Alright people we are getting into the final stage…not final chapters because I kinda counted how much they will be and I expect ten or more…
This will be a short one, just an intro of whats comming
If you are very very very delighted with one fic and want a continuation I didn't write or post you can donate me at least $5 bucks, most of this fics have next chapters I don't finish because lack of motivation but hey a $5 is a $5, I see a few reviews and coments that fics that are abandoned months laters receive coments of wanting to know what happends next. Here it is, I finished my handling with you all, enjoy the fic
Maybe a couple of hours later, Arthur wake up just to find himself alone in bed. He sighted, for him it was normal because that wasn't his bed and he had the right to wake up in the middle of the night uncomfortable. He put on some pants and started walking around the house, he even thought on asking the robot where the woman was around until Dogmeat appeared in his way in the middle of the hallway…in the middle of the night
Oh hello, he hasn't seen the dog since they arrived.
The animal look at him and started walking, for some reason his brain told him to follow him and there she was, sitting in a chair in the garden of her house with just a blue bathrobe with a cup of apparently coffee for what his nose told him.
Who should he fear most? The creepy dog of the robot? He knocked on the wall so she wouldn't get scared and shoot him with one of her secret well hidden pistols, damn he didn't even now if when they weren't in bed she isn't armed but she always holds a gun.
-Nora come back to bed, you worked a lot yesterday –unlike him, she didn't take a nap to arrive safely, she take guards and shoot creatures on the way here
-Mmm you are too warm for this weather night, im just enjoying the breeze out here
-Its kinda cold
-Yeah, that's why the coffee
He sighted and pull a chair next to her, opening it and sitting at her side, the woman takes his hand making him blush.
-What time is it?
-Almost six, you want some breakfast? –he denied with the head- im sorry, there's no yummy donuts around here- that make him worry, what was she going to eat?
-What are we doing the rest of the day?
-Well at night a ventibird can pick you up there no problem at that
-Pick me? You are not coming?
-No, I have things to do around here, Minutemen stuff, but ill be soon around –he went all sad, he wasn't ready to separate again, he was now so…used to her presence and company…
-Be careful –he only said, not having the balls to tell her to stay with him.
Being a Minutemen General was a blessing in some aspects and a curse in others…
-I have something planned for the day –she said- but you have to promise me that this will stay between us until im ready to let it go –Arthur went all stranged, but picked her hand over his hand with the other one, securing it, warming their hands, wow, she was letting a secret go to him specially that kinda never happened
-Of course, not the brotherhood or no one else until you told me you want to share it openly–alright this may be something that…or it is too important or it can improve something for the brotherhood but if she asked him to shut up he will.
-Well go after lunch alright? –he nodded, caressing the hand on top of his- is not that far from here.
She open to him, this was excellent.
Not so much later, they went back to sleep in the bedroom, and despite Arthur waking up because he take a nap on the trip, he didn't move from Noras side who was calmy sleeping in the other side on the bed, he just stay there, looking at her. Saving into his memory this calm moments. The curves of her waist, the lines of her bones on the skin, the difference of color between her face and her body from all the sunlight, the shine of her black hair, the rhythm of her calm breathing…yes, he can have this at the Prydwen too inside his quarters but this was different, this was Noras place, her environment, maybe not his favorite or the most secure but it was her, today it wasn't about him it was all about her and he was willing to take the time to appreciate it.
Near to the noon, Nora wasn't yet awake so he lost his fear to get up and talk to the mister handy robot, Codsworth was it? And ask him for some bread and meat from yesterday, his petition was well received with a non radiated box of insta-smash as a gift and…
-Ill go ask around for some meat left from the barbecue for you both around the neighbors, I know its hard to invite my Maam to a meal but since I don't eat I cannot judge.
-Why do you call her Maam? –he asked turning his voice low to not wake her up even if they were in another room
-Well when Mr Nate bought me Maam was 6 months pregnant already, my programming told me to call pregnant womans and mothers Mum, but after Maam told me about the death of the young Shaun boy I figured out that since he was her only son that would be a terrible lack of respect, so I call it for Maam, like madam.
Arthur never got the full story about Noras son, she never said much -So her son is dead? –he asked just with curiosity, as far he understand he went missing forever after the kidnapping
-She told me he died almost 2 years ago –he swallowed saliva, that didn't have any sense, that would mean that she found him dead near to the institute destruction or died in that event, it took her two years to find that infant? He breathed in, trying to connect pieces in his head but still it was all too complicated, and despite all sounding like fantasy, he knew that crazy things can happened in the wastelands.
-Right...-he babble low, looking at the other abandoned room at his side, the room that must be…the old babys room.
-Ill go in my way to find your lunch sir
Does she lies a lot? Does she say half lies? She tells different historys to different people to protect them all from the truth? Or it was all just too complicated?
When Nora wake up she was received in bed with a tasty meal, Brahmin meat heated from yesterday barbecue and warm insta-smash. She looked happy at the non radiated food so he avoided showing…all the conflict in his head and just let her fill her stomach in peace, they can worry later, she had something to show him it take surely months of work to open herself like that to him and he will not lose the chance she was giving him to get closer and understand each other better.
So after eating lunch and trying the hot water of the shower now together and well rested: that was nice, good work, apparently him around was an special occasion to use it and relax while getting a bit playful with the hands. They dressed up to go on her surprise. He get on the black vest and slacks she suggested yesterday night and she…on a casual outfit.
-Itsn that a little boring? You have amazing dresses here I would love to see you on.
-It has a reason, you will understand there
Alright, he wouldn't say more.
It was the afternoon when they arrived, just a few meters up the hill, not so far from Sanctuary, goddam close actually. This was what Preston told him about, what the notebook mention. Nora had an entire vault for herself.
No wonder she see the first bombs and was able to survive with her family, she had a vault waiting for them next to her house, even if it was a trap from Vaul-Tec.
This place had a lot of negative weight for her, the fact that she was willing to open that much only for him was gripping, he appreciates it besides of the fact that she could trap him forever with no possibility of escaping ever again. She took his hand and both standed on the platform that will move them underground, just a few pipboy connections over there and there and…they were moving, Arthur spine shiver going down on that grave that sealed people for eternity.
It still had energy, it was clean, the time didn't go rough on this structures, they were in such a good state, the supplies look like they are in their original places, it was all abandoned…Alright he gets why Nora told him that this just needed to be between her and him only, not the brotherhood. Its true that an entire sealed vault in good state is such a treasure of old technology and living conditions, that the entire air smelled and feeled totally different on his lungs, that…there was no trace of radiation on his skin right now, this immaculate vault would be such a treasure for the brotherhood if she allowed him to use it…But no.
He felt her eyes on his neck, and he just tight his grip on her hand. Not today. She trusted him.
-Whatever you wanna show me im ready –he said to reassure her, moving her hand a bit, she smiled sad and just walked.
And both walked and walked.
The thoughts of the benefit to the brotherhood that this vault could give them…he pushed those ideas away, not now, not in front of her, not in this moment, only when she allows it. The vault is not going to move anyway and he isn't gonna lost his position as elder not in a near future, if Nora was showing him this is was because she had plans for this vault, the brotherhood, the minutemen, and them. She always had plans for everything.
So many question, does it has pure water? How does it get it? The energy where does it comes from? It has clean fabrics and bedsheets? What about the hardrives with information? But not now, not now.
They turn around a corner and see…so…this must be it, the stories he heard about. The cryo pods.
-Hi honey…-she said low, her voice doing echo in the room, Arthur had a chill when the echo crushed against his body too- its been a long time since I been here, I had it rought lately –Arthur didn't know to which pod she was talking but he was just there…listening respectfully- well you must imagine after I told you how life turned in our old neighborhood, you wanted for Shaun to live in a chill place but you cant control everything, ill guess well have to move –this was sad, hearing Noras monologue make him sad- I still didn't find our dog, but I adopted another…I swear it doesn't sleep on the bed, its very well behaved and obeys –oh, she never mentioned a dog together, a mascot –anyway the last time I was here to ask you I was alone and….it didn't turn well –she sobbed, he was looking at her back but she was sobbing, meaning she will surely cry soon- it didn't turn well at all but now…Nate do you believe I can try to be happy? I miss you badly, I miss our life so much but I also…miss…to be loved…-Oh nonono, Arthur walked slowly and loudly, making her know that he was close, hugging her from behind, wrapping his arms around as he felt her sobbing and breathing hard, she let herself be hugged- I want to try again, and I want this time to work, the last time I ask you I thought it would go fine…but it went horrible…now I wanna try it again, even if it doesn't last –Arthur hugged her tighter nonono he didn't want her to have those kind of fears, they will last, if she allow it they will last forever- I loved you until death pull us apart and beyond that, I wanna try to be happy again, can i? Nate? Please just answer…–he stayed silence, caressing lightly her shoulders with his fingers, not overstepping, not pushing himself on top of her, not trying to stand out or call her attention, nono, this was her moment, if she needed him, he was there, but not more.
If she asked, he would give her the world, but not now, she was doing this herself only.
She cried and sobbed, and he stayed behind, she did it until her knees failed and she fall to the ground, Arthur anticipated this by seeing it before and pick her by the waist, helping her to get down slowly without crushing hard and getting hurt, just staying in the back, placing a hand on her back to feel her accelerating breathing but nothing more. She cried and sobbed, many many more, hugging herself, cleaning her eyes from tears and salivating to not have her mouth all dry. It passed some time before she just sat there, in silence, regulating her breath to normal before throwing her back lightly to him, who only took one of her hands and caress it slowly with the thumb. Her grieve was still there, but she was regulating it to pass away and continue the day.
She will get up and walk back from were they came from, leaving the place with the cryo pods behind, Arthur look one last time, still not recognizing which one was Nate inside because all the windows were covered in snow.
They will get out the vault, he said didn't say goodbye to that old wonderful technology but…see you later, now Nora was the most important thing. Both walked in silence back to Sanctuary Hills, he was just behind her, waiting for some king of signal. Not gonna lie this was stressful, he didn't want to see her suffer like that but this was her personal grief and she only allowed him to be around, not participate, not asked him anything, not inviting him to the "conversation", and that was okay he can help just being there, it was stressful to see her suffer and not do more but it wasn't the first time he had this moments. And it was important to be around her if she needed it.
When they reached inside her house, the woman knee down from bellow a sofa and take out a fusion core, grabbing Arthurs hands to put it on, he lookdown confused and a bit hurt.
-Nora…-he said, and she shake her head in denial.
-Go home, Ill be back in the Prydwen in a couple of weeks –what? Two weeks? Three? How much? A couple is not a number and that's…long…-I promise
-Are you okay? –he asked just taking the fusion core and looking down sad, she raised a bit his chin and give him a soft, chap, simple and loooooong kiss on the lips, closing her eyes enjoying the moment before separating, it was difficult for both since he wouldn't let her lips go.
-Im alright im glad you were there with me –she said with a soft smile and…he get it, she needs the time alone.
-Whenever you need me ill be around –she nodded and went to hug him, he hugged back, sniffing into her hair, oh boy he was going to miss her this weeks
-The last person I went down to do that didn't stick around much longer i…fear…I fear for you…-when her voice cracked Arthur moved her to rest onto his chest, hide between his arms-I fear for this to end horribly…
-It wont end, I promise it –was this a moment to properly declare? She was practically asking for a love confession, for a promise to be together forever, for a bond to wrap their destinys and…but it wasn't correct, she was emotional, vulnerable and sad right now, it would be manipulation to put another cargo she was obliged to respond, no, they were going to have better and happy moments together, many more. Now he knew she had this desires…he felt secure, he can correspond accodrly to this wishes, he can give her what she is needing, and specially he can stay around.
Who was the another person? The one she presented to her friends and asked to her dead husband? It didn't matter, both were together wanting to love freely the other one and he couldn't ask for more.
She separated, leaving a long smooch on his cheek –Get on your power armor, well go to the Red Rocket station, we cleared the place from cars specially for ventibirds to arrive there –he nodded sad but do as he was told, she disappeared into a room and came out with his black suit and boots, same with a ventibird red signal –go home safely tonight.
-I was…thinking in something lately –he said as getting inside the power armor, helmet on and everything- theres a house at Croup Manor that you apparently reservated?
-Yeah, always do that in my settlements to have my stuff secured and saved, I cant go to the other point of the map to get a fatman, that wouldn't be practical, Preston also sleeps there when he is around the place, a Generals private quarters, nothing that strange.
-What if i…make some renovations in that place and secure it? For you or us when we are around? Theres no furniture or enclosures, the place is not fully sealed and the rooft is at terrible conditions, just make the place more liveable
-Sounds like a cool project, all right, I expect you to make the renovations but I don't have much faith in the decoration –she said laughing, oh he will miss her laugh this weeks
They separated, and he couldn't do more than feel extremely sad for their time together getting over but…shell come back, she promised it.
Three weeks later, Nora appeared one morning in the nursery of the Prydwen without giving any explanations or telling anyone about her arrival and had a little private chat with Knight Cade but when the man agreed to take the blood sample and send her where the nurses where working and would take her blood sample…she open the curtains and find the elder sitting on a gurney on underwear with three nurses around.
-Nora! –he said all happy not believing that she was just standing right in front of him after so long, but then his brain froze for some seconds and processed the situation around not wanting any problems after not seeing each other for three weeks and having no context of this situatuion –I can explain
The way his face melted in distress make Nora laught a bit of how funny it was but still…-what are you doing? –even the three nurses frozen in their places.
-Im doing my annual check up… -he said completely frozen in his place, ok this was a bad place he can see it but the nurses were doing it much worse than necessary.
-Of STDS? –my my the sentinel had an unexpected trail of jealousy he doesn't see often but then her face changed at seeing the cuts all around his body where the nurses are working -Hey no what's that all about? –she asked getting closer to get a look but one of the nurses that had a facemasks put a hand between them both asking her to make space, so she did, respecting their work but…
-Nora wait a sec please, it's a delicate procedure –she nodded and went back were she standed, worried as the nurse that specifically will do the blood extraction for her came inside the room.
-Whats happening? –she asked as the woman worked to take off the arm of her shirt and armor, liberating the skin to work on the vein what will be extracted wrapping a glove around the superior part of her arm.
-Nothing serious, is just the checking of my tech modifications –the sentinel blinked her eyes a lot of times, her heart stopped and sinked down in a void.
-Your what? –she said with her mind spinning in circles. Nonononono that can't be
-I had some mods in my body: "assisted, even enhanced, by advanced technology" –Arthur look at her from head to toes with disapproval, she wasn't wearing a brotherhood uniform around the Prydwen today! Some civilians clothes and a gunners armor were the most inappropriate not to also say dangerous to be wandering in the commonwealth alone for weeks!
That couldn't be. He couldn't order her to kill Danse while having them. Even after killing Danse if was just wrong.
-What? Tech modifications? What do you have on you? –she asked genuinely worried, but not specifically about him. The nurse want her to stop moving and talking like this was a cafeteria, she only needed a blood sample! A vein and that's all!
Nononononono it couldn't be, this son of a bitch couldn't make her kill Danse and be this hypocrite. He was as robot as the synth!
-One that makes me stretch and not get hurt, I can spin and turn my limbs without getting hurt in bad movements, I sweat less because I lost less water so ill stay hidrated further, my eyes had some modifications that makes see life more illuminated and bright, I can hear really low sounds…with others –Nora sat still in her place and finally the nurse was able to sink the needle in her vein.
It really can't be. He was just like Kellog.
Ahhhh…she didn't feel the needle, her mind went to somewhere else thinking in all of this.
-Since when do you have them? –she asked trying to hide the horror of her discovery on her face, making it pass as it was the blood extraction the problem.
Her chest hurted bad. She wanted to run off that place to cry and hyperventilate on her quarters alone and isolated, how could he lie to her like that? He was no different from Kellog, or even Danse, he was as robotic as him. And she killed him because he commanded her to do it. No, that wasn't the real reason and she knew it goddamwell.
-It started when I become elder almost 10 years ago –Arthur noticed something strange on her face as the nurses keeping checking the incisions on his skin, rare to see at least –with the amount of drugs you consume I wouldn't expect you to have a fear of needles
-I do fear –she said, swallowing a cry, to make it pass as a breathing in to reassure herself, laughing and crying a little bit at the same time, she wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. Arthur keep inspecting her, she was acting weird. The nurse finished taking the blood sample but she didn't stop, the rhythm of her breathing changed and it was noticeable.
-Why are you here at the nursery anyway? You didn't contact me and nobody tell me that you were around or even close–each of his words were torture, but as soon the nurse put her the little cotton and the tape she stand on her feet. Looking at the situation over Arthurs gurney.
Nora almost puked.
There was a lot of chips and micro electronic tools in the gurney, same with little wires and even a welder connected, those chicks weren't nurses, they were scribes, ready to do and work on anything. They were…fixing…Maxson, instead of curing him…below his armpits, behind his head, on his calves and biceps…and there was closed cuts everywhere. The cuts were so tiny that when they were in bed she thought the little lines were scars or sratches!
-I barely reached the airport, im not feeling well –said Nora and she wasn't lying, she was at the edge of splattering the floor in vomit- Cade insisted in a blood sample but…I already had the medication, im going to take a nap and wait for the medication to do its effects- she did lie…partially on that, and while sleeping and crying, if she ever reached to sleep she will wait the exam results, now more than ever better not be what she feared.
-Are you hurt? –the man asked worried as a nurse used a mini screwdriver on the back of his head.
Oh no nonononono. His face really showed how worried he was for her but…
The spectacle was too much, she can't. She shot Danse for this.
-No –she tried to said with a smile, but her feet's failed making her turn down awkwardly in direction to the door-im just…dizzy…I didn't eat anything today…-lies, she was hurt but only in the insides, she was betrayed.
-Well this time it was only lucky since Cade wanted to take a sample and you need to do fasts for that but eat something before swallowing the medication –the elder look at her way of standing, she was trembling and definitely not okay
She may be hurt, it wouldn't surprise him in that civils clothes, that small armor wouldn't protect much.
-Ill go to rest, it was a long night of walking…-she said not looking at him, the elder was worried what was going on? He expected their reunion to be more…animated? She was really that sick? It was radiation? Hunger? Some infection? He was worried for her but…
-I have work to do all the noon, ill check on your quarters to have dinner together alright? I didn't expect you at all today –it was true it was morning early, if she arrived just now from walking all night as her habit is she must be exhausted, much worse if she is sick! –rest soldier, rest well, eat something before taking your medicines, take your time –his voice was so caring and nice, she cant believe this was happening, this was the voice she was…nonono this cant be! This is a nightmare!
-Yes elder –she said with her voice broken before leaving the room.
Her back fall against one of the metal doors as her teeth's crashed against each other, trying to suppress the crying to not be heard. Better fucking not be what she was suspecting.
The hand whose arm hadn't been punctured went to claw and scratch the cotton and the tape on the nude one with fury, feeling how her nails moved on the injured skin because of how her chest was moving up and down so fast, making her entire body tremble
She killed Danse for this? A man enjoying the wonders of technology had the balls to execute a synth that was only loyal to the brotherhood since his very first memories!? Oh Danse…
Arthur never told her anything of this, never mentioned. Things would be so much different it she knew that aspect of him early…
Or maybe…
By night at dinner time, the elder didn't found the sentinel in her quarters and apparently by the ventibirds registers on the deck she left again. Also left the airport too.