OK, so I know I should be working on At Times I Almost Dream, and I am, I promise. But this one was kind of eating at me to get written, so I had to stop ignoring it and just do it. This is from a prompt on the Good Ship Charloe site. Basically, it's a reworking of the series with Bass and Miles meeting up with Ben and the kids several years after the Blackout. But this is a very different Bass who did not lose Shelly and did not start a militia.

Flashbacks are in italics.

I own nothing from Revolution (obviously).

Devolution - The granting of powers from the central government to government at a subnational level, such as a regional, local, or state level. It is a form of decentralization. Devolved territories have the power to make legislation relevant to the area.

You say you want a revolution

Well, you know

We all want to change the world

You tell me that it's evolution

Well, you know

We all want to change the world - Revolution - The Beatles

Six Years after the Blackout

The bright summer sun was just setting for the evening when two men walked into Sylvania Estates. One was tall and dark, the other just slightly shorter and blond, dingy duffel bags slung over their shoulders. They'd been on the road for years, in search of one thing. They were tired and weary and had seen and done much in the years since the Blackout had ended life as most humans knew it.

Being early July, the gates to the village were not yet closed for the night; there was at least another hour of daylight left. It did not mean there was no one keeping an eye out for strangers at the entryway to their small neighborhood.

"Hey," Caleb Parker said. He was an old man even by pre-Blackout standards, the loss of electricity making him gruff and ornery. But he protected his own. "Who are you?"

The dark man squinted, his sharp eyes boring into Caleb. "I'm looking for Ben Matheson."

"What for?"

A smirk graced the dark man's face. "Not that it's any of your business, but he's my brother."

Before Caleb could even answer, Ben himself jogged over to the gate. "Miles?"

Miles Matheson scoffed. "Well, you are one hard ass man to find."

Ben chuckled, stepping forward to embrace his brother. It was then he noticed the man to his left. "Bass?"

"Hey, Ben."

Ben reached out and clasped Bass's hand, pumping it with fervor, patting the blond man on the back. "You guys both walked here from South Carolina."

"Yeah," Miles said, his tone sarcastic. "Only took us six years too."

Bass rolled his eyes. "We've been trying to find you this entire time. We've been to Chicago three times, to Indianapolis, Des Moines. We couldn't seem to track down your location."

"Well, after everything...it seemed hiding out in the more secluded areas was the best thing for Charlie and Danny," Ben explained. "Come on to the house. Come see the kids."

"How are they?" Miles asked.

"Good, they're good. Adjusting to life in one place, after all the years of moving around." Ben led them to a comfortable two story house with beige siding and a bright red door. A chicken coop stood out in the driveway. Crops scattered around the rest of the village.

"And Rachel?" Miles asked, his tone giving away more than words ever could.

Ben turned to him, sadness deep in his eyes. Miles swallowed, saliva thicker than he ever remembered it. Whatever his brother was going to say was going to gut him. "She disappeared...a little over a year ago."

"Disappeared..." He could barely form the words.

Bass jumped in. "What happened, Ben?"

"We'd just moved here...only been here a month or so. She went into the local town for some supplies. She never came back." Ben glanced down. "No one in town could tell me anything. If they'd seen her. If she'd even made it to town. She was just gone."

"Why didn't you go with her?" Miles reached for Ben.

"Hey," Bass said, laying a hand on Miles's outstretched arm.

"We couldn't leave the kids alone. No one had really moved this far out of town at the time. She decided it would be best if she went and I stayed with Charlie and Danny." The very idea that he'd left his wife to fend for herself seemed to kill Ben.

"It makes sense, Miles," Bass said, ever the voice of reason. "Knowing Rachel, she probably figured Ben could protect them more than she could."

Before anything else could be said, a lanky girl with long blonde hair bounded out the front door, a little tow-headed boy trailing behind her, his hand tucked in hers. She stopped when she saw the two men in front of her father.

"Charlie, this is-"

"Uncle Miles?" Her voice was unusually quiet, an air of reverence in her words. As if her beloved uncle had been nothing more than a dream that suddenly turned to flesh and blood.

Miles cocked his head. "You remember me, kid?"

Her eyes lit up and the vibrant blue of them struck both Miles and Bass. She barreled into her uncle, wrapping her arms firmly around his waist. "Of course I remember you. You're here."

He glanced down at her upturned face, the smile so bright it nearly blinded him. Wrapping his own arms around her, he patted her back a bit awkwardly. "Yeah, I'm here. Better late than never."

She caught sight of the man at his side, her eyes widening. "Oh, Charlie, this is my friend-"

"Bass?" Her voice was timid, shy even.

"Hi, Charlie." He knelt down to be at her level. Having younger sisters had prepared him to deal with children far better than Miles. "I'm surprised you remember me."

"I remember you." The adoration on her face was obvious as she launched herself into his arms. "You brought me Jimmy the bear."

He held her tightly, his mind racing back to his younger sisters. They'd be grown women by now, but in his mind they would remain little, forever frozen in time. "You still have that old thing."

"She carried him all the way from Chicago," Ben said. "Never managed to lose him, no matter where we stopped or ended up."

She pulled back, her eyes meeting Bass's. "He's upstairs. You can see him."

He smiled at her, and she responded in kind. "I'd like that."

"Danny is a little shyer, I'm afraid." Ben curled an arm around Danny's shoulder. "Charlie is my adventurer. Nothing ever stops her or slows her down."

Bass and Miles exchanged at look. She was just like her uncle in that regard.

"Go inside, guys. Pull some of that food out for Miles and Bass." Ben pointed at his children, and they scurried into the house, Charlie especially happy for the exciting new turn of events.

"Are you planning to stay?" Ben asked.

Miles glanced at Bass, who gave a slight nod. "Oh, hell, yeah. It took six years to find you, Ben. We're not just walking away now."

"There's not much left out there," Bass said, tone morose. "Family is all there really is."

Ben reached out a hand and rested it on Bass's shoulder. "Well, you're a welcome part of ours, Sebastian."

Bass just nodded, unsure if he could find his voice. He had always been welcome with the Mathesons.

"Have you heard?" Bass asked. He and Miles picked up their bags, carrying them into the house. "There's talk of another militia forming way in the east. Philadelphia supposedly."

"Really?"

"Yeah, well, they come and go," Miles said, closing the candy apple red door behind him.

Fifteen Years after the Blackout

Charlie laughed as Miles and Bass goofed off, play wrestling with one another in the leaves blanketing the forest floor. Her heart swelled with love for both of them; these two men, who had become more important to her than any other, save her father and Danny. She loved these trips they took, when they ventured far into the forest for an overnight hunting trip. It made her feel like she was on a mission with them, the kind of adventure they both told her stories about. The trips were always just the three of them, as her father still showed little aptitude for hunting, even after all these years. And Danny was far too sickly to be away from Maggie and her medicines overnight.

So it was just the three of them. Charlie, Bass, and Miles; the Three Musketeers as Bass called them. She'd read the book; Aaron had given it as an assignment during one of his classes. She secretly loved the idea of being considered one of their fellow soldiers. There were times they traveled into dangerous areas, but Charlie felt nothing but warmth and safety around the two of them. Her uncle and his best friend had been Marines, and without really knowing what that meant, she knew they could both best other men blindfolded.

"Guys, you're gonna miss the roasted duck," she called out, chuckling as both men stood and shoved the other away, pushing each other as they made their way back to the fire. They'd been lucky today. Their haul included several ducks, a few rabbits, and a rather large buck; the village would have meat for the foreseeable future.

"Aw, this smells amazing, Charlie," Bass said, scooping up his plate and plopping on the ground right beside her. "You make the best duck."

He smiled at her, that beaming smile of his, and her heart caught in her throat. Lately, whenever she was around Bass, breathing became an issue. But she played it cool. "Of course I do. Do you think I can rely on you guys to feed me when we're out here?"

"Oh, well, now...someone's getting cocky," Miles said, pulling the duck off the spit over the fire. "But I seem to recall you dropping your elbow earlier when you were sparring with Bass. You don't practice, you don't get to have the best part of the roasted duck."

She rolled her eyes as Miles pulled the bird apart, handing a hunk to Bass and keeping one for himself. When she glared at him, he set a piece on her plate; she noticed it was the breast meat, her favorite part. He always threatened to give her the worst portion or none at all, yet she always wound up with the best cut of meat in front of her, without fail. Neither man ever questioned it, and she loved them all the more for it. For the first twelve years of her life, it had always felt like Danny was put first. But with Bass and Miles, it was evident she was their top priority.

Not that both men didn't love Danny; she knew they'd both fight to the death to protect either her or her brother. But for the first time ever, she was someone's favorite.

"Seriously though, Charlie," Miles said. "You can't drop the elbow. Someone as skilled at fighting as Bass could swoop right in...bang, you're dead."

They'd been training her for years, wanting her to be adept enough to defend herself if neither one was around. "I didn't know there was anyone as skilled at fighting as Bass...other than you."

Bass laughed out loud at that, reaching for her hand and bringing it to his lips to kiss the palm of it, resting it on her knee before digging back into his food. "I love you too, Charlie."

He had no idea just how insane he was driving her. She'd never lied to herself. Her crush on Bass dated back to before the Blackout, when he and Miles had visited Chicago and he'd brought her that stuffed bear she still loved the hell out of. Nine years ago, when he'd shown up in Sylvania Estates with Miles, she felt that nothing short of a miracle had delivered him back into her life. Both men back into her life. But with Miles, she'd inherited a second father. With Bass...

There had never been anything inappropriate between them. She didn't doubt for one second that Bass would kill himself before ever harming her in any way. But over the years, he had become her closest confidante, her dearest friend; she told him things she wouldn't even tell Miles, never once afraid that he would spill her secrets. He knew her better than anyone else. The only thing he didn't know was how she felt about him.

She knew that he probably still considered her nothing more than Ben's daughter, Miles's niece. But her feelings had grown from that of a small crush to a full-fledged aching love.

He hadn't really dated any of the women in the village, but he and Miles did disappear every once in awhile, on a trip she wasn't allowed to accompany them on. She cried the first time they left her behind, but Bass had made up for it a few days later by bringing her a crystal amulet that she wore around her neck to this very day. When she got older and realized they were going into the local town, to the whorehouse, she wept the entire time they were away, lamenting the fact that Bass was spending his nights with some other woman.

So she suffered in silence with the love she felt for him, just happy to be a part of his inner circle, her and Miles. He didn't hide things from her, and he always treated her like an adult.

"So, we did pretty good this trip," Miles said, his voice already growing sleepy, sated from the long day's hunt and a solid meal. "Should keep us for awhile."

"No doubt." Bass stretched his long limbs, sliding down a little towards the ground. His bedroll was placed to the right of hers, close, but nowhere near close enough for her. Miles was on her left; she always slept in the middle between them, her security guards bookending her on either side.

She felt her own eyes getting heavy, all the thoughts swirling around in her head making her drowsy. "Head home tomorrow?"

"At first light. Get some sleep," Miles said, voice drifting away. She heard Bass's comforting snore a few feet behind her and settled deeper into her covers. Both men slept hard and yet could wake in the blink of an eye if need be. She'd seen it.

Even with all the thoughts of Bass niggling at her brain, Charlie drifted off to sleep, contented. He might not love her the way she wanted, but he was always there for her, no matter what. She could live with that.

For now.

The walk back was better than the one out. The weather was far more pleasant, the sun shining brightly through the canopy of trees; spring weather could always be so fickle. She walked, chatting with both Bass and Miles, the three laughing and joking and finishing each other's sentences. She was right where she belonged.

As they crossed through the dilapidated amusement park that always indicated to her home was near, she glanced over at the brick wall beneath the collapsed fencing. She hid something precious there; something no one in the world knew anything about, other than Bass. Feeling his eyes upon her, her gaze connected with his and they shared a secret smile.

As much as she loved their trips, she was glad to be getting home this time. She and her father hadn't parted on the greatest of terms and she had to make things right with him. Bass and Miles had made her see that staying angry at Ben was foolish in such an unstable world. When they reached the house, she was going to sit her dad down and apologize to him.

The first indication that something was wrong was the loud commotion coming from the direction of Sylvania Estates. She exchanged a look with both men, their eyes confirming that they sensed it too. Almost in awe, she watched as a mask slid down over their faces, transforming them into the Marines they used to be. Both whipped out their pistols, signaling her to ready her crossbow.

Following closely behind them, in the sweeping pattern they'd trained her in, she fell into sync with her partners, her body becoming an extension of theirs. She still wasn't as good at it as they were, but Bass and Miles understood that and adjusted their moves to accommodate her. A wave of nausea hit her as the smell of smoke wafted from the village. It wasn't normal smoke created by fire. It was the sort of smoke she'd only smelled when Caleb shot off his rifle...or Bass or Miles shot their guns. From the way they picked up the pace, she suspected they'd come to the same conclusion.

They rounded the corner of the village gate, all three stopping as they took in the scene. A haze of smoke hung over the crops and several of the villagers were lying on the ground. It was then she saw her father, Maggie crouched over him, pressing her hands to his chest.

"Dad!" She shot forward, speeding to her father's side.

"Charlie!" Bass shouted, rushing after her.

She knew Bass was upset that she broke formation, but her father was bleeding out. She heard Miles shout his brother's name, but all else faded as she fell to the ground beside Ben's prone body. "Dad...Dad..."

Bass knelt beside her, as Miles dropped to his knees beside his brother. "Ben!"

Charlie looked at Maggie, her eyes pleading for an explanation. "What happened?"

Ben appeared to be struggling, to grab her shirt, to speak, she wasn't sure. But his hand twisted into the lapel of her jacket, pulling her closer. "Danny's gone..."

"Danny's gone?"

"What?" Bass choked, his voice hoarse.

All looked to Maggie for an explanation. "Militia...militia took him."

"Son of a bitch!" Bass stood up, backing away from Ben. "Bastards! Did they just leave?"

"It was maybe an hour ago," Aaron replied, standing off to the side, watching the events unfold in front of him. "They've got a significant lead."

"Okay, well, what do we do? What do you want us to do?" Charlie asked. Her father had been lying here dying, waiting for her for an hour. Tears filled her eyes at the thought.

Ben rolled his head in the direction of his brother. "Miles...you have to get Danny. You have to find Danny."

"Ben, don't talk, damn it," Miles said, his voice shaky, hands stained red with his brother's blood. "We'll get Danny back."

"But...you're gonna come with us, right?" She glanced from her father up to Miles. "He's gonna come with us."

She barely registered Bass crouching by her side again, but she turned to him in enough time to see him exchange a defeated look with Miles. Bass never looked defeated. She cried out at the knowledge that her two closest companions were already preparing for Ben's death. This couldn't be happening; she hadn't even reconciled with her father properly. Her eyes met Bass's, the blues in each of them swirling together, and she knew he knew her exact thoughts.

Maggie mixed together a nasty green tea and handed it to Danny, who balked about it, but drank it anyway. She waited at the kitchen table for Ben to scold her for allowing her little brother to fall into a dangerous situation. Miles and Bass stood at the kitchen counter, drinking the swill that Aaron called moonshine. At least someone in the room was on her side.

Ben stepped in front of her. "You were supposed to watch out for him."

"I'm sorry."

"You know that road's not safe. Neither Miles or Bass was with you."

"I know. I'm sorry...really." She sat up straighter, casting her eyes to the side, making eye contact with Bass. "It's just...nothing is safe. Everything is off limits."

"I'm just trying to look out for you," Ben said, his voice growing hard.

"I don't need you to. Dad, if it was up to you, you wouldn't even let us leave our street." She glanced at Miles and Bass. "They are training me, Dad, how to fight. If I never go anywhere, what will I ever need it for?"

Ben sighed. "Fine, all right, go wander off into the wild blue. Go by yourself, don't take Miles or Bass. Get your throat slit by bandits or get yourself lynched by militia. Does any of that sound good to you?"

"Ben," Miles interjected, shrugging at his brother's harshness.

"It's not all like that," Charlie insisted.

"I don't know it can get pretty rough out there," Maggie supplied.

Charlie rolled her eyes. "There's other towns like ours, right? What if...what if I asked Miles and Bass to come with me? Then I wouldn't be alone. Maybe we could find some other people."

Ben pulled a chair out and sat at the table across from her. "Charlie, trust me, there is nothing worth seeing...not anymore."

"Look, I was your age once, I get it, but he's right-"

Charlie cut Maggie off. "Excuse me, is she a part of this family now?"

"Hey," Ben shouted.

"She hops into bed with you and suddenly that makes her mom?"

"Charlie," Bass's voice cut clear through to her, reprimanding her for her insolence. He could get to her better than anyone else; she immediately regretted her words.

"No, Charlie, your mom is gone. She died, out there," Ben's voice was rising with his anger. "You want to wind up just like her?"

"Ben," Charlie could hear the distress and distaste seething through Miles.

Her father had gone too far and he knew it. "Charlie..."

She stood up wordlessly and filed out of the room, her eyes catching Bass's baby blues yet again. Stalking out of the house, she knew he would follow her in a matter of minutes.

When he found her, she was sitting on the seat of the Ferris wheel, leafing through the postcards she kept as souvenirs in a Return Of The Jedi lunchbox. Bass and Miles had assured her it was a fantastic movie. It was her secret stash. The one that only Bass knew about.

The car dipped as his weight settled into the seat beside her, swaying and bobbing back and forth. They sat in silence for a few minutes before he spoke. "You know I would never call you out in front of your dad and Maggie. I've always got your back."

"I know."

"But they are right, Charlie. You have no idea what your uncle and I saw out there while we were searching for you," Bass explained.

"But there's got to be other people like us," she protested.

"Not enough." He sighed, his eyes trained on her. "They're hard to find. They keep a low profile, the way we do. No one wants to attract the militia to themselves, Charlie."

She stared at the postcard in her hand, the sturdy looking curved walls surrounding a place where the Chicago Cubs used to play baseball. "It's not fair."

"No, it's not." He leaned in, studying the postcard with her. With him so near, it was hard for her to concentrate. "You're a lot like me, Charlie. And your uncle. Always running off, looking for excitement and adventure."

"I am?"

Bass nodded. "I was a pretty smart student. I could have gone to college if I'd wanted to. But your uncle showed up at my house one day, saying he was enlisting in the Marines. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to see the world. I thought about sitting in a class all day or being out there. I chose the world."

"See, that's all I want."

"But things were so different then, Charlie." He closed his eyes, shaking his head as if to clear it. "It's just not that way anymore."

She pointed to the ball park on the postcard. "Do you think this is still standing?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. Half those places are gone now. But one likes to think that both Wrigley Field and Comiskie Park are still in existence."

"I didn't mean to get Danny hurt."

"I know that, Charlie. Everyone knows that." He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer to his side. Her heart was thudding so loudly she couldn't believe he didn't hear it. "But maybe just give your dad a break. He is trying."

"I know..."

"And Maggie, Charlie she's...a good woman. And she's been through a lot."

Charlie sighed. "I know that. It's just...she's not..."

"Your mom." She lowered her head, nodding slightly. "Charlie, she's not trying to be your mom. She's not trying to take her place. No one will ever replace Rachel for you or your father. Maggie's just looking out for you."

"I still miss her." She swallowed back the tears that were threatening. She glanced up at him, her eyes shimmering. He'd been through it once too. Lost his entire family. "Does it ever get easier?"

He didn't look away from her, didn't lose her gaze, even though she knew it was still hard for him to talk about. He cleared his throat. "I don't think easier is the best word. It gets...livable. You can live with it. The people we lose, we never stop loving. We never stop missing. But at some point, we can think of them in happiness. Because we know they are at peace."

A small smile broke through as she stared at him, the tears in his eyes making her love him all the more. He was such a good man, who loved those he considered his family fiercely. "Thank you, Bass."

He pulled her towards him a little further, kissing her forehead and nuzzling his nose into the top of her head. "Anytime, Charlie. Anytime."

She closed her eyes and soaked in his scent, his warmth. "So I guess I have to apologize."

"Yeah, you do." He chuckled and pulled away. "Hey, how about you, me, and Miles go on a hunting trip tomorrow?"

"Really?"

"Well, the village could use the meat. And we could probably do a little better if we go a little further out." He stood, reaching out a hand to her. She took it and allowed him to pull her out of the car. "Besides, maybe we all need a break, huh?"

"I'd like that."

"Okay, I'll square it with Miles. We'll leave in the morning." He followed her over to the brick wall she hid her lunchbox in. "But you go home and make it up to your dad."

"Yeah, yeah...I got it."

But she hadn't really done it. It had already been late by the time she and Bass got back and her father and Maggie were retiring for the night. She issued him a perfunctory apology, Bass filling him in on the plans to go hunting the next day. Then she'd gone off to her room, awakening before dawn to leave with Bass and Miles. She hadn't even seen her father since. Now here he was. Dying in her arms.

"Charlie..." Ben choked out, clinging tighter to his daughter. She ripped her eyes away from Bass to refocus on her father. "You're strong. You're so strong...you're like your mom. You can do this."

She nodded, tears falling down her face. "Okay..."

"Miles." Ben's eyes rolled to his brother. "Take care of her."

"I will. Of course, I will."

Ben shifted his gaze to Bass. "Both of you. Protect her."

"With my life," Bass said, his hand on Ben's shoulder.

Charlie wailed when her father's eyes lost focus, his head growing heavy in her hands. She let his head gently rest on the ground, then swayed forward, collapsing into Bass's waiting arms. He held her tightly as she wept for her father. Still in his arms, she turned her head and caught Miles's gaze. She couldn't remember a time she'd ever seen him look so sad. Yet his eyes were determined, silently telling her they would retrieve her brother and avenge her father's death. She nodded at him, ready to do whatever it took to save Danny.

An hour later, she was packing the last of her gear, taking only the things she needed, as per Miles's orders. Scanning her room, her eyes fell on Jimmy, the little bear Bass had presented her with a lifetime ago. A stuffed animal certainly wasn't a necessary item, but she wanted him with her, as much as she wanted the man who had gifted it to her. Without another thought, she grabbed the bear and jammed him into her backpack.

Along with a few pictures of her parents she found scattered around the house, Jimmy was the only frivolity she was taking. She slid the photos into her lunchbox. Bass had walked off soon after Ben expired, returning 15 minutes later, his eyes red, her secret stash in his hands. He'd gone and retrieved it for her, and she fell into his arms as another bout of tears overcame her. Then he'd sent her off to pack for their journey.

"Come on, kiddo," Miles said, leaning against the side of her bedroom door, his bag slung over his shoulder. "Time to get going."

She nodded, following him down the stairs where Bass and Maggie were gathering supplies from the kitchen. She took one look at Maggie's gear and shook her head. "No. Maggie, you can't come. They need you here in the village."

Maggie and Bass exchanged a look. "James can take over as town doctor."

Charlie chuckled, but it was humorless. "You don't seem to understand. I don't want you to come."

"And I don't think you understand. I'm not doing this for you." Maggie's tone was serious, her eyes unwavering.

"Alright, enough," Miles said. "Charlie, she's coming. Having someone medically trained out on the road is never a bad thing. Everyone in this room loved Ben and cares about getting Danny back. End of discussion."

Charlie's blue eyes met Bass's, and he gave her a small nod, telling her without words that he agreed with Miles's decision. Danny might be her brother, but these men were what remained of her family. They were older, stronger, and smarter about what they'd find out there. This was not her mission alone; she was merely a part of it.

Within ten minutes, the four of them set off. At the gates, they found Aaron standing there, full pack on his back.

"What the hell is this?" Miles asked. "You're not coming."

"Ben was my friend. I'm going too," Aaron insisted, falling into step beside Charlie.

"Aaron...not such a good idea," Charlie said, never breaking her stride.

"Come on, man," Bass said, shaking his head. "You're afraid of bees."

"I'm not afraid of bees. I am allergic to bees," Aaron said, still keeping pace with them. "There is a big difference."

"You're not coming," Miles repeated, not slowing down even a little.

"You know I'll just follow you anyway, driving you all crazy since you're all awesome trackers and you'll know I'm there the whole time." At that the little party stopped, all turning to look at the portly man. Aaron was not backing down. "Well, it's the truth."

Miles and Bass held one of those conversations Charlie liked to call Eye Meetings; they never spoke a word, but entire decisions were made, big decisions. She'd perfected the same thing with Bass. And Miles, to a certain extent.

Miles sighed, exasperation obvious, though he conceded anyway. "Alright, but you better keep up. You drag us down, you have to find your own way back to Sylvania Estates. Got it?"

Aaron mock saluted him. "Yes, Sir."

Miles rolled his eyes and turned back to the road. Bass clapped Aaron on the back. "Welcome aboard, Stay-Puft."