Peter had hopped down off the boulder and found her in the thick group of teens.

"I need to find a partner first," she told him.

Peter chuckled, "Well look no further," he said spreading his arms wide.

"Oh," she said a little surprised, "I figured you'd be partnered with someone else."

Peter was the leader of the entire camp.  She figured her would be to busy to watch after her.  She knew she wouldn't be able to walk fast of the others and it seemed weird that Peter wouldn't be up front to lead the crowd.

"I wanted to make sure that you were alright during the trip, besides when we get to the cave I want to have you right there as we try and figure out how to safely get you down the cliff."

"If I can get down there," Venus solemnly added.

"We will figure it out," he assured her.

The group started moving.  Peter and Venus fell in amongst the crowd.

"Who's leading the group?" Venus finally asked.

"Most everyone here knows the way already, but Shaw is up front."

Shaw was Peter's right-hand guy and was one of the first kids he and Pepa helped escape after Peter ran away.

Shaw had issues letting the three Breeders into their camp, at first.  It was mostly because of Pepa's death and because they had never helped Breeders before.  That was getting into some dangerous territory.  It wouldn't be just stealing kids away in the night to avoid the military.  It was stealing kids away from the government-funded corporations.

That meant it was costing money and a loss of money was going to start turning heads of some of the higher powers.

After a lot of discussions and not a lot of choices,  because the Breeders were already there, Shaw finally caved.

A smirk pulled at the corner of  Peter's mouth when Venus became quite.

"What?" She asked apprehensively.

"Have you finally run out of excuses to get rid of me?"

She blushed and quickly looked away from him, "I wasn't trying to get rid of you."

"Is it to awkward to be around me...you know...after last night?" 

Peter was afraid of the answer but he also didn't want to push himself on her when she really didn't want him around.

"No, of course not," she quickly replied, "I just don't want to be a  nuisance."

"You're not," he chuckled.

Peter and Venus walked quietly together through the forest.  Despite the crowded group of peers, Venus enjoyed the walk.   She had been stuck in the camp since she arrived.  The more pregnant she got the less Peter wanted her to wander off.  She understood why, if she was caught she wouldn't be able to move quickly enough to get away.   She should have been use to being confined after living in the Cube, but she still grew restless.

They walked for hours without stopping and Venus was being to tire.  Her feet were swollen, her back hurt, and she was quickly falling behind. 

Peter stayed by her side the whole time and grew more and more worried with every passing minute.

"I think we need to stop," he suggested when she leaned on a  tree for support.

"No," Venus huffed and watched the group walk farther and farther away, "I just need to catch my breath."

"V," he worried with fret filled eyes.

Venus felt like she couldn't breath because the babies were starting to take up so much room.

Up head the group had started to climb a steep hill covered in boulders.   Venus groaned  inside realizing the task that laid in front of her.

She was already putting Peter, the babies, and herself in danger.   The Techs that were taking up the rear of the group had long passed and they were lingering far behind.  

"Sit down, V," he insisted, "you're going to hurt yourself."

"We're falling behind, Peter, we can't stop."

"I  know the way.  Don't worry I'll get you to the cave no matter what."

Still out of breath, Venus nodded and slid down the tree for a rest.

While climbing up the hill Mars glanced back and saw Venus slumped against the tree, out of breath,  with Peter squatted down next to her.

A rush of concern jolted through him.  He didn't think about how difficult the hike was going to be for her.

He had been treating her like shot and knew she probably didn't want him to go check on her.

Venus rested a hand around the bottom of her belly.  He had seen her do it once before, in the Cube, when she was starting labor.  Sheer panic set in.  It was to early for the twins to show up,  and if the stress of the hike brought them to early, they would never survive.

Instinctively Mars rushed down the hill with Bridget calling out behind him, "Mars?  Mars were are you going?  We have to stick together."

He was at the bottom in a moment with Bridget on his heels.  Venus had noticed that he was heading her was, and she wasn't to exhausted to shoot him a hostile look.

Mars ignored it and approached her anyway.

"What's wrong?" He asked,  his voice came out bitter and hostile even though he meant for it to be filled with concern.

The sharp tone didn't seem to help Venus's  grumpiness.  She turned her head away from him, giving him the cold shoulder, and leaving Peter to answer him.

"She's worn out," Peter informed him, "she needs to rest."

Peter looked from Bridget to Mars before saying,  "This works out nicely actually.  We're going to fall way behind without any protection.  Do you two mind staying behind with us?"

Bridget shook her head,  "Of course not."

Mars didn't answer but he wasn't planning on leaving Venus or his kids behind.

"Thanks," Peter smiled with a sigh of relief, and  sat down next to Venus.

Mars looked up the hill and saw that most everyone had reached the top.  He didn't like the thought that they were out of the radar detectors, but they didn't have any other options.

"How long do you think it will be before we can start moving again?" Bridget asked.

"Probably not until the morning," Peter answered her.

Mars looked at Venus then to the steep hill,  "She's never going to make that climb."

Peter looked up at him then followed his gaze.

"Even after a night's rest," Mars continued.

"I'll make it," Venus insisted.

Mars rolled his eyes at her stubborn persistence.

"Is there an easier way up?" He asked Peter.

Peter shook his head, "Believe or not every other way is actually steeper, and the rocks provide better footing."

"I'll make it!"