Survival of the fittest - AmyMarie and Shadowfax

[UncoordinatedPisces]

George had managed to find what he was looking for, and extra batteries. The torches were not enough so he was glad that Aaron brought up lighting to him. He cheerily made his way back to the car; unknowing of what Ash had just discovered. He saw her slightly in the distance and gave wave.
"I found them!" he yelled in a happy tone.

----

Aimee emerged from her tent and sat next to the fire which hadn't died on them once. Aaron had made it in a way which air could still get to it, but stones surrounded it and lay on top of it. They could cook things on the boiling hot stones successfully. There were potatoes that George had collected from an allotment not too far away that looked as though it had been maintained up to a certain point; leading him to question whether the owner was alive. There was no sign of him though.

The teenager took the potatoes and started to peel them with her knife, careful not to cut her fingers. She washed them in a bucket of water near by. Aaron came out of his tent and smiled at her.
"Anything I can do to help?"
"You can gut those fish" Aimee said, pointed at the four dead creatures.
"I always get the disgusting job" he murmured, but jokingly, walking off again to do it away from Aimee; knowing she didn't like to see it.

[Shadowfax]

Ashelin looked up at George weakly. She couldn't bring herself to call back 'That's great' or 'Good job' as her heart was so heavy and her world had just shattered. She felt nothing but worry. What was she to do with a child? How could she bring it into the world they were now living in.

"G..George.." She managed to say quietly, but he was too far away to hear her.

Shakily, she got to her feet and began to walk towards the car, lost in a sort of zombie like trance.

**

Sam leapt up at the smell of food. He ran over to Aimee and watched her cutting the potatoes.

"Anything I can do?" The boy asked enthusiastically.

[UncoordinatedPisces]

George's eyebrows formed quite a concerned look as she got closer. She seemed a bit out of it. He ran over to her.
"Ash, everything alright?" Her took her arm gently as if to lead her back to the car. He didn't want to intrude. He did notice however...she didn't come back with the stash of medical supplies she said she was going to get.

----

Aimee smiled at Sam; he was so helpful, unlike many nine year olds she knew.
"You could collect some more wood for the fire?" she suggested. Dry wood wasn't too hard to find, it hadn't rained in a few days. Aaron was busy with the fish and the messy job he had to do with them.

[Shadowfax]

"No...things couldn't be worse George" Ash said with a slight choke.

You will not cry. Crying is for cowards and solves nothing. Control your emotions Ash scolded herself in her mind as she let George help her back to the car.

She had that lost look in her eye and began to swerve all over the place like walking in a straight line was difficult for her. When they reached the car, she lay her back against it and heaved a low sigh, with her head hung low. She had to tell him... She had to.. But what would he think of her? Sure, he wasn't stupid so he probably knew what happened that night, but still... Ash had grown fond of George and she feared that he may push her away if he knew she was carrying Matt's child. But it would be discovered sooner or later, so she had better tell him sooner rather than later. With a deep breath, she looked up at George, her expression sullen and her eyes glistening with tears.

"George... I didn't come out here for medical supplies... I... I came out here because... I... I wanted to know.. I had to.. I...." She bit her tongue. "I did a pregnancy test.. And it was positive.... And it' his" She said the last word with such venom in her tone it sounded more like a hiss.

***

"Sure! I'll not go far though.. George told me to stay close just incase. I'll be back soon ok?" Sam said rushing off into the treeline to find some wood for the fire.

He was so relieved to be helping out and was determined to do a good job. His child ignorance hadn't even picked up on the sparks between Aaron and Aimee.

[UncoordinatedPisces]

George, to say the least, was in complete and utter shock. Perhaps he shouldn't of been. The two had shared a night together; but he still couldn't believe it. Pregnant. The baby's father was not only absent; but a despicable murderous psychopathic man.
"I...I don't know what to say" George mumbled, not looking Ashelin in the eye. He wasn't the sort to disown people after recieving news that changed everything. It was the fact that he actually liked Ashelin that made it harder.

He liked liked her for a little while now. He hardly realised it himself; but the overwhelming feeling of despair he felt for her sort of made him think more about his feelings. George ran a hand through his hair and tried to shift the lump in his throat.
"What are you going to do?" He said it without thinking. What could she do? A safe abortion was impossible. If she kept the baby, would she love it? Heck, if she kept the baby and her feelings for him were returned; could he love it?

"I..." he started, summoning up the courage to look in the eye. "I'm here for you, and that hasn't changed".

----

"Ok, see you in a bit" Aimee replied, smiling as he rushed off. She often thought it was a shame that Sam didn't have anyone his age here. Sure, he had her, but she couldn't run around with him or share the imaginative adventurousness of being a child. Those days were sadly over for Aimee. Her thoughts on Sam were cut off when Aaron came back with the now gutted fish.

He had washed his hands thoroughly thank heavens. He watched her thank him for doing it, and go back to the potatoes. With a slight sweat forming on his brow he decided to man up and ask her.
"Would you like to stay up with me tonight? You know, sit by the fire and stuff. Remember when Sam found that packet of marshmallows from the shop? I saved a few of mine 'n I thought we could-"
"I'd love to". Aaron breathed out deeply; she seemed all too happy to spend time with him.

[Shadowfax]

Ash knew by George's tone to begin with, that he too was in utter shock. That made her heart sink. She too had grown incredibly fond of him and this could potentially ruin everything for her. What also concerned her was what if Matt ever found out? Would he want the child? Would he try to kill Ash? Would he kill George? She gulped and tried to wipe that thought from her mind.

When George asked her what she was planning on doing she bit her lip awkwardly and looked away at the darkening street.

"I don't have a choice.. This child isn't the one to blame so shouldn't be punished. God.. You know what's weird?!" Ash said turning to George "The doctors said it was impossible when I had my army medical... But.. Maybe because I.." Ash paused as she thought back to when she had survived the virus. She had died that night and come back.. Perhaps her body was sort of, reset? "Maybe the virus cured that.. I wish it hadn't. How can I be a mother? How can I raise a child? How can I possibly?" She broke off, her shoulders shaking.

She then punched the side of the car out of frustration and fear of showing weakness again.

"Damn it all!" She snarled.

******

Sam wandered through the trees looking for odd bits of wood on the floor. The sun was starting to set so he knew he had to hurry back soon for George and Ash told him not to be out after dark. The child pulled a large branch off one of the trees when he heard a crack of a twig. On edge, he span round with his eyes ablaze.

"H..Hello?" He called into the woods, but no reply came.

Sam squinted to see if there was someone trying to hide, his hand automatically going to the penknife he kept in his pocket. Then he saw the cause of the noise. A labrador was wandering towards him with it's tail between it's legs and a slight limp in it's walk. Sam beamed. He loved dogs.

"Come here boy" Sam said kneeling down as the dog approached.

The dog stopped infront of him and whined slightly out of discomfort. Sam gently pat the dog on the head causing him to wag his tail.

"Come on, you can come back with me to camp if you like? I know the others wouldn't mind" Sam said, making his way back towards the campsite.

Sam got back a few minutes later to see Aaron and Aimee in the same places.

"Hey guys! Look what I found!" He said sounding thoroughly excited.

[UncoordinatedPisces]

George watched Ashelin as she let out her understandable frustration. However, he felt as though things were not going to progress if she was going to be like this. He doubted for a while that she would be a bad mother. He didn't think so. She was caring, if you get past the female badass with gun & fighting skills any guy would dream of having.

"Look, getting yourself worked up isn't going to help anyone hear. Not me, not you, and certainly not the baby" he replied sternly. "I have no idea what you must be feeling at the moment, but acting like this could endanger yourself". He wasn't going to do into details about the complications about pregnancy, especially since their were no doctor's around.

"You have no choice but to keep this baby; and like you said, its not his fault. Its not your fault either. It is Matt's fault". He paused and leaned against the car. This new world was putting George to his limits; and this felt like the last straw. It was, inevitably, not the last straw though. "You can do this" he said. "We can do this".

-----

Aaron and Aimee glanced up. Sam had brought back a dog. Not thinking about the negative possibilities of having this dog around, Aimee jumped up and rushed towards Sam, slowing when she approached the dog and began petting him.
"Aww hello" she muttered to him. Aaron simply rolled his eyes, but was weary of what the two other adults would think.

[Shadowfax]

Ash sighed. George was right, she needed to calm down. What was done was done. After all, she had made that night her atonement for her sins. I guess I needed to be punished that little bit more.... Ash thought sadly, but she looked over at George when he told her that she could do it. The thought of being pregnant in this new world scared her. She didn't want to be a burden on anyone, she just wanted to protect the others. Ashelin slipped her hands into her pocket and looked over at George.

"You're right. George. Thanks" She said smiling at him kindly.

**

Sam was pleased that Aimee approved of the dog and smiled as she started petting him.

"He was all alone in the woods. Do you think we will be allowed to keep him?!" Sam asked, hoping the answer would be yes.

[UncoordinatedPisces]

George was still a bit shaken up from the shock of the news, but hid it behind a gentle smile back. He was going to look after her; even if she didn't want to be looked after in the first place.
"You going to tell the others? Or are you going to leave it for a while?" he asked, opening the front passenger door for her "Oh, and I'll drive".

----

"Um, I don't know Sam" Aaron said, managing to get a word in before Aimee. "We'll see what George and Ash think". Aimee was very keen on having a dog around. She had never owned one before; even though Sam found him, she hoped they'd share responsibility. She was thinking ahead of herself though, and did the grown up thing by agreeing with Aaron.
"Yes...we'll see what the others think". She caught Sam's eye with a look that told him 'I'll convince them anyway'.

[Shadowfax]

Ash appreciated George's help, but as always she hated looking weak. However, she was sort of enjoying being looked after in an odd sort of way. Never had she had that, so it was a new experience for her. Without protesting, she wandered over to the passenger side and settled down on her seat. She looked back out at George.

"I..Hadn't really thought about it to be honest. They will find out sooner or later I guess... But... I don't know if I can tell them. It was hard enough to tell you" She said with a sigh.

"Could you tell them for me?" Ash said, feeling awkward.

She didn't want to be put in that situation again.

***

"Oh, I know George will be ok... But Ash won't be... I'll share my food with him!" Sam said enthusiastically, though he was very worried about Ash's reaction when she saw the dog.

He then caught Aimee's eye and smiled feeling a little more hopeful. The dog sat down behind them and began to wag it's tail.

"I guess we'll need to think of a name for him..."