A sharp knock on a metal hatch awoke Tessa. She lurched to a sitting position with a startled shout, sweat dripping down her brow. Immediately the light of the lower quarters story of the house shone through, cutting a swath of gold through the dim sleeping quarter. "Mom?" Shaun's nervous voice came, his head peeking through the lifted hatch. Dogmeat's muzzle was poking up next to him. The hound tried to scramble up the stairs but Shaun kept him from crossing.

Her entire body ached, worse of all her nose where she'd been punched. Rubbing her face carefully to try and shake away the rampant nightmares, Tessa smiled at him. "Yes, hun?"

"There's uh… a strange woman… asleep on the couch."

"Oh. That's Desdemona, she's a friend."

"Okay. Uh, are you… getting up soon?"

Tessa winced as she glanced down at her Pip-Boy. It was well past midday. "Sorry Shaun, we had a late night." The two women sharing her bed shifted, Piper mumbling about the noise. "Give me a bit and I'll cook you some lunch, okay?"

Brightening, Shaun smiled. "Okay!"

"Did you have fun with Nat?"

He gave a rapid nod. "Yeah! She showed me how the printer works. It got messy though. I might've… ruined another shirt."

Chuckling, Tessa started combing her short blonde hair with calloused fingers. "It's okay, just as long as no one got hurt."

"Just my shirt."

"I'll help you clean it later. You need to learn how to do those sort of things after all," she said, gaining another smile from her son. Shaun's enthusiasm for learning was infectious, and she returned the grin. "Now, go set the table would you? If Desdemona is still asleep, don't wake her if you can avoid it."

Shaun pursed his lips and pushed Dogmeat back before he could slip into the bedroom. "Is uh, everything alright? You left the Railroad, didn't you? I think I remember hearing that lady's name before."

Tessa gave him a reassuring nod. "Things are probably better than ever. Desdemona's a good friend, and she wanted to talk things over in person with all of us."

"Us who," Piper's exhausted voice came, "wish they were still asleep."

"Sorry Ma!" Shaun apologized as he scuttled down the stairs, casting them back into the dark.

Tessa chuckled after him, and then leaned over the reporter. Piper's hair was a tousled mess, covering the pillow beautifully in the dim. One hand traced along Piper's back, only a thin undershirt between them. "Afternoon," she whispered sweetly.

"Fuck, it's afternoon?" Piper squinted, her entire face scrunched as if she'd eaten a sour mutfruit. "You're lying."

"Sweetie, we went to bed at like, two in the morning," Tessa replied. Calloused fingers played with brunette locks and earned a pleased hum. "I'm surprised we even changed out of our clothes."

Rolling onto her back, Piper rubbed her face in an effort to awaken. The bleariness in hazel eyes, with only the light cracking through the wooden floorboards to illuminate them, made warmth swirl in Tessa's chest. Then Piper frowned. "You're sweaty."

"It's hot."

"I heard you shout," Piper flatly said.

Wincing, Tessa relented. "I had another nightmare."

"Same shit as usual?" Tessa nodded. "Alright. Hurry up and get food started."

Lips pulled into a pout and Tessa leaned closer to Piper. "What, no kiss to make me feel better?"

Piper snickered and pushed the blonde back. "Ask Curie for that."

The third woman's voice was half muffled by the pillow her face was buried in as she spoke up. "Is someone injured? Ah!" She inhaled sharply and pressed her head more into the pillow. "I think it is me."

Immediately the pair shifted, comforting the most hungover of them. Curie mumbled French words into the pillow as they rubbed her back and massaged her scalp. After ten minutes she rolled over and squinted at her lovers accusingly. "I tried to stop her," Piper defended before the words could escape Curie. "But you know how she is."

"More stubborn than me," added Tessa with a small smile. "I'll get the meds."

"Cait's hangover cure still work?" Piper inquired.

"As long as you don't smell it going down," chuckled the blonde.

Curie weakly pushed away their arms and flopped back onto her belly. "I will remain here, please hurry."

Getting out of bed, Tessa changed into a fresh shirt and pants, not bothering with shoes. The light that pooled out of the hatch as she opened it made her squint and hiss under her breath. Wood creaked beneath each step as she descended into the living area, the kitchen not far. Shaun smiled up at her from where he sat on a rug, rubbing Dogmeat's belly with a book open. "I promise I didn't wake her up!" He whispered.

"You're fine," Desdemona's exhausted voice came from the living room. Tessa smiled and shook her head. "I needed to get up anyways."

Crossing over to the fridge, Tessa got out some brahmin steaks, fresh from the local butcher. She also grabbed a Nuka-Cola, mirelurk eggs and mutfruit juice. Starting the coffee maker, she then quickly asked Shaun to get the frying pan out. He hopped up from the rug with a smile and was quick to obey. "We're having breakfast for lunch?" He asked.

Wincing, Tessa gave a half-smile. "Is… that okay?"

"Oh yeah! Can I make the eggs!"

"Can you handle it? I don't want you to burn yourself on the grease again," Tessa replied.

The toothy grin Shaun gave back made her laugh. He hefted the frying pan over to the old-style stove and began struggling with the pilot light. She shifted over to help him and once lit gave him the container of eggs. A half-thought of how she missed cartons slipped through her mind, but she pushed it aside with relief that they even could enjoy eggs at all. "Scrambled okay?" Shaun asked, standing on a step stool to easily work at the stove.

"Sure, throw butter and cheese in, makes them real fluffy." The ingredients were offered to the boy who excitedly took them at the increase in responsibility. Dogmeat was sniffing around their feet, his tail wagging up a storm. "I need to bring some medicine upstairs, will you be okay for a minute?" He gave a hearty nod and she kissed his brow.

Making the hangover cure in short-order, Tessa brought the foul-smelling drink upstairs. Piper was in the shower while Curie remained laying on the bed. She put the cure, alongside some actual painkillers, on the nightstand. A low hum was the only response Curie gave as Tessa kissed her hair. "Coffee is brewing," she informed her. Another hum came. "Love you."

Waving her off, Curie downed Cait's homebrew cure. When Tessa came back downstairs Shaun grinned up at her. Desdemona was petting Dogmeat who greedily soaked up the extra attention. "He likes you," Tessa pointed out.

"Lucky me," Desdemona chuckled. She sniffed her scarf and winced. "I think I spilled some moonshine on myself."

"You could take a shower before you leave."

"Thanks. So… the morning after huh?"

Tessa gave a smirk. She got to work cooking the rest. Practiced hands sliced the brahmin into strips, demonstrating for Shaun who eagerly followed. Seasoning and Nuka-Cola made for a poor marinade applied so soon before cooking. Memories of cooking pre-war swirled in the back of her mind. A pang of sorrow shot through her but Tessa pushed it aside. Focusing instead on the moment, Tessa and Shaun whipped up a tasty brunch.

Thirty minutes had passed before the meal was done. Mouthwatering smells filled the home. Drawn by the enticement, Piper and Curie came down. Piper wore one of Tessa's flannels, causing the blonde to smile approvingly. The smile turned into a more strained one as she took in Curie's attire. G5's leather jacket clung flatteringly to her frame. A journal was tucked under her arm.

"Good morning," ventured Tessa.

"Afternoon," a clear French accented voice replied.

Shaun rushed around to his chair beside Curie. She gave him a soft smile, then settled down. As Tessa served the food, Curie read through the journal. "I am impressed she was able to write anything down," hummed Curie, eyes fixated on half-legible words. She squinted more than once and quirked her lips.

No one spoke as she read, taking bites in between pages. Clanks of silverware and Dogmeat's whimpering for scraps filled the steadily tensing air. They all watched her. Desdemona grew stiff. Piper chewed swiftly, as if she might hurry along Curie. "Shaun," Curie spoke at last, closing the journal. "You helped make brunch?"

Beaming, the boy nodded. "I made the eggs! And I set the table."

"What a sweet boy you are," she praised. She pinched his cheek. He giggled and pulled away. "It seems you all had an eventful night," she continued, smiling at Shaun.

"Yeah," Tessa replied, having to clear her throat. Her heart thumped away and she gripped her fork tightly. Last night's concerns of Curie's ardent disapproval returned.

A dazzling smile turned to them. "I am glad, though I would appreciate a less painful awakening."

The tension dissolved in milliseconds. Piper chuckled while Desdemona gave a heavy exhale. "I'll try harder next time to get her to ease up," Tessa promised. "So you're not mad?"

"Why would I be? G5 is her own person, and we share this body. I am sure I make many choices she would not." Warmth radiated from Curie, reminding Tessa of one of the many reasons she loved her.

"You're a breath of fresh air," hummed Piper. A blush colored Curie's cheeks at the words. Piper leaned over the table and kissed her cheek. The blush grew stronger.

"Madame Desdemona, now that Madame Tessa is no longer a Railroad agent, what comes next? I assume your affiliation does not end entirely."

"Bullseye- er Tessa, has agreed to being a tourist. Specifically one focused on providing safe harbor for synths. She'll be the person we would reach out to now, rather than the escorting operative."

Shaun's hand flew in the air, bouncing in his chair. He had picked up a number of habits from school. Some concerned her, such as the creative ways he would come close to cursing, while others were far more endearing. "Yes?" Chuckled Tessa.

Freckles scrunched with his grin. "So like what you gave me? This really nice home and a school and lots of friends?"

While the Tessa smile, Piper did the opposite. "Shaun, were you lonely in the Institute?"

"Well…" He quieted and lowered his head. "The scientists would talk to me, but it was always science questions. I like science but I like other things too. Doctor Li would be nicer, ask me if I was happy or wanted anything. They gave me books, toys, and tasty food. Father was always… weird. I think he was sad whenever we spoke. I'm not sure why though."

Desdemona bit her cheek. "It's… weird to think of the Institute as anything other than a great evil, a beast in the dark."

"They're not our enemy anymore," reminded Tessa softly, though she felt much the same.

"I know. Decades of stress and anxiety don't vanish overnight though."

Shaun mumbled something too softly, and Curie nudged him. Blinking, he found his voice. "I know the Institute did a lot of bad stuff. They hurt people. But not all of them were bad, mostly just weird. They did good stuff too though! Like- like heal Maman, and make Mom!"

Curie drew him into a tight embrace, giggling at his use of the word. Tessa smiled just as wide. The fact that Shaun saw not only Tessa, but Piper and Curie as mothers warmed her heart. They were still very much so working out the details, learning a new dance for all of them, but it was a welcome one. Piper ruffled his hair, Shaun incapable of escaping. He laughed and wiggled in Curie's arms. "Ma! I'm seeing Duncan later, don't mess up my hair!"

Relenting with a dramatic huff, Piper smoothed blonde locks back out. Curie did not release him. "You know Duncan doesn't care how you look."

"I care!"

Laughter rippled through the women. "Fair enough kiddo. What time did MacCready tell you to come over?"

"Dinner, Miss Cait is cooking."

Tessa squinted. "I guess she's better than MacCready. She makes a decent steak."

Curie finally released Shaun. He hopped out of his chair and cleaned up his plate. Piper rose to join him, taking the others' empty plates. Dark eyes settled on Desdemona as Curie leaned across the table. "It is quite the adjustment, no? How domestic life can be after so much adventure and suffering?"

"It'll take some adjusting," agreed Desdemona. "Though I don't think any of us are done with adventure. Maybe just for now."

"You have important work to do," Tessa added. Desdemona gave an appreciative smile.

Clanking came from the kitchenette. Piper said something to Shaun lost under the rush of water, but his laughter was clear. "I think what you and G5 are doing is wise," Curie said softly as if she had been waiting for a more private moment.

Desdemona gave a small smile. "Thanks. It is a relief to have your approval."

Curie tilted her head and blinked. "Why? We do not have a relationship persay. We only ever interacted when the Brotherhood was a threat."

"True, but you and G5 are two sides of the same coin now. What happens to her still affects you."

"We are not the same," Curie said. Her voice faltered, harder on the edges yet the accent was still thick.

Hazel eyes stared at her, a cautious mask crossing Desdemona's face. "No, you are not."

A lip twitched. Curie drank her water. "Are you okay?" Tessa ventured. She reached for Curie's hand only for Curie to retreat.

"Our situation is not a happy one. We accept it and adapt. G5 had control unlike before and I got to experience only a fraction of the time she spends asleep. It is not a place where one dreams. You simply… aren't. It is not scary, nor painful. However, imagine you remember coming home at midday, and then it is the next morning. You would find that disconcerting would you not?"

Noises from the kitchenette filled the gap of silence. Dogmeat pranced around Piper and Shaun. He barked happily as the leftover eggs were scraped into his dog bowl. Sighing, Tessa spoke up. "G5 said something to that effect."

"She wrote that down."

Desdemona ventured carefully. "Did I offend you?"

"For a moment. I am me and she is her. Please do not mix us."

"You are certainly different," agreed the older woman. Curie gave a curt nod. "I'm sorry."

A warm smile eased the returned tension. Curie's chuckle was light and beautiful. "All is forgiven. This is a strange experience for everyone. Now, Madame Grey, it would appear G5 got a few kisses?"

Tessa smirked and leaned across the table. "Yeah. You jealous?"

"I expected some when you returned," she hummed, meeting her in kind. The glint of mischief in dark eyes thrilled Tessa. Pink tinted Tessa's cheeks and she cleared her throat.

"I guess I better make it up to you with interest." They shared a less-than-chaste kiss that left Desdemona blushing at the scene.

A shout from Shaun split them apart. He covered his eyes and stuck out his tongue. "Ewww!" Piper was trying to hold back her laughter, but it was a losing battle.

"Sorry dear," called back Tessa.

"My fault!" Curie added. Shaun took Dogmeat and scurried out the front door, leaving the women alone. "It is strange adjusting to having young eyes around."

Tessa snickered as she sat back in her chair. "You'll have to rein it in some."

Curie recoiled dramatically, a hand to her chest and expression nearly identical to what G5 had done yesterday. No one remarked on it. They chatted for a bit longer about the future, trying to make plans on vague outlines of possibilities. There was, after all, an entire world of unknown before them. Several times Tessa was unsure if it was Curie or G5 speaking, mannerisms shifting in the most subtle of ways. The cadence of her voice, stiffness of her posture, and even warmth of her eyes shifted. It had been happening more often each time G5 had control.

After an hour Tessa's Pip-Boy crackled. "Boss?" Came the staticy voice of Tinker Tom. Tessa adjusted her radio and the interference cleared. "Boss you there?"

Flipping the responder Tinker Tom had installed, Desdemona spoke up. "I'm here."

"Great! I hoped you were still with Grey. We got something we need you for back at base. Deacon can meet you and provide escort."

"Urgent?" Desdemona pressed.

"Nah, nobody is about to die. But uh, don't linger? Everybody is getting twitchy with you gone."

Sighing, she rose from the couch they'd moved to while they chatted. She smoothed out her clothing and checked her pockets. "Alright. Tell Deacon to meet me halfway at drop seventy."

"Ten-four!" The line went dead.

"Sorry, duty calls," Desdemona said. "It has been… enlightening. Thank you for letting me come. For even entertaining the idea."

Piper stood and gave her a warm smile. She held out a hand and Desdemona took it with a confidence she lacked the day before. "It was nice getting to know you better. Good luck with the Railroad."

"Thanks. Keep these ladies out of trouble?"

"I think it will be the other way around," Curie snickered. Piper rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue. "Madame Wright is a rabble-rouser."

Tessa rose next and offered Desdemona a hug. They lingered far longer than Piper's handshake. Yearning filled the space between them, but they both knew better than to pursue it. She pulled back with a broad smile. "Be safe. Don't let Deacon drive you crazy."

"You and I both know I have very little control over that," chuckled Desdemona.

"Unfortunately you are correct," replied Tessa. "Let me know when you require the Minutemen's aid."

"I will. Curie, could you tell G5 I said goodbye?"

"Of course."

Letting out a shakey breath, Desdemona started for the door. "Thanks. I look forward to being her friend."

Accent thick and posture rigid, the synth smiled. "Me too."

With a brisk nod Desdemona left. Immediately the synth wilted. Piper and Tessa sat next to her with wide eyes. "You okay?" Piper asked, taking her hands.

"I am tired."

"And you are…?" Questioned Tessa softly.

She huffed and rested her head back against the couch. Dark eyes stared up at cracked metal. "I don't really know," she confessed. "Too much… everything."

"Do you need to lay down? How long have you felt this?"

"After we ate."

"So over an hour?" Pressed Piper, squeezing the synth's hands.

A small nod. "Sorry, didn't want to lie but it was easier to pretend to be Curie completely. Enough talking and thoughts and feelings have happened. Enough things need to be worked out, I didn't want to add to it. Not with her here, anyways."

"...I was going to ask," Tessa confessed. "You were acting different. Alternating?"

"Fuck," cursed a distinctly G5 voice. "I've never felt like this."

Grimacing, Tessa offered a comforting embrace. The synth nuzzled against her, clutching Piper's hands who followed. She was surrounded by care, easing the tension of her body. "How do we help?" Whispered Piper.

Eyes squeezed shut and a shudder rocked her body. "I do not know, just hold me, please?" Came an unmistakable Curie. They pressed against her as tightly as they could. Deliberate breathing was punctuated by burgeoning tears and muttered words. They held her as she broke down at an alarming rate, trembling and blubbering. It was as bad as the first month after her rescue. Sudden, violent even, meltdowns with scarcely a discernible cause. Storms they could only weather as Curie and G5 struggled through it, identity split and consciousness ripped in two.

A raspy voice broke through the sobs. "Be honest, who do you want me to be?"

Piper and Tessa recoiled. After a shared look, Piper gave a hearty shake of her head. "That's not our decision. Who you are is your choice. Both of yours."

"It's Curie, isn't it?" The woman challenged.

Tessa tisked her tongue and shook her head. "Yes we love Curie, but we care about G5 too. Pipes is right, this is not our choice. We have no right to say who you are."

She pulled away from the pair, shaking her head with an intensity that worried them. The woman stood on trembling legs, back facing them. They did not chase after her, cautious of setting her off one way or another. It felt like standing at the edge of a disaster, desperately wanting to help but effectively powerless.

"Freedom of choice is terrifying." Last night's conversation surged over them. G5 clenched her hands. Shoulders shook as she wept.

Fists wiped away tears. Curie spoke, "Pourtant c'est si beau n'est-ce pas?"

A shuddered laugh followed and G5 lowered her arms. "What? Curie come on."

Tessa and Piper held hands, tense, ready to snap yet frozen in place. Curie gave a soft laugh. "Ah, sorry. It is beautiful, no? Life? Freedom?"

"I guess." G5 faced Tessa and Piper and gave an awkward smile. "We're really freaking you out, aren't we?"

"Probably as much as you are yourselves," Piper replied slowly. They were speaking to one another, something that had never happened before. "Can we help? At all?"

Dark eyes settled on Tessa. "K2, you ever feel like two people?"

After a calming breath, Tessa gave a nod. "Not the same way as you I bet, but yeah. I'll feel… lost? One second I'm in the present and then next the past. I try not to separate what's K2 and Tessa, when I do it's painful."

"Doing that hurts," Curie whimpered. She shed G5's leather jacket and folded it up onto the coffee table. "Trying to think together… to unify."

"So this hurts a lot?"

"Near indescribably so my love," Curie confessed. "I can only theorize that the stimulus of Desdemona, on top of reviewing the journal, has brought G5 to a more surface level. Meanwhile you two and Shaun keep me present."

Eyes narrowed and lips thinned as G5 asserted herself. The visible change was almost unnerving, seeing Curie shift so fluidly into G5. Each time the other spoke everything changed, alternated, like a filter over an old film. "That sounds like something Dr. Amari talked about. We… should go see her soon."

"I concur. Later. After some rest."

"That sounds fucking nice. I shouldn't be awake anyways." G5 frowned. "I'm… sorry. I know this is scary. I don't want to freak you out."

Piper shook her head rapidly. "It's not your fault. It's just a shit situation."

With a sardonic laugh, Curie gave them both a kiss on the brow. "Oui madame. I- we will be on the roof. Some fresh air might help."

Catching her wrist as she pulled away, Piper begged, "Get us as soon as you need to. We can't help if you don't tell us."

Curie's signature radiant smile soothed them and she kissed Piper's knuckles softly. "I will always come to you for aid. I love you both so much." With a lingering look, she stepped away.

Neither of the women left on the couch spoke as they watched her ascend the stairs. Her footsteps over the second floor sounded thunderous until the heavy metal hatch leading to the roof shut. "What in the actual fuck just happened?" Piper rasped.

"I have… I… That has never happened before."

"They were talking at the same time- well almost but-"

"They were aware of each other. They heard each other."

"G5 didn't understand the French though," countered Piper, "so they weren't thinking the same thing. That wasn't unified."

Tessa gave a shaky nod. "It was like they were both at the controls."

"I hope they're okay."

"Shit," hissed Tessa. "Did I fuck up? Did I just hurt them? Was bringing Dez here a mistake?"

Piper gave a hesitant shake of her head before it became more earnest. "They both deserved to see one another. It would be wrong to withhold that from them."

"Yeah… okay. Just- what do we do?"

Hazel eyes hardened with resolve. "Help them however they need us to. Let's give them some space to think. I'm going to talk to Dr Sun."

Steadying her breathing, Tessa nodded. "Okay. I'm going to make some comfort food. It might help a little, even if we just ate. Curie loves baking and G5 has a sweet tooth."

Lips pressed a quick kiss to Tessa's brow. The pair split with purposeful steps.

Cool air greeted Tessa as she climbed onto the roof, carefully holding a candied pie. The synth woman was sitting in an old chair, slumped with a type of exhaustion Tessa knew well. The delicious smell roused the synth, dark eyes fixating on the offering with clinical precision. "Thank you, Madame," Curie said as it was set on a small table and a slice cut. The small fork clanked loudly against the chipped ceramic plate. Immediately a satisfied noise spilled free and Curie's eyes fluttered closed.

Settling into the other chair, Tessa took a smaller slice for herself and let Curie enjoy it before any uncomfortable conversation. To her utter surprise, it came immediately. "I do not wish to live like this, but there is no other choice. I must endure."

"Is there anything I can do that could make it easier?"

Evening sun basked Curie in warm oranges, radiant like a campfire. Sharp edges were softened, an almost angelic quality enveloping her. Even the exhaustion lightened at Tessa's question. "Oh, how I adore the way you try to help. It is most endearing, my love." A soft hand cupped Tessa's cheek. "Simply continue being who you are. We, G5 and I, hope we might one day share this body equally. It would be the most fair option."

"How did you decide that?"

"We spoke," she explained with a tired note. "As we did earlier."

Leaning into Curie's hand, Tessa chewed her lip. "Did it hurt too?"

"Oui." Curie pressed their brows together, breathing slightly erratic. "I would prefer not to do it often."

Tessa placed her hands on Curie's shoulders, not quite a hug but comforting nonetheless. "How do we avoid that?"

The rueful noise Curie made was strange, a rarity from the optimistic synth. She pulled away and ate more of the candied pie. A soft note of delight filled the lapse of conversation. Tessa did not push and instead watched dark eyes squint at a distant point while Curie tensed. She didn't speak again until the plate was clean. "We have no idea. Everything feels unraveled yet whole, like a ship at sea."

"You know what that's like?" Inquired Tessa.

Curie smiled, a sincere softness to them. "G5 does."

"Do you… know what she knows?" Ventured Tessa. She didn't want to lose Curie. The thought was utterly terrifying, and one she had experienced too many times already.

"No."

"Do you want to?"

"No."

Weight dissipated from Tessa's shoulders. Curie tilted her head, the edge of a smile playing at her lips. She took Tessa's rough hands into her own, soft like the rest of her. "I am not going anywhere, my love."

Letting out the tension coiled within her, Tessa leaned in and rested her head against Curie's shoulder. "I am so glad to hear that. I don't know what I'd do without you."

A throaty chuckle replied. "I believe we already know what you would. Go to tremendous lengths to get me back."

"I wasn't alone."

"I am well aware. Madame Piper is incredible. I would be just as lost without her as I would you." Curie pressed a kiss to Tessa's hair, one arm wrapping around her in the tender embrace. Soothing heat bubbled between them, encompassing them in safety.

Diamond City bustled around them, humming like the beacon it was. Curie inhaled deeply, absorbing the chaos as much as the beauty. "I love it up here," Curie confessed. "There is not a moment I regret following you out of Vault 81. My world was once so tiny, and now I see wonders every day. The people I have met, the adventures I have had… I would not give them up for anything."

Tessa took her hand and squeezed. "I love you."

Curie squeezed back. "I love you too."

A metal door rattled behind them and the pair looked back to Piper. She'd taken her red coat off and wore one of Curie's shirts. It clung nicely to her chest. Immediately a blush spread over Curie's face. "Hey Doll," said Piper as she joined them. Tessa gave up her seat and settled on the tin roof. "Thanks."

"Mademoiselle," greeted Curie, voice hitched.

Piper flashed a smile. She looked radiant in the orange light of approaching sunset. "How are you feeling?"

"Better now that you are here," whispered Curie, already taking Piper's hands into her own.

"Hey!" Tessa protested with a laugh.

Dark eyes met light greens, unwavering in their love. "I am always better when both of you are near."

Breath stolen from her, Tessa only managed a dumb little nod and took Curie's other hand. They linked up, Curie at the center. Piper kissed Curie and the woman hummed softly. "You look better," pointed out the reporter. "More… confident."

"The path ahead is not an easy one, but I will be glad to walk it with you two," vowed Curie.

Piper smiled and blinked away burgeoning tears. "Oh Doll…" She pulled Curie into another kiss, tender and a bit desperate. When they separated Curie was panting and Piper flushed. Before Piper could relax into her seat Curie pursued, releasing Tessa to embrace Piper fully. A low noise grew between them, increasing in tempo the longer they kissed. Hands began to tug at one another, exploring the familiar. Tessa watched with a broad smile, relieved they were enjoying themselves.

"Damn," rasped Piper when they finally split. "You're definitely feeling like yourself, huh?"

Curie lingered, lips dusting kisses along Piper's neck. "I adore feeling so very human with you."

"I can leave you two be if you'd like," offered Tessa. She wanted them to have as many chances for private moments as she did them.

"Don't even think about it," Piper growled. The blonde stiffened at the intensity and smiled.

Curie hummed in agreement and licked her lips. "I do not feel… stable enough for anything that would require such privacy. I would like to taste your kisses, however."

Leaning back onto the metal sheet roof, Tessa chuckled. "Alright then. We'll do whatever you want tonight, and the day after."

A brow arched. "Anything?"

"Yes," agreed Piper. "You deserve some days of extra care."

Beautiful warmth shimmered in Curie's eyes and she tucked her head against Piper's shoulder. Immediately Piper began to stroke short brunette locks. "We shall have a date then."

"Anywhere in particular in mind?" Piper asked.

Curie shook her head. "Surprise me, mesdames."

Accepting the challenge, Tessa smiled. "We'll blow you away."

"I expect nothing less."

Piper hugged Curie close, tight enough it was clear she never wanted to let go. "I'm always here for you, you know that right?"

"Without doubt," replied Curie, closing her eyes and voice straining. Her arms trembled slightly. Her breathing was a bit hitched. So many emotions rolled over her that it was clear she struggled to stay afloat. So her loves became her ballasts, lifting her above the tumult. Curie buried her face in Piper's shirt. Piper held her close. Tessa fiddled with her Pip-Boy until soft jazz filled the air, underscored by the busy city beneath them.

"I love you," whispered Piper, looking between the both of them.

Curie and Tessa smiled and spoke in unison. "I love you too."

AN: It's funny how quickly time can fly and life gets so busy. I still love these three. Thanks to anyone who's stuck around.