A/N: Sorry for the long time in between chapters. Between work and kids, it has been busy, and I wanted to post the different endings at the same time. I had originally had three different endings, but the middle one just didn't want to be written. I could see how I wanted it to end, but it seemed to borrow too much from this version of the ending, and it never seemed to get there. As always, thanks for the follows, reads and comments!

It could have ended this way:

Rachel returned shortly thereafter with Gene in tow. Each carried a bucket of water. What they were about to do did seem a bit childish, but considering their intended victims were acting like children, it seemed only fitting. These two had been in the marines for a decade before the power went out, and afterwards had learned how to survive and even thrive where so many hadn't. And they were so stinking drunk that they didn't even hear them approach.

Rachel stood above Miles, with Gene standing near Bass. "On the count of three, Dad," Rachel whispered. She had to try to suppress a smile. Three seconds later, They dumped the buckets over the idiots' heads and stood back to enjoy their handy work.

The two of them immediately sputtered and jumped up. It was Gene who started laughing first, followed soon after by Rachel. "Cute. Very cute," Bass muttered, as he rose to his feet. His head was pounding from the whiskey. He was also pretty sure that he was still a little drunk.

"Well, we couldn't exactly set an alarm clock, and we weren't going to wait all day for the two of you to get your beauty sleep. This has gone on long enough. " With that, Rachel started heading up the stairs. Gene quickly followed her, eager to escape possible revenge.

Miles looked at Bass apologetically before following them up.

"I don't know if I like your girlfriend anymore, bro" Bass said as he slowly climbed the stairs behind him.

Miles couldn't help but laugh at that. "I'm not sure if I like her that much now, either."

"I heard that!" Rachel called, heading back towards the barn they'd been using as a home of sorts since the night at the old high school.

Miles caught up with Rachel and Gene, leaving Bass to himself as he followed them. He hoped that they weren't far from "home." He currently felt like hell. When they got back, Connor and Charlie were outside, sorting through some supplies they'd managed to steal from the patriots. Charlie looked at his dripping hair and wet shirt quizzically. "Don't ask." When it registered with her what must have happened, she had to swallow her laugh. Bass smiled in spite of himself, shaking his head as he walked past.

"Hey, where have you been?" Connor called after him. Miles, Rachel and Gene went to the cellar below the barn that they'd been using, where everyone had been sleeping these past few weeks. Wanting nothing more than to finish sleeping it off, Bass shuffled into the barn, dropping his ugly, plaid wet shirt as he went. He had to find something better to wear. He picked the unoccupied stall they'd been using to store the clean hay and straw they'd stolen from the patriots, and he flopped down face first. "I said, where have you been?" Came Connor's voice from the doorway to the stall.

Bass turned his head to look up at his son, leaning against the frame, looking quite irritated. "Later."

"So you just disappear on some mission for three days and that's all you've got to say?" The kid just didn't know when to quit sometimes.

"Yep. Now go away," Bass knew they needed to talk, and soon. But right now he just wanted to sleep for a few more hours, and clear his head. When it became clear that Connor was not going to go away that easily, Bass sat up, resigned. With a sigh, he began to unwind the bandage that was holding the gauze to his wounds. He stood up and turned around, his back to Connor. "At least make yourself useful. These things are starting to itch like crazy."

He waited patiently while Connor did as he was asked. When he turned around, he could tell by the look on the kids face that he at least felt bad for what had happened. That was something at least. "Listen, we need to talk. This thing, with the Republic. It's not gonna happen."

"What do you mean? You mean you lied to me?" Connor stood there in disbelief. He was trying to hold down his temper, but it was a Monroe temper after all.

"Yes… No… Well, kind of. When I first told you, I was just looking for a reason to get you out of that mess in Mexico. I was trying to save your life, kid. You're young and stupid, and all you cared about was power. I know how men like Nunez operate. I used to be like Nunez. But I was serious when I told you that it was a dead end street. It doesn't matter how much of a badass you are or you think you are. There is always someone better. And you can't rule people with fear and force. It doesn't work. Doesn't last. At some point, someone will come around and take you out. And you'll go crazy trying to hold on to everything when it happens. I've been there. I know.

But then my staying behind forced your hand, and you had to leave. So when you asked me about it, I decided that I'd do it. If that is what it took to keep you from trying to go back to Nunez, then that's what it took. I guess I was just kind of hoping that when you got here and saw what they patriots were doing, that you'd change. Because if we got the republic back, we'd be no better. "

"So why the sudden change of heart, Dad?" Connor sneered the word, like it was disgusting.

"You know, If the last few days have taught me anything, they've taught me that I just may have something to lose other than you. You're my son, and I'm sorry that I wasn't there before now. I truly am. And if I wasn't the monster of the Monroe Republic, then your mom would never have sent you there, and you wouldn't have had to be alone for that Nunez asshole to fuck you up. But if all you want from me is the Republic, then start walking. I can't go back there. "

"So you're just going to change your mind and send me on my way?"

"You can stay, if you're willing to fight the patriots. But, if we miraculously somehow survive, I'm done. I'm out." Bass finally knew what he wanted, if he lived long enough to get it.

"Just like that? You promised me we'd get it back, and you're just giving it all up?"

"There's nothing to give up, Connor. It's gone, and it would take a miracle to get it back. And I don't want it anymore. I never wanted the first one. But all I had left was Miles, so I backed him up. The only reason I was even the president in the first place was because everyone thought Miles was a dick."

Connor looked disgusted. "I can't believe this."

"You gotta understand. I've been fighting something for over twenty-five years. Before the blackout, it was the marines. Afterwards, we just fought to survive, and then we fought for control. I'm tired of fighting. I want to try living for once. Settle down, make a place for myself. It's over."

Connor clenched his fist, and swung back to deck his father. Despite his acute hangover, Bass easily dodged it, grabbing Connor's wrist. Connor wrenched it free and walked away. With a sigh, Bass dropped back down to the hay and stretched back out on his stomach, his arms folded under his head.

"That sounded like it went well," Charlie sat down next to him, and started inspecting the marks on his back.

"Eavesdropping were you?" He turned his head to the side and looked up at her, plotting his next move.

"Didn't have to. Connor was loud enough." She eyed him with suspicion as he rolled over on his side to face her. She could see the wheels turning in his head, but couldn't quite make out what he was thinking.

"Yeah, he needs to learn a little volume control. Got a temper." He reached out and pulled her into him. She stretched out pressing her body up to his. "Care for a roll in the hay?"

She wondered if he was trying to distract her. "That depends. What were you plotting just a second ago. I know that look."

"How to get you under me without having to scratch my back up on the straw." He captured her mouth as he lifted himself up, and scooted her beneath him, before laying back down, bracing his arms on either side of her. "That's better." He said against her lips. She giggled at that. This was the first time that she'd ever seen him look happy, playful even.

"Oh, come on! Am I going to have to see this any time I walk into a room?" Bass rolled off her. So much for not laying on his back. They both looked up at a very irritated Miles.

"Miles, you've really got to learn how to knock," Charlie finally said.

Miles shook his head and turned to walk away. "Come down when you two can control yourselves, we've got to figure out our next move. We've been here too long."

"He really knows how to kill a mood, doesn't he?" Bass laughed. They laid there for a few minutes; just enjoying the closeness, knowing now wasn't the time to take it further. Finally Bass got up, and turned to extend a hand to pull Charlie to his feet. He kissed her gently, as he removed a strand of straw from her hair. Hand in hand, they walked together out of the barn. Bass paused to reach down to pick up the shirt. "Ok, we have got to find me something to wear that's a little less… Gene," he told her as he slung it over his shoulder. It was still sopping wet, and he wasn't about to put it back on yet.

When they walked down the stairs, everyone was sitting around, waiting for them. Connor was conspicuously absent. Bass felt his heart sink a little, but wasn't surprised. The kid would do exactly what he'd expected. Without the carrot of power dangling in front of him, he had no use for him. He glanced at Charlie as she crossed the room as he sat down on the bottom cellar step. Despite his promise to Miles to avoid her, their little romp in the hay had cemented it for him. He had someone to hold on to, and he would, as long as she would let him.

"Well, that was faster than I'd imagined," Miles said, raising an eyebrow at them. Because of Rachel, they'd separated before going down the stairs, and sat as far away from each other as they could get.

"Shut up, asshole," Bass said, sending him a not quite so apologetic look. Sorry bro, I tried. He silently said.

Reading the expression on Bass' face, Miles narrowed his eyes at him. Yeah right, I'm sure you tried really hard, he shot back silently. The sheepish grin on Bass' face was enough for Miles to know he'd gotten the drift. Charlie watched their silent exchange, damn well knowing exactly what both men were thinking.

"What did I miss?" Rachel eyed Miles and Bass suspiciously. It had always driven her nuts the way the two of them had always been able to have a conversation without saying a thing. Seeing Charlie's face, she knew that her daughter had picked up on their unspoken language. Something was up here, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She knew that they'd made up in some way, but it seemed like something else, just under the surface.

"Nothing." Bass said innocently enough. Rachel was smart – frighteningly smart. He knew it was only a matter of time before she'd figured out a new reason to kill him. With much having been resolved between Miles and himself, he knew that he might eventually have an ally in his corner, once Miles got past the idea that it was niece that his lifelong friend was with.

Unbeknownst to either of them, Miles had already decided to tolerate what was going on between Charlie and Bass. While the patriots were still a threat, even their daily survival was up in the air. If anything, their relationship (if that's what it could be called) would ensure that above all else, Bass would protect her. If and when it came down to the end, Bass would get her out of Texas if possible. That one fact was enough for Miles. With everything Bass had done in the past, he would always lay his life on the line for someone he cared about. It was as natural to him as breathing, and indeed was as much as a source for his downfall as it was his redemption.

"Well, we all showed up for your family meeting. Care to tell us why we're having it?" Bass started. The silence and looks he was getting from Rachel were starting to make him uncomfortable.

Miles looked around at everyone. He so hated being the de facto "leader" of their group. It made him feel like General Matheson again, but he wasn't about to let Charlie or Bass take the lead. "We've been here too long. We slowed the patriots down when Rachel gave them a taste of their own… medicine. But, let's face it, noting we've done is going to slow them down for long. Anyone got any bright ideas?"

A/N – So guess that this is the "happy" ending, as much as can be had. Bass assumes that Connor is really gone. But is he? Will Rachel try to kill Bass when she finds out his new family obsession? If I decide to continue this story at one point with another fic, I suppose that this would be the launch point.

But, is this the way it really happened?