Sorry if you were expecting this a bit sooner.

The doors to Goodneighbour swung open as Nick and Cait strolled in to say hello to their favorite Mayor. The first thing that their eyes set upon was KL-E-0 and her arms store, Kill or Be Killed. Second was The Old State House, where one of their best friends moved back to after Nick and his Minutemen destroyed the Institute. Nick made his way to the State house, while Cait had to stop by the Third Rail to ask Magnolia a bit of a personal question that she couldn't ask whilst being in earshot of Nick.

Nick opened the door to The Old State House and was immediately greeted to a 10mm pointed directly to his face. He angled his gaze toward the ground in front of him to see a dead drifter with three gunshot entrance wounds in his back. He didn't change where his eyes were locked, but said: "Did someone try to usurp you again to no avail, bro? Where is Fahrenheit?" The gun lowered as quick as it was raised.

"They never learn, my man." Hancock closed the door behind his buddy and gestured for him to follow over to the table nearby. He slumps down on to the couch, grabs a whiskey glass off the table and pours himself and Nick some whiskey. "So, Nick… how've you been? Getting into any trouble without me? Oh, and I'll tell you about Fahrenheit later"

Nick reaches over and grabs the glass Hancock hands to him and sits in the comfy chair next to the couch. He takes a sip of the whiskey and rests his arms on the armrests. "Hancock, you know that I am the General of the Minutemen! I can't be going and getting myself into trouble. It would set a bad example…"

The room was quite for five short seconds before they both burst out in hysterics at Nick's comment. Of course, everyone that Nick had travelled with knew that he used to run the Raider gangs over at Nuka-World. After a botched job that caused the death of most – if not all – the slaves in Nuka-World, Nick snuck into the camps of the Disciples and Pack and slit the throats of their respective leaders. When that was done, he snuck off and begged the Minutemen to come and help him kill the rest of the raiders, as surely the leaders' untimely deaths wouldn't have stopped the raiders. In what is now known as the "Nuka-Purge", Nick earned the trust of both the Commonwealths settlers and the Minutemen.

Hancock was the first to break the laughter. "No, no, no. But seriously…" His sentence was cut off again with laughter.

"Yeah, I knew that I couldn't keep a straight face after that. But yeah, everything's been going well. Cait and I are as strong as ever. We may or may not have destroyed a building by the old submarine, but you know. All's well that ends well, I guess." He takes another sip of his whiskey.

Hancock put his empty glass on the table and leant his elbows on his knees. "Nick, my man. You destroyed a building? Which one? Please tell me you didn't blow up the Taphouse…"

"Heh, funny story…"

"Goddamn dude. Oh well. What were you doing that caused the building to collapse anyways? Must have been one hell of an explosion."

Nick finished his whiskey and placed his glass on the table, ready to recount what transpired when he and Cait were trapped in the Shamrock Taphouse. "Okay, so you know I don't have the best grenade throwing arm? Well I just want you to know that we went there to celebrate Cait's birthday…"

Right as Nick entered the State House, Cait made a beeline for the Third Rail, looking to have a girl-girl chat with Magnolia, the bars resident performer. She speed-walked by Kill or Be Killed, entered the doors and was greeted by the bouncer, Ham.

"Ah, Cait. Long time no see. How have you been? Wasteland treating you alright?" He steps aside as Cait walks past him.

"Sorry Ham. In a bit of a rush. I'll talk to you later."

"Alright then. Talk to you later I guess." Cait quickly heads down the stairs and heads to the bar immediately and grabs a seat.

"Oi Whitechapel. How's it hangin'?"

"Ah, Miss Cait. Been a while since you showed since you shacked up with that odd Whitaker fellow." Cait takes a seat at the bar and Charlie slides a glass of whiskey her way. "What have you too been up to, anyway? Been staying out of trouble I hope."

Cait downed the whiskey in a matter of seconds. "You know me well enough to know that that's not true. Nick kinda blew up one of my favorite buildings for me birthday yesterday. But, he apologized in the best way he could've possibly apologized." Whitechapel slid another glass of whiskey her way and she downed it immediately.

"Why you drinking so heavily, love? Something else on your mind?" Whitechapel Charlie is one of the people/robots that Cait would usually confide in, but for the matter that she had on her mind, she needed to talk to Magnolia.

"No offense Charlie, but this is a thing that I need to talk about with Magnolia. Where is she by the way?" Cait turns around on her bar stool and looks around the bar, looking for any sign of Magnolia.

"Magnolia's just up in her room. She's in room 207 if you're in a real bind for time."

"Thanks Whitechapel. I'll see you later." Cait stands up from her seat and heads back out the doors, completely ignoring Ham on the way out. She quickly strides to the Rexford, walks up the stairs to the second floor. She swiftly looks around for room 207 and when she finds it, she finds her manners and knocks, hoping to not be interrupting something that may be going on in the room. To her relief, Magnolia's voice rings through the door, telling Cait to come in.

Cait opens the door and she spots Magnolia across the room, sitting at the table eating some Sugar Bombs. Cait closes the door behind her and asks if she can pull a chair up beside Magnolia, who isn't wearing her regular fancy dress, more of a regular drifter clothing type, enjoying her day off. "Say, Mags, don't ya think that that amount of sugar is going ta ruin your amazing form?"

"My dear, this is my cheat day. I rarely get to enjoy the sweet foods in the Commonwealth, trying to keep this figure slim and toned. Anyways, sugar, why've you come to see little ol' me out here in Goodneigbour? I thought you and your man would be out and about saving the settlers, killing raiders, so people like me can live all nice and proper?"

Cait didn't know where to start. She has known Magnolia ever since she arrived at the Combat Zone, making short treks to The Third Rail to drink herself into next week while listening to Magnolia's soothing tunes.

Cait let out a short laugh, and leant back in her seat, taking in this moment, for it might be the last one she might have with her oldest lady-friend. "You know dating the General of the Minutemen isn't really all it's hopped up to be. There's been more than our fair share of life-or-death situations. But all in all, it's really been great. Nick's the best hope for the Commonwealth, what with the new form of Minuteman Republic he, Preston, Danse and Ronnie are building up. I honestly think it's going to be fantastic."

Magnolia finishes her bowl of Sugar Bombs and looks Cait directly in her eyes. "I'm happy for you baby doll. I really am. But you've changed. Nick seems like a great man to be with, but there's something else that's on your mind, isn't there? You aren't very good at hiding that stuff from me. What's going on?"

That was exactly what Cait was worried about. Magnolia knows her too well, as she couldn't keep anything from one of her best friends. "Well, first thing: fuck off for figuring that out." Magnolia lets out a short snicker.

"Second: yea there is something else. I don't really know how ta premise this…"

Magnolia abruptly interrupts her: "OH MY GOD! You think he's cheating on you, don't you?"

Cait recoils in her seat a small back, with a slight look of confusion on her face. "What? I wasn't at first, but now thanks for putting that idea in my head, ya daft bitch. What I was trying to say is that, I have said in our travels together that I have been together with the man that I love, but when I said it those times I only half meant it. The shitty pessimistic side of me was always telling me that he wasn't being true to me, that he was doing this for himself. Maybe that it was a cruel game ta him, that he didn't really change after the Nuka-Purge. But when we got stuck in the Shamrock Taphouse last night, he sang me this amazing song with a guitar that just happened to be down in the basement with us. Last night made the shite pessimist in me realize that the 'raider' part of Nick wasn't actually there. That he actually was this wholesome, kind, caring – if not a bit sick in the head – man that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with."

Magnolia sat in her chair with the most contempt of smiles on her face listening to Cait spill her heart. This wasn't the Cait that came to The Third Rail every week after endless fights in the Combat Zone, looking to drink her sorrows away and smuggle some Psycho in from out of town. No, this was a new Cait, a better, healthier Cait that Magnolia loved to see every now and again.

When Cait paused for a moment, Magnolia interjected: "Wait, you said he was- sorry, is sick? What do you mean sick?"

Cait didn't know if it was her place to tell anyone about the Anchorage nightmare Nick had the night before. "I don't think it's okay for me ta tell you about this. I'm just gonna say… that he has some demons from his past that creep up on him now and then, and when they do, they scare the absolute shite out of me."

Magnolia leans forward in her chair, more of a concerned look on her face now. "Scared how? Scared like you want to run and not look back or…?"

"Scared in the sense that his waking screams wake me up from an amazing sleep."

Magnolia leans back in her chair, seemingly okay with what Cait said, not wanting to pry anymore than she had. In reality, Mags was a more worried than she let on. Screaming himself awake, what could've happened to him to have caused that to be a thing. Though little did Magnolia know that like a good portion of the ghouls in the Wastes, Nick Whitaker is over 200 years old, having served in the United States army.

"Alright, I guess that's not as bad as what I thought. Keep going, doll."

As Magnolia leans back in her chair, Cait continues her verbal diary. "Like I said, he's the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. I told him I loved him. I think I want to ask him to marry me." Magnolia recoils ever so slightly.

"You know, traditionally the men ask the women to marry them. That's just how it goes."

"Fuck tradition. We're headed back to Sanctuary tonight. I'm gonna ask him when we get back and then I think he'd want to spend the honeymoon travelling to New Vegas."

"Where have you heard about New Vegas? That can't have been in regular conversation."

Cait recalls a memory of a night she spent with a travelling trader from far out west. They had gotten so drunk that they talked about the different types of caps they've encountered in their respective travels. The trader said something about "Sunset Sarsaparilla Star Bottle Caps", and how the craze took over the Mojave Wasteland, with people coming from all over trying to get the prize for themselves, how he lost all his Star Caps in a casino on the New Vegas. The rest of the memory she'd rather not recall, as Magnolia could see.

"So, you see where I'm coming from, yea? I think Nick would love going to New Vegas. You think these would work?" Cait reached into her pocket and pulled out two gold rings and was patiently waiting as Mags just looked like she zoned out for a minute. She came to and explained to Cait a way that she could propose to Nick in a less… conventional way, and Cait loved the idea. Cait got up from her seat and quickly went to grab one of the Neighborhood Watch for Magnolia's brilliant plan.

"After we got the rubble cleared, we kissed and made our way here. That's the story of Cait's 27th birthday." Nick got up from his seat to walk around the room, looking at all the new things Hancock has collected over the last few months, with their on-and-off travel excursions. A submachine gun with an engraving in a language Nick couldn't read; a painting of what seemed to be a horse riding a man; a box of San Francisco Sunlights; an odd double barrel shotgun with the barrel at different lengths. Hancock has collected come interesting stuff, but that's just his style.

"Damn dude, I never thought you'd have that kind of mental issues, if you know what I mean. To wake up screaming in the morning thanks to a shitty nightmare-slash-memory of your past must not have been fun, and that wasn't even the first time? What'd Cait have to say?"

"Thankfully, she understood right as I told her. I really don't deserve her."

"Funny, she must say the exact same thing about you. Sort of an odd question though, if you keep having those nightmares, why do you keep that knife with you at all times? Don't you think it may be a part as to why you keep having the nightmares?"

Nick didn't think Hancock noticed the knife on his belt. He kept the knife as a reminder of both his failure to see the ambush, and as a reminder of the friends of his that day. "I keep the knife because it means something to me. It's very personal."

"No, no, no." Hancock got up from the couch and walked over to stand beside Nick, who was admiring Hancock's new additions. "Look, you and Mac are my best friends. I don't say that lightly. I know that THAT knife means more that just 'something personal'. Tell me."

Nick turns to face Hancock, looking down on him slightly being a bit taller than the ghoul. "Alright. You want to know why I keep the knife, Hancock?"

"Well, yea. That's why I asked…"

Nick sighs. "Fine. I keep the knife as a reminder of the FAILURE that I am. I kept the knife as a promise to my dead squad. I kept the knife, knowing full well that my actions caused the deaths of my five best friends before I became a fucking human ice cube! I keep the knife to make sure I don't go doing anymore foolish mistakes that CAUSE the deaths of anymore friends, to remind me of why I did and still do fight the good fight, Hancock. Happy?"

Hancock didn't even flinch when Nick's voice raised. He just looked at his friend as he confided, as he confessed to Hancock one of the darkest parts of mind. A part where only one other person has been. Hancock lifted his hand and placed it on Nick's shoulder and looked him dead in the eyes.

"I appreciate you telling me this, Nick. I really do. Now what say you we forget about this and go on a nice little trip?"

"I can't. I promised Cait that I'd only trip with you once every three months."

"Well how long has it been since we last got high?"

"Month and a half…"

"Damn. You sure you don't want to? Just kidding! How about instead we go and- "

Before Hancock could finish his suggestion, one of the Neighborhood Watch entered the State House, interrupting the Mayor. He stepped over the dead body and walked over to where the two men are standing, and was about to say something, but Hancock silenced him quickly with a question: "What did I tell you Watchmen about knocking when I have company?"

"Sorry Mayor Hancock, you told us to knock, but Lady Magnolia request Mr. Whitaker in her room, as soon as possible." The Watchman begins to look more worried as Hancock places his left hand on the Watchman's shoulder.

"Did she say anything about any other guests that may or may not arrive with Mr. Whitaker?"

Hancock takes a step closer with his question, and the Watchman starts to shake a little with his answer. "No, sir. She only requested that she stop by as soon as possible…"

Hancock looks over to Nick, who has an entertained look on his face. "Wait, did you say, 'requested that she stop by as soon as possible'?"

Nick and Hancock share a quick chuckle as the Watchman recoils a bit due to the embarrassment. "I'm sorry, sir! I have a habit of messing up my words when I get nervous."

Hancock takes his hand from this man's shoulder, chuckling a little to himself. "I'm making you nervous? Why didn't you just say so? Say, Nick. You want to head over to the Rexford?"

Nick returns his eyes to Hancock, with a concerned look in them. "Absolutely. But I wonder why she request specifically me there. Oh, I bet that Cait's there with her, and she wants to talk."

"Sounds good, my man." Hancock looks over to the Watchman that is still frozen by the displays. "Oh, and can you please take care of this mess? Thanks!"

Nick and Hancock head out on to the streets of Goodneighbor and make their way to the Hotel Rexford. Nick looks up at the hotel's neon writing, surprised that it still works after all these years. In front of the hotel are several drifters making dinner for themselves. As Mayor Hancock walks by, the all greet him, and he reciprocates. They enter the front doors, and Hancock inhales deeply letting the stale air of the Rexford fill his lungs.

"Man. It is damn good to be mayor." He walks over to the front desk and places his hands on the top, trying to get the lady's attention. She looks up from her books, and a big smile spreads across her face, and reaches across the desk to shake his hand.

"Mayor Hancock! How are you doing today? To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Hancock returns the smile and shakes her hand. "Ah, Miss Clair! I'm doing just fine, just fine, thank you for asking. Me and my friend are here because Magnolia needs to see him. Would you be able to tell us what room she's in?"

"Of course! She resides in room two zero si- no wait sorry two zero seven! Two zero seven. Have a good one, Mayor Hancock!"

"You're a saint, Miss Clair." Nick and Hancock make their way to Magnolia's room, debating on what they'd find when they get there, from the obscenely dark scenarios to the more lighthearted and easy-going scenarios. When they got to the room, Nick knocked and said he was here. Magnolia's voice rang from within, telling him to enter.

"I'm here Magnolia. Whatcha needin'?" Nick says, half focusing on Magnolia, half looking for signs of Cait.

"Oh sugar, I didn't expect you to bring company, but doesn't matter to me. All I want is you." He noticed that she was wearing her blue dress that was littered with sequins and sparkles, all the while she sauntered over to him. "You know, ever since that first night you came into The Third Rail, I couldn't get you out of my head. I needed to have you, all to myself."

"While Hancock's here? Isn't that a bit weird?" Nick's focus was purely on Magnolia now, with his mind completely confused about the situation. Why wait until now to make a move when she knows that He and Cait are an item.

"I know Hancock won't mind watching." Magnolia kept getting closer, making Nick more and more uncomfortable.

Hancock's face contorted into a weird smile. "She's right, man. I don't mind watching, you feel?"

"I really don't want to! This can't be why you sent the messenger to get me up here, is it?" Nick said while shaking his head.

Magnolia circles around Nick, tracing her right index finger along his shoulders. "Why else would I call you up here, darling? Do you think something more nefarious is going?"

"That's a big word for this kind of situation, in my opinion. This can't be real."

She stops an inch from his face. He could feel her breath against his skin. It smelt strangely like Sugar Bombs. "You know, you're right. This can't be real."

The familiar Irish accent came from behind the counter in Magnolia's room. Cait popped her head up from where she was hiding, and slowly walked over to where Nick was standing.

"Cait, what is going on? Why was Magnolia hitting on me?"

Cait stood a foot in front of Nick, trying to figure out a way of saying what she wanted to say without sounding like a babbling idiot while also trying not to cry at the same time.

"Ever since you helped me back in Vault 95, I knew there was something about you that wasn't anyone else I had shacked up with. You were kind to me, without expecting anything in return. You showed me it was okay to show weakness. I know you're always be there for me, and you know I will always be there for you, no matter what happens. Goddamnit, I'm making this to emotional."

Cait has to stop for a second, as Nick catches the tears from falling down her face. "You're doing a fine job. Keep going." He reassures her.

Trying to finish what she is saying with a broken voice, she continues: "What I'm trying to say, is that you make me feel. You make me feel all these emotions I never thought I deserved. So, I thought that maybe be more than, you know…" She cuts herself off and gets down on one knee and pulls the rings out of her pocket.

Nick raises his right hand to his face to stop the tears from rolling down his face.

"That maybe, if you would… Will you marry me, Nick Whitaker?"

Nick gestures his right hand over to where Magnolia and Hancock are standing. "Magnolia did have an interesting offer, come to think of it…" He chuckled as Cait punched his stomach. She stood up and he pulled her face in for a kiss.

Five seconds in, he pulls away, resting his forehead on hers. "Yes, I will marry you."