Now we are close to the end!
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 comments that fics that are abandoned months laters receive comments of wanting to know what happens next. Here it is, I finished my handling with you all, enjoy the fic
-What do you mean? –Arthur ask, what about Arya?
-The day I brought your daughter here…there was some things i…omit…I didn't tell you the full version…-the elder sat, not actually picking any drink- Where's Nora right now?
-On a mission for other elders from the brotherhood of steel
-She left more than year and half, is she dead?
-No, she is alive, just working on something else, she doesn't contact the minutemen when she travels?
-No –the declaration surprise Arthur a lot, didn't expect that from her- never does, just come back after a while, she could use the radio but prefers not do it
-I thought you were more close to each other
-She doesn't have to know I was here , for all I know she is dead by now –he said actually annoyed- it passed a lot of time without knowing anything even from her companions
-Do you want to follow the steps in her notebook? Still have it
-No –he clarify- this is about your child together
-Arya?
-Listen and pay attention please, I keep this secret but this is a weight too big to keep carrying it alone, I swear to her I would never say anything but you deserve to know the truth and he is…still there
-He? –there? In vault 111? Nate?
-Arya was the second born…she has a twin brother –Arthur froze in his chair, feeling his spine go cold immediately- I was with Nora the whole time and she gave birth first…another baby, a boy, a healthy, crying and alive boy
-Everybody will tell me she was big during her pregnancy…-something told him deep in his mind that the situation was weird, but he choose to ignore it, think that was because she was special, a special health, special genes, special with no radiation.
-Me and Curie were with her, enclosed and taking care of Nora in vault 111 in case she enters in labor…give birth naturally, surprising, Curie give her an epidural with med-x to surpass the pain and get to the end, but in one hour of labor she gave birth first…Shaun –the name made Arthur shiver, often hear that name with a following description of how he was such a monster- me and the nurse robot Curie gave her the baby crying hell…and Nora look at him, for a while, almost ten minutes looking dead into the boy full in blood and fluids, we thought it was shock, trauma, tiredness…–Preston make a pause, looking at nothing in the wall- we saw that her belly was barely deinflated, she was still swollen, still big, round like hell, we expected the worse, she wasn't moving, we saw her chest going up and down breathing so she was alive, her fingers hold the baby tightly, securing it by time but she wouldn't talk, she wouldn't do anything to calm him, she wouldn't react….until half hour later she tried to stand her back in bed, still holding the baby and look into the ceiling, Curie and me were calling her name, trying to snap the hell out of her, asking for the baby…but she stood in the floor, and naturally fall with the baby on arms, her knees and hips weren't ready to stand after so much effort –Arthur felt a hard shit in the middle of his ass, unable to move from the seat- when I tried to pick up Shaun…
-Help me to stand Preston! –she said screaming at me, naturally I gave her my arm and pick her by the waist up, in that moment a lot of water fall from her legs and we both get scared, Curie help us to get on, Shaun was still crying.
-Please general leave us the young child and….-said Curie, Nora look down at Shaun and inspected his face before swallowing hard and dry to say…
-Preston take me to the cryo chambers
-What?
-Hurry up! –what the hell? This wasn't the moment!
-General you need assistance you may still be in labor…-said the robot
-Curie is right Nora this is not the time! –Shaun was crying like hell, confused, scared, enlighted in this world to be received in the middle of this chaos
-Take me there! –she screams again, holding Shaun bad hurting him, Nora panicked and try to stand better with her arms into Preston to not do bad moves.
-We have to look at you –said Curie, worrying about the water coming down her legs, making the floor were they were standing a mess.
-Preston! Take me there! Take me to Nate!
Oh.
-Fine! But hurry up! Lets go! –Preston tried to pick her better from the waist and arms, to hold her tighter so she wouldn't fall again, her feet's were sore and tired not exactly from having action but from all the effort and stress.
Nora cried and cried and cried just like the baby on her arms, he was crying like all newborns would do on a stressful and chaotic situation and she would cry of pain. Curie follow them closely behind until they were in front of the cryo chambers room, she stand behind, unsure, but Nora and Preston keep moving forward until…they were in front of Nate pod. Her old husband, the man she presented him once.
She sighted and take some air deep inside her lungs, now her knees failed, making her fall on the ground, sniffing because it was cold.
-Please let us alone –Nora said, holding better the new Shaun, moving her arms trying to calm the child even a little, her ears were dying and it was making her heart ache to hear him suffer and cry
-What? –nonsense, this situation was stressful enough to be confused and not understand anything but she wasn't making it any easy to understand.
-Leave –she repeated again, this time looking back at Preston.
-You are crazy im not leaving you alone –she looks so vulnerable in pain and messy. Nora wasn't okay at all less with a crying newborn in hands
-Ill be fine, youll know if I need something –she assured, now annoyed, feeling multiple pains in her body to be discussing like this.
-Nora! –he screamed nervous, trying to make her enter in reason but…
-Go way! Ill call you! –Preston take some moment unsure, but he did and leave, hoping it wasn't a mistake.
He looks back for a moment, there she was on the ground, talking to the pod again, baby on her arms still crying. There was a lot of noise in the cryo chambers room because of the freezers and engines, he hears crying, he could her her mumble but not exactly understand what she was saying. Preston give her a bit of privacy, a couple of minutes, until the crying wasn't noticeable, hoping that the baby calm a bit.
After some minutes he heard her screams of pain start again, Preston run back to her just to find the woman alone in the floor screaming, arms pressed against her stomach, legs moving like crazy, a pool of foul smelling liquid lay below her.
-Nora!? –ask the man placing her arms under her back, but his eyes were looking for Shaun- wheres the baby!?
-Its coming! –Nora mumble crying of pain- the other one is coming! –right, of course, she had another one, think fast but…
-Where is he!? –Preston look desperate around trying to find the infant but just had her in her arms squeezing and moving like crazy, Nora will hold on his shoulder and scream out- Nora! -lift her back from the floor and carry her up, the little baby wasn't crying neither to be noticeable…until he saw it…in front of him, inside the pod of a tall adult cyo pod…there it was the baby, entrapped with Nate, frozen like a cube, the minutemen look at the infant face caught in the cryo pod, in Nates arms, frozen for the rest of eternity like his fa...No…Nate wasn't his father for her to do this. She doesn't have the right to put this creature to sleep. This baby doesn't deserve this, it was fucked up. He shouldn't let her alone.
-His name is Shaun –say Nora between cries of pain- Look at him, how can he not!?
-This is wrong! –scream Preston but still carry and run as faster he could with the woman in arms again to the nursery before she starts giving birth on his arms- What did you do!? –his eyes move down and see Nora playing with her pipboy, well, not playing exactly, pressing buttons- What are you doing this is not the time! –despite all what they been through together this was too much. Nora use all her concentration to take out a holotape from the pipboy and try to pocket it in the mans jacket, but her hands failed and the holotape fall on the ground behind them. She breath out and didn't breathe in again, time stopping as her head move back to see the holotape loose behind her…maybe…maybe it was for the best…that that record get lost.
This would be their secret, if this was her secret, Shaun and Nate can be together forever.
Preston run to the nursery where Curie was still waiting, the bed was ready and as soon the woman was placed on the matress she started to scream again, getting in labor.
And in another more hour Arya arrived.
-Nora…-he can't still process the fact that one baby was missing frozen and now there was another one crying in her arms, that wouldn't happen again, nononono he wouldn't allow it.
-This one is for Arthur –the man look at Nora, who was half dead barely holding her still exhausted- Her name is Arya.
Ok this was the original plan, back again- so…it's the girl bag…-now? He was going to separate them now? So soon?
-Everything is set, Curie will clean and dress her…-Nora tried to give the baby to him, but he wouldn't open his arms, no, not so soon, he wasn't ready.
-Are you sure? –he ask, feeling a stone stuck on his throat.
-Yeah…this was always the plan…I already have one –she says with a knot on her tongue, hands shaking with the crying baby moving.
-She is your daughter –the man insisted, feeling tears like the baby too
-Arthurs daughter –Preston exhaled some air and take courage to carry the little girl.
-You can still turn back on this
-No…I will always have Shaun –when she passed the baby to him her arms felt the weight off, empty, it wasn't a nice feeling, it hurts.
-What are you doing now? –his arms and fingers accommodate to hold the baby better, jumping a bit to calm her
-Im going out the vault as soon Curie is done with me –the woman look dead in a point in the wall, moving in her pillow to be more comfortable
-Nora please , make up your mind, this is not necessary –none of this, he didn't want to do this.
-Im not changing my decision –she said firmly, still not looking at him- I know what im doing
-This is horrible –he said with the baby in arms unsure of that to do so she would calm a bit.
-I know…
They stay for a while in silence, just them, because Arya will keep crying but...Curie came to pick up the baby, taking it out the room to clean and change her in the clothes they had prepared in the girls bag. Following the plan.
-To Arthur right?
-He doesn't need to know about this –she says, sliding slowly on the pillow for her back to meet the mattress and rest a bit-none of this -Preston was surprised with the cold way she was managing this subject but it shouldn't surprise him after all she was planning this moment for months…-just tell him that Arya was born and I send you to the airport with her immediately, no more to say
-I don't want to do this –Nora could understand; he wasn't a monster like her
-As the general of the minutemens I command you
-Im also a general –said Preston annoyed, clearly upset with her for saying that
-And she is the daughter of Elder Maxson no matter what I want to do with her –Nora practiced this, she thought in all the possible scenarios and could even sympathize on the mans feelings, despite the fact that she was the one giving up on her daughter- Go on, you wouldn't want to make the elder wait right?
-Think over this a last time please –he ask from deep down his heart, hoping it would touch some fiver on her…they stood in silence…hearing the metallic sounds of Curies mechanical condition moving and working in another room
And she answer- Im sorry –well, that's it.
Preston leave the room and wait until Curie was ready, she even have the baby prepared and sleeping in the bag they prepared for the girl one. It has infant clothes that Arthur send and Nora scavage, cloth diapers supplied by the father, blankets and sheets and the baby was now changed inside, sleeping comfortable, wow the robot did a good job, impressive considering the lack of human touch and a warm pair of hands, very much. His fingers look up to caress the little girl cheek, didn't have the chance to do it with the boy one because Nora was…faster than him…this go straight to the list of things he can never forgive her.
There he was, appreciating a thing that wasn't even his more than her own mother, Nora sometimes was cruel.
-Curie –he call the robot- are you coming?
-Im staying here taking care of the general until she is better –said with her robotic voice- it should take a pair of days, with the information I was assigned pregnant woman usually stays a minimum of two days post partum in bed resting
-I read those texts too, that's was if they had a C section –goddam there she was always trying to trick everybody, there was no one safe from her- she had a natural this time
-The general give birth naturally to twins with only med-x as a pain killer- well touche- very little of time between both, the minimum I can recommend is 48hs
-I hope to find both of you here after that–he said packing the bag to the front of his chest, taking care of not moving much the sleeping lady
- I would not express an opinion on the rest time that a mother of two due to natural birth needs –was the last thing that he heard walking towards the exit, it was easy to go out the vault, anyone could go out the vault but not anyone could go inside back, everytime Preston wants to go inside he needs Noras help, luckily he didn't have much business but if she wanted…she could trap herself forever downthere.
Arthur listen very carefully to each part of the story, taking note of every small detail, this was important, he didn't interrupt, he just listen. He was shook.
-Did both came out two days later?
-I hadn't see Nora for two more weeks after that, but I never see Curie again, I believe she is still in the vault…again…that was actually pretty shitty from her knowing Curies past…
There was so much shitty stuff Nora do.
-So…Shaun –damn that name was hard to pronounce, he had so much history over that name- could still be in the vault?
-I believe so, Nora could stay with him and Nate…talking to the cryo pod alone that two weeks…she expends lot of time talking to that pods
-You are telling me all of this because…you want me…to rescue Shaun –said Arthur slowly, processing his words in the tip of his tongue, finding them heavy.
-You can do what you want, but without her around to carry this weight decision I couldn't just do it anymore…its your son, not mine to decide what his fate is going to be.
They stood in silence for a few minutes, breathing in and out. It gaves Arthurs chills over all his body, a mix of exciment and fear. This came out just perfect, he was needing this despite dooming his child to his horrible destiny without knowing it.
-Why are you telling me all of this? –Preston didn't understand
-I told you its just a weight in my conscious I cant forget in the last ye…
-No, there's something you want that I can give you –the minutemen shake his head automatically, offended.
-I assure you not, it was something I needed out of my chest and you have the right…-Arthur interrupted him.
-There's something you want that I need to give you –there was tears in Arthurs eyes, tears of gratitude- ill do anything to take out my son off that vault now that I know about his mere existence, I wont stop until having it in my arms, but I need to thank you for telling me all this
-I don't want anything…
-I can give you a rank, a title, a place here in the Prydwen –even tho Preston already have all of that by having Nora at his side, but having her it was a privilege she allows having from time to time- I can make the brotherhood permanent ally's of the minutemen no matter the place in the map –what can he offer to the man that actually gave him his second child? His actually firstborn.
The man shakes his head to the sides –if there's anything we actually need is an efficient way to recycle water, between the sewage from the wells and the water we use to wash clothes and waste, we are depending too much on the river, water is not forever, water goes on shortage sometimes, we cannot dig wells every time we need, there is not always water available underground
-Consider it done –the elder say automatically- ill make my scribes find a way to storage waste water and recycle it for human consumption- It was an awesome idea, this was the humanitarian side of Preston he shares with Nora, she would also make this non selfish wishes whenever she has the chance- Ill help you.
-There's no obligation, I didn't come here to sell you this secret.
-The elder Maxson firstborn son is worth millions, it doesn't matter the cost –hearing that froze the minutemen spine, but he let that feeling pass away, it shouldn't be nothing- there's something else you need to tell me for today?
-Not that I recall, it passed 7 years after all –it was true, he didn't know much of neither of that children, Shaun was frozen in a vault he wasn't able to enter ever again and Arya was delivered to the man hands as soon she was born practically, never gave it much thought in his head after it was done to not torture himself- hows Arya doing?
-Are you sure there isn't anything more you want to tell me? –Arthur ask again, Preston took a moment to think closing his eyes and…
-You are gonna need a pipboy –well that was an interesting fact, several times Arthur thought in having one like Nora but didn't gave much importance- I don't have access to vault 111, Nora was only the only one who can go in, but I know you need a pipboy to go inside with the commands console, that's why the door to vault 88 is always open, theres no way to open it back without a pipboy and it would be unpractical…
-Good to know…-Arthur take note of that, biting his lip- Arya is doing beautifully, has more interest in books than leadership but she is still young, I have faith
-Might be a great scribe
-I don't doubt it –Arthur close his eyes and stay a moment in silence, breathing in and out- thank you for passing by Preston, I need to think on some stuff for the rest of the day
-Sure –Preston get up from his chair, feeling his shoulders balance better now he didn't have…this weight on- elder –he called, and Arthur hummed still with the eyes closed- His name is Shaun, I know they have very little from Nora, but let him have that name –even with all the terrible things Nora does, she still had the right to keep the names she choosed.
Silence.
-Alright, ask for the paladins out there to pick you in a ventibird back to wherever you wanna go, say that I ask for it.
-Good evening elder
-Thank you –said Arthur deeply now looking at him, feeling a pain on his chest- really, thank you
The minutemen disappeared trought the door and Arthur get up from the chair, suddenly needing to hold on a wall because he couldn't keep balance, crashed against a wall using his hands to hold and not fall with all his weight against the floor.
Yesyeysyesyesyesyesyessssssssss.
He had a son, a son Nora gave him, a son from both, a brother to his daughter.
This was so perfect, other elders were insisting him lately with making an arrangement for him because he is so young and having the need to have another child in case something happen to Arya. When someone slips and say that thing he gets so mad and annoyed, nothing is going to happen to his daughter ever. That and the fact that they want to make an alliance with his chapter of the brotherhood marrying him with some elder daughter. Bullshit, it wasn't necessary, but this came just in time, if he says he had another child with the sentinel…well it could be weird considering she wasn't in this side of the map in year and half but still! It could work, they will leave him alone.
Arthur was 33 now, of course he was still in time to have more kids, he was young, very young and capable, it wouldn't be the end of the world if he married someone else but he didn't want to, he wasn't ready, the only woman in his life now was Arya and she wasn't in her difficult years even…maybe later…truth is he fear being played again like last time terrifies him, prefers to avoid it. Even if he was now more…comfortable to the single father life it still presents many many challenges and he cant see himself having to slip his time between a spouse and his daughter with another woman. Another very important woman in the brotherhood circles. That will surely cause problems not only with his spouse but with the elders father of that spouse…
He was kinda doomed in the moment he found Nora reading comics that summer night, she was very important even back then. His reputation was kinda compromised for just going after her and he couldn't see it because he pictured a future together forever.
But now the future he pictured together was with Shaun and Arya. When he shows the other elders that he has enough heritage and heirs…they will leave him alone, and don't bother anymore with marriage propositions.
Speaking of which he never heard anything about other elders wanting to find a match…for Nora…she was a very good match, non radiated genes, a hero, perfect asset to pass from soldier to soldier, it was common that when elders exchange soldiers between chapters they ask about the futures if they want to bond them or make a bonding with a soldier in the other side chapter but…they didn't, apparently it didn't happen…yet…truth is she wasn't much around either.
He wrote, wrote and wrote and wrote and take note of everything it was said today to reread it to use it on his advantage, from his mind to the paper the same exact conversation and tale, to have every detail transcripted, when things were about Nora…the devil was in the details.
So on this very same day he decided to…show up at vault 88 on his power armor and the now five paladins as an escorts. He had an idea how to peacefully get a pipboy. Quickly, all of this has to be quick, his son had no time to loose. When they hit the entrance of the vault cave all six together of course it cause some fuss in the place and a lot of minutemens came to point their guns at them, even tho they weren't an actual menace for them more than a few scratches in their armors but still they will try to protect their settlement.
-We weren't expecting brotherhood troops today –said the apparently leader of the patrol. Pathetic that less than 10 mens in armors were pointing at six of fully armored brotherhood soldiers. Still have the turrets in the walls tho.
-Indeed, but we are here with an offer to make –say one of the Paladins, as far it wasn't necessary they will avoid Arthur to talk at all, they were following a plan and it wasn't intelligent to reveal that the elder itself were amongst them.
Of course Arthur needed be necessary there, they could perform this mission easily but he insisted that this was his…mission to do…that this was his matter to resolve personally and who would say no to him?
-That type of subjects should be discussed with me –said a voice trough a speaker in the walls- with the security officer of the vault 88
-Clem right? –spoke Arthur out and loud, only once, since he didn't tell that name to the paladins.
-The only one, I believe you talked to oversee Nora then
-Exactly –spoke one paladin.
-Wait a second on the entrance, im going up there.
So…there was security cameras or at least microphones in this walls, his mistake was always grant less to this people because they weren't militarys, a mistake, he knew.
A man of brown hair and rought factions in his face appeared after some minutes wearing a vault suit with…a pipboy in hand. Arthur swallow and let the paladins do their part.
-Pleasure to meet you –said one of the paladins.
-Same thing, what are brotherhood troops doing down here in this side on the map? I always thought the zeppelin was a pretty comfortable place.
-It is in fact, but we are here to make an offer, we need a pipboy: 10000 caps in hand for a working one –wow the faces of everybody were a poem, surely that's the biggest amount of caps they heard in their lifes
-Can be anyones? –ask one of the guards, seriously interested, even Clem looks interested, oh well there's it goes his respect for the commoners, they sell their souls for some caps…it was a good amount tho, coming directly from Arthurs wealth since this was his family business
-Yeah, we need the machine, not interested in the information inside
-Make it 11000 caps and its yours –said the security officer Clem
Well that was fast and interesting, there were eleven of them right now, ten minutemens and Clem…fair, 1000 caps to each one and the subject dies here between them not making a fuss for anyone inside, so they can say they managed the guest like champs.
-Are you sure man? –ask one of them looking at the well apparently very unsecurity officer…
-Yeah, they were reserved for the officers and managers as Nora said, there was ten when Valery bring us here, I have one, we have 5 more managers, 4 are without an owner, its okay –Clem pointed at one of the paladins- if you want another one it's the same amount of caps, no discounts
-Deal –said the paladin
Well that went pretty well, non violent, fast, more cheap than he expected since he hoped for some kind of negotiation from their side, some auction but nono, fast, gave too much credit to some people without education, selling tools from their home for some caps but it was okay, it serves the purpose. And if Nora hear from it the better it will be for everybody.
He was coming soon for Shaun.
After some minutes Clem pass trough the door of the vault with the pipboy and gave it to the paladin, the man tested it: the buttons, the weels, the screen, lights, texts, ports, cables, lamps…seems it works just fine, he gave Clem the bag of caps and the man couldn't believe how heavy it was, maybe it was the first time he had such a heavy bag of caps in his hand and it wouldn't surprise Arthur at all if it was the case, it was even a big amount for him but if it was the price to get closer to his baby boy he will pay anything, it just worth it.
-We are fine –said Clem to the paladin who just nooded still using the pipboy, hands shaking –come on guys, lets go to some place more private to share this
When they all disappeared at the sight, the brotherhood squad walked the marble stairs up as the paladin gave the elder the pipboy.
Arthur swallowed and look down tightly gripping the wristband of the device, this was his way to be more close to Shaun. As soon they reach the Prydwen and prepare a squad of scribes…well hell be paying a more close visit to Preston in Sanctuary that he ever expected. He should write a note or send a message to people are prepared to…get used to their visits
This had to be fast, his son cannot wait any longer, he waited 7 years for all he knows. Frozen in time.