AN: I wanted to write a story of my play through on Fallout 4. I also wanted to explore the relationship between my SS and Paladin Danse, because come on! Just look at him! :) I do want to focus on the story too, but I figure that most of you reading this will have already played the game, so you probably don't want to relive most of it. I hope this is not a problem!

Anyways, this will begin several months after my SS, Isabelle, has left the vault. She's only been helping the Minutemen by focusing on rebuilding Sanctuary Hills and other settlements. She hasn't gotten many clues about where her son, Shaun, went…so she's been coping with the idea that she may never find out what ever happened to him. And so we begin!

This story will also probably switch from first person to third person occasionally, since I'm more comfortable with first person, ha. It's been a while since I've written, so please forgive me if I'm rusty.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fallout or its characters.

To say that this new world she was thrown in was a rude awakening would have been the understatement of the year. Or however long it had be since she'd been frozen for the first time. Over 200 years, was it?

It had only be 6 months since she'd woken up again, alone, as the sole survivor of Vault 111. She remembered when her cryo pod opened again. She remembered the deafening silence. She remembered her heart nearly pounding out of her chest once she'd realized she was the only one left. Of all the people to survive, why her? She was only a law graduate and housewife before all of what happened, it just made no sense to her. How the hell was she supposed to survive this new world? There wasn't a doubt that she would be eaten alive out there.

Soon after she first woke up, Isabelle scrounged for as many food and supplies as she could to hold her over in the Vault. But that only lasted her a week, she knew she had to leave soon and that scared the hell out of her. She hardly had any experience with survival, aside from some tidbits her late husband shared with her from time to time, often eager to teach her some things he knew from his military experience. She'd only held a gun a handful of times in her life, again only when her husband encouraged her to learn.

Before she left to start her search for her missing son, she returned back to her husband's cryo pod. How many years has it been? She thought to herself, before opening the pod quietly.

"I'll find who did this to you…I'll find who took our baby boy…" she reached out to slip off Nate's wedding ring and put it in her pocket, "I promise."

"Morning, Preston," I smiled as I scooted over to make room for him at the dining table. "Any news on any settlements?"

He shook his head and returned a smile, Preston Garvey was his name, and he was one of the first people I met after leaving the vault. He liked to call me General, after I helped them rebuilt the main settlement in Sanctuary Hills….in my old home. That was still something to get used to. It was strange being the new leader of the Minutemen, after all, I hardly had any experience leading anyone or anything before the war…

He soon became a good and close friend. We usually would enjoy breakfast prepared by Codsworth every morning when we had the time to discuss any settlements that needed help, or any tasks that would need to be done around everyone's new home. "No news so far, General…" he paused, "how are you feeling?" He looked at me curiously, sure he tended to ask how I was doing every so often out of courtesy, but this time felt a little different.

I froze at the question. One of the main reasons I enjoyed his company was that he didn't ask too many questions. He knew I was a rather private person, while I did like to talk to the other settlers and occasionally Mama Murphy when she wasn't too drugged up, I spent a lot of time alone - and not in my old home. No, I just couldn't stay there. I already knew he was curious, shit it makes sense that he would want to know more about me considering I was the new leader of the Minutemen. But it still, just felt so soon. Too soon to talk about it.

"I'm fine…" I gave a small smile to reassure him, even though I was lying. I'm still not used to this new world, hell would I ever be? I don't even remember when that last time I got a good night's sleep was…

He cleared his throat, and he was obviously concerned. Preston rested a gentle hand on my shoulder, "Look, Isabelle…I know you're a private person. But I want you to know that I'm here if you need to talk…about anything." He gave my shoulder and gentle squeeze, and continued to finish his breakfast.

I nodded my head in response, I appreciated the gesture but I was never really much of a talker. Well, that and I just didn't really know where to start. I know I shouldn't leave him in the dark too long, as I considered him a good friend.

He already knew that I'd been frozen in Vault 111, he knew that I saw the world before it turned to shit. He knew I was looking for someone. I didn't tell him who, I didn't tell anyone who. I know I should, it can probably only help. But how can I explain to someone how I failed as a parent? As a wife? How I failed to protect my beautiful husband Nate and our baby boy Shaun?

I choked back a sob, hoping he didn't hear it. I sighed and shook my head, no, no, not here. Wait until later, when you're alone. This is not his business. This is your responsibility, it's your son. My shoulders shook as I started crying more, which quickly turned into more fucking sobs. "I'm sorry, Preston-" I choked out quietly and wiped the tears from my eyes, "It's just one of those days..." One of those very long days. One of those days where it felt that no matter what I did or didn't do, it wouldn't make a difference. One of those days where it felt like the wrong person was shot 10 years ago.

It wouldn't have been the first time I cried around him, but this time he could tell it was different.

I ran my fingers through my hair and looked at him, he sat there patiently, waiting for me to go on. He was such a good friend. "Remember when I told you I was looking for someone?"

He nodded quietly and he lowered his voice, since most of the other settlers didn't know I was looking for anyone in the first place, "Yeah, I do. Is there anything I could do help?"

"No, and that's what hurts. My baby…my baby boy Shaun," it was my first time talking about it, "my boy Shaun was taken away from me. He's out there…somewhere, and I'm just here waiting for another day to pass. What kind of mother am I? I've been out here for almost six months and I'm not any closer to knowing where he is…"

He pulled me into a soft side hug and rested my head on his shoulder, "I should have said this earlier. But I'm just-" I paused to regain my composure, "I'm just still getting used to it. It feels like it just happened yesterday. But it happened 10 years ago. My baby was taken from me and my husband was murdered…and I don't know what I can do about it."

Preston continued to listen, something I appreciated a lot, seeing as it was really hard for me to open like this to him. It was a side of me I didn't like showing a lot of people. He reassured me that he would do whatever he could to help me find Shaun, and use whatever resources he could use to help me. He even recommended that I try talking to other travelers, settlers, and traders to get a better idea of where to start looking. I was reluctant, but eventually I agreed. He was right. I wasn't going to find my baby boy by just sitting here sulking.

I needed to learn my way around the Commonwealth, I needed to learn how to get better with a gun, how to set up camps and hold my own out in the wastes. It wasn't going to be easy, but I needed to get my shit together if I was going to find the bastards who took my son.