1968-

"Evan darling, check on the garden would you?" His mother spoke, a warm smile spread across her lips. "Yes mama" The boy answered sweetly putting down his book, his mother laid a kiss on his forehead before saying, "oh and get your father birthday boy" Evan laughed, knowing his mother sent him out so she can bake him a cake in secret. She was never good at surprises.

The boy sent out into the the farm area where his father was tending to the pigs. "Papa!", He called out when nearing his father. "Mama would like you in the kitchen" his father stood up from his post, "oh yes, ah' alright" Evan helped his father close up the pins, and intended to head over to the gardens but a hand on his shoulder stopped him.

He looks up, watching his father grin. "My boy, your mother and I have seen you grow into a man, we are proud of you. To think your already 15, happy birthday Evan." His father spoke with such love for his son, and The blonde smiled, hugging his father. "Thank you papa"

That. However, was the last he remembered of his parents.

Evan went out Into the garden, which was near the farm, but some distance from the house. his parents loved surprising him with a present that they couldn't afford, it made him feel bad, but also feel loved. The stone pathway led him through the crops, finding the flower patch he loved dearly and watering them. He thought about picking some flowers for his mother, her favorite as his as well being roses, when he heard some kind of siren. He perked up, curious, "what?" He asked to no one in particular when he saw, it. A metal object, falling from some large plane. Just beyond the horizon of the grey sky. He looked at it confused, but when he saw where it was headed, his stomach dropped. It was going to land only a house away from his home, the Main Street in particular, was it close enough to hurt his home? He didn't want to find out. "Mama! Papa!" He tried yelling but was too far from the home. He set into a sprint, but by then it was far to late.

His body was sent back by a shock wave, even from so far it could reach him. He landed on his back, his head hitting against the fencing of the pins. There was a ringing in his ears, and a ache all over his body. He looked up and what he saw, hurt him more then any of his physical pain. His childhood home, the one his mother and father were in, torn apart, and set in flames. "Зачем! нет! мама ! пожалуйста! быть живым!" He screamed at the top of his lungs, tears staining his cheeks, as he struggled to move. His vision blurred, he tried crawling but the ringing in his ears set in. He fell back and looked up in the sky. The last thing he saw before blacking out, was the colors red, white, and blue, flying high in the sky.
~~~

It was as if his head was being trampled by horses, the pain seeped into his eyes and rung in his ears, while his body ached. He felt his body resist from his movement. His brows drew together, trying to recall what had occurred. "Wha..." But wait.
"What..?" Evan shot up from his position on the bed. Bed? He squinted in confusion. Where was he? Why was he here? Then realization hit him like a wall. "MAMA!! PAPA! пожалуйста, не покидай меня!" He blurted out, his eyes widening, looking around and searching for his parents.

But he was surrounded by the familiar walls of his farm house. His barn was cleaned out of hay and dirt though, the animals where not inside either. He never recalled a bed at all, in here, and was confused, scared and too heart broken to think about what was happening. He couldn't be concerned with this, not now, he needed to know what has happened.

"Ey, small one, why do you scream at this hour? It is only 4 past day break?" His eyes moved quickly to a figure, a woman who had come from the now opened door of the barn, letting in the small amount of light to shine through. She looked middle aged, with a skin like dark caramel, she had kind eyes, but a unpleasant frown on her lips. Evan was only sent into another frantic fit. "Who are you?! Why is my barn like this? WHERE ARE MY PARENTS! Yew! Mesu?"

Soon this woman's displeased face switched tones. It looked as if she pitted him. That reaction of which did not comfort him in the least bit. Only those who know a reason to cause great pain pity others.

"Darling, small one, I have found... Um.. in the rubbish. I, I have placed them into the ground like needed, you were asleep for more then 17 hours from whence i found you. I. Very sorry." Her English was broken, but Evan understood what he meant oh too well.

His world paused, and his breathing stopped. He simply stared at her. And continued to stare. Until each tear chased the other to the bottom of his face, the salty liquid pooled at the edges of his chin, then dripping down to his shorts.
~~~

"I'm humbled to have met you, Eh, Evan. You may call me Alana." She said, trying her best to give him a warm smile, while helping him, out of the bed. After hours of nursing him, which she called it, but it was really just making him eat food. He had the energy to get up. The 15 year old had spent 3 hours listening to the woman explain what has happen. The America has bombed them, and one of those bombs hit too close to his home. Destroying not only his, but as well a few other houses nearby. Which must mean the explosive was large, due to the houses being quite far from each other. He had been lucky, the garden was far off, and the barn was blocked off by trees, that have now fallen. Alana said she was just as lucky. She was traveling, to mend and help soliders or the homeless. When the planes flew by, she was fortunate enough to have the metal water storage container to crawl into. When it all ended she looked for survivors or the hurt, when she saw the garden though, she thought of food, but stumbled upon Evan's unconscious body instead.

He didn't want to really listen when she spoke of locating his parents bodies, but she did manage to make a bed out of blankets and hay in the barn to rest him on. Handy.

With a arm around her shoulder, he limped to the barn door, while she moved it to open completely, and he finally saw it. Ash, broken, and burned, and gone. He didn't know how many feelings he could experience at once, but it was overwhelming.

So it was true, they were gone, his home was gone, his everything.
Alana looked at the tears on his face and gave him a sad smile. He had gone through so much at once, even she couldn't imagine the pain he felt. "You have made it this far, kid" she spoke.

~~~
1972:

"Evan, we are getting low on coffee, could you go to the market and pick some up?" Alana asked, while cleaning a dish. She stood next to Jared, who was cooking a meal for all three of them with the food from the garden.
Jared was a man who had come from South America, a Brazilian man who just wanted a simpler life, immigrated over to live with Alana and the younger boy a year ago, wanting to help them during their time of need. But the most he really did was crack jokes and pick on Evan.

However, due to the war, things aren't going any smoother as time progresses. The small town they lived in was taken under control by the enemy. It was now a American base, and the small population of 40 people who lived here, were kept hostage. Because of this, supply's and foods were cut off from coming into the town. Stock-burn was a large source of meat and livestock in trade with the other towns. So Evan hopes the Russian soldiers take them back soon. He can't help but let his thoughts linger on the small patch of roses his mother and him used to tend to.

Almost everyone in town had to sell their animals for food. But after 4 years, and the only rations coming in are from American transports, it was rough. Evan and Alana luckily had built the barn to be as big as a home a year before the invasion. Evan still had his large garden with, now a 10 foot fence around it. It was Their food source, and Every week they would bring some of their edibles to the people of the town, trying to help out.

But with the soldiers that held the town in-prisoned, they didn't get many meals, the soldiers would eat it first, or keep it all too themselves. Luckily Alana had made the solders agree not to step on their farm, and not to touch their crops about 3 years ago. Evan understood she was fierce, but sometimes it still amazes him how persuasive she is when angry. The woman single handily scared off a ward of armed men, just by putting her hands on her hips. So when Jared had come from the east, he brought different foods, and seeds, but they are finding it hard to plant in such cold climates. Alana still assured him that at least he is here to help.

Evan quickly grabbed his clothing, and changed from his sleep attire to his normal wear.
Alana and him hand made it all, from her old clothing, making it smaller to fit his lengthy figure. At first he didn't like the feminine clothing but it grew on him, and now he won't put on anything but 'girl' clothes. Alana believes that is partly because of how dependent he is on her, and how he might view her as a mother figure. But she doesn't want praise from him, just to make sure the young boy is okay.

What he put on today was a black dress shirt, and some of Alana's white pants that fit very tight. He grabbed his basket and waved off the two, then headed outside into the cold. It was mid summer so he wore light clothing, but it is always cold up here. "Remember to buy some tea if you see some"

"Yes maim" Evan bouts. Recently his English has been progressing. All taught mainly by Jared, Alana wanted Evan to be able to speak to the Sounders, about rations or issue we might have if he so needed too.

'Also so you may properly swear their mothers off!' He remembered he spouting.

Passing through the garden, he picked up a rose, and placed it on the grave of his mother and father, in the back corner of the barn and garden, next to his mothers favorite willow tree. A rare thing to find in such a place, and in this climate.

Closing the gate behind him, it wasn't a long walk to the only market still running, located in the middle of the town. He walked through the doors into the shop, and went into motion, having done this many times before, it was like second nature. He grabbed the coffee on the back Corner of the shop, it being filled with nothing but coffee, cans of food, and cigarettes. Which, all of those things where also scarce.

Walking up to Veronica behind the counter, the young Russian woman smiled at him, only a few years older then he, she was a year away from being able to legally drink. But she doesn't seem too bothered by that rule due to the fact that everyone might die. they where the youngest in town. "Oh hello Evan, how are you doing?" She asked politely, trying to get into small talk. He smiled in confusing, because she was never so formal with him. He looked around and realized he didn't really pay attention to his surroundings. There was a young man he had never seen before, looking at the cigars. He had long dark brown hair that fell to his shoulders and piercing blue eyes. When the man in question looked up, Evan quickly averted his gaze back to Veronica, who was still smiling. The man walked up to her and handed her the pack of cigars he was looking at. When he handed her some money and told her to keep the rest, he had such a charismatic charm to him.

Veronica simply blushed and thanked the man, before he walked out, not looking at Evan at all.

When the man left she finally let her guard down. "Sorry about that, I've never seen him before." She cleared her throat before finally getting into their normal banter, combing a hand through her hair. "Anyway, Evan, how has it been?" He simply shrugged off what had just happened, not letting her flushed cheeks or the fact that he didn't know the boy either bother him too much. He answered with, "the same as always, waiting." She nodded, knowing what he was saying.

Everyone was waiting for their forces to rescued them. "So coffee again?" She asked and he gave her a small nod. Placing the coffee on the counter, he reached into his back pocket for some change, but she stopped him. "No no, um you can have it, all I ask is for you to bring extra potatoes, and spinach." He paused and thought about her offer. She was a kind girl, and he knows she is taking care of her sick lover. Softly, he agrees. "Alright"

He picks up the container of coffee but is stopped once again by her. He looked at her confused, till she explained herself. "I heard the soldiers are being pulled out." He didn't expect to hear this, "really?" He asked with a hopeful sound in his tone. But before he could farther react she continued. "They are only switching out with new soldiers, younger Americans, I. Guessing these guys are tired of being here. Can you Imagine? New men, coming in. They don't have boundaries like these men, these new guys won't leave the shops alone because we haven't made agreements yet." This throws Evan aback. But he calmed himself. "How do you know this?"

He asked, with a soft voice. She pointed at the door where the boy had left. "He told me, he said that soldiers where coming into town, explained a lot to me while he was browsing the shop."

This boy was becoming more and more suspicious. "Don't worry we will still have the garden", she looked at him in a unamused kind of way. As if there is no possible way they could still keep their grounds.
"Alana" he simply had to say, and Veronica made a 'O' with her lips and nodded.

After a bit more talking, Evan left the store, thinking about when the new recruits would come in. And who that boy was exactly. Yet when he walked down the road, he found out a lot sooner then anyone would think. There where two young men in uniforms, laughing and shoving each other, looking like they had only just settled in. He wasn't prepared for this, and thought of avoiding them, would be the best, but he was far too late.

"Hey! Girly? Whatta' doin'?" He cringed at their simple American language, and started to walk slower. "Um, heading home." He remarked. Both soldiers stopped and stared at him for a split second in confusion, which caused him to stop too wondering if he had said something wrong, before the men bursted into laugher. "It's a dude man!" One said, making the other laugh harder.

Evan's brows knitted together, and he frowned at the remarks. "Um, alright well I'm going to leave now." Trying to walk past them, they tugged at his hair and shirt. "Hey faggot, loose the hair!" The second finally spoke, making his stupid friend laugh with him. Evan took in a deep breath pulling away and staying composed. How could they say his hair looks feminine? When there is a boy walking around with a woman's bob! He just charged back home, instead of confronting them like he wanted a anger in his strut. "Stupid, stupid men."

~~~
After calming his emotions, Evan had gotten home and explained everything to Alana and Jared.

With them being the adult figures, and them not knowing what to do, it caused him to feel even more helpless. But Alana did know she would beat any soul who dared cross her grounds.

After they finished lunch, Evan said he would tend to the garden, to get extra potatoes and spinach to put into storage. When heading outside, he wore a coat this time, it getting later in the day, the air becomes colder.

When stumbling into his garden, he bent low to see the health of some of their crops. The leaves seems to crips at the end due to the cold. He swore in Russian under his breath, and plucking the dead weeds.

While focused on his tasks He is then put to a halt when he hears the fence creak. Looking up, he sees that same boy with the girlish locks from the store jump over, and look back at two figures. The exact ones who had messed with him when walking home. "He is with the army?" Evan asked to himself quietly, backing into the bushes for cover. He thinks about getting Alana, but to leave the garden he would draw attention to himself.

Instead he watched and listened intently. The trespasser speaks. "You guys, I don't know about this, I mean these are people's food?" He says, to the two 'assholes' on the other side of the fence. "We need the food for our unit Jet! The guys are starving, and don't you think it's a little unfair these people are keeping the food to themselves?" After the man thought for a moment, Evan watched this 'Jet' toss some of the vegetables over the fence, where the two caught and put into their jackets.

After getting a large amount of the food.
This, Jet, looked down at the flowers Evan and Alana had planted, and spoke his thoughts out loud. "Hey do you think that girl in that store would like some flowers?" He asked the two men, who simply shrugged. "Common, don't waste time, we gotta go." They answered, looking around like they where criminals, which they were. Curse their mothers.

Jet nodded, and grabbed the fence, about to climb up.
Evan panicked, not knowing what to do. Was he just going to let them take their only food supply? He walks forward slowly, and steps on a shovel on the ground. He looks down at the blunt metal object, and takes it into his hands.

He can't let them leave with the food.
He swallows hard and steps out from the hedge. "Hey!" He yelled, making the American boy almost fall, and the two men to scramble around like lost chickens. "Shit!" They cursed, and ran to Evan's surprise, leaving 'Jet' behind.

This causes the boy to realize that he was alone, and a very angry boy with a shovel approached him. He quickly climbs as fast as he can, stopping at the top of the fence when Evan reaches the border himself. Jet balances himself at the top and puts two hands up. "Hey hey! carful there!"

Evan simply growled, and looked up at the man. "Give me back my food!" The boy looked around for the two others, and realizes they are long gone. "Uh, um. I'll, I'll pay you back! I'll bring you stuff to repay you!"

Evan's grip just tightens on the shovel. "Why would I believe a American solider? You steal everything from us!" For a moment Evan thinks, fury in his eyes. "And damn your mother!" The man stares at Evan unable to move.

"I promise! I keep my word! Really!"
Before Evan can argue back, the man jumps off the fence into the other side and runs for it. "HEY GET BACK HERE!" Evan yelled, dropping the shovel and grabbing the fence, starting to climb it. "IM SORRY! ILL BE BACK TOMORROW TO PAY YOU BACK I PROMISE!".

When the man got too far for Evan to be able to catch up, he gives up on climbing the fence and curses to himself.
Hopefully that Jet man comes back, or he won't know what hit him, that being Alana.
~~~