Nicolas listened as she spoke to him, watching her pick her baby up and console her.<span style="font-style: italic">I wonder who this he is... He doesn't sound very great.. Just as I've always known everyone to be...</span>He still smirked at the baby, even when it fussed a bit.<span style="font-style: italic">I think the only thing I don't like about babies so far is the whining... She seems awfully happy about Coal. That makes two of us.</span>He looked at the dog again.<span style="font-style: italic">She's the best being I've met so far... Except maybe this woman...</span>He looked back to Maria.<span style="font-style: italic">Then again, someone apparently doesn't like her very much... Could she be lying? Could the man she's talking about have a reason to treat her that way?</span>He began to feel anger slowly fill him again, trying not to show it in his face as he could feel it grow red.<span style="font-style: italic">She's not staying, damnit. No way in hell. I came here for a reason. As soon as she can, she's out.</span><br/><br/>"<span style="font-style: italic">I</span>have some wood cutting and other things outside to attend to." He stood up, staring down at her, "I'd hope so. You won't catch me cleaning up a mess I<span style="font-style: italic">damn sure</span>didn't make." he said with a snap. He turned and moved towards the door, feeling a bit of guilt for the way he snapped as at her his frown turned into more of a look of resentment, regretting his words and actions a bit. He continued on his way, opening the closet by the door and grabbing a pair of rubber overalls with boots at the ends.<span style="font-style: italic">These were his as well...</span>He slid them on, then grabbed an thick, worn coat and slid it on.<span style="font-style: italic">I was wearing this that night...</span>He looked back at her, still feeling the regret deep inside him. "I have a radio over there." He pointed across the living room at it. "I don't use it much. I bet the batteries are still good. If the silence becomes too much for you, you can use it if you'd like. Don't let the fire go out either, it's a bitch to start back up." Coal moved toward him, looking as excited as a kid in a candy store. "Go lay down. You have company." He told her, pointing back towards the fire. Seemingly nodding in agreement, she went and lay in front of the fire again, watching her master force the snow impacted door open and leave, closing it behind him.<br/><br/>Nicolas grabbed the axe from the porch, yanking it out of the snow.<span style="font-style: italic">I'm sure glad I have these rubber clothes. Or I'd probably die of pneumonia.</span>Originally he tried to fight his way through the snow that had accumulated to his shoulders, but he found the top to be solid enough to stand on, like a layer of ice, and worked his way up to it. He looked at the landscape around him.<span style="font-style: italic">I guess I'll have to chop the top of the tree and make do.</span>He walked far out to one of the clearings he had made for gathering wood, chopping down what he could above the snow. He drug the tree tops two at a time back in front of the cabin, looking into the front window each time although you couldn't see through the frost covering it. After making five trips, he decided that should last until he came out and did this again tomorrow. He walked back out through the trees, in a different direction this time. He made his way far out, finally stopping at a tree and standing there.<span style="font-style: italic">He's right here... Pitiful soul...</span>He kept thinking back to that night, finding this cabin and this man, all alone.<span style="font-style: italic">No one cared about him. No one's really cared about me. Why should I change? This man was proof enough for me. He would've sat and wasted away in that chair, and Coal would've either starved or froze to death after the fire burned out.</span>He stood there, running this through his mind over and over. A few tears ran down his cheek and started to freeze. He stood there for what seemed like eternity as the blizzard still continued on, not<span style="font-style: italic">quite</span>as strong as it was last night, but still not nearly tolerable to anyone that wasn't used to it. His thoughts finally changed pace.<span style="font-style: italic">Does it seem like... She cares? She cares for her child, I do as well. A bitter soul like me <span style="font-weight: bold">should</span> die, but not an innocent child... She's probably wondering where I am... I shouldn't have snapped like that... But she seems to have made herself quite cozy in my home... Home, prison... Whatever... Same difference...</span>