To say that Doctor Li was hysterical would have been an understatement.

She chewed James out for being reckless for about 15 minutes before the man gave her his proposal to work on Project Purity again.

Maverick stood to the side with Leyah, watching the spectacle. Who would have thought he would be roped into helping the project his parents helped protect back in the day?

James finally talked the science team of Rivet City into going over to Project Purity and that was when he and Leyah were roped in.

They scoured every part of the Jefferson Memorial, not finding a thing out of place. Even the super mutants they killed were right where they left them.

"It's safe!" Leyah announced as they stepped outside.

It took a good part of the day to get all of the muties out of building and get everything organized. Maverick was stuck on mutie clearing duty while Leyah helped her dad with technical shit.

He happened to be walking by them and overheard their conversation and it made him stop in his tracks around the corner.

"So what is your plan now, Sweetie? I would like it if you stayed and helped us here."

Leyah's hum of thought barely sounded over the whir of the machines around them. "I don't really know what I want to do, Dad. I honestly wanted to go back to Megaton. I have a house and could do odd jobs around there for a while."

"What about Maverick?"

"What about him?"

James must have just made a look because Leyah sighed.

"Just get it out already," she huffed.

"Sweetie, I trust you and your judgement, but I know how people can be out here. I don't want you to get hurt or used and—"

Leyah just started to laugh and that must have caused James to pause.

"What's so funny?" he demanded.

"The fact you used Maverick and using someone in the same sentence. It's impossible. You know what he did at Springvale before I met him? He took in people and taught them tricks all the time. The other woman who lives in Springvale told me he asks for nothing in return."

James was silent and he sighed.

"And Daddy, he may be an asshole most of the time, but he truly is kind underneath it all. Why else would he take the time to teach people how to fight and survive? Why would he treat ghouls normally even if the Brotherhood hates them? Maverick is one of the most selfless people I know, and that's why I care about him."

Maverick leaned back against the wall as his chest felt tight. Selfless? Him? He never would apply that word to himself, but Leyah's voice was soft and full of something he couldn't recognize and it made him feel giddy inside knowing she thought that way. He grinned and continued down the stairs toward where the next mutie corpse was waiting for him and the others on the science team.

Words couldn't express the feeling he had the rest of the day.

Leyah was almost lost.

Now that she found her dad, she didn't have a goal. No overpowering purpose out here. Now, she really was just a wanderer. Thankfully, Maverick has been at this for years and he steered her in a direction. "Let's head to Rivet City and see if those caravans brought anything worthwhile before heading back home," he said, frowning down at an old pistol they found and were planning to sell. He grunted and took the mag out before disassembling it with ease.

Leyah still couldn't believe how quickly he was able to scrap something and turn it into something else.

One question burned in her brain after a certain conversation with her dad. He asked her what she would do if Maverick wanted to go back to the Brotherhood. What did she want to do? She didn't take long to come to her decision. She knew that if he wanted to go back, she would gladly follow. She wanted to see him happy again, like the time they ran into the Lyon's Pride. He seemed to carefree and she never saw him smile so much in one go.

To have him be happy all the time would be worth it.

She realized something really important when she woke up from Tranquility Lane. She remembered how happy she felt when Maverick's face was the first one she saw and the way he was looking at her caused her heart to thud against her chest.

She loved him.

He was the first person she wanted to see and the pain she felt from going behind his back to save her dad made her realize it.

It didn't take her until when they were walking out of Vault 112 to put a name to her feelings.

He had casually strolled ahead of her and Dad, shot gun propped on his shoulder and unlit cigarette hanging out of his mouth. Leyah just felt something shift inside her as she stared at his broad back. She realized she couldn't imagine life without him now and she would be damned if she didn't let him know.

But how?

They made it to Rivet City after promising her dad to visit as soon as possible. She wandered toward A Quick Fix to sell all of the chems she and Mav found while travelling and Mav headed over to Flak and Shrapnel's. She almost yelped when a woman basically ran into her.

The woman's dark brown eyes widened and she stumbled back from Leyah. "Stay back! You're one of them, aren't you?"

Leyah stared at the woman, bewildered. "One of who? I'm not going to hurt you."

The woman eyed her suspiciously for a moment, biting her lip.

"Why are you so scared?" Leyah asked quietly, stepping closer to her.

The woman pulled Leyah toward her and brought her lips close to her ear. "I'm a runaway slave, and there's a slaver named Sister on this ship and I'm afraid he's after me."

Rage boiled in Leyah's gut at the news. "If I give you 25 caps, you can buy a small gun from Flak and Shrapnel. It will be easy to hide and use if you are ever in danger," Leyah said quietly, understanding why this woman needed as much discretion as possible.

She placed the roll of caps into her hand. "What's your name?"

"Mei. Mei Wong."

"Take care of yourself, Mei."

Leyah turned to go back to her own business, hoping the runaway would be alright, but Mei's hand on her arm stopped her. "If you're interested, there's more people like me in a place north of here. They're the Temple of the Union." She pointed to a spot on Leyah's pip-boy map, which happened to be up. "They could really use an act of kindness right now."

And she walked away.

Dumbfounded, Leyah put a marker on her map.

She managed to sell the chems and Maverick noticed her troubled expression when they met up at the restaurant.

"Alright, who asked for help now?" he grumbled, biting into a mirelurk cake.

Leyah bit her lip and leaned forward across the table. "A runaway slave," she whispered.

Maverick almost choked on his food. "What the shit did they want?" he hissed.

"I gave her some caps so she could buy a gun to protect herself. There's a slaver on this ship."

Maverick's brow furrowed and he cursed colorfully. "It's Sister. I think I saw a part of the slaver tattoo on his wrist."

Leyah nodded grimly. "She knew who he was. And she's watching him."

"And you gave her enough caps for a gun?"

She nodded again.

"Good job, Vaultie. But I have a feeling that's not the only thing she mentioned to you."

Leyah huffed. "And what made you think that?"

"Because people can never ask for just one thing from you. What happened?"

Dammit, he knew her too well. "I'll tell you outside," she said, noticing that Sister was walking into the marketplace.

Luckily, Mei was nowhere to be seen.