Chapter 1– Into Each life some Rain Must Fall

A loud sound of humming and beating raised Nora from her drifting nap. She had been trying to catch a nap while Shaun slept in his crib. She was sleeping on average 3 hours a night, life with a newborn was miserable. Anytime she could catch a nap, she took advantage of the situation. Never dreaming since Nate left on his deployment she was just happy when she could rest. She couldn't wait for Nate to get home. It was October 23. 2077. Any minute now she'd be getting the call to go and pick him up from Fort Hagen.

"Madame? I do believe these visitors intend on coming to our door." True to his word, Nate had the latest Mr. Handy model delivered to their home in Sanctuary Hills a few weeks ago in celebration of their first anniversary. Nora had named him Codsworth and programmed a British accent. In her constant delirious sleep deprived state it seemed like a swell idea, and she in fact found the thing quite endearing. He had been a life saver these past two months.

Three months after dropping Nate off at the deployment center at Fort Hagen Nora came down with what she thought was a terrible flu. When she went to the doctor at Medford Memorial Hospital they told her the news. She was 3 months pregnant.

When she made her weekly holotape to Nate, after telling him about her week she quickly, and without ceremony, added at the end that she was expecting. A week later in his reply, it was all he could talk about. He was ecstatic and over the moon. She could hear the guys of his platoon congratulating him and making jokes in the background. She wished she had felt the same enthusiasm at the time. But as her closest friend was currently the commode in their bathroom it was hard felt. And soon enough the months past and she was alone at the hospital giving birth to their son, Shaun. At the moment their son was born, Nora felt more love in her heart than she had ever thought possible. He was perfect and her whole world.

Nora groaned as she rolled out of bed throwing on whatever clean outfit was laying on top of the laundry bin. When the knock came at the door she cursed under her breath. If whoever it was woke Shaun there would be hell to pay. She quickly and quietly cracked open the nursery door to check on her son. She smiled seeing the red and white rockets on his mobile still spinning. Another gift sent from Nate. He had yet to meet his son and already the boy was spoiled rotten. Shaun was still fast asleep. Thank Goodness.

"Mam? Shall I answer the door?"

Walking down the hallway, Nora placed her messy hair into a quick bun at the top of her head. Damn appearances. Whoever interrupted her nap would just have to deal with the day to day look of a new mother. "No, Codsworth. It's okay, I will answer it. Thank you. Hey, could you move the laundry over to the dryer for me?"

"Yes mam. Right away."

Another heavy knock came from the other side of the door just as Nora reached for the door knob. She moved to open the door but stopped. Something didn't feel right. Something was definitely wrong. Figuring it was that pesky Vault Tech salesman doing his rounds again she shook off the feeling and threw open the door. And froze.

A tall man in an Army Class A uniform was standing at attention on her patio. She could immediately smell his after shave and a few wrinkles in his uniform. He hadn't been planning on being at her door today. He had dark hair and hazel eyes similar to Nate, but this man was not her husband.

Nora then noticed a Catholic priest with his stuffy white collar standing in the yard. And was that one of the new Vertibird tiltwing aircraft Nate had told her about? Parked in the middle of her street?! A group of neighborhood kids were already gathering around, a pilot keeping them at a safe distance.

"C-can I help you gentlemen?" Nora barely recognized her voice. She knew. She knew why they were here. She was no fool.

"Good Morning. I am Major Danse of the U.S. Army. And this is Father Callahan. We represent the 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry Regiment. Are you the wife of Nathanael S. McCarthy?"

Nora nodded. It was just about all she could do.

"I have an important message to deliver from the Secretary of the Army, may I come in, Mrs. McCarthy?"

Nora again nodded and moved from the doorway, allowing the two men to enter her home. At that moment Shaun decided to wake and immediately start crying. Nora's breasts ached at the sound of his cry. Still nursing, it was an involuntary reaction. Nora noted Codsworth hovering in the corner of the kitchen. Having always greeted guests immediately, his silence was noted. He knew too.

Nora was more short with him than she meant to be. "Codsworth, there is a bottle of milk for you to use in the fridge. Shaun? Would you?" And as an afterthought. "Please."

"Of course, mam. Right away."

The two men were standing awkwardly in the doorway after the exchange. Nora pulled herself together. "Please gentlemen. Come in. Help yourself to the couch." Oh god, the couch. Nate had picked out that couch. "Can I get you anything?"

Both men assured her they were fine and sat down. Nora couldn't do anything but play with the buttons on her shirt. "Do you need a moment with your child Mrs. McCarthy?" Major Danse offered.

"No. No. Codsworth is more than capable. A gift. From my hus-husband." The two men looked at each other. They were trying to decide if they needed more time to ease her into what they were about to say. Nora wasn't playing the game. "Is he? Is he dead?"

Major Danse looked down into his lap and then straight into Nora's eyes. She saw the respect there, and was thankful of it. "Mam, The Secretary of the Army has asked me to express his deep regret that your husband died over enemy waters yesterday on his trip home from deployment. The aircraft was shot down by Chinese communists in a new show of force against our presence in their country. The Secretary extends his deepest sympathy to you and your son in your tragic loss."

Nora's first thought were not of herself, but of the families of the other men and women in Nate's platoon. "Were there any survivors?"

The two men again looked at each other before speaking. "We believe the communists have developed several new nuclear explosive weapons. The results were devastating. There were no survivors from that plane." Major Danse shifted in his seat. Clearly her question and lack of sorrow was uncomfortable for him. Nora wondered how many other families he had spoken to so far today.

"Mam, would you care to say a prayer with me? In honor of your husband? He was identified as an Irish Catholic in our databases." Nora wanted to kick the clergy man in the balls. No she didn't want to say a prayer! She wanted her son's father to be alive. A father he would never meet. But Nora knew her anger was misplaced.

"Certainly Father."

"Any special prayer you would like to recite with me?"

"No, any will do."

"Let us pray…" Major Danse and Father Callahan bowed their heads and began to say the catholic prayer for the dead. "God our Father, your power brings us to birth, your providence guides our lives, and by Your command we return to dust…" They continued together but Nora was left standing playing with her shirt buttons. She had never been religious. She wasn't sure she believed in anything. But praying in turbulent times had always brought Nate comfort.

Nora didn't listen to the rest of the prayer. She had realized how much she had been holding her breath during the whole ordeal. Surprisingly she wasn't crying or screaming at the prayerful men each in their own uniform. However, suddenly she became dizzy. She could still hear Shaun crying and she remembered thinking she should go to him. As she stepped from where she had been standing the world started to fade away. And her last thought was, into each life some rain must fall but too much is falling in mine.

Hey guys. No reviews yet but I was encouraged to write this quick chapter after 2 followed the story. Give me some feedback. I promise things are going to get more exciting. But all this introductory stuff is kinda necessary. Again I will remind you that I am merging the pre-war and post-war Fallout 4 worlds. Decided to introduce Danse as the Army officer performing the death notification, we may see him again in the future! Next chapter will fast forward a few months and Nora will be in law practice. Guess who her first defendant in a criminal case will be? Also, are the song quotes added in there too cheesy?