Suddenly, I realize what I'm doing, as Dizzy's hands reach up and entangle themselves in my hair. Shocked, scared of my actions and emotions, I pull away and look at her. Our eyes meet, and I see an emotion I've never seen before on her face. I can't describe it, because I don't want to describe it. There's no room for words or arguments, as I find motion in my feet, and stand up. Dizzy is securely curled in my arms, as the bruise on her stomach begins to take form.

"Can you walk?"

I ask as if the kiss never happened. I wish it didn't. She looks at me, and then to her legs.

"…I don't know."

"Here, try."

I set her down gently, but no sooner do her feet touch the ground, is she in pain and collapsing in my arms.
"Ow!"

She yells as I catch her. She can't walk, and she needs radiation. Picking her back up, her knees slung over my forearm, her head resting in the crook of my elbow, I look down at her.

"We're going back to Megaton and that's final. This was a mistake, and it put us both in danger."

I scold her like a child, forgetting the emotions I felt just moments before. Dizzy doesn't argue. She just looks up at me like a lost and starved puppy, and silently accepts her fate. I turn around, her weight not an issue, and start to walk past the two dead bodies of the Raiders who attacked her.

"…You killed them…"

She looks at them, wide eyes with fear, and pushes her body closer to me. Without being absorbed through osmosis, we can't get any closer. I keep my eyes set forward, not wanting to look back, not wanting to remember what I did. I don't care that I took two lives, I can't care. What I do care about, is that I kissed her. And that…it felt good. It shouldn't feel good, and she should have never returned it.

"Yeah."

My voice is emotionless, and I feel Dizzy shudder in my arms. I grab my gun with my foot, and bend down to reach it. Balancing her small frame, her tiny weight, all in one arm for a quick moment, I get my gun onto my back. I replace my arm beneath her legs, and she stares at me.

"…Why…did you kill them?"

"I let one live."

"What?"

I stare at her, eyes set in emotion different than I've ever shown her before. I want her to know the severity of the issue. Want her to know, that when I say she's safe with me, I mean it. No one, is to mess with her. She's the closest thing to me, the only thing I have worth losing. I know that's an insult to my parents, but…I'm sure they of all people would understand.

"He's going to tell every goddamned Raider, not to ever mess with you again."

"My stomach hurts."

"How did they get to you?"

I want to know, because I can't figure any possible way. I could have woken up, would have, unless she herself left of her own free will.

"…They got me when I was sleeping. Covered my mouth, picked me up, and took me downstairs."
"Why didn't you scream? I would have woken up."

"Because I had shit shoved into my mouth and a gun to my head. Sometimes, you can't scream even if you want to."

She knows this is her fault in a way, and feels bad for it. I can tell by her pale face she's still in pain, and weak. Climbing up the steps, I walk over to the mattress and grab my jacket. Dizzy takes it, wincing from pain in an unknown location, and wraps it around her body.

"You saved me, though. I should find a way to thank you."

"Don't play with the Raiders anymore. That's thanks enough."

I'm not mad at her. I'm mad at myself. I keep my answers short, to keep her from getting too close. I don't want her to think that kiss meant something. Don't want her to think I'm some sick bastard who prays on weakened girls. It…it meant something to me, in my own mind. It doesn't matter if it has any emotional value at this point or not, the fact of the matter is what I did was wrong. I shouldn't have started it, and I intend to close it before it can finish. An impulsive mistake, brought on by feelings and emotions better spent on another person. Someone who isn't the same blood as I am.

"Are we…are we going home now?"

"Yup."

"But you didn't sleep."

"Doesn't matter. We're going home, I'm getting you radiation, and you're resting until better."

Her head leans against my chest as I follow the hallway to the top, where the opened gate is.

"And then what happens?"

"And then mom and dad come home."

"And then what happens?"

"We continue life as usual."

"And then what happens?"

"Life goes on."

"And then what happens?"

I look down at her, and through the pain she smiles at me. I can't help but think her twisted mind got the better of her. Feeling bad, I have to give her a sharp reminder of reality.

"Me and you resume the roles of brother and sister and go about our daily lives."

"Oh. That's what happens."

"Yup."

We're not brother and sister. We're not. We're…we still have the same blood, though. We still come from a single person, and share similar genes. That alone, stops me from getting close to her. That, in and of itself, is enough to ruin any plans my mind may want to have, any urges, any feelings. It all comes crashing down because of that. I'll have to learn to live with it. Learn that…it's a phase and it'll pass. Even if while I'm telling this to myself, I can't help but think back to when I was younger, and all I wanted to be around, was her. People change, things change, events happen and life goes on. This is something, that'll change too. Something I won't have to worry about in the future.

"It's still dark out."

Dizzy says as we come out from the tunnels. She's right. The moon is low in the sky, meaning soon it'll be dawn, and the stars a aplenty. We look at them, even though we've seen them a million times before.

"We'll be home soon enough."

It isn't far, I realize, from here to Megaton. The most challenging thing ahead of me will be to find a shallow part in the river, where I can simply carry Dizzy across. For a while and in silence, I walk along the edge of the river. I can't see shit in the dark, so every now and again I dip my foot in to feel nothing but more water beneath it.

"I can swim."

Dizzy says, and I look at her as I pull my foot out.

"If you can't walk you can't swim. I'm not diving down there to save you, either."

She sighs, and then yawns. Finally I find a shallow place to wade across, and hold her securely in my arms. I don't want to slip and drop her, and give her more injuries.

"Cain?"

"What?"

"My stomach…it really does hurt."

I look down as she pulls the jacket away. Instantly, the blue and purple and a bit red bruise causes me worry. She could be bleeding inside. It will cause a big problem, if not treated soon enough. My father taught me some medical things. I know, that if Dizzy fills up with blood too much on the inside, the pressure can rupture her organs and do permanent damage, if not death.

"Listen to me, and listen well, alright?"

I say, coming to the other side safely.

"Yeah?"

"If we, for whatever reason, have to drain your insides, tell mom and dad you…fell or something."

"Why would they have to drain it?"

"If you're bleeding on the inside and it's too much by the time we get home, it has to be drained."

"Mom and dad aren't stupid. They'll know I didn't fall."

"Tell them…tell them we got into a fight and I did it."

"They won't believe that either."

"Alright what will they believe, then?"

She looks up at me, and I think she has some better excuses than I do.

"That I was parading with Raiders, and got into a fight. That I've learned my lesson. Close to the truth, but still a lie to keep us safe."

"We act like mom and dad beat us."

"They'd beat you if they knew you let me out here. They'd ground me until the world ends again. And I'm scared of dad's temper."

"Yeah."

"He's a lot like you, when you get mad. Loses sight of everything, and leaves little evidence."

Shocked, my eyes widen, and she shrugs.

"Just because I don't talk doesn't mean I'm not awake."

"What…what else did you see? Hear?"

"It doesn't matter anymore."

"Why?"

She doesn't answer me. Instead, the smile fades from her face, and she closes her eyes. Her head falls against my upper arm, and her breathing becomes deep and shallow. Dizzy, falls asleep in my arms, and with her conscious, goes whatever answers she had to my questions. Dizzy got a taste of the Wasteland today, as she survived a Raider attack. Be it personal or not, it was an attack. Hopefully, this will change her mind, and she won't want to come out here again. I don't know what'll happen, when we get back to Megaton, or if our lives will be the same, or even if we'll remain close like we have been in the past two days. All I do know is…I have to forget that kiss, and whatever emotions it stirred in me.

I'm exhausted by the time I open the door to our home. Exhausted, weighted, and ready to pass out. But, Dizzy has been sleeping this entire time. Even though her bruise didn't get much bigger, I'm worried there might be something wrong with her head. She was bleeding in her sleep, and my sleeve has the stains to prove it. Walking into the living room, I lie her down gently on the couch. Mom and dad aren't back yet, so it means their letter wasn't a trick. Good.

Stumbling, tired, into the kitchen I reach into the fridge and grab four bottles of water. Two pure, two irradiated. I down the pure ones in moments, relishing the water and its taste. Carrying the last two, I walk back into the living room and kneel down in front of Dizzy.

"Hey, wake up."

I say, and open one of the bottles. Her eyelids flutter, and her body moves slightly. She's probably stiff, sore, and still in pain. As she moves her head, I press the bottle to her lips.

"Drink it. Please."

She does, and she drinks the entire bottle. I offer her the second one, hardly able to keep my eyes open. This time, she takes it from me, the radiation doing its job. When it leaves my hand, I fall to the floor wanting to sleep for the next couple of days. I hear her gulp down the water, and hear her sigh pleasurably as she feels the effects of the radiation taking place. I've always wondered what it felt like, but knew better than to ask her.

"Cain? Did…did you carry me all the way home?"

"Uh-huh."

I reply, too exhausted to speak. Dizzy got to sleep the entire way. Granted she was injured and had no choice in the matter, but still. I didn't rest, or sleep, or do anything except walk with her in my arms.

"…Here."

She offers me the rest of her water, which isn't much. Just a pile of it on the very bottom. I shake my head, forcing my eyes to stay awake.

"No."

Looking down at me from the sofa, Dizzy smiles.

"Come on, I'll help you to bed."

Radiation must work fast, because Dizzy gets up just fine. Of course she tests her legs, before moving them, and is cautious bending down. Picking my arm up, Dizzy helps hold my weight as she leads me to the stairs, and up them.

"You shouldn't have done that. There's bound to be radiation out there somewhere."

She says, halfway up the stairs. Sighing, I try to support as much of my weight as I possibly can, even though it's not much use.

"Yeah…well…I did…"

We get to the top, and Dizzy leads me to my room. I fall on my bed, letting my arm slide from around her shoulders. As tired as I am, I can't fall right to sleep like she can. I lie away, feeling her stripping off my boots with care, and feel her eyes staring at me in concern. It's a trade off, albeit small. I care for her, and she cares for me. I hope this'll last between us. This mutual understanding and respect for one another.

She takes my blanket and drapes it over me. I listen for a bit, not wanting to open my eyes. I hear her pacing around my room, not really doing much of anything. Thinking, I'm sure. She stops for a minute, before leaving and shutting the door behind me. When I hear it click, I know it's safe to fall asleep. Something tells me, she won't leave the house today. That she'll stay here, and watch me just as I watched her.

I have the strangest dream as I sleep. I can't very well describe it, but there's a lot of blue in it. Blue skies, blue water, and I'm even outlined in blue. I'm not sure why, and yet I feel at peace. There's no grass where I stand, only a glowing blue ground. I hear rushing water, and things fly over my head. They're not scary, and in fact, I'm fine with them. Even if I don't know really, what they are.

For miles it's blue. Everything, a bright and comforting blue. In my dream, I search for my thoughts and stresses, but I find none. My mind is completely at ease with itself. The sky is a darker blue than the ground, but it's still blue. In the distance, on what I suppose is the horizon, I see a figure running towards me. I reach for my gun, but it isn't there. Not feeling threatened, I walk towards the figure, and soon realize, it's Dizzy.

She glides over to me. She doesn't walk, I realize that as she gets closer. Her feet don't touch the ground, but she moves towards me. Fluidly, like water, her movements have an afterthought. She moves her arm, and behind it is a shadow. A trail of moving shadows, following the main object closely. Drums start somewhere far away, and the blueness around us ripples and vibrates. But, still, I feel no threat. Standing in front of me, Dizzy begins to move around me, dancing and casting shadows. Even though I feel the ground beneath my feet, I feel like I'm walking on air as I turn my head and feet to follow her. I try to say her name, but no sound comes out.

My hand goes up to my throat, and I realize my movements have the same shadowing, trailing effect. Looking over at her, she smiles at me as I'm stuck, mesmerized by my own movements. Without the ability to speak, we can only communicate by movements. She takes my hand, and it's warm to the touch, but moves through me. We can't touch one another, and instead, I stare at her. She twirls around me, her hands in the air, as if she's some experienced dancer. I remind myself, she is. The feelings that come, from watching her, wrap the both of us in some sort of blue cloud. Mist surrounds us, even though we can't feel it. At least, I can't feel it. Neither one of us can pass through it, and it starts to get closer and closer, tighter and tighter, until both of our forms are just millimeters away from touching. Her hands dance around my face and head, and I want nothing more to wrap my arms around her. I try to, but they pass through her. Instead of being upset, Dizzy smiles, and walks into me as the mist constricts us. She steps into me, her pale blue form being overshadowed by my dark blue one.

"Hey."

Opening my eyes, I see the real Dizzy staring down at me. My light is on in my room, and I can hear voices downstairs. I don't know how long I've been sleeping, I just know I feel rested.

"You in there?"

Dizzy says, poking my forehead. I take a deep breath in, and then yawn.

"Yeah…yeah…"

"You've been sleeping for two days. Mom and dad came home early. They're worried about you."

"Huh?"

"I said you were sick. They believed me so play along or we're both dead."

"Yeah…yeah…"

I'm still trying to get my bearings. Distracted by nothing, Dizzy starts to go abut my room. Pacing, humming, being generally quirky. I'd have more appreciation for this, but getting it all together after being asleep for two days straight isn't easy.

"I tried to give you some radiation, but, it didn't work."

That grabs my attention. Innocently enough, Dizzy in her child-like manner is trying to reach for a toy car high above her on a shelf. Normally, I'd give it to her with no unusual thoughts about it. She's always been quirky and strange in that sense. Right now, getting that object for her is the last thing on my mind.

"What did you say?"

I ask, trying not to sound as worried as I am.

"Radiation. It didn't work. Just made you stink so I washed it off."

Dizzy doesn't know much about healthcare outside of slapping radiation on it. She knows of Rad-Away and Rax-X, but knowing that other people need them falls short to her. She just thinks radiation is the cure for all things, even if she knows she's special by being immune to it. Radiation was her comfort object for almost anything. She's dependant on it, and wants other people to be to, even if it's harmful to them. Thing is, she thinks that I'm dependant on it, too.

"Oh…"

"Why didn't it?"

She forgets the toy and her childish mindset becomes serious. Her cheeriness was brought on by something, but right now my mind is too foggy to think straight. Instead of dealing, I try to dismiss her.

"Dizzy, I just woke up."

She stares at me, a bit unrelenting. But, finally, her face smoothes over and she nods.

"Right, I'll tell mom and dad. They want to talk to you."

Almost prancing, she leaves my room. Yawning once more, I sit up and stretch. I feel rested, but then again, I don't. My body is sore, very sore, and my head is clouded with images from my dream and other such stupid things. Sleeping for two days may sound good, but it leaves you stiff and aching. Especially since I probably tore a bunch of muscles carrying Dizzy the entire way home. In a way I envy her. Never in her life will she know what it's like to feel like this. In a matter of minutes, her consumption of any radiation can heal anything. She won't wake the next morning, sore, bruised, and exhausted. Rather in the same day she can go back to running around and causing hell wherever she wants to cause it. I wish it was that easy for me. Instead it's the ol' stimpack and gauze treatment, with lots of rest and relaxation.

Figuring I should go talk to mom and dad, I hoist myself off of my bed. My legs ache, my arms ache more, and all around I don't want to leave my bed. If I stay laying down any longer, though, I know it'll only make everything worse. My muscles need the stretching and the slight movement. Hopefully I didn't do any permanent damage. In time I'll figure it out, or whatever.

Walking down the stairs, mom, Dizzy, and dad are all in the kitchen. They see me, and instantly my parents give me a look that says I'm about to get ripped a new one. Dad looks at Dizzy while she munches loudly on a box of Sugar Bombs.

"Go upstairs."

He tells her, and she shrugs.

"Make me."

"Dizzy."

"Yes?"

"Go."

She likes to tease the fuck out of dad. I always tell her not to, but does she listen? No. Dad loves her, though. She's his favorite by far, his little girl. Most of the time their antics together are comical, but sometimes she can pick the wrong moment to start a fight or push his buttons. I get the feeling this is one of those moments.

"I want to stay."

"Dizzy, listen to your father and just go upstairs. We have to talk to your brother."

"Mo-om…"

"Diz-zy."

Mom and Dizzy on the other hand, are two peas in a pod. Childish, immature, and downright clinically insane, I'd feel terrified if I was up against them. Dizzy can't fight like mom, but she's still scary. No one knows she can't even really shoot a gun that well, and most of the time people don't want to find out. Like ma, Dizzy's got this 'femme fatale' look going for her. Pretty as she is, she's got an air of danger to her. That's something she gets from mom.

"Whatever."

She gets up and sulks up the steps, eating her Sugar Bombs the whole way. When we all hear her bedroom door slam, my parents' eyes drill into me. Without saying a word to me, I know they want me to sit. I do, and a bit fearfully I might add. Waking up to two angry parents, especially if your parents are anything like mine, is one card short of a nightmare, and half a card short of living hell. Even at twenty-two, I fear my parents. Maybe it's because of who they are. Or maybe it's because I know what they're capable of doing. Either way, I don't really care to find out.

"What's up?"

I play the stupid card, hoping I'm wrong about them being mad. Something tells me I'm spot-on, though. Mom and dad sit across from me, and the looks they give can cut right through me.

"What were you doing outside of Megaton?"

My dad asks me, and instantly fear runs in my veins. I can't imagine Dizzy would have told them, she's stupid but not that stupid. But, how else would they have found out? Mom sees the look on my face, and answers my question before I can even ask it.

"Gob saw you and Dizzy running off into the Wasteland. If you're wondering how we know, that is."

"So, what were you doing?"

Throwing Dizzy under the bus isn't in my agenda. Telling mom and dad the truth would be doing just that. So, instead, I put the blame on myself.

"Dizzy said she wanted to see the Washington Monument one day. I figured since you guys were gone, it'd be alright to take her there. We were just going there and back, I didn't mean anything wrong."

My dad folds his arms over his chest, and leans back in the chair. His armor moves with his muscles, and even though I'm the same body type, I always envied my dad's strength.

"Did you make it?"

He asks, closing his eyes. I can see the rising disappointment in his face. I'd rather him be angry with me, for putting my sister in danger. Even though really it was Dizzy who put herself in danger, I can't let them know that.

"…No. We…we got ambushed by some Raiders…and headed home after."

"I see."

"Dad…I'm twenty-two, and you both still treat me like a child. I know Dizzy isn't allowed in the Capital Wasteland, but I was with her. Everything turned out okay, and maybe…you guys should realize you can't keep both of us here forever."

"Had it been only you I wouldn't be as angry. But you put your sister in danger. She's not ready to go out there, and feeding into her childish wants will only make it worse."

My father says, opening his eyes and lighting a cigarette. I copy him, and mom sighs loudly. She's staying out of this conversation, because really…I don't think she sees the harm in letting go.

"I don't understand. Why am I allowed to leave, and she isn't? What's so bad about letting her go and explore?"

"You were trained. You understand dangers. Dizzy is young, naïve, and not ready to face what's out there. Last thing I want, is both of my children running rampant. At least allow me to keep one at home."

"Charon, maybe Cain is right. Dizzy is seventeen, and even though she's still a child, she's mature enough to handle certain things. We really can't keep her cooped up here forever. Eventually she'll break out. It happens to the best of us."

"What? And you want her ending up in the same trouble as you and I?"

"No, Charon, I don't. All I'm saying, is that…she's growing up. There aren't half as many threats out there, and Super Mutant population is at its lowest. Maybe…we should let her run off for a bit. At least with Cain, so she isn't alone."

"Absolutely not. She's my daughter. My only daughter. I forbid it."

"And I'm your only son, dad."

Both him and my mother look at me. I can understand their worry. Knowing their story, my parents simply fear that Dizzy and I will run into the same problems and near-death incidents they did. I also understand why they're more protective of Dizzy than they are me. She's a girl, and they kept her sheltered. Whereas they know very well I can protect myself. Even without dad's training, I'd be fine. I'm his copy. Anything he can do, I can do. Just not better.

"You are. That's true. Go upstairs. I have to talk to your mother."

"Okay."

The scolding wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. At least now, they know we left and Dizzy and I won't have to lie to them. I told a white lie, really. Protecting my sister is my job, even if it is from our parents. I just sometimes wish, she wasn't my sister.

Heading up the stairs, I pass by Dizzy's door. It's open a crack, and I see her sitting on her bed. Without knocking, I push it open and poke my head through.

"Hey."

She looks at me, and shrugs.

"What'd mom and dad want?"

"They know about us running into the Wasteland."

Her face drops and I laugh a bit.

"Don't worry. I didn't tell them it was all your idea. I took the blame."

"I owe you big time now, big brother."

"Yeah you do."

She smiles at me, and lays down across her bed. Downstairs, I hear mom and dad talking but try not to eavesdrop. I can't help it.

"He's right, Charon. You know he is."

"I know but, the thought of losing them both out there…"

"I get that, I do. But he's right. We can't keep either one of them cooped up here forever. Cain is twenty-two. Dizzy will be eighteen soon. The need and drive to go out there won't be held inside much longer. It's better we let them go, and help pack their things, than wake up one morning and find them gone."

Dizzy sees me listening in, and hops off of her bed. Walking over, she pokes her head out and listens with me. Pushing my way in her room, we lie on the floor with our heads out the door. When we were little, this would be how we'd listen in on mom and dad's conversations without them seeing us from the kitchen.

"I know, Dez, I know. But you want your children to have a better life than you. I don't want them…to see and go through what we did."

"Even though it was painful, we made good memories, friends, laughs and learned from it all."

Dizzy takes my cigarette and puffs on it. We pass it back and forth. She's never heard the story of our parents, and this is new to her. She's going to have a lot of questions soon.

"We were lucky we survived all that, Dez. Too lucky. What if…they don't?"

"There's nothing left out there but Raiders and the once in a while mutant. They'll be more than fine."

"I'm just fearful."

"I know you are."

After that we hear them coming towards the stairs. Shuffling our heads in, Dizzy closes the door and we hold our breaths as mom and dad pass her room. Without thinking twice, they turn right and walk down towards their bedroom. I bet this was the last thing they wanted to come home to.

"Cain?"

She says my name quietly as we pick ourselves off of the floor. These walls are thin, and if we talk loud mom and dad will hear.

"What?"

"What did mom and dad mean by that? By what they went through?"

"Maybe…maybe you should ask them that yourself tomorrow."

She gives me a look. I don't like it too much, but there's nothing I can do about it. It's not my place to tell her the story of dad and mom. I'm sure if she'd ask, they'd tell her. Of course she'd have to explain how she found out in the first place, and they wouldn't like hearing how she eavesdropped.

Determination sets across her face, and I can't stop what comes next. Pushing me aside, Dizzy marches down towards our parents' door.

"Dizzy!"

I try to stop her, but she doesn't listen. Midway down the hall, I realize, it's time. It's time to let my little sister grow up. It's time for her to know the truth, about our parents, and maybe even, me. I watched her grow up. Watched her, held her from the time she was a fresh new baby, till now. She's become a woman, before my eyes and I never realized it. I never realized it much, until now. Seeing her so set and determined, knowing my parents won't deny her the truth anymore, makes me see…Dizzy soon won't need me anymore. She's a woman now, not a child. As much as she wants to act like one, as much as I want to keep her as my little sister…I can't anymore.

The little button nose I used to rub my own against, isn't on the face of a bundled baby anymore. Instead, it helps form and shape the beautiful face of a woman. Those small fingers that would wrap around my hand and make a fist, are now long, slender and gun-wielding. Her chubby legs grew long and lean, and her form developed into near perfection. When she was a newborn, I would hold her in my arms with mom telling me to mind her head. I wanted to crystallize her like that. Like a little child, safe in my arms. Letting her go now, off and learn the truth, shows me…I can't. I can't stop time, and I can't help but feel saddened…that I'll see the end of this life, before she even starts to peak hers. I won't be there for her. She isn't that small, innocent child anymore.

It kills me, to watch her knock on the bedroom door. The truth is so close to her mind, her ears. I stand and watch as our father opens the door, shocked to see her.

"I have to talk to you and mom."

She says to him, stern and determined. I want to stop her. I want to tell her that…that right now isn't the best time. Give it a bit. Wait. Be my little sister for just one more night. But I don't stop her. Instead, dad sees the serious look on her face, as he stares into the eyes the three of us share. She has his stubborn determination.

"About what?"

"I want to know what you and mom went through. I want to know right now."

She also has her mother's impatience. And spoiled tendencies. Dad looks at her, shocked, but not surprised.

"You heard us talking?"

"Damn right. And I want to know the truth. I want to hear it. What have you been hiding, dad? Mom are you in there?"

"Yeah, I'm in here."

Mom and dad leave their bedroom. Dad puts his arm around Dizzy, and his eyes meet mine. I want to tell him I have nothing to do with this, but there's no need. He knows. He knew this time would come, and just like me, he doesn't want to see her grow up. Mom follows behind, a bit more accepting of the situation. If anything, she looks hopeful. That maybe, Dizzy will somehow follow in her footsteps. I'm not sure, why mom would hope for that, but it just seems that way. Like the freedom mom so enjoyed and loved, the adventures she had, can finally be passed down to Dizzy. I follow behind mom, and we all go into the kitchen. I want this to end well, but…I'm not sure it can.

I lean against the wall, as mom and dad regale Dizzy with their life story. They're trying to, anyways. But, Dizzy is less than amused about the entire situation. She sits silently, listening intently to our parents, and lighting a cigarette here and there. It's a long story to tell, and they're not leaving out any details. Even though, they laugh as they tell it, Dizzy remains silent as ever. She pierces them with her eyes, and I can tell her anger is rising as their story gets deeper and deeper. I have no reaction to what mom and dad say. I've heard it all so many times before. Instead, I watch Dizzy, and only Dizzy.

Her face remains the same, with anger bubbling just below the surface. As mom and dad near the end of their tale, I notice…they left me out of it. They skipped the part, where they found me. Failed to mention, where I came from and how I came to be. I think maybe, they might have done this, to hold on to the last shred of shelter they have for Dizzy. I'm not sure, if it's a good thing or not.

"…And…then you were born. And we live here, now."

Mom says to Dizzy, sighing as if the weight of the world has been taken off her shoulders. In a way it has. For seventeen years we've tip-toed around the subject. Hiding it from Dizzy, failing to mention it, making sure we did all we could to keep it tucked away. Now, after so long, it's finally free. Dad and mom watch Dizzy, hoping to get a good reaction. Hoping to hear acceptance and praise, but, Dizzy says nothing. Standing up, she glares at them, throwing her arms down at her sides in anger.

"You lied to me!"

She yells, and I'm taken aback by the outburst. Mom and dad are too, and they stand, almost to challenge her.

"Dizzy, we didn't lie. We simply never told you. There's a difference."

"There is no difference, mom! Not telling me is the same as lying! How…how could you keep all of this from me? Is this all why everyone here treats you like fucking royalty?"

They don't answer. It only makes Dizzy more mad, and she turns to face me.

"And you!"

She storms over, tears in her eyes. She points a menacing finger in my face, cornering me against the wall I was leaning on.

"You knew all along, didn't you?"

I don't know what to say to her. I didn't think she'd be this upset, really. I knew she'd feel angry, but this? This is an entirely different level of anger than I'd ever thought to expect. I don't know what to say, so I say nothing. Looking away, at the floor, the look on my face tells her all she needs to know. She gives me a hard shove against the wall, even though I'm already against it. In fury, Dizzy lets out a frustrated groan, and storms away. Mom, me, and dad watch her as she stands near the front door.

"I hate all of you! All of you!"

Without any other word, she leaves. My first instinct is to chase her, but dad stops me.

"Cain. Wait."

I turn to look at my dad. How could he tell me to wait? Dizzy is upset, she's emotional, and now all alone. Hearing this entire story changes everything about her. All she ever knew, all she ever believed things to be, her entire life is different now, and he wants me to wait.

"Dad, she needs me."

I sound like a child. The child I was before, when I would hold Dizzy's hand as we ran up and down the ramps of Megaton together, and through the vegetable gardens. She needs me right now, just like she did in those days.

"Cain, right now she needs to be alone. This is a lot of new information for her, and she needs to digest it."

For the first time, my dad is wrong about something. He didn't see Dizzy cry the other night. Didn't watch her writher in pain at the hands of three Raiders. Didn't carry her clear across the Wasteland because she was too injured to walk. Only I know, the Dizzy that she hides. The Dizzy that no one else sees. And I know, that Dizzy needs me right now, even if she and everyone else denies it. I'm her brother, I'm the only one she can talk to. It's been my responsibility my entire life, and regretfully I've simply denied that responsibility for a few years. I have to make it up to her. I have to chase her.

"Exactly, dad. She needs me."

I don't stick around to hear anymore of their arguments. This is their fault, you know. If they had just told Dizzy the truth from the very start, then…then she wouldn't feel like this. I mean, I know why they kept it from her. I know that, they wanted to protect her and keep her out of the Wasteland until she was ready. But…still. I can't help but sort of take her side. Mom and dad should have told her. They should have played both sides. Told her the truth, and kept her safe. At least made a deal with her, that she couldn't leave Megaton until some sort of age. But they didn't do any of that. Instead, they told her the entire story in a few short hours, and let her run off because they think she needs to 'be alone'. Mom, dad…I know you tried but…I can't let her be alone right now. She needs me. I can feel it.