March 22, 2030

This morning I finally got around to asking Bass what the deal was with Stephanie. "Why is she here?"

Bass was eating a bowl of oatmeal. He took a big bite and watched me thoughtfully as he chewed and swallowed. "She's fucking Miles." He finally said with a shrug. Evidently he's decided that being honest with me is the best policy.

I approve of the policy, but was surprised by the news, "Really?"

"Yeah, it started while I was in jail. When he first told me, I figured it was just a fling, but they've been spending a lot of time together and she wanted to come along on this trip, so…"

"You're sure she came for Miles?" I scowled, remembering the way she used to paw on Bass.

He rolled his eyes, "You're right. She's only screwing Miles's brains out so that she can get to the guy she really wants: Staypuft." Then he went back to eating, though he was now smirking as he chewed.

"Not funny." I said, but then I started to laugh, because it was kind of funny. I love when Bass makes me laugh. It's hard to describe but it's like my whole being lights up. So we were laughing and smiling at each other and that's when I felt it.

Bubbles.

My expression must have changed. Bass's smile disappeared and he looked afraid. "Charlie?"

"It's…"

"What? It's what? What's wrong?" He was standing then, staring down at me with wild eyes. I stood up too and took his hand, placing it on my belly.

"Bubbles" I said. "It felt like bubbles."

Stephanie walked in just then and smiled, "That's good. Those bubbles will start to feel like actual kicks soon. Bass might not be able to feel the baby yet, but he will once those kicks start."

Bass's eyes stayed on me. "Bubbles." He finally said before wrapping me in a gentle hug.

March 23, 2030

Bass is on guard dog duty, evidently. I can't shake him – not that I want to really. It's just that I got used to fending for myself, and now he won't let me do anything for myself. Today I went out to get eggs and he went with me. Twice he stopped me because he thought he 'heard something'. If he keeps this up, he's going to hear my foot as it swings up to kick his ass.

March 24, 2030

I swear that if he wasn't a complete genius in bed, meeting my every need and showing me some new ones I didn't even know that I had….he'd be history.

This overprotective act has worn thin. I haven't said anything yet, but I don't know how much longer I can take this without my head exploding.

March 25, 2030

This morning I had this weird pain in my side. I asked Stephanie about it. She checked me over and said I'm fine. My body is stretching to make room for the baby. She said the discomfort will pass.

Well, to see the way Bass acted, you'd think I'd lost a limb.

After Stephanie was done with me, he spent the whole day following me around like a puppy. It was annoying beyond belief. He was acting like I was a helpless idiot who couldn't take care of myself, and after a few hours of it, I'd had enough.

"You don't have to follow me everywhere." I said, exasperated.

"I just want you to be safe." He looked sheepish.

"And I just want to pee in peace. Can you give me five minutes while I go to the outhouse?"

"Oh." Then he just looked embarrassed. After that, he backed off a little bit which suited me fine. I love the man more than anything, but I'm not fragile. He can't treat me like a helpless kitten.

I'm nobody's kitten.

March 26, 2030

It's official. Bass is driving me crazy.

Tonight at dinner, I took a pot of stew from the stove to Aaron's kitchen table. It was kind of heavy, but I was doing fine. Bass came rushing over to 'help' and I ended up sloshing thick globs of our dinner all over my favorite skirt. 'That's enough!" I yelled. "I can't take this anymore!"

Bass put a hand on my shoulder, rubbing it gently. He was trying to calm me down. I could tell. I just didn't care.

My voice was all ragged because I was on the verge of tears, "You've got to let me do things like a normal person, okay? I'm pregnant. That's all. I'm not going to break."

"I just don't want anything to happen to you. I don't want you to do too much. It's not good for you to overexert."

So maybe it was the pregnancy hormones. Maybe it was the fact that ever since he'd gotten here, he hasn't let me out of his sight. Maybe I was just hungry. I don't know. Whatever it was that tipped me over the edge doesn't really matter. All that matters is I tipped… "Do too much? Are you kidding me? Overexert? Really?" I was right in his face, and let me tell you – the great Sebastian Monroe looked scared. I didn't care, "You weren't worried about me doing too much or overexerting when I was riding you like a bucking bronco this morning!"

"Oh. My. God." Miles moaned, pushing away from the table, and standing. "I can't listen to this."

I pointed at my uncle, "Shut up and sit down."

He sat.

"Charlie – " Bass was walking toward me and was holding both hands out as if I might hit him. He was keeping his voice really low and calm. "Let's talk about this. I'm sorry if I did anything to – "

I cut him off, "Don't Charlie me. I've been doing just fine all this time while it was just me and Aaron. HE let me do stuff. I've been cooking and cleaning. I helped with the chickens and I went to town for the shopping. You being here doesn't suddenly make me helpless. I can carry the damn soup!" Then I started to cry, hard. So, I ran to my room and slammed the door. Bass came after me and was knocking but he gave up after a while when I didn't let him in.

Eventually I calmed down and then I felt like the biggest idiot. So, Bass wanted to watch over me. There were way worse things than an overprotective baby daddy. I pressed an ear to the door and heard nothing. I opened it slowly.

I wasn't surprised to see someone sitting in the hall. I was surprised to see it was Stephanie instead of Bass.

"Hi." She said.

"Uh, hi." I glanced down the hall. The kitchen was dark. The house felt empty. "Where is everyone?"

Aaron and Miles convinced Bass to go to town for a drink. He's a bit high strung right now. He's worried about you. Only agreed to go if I stayed.

"Why should you stay?" I asked.

"I was a nurse before the war. I've been helping your Grandpa back in Willoughby around his practice. I think Bass felt better knowing you'd be with someone who could help if you had trouble."

I nodded, "I guess I knew that you were a nurse. I'd forgotten." I walked past where she was sitting, but turned when I didn't hear her follow. "Well, come on. I'm not gonna sit on the floor."

We went to the kitchen. I lit some candles because dusk was making the room shadowy and dark. I put on some tea and then we sat across from each other, sipping from mugs.

"I don't want Bass, you know. Never did."

"Yeah, right." I muttered.

She looked embarrassed, "Listen, the truth is that for me it was always Miles. I was attracted to him from the first time I saw him…" she paused, staring off into space for a bit. She collected herself and looked me in the eye, "I'm telling you the truth Charlie. I told Miles how I felt when we first met, and he told me he wasn't interested. He was completely loyal to your Mom. I flirted with Bass because I was hoping to make Miles see what he was missing. Thought he might change his mind… Well, he didn't. But then after your Mom…well, it took some time but he finally agreed to spend some time with me."

"Oh."

"Bass never once showed any interest in me. You should know that. His eyes were always on you."

This made me smile a little. "That is nice to know. Thanks for telling me."

"Listen, there's something else you should know."

"What?"

"It's about Bass. Miles told me and Bass plans to tell you on his own eventually, but he wants to wait till after the baby is born. He's afraid of causing you any distress."

"And you don't mind distressing me?" I was frowning and my heart had started to pound. I could tell already that whatever she was going to say; it was not going to be good.

"No. It's not that at all. I want you to be calm and happy, but I think you need to know this so that you can understand Bass and why he's been acting so weird and clingy."

"What? What is it?"

Stephanie took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, "A long time ago – just a few years after the blackout – Bass was married."

"What?" I felt a little light headed. How could nobody have ever told me this? How could Bass have failed to mention it? I stood on shaky legs. "What?" I asked again.

"Sit down." She said softly. "There's more."

I sat and she told me a story. I knew about Bass and Emma. Obviously, I knew Connor was his kid. I knew our baby wasn't Bass's first, but I didn't know this. I suddenly felt like I didn't know anything.

Stephanie told me about this woman Shelly who Bass had fallen in love with. They'd met in a refugee camp. It was before the Republic was a thing. They got married and she got pregnant soon after. They were both very excited to start a family.

What should have been Bass's happiest day became his most tragic.

"They both died?" I was gripping my mug so tightly that my knuckles were white.

"Yeah. It wasn't that uncommon then. There were complications that the midwife in the camp couldn't have helped with." Stephanie must have seen the terror I suddenly felt. "Now, don't worry. We still don't have power, but we aren't in a dirty camp like where they were. Besides, we've come a long way since those early days, okay? And you'll have me or your Grandpa or Betty close by."

"Who the hell is Betty?" I asked her blankly.

Stephanie laughed, "Your midwife? Didn't you know her name?"

"I don't remember…maybe I did." I ran a hand nervously through my hair, "My memory is shot lately."

"It's the pregnancy. Very common to be forgetful."

I nodded, but I wasn't really paying attention, "So, he's been hovering because he's afraid he'll lose me? Lose us?"

"Yes. So, maybe cut him a little slack?"

"Okay. I… Okay." I looked at her then, really looked at her. Stephanie maybe isn't so bad after all.

It wasn't long after we talked that the guys got back. Bass looked at me nervously, clearly not sure if he was forgiven or not.

I walked over to him and wrapped my arms around him. "I'm sorry." I said, tears in my eyes.

"It's okay." He ran his hands along my back, pulling me close.

"I'm sorry I acted crazy before, and I want to make it up to you – " I said softly.

Miles groaned, "By God, if I hear the words 'bucking bronco' again, I will shoot myself."

"Oh shut up." Stephanie said, grasping his hand. "Come with me and I'll make you forget all about those two."

As they left, Aaron also wandered off. It was just the two of us. I leaned up and kissed Bass. He responded eagerly. "We're good?" he asked.

"Yes, Bass. We're more than good."