Er hi. Writing and posting this because I need some Jake/Evelyn in my life. And I need a distraction from the anxiety of everyone dying on the Walking Dead tonight. I'm making The Courier a kind of flexible character until I can figure out what to do with their character. The Courier is most definitely female though. And we will most definitely learn about her later.

The chapter title was supposed to be 'And The Rock was Formed When You Held My Hand' but it didn't fit so.

The hotel room is pitch black when she wakes up. Her head is pounding and she looks around. Her bag is in the corner, weapons on top of it. Dog-Meat is curled up on his own little makeshift bed of blankets and pillows. If her dog couldn't sleep in the bed he would get the next best thing she could find. She catches sight of a lamp on an end table next to her and she turns it on. Jake covers his eyes with his hand and grimaces at her. He curses in Russian (he still hasn't taught her) and peeks through his fingers at her.

"Hi." She says and he sits up a little to rest his forehead against hers.

"I thought you'd still be asleep. Bad dreams?"

"No bad dreams. No dreams at all actually."

She reaches forward to touch his beard. Seeing what was once her baby-faced Jake with a full beard made her laugh. Seven years and they had become old. Neither of them were naive any longer, instead savvy with quite a few tricks up their sleeves. His cobalt eyes are watching her with an eyebrow raised.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, fine. I just…" She doesn't know what to tell him. "Let's go back to bed. We've got work to do tomorrow."

Jake falls back against the bed and dramatically exhales.

"We always have work to do."

Evelyn snuggles up to Jake, who kisses her crown of black hair. His body radiates warmth and even though it's late spring in the Mojave, Evelyn doesn't mind. She absentmindedly traced symbols on Jake's side, still a little to keyed up from her memories to sleep. Her leg finds its way under Jake's leg and she stays that way until Jake's voice fills the room.

"What's up, doll?" She wanted to laugh at his use of "doll". He had picked it up from The Chairmen and she found it funny. At this point it was probably a subconscious thing but she noticed.

"I'm thinking about that time that you all but abandoned us with a huge robot, Liberty Prime."

He's silent for a moment and she can feel her heartbeat just pounding.

"Eve that stuff happened a long time ago. Why are you still dwelling on it?"

"'M not dwelling. Just thinking about it. We haven't been home in a while."

Jake's eyes harden unexpectedly and she groans internally.

"You can go if you want. Find a caravan that'll take you."

Eve tugs at his beard and he swats at her hand.

"You know, you can go from lovely to frustrating in about five seconds."

Jake kisses her jaw. She brushes back hair from his eyes.

"Go to sleep. You're not doing anyone any good sleep deprived. We can talk about whatever you want to tomorrow."

Evelyn nods and takes Jake's hand in hers. Their fingers twine together and before Eve knows it, she realizes she is home. That back in the Capital Wasteland home became by his side. Home became holding his hand, home was sharing a bed with him. Even if he refuses to share a clean bed with Dog-Meat.

She pulls the sheet further up, covering most of her back. A sense of contentment fills her and she closes her eyes. This life wasn't perfect, but it was hers. She falls asleep to the rhythm of Jake's heartbeats.

The trek to Camp Forlorn Hope is mostly quiet. It's early afternoon and the sun is blazing. Evelyn has her hair in a tight braid. At least the thick hair is off of her neck. If she gets sunburned on her neck, so be it. She wonders for a moment how Craig's doing. She hasn't gone to see him in a while, and it makes her feel guilty. Even after seven years, it hurt as bad as if Carla had just died. She tries to avoid thinking about any of that, much less going to see him. Jake doesn't bug her about it but when there's a reminder of her sister he gets this sad look in his eyes and she hates it.

The camp comes into view, and from a distance it doesn't look to bad. As they get closer there, a desperate feel fills the air. She moves closer to Jake, who takes only a quick glance at her. He squeezes her hand before they enter the camp. The tents are scattered, not really in a specific order. The biggest tent is of course for the highest ranking officers. Jake gives her a pointed look before they enter and she can read the message in his eyes, 'Don't cause any trouble.' Eve rolls her eyes and follows him dutifully.

"Can I help you?"

"I think the question is 'can we help you?'"

The NCR officer looks suspicious but Jake just smiles and works that charm.

"We work with The Courier. She sent us here to help you. Unless you're in a position to turn away help? If so, Evelyn and I will just leave. I hear the Capital Wasteland is nice this time of year. And much less worrying about being steamrolled by slavers."

"The Brotherhood of Steel love us back there. We'd be safe." Eve adds brightly and Jake smiles at her. It's a relaxed smile. It's not the first time they've had to convince someone of accepting their help. Unsurprisingly though it only happens in the Mojave. They're practically legends back home. The NCR officer is backtracking.

"We'll accept The Courier's help."

And just like that Evelyn and Jake are back to work.

They wander around the camp surveying for a little bit before digging in. Eve's eyes widen as they find the graveyard. It's mostly out of the way, hidden by tents.

"Shit." Is all Jake says and Evelyn just stares.

"I didn't realize…"

"That it was this bad? I didn't either. The NCR is doing a good job of keeping everything covered up. You good or do we need to leave?"

She shook her head and focused on her breathing.

"No, I'm okay. Just surprised. These people need us."

Jake moves forward and his lips brush her forehead.

"You're allowed to say no." He takes her shaking hands in his steady ones.

"No. No, not when they need us. Come on, let's get started. I can test out some of the medical techniques you've been teaching me."

His eyes sparkle and she smiles weakly. When they found the medical tent, her mind was still reeling. She had seen some of the troopers. Most of them were young, so young. How many of those kids had lost their life to a cause that was at a standstill? She fucking hates the NCR at that moment. They got greedy and tried to hold a position they clearly couldn't. And to be up against such a barbaric enemy…

She can smell the stench of infection and it turns her stomach. Jake doesn't react at all to the smell. Who she presumes to be the camp's doctor turns to them. His eyes are tired and Evelyn feels pity.

"I'm Jake and this is Eve, we're here to help you."

"I'm Doctor Richards. I don't have much you can do, unless you have any medical knowledge at all?"

"My dad was the Vault doctor. I'm pretty sure I can help."

Eve glanced over at the medical tables. She trusted Jake, and he was good. But these people looked bad off. However, she wasn't a fully trained doctor so she would let Jake make the final judgment. His blue eyes met her green ones and he nods once. That's all she needs to know they'll take the job, no matter how bad off the people are.

They spend a week at the camp doing odd jobs. There are thankfully no Legion attacks though. The troops in Nelson had been wiped out and NCR soldiers saved from a long death on the cross. At the end of the week Jake is itching to get back to The Strip and away from here. The camp is much better off, but Jake can't sit around any longer. He doesn't care for the NCR, but won't openly condemn them. Not when they work with The Courier.

Eve doesn't know much about The Courier, her name is Scarlett and she's got long auburn hair with blue eyes that are striking compared to her fair skin and red hair. She was a courier before being shot in the head and now she was in the same position they were. Always helping people.

She genuinely liked Scarlett, and Jake had seen something in her that he believed in. It was rare. Jake didn't put his trust in anybody. They had spent a long night talking in The Wrangler while she had tried her luck at the blackjack tables. Whatever Scarlett had to say had convinced Jake that she was worth his time.

Shaking thoughts of the enigmatic courier out of her mind, Eve started gathering up their supplies from the tent. They had graciously been given a little tent out of the way to store their belongings while they helped the NCR. Jake came and sat down on the bed while she cleaned her hunting shotgun.

"I was thinking…" He starts and Eve smiles up at him.

"Dangerous territory. Last time you started thinking we ended up here."

Jake gives her a exasperated look and she waves her hand in a gesture for him to continue.

"We should head to Novac on the way back." His words are careful and Eve knows he's been thinking on this for a while.

The light feeling inside of her chest shrivels up and she freezes.

"No."

When he opens his mouth to argue she stands, her mind is jumbled mess and all she can see is Carla on that podium.

"Fuck you if you think you're gonna make me go back there when you ran away from the Wasteland." Her breathing becomes shallow and her throat constricts. She's faintly aware of Jake's hand gripping her shoulder.

"Hey, look at me. Eve."

She must have a pitiful look on her face for him to become this concerned. But she looks at Jake anyways.

"Breathe. Focus on my breathing and breathe with me. No one is gonna make you do anything you don't want to, I swear. I was just suggesting it." Jake pulls her to him and there's no space between them.

"I just can't go back there… Carla…"

Jake just tightens his hold on her, anchoring her to him. As he had always done. As they had always done for each other.

"Hey, I understand. I won't bring it up again."

"I'm sorry for going for the nuclear option early." She says, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Don't worry about it. You learned that shit from me anyways."

She nodded, still feeling a little disconnected. Jake kisses her temple and whispers two words into her ear.

"My heart." He says softly in Russian. It's a phrase he's repeated often enough that she remembers the meaning. They stand there for a few more moments, Eve soaking up Jake's attention. When they've wasted enough time she playfully pushes him away and smiles.

"We should stop by the 188 on the way home. I need more shotgun shells."

"Anything you want."

She picks up her bag and as she turns to leave she sees a smile on Jake's face and savors it. Even now he doesn't smile enough for her liking.

Author's note: I can't begin to tell you guys how much I loved writing this. I love Jake and Evelyn so much, they're near and dear to my heart. Especially them being all grown up. When it comes to all my OCs they are definitely my babies. Chapter title is from the song Sunny by Marvin Gaye(thank you Scandal!). The full lyric is 'My life was torn like a windblown sand, and the rock was formed when you held my hand.' And it just fits them so well, am I even allowed to ship my own characters this much?