Olivia gazed into the serene expression of her sister's newborn son; she found herself wondering who he looked like more, her sister or the Legionary who had his way with her. She shook her head and tried not to think about that…it brought on too many painful memories of her own. He was a big baby, even when he was born, and seemed to be getting bigger by the day. A fluffy tuft of dark mahogany brown hair covered the top of his head, his eyes were a deep indigo blue, and his skin was the perfect rosy baby pink. Everyone who saw him fell in love and wanted a moment to cradle him, no matter how fleeting. All in all, he was a healthy and content little bundle of joy, though he seldom cried which sometimes worried Olivia as it could be a sign of something that was wrong. Their mother waved her worries away, claiming that both she and her sister were also quiet when they were babies themselves, so it must run in the family.

Almost a month had gone by since she became an aunt and, although Olivia was thrilled with her new role in the family, she could see that her sister was having a harder time dealing with the newness of her role. The birth of the baby had taken a great toll on her sister's body and almost cost her life. Not only that, but depression was an all-too-common occurrence for new mothers, coming into full swing for Hannah a few days after she gave birth. She hardly ate and when she held her son in her arms, Olivia could see a deep seeded sadness in her expression, a mix of regret and uncertainty as though she didn't know what she was going to do with him. Olivia made the decision to take some days to help her family settle into their new accommodations in a housing complex about a mile down the road from McCarran so she could help with taking care of her new nephew and bring her sister back on her feet.

"He's so quiet when you hold him", Hannah commented peacefully from the couch, her exhausted gaze fixed on Olivia, "Whenever I hold him for too long, he starts to get fussy".

"He can sense you worrying", Olivia answered with an empathetic smile.

"I suppose you're right…", Hannah propped herself up on the couch and took a drink of some purified water from a bottle on the coffee table.

"It'll get easier over time", Olivia reassured her, "You're not alone in this".

Before Hannah had a chance to add her own thoughts on the matter, they were roused by the sound of their mother's familiar footsteps coming up the short flight of steps outside. Quick on her feet, Olivia unlocked and opened the door to let her in. Sian, their mother, was carrying a couple of loaded bags of food while one of their neighbours and his son helped bring up two galleons of purified water in sealed metal cannisters.

"Thank you for your help, Mr. Wilford. I wouldn't have been able to carry all this up by myself", her mother thanked their helpers who set the heavy containers in their kitchenette.

"Our pleasure, Sian", Mr. Wilford grunted in response, eliciting a curious eyebrow raise from Olivia, which her mother noticed and pursed her lips, "Anything else we can do for you ladies?"

"We're fine, thank you", Olivia gave the two men a curt nod and friendly smile. Though she appreciated that they had friendly neighbours who seemed happy to help them, she didn't like the way Mr. Wilford's son constantly stole curious glances in her sister's direction. Walking over to her pack on the couch with her nephew still in her arms, she took out several caps to give to the men as payment for their help.

"Oh no, no", Mr. Wilford waved a hand in denial and shook his head.

"Please, for your efforts", Olivia insisted but was met with an even sterner head shake from both the man and his son.

"You're our neighbours and we are here to help", he answered plainly.

"Well…thank you", Olivia answered, now feeling a little foolish, "That's very kind".

Mr. Wilford flashed his white teeth in a friendly smile at them before putting his straw hat back on his head and the men bid them a good day before leaving.

"Glad the NCR was able to place us in such a safe neighbourhood", Olivia's mother commented when she was sure their guests had left, "I think I'll need to get a cart for future supply runs though".

Their accommodation was modest but impeccably clean, with a small combined living and dining room consisting of a three seater couch and a dark green armchair looking out to two tall windows with a wrought metal grilles, and a semi open kitchenette with a large serving window that looked into the living room. On the right side of the end of the kitchenette was a narrow hallway with two decent sized bedrooms next to each other, and a three-piece bathroom at the end of the hallway. It wasn't much, but it was enough for Hannah and their mother; certainly more space than they were used to having.

"I s'pose I better make a start on some dinner", Olivia's mother huffed, examining the bags filled with produce and fresh cuts of brahmin meat laid out on the countertop in the kitchen.

"I'll help you", Olivia moved to hand her nephew back to his mother, but Sian waved her away.

"No, you've got the little one all cosy in your arms. Go keep your sister company, let me worry about the food", she walked over to Olivia and gave her and her grandson a kiss on the forehead before shooing her out of the kitchen.

Taking a seat in the armchair right by her sister, Olivia got comfortable in the soft cushioned furniture and turned her attention to Hannah.

"How are you feeling?"

Hannah groaned and collapsed back on the couch, "Like I wish people would stop asking me that question…all day every day".

"Sorry…force of habit", Olivia pursed her lips and tried to find another talking point to distract her sister with, but try as she might her mind was drawing nothing but blanks. They sat in silence for what felt like ages, listening to their mother keeping busy in the kitchen.

"You know…if you want to talk about what happened, in the Legion camp…", Olivia began cautiously, watching her sister's reaction.

"There's nothing to talk about", Hannah replied in a faraway voice.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be there to protect you", Olivia added, feeling the familiar pang of guilt course through her.

"There's nothing you could have done Olive", Hannah sighed, rubbing her temples lightly, "There's nothing any one of us could have done. I'm just glad I didn't have to give birth in that tent next to the brahmin".

In the Legion, women who went into labour were carted off by guards to a more secluded area where the tribe bred and kept brahmin for slaughter. It was far enough away from the main camp that their screams would not be heard, and so not upset or irritate the other inhabitants. The memory of the place brought a chill through Olivia's body; no more than a worn tent, the insides of the birthing place looked more like a butcher shop than a safe place where a woman could have her baby. Many times another woman, a healer and midwife of sorts, was allowed to go with the pregnant women to the birthing tent and help with the delivery; however, if a woman was disobedient and disrespectful toward the Legion, she was simply dragged to the tent and left there to deal with the delivery on her own, mocked and ridiculed by the guards who had to stay until the end. Many did not survive the ordeal…

"I know… Even so, I wish I could have been there for you", Olivia answered, prompting a small smile from Hannah.

"We're here together now, that's what matters", Hannah exhaled.

Olivia fussed over her nephew, changing positions so he would be more comfortable as both women sat in contemplative silence.

"Have you thought of a name yet?" Olivia asked after several moments.

"Hmm?"

"For your son", Olivia answered, bouncing the now awake and gurgling baby, "We can't call him 'baby' or 'little one' forever".

A far away expression etched itself on her sister's features as she thought of an answer.

"I have been considering a name for him…I just don't know if it would be appropriate".

"What is it?", Olivia asked curiously.

"I've been thinking a lot about naming him Christopher".

Olivia found herself taken aback by Hannah's answer and her eyes threatened to well up. She tried to swallow the lump of grief in her throat that hindered her reply. Her attempts to find her brother by questioning the Legion POWs and going over the list of deceased enemy troops brought her nowhere; the only luck she had in trying to find him was after intensive interrogation of Vulpes Incluta, who only reluctantly gave her his Legionary name and no further details. For all anyone knew, Christopher was either long gone…or died sometime before the battle at Hoover Dam.

"I…I uh…think he would have liked that", Olivia's voice strained as she gazed down at her nephew, "Christopher…. What do you think little man?" she turned her attention to him. The baby stretched his little limbs and yawned in her arms, but Olivia was certain she could see a small upward curve in the corners of his tiny lips.

"I think he'd like that too", Hannah answered, before finally relaxing enough to fall into a restful sleep.

The weeks passed quickly, and it seemed that the Courier was who she appeared to be; at least according to Aelius's current judgement. Though he was slow to trust her in the beginning, she had proven herself time and again with her actions, helping the Dead Horses, the Sorrows, and New Canaanites deal with the White Legs and procuring much needed supplies. Even so, he kept his distance from her and preferred to listen rather than speak when he was around her, gathering as much information as he could. It wasn't until later that evening when the camp got together for the evening meal that news about the situation in the Mojave between the NCR and the Legion, his former faction, peaked his interest. Most of the Sorrows had gone off to tend to their own matters, leaving Ash, Mary, Joshua, Daniel, Follows-Chalk, and Courier Six sitting around the fire.

"There's something I've been meaning to ask you Joshua, but I guess I never got around to it", Six began, setting aside her finished bowl of food, "What's going on with all of these… tribes?"

"A great deal. There are three... make that four, tribes here in Zion. You've already met the White Legs on your way into Zion. You've met my tribe, the New Canaanites, as well as the Sorrows and Dead Horses. There used to be a fifth tribe, the Tar Walkers, but like your caravan, they've been whipped out by the White Legs".

"I still sometimes wonder why the White Legs attacked Happy Trails".

"They attack everyone who isn't a White Leg, especially caravans. They don't know how to survive on their own, so they have to raid", Joshua replied matter-of-factly.

"When I first came here, there was something you mentioned to me about expecting another courier", Six commented, her words directed to Joshua, "Care to elaborate?"

"Caesar would never admit this openly, but he knows that I'm alive. I've killed enough of his frumentarii and assassins that have come looking. I've heard one of them travels the Mojave as a courier. Most of Caesar's agents meet a fitting end in NCR territory, but maybe this one survived."

"Hmm…Well, Caesar is dead. I saw to it personally and thought you should know", Six answered, bringing a startled hush around the fire. Everyone seemed to have a reaction to the news; everyone except for Joshua.

"I have to admit, it's hard to believe. That even after all he did to me, all he tried to do to find and erase me from this world, he went first", Joshua answered pensively, "No doubt this will be good for the Mojave. I can only hope Arizona and the tribes don't suffer as the Legion falls apart around them."

"You don't think Lanius can lead the Legion?" Six asked.

Her question raised the hackles on Aelius's neck; Lanius was a fearsome Legate, the entire Mojave knew that, but he was too cruel to be a leader.

"I think only Caesar can lead the Legion. I've never met anyone who could take his place. I couldn't. I never had a mind for logistics", Joshua answered, "I don't know Lanius, but from what I've heard, he has no interest in leading anyone unless it's in battle. No… The Legion dies with Caesar. What follows now are just the last steps of a man who does not yet realize that he's walking dead".

"They won't. I'll make sure the Legion has very little to go home with", Six answered, a confidence in her tone that Aelius didn't share.

"Hmm. Good. You're doing God's work, whether you believe it or not", Joshua answered, pleased with her response.

"I wonder if this information would change the White Legs minds about joining", Six mused, taking out her metal cup to pour herself some tea.

"Even if you were able to somehow send the message to them, I do not believe that news of Caesar's death would sway the White Legs; they are too blinded by their own ambitions to see that possibility", Joshua commented, reclining back onto an elbow and opening up his Holy Book to where he left off before their dinner. A silence spread between them as everyone around the fire took a moment to absorb the momentous news; all except Aelius.

"So, you killed him yourself?" he inquired, his critical gaze focusing on Six and catching her somewhat off her guard.

"I made sure of it", Six answered confidently.

"You didn't answer my question", Aelius prodded, his tone drawing a series of confused and annoyed glances from some of the others, including Ash.

"Aelius, I think she already confirmed", Ash added hesitantly, her eyes flitting between him and Six. An uncomfortable tension was building between them that prompted Joshua and Daniel to excuse themselves. It wasn't until the two men were out of earshot that Aelius pushed his question further.

"How did you do it?"

"Does it matter?", Six questioned, getting annoyed with the incessant inquisition.

"Yes, it matters", Aelius answered bluntly, "Did you shoot him? Stab him? Find a high cliff and pick him off from a distance? Catch him unawares in battle?"

"Aelius!" Ash hissed under her breath, throwing Six an apologetic look.

"I sabotaged his autodoc", Six answered almost through clenched teeth, her eyes narrowing at him.

A slight hint of a frown spread in his expression, "Then you cannot claim in all certainty that Caesar is dead".

"I know he is, alright?", Six answered confidently, her grip on her cup tightening in frustration.

"Hmm…Yet you have not said that you witnessed his death. One has to wonder how you managed to get access to Caesar's personal autodoc?", Aelius inquired, slowly leaning forward, "I don't imagine a profligate such as yourself, and a woman no less, would be allowed within a hundred feet of Caesar's tent".

"Enough Aelius!" Ash burst out, almost jumping to her feet, "Six, I apologise-" she began to say but the Courier ignored her words.

"You know, I've done nothing but try to help you folks out here ever since my caravan got slaughtered", Six laughed incredulously, a bitter taste building in the back of her throat, "And all you have done is treat me like I'm some kind of Legion dog".

"You seem to forget that I was a Legionary", Aelius answered, "And if I were one of Caesar's personal Praetorians, I would never let you near Caesar, let alone near his medical instruments". He took no pleasure in his gruelling questioning, especially since he recently started to feel she could be trusted; but now, with this new information about Caesar's elimination and the truth about her hand in his demise, he had to re-evaluate his stance on the Courier.

Six shook her head in frustration, pursed her lips and tossed the rest of her bitter coffee into the fire, "Well, you weren't there. And even if you were, you wouldn't have had a say in what happened. Caesar ordered most of his guards out of his tent to have a private audience".

"Why would he do that?" the lines in Aelius' brow deepened, "That is uncharacteristic of Caesar".

"Yeah, I thought so too…at first", Six answered, frustration oozing from her voice, "But he wanted something… Something I was hired to deliver to New Vegas. A key that could tip the hand of power in the Mojave to him and ensure a swift victory over the NCR".

Aelius leaned back slowly, his intense gaze on Six softening somewhat, "I don't imagine you gave it to him".

"No!", Six answered adamantly, giving a shake of her head, "But I used it to my advantage to get as much information out of him as I could. That, and to…collect on a debt that was owed to me".

"What was it? What was the item?" Ash asked curiously.

"A platinum chip", Six answered.

Aelius and Ash looked at each other quizzically.

"An audience with Caesar for…a chip?" Aelius asked, somewhat amused with the answer.

"It's more than just a chip, it was the key to winning the battle at Hoover Dam", Six answered, her posture relaxing somewhat now that she wasn't facing as intense an inquisition, "It was the final piece Mr. House needed to activate the underground robotic facility that housed a vast number of military robots in New Vegas. That chip almost cost me my life. But that part of my journey is done, the Legion was thwarted at the Dam…and if Caesar didn't die before the battle began, he certainly is dead now. The autodoc detected a malignant tumour in his brain, and I re-programmed the machine to sabotage his operation the next time he used it".

"So...the Legion is…gone?" Ash asked, eyebrows raised in relief.

"No, not gone", Six added, "They suffered a crippling defeat at Hoover Dam, including the loss of the majority of their slaves, and retreated back East. Though they won't be attacking again anytime soon, they aren't entirely eradicated".

"What happened with the slaves?" Aelius pressed, an urgency in his voice he couldn't hide.

"Most of them were freed. Many woman, children, elderly and crippled were rescued by NCR soldiers and taken to McCarran to be treated and rehabilitated", Six answered.

Not a moment ago their conversation was going down a path Aelius was certain would put him in a tough standing not just with the Courier, but Mary, Follows-Chalk, and more importantly Ash. Just as Aelius thought he knew he had reached a final verdict on the Courier, she gave him a crucial piece of information that upturned his view on her character. The question to ask whether Six had seen his sisters burned on his tongue, but how would he even ask the question? So much time had passed since the last time he saw his mother and two sisters that he wasn't certain how to describe them to the Courier; besides that, if they were deemed worthy and of good breeding stock to be chosen by a high-ranking Centurion, they would have received new names that fit for their status. And what if the answer was something he didn't want to hear…what if they were part of the group that had perished, or worse, weren't rescued and had to continue enduring living under Legion rule? He didn't know if he could take the weight of that knowledge.

He cleared his throat, a futile attempt to push the pressure he was feeling in his Adams apple, stood up slowly and excused himself from the group, a response that seemed to take everyone sitting by the fire by surprise.

Six waited until she was certain he was out of earshot before commenting.

"Is he this intense with others?" she asked, her gaze drifting to everyone still around the fire.

"Not with many", Ash answered after a moment. Deciding it was time she took her leave, she excused herself and quickly followed Aelius' route, leaving Six to sit awkwardly with Mary and Follows-Chalk.

A refreshing breeze stirred Ash's hair as she went up the steep steps on the side of the rocky cliff at the end of the camp. Though she knew where Aelius's favourite hideaway retreat was when he had a lot on his mind, it still amazed her how quickly he had gotten up the slope.

Cicadas chirped around her as the sun was nearing the horizon, bathing the cliffs of the Sorrows camp in a fiery golden glow. She found Aelius on a level part of the ground less than fifty feet away, leaning on a worn wooden railing overlooking the beautiful canyon lands below them. Catching her breath, she sauntered over to stand next to him, mimicking his posture over the railing.

"So…that was awkward", she commented, pulling a strand of hair that the wind was playing with behind her ear, "What's got you riled up?"

"Nothing", Aelius exhaled, closing his eyes for a brief moment and giving his head a shake.

"That's clearly not true, you almost bit the Courier's head off then practically sprinted away when you she finished answering your questions", Ash's gaze tried to search his evasive eyes, "Come on Aelius... if you can't talk to me then who, hmm?"

Aelius gave her words some thought before turning to face her uncertainly, "Remember when we were at that lake, by the cabins?"

Ash's brow furrowed as her mind recalled the memory he was referring to, "Yeah… I remember you were upset that first night there".

"Mhm", Aelius nodded, rubbing the back of his neck, "The Courier's…hmm…news, caught me off guard… All of a sudden the inconsolable despair I felt that night came rushing back".

"Why? Surely hearing that the Legion is all but eradicated must finally bring you a sense of relief?"

"Hmm…some", Aelius gave a curt nod, "But it's also made me remember who I left behind".

"Oh…", Ash exhaled, the lines around her eyes deepening when she realised who he meant, "Your mother and sisters were still slaves when you escaped".

"Yes, they were".

"Well... this is good news then!", Ash's response was full of hope and excitement, feelings Aelius found difficult to emulate, "Six said that many of the slaves were rescued and freed!"

"And many that weren't" Aelius added solemnly, "There is no way to know".

"You could ask Six, I'm certain she could tell you", Ash insisted, but only received a pessimistic scoff from him.

"Doubt it. Be realistic Ash, what are the odds that a wanderer like the Courier would come into contact with any of my remaining family…that is if they even survived long enough to be rescued by the NCR", Aelius added, "Besides, there's something about her that I find untrustworthy".

"What?"

Aelius gave a shake of his head, "Don't know. I thought I was beginning to trust her words; until she brought up the Legion".

"Anything in particular?"

"The way she spoke so…. cavalierly about dealing with them", the crease in Aelius' brow deepened, "As if she and her position was worth Caesar risking the future of the Legion, letting her in to have an audience with him".

"Is that a hint of envy I detect in your tone?" Ash asked half-heartedly, eliciting a frown from Aelius.

"No, not envy, scepticism. Even you must admit it's hard to believe", Aelius retorted, "The leader of one of the largest and fiercely determined tribes in the Wasteland, a tribe made by a ruthless man who classified women as sub-human, only good for being used as beasts of burden and for breeding, giving a conceited woman like the Courier an audience?", he scoffed, "Don't care how much she claims that chip of hers was so important, the Legion does not give women an audience. Not for anything".

"Not unless they were desperate", Ash added.

Though Aelius didn't answer, his head slumped just enough for Ash to see that she may have made a good point.

"Hmm", Ash sighed pensively, "Think I'm getting a better idea why you reacted the way you did".

Aelius exhaled in exasperation and pushed himself off the railing to stand up straight, running his fingers over the short stubble that was his hair. He knew his reaction was unexpected to the others, maybe too brash for the unhardened audience witnessing his questioning, but he needed all doubt removed about the Courier. Now with the answers she finally provided him, he began to think that maybe there was a chance of trusting her.

"I should go, it's my turn to do the rounds tonight", Aelius spoke in a resigned tone.

Ash gave a curt nod and followed by his side, walking together back to the main camp and helped him prepare for the long night that awaited him. Soon as Aelius collected his gear and the supplies he would need for his night's watch and scouting; he was approached by Waking Cloud and the Courier.

"Aelius, may we ask for your assistance?", Waking Cloud requested. Aelius's gaze shifted between the two women quizzically before nodding in apprroval.

"The Courier needs to find a map of the Grand Staircase for Daniel. Six says she may have found a clue where we can find it", Waking Cloud explained.

"Can it not wait until morning?" Aelius inquired, his attention turning to the already setting sun, "It would be safer to carry out your expedition in daylight".

"The sooner we get that map the better", Six's intent gaze focused on Aelius; he could see she wasn't going to let this go. If he didn't say yes, he knew they would still go out there on their own… and that would be more dangerous for two women out in search of an elusive map that may not even exist anymore.

"How far out do you want to go?"

"Here", Six walked up and showed him the marker on the flickering green and black screen of her PipBoy.

"That is at least an hour walk away down the river, away from our watch routes", Aelius answered, feeling his jaw threatening to clench in frustration, "If I take you there, a White Leg patrol or scouting party might pass through our net".

"We're not asking for you to take us all the way", Six added, trying to find a middle ground everyone would be comfortable with, "Just… as far as you can. We can manage after that".

After a moment of consideration and an encouraging prod from Ash who was still stood by his side, Aelius agreed and the three set off in search for the vital map that could help the Sorrows and Dead Horses escape Zion, should the situation with the White Legs grow out of their control.