A/N: I wanted to thank all of those who took the time to read my Fallout 4 story. The game has to be one of the most in depth, exciting and addicting games I've ever played, and even though it doesn't need one, I wanted to write a story about my play through and I hope you enjoy.

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds." J. Robert Oppenheimer

March 5, 2288

"Wouldn't have it any other way."

Piper,

Those are some of the first words you ever said to me. More importantly they are the first words I paid attention to after I woke up to this nightmare that is my life, or I should say our life. Yet that simple phrase, just like you, means more to me then I can ever express, and I need you to know that I never thought I'd find happiness until I met you. In the beginning when I crawled out of that vault all I wanted to do was destroy the entire commonwealth until I found out what happened. I met Preston and all of the others helped me try to understand what had happened, but I didn't care what they had to say because no one seemed to listen about Shaun, and Nate, but you did. It may have started off as you wanting a story to print, but I could tell after our first conversation that I became more to you then just words on paper, just like you became more to me than just a reporter trying to get the truth. It is part of the reason why I am writing 've been there for me when I needed you the most and supported me along the way while we trekked across this wasteland trying to make it a better place to live. You've seen me at my worst and my best during my hunt for Shaun more so than anyone else yet you have never judged me. You put me back together after I got distracted and set off a bottlecap mine and stayed by my side through my entire recovery. I think that's when I realized my feelings for you were real, and I never wanted you away from me again.

Truth be told that distraction was you, or at least a part of you. It's actually my favorite part of you, and why I always insisted that you walk in front of me on missions. Now I know you're blushing, and I hope I made you smile that beautiful smile just now. Just like I hope I can continue to see you smile for years to come. I said that you were perfect for me and I meant it even if it took me nearly losing a leg to realize it.

This is why this is so hard for me to say to you in person, so instead I am writing this to tell you that I can only hope that if we do see each other again after this is all over, that it will be with my son, this letter won't have to be given to you, and we can be the family that we talked about. The problem is the more time that passes as I sit here trying to write this, the more my fears of having to stay behind to set off the nuke to end the control the Institute has over us becomes a reality. No one has told me otherwise and we are getting closer to finally ending this. I know this is me being a coward but I cannot face you knowing that I may hurt you even though you are stronger than anyone I've ever met. I know it doesn't make any sense and I'm sorry, you deserve better, but I am more scared of you hating me and not coming with me than me making peace with the fact that I may not return and only get to spend a few moments with my son. You've changed my priorities of what I want but what I wasn't doesn't matter if what we started isn't finished, so you must carry on. There are, and have been so many unknowns, but you have been the one stable thing in my life and I love you for it. So I'm asking you to be that same stable person now for Shaun and Nat, they are going to need it.

Yours, always, Nora.

"Codsworth?" Nora calls for her longtime assistant with a shaky voice. Her vision blurs as tears form while she folds the note she just finished writing to her lover. She wants to throw it in the fire and think about the best possible outcome but her mind isn't cooperating.

"You called Mum?" The floating robot answers as he enters the sole survivors bedroom, and moves next to her where she is sitting on the bed.

The 'Mister Handy' butler was the first thing she saw that wasn't mutated and didn't want to kill her when she left Vault 111, and has been by her side ever since. He tried to make it easier for Nora and console her when she spoke of her son's kidnapping and husband's murder and she has appreciated it. He did as much as he could for her, and managed to help her more than most, and she needs him to do this one last thing for her.

"I need you to give this to Piper after this is all over with." Nora says while she hands the paper to Codsworth.

She looks up at the enormous teleportation device they have been constructing in order to reach this secret faction with disdain. This is the final quest to bring back her son and God help those that were apart of his abduction. Kellogg was just the beginning and even though she nearly lost all hope of ever finding Shaun after she killed him it was worth it. It may have been her addiction to psycho, or her dependence on alcohol but it felt good to track and kill the man that took Shaun and killed her husband; almost too good. But Nora knows that destroying the faction that did this to her must happen so another family will not have to deal with her pain. It is a pain that is deep within her sole and cannot be understood by anyone even though one person tries.

Piper Wright, the news reporter from Diamond City has been accompanying her on missions since finding out about Nora's story. Along the way a relationship formed and now just the thought of her name brings a smile to Nora's face, a warm feeling in her heart, and tears to her eyes. Nora's emotions are all over the place and she has to keep them at bay before her lover returns from Diamond City, so they can have one last night together before their quest. Her lips curl up at the memories of how animated Piper can be when she gets excited or aggravated. How nervous and lost for words she is when Nora flirts with her, or gives her a certain look. That smile is nearly erased when the thought of this being their last few moments together, and her never being able to see Piper again overtakes everything else.

"A private letter to Ms. Wright. I will guard it with my life." Codsworth's British accent breaks her out of her dark thoughts. He always has a way to ease the tension with some of his offhanded remarks, especially during battle, but not this time.

"Please make sure she gets it after she comes back, and not before." Nora insists even though she needs to be more specific on the timeframe.

"She will not receive it a moment sooner." He says with a little hint of sarcasm.

"Is everything okay?" He asks after "staring" at her for a moment.

"I'm alright, thank you." She says unconvincingly with a slight nod.

She opens a second bottle and takes a shot of Bourbon that she has become so dependent on in order to try and become numb. Enjoying the slight burn as it dulls her senses she takes another, and can hear a sigh of contempt come from Codsworth. She knows she drinks too much, but drinking one bottle just doesn't work as well anymore.

"May I ask why you won't be able to give this to her?" He asks suspiciously. "Or is it a surprise?"

"It's a surprise." She says quickly and hopes he doesn't push anymore on the subject.

"Oh how I do hope it is a proposal! You know how much I like to dress up proper and what better time than a wedding!"

"It's not, that." She says with a laugh. Her smile leaves her face altogether at the thought of never being able to spend the rest of her days with her son and the woman she loves.

"Not yet, anyway." The lone survivor of Vault 111 places the bottle on the table after taking one last swig. Tonight is important and she doesn't want to be inebriated, yet she can't allow her emotions to get the better of her and let slip what she just wrote, so slightly drunk will have to do; if there is such a thing.

"Are you sure you're alright?" He asks again, before leaving the room. The concern in his voice is surprising but sincere.

"I am, I just cannot believe we've come this far and now it could be all over with in a few hours." She lies about her actual thoughts and what may come, but it is still amazing to realize that she can be reunited with her son.

"Ah yes, we could be seeing young Shaun quite soon. I do hope he recognizes me." Codsworth's upbeat attitude and all around oddness causes a smile to form even if it is forced. The fact that her son will more than likely not recognize any of them since he was barely six months old the last time she saw him is always on her mind.

"I'm so excited I think I'll go get the polish ready. Do you think Mama murphy will help polish my unreachables if I ask her?"

"She may, but only if you ask nicely enough." Nora says with a laugh. "Honestly Codsworth, I can't stop thinking about the journey we've been on and what it has taken to get to this point. I just wish Nate was here to see everything that we have done."

"As do I. His passing is still upsetting, but on a good note it has been an adventure." The robots demeanor changes from solemn to excited. "One that I've taken the liberty of recording what I can so that it may be shared with master Shaun. It is quite the story he will hear of his mother the hero."

Of course he'd make it a point to say that again, and make her feel worse. The word hero is not something she'd describe herself while thinking back to what she has done and been through. Lucky yes, but not a hero, and as she continues to prepare Pipers favorite meal, which is anything not radioactive, toxic, or something you don't need a Radaway after you eat, her thoughts go back to that fateful day in 2077 that would be the beginning of her story.

October 23, 2077

"Good morning! Vault-Tec calling!" Nora hears as she opens her front door.

The newly blessed mother feigns a smile as she realizes that they can no longer ignore the vault-tec representative. The man means well but it always sounds like he's trying to sell them something they already have.

"He's persistent I'll give him that." Her husband Nate says from the living room which causes her to turn her head towards him so she can silently chastise him for making her laugh in his face.

It is a gorgeous day and Nora wants to get this conversation over with so they can all go to the park and enjoy the afternoon. Considering the fact that the Vault-tec rep wants to be anywhere but here is a good sign that they will be able to do just that.

"I'm uh... In a bit of a rush." His demeanor changes with this sentence and Nora realizes she may have hit a nerve.

"Vault-Tec? Remind me again."

"Why we're about you ma'am! And helping secure your future." He begins his sales pitch again, and she cannot understand why he is so rushed. Sure tensions are high and war is possible, but they haven't exactly dropped the bomb yet.

"You see, Vault- Tec is the foremost builder of state-of-the-art underground fallout shelters." Nothing so heinous as Atomic warfare has happened yet, but just talking about it makes Nora want to hold her baby tighter.

"Vaults if you will." The vault tec rep's voice brings her thoughts to the here and now and distracts her enough from leaving to get Shaun.

"Luxury accommodations, where you can wait out the horrors of nuclear devastation." He is making it sound so much worse than what the news is reporting and she can only pray that they won't have to use this offered sanctuary, and have enough room if they do.

"You can't begin to know how happy I am to finally speak with you. I've been trying for days. It's a matter of utmost urgency, I assure you." This causes Nora to turn to look for her husband for a different reason; she's now scared.

"What's so important?" She asks, hoping this man is only paranoid but it doesn't seem to be the case.

"Why nothing less than your entire future. If you hadn't noticed, ma'am, this country has gone to heck in a handbasket. If you'll excuse my language. The big kaboom...it's inevitable, I'm afraid. And coming sooner than you may think. If you catch my meaning" This get her attention even more. How would a vault-tec rep know this?

The deliberate way he his saying all of this almost sounds like he has a gun to his head and speaking in code. She feels her husband's hand on her shoulder and begins to feel a little better but the concerned look on his face isn't helping matters at all now.

"Now I know you're a busy woman, so I won't take up much of your time. Time being a, um, precious commodity. I'm here today to tell you that because of your family's service to our country, you have been preselected for entrance into the local vault. Vault 111."

"Sounds great." She says impatiently. All Nora wants is to do is kiss her husband, run to her child, and leave for the Vault, now.

The rest of the conversation was a blur other than the rep mentioning total atomic annihilation again and asking information about the three of them that didn't seem necessary. It is unreal to think that atomic warfare is happening again, but this time it is on a grander scale and everyone's life is in danger. In what seems like seconds after she closes the door, the news announces an attack in New York and Pennsylvania.

The feed cuts out and the next thing she knows she is running with her family for their lives to get into the vault. It is upsetting to think about all of those who did not make it to safety in time, and she says a silent prayer for them as she is being rushed through the place they are going to call home for the foreseeable future. They get to their destination and are ordered to put on a blue suit and climb into a decontamination chamber. Something feels off but no one questions since these people just saved their lives. Climbing into the pod she gives one last look to the two most important people in her life, tells them she loves them, and breaths a sigh of relief as the door to the pod closes and seals them all safely inside.

"I love you. Both of you!"

Within moments everything goes dark and she is soon asleep, and unfortunately for Nora more than one hundred and fifty years will have passed before she wakes up to bare witness to one of the worst things imaginable. She hopes this is only a dream, but these images will haunt her thoughts while she slumbers until she finally wakes up to the horrifying truth. Her child is gone, ripped from his father's arms, and her husband is dead after he is shot and killed to protect him. Years later this will ultimately put her on the path to find the truth, and her son while becoming a hero to those she meets along the way.