It had taken a while, but Chicago at last heard the sound of approaching trucks. Ignoring the possibility that it could be Anarchy and not her friends she waiting until the trucks were in sight.

Tallahassee didn't even wait for the truck to be at a complete stop before he had the door open. "Let's go," he said. Chicago put her sword away and moved to get into the truck. She looked back over her shoulder at Summer.

"Well come on," she said. Summer didn't move and looked past Chicago to Tallahassee. Chicago looked back to see what the issue was. He was still undecided at the time, but as soon as he saw that Summer was looking to him for approval he sighed.

"Oh, fine," he said rolling his eyes and scooting over in the seat so she would have a place to sit. Chicago leaned over and kissed him. As he readjusted his hat he shot a smile. Summer shut the door and the trucks hit the road.

Somewhere near the border of Missouri they pulled over and everyone staggered from the car stiff from travel. "Why don't you guys go blow off some steam," Tallahassee said giving Little Rock a small push towards the unsuspecting tourist stand. Columbus and Wichita took Summer along as they followed the kid, while his parents sat in the car fighting about some old folded road map.

He looked at her dead on and folded his arms across his chest as she pumped gas. "Chicago I won't lie I really don't like this," he said. She turned around looking at him. "We are now members of a party of eight…Eight," he said for emphasis.

"Is there a problem with that number?" she asked. Tallahassee took his hat off scratching his head.

"Octopus," he said putting his hat back on his head. She looked at him and nodded beginning to think what sanity the cowboy had held onto finally just wriggled away. "You want to know why people eat octopus? It's because they have so many damn legs! There all wiggly and clumsy and it's because they have eight… eight neurotic, homicidal, short legs," he said gesturing to the different members of their party. Chicago cracked a smile loving Tallahassee's on the fly reasoning. She took the gas nozzle out of the car and put it away. As she put the gas cap back on and closed the little flap she formulated all the argument she would need.

Turning to him Chicago put her hands on her hips and looked at him with her best smile. "What leg am I?" she asked. He took a deep breath shrugging.

"You're whatever part of the brain that tells the octopus it's a good idea to keep growing legs," he said. Chicago couldn't hold back a laugh.

"Okay, and what leg are you?" she asked. Tallahassee looked at her with a vacant stare.

"I won't lie. I know you're fishing, but I have not idea what you want me to say," he sighed. She laughed again and put her arms around his shoulder.

"You are the big tough arm," she smiled.

"Babe I feel we are venturing away from the issue at hand," he said putting his arms around her waist.

"Look I know you're scared and nervous, but I think that's just completely natural for people in our position," she said honestly.

"What position is that?" he asked seriously lost.

"Well you know… you and me… just having a relationship of sorts," she shrugged finding it weird how awkward it was getting.

"Yeah, but darlin' this isn't like we're starting a little family of our own you know? I did not sign up for this. We haven't known each other that long and, all be it that we've gone through some weird shit together all ready we definitely wouldn't be starting a family this soon if, you know," he said so fast Chicago wasn't sure he breathed during the spiel.

"This is very true and I think you make a valid point that we definitely are not ready to be committed to each other or anything," she said nodding. "However, this is bigger than us." He sighed again having been afraid she would say something like that.

"Bigger than us?" he asked. She nodded. "Chicago not so long ago I was free as the wind, then I made the mistake of picking up the little spit fuck, next thing I know I'm saddled with the girls, then you, and his parents and this girl…. I just am really," he shook his head. She let go of him.

"Saddled?' she asked becoming angry at the word.

"Well… not with you, just… them," he shook his head in an attempt to back pedal.

"I gave you a chance to walk away so you wouldn't be saddled anymore," she snapped.

"Look babe, I didn't mean that. I just feel… a little, you know, weird having all of this dropped into my lap," he said. Her jaw dropped in shock that he could continue to fuck up like this.

"I cannot believe you," she said.

"No no no! I mean-" he tried again but she held up her hand.

"Just stop," she hissed before getting in the drivers seat. Like a dog who had been beaten he got in the passenger seat as the kids returned from destroying the station. Chicago didn't speak the rest of the evening. Tallahassee just grumbled short answers when one of the girls in the back dared to break the silence.

Chicago pulled over eventually having no clue where they were and pointed at the pawn shop across the road. "Pawn shops mean guns," she said putting the car in park. "Go clear it out, take Columbus with you," she sighed making it clear that the girls needed to leave her and Tallahassee alone. They didn't argue. After the doors were shut she unclipped her seatbelt and sighed. "I'm sorry," she said looking over at him.

Tallahassee was taken completely by surprise. He had expected she was still mad. "For what?" he asked dumbly.

"I shouldn't have snapped at you earlier… or said any of what I did," she sighed. "I keep wanting to push shit on you and it's not fair. Really, you're the one keeping a level head and I'm just… progressively getting more and more carried away," she said. He ran his tongue along his cheek.

"S'ok," he shrugged.

"No it's not," she insisted. "I just… I am so afraid of being alone again and I love all of you so much. I would do anything to make us a family and I know that I've been pushing that on all of you when it's not my place. I know that getting attached to people in zombieland is just asking for trouble, but I don't care, because I'm not so afraid of losing something that I won't try to have it," she said. He nodded slowly. "But I realize that you and the kids might not feel that way and I shouldn't be trying to make us into something we're not and I'm sorry," she said spilling her guts into the car. He was just about to say something as she began to talk again. "And as far as the way I feel about you and you feel about me I know that really we can't be-"

"Now hold on there," he said interrupting her. "Before you continue to yammer on about how you're making a mistake at every turn let me clear a couple things up. One: I suffer no illusions that I am not a part of some bizarre family and to be honest I like it for the most part, but don't tell Columbo that I said that. Two: you aren't pushing anything on anyone. Three: As far as the way we feel about each other," he placed a hand on her cheek, "there are no rules to what we can and can't do, so don't even start that bull." She smiled.

"So you're not mad that I was being a bitch?" she asked leaning into his hand.

"I've been in with bigger bitches," he smirked good naturedly.

"And you don't feel like I'm chaining you down?" she asked.

"If you're worried that I'm seeing other women you can relax," he smiled. She laughed before leaning over to kiss him. "Besides where else in the world would I go besides where you and the kids are?" he asked. She grinned knowing all at once that although he would never admit it he needed company just like anyone else.

As he kissed her again pulling her closed she shivered. "You need to stop taking everything so seriously anyway," he said. She licked her lips. "No one gets out alive in the end," he smiled. She kissed him again but harder.

Of course as they started to get into it the kids came back and forced them apart. "Gross," Little Rock said.

"Nothing wrong with a little peck," Tallahassee replied.

"I think you were the one chewing gum when we got out of the car though," Summer said in a very deadpan voice as she packed away the new guns. Chicago froze embarrassed that Summer noticed and contemplated swallowing the gum. Little Rock looked ill while Wichita laughed so hard she thought she might pee. Tallahassee just fumbled around until her found the package of gum.

"I think we should stay the night here. The place is a fortress and it even has a garage," Columbus said as he leaned against driver side door. Chicago looked to Tallahassee for approval.

"I could care less. No where is comfortable," Tallahassee shrugged. Chicago looked back at the other.

"Okay get the ca-Columbus watch it!" she shouted spotting the zombie heading for the other car. Columbus jumped unprepared for a fight, but began moving.

"Mom!" he shouted getting around the car. She was panicking already as the undead slammed against her side of the car. There were only a handful of zombies, but the threat was real as they broke the window without trouble. Chicago, Wichita and Summer got out of their car.

Mom was screaming and Dad was shouting and Columbus shot his double barrel twice missing both times. Not taking time to reload he dropped the gun and ran forward without a plan. The girls were on his heels. Chicago and Wichita both stopped a safe distance away and began shooting at the zombies. Summer ran forward content to attack the zombies up close with the weapons nature had given her. She grabbed Columbus pulling him out of harms way. "Get the other side open!" she ordered. Columbus scrambled around the hood. Unfortunately the trucks doors wouldn't lock and unlock properly after Summer had rammed Chicago and Little Rock a few days prior.

Summer grabbed a zombie and beat its head against the trucks side as she kicked one of its partners down. Chicago and Wichita shot the zombies as Summer downed them until finally the last one was still. She panted and brushed her hair out of her face as more screeching came from the buildings along the street. She gritted her teeth and ran towards the onslaught.

"Hold on," Tallahassee said as he slid into the driver's seat. Little Rock crawled into the passenger seat and buckled up. He slammed the accelerator making a U-turn and aimed for the zombies. "Double points if I can roll 'em on the hood," he laughed.

Chicago and Wichita reloaded chasing after Summer who had gotten herself surrounded. They watched as the horde fell one at a time to the girl who kicked and hit and grabbed and tossed each zombie as if it were nothing. "Streets raised her," Chicago shrugged.

"Mom! Mom!" Columbus's voice was filled with panic making both the girls turn.

"Oh no," Wichita breathed. Columbus had his mother in his arms on the ground beside the truck. He was in tears and his father was standing beside the mess with his head in his hands. Chicago's stomach dropped when she saw all the blood coating Mom.

"Shit," she panted as they both jogged over.

"Mom! Mom please! No!" Columbus cried rocking back and forth gently. Wichita and Chicago bowed their head because it was all too clear by how still Mom was that she would never open her eyes again.

Wichita stooped beside Columbus in an attempt to be of comfort while Chicago turned her back unable to see the people around her in such pain. Summer was still fighting while Tallahassee and Little Rock picked the zombies off in the truck. The sky was grey with threatening rain clouds and as she looked up as if on cue it started to rain.

Summer Tallahassee and Little Rock polished off the zombies and turned their attention towards the other. Each was silent and respectful watching Columbus cry for his mother. Dad beat his fist against the trucks hood in frustration. Chicago sighed as the rain soaked everyone through. Tallahassee got out of the truck and instinctively slipped his hand around her waist as he watched the younger mans display of heartbreak. Little Rock came to Chicago's other side and took her hand. Chicago pulled the child close as she cried.

"We need to go, it's not safe here," Summer said eventually. Her voice wasn't laden with emotion, but something in her eyes told Chicago that she felt bad for what had happened.

"We have to bury her," Columbus said hoarsely. Chicago looked at Tallahassee knowing that they both were thinking the same thing.

"Columbus, we don't have time. It's raining, its getting dark, we have no idea where we are," she sighed wishing she could agree with him.

"We can't just leave her out in the street!" he shouted still clutching his mother's corpse. Dad for once said nothing. He just walked along away from his family and got into the other truck closing the door behind himself.

"I got a better idea," Tallahassee said. Chicago looked at him still holding Little Rock. "Little one, get the boom out of the truck. Rest of you get whatever dry wood you can find, anything that can burn," he said. Tallahassee moved forward still walking stiffly from his own juries and knelt beside Columbus. "Viking used to burn their dead," he said softly folding the corpse's hands across her stomach. Columbus's eyes were red as he looked at his older companion. "What do you say we send her off with a bang?" Tallahassee asked.

Half an hour later they were in the car. Chicago lit the fuse next to the pyre and ran back to the truck hopping in as they drove away. Little Rock along with everyone else counted the seconds until at last a large explosion happened. The car was dead silent. No prayers were said. The only words Chicago thought she heard were whispered by Columbus from where he sat in the very back of the truck next to the supplies. "Goodbye Mommy."


A little darker than my normal stuff, but yeah. Hope ya like it.

Song for this chapter:

'Sinnerman (Felix Da Housecat's remix)' by Nina Simone

I own nothing.

Love Ya'll!!!! Please Review!!!!!!!!!!!