AN: Hello everyone! We're back with part 2! I hope everyone is having a lovely summer and enjoyed their month! I'm excited to be back and working on this. I'm so happy to be back guys you have no idea! If this your first time reading, this is part 2 in a series, with part 1 called Bright Eyes. Anyways I'll quit nattering, and here's part 2.

MacCready woke up slowly, his body trying to fight being alert. Eventually, consciousness won, and MacCready slowly opened his eyes.

It took a moment to place where he was; the stone roof was unfamiliar, and the slight smell of mildew, then he felt his arms wrapped around someone. The memories came back quickly.

The fight, the Queen shrieking, mirelurk hatchlings running at them, Anne getting slammed into a wall, the blood, and then the feeling of her skin under his fingers, the feeling of her muscles rippling.

Oh yeah, that happened.

He ran his hand down her stomach, feeling the soft texture. He buried his face into her hair, smelling the blood from yesterday, and the slight smell of flowers underneath. He didn't want to get up, but he knew he had to. If he laid here things would only get worse. Slowly he pulled himself away, feeling colder every inch he moved. He dressed quickly, forcing himself to not get back in the bed. As soon as he was presentable, he glanced back at Anne.

The woman laid facing the wall, the blanket tucked close around her. You couldn't even tell that yesterday she had her skull cracked open. They needed to stop doing that; almost dying. That was a conversation for later though, for now he wanted to find something to eat.

Upon exiting the room MacCready could see small bits of sunlight streaming into the castle, in a deep orange, and the castle was silent unlike it had been yesterday. He made his way to one of the doorways and stepped out into the cold morning.

The sun was barely up, and the sky was still stained orange, red and purple at night tried to stay in the sky. Even though it was early, the castle was awake; Preston stood in the center of the yard, speaking to some people, and MacCready could hear people hammering away where the hole was. He sighed to himself, knowing he had to speak to Preston again, even if he really really didn't want too.

Slowly he approached the small group, this time waiting until he saw the people start walking away. He noticed as soon as Preston thought no one was looking his shoulders seemed to slump, and his body went from the stiff man to a tired looking one. He felt bad for Preston, maybe he had judged him to harshly, he didn't know the guy after all. Slowly MacCready approached, before clearing his throat.

Quickly Preston turned, "MacCready, how's the general?" Preston was once again the stiff solider man he had been seconds ago as if nothing had happened.

"She woke up last night for a while. She's sleeping now, but I was just going to bring her breakfast...if there is any."

Preston rubbed the back of his neck, "Yeah, in the kitchen, it's through that door," Preston pointed at the archway to the left of MacCready, "I'll send Jan to check on her."

"Uh, okay. Thanks." MacCready said and Preston nodded, turning back to the table. MacCready quickly walked away. Preston was clearly stressed out, and MacCready didn't want Preston to decide to ask him for help, MacCready had enough on his plate. He made his way into the castle again, looking around before smelling the cooking down the hall. He made his way down, hearing the sounds of chatter, and metal. He entered a small room, where two people sat a table, and another was cooking. The cook looked up at him.

"You're the guy with the general right?" the cook asked. MacCready nodded. The man gestured towards the coffee pot.

MacCready walked over, seeing a small stack of mugs. He quickly grabbed two, poured some coffee and walked back to the cook, who gestured to two plates beside him, with some mirelurk egg omelettes sitting on the counter. It took a bit of rearranging, but he managed to get everything in his hands and started making his way back to the room. It was a balancing act, with the plates in each hand, and the coffees on top. He walked slowly and tried to listen if he heard anyone coming his way. When he did he would stop, and the person would make their way past him, often asking if he needed a hand. Finally, he was at the door, though he had no idea how to get in.

"Do you need a hand?" He recognized the voice and glanced over at the girl.

Jan, her names Jan.

"Uh, yeah. Could you open the door for me?"

"Of course. Preston asked me to come check on the General." MacCready nodded, made sense. He moved out of the way, and Jan opened the door and the two made their way in.

Anne sat up in the bed, stretching her arms above her head, and the blanket on her lap. Her chest was completely bare, and MacCready felt his face start to heat up. Anne glanced up at the two, and she quickly reached down, grabbing the blanket and pulling it to her chest. MacCready looked away, putting the food down and keeping his eyes on the wall.

I know how those feel...no stop thinking that.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude." came the timid voice from beside MacCready.

"No, no it's fine," Anne said and MacCready glanced at Anne. The two women started talking and MacCready sat down in the chair, resting his face in his hands. He could hear Anne explaining her head hurt a bit, but that she felt fine other-wise. That was a relief to hear, especially after...last night. He heard mentions of scars, Anne just waved it off. Soon Jan was on her way out the door, going as fast as she could.

The door shut and MacCready glanced at Anne from across the room between his fingers. She smiled at him before dropping the blanket and standing up. There was more light now, he could see more of her body. He felt his mouth go dry and he looked down in his coffee.

"Still shy?"

"No. Just-" he let out an aggravated sigh, "I know if I look at you I'm going to want to touch you...and that's just."

"What's wrong with that?" his head shot up at that remark. Anne was pulling her shorts on, still not fully dressed though. His eyes lingered on her chest before he dragged them up to her face.

"Prestons waiting for you, and I don't want him to decide to check on you." he raised his coffee to his mouth now taking a sip. It wasn't hot anymore, but it got his mind off Anne, who had her shirt on now.

"I guess you have a point." she sat across the table from him, tucking a few unruly strands of hair behind an ear, and then took a sip of the coffee making a face at it, but saying nothing. There was silence for a bit, as MacCready tried to think of something to say. Finally, he couldn't and rubbed his temples.

"I'm not good at this," he mumbled.

"Good at what?" he glanced up at Anne, who was eating her omelette, smirking slightly.

"This! I mean," Anne cocked her head slightly, her neck looked long, "I mean do we talk about it?" he tried to get the idea of kissing her neck out of his mind.

But I really want too.

"Do you want too?"

"I don't know?!" MacCready said shaking his head, looking down at his omelette.

"How about we save that discussion for when we're back at Red-Rocket tonight?" Anne said, and MacCready started eating.

"You want to get back tonight?" Anne nodded from across the table, leaning back in her chair.

"Yeah, get this done, and hopefully we can get back before dark." Anne smiled slightly and MacCready shook his head.

"Honestly if we can go a day without getting knocked unconscious I'd count that as a win," he muttered and Anne let out a laugh that made a smile pull on his face and he and Anne smiled as they sat across the table as if they had done it a million times before

AN: short first chapter. I'll see you all next monday :)