*Note to Readers* This is my first fanfic that I published. I have been writing these little blurbs off and on for several years just for my entertainment. It was suggested that I publish a few of them and see where that goes. Any reviews and/or critique is appreciated so thank you in advance! What follows is how I imagined what would happen if after the Institute fell, Nick Valentine decided to transfer into a new Synth body. How would he interact with the world and more importantly, how he would react with the Sole Survivor. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!

Chapter One: New Beginnings

"Nick? Nick, can you hear me?" Nora leaned over the prone figure in the memory lounger with anticipation. He wasn't moving, wasn't blinking…wasn't breathing. 'Something must have gone wrong!' She thought, panicking. She turned to Dr. Amari quickly, but her face showed no concern.

"It will take him a minute to adjust his systems accordingly" she began, "remember-he's never done this before." As Nora turned back to Nick she saw his eyes flicker to the left, then blink once or twice. She let out a heavy breath she hadn't realized she had been holding. At the sound, Nick glanced her way and smiled warmly.

"Well-good morning Doll," he drawled lazily, as if he had just woken up from a long nap. "What did I miss?" Nora narrowed her eyes and gave him a playful poke in the ribs.

"You scared me half to death! I thought you were never gonna come out of it!" Nick chuckled and winced as she poked him again.

"Careful darlin, don't go breaking my new body just yet." Nick stretched his arms above his head as Dr. Amari came round to face him with her clipboard in hand.

"How do you feel? Can you move your legs? Try stretching your fingers…How is your vision?" She bombarded him with close to a dozen or more questions as she inspected his systems for any defects. After about thirty minutes, she announced he was clear to leave. Nick got up out of the lounger and paced around the room. He stopped in front of his old body sitting slumped in a chair by the door. For a moment he just stood there-staring at the inert old synth no longer needed. Then he reached out and took his hat, placing it back on his head.

"Funny," he remarked. "I've been in this body so long, I thought leaving it would feel…I don't know…different." Nora came over to stand next to him, looking anxiously into his face. It had been two months since he had made the decision to transfer his consciousness into a Gen 3 Synth body. In the time since the Institute fell-he had expressed a desire to see and feel the world he had helped to liberate. Dr. Amari had been able to find a Caretaker willing to help Nick achieve this dream. The Synth body he now inhabited was an adult male around thirty years old. He had light-brown hair, almost a chestnut shade. He was tall, at least several inches taller than Nora; with tanned skin and a scruffy stubble beard. As Nora watched-Nick held out his hands to examine them closely; then he lifted his arms up and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Hehheh…I've always wondered what that felt like." He smoothed the palms of his hands across his upper arms. "Well…that's soft." Nora smiled and patted his shoulder affectionately.

"You're a new man Nick Valentine." He turned to her and grinned. Then he reached out to run his fingers through her hair and feel the exposed skin of her forearm. Nora froze-shocked but what felt like a bolt of electricity. She managed to keep her feel planted, but was finding it increasingly harder to breathe.

"Your hair and skin are just as soft…" Nick was saying wonderingly. "And you feel warm…that's incredible!" His hands continued to caress her skin and thread through her hair. Nora just stared up at him, unable and unwilling to break contact. Nick smiled, then quickly turned away to start peeling the coat and slacks off his old body. Nora stood for a moment watching, attempting to recover her composure.

"Nick-you know…we can get you some new clothes." She chided him as he continued to strip the old Synth.

"Why bother?" He asked distractedly. "Didn't need them then, won't need them now. Besides…I like my coat, it suits me." He had finished with his old clothing and now started to undo the buttons on his shirt and pants. Nora watched dry-mouthed as he pulled his shirt off his shoulders exposing a muscled torso and nicely-bronzed skin. She stared unashamedly for a moment-then felt her cheeks turn to scarlet flames as he casually removed his trousers. Nora couldn't stop herself from glancing at him standing before her naked-he really was glorious. Then she heard Dr. Amari cough pointedly and she quickly turned her back, thoroughly embarrassed. She heard Nick laugh nervously behind her.

"Um…sorry about that ladies. I've never had to consider…that…before." Nora cringed inwardly. 'Holy shit! I just stood there leering like a pervert!' She mentally smacked herself in the forehead. 'What the hell was that all about?'

"Well," she heard Nick begin, "unless Dr. Amari needs anything else from me-I'd like to go explore a bit." He had finished dressing and was adjusting his hat when Nora finally turned to him. Her heart was beating a little bit faster and her cheeks were still slightly molten. Dr. Amari crossed over to them and shook Nick's hand.

"Congratulations Mr. Valentine. And thank you, I'm sure X5-452 would have been proud to know he was helping another Synth start a new life." Nick smiled back at her then turned to Nora. She watched as his smile got somewhat warmer when he looked at her-and her insides seemed to melt.

"Ready to hit the road, partner?" Nora retrieved her pack and slung it over her shoulder. She holstered her pistol and brushed her hair out of her eyes.

"Lead the way, Detective."