(Welcome to the exciting conclusion of Memoirs of a Wanderer)

Weeks had passed and hundreds of ghouls had come in and left with their effects reversed, many happier then they were before.

But today that didn't matter, today was the day that Charon and I had chosen just for us, for us to spend some time together.

"I'm glad we decided to do this." I said as I watched Charon load his shotgun. "We haven't been able to spend much time together since, that was just for us, since you have been back."

I know, but things had to be done." he said nodding.

"That's true."

"Are you sure you don't mind watching me at the range? I don't have to go."

"I told you I don't mind. But we do have to check on Butch first, make sure hes doing his job."

Charon nodded as we left our room and made our way to the science lab, were Butch worked not so quietly as he cut and styled the hair of the people who once had no hair to cut.

"Well he's working, I guess we can go." I said just as the building started to shake.

Computers fell off desks, Butch dropped his scissors and people scrambled to find a safe place to hide until the shaking stopped.

"What the hell?" Charon hissed as he pushed himself off the wall.

"Earthquake?" I asked, brushing the dust of my dress and Tunnel Snakes jacket.

"I have my doubts, it seemed to fade then get worse."

"Bombs then?"

"That's a strong possibility." Charon nodded. "You okay?"

"Yeah. Lets go check and make sure everyone is okay."

"So much for our day.."

"I know, but we can still have our day after."

He nodded as we hurried to the ground level of the complex, Butch following not far behind. As we got to the door Charon threw it open.

"Holy crap," Butch said.

The disaster that was laid out in front of us was horrible. There were Brotherhood and Enclave soldiers lying dead everywhere as Enclave soldiers stormed through the broken down gates.

Butch grabbed his pistol and started firing at the soldiers who were storming the gates, along side the remaining Brotherhood of Steel soldiers.

It was so much to take in at once that neither Charon or I noticed the sound of the bullets getting closer, until I hissed at the new pain in my shoulder.

"What?" Charon asked, pulling me back inside and closing one door so we had cover.

"My shoulder."

Charon frowned as he unzipped my jacket and pulled it off. "Damn it."

"Well that would do it." I said as warm read liquid ran down my arm from the bullet hole in my shoulder.

"Don't move it." he said, trying to clean and bandage it.

"Ow.."

"Sorry."

The gunshots grew louder and closer to our hiding spot as Charon looked out the window and then back at me.

"Don't go out there." I whispered.

"C'mon.." He said grabbing my good arm and pulling me down the hall.

Charon opened our bedroom door and closing it behind us before he started rummaging in the closet. "Put this on." he said holding out my recon armor.

I nodded and I kicked off my shoes and threw my jacket on the bed.

Charon helped me pull my bad arm out of my dress and helped me put my armor on, as I tied my boots he re-buckled my armor, then when he decided they were fine he grabbed all the ammunition for his shotgun and stuffed as much of it as he could into his pockets.

I grabbed my Lincoln Repeater and did the same, as well as grab additional ammunition for Butch.

"Take this to." Charon said, giving me a Combat Knife.

I nodded as I put the knife in the back pocket of the armor. "Use these. Your aim is better with them then mine." I said passing him all the plasma grenades we had.

"Lets go." Charon said as he opened the door and we hurried down the hall towards the gunfire. But at Charon was about to go out the open door I grabbed his free hand.

"Charon.." I said quietly. "Be careful.. please."

Charon nodded. "You to, I'll be close if you need me."

I nodded as I let go of his hand and readied my weapon.

"Ready?"

"Ready."

Together Charon and I joined the fighting outside. We took cover behind some sand bags and set our sights on the enemy.

"Where the hell is that little shit Butch?" Charon yelled over the gunfire.

"I don't see him!" I yelled back. "Lets move, get a better angle."

Charon grabbed my arm and pulled me towards a different pile of sandbags.

"Butch!" I shrieked, before pulling my arm free from Charon and running towards Butch.

"Emily!" Charon yelled as he followed after me.

"Oh my god, Butch!" I screamed as I covered my mouth.

Butch lay on the ground in front of me, blood covering his face and chest from what looked like stab wounds.

"Oh my god.."

"Emily, what the hell?" Charon asked as he caught up.

"Butch.."

Charon looked at the body that lay in front of us for a moment before pulling me away.

"Rat bastards." I said as tears ran down my face. Butch and I had never been great friends but we were close enough to travel together, and close enough for me to be sad about his death.

Charon pulled me close as we ducked behind a makeshift shelter. "Emily.. there is nothing we can do for him now except save these people."

I nodded as I looked at him. "Your hurt!" I said as my eyes were drawn to his bleeding hand.

"Its fine, lets just save these people. Just keep yourself together." he said rubbing my cheek.

"Okay." I said as we turned and looked over the shelter and started firing at the Enclave soldiers.

After what seemed like hours had passed the shooting slowed and finally stopped, giving us all a break.

I looked at Charon as we fully reloaded our weapons, unsure when the shooting would start again. "Hows your hand?" I asked.

"Sore." he said clenching and releasing it. "Your shoulder?"

"Tender."

We sat in silence for a moment before looking over the broken metal of out shelter.

"There are still a few soldiers out there." Charon said.

"Nice to know we aren't alone." I said, just before noticing the three Deathclaw coming through the gate. "Shit... Enclave controlled Deathclaw.."

"Aim for the head." Charon said.

"Remember last time?" I asked.

"Last time we got away fine. The time before that you were with Butch. We will get out of this fine."

I nodded as we took aim and fired at the three Deathclaw.

The first two Deathclaw were easy to take down, but the third one was bouncing around like a pre-war toy on speed. First it took down the few surviving recruits, then one of the last paladins before finding its way to Charon and I. Just as quickly as it found us it swung its arms to lash out at Charon.

Charon covered his face with his arm to protect himself, and like a hot knife through cram the Deathclaws claws tore into Charons arm, making him hiss in pain.

I swallowed my fear of the Deathclaw and shot it with the bullet that would finally bring it down.

Charon hugged his wounded arm close to his body as he continued to hiss in pain.

"Shit! Charon." I said dropping my Repeater and grabbing the bandages in my side pouch. "Give me your arm."

For a split second he hesitated before releasing his arm.

Carefully I unbuckled what was left of the armor on his arm and wrapped a bandage from the gunshot in his hand to just above the torn flesh from the Deathclaw. I was so immersed in caring for Charon that I didn't hear the gunshot that took down our last surviving paladin, not until there were Enclave soldiers surrounding us and our tiny shelter.

"Emily.." Charon said quietly as he laid his shotgun down.

"I know." I said looking at him. "We are done."

He nodded simply.

"I never thought it would end like this."

"I know."

I looked in Charons eyes and I could see his disappointment and sadness in how this was going to end. "I'm sorry I brought you into this." I said frowning.

Charon held my hands tight. "Don't be, you saved me and a lot of people, don't doubt that."

I smiled, someone how he always knew what to say.

"That's what I like to see." He said smiling as the Enclave soldiers around us readied their weapons.

"We will be together again, somewhere where we wont have to fight to stay alive." He said as he wrapped his arms around me in a tight hug. "Were we can be happy."

I hugged him back, refusing to let go. "That's cheesy, but I would like that."

"Emily.."

"I know Charon.." I said quietly. I didn't have to look at Charon to know what he was feeling now, he felt the same as I did. Even thought this was out end at least we had each other, and it made it okay. I pressed my lips against his bottom lip and he did the same, our way of saying 'I love you, see you soon.'.

And as quickly as it came, the pain was starting to go and both Charon and I drifted to our world were we could be together without fighting to stay alive. Were we could be happy.

The End.