-May 18, 2262-

James walked down the vault's hall with either hand in his twins'. Carter hopped along with his free hand in his mouth.

"Carter, take your hand out of your mouth please."

"Okay Daddy."

"Daddy?" James looked down at Korin, whose face was twisted into a pout.

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Where're we going?"

"We're goin' to see Amata, silly!" Carter jumped again and James sighed when he saw Carter's hand had found its way back into his mouth.

"Your brother's right, Korin." He turned to Carter. "Take your hand out of your mouth." Carter did. James sighed again. It was times like these that really tested his patience. One five year old was already tough, but two? Nearly impossible.

It was also times like these that he reminded himself that nothing is impossible. A smile came to his face as he thought of Catherine saying, "it's even in the name. I'm possible."

James stopped in front of the Overseer's door and rang the bell.

The door opened, and the Overseer stood holding his daughter on the other side.

"Hello Overseer Almodovar." James smiled at the girl he held, who started to squirm when she saw the twins. "Hello Amata. Ready to come over to play?"

"Yes!" She smiled and put a hand in the air. James chuckled.

"I want her back by 5." Almodovar spoke coldly as he set his daughter on the ground.

"Yes, Overseer." James' smile faded a little.

Amata ran to the twins and gave them each a big hug.

"C'mon Korn, let's go!" Carter hopped up and down in place.

"Race ya!" Amata giggled as she took off. Korin and Carter ran after her, and James jogged after the three of them, the smile returning.

Once they made it home, the twins and Amata managed to find some toys and start playing in the living room. James picked up a magazine off the table by the door and thumbed through it while they did.

He didn't look up until he heard the sound of glass breaking. He dropped the magazine and looked at the kids. Carter was standing and he looked a little pale. All three were staring at something. James followed their gazes and saw the frame containing his and Catherine's favorite quote. The glass had cracked, and a toy horse lay beside it. James took a deep breath and tried not to get angry.

"Carter…" Carter winced.

"Daddy, I didn't-"

"What have I said about throwing things inside?" Carter looked at his feet.

"Don't."

"Exactly. Do you see why I told you that?" Carter nodded quickly. James stood up and walked over to the frame. Who knew if he'd be able to find another one… He sighed.

"Don't throw things inside again, please." He picked up the piece of glass that fell out and popped it back in, and took the frame to his room. He'd have to figure out something later.

Carter went back to playing with the girls, and James picked up his magazine again. He groaned when he realized he'd lost his place, and thumbed through the pages to find it again.

-November 2, 2266-

James stood in front of Freddie Gomez as she shined a light in his eyes.

"How're you feeling today?"

The boy just shrugged, and avoided his eyes. As far as James could tell, there wasn't anything physically wrong with Freddie, and the boy wasn't talking. There was nothing more he could do in the time allotted.

"Okay, then. You look just fine. But I'm going to set you up an appointment this weekend so we can talk, alright? Just a talk, and no needles, I promise. Here's a card for your Dad, as a reminder. Run along to class, now." Freddie nodded and hopped down from the table. He ran out without another word.

James sighed.

"Doctor Autry?" The intercom on the far wall buzzed to life, cutting through the silence and startling James. He walked over to it.

"Yes?"

"Mr. Brotch here. I need you to come down to the classroom immediately. There's a situation, involving one of your children and Butch DeLoria." James' heart leaped into his throat.

"On my way." He rushed out of the clinic straight to the classroom.

"God, Carter, what have you done now?" He whispered under his breath as he walked.

Outside the classroom, Edwin Brotch stood with three children. The rest of the classroom appeared empty.

"What's going on, Edwin?" James asked as he came to a stop in front of him.

"Sorry to bother you, James, but Carter and Butch got into a fistfight. I had to break it up." James looked at the two boys. Carter's eye was already starting to swell and turn purple, and Butch was covered in blood, all of it stemming from his nose, under which Butch had the sleeve of his vault suit. The two boys were glaring at each other. If glares were knives… thought James.

James knelt in front of Carter and Korin.

"Run on home, you two. I need to take Butch to the clinic and make sure his nose isn't broken. When you get home, put some ice on that eye." The twins ran around him and down the hall. James turned to Butch. "Come on, kiddo. Let's get a look at that nose, and then I'll walk you home." Butch didn't respond. James stood and started walking back to the clinic, glancing over his shoulder periodically to make sure the boy was still following.

When they got back to the clinic, James helped Butch up onto the examination table.

"Can you move your arm for me?" Butch did, and James saw the sizeable stain and decided Butch would need a new suit.

He examined Butch's nose, which was not bleeding heavily. It wasn't swelling, either. Butch was very lucky Carter didn't break his nose… as was Carter.

"Alright. Your nose isn't broken, but it'll be sore for a while. Don't fuss with it, or it'll start bleeding again." Butch just stared at him with what he could only describe as a glare. James shook it off. "Come on. Time to walk you home."

The silence as they walked was deafening. James definitely got the idea that Butch liked him about as much as he liked Carter.

"How's your mother doing?" He asked casually.

"She's fine."

James avoided small talk for the rest of the walk.

With Butch home and in the 'care' of his mother, James hurried home to his own kids.

When he arrived, he briefly saw Carter with his arm around Korin, consoling her. But as the door opened, both of them shot up to look his way. He walked over and squatted in front of them. He realized now that Korin's eyes were red and bloodshot, like she'd been crying. It was clear he'd missed some crucial piece of information here.

"What in the world happened today? Carter, you nearly broke Butch's nose."

The twins looked at each other and stayed silent.

"And Korin, you're usually the voice of reason, yet you've been silent this whole time." Korin looked away. James sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Come on, you two. What happened?"

After a few minutes of silence, Carter started to look like he was going to burst.

"I should'a broke Butch's nose." He crossed his arms and pouted. James gave him a look.

"Carter, you're grounded."

"But-" Carter started to turn a little red. "Butch made Korin cry!" James looked at Korin. Her eyes were misty again and she sniffled. James turned to his little girl.

"How? What did he say?" Korin started to cry.

"Butch - he said she killed Mom! I was gunna beat him to a pulp but dumb ol' Brotch stopped me."

"He said that?" James looked at Korin. She nodded. He put his arms around her and hugged her tight. He scooted up onto the couch and held her in his lap. "No no no… sweetheart you did no such thing."

"Th-Then…" she struggled to speak through her tears, "what happened?"

James took in a deep breath and braced to discuss his least favorite topic – the death of his wife, Catherine. It still pained him to think about how suddenly she departed, and how quickly he had to leave behind their other baby, Project Purity.

"It's true that your mother died after she gave birth to you. But her death had nothing to do with Korin. Complications with delivering a baby are a lot more common now, than they were before the Great War." The twins were listening to him intently. He kept talking.

"When we decided we wanted to have kids, it took us a couple of years. We tried and tried. We got close, once, but there was a miscarriage. When we learned your mother was pregnant again, we were so happy. She carried you both for nine months. When it was time, we tried the best we could. After you were born, Korin, your mother had a heart attack. It was not your fault, Korin. I promise." James realized as he stopped speaking that he was starting to cry. Korin and Carter both wrapped him in a hug.

"I love you both." He held onto them tightly.

"We love you too, Daddy." Carter said quietly. Korin gripped his lab coat as she continued to cry.

James glanced at his PipBoy.

"Come on, kids." He shifted a little. "Let's go to bed, alright? Tomorrow's be a new day, and I'm sure it will be better." He kissed Korin's temple.

"Okay, Dad." Carter hugged Korin and walked off to his room. James smoothed Korin's loose curls with his hand.

"Remember what I told you, sweetheart. I don't want you to go through life thinking you're at fault." Korin nodded. "And remember, I love you." She smiled and wiped her tears away with the back of her hand.

"I love you too Dad." He kissed her forehead.

"Run along to bed, now." She got up and walked to her room. James stood and walked to his own.

After hearing what Butch had said to Korin, he found it hard not to justify Carter's actions. He laid out on his bed and stared at the ceiling.

James reminded himself of where they were.

Vault 101 was the safest place for the twins, despite recent events. And a little bullying here was survivable… Outside, there were worse dangers. Dangers he'd faced, and he would never want for his children. Here, his children had a chance at life.