Sequel to That Wicked Feeling. Highly suggested to read that before this one.

Since being commissioned by Piper to make a wedding dress, Gene couldn't deny her sales at the store increased. They didn't "shoot up" by any sense; but there was a definite increase in traffic and orders. Just enough that maybe she could take a vacation that year. She smiled at the thought. Maybe a nice little vacation with Renee…

"Ma'am, shouldn't Miss Jones have returned by now?"

She looked up at Z0E. True, the store already closed, and Renee was nowhere to be seen. "She's probably just running late. Maybe she went to get dinnah or something."

The Assaultron beeped but didn't comment, going back to brining out more merchandise for tomorrow.

Gene continued trying to add up the day's sales. She put down her pencil once she finished. "Well, we might have to go out on another supply run early, Z0E. Looks like those hats short stack found are selling like crazy."

"That's good to hear, ma'am."

The minutes continued to tick by. Gene finished her bookkeeping and looked up at the clock on the wall. Nearly six in the evening and still no Renee. She furrowed her brow. "I'm gonna go look for her—"

"G-Gene!" The door opened, slamming against the outside wall, and Renee staggered inside. She collapsed on the shop's floor.

"Short stack!" Gene rushed to her side and knelt next to her. "What the hell happened?"

"I was—trying to m-make it back, and I—" Renee inhaled sharply. She pulled her hand away from her abdomen to reveal a bloody, gaping wound. "I was j-jumped. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…"

Gene cradled her in her arms. "Z0E, go get Doc Sun!"

"Right away, ma'am!" The Assaultron dashed past them.

"I don't think I'm gonna make it…" Renee coughed, flecks of blood patterning her lips. "Gene, I…"

Gene shook her head. "You'll be okay. You'll be fine. Just hold on, short stack. Hold on."

"I…c-can't…"

Renee's head tilted back and she went limp. Gene shook her. "Short stack? Renee! Renee, no!"

Gene's eyes snapped open and she took a gasping breath. The moon shone a single shaft of light into her room, directly over Renee. She rolled over. "Short stack…?" She reached out to shake the redhead's shoulder.

"Mm… Huh? What is it…" Renee rolled to face her and yawned. "What time is it?"

"I dunno." Gene cupped her cheek, running her thumb over the bone. "I just…wanted to see you."

Renee yawned again. "Oh." She slid closer beneath the covers and snuggled up to Gene. "Can't that wait until morning?"

"…No." Gene wrapped an arm around her and held her close.

It didn't take long for Renee to fall asleep again. Gene could feel each breath enter and leave the redhead's body, could feel the warmth from her arms and legs. All clear signs of life. She closed her eyes and tried to ignore the image of Renee dying in her arms. It wasn't the first nightmare; and she had a feeling it wouldn't be the last.

Noodle flicked his tongue in and out where he laid by the rotating barbershop sign. He tilted his head as the man circled Renee again. "How short ya wantin' to go?" He asked, tapping his scissors to his chin absently.

"Not very. Chest level." Renee followed him with her eyes and the mirror. "Maybe leave my bangs layered?"

"Hm…" He whirled the chair around and began brushing through her hair. "I'll see what I can do. Ma! I need the water!"

Cathy readied the supplies he needed and sat herself in another chair. "You know, there was a woman in the Upper Stands with your hair color. I used to cut her hair all the time." She inhaled her cigarette deeply. "Not often we get redheads around."

"It's a pretty—" Renee shrieked in surprise as John spun her around again and shoved her backward. Her head went straight into a cold basin of water. "H-holy shit this is freezing!"

"Well it wouldn't be if someone would get Abbot over here to fix the water heater. Ma!" John began running some homemade product through her hair.

Cathy grumbled and flicked her cigarette ash to the floorboards. "He said he'd get around to it, John."

John rolled his eyes. He finished with the product and rinsed it out as well as he could, much to Renee's displeasure. She gripped the armrests of the chair as he spun her again. "All right, let's get started." He cracked his knuckles and began combing.

Renee sat still while he worked, getting each lock straight and even. He chuckled about halfway through. "You've got some thick hair, lady."
"I know. Makes a good rope in a pinch."

John stopped. He began to laugh as he kept combing. "That's a new one."

Shortly after he began snipping away the auburn-red hair, she saw Gene run by. "Gene?" She called, leaning forward ever so slightly. John pulled her shoulder back.

Gene spun on her heel and doubled back. "Short stack, theah you are!" Her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath. "Wait, you're just…getting a haircut?"

"Yes?" Renee arched an eyebrow. "What did you think I was doing?"

"I don't know! You just left a note that said you'd left and you'd be back latah, I didn't know what the hell you meant!" She huffed and crossed her arms. "You coulda said you were just comin' down heah…"

Noodle shoved himself to his feet and nudged Gene's leg with a whimper. He pawed at her boot. She sat on the steps and stroked his head. "So why're you getting your hair cut, anyway? I like it long…"

"So do I, but remember a few nights ago? When we were, uh…"

Renee propped herself up on her elbow, leaning over Gene. "We should go on supply runs more often if this is how you're going to pay me for my services."

"Services? What kinda service, attracting all the Ferals from heah to Bunkah Hill?" Gene giggled and poked the redhead's nose.

"Oh, if that's all I am to you…" Renee sighed and began to roll off her, aiming to get off the bed. However, a hard tug on her scalp made her stop and wince. She could see somehow in their activities her long hair had gotten caught beneath Gene's shoulder.

Gene scratched the Nightstriker behind the ears. "Oh."

"Yeah." Renee blew some stray hair from her face.

John moved around to the front and began shaping her bangs. "Nearly done…"

Long, wavy strands of reddish hair crowded the floorboards beneath the barber chair. Gene stared at one nearby, noticing how it curled over on itself twice. Noodle noticed it too and shuffled over to sniff at it. He sneezed and it whizzed out into the street.

"Good job, buddy." Gene smirked.

John stepped back. "How's that?"

Renee stood up and ran her fingers through her damp hair a few times. She tilted her head this way and that in the mirror before nodding. "Perfect. Thanks." She pulled a hair ribbon off her wrist and tied her hair in a loose ponytail over her right shoulder.

He held out his hand for the caps she owed him and pocketed them happily. "My pleasure!"

Renee waited for Gene to stand before she began leading the way back to the store. "So, what do you think?" She asked, fiddling with the ponytail.

"I like it." Gene reached over to muss her hair.

"Hey!"

Like many evenings, they filled theirs with the sound of Gene's sewing machine and Renee reading an old pre-war book on the couch. Z0E stood waiting by the stairs while Noodle entertained himself with a Radstag bone.

Gene jumped when she suddenly felt Renee's arms around her. She stopped and looked up. "Hey theah."

"Gene, I've been thinking… I need a new job."

"Scrapping isn't hard enough?" Gene took off her spectacles and turned. "I said you could just move heah with me and not pay for an apahtment."

"I meant a real job." Renee leaned against Gene's worktable. "Like when I was with the caravan."

"Don't tell me Cricket gave you a job."

"No, she didn't. I don't want to be a caravan guard again anyway. That'd be too much time away from you." Renee smiled before her expression slid back to neutral. "No. I, ah… I saw the Diamond City security has an opening. I was thinking of signing up."

Gene felt a cold shock run through her. "The…guards? Wh-why would you…"

"I'm good with a gun. And I've got Noodle. Plus I have experience. It'd be easy caps!"

"I… I don't know, short stack, that's…"

"What?" Renee knelt to rub Noodle's belly, who'd perked up upon hearing his name.

Gene took a deep breath. "It's dangerous."

"And going on supply runs with you isn't?"

"You know what I mean."

"I don't need you to watch my back every damn second of the day, Gene. I can take care of myself." Renee stood. "Besides, I'll be careful. I promise to always come home to you." She brushed some stray ebony hair from Gene's forehead. "Haven't I always?"

Gene gave a weak nod.

Renee smiled and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "I'll see you in the morning. Don't stay up too late, okay?" She clicked her tongue for Noodle to follow as she headed for the stairs.

"Short stack?"

Renee stopped and turned. "Yeah?"

Gene forced a smile. "I… I love you."

"I love you too." Renee winked.

That night, Gene dreamt of Renee being torn in two by Super Mutants trying to protect Diamond City.