So sorry for the absence! I was in the hospital due to some personal reasons. I had part of this chapter written already but my computer crashed before it saved.

Chapter 18

The cold morning air bit my cheeks and stung my ears through my fresh gauze. Addie held my hand loosely and swung our arms back and forth the way younger couples tend to do. The cracked mountain road leading to the mutant town was winding and seemed to never end. Addie didn't mind one bit.

After several minutes, the gates to Jacobstown came into view over the hill and a mutant on guard was watching us through its scope. Addie released my hand and started waving her arms over her head and the mutant lowered its rifle and waved back. She took off in a sprint carelessly and met up with the guard. Addie smiled and introduced me to "Marcus", the super mutant governor.

"I see Addalia has found a new companion. Lily has missed her quite a bit. She would love to talk with her before you leave. Addalia tells me you two are on a quest." The mutant spoke clearly and intelligently. "Might I ask what you are searching for?"

Addie's smile faded a little. "I'm looking for my daughter. Do you know anyone I might be able to ask about my past?"

Marcus scratched his chin in thought. "Were you not traveling through the Mojave Express?"

Addie nodded.

"Have you checked into your profile at the office?"

Addie's face froze in shock. "I-I hadn't thought to look there. I don't even know where they are. I don't remember it at all."

A vague memory rose from the back of my mind and I remembered something that could be important. "I believe there was an outpost in the town known as Primm."

Her smile returned and she took my hands in hers. "Daniel, thank you so much. We should leave soon."

Marcus put a hand over her shoulder to get her attention. "Addalia, there are a few things that have changed since you left. The Legion has outposts everywhere and they patrol every inch of the Mojave. The roads are not safe."

Her body sagged a little. "How are we going to get to Primm? It's not like we can go through the Quarry. I would like to keep my ass in one piece."

"I am also not welcome in these parts. I was exiled and set on fire. Not a very nice goodbye from the Legion. We might have to travel in disguise."

Addie nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we should do that here. Marcus, I should really go see Lily."

Marcus smiled and waved as we walked away. "I wish you luck on your journey, friend."

Addie thanked him and tugged me along as the mutants glared at me. Legion and mutants did not go well. Even ex-Legion. We stopped in front of a nightkin with a sunhat and watering pale with her back to us. Although mutants had all been desexualixed permanently, many had retained their old gender characteristics. The mutant looked over her shoulder to see the new visitors and squealed a terrifying laughter.

"My baby! I haven't seen you since you left for college!" The mutant growled out cheerfully.

Her schizophrenia had reached severe levels and warped her understanding, but she was happy at least. Addie hugged her tightly and the mutant run her thick fingers through Addie's hair. "I missed you so much!"

Lily took notice of me and smiled a large grin, one that both horrified me but somehow also made me feel welcome. "Who have we here?"

Addie blushed and pulled away to wrap an arm around my waist and lean into me. "This is Joshua. He's sort of my boyfriend or something."

Before I could say anything, Lily had gasped loudly and pulled me to her at arms length and stared me up and down. "And what makes you think that you're good enough for my little Addeline?"

My body was stiff with shock. "I don't know ma'am. We just have-"

"Oh calm down, sugar.!" Lily chuckled and released me. "You act like I bite. Actually, I have done that before. But not when Leo is quiet."

Addie laughed her off and pulled me back to safety. "You are too funny, granny. We have to leave soon. I'm looking for my daughter."

Lily gasped again and held her face in surprise. "You never told me I have a great-grand baby!"

Addie held a hand to her face and blushed. "Yeah, I need to find her and you can meet her. Joshua and I are looking for my family."

Lily's face twitched unnaturally in what was akin to a smile. "I'm sure you'll find her in no time, sweetie. You always had good luck with finding what you were looking for."

Addie stood rigid and lost in thought. "Alright, granny. I need to leave again. I'm heading to Primm."

The mutant nodded in understanding and smiled. "Alright, dear. I love you and stay safe."

The two hugged and Lily nodded to me. I led Addie towards the road back down the mountain. The air warmed as we descended into the desert. About halfway down, Addie finally spoke again for the first time since she told Lily goodbye.

"I don't think I ever thanked you," she said somberly.

I kneaded a bit of loose gauze between my thumb and forefinger. "For what?"

Her voice had a small crack as she spoke. "For not letting me do what I went to Zion to do."

I had not forgotten her plans to kill herself in Zion. It was always in the back of my mind when we were almost asleep after hours of passion. The thought of her having taken her life only made me feel the pain from my burns more intensely. Had she killed herself, I would still be the monster I thought I had buried alive.

"I don't know what I would do without you, Addie. I don't think I could go on if anything were to happen to you."

we were quiet again for some time. A question floating in my mind was budging its way out of me. "Addie?"

"Hm?"

"What is 'Addie' short for?"

She chuckled for a second. The question stood in the air so long that I thought she would never answer it. "You would never be able to guess."

I waited for her to continue.

She sighed heavily before speaking."It's short for 'Cordelia'. I have no idea why my parents called me 'Addie' all the time."

She was right. I never would have guessed. It was a rather unusual name, and even stranger to have been shortened to 'Addie'. It had taken several moments to realize I had yet to respond.

"Did I leave you speechless?" She asked, teasing me.

I shook my head. "Would you prefer to be called by your full name?"

She snorted, astounded. "Joshua, if I wanted to go by 'Cordelia', don't you think I would have introduced myself to everyone as that?"

She had a point. Cordelia might also remind her of her family and I could see why she would want to distance herself from triggering topics. "Why don't you correct people that call you names other than 'Addie'?"

She shrugged. "It's not that big of a deal. I mean, if they are looking for me, they know to call me "Courier" instead of an actual name. Everyone in the Mojave knows me by that. Like how everyone knows you as the legendary Burned Man."

"That's understandable."

She nodded. "I can see the Lucky 38 from here. If you don't mind, I have some stuff to pick up from my place. I know a secret short cut that we can use to get through and it comes out right behind Gomorrah. We'll need disguises though."

Visiting the Strip was risky but Addie usually knew what she was doing when it came to being sneaky. I would stay with he and keep her safe.