"Oh my god!" Tallahassee exclaimed as he took off running. Chicago was looking for danger when she spotted his target. "Twinkie, Twinkie, Twinkie," he chanted throwing open the doors of the Hostess van. He dove in head first to the spongy yellow deliciousness.

Chicago watched as he ate one in a single bite. "Seriously baby, chew," she said picking one up.

"Oh so good!" he said falling back and making a Twinkie angel. She smiled and started filling a cardboard box with the snacks glancing over her shoulder often. "I'm in heaven," he said unwrapping another. He looked like a little kid in a McDonalds ball pit except he was swimming in Twinkies. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her down into the sea of yellow treats with him. Kissing her hard she could taste the cream on his lips. When he let her go she leaned back.

"Four years ago this is definitely not what I expected to be doing. Making out while sitting in a pile of Twinkies," she sighed laughing a little brushing her hair back with one of her bandaged hands.

"Oh we weren't making out, that was just a little peck," Tallahassee said as he filled his arms with his prize. She rolled her eyes and got to her feet. They filled another box and closed the van. "This had been a pretty good day huh?" he said as they walked down the road.

"We almost got eaten," she argued.

"Yeah, but we didn't and then we got a little bonus," he laughed holding the box.

"Whatever, I just can't wait to get home. I'm going to take a shower and get all the dead off of me, then I'm going to eat and then I am going to sleep," she said. "Well, assuming that the others haven't done anything stupid," she added.

"I am going to bust open a beer and eat Twinkies while I float in the pool," he said. Chicago looked at him. Half an hour ago he was ready to sob because of all the tragedy and now Twinkies had fixed his world.

"Yeah, what woman wouldn't find that insanely attractive," she joked.

"Fine I'll light candles, lose the trunks, and make it two beers," he said raising an eyebrow.

"I don't think so," she replied knowingly. He laughed. "Whoa whoa whoa, look at this," Chicago said stopping him.

"Oh no not a Prius please," he protested as she walked towards the white car.

"The landscape is quiet," she said testing the door. It was unlocked and she checked the backseat. Finding it empty she put her box of Twinkies in the back and headed for the passenger seat. "Get in," she said. He shifted in his feet. "Get in unless you want to carry me the rest of the way," she added. He still looked reluctant. "Get in or the Twinkies get it," she threatened. He got in the drivers side.

The keys were still in the ignition and the car started right up. "Can't even feel the engine," he muttered putting it in drive.

***

"That's it we have to go!" Columbus snapped as he paced the floor. When Dad had returned without Chicago and Tallahassee Wichita, Columbus, and Little Rock were all ready to run a rescue.

"No we are not going anywhere!" Dad objected as he had been for the last couple hours. "If they are still alive there is nothing we can do to help them," he said. Little Rock was sitting next to Mom trying to be strong, but every time Columbus looked at her tears were glistening on her cheeks. The young man looked between his father and the other company in the room.

"How could you just drive off and leave them?" he asked trying to keep a civil tone.

"She told me to," Dad replied sounding less than remorseful. Columbus swallowed hard feeling more and more angry. "Besides they were reckless," he grumbled. Wichita held her tongue despite her urge to rip Dad a new one.

"They're family too you know," Columbus growled.

"You think they are your family? They are murders! I watched both of them kill people today! Look at what they've turned you into!" Dad snapped. Columbus shrunk as his fathers voice got louder. "I've seen the guns you all carry! For god sakes you've given a twelve year old a gun! You're disrespectful and I'm sure that she's pregnant already!" Dad said pointing at Wichita. She stood as her jaw hit the floor from the accusation.

"Hey!" Columbus snapped feeling his blood boil. Mom took Little Rock's hand and led the girl out of the room shutting the door. "I don't give a fuck what you think okay?" Columbus shouted as his anger exploded. "I came all the way across the fucking zombie infested USA to get back to you! Show a little respect to me huh? These people are my family! They are good people and deserve to still be in one piece! You on the other hand hardly do!" he shouted.

"Maybe I'm just trying to be practical!" Dad shouted. Wichita backed away as the men squared off.

"Well you can do that without being a dick! Look Dad, I love you and mom, but how is it that these people can be my family after no time and I still feel like a stranger in my own house?" Columbus asked lowering his voice. Dad didn't soften. "I love Wichita and so help me if you disrespect that you won't see me ever again. I've put up with your bullshit long enough. You've had your time to feel superior and make me feel like I'm worthless, but now it's time for you to sit back and listen to me," Columbus growled.

"Is that how you've felt?" Dad asked gruffly.

"I can't remember the last time that I woke up and thought I could make you happy," Columbus said. Dad shook his head.

"Before you got mixed up with these people you would have never said such things," he sighed. Columbus shouted in frustration.

"I see where this is going and I don't want any part of it! I'm going to go find them and I'd like to see you try to stop me!" Columbus shouted heading for the door. Wichita stood rooted where she was. Seeing the normally gentle boy get so violent and assertive was too strange to handle. She did realize however this was his breakthrough. After years of getting kicked around he was finally ready to stand up for himself.

Columbus jerked the front door open with his shotgun in hand but froze as he looked out. A white Prius was in the drive and both Chicago and Tallahassee were getting out. "Chicago!" he exclaimed running out to meet them. Wichita, Little Rock and Mom all joined them in the drive while Dad was content to glare out of a window. Tallahassee showed Little Rock the boxes of Twinkies and let her help carry them in as Chicago revealed the details of their ordeal.

During the evening Chicago could feel a tremendous tension in the house, but she didn't dare ask what had happened while they were away. Tallahassee was too busy celebrating a good day to notice the eerie feeling hanging around. She decided to let it go and get on with her night.

When Tallahassee still hadn't come to bed by three though Chicago got up and climbed the stairs. She made her way through the dark house carefully and opened the patio door. "Oh. My. God," she said staring at him.

"Hey babe," he sighed.

"A hot tub?" she asked looking at the bubbling tub.

"Yeah I was gonna go for a swim but I found this and now I can't get out," he said. Chicago smiled at all the beer bottles and Twinkie wrappers that littered the ground around the tub.

"Where did you get the booze? I thought the place was dry," she said picking up a Rolling Rock bottle.

"Remember that crate I put in the back of the truck?" he asked.

"Oh so you were picking up booze while I was sick," she said.

"Well," he shrugged. "You gonna join me?" he asked. Chicago smiled she'd never seen him so mellow.

"I guess I could," she chuckled taking her pants off and starting for the tub.

"Uh uh, we're going au naturale to night," he said smiling. She looked at him feeling almost repulsed for a moment.

"No!" she said firmly. He closed his eyes resting his head on the edge.

"Then no beer and hot tub for you," he said.

"I will not be naked in a pool of water with you," she said.

"Who's gonna know?" he asked raising an eyebrow.

"You will and more importantly I will," she said crossing her arms.

"I knew you would be too chicken. That's why I asked. More beer for me," he chuckled. She took a moment to realize he was goading her on and she looked over her shoulder. The alluring blue pulsing lights that were in the pool drew her like a moth. She sighed as she let all rational thought go.

"If we get caught I'm blaming you," she hissed pulling her shirt off. Resisting an insane urge to look Tallahassee kept his eyes shut as she got in the tub with him. It was a pretty big tub so she had plenty of room between her skin and his. "You know I think you're bi-polar," Chicago said as he handed her a beer.

"Yeah," he asked cracking one open for himself.

"You go from horrible depression to piggy-ness in no time," she said.

"I didn't make you undress," He smiled resting his head against the edge again. She took a drink then did the same. "I think we're making progress anyway. The day before yesterday you wouldn't let me see you naked," he sighed taking a deep breath.

"Look but don't touch cowboy," she smiled. He chuckled taking another drink. Steam was rising off of the hot water into the cold night air and Chicago shivered as the jets massaged her back.

"They look pretty bright don't they?" he asked. She took a moment to figure out what he was talking about. "The stars?" he said reading her mind.

"Oh, yeah," she replied looking up at the dots in the black sky above.

"I had you worried today didn't I?" he asked sounding amused.

"What?" she asked losing him again.

"When I fell over the railing? You were freaked," he laughed.

"I was not," she lied to save face.

"You were too. I could tell," he insisted downing the last of his beer.

"You are so smashed," she chuckled.

"I am not," he said while his speech slurred slightly.

"If you get face down in here I am not pulling you back up," she laughed.

"What like this?" he asked submerging and kicking off the side to float towards her.

"No no no!" she squealed pushing his shoulders to keep his face out of her lap. He came back up laughing like a fool.

"I'm not so wasted I don't know where to aim for you know," he laughed.

"Shhh shut up we're gonna wake the whole house!" she half hissed half laughed.

"Whatever you know you liked it," he sighed sitting down next to her. She sighed moving her hands through the water.

"I'm glad I met you," she smirked. He lazily looked at her. "Despite the end of the world I'm still having fun now and again," she smiled sweetly.

"I'm glad you're glad," he replied brushing her hair behind her ear. He leaned over and gave her a light peck on the cheek. He didn't push it any further and let out a long sigh as he sank below the water again. Tallahassee resurfaced wiping the water from his eyes. "This is great on my back," he said keeping his mouth just above the water. She smiled a little and dunked herself wiping her hair back.

"I could get used to this," she sighed.

"This ain't home," he said more seriously.

"I know, but it's a nice vacation spot," she sighed.

"Indeed," he smiled.

"You know when I was a teenager me and my friends snuck into this guys back yard and went skinny dipping in his pool. It was on a dare, but man we had so much fun until he woke up and came out. The joke turned into us streaking through the neighborhood. We woke up the next morning in Mrs. Galahan's shed wearing tarps," Chicago chuckled recalling the incident. Tallahassee chuckled.

"I remember watching this dumb ass turn one of these into a mud bath so a couple chicks could wrestle in it. Everyone was drunk at the time of course," he snickered. Chicago took another drink of beer.

"Makes me feel old to think back on the dumb shit I've done," she sighed. Tallahassee looked at her.

"I am not even close to being done doing all that dumb stuff!" he objected sarcastically. She finished her beer.

"Yeah? You still have some youthful stupidity to let out?" she asked mocking surprise.

"I do. I do. Like how stupid it would be for me to kiss you right now, because we could get caught," he said rationally.

"Oh that would be stupid," she laughed. He leaned over and kissed her putting a hand behind her head to get her closer. Chicago leaned nearer and put an arm around his shoulder as they became more frenzied.

"Oh shit!" he hissed abruptly stopping.

"What?" she asked putting distance between herself and him again. Then she realized that the patio was brighter than before. Looking over her shoulder she saw the kitchen light on. "Shit!" she said feeling panicked.

"How long can you hold your breath?" he asked.

"Why?" she asked not following him.

"I'll tap you when you can come back up," he said. She caught on and before she had time to marvel at his genius despite being intoxicated he pushed her under as she drew a big breath.

Columbus opened the patio door and came outside. "There you are," he said finding Tallahassee.

"Hey spit fuck, you're up awful late," Tallahassee replied.

"Can't sleep, what about you?" the younger man asked.

"Yeah just trying to get my back fixed," Tallahassee said desperately trying to think of a way to get Columbus out of the way.

"Oh, well I just wanted to talk to you about our plans," Columbus said. Chicago pinched Tallahassee's leg.

"We don't make plans kid we just go with the flow, now go get some sleep," Tallahassee said. Columbus shifted on his feet and looked down. He was just about to walk away when he noticed Chicago's clothes. He turned around smiling slyly.

"You out here alone?" he asked. Tallahassee jumped.

"Huh? Yeah of course," Tallahassee said. Chicago pinched his leg again beginning to feel her lungs burn.

"You can let her up now," Columbus said knowingly. Tallahassee sighed and tapped Chicago who immediately surfaced and drew in a breath. She wiped her hair back and spotted Columbus smiling like a tomcat at them.

"Hi Columbus," she said turning an all-new shade of red.

"Hi Chicago. Enjoying yourselves?" he tried to keep from laughing.

"Well it is a hot tub," she shrugged smiling sheepishly.

"Good night," he smirked going back in the house.

"Night," Tallahassee called. Chicago turned around and punched him in the chest. "What?" he laughed.

"Bastard!" she couldn't help but laugh.

"Would a Twinkie fix this?" he asked playfully as he grabbed another beer.

Just one post today, but it's a little bit longer.

Sorry if anyone hates it, but I always have to have a skinny dipping scene :D It's my tradition :D

Songs for this chapter:

'Here (in your arms)' by Hellogoodbye

'Hot air balloon' by Owl City

and for the scene where Columbus gets pissed 'Leader of Men' by Nickelback

I do not own anything!!!

Thanks for reading!!! Please review :D