10. Bliss: Hancock's comforting presence lulls Nora to sleep.

Nora nursed her hangover early the next morning. "So," Hancock greeted her as she shuffled into the living room, "care to tell me what happened?" He threw his arm over the back of the chair he'd been sitting in most of the morning.

Nora rubbed her forehead wincing slightly. "I just," she sighed. "I don't wanna talk about it."

Hancock rolled his eyes. He didn't know when it had happen, if it happened when she first walked into Goodneighbor with Nick Valentine, or when she talked Bobbi out of leaving his stash alone, or even when she saved his ass a countless amount of times during their few months traveling together. But Nora had the ghoul mayor of Goodneighbor wrapped around her little finger. And it frustrated Hancock to no end, not knowing how she felt for him. He had no idea how to bring up his feelings without the fear of rejection shutting his pie hole. How could someone as caring as her, as beautiful as her, love someone like him? The chem-junkie, self-appointed mayor of a bunch of equally junkie shit heads. He'd be kidding himself if he thought he had a chance with her. Then there was the ring on her neck. How had he never noticed it in all their time together? How had it taken until he'd already fallen hard for Nora to finally confirm what he'd always known; she had loved someone, she still loved someone. It hurt, and Hancock glanced at the ring once more just to remind himself that he was foolish for falling for her.

"You seemed willing to talk my ear off while you were on my lap last night." Hancock's normal teasing voice sounded darker than he intended. Damn it! How was he supposed to be suave sounding like a murderous psycho?

Nora's face turned redder than her hair, which she ran a nervous hand through. "I just," she fiddled with the ends of her sleeves and Hancock noticed she was still in the little black dress and bomber jacket from last night. He tried not to let his gaze linger on her bare legs, tried to push the feeling of her legs under his hands when he laid her to bed last night, tried to look anywhere but-

Nora snapped in front of her face a few times, "Eyes up here Mr. Hancock."

"My eyes will do as they please." Hancock said, but he was able to finally pull his eyes away from her legs. His gaze lingered on her neck for a second before finally settling on her deadpan expression.

Nora rolled her eyes and shuffled to the side door. She nudged it open and switched the generator back on. "I came across something yesterday on my walk." She leaned on the island in the kitchen and looked at him in the corner of the living room. "A family." Hancock said nothing. Nora took a deep, shaky breath, "Well, a mother, her two daughters, and her mother-in-law." She explained. She walked over to the couch and curled up. "The mother killed everyone and then herself."

"Damn," Hancock breathed out as he leaned his elbows on his knees. "Babes, I'm sorry,"

"I buried them. It didn't seem right to leave them to rot." Nora interrupted. She was no longer looking at Hancock. "I...I'm not going to lie, Hancock." She looked through him. Her hazel eyes had captured Hancock's soul in a frozen grip. "The only thing that kept me from doing the same was the thought of getting my baby back." She swallowed hard, but Hancock's mouth was dry. He wasn't sure if it was the hit of jet he took earlier, but his heart was beating wildly in his chest, like a caged mutant, thrashing in an attempt to break free. "But I can't get to Kellogg." She blinked and Hancock realized she was crying. Her face remained static, only her tears and mouth indicated that she was still alive. "You saw what happened when I tried." Hancock's eyes wandered to her legs once more, this time focusing on the healed scar on her shin. Dr. Sun had done a great job cleaning the infection and radiation from the hastily patched wound. He couldn't fix the pain or the limp, but at least her leg was no longer vulnerable. "What if I can't get him back, Hancock?" Hancock was sure he was experiencing something akin to heartbreak. He could think of nothing to say to comfort Nora.

"Anyways," Nora finally moved, wiping her cheeks with the sleeves of her jacket. "The thought has crossed my mind once or twice." She let out a pitiful laugh, "I mean who am I kidding," Hancock noticed her hands were shaking, "My husband was the soldier," Hancock's heart did a weird twist in his chest. "it should have been me holding Shaun. Me who should have died. Nate would have had Shaun back by now." More tears started falling down her cheeks. Hancock jumped to his feet, crossing the space between them to kneel at her feet. "Who am I kidding by being here?" Her entire body moved as she attempted to inhale as much air as possible. "Why am I here?" She looked at him, but Hancock could see she was no longer in control of her actions. Her body was convulsing, hands shaking uncontrollably, and she gasped for air like she couldn't get enough in her lungs. "How can I do this without Nate?" Hancock had an idea on who Nate was, and even without knowing how he died, he cursed the bastard to hell and back for causing Nora to feel this way. His stomach churned.

"Hey, listen to me, sister." Hancock took her shaking hands, "I don't know what to say about how or why you ended up here and not your husband," the word left his mouth dry, and the ache in his chest turned into a scary empty feeling, "and I know it means jack shit to you, but I'm happy you're here."

"Don't say that." Nora mumbled through tear soaked lips. Hancock gently wiped the tears away with his thumbs.

"Sister, you got a way with people. You've given so many people the will to live, the will to fight for a better future." Hancock held her face so she had to look at him, "Me being one of those people." He told himself. "Next time you're up for it, we'll go to that Kellogg bastard together."

"What if,"

Hancock cut her off, "Together." He repeated. Nora looked at Hancock, her expression unreadable. Then she leaned back on the couch and closed her eyes. For a moment, Hancock wondered what she was doing. Then he heard her deep, even breaths, and realized she'd fallen back asleep.

Hancock sat next to her on the couch, willing to be a shoulder to cry on should she wake up in a bad mood again. If that was all he could be he would take it. He closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh.

It was the most blissful sleep Nora had had in a while, and Hancock's most restless.