Shawn woke and trying to stand he smiled holding onto Olivia. He kissed her lips in a friendly way. Shawn laughed. "I think my legs are asleep." After asking for help with a hand from Olivia Shawn sat up pressing his lips together while the blood made its way easier to his toes. "I guess we missed the rise. I think it would be best if we went out together the sun looks a bit warmer and might thaw out some of them walkers. We could gather fuel for a bigger boat and get to transferring our supplies during the night and gather during the day. As soon as my legs get the message I can get some tea over my place. Black tea? I would like to talk today about things. I want to get your way of doing things and what your thoughts. Look at me yammerin on and you standing there all pretty and sweet." He took a deep breath and put a hand on his thigh. Rubbing his hand against the denim. "Sorry. I got into survival thinking while you..." Shawn stands up using the wall for a moment then standing on his two feet. "I'm going to get some tea. Then we can talk like people use to if you like." He smiles at you. Placing a hand on your shoulder in a comforting way."

Shawn walked out and went to his boat. He started up the boat engine and took a long shower. He then got dressed in his survival clothes and made some tea with the coffee water and made sure the battery had a good charge. Letting go of some of last night steam Shawn came out of the boat with his motorcycle jacket in case Olivia had thoughts on going out later in the day. Filling a coffee thermos with the black tea Shawn walked back over to Olivia's boat and knocked waiting for a reply. The last thing Shawn wanted to see was any skin that might force him to taker a long shower. Olivia was warm even through a sweater. Those leggings were so form fitting. He stopped his mind from wandering by biting the inside of his cheek. The cold wind helped too.

When Shawn left Olivia set about cleaning up the cabin some. She stored away last night's dirty dishes to be washed later, put the solar panels in a safe place. After that she rinsed off a bit and dressed in warm clothing. Thermal underwear, jeans, a thick sweater, wool socks and boots. Her gloves and jacket was nearby in case they might want to go out later. Olivia sifted through her supplies to see what they might be able to have for dinner. She had gotten plenty of granola bars from the outdoor shop in the department store. Those would be good enough for now, but she definitely wanted to find some more food soon. Olivia started to wonder if maybe she could find a cooking store to raid. Perhaps she could find a meat dehydrator. If so she could use the solar panels to power it and she could make jerky from whatever she could hunt or catch--deer, rabbits, even dried fish. It would keep for a while and she and Shawn could start making a food store. She'd have to bring it up to him whenever he came back.

As Olivia went about her tasks she hummed happily to herself. It was nice, she thought, having someone else around again. Someone she could trust, someone she loved, someone to talk to. If she hadn't met Shawn, Olivia probably would have continued getting along just fine. She would have still been lonely, yes, but she would still be able to survive easily. But with Shawn things were even better. She was safer, she wasn't lonely anymore. Olivia loved him. She really did. It might have been soon, but in this world they now lived now you had to act and act quickly no matter what it was. As Olivia thought of Shawn she felt her heart swelling with joy once more. She tried to wait patiently for him to come back, and when she finally heard the knock she almost jumped at the door. She managed to keep her composure though, and instead she calmly but happily greeted him by saying, "Welcome back."

"Thanks." Shawn had the warm smile he left with. now a lot more relaxed and wearing the regular gear he normally wore in this new and hostile world. He took note that Olivia did the same. Grateful for the change out of the thin leggings. She had cleaned up, not that she needed to. "Anything I can help out with?" Shawn liked to be useful. "I would like to know your thoughts on the current situation and where we should go after the winter. I saw a boat on the way in from the ocean. I thing we should look at." Listening to Olivia and agreeing on her course of actions for the winter Shawn was impressed as to the thought behind her reasoning. Shawn had relaxed too munch, he was completely unarmed. He also left his bag and his new hand radio to stay in contact with Olivia. "I just realized I left all my stuff for going out on the boat. Before we get started on the day I would like to stop by and grab my gear."

Shawn walked back to the boat. He grabbed the bag inside he put a few granola bars and the thermos of tea. At his side he holstered the gun and a knife for his bag and side of his forearm. Letting the crowbar stick out of the top of the bag. Shawn was ready and walked side by side with Olivia down the dock. Looking at Olivia he noticed her smile despite the bad things she had endured at the hands of others. Whatever happened before, Olivia let him get close last night. The fact that Shawn had made her smile and start to trust a little gave him hope for her future. He would help Olivia trust and love again. He would save Olivia from the sadness of her past. Every kiss and hug would bring Olivia back from the edge. Building her trust further was going to take patience. Her smile would let Shawn know he was already on the right track. Finding a place where she would feel safe again was a priority. Shawn loved Olivia and she loved him. Shawn smiled at her as the headed into the city, together.

"I think we should build up a store of food and supplies," Olivia informed Shawn matter-of-factly as she started packing her gear for their run into the city. "It's always good to have extra rope, food, and medicinal supplies if you can get it. I'd also like to see about finding a food dehydrator. With it I'd be able to make jerky out of deer, fish, or anything else we might be able to catch. I'd like to have a store of food come spring. Also, once winter passes I think we should move up North to Canada. Initially I wanted to travel and see more of the States, but I think after three years it might be time to find somewhere safe to settle down. Unlike the US, Canada has large regions that were--are, should still be--pretty much uninhabited. Most likely there's still plenty of land not yet overrun by Walkers. Mountains, forests. Plenty of land to hunt and farm on. We could start building a house, set up defenses and traps in case any Walkers do wander into our neck of the woods. I checked my map earlier and if I remember correctly we might be able to take a boat up the Hudson and switch to some of the other rivers to make our way directly into Canada by water. We could also go by land and take a straighter route. Might be quicker, but could be a bit more dangerous too. We can discuss the pros and cons later."

When Shawn said that he needed to go back to his boat, Olivia nodded and waited patiently for him. She already had all her gear together because, even with Shawn around, Olivia never wanted to be caught unawares without some weapon. Still, when he returned she was glad to see him and she had a smile ready for him. As they walked into the city, however, Olivia's expression and her posture changed. Her eyes scanned every nook and cranny of the city, every window, every car. Her ears were opened to listen for the slightest sounds--the wind through an alley, the crunch of snow beneath someone's foot. She was always ready for fight or flight should it come down to it. As she went she searched each car, taking care to remove anything of possible use while also making sure not to loiter in one spot too long. It was colder today than it had been yesterday and the sky was growing gray. Olivia was sure that it would snow again by the end of the evening. If they were lucky it would be a heavy snow that would help winter fully set in. She quietly commented to Shawn, "From the looks of the weather I think the Walkers will start freezing over again. If so it'll make scavenging easier. Not to mention we can easily kill a lot of them and spare the rest of the world a bit of grief." Olivia had done that in past winters--stabbing or shooting frozen Walkers in the head--killing them when they couldn't move.

As Shawn took steps toward the city he pulled the crowbar from his bag and held it in both hands. He noticed Olivia become more focused she was in survival mode. He closed his eyes for a second bringing his training to the front of his mind. His smile vanished and his eyes started to look for shambling movement. He followed Olivia's lead and gathered items they both needed. Thankfully the city held a lot of stores and cars. The crowbar was a million dollar tool. Bashing the windows and prying off locks opened opportunities. Shawn made a point to grab stuff like a bicycle air pump. He also found the jack pot of a battery jumper system. He strapped that to the bottom of his pack on the out side. A couple of lighters were always useful. Cop cars had the best in survival gear Shawn picked up a couple of handcuff pairs and some spare keys. One of them held some vests and light riot gear. Hitting the stores on the way gave most of the granola bars and water. Beef jerky was something Shawn brought to Olivia's attention. Teriyaki flavored and pepper jack. he grabbed them and took the time to pack as munch as he could in a single bag to reduce the space used. Shawn snuck in some tooth paste and deodorant. He filled the outer pockets with tape aspirin and more aspirin. All the first aid went into the lining of his jacket. Shawn started to look fat.

It didn't take long for Shawn's bad to become heavy. As the sun started to set she mentioned the weather was looking like it would snow. Shaw said in a low tone. "Yea the dark made things harder we should head back with what wee got before the night gives the walkers an advantage. We can use the time to talk about getting to Canada." He looked around the area for a second. "We can leave earlier tomorrow morning while it's still cold out. They should be stiff enough. We should off load now and star heading back."

"Alright," Olivia agreed, giving him a slight smile. Together they headed back to the docks. Their pace was quick, but not so quick that they would easily run out of breath. They kind of had to take it slow anyway with the sheer amount of supplies they had picked up. As they walked Olivia kept sweeping the streets, her gaze sharp even in the growing gloom. Laden down with so many things they were prime targets for a hidden Walker or some less than friendly survivors. But even as she kept her eyes out she spoke quietly, saying to Shawn, "If we get a big enough boat for us and our supplies, we could take the Hudson to the canals and then to the Great Lakes. From there it would be really easy to get into Canada. The only problem is that the canals are man-made and have to be operated from shore. Would be able to work the system if it still runs? If we can't then it would be a wasted journey and wasted gas. We may be better heading along the Northern end of the East Coast to Canada and then heading farther inland from there. What do you think, Shawn?"

Shawn nodded. Keeping a low tone. "Good idea, the locks would either be damaged or in the hands of bandits that would want to rob us and worse. We should see about the hugging to the coast as munch as we can. I don't have a clue about going that far north past Maine, but while I was in Florida I did get my hands on some sailing maps. We could look over them after we find a boat. We have a good bit of prep work before we can start out too. I know from high school that the waters around the north and south poles get really rough and to go further then main we would be leaving the current, so even more fuel will be needed." Shawn broke into a smug smile. "It's going to be an adventure to remember."

Getting back to the docks and finding everything as it should be. "Today was a good haul. A week of this shopping, hoping the boat runs in the morning, and should be a good sign. Stopping Shawn looked at Olivia. She was so focused out there It was a definite turn on to see her aggressive side. "You were really great out there." Kneeling down over his pack while he was carefully unloading the items from today's haul on Olivia's boat. Shawn smiled and looked up at her. "Would you like to rest for a bit then come over and look at maps while having some tea?" Shawn took off his knit cap and started to put it in his back pocket. With his other hand he rubbed his head letting some of the heat escape from his hair.

The night was busy but pleasant. Olivia and Shawn worked to sort out everything they had salvaged, organizing it and putting it away nice and neat. On their maps they marked out the places they had hit up and then marked where they wanted to go next. They discussed the various ways they could get up to Canada and made several plans for each path in case things went awry somehow. Olivia's philosophy was that it was better to have too many plans than to not have any at all. After Shawn and Olivia were satisfied that they had done enough work for the night they decided to relax. She stayed with him that night. They had dinner and talked of anything and everything. For a while they watched the snow through the windows. It was coming down heavily, the temperature was starting to drop drastically. Olivia hoped this meant that the Walkers would freeze solid again, giving them an easier time of traversing the city. Of course there were other threats too--namely other survivors. Olivia had met no one else other than Shawn so far, but that didn't mean there weren't more people out there.

Olivia fell asleep in Shawn's arms as she had the night before. When on her own Olivia's had only ever slept for a few hours at a time in what was more of a light stupor than a deep sleep. Even when it was time to rest she always had to be aware. Here with Shawn, however, Olivia was able to sleep deeply without worry. Her dreams were peaceful and uninterrupted. Come morning, she woke and stretch before curling back up with a content sigh. Shawn wasn't awake just yet so for a time she was able to just watch him sleeping peacefully, one hand tucked behind his head, his other arm still wound protectively around her waist. Olivia couldn't help but marvel at the fact that such a sweet guy loved her and wanted to be with her. It still felt unreal, but it was indeed very real and she thought her heart might burst with joy. Carefully she leaned up and placed a kiss on his cheek, one hand rubbing his chest gently. "Come on, love," she prompted him softly, giving his cheek another kiss. "The sun's almost up. We have to get up and start our work." For a little while Shawn refused, simply pulling her closer so she couldn't leave him and their warm bed. Eventually he finally agreed to get up. "Dress warmly," Olivia told him, her hand on the knob of the door leading outside. "It's going to be a cold day. I'll be back soon. We can have breakfast and then get going."

After getting what she needed from her boat, Olivia made her way back to Shawn's boat. If today went well they would have a new boat that they would share and live in together until they could make it to Canada. Olivia was excited at the thought. The day was extremely cold though, so she knew they'd have to move pretty quickly. Just the short walk between their boats and back had her face flushed red. After a light breakfast the two head out together. Shawn and Olivia didn't walk hand-in-hand, but they did walk close together. As Olivia hoped all the Walkers had frozen over again. She killed any she came across, prompting Shawn to do so too. The less Walkers in the world, the better. When they came close to the ocean docks, instead of heading straight there they instead made their way into a nearby high-rise building. Olivia wanted to scout the area from afar before they approached the boat, just in case someone had claimed it, or in case anyone happened to be nearby for any reason. She stood there on the roof of the building, binoculars lifted to her face. They watched for an hour and a half, but Olivia could see no sign of life. Lowering her binoculars, Olivia turned to Shawn and said quietly, "I think it's clear. Just in case, I think one of us should remain hidden and come for backup if something happens."

Holding Olivia as she slept he felt her hair against his face. The scent of her teased him as he took deeper breaths. Shawn's arm around her keeping the blanket over them both. The heat was pleasing and even though the door was closed the wind and cold from outside was dropping the cabin temperature. the rocking of the boat soon set the tone and Shawn fell asleep. Not remembering to set the alarm on his watch. Shawn slept deeply and didn't move until he was lovingly awoken by Olivia's sweet southern voice.

Shawn felt the soft kiss on his cheek. He pulled her close trying to forget the world they lived in or the dangers outside. He loved her and the fact that he wasn't wearing a second outer shirt made the need for her closeness all the more urgent. Not that the cold was the primary reason to have her pressed against him. The cold air from Olivia opening the door shot him awake better then any coffee. Shawn put on the shirt from the side of the bunk. Then putting his shoes and socks on, Shawn walked to the sink to kill any thoughts of him returning to bed by spashing some cold water on his face and hair. He put on his jacket and knit cap. Brushing his teeth and stepping out into the cold N.Y. air. Today was moving day and he hoped they could get a boat big enough to make it comfortable. But it had to be small enough to not be a fat target for coastal raiders.

He took the gun and crowbar with a few knives hidden under his jacket and in his boot. He tucked the gun in a belt holster looped in his back. A stray bullet would end the boat before it could even be searched. The crowbar would be far more useful to ward off any walkers they might find on the boats. When Olivia returned they had the granola breakfast and warm coffee. Keeping the tea as a treat. Getting back out into the cold air they stepped off the boat and walked close together towards the larger boats. Olivia had to remind Shawn to kill walkers and stop staring at her jeans. Thinking of how selfish his attention was being Shawn began to kill walkers keeping his focus on them. They found a small hut on the shore facing the possible boats to search for a replacement. Breaking the lock was easy and the advantage point was ideal. Shawn thought and turned to Olivia. She mentioned that one person should stay behind. She was more then seasoned and any living person would show themselves to a woman faster then a guy. Knowing her past he shook that idea out of his head.

"I think I should go at least this time. Any one on the boat would be less incline to take me on. We have the short range walkies so i will let you know boat by boat how the search is going. I will give you the all clear after I complete the search. If I'm gone for more then a half an hour in a boat take my stuff and leave the bay." He kissed your cheek and stayed low, the light made him too easy to shoot at if someone wanted to. Making it to the first boat Shawn kept one hand on the rail and the other on the crowbar in front of him. Holding his breath he knocked on the hatch with the metal bar. Keying the mic Shawn whispered, "I'm on the boat and knocked no sounds, I'm going inside." Ten minutes of silence Shaw's voice was back on the radio. "This ones clear. No damage. Batteries dead. Moving up the dock." From your position you saw Shawn search each boat and other then the surprise walker in boat five and a boat seven having a family who lost hope deciding to leave this earth together. By the end of the day you had five of twelve boats to pick from. Shawn had the smell of the walkers from the crowbar on him when he returned to the shack.

"My batteries almost dead and I think we could siphon some fuel out of two of the boats. I'm going to have to bash out the ignition switch and get the one from my boat. We should dock my boat to yours then transfer the stuff from yours using my boat. At night make the final move to the new boat. It's going to be easier to move rather then lugging all that stuff in multiple trips."

Olivia watched Shawn head down to the docks, hoping it wouldn't come down to her having to leave without him. She stayed hidden, hyper-aware of her surroundings, keeping a close eye on time every time Shawn disappeared into a boat. Whenever Shawn seemed to take just a bit longer than she thought he should her heart began to pound wildly. Was he alright? Had he been attacked by a Walker or had be been captured by some other people? She worried about him. She didn't want to lose him. Once or twice Olivia almost made her way down to the docks to find Shawn, but shortly after he would always come out of the boat, relaying what information he had. When he finally returned to her observation spot, Olivia let him speak his piece before she grabbed hold of the front of his jacket. She could smell the Walker that he had killed, but for the most part she had grown accustomed to it so she wasn't much bothered by it when she pulled Shawn down and gave him a fierce kiss. "You worried me a bit," she explained, releasing her hold on his jacket but letting her hand continue to rest on his chest. "I almost came down there myself when I thought you were taking too long. I'm glad you're alright, Shawn." She gave him another kiss, this time gentler. "Come on, cowboy. Let's go pick out our new home," Olivia said with a smirk, patting his chest.

In the end they decided on the Sunseeker, a small yacht measuring 150 ft long. It was big but still pretty fast with plenty of space. Lots of space. The boat was like a floating house, which suited Olivia just fine. They would have to get rid of some things--extra furniture that wasn't necessary--in order to lighten the boat and make room for their own supplies. The boat would require cleaning as well. Olivia wasn't much looking forward to that since there was so much to clean, but once it was clean and they were all settled in she knew she and Shawn would both be happy. He helped her down off the boat and onto the dock. Giving him a kiss on the cheek, Olivia smiled and said, "Thank you, dear. Let's head back now. We still have plenty of work to do."

It didn't take long to move Olivia's things onto Shawn's boat. What did take a while, however, was the wait until nightfall. Until then they were free to relax and talk and do as they pleased. Once night came they took Shawn's boat--now laden with their combined supplies--out to the ocean docks. They waited out at sea for a time, watching the docks until they were sure it was safe. Finally they brought the smaller boat up to the dock alongside their new home. Taking care to be as quiet as possible, Shawn and Olivia began to transfer their supplies from the small boat to the bigger one.

The first kiss caught him off guard. The lips and the taste that followed sent his mind to her destroying every other thought in his head like a tornado in a trailer park. The second lighter kiss was like a boxer hitting the canvas after the hit before turning out his lights. He sucked in his lower lip greedy for more. Listening to her words Shaw could only nod. Her hand on his chest stirred the feelings that stuck on his lips. The finding her on the docks that night, the past days and nights together, all of it was a turn for the best. Shawn didn't believe in luck or chance. Everything happened because some one, some where, did something to start a chain of events that caused all of this. Shawn smiled while a tear ran and hid beneath his beard.

Olivia kissed him again. He wanted to reach out. To hold her close and kiss her passionately. Pressing her against a wall and showering her with kisses. Telling her everything on his heart and more. Showing Olivia the depth of his passion for her and what her trust and love means to him. Together against the odds they would weather this new sick world. Of course reality would crash into the his fantasy and Shawn would find himself moving the gear.

Taking the time to remove the unneeded furniture and everything that was not essential or would work. Shawn removed most of the lights and the lower outlets covered with tape to stop any moisture from reaching them. This would save the battery. Shawn set the the new ignition switch from his old boat and everything that was useful. He siphoned the fuel and the wiring effectively gutting the old boat. This new boat was going to be a lot more roomier and fuel hungry meaning more stops. The transferring stuff was the easy part but the stowing and securing and making sure the weight was even was the harder part. reducing the power to useless trinkets and over wiring cutting most of the leads from the main switch box was a solution to making sure a light didn't give away the boat at night or dry up the battery during the day. The refitting was a lot of work and the day was done leaving a few loose ends.

While Shawn worked to cut out unnecessary power draws, Olivia worked to clean everything in the boat. One of the first things she did was drag the mattress, blankets, and pillows out onto the deck to let the cold air kill any germs and help get rid of any lingering scents. Then she proceeded to clean chairs and table surfaces, counters, the floor. Anything and everything they weren't tossing. During her cleaning spree Olivia wound up getting hot, despite the chill of winter. At first she only put her hair up in a bun and stripped off her jacket, but eventually she was forced to pull off her sweater and the long sleeve shirt she wore under that. In the end she was left in her jeans and a tank top, sweating as she worked to scrub years worth of grime out of their new home.

Once the boat was finally clean enough to her liking, Olivia sat down in one of the chairs feeling thoroughly worn out. "That was a lot of work," she sighed as she used the back of her hand to move some loose hair out of her face. "Now that the boat's cleaned up, I think it's our turn to clean up. I feel like I just waded through a river of mud. Yuck. How about you go first, Shawn?" Olivia had suggested it to be polite. After all, he had worked hard today as well and she didn't want to appear selfish by insisting that she get the shower first. He talked her down in the end, suggesting she get washed up first. Eventually she agreed. Standing up she walked past him, stopping to give him a light kiss on the cheek and whispering, "Thanks, love," with a grateful smile. Some time later she returned, all washed up and feeling refreshed. Olivia had put on some clean clothes--sweatpants and a t-shirt with long johns underneath since it was almost time to sleep. "Your turn," she informed him as she brushed out her hair and tied it in a braid.

The new boat was by far an improvement on the old one. It was better insulated. While Shawn was taking care of reducing the boat to its barest functions to save on power and tossing the bar left even more floor space. He noticed her taking off layers. Forcing his eyes to wander as she cleaned earning him a few shocks for his carelessness. It was hot indeed as he dropped the jacket and knit hat. He noticed her hair up exposing her neck and flashes of the knit dress she wore rushed to the front of his mind. He dove deeper into his chores and worked at a faster pace to keep his hands and mind busy.

The work was done and Olivia made mention of felling dirty. Shawn grinned and his cheeks felt hot as he had more thoughts of her. Before he could snap an answer she left for the bathroom. He bumped his head against the wall. "Stupid. Stupid. Stupid." He kept working ignoring the shower sound and the images he might of dwelt on. When Olivia emerged from the shower in her sweats and T-shirt. Shawn couldn't get under the cold water fast enough. He grabbed his fresh clothes and closed the door behind him. He washed quickly and looking down at his clothes they were basically the same style as the ones he just had on minus color differences. He put on a t shirt leaving the outer layer long sleeve hooded T to air out. His jeans were relaxed cut and a little baggy, They were also bleached a light blue from the sea air and sun. The floor was carpeted so he left his socks off. The beach towel from Florida he used to dry his body now finished off his shaggy hair. "I could get use to this. How do you want to do the sleeping arrangement's my love?"

Olivia had been waiting patiently for Shawn's return. She was scootched down in one of the remaining chairs, her head on one arm rest and her legs dangling off the other. She kicked her legs back and forth, her feet thumping against the chair, humming contently as she occupied herself in simple ways like playing with her braid and brushing the loose hair at the end over one of her palms like a paintbrush over canvas. When Shawn appeared Olivia smiled. His hair drew her attention. It was a little shaggy, but she liked it. Olivia swung her legs around and sat up before pushing herself out of the chair. She meandered over to Shawn and reached up with both hands in order to run her fingers through his hair. It was soft to the touch. Smiling again, Olivia gave Shawn a quick peck on the lips before she wound her arms around his shoulders. "I like your hair," she commented. "It's shaggy, but it makes you look cute."

At his questioned she let out a hum. For the past two days they had slept together either in her boat or his. Now they had a new home that they shared, so why not keep it up? "How about we just share the bedroom?" Olivia suggested. Her question was straight-forward and innocent, not meant to be provocative. Not that she wasn't having some rather... heated... thoughts of her own from time-to-time. She was just trying not to dwell on them too much because she realized that if she tried to act on them now she would get scared and would shy away. For now Olivia was more than content to have her arms around Shawn and his around her, to kiss him and be kissed. Gentle, easy things that didn't scare her. It wasn't that Shawn scared her--just the memories she had of a dark night. Shawn himself was... Well to Olivia he was simply amazing. He was both cute and handsome, sweet, always a gentleman, smart and handy. Olivia sure as hell didn't know how to work with wires, so earlier she had been admiring how Shawn had been able to take care of the ship's electrical components so easily.

"Two nights in a row we slept in the same bed--or on the same bench," Olivia said. She shrugged and added, "Don't see much reason to change it, unless you'd rather sleep separately. Oh, before we go to bed though I was hoping we could talk more about what we should do when we get to Canada. Would that be alright, Shawn, or are you too tired?"

Shawn hadn't really thought of it but this was the longest his hair had ever been. His father kept him in a modern 30's style. Shawn swore the old man could cut that style in his sleep. Then it was off the military so it was short there too. Now it nearly touched his chin. Her hands were touching him and her lips so soft. Before he knew it Shawn was holding Olivia in his arms. He kept the space there out of respect. "Thanks I was wondering about cutting it but since its cold out I'm going to keep it." He sat in the chair next to her's. A smile was showing through the beard while his eyes soak in all Olivia's face. Her braided hair showing of her neck and more of her face.

The thought of sharing the bed room was something that brought him back to his house. He had no siblings and guys don't have sleep overs. He had a bunk bed in the army and and a few girls he thought loved him. Now here was a woman named Olivia in the waste created by zombie covered world on a boat he could of never afforded fighting for there very lives two southerners in New York and she invited him into the bed to sleep. 'Life just gets more incredible with you in it." Still in the chair next to Olivia he reached for her hand. "I would love to talk about us in Canada."

Olivia blushed at Shawn's words. "I could say the same about you," she said with a smile. Gladly she put her hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. Shawn's hands were much bigger than hers, yet they fit together perfectly as she laced her fingers with his. His hands were a little chilly from the shower, but with her hand in his he should soon warm up. Olivia was still marveling at the fact that she was no longer alone--more so because not only was she not alone, but the man she was with, Shawn, was now her love. "I think we should pick a place to settle down before we head up there," Olivia started, trying to concentrate on the matters at hand. "Sure, we have plenty of time, but I think if we have a set place in mind right now--maybe with a backup or two just in case--it'll make our goal seem real. Wherever we go we'll need somewhere to live. We might be able to find a house, or if necessary maybe we could even build one. We're going to need to be able to defend it, and we're going to need a way to get food and fresh water. I'd really like to go somewhere more isolated, more toward the forest or mountains, but maybe with a town close by so we could go and get supplies when we need it. During the warm seasons we can farm, and we can keep hunting and fishing. If we can get the stuff necessary for it, maybe we'd even be able to can some of what we grow or catch."

As she spoke, Olivia began to envision what she was talking about. Her and Shawn somewhere in the near future in a cabin at the foot of some mountains. One summer evening he'd come home from checking traps or something like that and she'd be canning the vegetables they had grown. He'd wrap his arms around her and she around him. She'd ask him how his work went and they would just talk and enjoy each others company. Maybe they'd even have a dog sitting at their feet, begging for attention. It would be a rather simple life with plenty of hard work, but it would be a pleasant one life with the two of them together. Maybe some years in the future... Olivia banished the following thought from her mind. It was far too early to even be thinking about children. For now she and Shawn needed to work toward a stable future. There was a question that popped into her mind though, and Olivia turned to Shawn with it. "Shawn?" She asked, feeling puzzled. "What would you call us? Would it be boyfriend and girlfriend or what? Most of the stuff--things, words, terms--from before the outbreak... A lot of it seems strange now. Foreign. What do you think though?"

Shawn listed to everything making sure to keep eye contact with her eyes. A lot of what she said made sense As he had come to expect and the fact that she was honest and not into sugar coating the situation was inspiring. He Found himself nodding to most of what she said and her ideas of the future with a few very minor addendum's. As it was late and they had been on a busy couple of days he found his eye lids slightly heavy. His smile stayed on his face. "I think that's a great Idea. I would add that we try and hide the boat as a back up just in case we need to relocate and speaking of I would think that we have a second land home like a RV camper just in case and keep it hidden as well. Keeping the boat and camper with a weeks worth of water and full on fuel. A fire place would be perfect. We could cook and stay warm without having to rely on gas. I'm not sure how munch we might be able to grow other then potatoes in a area with such a short warm period. The main issue is how we go about finding a spot without becoming a target and without loosing the boat as a fall back point. We should sit and spend a day trying to find a spot. Maybe hit a library and grab a few atlases. I have here some water charts but they don't really give the land layout. I don't want to settle on an area and find out its a hill, or not close to a river."

Her next comment froze Shawn like the shower. He was More attentive and leaned forward resting his forearms on his thighs. Shawn felt his face get a little red as he spoke. "I reccon I'm not for sure on what to call us. I know my feelings for you are true enough. I would think that we are more then friends. You are dear to me and I do love you. Its more then my girlfriend. Could we be lovers? Simple and pure emotion? I always thought that the term being used just to explain only the physical was kinda trashy. When writers and hallmark use the word love to only describe the emotional connection between two people. You don't say the word love to a relative inferring the physical. So I think that's were I would place my feelings to you when I say that I love you. Its the Emotional connection when I see you or when you smile at me." He got a little redder in the face. "Course I'm not saying that I don't find you attractive, because I do." he looks down at your hand in his and rubs the back of it with his thumb. "I really do."

Having been alone for so long and being on the move almost constantly, Olivia hadn't really thought of the idea of having an extra spot to stay in case something happened once they settled down in Canada. Shawn's suggestion of finding a camper and hiding the boat was a good one. Olivia agreed readily, glad that he had thought of it when she had not. The idea that they might not be able to grow much was a bit worrisome though, but they could always build a green house. With a greenhouse they could grow fruit and vegetables year round. That was something they were going to have to find though--seeds to grow. Olivia also agreed that they needed to get some maps saying, "I think we should do that soon then. Perhaps take tomorrow to rest, and then go searching the libraries the day after that."

When Shawn began to reflect on her question of what they were to each other, Olivia listened patiently. Lovers. She had kind of thought of that herself. When not meaning just the physical aspect of a relationship, it felt deeper than the terms 'girlfriend' and 'boyfriend'. Olivia had felt a weird saying it aloud, but when Shawn spoke the word it settled into her mind and just seemed right. She smiled happily at his words, her smile changing to a bit of a grin when she saw him blushing. Shawn was simply too cute when he got embarrassed. But then his next words had her blushing. "You're not so bad looking yourself," Olivia teased, giving his hand a squeeze. Standing up with Shawn's hand still in hers, Olivia came to a stop in front of his chair. Taking his other hand in hers she pulled him up and out of his chair. Wrapping her arms around Shawn's shoulders she leaned up on her tip-toes to place a loving kiss on his lips. Breaking away from the kiss, she beamed up at him and said, "Come on, handsome. Let's go get some rest." Taking one of his hands in hers again, Olivia led Shawn into their new bedroom. She crawled into the bed which was now clean and smelled a lot better than before. It was chilly and so Olivia snuggled up close to Shawn, draping her arm across his stomach and giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Mmmm, you're nice and warm," Olivia hummed happily as she cuddled up to him.

The kiss was unexpected but very welcome he couldn't resist kissing her back. As she broke it to lead him to bed he was reeling with her love. He broke the eye contact to look at her more as a woman. A very fine southern woman. He wanted to pick her up and kiss her more to hold her hostage in his arms and exact a ransom of kisses from Olivia. To gaze up at her over him like a vision of heavens grace. As she smiled down at him. His heart beat fast as Shawn's mind raced with possibilities. Closing his eyes within a forced blink he banished the thoughts and felt his hand being lead by Olivia.

Shawn followed like a puppy. If he had a tail it would be knocking stuff over as it waged behind him. Her thin night wear was making impossible to sleep for the first few hours all he could do was wrap his arm around Olivia and stare at the ceiling with a deep pink on his face. He took a deep breath as he laid there on his back whit Olivia against him. Both under the covers on a boat as the water rocked them Shawn kept his hand at her hip. He dared to imaging what might or might not be there under what he could see. With his free hand he pinched his leg hard digging his short nails into his skin. It would bruise but that was ok with him. The pain helped a lot. Eventually he got use to her being so close her sweet smell as he breathed in her hair. Shawn just laid there and softly touched her hand on his stomach. Interlocking the fingers of Shawn's hand with Olivia's the smile stayed on his face eventually he drifted off to sleep.

Three weeks had passed since Shawn and Olivia moved in together. Winter was in full swing now. The Walkers were frozen solid, the snow was piling up, the days grew colder, and the nights grew longer. Their life together was simple but pleasant. Days were spent working to build up a store of gear and food. Olivia had found a food dehydrator and she started making jerky of whatever she and Shawn could catch. Fish, deer, wild pigs, rabbits. Earlier on they had visited some libraries in order to find maps of Canada and the US to help them on their journey. They also took a few books on survival tips and other subjects that would help them, as well as some novels to enjoy. When not working they would relax and enjoy each others company. They talked about their plans for the future, about their pasts, about the now. They'd sit and read together, had meals together, even played in the snow sometimes. Olivia recalled a snowball fight when she had managed to peg Shawn square in the face. He had chased after her, shouting that he would get his revenge, and when he caught her he shoved a handful of snow into her face. It was cold and fun, and afterwards they went home, curled up with a blanket, and had some hot tea. Olivia had fallen asleep with her head on Shawn's shoulder that night, worn out as she was by their winter fun. Shawn had become an irreplaceable part of Olivia's life. She could no longer imagine what it would be like without him around. Every day their trust grew deeper and her love for him grew stronger.

"I'm going out," Olivia called to Shawn as she pulled her knit hat onto her head and over her ears. "I'll be back as soon as I can, and before I get out of radio range I'll key in. I love you." So saying Olivia wrapped her arms around Shawn's shoulders and gave him a kiss. Then she gathered up her gear and head out. She was headed off to Central Park to do some more hunting.

The city was quiet except for the sounds of Olivia's feet crunching on the new snow that had fallen last night. Already more of the delicate ice crystals were beginning to pile up as she sky let loose its burden. Her breath formed a cloud in front of her face as she breathed out, and the icy wind turned her cheeks red. Olivia tugged on her scarf with one gloved hand to pull it farther up her face. It was cold, and yet it didn't seep into Olivia's bones as the cold back home in Mississippi had always done. Probably because it wasn't so humid. When Olivia neared the point where her radio would no longer be able to reach Shawn's, she stopped to call in. "Alright, love," she said cheerfully over the radio. "I'm about to go out of range. I love you and I'll check in when I get back in range. See you when I get home." She listened for his response, and once they had said their goodbyes she switched off the handset. Olivia pushed farther into the city.

Central Park had become a graveyard of trees. No greenery remained, with the exception of a few perennial pines. The pond was frozen over and buried beneath a layer of snow. Benches and lamp posts served as markers, drawing an invisible line that Olivia did not dare to cross unless she should wander onto the pond only to fall through if the ice was too thin to hold her. Instead she stayed toward the tree line. That was where she needed to be anyway to get the animals. She had laid out several traps in the previous week and she was going about checking them now. If her traps had failed then she would see if she could catch something the old fashioned way--by tracking it down herself. The first three traps were empty with no tracks left in the snow. The fourth one, however... The noose was empty, but the trap had been snapped and there were rabbit tracks in the snow. What really worried Olivia was the fact that there were human footprints there too. At least three pairs at that. It was clear that it was human as it couldn't be Walkers for numerous reasons.

Someone had found one of her traps and they had taken her kill. Who was to say that there weren't more of her traps where she had caught animals, only to have them stolen. It was a dog-eat-dog world now, but Olivia was still pissed off that someone was taking her and Shawn's food. At the same time she realized that she and Shawn were no longer alone in New York. They hadn't seen anyone else these past three weeks, but now here were some signs of human life. They were going to have to be extra careful from now on. In fact, Olivia thought it would be wise to leave now and get back home to tell Shawn about what she had discovered. There could be people nearby at this very moment. She made to stand up from where she had been kneeling in the snow to inspect her trap. That was when Olivia heard the click of a gun's hammer being pulled back. The sound was close in her ear. She could feel the barrel of the gun poking into the back of her head through the padding of her jacket hood.

"Lay your weapons down," a voice commanded. Adult male. At least in his thirties. She looked out of the corner of her eyes. There were two more on either side within her peripheral vision. One had an ax, the other a knife. That was all they seemed to have.

"Now," the man barked when Olivia failed to comply immediately. Slowly she set down her bow and arrows, gun, and bowie knife. "Put your hands behind your head and stand up slowly." Her heart was beating fast, but not in fear. She knew what she had to do.

Quickly Olivia dodged backwards, slipping past the gun to grab hold of the man's arm and yank him forward and off balance. As soon as he began to fall she pulled a knife from her boot--one that she kept hidden and never kept sheathed. She leaped up, swinging the knife as she went, using her momentum to drive it into her attacker's skull. He was dead before he hit the snow. The other two leaped after Olivia, but even as she had killed the gunman she had taken his pistol. Once, twice she shot, sending a bullet boring into each man's head. Then they too fell dead into the snow. They would never arise as Walkers, their brains destroyed either by bullet or blade. Olivia felt no remorse for killing these men. She had seen the look in their eyes. They had known she was a woman and had had plans for her. Well, their plans would do them no good now.

Olivia pat down the bodies of the three men she had just killed and took anything of use they had. The gun, ax, and knife all went into her belt. She took the extra ammo the gunman had, grabbed the lighters and matches they had with them, and took back her rabbit that hat yet to be torn into. Olivia left them there, not caring to dispose of their bodies. She needed to get home and fast. However, she took the time to remain hidden and forced herself to take longer, winding routes on her trek back to the docks. If anyone else had seen her in the park she didn't want to give them an easy time to track her down. As soon as she was in range, Olivia radioed in to Shawn. "There were some complications. I'm coming home now," she muttered into the radio. "Going dark for the moment." Then she shut the handset off again. Soon, however, she was home.

"I'm back," she called out as she pushed her way through the door. Olivia closed it behind her, set her bow against the wall, shrugged off all her gear, and started to take off her jacket that now had fresh blood spatters all over it. Her expression was blank, but there was a bit of a hard look in her eyes. She had been like that the entire way home. However, when Olivia saw Shawn her entire disposition changed. She finally allowed herself to feel the fear that had tried to creep into her mind when she had been cornered by those men and thought her worst nightmares might be repeated. Wasting no time at all, Olivia let her jacket fall to the floor and she ran to Shawn. She threw her arms around his shoulders and pressed her face into his chest as her body trembled against his. Olivia wasn't crying. Not yet. But she was close.