Screaming filled the air around him making his head feel like it was going to explode. Emily's wailing had been going on for the better part of an hour. Bass had checked all the usual suspects but her diaper was clean, she didn't want food, and the rock-n-bounce thing he'd seen Charlie do was only making things worse. He stepped outside with the hopes that some fresh air might calm his daughter down but she only cried harder, beating her little fists against his chest.

"I'm sorry, baby, I don't know what you want." He tried rocking her back and forth but she started screaming so hard that her little face was turning red. Completely at his wits end, Bass pleaded with her, "it's ok, it's ok, Mommy will be back soon and then she'll make it better. I promise."

The sight of Miles coming down the overgrown driveway in a wagon had never been so welcome.

"Jesus, Bass. What the hell did you do to her?"

All dignity forgotten, Bass looked at his brother with wide, terrified eyes. "I think something's wrong with her, she won't stop crying, and no matter what I do it just gets worse," he explained desperately.

Miles easily scooped the screaming infant from his arms and held her up high, her cries subsiding just a fraction. "What's wrong booger, huh?" He crooned. Emily continued to cry so Bass followed Miles back into the house and watched his friend hunt through Charlie's pack that was sitting on the counter. "Ah, here we go," he said happily, handing Emily the rag doll. She stilled, wrapping her chubby fingers around the doll, her little shoulders still shaking with the effort of crying. "See? All better." Miles kissed her cheek sloppily, making her giggle.

"Ga-ya," she shouted up at him.

Miles grinned down at her. "That's right, Gr-and-pa."

She shook the doll in his face and attempted to mimic him. "Gaa-yaa."

Miles chuckled and sent Bass a shrug. "Close enough."

Bass stared at him wide eyed, torn between feeling like an idiot for not figuring out that she just wanted her doll and being thankful that she'd finally stopped screaming. "How did you..." he asked weakly.

Rolling his eyes, Miles deposited a happy Emily in her father's arms. "I was Grandpa way before you were Daddy. I know what I'm doing."

He got over his shock quickly, following Miles back out of the house. "What's with the wagon, Grandpa too tired to walk?"

Miles shot him a glare, climbing into the back of the wagon. "No, you dick. Leanne's in labor, so Gene and Rachel are gonna be out of town for the next day or two, so I figured I'd bring what was left of the girls' stuff over before they get back." He lifted an old highchair up and set it on the ground next to the wagon, the tray for food was cracked along one side, but other than that it seemed to have come out of Rachel's tornado with minimal damage.

There were a few other things, like the tiny mattress from Emily's bassinet - thought the thing itself had been destroyed, and an old chest with a few dents and scratches. The rest of the stuff was just clothes, for Charlie and Emily, plus a few blankets and pillows. The boys moved the stuff into the house, sitting the highchair next the the kitchen counter and leaving the chest sitting all by itself next to his pathetic bed on the floor.

"Wow. This place sucks," Miles said.

Bass glared at him. "Sorry, I haven't gotten around to hiring a decorator yet."

Miles rolled his eyes in response, but changed the subject. "Where's Charlie?"

"She went hunting this morning."

"Really?" Miles looked surprised.

"Yeah, what's the big deal?"

He shook his head slowly. "Nothing, it's just that Charlie hasn't been out since before Emily was born."

Before Bass had time to contemplate that piece of information, Charlie popped her head through the, still broken, backdoor. "Hey, can I get some help out here?" The boys gave each other matching questioning looks, but followed her out of the house.

In the backyard, there was a large buck lying dead and bloody on the grass. Charlie had ropes slung around it with the obvious intent to hang it from a tree. Miles let out a low whistle. "Guess Mommy hasn't lost her touch, huh?"

Charlie grinned and they both pulled on the ropes, Bass watching as the animal was suspended from the tree, a long cut had already been made along it's stomach. "How did you..." he trailed off looking at the enormous animal in amazement. "You weren't even gone for two hours... and that thing's like twice your size. How did you even get it here?"

Miles clapped him on the shoulder with a laugh. "Dude, don't bother, Charlie never reveals her hunting secrets."

The woman herself gave him a self-satisfied smile. "You and Miles may be the best when it comes to killing people, but hunting? That's my thing."

Bass nodded, watching her start to peel the skin from the carcass. Emily whined, holding her hands out towards Charlie and making grabby fists. Charlie frowned. "Fine," she grumbled playfully. "Let me get cleaned up then it's Mommy's turn." She planted a kiss on Emily's head and went to wash up in the well.

"Can you guys take care of the meat then?" She asked as she took Emily from him.

Miles stopped observing the little family long enough to nod his head and smile. Bass followed suit, standing with Miles and watching the girls disappear into the house. He looked up at the large animal and then back at Miles. "Seriously though, how did she get this thing all the way back here?"

XxX

Bass was at Ralph's working for the afternoon and after some persuading (it hadn't taken much), Miles had driven her and Emily into town so they could sell the meat at the butcher's. Gale was a good man that knew his trade well, he'd given Charlie the best deal possible and sent them on their way. Though not before making her promise to bring him something else by the end of the week. They were currently sitting in Marion's bar, which served as a diner during the day, having a late lunch.

"A cat. You serious?"

"Yep. It's a cute, little kitten."

Miles stared at her, his glass halfway to his lips, Emily shoving her fingers into his mashed potatoes. "Bass hates cats. Why does he have a cat?"

Charlie snorted. "Don't look a me, the cat was there before I was."

Aaron pulled up a chair and snagged a piece of chicken off of her plate. "Monroe has a cat? Seriously?"

Charlie threw her hands up in the air in frustration. "Yes, he has a cat. Who cares?"

The larger man shrugged. "Just never pictured him as a cat person."

She rolled her eyes. "People can change, you know." She pointed across the table at Miles who was currently wrestling Emily for the last bite of potatoes. He stopped when he noticed them watching, admitting defeat and letting Emily suck the remainder of the fluffy stuff off of his spoon. She smacked her little lips happily and reached out to Aaron who plopped her into his lap.

"I haven't seen you all week," he told the little girl seriously. "Your Daddy's a baby hog."

"Give him a break," Charlie said quietly, staring at her food. "We've had six months with her, he's only had a few weeks."

Aaron grabbed her hand and squeezed her fingers gently. "I know, I was joking."

Charlie looked up at the two men, seeing their concered faces. "I know," she groaned into her hands. "It's just been a weird couple of days."

Miles patted her shoulder gently. "Stop thinking so hard. This is your life, not a math test."

XxX

It was late when Bass finally stumbled through the front door. A group of kids from town had thought it'd be funny to unlock the gate to the goats little enclosure. He and Ralph had spent the last six hours in the woods trying to find the seven missing animals. When it had finally gotten dark, Ralph had called it quits and told him to go home. There was still one goat missing, but Bass figured it would come home on it's own eventually.

There was a bowl of something waiting for him on the counter along with a hunk of fresh bread. He picked up the still warm, flakey piece and stuck his nose in it, sighing at the heavenly scent.

"It's usually better if you eat it," Charlie whispered. She was standing in the doorway to the bedroom in her sleeping shirt, a small smile on her face. Bass felt his heart speed up at the sight of her.

"I'll get there, eventually." He sniffed the bread again for effect then dunked it in the soup and took a big bite, actually groaning at the taste. "This is so fucking good." He ignored any and all manners, shoveling down the food as Charlie came over to lean against the counter.

"You look tired," she said softly.

He snorted in between mouthfuls of delicious soup. "Spent the day chasing down goats. Did you know that goats run really fast? Because I didn't."

Charlie giggled and Bass smiled at the sound, slowing his pace with the food as he turned to really look at her. She looked so at ease, standing in the middle of his kitchen like she belonged there.

"How did it go with the butcher?" He asked in an attempt to steer the conversation away from rapidly growing fantasyland where they all lived happily ever after.

"Good. Gale always gives me the best price."

"Yeah... he seems to like you." Was that jealousy in his voice? When had he become the jealous husband? Well... not husband, not even boyfriend. Which just made the whole thing more ridiculous.

Charlie shrugged. "Yeah, but I'm not really interested."

God, she was not helping get rid of his fantasy. "No? Why not?"

Suddenly she was right in front of him, her small breasts brushing against his chest. "I think you know why," she whispered. Her blue eyes wide and full of all the unsaid things between them.

He leaned down, brushing his nose against hers. "I think I might." He pressed his lips gently against hers, waiting and hoping like hell he hadn't totally misread this entire situation. His fears were quickly stamped out by Charlie's fingers twisting in the front of his jacket, pulling him closer to her. He tentatively wrapped his arms around her, when she didn't pull away he pulled her small body flush against his. Their mouths moved slowly, his tongue tracing her full lips. His hands slid down her back to her ass, grabbing the supple flesh firmly in his hand. Charlie moaned against his lips and pulled him closer, wrapping her arms around his neck and threading her fingers through his soft curls.

The kiss grew in intensity, their tongues darting out to explore. It was sort of like the first time, slow and quiet, but so different. So much more lay between them now. Emily, their family, created both a bridge and a barrier. Both of them wanting the same thing but neither one really willing to risk their simple relationship for fear of hurting Emily in the future. Their daughter would need both of her parents, agreeable and on good speaking terms.

Bass pulled away slowly, combing waves of her long hair with his fingers. "Charlie, if we do this... then there's no going back."

She stared up at him, her blue eyes clear and full of something he wasn't quite willing to name yet. "Good. I don't want to go back."

He yanked her lips back to his, angling his mouth over hers hungrily. Charlie clawed at his jacket, pushing it off of his shoulders so it fell to the floor and tearing his t-shirt over his head. She pressed him back against the counter, her hands roaming over the hard lines of his chest, her lips attached to the hollow of his throat. Bass bunched the shirt she was wearing up around her hips, sliding his hands over her soft curves. She gasped when he slid his fingers into her underwear, then growled something unintelligible and reached for his belt.

"Bed," she panted.

Bass shook his head, attaching his lips to her neck. "Don't want to wake Emily," he rasped back.

Charlie abruptly stepped away from him and pulled her shirt over her head, leaving her bare except the sorry excuse for panties she was wearing. She turned away from him but looked back over her shoulder, blonde hair swinging like a curtain over her toned body. "You coming?" She asked innocently.

"Absolutely."

A/N Huge thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed, you guys make me smile! :-D This isn't the end of the story I still have a little bit of stuff I'd like to throw in there so I hope you'll stick around. :-)