After Hercules and I agreed on how we would move forward with our trek I went back to get Aaron and our two kids, who were relieved when I cam back unharmed. Phillip rushed over to me and clung to me tightly and I happily held him in return "I'm ok bud, and you won't believe who I found" I said and Aaron gave me an odd look "Someone friendly in these parts??" he asked and I nodded
"Lafayette and Hercules, plus apparently a kid that Laf brought over from France. They'd been on the run after a Lobster attack but they just took Herc's shop back. That's what the gunshots were" I explained and Phillip gasped happily "Uncle Hercules?!" He asked and I laughed before ruffling his hair "Yes Phillip, Uncle Hercules" I said and Phillip squealed happily
"I haven't seen either of them since College" Aaron said and I nodded "I've kept in touch, though Laf went back to France so I haven't seen him since before the eruption" I responded "Also I may or may not have agreed to let them come with us since Herc told me how the West 30th street Heliport had some major vehicles that they found. We could take one and get outta here" I said and I could tell Aaron was trying not to look disappointed which only made me feel more confident about my choice
"Come on, we can spend the rest of the day and night there before going over to West 30th" I said before letting go of Phillip who went to get his stuff which was by Theodosia "You'll love Uncle Hercules. I never meet Uncle Lafayette in person but from what Pops tells me he's super cool" he said and the little girl giggled "Sounds awesome!!" she said before picking up her stuff "Papa why haven't we meet these people??" she asked and Aaron brushed it off "Your mother and I were too busy with you baby-cakes, we just didn't have the time" He said and I was tempted to add that Aaron didn't really like the 2 of them (And they didn't like him too much so h a) but I decided against it
Theo seemed satisfied with her answer and after Aaron and I put on our packs I lead them all to Hercules's shop where Lafayette was waiting on the front step "Ah and there they are" he said happily as he meet him at the entrance "This is far more than I expected but we will make do" Lafayette said before giving me a look after looking at Aaron. "Come in, there is plenty of food you can have left over from les homards and space for you to rest" he added before ushering us all inside and sealing the door
The four of us all took off our masks before the two children immediately dropped their things and went to explore. "Good to see them energized when they're not walking-" Aaron mumbled and I was tempted to laugh but I wouldn't give Aaron the luxury of letting him know that he'd been somewhat funny. "You said you guys had a kid now right??" I asked and Lafayette nodded "Oui, Georges is helping Hercules clean up, he is a bit shy but I am sure once he finds the other children he will open up" he said before going into the kitchen
"Enfer Ouais!! There is still beer in here!!" Lafayette called and I was almost instantaneously there to check it out. Hey I hadn't had a good beer in years, you would've done the same. "How much??" I asked while Laf ruffled about the fridge "Mon dieu there is even some meat in here and fresh vegetables?! Where did ces connards get this?!" My jaw dropped before crushing the rich asshole who was greedy and petty enough to buy fresh foods from overseas and not share it with the rest of the population who were probably suffering from malnutrition
"LAF WHERE THE FUCK DID THESE KIDS COME FROM!?" We heard Hercules yell from presumably the room I had last seen him in and I sighed "Probably Phillip and Theodosia" I said and Lafayette raised an eyebrow "Is the girl Burr's??" he asked and I nodded "Yep, haven't seen the mother, pretty sure she died before all of this though" I said and Lafayette nodded in understanding "I will sort this all out, you go help Hercules" he instructed while gesturing to the fridge and I nodded before going to make sure the kids weren't tormenting poor Herc
Aaron had beat me to it though, and was currently sternly talking to his daughter for not taking it easy with her hurt arm, especially after having carried stuff for much of the day. Phillip meanwhile was already trying to talk to a young boy around his age with tan skin similar to Lafayette's and long brownish hair done up in cornrows. How he'd gotten them in the apocalypse I had no idea but I wasn't one to judge in these times (unless I was judging the Red Coat gang in which case I was TOTALLY ok with judging them)
"You don't talk much do you??" Phillip said after a while of Georges not answering. "He's still working on English" Hercules said as he took the things that Georges was holding "Georges, say hi" Herc said and Georges remained silent for a moment before speaking softly with a thick French accent "Hello.." he said and Hercules smiled "Good job kid" he said and ruffled Georges's hair before going back to cleaning
"Oh- I'm sorry I didn't know you didn't know English very well, but my Pops taught me some!!" Phillip said and I beamed proudly. A moment later Theodosia returned with a smile on her face "Papa said I can play I just have to be careful" she said and giggled "Theo do you know French??" my soon asked and Theodosia nodded "Oui!! Just a little bit though" she admitted
Georges perked up after hearing Theo speaking French so he decided to go for it "I am..... w-war king..??" Georges asked, a bit unsure of what he had said "Working??" Phillip asked and Georges nodded "Oui, working... I am.. working on... Anglaise.. non.. Anglish??" Georges said "English??" Theo asked and Georges nodded again, happy that he was being understood while the two other child giggled happily at the guessing game "I am... working... on.. An-English" Georges said and Phillip and Theo clapped to congratulate him
"That was great buddy!!" Hercules called and Georges beamed proudly "Merci beaucoup" he said and Hercules chuckled "No problem" he said before going back to cleaning as Phillip came over to me "Pops I'm hungry.." He said and held his stomach while I chuckled softly "Lafayette was sorting out some food, I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you had any" I said and Theo went over to her father "Can I have some food too??" she asked and Aaron shrugged "That all depends on what Lafayette says" he said and Theo went and took Georges's hand to take him with them
"Theodosia" Aaron chided and Theo dropped Georges's hand "Oopsie- sorry" she said shyly before turning to Georges "How do I say it... je suis désolé.." Theo said and Georges nodded "It is.. ok??" He asked and Theo cocked her head to the side "It's ok??" She asked and Georges nodded "Oui" he said and Theo smiled "Yay!!" She said happily before coming over to me and Phillip with Georges not too far behind. Once they were all caught up Phillip lead them all to the kitchen to torment Lafayette about food
"They're all pretty cute together, I'm glad Georges is making friends" Hercules said and smiled as he threw something into a drawer. "Agreed, sorry for Theodosia's... extrovertedness.. she's just happy to be seeing people her age" Aaron said and Hercules waved it away "Eh it's fine, we're all kinda like that I guess" he said and I nodded "As long as the kids are happy, I'm happy. Besides it's way better than them whining" I said and Hercules laughed
"Fair point Lex, by the way where's Laurens been this whole time??" Hercules asked and I replied curtly "South Carolina, he's on the move to Virginia just the same as us. We're gonna meet up there". My answer seemed to satisfy Hercules who went back to cleaning "Guess we're all gonna be stuck with each other from now on" he called and Aaron and I gave each other a look
Hooray...
YOU ARE READING
Ashen Heart
PertualanganEveryone knew it was coming, but when it came, no one was prepared. The Yellowstone Volcanic eruption took out much of the Unites States, except for parts of the Eastern Coast which luckily took a minimal blow. Years later though, things have change...
