Her lips are against mine, her chest pressed to me, my hands instinctively reach and hold her bare sides, and I feel goose bumps spreading over her skin at my touch. The mattress is so worn out that our weight causes it to emit a huge creak that I'm sure wakes up more than a few of the Pride. But I guess they're so used to it that the only reaction we get is a loud sigh and another creak indicating they've simply rolled over.

We break apart but before I can take in a gasp of air Sarah puts her hand over my mouth and whispers for me too shush. My chest starts tightening up because my lungs are so desperately trying to find air. Sarah leans in close against my ear, and I feel my hairs stand on end when her breath hits my neck.

"Wanna take this back to my quarters?'' It's too dark to see her, but I can tell she's grinning mischievously.

The next time Sarah wakes me up isn't so kind. I feel myself falling, and before I can open my eyes I'm face down on the floor, and I feel her bare feet kicking into my ribs. She's hissing at me to get up, get behind the door and hide. I open my mouth to speak, but when I hear a knocking on the door, and a familiar voice calling out her name, I get the picture and pull myself together, scurrying into the corner. Sarah tosses my clothes in a messy bundle that hits me square in the face half a second before the door opens.

I'm switching between looking at the back of her father's head, and her own shaky gaze. She's struggling to listen to her father and keep her eye on me at the same time. It's one of the longest most agonizing moments of my life before he finally leaves.

"I suppose I should go wake the rest of the Pride, get dressed, Sarah.'' And she's still nodding as he walks out the door.

Sarah scuttles over, her bare feet slapping against the tile floor. The palms of her hands press against the ancient wood of the door and the entire running force of her body slams it shut. She slowly turns her head in my direction, and I'm still standing there naked with my eyes wide.

A laugh spreads across her as she quirks an eyebrow suggestively.

"Get dressed, soldier.'' She claws across the door frame and stick her head out to me, giving me a quick kiss on the lips.

"We've got a big day ahead of us.'' And with that she's out the door, not caring who sees her in her underwear. I guess being the Elder's daughter; she's used to strutting around like she owns the place.

I'm sitting in the courtyard of the Citadel now, talking about some bullshit Enclave raid with Glade. To be honest it's just a lot of me nodding and pretending how impressed I am about him taking out some platoon while we wait for Sarah's orders. The guys have all known we've had a thing going on since the whole purifier deal, but they either choose to ignore it or really think we don't know. Regardless, I'm glad I don't have to deal with them asking me how their commanding officer is in the sack.

Sarah finally comes out a good ten minutes later, her head hung low and she's sporting a sombre look. I actually have to resist the urge to get up and walk over to her, to cup her face and look into her eyes and ask what's wrong. The Brotherhood's policy on intimate relationships is strict, even for the Sentinel, I'm sure. Our leader stands in front of us, taking a long pause to plan out her words and collect her thoughts before she finally speaks.

"Lyons Pride…'' she says looking over us, holding my stare for an extra long second. "There is no doubt in my mind that you are the most capable, experienced and effective members the Brotherhood has to offer.'' The other guys start smiling and grinning, but I get that old familiar knot in my stomach, and I think back to leaving the vault. When Amata made me leave. I know something bad is coming.

Sarah draws in a huge breath and I watch as her shoulders drop and her Power Armor squeaks. I can't tell if it's just wishful thinking, or if Sarah is actually trying to avoid my gaze as she speaks.

"I've just received some information from my father…'' she pauses for a second, I can tell just by the look on her face she's mentally chastising herself for referring to him informally, not that anyone else is bothered by it. "Elder Lyons has informed me that a large Enclave remnant group has taken up residence in a very…difficult area to access.''

"Is it in the Sentinel's panties?'' I hear Vargas whisper with a chuckle. I don't look but I cast my hand in a lazy backhanded smack and I feel it connect with the side of Vargas' head, he hisses another insult my way but I can't hear him over Sarah now.

"It appears that the Enclave has gained access to one of our local Vaults.'' I feel my heart start beating faster as I anticipate what she says next, but of course Vargas has to jump in to prolong the agony.

"So what? We just empty our plasma grenade cache in it, what's the hold up?''

Sarah takes a long moment to answer, dragging her foot along the ground and swallowing a lump in her throat. Even before the words leave her lips I know what she's going to say. It's the only reason she'd be acting so sheepish.

"This vault appears to still have some civilian inhabitants inside.'' Her eyes finally lock on mine, and I feel my heart stop, but not for the usual reasons, "We can't afford any more innocent blood on the Brotherhood's hands. We're going to have to infiltrate Vault 101 in a diplomatic manner.''