~O~

Who's The New Boss?

Gage gestured to the expansive home that once belonged to Colter. "Well, digs are all yours, boss." he told her. "You and I know Colter had some weird tastes, but I figured you could dress it up pretty however you want."

Laura ran her fingers over the counter top, glanced up at a few bottles of alcohol on the shelf

"Now that Colter's gone, this operation needs someone to step in and take the reins," Gage explained, "Sure as hell ain't gonna be me; leading outright ain't my style, and there's already some blamin' me for supporting Colter all this time. But you've bled for us and proved you got what it takes."

Laura didn't know what else to say; she wasn't sure if she was meant to lead them all.

Gage shook his head. "So that's it. Nice and simple, right? Take a minute, settle in if you want, and then let's get to it," he assured her, "And hey - we're in this together, so I might as well go all-in. You want me watching your back, you just say the word."

He started to go, but Laura called after him. "Hey, Gage?"

He stopped, but didn't look back at her. "Yeah?"

"Thanks."

Gage scratched the back of his head, waved a hand in the air. "Yeah, yeah, you got it, boss."

With that, he walked to the doors of the cafe and left her alone.

Laura walked around the room and took a moment to study her surroundings. She noticed a chest and made her way over to it, opening it up and rooting through piles of clothes, a few knives and chems. She tilted her head when she discovered a black eye-patch. She murmured with amusement before setting it over the place where her eye was missing.

Well, it was a good enough improvement and hid the hideous stitches.

She decided to leave the Grille for a drink.

Later that night, she sat at the bar at the Cafe where Lauren was congratulating her on her job well done. It was nice to hear it.

Nisha walked into the Cafe, which froze every trader working. She looked around at them, smiled and made her way to the bar where Laura was sitting.

"Well, here's where I find the new boss." she said, her smile continuous.

"I needed a drink." Laura replied, with a laugh.

"No arguments here." Nisha looked up at Lauren and at that silent cue, she was given a bottle of beer to drink. "It was better he die in that fight than face the consequences of his own stupidity."

She took a drink and Laura looked at the other raider boss curiously.

Nisha tilted her head down at her. "So tell me. You've been named Overboss thanks to Gage's decree, followed through on your promises..." she continued, "You claimed the rest of the park and now Nuka-World's lit up like a Christmas tree. Was it worth it?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Call it a curiosity, more than anything," Nisha replied.

Laura toyed with the bottle in her hands for a moment before she laughed softly. "I never expected my life to turn out this way," she told the other woman, "And I've found it."

"Hah, you have and I usually don't like people more alive than dead," Nisha remarked. She patted the counter top with one hand. "And with this place more or less operational, all we've got to do is sit back and profit." She sighed now and leaned back a little, savoring her words. "I only regret wasting all those plans I had for Gage. Although, I'm sure he's bound to screw up sooner or later."

Laura knew how the other raiders felt about Gage, but he'd done good work and now that she was Overboss, she had every intent to keep herself from dying like Colter.

"You just let me know if you ever...tire of him, and for now, I hope he knows just how lucky he is." Nisha told her, with a sinister smile and a note of amusement.

Laura watched as she rose, but looked over her shoulder when she noticed Mason entering the cafe. She bristled where she sat only for a second before she stood up. The Pack Alpha looked at her, smiled a nasty smile for a second; it was an attempt to see her falter, but Laura didn't fall for it this time.

Mason's smile disappeared and he let out a snort of amusement. "Hey, good show, boss. Colter should have tucked tail and backed down while he had the chance."

"Yeah." Laura whispered, bringing the strength in her voice. She leaned up a little. "And anyone else will join him if they don't be good dogs."

Nisha smirked, stifling a snort of laughter. Mason raised his eyebrows and glanced around at a few members of the Pack in the cafe, watching the exchange with interest.

"Whoa, not in front of my guys, yeah?" he murmured, under his breath.

Laura walked passed him and out of the cafe, feeling her heart pounding in her chest. A long time ago, she'd been his bed slave and now she was Overboss; she'd changed since she'd gotten to Nuka World and maybe how she changed wasn't so bad after all.

She stepped outside and spotted Mags at the Parlor doors, arms folded across her chest.

Come here.

That's the look Mags had given her and that was what it took.

O

They were both together in the enormous bed of Fizztop Grille, naked bodies entangled together beneath the sheets. Mags shifted on top of her and her fingers worked between her legs to bring her release.

Her moans and whimpers were soft in the room and Mags could barely make out her name whispered from Laura's lips. She gave perfect, short thrusts with her hand. But the movements didn't last long as Laura's voice and breath grew ragged and her hips twitched up with every thrust of Mags' hand.

"M-Mags, please..." Laura groaned, leaning her head back; the other woman pressed her mouth to her throat, "Don't stop. I'm so close."

Mags' chuckle was intensely alluring. "Don't worry. I'll take good care of you."

And her hand drove her home. Laura stiffened against Mags, who held her tightly to her body, letting her ride out her orgasm for a few seconds before she relaxed, utterly boneless and spent.

Mags brushed a lock of hair behind her ear and regarded her with a coy smirk. "The eye-patch is a nice touch." she remarked.

A giggle from Laura. "You think?"

Mags murmured with amusement; she looked relaxed now, certainly more amiable than she had been earlier. Just disappearing for a few days definitely left each other wanting.

Laura ran a hand across the hot, sweaty skin of Mags' chest before reaching up for a kiss. After several finishes between them, she just wanted to relax with her.

"I have to hand it to you," Mags said, running a fingertip across Laura's cheek, studying her with a peculiar fascination, "Things have progressed nicely. I suppose Gage wasn't wrong to put so much faith in you. You've certainly earned your place here."

Laura shut her eye at the sensation. "I made the best of a bad situation, I suppose."

"I'd say you did an adequate job, considering. You've come a long way, after all." Mags continued, her eyes darkening in thought; something still seemed to bother her for a second, "Because what it took to get where you are now, the burned bridges, the salted earth, there is no going back."

"Dang. I was hoping I could be a pony." Laura joked, with a little laugh.

Mags' smile twitched at the corner's of her mouth. "Sorry, boss. Take it from experience. There's no use in fighting who you are. You can only either let your nature consume you, fall to booze and chems like the rabble around this place, or you can embrace it."

"I know what you're saying. You won't forgive me for leaving." Laura replied, looking up at the woman resting on top of her chest.

Mags' lips thinned and she shook her head. She didn't seem interested in thinking about that or discussing it. "You don't need to worry about that anymore. Perhaps there was some ill feelings about it, but that's over now. As luck would have it, it would seem that this was the life you were meant for."

"You really think I was meant for this?"

"Sincerely? Yes."

Laura sighed and shifted beneath her. She put her arms around Mags' waist and kissed her neck; soft, yet warm open-mouthed kisses that Mags certainly seemed to appreciate given the murmur in her throat.

"I'm sorry," Laura told her, feeling bold enough to take a more active role, "I know it hurt you."

Mags set her teeth with a small hiss when Laura kissed her shoulder now. She wanted to deny it, surely she did. But it had become a lost cause when Laura wanted to do more. Mags certainly wanted to receive more.

"I have all the time in the world to make it back up to you, I promise." Laura assured her.

"Make it up to me now, Laura." Mags breathed, her voice throaty and filled with smoke. She hissed again when Laura's lips were at her jaw. "Right now."

Laura grinned up at her. "Really?"

Mags' darkened eyes focused on her with a mixture of lust and impatience and Laura certainly wouldn't make her wait any longer. She was taking a more active role, which she hadn't done much in their coupling, but she wouldn't disappoint her.

Laura turned them so that Mags was on her back, their lips jealously connected; Mags slowly parted her lips and made a soft sound of approval, scraping her teeth across Laura's lower lip before slipping her tongue inside. Laura mimicked the move and it just made everything in the room grow unbearably hotter.

Mags leaned her head back, watching Laura with a coy smirk on her face, which did little justice for her as the raider leader was flushed, eyes dark with arousal.

Laura hadn't done this sort of thing in some time, but as she kissed the other woman's belly, she certainly remembered how it was; Mags was talking, something self-assured, she assumed. But she wanted to focus on pleasing her as much as she could.

Mags closed her eyes, murmuring a sultry purr and running her hand through Laura's hair. It had been a long time since she allowed anyone to do this for her, but Laura was willing and she wouldn't pass it up. Her voice came out thick, but almost a whisper.

"Good..."

Laura felt herself shudder when she heard such a simple word uttered in such a sensual voice. When she kissed the inside of Mags' thigh, she could feel the hot, damn curls of hair against her cheek; the other woman had been ready long before she'd even started.

She was careful at for when she began - to better prepare herself. Her lips closed over her and the little hairs tickled her nose. Mags grunted softly, fingers digging through Laura's scalp and holding her right where she wanted her.

That vulnerable, odd feeling was there, but Mags didn't think about it for too long. Not when Laura was so willing to please her as she was and doing quite well at it. It stirred a pulsing heat within her and her hips rolled against Laura's mouth in time with her ministrations.

Shuddering, Mags sat up, adjusted herself so that she could prop up on her elbow and run a long, thin finger down the length of Laura's bare back. She passed the little scars from the Gatorclaw and had been momentarily distracted by them, remembering how she'd gotten hurt.

How far she'd come.

Laura lifted her head from her task only for a moment to look up at Mags with a curious smile on her face. Mags smiled back, determined to regain some measure of control. She cupped the other woman's chin and eyed her with amusement and lust brimming in her yellow eyes.

"Good?" Laura questioned.

"Yes. Now no more talking, Laura," Mags hissed out, "Finish what you've started."

And finish her she did; Mags was certainly confident until she reached that blissful end, filling the room with her indulgent moans.

Once Mags took a moment to catch herself, she smirked down at Laura and pulled her into her arms. They shared a kiss and she rumbled a contented sound in Laura's ear. Laura smiled and they decided to stay in the bed to sleep for the remainder of the night.

O

The following day, Laura made good on her word and led raiders from every faction toward the Commonwealth.

Mags had accompanied her on the trip with several other members of the gangs; Laura was wearing her power armor she'd taken from the Gunners.

And that morning was spent taking out a Gunner camp along the way; guns blazing, Disciples cheering, Pack members howling and Operators laughing gleefully.

And there was Mags and Laura, back to back, fighting in the chaos as a pair. Laura looked down at Mags and smiled and Mags smiled back in return.

"So, will we be home in time for dinner?" Laura asked her.

"Possibly. Lizzie has a meal prepared. My favorite."

Laura grinned, ducked from a gunshot and shielded Mags with her armored body as two more nearly knocked her over. There they were, having a casual conversation in the middle of a fight between a mass of Gunners on the broken highway.

"She got more?" she asked.

"Oh, yes. Courtesy of Katelyn." Mags replied, ducking behind a car and tossing a grenade.

"Hey, you guys! Heads up!"

The two looked up and Laura noticed a missile coming right for them. She shook her head with a grin. "Yeah, I don't think so."

She charged, grabbed the missile and spun, tossing it over her shoulder and sending it flying through the air into the distance.

Nisha chuckled, watching it explode far from their position. "Not bad, boss."

Dan stepped down from his hiding place behind a truck and watched Laura with amusement. "Definitely improved since the bottling plant." He looked over his shoulder, to the others going through crates of supplies. "They had a few things hidden away, but they'll work until we reach the Commonwealth."

"Hey, you guys." a Pack member walked up, holding a pair of reading glasses before setting them on his face. "What do you think? Make me look smarter?"

"Nah, we can still see your face." A Disciple sneered.

The Pack member growled at her and Laura raised one hand, laughing a little. "Okay, no need to fight. We've already got the Gunner's base. Now we can head into the Commonwealth."

They all looked excited to hear that.

"It's about damn time." Nisha replied.

Dixie giggled and started forward first. "I can't wait to try out my new knives!"

"When did you get new knives?"

The chatter died down as they walked off. Mags looked up at Laura and nodded her approval. She gave her heavily armored hand a small caress.

"Welcome home, Overboss. Here is to a bright future."

Laura smiled down at her and nodded.

"It looks bright from here." she agreed.

"That's just the radiation." Jet was talking with them as they walked on.

"How do you know?" Needles asked, "You don't even read."

Jet gasped indignantly. "You said you wouldn't tell anyone!"

The gangs, let by their new Overboss, started for the Commonwealth.

And Laura had never been happier.

O

Note - The fighting scene of this chapter was inspired by the song "Ballroom Blitz" by Sweet. Bless those who encouraged me to finish this fic. I had a blast writing it! Thanks again!