Survivor: Epilogue
Disclaimer: Bethesda and Obsidian have made something awesome. I just like to play in it.
Notes: This is it, folks. I have ideas for a sequel but not sure if there's enough there (or enough interest from readers) for a part two.
Christmas, 2290
As usual, Piper knows he's back before the door opens. Dogmeat gets up, walks in a circle with his tail hung low, and lets out two happy barks, nose pressed against the door. Then there's the sound of boots knocking against the wall outside, the door to Home Plate swings open and Mac walks in, knocking the last of the snow off his boots.
She looks at him over the top of her terminal and smiles, then puts a finger to her lips, pointing up. Mac grabs the dog and kneels, rubbing and shushing him. From upstairs come the quiet snores of sleeping children.
Mac pats the dog a last time and walks over to her slowly - she can see from the stiff way he moves that there's something wrong with his back, or maybe his shoulder. It doesn't stop him from putting his arms around her, though, giving her a gentle squeeze. She winces, trying to find a good position for her belly, then gives up and settles for brushing his cheek with a kiss instead.
"Is it done?" He nods, smiling slightly. From the corner, the radio crackles and then a new song starts, the piano chirpy and the refrain cheerful. Uranium Fever again.
"Yeah," Mac sits, pulls his hat off and puts it on the table next to the couch. Piper looks wistfully back at her terminal, then decides it won't hurt to take a break. She sits down on the couch next to him, close enough that their legs touch. Even now, after three years, she gets a thrill down her spine at the feeling of his leg against hers. He rests his arm on the back of the couch and she strokes it gently with one finger.
"I can't believe they're going all the way up there," she lets out a small shiver.
"Jealous?" His smile is kind. His eyes flick down to the swell of her belly, then back up to meet hers. The creases around them make her melt a little.
"Maybe a little," she admits with a laugh.
"Just a little?"
"Ok, a lot. I just can't believe there's a whole colony of synths up there." She sighs. "I'd love to see it."
"Someday we'll go visit," he promises. When he leans in to kiss her, she feels that tingle down her spine again. His lips against hers are warm, insistent, and she kisses him back, leaning into him as well as she can over her tummy.
"Mmmm, Piper -" he's moaning into her mouth when they hear a giggle from the stairs. The two of them jump apart like teenagers and look over.
Duncan and Shaun stand together, giggling. Behind them, she can hear a third set of small feet making their way down the stairs, and then Hope's dark head appears between the two of them.
"What're they doing?" Her voice is scratchy from sleep. Piper feels her cheeks flush red.
"They're kissing," Duncan answers his little sister while Shaun makes a retching noise.
"Eeeeew," all three groan before collapsing again into giggles.
"You better be back in bed by the time I count to three." Piper picks up a teddy bear from the couch and chucks it at them and they scatter like radroaches. There's the sound of children rambunctiously climbing the stairs to the loft, but when she looks back over, Shaun is still standing there, his face serious.
"Did my mom and Mr. Valentine get off okay?" Piper nods, wondering if he'll ask about Danse.
"Sure did, buddy," Mac cuts in. Piper gestures for him to wait.
"And...what about, you know. My dad?"
"He went with them too." Piper isn't sure if it's the pregnancy or if she's just going soft, but hearing Shaun refer to Danse as his father makes her a bit misty.
Shaun nods. "Is Aunt Nat still coming over tomorrow?"
Piper smiles. "She is. And I think she has something special for you for Christmas."
The boy perks up at this. "Alright!"
"Now I think it's way past time for bed," Mac gets up off the couch and walks over the boy, scooping him up in his arms. Shaun lets out a laugh. "Why don't you head upstairs? Tomorrow's going to be a big day!"
Mac disappears up the stairs with the children and for several minutes there's gales of laughter and whispering. Piper thinks for a moment about getting up and continuing her article, but her feet are up and for once the baby isn't sitting on her bladder, so she rubs her hand across her belly and picks up a Grognak comic off the table while she waits.
Eventually, the light goes out and Mac makes his way quietly back down the stairs and across the room to sit beside her on the couch once more. Across the room, Dogmeat rolls over on his back and wiggles happily, staring at them upside down with his tongue hanging out of his mouth.
"Where were we?" She drops the magazine.