Kentucky ran a hand through his hair and tried to ignore the tiny cries from the bedroom upstairs.

"I know DeeDee, I know you're hungry." He heard Georgia whisper, trying to soothe the toddler.

"Daddy, tomorrow can we have eggs? And toast? Big thick pieces of toast with lotsa jam?" IDC's voice carried from upstairs and Kentucky could feel his stomach clench.

"Maybe some toast baby, but no jam. We're in a war remember?" Georgia explained and Kentucky could hear the wetness in his voice and feel his cheeks getting damp.

"I'm hungry." DC cried.

"What kind of father let's their children go hungry?"

"It's been seventy billion years since we ate!" IDC cried, echoing her brother.

Kentucky stood up fast, fast enough to knock over the chair he was sitting on.

"You shut your mouth South Carolina."

"It's only been two days, baby. Please try to sleep. Daddy and papa will get you some food for tomorrow." Georgia begged.

"Daddy my tummy hurts so bad." DC whimpered and Kentucky cursed again.

"If you joined our side we'd have plenty of food for your children, but you'd rather be selfish and let them starve." South Carolina said with a shrug.

"Don't act like you have food, you don't. You can barely feed your damned soldiers!" Kentucky screamed.

"Maybe Unkle 'Io will bring us something." IDC suggested.

"He's off in Pennsylvania baby, fighting the Confederates." Georgia explained.

"And he's gonna win!" DC cheered, voice going from mild whine to cheer in point two of a second.

"Give it up, Kentucky, you know you want to join us. We've been slaughtering the north from this side of the country to the next. One more battle and the Union will be begging at our feet for mercy. If you join now, your children will be guaranteed a good future." South Carolina pointed out.

"If we join you, that means everything we taught them, right and wrong, was a lie." Kentucky hissed.

"And he'll have so many stories to tell you." Georgia said softly. "But you two need to sleep." Kentucky couldn't take it, he stood up in a flash and grabbed his coat off the small chair near the fire, throwing it on then marching out the door.

"Food in the morning?" IDC asked and if Kentucky was still in the living room he could've heard the heaviness in Georgia's voice.

"Yes baby, food tomorrow. No more hungry bellies. I promise, my love."

"You need to help." Maryland jumped at the sight of Kntucky who just appeared in his living room. He looked worse for wear; his eyes had bags underneath and his normally put together hair was all over the place. He looked like a beggar on the side of the road.

"The hell are you doing here?" Maryland demanded.

"Mary, you know I'm not a Confederate..."

"You almost were though." Maryland pointed out.

"Mary please listen to me." Kentucky begged.

"We can't trust you Tucky! Who's to say we help, and you backstab us and help the Confederates!" Maryland added.

"Who's to say if, by some chance, the Union....wins? Won't they take away your children?" South Carolina asked.

"They wouldn't. They know Geo's been trying to get in contact with them for months." Kentucky hissed.

"Or do they? They're not going to want two rebels raising the future governments." South Carolina pointed out.

"I don't believe what they do!" Kentucky yelled.

"Kentucky I'm sorry but...."

"MY KIDS ARE GOING HUNGRY." Kentucky screamed, shutting Maryland up. Maryland stood in shock as Kentucky covered his eyes, trying to suppress a yell.

"W-We have nothing left....everything's too expensive. We can't even afford a loaf of bread! They've g-gone three days without eating and....I can't....I can't stand to hear them crying about how hungry they are! What kind of father am I that I can't provide for my children? Please, please Mary I....I don't care about me, I can go hungry....just not them. Please. Not them." Kentucky cried, hot tears falling down his face. DC's health was already so fragile, and IDC got easily sick as well, if they went longer without eating....who knew what would happen to them? They were too small, too small to be having to deal with this. Maryland bit his lip and scuttled away as Kentucky tried to pull himself together.

"You...bastard." Kentucky hissed.

"Join us, or your children will continue to starve." South Carolina said, leaning back in his chair.

Kentucky wiped his eyes and went to walk out the door, when a soft voice called him back.

"Hey hun." Maryland called and Kentucky turned. Maryland handed Kentucky two loaves of bread, some strawberry jam, and a bag.

"Don't tell the others I'm doing this." Maryland ordered.

"Mary...Mary I..."

"You need to get out of here, I wish you luck I really do." Maryland said not unkindly.

"I'll pay you back I promise-"

"Go." Maryland ordered. Kentucky nodded, clutched the items close to him, and disappeared. Maryland sighed and looked around his empty house, both conflicts at war with themselves in his brain. Should he trust Kentucky and try to help his family escape the Confederate states? Should he only take in the twins since they were the innocent ones in this? There were no easy answers.

"No. I don't want my kids to starve, but I'd rather get food and teach my children right and wrong then join you and lose all my morals." Kentucky announced.

"BREAD." Both twins yelled, running downstairs and nearly colliding with their chair in excitement.

"Babies, only one piece each okay? We need to save this." Georgia announced putting the bread on the twins plates. The two scurried on their chairs and started eating, happily munching down on the bread they waited what felt like weeks for. Georgia smiled and looked back at Kentucky who was watching the twins.

"You did good papa." Georgia whispered bringing the border state in close.

"I'm going to go ask around for some eggs today." Kentucky announced as Georgia kissed his head.

"Don't overwork yourself, whoever gave you those crabs gave us enough to last a month." Georgia said with a laugh, letting Kentucky go. Kentucky chuckled and looked back at the twins who finished their toast in record time. He looked down at his plate and cut his own piece in two, putting each slice on the twins plate.

"Surprise seconds!" Kentucky announced.

"Thanks papa!" DC said with a smile before the twins began gnawing down again.

"Tucky..." Georgia whispered in shock as Kentucky stood up.

"Going to go look for those eggs, I'll be back later." Kentucky announced kissing Georgia then kissing the tops of the twins heads before heading out, leaving his boyfriend in complete shock.

"You'd rather let your kids starve then take the easy way out?" South Carolina asked in shock. Kentucky smirked.

"No. You all took the easy way out, I'm fighting every step of the way."