Evan sat, perched on top of the roof of the barn, looking out at the small town. The crisp cold air, met with a small breeze that made the leafs of the trees shimmy. He tugged at the sleeves of his sweater. It was a bright morning, and he looked out to the outskirts of the town, where the groups of solders stayed. From what he could see, past the trees and small homes, the men where put into rows, standing and chanting commands of some type.

"How boring.", He huffed out, soft steam raising from his lips to the air. Squinting, he counted the amount of men he was able to see, roughly 40, but he was pretty sure there was more. He observed the small figures moving along in a file. Training or something but he could care less. He let out a yawn, and slid to the side of the roof were the ladder was laying against barn, making his way down slowly.

Alana and Jared where busy counting the crops, and the intake of wheat.
He sighed. "Nothing to do.. Nothing to do. Ugh.." In defeat, he chose that maybe he should go around the town, maybe check on Veronica. The soldiers seemed to be preoccupied so he wouldn't have to worry about running into those two boys, or Connor.
~~~

Evan slowly pushed the gate behind him shut. Pulling his jacket flush against his body,
and walking along the road covered in dirt and leafs, he kicked them in a spiritless manner, watching them crumble or fly away to the other side of the concrete.

It was only after making it down to the town center, he realized it was Friday, meaning, Veronica had closed the market.

This just caused him to be more frustrated, he didn't know what to do in this tiny town. So he just continued, walking past the market place, but the town pretty much stops after a block, barriers had been put in place by soldiers.

He was going to give up until, his eyes caught a door opening from one of the old shops that went out of business a long time ago. A small barbershop, he could tell because it still had the red, blue, and white pole.

A man walked out, Evan should have figured, it was Berry Dolla he owned the parlor before the army came in. Evan hadn't seen him much, he doesn't like it outside the house, it reminds him too much of reality, and of when he used to be a solider, for the Russian troops.

Evan was pretty sure Berry has PTSD. Yet, recently he has left the confines of his home for the food rations, ever since his wife got pregnant.

And speaking of which, Berry extended a hand to a very beautiful young women, to help her walk down the steps. Her straight black hair tired into a bun, she looked tired, but still full of pep. They seemed dressed for a stroll.
"Hello Mary! Hello Berry!" Evan called out, deciding to be friendly today.

The older man nod his head at Evan's direction, and the very pregnant Mary waved happily, flashing a bright smile that reached all the way to her eyes.

"Oh hello Little one!", She has been trying to be more motherly to everyone recently, maybe a little bit too much. "What brings you out here today?" She asked and Evan just shrugged. She smiled politely, before quickly turning to her husband, "darling, Remember we need extra blankets, it's been about 8 months already, we must prepare."

The man nodded and gave her a small kiss on her cheek, before walking out to where the storage for the town would be.

They were a cute couple, he was a kind Irish man, who took care of her when she came over from China, and they moved here for his barber business, Evan felt sorry for them being caught up in such bad times, but their baby would be beautiful, he was sure of that.

Mary waddled over to where Evan stood, and put a hand on his shoulder. "I'm deeply sorry to ask for this, but during the rations.. may we have a extra bag of potatoes? I'm eating for two and the baby is rather picky. He or she gets it from their father" she laughed softly. Evan simply smiled, he didn't mind to help, but they didn't have enough food. He didn't know how to break it to her.

"Of course" he answered instead, before being able to stop. He couldn't bring himself to say no to her, but he knows he'll regret it.
"Thank you, so much." She whispered, placing a kiss on his head, and then waddled in the direction her husband went.
~~~

Saturday morning was supposed to be lovely, Evan had at least thought. But it was grey and gloomy, which matched the mood of everything.

Today early this morning, he went out, to see Veronica at the market once again, but again no one was there. The store was supposed to be open, so he worried what could keep her from work.

He went to her home, wanting to make sure the girl was alright.

But she wasn't, when she slowly opened the door, hair a mess, and stains from tears scream down her red cheeks—

It's was surreal for him, reminding him of the pain his heart felt when he saw his parents die.

Veronica broke down into a cry when seeing Evan, he knew no one else had checked on her before him.

After taking her inside and getting her to calm down, she choked out a shaking breath,
"Jason." She whimpered and he took her hand into his.

Many times he tried to get her to speak, but she wouldn't.
he sat in silence, giving her a comforting look.

Sitting in the room, with only the sounds of sniffles and heavy breathing, she finally spoke, "He—, Jason was sick" Evan nodded, knowing this fact, and soon started looking around for the man, slightly confused as to why he couldn't find him.

"...The stupid solders..." she began, gaining Evan's attention once again. "T-they cut off the medical help he needed... ITS UNFAIR!.. It's not fair... Selfish! And... And... Why..." She cried out, gripping the boys shirt, and that's when he finally got what has happened.

The news of her boyfriend was hard to swallow, his sickness just became worse through out the week, and with the lack of medical help, he passed away yesterday. She couldn't stop crying, and he understood that pain, that feeling that drops to the bottom of your stomach, and makes it hard to breath, when a parent, a love one, someone you cared about, is gone.

He held the girl In a hug, trying his best to say soothing things.

She had lost all she had, so he will make sure, she will be given what she deserved. He rested her head on her shoulder, and listened to her cry.
~~~

The funeral was held in the fields next to the garden, behind the barn. It was later that night, his mother's willow tree, stood, swaying with the wind, under the moon. They all stood with their hands crossed, Veronica, Alana, Jared and Evan. Looking down, at the grave dug for her lover, being covered in dirt. It was quiet except for a the low breath of the broken hearted girl, still crying softly.

Earlier that day, Alana convinced the young girl to live with them. She couldn't handle staying in that old house anyway, it reminding her of her Jason every time she looked up. The home was broken down too, so small, made up of only 1 room from all the damages that had happened from 5 years ago.

Evan wanted to make sure she had a family. And as they all stood outside, under the night sky, with the tears of Veronica, and even Alana.

He knew, he felt, he didn't know why, but very soon, things would be even more chaotic.
~~~

Sunday morning started the same, with the exception of a few things. Alana was making breakfast, with a tired Veronica sitting at the table, looking at the papers for the crop count, probably taking it upon herself to help. He could hear the banging of nails into wood, amazed to how quickly Jared was willing to build another room.

He stepped into the bathing room, looking around for the bucket. He took the metal container and brought it into the kitchen, filling it with hot water Alana already knew to boil. Making a few trips back and forth, and then a trip for a cold bucket of water to cool down the steaming liquid. He removed his clothes and slowly eased into the bath, letting the water relax his tense muscles.

He let the past few days slip past his mind, laying back and breathing deeply. Running a wet hand through his blonde locks, he shut his eyes, and ran his hands down his body.

His body ached, but the teasingly warm lullaby sung by the water never failed to take away the seething muscles tired stress.

Slowly he inched his hand below his stomach–

"Oh Connor, your early!" Alana spoke, causing Evan to jerk out of his calm state.

So much for a happy morning. "Damnit... I'm a 19 year old boy, I have needs" he whispered, before stepping out of his bath he worked so hard for.

Connor was outside in the kitchen, looking at Veronica, probably wondering why the girl was here, while the girl ignored his gaze. Obviously she has a new hatred for Americans, do to them causing her boyfriend 's death.

Evan walked out of the bathroom, with a annoyed look and a towel wrapped around his waist, not bothered to dry his hair or upper body.

When walking by the people seated in the kitchens, he could see Connor being the only one staring at him.

The guy was probably thinking how weirdly skinny Evan was. But he wouldn't let the other man's gaze bother him. Stupid boys.

Before leaving to his living area he looked back at Connor. Slightly amazed he continues to keep his promises. Even showing up early to help with feeding the town. But then again. That doesn't make him a good person. But ever so softly, he lays his eyes onto the other mans face, maybe his hair isn't that bad, it works for him. A shiver went down his spine and he quickly realizes he is getting cold, so he rushes into the room.

In his room, he got dress, sadly all he had left to wear was Alana's light blue silk shirt, and a old pair of very thin black jeans he had when he was 14. He was struggling into the pants that were insanely tight, and the shirt that was too big for his frame. So he put on a sweater all over it.

Ready for the food drive, he sat next to Veronica  at the table, thanking her for the help.

He could still feel Connor's eyes on him, but this time even more. Was it his outfit? He shouldn't care anyway. Evan set on not thinking to much about it. Maybe America's had different customs.

Alana had Jared stay to continue building the room, having Connor instead carry all the heavy items, which he didn't even seem to struggle with. Evan had to give it to him, he was very well built, but it's not like a wimp could get in the army anyway, so he wasn't surprised.
~~~

Veronica, and Evan carried the rest of the vegetables to the market, setting everything up.

There was another man waiting there, wearing the same uniform as Connor but Evan's never seen him before.

"Michael! You made it." Connor said from behind them, causing the man to wave.
Evan eyed the stranger, who just looked at him and shot finger guns, making a pew pew sound then winking happily.

Evan and Veronica were taken aback by this bubbly person.

Michael skipped over to them and took the food that they where holding. "Don't worry! I won't steal, like Jet over here." He said nodding to Connor's direction.
"Jet...?" Evan questioned, while watching Connor punch the other man in the arm, after they both placed down the goods.

Connor just shook his head quickly. "He's joking" he said with a uncomfortable laugh.

"Evan, what's the extra bag of potatoes for?" Alana asked after setting down the wheat, "these need to be put into the other bags, we can't have a shortage of potatoes in each sack" Evan frowned, and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Well.. I need. To.." he trailed off, causing the woman to raise an eyebrow "Nothing" he shook his head. Alana stared worried, but needed to get back to work quickly, so she brushed it off, "Alright..", she answered.

"You need more potatoes..?" Evan looked around to find Connor finally speaking to him. "What does it matter to you?" Evan remarked, grabbing the bag of potatoes, opening it and beginning to sort it into the other bags.

"I can help" Connor suggested, causing Evan to look up at him in disbelief.
"How?"

"Well... The troops have storage, and I'm sure a missing bag of potatoes wouldn't matter..." He slyly whispered, offering a awkward smile.

"I thought you said you didn't normally steal?"

"I still don't!" Connor whined.

Evan looked down at the empty sack of potatoes, and weighted his options. On one hand he could give Mary what she needed, on the other hand, he would have to spend time with Connor.. What it worth it?

"Okay"

"Okay?"

"I mean, okay, you can help." It was hard for Evan to say. "When?" He added, needing to get those potatoes to Mary as soon as possible.

"Well, I have to do it at night, I can't just go in during the day, I have the access, but everyone would still wonder why I would go in there in the first place."

"Then I'm helping." Evan commanded almost as if he understood anything Connor said.

"Why?" The other man wondered, while looking back to make sure no one was around.
"Just Incase I need more things...." Evan added, testing the waters. Connor shook his head, "we can't just steal a bunch of things!"

"Well I need to get cloth!" Evan urged. Connor was absolutely confused now "Cloth?"

"If you haven't seen, we don't get much things here, so I doubt baby clothing is gonna just fall form the sky" Evan remarks rather annoyed.

"There are babies in this town?" Michael intruded.

Evan and Connor stepped back, looking around and trying to figure out when the boy got there.

"Uh..." Evan started, "No a pregnant mother."

Both Michael and Connor nodded. "So is that why you need the food?" Connor asked. Evan slowly gave in, bobbing his head up and down as well.

Micheal spoke up, "so you're stealing again?" Making a wide grin, Connor just groaned in response.
~~~

The people in line moved at a steady pace like normal, a tad faster with the help of the two soldiers. Connor and his companion was rather amazed at how many people had to get food from this family to survive.

Everyone got their food, with Mary being the last one in line. The woman was obviously pregnant, making Michael and Connor look at her and then each other, then Evan, as if asking if this was the woman.
Evan was going to smack them, for being so stupid.

"Hi Mary" The boy said softly, she smiled as they handed her the last bag of potatoes, the vegetables, and wheat. She looked down at the food, as if disappointed, but still thankful. He watched her worried expression, "The rest of your food will.. Come in tomorrow"

Evan spoke quickly, and she broke into a goofy smile even faster. "Thank you Evan, thank you" he nodded, and smiled back. Well, it's now official, he will have to work with the American's.
~~~

"So the plan is— Boyf will keep watch, making sure no one finds us, we have warning signals like canary calls. Maybe we need code names? Well, okay, so you and me, sneak into the bunker, you unlock it, and i go in to grab what I want, You'll get the potatoes, and then we leave! Simple." Evan elaborated, after a few minutes of strategizing.

Michael and Connor sat around his kitchen table, listening to him speak for about 5 minutes straight, smiling to themselves. "You make it seem like we are secret services" Connor said, smirking at the boy's babbling.

"What we have to do, is go at midnight, that's when Michael and I are supposed patrol so no one will even notice, because we are supposed to be there anyway." Connor suggested instead, getting a glare from Evan.
.
"Then why didn't you tell me that in the first place?"

"Because seeing you work your brain is funny." Connor said, snarky and amused.

Evan dared to raise a middle finger, (something he learned from Alana) and Connor just laughed lmore in response.
~~~

At the break of dusk, the boys snuck in Evan, which wasn't hard, he was quite small, so Connor was able to sling him over his shoulder and rush into the camp, and all the way to the cabin. Evan didn't really like it, it made him feel tiny but they didn't have a choice. The boy had over prepared, taking a trash bag, a backpack, and wearing all black.

When Connor set the boy down, after closing the door behind them, Evan looked around the cabin, it was not at all what he thought. He thought it would be full of silk blankets and food, or just a lot of guns, and expensive shit.

But it was just really plain, dark and cramp. A bunk bed in the corner, with uniforms laid out on them. How boring.

A little bit later, Michael opened the door to the cabin slowly and gave them the thumbs up. They walked out to the storage area in the dark of night, which honestly wasn't that hard, no one really was around. Connor opened the bunker with his special key and moved aside to let Evan go in first.

Evan looked around and saw so many things, "now this is what I expected" he spoke— guns, canned food, medical supply's stored away, and so much more.

The room was large, but barley lit. He walked down the aisles, filling his trash bag with blankets, some canned food, and a few first aid kits. He knew it was a lot more then he originally said, but he was sure no one would notice. He looked at everything in there, storage closets with uniforms, hunting rifles.

"Hmmm" he thought to himself, and hesitantly grabbed one. He looked at the crafting of it, holding it comfortably, and aiming at the wall. He slowly lowering it into the bag, and even some ammo. No one would notice, he kept telling himself, "Connor and Michael will not get in trouble". Finally he found a sack of red potatoes, sitting next to a few other ones.

"Why did they even need to break into the garden? Hogging food much" he grabbed the sack and smiled to himself, that was easy.
He headed over to the door, double checking to make sure he had everything, and— the door slammed shut, with him still inside, and the lights turned off right after. His eyes widen, but he couldn't even see. Before he could speak he heard muffled voices through the door.

"Oh hi Commander" Evan believes Michael says, with a wavering fear in his voice,
"hey, Cedric" Connor says, rather casually, but if Evan could see him, he'd see the nervous smile on his face.

The boy didn't need any other warning to go hide. Trying not to make noise, but is challenged with barley being able to see. He crouched down behind what he believes are a shelf of tools.

"No one is permitted into the shed, not even you Jet, if you need something I'll be happy to bring it to you" a man said through the door, with a deep intimidating voice.

"Yes sir" both spoke simultaneously. There was a silence for a short while. It put Evan on edge. Had they been caught? Then the door began to open. Evan flinched, but was greeted with a soft whisper. "Evan? Where are you?" He stood up, when the lights came back on, and Connor stepped in. "Common we gotta lea-..."

It turns out Evan wasn't hiding behind tools, but large bombs. They read 9r64, but that wasn't what really mattered to him, what mattered was the red, white, and blue insignia on the side of them, reminding him of the bombs dropped on his childhood home. He step back quickly, "woah woah I didn't see these before" he said, gripping his bag. He felt fear and anger rattle inside of him. Connor stared, just as shocked. How could he of all people not know these were here? They looked at each other, then back at the large metal contraptions. "Wha—" then Michael spoke from behind him. "It's time to go! Common!"

Both Evan and Connor were forced to rushed out, and did not speak of what they saw.
~~~

"Oh thank you!!" Mary kissed Evan on the head, smiling while holding the potatoes, and little baby clothing he had sown the night before. "Sorry for it being late." He said, rubbing the top of his head, messing up his hair even more. "No no it's fine" she said relaxed, obviously it didn't matter to her, she was just thankful.

He sat with the women, on a bench placed outside of the barber shop. It was another calm morning, bright and cold. Evan and the two army boys separated the night before, after they snuck him back out of the base.

He didn't tell them about the other things he took, but since they apparently aren't allowed to go in there, they wouldn't know.

He hid the gun in his room, and gave the first aid kits to Alana, who really didn't question it. He didn't really take that much, really, he has no reason to feel guilty. He hoped.
And seeing the happy woman smile made it all worth it.

"So, what are you planning on naming the baby?" He asked, looking down at her stomach. She smiled, and rubbed her tummy softly. "Well, I don't know what to name it, if it's a girl, but I have some names for it, if it's a boy." Evan nodded, for her to continue, "well it's between Berry, after my husband, or... Cedric." Evan smiled, "Cedric... Where have I heard that before?"
~~~