Becky and Sarah Robinson, it turned out, had an aunt that lived in Yuba. Room was made for them, and like many of the survivors that lost loved ones so tragically, they wouldn't speak to anybody for days. From what Cameron heard they simply lamented that they couldn't just keep the zombies out until help had arrived.

The things had broken into their home only five hours before Cameron and Marge's arrival. Their father distracted the zombies long enough to for them to get to safety, and then he was somehow able to shut himself in another room.

The girls had been so overwhelmed with worry that they didn't keep an eye on the window, so they had missed Cameron and Marge's first inspection. It turned out rather lucky for them that he and Marge had decided to get it on; otherwise Becky and Sarah might've been missed completely.

Despite the promise he made to their father, Cameron knew they needed time to grieve. So, he focused on the projects that the military leaders had in the works. The first was a response to dwindling supplies of ammunition…and it was a suicide mission. Their best bet at a base with a limited amount of possible zombies was in Monroe—almost a hundred miles to the south, and not that far from Illinois.

Cameron wanted to stab somebody's eye out. The Commander and those around him were seriously considering striking a depot in the direction that Cameron had come from in the first place. Nothing was being set into stone, but it was only a matter of time.

But that wasn't all. The other project that they had in the works involved just about every construction site in the surrounding area. Those trucks weren't going to last forever, and people wanted to salvage construction supplies, and raw materials so that they could build a wall around Yuba—and possibly expand their perimeter.

That plan Cameron didn't have as much of a problem with. Not only would they be safer, but they could also build more homes for their growing population.

Until those plans were finalized, though, Cameron only had the occasional supply run to deal with, along with other (less complicated) rescue operations. Also, Marge and Cameron would meet up in the bathroom in secret every once in a while so that they could take care of any needs that they might have.

Unfortunately, a few weeks after the rescue of the Robinson sisters, after another successful session in the bathroom, Marge said to Cameron as she buttoned up, "I think that this should be the last time."

Was he disappointed? Yes. But he tried not to show it. After all, it was simply physical, so either of them had the right to call it off at any time. "Okay. Any reason why?"

"We both know this is casual…but we're building lives here. And a lot of times building a life means sharing it someone else," she explained. "So, we have to keep ourselves a hundred percent open for anybody else."

Cameron couldn't help but smirk. "Dennis asked you out, huh?"

"I didn't say yes," she admitted. "Still it made me realize we gotta stop this."

"No prob."

"Still friends?"

"Of course," Cameron answered obviously. Normally the "F" word would tear a man's heart out, but not in this case.

"Don't worry," Marge said to him optimistically. "You'll get back in the saddle in no time. Becky has the hots for ya, y'know."

Cameron grumbled. True enough that when Becky and her sister eventually came out of their shell, Becky started following him around like a sick puppy. When Cameron had patrol duty, she was right there with him. When she volunteered to be a rifleman ("rifleperson" was the politically correct term around town), Becky insisted that Cameron gave her private lessons. Another other menial task that Cameron had to perform? Becky was right there.

Now he figured that either she thought Cameron was genuinely cute, he looked badass the way he killed those zombies, or based off the way she acted at first maybe she was waiting for the right time to take revenge for her father—who was one reason he paid her so much attention.

Whatever the case Cameron didn't know how to respond properly. Was Becky cute? Sure, he didn't have anything against the way she looked. Good personality? Hasn't shown any signs of being a total bitch so far (she was obviously angry during their first encounter).

As for Sarah, she was a different story entirely. Thankfully in her case, Cameron hadn't had to invoke his promise to help her move on. She did that on her own by finding and hanging out with a group of kids her own age. Technically, Cameron was in that same age group—but he was a few years older, and they were too young to be volunteers. Other than the exchange of a few words, they didn't have much to do with each other.

It was the day after Marge put an end to the arrangement, and Cameron was back at the shooting range, giving more shooting lessons to Becky. He swore, she was must've purposely positioned herself in a bad stance just so he could correct her.

"You know this," he told her patiently, moving her arms. "And the hips should be just so." Cameron put his hands on her hips to turn them. "Now, take your time, aim, and squeeze the trigger."

The round went off, hitting the target.

"Great."

Becky squealed just like the past thirty or so times she managed to hit the target, and pounced on Cameron to hug him. But this time it was different. Instead of letting go, she pulled back a bit to look him in the eyes. Looking back, Cameron took in her curly, brown hair, and clear blue eyes. The time she spent recuperating since being rescued had done wonders for her. Yeah, she was pretty damn cute. Then, ever so slowly, she began closing the gap between their lips.

In the few seconds Cameron had before he could possibly pull away, a million things were running through his mind. Was this right? The arrangement with Marge had, after all, only just ended. Would he ever be able to answer her feelings? Was she merely just dependent on Cameron because of what he did for her? They only just met. If Cameron did hook up with her would that make him lucky, a player, or an asshole? Surely an asshole, Cameron concluded. He had to stop this.

Too late. Before Cameron could get a single word out their lips met, and upon contact an electrical sensation traveled throughout him. Becky began moving her lips around, and automatically so did Cameron. Soon enough they were frenching out there in the open—and Cameron had to admit that it was nice that it didn't have to be a secret. They moved their hands over each other, pulling one another closer, the kiss becoming more passionate.

When they were done, she smiled sheepishly with small "Sorry."

"Don't be," said Cameron breathlessly. Goddamn! Marge had been just a good a kisser, if not better, but there was never that spark he just felt.

"Look, uh, I've been too nervous to ask…but what happened when my dad…y'know."

Cameron didn't know whether or not he should find that question surprising, but he answered anyway. "I, uh, shot him after he died from the bite."

"Anything else?"

"Well," he started a little reluctantly, "he did ask me to make sure you and your sister were okay."

"So that's why you've been putting up with me," Becky declared, though that didn't seem to upset her.

"I haven't been 'putting up' with anything," he sort of lied. "Only a dickhead would've ignored you."

Becky kissed him again. "Thanks, Cam."

At that point Cameron had to clear something up. "I gotta ask: why me? There are other guys in town." And they're clearly interested in you, he didn't add.

"But none of them were there to save me and my sister," she answered, smiling.

"There have to be other reasons," Cameron insisted, pushing away some.

"And if there aren't then over time it'll become obvious," she said, pulling him back. "But until then is it illegal to crush on someone that helped save you?"

Meh, what the hell. Seeing no reason to fight it, Cameron simply smiled at her, and they started making out again. Marge had, after all, broken it off to keep their options open, so why not give it a shot? And if Becky was going to wait for a legitimate reason to like him, then Cameron could do the same thing for her. Besides, she was one hell of a kisser.

Things seemed to be going well at that point, until two days later when it was time for another supply run. When Cameron and everybody else found out where they were headed, they were not happy.