"Piper?".

Someone was nudging her shoulder.

"Piper!".

"What?", Piper groaned. Her face half buried in her pillow.

"It's time to get up", Natalie insisted, standing beside her sister's bed.

Piper tilted her head and cracked an eye open, barely able to see from beneath the hair tumbling down her face. "What time is it?", she asked, squinting up at her sister.

"Uh, morning?", Natalie supplied cheekily.

"Kay, go bathe and get ready for school. I'll make breakfast in a minute", Piper yawned and buried her face in her pillow once more.

"I did all that", Natalie informed her. "There's food on the counter. I came to wake you up before I left. Didn't you have a thing this morning?"

It took all of three seconds before Piper exclaimed, "Shoot!", and bolted from her bed, instantly awake and startling her sister."Damnit! No, no, no, no", she scrambled out of bed and stumbled over to her desk terminal.

"Crap! That's the time?!", she exclaimed, darting around her room, picking up the articles of clothing and papers scattered on the floor. "Why today!?".

Natalie watched in amusement as her sister scrambled frantically around the room. "Do you have a hot date?", she teased, absently picking up a magazine and Piper's jacket from the floor.

"It's not a date!", Piper denied, sounding a bit more defensive than she intended. Her voice muffled as she wiggled out of her T-shirt. "It-It's more of a…a…It's not a date!", she insisted, throwing the shirt on her bed in frustration when she finally managed to free herself from it. Her hair ruffled and untidy, covering half her face as she stared at her sister, unimpressed. "Give me that!", she snatched the jacket and magazine from her grinning sister's hands. "Scram. Get to class if you had breakfast already", Piper ushered her sister to the door before diving back into her room.

"Okaaaay, I'm going".

Natalie sat in the living room tying her laces when her sister hurried down the stairs wrapped in a towel, and darted into the shower.

A moment later, Piper screamed in shock. A string of muffled, incoherent expletives, echoing from behind the shower room door.

Natalie giggled and ran to the front door, stopping and calling over her shoulder, "Forgot to tell you, I used up all the hot water!", before she made her escape.

"You brat! I'll get you back for this!".


Piper closed the door to the Publick and adjusted her cap. Pastor Clements waved to her from across the street as he swept the front porch of the All Faiths Chapel. She didn't have time for small talk, and returned the greeting with a nod and a polite smile before filtering into the morning crowd, rehearsing various apologies in her head.

As she weaved through the faceless march of the morning crowd, a familiar sight caught her eye. Leona stood in front of doctor Sun's makeshift clinic, chatting with the good doctor himself.

Piper was convinced that, even if she had not spent the previous evening burning every physical detail of the woman in question into her mind, she would still have picked her out of the crowd. Unlike the previous evening, she was dressed more modestly in a black tanktop. A pair of narrow, rectangular sunglasses resting low on the bridge of her nose, as she examined the various medical supplies on offer.

Piper stood in the midst of the bustling crowd for a moment as she stared at the woman, trying to decide on her approach.

"Ugh!", Piper grunted, staggering forward as someone elbowed past her.

"Stop standin in the middle of the road!", the passer-by growled before disappearing into the sea of bodies. Piper scowled in their general direction but otherwise held her tongue. Instead she took a deep breath to calm herself before approaching her quarry.

"Hey Blue", Piper offered as she ascended the steps of the clinic.

Leona's face was the picture of intense focus, as she examined the plastic bottle in her hand. Her expression softened however, when she saw Piper approach.

"Piper", she greeted with a polite smile, and for a split second, Piper had to remind herself to breathe.

"Did you…just call me, Blue?", Leona asked as she adjusted her sunglasses.

"Well, yeah, I figured since you're a vault dweller and all", Piper smiled, nervously playing with her hands. "I mean I know you're not wearing the blue jumpsuit. But when people hear 'vault dweller' that's usually the first thing that comes to mind".

Was it too presumptuous of her to assign a nickname to this woman she barely knew? Piper wondered. Did Leona mind it?

"Ah Ms. Wright", Doctor Sun interrupted them from behind the counter. "I am pleased to say, the children you brought in yesterday are doing well. Two of them have already been returned to their families".

"Really? That's good to hear. But I kinda expected Diamond City Security to hold them for at least a few days", Piper mused.

"Ideally, yes. I would have preferred to have my people observe them for a while longer, but the Mayor insisted we track down the families as soon as possible".

"Ugh", Piper pinched the bridge of her nose in annoyance. "Sanctimonious asshole", she muttered under her breath. "I should have seen this coming. He's going to take credit for this, just like the last time. Exploit it and prop himself up like some paragon of-"

"Be that as it may", Doctor Sun interrupted her tirade. "Those children are indeed fortunate you were able to get to them when you did. And I'm sure the families are beyond grateful".

Piper folded her arms in a huff. "It just pisses me off. He always does this. I mean, I barely did much of anything this time. If anyone should be thanked for this, it's-". She glanced over at Leona, but the woman discreetly shook her head as if to say 'don't'. "-Nevermind", Piper took the hint and instead turned her gaze to the busy streets as she tapped her foot in annoyance.

"I'll take these", she heard Leona say, and turned to see the woman set the bottle down next to the small pile of medical supplies.

"Very good. All together, that comes to, one hundred and sixty caps", the doctor informed her.

Leona set her backpack down on the counter and fished out a handful of caps before setting them down in front of him.

"What is it?", she asked, upon seeing his confusion.

"This…this is far too much", the doctor said as he sorted through the caps.

"I don't think so. My math isn't that bad", she spread the caps on the counter. "Here. Three twenties, two fifties".

"This-", Doctor Sun held up one of the caps to her. "This is fifty, not twenty".

"What about this?", she pointed to one of the caps. "I was told this is worth fifty".

"These are Nuka Quantum bottle caps, extremely rare. They're worth one hundred each", the doctor corrected her.

Leona closed her eyes and lowered her head as she leaned over the counter. "Son of a bitch", she muttered under her breath.

"Wh-wait", Piper chimed in. "Didn't you pay for a room yesterday?".

Leona pushed off the counter, sighing as she ran her fingers through her hair. "Yeah. Apparently the proprietor is just the latest person to rip me off these past few weeks".

"Vadim?", Piper asked. "Are you sure? He doesn't strike me as the type to-".

"Not the bartender. The other one", Leona corrected her.

"That would be Yefim", Piper informed her. "C'mon let's go. I'll talk to them. We'll get this sorted out".

"I'll handle it. Later", Leona insisted as she set the correct amount on the counter.

"But-", Piper tried to argue, but the doctor interjected.

"Even the vaults have need to trade with the outside world from time to time", he explained. "The value of commonwealth currency should be basic knowledge, even for those secluded vault dwellers. It is strange that you would lack that knowledge".

"There are other active vaults?", Leona asked, her interest piqued.

"Well, yeah", Piper replied. "Not many. The only one I know that still has actual vault dwellers, is Vault 81."

"They don't allow anyone from the outside to enter the vault", doctor Sun interrupted. "Instead they send out representatives to do business with the trade caravans. But if you are indeed a fellow vault dweller, they may perhaps make an exception".

"And where is this Vault 81?", Leona asked as she packed her bag.

"It is not far from here. There is a trader by the name of Cricket, that makes regular visits to the vault. You can usually find her shop outside Diamond City's gates for a day or two, on her way to and from Vault 81 and Bunker Hill.

"I see. Thanks for the heads up. Keep the change". She finished packing her backpack and threw an extra fifty unit cap into the pile, before turning and heading down the stairs.

"Ms. Wright", the doctor stopped Piper before she could follow.

"Hm?"

"If that woman is a friend of yours, you may want to keep an eye on her. Show her how things work out here in the Commonwealth", he leaned over the counter. "There is no shortage of people that would not hesitate to take advantage of her ignorance".

"Believe me, I know", Piper replied.


"Hey", Piper caught up to Leona and fell in step with her. "Are you sure you don't want me to talk the Innkeeper? Vadim owns the place with his brother, and I think he might have a thing for me".

Leona flashed her a genuine smile of amusement.

"What?", Piper laughed. "Not that I would use that. I'm just saying. I can be pretty persuasive".

"I bet", Leona replied. "But I'll take care of it myself".

"Okay, but if you change your mind-".

"Thanks, really", Leona caught Piper's eye and nodded appreciatively.

"Mhm", Piper smiled, feeling a touch of warmth in her cheeks, and she turned her head, pretending to scan the various stalls that they passed. "So, uh, I wanted to apologize, for not meeting you this morning. I mean I'm not exactly a morning person, but I don't usually oversleep this late. Except for this one time wh-"

"It's alright", Leona cut her off. "Looked like you had a pretty rough time yesterday".

Piper shook her head. "Chaotic more than anything. But yeah, if you're still willing, I'd be happy to help you ask around".

"I've spoken with most of the traders and a few random people already. Made a few inquiries", Leona stopped walking and turned to Piper. "Honestly, I'm not sure what else I can do but wait for your friend", she conceded.

"I'm, really sorry", Piper offered. She felt helpless, but Nick was the best person for the job. And Piper wasn't sure if she wanted to risk upsetting this woman by prying into what was no doubt a very emotional topic, before it was necessary. Nick would need to hear her story when the time came, and Piper would be there. "I can imagine what it must be like. Not knowing…the waiting. I knew it was a longshot just randomly asking around. But I figured I could give you the tour, you know…keep your mind distracted for the better part of the day", Piper offered her a tentative smile.

"Sounds like you're speaking from experience", Leona quirked her head and caught Piper's eye.

"Me?", Piper shrugged. "You could say that. But then again you'd be pretty hard pressed to find anyone in the commonwealth that doesn't have a tragedy or two in their-".

"Ahhhh!", Panicked screams rang out from somewhere behind them, and they turned just as a scavver burst into the market district from one of the side alleys, knocking over several bystanders as he scrambled to his feet and made a mad dash in their direction with a gun in hand.

Leona pulled Piper behind her, out of the road. Her hand gripping the sidearm in shoulder holster, just as another man dashed into the street from the same side alley.

"Out of the way!",he shouted. A tan duster, flapping behind him as he sprinted through the crowd before suddenly stopping. His boots skidding on the dirt road as he sunk to one knee and drew his pistol in one smooth motion, firing a single shot that caught the scavver in the leg.

The injured man screamed and stumbled forward several paces before hitting the ground hard, in front of the two women. His pistol tumbling out of his hand and skating to a halt beneath Leona's boot.

"Gahhh!", he screamed. His face twisted in agony as he clutched his bleeding leg.

"Show's over, people. Go about your business", the man in the tan duster trotted towards them, waving off the onlookers in his way. Two of Diamond City's finest, burst into the street behind him. They were clearly after the same scavver, and they slowed to a brisk jog when they saw the situation had been dealt with.

"Not so much of a tough guy now, are ya?", he tucked his pistol into his duster and twisted the scavver's arms behind their back before yanking them to their feet.

"MacCready?!", Piper stepped out from behind her as Leona crouched to pick up the discarded pistol at her feet.

"Miss Piper?", MacCready looked up at her in surprise while he tried to keep the struggling man on his feet.

"Wh?-", Piper began, but the two security guards cut her off as they caught up. "We'll take him", they stated, and MacCready handed the groaning man over to them.

"Hey", Leona called as the two officers turned to leave. "He dropped this", she handed over the pistol.

"Ma'am", the guard nodded, looking her over from beneath his catcher's helmet, before leaving with his fellow officer.

"So, you're working with Diamond City Security?", Piper asked. A hint of disapproval in her voice.

"Nah. Been taking on a few local small time bounties, right here in the city. It's easy money", he smirked. "Even got a room up there in the upper stands", he pointed to the shacks and structures built atop the bleachers. Aside from being elevated from the rest of the city, it didn't look any different from the shanty houses and structures that were packed into the old stadium.

"Seriously? You can afford the rent up there?", Piper shielded her eyes against the sun.

"Normally, no. But I know a guy. Got me a good deal on a room for a couple days", MacCready informed her.

"Of course you do", Piper muttered.

"So who's your friend?", he asked, looking to Leona.

"Oh! Uh…MacCready this is Leona. Leona, you-well you already know MacCready", Piper introduced them.

"I…don't think we've met", MacCready offered his hand with a frown, trying to recall meeting her.

Leona looked down at his hand hanging in the space between them, and shook it just before the pause became overly awkward. "Yesterday. You pulled a gun on me", Leona informed him. Subtle traces of amusement colored her eyes, but didn't quite make it to her lips.

"H-Hey come on. We sorted that out already", Piper chimed in, sensing the faint tension in the air. "It was just a misunderstanding".

"You? Hmph, I thought you'd be…", MacCready began.

"-Be what?", Leona tilted her head, emerald eyes staring at him from above her sunglasses, daring him to finish.

"…Nothing. Hey, no hard feelings huh? You can't be too careful out there", MacCready finished.

"That's true enough", Leona nodded and folded her arms.

Leona's curt response and body language told him she wasn't interested in small talk, and he turned back to Piper. "So, uh, I gotta go check in with security about that bounty", he motioned over his shoulder. "But I'll be around for a few days. We should go grab a drink some time", he offered.

"Uh, Wh-Ye-yeah, sure", Piper stuttered, his request catching her slightly off guard. "I mean, sure, that-that sounds good".

"Alright then. Well, I'll see you around", He offered Piper a polite smile, and Leona, a wary nod before turning and walking away.

"Well, that wasn't awkward at all", Piper joked.

"That was almost adorable. I felt like a third wheel there for a bit", Leona admitted.

"What? No! We're not-It's not like that. He was just being…you know? …Friendly", Piper assured her. "I only met him yesterday, for that whole kidnapping thing".

"Hey, it's none of my business", Leona laughed.

"Really! it's not lik-".

"Come on. How about that tour?", Leona smirked and walked off. "You can stand around and blush later", she called over her shoulder.

"It's not like that!", Piper growled. "Hey!".


"We can go through there", Piper pointed to a narrow chain-linked gate, shaded by a large, tattered, red tarp overhead. Planks of wood created a winding path over the muddy ground that led to the gate.

She followed Piper into one of the many back alleys that snaked the outskirts of the trading district.

"Valentine Detective Agency", Leona muttered, reading the neon sign stuck to the wall of a rusted shack. An arrow pointed further down the alleyway.

"C'mon it's just through here", Piper called.

Above them, the alley was shaded from the elements by a haphazard construction of red tarp, planks of wood and wireframe meshing. Faded posters and flyers depicting advertisements and propaganda from her old world, lined the walls on both sides.

Sunlight peaked through the makeshift roofing above them, and Leona watched as patches of dappled sunlight cascaded off of Piper's shoulders as she led the way.

The chatter of a pair of workmen off to the side, as they repaired a broken fuse box, caught her attention. "Sometimes you gotta wonder. Does anyone fight back? The Institute has to have enemies, right?", she heard one of them say.

"What, you mean the Railroad? That's a fairytale man. They don't exist".

"Nah. I heard from my cousin. He knows a guy that works for em. They got a code phrase and everything. 'Follow the Freedom Trail'".

"The hell is that supposed to mean? You're full of it, and that kinda talk is gonna get you snatched up by the synths".

The institute. The shadowy organization Paladin Danse mentioned. It seemed they were more infamous, and their influence more widespread than she initially thought.

She noticed Piper's gaze lingering on the two men as they passed. Their conversation clearly catching her attention.

"What do you know about the institute?", Leona asked, quickening her pace to walk side by side with Piper.

"The Institute? Pffft, don't get me started. The Commonwealth's boogeymen", she raised her clawed hands menacingly. "Rumor is, they snatch unsuspecting wastelanders in the middle of the night, and replace them with synth replicas so convincing, that even their friends and families can't tell the difference".

Piper sighed, "I've been writing about them for almost two years now, but not everyone wants to hear the truth. Most folks think burying their heads in the sand will keep them safe. I've got a backlog of stories and interviews from people all over the commonwealth. Stories about friends and family members disappearing for days, only to return, not quite the same. Stories of traders and settlers meeting their synth dopplegangers out in the wastes and fighting for their lives.

"Gen 3's..", Leona muttered, remembering Danse's words.

"Y-yeah. Piper narrowed her eyes in confusion. "I don't think I've ever used that term in my articles though. How did you-".

"A soldier I met…out there. He told me a bit about the institute", she explained. "Do you believe them? The stories I mean", Leona asked.

"Not all of them. There are a'lotta crazies out there", Piper grinned. "Ghosts, aliens, UFO's, you name it, I've had to sit through all of it with a straight face some point. But hey, if you want to read more about the institute, like I said I have a lot of material back home. You're welcome to it".

"Sure" Leona nodded with a smile.

"Annnd, here we are", Piper stopped next to another neon sign and took a left turn into a short dead end alleyway off to the side, to a single faded, red door at the end.

Piper tried the handle but the door was locked. "Ellie!", she called, gently knocking on the door, but there was no answer. "Ellie, it's Piper!". Piper bit her lip and smiled sheepishly at Leona. "Maybe she's out".

"Or maybe she's in the shower. Why don't you go ahead and pick the lock?" Leona offered helpfully, with such a deadpan delivery that Piper had to do a double take to make sure she was teasing.

"Oh, harr harr. You're not going to let me live that down are you?".

"I dunno", Leona smirked. "I'm still a little bitter about th-".

"Oh Piper!", Ellie gasped as she flung open the door and wrapped her arms around the reporter, startling them both.

"Uh…", The look on Piper's face, a mixture of surprise, confusion and embarrassment. Her hands rigid at her side from the unexpected embrace. Leona suppressed a smirk as the reporter looked to her, helplessly.

"Why didn't you see me when you got back yesterday", Ellie broke her hug and held Piper at arm's length, fixing her with a look of disapproval. "You weren't home when I went to check on you. I had to find out from security if you were alright, and-".

"I'm sorry", Piper held up her palms. "I meant to drop by but, well, I got sidetracked answering these inane questions from the guards, and when I got back I, sort of, got distracted", Piper glanced at Leona who stood by, silently watching their exchange. "And it totally slipped my mind".

Ellie visibly relaxed. The tension leaving her shoulders as she sighed. "That was a really reckless thing you did, you-".

"I know", Piper cut her off. "I know. Nick already chewed me out about it, and I'm probably gonna get another earful when he gets back".

"Good, as far as I'm concerned, you can't hear it often enough", Ellie Huffed and glanced to Leona. "So are you going to introduce me to your friend, or did that slip your mind as well", Ellie asked, sounding borderline passive aggressive.

"You didn't give me a chan-", Piper growled.

"Leona", Leona cut her off and offered her hand. "It's nice to meet you".

"Ellie Perkins", she offered Leona a warm smile as she shook her hand. "It's always nice to meet a friend of Piper's".

"Ellie", Piper groaned.

"Come in, come in", Ellie held the door open as they entered. "Can I get you anything? I just made coffee", she offered as she closed the door.

"I'm fine thanks", Leona held up her hand. "I actually just wanted to see where the place was. I understand Mr. Valentine is out right now?".

"Yes I'm afraid so", Ellie nodded. "But I expect him back today, this evening at the latest. Is this about a case?", she asked.

"I'm trying to find someone. A kidnapped child", Leona revealed as she looked around the darkened room. A single light bulb overhead and a desklamp in the far corner illuminated file cabinets and boxes of paperwork stacked against the walls of the office area.

"Oh, dear", Ellie frowned, bringing her hand to her chest. "Is, the child yours?", she asked and Leona simply nodded.

"I'm…sorry to hear that. Missing persons cases are unfortunately very common, outside the wall and even right here in Diamond City", Ellie explained. "But as common as they are, very few turn out to be kidnappings. The Commonwealth is a dangerous place". Leona listened as she spoke but continued to scan the room and the papers on the desk next to her. "Travelers run afoul of raiders and bandits. Children wander off on their own. Are you sure this was a-".

"I saw them take my son! I was there when they kil…", a touch of anger and hostility crept into her voice, startling the two women, and Leona held her tongue when she saw the flash of surprise on the secretary's face.

"Hey, hey it's okay", she felt Piper's tentative hand on her shoulder. "Ellie's just trying to help".

"I-I'm sorry I-", Leona apologized, swallowing her embarrassment and guilt.

"No need to apologize" Ellie shook her head, offering her a sympathetic smile. "I know how hard this must be, I didn't mean to be so blunt. Nick might not be here right now but we can go over the details and I can take note of your story in the mean-".

"I, um…", Leona interrupted, clearing her throat. "I think I'll wait until Mr Valentine gets back, if that's alright".

"Of course. I understand", Ellie nodded.

"I should go. It was nice meeting you", she gave Ellie a polite nod. She needed to get out of there. "Piper, take care", Leona forced a smile as she reached for the doorknob.

"Hey, wai-", Piper called just as the door closed.

"Piper", Ellie called as Piper reached for the door. "Let her go".

"But-".

"Trust me. Give her a few minutes alone", Ellie advised and Piper sighed loudly as she leaned back against the door.

"Why don't you have a seat in the meantime, honey. I'll get you a cup of coffee", Ellie offered, before disappearing into one of the back rooms.

"Ellieee", Piper groaned. "I don't want any", she folded her arms, impatiently tapping her foot on the floor and drumming her fingers on her elbow.

"So how long have you known that one", Ellie asked. Her disembodied voice accompanied by the clink of glassware.

"I only met her yesterday".

"Oh. Was she the 'distraction' you were talking about?".

"Ye-…I guess. Why?", Piper asked as Ellie entered the office with two steaming cups.

"She's pretty", Ellie smirked as she handed Piper a cup.

"Ellie, she's lost her child, and I'm pretty sure those are wedding rings on her finger", Piper wiggled her fingers at the older woman. "I'm not trying to…to-".

"Good. But that isn't what I meant", Ellie took a seat on Nick's desk. "There's something…unsettling about her. There's a lot of anger there".

"Yeah no kidding, and she has every right to be. Hell, she's got it more together than I would be, if-if anything ever happened to…", Piper let the thought hang in the air, unfinished. "She said something about a killing just now", Piper frowned, deep in thought as she held the warm cup between her palms.

"Just…be careful, and try not to get too attached to-".

"I just want to help her, Ellie", Piper cut her off, finally coming to a decision and pushing off the door. "I'm gonna go look for her", she set the cup down next to Ellie and headed out. Ellie sighed and wordlessly watched the door close.


"It's beautiful", she whispered. The warm winds danced wisps of dark hair across her face, fluttering her dress and drifting across the endless golden fields, creating gentle waves across the rolling hills and open plains.

"You're beautiful", he whispered in her ear, feeling her body shake in response, as she stifled her laughter.

"What?", he grinned, holding her tighter. "Now that's just rude, lady".

His chest, warm against her back. His arms, snug around her waist.

"Sorry", she beamed, leaning her head back to steal a kiss.

The setting sun hovered just above the fields. It's golden orange light, bathing the clouds and melting into the dark, blue sky.

"I'm glad we decided to stop here", he said, resting his chin on her shoulder.

"Mhm. I don't think I could spend another night in a motel", she agreed.

Laughter carried on the winds, catching her attention as a group of children circled them before chasing each other along the edges of the of the fields. Dried stalks of barley crunching beneath their feet as they played.

She watched as their mother scolded them, scooping up one of the children and waving a silent apology in her direction, to which she simply shook her head and waved back with a smile. Her gaze lingered on them as she leaned back against Nate's chest. Squeals and laughter as their father threw them over his shoulder, and the family retreated to the small Bed and Breakfast.

"You know, that'll be us in a few years", Nate said, his hand roaming over her growing tummy. She turned to face him, biting her lip to suppress a grin as she wrapped her arms behind his neck.

"Chasing an army of rugrats around the yard? You're pretty confident, mister".

"Hey, I'm up for it if you are, sweetheart", he smirked as he touched his forehead to hers.

"That's not what I-", she laughed. "-We'll see if you feel that way after the first one, pal".

He smiled, that warm, wicked smile that never failed to melt her. His hand snaking its way up her back, slipping the strap from her hair, letting it tumble down and dance upon the gentle winds. His warm, calloused hands on her cheek before she could protest, as he tilted her head and tasted her smiling lips.

"Looks like they're ready to serve dinner", was the first thing he said when their lips parted, earning him a sharp jab to the side.

She felt him jump before she pulled him close and buried her face in his chest. "Jerk", she grinned. "Can we just, stay like this for a little while longer?", she said as his arms encircled her.

"We can stay here as long as you want", he whispered in her ear.

They held each other like that, gently swaying in rhythm with the wind. It was almost a full minute before he whispered. "Honey, I feel I need to tell you something".

"Hm? What is it?", she asked, searching his eyes. His face was the picture of seriousness. Almost as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. But she knew him too well. Well enough to spot the crinkle in the corner of his eyes or the subtle twitch of his lips.

"I am, starving".

"Pfff-", she snickered into his chest.

"With all that time on the road, I don't think we've eaten a proper meal since-"

"Me too", she laughed.


She raised her head from her arms. Greeted by a familiar sunset over the stadium and a warm, gentle breeze on her face, her bittersweet smile slowly fading as reality rushed to meet her. She sat alone atop the roof surrounding the stadium, atop the bleachers, her knees to her chest and her back against a low wall.

It felt almost liberating, being this high up. She felt even more detached than usual from the world below, but it did nothing to quell the ache in her chest. If anything, it hurt more in these quiet moments alone when her mind could wander.

"Blue?", a familiar voice startled her and she turned to see Piper. The reporter pausing mid-step when she saw Leona's tear-stained face. "S-Sorry, I didn't mean to…", Piper's heart fell when she saw the pain in her eyes. "I can, um…I can, go", she pointed over her shoulder, "if…if you want to be alone".

"No", Leona sniffed, wiping her cheeks and avoiding eye contact as she tried to compose herself. "You can stay...if you want. I could use the company", she forced a smile.

Piper returned her tentative smile as she slowly approached and sat down by her side, hugging her knees to her chest, unsure of what to say. 'Are you ok?', seemed like a pointless question. "Here", she retrieved a small handkerchief from her coat and offered it.

"Thanks", Leona whispered.

Piper tried not to stare, sensing her embarrassment. Instead she focused on the sunset as it made its slow journey to the horizon.

"I'm sorry", Leona apologized.

"For what?", Piper turned to her.

"For back at the office...For making this awkward…You were right. I usually try so hard to block everything out, but when I have nothing to keep my mind occupied, I-".

Piper smiled, "Don't worry about it. Like Ellie said, you don't have anything to apologize for. And you're looking at the queen of awkward", she jabbed a thumb to her chest. "Awkward I can handle", she grinned, stretching her legs out in front of her and leaning back against the wall. "I tried to find you after you left this morning", she said as she gazed out over the stadium.

"Sorry…I left the city. Took a walk to clear my head. To kill some time", Leona admitted. "Had Dogmeat with me for a while before he ran off again. How did you find me up here?".

"Uh…Honestly, I didn't expect to find anyone up here. I usually slip the guard five caps to let me up. I come up here sometimes, to think, to get away. You know?", Piper offered her a gentle smile and she returned it. "How did you get up here?".

"I just…asked the guard, and he let me pass", Leona said innocently.

"Wait, for free? They just, let you pass?", Piper asked incredulously.

"Y-Yeah", Leona replied, tilting her head. "Do they ask you to pay?".

"Well, no they don't ask, but Danny told me….", she paused, and Leona watched as some hidden realization dawned on her face."…Danny Sullivan!, that little! Rrrgggh! I'm gonna wring his neck!", Piper growled, folding her arms and scowling. Her sour expression melting when she heard Leona's muffled laughter behind the handkerchief. The older woman fixing her with an amused smile.

"How much have you spent coming up here?", Leona asked.

"More than I'll admit to", Piper sighed and knocked her head back against the wall. "It's like I paid five caps to see you", she grumbled.

"Was I worth it?" Leona laughed, her smile was contagious, unguarded, and Piper couldn't help but mirror her amusement.

Piper playfully appraised her with a critical eye, pretending to give it some serious thought, while scratching at an imaginary beard. "I dunno…I'd say you're worth, pffft….at least seven caps".

"I'll take that", Leona smirked, holding Piper's gaze for a moment before turning back to the horizon. Piper's eyes lingered on her for a moment before she followed suit and a silence settled between them as they watched sun set.

'Should she say something?', Piper wondered. She felt anxious. 'Was it ok to just sit here with her in silence?'

"I would come up here sometimes, after work", Leona finally broke the silence, her voice somber and distant as she stared straight ahead. "To watch the teams practice as the sun went down. To unwind". Piper studied the side of her face, and listened in silence. "You could look down on the street from the other side. There'd be bumper to bumper traffic every evening, as far as you could see".

"We'd come up here some weekends, when Nate got leave. Spread a soft blanket right here", she placed her palm in the narrow space between them. "Security would let us raid the concession stands. We'd make a picnic of it. Spend the afternoon watching the players practice. Talk for hours, as we laid back and watched the clouds, until it got dark".

She was saying some strange things. Things that didn't make sense. That distant look in her eyes, it was almost as if she were talking to herself.

"I, don't understand. You said you were from a vault", Piper's words snapping her back to the present.

"Yeah", she glanced at Piper and took a deep breath as she closed her eyes, leaning her head back against the wall. "The morning the bombs dropped, we were ushered into the vault with a few other families. It was supposed to be a new life. I remember thinking, 'what possible future could my baby have underground'. 'What possible future could we have as a family'. Everything happened so fast".

"They lied to us. Froze us in these, pods, under the guise that we were being 'decontaminated' before we could proceed further into the facility".

"-Wait, they boxed you up in a fridge? The whole time?", Piper shifted to face her. "And you're saying you were alive before the war? You saw everything before they blasted it into pieces?"

"Behold, I am immortal", Leona joked, adjusting her position so that she sat cross legged beside Piper. The reporter, barely aware of Leona's knee resting on hers, as distracted by her story a she was.

"Wh-You, kinda, are", Piper grinned, unable to hide her surprise and intrigue. "I mean I've met pre-war ghouls before, but this…this is…something else. What about your son and…-".

"I woke up some time after. Still trapped in the cryo pod, barely conscious. I could see Nate and Shaun in the pod across from me. There was a man and a woman. They opened his pod, tried to take our baby, but Nate wouldn't let them", she paused, absently toying with the lace on her boots. "They shot him…murdered him, and took Shaun", she bit her lip and drew an unsteady breath. "And I couldn't do anything…just, watch…".

"Hey", Piper whispered, snapping her out of her memories with a hand on her thigh.

"I'm fine", Leona shook her head and offered Piper a forced smile. "I've told one other person this story. It's gotten easier to talk about it since then".

"What about the other families? There had to have been other sur…", Piper reasoned, but Leona shook her head.

"They put me back under after they took Shaun. I…don't know how long I was asleep for the second time. It looked like the cryo pods had failed, but I was the only one that was revived. The families that made it to the vault with us had died in their pods. The vault was a tomb. The staff were long dead. Terminal entries showed evidence of infighting and revolt between the staff and those in charge, within the first few years. It's been a few weeks since then, since I woke up. So…yeah, that's…", she shrugged, "that's my story"

"Whew", Piper leaned back on her heels. "Well I can honestly say, that's, definitely not at what I expected", Piper offered her a sympathetic smile. "That would make for one hell of a story though-".

"Piper I don't-", Leona began, worry coloring her features, but Piper held up a hand, cutting her off.

"Relax, Blue. I'm not going to put it in the paper. I told you yesterday, anything you say stays between you and me".

"Thanks", Leona replied, the tension leaving her shoulders.

"Hey I'm…I'm glad you trusted me enough to tell me your story, Blue", She said, catching Leona's gaze, and noticing for the first time how close they were sitting. Leona's knee was practically in Piper's lap, and Piper's hand rested absently on the older woman's thigh.

'When did this happen?', Piper wondered. 'Was this weird? Did Leona notice? Did she mind? How could she remove her hand without drawing attention to it? These thoughts raced through her mind as her heart raced in her chest.

"Blue, huh?", Leona smiled, as she mulled over the nickname.

"Sorry, I wasn't sure how you felt abou-", Piper used the opportunity to casually remove her hand, instead pretending to adjust her cap.

"No, it's fine", Leona assured her. "It's kind of growing on me actually. Wonder if I should I call you 'Red'".

"Pffft. God no", Piper replied without missing a beat as she brushed her hair behind her ears.

"Fair enough", Leona smirked, reaching over to pluck something from Piper's cap.

"Wh-Hey!".

Leona turned the little slip of cardboard around in her fingers. The writing on one side simply said 'Press'. "Cute", she teased.

"Give me that", Piper snatched it from her hand, attempting to hide her smile behind a mask of playful annoyance. "It's not 'cute'. It's my job and I take it very seriously", she insisted.

The sun had all but sunk below the horizon. The last vestiges of golden red light, highlighting her amber eyes as she frowned at Leona and fixed the title on her cap. "You have pretty eyes", Leona remarked as she absently observed Piper. A simple statement, said with such an innocent and casual tone, yet that didn't stop Piper's heart from skipping a beat or her breath from hitching in her chest. She held Leona's gaze for the briefest of moments, searching for traces of some hidden meaning behind her words and feeling the heat creep into her cheeks.

"Uh…Th-thanks, I um…I mean", Piper stuttered. 'What was she supposed to say to that?!'. Her brain had taken a time out and her panic grew with every millisecond of silence that passed.

"You and that kid really do make a pretty adorable couple", Leona saved her the embarrassment of a reply. Piper could only look at her in stunned silence. Her mouth moved but there was no sound.

"What was his name?", Leona continued, pretending not to relish the reporter's reaction. "Junior?...no…S…Sparky….Skippy…n-"

"Mac Cready! His name is Mac Cready!", Piper sputtered. "And I told you, h-he's not…I'm n-We're not a…a...", Piper wracked her brain for the right word, finally settling with, "…a thing!".

"C'mon, you say that, but you blush every time I mention him", Leona smirked.

'I'm not blushing because of him', the voice in her head screamed. "I'm. Not. Blushing", she growled.

"Alright", Leona laughed. "Okay. You're not blushing".

"God. I actually want to hit you with something right now", Piper turned back to the horizon, sitting cross legged, mirroring Leona's position as she folded her arms and tried to look annoyed, despite the smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

"I'm sorry, really", Leona apologized sincerely with a smile. "You're just so…easy".

'Easy?', Piper pinched the bridge of her nose in annoyance. "Leonaaa…".

"I meant 'easy' to get a rise out of. And what happened to 'Blue'?".

"I'm thinking I should have just gone with the name I had for you when we first met. Wanna know what that was?", Piper asked.

"I think have a pretty good idea", Leona shot her a cheeky grin before settling back against the wall.

The city below was starting to come alive, with bright lights and bustling crowds.

Piper smiled to herself and risked a glance to Leona as they both sat in silence, but Leona caught her and returned her smile. "What's so funny?", she asked Piper.

Piper shook her head, "Nothing", and turned back to the city lights below. "You know, Nick's probably back by now. We can go see him if you want".

"Tomorrow", Leona replied.

"Oh…I thought you'd want to see him as soon as you could".

"I do", Leona admitted. "But it's late, and if he just got back, I'm sure he wants some time to himself. To get some food and rest. I can wait a few more hours until morning".

"Are you sure?", Piper pressed. "I really don't think he'd mind. He doesn't sleep, doesn't eat, always on a case", she smirked. Piper knew exactly what she was doing. A little payback for the older woman's teasing.

"I know the type", Leona smiled. "Still, I'll see him in the morning".

"Hm. Suit yourself", Piper pushed herself to her feet, and after a moment's hesitation, turned to Leona. "Um…A-Are you hungry? There's this place that serves the best noodles in town and-".

"Yeah, actually. I could eat", Leona stood and dusted the seat of her pants. She toed the edge of the roof, looking down at the warm lights and crowded streets below before following Piper.

'I'll tell her about Nick while we eat', Piper reconsidered. Considering how important this was to Leona, a heads up was probably a good idea, to avoid an awkward meeting for both her and Nick.

"Hey. What was with that look when you said he doesn't eat or sleep?". She heard Leona ask from behind her.

'Damnit!'


"Morning", Leona called as she opened the door to the office with a light knock. Ellie was seated at the desk while Piper knelt in front of her, with her hands on the secretary's shoulders. They looked up as she entered. "Blue!",

"What's wrong?", Leona asked. It was clear that Ellie had been crying.

"Nick didn't come back yesterday", Piper informed her and turned back to the secretary. "Where did he go Ellie?"

Ellie avoided Piper's eyes, hesitating for a moment before replying, "Park Street Station".

"Park St…", Piper whispered, mulling over the name in her head for all of five seconds, when realization dawned on her face. "Skinny Malone?!", she blurted out. "Jesus Ellie! Why didn't you tell me yesterday?! Why didn't Nick-".

"What's going on?", Leona asked, confused by her reaction. "Who's S-Skinny Mal-".

"Skinny Malone", Piper cut her off. "Local mob boss and leader of the Triggermen. He deals in weapons and chems mostly. Nick and I had a bit of a run in with him on a case a few weeks back. He's had it in for us ever since", she explained.

"I begged him not to go", Ellie buried her face in her palms. "He made me promise not to tell you. I told him it was too dangerous, but he just…smiled and walked out the door like he always does".

'Shit', Leona muttered, brushing her hair back as she leaned against the door, while Piper tried to console Ellie.

"What was Valentine after at Park Street", Leona asked, interrupting the two women.

"Um…he was…", Ellie fanned through the papers on the desk, retrieving a single folder and flipping through it before handing it over. "The Darla case. A missing person".

"And what do you have on the triggermen and this Malone person", Leona asked as she flipped through the folder.

"That's…um", Ellie wiped her cheek and made her way over to the file cabinet. Piper stood up as Ellie brushed past her. She watched as Leona scanned the Darla file, her brow furrowed in concentration. Barely any trace of the woman she'd sat with above the bleachers the previous evening.

"Here. This is everything we have on them", Ellie handed over another folder and Leona did a cursory scan of the contents before closing it.

"I'll find him", she said simply. "Can I borrow these?".

"Yes, yes of course, Thank you", Ellie offered her a shaky smile. "Please bring Nick back safely", she added. Leona nodded wordlessly before turning and heading out the door.

'Of course it wasn't going to be this easy. She should have seen this coming', Leona thought bitterly to herself, fighting to keep the scowl from her face. Her fingers squeezing the flimsy cardboard folders in her hand.

"Hey", Piper called. The reporter caught up to her in the alley just outside the office. "I'm coming with you", she said, standing in front of Leona, cutting her off.

"Hmm…No…", Leona paused, folding her arms and mockingly pretending to give it some serious thought. "…No…I'm pretty sure you're not", she shook her head and tried to get past the reporter, but Piper stepped in front of her once more.

"Do you even know where Park Street Station is?", Piper asked.

"I'm from the old world, not another planet, Piper. I know where I'm going".

"W-Well…yeah, ok fine…", Piper sputtered. "…but I'm still going with you", she insisted.

"Listen. Don't take this the wrong way, but you'll slow me down. I'll have a better chance of getting him out if I don't have someone else to worry about", she brushed past Piper and continued down the alley.

Leona managed a few steps before the reporter stalked ahead of her, cutting her off for the third time. A fiercely determined look on her face, and one she hadn't seen before. "No, you listen. Don't treat me like some…some…simpleton! Nick is my friend, and I know you want to find him, but I can guarantee you, not as much as I do!", her fiery determination giving Leona a moment of pause. "I know you're, like…two hundred years old and you're good at …shooting people, and whatever. But I've been out there doing this for a lot longer than you have. I'm not some liability, so stop tr-".

"You're right", Leona cut off her tirade with an apologetic look. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that", she apologized.

Piper's expression softened as she met Leona's gaze. Her heart thundered in her chest as much from her long winded tirade, as from her shock at having directed it at this woman in particular. "I'm sor-".

"Don't apologize", Leona chuckled. "Not after that. You were right, I was being-".

"A jerk", Piper offered with a smirk and Leona nodded in amusement.

"Yeah".

They shared an awkward moment of silence. Piper fidgeted nervously, avoiding eye contact. "Look", Leona said finally. "Why don't you get what you need and meet me at the Dugout Inn when you're ready", Leona resumed walking and Piper fell in step with her.

"Alright, but, listen. That guy, Mac Cready, still owes me, and I'm thinking this would be as good a time as any to collect on it".

She saw Leona sigh. "There's going to be a lot of trigger happy mobsters there Blue, and if talking doesn't work, then another gun on our side wouldn't hurt".

"Fine. Bring your boyfriend along".