(Dizzy)

Surprise! There's a brand new awesome adventure for my family! No, I am not with a child, thank Atom. But there's this thing in pre-war times, that when a guy really likes a girl, they get married. I'm not too sure of the details, I just know that it doesn't matter in Wasteland times. Except, to dad, it does. Turns out he went off and proposed to mom in this uncharacteristically romantic way. Of course mom thought the whole thing was weird and hilarious, but she went along with the 'romantic date' because dad put so much effort into it. She came home laughing and crying all at once to tell me the great news.

She had to explain most of it to me, after dad explained it to her. She said 'yes', obviously, but confided in me that she didn't see the point in marriage these days. Said it was different in the vault, but out here, since there's no rules or regulations, that it was just a tradition. Mom, doesn't like traditions, really. Either way they're getting married by some strange man from Megaton on the night of the big celebration. You know, the party for rebuilding Megaton. Makes sense now, why dad asked me to stay for that thing. If I had known he was going to do something like this, I wouldn't have been so bent out of shape about it then.

But can you blame me? I'm just really excited to finally be with Cain, all on my own. Now that I know how much he cares about me, I just want to our lives together to start. I want to have our own adventures and stories and fights. I'm sick of living in my mom's shadow. I want my own love story. I don 't see why mom and dad are so worried about us leaving though. The way I see it, once Cain and I set off, they have all the alone time they could ever ask for. They're always complaining about how they never get personal time and all that, anyways. Well mom is. Dad just shrugs whenever she gets on his ass about it.

"Dizzy?"

Mom knocks on my bedroom door. I don't know where Cain ventured off to, but he's somewhere in Megaton. I'll probably see him later, he can't be gone for too long or he gets sick and sluggish.

"Yeah?"

She comes into my room, and shuts the door behind her. I'm lying on the bed, being lazy on this warm day. Then again all days out here are warm. And bothersome.

"What's up mom?"

I ask, sitting up, since it's not common for her to be quiet. Usually when she comes in here it's to talk about me, New Vegas, or Cain. All these conversations start before she even opens the door. Mom sits on my bed, sighing.

"I'm worried about Cain. Tonight…is a big night. I need to relax, and not worry. Regardless of how Cain views Charon and I, I still worry."

"Want me to talk to him?"

"Could you? I have so much to take care of before midnight."

Midnight is when the ceremony takes place, it's usually the peak of Megaton celebrations.

"Sure, where is he?"

"Near Vault 101."

That far? He's that far away? I look at mom, and she nods slowly.

"He wanted to view Megaton from a high place. You should go soon, quickly. As in get going."

I don't waste any more time. Grabbing my gun, I strap it to my hip and take the stairs three at a time.

"Hi dad! Bye dad!"

I say as I run past him in the kitchen, and out the door. Mom can fill him in. It's weird, but once I step outside the house, I can feel Cain. I can feel where he is, as if he's some sort of integral part of me. Like listening and following someone's voice in the tunnels, I follow that feeling. Maybe it's the worry, the excitement, the mixture of joy and anxiety that bubbles and boils with all the impending changes that actually lead me. I don't know. I just know, that by the time I see him sitting up by the doorway entrance to the gear door of Vault 101, I breathe a sigh of relief. And exhaustion.

My legs don't really want to climb the hill up to him, but I remind myself this is cake compared to heading to New Vegas. That the trip there is going to be a million times more grueling than this. It makes me dread going, but helps with pushing me up the slight hill. When I get there, Cain notices me, but doesn't look. I follow his gaze, and it's beautiful. You can see everything. The yellow smog that once filled this air is slowly dissipating, as the grass from Megaton gives a light green glow. The grass is growing back, healthy, lively. The sky above me is blue, and crystal clear in some places. I can see the city. I can see the monument. Up here…is beautiful.

"What do you want?"

His tone isn't mean. It's more…wondering. With a twinge of sadness. He's been in an off mood lately. I don't know why. I thought he was talking with Gob earlier. I had no idea he ventured this far away. But just by looking at the back of his head, I can tell he's glad to have the energy back.

"I came because mom is worried about you."

"Why?"

"Taking off this far, isn't good."

Sitting next to him, I light a cigarette and lean back. His legs dangle off the edge of the cliff, mine stay folded in front of me.

"Hm."

"What's on your mind? If we can't talk, our relationship won't work."

He looks at me, and lights his own cigarette.

"…I've been thinking."

"Thinking about what?"

"Me."

"Selfish."

The glance he gives me makes my sarcasm dissipate. He's serious, and upset. Right now is not a time for jokes.

"Sorry. Really, though, what's wrong?"

Cain closes his eyes, like he's in pain. When he opens them, there's water. I've never known Cain to cry. At least, not over thoughts in his head.

"I watch Charon and Dez preparing for their ceremony. They're so happy, with the life they created together. It's envious."

"You can be happy, too."

"Not like that."

"If dad can be, you can be."

He puffs his cigarette, blowing smoke out in a thick cloud.

"…Because he was born in this world. I don't feel like I belong. Or deserve that kind of happiness."

"What're you saying?"

"I was created, not born here. I don't belong. I'm different, than anyone else."

I toss my cigarette over the cliff, and lie down on my back, with my arms above my head.

"Hey you see the sun?"

I ask him, smiling.

"Yeah."

"It's bright, and warm."

"I know."

"Well, if we can see the sun the same way, why can't we see the world the same way, too?"

"What do you mean?"

I sit up, and lean my head against him.

"I don't think it matters really, who belongs in this world or not. I think it matters that you are, and that's it. There's androids, robots, ghouls and humans alike. Probably more things and beings we've never seen or heard of before. But that doesn't matter, because they're different. Everyone's different, Cain. In their own right, anyways. But we all enjoy the world, we all go through the same sadness, and we all wonder who we are. It's natural, to wonder about yourself. To want to belong. But isn't that awesome? Isn't that the most fun, to wonder about all these things? Because a lot of things can't. The plants that grow, the Wadsworths we create, they can't. But we can."

Cain looks at me, smiling. I look back up and him, and flash an even bigger smile.

"Sometimes, you're really wise, Diz."

"I'm sure dad had the same thoughts when he met mom. He started to wonder who he was, and where he belonged. In the end, he found it. I'm sure at the end of our story, we'll figure it out too."

I stand up, and he stands with me.

"In the meantime, mom is really worried sick about you. She's got a lot to worry about, so let's not push our luck anymore. The ceremony is tonight, and you know it's going to go until tomorrow. We should relax, and be happy today, like everyone else. We have centuries together, to worry about things. Let's take a few days not to."

Cain kisses my head, and hugs me on the cliff overlooking the Capitol Wasteland.

"Thank you, Diz."

I smile up at him, and we kiss. Giving him a smile, I tug him to get moving. Mom and dad are all sorts of nervous and busy. They don't really need us making them worry more. I guess…knowing that I'll be going clear across the country soon is kind of making me wise up here and there. Mature a bit. I see things differently.

Really, I've been thinking a lot about my parents. About how worried they're going to be. You know, it is a miracle I was even born. Dr. Barrows' pill could have not worked. Mom could have been too hurt to have kids. But somehow, everything played out. According to everyone involved, I was a healthy, happy, newborn baby. Gob said dad even cried when he first held me. That he…dad was…that dad was just so nervous.

It kinda makes me feel funny to think of it. You know, my dad being all sensitive. Gob says that he was, though. He was so happy, and proud. That he stayed up and counted all ten fingers, all ten toes, and when I had them all he laughed. But, I guess, with dad's past and all, a family to him was never plausible. Possible, really. So, thinking of it all, and how much they really went through, without glorifying and romanticizing everything, makes me…sad. It makes me see things differently, and appreciate them a lot more.

We head into Megaton, and everyone is scurrying about. Any excuse to celebrate, and they will. Cain has more color in his face than he did at the cliff. Being around me helps him more than he wants to admit. Still, I can see he's happier. Hopefully my words of uncharacteristic encouragement helped.

"I'm gonna go talk to dad, I'll see you later."

I tell him as he heads off into town. He's probably going to help the townsfolk get ready. I take a different direction and head back to the house. I really do want to talk to dad, and I figure by now he should be home. Walking into the kitchen, I see his shotgun on the table. Mom's gun isn't anywhere near it, so maybe she isn't home anymore.

"Dad?"

I call, looking into the sitting room. He's probably upstairs.

"I'm in my room, Dizzy."

I smirk as I walk up the steps.

"Hey, dad, I wanted to talk to you."

Opening his bedroom door, I almost gawk and laugh at what I see. He's dressed in some pre-war suit, trying to tie something long around his neck.

"What the hell are you wearing?"

Chuckling, I sit down on my parent's bed. Hey they do it to me.

"The suit for the ceremony."

"It isn't until midnight."

"I have to at least try it on. Your mother is wearing a pre-war dress."

Never have I seen him in anything but his armor. It's kind of refreshing to see him in something else. And strange. Very, very strange.

"You look like some New Vegas gangster."

"And how would you know what one looks like, Diz?"

"From what mom told me. You really do. It's kind of scary."

It is. Picture a six-foot eight or ten ghoul, all sorts of muscular and lean, dressed in a fitted pre-war suit. I'm so used to seeing dad in his armor, that I never would in a million years think of him wearing something else. He does look really intimidating in it though. Like he's going to hang me out the window by my foot if I don't pay up some caps. He finishes tying the thing around his neck, and tucks it into the suit. Pulling at his cufflinks, he shrugs his shoulders.

"Does it look alright? I haven't worn one of these since before Anchorage."

"Yeah, you look really intimidating."

"Maybe Cain should take it to New Vegas. It's dangerous out there. If I look intimidating in it, he will too."

"Dad, nobody is going to hurt me."

I sigh, rolling my eyes.

"You are my daughter, Dizzy. My only daughter. I am allowed to be worried about my child venturing so far from home in this day and age."

"You act like it's any more dangerous than pre-war."

"It is. Pre-war, nobody was allowed to kill or carry weapons."

"Trust me, dad, I'll be fine. I'm both you and mom combined, and nobody messed with you."

"Dizzy, everybody messed with your mother and I. That is why I am so worried."

Laying down and staring at the ceiling, I want to change the subject. He's going to have tons of time to lecture me tomorrow, later, or right before we leave.

"What was Anchorage, anyways?"

I ask him, genuinely curious.

"Anchorage was the war against the Chinese, in Alaska, before the bombs fell."

"Alaska?"

"A state up in Northern Canada, but part of the United States. Very cold, and very snowy."

"Sounds…weird."

"It was a weird time back then."

I look at him in his suit.

"Did all the guys back then wear those things?"

"Suits? Yes. It wasn't uncommon."

"Huh."

Dad gives me a look, and takes off the jacket to the suit. He gently folds it and places it on the old filing cabinet, and pulls up a chair.

"What do you need to talk to me about?"

I turn my head to face him, and sit up. I don't really know, exactly. I guess I just wanted to be near my dad.

"I dunno. I just wanted to see you. I'm going to be leaving really soon, and I want to make sure I don't forget what you look like."

"You'll be home soon enough, there won't be a need to worry."

"What if I really, really like it in New Vegas and don't wanna come home?"

"You won't. The Capitol Wasteland is your home, it always has been, and always will be. One day you'll wake up, miss it, and trudge back. New Vegas is very different than here. Lots of rules to follow, and dangers you've never faced before. You'll miss the Wasteland soon enough."

I don't want to admit it, but dad's probably right. I like it here, the lawlessness, the green grass that slowly spreads beyond Megaton, and the way the land is. There probably won't be grass in the Mojave Wasteland, and definitely no awesome stories of my parents to hear. I will come back home, and I figure both my parents know it. But both my parents also know I need to fly the nest and have my own life.

Dad stands up, and pulls me off the bed. He leads me downstairs, and into town. Silently, I follow him. It's his way of enjoying time with me, and vice versa, without either one of us having to say it. Together we help out the citizens of Megaton, who are all shocked to see him in his suit. We help prepare for the upcoming celebration, and make small talk along the way. As we're checking out the Brahmin, dad smiles at me.

"I'm proud of you, Dizzy. I know you'll be just fine out there."

It makes me smile. Years and years I've wanted nothing more than my father's approval and consent. I have both, and there's no real words to describe it. I'm going to do something great on my adventure. I'm going to make both mom and dad prouder than they've ever been. I can't wait.