Three months after Ben, Maggie, Aaron, and Danny had entered the capitol large changes had occurred. Aaron and Bass had been working extremely hard to get a college up and running, The Monroe Institute of Higher Learning. It was the first college on the continent and offered classes in Math, History, Science, English, Politics, Law, Medicine, Basic Survival and Agricultural Skills, and the Arts. Maggie had collaborated with some of the best doctors in the Republic and had been one of the founding members of the Medical School. Charlie had opened an orphanage several years earlier, The Charlotte Matheson Home for Orphans, but in the past three months they were able to expand and offer room for an additional 30 children. Ben and Rachel were reluctant to build an amplifier for Monroe but with the threat of Strausser they were slowly getting it done. Danny and Charlie had bonded over his training and his asthma was even becoming more manageable.
The largest change came between Charlie and Bass. They'd been exploring their relationship over the past three months and it was going extremely well. That doesn't mean that they were they didn't have arguments, far from it, they just had more fun making up after screaming and throwing objects across the room at each other. Bass was considered Kaiden's "Daddy" officially and could frequently be heard bragging about his son's developmental milestones. It had taken Charlie nearly a week to convince him not to throw a party when Kaiden had rolled over for the first time. Charlie had moved into Bass' room and her bedroom had been turned into a nursery for Kaiden.
Unfortunately, Danny and Bass didn't get along very well. Danny felt that Bass was abusing his power over Charlie and Bass felt that Danny was going to try and kill him some day. Miles just tried to steer clear of the whole thing and just keep his nephew and best friend from killing each other.
Another large change came from the Plains Nation. Hale and Duncan had staged their coup and had taken over the Plains' government, the clan members loyal to Charlie were quick to help Hale and Duncan and with the support of Militia soldiers along the border, the government was quick to fall. Duncan was instituted as President and Hale, reluctantly, as Vice-President. Duncan was in the Republic's capitol to sign a treaty between the two countries for peace and mutual aid in case of an attack.
"I can't believe how big he is." Duncan said, holding Kaiden and visiting with Charlie in Bass and Miles' office. Bass was in the war room meeting debriefing the latest messenger from Miles in the outlying areas. After hearing from their guests about the actions of the Militia soldiers in the outlying regions the two were livid. They were quick to oversee the conscription camps, outposts, and borderlines and implement punishments for those who were abusing their power and rewarding those who stood up for their citizens.
"I know he's six months old now. He can roll over now and he babbles a lot and we're starting him out on some of our food, after we mash it up of course." Charlie looked proudly on at her son and one of her best friends. Duncan had been the one to teach her about becoming a woman and was always willing to listen and give advice about boys, usually Bass.
"Has he begun crawling yet?" Duncan played with one of his hands but Kaiden just seemed happy to stare at her hair and try to put the dark locks in his mouth.
"Not yet, but he does this thing where he gets up on his hands and he kinda gets his knees under him but then he just rocks back and forth." The two women laughed and Kaiden just smiled along with them.
"He's such a happy baby." Duncan stared wistfully at him and smiled almost sadly.
"Yeah, he is. Do you regret not having kids?" Charlie asked looking on as her friend sighed.
"Yes and no. I've got hundreds of men and their families who always need parenting or leading and they are my family. But, yes, sometimes I wish I hadn't missed out on having a family and children of my own."
"It's not too late you know, you still could."
"By the time we get the Plains stabilized my clock will have run out. I don't regret the decisions I've made but I do wish I would have included some things along the way." Both women looked up abruptly when the door opened and Bass strolled in.
"Don't stop talking on my account." Bass smiled at them, oozing charm, as he gave Charlie a quick peck and scooped Kaiden up from Duncan. "How have you been, Duncan?"
"I've been good, Sebastian, but I would be better if you would sign the treaty." Duncan sounded brusque but Charlie knew she was only trying to cover up any evidence of their talk.
"There's still some minor things we need to work out but, if all goes well, we should be able to get it signed in the end of the week." Bass sat at his desk fully absorbed with Kaiden, only sparing enough attention to speak with Duncan.
"I don't know how much time you think I have, Sebastian, but I have a country to run! I've already been gone for a month and it'll be another month back, I can't spare more than a few days!" Duncan was angry and the only thing keeping her from shouting or threatening to kill the President of the Monroe Republic was the baby in his arms who was absolutely enthralled with his facial hair. It was pretty funny seeing one of the most powerful men on the continent trying to evade the clutches of a six month old.
"You'll be gone by the end of the week Duncan, don't worry. In the meantime why don't you join us for dinner?" Duncan glared at her former lover but grumbled out an acceptance. "Wonderful, we'll see you in an hour." Duncan knew a dismissal when she saw one and left the small family on their own.
"She's just worried about her people." Charlie said softly moving to sit on his lap on the side not filled with a giggling baby.
"And I have to do what's best for mine. I'm not going to take advantage of her weakness, I would rather have her power, but I don't want to be trapped into a treaty where we're the only ones giving." Bass wrapped an arm around her waist and Charlie let her arm loop around his shoulders, reaching up to play with his hair. She nodded in acceptance and placed a gentle kiss on his lips.
"You need a haircut." She whispered against his lips and he hummed in response.
"So…does…Miles." He punctuated each word with a kiss and Charlie smiled against his lips.
"I can give you both haircuts tonight, after dinner." Bass only hummed against her lips again and pulled her in for another kiss. Bass was just starting to deepen the kiss when Kaiden was finally able to reach out and pull his goatee.
"Ow, that hurt." Bass pretended to glare at the son but Kaiden only giggled and reached out to do it again. "Don't encourage him, woman, he's hurting me." Bass said with a pout.
"Poor Bass, getting beat up by a six month old." Charlie teased kissing him.
"Yeah, he's just like his mother." Bass grumbled and Charlie playfully swatted the back of his head. "Evil, evil, woman."
11 Years After the Blackout
"Think about it, Miles. There are hundreds of orphans out there who need a home. If we set this up we could give these kids a home and we can educate them and give them the recruit training in their teens. By the time they're eighteen you'll have officers ready that are loyal only to us. It'll be like the Janissaries during the Ottoman Empire." Miles pinched the bridge of his nose, again. Sixteen year old Charlie was trying to convince him to open an orphanage/school/training facility, again. He'd been hearing this speech for nearly two years now.
"Have you been reading Bass' history books again?" Miles asked trying to get his niece off topic.
"'Bastian, will you help me, please?" Charlie asked slumping against the leather seat in the boys' office.
"You know I'm all for it, Charlotte, but the finances just aren't there. We'd be dumping money into these kids and not getting much back in return." Bass leaned forward on his desk.
"Bass, these kids would be perfect for personal guards and leaders for the Militia. They'd be loyal only to us and each other, they'd have years of training over any other soldier, and it's a good public image. We might not get monetary return but there's so many other returns we would get from this!" Charlie was desperate. These kids needed help and they needed loyal, competent soldiers, not to mention a good public image, it was a win-win for everyone.
"Draw up a plan for me and we'll see. If, and I mean if, we do this we're going to have to start small and build up later. You can't rescue every stray you see, Charlotte." Bass warned.
"I know, Bass, and I'm not trying to. I'm just trying to help the ones I can. And I already have the plan laid out. Possible locations, costs, staff, materials, etc." Charlie looked smug and Bass just shook his head. She always managed to get her way.