"Sorry Mr. Wright, no bread." An elderly store clerk announced turning back to the young man at the counter.

"No flour? Sugar?" Kentucky asked, voice getting more desperate.

"None I'm afraid, the costs are too high for us." The store clerk explained. Kentucky ran a hand through his hair and cursed silently. They were going on three days without bread, and he didn't know if the twins had it in them to go four.

"Please. You need to have something. I....Jack I have kids at home...please..." Kentucky begged feeling tears fill his eyes. The store keeper slipped to the back, leaving Kentucky at the counter feeling horrible. He couldn't send his kids to bed without supper again, he couldn't look them in the eyes and tell them there was nothing, what could he do? He kept praying that someone in the north would answer his letter, letting them come up and stay until the trouble had passed, but so far no one had and he suspected any food Maryland was trying to send was being intercepted. The elderly clerk came back and put three potatoes on the counter.

"These should hold ya over until we get a new shipment." The clerk announced. Kentucky gazed down at the food then back up at the clerk before digging into his pockets and pulling out two silver pieces.

"Thank you, thank you so much!" Kentucky said slapping the coins on the counter and running out of the store with the potatoes. He quickly tucked the vegetable in his shirt, if any Confederate soldier saw him they'd demand he handed the potatoes over, he didn't stop running until he reached the edge of the forest where he slowed his steps down. Kentucky moved past the trees until he reached the little house he, Georgia, and the twins lived in and smiled as he opened the door.

"DAD'S HOME." Kentucky yelled and instantly the thundering of feet came down the stairs and he was nearly tackled by two small children.

"PAPA!" The twins said in sync, hugging Kentucky's legs.

"Oh how are my little monsters?" Kentucky asked squatting to hug his children.

"I caught three fish papa." DC said proudly.

"Hey, I caught two!" IDC argued.

"I'm so proud of you both." Kentucky said stopping a fight. "But I've got something special for ya." He opened his shirt a little and let the potatoes fall in his arms. The twins gasped.

"POTATOES." Both said once again in sync as Georgia came in from the back.

"DADDY, papa's got potatoes!" DC announced as Kentucky stood up.

"How'd you get those?" Georgia asked as Kentucky put the potatoes on the table.

"Jack found it in his heart." Kentucky teased with a shrug kissing Georgia.

"Tucky we need to talk." Georgia whispered in a serious tone. Kentucky nodded and turned to the twins.

"Why don't y'all go play outside until supper." Kentucky suggested. At the chorus of 'okay!' the twins rushed outside, leaving their dads alone. Georgia moved past his boyfriend and picked up a newspaper, showing it to Kentucky.

"They're starting to move into the state." Georgia announced pointing to the front page. Kentucky quickly scanned the front page, blood rushing to his ears as he read about the Union army slowly pushing into Georgia. He knew part of him should be happy; maybe if the Union took Georgia the Confederates would have no choice but surrender. But he also knew, with total war on the horizon, this could spell trouble for his family.

"Okay. Okay." Kentucky whispered, putting the paper on the table. "What do we do?"

"Have you heard back from anyone yet? Ohio, Massachusetts...."

"None. And I don't think they'll let us leave the state now." Kentucky muttered.

"Tucky what are we going to do? I-If the twins get hurt I don't know what I'll do." Georgia pointed out hands shaking.

"Hey, hey stop that. They're not getting hurt." Kentucky said, taking his boyfriend's hands. "I promised myself I'd never let anything happen to you three and I ain't starting now." Georgia nodded and the two glanced back at the newspaper, the words mocking them.

"I'll try sending a message to Maryland, maybe he can house us for a while." Kentucky said with a sigh.

"Tucky....I've been thinking." Georgia whispered, making Kentucky look back at him. "If the war gets too close...I want you to..."

"Geo no..."

"I want you to take the twins and go to Kentucky. Keep them safe." Georgia begged, jumping as his arms were grabbed.

"Geo I'm not leaving you!" Kentucky hissed.

"Tucky for the twins sake! If they find out I'm the state they'll kill me! At least you'll have a chance!" Georgia begged. Kentucky felt tears fill his eyes again and he looked down.

"I can't....I can't leave you..." Kentucky whimpered.

"Please. Please do this for me." Georgia whispered, making Kentucky look up at him. "Do it for our babies." Kentucky sniffed hard as Georgia wiped his tears, the two only breaking out of their trance by a small whimper.

"Why is papa crying?" DC asked fearfully, clutching his shirt. Kentucky instantly broke away from Georgia and wiped his eyes, smiling at the little boy.

"It's nothing baby, nothing." Kentucky lied. "Hey, show me that fish you and your sister caught, I'll teach you two how to skin it." DC's face instantly lit up and he grabbed Kentucky's hand, pulling him outside. Georgia watched them go with sadness, looking back at the newspaper then at the three meager potatoes sitting on the table.

He hoped to god it'd never come to that.