When Nora approached her about the Glowing Sea, she'd immediately said yes. Nora had told her about Maxson's reservations, but the need for answers quelled the fear in her gut. She'd never been to such an irradiated zone before, but Nora had. They agreed to use power armor for the trip and Shiloh had just finished an uncomfortable fitting with Ingram when she sat down to have dinner with Haylen. Rhys was on a mission, leaving the two women to talk a little more openly.

"I respect Nora, you know. She tried, she really tried to save him. But orders were orders." Shiloh stared at Haylen, but the scribe had said all she wanted to say on the matter.

Shiloh was beginning to respect Nora, too. That was, until they were actually on the trip in their standard-issue Brotherhood power armor. Nora had insisted she have her mechanic look at their armor before they headed to the Glowing Sea. Ingram was amazing, she'd said, but her mechanic was the only one she trusted to work on her stuff before such a harrowing trip.

During the entire trip, Nora had shown her pushy side. This is where the differences in the two women came up. Shiloh was more reserved and logical, while Nora was an open book and would read people like they were, too. Shiloh didn't want to be an open book, but Nora was giving her no choice. In particular, Nora kept asking about Maxson. It began as asking how they'd met. Shiloh told her the story of stumbling upon a shy little boy in the Citadel. The more she'd participated in Brotherhood operations, the more she got to know him. He'd follow her around while she told him stories of her travels, but she was truly only close to Sarah. And Danse, somewhat, but Nora didn't need to know that.

It was when Nora asked about recent events that Shiloh began irritated. Shiloh slumped her shoulders, tired from the power armor and tired from the questions. "Nora, I don't know anything about him."

Nora paused, "You didn't talk after you woke up at all?"

"No, he's my commanding officer, Nora, we can't exactly be friends. I don't even think he wants that."

"What do you mean?" Nora pressed.

Shiloh conceded, "He hates me. The only mission he's ever been on with me ended in that scar. He hated me for that. He hated me for fighting with Sarah all the time. He hated me for leaving. Then he hated me for dying. Tell me, how do you approach someone who's not only your extremely intimidating Elder, but is one whose emotional baggage you caused?"

Nora crossed her arms, "How would I approach that? I would talk to him. I would at least try."

Shiloh turned away, "I just don't have it in me to face his wrath. It's better if we stay away from each other. I don't want to talk about this anymore." She was running away like a coward and she knew it, but Nora didn't bother her with questions for the rest of the trip.

Sanctuary Hills was bigger than she expected. A lot bigger than she expected. It was practically a whole new Diamond City. The little neighborhood was fortified with walls, guard posts, turrets, and had a river surrounding the settlement. Inside, there were stores and workshops as well as a bustling night life as the farmers relaxed for the evening.

The settlers watched warily as they approached until Nora showed her face and they relaxed. Shiloh knew Brotherhood soldiers were strictly forbidden from any Minutemen settlements. She couldn't blame the simple farmers for wanting life away from an intimidating military presence. When they disengaged from the armor by a workshop, Nora met up with a tall man in overalls and a stylish pompadour. Shiloh absently wondered what Butch would think about his hair.

"Shiloh, this is Sturges. We talked about him in the cryo facility."

Shiloh shook his hand politely, "Your information went to good use."

He gave her a dazzling smile, removing his work gloves, "Glad to be of service."

"Are you going to be preparing our armor for the trip?"

Sturges looked confused for a moment before Nora clarified, "No, I've got another mechanic for the power armor."

Understanding lit up in Sturges's eyes, "He's in Workshop 2."

Nora nodded in thanks before leading Shiloh away to a workshop deeper into the settlement. Shiloh was unprepared for the scrutiny of various farm workers, wondering who the hell she was. If she could help it, she would give them no answers. They weaved in and out of the small crowds before they reached the lit-up building. It looked a little homier than she'd expected, like it served as a home as well as a workshop. Nora seemed on edge, which in turn made Shiloh on edge.

Things clarified instantly when the mechanic turned to them and Shiloh was face to face with a dead man. He hadn't spoken a word up to this point, still as silent as ever unless the situation required otherwise. Nora opened her mouth to speak, but remained silent as she looked between the two.

Now, Shiloh wasn't a big crier. That didn't change as her eyes filled with tears, but she allowed herself to let out a choked sob, "Knight Danse," then she was hugging him tightly, every bone in her body aching for familiarity.

Nora watched with a small smile as Danse stiffened before awkwardly hugging her back, a little choked up himself, "It's...just Danse now."

-0-

The three of them sat around the cooking fire on Danse's broken old driveway. He chose to discuss the logistics of what power armor mods Nora and Shiloh would need while Shiloh watched him intensely. She could tell she was making him uncomfortable and she was waiting for him to make the first move when the frustration overwhelmed her, "Tell me," she looked at Danse and Nora, "tell me."

"Okay," Nora began gently, understanding that Shiloh had had enough. "Danse is my...we're together, Shiloh. Is that alright?"

Shiloh looked bewildered, "What? Of course that's alright. I want to know why he's alive!" She spoke a little loudly, making Nora and Danse cringe.

Danse chose to answer her now, "I could say the same for you, Paladin," Shiloh noted that he chose to address her like he was still in the Brotherhood, "A lot has changed while you were gone. A lot."

"I know that part, Danse. Trust me, the Brotherhood now is...strange and new to me."

"Is it unwelcome?" She knew what he was asking. Is Maxson unwelcome?

"I don't know. I still don't know how I stand with him...them…" she trailed off lamely. The ruse was up, Danse knew way too much about her to hide from.

"Christ, where to begin I-" he thought about his words for a moment, "I'm a synth. We've been to a doctor who recognized me from the Railroad. My memories before Rivet City were fabricated. I wasn't meant to be an infiltration into the Brotherhood. I was just…drawn to them," he looked longingly out at the stars, "Nora saved me from myself when I found out. And Arthur chose to spare me."

"I didn't think he would be capable of such compassion."

"It wasn't compassion. Nora was too valuable to lose over a synth."

Nora snorted, looking at the cooking fire, "It was compassion. Whatever he says, he loved you. And he knew you loved him. You were brothers and more than just in arms. Killing you would have destroyed him."

"Nonetheless," Danse looked a little emotional at Nora's words, "I am dead to him. But I owe him my life. He's risked his career over it."

Nora chose this moment to look at Shiloh, "Will you talk to Danse about him?"

Shiloh squinted at her, "Is this why you let me meet him?"

"Maxson let you meet him, let me clarify that, but no it is not. I know you needed this. You both did. And Maxson deserves to have someone else know he has some semblance of a soul left."

Danse protested, "He's not as cold as you think, Nora, he was just doing his job. The eradication of the synths is not just a part of his job, it's his entire reason for being in the Commonwealth. He couldn't just allow a synth to openly serve in the Brotherhood and not expect the western elders to cast him down, Maxson bloodline or not. There are certain things they do not forgive."

Shiloh blinked, eyes misty again, "Does he hate me, Danse?"

She was surprised at how frankly he said his next words, "Quite the contrary. I think he loved you the moment he met you." Shiloh stared openly, not sure what to do with that information. Danse flushed immediately, realizing the implication of his words. "A-as a person, of course. I don't know about...well…" he trailed off.

Nora looked amused at the exchange. She slapped Danse's arm playfully and the former soldier gave her a sheepish grin. Shiloh would have appreciated the sweet scene if she weren't so struck by Danse's words, "He was thirteen, Danse…"

Danse thought about that for a moment, "Do you still think of him as thirteen?"

She thought about that night alone in her quarters where she thought of how handsome he was, "No."

"Precisely."

"But he's my commanding officer."

"Precisely. That's your problem there."

"Danse," Nora warned, "that doesn't mean anything."

"It does when he's the Elder, Nora."

Nora pondered that, "Well it doesn't have to be a problem. There aren't solid rules. It's just highly suggested fraternization keep between the elders and sentinels only."

Shiloh blushed red, "Alright, alright aren't we getting a little ahead of ourselves? I haven't even talked to him yet." Danse and Nora turned to Shiloh, both quiet in thought.

Danse chose to reply to her, "He's not going to make the first move. You have to do that. As much as I know you're not the type. You're like me, logic over emotion. But Nora and Arthur are bleeding hearts, as much as Arthur wishes he wasn't." It hurt Shiloh's chest how fondly Danse spoke of Maxson when Maxson ordered him dead.

But it was Maxson who had also given him life. The implications confused her. A deeper part of her was filled with relief that Maxson was Arthur somewhere beneath his skin.

Nora suddenly kissed Danse's cheek. Both Shiloh and Danse reddened. "I'm going to bed. See you two later." She slipped into the house, leaving the two paladins alone.

Shiloh didn't know what to say now. What could she say? Nora was going into the fray with her. For her. Potentially never to come back. The idea scared and guilted her. Danse broke her thoughts, "I see that storm in your eyes, soldier. It took me a long time to stop feeling guilty that I was loved and sacrificed for. There are days I still struggle with my thoughts. Nora is taking a huge risk for you and I couldn't support her more if I tried. This is going to help her as much as it will help you. It took a long time to understand it, but she's survived this world by helping people. So I don't want you to go into this with a clouded mind. Speaking of, I think you and I need to talk about Arthur."

Shiloh couldn't hold his stare for long, "Before you ask, I don't know how I feel. I just don't know him."

"What do you want to know?"

"I don't know…" she sighed, "I don't know anything at the moment.'

"I feel...strange talking about him when he's not here. Not that he's given me the choice. But let me start at the beginning. He changed after the deathclaw attack."

"He didn't know how reckless I am during missions and he wasn't prepared for it."

"Precisely. A teenage boy never would have imagined seeing his hero as so...human I suppose. You were reckless. And maybe he did blame you afterwards, but let me clarify that he made the choice to run after you. I know you could have handled it yourself, but he didn't know that."

"The deathclaw cornered him before he could even find me. It was a mistake to let him come along. I should have gone alone."

"Maybe, but it wasn't your choice either. No chance in hell would Sarah have allowed you to venture near a deathclaw nesting ground alone. Stealth was...never your strong suit. However, she clearly miscalculated Arthur's fight or flight response."

Shiloh liked how relaxed Danse sounded. The years changed him. He was the same age she was supposed to be. When she'd met him they'd instantly clicked. Something about soldiers fascinated her. It's what drew her to Sarah and the Brotherhood in general. Back then, he was much more uptight, drawn into himself in an effort to prove his loyalty and worth, but now she was looking at the man Danse was and not the soldier. Synth components aside, Danse was a human. "What about when Sarah died?"

He approached the topic tactfully, like he did everything in his life, "It wrecked him. He was angry for a long time. Killing The Shepherd might have helped, but he was still alone at the end of the day. After you and Sarah, he openly rejected companionship and it made him the man he is. He's always cared, but there remains a cold distance between him and his soldiers."

Guilt crawled up her spine, "See, this is what Nora doesn't understand."

"I know, Shiloh, I know. But she means well. Her philosophy has always been that life is too short in the wasteland to not throw yourself to the fray. If she hadn't laid her feelings at my feet I would have been stuck in the clouds forever."

Shiloh smiled slightly at Danse's words, "I'm glad you found each other."

"I am too. He needs a friend and he would kill me all over again if he knew I ever told you that."

"Understood. I'll consider approaching him. If not for me, for you and Nora. I just...need to sort myself out."

"You've always been flighty," Shiloh bristled, "I mean that fondly of course. If I wasn't so preoccupied with the Brotherhood you and I might have been closer friends. I'm glad we got to see each other now."

Shiloh gave him a watery smile, "This isn't the last time we see each other."

"It very well might be," Danse stood and brushed off his pants, "but that reminds me I have power armor to begin modernizing for your trip. For now I'll retire for the evening." He bid her farewell and Shiloh quietly left his house, heading for the motel room Nora'd set up for her.

Across the street from the little motel was a large deck area made of wood and sheet metal that housed a restaurant and a bar. Some farmers remained drinking at the counter, joined by an armed group that meant the changing of the guard for the evening. Against her better judgement, Shiloh ordered a glass of vodka and sat at a booth in the corner. She swirled the clear liquid in her glass, never one for alcohol, but she wanted something different than an overly sweet Nuka Cola. She was interrupted from brooding about her life choices when one of the guards loudly dropped his gun from his hands upon seeing her.

She looked up, faced with a man on the skinny side in a shredded duster and a strange military cap. He was decorated head to toe in bullets. She raised an eyebrow at his stunned expression. "Hey MacCready, you gonna stare at the girl all night or what?" The bartender called, laughing at his face.

Shiloh straightened, "Mac?" The man flushed before quickly sitting in the chair across from her, still not speaking. "Okay you're freaking me out."

He finally spoke, clearing his throat, "Me? What the fu- hell are you doing alive?!"

Shiloh cringed, "It's a long story." But his stare made her tell him anyways. In return, he told her his.

He whistled, leaning back in the chair, "Man I could really use a cigarette. Trying to quit for Duncan."

"It's...a lot of information."

"Yeah, well, nine years is a long time."

Shiloh drank a little more of the vodka, grimacing at the taste, "I was gonna come for you, you know. You were only fifteen when I...well…"

"Yeah, that would have been a hell of a lot better than joining the Gunners, but things change. If you'd carried my sorry ass out on your adventures I never would have met up again with Lucy."

She remembered Lucy. A motherly little girl. She was glad Lucy had the opportunity to have her own child before the wasteland took her, "God, poor thing…"

"Yeah…" there was a profound sadness in his eyes. Shiloh hadn't expected the mouthy little boy to grow up to be a man not afraid to show his emotions. "The Capital Wasteland...I'm heading back there soon. It's been long enough without Duncan. We sold the farm just before I left to help fund my trip up here and he has friends in Rivet City I could never take him away from anyways. Nora helped me contact them and Harkness is always looking for more security personnel." She thought of Harkness not for the first time since she'd woken up. Age difference was no matter in the wasteland and after choosing to save him they'd been...something...an almost, a maybe. But it had been too many years and she hoped he'd moved on. MacCready saw the longing in her eyes. "What's up, mungo?"

She wrinkled her nose, "Ugh, don't call me that. If I hadn't convinced you to let me past those walls we wouldn't be having this conversation."

He smiled crookedly, "Always dodging the hard questions, aren't you? Hey," he leaned forward a little, "why don't you come with me?"

Shiloh blinked silently at him, "What?"

"The Brotherhood isn't your style. You're hailed as a hero in D.C., but your legacy is to wander around saving people. Whether you may like that or not. You don't belong with a bunch of egomaniacs. I saw what Liberty Prime did when I was a kid and I watched what Liberty Prime did here. They're dangerous. Nora was...I don't fully understand why she helped them, but I stood by her side when she did. She gave them a weapon. What says they don't turn Prime against the people they start to disagree with?"

Shiloh supposed he had a point. Prime scared her, in a way. He was a relic of the old world, a weapon used by the people who created the wasteland. And in her path to get her son, Nora helped them rebuild him. But Shiloh had helped with Prime in the first place. The blood was on her hands, too. More importantly, MacCready was giving her a way out. An option she hadn't had before to find a place without the Brotherhood. As a companion to MacCready on his journey back to their homeland. She could see Harkness again, even Butch and all the people she'd helped…

"I can't, Mac," her own words surpised her.

MacCready, for his part, didn't look offended. He took a swig of the beer he'd ordered. "It's been many years but I don't forget those who helped me. I'll support your decision but know you'll always have a place in Rivet City if you need to escape those people."

"I'll keep that in mind," she grinned, reaching over and tipping the brim of his hat back slightly. He swatted her hand away, laughing. They continued talking through the evening, sharing stories like old friends. He told her about his adventures with Nora and she told him how she was beginning to fit in with Maxson's Brotherhood.

He hugged her tightly when they parted, catching her off guard. She'd hugged him back of course. It comforted her to know that he didn't hate her for disappearing. With all he'd been through, she truly wished him the best.

-0-

It was only two days later that Danse had the power armor ready. It felt heavier with the lead lining, but it was worth the extra protection. Shiloh allowed Nora and Danse a moment of privacy before they departed. Danse, all business, shook her hand.

"Remember what I said about Maxson."

Shiloh nodded and Nora bid him farewell, waving to the various farm workers as they left. Shiloh spotted MacCready in the crowd and gave him a small smile before putting on her helmet. They left the settlement with a weight off their shoulders, though Shiloh sensed the worst was ahead of them.

She had no idea that her trip to the Glowing Sea would change everything.