"So Kellogg got his brains blown out huh?" Upon returning to Diamond City Ryan and Piper found Valentine and told him what happened at Fort Hagen.
"That's right Valentine, Didn't even give him a chance to draw his weapon." Ryan confirmed.
"But what about Shaun? Did you find where he was?"
"Kellogg said that the Institute has him, but we don't know how to reach them."
"Well nobody does really."
"Kellogg did, too bad we didn't question him more before blowing his brains out." Piper commented.
"Gets his brains blown out. Hmm maybe. Theres a person I know in Goodneighbor, Doctor Amari, she knows how to look into people's minds, see their memories. If we can get Kellogg's brain, or what's left of it, to her…"
"Oh god, Nick you can't be serious!?" Piper exclaimed.
"Hey his brains aren't going anywhere, we can scoop them up later." Ryan told her. "Right now I'm going to the bar and getting as fucked up as I can, who's with me?" Ryan declared, putting an end to the discussion.
"Well, I'll hate myself in the morning but god knows I could use a few drinks." Agreed Piper.
"Hell yeah, Nick you in?"
"I can't get drunk, being a synth and all, but who am I to turn down good company."
"Then let's fucking do this, to the bar!"
Ryan woke up on the floor of the Dug Out Inn surrounded by empty beer bottles and with a massive headache. "Ow, holy fuck. What happened?"
"Finally awake huh? Guess the old stories about you Marines and alcohol are true." Valentine said.
"Oh hey man, whats up? These all mine?" Ryan asked, looking at the bottles around him. Valentine nodded an affirmative at him. "Fuck me. Where's Piper?" Ryan asked as he rubbed his forehead
"That's her over there." Answered Valentine as he pointed towards the pool table which Piper was asleep on in a pile of empty bottles.
"Oh shit, is she alive?"
"She's fine, just hungover like you."
"What happened Nick?"
"Well you and Piper engaged in a drinking contest, which you won by downing a whole bottle of moonshine after yelling "This one's for Chesty!"
"Oh yeah. I somewhat remember that. Well, wake me up when she's up ok?" Said Ryan before passing out again.
"Sweet dreams." Chuckled Nick.
Some hours later Ryan and Piper were wandering around Diamond City. "So, what's the plan Blue? Go and get Kellogg's brain then head to Goodneighbor?"
"Yeah I guess, but after we get the brain I want to head back home for a while, got something I need to take care of."
"Sure, let's go."
Ryan and Piper trekked back to Fort Hagen and gathered what they could of Kellogg's brain and they were both surprised to find cybernetic parts mixed in with his brain matter.
"Uh, gross!" Piper whined as Ryan stuffed the brain matter into a container and pocketed it. With the brain recovered they journeyed to Goodneighbor, where they were introduced to the town's mayor, Hancock. Ryan and Hancock hit it off pretty well, after Piper explained to Ryan what a ghoul was, and the ghoul welcomed the two into his town with open arms. The two then met with Valentine at the Memory Den where he introduced them to Dr. Amari.
"This is all mush!" the doctor exclaimed when Ryan presented Kellogg's brains to her.
"Well, there is this thing." He said, holding up the implant.
"Wait, that looks familiar and intact. It'll take some time but perhaps we could work with it."
"How long do you think it'll take?"
"I'm not certain, but a few weeks at least. Nick and I can will work on it while you two continue to learn whatever you can about the Institute."
"Thanks Doc."
Ryan and Piper then left the two to work on Kellogg's brains. Before heading back to Sanctuary the two stopped at The Third Rail to get some drinks, where they met a merc named Macready, who was in some trouble with his former employers. After talking with Macready, Ryan decided that having an extra gun wouldn't be bad and sent him to Sanctuary ahead of himself and Piper to help Preston with defending the town and to await further orders. Afterwards they stayed the night at the local hotel and set out for Sanctuary in the morning.
As they approached Sanctuary Piper stopped to take in the sight of the pre-war neighborhood. "Wow, you used to live here?"
"Yeah, after I got out of the Marines, Nora and I moved here from California to raise Shaun. When the bombs fell we took shelter in the vault just up that hill and, well, you know the rest."
Preston, Macready, and Codsworth were waiting for them across the bridge.
"Bout time you guys showed up, I was wondering if you forgot about me." Macready said.
"What's up man. Hey Preston, how's the neighborhood?"
"Your old neighborhood is perfect, it's good to see you again. Any luck finding your boy?"
"Unfortunately no, we learned the Institute's got him."
"Fuck, wish I could help you there man."
"Don't worry about it, our guy Valentine's on the case. Codsworth come with me, I got something I need you to do."
"Right away sir!"
Ryan led Codsworth to the trail leading to vault 111 and made sure they were alone.
"Codsworth, we're still looking for Shaun, but I came back because I need to put Nora to rest properly, I can't just leave her down in that vault."
"I understand sir, what would you have me do?"
"I want you to build her casket and dig her burial site up on the hill, so she can watch over these people."
"Of course sir, I'll get started right away."
Ryan and Codsworth then walked up the hill towards the vault. Codsworth went about using the nearby materials to complete his tasks as Ryan headed towards the elevator controls, unaware that Piper had followed him.
"Hey Blue, what're you up to?" She asked, startling Ryan.
"Piper, you scared me! I'm…I'm going to put my wife to rest."
"Oh, I didn't realize. I'll leave you be."
"No, stay please. I…I don't want to do this on my own."
"Alright Blue, I'm here for you."
The two stepped onto the elevator and where lowered into the vault. Ryan told Piper everything he knew about the place until he reached the cryo chamber. Ryan stopped in front of Nora's pod and stared in at her.
"Oh, is that her? Are you going to be alright Blue?"
Ryan took a moment to calm himself. "Yeah, I'm…I'm fine." He said as he keyed the pods thawing process. The pod opened with a hiss and Ryan caught Nora's body as it fell out of the pod. Ryan stayed lying on the floor holding his wife's body for a while, bringing a tear to Piper's eye. She could she how hard he was trying not to break down in front of her and she placed her hand on his shoulder to comfort him. Ryan stood from the floor and carried his wife out of the vault with Piper close behind. Codsworth had completed his tasks and the sun was falling as the two emerged from the vault and Ryan gently placed his wife into the casket and removed her wedding ring and his own and placed them on the same chain that held his dog tags around his neck. Afterwards Ryan said a few words to his wife.
"Nora, I've loved you since the day we met and I can't tell you how much your love meant to me. I thought for sure you would leave me when I left for the Marines, but you waited for me and I knew then that I had found the one. The day we were married was one of the happiest days of my life, second to when our son was born. When I left for war your letters to me kept me sane and gave me the strength to survive and come home to you, even when everyone around me was dying. After the war I was in a dark place, but you were always there for me, even if you didn't understand you still made the effort to help me through it and eventually we did. Moving out here after I got out was the best decision we made, the months we spent together as a family, me, you, and Shaun, where amazing no matter how short it was. This world I'm in now, it's dangerous and our son is out there somewhere in it. While you can't be with me here to help me find him, I know that you're watching out for him somewhere, wherever that may be. Rest easy Nora, I'll get our son back and keep him safe, you have my word."
Once the burial was complete Ryan sank to his knees and let the tears fall from his eyes. Piper, who had also begun to cry brought Ryan into an embrace to comfort him.
"Thank you for being here Piper, I can't tell you how much I appreciate everything you've done for me since we've met."
"Don't mention it Blue, I'm here for you. Come on let's get you home." Piper helped Ryan stand and walked him down the hill into Sanctuary.
She walked him into his home and set him down in his bed and called Dogmeat to stay with him. Piper made sure that Ryan was asleep before getting up and leaving the room. Piper walked into the room across from Ryan's and looked at the crib inside. "This must have been Shaun's room." Piper thought to herself as she paced around the room looking at the various things Ryan and Nora had bought for their baby. As Piper was leaving the room her foot hit something on the floor, looking down she saw that it was a stuffed teddy bear, perfectly preserved. Piper picked up the toy and imagined a baby Shaun hugging it as he slept in his crib and the thought brought a smile to her face. She walked back into Ryan's room and found him still asleep on the bed. Taking a scrap of paper from her notebook she wrote: "Found this in Shaun's room, thought you might want to have it as a memento –Piper." Tying the note to the bear she set it down next to Ryan and whispered, "Goodnight Blue." Over her shoulder before leaving again.