The sun shined bright as the Pride scavenged the area the Enclave had taken over before Stockholm decided to end their operations. Sarah had actually considered recruiting the man into the Brotherhood, but the man had actually shut her down. Shaking her head, she watched as the scribes finished loading the rest of the Enclave's equipment in the new vertibird and took off; leaving the Pride in a cloud of dust.

"Sentinel, scribes radioed that the bird is flying great and they'll be at the Citadel before we know it." Kodiak said as he walked up; his rifle slung across his chest. "The sheriff asked that we come in and relax. Apparently, they're having a party tonight."

Sarah glanced over at her squad member; his smirk making her roll her eyes. "Hmm, does this have anything to do with the fact that the Stahls have opened up they're new moonshine still?"

Shrugging was difficult to do in power armor was difficult, but somehow Kodiak had managed to master the act. He glanced over at her and she couldn't help but feel like he was staring too intently. Staring out into the Wastes, she crossed her arms and sighed.

"Kodiak, stop staring…you know how it makes me feel when you do that." Sarah muttered, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear.

"Sar- "

"Kodiak, no." Sarah cut him off before turning on her heel and heading towards the gates of Megaton. Kodiak trailed on her heels, his face darkening from embarrassment. "We'll stay the night; inform the Pride."

Kodiak halted in his tracks as he watched his superior and former fling continue on her way into the city. Sighing, he turned to go and round up the rest of Pride; he already decided on having a few shots before the party even started.

Xxxxx

"Becca, why're we going back early? I thought we would be up on your spaceship thing for a couple days?" I asked, shouldering my satchel of alien weapons as we stepped off from the transporter. It still astounded me that I was actually in space and well, I probably should have spent more time actually checking out the ship instead of the captain's cabin.

"Well, when I was in the Gobstopper…the bar, Gob told me that since the trade caravans were stopping at Megaton; they were going to throw a little party." Rebecca replied, Dogmeat trailing behind her as we walked side by side. "Also, Elliot is wanting to stretch his legs a little and Sally needs to play with someone who is from this planet."

Laughing at her joke, I glanced behind me at the strange duo. Elliot still wore his winter combat armor and Sally was dressed in a Pre-War dress that they had found on the ship. Sally was skipping along and couldn't stop talking about how the sky looked so blue. Honestly, I thought it looked more grey, but after being cooped up on the ship for so long I could understand her.

"Hey, Andrew, what was everything like after I disappeared?" Elliot asked, his rifle slung as he trailed behind us. "After the campaign, how'd you end up here?"

Slowing my steps, I walked beside him, cradling my rifle in my arms. "Well, where to start really?" I nodded in Rebecca's direction. "She and the Brotherhood found me in a White House cryopod that was reserved for the Vice President."

"What? Why were you in his pod?" Elliot asked, his eyebrows raised.

We were making good time, passing by a few burnt buildings I had recognized. Sally had taken my place by Rebecca and was currently holding hands with her while they chatted about things I couldn't hear.

"After we took Alaska, I was reassigned to the White House; specifically guarding the VP. With all the bombs going off and chaos, people panicked." I explained, returning to the conversation. "Civilians stormed the grounds and shot up the House; including the Vice. He ordered me to get in the pod and protect the others in the pods. Which I promptly failed as soon as I stepped in."

Grimacing at the memory, I glanced over at Elliot who ran a hand through his hair. "I am really sorry, man, I can relate though. After I was taken, I only felt remorse because I failed my squad and the rest of the men and women I left behind. Now, I'm trying to make up for it with her."

I couldn't help but notice the look on his face as he stared at the back of Rebecca's head. His face began to blush as some unknown thoughts went through his head. I sighed heavily and apparently loudly as Elliot quickly snapped his gaze away.

"Andrew, I'm sorry…"

Placing my hand on his shoulder, I smirked. "Bro, I should be the one who's sorry. I show up after being a popsicle and begin messing around with the girl who saved your life."

Elliot grinned at my popsicle joke; which had become my trademark joke for anyone who asked where I had been. "I definitely understand being a popsicle; which I'm taking that joke by the way. It's just that I figured I would finally be able to tell her how I felt, but then you came along man. Guess you're still the man who steals all the ladies."

"Aww dude, that was one time…How long you gonna hold that over me?" I asked, groaning as I stepped over a burnt skeleton.

"Hey, not my fault you stole the girl from me every time." Elliot laughed before unslinging his rifle and clapping me on the shoulder. "Let's finish this when we get to town."

Nodding as he took up the rear position, I turned back to the Wastes, breathing in deep as I watched a little girl laugh and not care about a thing in the world. It felt good to see that after the short time I've been here.

Xxxx

After a long hot shower, I threw on a pair of pants and t-shirt and made my way out of Rebecca's house; Dogmeat trailing behind me. Dozens of people were out and about for the party and I laughed at Walter as he struggled to hang lights on the catwalk above.

"You good, Walter?"

"Ah, son…these damn lights will probably be the death of me…or the purification plant." Walter grumbled before finishing the lights and dusting his hands off on his shirt. "Ah, go to the party, don't listen to this old man."

Nodding, I continued on my way to the center of town where the Stahls were serving up drinks beside Gob and the smell of roasting Brahmin wafted through the air. Dogmeat rushed off to see find the food and I had a drink pressed into my hand by a passing Pride member who, for some reason, still wore his power armor. Nodding thanks, I sipped at the cold beer and made small talk with a few of the townspeople. One man gave me a kabab and I munched on it like a man possessed because I hadn't eaten since we left Zeta.

"Uh, hungry much?"

Turning around I caught myself staring at Sarah Lyons in a dress. A dress. Like what the hell? She cocked an eyebrow before beginning to rub her arm nervously. "Seriously, Becher, stop staring; you're making me uncomfortable."

Swallowing my food quickly, I chucked the stick into a nearby trash bin. "Well, uh…just not a sight I thought I'd ever see. How's it going, Sentinel?"

Sitting up on the bar, Sarah signaled one of the Stahls for a beer. Pressing it to her lips, she guzzled a quarter of it before turning back to me. "Well, first off, it's just Sarah tonight. Second, I'm starting to regret wearing this damn dress and third, well…third doesn't matter."

Sipping on my own beer, I leaned on the bar, absently playing with a stale pretzel. "Hmm how bout you tell me about the third one real quick?"

"I'm going to need a whole lot more of this in me before I get into that." Sarah replied, draining her beer and ordering another. "Hey, how'd your trip to Zeta go? Becca said it was just a normal supply run, but she blushed and Becca doesn't blush often."

"Uh, well, what do you want to know?" I scratched at my eyebrow, trying to figure out how to explain what went on. Thankfully, I was saved by a very drunk man collapsing against me.

"Heyyy, buddy…where's that sexy Lonely Wanderer? I'll make sure she won't be-hu!" I cut the man off by grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and throwing him to the dirt. The man laid there moaning before rolling over and puking up chunks of meat before passing out.

"Damn, party barely started and you're already bashing drunks, Drew?" Elliot gestured to the man, steeping over him. "Ah, Sarah, how're you?"

"Getting through life one drink at a time, you?" Sarah said, turning in her stool and immediately rolled her eyes. "You better not start staring too."

Laughing, Elliot shook his head. "Didn't plan on it, but now that you mention it you look very nice."

Blushing, actually blushing, Sarah smiled and tucked a lock of hair behind her head. I smirked at the sight and then my ears perked at the sound of instruments being tuned and then playing songs I had heard from before. Looking in that direction, I grinned at the sight of an impromptu band playing the Ink Spots and the crowd began pairing off; dancing to the music.

Nudging Elliot, I nodded my head toward Sarah who had her foot tapping to the music. The man grinned and took the unsaid advice; walking to the woman and offering his hand. I smirked as Sarah blushed and then accepted to being led out to the dancing area; disappearing in the crowd.

"So, you can get others to dance, but what about you?"

Turning my head, I found myself shocked again by Rebecca standing in a red dress; her hands clasped behind her back as she swayed to the music. Grinning, she brushed her hair out of her eyes and walked up to me; placing a hand on my chest.

"I love this song so better hurry."

Taking her hand, I led her to the crowd and spun her around before pulling her close. The music played gently and I couldn't help, but grin as a man began singing. Music I listened to in Alaska and that got me through many long nights. I held her close and I could smell the perfume coming off her skin and I smiled at the scent; Rebecca looked up at me and grinned.

"What're you thinking about?" She asked, her hands clasped behind my head as we swayed to the song. "I know you're thinking bout something because you had the same look on your face in bed last night."

"Just how things have changed so much, but how there is still something worth it all out here. How there is a certain person out here that is worth it." I bent my head down and kissed her lips.

"Hmm is that person standing right here?" She asked, kissing my cheek.

I smirked, pulling her close again and then spun her around again. I laughed as I caught sight of Elliot doing the same to Sarah; who was grinning from ear to ear. Rebecca caught sight of the two and laughed as well.

"It's good to see her smile like that. She doesn't do that very often; the hardass." Rebecca joked, her hair wrapping around her neck as she twirled into my arms and then back out.

"Well, we can't all be serious the entire time, miss Wanderer. Besides, when you're the leader of a paramilitary squad, you have to be pretty serious." I joked, sighing as the music died down and the band began the next song; an original it sounded like. "So, next song?"

Smirking, Rebecca pressed herself against my chest and I felt a chill go up my spine as she pressed her lips against my neck. "Come and get me."

Pushing away, she made her way through the crowd and up the steps towards her house. Running a hand over my head, I smirked before I took off after her. Only thing that went through my head at the time was that I sure hope Elliot was having as much luck as me.

Author's Note

Wow, so I definitely haven't updated this in a while and I reread it; decided to see if I could start it up again. I hope yall enjoy this chapter and leave me a nice review to get me going again!