Snow
Mountains West of Walden Pond, Outside the Commonwealth
September 27, 2291

The sun is setting over the mountains as I approach the cabin, a light glimmer of pink and blue hues graze the treetops. Weapon drawn, I approach the cabin from the back and slide around the wall to the front. Judging by the amount of dirt on the porch, I'd say no one had even passed through in my absence.

Unlocking the door, I step into the only room of the cabin and glance around. To my immediately left is the stove and pantry. In front of the stove is a small round table with two chairs beneath the window, a coffee pot left on the table. To my right, a couch and against the back wall a bed and dresser. It was a cozy cabin, my father's cabin.

The trek here has left my muscles aching and the bed calls to me. I throw down my pack on the couch and take off my travel gear. From my pack I pull out a baggy sweater and toss it over my undershirt, then fall into bed. It is chilly out and I should probably retrieve the blanket from the dresser, but sleep overtakes me quickly.

I don't know how long I've been sleeping when the creak of the door brings me to edge of consciousness. Before I can think to reach for my rifle, the intruder speaks. "Ad Victorium, Snow," he whispers into the dark room. Avis is here. I hear the clunking of metal as he removes his power armor, then a warm hand on my arm. With a gentle squeeze he whispers into my ear, "Go back to sleep, love."

I feel a pang of regret, or maybe exhaustion, as the warmth of his body wraps around me. A love hindered by our alliances and beliefs. One last thought passes through my mind before I succumb to sleep. I don't want this to end.

Mornings in the cabin may be my favorite. Avis sits across the table, his face and shirtless abs awash in the sunlight, clutching his coffee and I find myself staring at his tousled dark hair. He catches my stare and raises a muscular arm to run fingers through his hair and straighten it out. He winks, with a smug look on his face. I raise my coffee to my mouth and slowly sip, an attempt to cover my reddening face.

Soon, the coffee is gone and I stand, "Shall we check on our bird?"

He smiles and reaches for my hand, "Yes, ma'am." Before I can shoot him an angered look, he pulls me into his lap. "Where are you taking us today, Cap?" I suppose I can forgive one ma'am, because I love when he calls me Cap.

On the wall is a map Avis scavenged from an old military bunker. Outlined in red is our 'no-fly zone', areas that the Brotherhood actively patrols. X's litter the safe areas, marking all the places we've explored. They are mostly to the north, in western Maine.

Throughout the years, as we've spent evenings on the porch or nights sheltering from the radstorms, Avis has taught me about the prewar commonwealths and states. He has told me his war stories of fighting the Enclave, the remnants of the American government, in the Capital Wasteland. This valorous soldier, so devoted to his duty and honor as a high-ranking Brotherhood officer, yet here he lay in the woods beside a Minuteman. While our factions weren't exactly hostile, they weren't friendly either, and our relationship would be considered treacherous.

Studying the map, I point to a green area between two Xs. "I recall seeing some waterfalls as we flew over this area," I muttered to myself. Avis leans his head in near my ear. "Huh? I can't hear you, Mumbles," his voice is loud in my ear. I jump up to face him, anger rising, but he his quicker. He grabs me by the hips and pulls our bodies together tightly, and his lips find mine. I feel the strength drain from my muscles, arms limp by my sides.

After a few moments, he releases his grip and I stumble back. "I, uh, waterfalls. I saw waterfalls. We could have a picnic."

Avis grins, "How very prewar of you, it would be nice to escape the wastes for a day."

He pulls the map off the wall and skillfully folds it into his pack. I grab a few supplies from the pantry shelves and we head out. The trail to the vertibird is worn down, first passing through the mutfruit orchard and then leading out into the hubflower meadow.

At the far end of the meadow sits the vertibird, covered in branches, moss, and grass. The camouflage is to protect its location from rare Brotherhood air patrols. Avis brushes the coverings off and I hop into the cockpit to run through preflight.

With Avis by my side in this bird, I feel unstoppable. I think back to the night we met. I was drunk, incapable of taking care of myself, barely getting through the days. He saw right through all that, past my desire to be left alone, and helped me recover. Where that kind of luck comes from in this wasteland, I will never know.

I press the controls forward and we lift into the air. I look over at Avis, and he is already looking back. There's something in the way he's watching me, I don't recognize it. I don't like it, either. He half smiles and looks away.

It's a couple hours before I see the glint of sunlight on water. "There! Do you see that?" I point into the trees where a river twists between rocky shoreline. I look to Avis for a response, and he is watching me. His face is solid, and his eyes stare right through me. "Hey, are you listening?"

His face suddenly comes to life, as if he's been sleeping. "Yeah, water down there. Take her down on the riverbank." I half smile at him, a bit concerned.

Up here in Maine, the land looks untouched by the bombs. Trees grow leafy and green, there are seasons, and even the animals seem unharmed by radiation. I've heard tales of Far Harbor's fog and the terrifying creatures it produces, but out here to the west is like a whole new, or old, world.

I set the bird down in a small sandy clearing and reach for my rifle. We no longer anticipate trouble in this region, we've yet to see a single human, but refuse to be caught off guard. Avis jumps out of the bird first and then turns to lift me down, strong soldier arms hold me by the waist with ease. He pulls me to him for a kiss. "I love you, Snow," he says as my feet reach the ground.

"Yea, me too," I tease disinterest, but his face falls. "Hey, I mean it. I love you too, Avis." I tilt my head and smile an apology.

"Yes, ma'am," his voice barely above a whisper.

Ma'am? What has gotten into him? I broke him of that habit long ago. It may be required in the Brotherhood, but forbidden around me.

Pack slung over his shoulder, we set out in the direction of the waterfalls. It doesn't take long before we hear the roar of water rushing over a cliff. As we approach from above the falls, I see that there is not one but two large drops in the river. A small, flat rock ledge is nestled between outside the mist.

"Let's settle in there," he suggests. The climb down is easy and soon we are eating our lunch. Mutfruit, a few carrots, a Nuka-Cola to share, and a special surprise I convinced the Castle cook to sell me: radstag jerky. Avis's eyes light up as I unwrap the jerky and for a moment his odd behavior disappears. I consider that maybe he's just been hungry.

Soon after, bellies full, we lay on our backs, my head on his chest. Rainbows dance above us in the fall's mist. He sighs and nuzzles closer. Then the storm hits, or so it feels.

"I'm leaving the Commonwealth, Snow."

"On another mission?"

"No, ma'am," he answers me, emotionless. I don't know how to respond, so we just lay there.

Finally, he breaks the silence. "There's a synth refuge to the north. The Brotherhood army is relocating," he pauses. I can hear the hesitation in his breath. We don't discuss our opinions on synths, or our chosen alliances. "Elder Maxson has..."

"Please don't start this," I sit up and face him and he does the same. "Please don't."

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but..."

"No!" My face turns hot and red. I shove against his shoulders in anger, but he doesn't budge. "Don't call me ma'am! Don't talk about the synths or mention that horrible Maxson!" I feel tears splash my cheek.

He pulls me into his arms. "Don't touch me!" I shout in what ends up a whisper, as I let him hold me close. The anger that had risen so quickly drains just as fast and I feel weak. He wipes my face with his sleeve, even as more tears fall. I collapse into him and bury my face. "Will I see you again?" I whisper, and he doesn't answer.

It takes a while before I can speak again, my mind starting to really process the information. "This is why the Brotherhood has left us alone. You've known." He nods and I can tell he doesn't want to start a fight. I close my eyes, an attempt to calm myself. I have to let him explain, I have to listen, I tell myself. "Please, tell me. I'll listen."

"The Minutemen are harboring synths. For a while, we've tried taking them out in transport. I've discouraged the Elder from directly attacking any Minutemen settlements, for you, but that's the most I could do. The Brotherhood doesn't want a war in the Commonwealth, there was never any interest in staying here after destroying the Institute. Elder Maxson was quite embarrassed someone beat him to it." He studies my face before continuing.

"You may be harboring synths, but this refuge to the north," he pauses and lets out a heavy sigh, "Reports have come in that they are creating more synths."

"The Institute?" My body tenses at the thought the Institute may still be out there.

"No," he responds quickly to dispel my fear, "This is a group of synths helping synths. It's more like, reproducing."

I'm not sure how to feel. I've known synths and believed them to have right to a free life, but I also believed in the end to the Institute and synth creation. The Brotherhood, however, believes in eliminating all synths.

"You have to go?" I knew the answer, and he knew what I really meant.

"You know I do, Snow," his face begs me to accept and let it go, but I can't.

"Of course. Duty. Honor," he winces as I mock him, "Ad victori-shit!" The harsh, cold, self-destructive girl he chased away with his love is staging a coup within me. His face tells me I'd really hit my mark with that last comment. I couldn't hurt him physically, but damn did my words have power. "It all outranks this. It outranks us."

He doesn't defend himself, and so I stand. The half-empty Nuka bottle sits beside him and I take a swing with my foot, knocking it into the river. Then I climb out of the cavern and wander into the woods.

Further and further I walk, kicking at leaves, dirt, flowers, mushrooms, a trail of destruction in the pristine forest. I pay no attention to where I am going or where I come from. What would it matter where I am if Avis is gone? Emotions flood against me and I crumple to my knees beneath a massive tree. My head is filled with the sound of wind and I hold my eyes shut with hands over my ears. It swirls through my mind and I can't think.

I feel a hand on my shoulder. It moves up toward my hair, fingers massage my scalp. Then Avis stops and holds a hand in front of me, palm up. In it sits a white feather. I offer no response, I feel lifeless and close my eyes again.

His fingers return to my hair and I realize he is braiding it. I taught him that, he loved it. He spent hours in the cabin, sitting in bed, practicing. Soon, a single braid runs down my head and across my shoulder. He places the feather into the braid.

"A snowy feather," he muses, "for my Snow."

Dark is falling as he carries me, half asleep, back to the vertibird. I don't remember much about the flight, besides it being cold. In his power armor, he carries me back to the cabin. I stare up at the blank, masked eyes of his helmet, wanting to see his face beneath the steel.

In the bed, he holds me so tight our bodies may as well be one. It is still so cold.