-The Flight-

[solofheaven]

The group was forced to move fast. Not only to escape the chaos but to beat the dusk. The sun was just beginning to set. The group of Seven, plus dog, were pushed to a quick pace. They were as careful as they can. Nathan toke a bag and his shotgun. Aaron pulled a simple glock from the bag and a bag of ammunition. He tried to stay light. He had a tendency to move abit ahead of the group. He seemed to have taken the recent downfall personally. He began to push himself abit further then before. Taking in less rest, less water, and scouting abit further each hour. Percy toddled and huffed right after him. Aaron would look down and ask the little creature questions ever so often. The Jockey had a nack for scavenging and knowing when his ‘brethren’ were around. This made it easier to gather supplies and avoid the hordes.

Jayce trailed close to Sam. It seemed as though he was watching over her or protecting her, however to Sam herself it would become clear that he was trying to learn the ropes. He was a strong presence, his dark eyes could look into someone’s soul as easily as anyone could gaze at a sunset or a beautiful flower. His eyes would hook onto another’s and he would make connections other’s longed for. When he was caught staring he would smile easily, then return his gaze to watch. He was careful not to crowd or impose, however Sam was obviously more experienced out in the bigger world.

There was a time when the trail was forced to end. The group moved into a more wildness area. A national park miles and miles of untouched land stretched out before the group. They camped in a established camp ground. Not too far from the park’s main road, but far enough for no one and nothing to disturb them. Despite his best efforts Aaron fell asleep quickly not long after he toke the time to rest. He fell asleep sitting up against a mossy tree. He fell asleep with Azaria as the last thing he saw. She was also the only thing he dreamed about. It was obvious he worried about her. He worried about her constantly. He thought it was strange how she acted when they were in town, and how she acted when they left. A mix of relief and worry was always in her eyes. Some of that worry was for him, but a lot was for something else. He wanted to ask, but his exhaustion toke the better of him. Nathan looked after the man as he fell asleep then looked after the Jockey.

Nathan was constantly on edge for having the creature with them. He hated the infected and hated the mutants even more. Having a walking talking monster with them was no reassurance, no matter how useful the creature was. Nathan calmly stood up and quietly grabbed a hold of Ash’s prized bat and began to quietly stalk to the otherside of the camp. Percy rested in a little nest of blanket he would carry around with him. He had a small child’s backpack Aaron found while on the road. He was elated at the discovery and the gift and let everyone know. Nathan was as quiet as he could be but he never made it out of the camp. Jayce walked out from behind a push, zipping his jeans and whipping his hands with a wet nap. He inclined his head and his dark eyes stared accusingly at the older man. Nathan stood there and stared right back, however after another moment just backed off back to his spot.

Jayce's eyes trailed after the man and went back to his own spot next to the little fire they all had going. He sat inclined against a falled tree placed there for the camp. His eyes stared into the fire for a long moment and then looked around the others. Nathan was asleep, a book in his hands. Ash was asleep, she was slightly restless, no doubt having bad dreams. Aaron slept with his lover every so often he too would shift restlessly, but he would quickly find comfort when his hands or lips brushed against Azaria. Jayce peered toward Percy’s direction but the little creature just shifts and mumbles in his sleep. The creature was a mystery. He never seen something as bazaar or strange as a rational mutant. He wondered if there were others then he remembered what Sam told him, about the witch. He turns his gaze at last to Sam. She was a striking woman. A world apart from the leggy Ukrainian, her heart was just as strong but she had a burning hope that Azaria didn’t seem to hold for anyone but Aaron. Azaria lived for the man, as the man lives for her and his lost son. Sam lived for them all, lived to survive, and that filled his own heart with hope. She was tough, beautiful, intelligent, and mysterious all at once. He sat back and let his mind wonder for abit. He would turn his head and blush lightly at the thought and sat quietly for something to happen, or until he too drifted off.

=======================================================

The Major blew the Hunter’s head clean off with one shot. Five of his men were pouring torrents of munitions into the Tank. The tank fell quickly in a pool of blood. The soldiers outside were winning and the witch danced gracefully, however burdened by the wounds that Lt. Alexander inflicted. The heavy dark skinned man pushed his shot gun up into the naked witch’s gut and pulled the trigger. The witch staggered but stood. A heavy blow fell to the side of her face as the stock of the shotgun slammed into her head. A heavy fist and the witch fell to her feet. The Major had orders to take her alive.

The Major was experienced, and his men were the best. The ‘conscripts’ that he was forced to take along fell quickly. The idiot boys had more balls then brains. The real soldiers held strong and The Major had his boot pressed against the witch’s neck as the Lieutenant and four of his troops struggled to cuff her wrists and ankles together. They used zip ties, cuffs, chains and even a straight Jacket to keep her under control. It was a challenge. They were forced to put a heavy sack over her head, her eyes creeped everyone out. She would also try and spit. The doctor attached to his unit suggested it was some kind of poison or pheromone shot.

The Major had a rather severe cut in his hand and some of the Alma’s venom had seeped in. He winced and had it looked at, but no one connected the dots. Not even he knew. They toke their prize and burned the bodies. They sealed the witch in a heavy crate, sedated with multiple tranquilizers and sedatives, and she still thrashed in her sleep. The crate was loaded on a chopper and sent off. The troop had also packed up and moved back to the nest. Alma would be studied and observed. The CEO was intrigued with the find and kept a close watch on the Witch and her rapid evolution.

“Extended study and scans have produced a wealth of information. The subject seems to be…dreaming. However higher thought patterns are heavily suppressed by…animal instincts.” The white coated doctor spoke into a hand held recorder. He paced in front of the bound and sedated witch. Her scarlet eyes followed the pacing man, but she did not thrash or scream. She was quiet and still, and as the doctor turned to look at her, her eyes closed and it seemed she was still and asleep. When the doctor turned away again her eyes came open and she scanned the room and over herself. She was now dressed in a skin tight body suit, fastened with belts and harnesses, tubes and injection spits that fed into her nervous system. Her body was extremely well accented in the tightly woven material. She was half submerged in a tank of mucus like liquid. The tank was made to keep her sedated, cut off from the outside world and machines lined the tank to study and record her ‘phenomena’. She indeed seemed to show distress. Cut off from the scent of whom ever she was hunting. After the doctor extracted her venom he found an even greater mystery. She was exuding a light but constant pheromone. She was seemed to be calling for a mate or equal. After looking into it the Doctor rushed to his file room. He remembered a patient a week or so ago that went through the hospital when he was still there. After looking through his ledger her ran full tilt through the door and into the halls. Alma looked after him and looked down at a picture the man dropped. Her eyes opened wide and she screamed through her confinement. The gruff engineer she stalked for so long stared dully in the picture. She shifted and a talon slipped free and she began to saw at the heavy binding. It was slow going. She was a patient woman, a hungry queen, a lusting creature of terror and blood. She was Alma Winters, and she knew it.

========================================================

The major set off that evening. The CEO had demanded her find the lost engineer. It was priority and The Major brought his team together to pursue. The Major didn’t question he knew his place. His hand itched and he began to uncouciously scratch his wound. The Lieutenant looked at his commander and scowled, he turned his head to the window and remained quiet the ride was a somber one, back to the settlement, back to look for the runners, the engineer, and the Marshal that he had a feeling was with them.

[Desperanza]

The night seemed to stretch on forever tonight, it seemed. As the Ukraine young woman sat there on the cool grass, she crossed her legs and sighed softly. She had set there for some time studying the sky as tiny sparkling stars, the sliver of moon that curved lightly into the sky. She sighed softly and lowered her head a bit to look to Aaron. She sat close by and while her body was weary and tired from traveling for some time, she found it hard to sleep now. She was worried for Aaron, but by now she had let her swirling thoughts stay put and drift solely within her mind for now. It seemed as if he had other things on his mind anyways, though she worried and wondered over her own but she figured that either way it really didn't seem anything that she needed to bring to his attention now, she had time. Some time. She bit her lower lip at the thought and stirred a bit before she settled again. She shifted and turned a bit to lay against the ground with her stomach pressed against the soil with a soft sigh. Her black curls spilled across her back and she swung her legs gently as a slight breeze wandered through their camp site and caused the tips of the fire to dance and flicker into the night air. She arched her back slightly as the breeze ran through before she let her eyes close slowly, listening vaguely to the sounds of the Marshall as she drifted to rest for a little while.

Sam sat with her back pressed against a tree for a little while. She lifted her head into the slight wind with a light smile playing across her features as she quite enjoyed the simple peace of the night. It wasn't a warm bed in a safe house, it wasn't safety at all, really but the beauty of the night could have lied and told them otherwise and for a little while, she wanted to believe it. She gave herself a few moments of the luxury as she watched her little group settle down. She was satisfied to keep watch for a while to ensure that they all got some rest that night. She listened for a little while, but the only sound that escaped was the whistle of the trees against the wind that sang through their branches.

She inhaled slowly, finding that the night was rather calm and clear. Tiny curls of smoke lifted into the air now and again as she turned her head to glance back towards the fire. This time, she caught a slight sound. She was well aware that they weren't entirely safe out there and she sat a bit straighter now, scanning the shadows. A few moments and Jayce stepped into the light of the fire to take a seat again and the sight made her smile. She blinked a bit into the burnt orange glow of the fire as the soft light bathed the area around it. She let her eyes drift over him for a moment from her seat beneath the tree across the fire before she let her head turn away briefly, not wanting him to catch her staring across at him. She shifted her back against the branch of the tree and smiled slightly to herself. It was enticing, wanting to get a little more from him but it seemed like anything between them stayed just out of reach, and the reminder that she was sure that things like that didn't happen anymore edged into her mind again but Aaron and Azaria were proof that wasn't so.

She looked across at the two lovers for a brief moment, they seemed to be a bit of better light in a world of despair, really. It was refreshing to see the two so in love and the fact that their relationship still seemed to be intact despite the situation was a wonderful sight, she thought but it stirred thoughts of what she wondered could possibly happen between herself and Jayce and she squirmed again beneath the tree with a gentle rustle of the small leaves around herself. She let her fingers reach out and play with a string lace on one of her hiking boots thoughtfully, thinking silently to herself as she figured there was no harm in dreaming, at least. What was in her mind was a secret only to her but she wasn't blind and gathered the feeling that something happened in Jayce's mind that she didn't know about either and suddenly her cheeks seemed to warm with something other then the heat of the fire once more and she finally climbed to her feet and drifted closer to the center of their camp before she settled down close to Jayce instead, bumping his shoulder gently with her own as she smiled to him with a brief incline of her head, "Can't sleep either, officer?" she asked lightly as she gazed into the dancing fire once more.

[solofheaven]

Jayce sat there for long moments looking up at the stars quietly. The flame made that familiar crackle and he felt good. The air was clean and fresh, the night was cool and calm. The stars were out and clear. He closed his eyes and imagined Sam. He imagined her on a warm day, toes in the sand. String bikini leaving just enough for the imagination to entice him into appraoching. He grinned and as he heard a soft rustle he opened his eyes and there she was. Siting by his side. He didn't act at all basheful. He just smiled abit broader. "Hey." He whispered her eye and his dark eyes gazed into her green ones.

"I was thinking about how long it would take to return to a time where people can thrive again...not with computers or Iphones or any of that shit, but really thrive..." He looks up at the stars then at her. he wasnt being very romantic. He was never one with words. Dating was abit far away from him. He instead nestled into her side. He slowly, tentativly puts his arm around her shoulders. He stares into her eyes as if looking for any sign she was displeased. He slowly brings her closer and just stares softly.

"I....ah....." He tries and his lips close just enough to allow a small intake of air in. It wasnt too obvious but he was stunned. So close, she seemed so perfect. Her clear green eyes, the little curve of her lips, the soft rise and fall of her breasts, her proximity, her scent, it all kind of floord him.

[Desperanza]

Sam swallowed a tiny giggle and smiled softly to him, holding his gaze a moment before she contently settled against his side with a soft sigh and rested her head against him for a brief moment. She looked to the fire for a few moments with a small nod at his words. She wondered, too. Would that time ever come again? She wondered if there would ever come a day where they would sweep the dead from the streets and slowly, the surviving could come back into their own. Surely this had taught them all a lesson, hadn't it? She wondered. She thought, she listened silently before looking up briefly at his last words. She lifted a hand to rest it against his leg a moment gently as she met his gaze thoughtfully once more but she shook her head slightly. She didn't know what it was that he tried to get out, but she figured whatever it was would come in its own time. She nuzzled his cheek gently with a small tease, "You?" she inquired quietly before she lowered her head once more with a soft sigh.

She figured it would be hard for the night to fall into a more perfect rhythm though at the back of her mind she wondered where they were headed to this time. She certainly couldn't tell at the moment, but she didn't feel as if she could worry too much here at his side. They fit together with ease, perfect. It was the warmth she sought against the cooler breeze of the night but it was hard here, catching every piece of him, to stave of her thoughts once more and she blinked against her own mind playing along once more. He was warm and even there beneath the clothes that covered his frame she knew it was wondrous. He was a man in every aspect but rather wonderfully and adorably awkward when it seemed he tried to express something attached to emotion. She smiled softly at the thought and closed her eyes slowly for a moment, her fingers curling toward her palm slightly but she left her hand there resting against his thigh as she seemed to zero in on the slight course pattern of the stitching to the pants he wore. It seemed with the soft whisper of the wind, the warmth that emanated from the fire and surrounded them, easing her into what he offered now that she couldn't hardly lull herself out of the situation but she inhaled softly and let her eyes drift open once more. Seemed as if something was settled there between them again but she didn't push it. She simply sent a glance to him for a moment and pressed closer before she fell still again, "You should try for some rest, officer." she commented softly as she let her eyes drift closed once more.

***

The night seemed to close in around their camp in a satisfying and small comfort until the morning. The woods echoed very faintly with the calls of bird here or there as the sky became painted in soft pastels of color. The morning came crisp and bearing a bright sky once more as the indigo night fell away and the world woke once more. The slight and tentative chirp here or there teased Azaria briefly, making her wonder if the whole thing had been a dream. Was it all back to normal again? She sighed contently at the thought as she stirred, stretching in he process before she nestled closer to Aaron for a brief moment with a faint smile. She hoped within hope that when she opened her eyes, they would be there in a world that was perfect too. A world where they weren't on the menu constantly for mindless beasts. But the bird gave a scream, less of a charming chirp and she startled, gasping softly as her eyes snapped open.

She blinked a bit as she pushed to sit up. She winced, folding her hands over her stomach for a brief moment with a slight wince. Her head swam slightly and she gave it a shake and looked across at Aaron. She smiled faintly at the sight of him, the best thing she could find each morning when she woke. It wasn't perfect. They didn't have their perfect life together. It was all still the same but at least she could keep one small piece of perfection in a world of disaster, and that happened to be him. But something wasn't perfect, something didn't quite feel right, maybe. She inhaled slowly, gazing skyward for a moment. It was still rather early, the sky had only just lightened and their camp was still contently resting for the most part. She thought to the fact that she might be the first to rise as she climbed to her feet with a small breath as she gathered herself and trailed into the trees a bit with trembling gasp.

Food poisoning maybe? She pondered the thought as she pushed a bit further, finding herself curled among the roots of a tree in time, losing what she had consumed for dinner before she winced and climbed to her feet again. As she lifted her head, brushed aside her curls and gazed into the shadows she was instantly on the alert. Grainy black eyes stared at her from the shadows of the trees and she quickly figured out that she had wandered farther then she had figured. She backed a step, pulling out the hand gun as she aimed forward but she found that it was simply a straggling simple infected and she landed one quick shot into its forehead, took a steadying breath and turned to jog back to camp.

Tucking the hand gun back at her side, her head swam again and she felt a slight ache ripple through her back. She groaned softly and sank down closer to the dead fire. The pile of ash and left overs of what they had burned still emanated a slight and small heat and she folded her arms for a moment against the crispness of the morning before she slowly pulled herself closer to her bag and rifled through until she located some water. She rinsed her mouth and then sipped slowly at the liquid before tucking it away and coming to lay on her back against the earth once more with a small sigh as she rested a moment and watched the sky silently, her thoughts wandering slowly through her mind again.

[solofheaven]

Jayce nodded, he felt abit stupid. He wanted to tell her what he thought of her, that he thought she was sweet and thoughtful and perfect in every way he could think of. He gently nodded and nestled in there by the fire. Siting up on the tree and dozing off. It toke a long while however. Her hand, her warmth, it all thrilled him and he gazed adoringly after her for several moments before sleep finally toke him.

The next morning Jayce heard the shot first. He quickly got up and in a impressivly decisive display moved fast, weapon out and moves to the sound of the shot. He moved quickly and quietly. Practice with persuit gave him the skills of a man hunter. He chooses not to dwell on the fact too long but he thanked god for them now. He moved through the trees and found Azaria, he toke one look at her pale complexion and lowered his weapon. "Shit........your pregnant..." He said and holstered his weapon. "I wont tell anyone." He nods and escorts her back to camp. "Thats your decision." He told her as they got back. Aaron stood up and had his trusty crowbar in hand ready to venture out after Azaria. Jayce didn't look at Aaron. He was good at finding the truth, and yet a horrible lier.

Aaron quickly stepped up to embrace his Azaria. He was worried for her, naturally. He pulled her in and held her close. He kisses her softly and cradles her in his arms for a long moment. Jayce walks up to Percy who was taking cover and observing behind the falled tree that he slept on. "Found that trail yet?" He asked and the Jockey nodded. The creature padded off ahead of them in his excitement and Jayce facepalmed. They werent ready yet. "He will figure it out." Aaron grinned and told them all. He always found it easier to smile with Azaria in his arms. Jayce chuckled and Nathan scowled. They packed up and began to head back out west. Through Georgia and into Florida. Aaron was adament about that part. Jayce didn't mind. Figured it was a start. Percy didn't care so long as he got to stick around. Ash was used to the march by now and she didn't complain much anyways. She would tentativly drift after the Jockey, half obverving him, and half out of curiosity. Aaron followed closer to Azaria and Jayce toke the lead on this one. Leading them in a more leisurly pace this time around. "Hey Sam, what happened to your family?" Jayce asked out of no where. He found himself increasingly curious about the young woman.

[Desperanza]

Azaria held a finger to her lips to silence Jayce and nodded slowly in return to his words. He was right, and she knew it. Her intuition had let her onto it before too long. She couldn't pass it off as food poisoning forever, and she knew that. But she still worried for Aaron, both for the fact that he had plenty on his mind and he worried for her plenty as it was. She figured she ought to tell him, but she was scared. Being in such a state wasn't ever something she had imagined for herself, and she felt her stomach turn again at the thought. She gasped softly and sank into Aaron's arms once more as she rested her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes for a moment with a soft smile to him as she embraced him briefly. She looked up at him, perceiving a chipper mood for him, much to match the morning. She helped gather things as usual and carefully took a little more water to tide her stomach over for a little while as she fell into step with the group silently now.

She trailed along close to Aaron, her worry and thoughts beginning to taunt her mind again and it began to wear her down a bit as they traveled but she was persistent, stubborn and she simply pushed on, keeping a steady pace beside Aaron as Jayce led the way. She was wary of telling him, half for the fact that she worried that if she did that he might melt away, pull away from her and everything they had achieved together would be gone. The second egging worry was the fact that he already had a child, a son that he loved and wanted back. He worried for him, searched for him now and she didn't want to spoil the fact. She winced at the thought and turned her head away, staring at the ground as she tried to force her attention to the light chatter of the others to distract herself instead.

Sam smiled softly, glancing across the group. She sent a thoughtful glance towards Azaria with a slight tilt of her head before she gently ruffled Ash's hair with an encouraging smile as she helped her prepare before she fell into step close to Jayce once more. She inhaled slowly as he asked of her family and she glanced skyward thoughtfully as she let the thoughts wander through her mind for a few long moments before she replied again, "I lost them, all of them. My parents were the first struck by the infection. Mom came home in shock, she had been attacked. I shielded my brother, took him upstairs when she came in. She was torn up, bloodied. Dad raced home to help her while I tried to keep her alive. By the time he got there, he stole her away to their room, and she turned. I heard the shots before I got a chance to get in. The door was locked and I finally made my way in but he was there, with the gun to his head. He had been bitten, so many marks. He ended his own life before he could turn on us. Jacob was upstairs, I thought he was safe, and then I heard the window upstairs. It broke, I raced up to find him, and he was gone. I haven't seen my brother since." she stated with a small sigh as she let her gaze trail along the ground as she walked.

Vibrant blades of grass, dried and cracked leaves that crunched softly beneath her boots as she walked. The soft rustle of the duffel bags at their backs, it was all simple and audible, but all she saw was the scene in her mind. Her mother stumbling through the door in shock, her dad sitting at the bed with the magnum to his head. Bite marks laced his entire arm and blood oozed from the marks. In an instant her dad had suffered heart ache, both for the death and loss of his wife, and the fact of having to take himself away from his children, eliminate himself from the world. She gasped softly, feeling the ache of loss strike her in that moment. If she at least knew where Jacob had gone, if he had survived or had been killed, something to satisfy her need to know where he had gotten off to, but she had never seen him again. Eventually she had found her way back to her school, the only other comfort she had had at the time, but it had been destroyed. Familiar faces now grey and undead, growling and snarling, reaching out to her not out of desire or lust anymore, not to charm her to let them take her to prom or to cheer her on from a successful meet, but to kill her. She had found a few, a handful that had been hiding and trembling their way through the attack at the school and they had escaped, scattered, and she had been alone for some time.

She sighed softly and shook her head, it was time past and this was now. She offered a faint smile to him and shook her head a bit, "What a mess. Not like it's a grand or pleasant story that I have to tell really, but that's it. That's what happened to them. What about yours?" she asked him quietly, only hoping that his was not nearly as gruesome as hers had been at this point.

[solofheaven]

"Parents are gone." He said fairly quickly and frankly. "Never knew them. Always been my sis and I. We were always bumped around the foster homes. We stuck together. When it all ended, she was in labor when it all went down...the hospitals were naturally the first to go. I tried to get her out. I really did. Had her too. I had her in my arms, half dragging, and carrying her out. She wanted to find her son...we tried that too." He takes a long pause just then. In the first days the hospitals and police stations were often the first to fall. When people were bitten or infected they would go to seek aid. Some managed to evacuate the critically sick or helpless, some others were hit too fast for anyone to react at all.

"We found her husband in the nursery...there were no survivors..." He toke one long shuddering breath before continuing. He looked back at Azaria and Aaron. Azaria reminded him of his sister, Aaron reminded him of her husband and the baby he just couldn't think about. If Azaria lost her baby and her man she would probably have done what his sister had. "There were no survivors." He explained his sister's fate with those four words alone. She was gone and he was alone. That was it.

He toke out his wallet and pulled out a picture. It was of a little family. Jayce was standing next to a beautiful young woman and a handsome young man, standing side by side and in their wedding attire. He stowed the picture and fought back tears for a moment. "Funny, how so many that deserve it more gone, and we are still alive...not that we dont deserve it just as much. When faced with it all, you have two choices. You get bitter and hateful, or you try to make it all count. Its all got to count for something Sam." He told her and moved on ahead a ways.

They would walk a ways before they found a little town, nesteled into the hills and isolated. A single main road stretched through the center of the town but was rarely used even before the infection. The town was starved out and mostly abandoned when it was bypassed by highway. The sun was high and they were all exausted. They all moved in quietly. Percy said he didn't sense anything. There were few infected in the town. The population couldn't have been more then a few hundred people when the infection spread through. There were a few CDC vans in the center of town and a few military trucks. It would appear it was a last stand in front of the town hall. The soldiers killed many of the infected down before they too secumbed. The population was further cut down and the place was blissfully peaceful. The group toke a wide detour around the town hall. It was infested with shambling zombies and carrion eaters. Rotting corpses made for a hellish landscape. It may have been a good spot to rebuild if not for the horrors and time it would take to clean up. The towns folk were poor and had little. scavenging did not yield much.


It had been three days after their flight away from the settlement. Jayce picked up on things fast. He was a natural man hunter and knew the ins and outs. Aaron tried to stick by Azaria more. He was calmer and abit or mellow. They got to talking again and the topic of marriage came up during one of Ash's more random moments. Out of no where she blurted out that Aaron and Azaria should get married. She pointed out that Nathan can marry them, Jayce and Sam could be the best man and brides maid, and Percy could be the ring barer. Percy jumped up and down clapping, Nathan held back a chuckle, and Jayce just smiled. Aaron looked at Azaria and said nothing, he just smiled and held her hand abit tighter. "I love you." Was all he said. The idea was clearly stuck in his mind however. That day he pondered the thought and that night he finally spoke on the topic.

They were alone, given abit of privacy. The group held up in a house situated on a little plot of land. It was warm and secure. The couple were given the only bed and as they entered the room and Aaron dropped his bag, he quietly closed the door and gently put his hands on Azaria's waist. He kissed her softly and gently had her sit. He pulled off her shoes and rubbed her feet. He looked up into her eyes and asked. "Will you marry me?" He gazed up at her. He knelt before her. He had no ring, but he had nothing but love in his eyes. "I will fight for you. I will die for you. I dont have much, but what I have is yours." He told her and waited with his heart beating loudly.

[Desperanza]

The going seemed to get a bit easier, but Jayce's story stuck in Sam's mind like a painful jab that reminded her of her own past but it seemed only shadowed by that of Jayce's own. She didn't chase as he went ahead but gave him his space, knowing that they all had a burden to carry and that none of it was easy but they were here and it did have to count for something, she was sure of that. And it would, she promised herself. She let the day tick by and slowly carry her worries away along with it now as she traveled along with the group, checking over each member in turn and she fell into step with Ash after a little while, still holding a close bond with the girl as she gave her an encouraging smile and carried on. She hummed softly after some time and glanced this way and that curiously, keeping an ear out for anything unnatural or possibly dangerous and as they made their way into the town, she breathed a sigh of relief.

The town seemed almost charming, tucked in among the hills it was obvious, the signs of the infection but the fact was that it was rather quiet, and peaceful for the most part. The only thing seemed to be the small hive that growled quietly and lingered within the hall but it wasn't much to worry about though Sam figured it would be safe to take Jayce later and clear out the zombies just to eliminate the problem and the draw by any others that might be lingering in the area. She glanced among the quarters they would live in for a while and smiled lightly as she glanced around curiously. It would do, for now and she hoped they would be all right for a little while. It seemed as if Azaria wasn't really well enough to push further at the moment anyways and already, Sam was keyed in on Azaria's condition by now. She was rather sure, but she didn't want to guess until the young woman confirmed it herself. She tidied up the house a bit, finding that straightening things up and cleaning a little made it feel a bit more homey and comforting. She stuck close to the group and kept her weapons close, just in case as she wandered out into the yard and glanced skyward towards the sun that took on a darker golden shade within its rays that fell down to earth as the afternoon rolled around and she smiled slightly, glancing out towards town thoughtfully now as she perched on the edge of the porch with a soft sigh before wandering back inside to the chatter of the group.

Sam smiled softly at the mention of the marriage and she hummed gently as she looked to Azaria and Aaron thoughtfully. She found it a wonderful idea, but it wasn't something she would have expected out of the two and certainly not out of Azaria but between the two she was sure that the two were made for this but she said nothing, letting the two figure it out for themselves now as she perched on the arm of a chair and stole a glance at Jayce curiously. She knew Aaron's history and so she wondered if anything of the sort laid in Jayce's past, either. Had he ever been married? Had kids of his own? She felt with a small pang of worry that maybe there was someone else already, someone that he had fallen for already. It made her curious, but she returned her thoughts back to the present instead as she looked back to the two for a moment, motioning them off to the bedroom before she busied herself again.

Azaria's mind was whirling. How had it come from her having to worry about telling Aaron about her conceiving to the possibility of marriage? The thought thrilled her, and made her cautious. She wondered if maybe she had stemmed it from her own mind. Like the fact that she had been worrying about the whole situation teased her into thinking that he might actually be ok with the idea. She listened to the others as Ash popped ideas out about the whole thing and she sent a glance to Ash with a faint smile but she looked back to Aaron with a slight smile now, looking up to him as her fingers curled to his hand and she nodded slowly to his words. It was settling to hear him say so, and it seemed as if something deeper laid behind his words. She held her breath, and followed him back to the room with a soft sigh.

She leaned back lightly on her hands for a brief moment with a gentle smile to him. She was already thinking about the fact that who was she to be spoiled so much but her head tilted back a bit as she sank into the moment happily. She paused suddenly at his words, coming to look down at him quickly once more at his words. She bit her lower lip for a moment but she couldn't help but smile. Apparently it was real, she wasn't dreaming and all in one instant her worries seemed to flutter out the window and she felt her breath escape her lungs. She took a moment before she finally sat up a bit straighter and leaned forward a bit, "Yes." she returned simply with a smile, lifting her hands to cradle his face gently now as tears filled her eyes for a moment and she pressed a kiss to him, "Yes, yes, yes." she repeated softly to him as she met his gaze and emotion seemed to bubble up from every part of her now as she slowly sank to her knees before him.

[solofheaven]

Aaron Smiled back. He had his answer. He had his wonderful woman, and now he had a beautiful bride to be. He looked into her eyes and kisses her back. Her soft lips were a welcome reward to the long day, it even felt like a sweet promise that would stretch on into the future as well. He smiles wider and as she sinks to his level and pulls her closer, his arms wrapped around her, her head on his shoulder and his lips nestle into her neck. "It will be alright baby...we have eachother." He promised her in kind and held her for several long moments. A single tear slide down his cheek. For once it was not one of fear or mourning, it was of joy and pride that he has someone to call his own.

Jayce was on watch by the front window. He was propped up on his knees on the couch looking through the blinds. Nathan was on 'watch' on the back portch reading a book. Percy was finding somewhere to sleep, he chose under one of the sinks in the kitchen. Aaron and Azaria where in their room. Talking, suprisingly! Ash toke off her shoes in the living room and peer up at Jayce, a smile creeped onto her dark lips and she padded up to where Sam was making herself comfortable. When Ash found the other woman she still had that silly grin on her lips, she closed the door and poked Sam. "Psst! Nows the perfect time!" The girl giggled and grined.

Ash was busy rummaging through Sam's things and began to pick out a few articles of cloths. Some of the more comfortable and revealing cloths Sam would have worn before the first days. Grinning the girl laid out the cloths on the bed and started yammering. "Jayce is out there alone! Nows the time to put the moves on girl! I seen the way you be ogling him. Your about to eat that man." He pinched Sam's cheek in tease. "You know you want to." The girl and continues to pester and ponder and prode at Sam to go out and have some fun. Ash has been watching them. Even when they think she isnt looking. It was the only entertainment she could get these days. There were no more 'Teen Mom' on and watching the rugged Marshal and the Sexy Sam bat eye lashes were the closest thing she was getting.

[Desperanza]

Azaria smiled softly and nestled closer to him as she settled against him with a soft sigh. It seemed that all in one day it had all broken free. Was this what had weighed on his mind and kept him quiet from her for some time? She felt as if whatever air had lingered between them not long before was free and she felt that closeness that he had offered her before and all of her own worries seemed to drift away. The perfection of the moment seemed to make her wonder that now was probably the best time to tell him then any about her little fact of information but she couldn't pull herself away from still for a few moments longer at least and so she didn't before she finally sat a bit straighter, lifting a slender hand to stroke the back of his hair for a moment thoughtfully now as she held her breath a moment before slowly releasing it, willing herself to remember that it would all be all right. They would be together now and he had to know that this sort of situation seemed rather inevitable but she wasn't so scared to tell him now, not just the. The news seemed bearable, and so she did, "I-I have something to tell you." she stated quietly, lifting her hands into his own as she curled her fingers slowly to his hands for a moment and she met his gaze thoughtfully now, finding that the words froze on her tongue for a few tries before she managed to get it out to him, "Unless I've got a case of food poisoning or the flu, I'm pretty sure I'm pregnant." she muttered softly, losing his gaze for a moment as she came to stare towards the floor for a few long moments. She let the words sink in on herself just as much as for him and she finally came to look up at him again, tentatively awaiting his reaction.

Sam blinked her eyes open with a light smile to Ash as she rolled her eyes playfully at the girl, "What do you mean? Those days are over, silly." she commented thoughtfully as she glanced over the clothes for a moment with a slight smile. It did seem like so long since she had worn clothes that truly accentuated her frame and made the halls coo with boys that wanted to be with her. She shook her head, that was some time ago indeed, she thought. She brushed her fingers over the garments and shook her head a bit, "What on earth would I do, anyways?" She felt like she was out of touch, dancing on cloud nine with blinkers on. She couldn't help but laugh at herself at the moment, the situation really did seem amusing. There was something there between herself and Jayce, and she knew it and apparently Ash was rather clear on it as well but flirting and dating seemed like a thing of the past. She had even been through her spell where she had figured it wasn't possible for her anymore. It almost scared her to think of jumping in with Jayce, the guys she remembered were rather shallow and she had finally given in and simply tuned in on her sports.

She watched Ash with a curious eye and arched her brow briefly, "Hmph. 'Fraid I don't have any moves, anymore." she returned lightly to her now as she flopped back to lay on her back on the bed for a moment with a slight shake of her head, however Ash's mood was enticing Sam and she let her mind wander out to Jayce as she contemplated what to do at the moment. He was on watch, anyways and the thought of wandering out in an outfit she hadn't seen in who knew how long drifted up images of him staring straight out the window still and she blushed hard and laughed at herself. She ran her hands across her face and curled a finger around a tendril of hair before she blew it out of her face and stood straight, looking across at Ash with a lopsided smile, "Fine, fine. But just because you want me to, and you'll owe me later when I come back feeling like a fool." she huffed teasingly as she snatched Ash into a hug briefly and playfully pulled a few strands of her hair into a small braid before she finally stood from the bed, tried to ignore the butterflies taking flight in her stomach and wandered into the bathroom to change before she slowly, carefully made her way down the hall with a nervous grasp of her breath.