2035.
Moving Forward.

Chell woke up gradually, feeling at ease, peaceful and warm, her body buzzing with a pleasant kind of ache. She stirred, trying to stretch, and the arms around her waist tightened their grip. Smiling, she reached for the topmost hand, threading her tanned fingers through his pale ones. She felt the scratch of his re-growing beard as he planted a kiss on the back of her shoulder. Chell shifted in his arms, turning onto her other side so she could see his face.

Doug wore a soft smile, his mismatched eyes full of warmth. There was a shred of caution to be seen in them too, and she knew that he was a little concerned, as she was, about where they stood and how they'd move forward. Like her, he seemed to be largely confident about the developments, but daylight brought reality with it.

"Good morning," he said quietly.

"Hi," she replied, almost in a whisper, a little afraid that her voice would be gone again. When she heard herself, her single word as clear and soft as her voice had ever been, she couldn't help breaking into a grin.

Doug's smile widened, and he reached out a hand to trace light circles on her arm, seemingly for no other reason than because he could.

"Is it still raining?" she asked, lifting her head off the pillow to listen.

"Yes. We might be stuck here for another day or so."

That prospect didn't bother her as much as it had before, strangely enough. She ran her fingers down his cheek, unable to help herself, needing to connect. Leaning forward, she kissed him softly, sweetly, still getting used to the fact that she could now act on the stray thoughts she'd always had to quell. Neither of them seemed in a hurry to break apart.

"Are you hungry?" Doug asked when they finally came up for air. "We skipped dinner last night."

"So we did," Chell said, remembering, letting out a small, slightly embarrassed laugh. "I haven't done that in years. I mean…you know, for this reason. Sure. I guess we have to get up some time."

"Unfortunately, yes."

A short while later, seated side by side with cups of instant coffee and cans of fruit, they fell into a comfortable silence, one that felt much more bearable than the awkwardness of recent days. Chell couldn't quite believe that so much had changed between them in just a few hours, and yet, on the whole, nothing had changed. And the things that were different were proving to be exhilarating to explore. She hadn't really appreciated just how much she'd been concealing, not just from Doug, but from herself too. She'd never consciously admitted her attraction to him – whenever that had happened – and she knew that the L word had remained safely shut away in her subconscious. The constant butterflies that she'd been feeling had all but vanished, having been a result of her unacknowledged fear of her feelings not being returned.

That everything had come to the fore now that they were free was not surprising. What they'd been trying to achieve at Aperture, both before and after GLaDOS, had been an ongoing distraction from anything else in their lives, and it had slowed the development of their relationship quite severely.

It was still there, though, Chell reflected, sipping her coffee. I never saw it at the time, but it was definitely there. No wonder I stopped going out on dates. No one else interested me at all. And god…no wonder we were both so scared when he put me in stasis…

"We've been total idiots," she mused aloud.

Doug nodded slowly, never taking his eyes off his coffee cup. "So many other people saw it," he commenting, proving that his thoughts were turning over the same things hers were.

"I used to get annoyed with them," Chell recalled. "I thought it was narrow-minded of them to think that a man and a woman can't be close friends without anything else going on. And here we are proving them right. That's…really irritating."

Doug laughed quietly. "I've missed your way with words. But you became pretty close with Adam from Test Subject Observation, didn't you? Are you saying you had feelings for him too?"

She knew he was teasing her, but she nudged his shoulder with hers, exclaiming, "No! It was totally different with him, I didn't ever get distracted or catch myself fantasising about…" She trailed off, eyes wide. "And I'm going to stop right there."

"Oh," Doug said, the word laced with equal parts amusement and disappointment.

Chell covered her mouth with her hand, but she couldn't help laughing. "I guess that actually proves my point though," she said at length, lowering it. "Adam was a true friend, but you…you were always going to be more than that. I just…didn't realise it."

"You're the closest friend I've ever had," Doug told her softly, "but if I'd known that that's what you would become the first time you rushed into Image Formatting, I might have tried harder not to think about you the way I did."

Chell raised her eyebrows in surprise but said nothing.

"Then when you told me who you were, it was a shock, to say the least."

"Because I was a kid when you first met me?" she asked.

"No, it wasn't that. I was a kid too," he replied at once. "I may have been eighteen, but I was naïve and immature. No, it was because you were the one who'd seen what I'd seen, with Darren Wheatley. That experience…it made me feel a bond with you that I had to take seriously. And when you confirmed that you'd come back to Aperture for the same reasons I did, I knew we were still tied together, that…we'd form a partnership. I couldn't afford to let myself get distracted from that."

"I knew we'd form a partnership too," Chell admitted, smiling. "But as for the rest…that was a welcome surprise."

Doug chuckled briefly before draining his coffee cup. "Yes. In hindsight, it really was."

The rain lessened as the day went on, but they didn't pay much attention to it. Instead, they spent their time relaxing, simply enjoying being together, and they talked. Chell tried hard not to overuse her voice, worried that it would disappear again, but she found it difficult. There was so much to say that she'd never written out, so much to elaborate on what she had. She gave Doug a more complete account of her experiences in Aperture, telling him all the details she'd had to leave out for the sake of paper space. Her concerns, however, she still kept to herself. She'd vowed to tell him about them, but she didn't really know where to begin, and she couldn't bring herself to shatter the tranquillity that had settled over them.

I will, though, she told herself firmly. Before anything more…intimate happens, I will tell him.

But that promise proved difficult to keep, turning out to be a fight that she lost laughably quickly. Time, she knew, would calm the fire between them, but it was still new, still intense and addicting, and she couldn't refuse it. Chell had been forced to become quite proficient at communicating without words, but never had it been so easy to understand, and be understood, so completely than when her world was nothing but Doug and herself and the intensity between them in their heated moments. She could look into his eyes and know that she was loved, accepted, important, and know that she was telling him exactly the same. It was heady and intoxicating, unlike anything she'd ever experienced with a lover before. Although the physical side of it was wonderful and breath-taking, it was the sense of connection that she found so hard to resist.

Afterwards, as they lay in repose, catching their breath, Chell scolded herself for getting swept up again. It would be so easy to simply stay where they were, forget anything about finding their place in the world, or finding Gordon Freeman, or dealing with the Borealis. The half-ruined farmhouse had become their sanctuary, their refuge, and she knew she'd be strangely sad when the weather let them move on.

"Doug," she began quietly, idly tracing patterns on his chest with her fingertips. "There's something I need to tell you, and…it's…awkward. I meant to say it earlier, but…I guess I didn't want to spoil things."

His head tilted, and she leaned back to meet his gaze.

"I, uh…I know this seems kind of presumptuous, but…I also know that neither of us would have let this happen if it wasn't going to be something lasting, maybe even…" She stumbled over the word 'permanent', finding it too scary to say aloud, like tempting fate.

"Yes," Doug murmured, apparently grasping what she was trying to say.

"The thing is…there's a chance I can't have children," she spat out in a rush. "Angela came with me to the doctor, and he said that there could be side effects from how long I spent in suspension. My body, my cycle…they're messed up."

Doug looked at her first with surprise, then with concern. "Is it dangerous for you?"

"No. It's…kind of like an early menopause, I guess."

He let out a relieved breath. "That's good."

She frowned. "Yes, but…what about…?"

"Chell, all I want is you. I've never seriously thought about having kids. I'm…not sure I'm capable of taking care of someone else."

"But what if you become sure?"

He fixed her with a steady gaze. "If we reach a point where we make that decision…we'll find a way. We could adopt."

Chell shook her head. "But you've seen enough of this world to know how important it is for humanity to start having kids. I'm…I'm useless."

"You're far from useless."

"I'm not," she protested. "What skills do I have to offer? I had no career path. I was a secretary. You have the ability to do something truly beneficial, you have skills that the world needs, but me… And now I can't even do something I'm biologically built for."

His frown was part bewilderment, part righteous annoyance. "You are not useless. Chell…you brought an entire science facility to its knees. Then saved it again. You kept going in the face of impossible odds. You may not have had a career, but what does that matter? You could turn your hand to anything and be a success, I know it. And believe me when I tell you that you are not defined by your ability to reproduce." He cupped her cheek, searching her face. "Is this what's been bothering you all this time?"

"How could it not?" she replied softly. "I…I don't know if I know how to live in this world. I got so caught up in what was happening at Aperture, it kept me…on the outside of reality, I guess. The worst kind of safety blanket. And now…everything is so different. Being unable to have children is…it's a huge deal. It could cost me…" She trailed off, feeling her throat tighten.

Doug's eyes widened. "You…you weren't afraid that I…?" Something in her expression made him pause. "Listen to me. I love you. I'm never going to leave you. I mean, unless you want me to."

"I don't like to make rash statements, but I don't think I'm going to want you to," she said with a tiny smile.

"Good," he retorted, returning it. "And please trust me: whatever happens, we'll face it together. Isn't that what you're always telling me?"

Chell couldn't help smiling again hearing her own words used against her. "It is."

"Then we should both work on believing it."

She nodded in agreement, saying quietly, "Okay, deal." She rested her head on his shoulder, sighing as he stroked her back soothingly.

"Promise me something," he spoke up.

"I'll try."

"Promise we'll survive whatever we have to do to destroy the Borealis. That we'll have a life together."

She was silent for a moment, then said truthfully, "I'll do my best."

The rain petered off over night, leaving a cooler, fresher bite to the air, as if the weather had finally realised that it was September. Doug and Chell packed up their things and left the farmhouse in the morning, each a little despondent to leave it behind. They couldn't have stayed much longer, though, or their food would run out before they reached Gordon Freeman.

Chell seemed a bit more positive about things, which Doug was glad for. He'd been surprised to hear about her worries, having no idea that she had such a low opinion of her future prospects. She'd achieved so much at Aperture, it seemed unthinkable to him that she would doubt herself in any way.

It once seemed unthinkable that she'd return your feelings, but she does, he reminded himself.

He'd been pretty stunned by that. If he hadn't been medicated, he would have been hugely sceptical of the hints he'd started noticing in her, thinking they were a product of his imagination. But they'd proved true. And then, amazingly, she'd shown him in no uncertain terms that every gaze held a little too long, every accidental touch, every reaction to proximity had been a result of the way she felt about him. When she'd walked around the fire to him, he'd known. That was the only reason he'd been brave enough to hold his hand out to her.

They chatted as they made their way across the landscape, following the map and the compass Doug had traded his watch for. Chell was starting to be less cautious about her voice, which seemed to be back for good. There was still a subtle rasp to it, but it was as strong as it had been before. He hadn't realised how much he'd missed it, having lost it first from Chell and then from the companion cube. Of course, he could never be as pleased about its return as Chell was. Her delight every time she broke the silence was endearing to see.

As night fell, they made camp, the routine as familiar as always, only this time they set up their sleeping bags side by side rather than on opposite sides of the fire. It was a tiny change, but one that made them both smile like love-struck teenagers.

Gordon Freeman and Alyx Vance had settled near a small town close to the New Mexico border, according to Angela. From there, it would only be a relatively short trip to Dr. Kleiner's lab, shorter still if Freeman happened to have a car. When Chell and Doug were less than a day away from reaching their destination, they stumbled across another dilapidated house to shelter in for the night. It wasn't in as good condition as the first, but they appreciated being able to sleep somewhere that had walls and a roof.

They piled up all their bedding to create a makeshift couch, sitting in relative comfort as they ate yet another meal of tinned food, the fire warming their feet.

"Have you thought about what we'll do if Freeman turns us away?" Chell asked.

"We'll carry on," Doug answered her at once. "It will be harder without his help, but we can still try. He won't turn us away, though."

She shot him a curious look. "You seem very certain."

"How many people know about the ship? When we mention it, it's bound to get his attention. He'll be intrigued by what we have to say."

"You think?" she said with interest.

He turned to her, setting his empty can on the floor. "Wouldn't you be?"

"I would," Chell confirmed, nodding. "But that's just me. We don't know this guy."

Doug smiled at that. "We don't. But apparently the whole world knows him. According to my sister."

Chell grinned. "She was quite enthusiastic. Not as much as Gerry was though."

"Do you think he has a fan club?"

"Who, Gerry?" she said impishly.

"Freeman," Doug responded in a growl, narrowing his eyes at her.

She laughed, wrapping her arms around her knees. "I wouldn't be surprised. You heard what Angela said about this One Free Man stuff."

"People latch on to what gives them hope," Doug commented, staring into the fire. "I can vouch for that better than most."

He felt Chell's gaze on him as she asked, "What gave you hope?"

Doug felt his lips twitch in a small smile. He shot her an earnest look. "You," he said simply.

She reacted with flattered surprise, then smirked. "So…this is just a result of you latching on?"

He closed his eyes, sighing. "That is not what I meant. At all."

Chell bumped his shoulder with hers. "I know, I was just teasing." Her expression became pensive and serious. "I'm glad that…you trusted me. Believed in me. Even when I didn't know what I was doing."

He glanced down at the floor, grimacing. "I was the one who put you there. The least I could do was believe in you. Truthfully, though…you made it very easy."

Chell opened her mouth to speak, but then a faint sound tore through the darkness outside, gradually growing in volume. They both glanced at the door, eyes wide.

"Is that…someone screaming?" Doug asked, hearing what sounded like utter panic coming from not far off.

Chell darted off the pile of bedding, snatching up a pistol from her backpack. They'd acquired it in Wyoming as a means of defence, not knowing what they might come across on the road, but as yet it had remained untouched in the bag. Chell had received a handful of lessons from the man they'd traded with, but she looked less than confident as she brandished it and approached the door. Doug picked up the saucepan, moving to join her. As she reached for the door handle, there came a sound like a small car crash, followed by a tremor that they both felt through the soles of their feet.

Chell wrenched open the door. There had been another two buildings beside the one they'd decided to camp in. One of them was now on fire, its roof and upper floor collapsed. The yells had stopped, or were covered by the sound of crackling wood. There was no sign of anything else, either friend or foe.

Doug took in the scene with a single glance, then gripped Chell's arm. "We should go. Now."

"But the man who was yelling…"

"Is probably dead. We can't help him now, we need to leave."

"Don't you want to investigate what happened?" she asked him.

"We can come back in the morning, when there's enough light," he said, feeling the sense of fight or flight that he'd lived with in Aperture. "We need to move before that fire takes hold and spreads."

Chell looked reluctant but nodded. "Okay. But we're coming back," she said firmly.

Moving quickly, they gathered their belongings, pouring earth over their camp fire to douse its flames, even as the building nearby burned. At a frenzied walk that was almost a run, they headed out into the night, leaving the scene behind. They set up camp far enough away to feel safe, but close enough that they could see the glow and smell the smoke. Neither of them slept well, nor did they bother building another fire, choosing to huddle together for warmth instead. Then it started to rain. They pulled their covers over their heads, but it was a cold, unpleasant night. When the cold light of morning crept across the sky, they were both wide awake and slightly damp.

When they headed back, they saw that the fire had been contained to the first house, the rain having arrived in time to extinguish it. They stored their luggage in the building they'd initially occupied before cautiously approaching the wreckage. It was a pile of rubble, blackened beams sticking up at odd angles. There was no heat coming off it, however, most likely thanks to the soaking it had received.

"Any ideas what caused this?" Chell asked, prodding a section of wall with the toe of her boot.

Doug shook his head, studying the mess. "None."

He had turned what little they'd witnessed over in his head hundreds of times during the night, and it was as much a mystery as it had been at the time. He didn't like that at all. It was troubling. Chell seemed as concerned as he was, but her curiosity was a stronger drive.

"It sounded like someone was being attacked at first," she mused, "but then this? It's just…weird. It doesn't make any sense."

Doug watched her try and puzzle it out, his own head irritatingly free of ideas.

"Did something…fall? Is that what brought down the roof before the fire took hold?" she theorised, glancing at him.

"I don't know," he admitted, running a hand through his hair. "If something fell, who was screaming? He sounded…terrified."

"Help!"

They both froze, hearing the muffled cry coming from beneath the rubble.

"Oh my god," Chell muttered, before darting forward and throwing debris aside.

Doug hurried to help her, finding the wreckage cool to the touch and still wet from the rain.

"Help! Oh god, please help me, it's really dark in here."

They both froze for a second time. Doug's eyes widened, and he turned to Chell. She'd gone pale, her hands clenching into fists at her side. Mouth set in a grim line, she backed away, shaking her head. Then, after half a dozen steps, she halted, seemingly changing her mind, and marched back again, shifting the rubble with obvious aggression.

"What are you doing?" Doug asked her.

"I have to know for sure."

He could understand that. He bent to help her, and within a few minutes, they'd dug down deep enough to see the dust-covered blue light that greeted them underneath the debris.

"Hello! I can't believe it's you! That's a piece of luck! Let me tell you, it is great to see you two again."