Madelyn's heart pounded as she ran from Nate's house to the medbay. She left Robert with Duncan and Shaun, they would follow behind her shortly. Her fiancé needed to explain to Shaun what was about to happen.

Madelyn had only needed the words 'found him' to reach her ears for her to be out the door at a sprint. She didn't care who 'him' was, but she knew what she found would be nothing short of relief. At least he's here now. In whatever state. Whoever it is. They are here now. Safe.

She pushed through the small crowd outside of the house that had been turned into a doctor's office. People grunted and moved when she started swearing and making death threats. She was small, but fuck if she wasn't going to get in there and see who had been found.

Reagan grabbed her and Madelyn nearly punched her friend right in the stomach. "What?!" she spun on the knight. Reagan's brows pulled together and her gaze locked on the smaller woman's curled fists.

"I need you to take a deep breath, okay?" she frowned at her. "It… took four stimpaks, and he's…" her honey eyes were hard, but sympathetic. It was John. They'd found John. Merrin wasn't here because he was an abomination, and Reagan wasn't all that torn up about his state of being because he was a ghoul.

"I need to see him," Madelyn pulled her arm away from her friend and went down the hall to the room that would have been a bedroom back before the war.

The larger of the bedrooms was converted to a recovery space with numerous beds spaced out, while the room across from it had a single bed with machines and equipment lined up on either side. There was Hancock, lying on his back with his eyes closed and his hands at his sides over the blanket that was pulled up to his stomach. His wrists were bruised and bloody, and she swore she could see bone and muscle at some parts. Then she noticed his left ring finger was missing.

He looked horrible. He was withered down to nothing, even more so than he had been before, and his skin had taken on a pale hue. He looked… like a mummy from one of Quinlan's books. She had never seen someone so… disgusting looking.

"You shouldn't be here," the doctor sighed and stepped around her.

"Is… he going to live?" she asked, swallowing.

"I cannot guarantee either way yet," he frowned at her and looked back at Hancock. "He hasn't consumed food or water in at least two weeks, but I would wager longer with the exception of rain water, and he was exposed to the elements. He was bound by the wrists and… his finger crudely removed with a hunting knife." He sighed and returned his gaze to her. "If he would have been human he would have died. The fact he is a ghoul is the only reason that he made it." She came into the room and noticed a golden band on the table beside him.

"Is… that his ring?"

"It was found near his severed finger. It appears whoever took the General was using Hancock as… leverage," he checked the ghouls pulse with a light hand to the man's neck as his wrists were raw. "As long as he's here, I am confident he will make it through this. The worst should be behind him."

"Now we have to find Nate," she said and he nodded. Madelyn stood beside John's bed and stood close, resisting the urge to take his hand. He was breathing, but it was labored. His eyes were closed, but they looked to be darting around. "Will he wake up?"

"It's hard to say," was her reply. "His condition isn't quite stable yet, but it should improve."

Madelyn nodded and bit her lip. "Can… I stay here with him?"

"It's probably not the best idea," the doctor frowned and she nodded.

"I'll come back, then," she leaned down and pressed her lips lightly to the ghoul's temple, feeling how cold and clammy his skin was. It sent a shudder down her spine.

As she was leaving MacCready was arriving with Shaun and Duncan. She allowed Shaun to pass her to go speak with the doctor and heard the boy's protests and disgust at his stepfather's state of being. She looked at Robert who was giving her a sympathetic, but questioning look.

"He's not looking well," she shook her head. "But, doc says he should only get better from here."

"That's good then," Robert breathed and came forward, his arm circling her. She swallowed and let her arms wrap around him. It seemed to be a common position for them: she and Robert holding each other with Duncan in one of their arms. She grinned at the idea of another baby joining this family embrace. Her hand drifted down to her stomach and she let out a shaky breath. "Do you want to go back to the house?" he asked, looking down at her.

"I want Nate to be found," she breathed.

"I know, love. Those Midwest guys are looking, they found Hancock real fast…." His hand on her rubbed her comfortingly. She tired to calm herself, but all she couldn't shake the bad feeling in the back of her mind.

When they exited the medbay and came to stand on the street another hand came to rest on her shoulder and she looked up to see Reagan. "Dire said they had a pretty good idea where the guy that took Nate was going. He had a Brahmin, so it would be easy to track them."

"He told you this when you picked up Hancock?" Madelyn lifted a brow and her friend nodded.

"Yaider and Jupiter were actually the ones to tell me, Dire went on ahead of them to check the trail by the time I got there," she gave a shrug. She trusted them, and that was enough for Madelyn.

The smaller girl nodded, "Thanks, Reagan. It means a lot that they're helping."

"Arthur is pissed, but he can't exactly order them to stop," she smirked. Madelyn nodded. "Merrin… is sorry about what happened to the ghoul, by the way," she added with a more serious look.

"Where is she?"

"With Michael at the bird. They're kind of a thing," Reagan smiled dirtily and Madelyn's brows jumped up.

"Michael and Merrin are… together?" That was the most surprising thing she'd heard in… a while. Merrin and Michael had always been at each other's throats and he always gave her shit for being a virgin and, of course, she shot it back and called him a man-whore. Only when she got mad, though, she was too shy even with her friends to talk to him like that since he outranked them all.

"Oh yeah," Reagan confirmed. "She smacked him with a food tray when he was being an idiot and called out Quinlan's wife and daughter…." She frowned a little then. "Probably not good to call dead people hot in general, but we all know Quinlan is a no zone with Merr." Then the knight shrugged, "I guess Lancer–Captain Kells and Quinlan had to have them apologize in front of Maxson, and on their way out he asked her on a date." Her next shrug told Madelyn she wasn't giving her all the details, but she heard enough to understand now.

"Wow, so she just had to hit him to get him interested?" Madelyn smiled a little.

"Well, I shot you," Robert chuckled, and she glanced up at him with a smile.

Reagan on the other hand gaped. "You did what?"

"When we first met he and Nate accidently shot at each other, both missed and Robert's bullet went through a wall to clip my arm," she explained and stepped away from Robert to turn her shoulder and show her friend the scar on her bicep.

"Y'all are weird," she frowned.

"Hey, you like some crazy shit," Madelyn countered.

"Yeah, in the bedroom, where it stays, not out in everyday life," she shook her head. "Whatever, so you going to show me around? What's there to do in this settlement? Just sitting around and waiting is driving me nuts, at least you can talk to other settlements and keep tabs on everything."

Duncan patted Robert's cheek. "Who's the big lady?"

Reagan lifted her brows. "Big lady?" she stepped forward to get a little closer. Madelyn looked her over, seeing how big she really was. Reagan stood five feet ten inches with thick bones that had ropes of muscles thickening her form. She wasn't overwhelming, but she was an intimidating person if you didn't know her well. "My name's Reagan," she informed Duncan.

"Rea–gan," he pronounced carefully. "I'm Duncan."

"Yeah," she smiled and him and ran her fingers through his auburn hair. Robert smiled between them and then looked down at Madelyn.

"Would you like to show Reagan the playground?" she asked the boy who smiled so wide his dimples pressed into his cheeks.

"Yeah!" he reached for the knight who took him immediately.

"Come on, kid," she sat him down on his feet and took his hand, having to bend some like Robert did.

"She's always been good with kids," Madelyn promised when seeing her sniper's eyes locked on the two.

"They have a lot of kids in the Brotherhood then?" he glanced back at her.

"Yeah, a lot of kids are born into it," she gestured to the knight. "Reagan's parents were a Lancer–Captain and Senior Scribe."

"'Were'?" he frowned.

"Her… mom's still around, but her dad was killed in action a couple years ago. Right before the Prydwen shipped out, actually," she swallowed. "She lost her father and Danse in the same month," Madelyn frowned and met Robert's sympathetic blue eyes. "She's strong, I don't think I've ever seen anything beat Reagan Knight."

He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and guided her toward Nate's house. When they got there Dogmeat welcomed them and they sat together on one of the General's couches, listening to the music from the radio on the table.

"I hope they find him," Madelyn whispered.

"They will," he promised and she nodded. "I just wish I was out there, I feel like I should be helping more." When she looked at him she saw his brows tugged together and tight lips turned down.

"Preston said it'd be better to have you here, incase the people taking the settlers are seen, or show up here…."

The poor Minuteman hated being in charge, she could see it in the orders he gave. He didn't want this, it was why Nate was General and not him, but he was good at delegating tasks and keeping people motivated.

There was a knock on the door, and Robert got up, leaving Madelyn with Dogmeat on the couch. She pet the dog and watched as the sniper opened the door and chuckled. "Speak of the devil. How're you, Preston?"

"I'm… fine," the young man sighed. "I… came to talk to you and Madelyn," he looked passed him to see her. "If I may?" he waved to ask for entry.

"Of course," Robert sidestepped to let him in.

The coffee skinned Minuteman came in and stood in the center of the living room, looking a bit uncomfortable as he held his hat. Madelyn hadn't seen him that much, but he'd always worn his hat, so seeing him without it now was… odd.

"What can we do for you, Preston?" Madelyn asked, feeling awkward since he and Robert were standing, leaving her as the only one sitting.

"With Nate gone… we are missing a key piece in our chain of command," he started, looking between the two of them. "I… can't step up to be General, it…" he shook his head. "I never wanted that, and I can't bring myself to do it now."

"What're you getting at, Preston?" Robert asked.

"I came to ask if one of you would step up," he looked between them. "Madelyn, I know you've just been discharged from the Brotherhood, so I understand if it's something that doesn't appeal to you right now, I also understand if the opposite's true. But I'm offering the position to either of you, at least until Nate returns. But we don't… know in what condition he'll be found, so this may or may not be permanent," he added and Madelyn bit her lip, looking up at Robert.

"We'll… have to think about it," the sniper said, his brows knitting together.

"Of course," the Minuteman nodded. "I understand completely. I haven't offered the position to anyone else, so… just let me know." He put the hat back on his head and nodded to them. "I'll be on patrol."

Robert walked him out and stood beside the door, thinking.

"I… don't know how I feel about this," Madelyn said honestly. Robert nodded and came back over, stopping in front of her. "I feel like it's giving up on Nate."

"It's not giving up on him, he held an important position and he's not here to do his job. Someone has to."

"So you will?" she asked, the center of her brows arching up.

He frowned then and rubbed at the back of his neck. "I don't really like the idea of a bunch of people coming and asking me what to do."

"Me then," she blinked and he met her eyes.

"You don't have to, love," he sat down beside her and took her hand. "No one will make you. But I think it would be… good for you. You grew up in the Brotherhood, so you have the skills, and the know-how."

"I'm… so young," she breathed and her brows pulled together.

"It's only until we find Nate." He pressed forehead to hers, knocking the bills of their hats together. "You were going to be a knight, and they're in charge of people, aren't they?"

"Not really, I mean," she bit her lip. "They're just higher ranking, it doesn't really mean they have authority over anyone."

"I still think you'd be good at it," he added and she let out a sigh. "You aren't going to be doing it alone. And there's no rush."

She rubbed her face and sighed. "I need to sleep on it."

"All right," he squeezed her shoulders and kissed her cheek. "No matter what you decide, I'll support you."

Madelyn grinned and met his gaze. "That means a lot."

"We're getting married, we have to support each other." Her heart leapt. Knowing it and hearing him say it were two very different feelings.

"Are you wanting to have a wedding?"

"Are you?"

"In the Brotherhood we normally do," she shrugged. "We don't have to."

"Do you want to?" he gave her a meaningful gaze.

"I always thought I would," she confessed. "But, what girl hasn't? I'm pretty sure even Reagan's planned her wedding." He chuckled and pulled her into his lap.

"So tell me about how you imagined your wedding," he smiled at her. Madelyn shifted on his legs and rested her hands on his shoulders.

"Well…"

Madelyn woke up on Nate's couch to the sound of the door knocking. Dogmeat stood up and growled and Robert stirred before standing. "I'll get it," he whispered, giving her a kiss as he stood up. Reagan had brought in Duncan and he was asleep on the couch beside her, and didn't wake now. Madelyn ran her fingers through his hair.

Robert opened the door and Madelyn looked up to see Preston standing with his hat in his hand and Dangerfield behind him. Immediately, she stood and rested Duncan down into the couch. "Nate…?" she whispered, coming to the door.

"Dangerfield found where he was being held, at least the base where the people who took him are holding out. There's no way to know for sure what Nate's status is without going in," he frowned and Madelyn looked at the Inquisitor.

"Where is it?"

"An old Quarry, west of the Commonwealth," he answered, his brows furrowing. "It will be very, very hard to get men in there. They are dug in deep, and they have many defenses."

"You saw them?"

"They are a cannibalistic people, and they treat their prey –your settlers– like livestock," he looked disgusted, an expression that twisted his handsome face. "The sooner we get in there the more likely we will find the Sentinel alive. Though, I admit, it is highly unlikely that he is without damage, if he still breathes."

"Then what're we waiting for?" Madelyn felt her heart pounding.

"We need to rally the Minutemen behind a General and the Brotherhood needs to assemble their forces," Preston answered her.

"I'll do it, I'll be General, just… get me to Nate," she breathed and felt her jaw tighten.

Preston's gaze softened and he nodded. "Good… good," he breathed. "I'll get what men I can to assemble here. And Dangerfield's men have already taken a vertibird to the Prydwen to tell Maxson. They've suggested all troops rally at Sunshine Tidings before we head west. Once we have our numbers, we'll meet them."

"How long will this take?" Madelyn's brows tugged together.

"Four days."

"Make it three," she gritted her teeth and he nodded his understanding. "I want Nate back here on that fourth day. Home, and well."

"Yes, General."

She nodded and watched them leave. Robert turned to her and she looked up at him. "I knew you could do it," he said.

"I haven't done anything," she protested.

"You just gave your first order, and it was a damn good one, love," he tilted his head at her. "Should get some more sleep before we head out in the morning. We have some friends to get together."

"All right," she breathed and they went to Nate's bed after checking on Duncan on the couch.

A warm hand slid up Madelyn's thigh, and she stirred, arching her back as the fingers of said hand started to prod her. Her eyes flickered open only long enough to confirm it was Robert in the hazy morning light that seeped in through the cracks of the house. When her vision was darkened again, she grinned and ground herself against his touch, feeling her cheeks grow warm.

"What'd you think you're doing?" she groaned, her voice thick with sleep.

"Waking up my fiancé in the best way I can think to," came her answer, sending up cool shudders when his hot breath washed over her thigh. "She's got a long day ahead of her and I wanted to make sure she started it off good."

Her heart fluttered at the name and she bit her lip. His fingers ran over her slit and brushed her nub, shooting hot waves of pleasure through her bones. "Mmm, this is nice…"

"It's about to get better," he promised, his mouth coming down to her sex as he held her underwear out of his way. A moan slipped out from between her lips when he got her just where she liked and she twitched, her legs rubbing against him. She wasn't used to being touched like this, and he knew that, but it made her that much more cute in his eyes. "Have to stay quiet, Duncan's sleeping in the next room."

"Okay," she breathed and he pulled her panties off her.

This time when his mouth came down on her she had to pull the pillow out from under her head and press it into her face to keep the sound from growing too loud. Robert's tongue and fingers worked her, and she even in her state of inexperience, was driven wild. She didn't know if what he was doing was amateur or expert, but it was just right, and he drove her right into her release, causing her to arch her back and wrap her legs around him, holding him close.

He chuckled and kissed up her body, pulling the pillow away so that he could reach her lips. "There's that beautiful face," he smiled and she flushed.

"What now?" She felt him rub against her.

"If you'd like," he whispered, his arms around her, holding them together. He lied over her, between her legs with his arms under her, holding her shoulders and supporting himself. Her knees rested on his hips, and she whimpered a little when he ground against her again.

"Yes, please," she nearly begged and he smiled.

"It shouldn't hurt that much this time, if at all," he whispered and bent to kiss her. Madelyn raked her fingers across his back and groaned into his mouth. He rolled his hips so that his length ran along her clit, then drug back, leaving the head right above her soaked opening.

"Mmm, Robert…" she whispered and kissed him. He smiled and sucked on her lip.

Another roll and her clit sent hot shocks up her spine, causing her brain to grow fuzzy.

"Rob…"

His back arched and she felt his head part her lips. His mouth pulled from hers just enough that he could see her eyes as he slowly filled her up, pushing into her until he was in to his base. Her face contorted with pleasure, and she fought the urge to groan. And when he started to rock back and forth, withdrawing and thrusting with a perfect pattern, she fought the urge to scream her excitement.

His name fell from her lips as she arched her back in his touch. This made him smile, and he kissed her over and over, rewarding her with light nips and sucks to her exposed throat.

"Oh, Robert," she cried into his shoulder, bending to mute her pleasure against his skin.

He chuckled, "Mmm, Madelyn." He locked his fingers in her hair and she smiled when he tugged on it so that he could get to her throat again. He groaned as he moved, picking up now that he was getting close.

She arched her back and clamped down around him. It caught him off guard and he paused, his eyes rolling back causing her to giggle.

"Christ, Madelyn," he kissed her and rolled his hips, meeting his end with a lusting groan into her neck. He didn't pull out; instead, he came deep inside, and held her lovingly. "Normally this is how you make a baby," he breathed, and she smiled at him, meeting his blue eyes. "I should have been more careful last time."

"I'm not upset," she promised and touched his face, her thumb brushing over his lower lip. "I imagined it… happening differently, but I am happy all the same."

He nodded and kissed her. "Let's get cleaned up, we need to get ready for the day." Madelyn nodded and got out of the bed.

The next couple of days were a blur. How Nate had managed to handle being Sentinel and General was beyond Madelyn, she could barely keep straight all the duties she had here with the militiamen. More than once she ran off to a closet and hid herself so she could take a few deep breaths before she punched someone –namely Preston– and got herself in trouble. The last thing she needed was to be told she couldn't be General right after she'd accepted it.

Preston was helpful, but the man somehow always looked like he was… doing nothing. Like, he was doing stuff, but… not. Madelyn was about to bring it up when Robert brought Duncan to see her before he went to childcare. He was training snipers, and she was busy with an old woman by the name of Ronnie Shaw who was giving her advice over a radio since she couldn't come to the settlement –she didn't want to leave the Castle without a high ranked official.

"Hey there, precious," she smiled and scooped up the boy. Duncan wrapped his arms around her neck and she kissed him over and over. He was the perfect comfort for the mood she was being dragged into.

"How're things looking?"

"Well, I just got a complaint from Trashcan Carla that Lancer-Sergeant Glass tipped her Brahmin last night…"

"Wait, the pilot tips Brahmin?" MacCready's brows shot up.

The smallest smile pulled at her lips, but her brows furrowed. "With his vertibird."

"Oh my God, you mean to tell me that the Brotherhood go Brahmin tipping in their vertibirds?" his eyes bugged.

"Yes," Madelyn sighed and closed her eyes. "As funny as it is, now that I'm… in charge of the people who are getting their Brahmins tipped, I'm a bit pissed. She said some of her stock was ruined."

"She's being dramatic," he waved a hand dismissively. "Man you should have told me about the Brahmin tipping sooner… I may have actually joined up." He chuckled and shook his head. "Come on, pup, Maddy and I got work we need to do," he came forward and took his boy. She gave him another kiss and then looked at Robert expectantly. He grinned and bent to brush their lips together.

"I'll be home late," she frowned and he nodded his understanding.

Madelyn continued talking with Ronnie Shaw on their low-end channel, only strong radios were able to catch onto, coming to the conclusion that the Brotherhood should lead the charge as they had power armor and birds. The Minutemen would do better to follow in behind the suits and strike from a distance. Madelyn didn't know what Arthur would think of the plan; she needed to get in contact with him.

The best way to do that would be to go to the Primair and use its radio. She kicked back in her chair and rested her feet on the desk beside the radio. Her eyes were heavy. Tomorrow would be the third day, and they would be heading out, as long as she could clear her plan with Arthur and get the Brotherhood to line up with them. Then they would head out to Sunshine Tidings and meet the soldiers holding out there. Madelyn touched her forehead and swallowed against the emotion rising in her throat.

The last month had been filled with running around, and she had tried to keep her mind focused on things that weren't worrying about Nate and Hancock. It gave her a false calm. Under it all she was worrying herself sick, and she knew that wasn't good for the baby growing inside her. Her time on the Prydwen, the three weeks… three weeks she'd just sat around and let Arthur handle it. Each day it got harder. She thought he would find him in a day. She should have known better.

They hadn't been looking for Hancock, they probably saw and left him.

That was like a shot to the heart, and Madelyn touched her chest. Hancock was a great man, and the Brotherhood had…. She shook her head, they'd ended up saving him, that was what was important.

Madelyn stood up and left the radio room to visit Hancock.

The ghoul was starting to stabilize. She stood beside him and took his wrinkled hand in hers, feeling his warm skin. He must be feeling better now that he wasn't cold and clammy. Lightly, she ran her fingers over his forehead.

In the dim lighting, she barely noticed his eyes peek open. "Hey there, squirt," he rasped and Madelyn's heart stopped.

"Oh, you're awake," she breathed and bent to hug him, then thought better of it and simply rested her head against his shoulder.

"Yeah," he breathed, his voice thick and broken. "Been awake for a little while. Just didn't feel like tellin' anyone," he tried to chuckle and ended up coughing.

"Shh," she smiled at him and let a few tears fall down onto her cheeks.

"You guys find Nate yet?" he breathed and her smile faded, giving him his answer. Hancock bit his lip and nodded, tears filling his eyes and Madelyn's heart broke. She never imagined the look the ghoul made, and it was the saddest thing she could have witnessed. Sorrow and heartbreak filled his features and he closed his eyes, but it pushed the tears down his cheeks. "He–He'll be all right," he whispered so softly she couldn't be sure it was actually what he said.

"We have the best people possible looking for him. We know where they took him, but we…" she cleared her throat and squeezed his hand in both of hers. "They're in a quarry, and we need to get down into it. The Minutemen and the Brotherhood are working together to get to him."

He nodded and looked at her. "I want to come."

"You're not well," she protested.

"Maddy," he narrowed his brows at her and she knew she wouldn't be able to stop him without tying him down. "I don't need to fight, I just… need to be there, for when we find him. No… matter how… we find him," he added, the tears falling freely now. He swallowed against something thick in his throat and he squeezed his eyes closed, tight and his jaw clenched.

"We'll find him alive," Madelyn promised.

"Yeah," he breathed and they were quiet for a long time. "I don't know what I'd do without him, Maddy."

"You have me," she whispered. "And Shaun," she added and wiped the salt water from his cheeks. "You have family. But we'll find him, and we'll bring him home."

Hancock shook his head slightly and let out a long breath. "The people who took him eat people, Maddy. They…" he frowned and she waited, letting him speak. "The one, Rick, he's the same one that took Nate that talked to you. We should have known, but…" Hancock shook his head. "There was something about him, something… affecting us. I think he was using a chemical of some sort, because when he wasn't close to me I didn't feel it, but…" he was struggling to explain, his face twisting in frustration. "When he got close to me I only wanted to listen to him and do what he said, but when he backed off he was any other punk I deal with in Goodneighbor."

"That's really helpful, John," she whispered and smiled at him. He looked at her when she used that name.

"I love him, Maddy, more than my own life," he told her and she nodded her understanding.

"I know, and I know he feels the same," she said and held his hand tighter. He looked at the contact and smiled at her.

"We love you too, like you're ours," he added and gave her a weak squeeze back. "Just like we love Shaun."

This brought tears to her eyes and she let out a small laugh and smiled widely at him. "I love you both too," she said and licked the tears that land on her lips.

"We have to be prepared for the worst," he breathed and she nodded. "Otherwise it'll destroy us. At least if we prepare for it, we can work through it," he brought her hand to his lips and gave her a soft kiss. "I need to rest. When are we heading out?"

"Tomorrow," she answered and he nodded.

"I'll be ready," he promised and she stood.

"We have a lot to talk about," she smiled and bent to kiss his forehead.

He nodded and gave her a grieving smile. "Tell me tomorrow on our way out."

"Okay, I'll swing back by in the morning when we get ready to leave."

"All right," he sighed and closed his eyes, settling back into the bed and Madelyn left him, a heavy weight on her shoulders.

She couldn't let him come, the trip could kill him in the state he was in, even if he didn't plan on fighting. Of course he could sit with the wounded, as they were going to have many, she was sure, but…

Madelyn made her way to Michael's Vertibird out by the Red Rocket Station, warring with herself. What if something happened to him? Nate would be so hurt. But what if Nate… and then Hancock never got to see him again?

It was too much for her to decide on her own, she would have to talk to Robert about it and see what he thought, and Preston for that matter.

"Hey there, Mads, what'd I do to earn a visit from the General of the Minutemen?" Michael crowed as she approached. He was given in a sleeping bag to spend his nights in under the cover of the garage in the Red Rocket Station. Merrin, Reagan, Dangerfield, and his knights were given the same as none of them wanted to be too far from the bird and the Bunkhouse was inside of the settlement. If something were to happen they wanted to be outside of the concrete walls. She understood, but seeing her friends sleeping on the hard concrete ground rather than in a bed made her frown.

"I need to talk to Elder Maxson," she said, deciding to sound a little more official since Michael no longer was her superior. "And I need to inform him of your tipping of one of my trader's Brahmin."

"What?" he blinked at her. "You're going to rat me out? Really, Mads?"

"That's General Dangerfield, Lancer-Sergeant Glass," she corrected him and her brows frowned.

"Fuck me…" he breathed and she narrowed her eyes.

"I need to use your radio," she gestured to the bird and he sighed, annoyed, but nodded and wiped his face clean now so as to give her the respect she now demanded. "Thank you," she said when he got her connected to the Prydwen and he stepped back.

"Of course, General," he placed his fist over his chest and snapped his legs together, bowing his head slightly. "If you need anything else, just call."

When he was gone she made contact with the Command Centre of the blimp. When she confirmed who she was and requested the Elder, she was told to wait while he was fetched. It was probably twenty-two hundred hours, so he would be awake, but in his quarters handling more sensitive issues and emails. But she knew he'd come if they told him it was her.

It only took four minutes, and he was on the radio.

"General Dangerfield?"

"Elder," she breathed and smiled. "I have to discuss some strategy with you. I've spoken to my second and third, and we have come to the decision if you're willing to hear us out?"

"Of course," he sounded like he was either tired or relieved. "Whenever you're ready. The line is secure, no outside sources can catch it."

"I know," she said before she could stop herself. There was a chuckle on the other side that warmed her and she relaxed. "I miss you," she said and sighed.

"I miss you, too, puppy chow," he said quietly and she closed her eyes resisting the laugh that was fighting its way up her throat.

"Since you're more heavily armed that we and better armored, but we have an advantage at long distance, we've come to the conclusion Brotherhood forces should take point. Minutemen will back them up form around the top of the quarry and follow in behind to give support." She sat down in the pilot's seat and waited for his thoughts.

There was a long pause and she worried the plan may sound like she was trying to throw Brotherhood in front as fodder. If she hadn't just left their services on such good terms, she would have to worry about being accused of that, but Arthur knew her better than that.

"It could work," he finally said. "How steady are your sharpshooters?"

"MacCready's been training them and says they're fair. They won't take shots they aren't comfortable with when our men are down there, they will pick off the trouble makers from a distance," she confirmed, having already thought of the possibility of causing in fighting by the wrong man getting hit.

"And your foot soldiers are combat ready? We head out tomorrow," he reminded her and she nodded.

"Yes, they've been training near constantly the last forty-eight hours. Tonight they rest and we march in come day break." Madelyn let out a slow breath and tried to calm her heartbeat. She felt like a General talking to an Elder, bridging two factions rather than herself talking to her older brother.

"I have to admit, the plan is sound to me," he agreed and she relaxed. "I will be bringing the Prydwen and all the troops I planned to bring to the Midwest. Once Sentinel Walker has been retrieved and this menace has been dealt with, we will leave for the Great Waste."

"The sight of the Prydwen will make these cannibals shit themselves," she smiled and there was a quiet chuckle.

"That's the plan."

Even though she wasn't built for battle, she would be a great show of power. "I'll see you tomorrow, Artie?" she whispered.

"Of course, I'll take a vertibird to our rendezvous point so I can speak with the men there, and greet you in person when you arrive."

"I look forward to it," she cradled the com and bit her lip. She hated the distance between them. She hadn't been able to talk to him directly for almost two years and now she couldn't because she wasn't in the Brotherhood anymore. It stung in a different way. But she was happy she was at least able to hear his voice.

"Get some rest, General. We have a long couple of days ahead of us."

"Yes, Elder," she sighed and stood. "Good night, Arthur."

"Sleep well, Madelyn."

"I love you," she added and hung the com up.

"I love you, too."

Madelyn couldn't sleep, so she just lied beside Robert who was sleeping deeply, Duncan between them sprawled out so that he had a hand lying on his father's face and a leg over his side. She smiled at them and brushed Duncan's hair from his face. The green in her hair had faded some and looked odd, kind of pukey, if she washed it, it would probably return to the auburn color she and Duncan shared.

Madelyn kissed the boy's head and he stirred, rolling over with a grunt so that he was on his side, his back to Robert. As if to react to the movement, the sleeping sniper's arm reached out and ensnared the boy, pulling him back to his chest and he rested his chin on the rustled hair.

Rolling over, she came to cuddle against them, her hand resting on Robert's cheek. His eyes fluttered open, then snapped shut and he let out a soft groan. When he opened his eyes again he grinned at her. "Hey," he whispered.

"Hi," she smiled back and looked at Duncan between them.

"What is it?"

"Can't sleep."

"Ah," he nodded and bit back a yawn. "What's on your mind?"

"Everything," she breathed and sighed, closing her eyes. He reached under their boy and his hand found her cheek. She let her face rest in it with the pillow under it. "Hancock woke up, I talked to him. He wants to come with, so he can see Nate, but I don't know if it's a good idea. He's in no shape for travel, and…"

"You're worried about the state we find Nate in," he finished and she nodded.

"What if we leave him behind and Nate doesn't make it back? What if we bring him and he gets hurt or dies and then Nate doesn't get to see him again?" Her brows lifted high. They were whispering so as not to disturb Duncan, but she couldn't stop her voice from cracking at the fear of losing either or both of them.

"Hey," Robert whispered and she met his gaze in the darkness. "It'll work out, I promise. We'll find Nate, and we'll bring him home. Hancock is alive, and will stay that way. You have me, and Duncan, and," he hand over the boy came down to touch her stomach, "Our baby." She nodded closing her eyes. "You have Maxson, and your friends in the Brotherhood, and you're General of the Minutemen."

"I'm not worried about me," she whispered. "I'm worried about Nate."

"He'll tell you the same thing I'm about to," Robert breathed. "Don't worry about him. Save everyone you can and end the threat. Save the Commonwealth, not a single man."

Her heart pounded against her ribs and she nodded, tears spilling out form her eyes. "We'll save the Commonwealth and Nate," she said and swallowed against the doubtful lump in her throat.