Thanks for the reviews guys! Not gonna lie, I choked up at the end of this chapter. 3


Ava stood outside of the cathedral's door, unsure of what just happened to her. She had woken up on a bedroll outside of the bog entrance. Her entire body felt sore, her head especially. She had cautiously felt the side of her head that burned with the most pain and she found a crusty gash that was stitched closed. She couldn't possibly give stitches to herself, not at the angle the injury was. She had looked around for any signs of life but there was none. How did she get outside the bog? All she could remember were terrible things. The bodies, the bobble heads, crying out for Charon. Burke and his bomb. The only way to get answers for both herself and Desmond was to go back to the cathedral.

"Jesus, I feel like I just took a shit-ton of jet and psycho," she muttered to herself before pressing the button on the intercom. The gate slid open and Ava saw one of the Tribals walking towards her.

"Truly, the Mother Punga has bestowed her wisdom upon you and your mind has been expanded!" said the Tribal.

"What happened? Why does my head hurt so much?" asked Ava.

"That is merely the sensation of your consciousness rushing to embrace its true potential. It is the feeling of having no boundaries. No limits! Ye, though your body will bear the scars of the ritual-"

You have got to be fucking kidding me. I am killing everyone here for this, she thought.

"-Your soul shall be forever strengthened by the experience! You are now welcomed in our cathedral. Enter, enlightened sister!" he said in a grand voice.

Ava stood there dumbfounded. Desmond did not mention getting mutilated by psychos in loincloths and painted faces. Not only would she kill everyone here when she was done with them, she was going to punch Desmond right in his fucking British mouth.

"Who leads our tribe?" she asked, trying to keep her tone of voice civil.

"Leader? That would be Jackson, a man of great wisdom. He has retreated to his Cavern of Communion to contemplate the unknowable. Only the righteous are trusted to know where this nexus of understanding lies. And alas, I am not so blessed," he explained.

"Why did you attack the mansion? Does the ghoul there have something you want?" Ava pressed.

"Our most enlightened one divined that the fates themselves did decree that the mansion must be burnt to the ground," he said simply. Ava decided he didn't know anything worthwhile, but maybe someone inside did. She opened the tall, wooden doors of the cathedral and walked inside.

The Tribals were growing a different version of the native punga fruit inside. Ava picked one and bit into it; it tasted much better. She had to bring a few of these back to Gob's. He could make a pretty cap off of them. A man was dancing in the center of the room, drool spilling from the corner of his mouth. He must not have done well in the ritual. In a corner of the cathedral, Ava saw a head of bright orange hair. It must be Nadine. She quickly walked over to the girl, hoping she was not insane like the rest of these clowns here.

"Looks like we got ourselves another newbie in the tribe! And still able to string together whole sentences! Ain't you the lucky one?" said the girl.

"Nice to meet someone who isn't crazy," said Ava. She stuck out her hand and the girl took it, shaking it with a smile.

"Hey, hey, hey, I might still be ten kinds of crazy! You don't even know me and ya can't tell by looking. I could be, 'friendly 'til she stabs you in the neck' kinda crazy. Then where would you be? All surprised and stabbed, that's where! But I'm not a vegetable like some of the others that come back from getting their heads cut open," laughed the girl.

"Heads cut open? What the hell are you talking about?" asked Ava in complete horror.

"That scar on your head? We all get them after coming out of the bog. You know, the last part of the ritual. You're high off your ass, you pass out. Some guy brings you outside and cuts your head open and 'free your mind.' As in, he rips out a piece of your brain. It's supposed to be a part that 'holds you back' but that doesn't always turn out so good…but you look like you turned out all right! I'm Nadine."

"Nadine, your mother sent me here to find you," said Ava.

Nadine sighed and said, "Look, it's not like I don't want to go home. I love my ma, even if she does want to make me claw my eyes out sometimes. I just wanted to come out here to find a fortune, make a mark you know? Tell my ma that I'll be coming back, just not quite yet," said Nadine.

"That sounds fair. Now, who the fuck cut open my head?" asked Ava.

"Eh, I got a hunch. I'm going to do a bit of snooping and see what I can dig up. Meet me by the riverboat in a day or so, I might have something," said Nadine. Ava was livid, but there was still a job to do. This meant talking to Jackson, the leader of the Tribals.

"Where can I find Jackson?" Ava asked.

"Off in his magical thinking cave I guess. He says that we're not enlightened enough to know where it is. That shit pisses me off. I thought this was all drugs and magic but it's just the same crap as everywhere else. So, I trailed Jackson to his stupid mystery cave…" said Nadine with a sly look.

"I'm going. Where is it?" asked Ava. She was becoming impatient. She wanted to just fucking leave already so that she could finish her job and possibly tell a certain ghoul just how important he was to her.

"The cave's under the cathedral. Crazy, right? You can't get in from here though. Use this key to go through a door in a wrecked ship just down by the cliffs here. When you find that old idiot, tell him thanks for all the punga fruit I could steal," said Nadine. Ava grinned at her as she sauntered out of the cathedral. They were very much alike, and Ava wanted to leave as well. She didn't want to keep the men waiting.


Desmond and Charon had been staring at each other without saying a word for over an hour. The whiskey Desmond had offered was indeed very good and Charon had two glasses of it already.

"I didn't think you'd take your whiskey neat," said Desmond.

"There's no other way to drink it. Only a complete moron would use a mixer or water it down with ice," Charon growled.

Desmond shifted in his chair uncomfortably and said, "No point in moping about because the Smoothskin isn't here. Go ahead. I know you've wanted to interrogate me. Start by telling me what you remember."

"I remember being a poor child. No shoes, no food. I don't remember my parents; they could have been dead already, I am not sure. Then, I recall being taken by slavers," said Charon.

"You're already wrong. Those weren't slavers. They were from the Commonwealth," said Desmond.

Charon stood up, letting his glass fall to the floor. "They tortured me. I failed at something and the beatings came. You were there, alongside them. I should kill you right now," he said angrily.

"Charon, I did not condone what they were attempting with you. You were just a kid, they wanted to turn you into this mindless killer and on top of that, you were turning into a bloody ghoul already. I was undergoing that change myself. I was trying to find a way to stop it from happening to you. I fucking pitied you. Obviously, there's no way to stop it. Not yet anyway," Desmond calmly explained. "And before you jump down my fucking throat about my visiting Ahzrukhal, he had information for me. Information that led me where some of my enemies were."

Charon sat back in his seat, fuming. What Desmond told him had made sense, so there was no sense in being angry at him any longer. He could certainly continue to dislike him for the pig he was. Charon had seen how Desmond looked at Ava, and that alone was enough to warrant him stabbing the ghoul in the neck.

"How is Ahzrukhal anyway?" Desmond asked.

"Dead," said Charon.

"How can you kill your employer? The contract forbade it."

"Ava bought my contract off him. I hated that rat, so I killed him. She freed me immediately afterward," Charon said.

Desmond perked up when he heard Charon use the Smoothskin's name so easily. The old ghoul couldn't resist irritating the younger one like he used to at the Ninth Circle. Charon had grown up to be quite the asshole and he aimed to put him in his place.

"You're lucky to have such a fine looking specimen by your side," began Desmond. Charon cocked an eyebrow.

"I know."

"If you ever leave her, mind if I snatch her up? It's quite obvious she has no aversion to ghouls and you don't see a bird like that too often. Deadly, and fuckin' beautiful. The shit I would do to her…" said Desmond.

Charon tensed up and a growled rumbled from his chest. Desmond grinned darkly. He had hit a nerve.

"That body of hers is bloody fantastic. All that running about in the wasteland must have done her well." Desmond laughed and added, "I'd do her well, if you know what I mean."

"That's enough Desmond," said Charon.

"Oh, plan on courting her do you? You're not exactly the best looking man in the wasteland."

"Perhaps I do plan on courting her, so would you kindly fuck off before I cut your throat open?" said Charon.

"So touchy! But seriously, I would have Ava on her knees. Have you seen her mouth? She looks like she would give the best fuckin' blow-"

Charon's fist slammed into Desmond's chin and knocked him to the floor. Desmond's two dogs growled fiercely but Charon ignored him.

"If you ever talk about her in that manner again, I swear to god, I will fucking kill you. Understood?"

Desmond spat some blood from his mouth and smiled at Charon. He stood up and only a few inches separated him and Charon, who was shaking with fury.

"Not only would I have her on her knees for me, but I would tear her ass apart. She'd be fuckin' screaming, it would be so good!"

Charon snarled viciously and his hands wrapped tightly around Desmond's throat. The ghouls fell to the floor as Charon continued to strangle Desmond. The dogs began pulling at Charon, but he paid them no mind. All he could think of was crushing the life out of Desmond.

Ava walked through the front door and into the foyer, and saw the men on the floor. Charon was choking Desmond, and somehow, it wasn't surprising. A fire extinguisher lay on the floor and Ava picked it up, walking over to them. They squabbling pair still hadn't noticed her return. She squeezed the handle, spraying foam all over the pair and they immediately separated.

"Seriously you two? You're acting like fucking five year old kids!" Ava shouted. Both men said nothing but continued to glare at each other. Ava pointed at Charon and said, "You. Come here."

Charon noticed the wound on her head and lifted his hand to examine it, but she slapped it away like a fly.

"Did you start the fight?" she asked.

"What the fuck happened to your head?" Charon asked with concern, trying to avoid the question.

"Charon…"

"Yes. I did."

"Why?"

"I was defending your honor if you must pry," he snapped. Ava smiled and wiped some of the foam from his face. Charon pointed at her injury with a scowl. "I will murder whoever did that to you."

"I know you will," she replied.

Desmond pushed Charon out of his way and shouted, "You infiltrated those Tribals yet?"

"Those idiots let me in with open arms. I have the leader's location," said Ava.

"Nice work—As if sneaking into a compound full of morons is any work," he said.

"Well if it's so fucking easy, why don't you do it? THEY CUT MY FUCKING HEAD OPEN AND TOOK BRAIN. BRAIN DESMOND!" she bellowed.

"Go find out why he's been trying to attack this place. Don't come back until you do, and take this fucking asshole with you. I give him my best whiskey, tell him all the information I could from his past and he has the nerve to fucking attack me!" shouted Desmond.

Ava shook her head and took Charon's arm, pulling him out the front door as he and Desmond continued to shout obscenities at each other.


Outside, Charon led Ava around to the back of the house, and into a large gazebo that overlooked the ocean. Ava took a seat in the lone white chair and Charon sat on the low wall beside her. She leaned against his side and smiled widely, glad to be by his side once more. The ghoul took the opportunity to further examine her injury. They would have to watch it and make sure it didn't become infected.

"What do you mean, they cut your head open? What the fuck is wrong with those people?" said Charon with disgust. "Are you all right Smoothskin? I mean, you haven't forgotten anything or feel strangely, do you?"

"I'm fine. I remember everything. Well, not everything. They made me go to this bog on the other side of the island and I pretty much tripped balls off the gas of this plant. That's when they cut me," she explained. Charon snorted in repulsion.

"So, did you get anything out of Desmond?" she asked.

Charon nodded and told Ava everything he had learned about his past. He summed it up as best he could; he didn't wish to be reminded so much of his past now. It was horrifying enough to live through it once.

When he was done, he stretched his arms over his head and smiled at his Smoothskin. "Enough of this talk though, it is the past and I am done with it."

Remembering what ran through her mind at the bog, Ava asked, "What about your future?"

"Why do you ask? Are you planning to fire me the second you complete all your tasks?" he said with a grin. There it was, that grin again. Ava loved it more and more every time she saw it.

"No…I was hoping you'd stay with me longer, actually. If you wanted," she answered quietly. Her blood was rushing to her cheeks and it burned. There was no way Charon didn't notice.

"I said I would stay with you until you send me away. But what if you take on a husband? Chances are he wouldn't be pleased with an overly protective ghoul living in the same house," he said. Charon laughed at the very idea. He would never let another man come near Ava unless she expressed interest first. He may want her for himself, but in the end, he wanted her to be happy. If it was without him, then…he'd have to get over it.

"Me? Have a husband? You're crazy. I've never even been on a real date. I hated the guys in the vault. You've seen them. Blech," said Ava.

Charon looked over at the lighthouse and got an idea. Pulling on Ava's arm, he lifted her to her feet. "Come on, we don't have much light left. Hurry!"

"Where…are we going somewhere? I don't feel like finding that lunatic tonight. I want to relax. I just had brain surgery," she whined.

"I am taking you on a date. It will be a first for the both of us," said Charon. He hoped she wouldn't take this badly but realized he could play it off as a joke if he had to.

Ava was stunned into silence. He must be joking. The hardened ghoul who barely showed emotion wanted to take her out?

He shows emotion around you, whispered the voice in Ava's head, causing her to smile softly.

"You…I should be getting flowers or something. Don't shortchange me here," she teased. She watched in amazement as Charon quickly gathered blades of marsh grass and wove a misshapen flower.

"Here. Damn brat," he said with a laugh. Ava's cheeks reddened and he said, "I rather like that color on your face. It's becoming."

Ava couldn't look him in the eye but followed him down the hill and through the shallow water. He placed his hand at the small of her back and guided her to the lighthouse door. It was going better than he thought.

"That's a lot of stairs!" said Ava as she looked up.

"We can make it if we take it slow," he said, looking up. Ava grinned. Sometimes, he didn't realize the things he said to her.

"I know we can," she said quietly.

Charon led her up the winding staircase, looking behind him every few moments to make sure she still followed. He helped her across the gaps and thankfully they weren't wide at all. He just enjoyed the excuse to pick her up and feel her skin against his hands. At the top, Charon picked the lock quickly as Ava looked over the railing. The height was dizzying but Ava found the pattern of the stairwell to be unusually pretty.

"Ladies first," Charon said as he held the door open for her. Ava giggled, which was most unlike her, and dashed out the door.

Charon hoped he could hear her laugh like that a bit more often. It was enthralling and new for him. If there was anything the ghoul loved about the time he has spent with Ava, it was how he cherished little changes. He likened it to being a child again, learning new things and actually enjoying them this time around. Outside the door, the refreshing breeze from the ocean felt wonderful on his worn skin.

Ava perched carefully on the railing, looking up at the darkening sky. She heard Charon come through the door and expected him to berate her about sitting on the railing and how dangerous it was. Instead, he stood in the doorway for a few moments. Ava thought he was taking in the scenery but when she looked at him, she saw something else. Ava was staring at the love of her life. Sure, he wasn't exactly what she pictured herself falling for, but there he was, with a look of adoration on his face. He was looking at her. She beckoned him over to her with a wiggle of her finger. Charon stood in front of her, placing his hands on either side of her small body.

What are we doing? Does she really want this? Maybe she's still recovering from the whole brain thing, thought Charon.

"Is this still a date?" she asked. Charon smiled and took the woven flower from her small hand and tucked it behind her ear. Why did she have to smile like that all the time?

"Of course. Are you enjoying yourself?" he asked.

"I am. More than you know," she said. "In the bog, when I was out of it, I remember thinking of you constantly. I wanted to escape so that I could get back to you."

Charon stared at Ava's lips while she spoke. He put an arm around Ava's waist, securing her, and took her hand. Slowly, he brought it up to his eye level and examined it. Her hands were still soft and youthful compared to his large, tough ones. With a fleeting glance at Ava's eyes, he kissed the palm of her hand and placed it on his chest. Warmth flooded him almost immediately and he leaned into her. Ava clutched his chest and he squeezed her tightly.

"I have you, don't worry," he whispered. Ava had tilted her head up, her lips slightly parted. Her hand had made its way from his chest to the back of his neck and she pulled him even closer to her. Charon felt like he was burning and drowning all at the same time when she wrapped her legs behind him.

"I believed I was a fool for no one, but I am for you," Charon managed to say. Ava pressed her forehead against his and trembled at the thought of his lips on her hand. She wanted to savor that moment for the rest of her life, and keep it safely tucked inside what was left of her mind. She had never been this close to anyone in her whole life and she was sure he felt the same way.

He's probably confused. Maybe I should explain-

"My god, you are incredibly beautiful," he said before kissing her. Charon had no idea if this was what Ava wanted. All his doubt was cast aside when Ava slid off the railing and into his arms. Both of her hands cupped his face and she kissed him with such fervor, Charon could not have thought it possible.