A/N: Okay so it's been like 9 days since I updated. Oh well. Haha, I'm lazy, and if I don't get enough reminders that people are reading, then I slack off. Anyway have two chapters since I'm feeling generous and the story's almost over anyway.

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(Minion's POV)

That mirelurk was probably the best thing I'd had to eat since getting kicked out of the vault about a month ago. But I tried to push that place out of my head as much as I could. There was nothing but bad memories for me there, now. And Amata... I really didn't want to think about her. Boy, had I ever fucked up things with her...

Me, Charon, and Butch were all sitting by the fire, relaxing in the cool night air and digesting our dinner. And I actually felt pretty content, when I thought about it. I was independent, could do pretty much whatever I wanted, had two all right friends at the moment (one who would probably die for me even though we'd only been together a short time, and one who I'd known my whole life, but would probably use me as a human meat shield before taking a bullet), and maybe we'd stay together forever and form some kind of Unholy Trio. And we'd own the wastes. A hedonistic lifestyle with no worries and every night a party. It would be beyond awesome.

"Minion," said Charon, and I snapped out of my fantasy. "It is getting late. You should sleep."

"But I took a nap... bahh, you're right. I'll get the beds." And then I remembered something. "We only have two beds, Red." We both turned to looked at Butch, contemplating.

"I'll sleep with Minnie!" he piped eagerly. I sent him a disapproving look.

"I'm sure she would be more comfortable sleeping beside me," said Charon, echoing my thoughts. "It wouldn't be the first time."

"Yeah, this morning, actually," I chirped, and Charon rolled his eyes at me.

Butch was pouting. "Aww, come on. Why do you wanna sleep next to that bloodbag? He smells rank."

"I don't care," I said pleasantly, hugging my knees to my chest. "He's good to me, and I trust him."

Charon cleared his throat and got up. I was getting an odd vibe from him all of the sudden. Had I weirded him out again? He was so touchy sometimes. "I should take first watch, anyway. Minion, may I suggest Butch takes the second watch?"

"Hey, no fair!" he whined.

"Don't worry, I'll take second watch. I've gotten more sleep than you guys, anyway. Just wake me up when you're ready, 'kay?"

"Very well," he said, facing away from us and out towards the horizon. "I'll set up proximity mines by the river to keep the mirelurks away, so I may focus on other possible dangers."

I stared at him sulkily, holding the bedding under my arm. Butch was smoothing out his own bed, humming happily to himself. Probably stoked to be out of the vault for good. "Red? Are you all right?"

"Don't worry about me," he said, and my mood sunk a little again. What was wrong? Was Butch really bothering him that much? I was trying so hard to get over what just happened; I really didn't need this at the moment. Things were going so well between us til I opened my mouth...