Writers Note: I am hoping to write a romance story for each pair up that I can for the Fallout 4 world. I have written a few already so if you are interested I ask that you please seek them out. I am open to feedback and suggestions. As always I hope you enjoy!

(Sanctuary, MA, October 21st, 2077)

After having spent hours deciding on an outfit and making sure her hair is just right, Lila exits her parent's home wearing her most expensive Sunday dress with her hair pinned up in curls. She is holding a small box wrapped in paper designed to look like the insides of a computer device and tied with a green bow. Today is her best friend's big day and she wants to be sure she looks her best. As she walks the sidewalk she notices right away that her neighbor's Mr. Handy is busying himself in the garden. She steps up to the white picked fence and grips the smooth, painted, wood trying really hard to hold back her excitement.

"Codsworth!" She calls out to him while trying to rise her voice so that he can hear her over the sound of his blades and clips. "How are you doing today?"

He slowly revs down his tools then turns to greet her. "Well, good afternoon Lila. Where are you off to in such splendid attire?"

She giggles, "Oh come on Codsworth, you know today is Alex's eighteenth birthday. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Oh is that really today? Must have slipped my mind."

She giggles again, "You're so silly. Anyway, you should come along too." She holds out her hand as a gesture for him to join her.

He shakes his head. "I'm sorry. I would love to but I just can't this year."

Lila's expression drops a bit. "Why not?"

"Well, as you know the mister and misses just recently had a baby and with both of them away at work I couldn't bare to leave Shaun unattended."

"Then just bring him along too. I am sure Alex's parents won't mind."

"No no, Miss Lila. I really must insist on focusing on my chores, but do be careful. I would hate to think what might happen if one of those military tanks roaming around just happened to nudge the sidewalk."

"Don't worry. I'll be careful. I'll see you later then Codsworth!" She shouts as she continues down the street.

"Have a good day Miss!" He waves happily, then reluctantly returns to the garden.

Lila walks a few blocks and soon finds herself on the streets of Concord. Paying no mind to any of the military events taking place around her, she makes a b-line to Alex's apartment complex. She steps up to the door as quietly as she can while wearing high-heals. She doesn't want anyone to know she is there just yet. She takes out her pocket mirror and double checks that her make up and hair are still in place. She then pockets the mirror and caresses her palms around the rim of her dress. When nothing feels out of place she is able to find the confidence to press the intercom. She takes in a deep breath to try to calm her heartbeat.

"Hello?" A male voice answers over the static sounding speaker.

"Hey, Alex! It's me... duh..." she replies awkwardly.

He chuckles, "Hey, Lila. I'll buzz you in."

"Thanks!"

The door screeches it's warn out buzzer then she hears the door unlock. Hastily she makes her way up the stares to his apartment. He opens the door right away to greet her.

"Hey," he greets with a smile.

Lila's heart melts just a little bit more each time she is greeted by is glossy, gray, eyes. At first she is so captivated by them she doesn't realize that he too has dressed up for the occasion. Normally he just wears lounging clothes since he never really goes outside, but today he is wearing a blue, button down, shirt and tan khakis, with his tarnished, silver, hair washed and combed to one side.

She snaps herself back into focus, "Um, happy birthday!" She holds out the present to him with both hands out in front of her.

"Oh, that is so nice of you. Thanks." He takes the gift from her.

"It's nothing really. You can probably guess by the paper what's on the inside."

"Don't tell me it's that new Eyebot chip I've been wanting?" He asks excitingly.

Lila doesn't say anything and instead just pinches her lips closed.

"Ooo, I know that look!"

He opens the door wide to allow her to step inside. She closes the door behind herself then admires Alex's excitement as he sits down on the living-room couch and tares into his gift. The ribbon and wrapping go flying into the air, then land peacefully on the floor, as he pops open the lid to the box. Inside he finds exactly what he was hoping for. His expression lights up and a big grin spreads over his face.

"So what do you think?" Lila asks.

"OMG you are the best friend in the whole world! Thank you!" He gives her a warm hug. "Where were you able to find it?"

"Oh, I know a guy who knows a guy."

He places the chip between his fingers and studies it closely.

"So, how far along are you with the project?"

He lowers the chip to look at her. "I am almost done. Just a few more parts and she will be ready to go?"

"She huh?"

"Of course she. Something as beautiful as my Eyebot deserves only to be called a she."

Lila giggles, "Whatever you weirdo." She takes a set on the couch next to him. "So, where are your parents? Didn't they want to be here for your big one eight?"

"Naw, why would they? It's just another day to them."

"And to you?"

"Hell no! Just as soon as I can find my own place I am moving out ASAP."

"God, you are so lucky. I wish I could move out of my parents place."

"Well you only have two more days until you're a legal adult. Why can't you?"

She lets out a long huff, "My parents want me to go to college and there is no way I can pay for that shit on my own."

"I thought you were going to tell them you didn't want to go to a university?"

"I did tell them but you know parents. They wont listen and since I haven't had a steady job like you it is not like I just cut off my means of income."

"That really sucks. I'm sorry."

"Yeah, what's worse though is if I go off to college then there will be months at at time where the two of us won't get to see each other." She looks into his eyes with worry in hers.

He tries to think of a proper response as quickly as he can. "Well... that doesn't mean we won't get to talk to each other. We can call each other every day. Deal?"

"Deal. Oh hey by the way, have you received any kind reply about that Vault-Tec Survey?"

"No," he replies disappointed. "How about you?"

"No, nothing yet."

"Man, how cool would it be to get accepted into one of those though? Then there would be no worry if a war breaks out because there would always be a back up plan."

"It would be even more cool if we both got accepted into the same one. Then we could hang out every day without worry of school or work."

"Yes! That would be so awesome! Our lives could be video games all day every day!"

They both laugh simultaneously. Once the laughter dies down they both just sit quietly unsure of what to say to one another. Their hearts race faster and faster as they slowly lean into one another, both having lost control of their movements.

Lila realizes what is happening and suddenly tells herself this isn't the appropriate time for them to be left alone like this. She stands up to leave but not before intentionally placing her hand on top of his just to get a feel of his soft, warm, skin if even only for a moment.

"Well, I guess I best be getting back."

Alex stands up to stop her. "Already? But you just got here."

"Yeah I know but... I have a lot of paperwork that needs to be filled out if I'm gonna make it into a decent college and I really shouldn't wait until the last minute." What she has told him is not a complete lie but it certainly isn't a reason she would have to leave right away. She just needs any excuse to pull herself away before she ends up doing something they might both regret later.

"Okay, I guess I understand," he replies sadly.

His body language makes her heart hurt. She doesn't like seeing him upset. "Hey look. If I get most of it done tonight then maybe we can hang out tomorrow?"

"I can't tomorrow. I have a double at work."

"Okay, but you'll definitely be at my birthday party right?"

"Of course. I wouldn't miss that for anything."

"Awesome 'cause just so you know, I will have a surprise ready when you show up," she teases.

"A surprise? What kind of surprise?"

"Nmm mmm, you will just have to come over and find out. Well, have a good evening Alex." She moves towards the front door.

Alex calls out to stop her again, "Hey Lila!" She turns and waits for him to let her know what he wants. His throat becomes dry as his eyes just barely move in order for him to look down at her heals, then back up her yoga toned calves, which become hidden under her dress, that leads up over her chest, where he continues upward to her eyes. "I just wanted to let you know... you look really pretty today."

Her heart flutters and she loses her breath for a moment. "Thanks, you don't look half bad yourself."

They both chuckle then Lila has to force her legs to lead her out of the building.

(October 23rd, 2077)

Come noon time Lila is still awaiting impatiently for Alex to show up to her party. All of the other guests have already arrived and she refuses to cut the cake or open any of her presents without him. As they all sit around the dinning-room table her mother returns from fetching the mail. She holds up an open envelope for everyone to see.

"It's finally come everyone! Our results for the Vault-Tec survey!"

"Oh my gosh mom! Did we get in?"

She holds her tongue for a dramatic build up, "We did!"

Lila jumps up from her set and makes her way over to look at the letter. "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh! Which vault did we get accepted in?"

"It says right in the letter that you, your father, and I have all been found legible for access to Vault 111 if the need should ever arise."

"That is great Mrs. Hammond. You guys are so lucky. Congratulations!" Says the party guests.

Lila looks to her friends. "I only wish we all could get accepted."

"Well there is suppose to be room for one thousand people in each vault so you never know," her mother replies.

"Yeah," Lila responds knowing the likeliness of that is slim to none. She returns to her seat at the table just as the doorbell rings. Her heart jumps up to her throat. "Is that Alex?" She asks doing a poor job at hiding her excitement.

"Just a moment. Let me answer the door first," her mother replies.

Her other friends begin to mock her. "Why do you even like him?"

"Yeah he is such a geek."

"Shut up you guys," she mutters as her face turns bright red.

Alex steps into the room holding a small, ring sized, box for a present. All the other guests look at her implying that they know what the evening has in store. He quickly tucks it away inside his pocket as if everyone hadn't already see it, making the moment even more awkward.

"Happy birthday Lila! Sorry I'm late." He gives everyone an awkward wave.

"That's alright. Come on, sit down. We're about to cut the cake."

After the festivities the rest of the guests decide to head out leaving Alex as the last guest. As if it has become like any other day, Lila heads to her bedroom to wind down. Alex uses the restroom then soon after joins her. Not wanting the rest of the family to hear what he is about to say he closes the door behind him.

"Alex, you know that my parents-"

"Yeah, I know, I know, just let me do this real quick." He kneels down on one knee before her. Again Lila's heart jumps and she finds it hard to breathe. "Lila, I got accepted."

"Oh my gosh you did? That's great, so did I! Which one?"

"Vault 110!"

"Oh umm," her brain becomes scrambled. She is not sure how to tell him that they aren't accepted to the same vault.

He waits impatiently for an response. "So... what about you?"

"I umm..." she is cut off by her bedroom door being opened quickly.

Alex stumbles to the floor trying to hide his stance.

Her mother stands in the doorway angrily. "Lila, what have I told you about keeping this door open when you have company?"

"I know mom," Lila says annoyed.

Alex intervenes, "That was my bad Mrs. Hammond. It won't happen again."

She turns away still angry and makes her way down the hall.

He turns back to Lila, "Sorry."

"It's fine," she whispers, "What don't you want her to know?"

He gets back to his knees and taps his fingers against his pocket. He bits his bottom lip as he debates on going through with actually giving it to her. He swallows hard then pulls the box from his pocket. He takes her by the hand and places it within her palm. She is terrified by what she assumes lies inside.

"Alex I-"

He hushes her, "Just open it."

She does as he asks and peals the purple wrapping paper from the box. Sure enough it revels a velvet, ring, box. She looks into his eyes one last time before opening it and she can tell he is super nervous. She pulls up the top of the box and inside is a silver band with the word 'Promise' engraved around the interior. A tear slides down her cheek. She takes in a deep breath realizing she has been holding it in this entire time. She turns to look at him again.

"Alex, it's beautiful," she continues to whisper only this time it is more from being out of breath than being intentional.

"Now I don't want you to think that I am trying to pin you down or anything. I just figured it would be nice if I could give you something that reminded you of me whether you go off to college, or if we end up in separate vaults, you know. I mean, I would have done the traditional thing and given you my class ring if I had one."

Her tears of happiness quickly turn to tears of sorrow. "I don't want us to have to be apart," her voice cracks as she begins to cry.

Alex stands up from the floor and sits down on the bed next to her. "What do you mean? We said we would stay in touch."

"That's not enough for me. I don't want us to have to wait. I just want us to be together."

Alex is shocked that she has just come out and said it all of a sudden. "Is this the surprise you were keeping from me?"

She nods her head.

"Wow, I... I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything."

She slowly leans herself towards him. This is the moment. The moment they can finally have their first kiss without anyone saying that it is not a choice made by two consenting adults. Their lips become so close, they can feel each others hot breath caressing their face. They tilt their heads to keep their noses from colliding. They want so badly to know the taste, the feeling, the connection.

"Lila Swara Hammond!" Her mother yells from the hallway.

The two of them pull back from each other startled by her interruption.

"What mom?" Lila responds annoyed.

"Don't 'what mom' me! I saw what you two were about to do!"

"Mrs. Hammond, your daughter and I were just-"

"Alex, you need to zip those puckered lips and head home, right now!"

"Mom, this is not a big deal."

"You zip it too missy!" She points her finger hard at her, then at Alex, then towards the front door. "You, leave, now!"

"Then I'm leaving too!" Lila snaps.

"Oh no! You and I need to have a talk!"

Lila looks to Alex apologetic. "I'll call you later, okay?"

He nods his head.

"Oh no you won't!" Her mom yells.

Alex is escorted out the door but he does not leave right away. Instead he sneaks around to the back of the house where the window to Lila's room is partly open so that he can listen in on their conversation.

Lila continues to protest. "Mom why do you have to act like this? Alex is a nice guy, you know that."

"I don't care if he is nice! I care that he is ruining his life and now he wants to drag you down with him!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb because I know you're not! You have a bright future ahead of you what with getting strait A's in every class and yet he is a layabout who never even graduated high school!"

"Alex was never going to keep me from school mother. He was just telling me about how he wanted us to stay in touch once I left."

"Yeah sure, that is how it starts. Then before you know it, you are skipping classes just so you can have more time to see each other, then he knocks you up, and then you're stuck at home, taking care of a baby, while he is out working pay check to pay check just to keep you and your child alive. Is that the kind of future you want?"

"I don't need to listen to this." She moves past her to exit the house.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"For a walk! All this hot air is making me dizzy!"

"If you leave this house you are in big trouble young lady!"
Lila steps out into the sunny day only to be greeted by a number of tanks flooding the streets. "What the hell?" She mutters.

Alex comes out from behind the house to meet up with her. "Hey, hold up!"

"What are you still doing here?"

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

"I'm fine. What's going on with all these tanks?"

"I don't know. There are many more than normal so... it must be something big."

Suddenly a siren breaks out signaling the area is in danger.

"What the fuck is that?" Lila panics.

"That's a military siren."

One of the soldiers from inside a tank begins to speak over a loudspeaker. "Attention citizen's of Sanctuary! This is not a drill! If you have been accepted into a vault, please make your way over to the appropriate site immediately! I repeat, this is not a drill!"

"Oh god Alex, this is it! I didn't think this day would actually come!" Lila says worried.

"It's okay. Don't get worked up. Let's just do as the military asks, okay? Let's go."

He takes her by the hand as they move quickly down the sidewalk. Lila notices Nate and Nora carrying their baby Shaun out of their home and towards the vault but Codsworth is nowhere to be seen.

Alex continues to try to pull her along with him but she pulls away.

"Lila, what are you doing? We have to go!"

"Just give me a second." She hurries through the gate and into the house. She finds Codsworth idling in the living-room. "Codsworth! What are you doing? Come on!"

"I can't go Miss Lila. The vault is reserved for humans only."

"That is bullshit! I am sure they could use robots on the inside. It is not like you guys use up food, or water, or anything."

"I'll be alright Miss. I can survive a nuclear fallout. You can't. Now please, get to safety."

Alex enters the house. "Come on we gotta go!"

"But Codsworth..." Unsure what to say, her body acts on impulse and she gives Codsworth a kiss where she believes is the equivalent to his cheek, leaving behind a perfect, pink, lipstick mark.

"Take care Codsworth. I hope you are still here when we get back."

"I'll do my best Miss."

The two of them hurry down the sidewalk and at the beginning of the dirt path a soldier stops them. "What is your vault number?" He demands.

"110," Alex answers.

"And yours miss?"

"111," she answers nervously.

Alex looks to her saddened that she hadn't told him sooner. Before she has a chance to apologize the soldiers pull them in opposite directions.

"Okay, miss your vault is right up that hill to the right. Sir, hop on the truck and we'll get you over to yours."

"Alex!" Lila cries as she is escorted away.

"I love you Lila!" He hollers before being shoved into the truck.

"Let's go miss, there is not much time!"

She makes her way up to the vault gate where everyone from the town is begging to be let in. With tears streaming down her face she approaches the man in uniform holding a clipboard.

"Name?" He demands.

"Lila Hammond."

He gives the clipboard a quick glance. "You're in. Move it!"

She runs past the rest of the soldiers following their points to the platform. An explosion is heard and a bright flash fills the sky.

"Bring them down now!" She hears a man yell.

The platform descends just as the fiery blast rushes over them. As they descend deep into the vault entrance all Lila can think is 'Did Alex make it to his vault? There was not much warning before the bomb hit. 'If only I had moved faster.' She continues to cry to herself. The platform comes to a halt and the gate before them opens.

"Please watch your step," a man in blue instructs.

She waits until the others head up the stairs then she follows as the last one in the group. She rubs her hands up and down her arms trying to warm up her goosebumps.

"Please be okay," she whispers.

As she enters the main area her mother and father are waiting impatiently for her arrival. As soon as they notice her they cry out to her.

"Oh my god! There she is! Over here sweetie!"

She hurries over to them and they share a group hug.

"Mom, dad, you made it!"

"And you made it too. We were so worried about you," her dad says.

"I'm sorry for earlier."

"Thanks mom."

Another man in blue steps into the center of the room. "Alright folks, let's get you all into your vault suits so that we can move you deeper inside where you will feel more comfortable." He presents a woman holding up a vault suit.

Lila steps over to her.

"Just take a suit, step behind one of the curtains over there, and put it on."

She does as she is asked and heads behind a curtain. As she undresses herself in front of the mirror, she gives herself a once over to be sure she has no cuts or bruises from the soldiers grabbing her. She has a bit of a mark on her right arm but nothing serious. She strips off her dress as well as her shoes and stalkings. She is not sure if she is suppose to take off her bra and panties so she decides to keep them on. She laughs to herself as she thinks about all the effort she has taken to pick out the perfect set expecting to show them off to Alex. She remembers the ring he gave her and hopes it hasn't fallen out of the pocket of her dress. She searches and finds it still intact. She takes the ring from its box and slides it over the left ring finger. She lifts the ring up to her mouth and kisses it.

"I promise I'll wait for you," she whispers.

Once she steps back out into the room she is led down a large hallway towards some pods sitting at the far end.

"Pods?" She asks confused. "Why are there pods in here?'

A man in a cleaning suit answers her, "The pods are only temporary. They are meant to pressurize you before you can head deeper into the vault.

"Just go on sweetie," Lila's dad instructs. "We'll be waiting for you on the inside."

Filled with fear Lila steps up into the seat of the pod. The door quickly closes behind her and she suddenly begins to panic even more than before. She has become a goldfish and for the first time in her life she realizes what loosing control actually means. The pod fills with a knockout gas and everything becomes dark.