Geneva, the onetime secretary to the now deceased McDonough, brushed a lock of hair behind one ear as she considered Nora across the desk. Sitting off to one side was a pair of Diamond City residents who lived in the upper stands. The first was Clarence Codman, owner of the farms that supplied much of the food to Diamond City. He was looking at her disdainfully but she was more concerned with the other man in the room, Malcolm Latimer.

Nora had discussed the two of them with Nick before this interview and what he had told her about Malcolm was disconcerting to put it mildly. Clarence was a run of the mill jackass who thought his money made him better than everyone else but Latimer had strong ties to the Commonwealth's criminal underworld. He had his fingers in just about everything there was. Chems, guns, human slavery, brothels – you name it. And she had already crossed some of the Triggermen before when rescuing Valentine.

Codman was sneering at her "The famous woman from the vault. Just another piece of filth from the lower houses. You really think we should make you secretary to the new mayor, whoever that ends up being?" Geneva had the proper amount of shock on her face at the insult but her eyes seemed to be amused. Malcolm, on the other hand, showed no reaction of any kind as he waited for a response.

She had expected this kind of attack from him and had been prepared. "I'll have to admit your statement is mostly true. I did come out of a vault, I do live in the lower stands and yes I do think you should give me this position. But to say that owning a house on the field makes me filth is pure ignorance on your part."

The man started to sputter but she didn't give him the chance to respond. "You've created social classes based on where your house is located in a baseball stadium. I attended games in this place when baseball still existed before the Great War. You say I'm trash because of where I live but I could apply that label to you if I really wanted to."

Her voice sharpened as she pressed her point home "I lived in the Commonwealth before the Great War. I knew what this region was like before your grandparents were ever born. You're living in the ruins of the society I inhabited and what makes you so great for that matter? All owning a few farms really means is that you're a farmer. I was raised in the world that existed before the Great War. I was educated by some of the best schools in the Commonwealth. I studied law at one of the best colleges in the county."

Nora turned back to Geneva "The Commonwealth is changing. The Minutemen have reassembled and are fast taking root in the countryside. The Brotherhood of Steel just destroyed the Institute and have fully established themselves as a power to be reckoned with. I've met the leaders of both factions in person since I left the vault I came from." She looked at Codman once again "Can you say that same? For that matter, do you even know the name of the Brotherhood's leader?" He glared at her but said nothing.

Latimer shifted in his chair as he decided to include himself in the discussion "You certainly speak better than I was expecting and you've made some fair points I'll admit. But there are those who may see your appointment to this position as an insult considering some of your past actions."

There it was. Latimer was here to represent the Triggermen's and possibly Goodneighbor's interests. Hard to blame them for that since she had killed Skinny Malone in the process of rescuing Nick Valentine. Nora shifted uneasily at the compromise she had to make here. "I suppose that's understandable. I've had to make some tough choices but I'm capable of rectifying my mistakes. In my own way."

She held her breath as Latimer considered her words. Offering a favor to the descendants of the mafia could go very badly but she had pointedly mentioned knowing the leaders of the Minutemen and Brotherhood. He eventually nodded.

Geneva had watched the conversation, the unspoken offers appearing to have flown over her head "So tell me, what could you bring to this position?"

"Well, as I said earlier I have a law degree and I would be able to create an actual legal system for Diamond City as a result of my education. I've traveled throughout the Commonwealth and I've made my fair share of connections. I may not have any experience as an actual secretary but in truth that's just a title and not what the position is actually good for." And if Geneva actually became mayor like Piper thought she would, then Nora would really be the one pulling the strings.

Geneva glanced at Latimer and the still irate Codman "We'll consider it. Thank you for your time." Nora stood up as she shook hands with Geneva and Latimer. Codman scowled at her as he stomped away. She headed over to the window and got onto the lift connecting the mayor's office to the grounds below. The elevator shuddered as she hit the switch to activate it and it began to descend.

It had been nearly two weeks since the Brotherhood had returned them to Diamond City and things were just now beginning to feel normal. Geneva had become the unofficial mayor since McDonough's attempted escape and her position as secretary had become vacant. Nora knew that she was a long shot for the position at best but the job would bring in a steady income. It wasn't ideal but it beat the alternative of scavenging the Commonwealth so she could eat.

She hadn't seen much of Piper since the reunion with Nat. Piper's appearances were somewhat infrequent and the younger Wright sister had been dogging her footsteps during most of them. It was easy to understand why since Piper had disappeared in the middle of the night and had been gone for a month. She knew their father had been murdered and the only family either of them had was each other.

The lift came to a halt as it neared the ground and Nora moved off it and towards the marketplace.

"How'd it go?" Nick had been conveniently standing near the edge of the market as he watched the daily hustle and bustle he had seen a thousand times before.

Nora shrugged her shoulders as Nick fell into step beside her "Hard to say. Codman was as hostile as you said he would be. Latimer seemed like he might support but I'm not sure. And Geneva... well I can't tell if her head's full of hot air or not."

"Well, I don't know if it's true but there were rumors that she was sleeping with McDonough and to be honest she wasn't a bad secretary from what I've been told."

She glanced back over her shoulder at the offices above her for a moment after arriving at the door to her house "Maybe she was, but that didn't stop McDonough from taking her hostage so he could escape the city. I'll let you know what they decide Nick."

He patted her on the shoulder before heading off, probably back to his agency. Nora pulled the key out of her pocket as she unlocked the door and stepped inside. Codsworth was humming some tune to himself as he worked at expanding the wood flooring in the warehouse area of the room. He remained hovering in the same position, but his upper body rotated towards the sound of her shutting and locking the door once more. "Ah, back from the interview mum? I trust things went well?"

Nora shrugged "I don't know, we'll find out. How are you coming along in here?"

One of the robot's eyes extended out further from his head as he looked at the pile of wood they had stockpiled around the corner from her. "I think we have enough to last another day or two, but we shall have to go searching for more soon enough mum."

She had left the robot at Sanctuary Hills to help Preston and the people with him after the fight with the deathclaw but that had been a while ago. Three months of the robot's aid seemed like fair payment for Preston helping her with that lizard to her and Codsworth had been more than happy to come back with her to Diamond City. "All right, I'm going to go check the plants and then take Dogmeat out for a walk."

There was an excited sounding bark as she climbed up through the hatchway and onto the roof. The german shepherd rubbed against her legs before returning back to his doghouse. Nora started making her ways towards the bathtub on the roof but before she got there, she saw Piper moving towards her house the marketplace.

The journalist stopped near the door and looked upwards at Nora as she stood on the roof. "Mind if I drop by?" Nora reached into her pocket before tossing her key down to Piper's waiting hands. She turned and knelt to check the tub as Piper made her way onto the roof.

Dogmeat didn't bark this time, but he did bound over his way over to greet the other woman. Piper laughed and reached down to scratch behind the dog's ears. "So what are you doing up here?"

Nora beckoned Piper over as she pointed at the divided sections of dirt in the bathtub. One was still bare dirt but there were tiny green sprouts poking their way upwards in the other two. "These sprouts are cilantro, and this ones in this area are basil. I have some dill in this third one but I haven't seen anything yet. Mutfruit, tatoes and corn are the only things I ever see people growing. I figured I'd do herbs since no one else is. It's not much but I'm hoping I'll be able to trade these with Vadim or maybe Polly."

"What about the Taphouse? You might be able to work something out with Cooke or Wellingham. Or if you get really desperate there's always Takahashi."

She laughed at Piper's more ridiculous suggestion "How would I trade something with Takahashi? The only word of English he understands is 'yes'."

"Oh you're not giving him enough credit. He tells me all kinds of stuff when people aren't listening. Like your name isn't really Blue for example."

Nora checked how dry the soil was with a fingertip before picking up her watering can and pouring a bit of water into each section. "How have you and Nat been doing? I haven't seen much of you lately."

"We've been doing better the last few days. She's still a little mad that I was gone for so long but she knows I didn't run out on her. That's not why I'm here though... I've been thinking about us the last couple of weeks. I know I said I was interested in a relationship with you at the airport but I still had that thing in me so I wanted to take some time to think it over to make sure my feelings were actually real. What would you say to dinner tonight at my place?"

Nora almost dropped the watering can in surprise "Tonight? I'd love to but I have to walk Dogmeat and run a couple errands first." The dog's ears perked up instantly at hearing the word 'walk'. "What time?"

"How about nine? Does that work for you?"

Dogmeat stood on his hind legs and waved his front paws as he tried to get Nora's attention. "I'll have to break out my pipboy since it has a clock but yeah I'll see you then." She turned towards the dog as Piper began to leave "All right boy, let's go."

She found herself standing outside the door to the building that jointly served as Piper's home and print shop. Nora glanced at her pipboy for a moment just to double check that it was the right time even though she already knew it was. She reached out and knocked on the door twice. There was a moment before it swung open and Piper was standing there with a cigarette in one slightly shaky hand. "Come on in Blue."

Nora glanced around as Piper gestured towards the couch. Aside from the two of them, the room seemed notably empty. "I don't see Nat anywhere? Is she out in the market?"

"Nope, she's off spending the night with one the other kids from her school. Do you know the Reische's?" Nora shook her head and Piper continued on "Not surprising. They're a pretty boring family, not much to know about them, but Nat likes the daughter. Just the two of us here." She took one last drag on the cigarette before putting it out in her ash tray and gesturing for Nora to sit on the couch. "I know this'll sound a bit odd, but close your eyes while I get the food out ok?"

It was a bit strange, but Nora decided to humor Piper and play along for the time being as she closed her eyes. She could hear the sound of wood dragging on wood for a few seconds and then a soft thumping sound. Nora felt Piper's hand gently pulling down on her chin and she opened her mouth obligingly as the other woman slipped something in. She moaned in delight as she slowly ate the chocolate covered strawberry. Nora opened her eyes and looked at Piper in astonishment "Oh my god Piper, where did you get this? I didn't even know there was chocolate still in the Commonwealth."

Piper gave her a teasing smile from her side of the couch "Don't you know a reporter never betrays her sources? And if I control the supply of chocolate then I know you'll always be coming back for more."

"Pfft, you don't need chocolate for that. I'll just call this a bonus." Nora glanced at the platter that Piper had set down on the table. Strawberries and chocolate weren't the only items on it either. Carrots, mutfruit, melon, roasted tatos and silt beans along with a few other dips in the center of the round tray.

She reached out to pick up another strawberry but Piper playfully grabbed her wrist. "Ah ah ah. It's my turn now." Piper closed her eyes and opened her mouth a bit as she let go. Nora picked up one of the carrots and dipped it into what she guessed was honey and placed it between the other woman's lips.

Piper fed her one of the mutfruits but she didn't recognize what it had been covered in"What dip was that? I've never tasted anything like that before."

"You haven't? It's just cheese... you didn't have cheese in the old world?"

Nora opened her eyes as she looked down at the platter "That was cheese? It didn't taste anything like the cheeses that I remember... I do like it though." She shrugged and grabbed a piece of melon as it was Piper's turn.

As the game continued, Piper's fingers were lingering near Nora's lips and she would gently brush against her chin or a cheek before withdrawing. Nora could feel a pleasant warmth radiating outwards through her at each gentle touch and it wasn't long until she was responding in kind.

Eventually though, there was only one last piece of fruit on the tray for Nora to choose from. Nora had felt the mood changing as they had fed each other and the time felt right to step it up. She dipped the strawberry in the chocolate and placed it between her teeth. Piper's eyes remained closed even while Nora moved to sit sideways on her lap. She leaned forward and pushed the berry into Piper's mouth, their lips coming together in the process.

Piper's eyes opened as her mouth closed and she began chewing. She wrapped one arm around Nora's waist while the other hand lightly caressed the top of Nora's thigh. After she swallowed the strawberry, she reached out and dipped one finger into the honey and proffered it up.

Nora closed her lips around the finger as she slid it's entirety into her mouth and began licking the honey off a little bit at a time. Piper murmured softly and the hand around Nora's waist began to creep downward towards the hip below. Once the honey was gone Nora turned back to the platter as she scooped some of the chocolate into her palm and smeared it on the side of her neck. She bit her lip as she watched to see what Piper's reaction would be "Oops... clumsy me."

There was a brief pause before Piper gently pulled on Nora's head to expose her neck as she began sliding her tongue along it to lap the chocolate up. Nora moaned softly as Piper started planting soft kisses on her neck and jaw before their mouths came together once again. After a moment of bliss Piper reluctantly pulled back "So... I know this is technically our first date but do you want to stay the night?"

Nora reached up to put her hands on Piper's cheek as she lovingly kissed her again "If you're willing then so am I."

Piper stood up and took Nora by the hand as she led her up the stairs to her bedroom. It was the first time Nora had ever been up here but the sheets smelled like they had been freshly washed and there no creases from having been used. Yet. Piper gently pushed Nora down to sit on the bed before taking a step back. Her cap was the first thing to go followed by her jacket and then her shoes. A few seconds later and her pants and shirt had joined them on the floor revealing the reporter's distinct lack of underwear. Piper reddened a bit as Nora looked, truly looked, at the other woman's naked body for the first time . "So... this is me."

Nora gave the warmest smile she could. "You're beautiful Piper." She didn't let Piper wait long as Nora stood up and started stripping her clothes off as well.

Piper looked back at her for a moment as well "I just wish I looked as good as you. Your breasts are fantastic you know that right?" Nora blushed at the compliment as Piper lay down on the bed and waited as Nora hesitated. "Is something wrong? We don't have to do this if you don't want to..."

Nora shook her head feeling embarrassed by the situation. "No. I want to Piper, I absolutely do... I just don't know how. I know what to do with a man but a woman? I never even knew I could be attracted to a woman until I met you."

Piper laughed, but in a kindly manner "You really are a fossil aren't you? This isn't that complicated Blue. We both have the same parts after all." She patted the bed beside her "C'mere. You tell me what you like being done to you and I'll make it happen. And then you can return the favor."

She lay down on the bed next to Piper still feeling somewhat self conscious about her lack of knowledge when it came to pleasing other women. "Ok... Well I've always had sensitive breasts. Massaging, squeezing them but my favorite thing is getting touched down here." Nora pointed at the underside of her breasts where the skin folded to meet her torso "And you can play with my nipples too so long as you don't use your teeth and keep it gentle ok? Too much and they start to hurt."

The reporter rolled over so that she was on top of Nora. One of Piper's legs was resting between Nora's as her groin pressed into Nora's thigh. She glided her hands along Nora's arms and up to cup her face as she started covering Nora's face with kisses. Piper ran one hand through Nora's hair before turning her attention downwards.

Piper's hands made their way to Nora's chest as she took a mound in each hand and began gently squeezing and relaxing over and over. Nora gasped the first time before letting out enthusiastic moans each further time her breasts were squeezed. Nora gave Piper an encouraging smile as it continued "That feels incredible."

"Well then, how about this?" Piper pushed herself lower down Nora's body as she dropped her head to take one nipple into her warm and wet mouth. Nora let out a loud cry as she felt a tongue flicking back and forth across her bud. Piper kept her eyes fixed on Nora's face as she kept at it while moving her hands to the other breast. One hand cupped the top and part of the side pushing it upwards while the other moved to begin rubbing the sensitive skin at it's base.

Nora's hips rose off the bed and a melody of gibberish began singing its way out of her mouth. Tendrils of flames ignited in both breasts and set her skin ablaze as they grew and spread through every part of her body. Piper's rubbing moved faster, her tongue licked faster and the flames grew hotter until they burst out in an explosion that left her muscles shuddering and the sheets beneath her groin damp.

Piper moved to lay on her back, legs bent at the knees and feet spread apart. The reporter smiled at her once Nora's brain had begun working again. "My turn."

It was an exceedingly pleasant view but Nora found herself a bit of a loss about her next move. "What do you want me to do? Lick it?" Piper nodded and began to gently rub herself as she waited. Nora dipped her head in-between those legs as she tentatively started licking. Her tongue roughly slid along Piper's crotch from bottom to top before she pulled back and started again.

Piper looked like she was trying to enjoy it but Nora could see the grimaces continuing on her face until she gently pushed Nora's head away. "This isn't working. We can try something else though, let me see your fingernails Blue." She pulled Nora's hands up in front of her face before shaking her head. "These are too long, I have a fingernail clipper here, give me a minute if that's ok with you?"

After getting permission from a shamed looking nod, Piper grabbed her fingernail clipper from beside the bed and began trimming Nora's nail's until they were short enough for her. "Ok, I want you to start with one finger. If it goes well then I'll ask you to add another. Go slow at first and I'll tell you if I want you to speed up."

Nora settled herself back down between Piper's legs as she slid her index finger between those wet folds and inside of the other woman. Her partner murmured softly as Nora moved her arm back and forth, each gentle thrust making it's recipient tremble just slightly. "Ok, try adding your middle finger and going faster."

She smiled and started to oblige the request but Piper let out a sharp cry and pulled away. Nora lurched back up to her knees, startled at the sound. "Did I do something wrong?"

Piper vigorously shook her head "No no no no, it's just a scratch. I'll be fine, I thought I cut your nails short enough but I guess not."

Nora glanced to the side, feeling rather self conscious about how this had gone. "I'm sorry I wasn't any good. What you did was amazing and I couldn't pay you back." Piper sat up drawing Nora into her arms and planted a few gentle kisses on her neck.

"It's fine Blue. You didn't do anything wrong, don't be so hard on yourself. You even told me that you didn't know what to do with another woman before we started. And it's not like this is going to be the last time I sleep with you." She pressed her their foreheads together as she continued speaking "We'll keep at it and the both of us will get better as we go." Piper gave a teasing smile "And once you learn to eat me out then I'll be sitting on your face every chance I get."

Nora blushed at the mental image that brought up. "Well, why not start teaching me now? I mean, we have all night..."

Piper lay back down on the bed and assumed an affected solemnness as she spread her legs once more "Eating Piper 101, let's get started."

Nora pulled a hair out of her mouth after Piper had insisted on ending their lesson. She crawled up to lay next to Piper as the other woman turned to face her, one hand propping her head up as she lay on her elbow. "So what now Piper? I applied for the secretary position but I don't know if I'll get it. And I'm not sure what I'll do if they turn me done."

Piper shook her head and put a finger to Nora's lips shushing her. "Forget about tomorrow until tomorrow. Try to enjoy today for what it is, lying naked in bed with the woman you love." She reached out to caress beneath one of Nora's breasts eliciting a shudder and low moan. "And I'm lying naked in bed with the woman I love."

Nora couldn't help but smile at that as she reached to intertwine their fingers together "I love you Piper."

Piper squeezed the fingers as she replied "I love you too Nora."

Nora, not Blue. That was a first.