Okay this is the new and improved version of the chapter i hope everyone likes it

The rising sun in the Mojave was always something that James thought was beautiful. He was standing on the second floor of the destroyed building he and Ashlyn had taken residence in the previous night. He yawned from the lack of sleep due to his nightmare. Ashlyn walked up the stairs and stood beside him. Both the Ranger and Courier where silent; sifting through their thoughts pertaining to the previous night along with their past before the Mojave.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" James asked arms crossed looking at the orange-yellow sphere slowly rising.

"Yea." Ashlyn said as James looked towards her.

James looked at Ashlyn's brown eyes as they glistened from the morning light. He smiled and Ashlyn turned to look at him.

"What is it?" Ashlyn asked slightly tilting her head to the left as she looked at the Ranger.

"Your eyes." James said as he uncrossed his arms and looked at his companion to his right.

"What do you mean?" Ashlyn asked slightly puzzled.

"They looked beautiful with the sun reflecting off of them. They where beautiful to start with but seeing that makes me think that this world will always have something beautiful even if it's all but destroyed." James said as he stared out at the sun that was beginning to take its normal color.

"You have a way with words you know that right?" Ashlyn asked with a small giggle.

"So I've been told." The Ranger said with a smile.

"We should get going. It will take a while to get to Freeside." James said walking towards the stairs.

"Okay" Ashlyn said curious as to why James had once again set up the perfect scenario for some small form of intimacy but ended it before anything had actually started.

James walked back into the room that he and Ashlyn had resided in and turned on the hot plate as Ashlyn walked in. They both knowing that they should eat before leaving; taking into consideration they might not get to eat until they reached Freeside in the afternoon or evening depending on what the Mojave was going to throw at them that day. The group heated their breakfast and at saying little only trying to get moving so they could reach Freeside.

Ashlyn sat with many thoughts now running through her head. The thoughts about James being the most prominent but she was also thinking a little about how she would get revenge on Benny when she got into New Vegas. She decided to think about that when the time came. She thought about what might be holding James from trying anything with her. Ashlyn knew that he wanted her to be his and she wanted that just as much as he did.

"He's worried that something will happen." Ashlyn thought to herself almost certain she was right.

Ashlyn looked at James as she came to this realization. He was most definitely a kind man who would do anything to protect someone he thought deserved to be helped. He had a presence about him that just screamed it.

"He's like a regular wasteland super hero." Ashlyn thought and couldn't help but let out a small giggle.

"Am I missing something?" James asked curious why Ashlyn had suddenly giggled.

"It's nothing just something kinda ironic considering the state the planet is in." Ashlyn said.

James nodded and finished his breakfast before he stood up. Ashlyn finished eating not long after him and before she could move to try to stand James put his hand out for her to grab onto so he could help her up.

"And I thought that chivalry was dead." Ashlyn said laughing.

"There's always someone that will keep it alive." James said pulling Ashlyn to a standing position.

"True." Ashlyn said picking up her belongings.

James grabbed his helmet and stepped out of the room. Ashlyn was only seconds behind him. ED-E and Rufus trailed behind the two as they began to walk on the road back to the 188 Trading Post. Crows where occupying the area around the entrance toBoulderCityas always as the group reached the area near the monument. The trip to the 188 started quiet as usual; but for James something unusual was seen on the trip; red on the hill tops that was visible for split seconds.

James continued to walk so he didn't look as if he had noticed. He continued to see the red during the walk to the 188 but it was always at a distance more than forty feet away and partially covered by some sort of rock or debris. Ashlyn was completely oblivious to the figure stalking them. The group made it to the 188 without actually being attacked by the figure.

James led the group up the overpass but he stopped when he heard Ashlyn talking to someone.

"I'm Ashlyn." Ashlyn said.

"Veronica, it's nice to meet you." Veronica said.

James stood at the two women continued on with their conversation. He had seen her many times during his transfers from place to place but never started a conversation with her. She seemed strange no doubt about it but also capable considering she still was alive in the middle of the Mojave. James continued with his thoughts until Ashlyn asked him something.

"She wants to know if she can come with us. So, can she?" The Courier asked.

"You're the one I'm following so its your choice Ashlyn." James said.

"Veronica you can come with us." Ashlyn said to the woman.

"Yay! I had a good feeling about you two." Veronica said cheerfully.

Ashlyn smiled at the sight of her new companion rejoicing in her simple act. James still stood with Rufus and ED-E behind him as The Courier got a surprise hug and fell to the ground. James chuckled as Rufus leapt into the pile and began licking the two women. It was definitely a sight that was uncommon but strange things happened in the wastes. James whistled and Rufus returned to his side. The Courier and Veronica where both laughing hysterically on the concrete of the overpass as James walked over and put both of his hands out for them to grab onto so he could help them up. The pair reached and grabbed onto James' hands and he slightly grunted as he pulled them up having to do most of the work to get them standing causing him to strain from the weight of the two women one of which was wearing thirty pounds of armor.

The mini army talked for a couple minutes then began to head of in the direction of Freeside the place that would let them get access to the New Vegas Strip. James lead the group along the road observing his surroundings looking for the red clad figure from before. Again he saw flashes of red but acted like he hadn't. He noticed his female companions asking each other their age.

"I'm twenty-seven believe it or not." Veronica said.

"No way! You're joking!" Ashlyn said extremely surprised that Veronica looked so young but was almost in her thirties.

"Nope." Veronica said teasing Ashlyn.

"I'm only twenty…" Ashlyn said trailing off "How old are you James?"

"Twenty-three." James said

"Liar." Both Ashlyn and Veronica said in unison.

"I don't like lying." James said grinning knowing that people always reacted that way when he said his real age.

"That means Veronica is the oldest." Ashlyn said looking at the newest member of the group.

"That means I have the most power." Veronica said teasingly "I want you both in bed by 11 tonight."

James chuckled at Veronica's remark as Ashlyn and Veronica herself began to once again laugh hysterically.

"Don't fall down this time, because I'm not going to help you up." James said with a playful smile.

As James finished his words a shot rang out and he heard a metal ting as he collapsed onto the asphalt road. The laughing stopped as the still standing members of the group attempted to find the shooter. James laid on the ground still and unmoving. The red clad figure was next to him by the time everyone looked to James. The man was from the Legion obviously a Legionary Assassin. Everyone stared at the man who was standing over the still James. Time was at a stand still. No one moved and only stared at the opposing group.

In the silence a sound was heard; it was the sound of a .357 revolver being primed. Six rounds where fired into the Legionary in just over a second. All present looked in awe as James held Hail Storm smoking in his right hand. The Legionary fell blood oozing from the small cluster of holes now located around his heart. ED-E was the only one who even saw James' movements due to his sensors. Ashlyn ran to James and dropped down on her knees and hugged him as she began to cry heavily.

Veronica just stood awestruck by the events and Rufus joined his master's side. James hugged Ashlyn back with one arm as he propped himself up with the other.

"You're alive….thank God you're alive…" Ashlyn said sobbing.

James rotated the sling that was holding his ranger combat helmet. A hole was directly between the visor pieces. He smiled at The Courier.

"I knew he was following us ever sinceBoulderCity." He said "I managed to move quick enough and block the round with my helmet."

Ashlyn looked at James once more before she hugged him tighter and began to cry harder.

"Don't ever do that again!" She screamed to him "You're too important to me now!"

James stared at her, unmoving once again. He moved her face so he could see her tear filled eyes. Then he kissed her. They held the kiss for what to them seemed like hours. They took in every detail of the situation. The speed of their heart beats, the heat of the sun. Every single crease in the others lips. Ashlyn could feel every whisker of James' goatee while James felt her soft skin against his facial hair.

They finished the kiss and stared at each other again taking in every detail they possibly could. James noted how angelic Ashlyn looked with the sun glowing behind her body. They where both feeling so much peace and comfort at this point despite the events that had just transpired. James and Ashlyn continued to stare at each other for minutes. All of their companions remained silent while they studied each other. Then the silence was broken by James.

"Why do I mean so much to you?" James asked almost in a whisper.

"Because…I love you….it was like love at first sight….you had an aura about you." She said back in a whisper "One that radiated things….power….love….respect…but most of all….the thing that I felt the most in my life….pain."

James stared at her.

"I shouldn't have said that should I?" Ashlyn asked.

James never answered that question. He simply kissed Ashlyn again. They held the kiss for a couple seconds until they where interrupted by Veronica loudly clearing her throat trying to get both James and Ashlyn's attention.

"Yes?" They asked in unison.

"Would you please stop? I feel left out because there is no way I'm gonna kiss a dog or get freaky with that robot of yours." Veronica said.

Ashlyn laughed and relaxed and completely fell on top of James as she said "Only if he wants to, and no you can't have him. He's mine now."

Veronica laughed.

"Well I'm glad I got a say in all of this." James said teasing Ashlyn.

"Oh? I didn't know you cared. Well can I have you as my man?" Ashlyn asked.

"I guess so." James said again teasing Ashlyn.

Ashlyn smiled and wrapped her arms around James and said "Then its official."

"Whether its official or not there is still a dead body next to us that I would definitely like to get away from. The blood is starting to get close to me." James said with a chuckle.

"Okay then lets get going again. We kinda got side tracked here." Ashlyn said.

"Oh thank God." Veronica said "I was wondering when you two would stop being so mushy."

The Courier and Ranger laughed as they helped each other stand. James looked at his ruined helmet. He spun it around and looked at it.

"I guess this will be a way to remember what happened won't it?" James asked Ashlyn.

"Yes jackass, now let's go." Ashlyn said lightly punching James' arm.