What I've Lost.
Nate sat in the living room he'd once shared with his family, an almost empty bottle of whiskey resting on the floor beside him. He found himself listening to the end of the holotape she'd left for him over and over again. "We love you!" She said over and over, and each time he'd whisper back.
"I love you too..." His voice broke slightly as his voice worked past the lump in his throat.
It'd been just over a month since he'd woken up from his cryosleep, and he'd traveled all the way to Diamond City and became the leader of his own militia. But he was no closer to finding Shaun and finding the son of a bitch that killed his wife. His wife's voice echoed in his head as it had every day since he woke up, and his heart ached for her more each time.
He could practically hear the Vault calling out to him. Nora calling out to him.
"Human needs sleep makes better fighter." The familiar voice of Strong came from the sleeping mat on the floor next to him. The super mutant had quickly become one of his closest allies and, dare he say, his friend after he'd freed him from Trinity tower.
Nate smiled at the mutant and set the whiskey bottle down as he could see the sun coming up in the distance. He hadn't gone back to Vault 111 and hadn't planned to, but he longed to say his goodbyes to Nora. "There's something I need to do, Strong." The Sole Survivor finally made up his mind and stood on his shaky legs.
Strong followed him out of the town and into the dimly lit forest and up the trail to the Vault without question. They stood on the giant steel elevator as it descended and Nate's heart was practically pounding out of his chest, and all the feelings he repressed suddenly came rushing back. A tidal wave of sadness, loss, and anger washed over him.
Caught up in the whirlwind of emotions, the descent into the vault scarcely registered until he found himself standing in front of her Cryogenic chamber.
"Nora..." The name came out of his mouth without his consent. He fought back tears as his heart jumped into his throat. She was cold and lifeless but still every bit as beautiful as the day he met her. Her pale skin was covered in a thin layer of ice, and her brown hair was frozen to the Vault 111 jumpsuit.
"Oh, Christ..." He broke down and dropped the rifle he had slung over his shoulder to the ground and collapsed to his knees. "I'm sorry," He choked out. "I'm so fucking sorry." Nate gathered his thoughts and forced his eyes up to her, tears still streaming down his face. "I miss you more than I could ever hope to explain; I know you'd want me to keep living and fighting." He paused. "But so much of me is lost in you, and I can't move on." Nate hadn't believed in God since he was a boy, but he found himself praying that she could hear him. That she forgave him.
"Who that?" Strong questioned as he peered into the Cryo Pod.
"That's my-" He stopped mid-sentence, taking a deep, ragged breath. "That's my wife, Strong." Nate knew no matter how much time passed, he'd never refer to her past tense.
"W-wife?" Strong scratched his head.
Nate sighed, lacking the emotional energy to explain a wife to the super mutant. "She was my best friend, my partner, my-" He paused, looking over at a still, very confused Strong. "She was the human I chose to share my life with. Good, bad, victory, and defeat," Strong seemed to understand that at least.
"Like brothers." Strong made the connection in his own way.
Nate chuckled. "I suppose so, yeah." And then suddenly, there was a massive hand on his shoulder.
His eyes came up to Strong, who was looking down at him. "When we find puny human that kill wife, Strong smash." It was surprisingly reassuring, and Nate couldn't help but smile.
"Thank you, Strong." He wiped the tears from his face and looked at Nora for a long time. Finally, he worked up the courage to open the Cryo Pod; Nate gently worked the golden wedding band off her thin finger. "I love you." He whispered one last time, pressing his lips to the cold skin of the small hand in his before tucking it back to her side.
They exited the vault in the same silence they'd entered, but some of the weight had been lifted off Nate's shoulders. Not all, but some. Sunlight and cold morning air greeted them, and Nate looked at the wedding band. He knew he'd carry that small gold band for the rest of his life, as he would carry Nora in his heart.
"Forever."
Author's note: This is a rewrite of a story I was and still am happy with but I still thought there was more that could be done with it. Hope you enjoyed!