming until the man shot her. Maybe she should call Miles, dad – it would be nice to have a hero as a dad.

Charlotte had been so wrapped up in thought that she had not realized Bass had come to say good night. Bass looked at his brother's mini-me and smiled at her look of deep, distracted reflection. "Will you let me help you?" he offered.

Startled, Charlotte jumped into the air and whirled around to face the voice. With all the fire of her father, her words assaulted him, "Did you do as I told you and hire Nora and Mia's mom?" She even huffed indignantly. Bass had to choke back his laughter and pretend to be contrite before responding with a nod. "Excellent! You know Nora said her father died because of the Georgia soldiers?" Again Bass nodded. "My father should kill them all." Her voice was steely, but somehow uncertain at the same time. She appeared to be looking for Bass to confirm her feelings as truth. Bass smiled at the fact that he was the first person to hear Miles' little princess use the word father. "Your father will fix this. He will not let them get away."

Dropping down onto the floor near the bed, she looked up sadly, "Does he have doctors with him?" Confused by the question, Bass nodded in confirmation, but did not interrupt her thoughts. "Nora said her dad died because the town didn't have a doctor to help. Do we have doctors?" Bass looked into her watery eyes and nodded with a smile. As he started to respond, Charlotte continued, "Every town should have a doctor. You need to make sure - so little girls don't have daddies that die. People would love you."

Bass leaned down and scooped Charlotte up before dropping her onto the bed. "Of course, I will do as you instruct."

"Lady Monroe?" Jogged from her thoughts Charlotte shook her head before turning to face the assembled regional representative and advisors. She waited without responding, a trick Jeremy had taught her after her first meeting. Before long the representative from the gulf coast repeated his recommendation. "The people of the Mississippi delta want the reinstatement of a postal service. They say that the facilitation of trade routes between regions of the republic could allow people to try to reconnect with long lost family."

Charlotte heard Bass mutter, "I can't believe we are discussing reinstating an organization that was a billion dollar money pit." He then looked at her and must have realized she had not been listening, "This issue is going to be tabled until tomorrow, and I am going to call a close to today's session – it is getting late." Bass stood and walked to Charlotte's side; slipping an arm around her he kissed the top of her head and guided her toward his private offices. After closing the door he queried, "What were you thinking of in there? You clearly were not engaged in that meeting."

"No, I was actually remembering the first time you listened to my advice." Charlotte responded as she leaned into his strong chest.

Nodding Bass spoke, "Best advice I have ever been given – hands down! Miles had returned that night and I told him about your adventure and your new friend. Then I told him how you had commanded me to provide every town with a doctor. The funny thing was, as I said the words it was as if the idea just became so clear. Open a free medical school and provide a trained medical team for any town that swears allegiance to the republic. We had conquered everything east of the Mississippi from Florida to Canada within 14 months with barely any fighting. Miles still makes fun of me that I will go down in history for an achievement that is based entirely on listening to a stubborn seven-year-old girl."

With a laugh, Charlotte responded. "You will be remembered for recognizing the brilliance of others and challenging people to rise to the occasion, but that will be decades from now." Pushing forward, she moved toward the window and when he joined her she giggled at his stunned look.

"Is that my dress uniform on that snowman?"

Barely containing her laughter she replied, "And Miles' dress uniform as well." Turning to face him, Charlotte rose on her toes and pressed her lips against her husband's for a moment. Before the kiss could develop she pulled away, "Would you like to join the girls? We could stop by the kitchen on the way out and visit the kittens we got them?"

Taking her hand in his, Bass kissed her again before leading her toward the door. "And we can have the cook prepare warm milk with honey and cinnamon. I know how you have always loved that."