Disclaimer: Obviously don't own squat. Not even this lovely game or the characters spoken about. I got this idea while taking a shower. I stubbed my toe and was sitting on the ground with my forehead on the wall as the water pelted me. Than this came to me. Hope you enjoy!

Leave a review cos' I can't judge my own writing!

She heard rumors. She only ever heard rumors and the more she looked at the ghoul next to her made the interest in those rumors peak.

Reversing the affects of ghoulification.

Sounded impossible right? But the rumors wouldn't be there if someone hadn't thought it possible.

She knew better than to gossip but this rumor hit home for her and she couldn't help thinking if it was possible.

The rumors spoke of a place outside of the Capitol Wastes in an abandoned city filled with creatures and enemies no one has ever faced before. Somewhere among the inhabitants that seemed to thrive there was a scientist who's name was not spoken, working on reversing the affects of ghoulification and somehow found a cure, if you could call it that.

She never thought becoming a ghoul was a disease anymore than getting sunburned was but people had a different outlook on the issue, especially the ghouls themselves. Reversing the affects would not only bring their lives back but would help them immigrate back into society which was what she wanted for everyone.

The more she thought of it the more she wanted to find out if it was true and having the person she cherished most be a ghoul only simplified her decision.

She looked over at Charon. "Hey. Have you ever left the Capitol Wastes?"

He looked up from cleaning his shot gun. "Almost. One of my previous employers had a job on the border but crossing was near impossible. Why?

"Just thinking" She leaned back into her chair.

He set down the shot gun and raised what was left of his eyebrow. "Thinking has never been your strong suit."

She threw a pillow at him and he chuckled catching it and setting it down on his bed.

She smiled back at him. "You're such a jerk!" She threatened to throw another pillow and his hand shot up in response but she just clutched it to her chest and laid her head on it looking at the ghoul who stared back.

They did this a lot, just stared at each other for a few minutes before going back to whatever they were doing prior. He had been under her employment for nearly two years now and in the time they grew closer. He was able to say whatever he wanted and do whatever he wanted without any obligation and he was truly happy for the first time in his very long life.

"What if I told you I knew a way out." She clung tighter to the pillow. "Would you want to check it out?"

He looked up for a moment in thought. "It wouldn't hurt. I guess I've always been curious."

She smiled and tossed the pillow in his direction knowing he wasn't prepared for it and it hit directly on his face before falling into his arms.

"Oh you're going to get it now." He growled and she shot up from her chair giggling as she ran down the stairs.

He quickly caught up to her loving the little shriek she gave when he lifted her over his shoulder and placed his hand just below her butt.

"Oh no, I've been caught!" She lightly pounded on his back with her fists and he dropped her on her big bed in the living room and put his hands on either side of her face on the bed.

She smiled up at him as she grabbed his arm and he couldn't help the smile that spread to his face. They stayed like that for a couple minutes before he stood up and made his way over to the Nukacola machine tossing her a cold drink when she sat up and pulled a quantum out for him.

She flipped open her Pipboy as she finished her soda and scanned her way over to the spot the people told her was the opening of the Capitol Wastes. They had told her it was a tight squeeze but if they didn't pack anything bulkier than her bodyguard they'd be fine.

The abandoned town wasn't far from the opening but it was far enough for them to get a lay of the land and the creatures that dwell beyond. Who knew if they were worse or harmless but they would find out come tomorrow.

"I was thinking we could leave tomorrow. We would make it to the border about this time and we could spend one last night in the Capitol Wastes before using all our energy on whatever lay outside." She looked up from her Pipboy at Charon.

"That shouldn't be a problem. Do you know where you're going?"

"Yeah I have it mapped on here. Cool thing is if there are any places with large quantities of life this bad boy will mark it once we step foot outside. That way we aren't wondering around aimlessly." She smiled at him and he walked over to her. Her heart skipped a beat when he bent down and placed a soft kiss on the top of her head.

"Okay. I'll wake you up in the morning." He said smiling down at her and then he walked up the stairs to his spare room leaving her with pink cheeks and a goofy smile.

They took minimal breaks as they continued to trek through the wastes heading towards the mountains. She could tell with each step he was growing more skeptical and she had to smile at his questioning face when they were met with a mountain that didn't look cross-able. It towered over them and even made Charon feel small.

He watched as she walked over to the mountain and began touching the rock formation with her dirty fingers and smiled widely when she found what she was looking for. She turned around looking at him and took one step back before taking another step to the left and disappeared. He was shocked at first but saw her little fingers wrap around the edge of the rock and poke her little head out with that gleam in her eyes he just loved.

He walked over to see the optical illusion up close. The mound was connected to one side of the mountain while the other had a little opening that anyone could walk through. From a distance it would've looked just like a big hunk of rock protruding from the mountain in the naturally formed way rocks did. It was brilliant.

"How did you know about this?" He said poking his head in to look inside.

"I heard rumors both in and out of the vault. One day I just finally built up the courage to ask someone to show me where it was. It was always mapped out on my Pipboy but I never had the nerve to check it out. It's cool huh?" She said touching the wall and turning to face him with that bright smile of hers.

"It's definitely something." He said in awe as he looked up. "Let's set up camp, it's getting dark sooner than I expected."

"Okay."

They both sat around the fire eating their Mirelurk on a stick listening to the silence of the Wastes. He broke the silence first.

"I wonder what's out there." He said motioning to the mountains.

"Hopefully nothing terribly dangerous." She said poking the fire with the end of a baseball bat.

"If there is anything out there, don't do anything stupid."

She chuckled. "You got it boss."

He smiled at that. He glanced at her as she lifted the baseball out of the flames just as the end caught on fire. She pulled it up to her face and watched it slowly die and put her hand over the smoke as it swirled above it.

"Still warm.." She spoke quietly and he grinned looking back down towards his shot gun.

"What?"

He turned to look at her and saw her staring at him now. "What?" He mimicked.

"Why are you smiling?" She asked pulling her knees to her chest and resting her arms on them.

"Nothing." He said turning his attention back to his shot gun.

She thought about it for a second before dropping it. She stood up and watched over to her make shift bed laying her head down on her bag.

"Goodnight, Charon." She said with closed eyes.

"Goodnight." He grinned again.