It's now mid-mid-February and the winter weather shows no signs of letting up. The one year anniversary of the blackout is looming before them like a black cloud, putting the entire last year's events into disturbing perspective. They've had to fight, steal, threaten, and even harm just to survive. A year ago, the thought of killing someone outside of a war zone had been unthinkable as far as Bass was concerned. Now, reality has brought forth the possibility that it may become necessary. Miles has said more than once that he thinks they're lucky that it hasn't come to that already.

Much like Jeremy, Tom has proven to be a great asset. He's a critical thinker like Miles and the two of them get along really well. He's also great with directions. Tom and Julia have no where else to go, so they've been traveling with them to Chicago. Tom said he doesn't know for sure, but that he's pretty confident they're only a few days away from the Ohio River.

Unfortunately, the weather won't let them make the trip. All seven of them have been holed up in an abandoned house on a cul-de-sac for the past week. Food is getting low, and the four foot deep snow outside is preventing them from finding more.

"Can I go with you?" Charlie begs as Miles pulls on his boots. One look out the window shows a true blinding blizzard in full force outside.

"Sorry, Bug, but it's not safe for you to be out in this weather."

"Please," she whines. And then the tears start dripping down her cheeks. Miles keeps his eyes focused on his laces, knowing that one look at those tears will make him give in. He feels terrible for doing it, but the tears seem to be Charlie's newest trick. Eveytime she doesn't get what she wants, all she has to do is turn on the water works and Miles gives in. Not this time though.

"I'm sorry, Charlie. It's just not safe. You can stay here and play with Jason." He chances a glance at her face, finding wet tear tracks on her cheeks but no actual tears in sight. She crosses her arms over her chest with a huff.

"I don't want to play with Jason. He's a boy."

Bass, who's been watching the entire exchange from the doorway, chuckles. "Charlie, me and Uncle Miles are boys too."

She moves her hands to her little hips and shoots him a glare identical to the ones that Miles gives him on a daily basis. "Yeah, but you're big boys. That's different. And Jason's mean."

"Just because he doesn't like Hello Kitty, doesn't mean he's mean, honey." Miles tells her.

Charlie waves her hands around in Miles face angrily. "Who doesn't like Hello Kitty? I'll tell you, mean people, that's who." She crosses her arms again and gives Miles a stern look, daring him to contradict her.

Sighing, Miles shakes his head. "Well then play by yourself for a little while. Me and Bass have to go." He gets up and pulls on his coat, but as he's zipping it up, Charlie wraps her arms around his waist and holds onto him tightly.

"Don't leave me, Uncle Miles."

She's crying again, but this time he can't tell if the tears are real or not until she looks up at him and he can see how scared she really is. Miles sits back down and pulls her close against his chest. "I have to go, but I'll be back soon, OK? Me and Bass are gonna go find some food and then we'll be right back."

She sniffles against his neck. "Promise?"

"Yeah, Bug, I promise."

Charlie pulls away from him and wipes some snot from her nose with her sleeve. "Will you play My Little Ponies with me when you get back?"

Bass kneels down next to her and wipes her face off with an old bandanna and kisses her cheek. "We'll both play with you. Isn't that right Uncle Miles?"

Miles shoots him another one of those glares, the Matheson's seem to like using them on him, but nods. "Alright, dinner and Ponies it is." Charlie squeals with delight and prances off back into the warm living room, presumably to find Jason so she can brag about the boys playing with her later.

"We've really got to find her something new to play with," Miles says. "I hate those stupid horse things."

Bass silently agrees with him, but his mind is caught on something else that Charlie had said. "Miles, maybe you shouldn't go with me. You should stay here and I'll take Jeremy."

"What, why?"

"Because what if something happens to you? Then what will happen to Charlie?" Miles opens his mouth protest, but Bass holds up a hand to stop him. "Look, all I'm saying is that you're not invincible. And Charlie needs you. I mean, if something happened to you, of course I would take care of her, but she needs you. You are her family."

Miles starts shaking his head and Bass can already see the fierce denial ready to come out. "She would be fine, Bass. You heard, Tom. We're days away from Ohio, after that Chicago is just around the corner. Then she'll be back with Ben and Rachel where she belongs."

Bass simply shakes his head. He knows that Miles isn't that stupid, but he also knows that he's ignoring the truth so he doesn't have to deal with it. "Miles, how do we even know that Ben and Rachel are still there? I mean," he stops and checks the hallway behind him, dropping his voice to a whisper. "For all we know, they could have left the city. Or they might even be..." But he can't bring himself to say it out loud. The word 'dead' is too much. The idea that their little Charlie Bug's, mommy and daddy might not even be alive is unthinkable. But it's also a possibility.

"They're fine," Miles says stubbornly. Because at this point, it's all he can do. His big brother, his sister-in-law, and his delicate little nephew have to be alright, because the only alternative is explaining to Charlie that her family is just like all of the other dead people they've seen throughout their travels.

"I'm sure they are," Bass says, though they both know that they're empty words. "But maybe you should stay here anyway. Just for Charlie's sake."

Miles swallows thickly and nods, staring to pull off his many layers as Bass goes to fetch Jeremy. The other man comes into the hallway pulling on his coat. He doesn't even question why Miles has suddenly decided to stay behind, though as he leaves, he stops and says in a low voice. "I know you don't want too, but you should consider talking to Charlie about it. You've been telling her for months that we're going to Chicago to find her parents. Imagine how upset she'll be if we get there only to find that they've gone... or worse."

Miles shakes his head. "No way. How am I supposed to tell her that?"

Jeremy sets a hand on his shoulder and gives him a sad look. "I said you should warn her, I didn't say it would be easy."

Bass and Miles share a look before the boys head out into the storm raging outside. Miles knows that Bass agrees with Jeremy. Truthfully, so does he. But telling Charlie the truth makes it real, too real. He moves back into the warmth of the living room where the fire is burning brightly and Charlie is happily moving her tiny colored horses around each other in circles. She looks up at him and jumps up in shock.

"Uncle Miles, you're back already!" She runs over to hug him and Miles holds her a little longer than necessary.

"Nah, I decided not to go with them. I wanted to stay here with you instead."

Charlie smiles hugely and hops on the spot excitedly. "Do you wanna play Ponies with me now?"

He hesitates. "Sure... well, maybe in a little bit. I... I think we need to talk about something."

She frowns, sensing the uneasiness in her uncle. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, nothing. I just..." He sits down near the fire and pulls Charlie into his lap. "You know I love you, right Bug?" She nods seriously. "Good. And I'll always love you, no matter what, you got that?"

"Yeah." Her brows are furrowed in confusion and Miles has to look away from her face in order to get the words out. Otherwise, he knows he won't be able to tell her that she may never see her family again.

A/N This wasn't at all the chapter I planned on writing today... So I guess we'll have to wait until the next one to meet Shelly. :-D