Hello!
Good to see you all! Just felt like writing a little somethin' somethin'.
Take care!
Sincerely,
Gatekeeper
New Neighbors
Preston knocked on the door way of the main building, catching Elizabeth's intention.
"Hey, you got a minute? I got a favor to ask you."
Elizabeth sat quietly, fiddling with the Pip-Boy before shifting her attention to Preston. "Sure! What do you need?"
Preston smiled as he slid into the room, leaning up against the wall by the door frame. "I'm glad you were able to get new clothes with Marcy awhile back, and I know you're still adjusting to the whole new world, but we could use some more help. I know you weren't sure about joining the Minute Men, and I'm not saying anything about it, but we do need some more supplies if I'll have any hope to make it a thing. There's a settler farm just south west of here, past the hills near Red Rocket. We could really use a stable food supply, and some friendly neighbors is always a good way to start. Would you mind seeing how they're doing?"
Elizabeth gave the idea some thought before nodding. "Sure, I can go do that. Do you know their names?"
Preston rubbed the back of his neck. "To be honest with you, I'm not certain. Awhile back I heard some traders talking about Abernathy Farms, and I'm pretty sure that it was around here. That's the best I got. Worst comes to worst, it's a little awkward right? Here, take this as a little gift. I don't know anyone that would say no to some free blankets and ammo."
Elizabeth gave a small snort and shook her head. "Alright Preston, I'll get on it. You take care and I'll see you later."
The introduction was a bit... rocky, but at least the man lowered the gun he held in his hand, so that was a good start.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?"
Elizabeth took a deep breath before giving a small smile. "My name's Elizabeth, I'm your new neighbor."
The man looked at her quizzically. "Neighbor, what do you mean neighbor? There's no settlement around her till Paradise stranger."
Elizabeth shook her head and pointed to where Sanctuary lay. "We've just started a new settlement right near the river. It's called Sanctuary. We wanted to just say hello and give you this."
She pulled out the wrapped bundle and handed it to the man, who cautiously took it and unwrapped it a little. She saw his eyebrows shoot up a little before settling back as he wrapped the package back up.
"Well..." he started, holstering the gun, "...seems I've been out of the loop farther than I thought. Name's Abernathy, Blake Abernathy. I own this farm with my family. Mind catching me up on anything else I've missed since my last run to the city?"
Elizabeth quirked a smile. "I'll do my best."
Elizabeth stood on the dry, cracked earth of the Abernathy Farm, trying to focus on the conversation at hand.
The key word was trying.
It was turning out to be much harder than she initially thought to ignore Dogmeat, and his antics with the cat.
Blake Abernathy eventually caught on to her distraction, and with a sour look turned around to catch whatever was going on.
"Oh, well that is something, now isn't it? Maisie hasn't been talking to anybody ever since... well, for a while." His voice changed from a curt bluntness to a soft sad tone as he witnessed what was going on.
Dogmeat, oblivious to the conversation he had ended or the situation he had started, was lying on his belly by the steps of the Abernathy home, looking up at a blue-striped calico cat who was studying the visiting canine. The cat shifted before letting out a soft meow, tilting her head to the side.
Dogmeat barked, and shuffled in the dirt, as if inviting the cat to come down to play.
The cat stayed still for a moment before stretching out. It leapt down from the small porch, not sparing a glance to the dog as much as a tail flick when it passed.
Dogmeat leapt up and trotted behind, tongue lolling out as he padded along.
The two quickly disappeared around the corner of the house, and silence took over.
Elizabeth quickly shook off the amusement and turned again to Blake. "I'm sorry Mr. Abernathy, I've been a terrible guest. Is there anything you need that I can help out with?"
Blake chuckled a little. "Well, I can't say I've really had a guest, so that's for both of us. I'm sure Connie wouldn't mind some help out in the fields since my daughter... well..." He drifted off, the sentence falling away.
Elizabeth grew concerned. "Did... did something happen?"
Blake took a breath, facing away for a bit. "Yeah... awhile ago, some Raiders came by..."
Near USAF Olivia, same day
Elizabeth looked on to the station, noting with a trickle of fear the armor and weapons that the Raiders had.
With a steading breath, she sealed herself into the Power Armor.
She looked down at Dogmeat. "For Mary." She said curtly.
Dogmeat gave a growl and faced toward the outpost.
They charged.
It was late at night at the Abernathy Farm. The lights were on inside, and the Abernathy family sat around the table, enjoying a late supper.
Or tried to.
Blake Abernathy swirled the soup in his bowl as he stared into it, concern over his face.
Connie looked on before heaving out a snort. "If the soup's that bad, you can just say so."
Blake snapped to attention and started sputtering. "Wha- no, no the soup's good Connie I swear!"
Connie chuckled a bit, as Lucy watched on. "Oh pipe down, I'm teasing you. You look tense, what's up?"
Blake let out a sigh and scratched his head. "It's about that woman that came by earlier, Elizabeth. I think she came by to help you out around noon or so."
Connie nodded, remembering the slight slip of a woman that had helped to harvest earlier, struggling even with the smallest stems though determined to help.
"I... I told her about Mary." Blake said, and Connie's eyebrows shot up. Her husband was not the talkative type, and it was surprising that something like that would slip out.
"She seemed really determined, like she was going to march in there herself." he continued. "I guess... well... I'm worried for her. She seemed nice enough, and if that new settlement is anything like her, it would be a real shame if they wound up dead."
Connie frowned and stared at her husband for a bit, before putting down her own spoon and patting his hand reassuringly. "I'm sure she won't do anything rash. No one tries to start a new settlement without a lot of planning, same goes for taking on Raiders."
Blake gave her a small smile before nodding. The family turned back to their food before a loud thump disturbed them all.
Blake dove for his pistol while Connie and Lucy rushed to the back of the house for their rifles. More thumps sounded, growing louder each time.
Finally the thumps stopped, and a weird silence overtook the house. Blake was sheltered behind one of the many cabinets in the living room, with Connie and Lucy taking positions behind other furniture and aimed squarely at the door.
A faint hiss sounded and the sound of weak foot-steps stumbling onto their porch was heard.
A few knocks were heard in the silence of the house.
Connie and Lucy turned to Blake, who swallowed before pointing a finger to himself and nodded. They turned their attention back to the door.
"Who's there?" Blake called out in his most authoritative tone.
A ragged gasp could be heard from the door before a familiar voice called out.
"Mr... Mr. Abernathy? It's Elizabeth. I... need some help."
Blake shot a look of shock to his wife, who looked on a little dumbfounded herself. Shaking her head she motioned to the door. "Don't look at me, let's get her inside! Lucy, go keep watch upstairs."
Blake holstered his pistol and ran to the door, opening it wide.
Elizabeth stood there shakily, almost doubled over. Behind her Dogmeat whimpered anxiously, with a suit of Power Armor left exposed covered in boxes and loot.
She looked up, her face stained with blood and sweat. She gave a small smile and said softly "Thanks" before almost collapsing down.
Blake caught her, and helped to shuffle her into the house. While Lucy had thumped upstairs, Connie had cleared the main table, bowls and utensils clattering into the back room while she zipped back to help him.
Together they lifted her up onto the table. Her clothes were covered in blood near the shoulder and stomach, and she groaned from the movement.
Connie swore and looked at the wounds. "We need to sew those up. Get the health kit from my bed and whiskey. This might take a while."
Blake nodded and set to getting the items while Connie got the shoulder ready to operate. After grabbing the kit and a bottle from one of the containers he heard Connie let out a gasp and heard her hit the floor.
Rushing he ran back into the living room. "What happened?" he shouted, looking at Collie on her knees with her hands clasped to her chest.
She turned to look at him, tears in her eyes, and opened her hands.
The locket, flecked with blood, lay in them.
Blake breathed in deeply. He knelt down by his wife and put down the supplies he had gathered, before he gently took her in his arms.
The pain of losing Mary had been deep for the family, even with the knowledge they had about raising kids, and the missing locket had been a continuing reminder for them both.
Having it back again was the first step in overcoming that pain.
After sharing a moment of joined grieving, Blake pulled away and looked at his wife. Connie gave him a smile before they exchanged a quick kiss.
They got up and set to work, Blake gathered the supplies and set them up on the table nearby before going to secure Elizabeth's arm. Connie got out what equipment she needed before looking at her husband.
"For Mary." They said, and started to work on saving their new neighbor.
When Elizabeth woke up, she felt disoriented and confused, with some sort of weird padding on her shoulder and waist.
With a groan she sat up, and blearily opened her eyes.
She remembered the fierce fighting at the Raider camp, and her harrowing escape as her vision had continued to dim from the blood loss. What had happened after that?
"Look who's finally awake! Morning there Elizabeth." Said a voice from somewhere next to her.
As she heard the voice a bark greeted her ears as well, and a scruffy coated mutt jumped onto her while licking her face relentlessly.
"Dogmeat! Dogmeat stop! STOP!" Elizabeth, trying to get enough air as she tried to (uselessly) get the dog off of her.
Eventually Dogmeat got off, Elizabeth now wide awake.
Blake Abernathy sat in the chair next to her, a smile on his face.
Connie, however, was not smiling as she stood in front of her.
Connie was giving her a look. The type of look that only mothers ever truly nail.
Elizabeth had both known and used that look, but she had forgotten what it felt like to be on the receiving end again.
Elizabeth gave a smile.
Connie frowned just a bit harder.
With a lightning fast wind-up, Connie slapped Elizabeth, the sound echoing in the house in the following silence.
"Connie! What the hell!?" Blake shouted
"You hush!" Connie commanded before turning her attention back to Elizabeth, who was recovering from the blow and more than a little upset and confused.
"Never." She started "Never in my entire God-damned life have I seen someone do something so stupid. A bloatfly had more brains that what you just did, you know that? I can count on my fingers just how many more people are living and still just as stupid as you. Are you insane? Who the fucking hell comes to someone they just met, literally that same god-damn day, bleeding everywhere and just collapses on their door-step. You, that's the fuck who. And another thing, what in name of all that's good and holy convinced you to go on a suicide mission just to get some fucking memento for a stranger? Were you born yesterday? Well?"
Elizabeth, still a little stunned from the blow and the verbal assualt, responded "I...I'm s-"
She was interrupted by a bear-crushing hug as Connie lunged into her.
"Thank you." Connie said, choking a little on emotion. "You've done something wonderful and I cannot thank you enough."
She pulled back just enough to look Elizabeth in the eye. "If I ever hear you pulling something like this again, I'm going to personally chain you to a wall and work you so hard you won't be able to think at all, got that?
Elizabeth nodded mutely.
"Good." Connie said, before smiling.
"Now, how about some food before we send you home, neighbor?"