The old shop owner sat in his chair behind the cash register, contemplating whether or not to take out a cigarette and smoke. He hadn't officially decided to quit smoking, but at the same time he'll go days without it to prove to his wife he isn't addicted. Or more so prove to himself. But he'll still go back to his bad habit as he hasn't truly decided to quit. He went to pull out a cig, but decided it wasn't worth it and slouched back into his chair and sighed.

Business had been slow lately, most of the towns people consisted of older folk, and so some of them didn't have much time left. The younger inhabitants left the town and the older ones would pass away. Thus, there would be less and less customers coming to his shop every year; besides a few he's gotten close to that he knows won't be leaving anytime soon. The shop owner remembered his younger years when the town was thriving and happy. Now, it's like one big community home for the elderly.

The door opened and the bell was rung, the old man slowly stood up to see who it was.

"Ah! Monsieur Walker! Back again? I am thankful, you are one of the few that keeps my business running."

"Hello, Napoleon. I'm guessing things are still getting slower for you?"

"Sadly, yes, but that's not what's important right now. What can I get for you?"

"Well, if It's what I want, it would be that right there," he points to the candy in the far corner, "But I'm here to find some food. Enough for a dinner of two."

"Oh? Is it you and someone else?"

"Unfortunately."

"I've known you only for a few months, but I can tell you're not the social type. I wonder who you're going to eat wi-."

"Walker!" the door burst open and the bell rang once more, "There you are!" Charlotte yelled, "I've been looking all over for you, you fool! What if you got lost?"

Walker and Napoleon both looked at her with different reactions. Walker sighed and walked away to some area of the shop to get what he needed and the old man smiled.

"I see. I see." he chuckled, "Hello, Charlotte!"

"Napoleon, it's good to see you're still alive and well."

"Same goes for you."

"Anyways, Walker! Where did you go?! You're not here to indulge in your sweet tooth, yes?"

Walker came out from behind a shelf with the ingredients he needed for the dinner, "Did you need something, nun?"

"W-What? Really? I've known you for months now! Months! Have some respect! You didn't forget my name, did you?"

"I wish I did. I'm going to pay Napoleon and we're going back home."

"Why do you have all th-."

"Charlotte."

"Okay, fine. Don't tell me. Why should I care."

Napoleon laughed and Walker paid for the food and they both went on their way, Napoleon waving goodbye as they exited through the door.

While they were heading back to the church, Walker said nothing, which wasn't out of the ordinary, but the silence was deafening to Charlotte. She endured the quiet for another ten minutes but she broke.

"Walker, I-"

"No."

"but I-"

"Shhhhhh." he whispered.

"Damn it, Walker!"

Walker slowed down and looked back to see the nun had stopped in her tracks and was visibly upset.

"Shouldn't you watch your mouth?" Walker asked.

"Why are you still here?" she ignored his sarcastic question, looking away from his gaze.

Walker was surprised for a moment, but when he went to answer she yelled, "You obviously don't care about me, don't respect my beliefs, don't talk to me, and treat me like I'm an idiot! So why are you still here? Don't I annoy you?! Every day I see your guns and your outfit in the closet of your room and I wonder each time why you haven't left! Don't you have some duty to fulfill as a soldier?! Or is it more fun to treat me like shit?!"

Charlotte swearing? Walker was really confused now.

"Let's go home and continue this conversation."

"There you go again! Such a calm, stoic man you are!" she mocked him, "And how dare you say home! It's not your home!"

Walker raised his brow.

"I want you to leave. Now. I'll tell father you left. I'll tell him you didn't say why. He'd believe it since that's just how you are. So, go and get your stuff and leave."

"You're going to lie to-"

"Don't. Say. A. Word. Let's go. But I don't want to see you here tomorrow. You can take what you bought with you."

For the first time in quite a while, he was shocked, but he tried not to show it. Charlotte went to walk past him as quickly as she could to leave him behind, but Walker grabbed her wrist with bone crushing strength.

"Ow! Ow! Let go! Let me go!"

"What you were saying earlier, were those your true feelings?"

The nun stopped resisting and was very confused, "W-what, Walker?"

"I'm not kind to you. That much is obvious, and I feel you're more of a burden than a friend. But you need someone with you, don't you? I can't leave you until I know you'll be fine without me. So, till' then, let me stay by your side."

Walker let go of Charlotte and picked up the bags on the snow under him and began walking back.

"Please..." Charlotte whispered.

Walker turned back around, "Hmmm?"

"Please don't leave me... this is the longest anyone has put up with me on their own free will. And... and I don't want it to end here. Please..." she grabbed his hand and put it against her chest, "I want you to stay with me. Do you promise to stay with me like you said? I know I'm an emotional roller coaster, but I just don't know what to think any more about you."

Walker looked into her teary eyes and then looked above her head to see Venus standing a short distance away under the light of a street lamp behind Charlotte. He sighed. This was going to get difficult.

Present Day

Walker sat in a chair across from Charlotte, still in a coma in the hospital bed. He looked at her blonde hair and closed eyes, hearing the beeping of the life support and the spinning of the ceiling fan.

"She should be here any minute now. Unless, she stood you up." Venus chuckled behind Walker, her arms around his neck.

Walker ignored the hallucination that's been plaguing him for seven years now.

"Oh, come on now, still ignoring me? That's no way to... Hmph, we have company. Guess you weren't rejected this time."

The door opened and Emmanuelle stepped in and saw Walker looking at Charlotte from his chair.

Twitch pulled out a pistol after closing the door quietly and aimed it at Walker.

"Are you the one who called me here?"

"Please, aiming that thing won't be necessary. I don't want her to somehow find out that her two most important people in the world aimed their guns at each other."

"Then answer the question, who are you?"

"I've been going by the name Walker, I'm sure you're familiar with me if you've ever followed up on the aftermath of Bartlett. I've been doing my research on you, especially you, and Rainbow. What a freakshow, but entertaining none the less. Specifically, that Tachanka, what's up with him?"

"So, your saying you're the one who freed those hostages? All by yourself?" she asked as she got closer, "Am I really supposed to believe that?"

Walker looked up at her, then at the window to his left, "They'll be after Charlotte, as a way to get to me. The White Masks, or more specifically the Upper Six, you've heard of them, right? I heard you guys caught Tarret, trust me when I say he doesn't know the big picture. Me, I know everything. Whether you let me help you with cuffs around my wrists or not, it doesn't matter. I'd like to help you guys in any way I can. I know you don't trust me, and most with common sense wouldn't, but all I can say is that I'll be a big help."

"And what if I just shoot you in the head right now? What if this gut feeling of mine that says you're with the White Masks is right? What if I dodge a bullet by putting one in you?"

"I don't know about that, but when she wakes up," he points to Charlotte, "she really wouldn't like that. Is that the only gun you have?"

"None of your business."

"Just wondering since several white vans have been pulling up to the parking lot down there. Maybe just having a pistol won't do."

Twitch stared at Walker, wondering if he was telling the truth or not. She decided to slowly walk to the window and look through it.

"It seems you're right. But we have to confirm its really-"

She was interrupted by the sound of the fire alarm going off. She turned and saw Walker near the fire alarm switch.

"We?"