Thank you so much for the feedback! I am so glad you all are enjoying the story! Please keep the comments coming- I love it!

Usual disclaimer: I don't own Revolution, or the song lyrics included in the next few chapters

(I often like to incorporate lyrics into the chapters that can either correlate or set the tone of the chapter... now switching from "The Killers" to Lorde's cover of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" - it is awesome! If you haven't already heard it, you should check it out! There are even some "Revolution" videos out there that include this song...

Welcome to your life
There's no turning back
Even while we sleep
We will find You acting on your best behavior
Turn your back on mother nature
Everybody wants to rule the world

"I wasn't kidding, Charlie," Miles said as they walked down the familiar dirt road to the Porter home. "Go easy on her...she's been through a lot."

"Haven't we all," a glib tone was evident in Charlie's voice as she continued to walk alongside him.

Bass had stayed outside of town and gone back to the mercenaries' camp. Charlie and Miles thought it would be best not to immediately introduce Bass back into the equation, especially where Rachel was concerned.

Rachel had been very volatile from the time the bombs dropped. She experienced all of the emotions of grief, feeling completely responsible for the devastation and loss felt by so many. Miles and Rachel's father, Gene had tried to help her. Charlie had mentally, figuratively, and physically checked out of the situation by leaving town.

Charlie and Miles walked into the house and were greeted by the smell of stew.

Gene walked through the living room and gave Charlie a warm smile.

Charlie stepped forward to hug him, "Hey Grandpa."

"Hey, Charlie- what a relief to see you...we were so worried about you," Gene said, wrapping his arms around her shoulders.

A figure had come silently down the stairs and was now in the doorway, watching Gene and Charlie embracing and Miles standing there, not sure of what to say.

Charlie saw Rachel first and disengaged from her Grandpa's hug.

"Hi Mom," Charlie said tentatively, taking a few steps toward Rachel.

Rachel gave her a small smile. She stepped forward and hugged Charlie. It was like a forced hug...it was not a sincere embrace normally shared by a mother and daughter...it appeared more like they were behaving in a way that was expected of them, and less in the way of how they actually wanted to interact with one another...Things had always been pretty tense between the two of them and that tension had not dissipated while Charlie had been absent. It was pretty evident to everyone.

"Come on in," Gene said, ushering them back into the kitchen. "We have stew brewing for supper tonight but I have some lunch ready now."

Miles followed the group into the kitchen, putting his arms around Rachel's shoulders and pulling her close to him.

Late Afternoon

Bass and the mercenaries were at their camp preparing to clean their catches for dinner when Bass saw a figure deep in the distance, on the road.

His hand reached for the knife in his back pocket when the figure became more clear as the distance became less. Charlie.

Bass put his knife back in his pocket and walked further out to meet her. "Stay here," he called to the men, "I'll be back.."

Charlie saw him walking toward her and instantly smiled. A smile that he whole-heartedly and sincerely returned.

This was the longest period of time they had been apart in days and Charlie found herself missing being around him-this was a thought that she quickly dismissed and refused to allow back into her consciousness.

"Hey," Charlie said as they approached one another.

"Hey, how did it go with Mommy Dearest?" Bass couldn't help but ask, his tone softer than the question would imply.

Charlie pursed her lips and looked thoughtful. "It went about how you would expect- it was awkward and strained," she replied. "She's in so much pain- everything that happened in the Tower...it haunts her everyday."

"It haunts me everyday too," Bass said quietly. "I led Flynn right in that Tower...I feel responsible for what happened and it isn't something you just get over...I think we will all carry it with us for the rest of our lives."

Charlie nodded quietly. It had certainly been a devastation to her as well. One that she would relive, mainly in the quiet of night...remembering the terror and the gravity of what happened. The feeling of absolutely helplessness to stop destruction and death.

She could barely recognize the person she had been back in Sylvania Estates now- she used to be the girl who would enjoy quiet solitude and looking at postcards of cities that no longer existed. She had not yet known a world of fighting and killing...it had only been a world she heard about from others- a distant scenario so far removed from her daily life, she barely acknowledged the dangerous world outside of her home...but her journey to Miles had changed her. It had opened her eyes to the reality and darkness of this world. She had already been slipping into this new way of thinking and that day in the Tower seemed to sweep away what was left of her innocence and hopeful optimism.

"Are you going back there tonight?" Bass asked quietly pulling Charlie out of her thoughts as she cleaned the blade of his knife.

"I suppose I should...it wouldn't really make sense for me to spend the night away from the house tonight. My mom doesn't exactly know I would have any other place to stay...staying with you is about the last thing she would expect for me to do, even if she knew you were here."

Bass nodded. "I didn't actually mean stay with me, in particular...it's just we - now we have the mercenaries, so," Bass was trying to choose the right words to not appear too affected by her, and for the first time in decades, he felt like a bumbling teenager. What the hell is happening here?

Charlie remained expressionless and shook her head in understanding. "Even so, I would say you have things covered with the mercenaries, after all, they answer to you."

"I did tell the men that they are to also take direct orders from you," Bass said, looking up at that moment and directly into her eyes.

Bass could have said many things that surprised Charlie in that moment, but that statement was one of the most surprising. The power hungry, condescending, egotistical General Sebastian Monroe had been known to execute close friends who tried to toe the line and exert undue power. Monroe had gained a reputation across the Republic as a leader who would not share power.

To think that he would willingly choose to co-lead the mercenaries with Charlie... this was a revelation.

Bass noticed her surprised expression. "I figure you earned it- you are a big reason we got them in the first place...and I know from experience, it gets lonely at the top if you're there by yourself," he said.

Charlie gave him a faint smile.

Bass took Charlie's hand, softly rubbing her forearm and wrist, "I guess you should get back to Miles and Rachel...before Rachel starts to question where you are- Miles isn't exactly thrilled that I'm here at all, he sure wouldn't like having to explain things to her..."

Charlie took the moment to wrap her arm around Bass' waist, pulling him closer.

"Yeah, to be honest, I doubt they have even missed me. They are kind of in their own little world...my mom goes from crying to screaming to laughing and Miles just tries to smooth it over like she is going through a 'phase'...she's not stable, maybe she never was," Charlie said.

Bass looked deep into her eyes, "None of us are stable...some of us just hide it better than others."

At that moment, he leaned down and gave her a small kiss.

"You should probably get back though," he said after a moment and pulled away.

Charlie gave him a small smile and nodded. She began to walk away as he turned to walk the opposite way back to the campsite.

"Hey, Monroe?" she called to him and watched as he turned around to face her again.

"Try not to get into too much trouble while I'm gone, alright?" Charlie asked with a hint of playfulness.

Bass gave her his full mega-watt grin. "You know me, Charlotte- I thrive on trouble."

Charlie laughed and turned to walk back into Willoughby city limits.