Chapter 41: James Bond

"So... Charon, what are your intentions for my little girl?" James asked coolly.

The question caught me off guard, seeming nothing to do with our current situation. Eleanor and Dogmeat walked several yards behind us. The grouchy man was getting heavier with each passing conversation, my arm loosening around his waist slowly.

"I do not understand the question."

He scoffed. "You may look dumb but I know you aren't. What do you plan to do with my daughter?"

I let out a long sigh. Dropping him and leaving him where he fell seemed a better idea than ever. "If you are talking about sticking around for the child, she and I have already discussed it on multiple occasions. When she first found out she was pregnant... I was the one happy for her. She was devastated. She says it took months of convincing her that this could be a good thing. It took her almost losing the child to realize she wanted to be a mother." I paused to scan the surroundings. "I wasn't lying when I said I was the father. She asked and I declined at first. I assumed she wouldn't want a ghoul for a child's father. Eventually, I gave in and now I am delighted to be a parent."

He nodded, accepting the long answer. "And what will you do when the kid grows up and realizes that ghouls cannot have children?"

"Then Eleanor and I will sit them down and tell them the truth."

He was silent for now, much to may delight. The sun was beginning to come up over the horizon. The destroyed city of D.C. was a silhouette in the morning sun. I could make out breaks in buildings that were skeletons compared to what they once were. Days like these made me think about the war. How could people be so stupid?

James cleared his throat to get my attention. I grunted in acknowledgment. "How did you two meet?"

That was definitely one question I didn't want to answer. I wasn't about to tell him she bought me off a sleazy bar keeper and I was sure as shit not telling him about my contract. "I was a mercenary for hire and now I am in... semi-permanent employment to her."

I could feel his eyes attempt to burn holes into my head. "A mercenary, huh? You a good one?"

"She's alive, isn't she?" I snorted.

"I see you're a real jokester when it comes to my daughter. I guess you don't take her safety as seriously as she thinks." He said flatly.

I stopped in my tracks. "Her safety is my job. Her happiness is my goal."

He turned his head up to look at the sky. "And why is that?"

My heels spun to face Eleanor. "Because we both love her."

Dogmeat yipped at Eleanor's ankles. She barked out a laugh and jumped with the dog happily. James chuckled at the sight.

"You don't know how thankful I am that, despite the circumstances, she has still retained some of her innocence."

I turned back to continue walking. We were near Megaton, so maybe we could stop and rest for a few hours before leaving again. "Hey, Elle, you think we could stop in Megaton for a bit? I haven't had real sleep since the morning we left."

"Sure thing. Dad, you can sleep on the sofa." She landed on the ground with Dogmeat. "Don't worry, it's comfortable."

"Alright, sweetie." He checked to make sure she was occupied with Dogmeat. "So, what are you going to do if Butch is ever back in the picture?"

Why the hell did these two people like talking about this Butch asshole so much. Just thinking about him and Eleanor made sick with some feeling I can't even place. "He won't."

"Well, what if he doe-"

I sighed. "I don't know, okay? I don't know what I'll do. I don't know what she'll do either. She's... unpredictable."

"She may be a live firework, but she's not a cheater if that is what you're implying." His tone was offended and annoying.

"Then don't plant the seed of doubt in my head on purpose." I finally dropped him in a heap on the ground.

Eleanor gasped and rushed to her father. He had the smile of a bastard who knew exactly why he had been dropped. "Charon, that was totally rude! Why did you do that?"

"He had it coming." I snorted and turned on my heel.

"Come get him! I sure as hell can't lift him."

"Are you trying to say I'm fat, Eleanor? You know, that's very hurtful. I know I haven't necessarily kept myself in good shape but I was a single parent." He smiled like a jackass at Eleanor's distress.

"Very funny." She stepped over him, making sure to drag her boot across his smug face.

He spit the dust out of his mouth. "Honey, I brought you into this world, I'm sure you know the rest."

"Yeah yeah, you can take me out of it." She pulled my arm and gestured towards James.

I sighed and wrapped an arm around his waist again, but instead of leaving any dignity, I lifted him up by the waist and held him under my arm like a sack. Eleanor sighed tiredly and accepted it. James didn't bother complaining, he knew he deserved this.

"I can see Megaton from here, Charon. We should pick the pace up." She cast a glance over her shoulder and her hair swept across her face.

She was beautiful. And she was mine.

"Eleanor?" I called out.

"Yeah?"

I ignored James's stares. "I love you."

She gave me a quizzical look. "I love you too. Any reason you're just... all out like that?"

"I'm not trying to make a point to your father at all. Actually, I just wanted you to know."

She tossed her head back in a genuine laugh. "Okay, Charon. We'll continue this at home."