Chapter 12

The air was cool and crisp, like fresh water. The sun was coming up over the canyon, bathing the valley in warm orange.

My makeshift pack was loaded down with food and blankets. Addie carried the water and most of the ammunition in her pack. She shouldered the bag and stretched one last time before we started the search for her daughter.

She threw quick glances and shy smiles in my direction as we made our final goodbyes around the tribe. As we waded through the water towards the Northern Passage, she entwined her fingers in mine. Squeezing her hand lightly, I kissed her chastely on the top of her head.

"It will probably take a few days to get through the passage, so we need to ration out the food wisely."

She nodded and waded faster through the river. Fish swam around her knees carefree. She cupped her hands in the water and splashed my chest with a giggle.

I swung my arms under the water, causing a small wave to hit her body. When the water settled, her wet hair covered her hair. She swiped her hair back with a grin. "You're an asshole, you know that?"

"I am well aware. I am also aware of you having started this."

She pushed me and tried running through the water, managing halfway. I chased her, splashing up water every few seconds. She yelped and kicked water back.

Before we knew it, the Passage stood before us. Addie pulled her wet clothes away from her body loudly and stepped onto the banks. I followed her up the slopes leading to the passage.

I stopped in front of the opening, staring into the dark depths. There may be no coming back, but for Addie, it would be worth it. Zion would always be my home, but I was no longer needed here. I was, however, needed with Addie and her daughter.

This would be the next chapter of my life, assuming that we found the child and the rest of her family. Addie had never spoken of her sister before yesterday.

Addie stopped when she noticed I had not moved. She cast a worried look my way, thinking I may have changed my mind. I took my first step and she visibly relaxed. My feet worked of their own accord as we walked through the winding path.

"I know this is hard for you. I've had to leave my home before... I like to think of it as finding my new home with Amelia."

I finally began feeling like I was truly in the moment, instead of my body just accepting what was going on. "Have you just begun remembering your family?"

She was quiet for a moment. "Yeah. I don't know how my memory works. It just sort of remembers things slowly."

"That is how amnesia works, Addie. It may all come to you some day, it may not. You just have to accept either outcome."

"I know. I just wish I could pick and choose what I remember." She clicked on her Pipboy light to see.

"Do you have any memory of where you last saw your family?"

She was silent again, but continued walking. Her expression was a mixture of sadness and deep thought. "I think I remember leaving Amelia at my sister's before I left to get the Platinum Chip. I don't remember where Serenity lives though. I need to ask around if anyone knows her or the rest of my family."

Remembering many tribes and towns from my Legion days often led to memories of taking over them. I conquered many towns in the Mojave while I was Legate. "What is your family's name?"

"Maye. Why?"

I dug deeper into my thoughts. I tried desperately to remember anyone by the last name Maye. I could only remember one man named Darren Maye. I couldn't remember where I met him or if he lived.

"You alright?" Addie asked.

I shook out of my thoughts. "Yes, I was just trying to see if I remember anyone with your last name. I can only think of a Darren Maye. His name is the only thing I remember."

Addie's eyes grew wider in surprise. "I think that's my uncle."

"I wish I could recall where he was when I met him."

We continued on our way through the passage. The cave walls blended together in a boring mix of brown. The mushrooms glowing green along the path were very little help when it came to lighting. Addie eventually turned on her radio and hummed along with the songs that came through the static

We hadn't spoken much since we left Zion, but it wasn't an uncomfortable silence to hang around the air There was just simply nothing left to say at the moment.

I watched as she kicked rocks down the path. The pebbles clacked against the walls loudly when they bounced around. She stopped after the rocks got boring.

She sighed loudly. When I didn't react, she gave me a look and sighed very dramatically. I smiled gently.

"What?"

"It's so fucking boring. I don't remember it being so lousy when I was with the caravan."

"I apologize for not being as entertaining as them."

She dug through the bag couriers keep by their sides. She produced a small book and flipped through it.

"Hey, knock knock." She said without looking up from the book.

"Who's there?" I asked.

"The cow goes."

I braced myself for an awful pun. "The cow goes who?"

"No, dumb ass. The cow goes moo."

I looked at her with a weird grin. "That was awful."

She laughed genuinely. "I know."

Hours passed as we swapped the book back and forth telling stupid jokes and tongue twisters. It was the most fun I have had in such a boring atmosphere.

I noticed that the more time I spent around Addie, the more she pulled me into her childlike antics. It was refreshing compared to the hardships of adulthood.

Something told me that no matter what would happen to Addie, she would never truly give up being a child. And that, I respect her for.