Nightfall

Warning: Miles/Charlie pairing. You have been warned, hope you like it, please read and review.

He held her in his arms, letting her cry into his shirt, her tears falling rapidly as she sobbed openly unable to stop. He felt his own eyes water. He barely knew the woman but she had given him advice and shared her past with him in an attempt to make him open his eyes to the long lost niece in his arms. She didn't deserve to go the way she did but he knew deep down she was now at peace with her loved ones.

He awkwardly rubbed Charlies back, the action causing her to cry even harder and her arms latched onto him. He looked over and saw Nate staring at them, the spy seemed … concerned. He narrowed his eyes and Nate caught his warning and abruptly looked towards the ground instead.

Nora stood in complete silence, her face saddened as Aaron stood next to her, hand over mouth, tears forming.

It was just the four of them now as he didn't count nor trust Nate one bit, and all he knew was that they had to get to his nephew, had to save him before he was given to Sebastian.

Right then and there he felt his heart melt, feeling his niece clinging to him as her sobs mellowed out, he held on, he meant what he said. He wasn't going anywhere, he was here to stay, and he would make right the wrongs he'd done.

Days went by and Charlie still felt saddened over the woman she'd realized had always been there for her, passing. She took a deep breath as she gathered wood, her blade chopping into limbs of trees for the firewood she needed.

The group had decided to camp out for the night as today had been a long and strenuous hike. Everyone had crashed out as soon as they made camp and she awoke to find herself freezing from the dropping temperatures and decided to build a fire to keep them or at least herself warm.

So she found herself out in the middle of the night, gathering wood and lost in her thoughts now that she was alone at the moment.

One thing she was grateful for was that her uncle hadn't left like he was originally planning to. She thought for sure she would be alone, but he'd held her while she cried and assured her he'd stay.

And she believed him.

Crunch….

Her thoughts were abruptly cut off when the sounds of leaves crunching filled her ears. "Uncle Miles? Aaron? …..Nora?" She called out, clutching the knife tightly in her hand, the wood falling to the ground.

Miles felt it, something was wrong. With an agitated groan he shifted, effectively waking himself out of the uncomfortable slumber he'd fallen into. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up on end and he rolled over from his sleeping position, just as a dagger came down where his head had been moments before.

With a swift kick, he sent the man above him reeling backwards as he stood up. The man laughed at him as he lay on the ground and he kicked him again, knocking him out as Nora and Aaron awoke. Nate stood on alert; still standing next to the tree he'd tied him to once they had made camp.

Her scream filled his ears and he took off on a tear, sword unsheathed as he sprinted along the heavily wooded area, not bothering to look back at his companions.

In the distance, Miles could see his niece being pinned to the ground by some burly bastard and with a cry of anger he threw himself at the stranger, ramming him into the ground. The man struggled and Miles brought his fist down, repeatedly, slamming his knuckles with a sickening crunch into the man's cheek. Blood flew out of his mouth and he moved to hit him again when his niece screamed and he turned to see her being thrown against another man, a gun at her head.

Aaron and Nora had caught up and stood off to the side, hands up in surrender, as two other men emerged from the darkness, guns drawn and aimed at them. Everyone remained silent as Miles slowly stood to face the man holding Charlie captive.

"Don't try anything stupid Matheson, all we want is your cooperation." The militia man sneered, "And maybe a little fun with this one." His free hand grasped her waist tightly and she cried out, unable to move.

Miles could feel his blood boiling and in this moment he had no idea what to do. If he lashed out she could be shot, if he didn't….he shuddered to even finish the thought were the man to get away with her.

As he stared down Monroe's man, he noticed movement in the distance behind him.

Nate.

That damn boy had somehow managed to escape and he was coming closer.

"Monroe asked for this one, but I am sure he wouldn't mind if we had our fun first men." The leader smirked as he held Charlie tighter.

The two followers laughed and the man opened his mouth to speak once more when a surprised look came over his face.

Blood pooled out of his mouth and he coughed before falling to his knees, gun clattering to the ground, an arrow protruding from his backside.

Nate stood in the distance, bow drawn.

In this instance, Miles couldn't be more grateful and he nodded in approval before all hell broke loose. The remaining men rounded on Charlie as Nora and Aaron ran at them.

Without another thought Miles ran towards his niece and before she could utter a word, he threw her over his shoulder, smirking at her string of colorful words as he ran through the forest, getting her to safety.