Chapter Six: The Problem

~ Sam's POV ~

Astrid was in the next room, I stood in the doorframe watching her sleep. She stirred at the small creak of the door hinges.

"Morning sunshine." Sam teased

"Shut up Sam." She scowled cutely. She got out of the bed elegantly and swung her hands around my neck looking at me cheerfully. He guessed she was over last night then.

"Astrid," He asked slowly.

"Yes Sam?" She said brushing her lips over his. He shivered and she smiled knowingly. Sam ignored his longing to grab her and manoeuvre her over the bed hungrily and carried on.

"Why won't you sleep with me?" He rushed on reacting to the look on her face. "Not in that way.. Just be with me." She paused, thinking carefully about her response.

She mumbled something about temptation and Sam smirked, taking complete advantage of the situation.

"Pardon?"

"I would be too tempted to not, you know…" Astrid said blushing at her sudden confession.

"Doesn't mean you can't try, just for me? Please?"

She comtemplated the situatation.
Sleeping with Sam meant risking everything she believed in, but she couldn't deny that she loved him.

"I'll try. But if it doesn't work, I can't Sam…" Yes, 'always in control' Astrid was in love. She looked down nervously, uncertain of Sam's reaction.

"Hey." Sam tilted her cheek up gently. "It's cool."

"Alright, so what do you want for breakfast?" Astrid asked, sneakily changing the subject. "We've got lentils or cabbages and I really wish I could say neither!"

"Well, lentil's it is then!" She smiled. "I'm just going to check on Petey."

Sam looked at the pale glow on Astrid's cheeks and the smiled that turned at the corners of her rose-petal lips. She was happy for once, he thought to himself and he swore he wouldn't threaten that happiness again.

He decided, right there and then, that it was time to straighten things out with Taylor, he'd last seen her about four months ago when she'd had that weird fever. Something in him hoped she was alright, but nothing more than that. He wasn't going down that road again. He'd have to visit soon, he couldn't avoid it. The question was when?

3 months later…

~ Edilio's POV ~

The day moved on swiftly, Perdido beach was relatively quiet and apart from distant chatter of children trying to pass time only the tide coming in and out could be heard. Edilio lay on the make shift hammock he'd made between two tall trees. He was on guard for today. Watching the kids pick cabbages was a tedious job, but 'Sam's loyal sidekick' was always ready to do anything.

"Straight to the truck Pookie, that's it." He hollered at a bewildered kid who was struggling to carrying a bunch of cabbages. It was a normal day in the FAYZ. Clear skies reminded Edilio of home, and triggered a painful curiosity to whether he would make it or not.

A sudden groan came from the direction of the tall grass.
Edilio turned his head quickly, his reflexes were a lot faster now, they had to be in the FAYZ. The sound came again, like someone in pain.

Edilio cocked his gun, scanning the distance.

"You alright Ed?" Jack said cheerfully. Edilio jumped off the hammock in a fright, he had not expected Jack to disturb him so suddenly. "Woah buddy." Jack said steadying him with a firm hand. Jack was always around to help, picking cabbages was a lot faster when you had mutant strength.

"Yeah, yeah."Edilio stuttered. "I'm fine. Just watch the kids a minute will you?" Without giving Jack a chance to respond, Edilio walked toward the grass parting it gently with the end of his gun.

The coast was clear.

Edilio followed the path to a little opening, in it stood a little house, very much like a cottage. The walls were covered in delicate lilies in bloom. A small pathway lead to the wooden door of the house. Either side was lined with strawberry and blueberry patches, not much but still a treasure. Edilio's sudden urge to rip the berries from the stalks and stuff them into his mouth was disturbed by a sudden pained groan. The noise came from the window of the little house. Placing both hands on his gun, he advanced towards the door.

He paced himself, working up the courage to continue. Just do it Edilio!

With a lunge, he barged open the door to find a startled blonde girl and another girl lying propped up against a small sofa groaning. The blonde girl threw her hands into the air petrified at the sight of the large weapon. Edilio realised her fear, and dropped the gun shyly.

"W-Who are you?" The girl asked with wide blue eyes.

"Edilio." He answered simply, at the moment the girl didn't need anymore information than his name.

"Argggghh." Came the groan from the girl on the floor. Edilio ripped his eyes from the pretty girl and focused them on the one on the floor in obvious pain.

He recognised that black hair.

"Taylor?"

"Edil- Argggh. What the hell are you doing here?" She gasped.

"Let's leave out questions for the moment, are you in pain? Or in labour?" He added when he saw the bump swelling from Taylor's stomach, his eyes were wide incredulous. Taylor sat with her back to him.

"Well, what does it look like you-arggggh!"

The blonde girl who looked like she had just woken up flung herself down to Taylor's side.

"Tay, you gotta push, ok! Now!"

"It hurts, I can't do it Izzy!It's not time! It's like 1 and a half months early!"

"I know, I know. But you HAVE to push! C'mon!"

Taylor groaned as her face contorted in pain.

Edilio was dumb-founded. The girl so-named Izzy grabbed Edilio and pulled him down on Taylor's other side.

"You. You know her, tell her to push!" Izzy commanded. Edilio was a deathly shade of white now.

"P-p-push Taylor.." He said weakly.

"Oh, great, you're really encouraging her." Izzy rolled her eyes and added, "boys." She focused her attention on Taylor. "If you don't push now, your baby will die. Push for goodness sake!" It seemed like this was all the shock Taylor needed. She grabbed Edilio's and squeezed using him as a pain reliever.

Edilio's face morphed into one of shock. "I-I-I gotta go!"

"Edilio," Taylor said through gritted teeth. "I swear, if you go, I will pull this baby out myself and break your neck straight afterwards."

"You can't go now Edilio, you're her focal point!" Added Izzy.

"Her foc- what?"Edilio said extremely confused and slightly nauseous. Taylor's grip tightened on his wrist."P-p-push."Edilio repeated in a daze.

"I can see the baby's head Tay, keep going!"

"Oh mamá" Edilio said, slumping onto the ground, lightly unconscious.

"Great. Gun-guy's down." Izzy sighed dramatically. Beads of sweat formed on Taylor's forehead as she focused all her effort into pushing.

Edilio was woken by the incessant screaming of a baby. His eyes opened and his vision focused on a tired, but glowing Taylor smiling gently at a bundle of cloth, nuzzling and cooing at it. In shock, he jolted forwards remembering what had happened. Unconsciously he shrugged off the fluffy blanket someone had covered him with and knocked over a startled Izzy who had been previously holding a cold cloth to his head.

"Sorry." Edilio apologized whilst holding out a hand to ruffled Izzy.

"That's the thanks I get for helping to soothe your extreme concussion." She said with heavy sarcasm, brushing imaginary lint off her top.

"Sorry." Edilio repeated. "How long was I out for?"

"Um, about 5 years!"Izzy screamed. Edilio was starting to think she was a little coocoo. Izzy rambled on. "And I the daring Izzy, had to brave the task of keeping you alive!" She said dramatically.

When he looked up, Taylor had her tired, but cheerful eyes on him, her face was one of stifled amusement. "Izzy, stop scaring him." She laughed.

"You wanna explain to me what's going on?"Edilio asked. Taylor's smile disappeared just as quickly as it had come.

"What's there to say?" She replied bluntly. "I had a baby on the floor in the middle of nowhere, worst thing is I have no idea how we're going to get by 'cause NEWSFLASH; we're in the FAYZ."

"But, h-how?" Edilio said shocked.

"And here I was thinking everyone took Human studies." Taylor sighed. "Ok, Ed. So it starts with a man and a woman. Now, when they're attracted to each oth-"

"No. Not that, you know what I mean Taylor. Quit foolin' around."Edilio said cutely turning a deadly shade of red.

Taylor looked down at the gurgling bundle in her hand.

"I'll give you guys a moment."Izzy said politely, and towards a small backroom shutting the door behind her.

"I moved here when I found out I was pregnant." Taylor began. "Scratch that, Isabella found me when I was sitting out on the road, practically homeless. She obviously felt sorry for me, 'cause she told me I could stay with her after I explained everything. It turns out, she's been living here since the beginning of the FAYZ. Apart from the basic FAYZ diet, she's got quite a few packs of fruit seeds which she grows out front. It's quiet here, no disturbances or anything. Best type of place to have a kid right?"

"And.."Edilio commented, looking pointedly at the new-born baby.

"And," Taylor said impatiently. "It's Sam's."

Edilio stood up and paced up and down, processing the information. He looked at the baby, then looked at Taylor and screamed, "WHAT?"

"Yup." Taylor said popping the 'p'. She didn't see the point in making a fuss anymore, what was done was done. She was just happy her little one was alive and well.

Edilio stood up towering over Taylor who held the baby tight. He peered into the blankets and two big hazel eyes stared back up at him. She was beautiful. The baby snuggled into the warmth and her wisps of black hair ruffled slightly.

"Ai, yi, yi."Edilio whispered. "She's beautiful Taylor. Eyes like her Dad, hair like her mama. That is of course if you're not telling another one of your lies…"

"No, no!" Taylor rushed. "She's Sam's. I promise." She said quietly.

"I don't understand how all of this happened." Edilio added, "Yet."

"Edilio, please, you can't tell anyone." Taylor begged. "Noone knows we're here, except…"

"Taylor, who the hell have you told?"

"Noone!"She said defensively. "I left a note. That's all."

"You're an abosolute genius! Did it ever occur to you that anyone could find that letter!"

Taylor didn't answer. Just then Izzy walked out taking the silence as the end of the conversation.

"Well guys, I hope you've left everything out!" She said. "Um Edilio… how did you even get here?" Izzy asked quizzically.

For the second time today, Edilio jumped up remembering the kids back at the cabbage patch. He grabbed his gun headed for the door.

"Oh no! Jack's probably waiting for me!"

Taylor's eyes widened in shock. Would someone else know her secret? "WHAT? Edilio, you can't tell anyone, remember!"

"I'll be back Taylor, don't you worry."

Taylor groaned and cursed.

It was just her luck. She didn't need anyone here apart from Izzy.

Edilio ran out of the house quickly and Taylor felt the baby squirm in her hands. Suddenly, a desperate cry filled the room.

"I think she wants feeding Tay." Izzy suggested quietly.

Taylor got up moving to the backroom.

And the only sound that could be heard for miles was the sound of muffled crying and the fire crackling slowly.

author's note:

umm, i know my chapters need to be longer, and im on half term now soooo hopefully, i'll be adding ALOT more chappies!

Special dedication to:

hunnybunny276198
- She's been such a big help and typically my motivation for this chapter! Woop ;)

& Also:

catchingonfire
- For alerting my story, makes me feel like i'm writing for a purpose! Yay!

Comment please, I'd love to hear your views!

Dee ;)