A/N: Hi everyone! I know it's been a long time since I posted. I do apologize. Things have been crazy lately! I just started a new job and our little guy is going on four months now. I have been writing though and I thought I could post something I've been working on. :)

This will be a mini-fic or a fic-let if you will. I'm not sure how many parts it will have. I'm just going with the flow at this point. I am hoping to be updating Alter/Reality soon and maybe posting some more one-shots I have swarming around in the ol' noggin.

As always, I own nothing PR related and what not. Remember to R&R!

Snowbound
A Power Ranger Mini Series

6:15 am
January 11th, 2000
Angel Grove, California

"Did you pack my socks already?" Tommy Oliver's voice asked as the lower half of him hung out of our bedroom closet. I could hear him digging around in the small dresser we had inside of it, the wood scraping against the wall each time he opened a drawer. It was a small space that went along with the rest of the small space of which was our apartment. It was made up of two bedrooms, though I struggled to see how the other room was anything close to a bedroom. It was more like a broom closet with a small closet. Our room was small as well, just big enough for our bed, a tall dresser, and sometimes us.

"Yes, but I left two pairs out on top for today and tomorrow morning." I replied, zipping up the suitcase in front of me. The dark brown bag sat perched on our queen sized bed, a smaller backpack next to it. "Along with your dress clothes. At least put a nice shirt on before coming to my mother's house."

"Yes, dear." Tommy said, standing up straight and closing the closet door. His long brown hair was tucked back in a ponytail at the base of his skull and a white and black striped shirt hung from his shoulders. "I wish I was flying with you and Hope today. I hate that I have to stick around."

"I know, handsome. But someone has to help Zordon and Alpha work the kinks out of the new guys. It's better to do it now than have something happen when we're 3,000 miles away in Vermont." I replied, brushing the bangs out of my eyes. "Besides, it's only one night. I think we can manage being a part for that long."

"Speak for yourself." He said, smirking down at me. Tommy reached out and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling my petite frame against his tall and slender one. "I prefer being on the same side of the country as you these days."

"I don't blame you there." I answered, pacing my hands on his chest. "We have the entire rest of the week to spend together though. And just wait until Hope sees snow for the first time. She's going to love it."

"I know she will." He leaned in and gave me a soft kiss that lingered on my lips. "Do you think your mom would mind watching Hope for a while so we can celebrate our engagement in a small cabin in the woods somewhere?"

"That depends on how she takes the news of our engagement, I suppose." I replied, smiling up at him. I glanced at my left hand, seeing the diamond perched on the silver band on my ring finger. Tommy had popped the question just a couple weeks ago on Christmas Eve. I had been surprised but also not entirely. In his typical Tommy fashion, he had gone above and beyond to plan a perfect proposal but then forgot that the jewelers closed early that day. But even without the ring, watching him get down on one knee in front of our Charlie Brown Christmas tree was the most romantic thing I've ever seen. I've always known Tommy was going to be the man I married. This just made that reality one step closer.

A loud giggle behind me made us turn to look. In the pack-and-play in the corner of the bedroom, our daughter Hope pulled herself up on the bars so she was looking towards us. The chubby little girl had thick, brown hair on the top of her head that was parted to one side with a pink bow on the top. A pink and white pacifier was in her mouth but I could still see the three teeth she had in her grin as she smiled at her father and me.

"I'm going to miss this little chunky thing for sure!" Tommy said, letting go of me to walk over and scoop Hope up out of the crib. The squeal she let out echoed around the room as Tommy held her above his head. She clapped her hands together, enjoying her time with Tommy. "You better promise to take care of your Mommy." He said, holding her to his chest and hip. "I'm trusting you." She let out a babble. "That's what I thought!"

"Oh, you two." I said, shaking my head. I loved watching Tommy with Hope. The two of them have such a special bond. It was hard to believe that he had never even held a baby before she came around. He was very good with the almost one year old. And she loved her Daddy like no one else. There was a twinkle in her eye as she looked up at him. They were surely two peas in a pod and I was worried about how much trouble the two of them were going to be when she was old enough to motor around on her own. I could only imagine.

"What time does your flight land?" He asked, turning back to face me.

"A little after 2, eastern time." I replied, walking over to the closet and grabbing my pink zip up hoodie. I also scooped up Hope's white peacoat from the top of the basket next to our bed, the smell of the laundry soap wafting from it as I had just washed it the night before. It was warmer here in California than it would be in Vermont. I made sure to get her a coat for the time we would be travelling to my mother's home. Once we were there, I would get her a heavier snow suit so she could really enjoy the winter weather. "Come here, girlie." I said, reaching out to Hope after I pulled my sweat shirt on. She giggled, holding her hands out to me. I took her, laying her down on the bed.

"Make sure you call me as soon as you do. I'm not sure what time Zordon plans on being done with the training but I'll try to squeeze out of there as soon as I can." Tommy said, the sound of him beating himself up in the tone of his voice as I wrestled the squirming baby into her coat. I buttoned the front of it before standing up straight.

"Handsome, it's going to be fine." I replied, giving him a strained smile. I was getting tired of repeating myself. "It's not like I've never taken a plane before. I mean, it won't be much fun with a baby but I will make it work somehow. Zordon needs you here for a good reason. Before you know it, you'll be on your flight to us in no time."

"I know. I just don't know what I would do if anything were to happen to either one of you." He said, stepping closer to me. "It feels like I just got you back. I don't like having you take off on an airplane without me. Bad things tend to happen when you do." I muttered. I reached up and cupped his right cheek in my hand.

"Not this time. And it's also why Trini is taking us to the airport and not you. You better get going. You are going to be late and you know how much Zordon hates that." I patted his cheek before picking Hope up off the bed. "Come on, kid. Let's go get ready for aunt Trini!" I headed out of the bedroom.

"Call me when your plane lands!" I heard Tommy call from behind me.

"I will! Love you!"

2:45 PM
January 11th, 2000
Northeast Kingdom International Airport
Newport, Vermont

"It is now safe to unboard." The captain's voice said over the intercom of the airplane. Around us, people began to shift, pulling their seatbelts off and standing. There was some soft murmur and commotion as they pulled baggage from the overhead compartments down. The gentleman on the other side of me made quick work of getting the hell out of there, obviously glad to be away from us. It hadn't been the easiest flight. Hope had done extremely well the first half of the trip. The flight attendant had given her some snacks and juice to keep her entertained and then headphones from the movie. When we stopped in Chicago for the layover though, Hope had fought me in taking a nap in the hour window we had for her to. This led to her being cranky when we boarded the next plane. The attendants hadn't been as nice as the other ones and Hope whined for the first half of the flight. She finally settled down and slept a bit after a while, not before making enemies with everyone sitting around us. I was so glad to be off of the plane from Hell.

I grabbed her carseat and the carry one from under my seat, hoisting both of them. Letting everyone off before me, I slowly made my way up the aisle. I found myself walking up the terminal and into the surprisingly quiet airport. Though, I suppose not many people are looking to fly into Vermont in the dead of winter. Most head to sunny places like Florida or California. I didn't blame them. I wasn't much of a fan of snow myself. Though there wasn't much of it in Cali, my parents had insisted on family trips to the ski lodges each year when they were still married. I hated all the outdoor activities, preferring the option of drinking hot cocoa by the fire in the cabin.

It was no surprise to me at all when my mother announced three years ago that she was moving back to the states from France to Vermont. It was where my Uncle Jerry lived with his husband, Mark, and had been one of Mom's favorite places as a kid. After her second divorce became final, she knew she didn't want to live in France anymore so she decided to make the leap. Ever since, she's been bugging us to come see her. Especially after Hope was born. She's made the trip out to Cali twice, ensuring to leave a nice thick layer of guilt each time we've spoken afterwards that she would love to have her only grandchild come see her. So, here we are. She's going to be so surprised, she's not going to know what hit her.

I made my way from the gate over to the window where the rental car business was. There were about three or four people ahead of me, including the guy who had to endure Hope's fussiness throughout the flight. I could see he was annoyed as he snapped at the girl behind the counter, demanding a car that was reliable in the snow. He pointed at the tall windows at the other end of the airport from us and I saw that it was indeed snowing. It wasn't a great amount of the white stuff, a fine powder falling from the sky. He was probably just venting after dealing with us for the last three hours. Twenty minutes later, the woman gave me a warm yet tired smile as it was my turn.

"Hello. How can I help you?" She asked.

"Hi. I need to rent a car for the week." I replied, digging my license and wallet from the backpack on my back. She typed into her computer for a moment, her eyes sweeping over the screen. I could see the reflection on her glasses.

"All I have left is a 1999 Mercury wagon. It's like a station wagon. Is that alright?" She asked. I nodded.

"As long as it has wheels, I'll take it." I replied. She looked relieved as she took my license, putting the information into the computer. "Is there snow expected?" I asked, eyeing the window.

"Yes but not until late tonight. You know how some people get when they think the weather is going to get crazy. It'll be all cleared up by morning." She replied, sliding my license back and taking my payment. She put a set of keys with a pamphlet on the counter. "It's out in the lot in spot C27. It's a light gray color. Can't miss it. Safe travels!" She said cheerfully.

"You too. Thanks." I replied. I took the keys and headed towards the front doors of the airport that led to the parking lot. I could feel the cold air before the doors opened and I made sure Hope was tucked in the blanket in her seat, her face protected from it. I had her car seat in one hand, our suitcase in my other hand and her backpack on my back. I wished I had left the suitcase with Tommy, making him carry it with him tomorrow instead of me today. Stepping forward, the automatic doors opened and I was hit with a blast of arctic air. I shivered, letting out a slew of curse words as I briskly walked through the cross walk towards the part of the parking lot that was reserved for the rental cars.

In the back corner, I spotted a silver station wagon and I knew it had to be it. I nearly ran over to it, setting the suitcase down on the ground so I could unlock the doors. They opened and I put Hope in the backseat, securing her car seat behind the passenger side. She didn't stir, the cold not bothering her with her layers on. I still only had my light jacket on, my heavier coat at home. I had forgotten to pack it, something I was mad at myself for as I shivered. After she was buckled in, I put her back pack on the front passenger seat before heaving the heavy suitcase to the back part of the wagon. I made quick work of opening the latch and tossing the bag in as quick as I could. I slammed the door shut and sprinted to the driver side door. Once inside, I found it was still cold in here. I put the key in the ignition and turned the engine over. Cold air blasted from the vents, the motor not yet warmed up. I turned every knob up as far as I could, hoping the heat would turn on quicker then.

I was trying to decide if hypothermia had set in or if the heat was finally beginning to work when the needle on the thermostat began to move. Reaching into the front pocket of the backpack, I pulled out the paper directions I had printed out yesterday. They were to my mother's house which was about half an hour away from the airport and twenty minutes away from the Canadian border. She likes to brag that she can smell the maple in her backyard. I unfolded them and clipped them to the dashboard with a hair clip. Checking behind me, I put the car in reverse and backed out of the spot. A few minutes later, I was on the highway heading away from Newport, Vermont.

The sound of stirring in the backseat made me look in the rearview mirror and I saw sleepy eyes looking back at me. Hope slowly woke up, rubbing her eyes free of sleep. "Morning, baby." I said, smiling at her. She returned it, stretching her arms in my favorite cute little fashion. "Are you excited to see Grandma?" She giggled, clapping her hands together. I turned my attention back to the road, spotting my on ramp. I followed it, merging with the traffic that was leaving the airport. It was fairly bright outside, the afternoon sun sitting high in the sky. On either side of the highway, I could see buildings and open fields, covered in snow. It was very different from California. I wondered for a moment how Tommy was going to like it. I had called him from the airport before renting the car. He hadn't been home, so I left him a message to let him know we had landed and were heading to Mom's house. I knew he was going to be worried until he heard from me. He was probably busy anyway, trying to figure out new training techniques for the rangers that had replaced him and his team when he had opted to step down from the team. I smiled at the thought of him standing in our old Command Center, arms behind his back in his best authority pose as he listened to Zordon talk. That was Tommy in his best element. Well, until Hope came along.

After I left the team for the Pan Globals, things between Tommy ended. Mainly because I couldn't deal with the distance. Every other thought of mine was on Tommy and how much I missed him. I knew he felt the same way and that there was no way for two teenagers to live their lives. I made the hard choice to end it, coming up with a lame excuse about another boyfriend to keep him from trying to fix things. It worked for a while but eventually, I couldn't stand not being with him anymore. After the games wrapped up, I headed back to Angel Grove and right back to Tommy. I told him everything, explaining that I had messed up and why I had done it. I didn't even have the words fully out of my mouth before he kissed me. We made up that night which ended up in us discovering I was pregnant six short weeks later.

I'll admit that it was most definitely as shock I wasn't expecting. Neither was Tommy. He practically fainted when I told him. It took some convincing to calm him down and to get the both of us to see this as a blessing. We were both just shy of turning 21 one then, me on the tail end of finishing up my business degree and Tommy having a successful career as a race car driver for his uncle. Once we learned about Hope coming, he gave up driving though instantly.

He also gave up being a ranger.

It was something that shocked me completely. Tommy loved being a Power Ranger more than he liked breathing most days. He lived for the battles and being the leader, making sure the world was safe. So when he told me that he was turning in his spandex for good, it took me by surprise. He told me that he had bigger things to worry about now and there was no point in trying to save the world every day if it meant risking the chance of never meeting his child. The team took it pretty hard but Tommy offered to enlist his help in training his replacements and the ones who were taking over for the others that took the opportunity to leave as well. I don't think the team will ever be the same without Tommy Oliver at the helm but he sure left a legacy that will carry on, that's for sure.

It was hard adjusting to life back in California after being gone so long on top of our renewed relationship AND a pregnancy. We moved in together against the better judgement of both our parents but it was the best decision we could have made. It was like falling off a horse and getting right back in the saddle. I had forgotten how much I loved spending time with Tommy and he was getting used to the idea of us having a baby. He started college, opting to jump start into a teaching degree. I put my business degree to good use and started my own online business, selling clothes and other fashion trends to people around the world. I was almost a personal stylist for people, something I love doing.

Then Hope came along. It will be a day I will never forget. At 4:32 in the morning on February 6th, she came into the world three days early. We barely made it to the hospital on time, her head poking out on the elevator ride to the delivery room. She was born perfectly healthy and with the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen. We've been wrapped around her finger ever since, Tommy more so than me. You can see it in the way he looks at her every time he's around her. There's no greater man alive to raise a child with and I am one lucky lady to call him mine. And soon, I'll be able to call him my husband.

I spotted the exit that I needed about forty five minutes later. Pulling off to the right, I followed the loop that took me through a one road town that barely had a sign of life besides a gas station. The signs of life diminished more though as I drove forward, buildings disappearing as more and more trees surrounding the road. I didn't see another car for miles either, a stray one passing here or there. The views were beautiful, the snow covering the tall pine trees like blankets on a cold night. The sun reflected off of the flakes like diamonds, giving everything a hazy glow. I saw why Mom liked living out here. Though it was freezing, it was gorgeous.

The directions I had printed instructed me to take a left turn in half a mile. I slowed down and as I approached, I saw there was a barrier in the road that had the words ROAD CLOSED painted on a large sign attached to it. I sighed, pulling the car to a stop. I would have to find another road that went the same direction and hope it connects to the other road I needed on the other side. I pulled out again, continuing up the main road I had been on before. I was in luck when I saw another left hand turn. Taking it, I found myself on a snow covered seasonal road. It was a bit bumpy, the car bouncing around as I travelled. I slowed down a bit, worried about blowing a tire on a big bump. There were houses to be found on this road and I hadn't even seen a telephone pole along the roadway. This really was the middle of nowhere. The road suddenly began to rise up into a hill, the tires of the wagon spinning slightly as it did it's best to make it up the slippery surface. I applied more pressure to the gas pedal, giving it more power. I smiled as we neared the top, grateful it had made it. I had been worried it would stop half way and roll backwards.

At the top, the wagon suddenly jerked forward from the pressure of my foot on the gas. I gripped the wheel tightly to regain control. All I could see was white, a snow drift covering the entire roadway. The back tires of the car spun and it swayed. The car went against me, veering to the left instead of the right. I tried to yank it back over but it pulled harder. The snow cleared for half a second, just enough for me to see the embankment ahead of me. There was a space large enough for a car to fit through between the two guard rails, tree tops passed that. I slammed my foot on the brakes out of instinct, the car swerving out of control now. It hit the small snowbank in front of us with enough force to bounce me off the seat. I slammed the top of my head off the roof of the car, stars spinning in front of my eyes. I felt a drop as we continued rolling forward, snow covering the wind shield again as we went over the cliff.

3:27 PM
January 11th, 2000
Somewhere off Route 32
Newport, Vermont

"Tommy…" I muttered, the sound of Hope's crying piercing into my skull like a knife. "The baby is up. Can you get her?" I mumbled. I didn't feel any movement and her crying increased as my head swam in a daze. Slowly, my eyelids slid open and I came face to face with a steering wheel. I could feel the seat belt cutting into my neck where it was sitting and across my torso. I blinked, trying to remember where I was. The screeching of the tires came to mind and then the snow drift. I moved my head slightly and felt pain radiating from above my right eyebrow. Reaching up, I brought my hand back and saw bright red blood. The engine was roaring as my foot pressed down on the gas from our crash. I released it, the sound stopped. The wind shield was smashed, the spider web effect going across the entirety of it. I could make out a tree passed it, snow everywhere.

"Hope." I said. My eyes widened as I scurried to get my seat belt off. Each movement hurt but I ignored the pain. I struggled with the release, it not wanting to give. Finally, it released me after I jabbed my thumb into it for the fifth time. I slid forward in my seat as I did, the tension gone as the belt went slack. Grabbing the back of the passenger seat's headrest, I hoisted myself between the two seats. I had to kick myself up on the center console to get over the arm rests. As I turned, I saw that Hope was still strapped into her car seat. It hadn't moved an inch, the blanket now on the floor of the car. She was screaming though, her face beat red and tears streaming down her cheeks. I tossed myself onto the seat next to her car seat and checked her arms and legs for any signs of injury. She didn't seem to have any, nothing out of the ordinary that was different from before our accident. I unbuckled her straps and caught her as she fell forward.

"Ma." She whimpered, hugging my neck as I collapsed on the seat. I shuddered, holding her close to me. I closed my eyes, not willing to think about what could have happened if she hadn't been in that car seat. We were alive and unhurt for the most part.

"Shhh. I know. Baby. It's going to be okay." I whispered, petting the top of her hair. I glanced around after opening my eyes, trying to figure out our next move. Behind me, I saw that there was no way I was going to be able to back the car back up from where we came from. It was almost 90 degree drop, trees here and there. We must have bounced off a few of them, pieces of their bark sticking out on their trunks. I reached over and pulled on the handle of the door. I heard the release but when I pushed, it wouldn't move. I pushed on it harder with my foot but it only moved about an inch or two. Sliding over on the seat, I saw that the snow was so deep, it was right under the window. I set Hope down on the floor under where her seat was strapped in and put both of my feet on the door. I gave it everything I could, raising my butt off the seat I was pushing so hard. It wouldn't give, the door groaning from the force. I collapsed back on to the seat before climbing to the front again. I saw that the driver side door was caved in a bit, probably from bouncing off a tree. It wouldn't open either, the release not even functioning. I moved to the passenger side door and it opened, but just the same as the back door.

"No. No. No." I muttered, climbing back over the seat. I tried Hope's door but it was the same as the others. Lastly, I climbed over the back seat and went to the trunk door. There was no handle to open it up from the inside. I tried the window but it was the same. I would need to be outside to open it, the latch out there. I climbed back over the seats, back into the driver side. I laid my hand on the horn, the shrill sound echoing around us off the trees. I waited for a minute, listening to any signs of help. There was just silence, an occasional sniffle from Hope as she sat on the floor. I did it again, putting all my weight on the steering wheel. The horn rang out again and like before, there were no signs of help. Panic was beginning to heavily set in my chest as sweat formed in my palms. I couldn't panic. It was going to be okay. Someone would drive by and see our tracks over the side of the hill and call for help. Or even see our car sticking out from down here. I climbed over the seat and picked Hope up again, wrapping her up in her blanket. She snuggled into my chest, her breathing calm now. Mine on the other hand was close to hyperventilating. I closed my eyes, willing myself to calm down. I couldn't let myself do this, especially with Hope in the car.

After a few minutes, I shifted to put Hope back on the floor. She wouldn't be able to sit in her seat the way it was hanging right now. Glancing around, I saw that the back of the car was roomy, big enough for at least me to lie down in. I hoisted her up and set her back there, our suitcase now resting against the back of the seat. I climbed back into the front seat, opening the glove box. I remembered watching something on the news where they install GPS chips on rental cars now to prevent them from being stolen. Bending down, I looked into the compartment but only found the drivers manual and a map of Arizona, something that wouldn't help me very much right now. I slammed it shut, checking in both the visors above the seats. These were empty too, nothing but mirrors there. I swore under my breath, putting my hand on the horn again. I pushed, the sound echoing around us again. I wasn't even sure if you would be able to hear it up at the top of the road from here, the snow topped trees muffling everything.

As I shifted in my seat, my eyes landed on the crank window handle and a pang of relief hit me. I grabbed it, cranking it as fast as I could. Cold air blasted me in the face as the window slowly rolled down. I kept going until it was open enough for me to squeeze out of. Looking behind me, I made sure that Hope was still okay before crawling out of the window. I stumbled climbing out, the snow coming all the way to my waist practically. It filled my shoes within minutes and the cold sunk deep into my jeans. I had to kick my legs forward to walk, my left hand holding on to the car for support as I made slow progress.

As I rounded the back of the car, I looked up at the hillside. It was indeed a pretty much 90 degree angle. The snow seemed almost untouched where we had careened down the side of it, only tire marks visible here and there. I saw flakes of silver paint on the side of a tree, telling me it had been the one I had hit for sure. I moved forward, letting go of the car and moving towards a tree. As the incline grew, my footing became harder and harder to get. Even with the deep snow, it was like trying to climb a sand dune. I made it about a quarter of the way up when I lost my footing and fell backwards. I tried to grab on to something but I couldn't, rolling. My left arm slammed into a tree and I heard a loud crack, pain radiating from me within seconds. I let out a scream as I came to a stop. Tears streamed down my face from the pain that was coming from what seemed to be my wrist. I was scared to look at it for a moment, not wanting to see it. I did though and saw that the one part of my arm was going in a different direction than my wrist. I knew from my time dealing with injuries in gymnastics that I had popped my wrist from the socket.

I pulled myself up to my feet again with my other hand, doing my best to not bump my injured one. I stared up at the embankment, a feeling of dread sweeping over me like the snow drifts had done to the car. If no one knew we were down here and we couldn't climb out of here, how were we going to get out? Tears flowed ago as I noticed the sun beginning to set behind me. I had left Tommy a message, letting him know we were safe and sound. He would be heading to the airport tonight for his flight. He probably wouldn't even have much time to try calling me back. And my mother didn't know we were in town, the whole trip was supposed to be a surprise. No one knew we were missing which meant no one would be looking for us.

8:12 PM
January 11th, 2000
Somewhere off Route 32
Newport, Vermont

It took a lot out of me to climb back into the car with my wrist but I made it. I climbed into the back with Hope after rolling the window back up, wanting to preserve the heat we had. Thankfully, the car had almost half a tank of gas in it still. It would last us sometime, giving us some type of heat. I changed out of my wet clothes, something that was more challenging with one hand than I imagined it would be. I had to keep my semi-wet jacket on though. I hadn't packed any other one and I didn't want to not have one on. I also dressed Hope in another layer, putting her pajamas on over her other clothes and then her jacket again. She fussed, not liking the feel of it but I knew it was better this way.

The sun had set now, the streaks of oranges and pinks I had seen on the snow long gone. It was much colder now, the heat from the car not reaching the back very well. I opted to go back to the front seat with Hope, cradling her to me for warmth. She cried and I realized she was probably hungry. She hadn't ate since the plane. I set her in the driver's seat and picked up her backpack. Since my arm was injured, I left it inside of my hoodie to prevent it from banging off of stuff. In the bag, I found her empty bottle and the canister of formula. To my dismay, I only had enough water in the water bottle for two feedings. I mixed together a bottle, pulling her back into my lap and giving it to her. I leaned back in the seat, putting my feet on the driver side seat and allowing her to lay back on me. She adjusted herself until she was comfortable, glancing up at me through her long lashes. I gave her a smile, fixing her hood so it covered her head completely. Picking up my right foot, I pressed it to the horn. The sound sang out in the dark and empty woods. I hadn't heard another car pass by on the road above since we crashed. I doubted anyone would hear this now.

Dropping my foot back down into the seat, I leaned my back against the door and wrapped my good arm around Hope. She was about half way through her bottle now and I could feel her shiver. I didn't blame her. I was shivering too. Ice was beginning to cover the windows where the heat wasn't hitting it directly. There was also a fine layer of snow coming down, giving a light dusting on the bent hood of the car. I reached my good arm out and adjusted the vent so that it was blowing the warm air directly towards us. It felt nice but I knew I couldn't let it run all night. We would run out of gas half way through and wouldn't have any for the remainder of our time here. I wish I knew how long that would be. My stomach growled and I closed my eyes, trying not to think of food or a warm bed. I rocked slightly, and I could see Hope's eyes growing heavy.

"Go to sleep, baby. Momma will be right here when you wake up." I whispered, kissing the top of her head. Hope snuggled close and soon, I felt her breathing deepen. Her bottle dropped to the seat next to me, it was empty. I tried to crunch my body up as small as I could to keep her warm. I would need to shift to turn the car off in a while but I wanted to make sure that she was warm as could be for a while.

I did my best to think about survival things I had seen. Jason and Zack, two of our best friends from high school, had been big into stuff like that when we were younger. I couldn't tell you how many times they had tried to build fires in Billy, our other friend's, backyard when his father wasn't looking. Too bad I couldn't recall having to survive in snow. There was no snow in California, at least not where we lived. I felt ashamed for being the sheltered valley girl, wishing I had some more sense of outdoors than I did. Tears came to my eyes as I wished desperately for Tommy to be here. For him to just suddenly appear and save us.

I must have dozed off for a little bit because the next thing I knew, I was getting pulled from a deep sleep by the sound of a sharp howl. I nearly lept out of my skin, Hope also waking up from the sound. She let out a whimper and then a soft cry, burying her face into my chest again. I looked around the darkness, trying to find the source of the noise. When it happened again, I recognized it as a coyote. They were a common sight in California, especially in the desert. More howls joined in and I felt a shiver run down my spine. They were close. Extremely close. I couldn't see anything out of the windows from the darkness. Lifting my foot, I managed to turn the dial for the lights with my big toe. The fourways popped on, lighting up the area with the flashing orange light. Three sets of yellow eyes greeted me at the end of the hood, on the other side of the tree we were smashed into.

"Shit." I whispered, sitting up straight in the seat. I hit the power lock button with my hand and felt some relief when all the doors locked with a loud click. It wasn't that I thought the coyotes would suddenly evolve and know how to maneuver a car door open. It just made me feel better, knowing there was a secured surface between us and them. One of the coyotes was clearly bigger than the other ones, his fur a dark color that looked black in the darkness. He moved closer, sniffing at the engine. I slammed my foot on the horn, causing the three of them to jump from the sudden noise. The other two took off running but the Big Guy didn't. He stayed right there, his eyes locked on me the entire time. He moved closer still, heading towards the passenger side door. He stopped right next to the window, his huge paws helping him stay up on the tall snow. He leaned in close to the window, his hot breath making the glass fog over on his side. I could hear him sniffing, him trying to figure out what we were and how to get inside to us.

Off into the distance, I heard more howling. It caught his attention and he turned to leave. Before trotting off, he casted one more look over at us. He licked his chops, drool dripping from the tip of his tongue as he did. He took off running, his figure gone from the flashing light. I let out the breath I had been holding, relaxing back into the seat. Looking down, I saw that Hope was looking up at me. Her eyes were still heavy with sleep and I knew she'd be drifting off again soon. Balancing her on my lap, I reached over and turned the fourways off and reclined the seat all the way back. I turned so we were both lying in the seat, taking pressure off of my arm.

"We'll be okay, baby girl." I whispered, moving a piece of hair from her eyes. "This is nothing compared to what Mommy and Daddy have gone through. You should have seen us as Power Rangers. We were pretty cool then." I watched as her eyes drifted off before I allowed mine to do the same.

7:12 AM
January 12th, 2000
Somewhere off Route 32
Newport, Vermont

The sound of Hope crying woke me up from my slumber this time. I had been dreaming about Tommy and her, the three of us sitting at our dining room table eating dinner. Confusion washed over me when my eyes opened, the answer as to why I was squashed into the seat of a car not coming to me. As I looked around, the crash came back to mind and I remembered where we were and how we got there. The sun had risen now but I couldn't see anything past the layer of snow that had covered the entire car. Hope squirmed next to me in the seat, soft sobs coming from her as she struggled to move in her layers.

"Shhh. Hold on." I said, sitting up. The ache in my arm was there from straining, my injury not feeling much better. I could tell it was swollen, the skin on my wrist throbbing with each beat of my heart. I propped the seat back up into the upright position, pulling her into my lap. I could see my breath, little puffs coming from my lips. It was freezing inside of the vehicle, ice crystalizing on the windows. I leaned over and flipped the engine over. It took a couple tries but it finally caught, the engine coming to life. Cold air blasted from the vents for a couple of minutes until the engine block warmed up enough to give off warm air. Hope continued to cry, sticking her hand in her mouth. This was her usual sign that she was hungry. Placing her between my knees, I grabbed the bag from the backseat and started making a bottle. I used the rest of the water and I saw that the powder in the formula can was low. I'd have enough for the rest of the day and tonight, if I rationed her out.

"Here you go." I said, handing her the bottle. I set her on the backseat, giving me more room to move around. I turned on the windshield wipers, the black blades moving back and forth of the glass. They scrapped a little at first, the built up ice causing them to stick. After a couple swipes, they glided over the glass easier. I could see the snow covered hood now and the tree but that was pretty much it. I frowned, unsure of what I had thought would be there. A rescue team? A St. Bernard? Tommy? I felt panic begin to fill my chest as my breath quickened. No one was out there looking for us. No one knew we were missing. We were going to die here. Hope was never going to see her father again. She wasn't going to get to grow up or live a long, wonderful life.

Shaking my head, I felt tears brim in my eyes. I couldn't let myself do this. If we were going to have any kind of chance of surviving this, it wasn't going to be because I was cracking. I turned the dial on the radio, static coming over the speakers. I turned the dial until the sound of music came through. It was the familiar beat of a NSYNC song, one that I listen to all the time with Hope in our kitchen when I'm cooking. Wiping my eyes, I turned around in my seat and smiled at her.

"It's one of our songs, baby! Are you ready?" I asked. She giggled, holding her bottle with both her hands. "I'm doing this tonight. You're probably gonna start a fight. I know this can't be right. Hey baby come on. I loved you endlessly. When you weren't there for me. So now it's time to leave and make it alone." I sang, dancing in my seat with the music. Hope put her bottle down and clapped her hands as she watched me. I sang through the course, continuing to dance with the beat. It was hard to do with just one hand but I managed. She giggled and danced as well, her face lighting up. It caused me to smile and laugh as well, a feeling of hope building in my chest. We had to survive to have more moments like this.

Stay tuned for the next part!