Hancock walked down the stairs leading into the Third Rail to make sure Charlie had the preparations for the party under control. As he surveyed the bar, he was glad to see that the VIP room was already roped off to insure Adriana and Maggie had a room to escape to if the press of people proved too overwhelming. He wanted the evening to be perfect and he was trying to account for every possibility. The girls deserved a night where they didn't have to worry, where they could relax for once. The only people not coming to the party were the Neighborhood Watch, but he was compensating them well enough in caps and chems that they were more than happy to sit this one out.

He checked up at the bar to make sure that Charlie had brought out the special wine he had requested for Adriana. When he spotted the case, he snatched up one of the bottles, took the cork out and replaced it loosely. He grabbed a couple wine glasses as well and carried everything back to the VIP area, setting everything up on a small end table. He headed back out to the bar just in time to see MacCready sit down at a table. He had obviously cleaned himself up, his hands and face lacked their usual layer of dirt and, most surprisingly, he wasn't wearing his usual grimey hat. His hair was clean and parted nicely on the side, but he was still wearing the same ratty old clothes he always did. Can't spare a single cap?

"I know I just paid ya pretty handsomely for your services, Mac. Couldn't spare a few of those caps for some less tattered threads?" Hancock asked, only partially joking. MacCready caught the undertones of disapproval and started to defend himself before closing his mouth shut with an audible snap and shaking his head.

"What can I say? Don't like throwing caps away." The kid started to turn away when Hancock caught him by the arm.

"How come I get the feelin' you ain't tellin' me somethin'?"

"Maybe it's none of your business," he shot back, but the words lacked their usual bite. Hancock narrowed his eyes and the kid caved, sighing heavily. "Look, I spent the caps I could spare to buy Maggie a dress 'cause I knew she wouldn't have anything and Lucy always said-" he stopped abruptly, pausing for a beat before shrugging Hancock's hand off of his arm. RJ spent his caps on someone else?

Hancock sputtered, not knowing what to say. Mac's purse strings were famously tight. The kid argued over every cap, trying to squeeze as many as possible out of any given situation. Hancock wasn't surprised that the first person to inspire his generosity was Maggie, though. She was like a little ray of irradiated sunshine and he had made it his own personal mission in life to hurt anyone that ever did her the slightest wrong.

"I might have something you could borrow for the occasion. Interested?"

MacCready looked at him suspiciously, even after all this time, and it made Hancock's heart hurt. RJ had been through so much that he suspected even his closest friends of underhandedness.

"Sure," came his hesitant reply, sounding more like a question than an actual answer. Good enough. Hancock led the kid to a back room where he kept some some of his personal belongings. He had found it a good rule of thumb not to keep all his eggs in one basket. He headed over to an old suitcase, popping the catch to reveal its contents.

"Here we are…" he pulled out an old gray suit that, beside the creases, was in good condition. He passed it over, staring expectantly. "Well? Put it on."

The disgruntled look on RJ's face would have made him laugh if he hadn't busied himself with his tin of Mentats. He popped a few into his mouth listening as the kid huffed in annoyance, changing out of his normal clothes. He slipped the gray pants onto his thin frame, followed by a black shirt. Hancock was impressed that the kid knew how to tie his own tie, and quickly. RJ must have seen the look of approval on his face, because he muttered a single word in explanation.

"Lucy," he said as he shrugged the gray jacket on.

"Well, kid, you don't look half bad. You don't cut quite the striking figure I do, but who does?"

"Thanks for the loan, Hancock. I, uh… thanks."

"Well, you wouldn't want to see Maggie tonight lookin' like you were."

"As long as she has a good time, it doesn't really matter," the words were spoken quietly, but Hancock wasn't surprised by them. The kid had been starstruck ever since he first laid eyes on Adriana's sister. He placed a hand on Mac's shoulder, squeezing gently.

"And don't you ever forget it. Now, I think I hear people out there and we don't want to be back here when our girls show up."

MacCready didn't think Hancock even realized when he didn't follow immediately, just stared at the ghoul's back in disbelief. Our girls… kinda has a nice ring to it. He tried to keep the sigh from his lips as he followed Hancock back out, but it was hard to do. MacCready knew he had already had his chance at happiness and he had blown it. Big time. Irreparably. Most people didn't even get one chance and a guy like him sure didn't deserve a second one. He could barely even send enough caps back to the Capital Wasteland to keep Duncan fed. He was a failure as a husband and a father. If Maggie knew the truth about him she'd never smile at him again.

Hancock elbowed him and he looked up, startled, to realize he was on the receiving end of one of those radiant smiles right that very moment. Maggie and Adriana were walking down the stairs, arm in arm, and he wasn't sure he'd ever seen a prettier sight. His pulse surged and he found it difficult to steady his breathing. Maggie was wearing his gift, smiling so brightly he knew the image would be burnt into his memory forever. The room had filled up in their brief absence, but he barely even noticed, taken as he was with the sight of her.

He was still trying to figure out what he was going to say to her when she stopped in front of him. Her cheeks were a little red and her eyes sparkled in the dim light as she looked up at him.

"Thank you so much, RJ. I don't know how I can ever pay you back."

And then Robert Joseph MacCready said something he had never said before.

"Ah, don't worry 'bout payin' me back. It was gift."

"Maybe I could buy you a drink?" Her eyes seemed larger, filled with hope as they were, and he couldn't turn her down.

"Sure, but it really isn't-" he didn't get a chance to complete his thought as she slipped her arm through his and pulled him toward the bar.

Charlie whirred up to them after practically throwing a beer at the patron before them, eye stalk focusing on Maggie who turned her bright smile on the mechanical bartender.

"Wha' can I do ya for, love?"

"May I please have a Nuka-Cola and then whatever RJ would like," she said turning to look back at him.

"Well, someone sure taught you you're please and thankyous! Comin' right up, love."

MacCready watched as the Mr. Handy quickly assembled their beverages and placed them in front of her saying, "You're caps are no good 'ere."

Maggie looked confused as she thanked the bartender and tucked her little pouch of caps back into her hidden pocket. She passed him his whiskey before grabbing her cola and following him away from the bar.

"Well, he was nice."

"I think you're the first person to say that. Ever." MacCready couldn't help laughing at her shocked expression. "It's just that you're the first person I've ever seen him be nice to," he clarified, leading her to an empty sofa on Magnolia's side of the bar.

They sipped their drinks in silence, Maggie obviously enjoying the sultry tones coming from the stage. By the second repeat of the chorus Maggie was singing along so quietly that he was sure he was the only one that could hear her.

"Help me, help me, rescue my heart," her pitch was perfect, sweet and clear. She must have heard the catch in his breath, because she looked up, her eyes meeting his. "Save me, save me, from falling apart. Take me, take me, baby I'm sure."

MacCready was sure he was reading too much into the moment, but it felt like she was singing the words to him, for him. Next thing he knew, his hand was covering hers. She started to say something, but Hancock and Adriana chose that moment to pop up out of nowhere. Or at least that was how it seemed to him, focused on Maggie as he was.

Maggie could feel RJ's disappointment when their friends joined them and it caused butterflies to take flight in her stomach. Maybe there is a chance… Bolstered by the sensation of his hand on hers and feeling pretty for the first time in years, she pressed her drink into Adriana's hands and pulled MacCready to his feet.

"Come one, let's dance!" She tugged him away from the sofa, Hancock liberating the whiskey from his hands and promising to keep it safe.

In your stomach, MacCready thought fleetingly as Maggie turned her sun bright smile on him. Whiskey forgotten, he reached out placing a hand on her slender hip and pulling her close, keeping a tight hold of her hand in his other. He was worried she would hear his heart as it tried to punch through his chest since her head just barely reached his chin. He felt her free hand slip around his waist and he could swear he heard a small sigh escape her lips.

As RJ began to sway her across the dance floor, she was surprised to discover he could dance, if only a little. She had no moves to speak of, but he knew just enough to be able to lead her through a simple dance and even a few spins, the first of which stole what little breath she had left. She briefly wondered if this was always how it felt when you fell for someone, leaping from one breathless moment to the next in a haze of butterflies and racing hearts, because she had no doubt by this point that falling she certainly was. How could I not be? She had never been in love before though, hadn't even considered it an option, really. She didn't know what she was supposed to do, how to tell if he was just being nice or genuinely interested. After all, he could just be thinking of her as a kind of little sister, being kind to her because of his friendship with Hancock. It's just so confusing. Not to mention how hard it was to think when his hand was on her waist the way it was.

One, two, three... One, two, three… Don't step on her toes, clumsy! MacCready was so focused on the few dance steps that Lucy had taught him that he had very little energy to worry about anything else. For the time being his concerns over Duncan took a back seat, his fear that he would never be good enough for another woman, especially one like Maggie, receded as he focused on keeping in time with the beat. He spun his tiny dance partner around the floor concentrating so fiercely that he almost didn't hear when the song came to an end. He looked down briefly in the silence to see Maggie's luminous eyes staring up at him. He could feel his face moving closer to hers, drawn by an invisible force, but then the music started again and Magnolia's voice woke him from the dreamy daze Maggie had put him in. He smiled and then swept his partner up into the steps of another dance, trying to pretend he didn't see the disappointment on her pretty face.

Hancock watched as MacCready led Maggie around the dance floor, Adriana leaning back against him, his arms wrapped around her waist.

"Have I mentioned how damn beautiful you look, love?" He leaned down to whisper into her ear. When he looked up to see her walking down the stairs he was once again struck by how lucky he was. His girl was a knockout in every sense of the word. Red was definitely her color… She must have made a visit to Daisy, because she was wearing bright red lipstick and black liner around her eyes, two things he knew she hadn't possessed before today, and he wasn't complaining about the effect at all. His mind was currently assaulting him with images of smeared red lipstick. He took a deep breath, reminding himself to be patient. Adriana pressed back against him, slightly swaying her hips before turning around to whisper in his ear.

"I can tell what you're thinking about, you naughty boy," she scolded him playfully, the heat from her breath tickling his ear. This woman is going to be the death of me, no question.

"Never claimed to be a saint, doll."

"Good," she whispered before closing her teeth on his ear, forcing a shocked moan from him in response. "I rather think a saint would frown upon what I have planned for later…"

Adriana was a constant surprise and he wouldn't have it any other way.

"Sounds like you and I have similar ideas, doll." He grabbed her hips, pulling her close and running his hands down to pinch her ass. She squeaked, laughing at his lecherous look.

"Would you mind getting me a glass of wine, love?"

"I could use a drink myself," he said, kissing her cheek before stepping away and heading towards the bar.

Adriana watched him walk away, sighing happily. He sure looks good in that suit… She was so distracted by him that she didn't even realize that Magnolia had stopped singing until the woman herself tapped her shoulder.

"Hi, I wanted to formally introduce myself since it seems I owe you a rather large debt." Her voice was smooth as warm honey and Adriana shook the hand held out in offer. "Fahrenheit told me that the bloodbath in here started because you were protecting me."

"There's no need for thanks. Protecting you might have been the trigger, but I killed those assholes for myself just as much as I did it for you. It was a long time coming."

"Either way, you should let me buy you a drink sometime, sugar. Least I can do."

"Yeah, I'd like that. I'll be around." Adriana replied.

"Glad to hear it," she purred, sauntering back toward her stage. When she arrived at her mic stand she looked back up at Adriana and winked. "I'd like to dedicate this next one to a new friend."

Hancock walked up handing her a glass of red wine as the music began to fill the room again.

"I wouldn't blame ya ditchin' me for a bird like that…" he joked, but Adriana could hear the undertones of worry in his voice.

I see you lookin' 'round the corner.

"Ditch you? I'm no where near finished with you," she took a sip of her wine, meeting his eyes over the rim of her glass.

"Ya don't say..." He raised one ruined eyebrow in her direction.

Come on inside and pull up a chair.

"We're just getting started," she licked a drop of wine off her bottom lip, enjoying the look of avid attention on Hancock's face.

No need to feel like a stranger, cause we're all a little strange in here.

"I hope ya know you're playin' with fire." He had to admit, he was enjoying this new side of the woman he loved. He shouldn't have been surprised.

"I know. Good thing I like a little danger."

Hancock spent the next hour stoking the flames of the fire he had started earlier in the day. Adriana was desperate for the feel his skin against hers and he knew it. His fingers roamed, discretely caressing the inside of her wrist, the nape of her neck. A seemingly innocent brush of his thigh against hers, a whispered promise in passing. Adriana wasn't sure if she would remember a single name of anyone she met that night because her attention was so focused on him and his torturous touches.

Adriana was watching Maggie, laughing at something MacCready whispered in her ear, when she felt Hancock slip his hand into hers. He pulled her away from the crowd, toward a velvet rope partition that blocked off another room. The room was empty except for the two of them and a bottle of wine, just the way she she liked it. He poured her a glass and she took a sip, realizing distantly that she was feeling pleasantly tipsy. She watched as her man pulled out a familiar red inhaler, shook it and took a long, lingering hit. When he opened his mouth to exhale the drug, she pressed her mouth to his, breathing in. She felt his hands on either side of her face, holding her to him as he gave her the very breath from his lungs. The remnants of his hit came over her, making her body buzz as his tongue followed the drug into her mouth.

Hancock broke the kiss, smiling down at her and slipping the wine glass from her fingers. He turned to place it on the table behind him and she ran her hands up his shoulder blades. He spun, finding her mouth with his and walking her back until she was pressed between him and the wall. Her roaming hands found their way between his jacket and shirt, her nails digging into his scarred flesh through his thin white shirt. He captured her pouty bottom lip between his teeth before running his tongue over it.

"Damn, John… don't tease me with that tongue of yours…" she moaned, arching her back, her breasts pressing against him.

"Who said anything about teasing, doll? I intend for you to be nothing less than satisfied tonight. More than once," his tongue dipped into her ear making her breath catch as she shook against him.

"I want you satisfied, too. Especially after earlier." Her hands found his face, one thumb running tenderly over his prominent cheek bone. The sincerity in her voice made him smile.

"There'll be plenty of time for that. Tonight's all about you, love." Hancock's knee pressed up between her legs and a desperate sound left her lips without her permission as she rubbed herself against him. "Whatcha say to you and I gettin' outta here?"

Adriana couldn't think of anything she'd like more. She pressed her lips to his once more, breathing him in, before pulling away with a smile and nodding.

"Just let me freshen up. Why don't you go check on Maggie and I'll meet you at the door?"

"It's a date."

He stepped back, allowing her to slip past him, watching her hips sway as she sauntered away. She paused as she rounded the corner to look back at him and if he had a little less self control he would have taken her right there. The State House seemed so far away… He grabbed the bottle of wine by the neck and headed back out into the throng of people.

I'm never going to get a chance to snatch the boss's bitch back! She's never alone! Dominic barely sipped his stale beer, it was just part of his cover. He didn't drink on the job, one of the many reasons he was better than others, why he was chosen for this particular mission. The guy in the gray suit hadn't taken his eyes of the ghoul girl all night. He had hoped she would excuse herself to the bathroom, but she hadn't even finished the one drink she had gotten so that probably wasn't going to happen.

Nothing about this mission seemed to be going his way. He had already had to use his syringe of Med-X to dose some weirdo in sunglasses that seemed far too interested in his marks. The black haired man was now passed out on a sofa, looking like he'd had one too many. If only his other problems were as easy to solve.

Just then, his secondary target walked past him and headed up the stairs. Alone. Maybe my luck is changing. He scanned the room, looking for the ghoul that was never far behind her. He was headed toward the ghoul girl and the man in the gray suit. Guess that decides it… Dominic affected a drunken gait, bumbling up the stairs after the woman in the red dress. Now to take care of the watchdog.

Before the ghoul could even turn around Dominic's fist slammed into his head, right at the base of his skull. The bouncer crumbled, completely out of commission. One down.
He made his way to the bathroom quickly, knowing his time was limited. He reached into his pocket, fingering the length of cord he had brought with him for just this purpose. People noted knives and guns. Plus, they were messy and potentially loud. He prefered to do his work up close and personal. He smiled in anticipation.

"Is that you, John? So impatient... " her voice dripped with desire. She started to open the stall door and he stepped forward, slamming the door into her face as hard as he could, enjoying the sound it made as it connected with her forehead.

He took her disorientation to his advantage, crowding her into the stall. Her hands were holding her face and before she could react he punched her in the stomach, forcing the air from her lungs. She sounded pathetic, wheezing for air, and as he got his hands on her shoulders and forced her around he wished he could take his time with her. This was business, not pleasure though, so he retrieved the light blue cord from his pocket and wrapped it around her neck, pulling. She tried to get her fingers underneath it, but it was too tight. She kicked backwards, landing a few painful hits, but she was losing strength quickly.

"With you out of the way it'll be so much easier for the boss to get his little ghoul-bitch back," he taunted her, pressing his lips to her ear.

Her struggles became desperate at his words and he laughed, pulling the cord tighter. Won't be long now, he thought as her body went limp.

Hancock hurried up the stairs after leaving Maggie in MacCready's care. He knew he could trust the kid to return her safely to the State House after the party. He wasn't even halfway up the stairs when he knew something was wrong. He watched as Ham sat up, holding the back of his head. Why is he… Adriana! He didn't even stop to check on his friend, just ran past him and into the bathroom. He couldn't hear a struggle, but he could see the broad shoulders of a man sticking out of one of the stalls. If he was ever going to go feral, this would be what did it. He felt like he had been injected with a double dose of Psycho, so intense was his rage.

He was behind the man in no time, swinging the wine bottle in his hands down on the fucker's head as hard as he could. It connected solidly and the man stumbled, but was surprisingly not knocked out. Hancock dropped the bottle, his hand retrieving his knife with such speed that it seemed to appear out of thin air. A spark of light on metal and then his knife was buried in the man's throat. He pulled it out, ignoring the spray of blood and grabbing the man by his lapels and throwing him out of the stall so he could get to his girl.

He dropped down beside her crumpled body, pulling the cord from around her neck with a cry, but she was just so still. He put his ear to her chest, but there was nothing to hear.