Mojave Wasteland
Novac
0845
" Cass ?! " Come on...you can come out now. "
" Ugh...no. "
"...Come onnnn...", Derrick gently cajoled. " You know I don't mind seeing you like this. "
" ...That's not the point.", came a rather grumpy sounding response.
" Ok...so what is ? "
" You know ! "
Annoyed as Cass may have sounded at that, though...Derrick knew he still had the advantage here. On one front, at least, and that was: He knew her. He knew her moods, and how to read them...and given that she was currently " with child ", as the old saying often went...that was sure saying something.
Not that he was fully confident he could read her every time, though...because he couldn't. Or even when he could, it was pretty much like handling a live grenade- one false move, and he'd get subjected to a blistering shockwave of swearing.
All the more eye-opening, given that Cass was actually doing an admirable job of holding herself back on doing that on a regular basis these days. Still..
Use the gentle touch...Derrick reminded himself.
Know when to ease back..
He stepped forward slightly, being careful not to rush. Sure, he'd danced this dance with her before, but...it was absolutely different now.
"...Well, I am more simple minded than most guys are... "
" Uh, yeah. That's common knowledge. Those stupid as sin clowns , dressed up as guys from...was it 2,000 years ago, you told me once ? "
" That's about it, yeah.."
" Yes- them ! Dumbest thing I've ever seen. How the heck did they survive as long as they did ? God only knows..."
Well, she was right about that- but all it did was draw a warm, bemused smirk across the face of the former Courier. This was all just a part of the game- a part of their shared dynamic. It was a true beauty , really, that she could say things like that to him without coming off as mean...and without forgetting that she actually thought Derrick was, for real, a sharp cookie.
Then again, though...her current condition ( so to speak ), was kind of having a moon-tidal effect on that. Kind of. It was making her just a tad more...self-conscious. A tad more sensitive, and maybe just a tad more emotional ( Then again, however, maybe saying " tad " wasn't nearly enough on that last one ). She hadn't completely shifted personalities like night-and-day, but the changes were there just the same.
Didn't necessarily mean they were bad ones, though...
" Maybe so ", Derek casually conceded. " Didn't stop the NCR from promoting me, though, did it ? Or, you sticking by me..."
There was a brief moment of quiet, before there was a slowly, and a very much " Yeah...I guess you have a point " uttered "...Damn your logic and sensible reasoning. Things were simpler when I was just trapped at the Outpost drinking. "
" Or...before you and I got busy behind closed doors ", she added a moment later, with a tone that transparently came off as partially sultry...and still kind of pouty.
Derrick was ok with all of that, though. After all, now he knew he was getting somewhere.
Progress. As long as it wasn't glacial, it was ok if it wasn't lightning fast...though, they did still have a schedule to keep right now, and the sooner he could coax her out of there, the better-
...Wait a moment.
...Why am I out here ? I should be..
..back there, yes. Why hadn't he done that sooner ?
Derrick mentally kicked himself for it- it was just so self explanatory ! To be perfectly honest, he could think, off the top of his head, why he hadn't thought of it first...because, really, thinking of it now, it just seemed so obvious..
...But, then...ah, then he understood. Or, rather, remembered it, and more quickly than he thought.
Not used to her...moods changing. Or being finicky.
That was putting it mildly, though. After all, Cass had threatened to " set his eyes spinning " the day they'd met, back when he'd found her drinking her deep sorrows and troubles away at the Mojave Outpost. It'd told him pretty quick that this sheila had a feisty temper, and one that wasn't even a temporary result of that Whiskey bottle she'd been downing at the moment back then.
But...
...things had changed, needless to say.
This child wasn't even born yet, but the redhead was definitely showing new colors. More mild-mannered, for one ( Though, that implied she'd been that way from the get go, which was quite funny to even think about)- Derrick had noted that explosive, profanity riddled outbursts at anybody who she decided really deserved it ( though, thankfully, she'd spared Derrick from any of them ) had kind of...slacked off recently. They'd mostly gotten replaced with slightly less angry tongue lashing, and without even any of the kind of language that would leave a drill sergeant mortified ! Just...the kind your mother would be disturbed by. That is, unless your mother was from New Reno. Or had served with the NCR army...
A pretty high profile change regardless, for sure. Then, as that wasn't enough, there was also how she was pretty quickly becoming a...well, she was kind of more of a...
...A " Let's get it on ", so to speak, kind of sheila. More handsy, more...hungry, for that kind of stuff. Not quite a nymphomaniac, no, but she was definitely more enthusiastic about making love, making out, and pretty much anything else on that whole spectrum. Rather just several times a day, she'd gone up to at least twice as much...which, frankly, wasn't a bad thing.
After all, how could it not be ? With that knockout bod of hers ? Every...encounter, was as good as the last. Or the next.
But, as satisfying and good as all that was- a particularly sweet pillar of any lasting relationship, to be sure- there was still one one other aspect of it...
" I do remember- like it was yesterday ". Derrick let his memories guide his tone, and he was sure it was doing wonders for her. " And speaking of yesterday: You look just as pretty today as you did then. Or last year. "
" These days aren't last year...! ", Cass protested again. " I've...changed. Don't even recognize myself..."
" I know its for a good reason. I know ! Its just..."
And, that's my cue...
Without realizing it, Cass had just given Derrick the perfect verbal cue to make an entrance- because, as with all of life's things, timing mattered more than you thought it did. He'd been waiting for the opportune moment...and, now here it was.
So, he took it.
With a fluid motion, he stepped forward, mouth slightly curled with a smile, and grabbed the doorknob. Turning it, he pushed the door open and crossed through...
...to find Cass exactly where he'd left her.
Standing still, slightly turned away from the entrance, head bowed. Looking...vulnerable, which itself was a major rarity. Looking, self-conscious-probably more than she'd sounded, or more likely felt at that moment. From everything she'd said just now, Derrick had it all spelled out for him, that it was exactly what she must be feeling now, but to see it was a whole 'nother animal.
Striking...and he wished he could take that away right on the spot. It may not have been a problem that could be shot or blasted away ( ie, like a pack of Jackals ), but it was a problem nonetheless.
One that affected someone he loved. Someone who was more important to him than he had words for. Someone...who seemed..
...Afraid ?
Was that it ? Derrick knew, at once, that he couldn't let that go.
Because he knew she had no reason to, even if she didn't.
And said reason was blatantly clear...
" Derrick ! "
Caught by surprise, Cass' tone betrayed that. Her red head turned to face him, followed by the rest of her...
Mostly that one thing that she was so stuck on, but what Derrick found shockingly beautiful:
Her middle.
Just a few months ago, it'd been...well, not exactly chiseled , no, but it'd still been nicely shaped. Kind of soft, but not completely without any firmness, and definitely not what anybody could even remotely call...
...well,...fat. That was the word. Back then, nobody with a right mind could say that about her. Not even close. But, now...
" ..I, um...", she stammered.
"...the best thing that ever happened to you ", the Courier-turned-Ranger stated softly, finishing her earlier sentence as he came to a halt, while closing the door behind him.
" To us, I mean. ".
He gestured to her belly. The new one. The one she was so worried about.
Now, this one was what anybody today could call fat- or at least, just straight up big. It was definitely not something that her plaid button-down shirt and open buckskin jacket could hide anymore, because it stuck out now. Stuck out with a capital S, to where it could cast it's own shadow and block her view of her own toes.
She was actually still wearing the former...though, her enlarged breasts couldn't quite fit anymore without several of the buttons staying undone. She'd shucked the jeans long ago though...as she'd kept complaining that she just couldn't stand the way her belly stuck out over it. They were still around- folded, neatly tucked away and stored- but, nowadays , she'd been going around with a dress on.
Not that she'd had a chip against wearing those before, but then again...the jeans had just become iconic. They'd been designed for this kind of world- hard, rough, and built to handle a lot abuse. All good things for a Mojave life, for sure. Unfortunately, though, they didn't exactly expand as your body might end up doing...so, off they had to come, and eventually stay for a good long while.
That's how far along she's gotten. That's how big it'd grown, after 6 months. It was one heck of a transformation to go through before less than a year was up, but it was happening anyway, and it was showing like the lights on the Strip itself.
" I know you know that. And I know you love the twins ". Derrick let his smile grow, as he came closer to place his hands on Cass' sides, holding her firmly, but not tightly.
One hand glided down, smoothly and steadily, and came to rest atop the dome that her midsection had become.
" And, I couldn't think...of anything that makes you more beautiful. You got something to show, but nothing to hide, and that's God's honest truth ", he finished, all while making a point of looking right at her eyes.
He did his best to read them as well...but, well...women's eyes couldn't be that easily. It just didn't happen, and he'd learned that the hard way.
Not that it stopped him from doing it anyway, though. Besides...she had real pretty eyes anyway. They were worth staring at...
And he didn't mind getting lost there.
Besides, Cass gave him the answers that he couldn't find. The tension drained from her shoulders, from beneath Derek's palms. She hung her head a tad, and exhaled slightly, though it wasn't a full sigh- let alone a resigned, depressed one.
Just...an acknowledgement of someone else making a point you couldn't argue with. One that you might even have already known yourself, but needed someone else's speaking up to see it for your own.
"...Not much I can say to all that, can I ? ", she murmured.
"...You can if you want to ", encouraged Derrick softly.
Cass did not respond. Slowly, she reached up, and put one of her hands over his, lightly rubbing it.
"Well...I wouldn't agree 100 percent with such a thing..", Derrick contested. He didn't want her to feel backed to a corner, and for a fleeting moment, wondered if he'd actually pushed too hard too quick...
Uh oh...
Might've made this worse...
A shadow of nervousness came over him, but he did his best to hide it. He couldn't help himself on that...
But, thankfully, again...it proved not to matter.
" No, no...you're right. "
Cass shook her head. " You're right, Derrick. Should've seen it coming...I should've."
" Its...its just that.."
There was another pause , briefly, before the former caravaneer breathed deep, and then abruptly followed it up with:
" I look like I've been gorging on Fancy Lad snack cakes for a month...! ", came a slightly mournful admission from her. " Or two. Without even getting off a couch ! I look like..."
She trailed off then, but..not for long. Hands moved again, and Derrick let her place his on top of that belly of hers.
Warm to the touch. Firm and solid, and perfectly rounded. If There could be 0 doubt that it contained a set of
...one that was having all kinds of effects on their mother.
Not that their dad was left out, though. He could only listen with rapt attention , as said mother kept going...
"...Like a walking sack of grain. But that's not even the problem ! "
She stopped again, then went on again...though, she actually sounded nervous now.
Nervous ?
But...well, I can't say that's a major shocker...yet...
Ok. Stop. Thinking. Just let her talk, dang it..
Willing himself to follow his own advice, Derrick opened his ears, and listened even more, as Cass reached the end of what was stewing on her mind.
" How many kids do you see around town, Derrick ? Or...or girls who look like they're about to have one ? I'm basically a walking target right now...not to even mention all the stares I already get from all that. "
" Maybe...it'd be better if the doc called on us and not the other way around. You know...a house call. They still do those, right ? "
...Oh.
Ohhhhhh...
Hmm...
So, that's what this was all about.
Ok...ok..should've cautioned on sooner though.
Ah...so that's the scope of it.
As he listened, and as he had now heard it all, Derrick was struck by a new sensation:
Love, mixed with concern. And a healthy, daily-required topping of optimism.
He didn't let go of her, or let his hands drift, but...he didn't stop himself from thinking anymore.
Not when he had so much new material to handle. Psychically, or otherwise.
Cass..
That was a pretty good point, actually. There weren't...any other kids around Novac , to be honest. It was definitely livable, and gotten a major facelift for its streets ( sweeping them clear of trash and litter ), its buildings ( painting them, replacing crumbling fences and potholes ), and even its land ( trimming weeds, hauling away rusty scrap that'd probably been there from before the bombs dropped )...it still hadn't exactly...well, made the jump to an actual town.
After all, a real town had kids running around. Out and about. But, Novac wasn't living up to its name quite yet; the Mojave was only freshly secured and consolidated, and it was still taking a while for settlers to complete the long march from the NCR's core territories out west, and to plant themselves across the region. Months may have seemed an ample amount of room, but for a people used to the fumbling of President Kimball, and General Oliver's hardcore game of defense, adjusting to the reality that the area was actually safe was taking longer than might've...
Was it still safe ? Yes. Was Derrick one of those skeptics ? Yes...kind of. Not so much anymore, though. As was Cass, and also only " kind of ". She'd been there, after all.
But...she wasn't exactly like that former self of hers. Not psychically, at least.
"..Got to admit something: That's not what I'd have thought of, even with a million years, when I saw you drinking yourself silly back at the Outpost ". A smile- even if just a hint of one- tugged at the corner of Derrick's mouth as he let the confession slip.
Now, he did move a hand, and let his right one gently trace along Cass' cheek. " But, I sure don't mind how things have changed. Or you. And its all for the better. "
" We might know that, Crane, but-"
" - and so does everyone else ", the former Courier empathized. " This is Novac ! Not the Boneyard, or New Reno...or even the Hub. Its not a town for drunkards or gangs, or even switchblade bandits- because we made sure of that. We've secured this town, Sharon. We did it..! "
He pulled her-gently, obviously- a bit nearer to him with a grip on her sides. " Not to mention the Legion. Kicked their asses back over the Colorado with their tails between their legs and crying for their teddy bears. They're gonna be a pathetic bunch of rabble for a good long while, and even if they're stupid enough to head west before the NCR rolls out their offensive, we've hunkered down across the Mojave...finally. They can't catch us off guard with even one Centurion, let alone a whole army. "
Did she already know ? Did he know that she already knew this ? Well, to be honest...the answer to both was yes. Very much so, given that she'd been there , right at Derrick's side, when he'd carved that path through the Legionnaires at the Hoover Dam. She'd been there, as well, while they'd braved the tunnels under the Repcon facility that were chock full of Nightkin...just so that weird-as-heck Cult over there could realize their dream of going to space. Not that they had a real plan, other than some random " Promised land " that had been " promised " to them, but at least those rockets of theirs were gone...and had taken their volatile fuel reserves with them.
And then, there was medley of rabble gangs that had plagued the region for even longer than the Legion had: the hardscrabble and pathetic Jackals, the often-drugged-up Vipers and the outright psychotic and obsessed with explosives Powder Gangers. While they'd been running loose, the whole of the Mojave had been a ( fittingly )...well, a powder keg that kept blowing up nearly every single day. Between all of them prowling the region, it was a suicidal, and a stupid move to go around the roads and wilderness of the desert area without a gun at the ready- or, even better, with a whole group who all had guns locked, loaded, and ready.
But...
That was all past.
All of it.
"...Yeah...that's- yeah. I know...I know we've pretty much scrubbed the table clean , so to speak ". A tinge of nostalgia
Derrick knew that for sure. Cass knew it as well- she'd been there, right alongside him. Being at the center of all those gunfights , with that side-by-side double barreled , 12 gauge Benelli shotgun loaded with slug rounds of hers tearing open those thugs and bandits and leaving them baking under the Nevada sun.
She had been- still was, actually- a true wasteland native , who was at home with how lethal this world could be. Always armed, and always one to be down for a fight- and against anyone, at any moment. Jackals, Legion soldiers, Great Khans ( that one troublesome gang at Boulder City, that is ) Fiends...it didn't matter who.
She wasn't just geared for a fight at any moment, but she talked like it to boot. Even if there was a negotiation going on, she'd have that shotgun already loaded. If it wasn't already out, then it'd be just a hair trigger away from getting drawn-probably on someone who either didn't have a clue how screwed they were, or thought they could get the drop on her.
And then found out the hard way...that they couldn't.
All of that, though...all of that, though, was buried now.
Well, somewhat, at least. Nothing could purge it from her- not completely, at least. But, holding her now, looking at her now ( or, these past few weeks ), Derrick could see as much as she could- if not more. That constant poise, ready for a fight, and that glint of her eyes that was waiting for one to begin ? Those were still there. Yes, they were.
But, now...they were shadowed by something else.
" This is...agh, I don't now...! ", sighed the California girl. " Its like...am I scared to even leave my own house ?! That can't be it...I know there's nothing to worry about. "
" I know, but- "
She sighed, then slowly looked down at her significantly protruding and very round midsection- the catalyst for all this change.
Without anything more, she reached down, and gingerly touched it...as if she was afraid of hurting who was there. It was a moment Derrick did not miss...and one he definitely understood.
Maybe even more than she did. Or, at least just a smidge less. Close enough, though...because, after all...
Well, they both knew the answer to that.
" Hey, Hey, Sharon..."
Slowly, almost delicately, Derrick cupped her chin with both hands, and lifted her face to meet his eyes.
"...Don't apologize ", he urged her. " Nothing to be ashamed of , either. You're doing what a mom should: look after your kids ! I could've love you any more for it. "
Without missing another beat, he leaned forward, and proceeded to kiss her on the lips.
Smoothly, deeply, and passionately. He eagerly got swallowed up by it, and Cass made no effort to resist. Rather, she responded just as hard, even though it surprised her by just a tad. Aside from a muffled " mph ! ", she didn't do a thing other than kiss him right back.
No matter how strong anything Derrick might've told her could've been- and, who could say it wasn't - but...as everyone was well aware: Actions were worth a thousand words. Actions, even if there was just one of them, could tell so much that even a thousand words couldn't fully capture.
And, this one was especially loud, for sure.
But, aside from anything it could say...Derrick just liked kissing her. How could he not, though ? He couldn't help it- either the drive to kiss her when the mood took him, or how good it felt. He outright couldn't. Besides, if it helped put her at ease- helped her out with something she might be struggling with - then...all the more reason to let himself go all out.
Like he was now.
Eventually, they did have to come up for air.
Trouble was, they were both reluctant to be the first to back away. Its spontaneous, off the cuff nature had made that even harder to do, which was sure saying something. Yet, finally...they ended up doing it with near perfect sync.
" Hhh..hh..."
Cass couldn't even breathe steadily at first, for at least a few seconds...
"...Hhh...I...jeez. That's...how is it that I feel so turned on and still kinda nervous all at once ? ", she whispered.
"...Weird.."
Derrick chuckled. " Not at all ", he maintained, shaking his head. " Not weird at all, and that's a fact. And so is this: I don't have a problem with you wanting the Followers of the Apocalypse ( FOA ) to make a house call here, if you'd really rather not go to their outpost. Just say the word, and I'll let 'em know. "
" You'd do that ? Wait- that made it sound like I thought you wouldn't...", stumbled the Californian.
" I mean..."
She closed both eyes, huffed with frustration, and then finally came up with something that flowed: " I mean...I know you would, and that's what a real man would do. "
A smile appeared, and she looked him right though his own eyes. " Thanks, Crane. It really means a lot. "
" See ? I always listen. "
"...Well, not when I told you to leave me alone at the Mojave Outpost..."
" But, if I had back then, none of this would've happened, right ? ", countered the NCR man who'd spent so many years as a Courier, as he didn't bother to hide a hint of a triumphant smirk.
" ...Quick on the trigger, aren't you ? ". Cass smiled back, gently pushing at his chest.
And...there it was. Right there- that smile. It was as sexy as seeing her starkly nude, and showed off clear as day that she was feeling better. To some level, at least. Better than before, anyway.
Any victory counted, after all.
" Hey, you keep giving me ammo..."
" Only because you go through it so fast ! "
At that, now she was laughing, and that was a real dose of icing on the cake. Even more than the smile from earlier- it buoyed Derrick's mood, and just filled him with that " good vibe " that folks of the Pre-Bomb world were always talking about ( according to what historical rec cords still existed ). That, for sure, was one thing that absolutely made getting up ever morning worth it. The one thing ( among others, granted ) that he thought of first when waking every morning , God bless, ready to face the day:
She was everything he wanted, everything he could ask for. She was carrying his children, and they ( and her, obviously ) were why he'd fought so hard to scrub the Mojave clean of all those nasty critters- Fire ants, fire geckos, Cazadores ( God forbid any of those winged demons still existed ), Deathclaws ( nearly as bad ), as well as the gangs, and the armies of the Caesar's Legion.
He'd beaten them because he had her with him. And to give her a good place to stay with him.
Now he would show her , once and for all, if she had any doubts for their kids' safety, that'd it'd been worth it.
"...Let's go to them, Sharon ", the former Courier exclaimed eagerly, and confidently. He touched her belly again, reveling at how warm, firm and large it was.
" Nobody's getting near you if you don't want them to. I'll take on a whole Legion Hunter-Killer squad for you if it comes to that. "
"...Haven't you actually done that before ? Gone full ' one man army ' on a whole horde of Legion whip-crackers ? ", questioned the Californian, though with a newly warmed tone, and with a telling hint of another smile.
" Well, horde might be a bit of an exaggeration ", Derrick shrugged. " But, there were more of them than us... "
" And you won. They're just thugs and bullies pretending to be real men. I should've remembered that...its just that...well, you know. These kids are messing with my head something fierce, and they're not even born yet...! "
The NCR Ranger who had once been a Courier could not disagree. " Even after they are, I don't think that will stop. Just a heads up.. ".
" Yeah...but, weirdly...I think it'll be the best kind of mad. ", Cass expressed her newly returned confidence.
Said confidence's resurgence was proven beyond any doubt , when she then hugged him tightly...practically possessively. If it hadn't been for her expanded midsection, they could've fused their bodies against each other like usual.
But...it was ok. Actually, it was more than ok. Because, that wasn't a problem at all; it was a sign that this broken, burned out, scarred by the bombs wasteland that the fight for its future was worth it. That it wasn't just some place that you had to survive...but somewhere better.
A place they could call home.
And how much more it would be , given the months to go...
"...Well- then I am ready when you are ! ". Playfully, Derrick brushed a loose strand of her auburn hair that'd come down over her forehead. " I'd let you bring your shotgun, but it kicks a bit too much for a lady about to have a kid. "
Cass raised one brow, as she began to sweep past him, while taking hold of one hand as she did. " Still calling me a lady, hm ? And, let me not bring my twin-barrel ? I just want to see you carry a gun again. You know that always turned me on. "
With that, she finally began to head for the door- and beyond, with Derrick more than willing to go along. Granted, she was still kind of pulling at him, but it was hardly needed. Yet again, though, that both of them knew that didn't matter at all. It was their dynamic, their pattern, and it was perfect.
Perfect as a Mojave that was free of the Legion's tyranny. Derrick hadn't ever been prouder to have been one of those that'd put them down, or grateful to have someone to share the new world that came after it with.
Had he wanted to crush them for how much of a colossal menace they were to everyone who called the Mojave home ? For how the Legion made slaves of literally everyone they met ? Sure ! That was a given.
But...he needed a personal stake as well. Everyone did.
With Cass- and their upcoming kids...
...He had found it.