The Gamma's Apocalypse

6. Ever Been In Love

Hans and Klaus were cooking a few fish in a cast iron pan on the fire when she walked out of the house carrying the Dutch oven.

"Princess let me help you." Hans said walking over.

"Thank you." She replied. Taking a seat next to them around the fire.

Hans walked over and put the Dutch oven on the coals, covering the top with more.

"This fish will be done in just a minute." Klaus smiled.

She nodded.

"Princess are you ok?" Klaus asked.

"I am just thinking of home. Do you think we'll ever see the shores of Palaco Island again?"

Klaus smiled. "I don't know Princess, but I hope so."

"Do you think they're ok?"

Hans walked over and sat beside her. "They are probably just fine. I am sure they have things all figured out by now."

She nodded. "Well if there is one bright side to all of this, I don’t have to marry Prince Lawrence now."

"I never really liked him. He always seemed to carry himself as if he was better then everyone else, even you." Hans scoffed. "And he had a straying eye."

The Princess laughed. "Well I have never heard you talk ill of royalty before."

Hans face turned red. "Oh Princess I am sorry I should know better then to talk out of turn."

The princess smiled. "I think at this point we can let go of all those silly formalities. We're basically family now, so please speak freely anytime."

Hans nodded. Then Klaus handed her some of the fish he had been cooking.

"This is really good don’t get me wrong, but man I am sick of fish, rabbit, and squirrel." The princess commented as she took a bite.

"I know. Maybe tomorrow we can go out, see if we can find a deer or turkey or something." Klaus suggested.

The princess grinned. "And you'll take me with you?"

Hans and Klaus looked at one another, then nodded. "Yes we'll all go." Klaus s agreed.

The princess walked up and hugged him, then Hans. "Thank you." The two men smiled and nodded. She walked over and took the lid off the Dutch Oven. "This is done. Who's ready for dessert?"

"I am really looking forward to it." Hans smirked.

"Well don’t be too hard on me about it. I didn’t have all the normal ingredients I would have liked." She made them both a plate, then herself.

"Princess!" Klaus smiled. "This is amazing."

"If only we had a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the top." Hans added.

"Oh man, that would be amazing." She laughed. "But I think the days of ice cream may be over."

"The days of a lot of things are over I'm afraid." Klaus frowned.

The princess nodded. He was right. Things were different now. No more shopping, no more spa days, no more fancy balls, no more family. She was happy she wouldn't have to marry the prince now, but would she ever have someone special in her life? Have either of you ever been in love?"

The both looked stunned. "Well I uh, once." Hans replied. "A long time ago, but I guess it wasn’t meant to be?"

"What happened?" She asked.

"She left me for someone else."

The princesses mouth dropped open. "Are you serious? You're such a nice guy, and you are handsome."

Hans smiled. "Well thank you." He shrugged. "He had more money."

"Gold digger." She rolled her eyes. "What about you Klaus?"

"Not really. I dated women, but never really found anyone I couldn’t live without."

"Do you think true love exists?" She asked.

Hans smiled. "Yes. Your  parent's seem to be the epitome of true love."

She smiled. "I guess you’re right. Do you think we will ever have the chance to find someone now? I mean how do you even date in the apocalypse? Go scavenging for supplies at the local grocery store. Stroll up to the guy with the scruffy beard, and unkempt hair, that literally hasn’t bathed in weeks. And ask him, Hey come here often?"

Hans and Klaus both laughed. "Yeah the apocalypses definitely complicates things." Hans chuckled. "No one is looking their best these days."

The princess giggled. "I don’t know. I have always kinda liked that whole mountain man, lumberjack look. Those guys are killing right now." She stood up and grabbed their plates. "I am going wash this stuff up." She grabbed a canvas bag sitting there and walked to the lake. She pulled out some bar soap, a dish towel and wash basin. She filled it with water, then got the dishcloth wet and ran the bar soap over it. AS she washed the dishes she wondered if she would ever find someone now. She wasn't exactly getting any younger. At thirty years old if she wanted a family she should probably start now. She shook her head. Was it even wise to bring kids into this world? She rinsed the dishes off and then dried them with another cloth before placing everything back in the bag. She started back towards the fire where Hans and Klaus were laughing. She smiled, at least she had them. But she still hoped to find love, even in the apocalypse.

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"I am pretty exhausted." Chase said. "Maybe we should go ahead and find a spot to camp for the night."

Zeke nodded. "I am whooped too. Let's find a spot."

They walked for another twenty minutes until they found a good spot to stop for the night. They set up their hammocks and then got into the food Gemma had given them. "I am glad we ran across them. This Jerky Gemma sent is amazing." Chase sighed.

Zeke nodded. "I am glad we don’t have to hunt tonight. I don’t think I have the energy. Do you want to start a fire?"

Chase shook his head. "I just want to sleep."

"Agreed." They climbed in to their hammocks. Zeke laughed as he heard snores coming from Chase's hammock seconds later. He was grateful for the hammocks from Layton, much better then sleeping on the ground. He closed his eye's hoping sleep would find him as the cool night air whipped across his face. He tossed and turned all night.

Zeke opened his eyes slowly as the sun hit his face. He stared at the tree canopy above him. The leaves were starting to change. Yellow, orange and red leaves danced  in the breeze, standing out amongst the green. Showing the first signs that fall was on it's way. He stretched and let out a yawn as he swung his legs out, sitting up.

"Good morning." Chase smiled as he stood there packing up his hammock.

"I am looking forward to my bed back at the Packhouse."

"Me too. I am sad to head home without finding my mate though."

Zeke nodded and slipped his boots on. "Maybe we'll get lucky on the way back, or maybe at the Decade Ball if it happens."

"Maybe. Think we can be home by nightfall?"

"As long as nothing major happens I think so." He bent down and pulled out the map. "There is a waterfall not to far out of our way. Maybe we should go that way, fill up our bottles."

"Sounds good."

They finished packing their packs, then headed out. An hour later they found the water fall and filled their bottles. Olcan stirred inside Zeke. "What's wrong?" He asked him. "People are coming." Olcan replied.

"Olcan senses people coming." Zeke mind linked Chase.

They picked up their packs and hid behind some bushes, guns at the ready. Two big men came walking up and stopped at the waterfall, taking a drink. They stayed quiet and watched.

Olcan started freaking out. "Calm down." Zeke said through their link. "What is wrong with you?" The wind changed and whipped towards as they heard voices. Zeke sniffed the air as he smelled what he would have sworn smelled like the ocean mixed with limes. His heart started beating fast in his chest as he realized what happened. She was here, his mate was here. He started looking around trying to find her.

"What is wrong with you?" Chase asked.

Zeke looked at him. "My mate I sense her."

A woman came walking up with a bouquet of wild flowers, and a cloak over her head. Zeke stood up and looked towards her. "Mate!"

Chase stood up next to him. As the two men pulled pistols out of their waste bands and pointed towards them.  Chase shoulder his AR towards the two men. Zeke stood there like a statue staring at the woman in front of him. The shadow from the cloak over her head hiding her face. She stood there looking between them and the two men.  "RUN!" The two men yelled. The woman looked towards them and then turned left and sprinted away.

Zeke looked at her run off, and then towards the two men. He had no choice he had to run after her, he couldn't let her get away. Not now that he had finally found her. Didn’t she feel it too? Why was she running? He looked at Chase. "I have to go after her." Chase nodded.

Zeke turned and ran towards the woman at top speed. One of the men chasing after him, but he was no match for Zeke's speed. He sniffed the air picking up her scent and finally caught sight of her, her black cloak bobbing up and down as she ran away. He was almost caught up to her. "Please wait. I promise I'm not going to hurt you." He caught up to her and grabbed both shoulders. He spun her around. The woman threw her hands in front of her face as she turned, backing up until she hit the hill side. "Please don’t hurt me she pleaded."

Zeke stepped toward her. "I would never hurt you. Why did you run? Do you not feel the mate pull?"

"The what?" The woman asked lowering her hands.

Shock washed across both of their faces as they stared at one another.

Zeke stepped forward, his hand reaching out to touch her face. "Val?"