Six felt uncomfortable about bringing Vulpes to Hidden Valley. It felt like she was just gleefully giving away a big secret to the enemy. Despite her growing attraction to Vulpes, his status as the enemy still hung in the back of her mind like a gray cloud. She wanted so desperately to just be able to forget for a while that he was evil. Sometimes she did slip and would relax a little, but then she reminded herself of Nipton and Searchlight. Vulpes was responsible for both.

They had found themselves in a shack that was more of a lean-to. Their break from walking left Six with time to stare off into the desert and think.

She felt his prescense move to sit beside her where she had seated herself on a large rock in the shade. He slung an arm around her waist. "You have something on your mind?" His voice was smooth as honey and warm like tea. Perfect.

"No," She muttered automatically. "I mean yes," She corrected after he gave her a look.

"What's wrong?"

She sighed and looked down at her hands. "I don't trust you. I..." She shook her head. "Convince me."

"Convince you of why you should trust me?" There was a pause. "There's no valid excuse to redeem me of everything I've done."

"But then why should I just let you come with me to the bunker?"

"Because I heard you and the Scribe girl talking about how the Elder just adores you." His eyes were dark. "I thought I made myself clear when I said I don't like sharing."

"So what are we then? What do you want from me?" She met his stare with desperation, anger, pleading.

His eyes were fixed on hers, cold and unreadable. "We should get moving."

Her eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. She stood her ground.

"You want me to say that we can just go about and be a happy couple? You know we can't do that. There's no way your NCR dog would accept that and neither would your doctor friend. I'm pretty sure that cowboy merchant would resent the idea as well. So for now there really isn't anything that I can say."

"Right, so we're just not allowed to see other people. But we're not in a relationship."

He sighed. "What do YOU want from me, dear Courier?"

She shook her head. "I just want to be able to be around you without feeling like I'm going to step on a rattle snake."

"Then just trust me." He leaned forward, pressing his lips to her forehead. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"You're just going to use me."

"I have no need to use you."

"You're going to stab me in the back."

"I'm not."

"You're going to hurt me."

There was a long pause. "Six," He placed both of his hands deliberately on her hips, his dark eyes staring into hers. It had been the first time he had called her anything other than her job title. "I know you don't trust me completely. There isn't anything that I can say to change your mind. Not after everything I've done. But you're not supporting the NCR or the Legion. You're that third option that I need. And you're you."

His words hung heavy in the air and she ran them through her mind over and over again. She needed to know exactly what he meant. She needed absolute certainty.

As if sensing the turmoil in her brain, Vulpes leaned forward, pulling her closer at the same time. Their lips met, and he was gentle, sweet. He gripped her shoulder, his thumb rubbing soothing circles into her flesh. His other hand was resting on her hip, warm and firm.

"Vulpes," She whispered as he ran his lips over her jaw line.

He grunted in response and nipped lightly at her neck, returning his lips to hers almost immediately after. This time, the kiss was long and passionate. Her heart felt like a trapped bird, desperately fluttering to escape.

"Vulpes," She murmured, louder this time.

"Yes," He replied. His voice firm and low. It wasn't a question, it was an answer.

"Please, Vulpes. I want you. I need you. I want you so badly."

He pulled back, his eyes looking confused, almost suspicious.

"Please," She repeated, giving into her want for him. All the time spent thinking about him. All the suspicion. She just wanted to forget it. "Please."

He was breathing heavily. His chest rising and falling at seeing her like this. Finally her hard shell had cracked and she was begging for him.

"I just want to forget about what you are for a while. Don't be the Legionary, just be my Vulpes."

He pushed her gently to the ground, lips on hers, their breathing loud in the air around them.

Her fingers pushed his jacket aside, over his shoulders and he tugged it off the rest of the way. He mirrored the action for her and then moved to her pants, tugging them down and unlacing each boot carefully before removing those too. She sat before him in her tanktop and underwear, looking transfixed.

He pulled off his shirt, leaving just his torso bare as he positioned himself over her again. "Of all the people you could have fallen for..." He murmured. His brows were knitted together and he looked... concerned? Confused?

"Vulpes," She whispered again, a small smile on her face.

"Six," He whispered, his lips leaning in close to her ear, where he planted a kiss on her lobe.

His hands slid gently over her body, trailing down her thighs and up her hips. Over the curve of her stomach and rising to her breasts where his fingers flicked at a nipple cautiously.

She moaned gently, a small sound that filled him with desire.

"Take off your shirt," He commanded, then added, "Please, darling."

He moved back so that she could sit up and do so, their eyes locked the entire time. Then he moved back and hooked his fingers in the waist band of her panties and gently tugged them down, his eyes moving over her body.

He pushed her legs open with a hand on each thigh while his eyes held her gaze with intensity. "You're mine," He growled and he lowered his face to her folds and immediately began attacking her clit with enthusiastic licks.

She let out a long keening sound, her hips rising a fraction off the ground, but he pushed her back down with his hands still on her thighs. His fingers slid over her inner legs, massaging her as his tongue worked on her sensitive pearl of flesh.

"Vulpes," She moaned, her hands finding his and clutching at his fingers.

He paused for a moment, "Shhh, darling," He hummed. "I'm right here." He kissed her inner thigh and moved back to kiss her lips, slow and passionate. His fingers resumed where his mouth had left off, and he slid two fingers in, earning another moan from her.

Her arms wrapped securely around his neck, pulling him closer, and one of her legs curled around his hips.

She thought that she wanted rough... but this... with him? It was amazing. He was amazing. He was so attentive and thourough.

"I'm going to fuck you now," he growled. His voice sounded off somehow. As if he was struggling to keep control. "Are you ready, my precious Courier?"

"Yes," she breathed har hands splaying over his chest, the firm muscles damp with sweat and his chest heaving with every breath. "I want you."

"And I want you," he replied. It had been the first time he had said anything like that and her heart skipped. His fingers fumbled with his belt before tugging his pants down just enough to free his cock.

He leaned forward, ready to enter her. He looked at her almost... tenderly. Then he slowly pushed himself in. He was still being slow and gentle.

She hummed gently as his mouth lowered to take in a nipple, swirling his tongue around it, his hips starting a gentle, slow pace.

She reached for his arms, her hands sliding over his shoulders and up to his neck and then to his face.

Their eyes were locked and both of their faces mirrored an expression of want and need for the other.

She was surprised when she felt her orgasm on the horizon. She closed her eyes, sighing as it rose and fell over her like ocean waves.

"Good girl," Vulpes whispered, directly into her ear, his breath warm. "Take a second to breathe," He instructed.

"What?" She gasped, but was cut off as he began slamming into her and her mouth fell helplessly into a silent cry.

It was so much at once.

He roughly grabbed her thigh, pulling it tighter around him, his mouth bruising her neck, his teeth scratching against her shoulder. And still his thrusts were fast and hard.

Her breathing came in loud gasps and non stop whimpers.

His hands moved up her hips, grabbing handfuls of her breasts. Then he reached up and tangled his fist into her hair, pulling her head back and licking up her throat.

He then let go and pulled back, his hands moving to grab both of her hips.

She opened her eyes, not even realizing she had squeezed them shut. He was on his knees and he lifted her hips, her ass slightly off the ground and he continued his thrusts, sweat forming on his brow and chest.

She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth, arching her back and pressing against him. She tentatively moved a hand inbetween them, her fingers pressing to her clit and gently circling it. His intent gaze met hers. His eyes were so familiar by now.

She felt herself tighten around him as she came again and he grunted, trying to maintain control as his own body began to betray him. She kept her eyes open, staring into his face. He grit his teeth and shut his eyes as his own pleasure overtook him and his mouth opened as he breathed out a sigh.

He let himself fall forward, catching himself on his arms, leaning over her.

She sat up and kissed him gently. A few droplets of sweat had accumulated on his upper lip.

In moments like this she could only see him as human. Devastatingly real.

"You're amazing," She whispered.

Again he looked surprised, but didn't say anything. He rolled off of her and settled on his back beside her.

Not caring about how damp with sweat he was, she rolled to meet him, curling a leg over his hips and wrapping an arm around his chest where her fingers gently stroked his shoulder.

His arms automatically rose to meet her, a hand wrapped around her back and settled on her hip, his other hand on her thigh, just above her knee.

"You know I haven't changed. Not that much," He suddenly said, his voice quiet.

"I thought we were going to just enjoy the moment?" She sighed, closing her eyes in annoyance.

"Do you know why I stayed with the Legion? For so long? Why I did what I did and climbed the ranks?"

"No," She snapped. "I don't. Why did you have to ruin how happy I was just five seconds ago?"

There was a pause, he craned his neck and pressed a small kiss to her head, where it rested below his collar bone.

"Maybe sometimes I don't want to know," She murmured. "I never really expected you to tell me anyway."

"Do you know the reason why I picked you?"

"No." She tensed and his arms tightened around her in response.

"I've always valued strength and cunning. At first I thought of you as any other profligate. But you've managed to do more than any one person I've ever met, except for Caesar himself, of course."

She snorted.

He lightly slapped her ass. "I don't have the same tastes as most of the other Legion men. They want weak women who they can dominate. And sometimes sex is seen as nothing more than a punishment for those who misbehave." He paused. "But I want you because I admire you. You're strong and determined. Smart for most wastelanders."

She wasn't sure what to say, so she stayed silent.

"I don't care who I hurt. I would care if I hurt you, but aside from that I don't care about other people."

"I suppose I could have guessed that you have a lack of empathy."

He chuckled. "Being in the Legion was a job to me. I did it well and prided myself in my skills and my advancement. I didn't particularilly care about those I worked with or most of who I worked for. It did bring me pleasure to make those suffer who had stood in my way, however. Like when I first fucked you."

A shiver passed down her spine and she tried to push away from him.

His arms kept her secured to him. "I wanted to hurt you and make you scream and beg for me to stop. You were ruining everything that I had worked to achieve."

"Vulpes," She began, a note of fear in her voice, but he cut her off.

"But I don't need the Legion just to keep building myself up." He rolled them over and leaned over her, dark eyes unreadable. "I know what I am. And you know what I am. I'm not going to lose anything by siding with you."

Her mouth opened and closed, not knowing what to say at all.

"We should get moving again." He got up and she watched him in disbelief as he began dressing himself and nudged her clothes towards her with his foot.

Silently, she dressed and watched his back as he repacked their bags. His muscles were tense, like coiled springs.

"Are you ready?" He turned, his jaw tense.

"Yeah... are... are you okay?" She asked, concern drawing lines between her brows.

He blinked, not expecting her to ask. "I'm fine."

She nodded, her nerves still on edge. "Okay, then..."

He handed her pack to her and stepped out of the shade of the lean-to and they began walking.

She wondered if he was self conscious about the things he had admitted to her. Or if she had done something wrong.

They walked in silence, already not far from Hidden Valley. She felt a sort of frustration settling into her chest at his sudden change of attitude. He wasn't saying anything and was barely acknowledging her. It was like traveling with Boone when she had first met him.

They reached the gap in the fence and she strode ahead, moving straight for the mound where the entrance was. "This is it," She grunted.

He didn't say anything as she opened the door. Still sulking for some reason.

"Please behave," She whispered after he shut the door behind him.

"I'm always on my best behavior," He purred, and she felt his breath tickle the back of her neck in the dark. They reached the next room and she pressed the button for the intercom.

"Who is it?" Barked a voice from the speaker.

"It's Six," She replied. Then added, "And one of my companions."

She thought she heard grumbling from the speaker, but the door unlocked and she stepped in, the guards eyeing the new person she brought with her. Not one of her usual traveling partners.

She nodded a greeting at them and glanced over her shoulder. Vulpes was scanning their surroundings but his face was neutral. He didn't give anything away.

"This way," She said, for no real reason, and continued walking through the familiar halls.

She felt his presence behind her. He was sticking close.

When they finally reached Elder McNamara's office, Vulpes still hadn't given her any space and she could tell he was staring down the Elder as he turned and smiled brightly at Six.

"Courier!" He greeted brightly, standing from his chair and moving over to her swiftly. His eyes nervously darted to Vulpes but then back to her.

"Hi," She grinned. "How are you?"

"Good, thanks to you."

Vulpes seemed to make a noise.

Nolan glanced at the Legionary and but then chose to ignore him again. "The repairs are holding well. Everyone is doing well, and life goes on."

She smiled. "Good. Glad to hear it. So, have you heard much about the events above?"

The happy expression on McNamara's face fell slightly. "I've heard some, yes. I know about the tensions between the Legion and the NCR getting worse."

"That's what I came to you for," She admitted.

His eyes narrowed a fraction in concern. "What can I do for you?"

"I need your help. The help of the Brotherhood."

He sighed. "Six... I can't risk getting my people involved. We still haven't recovered from the battle at Helios One and we have no interest in getting ourselves destroyed."

"Look, you haven't even heard what I have to say," She pointed out.

Nolan sighed, shaking his head. "Please go on."

"I'm gathering my forces. We're going to fight against the Legion and work with the NCR to kick them out. But, I'm not planning on handing over my territory."

"Your territory?" His brows pinched together.

"Yes. Vegas is mine. I'm going to help the people and try to get this mess sorted as best as I can. But I can't do it without the Dam and I can't do it with the Legion crawling all over the desert. Please, I just need... I dunno. Whatever you can offer. Weapons, soldiers."

Nolan sighed, about to speak, about to say no, but Vulpes cut him off.

"Everyone knows that the Brotherhood has an advantage with their suits of power armor. You'll be going against men who mostly use machetes and bats. If you're still too afraid to help then you're a coward."

The muscles in Nolan's jaw tensed. "I'm not afraid-."

"Then why aren't you helping her? I know she's helped you and that you respect her decisions up until this point. Think about it, with an Independent New Vegas, you could operate openly without having to look over your shoulder for the NCR to attack you at any minute. You wouldn't have to be in hiding."

The Elder blinked, his eyes much more expressive than Inculta's. Both men shifted their gaze to Six.

"He's right," She blurted, feeling their expectation. "This could help you too. You know me. You can work with me. I promise I won't get in your way."

Nolan contemplated it for a few moments, his eyes never leaving hers. "Alright," He whispered finally. "I see the point you make. I'll do it, but only for you." A small smile crept onto his face.

"Thank you," She gushed.

"Of course." His eyes flicked back to Vulpes. "Is there any way we would be able to speak in private please?"

Vulpes didn't say anything, but held his ground.

"It's fine," Six assured him, her eyes meeting his, willing him to not make a scene.

He glared down at her. "Fine. I will step out."

The two watched as the Legionary left the room, shoulders hunched down.

"That man isn't taking too kindly to me," Nolan pointed out when they were alone.

Six sighed. "He's being an overprotective little shit."

He raised an eyebrow.

"It's complicated." She ran a hand through her hair.

"I noticed the marks on your neck. Maybe it's not so complicated. He's feeling insecure and jealous. That's me assuming he was the one who... gave you those marks."

Her mouth opened and closed. She finally snapped her jaw shut, resisting the urge to cover the hickeys with her hand.

"Is he your boyfriend?" She tried to ignore the hopeful note to his question.

"I don't know," She grunted. "He says it won't work between us because of who my friends are." She barked out a harsh laugh.

She realized her mistake when Nolan's face brightened. "Maybe it's for the best."

Her expression formed a tight lipped smile. She honestly wouldn't put it past Vulpes to listen in. She changed the subject. "Was there something you wanted to discuss?"

"Nothing in particular," He admitted. "I just wanted to catch up. Get a full update from you on what you and your friends have been doing and exactly how the situation above is. And I didn't want him glaring at me anymore."

She chuckled at that. She couldn't blame him.

She told him about Mr. House being eliminated and how she had managed to get full control of the systems that controlled New Vegas. She also told him about all the other help she hoped to bring to the battle and suddenly realized something else.

"Do you think your scribes could fix a bunch of securitron that have been shut down?"

He raised his eyebrows. "That could be possible."

"Great, because there's a whole army of them that could really help. They can't do much good now, because they're located in a bunker underneath Fortification Hill, where Caesar himself is camped. But it can make sure that we're safe in the future."

Nolan nodded.

"I can bring a bunch to the fight at the Dam too."

He smiled. "I'm liking these odds the more I hear."

She returned the smile. "I'm just trying to do my job."

"You know," He breathed. "You're pretty amazing, Six."

The air suddenly felt heavier. "Thanks." A blush spread over her face.

"You've done so many amazing and selfless things. You truly care about people and hold tightly to your values." His hand reached out and touched her cheek. "I really admire you."

She felt like a bucket of water had been thrown over her. "Sir," She took a step back. "I-."

He dropped his hand. "That man," He sighed. "Of course. Forgive me."

She attempted a wobbly smile.

"You're welcome to stay the night in the bunker if you need to get some rest after traveling," He said, and it sounded like a dismissal.

"Thank you," She mumbled. She wanted to say something. There was nothing else to say. "Enjoy the rest of your day."

"And you."

She backed out of the room and gulped in a lungful of air.

Vulpes was no where in sight.