"Don't expect this every day, now," Marnie warned them with a giggle as the second bottle made its way back to her. She drank from the bottle and sighed. "These bottles are only for special occasions."

"What's the occasion?" Najia asked.

Marnie smiled as she opened a third bottle. "Well," she started. "We have a whole crew of survivors here. It's not just me and Jas and a couple of old guys. Shane is here and alive. Hell, there's a whole lot of celebrating to do." She sighed. "I guess we'll have to share some of this with the guys after dinner. They deserve it."

Leah raised an empty bottle, tapping it against Marnie's. "To Stardew Valley, then."

"To my bat shit crazy grandfather," Najia giggled.

"Ah, he's a good man," Marnie said. "You seem to be all right yaself."

Najia shrugged. "I've been called worse."

Marnie waved a hand at her, dismissing her comment. "Shane says so, so I believe 'im."

Leah raised her eyebrows at Najia. "You hear that?" she said. "He talks about ya."

"Only good things," Marnie assured them.

Leah turned to Marnie, eager to hear more. "Like what?"

Marnie hesitated and looked to Najia. "Just that she's a determined -"

"Stubborn," Leah corrected her.

"- kind -"

"Sarcastic."

" - lovely," Marnie hissed, narrowing her eyes at Leah, "individual." She turned back to Najia and smiled. "He said he wouldn't be here if it weren't for you."

Najia shook her head. "That's not entirely true," she admitted. "He didn't believe my Stardew Valley story for a second. Just came along for the ride, I guess."

"Well, nevertheless," Marnie said. "Thanks for dragging him along." She hesitated. "Jas lost her whole family. She didn't need to lose him, too."

Najia put the bottle of wine on the counter, letting it slam harder than she had expected it to. "We should probably grab some coffee and start on that soup."

Marnie turned to Leah. "Did I say something?"

Leah shook her head. "They have unresolved sexual tension that neither of them will admit to."

"What?" Marnie stuttered.

"Piss off," Najia muttered.

Leah rolled her eyes and smiled. "So, I'm right."

"No."

Leah shrugged. "Hey, we all could get laid around here. I'll admit it. It's been much longer than the couple of months we've been in hell for me, that's for sure. Everyone's pretty tense."

"That's what we need," Najia said. "A giant orgy."

Leah seemed to consider this for a moment. "Hey, if that's what you're into. I'm all for trying new things."

"Can we stop talking about this?" Najia asked hastily.

"Yeah," Marnie muttered. "Let's get going on that soup," she said slowly. "I'll, uh, be back in a few. Gotta get some… things…"

They watched her leave before turning to the cans of soup on the counter.

"Marnie's getting laid," Leah said. "She can't be the only one around here."

"You think so?" Najia asked, looking out the window to see where she was heading.

"Hell yeah," Leah said. "She's been here for a while and has her pick of four different men. She's so getting it."

"Oh, Yoba," Najia muttered. "You don't think she's hooking up with my grandfather, do you?"

Leah laughed as Najia's face whitened. "He's not even in the valley right now," Leah reminded her.

"Doesn't mean they're not hooking up."

"She's got her back up guys for when one isn't around."

Najia groaned. "Let's just get this soup warmed up."

Marnie returned twenty minutes later, just as Najia and Leah were finishing up with the soup. The large pot was filled to the top of soup which bubbled slowly.

"Smells delicious," Marnie said as she reached into the cabinets for bowls.

"Smells like sodium overkill," Leah said as she scrunched her nose at the soup.

"Can't be too picky right now," Marnie reminded her.

Jas and Vincent poked their heads into the kitchen.

"I'm hungry," Jas said. "What's for dinner?" She sat herself at the small table on the other side of the room, just out of their way, and motioned for Vincent to sit beside her.

"Soup," Marnie said. "Chicken noodle." She turned to the two children and smiled. "Want some?"

They nodded eagerly as Penny made her way into the kitchen.

"What can I help with?" she asked Marnie as Marnie spooned soup into two bowls.

"You can give the kids some dinner," Marnie said, filling a third bowl. "And have some for yourself."

Penny brought the hot bowls of soup to Vincent and Jas, placing them carefully on the table. "Let it cool," she warned them as she sat across from them with her own bowl.

Marnie joined them at the table. "What did you two do today?"

"Miss Penny taught us about the seasons," Jas said excitedly. "And how different crops grow in different seasons. And about photo…" She paused and turned to Penny.

"Photosynthesis," Penny said to her.

Jas turned back to Marnie, grinning. "Yeah! That's how the plants turn the sunlight into food for themselves."

"No way," Marnie said, looking shocked. "Plants need food like us?"

Vincent nodded, bouncing in his seat. "Yeah! And plants are good for us, too. They make the air good for us to breathe."

"Gosh, you two are smart," Marnie said. "You must have a real good teacher."

"Penny said she would help me ride a bike," Vincent said. "Sam tried to teach me, but he's not a very good teacher."

"My mom and dad taught me," Jas said. She stared into her soup quietly for a moment before she returned her gaze to Vincent. "And Shane taught me how to play soccer."

"I wanna play soccer," Vincent said.

Jas smiled. "I'll teach ya."