Note: If you don't see anything new from me for the next few days, I'm either tying one on, sleeping one off, or still drunk. I have to make a public appearance on occasion or people will start to think I've died.

Maggie stepped out of the elevator and turned to her left, stomping over to Boone, who was still leaning against the wall nearby. "C'mon," she hissed, pulling him by the elbow and toward the front door of the Tops.

He raised an eyebrow but didn't say a word, letting her lead him to the front. She threw up a hand at Swank as they walked out, flipping him off. He wouldn't expect any less from her, she knew. And her leaving quickly would be normal, she always ran out the door when Benny was still around.

Fucking Benny! Maggie grinned to herself and willed her throat to still the laughter caught in it. Fucking Benny and his grandiose plan!

"What's going on?" Boone asked, after she hustled him out onto the street.

Maggie stopped and breathed out, leaning her hands onto her knees. "Change of plans," she said. "I'm not gonna report to House no more." She pushed the laughter down inside, and stood up straight. Boone only raised his eyebrow again, staring at her. It took her a minute to come up with the proper words. Dammit, Maggie, hold it together! It's not that funny!

But it is.

"I'm a very lucky widow," she said, trying to keep the smirk off of her face.

"Benny left you some money or something?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"No," she told him, waving her hands. "No, he had a plan, an absolutely beautiful fucking plan―" She started laughing again. Couldn't help it―

Benny, you fucking bastard, I almost wish I hadn't killed you! Him with that fucking chip, planning to rule over the Strip like Not-At-Home was, planning to make everyone get the hell out of New Vegas who didn't belong. It was exactly what Maggie wanted to do wrapped up in a perfect package, and he'd left the robot up and running for her―everything was falling neatly into place, everything perfect for how she wanted Vegas to be.

If she could use Yes Man to keep the Legion out of Vegas, and keep the NCR from stepping in to take over, it would be―just, the best goddamn thing that'd ever happened to her. Send the robots to take out the Legion at the Dam and let them squabble themselves into non-existence like House had talked about―and the NCR would be less inclined to work a negotiation because Maggie would never let them have her home―

Her thoughts sobered with that. The NCR was occupying parts of Vegas right now because of their desire for expansion. And... Boone was NCR. He'd worked for them, in the past. Had fought for them. She didn't know why he'd put his ass on the line, but if it were her, she wouldn't have done something like that unless it was for the Family or... well, maybe for him, but―

Her chest fluttered a little. Shit. Still had those stupid bloatflies in her stomach, when she thought about... about him. About her... want for him. Would have to deal with that, one day.

But not today―today was about Vegas, and about home. Home was more important than Boone. Wasn't it? She breathed out, and looked up at him. ...Wasn't it? Maybe. She didn't know. Made her chest hurt to think about giving up Boone for Vegas. Even if they were―on a break, or something.

And it wasn't fair to make him do what she wanted. She'd had enough of that treatment, herself. They'd have to... figure something out. Eventually.

Boone watched her, looking baffled. "You going to explain what's up?" he asked, a corner of his mouth curling up in response to her expression.

"Benny wanted to lord over Vegas," she said. Oh, hell, it was too fucking funny and perfect―she couldn't even control how happy she was.

"So did that Nero guy," Boone said, evenly. "What makes it different, this time?"

"Well―" Maggie sank onto a bench and covered her face, laughing in a spurt. "Oh, my God," she said. "It's too beautiful for words."

Boone stood and watched her for a moment, then sat down beside her, putting an arm over the back of the bench. "I agree," he said, smiling.

"Oh, my God," she repeated, turning and headbutting him in the chest, shaking with laughter. "...I can't stop laughing, oh." She felt tears popping into her eyes. Ignored him trying to be smooth with her, there. Her heart wouldn't let her forget, but―but Benny's plan―

It was still mind-blowing. Maggie didn't even know where to begin, thinking about it.

Boone moved his arm to rest around her back, squeezing her shoulder. "Take your time," he said, amused.

Probably about five minutes later, she managed to get herself under control and explain to Boone about Yes Man and the plan to take over Vegas. He watched her with a tiny smile that disappeared completely by the end.

"That Benny guy was a piece of work." He shook his head and removed his arm from around her back.

"I know, right?" She leaned her head back and looked up at the sky. "Here I was, thinking his plan to take over was all words and no action, and he'd already got it wrapped up and ready to go."

"What's your plan, then?"

Maggie stopped laughing. Maybe today was the day to deal with... that mess of politics. She'd probably fuck it up, though. She usually did.

She looked over at Boone and narrowed her eyes at him. "Are you still NCR?" she asked, cautiously.

"I am," he said, but he shrugged. "Think they've got the right idea. Why?"

"I'm not gonna let the NCR come in and take over Vegas," she told him, point-blank. "I won't stand for them assholes trying to make this place their home. It's my home. Mine."

Boone blinked and moved away from her, turning himself to look at her directly. "Okay," he said, calmly.

"I'm not gonna let those fucking bastards across the river have it, either," she added, crossing her arms and staring at him. "You know that."

"Yeah," he agreed.

"I don't want you to go throwing a fit or something, about this―" she bit her tongue and tried not to be mean. It was real fucking hard for her, this wordplay stuff.

"Maggie," Boone said, sighing. "I just want you. ...That's all."

The way he was looking at her―goddammit! She swallowed hard and looked down, her heart pounding. "Boone―"

"I mean it, Maggie. I just want you," he said. He closed his eyes and rubbed his chin. "I trust you," he added. "Might be angry all the time, but I know you mean well."

Maggie's chest gave a weird thump and she rubbed her breastbone through the leather armor. She knew he still loved Carla. But―but he was acting like he loved her, too, and with everything going on between them, with her and that stupid chip, and her business with House and―just every fucking thing right now―

"But if the NCR hates me, they might shoot at me," she pointed out, looking back to him. "And I don't want you to... to leave me, if that happens. If I have to fight back. I'm gonna make a lot of enemies, here."

Boone stared at her for a moment, then cupped her cheeks, and put his forehead against hers. She hated that. He was too close to her, made her blush. Stupid thoughts that felt great but were gonna be her goddamn undoing, ran through her head. She reached up to push him away, but stopped herself when he started talking.

"I'll sit tight," he said quietly, staring her in the eyes. "If you need to do something that will be a problem. I don't want to leave. I promised I'd listen to you. I will."

"Dammit," Maggie swore, closing her eyes against the tears. She pushed him away and stood up, walking off abruptly. "Goddammit!"

She walked away from him, not sure how to react to it. She couldn't tell him what she really wanted―

Boone didn't come to find her, after she walked off. Let her go do her thing, like he'd said he would. She almost hoped he'd come and make her angry, because then she'd know how to act. How to react to his―to his wanting her. How to react to her own wanting him, which was something she was pretending pretty hard didn't exist.

This lovey-dovey shit... it was too much for her. Maggie was a simple girl, she liked getting drunk, having sex, and punching people. Boone's way of yanking on her heart was making her hurt, and she didn't like the hurt. Maybe it hurt because she didn't want to admit―fucking hell, she didn't know.

It was too sophisticated for her. Too much like someone else, who was still very much in her mind even if she was pretending she wasn't making parallels. Trying not to think about any man whatsoever, except Benny. Because she really could kiss him for the wonderful gift he'd left her, and because he was never even inside the picture frame of her heart.

She resolved herself immediately by grabbing up a bottle of vodka and half-drowning herself, before she tracked down Emily Ortal. Yes Man mentioned the Follower woman in his spiel about Benny's plans, and Maggie wasn't smart enough to weasel her way around a computer without a little help.

Drunkenly, Maggie stumbled through Freeside, and sloshed her way into the Old Mormon Fort. She blinked a little, then made her way across the rocks to Julie.

"You again." Julie pressed her lips together and stared down at Maggie. "Why are you bothering to visit? Finally decided to jump on the wagon?"

She glared at the mohawked woman for a moment before she answered. That is the last time I try to make a damn friend, she told herself. I'm no fucking good at it.

"I'm here on business, Julie," she slurred out. "I need to talk to Emily."

"She's around." Julie narrowed her eyes at her. "But I think you ought to be here for treatment, not to talk shop with our researchers. How long has it been since you were sober?"

Maggie rolled her eyes and turned away. "Whatever, Julie, I don't fucking care. I need to ask Emily about some shit she was doing for Benny."

"Mind yourself, Mag," was all Julie said. Maggie waved her off and stumbled away.

Half an hour later Maggie had given up in frustration at Emily trying to teach her to use a terminal, and was told to go sleep it off and come back when she was sober. Hah, like that's gonna fucking help.

She walked around Freeside for a little bit, then decided to go up to the Kings building and see what was new with The King.

After Carla left the Strip... it wasn't as much fun, anymore. Maggie spent a month or two trying to find someone to hang out with, but most of the tourists on the Strip moved on after a few days and never came back. She couldn't go to the Gomorrah no more, after marrying that asshat, and she sure as hell wasn't hanging around the Tops and letting Benny pester her. That left her with the Ultra-Luxe―and she wasn't keen to go play nice to the stupid cannibals―and that weird woman in Vault 21. What was her name. Maggie didn't remember. Didn't like her, anyway.

She did remember that she'd gone down into Freeside and checked out the sights. Got friendly with the Garrett twins―she chuckled, just friendly enough not to get tossed out on my ass, mostly because she was a well-paying customer. She'd also learned to avoid Dixon―fucking asshole!―and tried to be friendly with Julie Farkas, but that hadn't worked. She was too drunk most of the time for Julie's liking.

The only person in Freeside she was even remotely interested in talking to on a regular basis was The King, and that was because he understood. Doing what you wanted, living free of the rules, hell, he was the male version of Maggie.

Plus, she liked the way he talked. It was funny and he knew it made her laugh.

"Mag." Pacer nodded at her, and jerked a thumb at the theater door. "Go on."

She rubbed Rex's side and smiled at him before she sat down beside The King, pulling two chairs over and putting her feet up in the second one. "I'm having a hell of a week," she told him. "Shit's just... crazy. Just fucking crazy, man."

"Hate to hear that, Mag." The King looked over at her and touched the top of a deck of playing cards on the table. "Heard about Benny. And the other one, the Omerta man. Bad run of luck for ya."

"It's not even that," she said, leaning her head back and staring at the ceiling. "I mean, shit. I'm not mad Benny's gone. And Nero―" she sighed. "I'm a fucking idiot."

"You lose both your sweethearts in a week and that's the least of your troubles?" King shook his head at her and chuckled in that funny way of his. Maggie smiled. "I can't imagine what could be worse."

She'd told him she was the "Courier chick". King knew about her being shot, knew about her being Omerta. Hell, he probably knew more than Boone ever would, about everything. If Nero hadn't brainwashed her―Maggie might have taken her chances with the Freeside gang leader.

Maggie sat up straighter in her chair. "King, baby," she said, smearing on the honey. "You know I love ya."

"Oh, now, I know that tone of voice." He tapped the cards. "What's your angle?"

"Need advice," she said, lowering her feet and leaning forward. "I have a real opportunity, here, and I―I don't know what to do."

"Lay it on me, mama," King said, smiling with one half of his mouth.

She explained the deal with New Vegas, briefly. "I can push the NCR and those Legion bastards out of the Mojave," she said, putting her fingertips together. "I can take out Mr. House, too, and I think I'm going to. But..."

"But running the show ain't your style?" he said, nodding.

"It ain't really me, no," she said, looking up at him. "I got real excited to see this plan Benny had, but, shit. It's too complicated."

"I don't think I can help you, there," he said, after a moment. "I have enough on my plate, keeping Freeside in check."

"How do you do it?" she asked. "I don't even know how to start."

"Treat 'em with respect," King said, tapping his forehead. He sighed. "But lately, that ain't been the case."

Maggie let him talk to her about the problems in Freeside. The NCR was jamming their thumb up the butt of the residents, letting their own people run around as they liked, getting in the way of people who lived in the slums.

"Doesn't sound right," Maggie agreed. "You want me to take care of it?"

"If you could see it in your heart, mama, I'd be much obliged." King smiled at her again. "Not like you to be so nice to me, Mag. You got another sweetheart in the wings, I don't know about? Or is it my turn to saddle up?"

Maggie flushed a little. "King!" He laughed at her. "There is one," she admitted. "I don't know what to do about it."

"Mag's gone soft for a man. Color me surprised," King drawled sarcastically. "No hope for ya, mama. Give in to it. Enjoy it while it lasts, 'cause it sounds like you ain't gotta have much time left."

"I keep thinking that too," she said, drawing a circle on the tabletop with her finger. "Ain't happened, though."

King patted her shoulder, and smiled at her. "You really like this man?"

Maggie nodded slowly, feeling sick to her stomach. "...It's pretty serious."

"Get on it. Run home to him." King's smile widened. "But you gotta let me know when it's my turn to ante up, mama. I've been real patient."

"Oh, fuck you, man," Maggie growled, and the King laughed at her as she left the building. Thinking hard and feeling the sobriety coming on.

Ante up. That was it. She had to ante up, and take charge. Maggie grumbled under her breath all the way back to the Lucky 38.

God help her if she fucked it up, though.