Disclaimer: All characters and setting used in the following fanfiction belong to Bethesda and follow closely to the main storyline and The Railroad main quests in Fallout 4. Be warned there may be spoilers if you have not completely the story quests and chosen your alignment with The Railroad. The main character is "Nora", but because Nora is physically depicted differently in each personal game, thanks to this wonderful customizable RPG, I just want to clarify that although the main character's ("Nora") is not named Nora nor looks like the original depiction of "Nora", this story will follow closely to the original story. I hope you enjoy!

Your Wish is My Strong Recommendation

Introduction

Part One: Wake Up

Chapter 1: Vault 111

It all began with a sole survivor's cold awakening in a cryogenic chamber in the bowels of Vault 111. Sophia awoke, watching the frost melt slowly from the window pane of her box with muffled indistinct woman's voice speaking over a loud emergency siren. She pressed her hand against the glass as her eyes began to re-focus. Confused, Sophie rubbed her eyes with her fists, trying to flush out what she thought was sleep. She could make out the shape of Nate in the chamber across from her and pressed her hands against the glass again, trying to get a better look as something just didn't seem right. Her chamber door swung upward and Sophie fell directly to her knees.

Sophie could barely get her quivering legs to stand long enough for her to open her husband's cryogenic chamber as well. However, the gut feeling that something was awry overpowered her curiously for the weakness in her body. As Nate's door swung open, and his massive head wound exposed, Sophie gasped loudly, clenching her left hand firmly and covering her mouth in horror with the right. Not only was her baby missing, her husband was clearly murdered… Sophie feel immediately back to her knees with the weight of her body and her heartbreak overtook her. She sobbed there for over an hour, her mind muddled trying to think of what she was supposed to do next.

It took Sophia nearly half a day to muster up the strength, dexterity, and willpower to get out of that Vault. Confronted with over-sized cockroaches, lifeless skeletons, and terminal reports of the entire world going to shit inside of the Vault at least, Sophie stepped on the elevator out of the Vault a shell of her former self. As the gate closed, she tightly gripped her husband's wedding ring in her hand. A solemn and silent vow was made that day between Nate and Sophia. Now, it was time to find out what the fuck happened and why everyone was dead.

As she emerged from the depths of the Vault to the surface, the sight of a completely gray and utterly destroyed world only affirmed Sophie's worst fear. The world has fallen to pieces within what seemed like just a few minutes in her chamber. Although, just from her observations of the skeletons and the size of the cockroaches, much longer than just a few minutes have passed. So, she was frozen this whole time? Why? Why take her baby and why kill her husband? Why condemn all of the souls in Vault 111?

As she walked into town, a silver glimmer caught her eye in the distance. Hovering around her crumbling and decaying home was Cogsworth, their beloved robot housekeeper. Although her heart fluttered, Sophie's mind was hard and pessimistic. As she approached, she could only imagine this robot would have a woman's voice and just scream at the sight of her approaching. This was not the case however, as when Cogsworth saw her, he exclaimed with joy and whizzed right to her. A little taken aback, Sophie smiled as he approached. "Miss Sophia!" he cried, his body spinning wildly while he head sat still, staring at her unbelievably. "I… I can't believe it's you!" he said, sounding a bit choked up. Sophie sighed, "I can't believe it either… What happened, Cogsworth?"

"Well, mum, I'm sorry to say that… that…" Cogsworth hesitated, unsure of how to tell Sophia what happened and how long it has been since he stepped foot in Sanctuary. "It's been almost 200 years since that atomic bomb was dropped, mum. Closer to 220 years, to be exact, give or take a few years." All of the blood drained from Sophia's face. "It… It can't be," she said, shaking her head. A bout of nausea began to wash over her as the shock set in. Cogsworth hovered silently for a moment before asking, "If you don't mind me asking, mum, where are young Shaun and Master Nate?"

"They're gone," Sophie said blunted, looking back up at Cogsworth. Cogsworth's robotic pupils contracted as he shouted, "Gone?!" What happened to them, mum?" Sophie shook her head, throwing her hands up a bit. "I… I don't know Cogsworth. One minute, I'm telling Shaun everything is going to be okay and the next I wake up and… and… Nate… Someone took Shaun and shot Nate in the head." Cogsworth gasped, "Oh no!" Sophia stayed silent for a moment as she tried to relax the tightening of her throat as she spoke. She finally swallowed and asked, "Cogsworth, you didn't happen to see anyone wandering around here with a baby have you?" Cogsworth sighed, "Well, no mum. I haven't seen anything but radroaches and bloodbugs for over 100 years." Sophie sighed, running her hands through her shoulder-length platinum blonde hair. She turned away from Cogsworth and silently walked into what was left of her home.

As she walked to her bedroom to find her bed obliterated, she could not bear to glance in the direction of Shaun's room. If anything, she just wanted to lay down and sleep for just an hour or so. All of this was just too much for her to process at one time. In all reality, it didn't feel like she had slept for over 200 years. It felt more as if she had only zoned out for five minutes after getting into that chamber. She recollected the oddness of the frost on the inside of the window, considering she was told it was a decontamination chamber. Perhaps they wanted Shaun all along? But, if that's truly the case, why all of the others? If they were experimenting on them, why take an infant and what did they do to him?

Overwhelmed, Sophia laid her head on the leaf covered and filthy bedroom room, pulling her old rug over her as a blanket so she could get some rest. Cogsworth floated in the doorway, watching her make herself comfortable enough to fall asleep for a while. "Don't worry mum! You rest and I will look for Shaun!" Sophia nodded, moaning quietly in approval, before slowly slipping into a deep sleep.