The Dawning of a new life:

"Oh God!" Francine cried out in pain, as she pushed. Her contractions came closer and closer together. She screamed and pushed again, holding the boxes on the floor for support. Beads of sweet poured down her face.

She screamed out once again, giving her last push before her newborn baby slipped out. It was a boy! "A Boy! It's a boy Stephen!" Fran took the baby in her arms and rocked him. She rapped a blanket around his small torso and held him close to her warm body. The baby started to cry, Fran smiled and said, "There, there...your okay, mommy's with you".

The baby stopped its wine and fell asleep. But the peace would not be kept for long. There was a beating on the door and it wasn't Peter returning....

While Peter was running back to Fran, he saw that there was a food shop. He knew they would run out of food within the next few days so he stopped and looked at the place, then to the road he was headed down. It will be only for a few minutes. Fran would be okay...

Inside the store were all kinds of food they could use, it was more like every kind of food they could use, or want. The tall man picked up a bag and started filling it with canned foods, crackers, and small bottles of water. He was walking down to the pharmacy aisle when he heard at sound of gunshots being discharged in the distance. Was that Fran? He took his bag and what he managed to get and ran out.

Fran held her weapon tight, and looked around the cracked window for any more zombies. The one she heard before by the door attacked the window and broke in. She shot it in the head and killed it. But now they baby was crying. The new mother looked back at her boy who she placed safety on a box.

"Shhh baby. It's okay shhh" There was another knock on the door this time it was Peter. "It's me, Open up!" Peter looked at Fran. Her clothes were all wet he noted to himself. She opened the door and walked back into the room, picking up something in her arms. "Welcome back...I want you to meet someone Peter" she told him.

Peter looked at what Fran was holding so dear. It was a baby! Fran had her child when he was gone! He smiled down at the small newborn. He put a finger on his bright red face. "Hello there, little man"

Peter looked into Fran's eyes. "I'm sorry I took so long, I ran into some trouble...and then I had to stop for some food. Good thing I did."

"Yes, oh did you find any gas?" Fran asked. Peter looked in the bag and pulled out a red container full of gas. "Oh Peter you got some!" She said cheerfully "Yes, I'll fill up that chopper now. And in a few days when you have gotten some rest, well leave"

The next day at first light Peter awoke and saw Fran holding the baby. He walked over to them "He needs a name. Did you think of one?" Fran looked at her baby then at Peter and smiled. "Should we tell him?" She asked the infant. "I named him Stephen Roger...and I wanted to ask if I can give him your last name Peter? It's Stephen after his father, Roger for his brave uncle...and Washington after his other brave uncle, and our protector"

Peters face glew with pride. "I would like that, very much" he said. "Can I hold him?" he asked. Fran gave little Stephen to the strong open arms of Peter. Rocking the baby he thought of something. "Fran...what about you? Shouldn't he have some part of your name?" Fran grinned; "He has my eyes" they both took in the moment for was it was. It was the first time they both had a truly happy moment.

But out of the quite room came a loud banging noise once more! Peter quickly turned his head toward the racket. He gave Stephen back into Fran's waiting arms."What was that Peter?" Fran asked. "I think maybe we stayed here to long...there here"

"Should we get our stuff and go?" Fran's inquiry made Peter think. Should they leave now when Fran just gave birth the day before? "If its only one or two, I think we can stay" Peter moved to the door and opened it, since the broken window was now shut with wooden boards. When he did a pair of old worn blood-spattered hands clasped him and forced him to the floor. Peter tried to get out of the zombies grip, when another zombie came into the doorway. "Oh my God! Peter!" Fran screamed holding her son. "Stay back!" Peter raised his leg and kicked the zombie into the other at the rear of him. He then reached for his gun on the floor next to him and shot the zombie in the brain.

A clump of blood, gore and goo fell over the floor. Peter called back to Fran "Get all the stuff we need! And get ready!" Peter got on his feet and hit the other zombie in the head with the end of his firearm. It hit the ground outside; Peter stood over it and shot its brains out in a blast of gunfire. Now that the dead were gone he took a deep mouthful of air.

"Peter look! They're coming up that hill to where we are!" Peter looked out and saw about 20 zombies making there way to what could be lunch! "Shit! They know we are hear...they must have heard my gun!"

Fran turned her head around in the wrecked room to search for any last thing she was forgetting. She took the bag of food and water, and a few clumps of cloth for the baby she found. She would die for one stop shopping again, back in her shopping mall holdup. She ran to Peter who pointed to the helicopter. Fran noted his action and walked to open the door of the bird and put Stephen down on the back passenger seat, the bag of food next to him. She then jumped in the front and looked at the controls, and started the copter up.

Fran was now waiting for Peter to get in and hold Stephen while she took off but he didn't get in. She looked out the window of the helicopter; Peter was fighting off zombies that were right on top of his person.

"Peter just come on! Well take off!" Fran called out. There was a zombie on the side of the chopper; it began to beat on Fran's door! Fran spun around to see it's pale gray face pushed up on the doors window. She jumped at the sight of its soulless eyes staring at her, its black teeth chopping up and down, in its black open month. It was trying to break in!

Peter jumped in the back seat, and closed the passenger side door. "Okay lets get the hell outta this damn place!" Fran was happy to see Peter safe. He picked up little baby Stephen and held him in his arms. Fran looked back at the controls. The chopper lifted off the ground throwing off the one climbing on it and leaving the zombies below looking up with a bewildered stare.

The little vehicle moved up into the air and sped off. "So how long do you think we have till we have to stop for more?" Peter asked Fran. "There's enough for now...but when we do run out. I'm sure we can make it...we have a reason to." Peter nodded to Fran and looked at the baby. Maybe things could get better...One day. We just need hope for the future, he thought.

Peter then stared up at the sky as the chopper flew off in the dawn of a new day.