A/N: And now, Chapter 2. Sorry for the delay, medical reasons! Please note that there won't be a chapter for every day of the calendar, but these first few will be back to back!

HollyBlue: I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far! Kent will be an interesting meet, that I am torn on how to write. But, yes, we have quite some story ahead of us before the two cross paths!

Blackhawk68: I'm pleased ya like the story so far. I'm writing Aiden on a personal level, as we share a lot of similarities, but I can only go off my own experience. I hope ya don't feel alienated if I don't cover a specific experience, is all. :) Thank you for the review, brother.

Lucy The Medic: I am confident in my writing skills, but it always warms my heart to hear someone offer praise. Thank you, Lucy, and I hope you continue to read—and even more so, I hope I can continue to please!

Chapter 2: 2nd Spring, Year 1

Music blaring brought Aiden from his slumber. While he was no tech savant, he had set an alarm with his phone that woke him with a variety of songs each morning. Always random. This one, a rather inspirational song about the hall of fame*, Aiden decided he liked. He grabbed his phone, allowing the song to play as he rolled out of bed and shambled to the bathroom, much akin to a zombie. He set about his routine, turning on the shower to temperature. Giving it a few seconds to heat up, he surveyed himself in the mirror, running a hand over his stubble. He hadn't fully shaved since he left the service—a vow he made to himself. Trimmed his beard, sure, but this stubble was the shortest he had kept it since. He shrugged. As long as it was off his neck, he supposed it was fine. Summer was coming, so he would likely keep it short anyway. Putting some tooth paste on his toothbrush, he quickly undressed and got in the shower, humming along to the tune as he killed two birds with one stone.

Finishing his morning routine, Aiden crossed to the living room/kitchen and secured the coffee pot. Automated coffee pots were the best thing since pre-sliced bread, he was pretty sure. Pouring himself a cup, he crossed the tiny room and sat in the lone chair in front of the TV, turning on the antiquated device. The screen flickered once before tuning to the picture and Aiden let out a laugh. "Holy shit grandpa, I haven't seen a TV do that in years." The newer TVs didn't have the old 'charm' that this model had. He would wager few his age even knew TVs use to come in wooden boxes. This wasn't -that- old, but it was certainly one of the models that followed it. He watched the news as he sipped his coffee, flipping the channels after he saw rain tomorrow, deciding to see what else the antenna picked up. He rested on an old lady.

'-spirits in a foul mood today, you will not have good luck.'

Aiden rolled his eyes and pushed himself off before turning the TV off. Spirits and luck, riiiiight. What's next? His horoscope? He had no need for that crap—he made his own luck. Stopping at the door he secured his pill bottles—kept in sight so he wouldn't forget—and took them before exiting. On his porch was a small chest he had placed his tools and seeds in the night prior, setting up his work prior to the day before. Well, the farm wasn't going to start itself, he supposed.

By the time noon hit, Aiden found himself leaning on his axe, an earphone dangling and the other in as he wiped his brow. Seeds were planted, watered, and he had finished clearing some weeds and just now, a tree. He was beat though, and he felt this break was earned. Perhaps a walk in the forest would do. Hefting his axe to his shoulder, he swung it around and let it slide down next to his pack handle first. He had attached a D-ring to the side of the top handle, essentially sheathing the axe as the axe head rested against the D-ring, the handle through it. While the ruck was nowhere near as heavy as the one he lugged around in the military, he shifted the weight and adjusted the waist strap. Proper weight distribution was important, after all. And so, he was off.

Spring wasn't his favorite time, but it was still nice. The sweet smell of flowers on the wind cause a small smile to reach his lips, unbeknownst to him, as he sauntered along. Enjoying the sights, Aiden didn't see another familiar face. Whether it was because he was engrossed in nature, or because the face was behind a camera, he wouldn't ever be able to say.

"Oh wow. There's a blast from the past."

Aiden turned his head to the source of the voice, blinking once. The owner, an attractive blonde, shifted her hips slightly.

"Still walking around with your head in the clouds and that dumb smile on your face, huh?"

Inwardly, Aiden groaned. "Ah. Hello Haley. I didn't know you lived around here."

"I always have. What brings you to this backwoods place?"

"I'm the new farmer."

Haley looked thoughtful for a moment, as if considering her next words carefully. Of course, it wasn't so that she wouldn't offend him. "Ah, the run down one the old man had? It suits you, I suppose."

Aiden found himself clenching his teeth. Why? Why did he have to run into her? And why was she still such a bitch. "I see you haven't changed, Haley."

"Neither have you. Still wearing those shoes made out of plastic, I see."

"Yeah, good thing too. Didn't realize I was gonna step in shit." The words left Aiden's mouth before he could stop himself.

"Excuse me?! Look at how you're dressed!"

Aiden didn't look. He knew how he was dressed. Boots, jeans, and a button up shirt over a white shirt. He had rolled the sleeves on his shirt up as he had been cutting a tree. The weather, still early spring, was cool enough that he would have needed a jacket had he not been working. "You look homeless. Does your shack even have running water?"

Aiden sighed and began walking away, Haley yelling after him.

"So you're just gonna leave after being an asshole?! You owe me an apology!"

Aiden said nothing as he walked. Maybe that old lady was completely full of shit after all. Next time, he'd listen.

A/N: *For those interested, the song is Hall of Fame, by the Script! Sorry this one is so short, but it's gonna be short choppy ones the first few until it gets rolling!