Alex walked up the stairs dressed in jeans and a black button-down shirt without sleeves. Her ears and hair were still wet from the bucket bath she'd given herself. Behind her trailed a very tired-looking Nat, who was wearing black cargo pants and a bright pink tee. Her hair was still wet and her hand brushed the towel over her hair to finish drying it as much as she could. When they crested the loft opening, Nat chucked the damp towel at a hook on the wall but missed it.

"Did she give you the Addictol?" Piper looked over at Nat from the bed. She wasn't sure who looked more tired, Alex or Nat but both looked dead on their feet. She was grateful that Florrie had sent them upstairs, it'd be one less thing for Piper to worry about with her sister and lover close to her.

Nat nodded back at her unhappily, almost too disgusted to answer, "Yeah, and it tasted like ass. Worse… she's totally not happy with me." Piper noticed the fresh bandage on her head. Joanna was extremely thorough with Nat, and Piper would have to thank her later in private. "I never want to take that again," Nat shivered with her comment.

Alex chuckled climbing into the bed, "Puny human got punished." She wrapped an arm around Piper and Piper cherished the warmth of her touch. She hoped to get the private conversation in before she went to sleep, but the dark circles under Alex's eyes told her it would have to wait.

Nat gave her a playful punch in the arm, "Not funny, Blue. I didn't know what it was. I just thought it was gum. I told her that, I just hoped she doesn't stay mad at me. The silent treatment sucks. She won't even hold my hand or hug me."

"Did you learn your lesson?" Piper moved over to the middle of the bed, motioning for them to join her.

"Yeah," Nat climbed over the bed. "She asked me the same thing."

"Of course, she did. She cares about you," Piper lifted the covers letting Nat scoot in next to her, "Don't take things from people that you don't know what they are. God, but especially from Solomon!"

Alex kicked off her boots and climbed in on the other side of Piper, "I give it five minutes tops before she caves to Nat."

"Why do you say that?" Nat looked over at Alex expectantly.

Alex gave her a small grin, "Because that's about how long I last when I'm mad at you. Ruby's right, you're adorable." Alex stifled a yawn that followed her statement.

"I don't know, I think it might be longer," Piper hugged sister closer. "She had to treat you for chem addiction… That might make her mad for a whole day."

Nat groaned, "Explains why my head hurts and my Pip-Boy was making faces at me."

Piper laughed, "What?" She watched Nat rub her eyes, before answering. Alex pulled off her Pip-Boy and set it on the nightstand.

Lifting her arm and flipping through the menus, Nat pointed at the moving digital man on her screen, "That little guy does different things… he looked drunk after like the third piece."

Alex laughed this time, taking Nat's hand and holding it on Piper's lap. "That's Vault Boy. He does different things based on what's happening to you. It's a visual cue so that if your vision is blurry, you can still see him to know what's wrong."

"I couldn't read. I just figured it was 'cause I was tired," Nat yawned, resting her head on Piper's shoulder.

Joanna came up the stairs holding a tray. Walking to the bed she set it down and took the chems and water from it, handing them to Piper. "Piper these are for you, they will help your headache."

"Are you still…"

Joanna gave Nat a look that silenced her. "If you're about to ask if I'm still angry with you, the answer is yes."

Alex giggled and Piper elbowed her to get her to stop. "Which is totally understandable because I am too," Piper squinted at her sister.

"Okay, I'll just shut up then," Nat leaned into her sister more.

Joanna turned back to Piper, ignoring Nat. "Piper, I recommend you rest as much as possible in low light. It will help with your," Joanna paused at the pattering sound coming up the stairs. Bandit hit the bed like a ten-pound bowling ball and made his way on to Piper's lap and laid down on top of the blankets. Joanna watched the cat get situated, stretching out over Nat's arm, and wrapping his paws around her wrist, and putting his head in Nat's hand. "Why does he do that?" Joanna was watching Nat rub the cat's head when she asked.

Alex looked from the cat to Joanna, "They make him feel safe and he loves them. He's telling Nat what he needs while getting comfort from Piper. It must be scary for him to have this many people in and out of the house."

Joanna watched Piper take the chems, "He doesn't do that to me. He only sits in my lap."

"Me either," Alex scratched behind his ears, "I'm not his, um, ghoul, I guess." She sighed moving her hand to Piper's thigh, "They're his humans. He's always been that way with them since the first day I brought him home. He picked them."

The cat purred loudly with the attention being lavished on him. Joanna picked up the tray, "It's cute. I can understand why he does it and why he picked them." She looked at Nat, "You're my human too, Natalie." Joanna walked down the stairs without waiting for Nat to respond or say anything else.

Nat sat up as she disappeared, "Does that mean she's still mad?"

"Yes," Piper leaned back against the pillows getting comfortable, "But not for long."

"How do you know that?" Nat searched Piper's face for the answer.

Piper pulled her sister down to her shoulder again, "Women don't smile at you when they're angry and she smiled at you." Nat got comfortable, yawned, and closed her eyes. "Like I said, she cares about you." Piper felt Nat sink further into her side.

Alex chuckled, curling into Piper's side next to her stomach, "Unless they are planning to do something horrible..."

"Would you stop?!" Piper laughed. "I can't believe you!"

Nat smacked Alex's hand lightly, "I really don't like you right now, Blue."

It only made Alex laugh harder, "Cait smiles all the time and she's horrible."

Piper rolled her eyes looking down at her, "Cait doesn't count."

Alex relaxed more, her hand moving to Piper's stomach, "We both know Cait counts. You can't help but count her."

Piper turned, listening to her sister's tiny snores. "That didn't take long."

"Hmmm?" Alex took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly.

"Nat's asleep," Piper looked down at Alex, running her fingers through her damp hair, "and it looks like you're not far behind."

"Cait counts, admit it." Alex smiled, her sleepy voice teasing Piper until the bitter end.

Piper chuckled, "If I admit it, will you go to sleep and stop pestering me about Cait?"

"Maybe," Alex was losing her battle with consciousness and Piper could hear it.

Piper sighed thinking about how to answer her, "Fine, she might. Happy now?"

When Alex didn't answer, Piper stopped stroking her head and looked down at her. "Blue, you awake?" She moved Alex's hair and saw her eyes were closed. Piper leaned back against the pillows again, listening to a quiet house, her sister's and Alex's rhythmic breathing. "You're right, Cait counts. Sometimes I wish she didn't, but she does, and you don't help matters loving her as much as you do." She looked over at her sister and touched her damp hair, "Either of you." Piper breathed out with a huff, "I think what makes it worse because she actually listens to both of you." Stroking Alex's hair she closed her eyes. "I'll admit she counts when you admit you love her," Piper whispered to Alex. "Which, good thing for both of us, you'll never do." Piper kissed Alex's forehead, "But I know your secret, General Wright. It's safe with me." She smiled as she kissed Alex's nose.

Relaxed, but not tired, Piper was fixed in place by the sleeping trio of adorableness, between her sister and Alex, and under the cat. Wedged in place, she resigned herself to her role as a pillow for the three of them. Nat's grip on her arm had loosened enough for Piper to move it and get more comfortable. Piper smiled listening to the cat and Nat's tiny chorus of snores. The cuteness of it was overwhelming. It was also comforting, finally having them close to her where she felt protected and where her family was momentarily safely within arm's reach. She relaxed against the pillows, focused on how warm Alex was and the sounds each of them made. For those few precious moments, she was thankful that her small family was together and alive.

She heard the door downstairs close hard, and Ruby's distinctive laughter followed by Cait's. Piper closed her eyes, hearing their voices carry on, not able to make out their words before they unexpectedly went silent.

Piper opened her eyes and looked at the opening leading from the loft downstairs wondering what happened. The chaos of everything happening to Diamond City forced her anxiety to rear its ugly head as she stared at the loft stairs. The silence seemed to drag on. Piper swallowed against the pressure in her gut telling her to move. Why was it so quiet? A minute… then two crept by.

The stairs creaked and Piper turned her head toward it. She heard something rattle, like silverware on glass, as the sound floated up the stairs. She studied the entrance to the loft until Cait emerged with a large steaming tray of food and three glasses of water. Piper sat up with the smell, her stomach suddenly eager for whatever Cait was delivering.

Cait looked at the bed and grinned but stayed quiet as she carefully walked over. She knelt on the bed, handing Piper the tray, and then she quietly moved the chair to the foot of the bed. "Auntie Florrie said bon appétit…" Cait watched Piper scoop up a large forkful, "Maybe a little less, love. Don't want you chokin' to death over your first brekkie."

The tray was heaped with so much food it was no wonder that it rattled. Mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, roasted brahmin, roasted vegetables, and fresh fruit were piled high on the tray. Piper looked from her to the fork and pushed half off with her finger. She took a bite and closed her eyes savoring the deliciousness of mac and cheese with roasted brahmin. "Who cooked? It's delicious."

"It wasn't the ghouls, that's for sure," Cait made a face of disgust and Piper giggled knowing ghouls couldn't smell or taste, only Alex could. Cait chuckled seeing Piper's amusement with her antics, "Your crush, Geneva."

Piper looked down horrified, "She didn't spit in it, did she?"

Cait laughed at her, "No, love. Relax. She loves Auntie, the kid, and Al. She gave Auntie a pile of food for the three of you. She won't chance spittin' in it." Cait watched her for a couple of bites, "You alright?" Cait touched Piper's head and cheek. "You're pink."

Piper chewed slowly, trying to enjoy the flavor, even though she was starving. "I'm still not with it and I can't remember what happened at all. It's bothering me."

"What's the last thing you remember?" Cait picked up a roll, broke it in half, and buttered it. She gave half to Piper and took a bite of the other half.

Piper chewed, thinking about the question. "Curie asked me the same thing… We'd just finished breakfast and there was… it sounded like thunder, maybe? After that… nothing until I woke up. I've slept since then, so what I know happened is limited to what I heard over the Pip-Boy or downstairs."

"Gunners blew up the water pumps, that's where we all met up. They were in the city already as guards, they were the ones the mayor hired. They opened the gates for the rest. Then they blew up and burned the rest of the town. City offices and part of the upper stands are burnt out and gone."

Piper set her fork down, staring at Cait, "Please tell me that's it."

Cait shook her head, "No, love. A bunch of people were killed. We caught two tryin' to break down the door to your house to get to you lot. They knew you were here. Had to stop the kid from killin' 'em." Cait smiled proudly, "She punched me for stoppin' her too. Never been so proud in my damn life to take a punch. Right after that the Dugout blew."

Piper took a deep breath, then exhaled angrily, "So they just planned to level Diamond City? How the hell did they make it this far? Have they been planning it this whole time?"

"Quiet down, Piper, you'll wake the two princesses up without their kiss." Cait looked between Alex and Nat before she spoke again, "Yeah, looks like they've been plannin' it for the last couple of years. Once that fuckin' gobshite of a mayor got in, they had it bloody easy. He gave them the Minutemen plan and they avoided everythin' Al, Dez, and the others set up like it didn't exist."

Shaking her head with disgust, Piper looked between Alex and Nat, thankful for them being with her. She balanced the tray of food and touched her sleeping sister, then Alex. Closing her eyes, she tried to calm her racing heart. "Tell me everything," Piper opened her eyes and watched Cait.

"When the Dugout exploded, we were on our way there," Cait rolled her shoulders, "Covered the kid but was too out of it to get to you and Jo. Ruby and Max found you under Jo. That synth saved your life a couple of times now." Piper made a mental note to thank Joanna later for everything she was doing. "I already told Al we're keepin' 'er. With the kid, they make a hell of a team out there. You should be proud of them."

The admission of pride from Cait struck Piper. Cait wasn't the type to hand out compliments. Taking another bite, Piper thought about it while she listened to Cait. "They got you two back here, then went in with the others and dug out Curie and the doctors. Al had them bring her here with us… The other side of the house was a hospital for all 'em doctors. She turned downstairs into Headquarters." Cait looked away for a minute like she was weighing her thoughts. Piper took the opportunity to eat while Cait was quiet. Cait finally came to a resolution with her thoughts, "You should know, we almost lost Al a few times now." When she looked into Piper's eyes, Piper could see the worry that lit her green eyes, "She isn't holdin' up."

Piper set down her fork, "What do you mean?" To say she was worried about Alex was an understatement. She was, but the look in Cait's eyes meant there was more for her to hear. She knew if she became too emotional, Cait would stop talking.

"She just… isn't doin' well, you know?" Cait tapped her head. "She won't talk to me 'bout it neither, not really anyway. She's like she was after the Institute… but it's different this time too." Cait shrugged, "She might talk to Syd, but I'm not sure." That bothered Piper. It wasn't like Alex to hold back from Cait. "Gunners tried to take her out in the city and out there. She stands out too much even without her vault suit. Liberators have been coverin' her, but this last time… they made a point of tryin' to get to her. It's how she got stabbed in the leg. Dez didn't want Syd here either 'cause of how much they look alike. Doesn't want to lose either of 'em."

Cait cleared her throat before continuing. Her hesitation lasted a little too long, not to be profound in some way. Yet, Piper's aching head wasn't willing or able to divine what Cait's mannerisms meant at the moment.

"She'd come up here and cry over you when they…" Cait's heavy sigh reflected her sadness, "When they weren't sure you and Curie were goin' to make it. It really got to her. She was mental for a bit… more so than her usual thick self."

Piper didn't know what to say. The fork in her hand weighed a hundred pounds. Setting it down on the tray she stared at the food. Alex and Sydney's closeness weighed on her mind. Realizing now that Alex had glossed over her on purpose. Piper understood that things were complicated but listening to the two of them downstairs and observing them, created more questions than it provided answers.

"Dez told me in private that it'd send Al over the edge losin' any more family. 'Fraid she'd off herself if she did."

"Dez told you in private?" Piper looked at her curiously, "You mean she was here? Like here here?"

"Yeah, she was 'til a bit ago." Cait ran her fingers through her hair absentmindedly.

That clinched it for Piper. She needed to talk to Alex in private. Looking down at her, Piper breathed out slowly. She didn't want to wake her up only a few minutes after she'd gone to sleep.

Cait cleared her throat grabbed one of the water glasses from the tray and took a drink. "Gunners haven't bothered to hide the fact they're here for the whole city or you lot either. Alex nearly lost her mind on Junior after she, Jo, and a couple of them kids took on a group of Gunners pinnin' Al's team down." Cait chuckled, "Junior bit right back at her and told her to deal with it." Cait started laughing harder, then abruptly stopped seeing Piper's face. "If Junior hadn't shown up, Al wouldn't be here. They did everythin' they could to kill Al and the ghouls she was runnin' with. We were pinned down, 'til Junior and those kids showed up. Junior and Jo saved Al's life when the Gunners jumped her. Syd's group got there in time to kill the Gunners' backup that came after us." Cait sighed looking at Alex, falling quiet for a moment. "The kid's tough…"

Looking down at them, Piper wanted to hug and yell at them both at the same time. Everything Cait was telling her was Piper's worst fears come to life. Her fingers pressed a little harder against Alex and Nat. Piper closed her eyes tightly as the thought of losing them prickled against the inside of her skull, making her head hurt all over again. Her anxiety caught in her chest and throat, battering her with 'what ifs' and 'could haves'.

"Stop, Newsy." Cait's hand slapped the top of her foot softly, "That isn't goin' to help." Piper looked up at her irritated, but Cait cut her off before she could snap back. "They're here and you need to hear a lot more before you go off on me or beat yourself up."

There were times Piper wondered how it'd feel to smack Cait, and this was definitely one of them, "Like what?"

Cait looked down at Alex again, "This is the first time they've gotten their heads down." She looked up at Piper, "Either of them. Thought they'd fall over before they willingly did." Cait leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "Losin' you is their worst fear." She nodded towards Nat, "She refused to sleep, even when Al sent Jo and Ruby to try and talk sense into her." Then she nodded towards Alex, "And that one…" Cait smirked, "Don't let her try and tell you she got any rest." Piper glanced down at Alex, stroking her hair gently. "She was terrified she'd wake up and find you gone," Cait was watching Piper when she looked up again. "When they wake up, you need to be here, or they'll lose their shite." Piper nodded vehemently, understanding the importance. Cait gave her a single slow nod in return then looked back down at Alex. For a moment, she was quiet. "You should talk to them soon 'bout it." Cait glanced back up at her, "Think Al will talk about it with you." She took a deep breath and looked at the wall. "Didn't say much to me, then again, I don't expect her to this time." She looked back over at Piper.

But Piper was staring at her steaming food. The nightmare of losing either Alex or Nat was as real for her as it was for them to lose her.

Cait smacked her foot again, "You got to stop with that. It won't be helpin' you or them." Cait sighed watching her, "And you know it won't." Clinching her jaw Piper looked back down at her sister then Alex. Cait was right and it irritated her. Cait pointed at the tray of food, "Eat while it's hot. Nothin' you can do about either of them while they're sleepin'. 'Side there's more to talk about than just them." Piper swallowed looking at the food. She was hungry but didn't want to eat. "I said eat, you got nothin' in you, and you need to be healthy." Cait sighed, "Christ knows we've all worried enough about ya. Last thing we need is you passin' out on us." Cait gestured toward Alex flippantly, "You'll kill her if you did."

Piper's brows knit themselves together as she picked up her fork, "What did she tell you?"

Cait cleared her throat, leaning further back in the chair. She waved at Piper and Piper complied by raising the fork to her lips. She couldn't deny how hungry she was, at the same time she felt sick thinking about everything Cait was telling her. "Look, just ask her when she wakes up. No point in me tellin' you."

Piper stopped chewing and stared at her, "You can't bring it up and not tell me."

Cait leaned forward on the chair, making it squeak a little, "I did tell you. She's not doin' good. She doesn't think she's as strong as you are. To be honest, I kind of agree with her." Cait rolled her eyes at Piper's expression, "Oh come on, Piper. She can't go five minutes without bringin' you up. Every chance she got she was up here checkin' on you and Curie. At least you shut up 'bout her." Cait gave her a small, quick smile to show she was teasing her.

Piper swallowed her food. The irritation that was forming the words in her mouth gave way to a question, "And you know she was up here how?" Piper wasn't in the mood to be teased. But she also wasn't letting Cait off the hook easily.

Cait's smile became a smirk, "'Cause I do." She sat back in the chair, serenaded with another creak. "Anyway, you know to talk to her. That's the important bit." Piper went to protest but Cait held up her hand, "Right, I'm done talkin' 'bout Al. You need to talk to her yourself. Won't do you much good to hear shite from me. I already told you she didn't say much." Crossing her arms with an air of finality, Cait kicked her legs up on the corner of the bed, letting her feet hang over the edge.

Piper knew better than to try to argue with her when Cait said she was done. The look Cait wore was her coyest smirk, the one she used anytime she was trying to cover something up. She needed a different approach. Shoving another fork full of food into her mouth, Piper considered what Cait said as she chewed. The other night Alex had mentioned she felt like she did after the Institute, empty, depressed, and angry. Swallowing, Piper gave Cait a smirk in return, "You can't just tell me that you were with her checking on us?"

"I wasn't with her," The smirk faded from Cait's face. "I came up on me own."

Piper exhaled a long breath, thinking. She wanted to change the subject and judging by the look on Cait's face, she wouldn't talk too much more about herself. "You said the Gunners are specifically targeting her, what else do we know about them?" Picking up another fork full of food, she decided to change the subject. She didn't want to go down this old road with Cait. It always ended with an argument somehow and Piper wasn't in the mood for it. "I heard the radio transmissions over my Pip-Boy when I woke up."

"Based on what we've been pickin' off the walkin' corpses, they have some money bags gangster backin' them. Al got one to talk to her after she shot a bunch and threw them off the wall…"

The fork halted midair. Piper blinked in confusion, "What did you just say?"

Cait sighed loudly, "She killed a bunch of 'em. Her and Evelyn did. Tied them off on the lights and threw the corpses over the sides of the walls. Sendin' a message to the mother fuckers they'll understand." Piper stared disbelievingly at her without saying a word. "That's why everyone's covered in blood. We've been haulin' their corpses back to the city to hang off the wall. We ain't burnin' them fuckers." Cait crossed her legs and relaxed more. Piper slowly stuck the food in her mouth and chewed. "She recorded him talkin' and tellin' her 'bout the Gunners takin' the city for some feller."

"Who?" Piper picked up her fork and took a bite. She was too hungry not to eat. Her conversation with Alex needed to happen soon. Her behavior was 'least Alex' thing she'd heard up to this point. If Alex involved Nat in hanging Gunners' bodies from the wall… Piper didn't want to consider Alex doing something that repulsive or Raider-like.

"Some feller called somethin' Riley… like Albert or Arlene…"

Piper almost spilled the entire tray of food on the cat, "Alister Riley?!"

"Would you shush?" Cait looked at the stairs, "If that ghoul gives me another bollockin', Al's goin' to have me head for windin' her up!"

"Cait, when Nick came over a few days ago to ask me about the trade caravans the paper took down. Alister Riley was on a list Nick had of missing merchants."

"He ain't missin', he's head of some group tryin' to take over the Commonwealth. Got it in bad for you and the kid too. Al got that Gunner to talk on tape. She gave a bunch of copies to Dez when she was here." Piper took a deep breath ending with a shudder. "That's who's put the bounty on you three."

"Were you there when she questioned the Gunner?"

"No, heard it after," Cait rubbed the back of her head, "Dez is lookin' to turn it around on him and Al is just as keen. They're sortin' the Minutemen to take out the Gunners."

Once again, the fork hung in the air from Piper's disbelief. The last time the Minutemen danced with the Gunners was in Quincy. The loss destroyed the Minutemen. Recovering, she shoved the steaming mac and cheese into her mouth, giving herself a chance to think. She stuffed some vegetables in her mouth while Cait talked.

"They've been puttin' their heads together this whole time workin' out a plan. Dez has gone back to get her things rollin'. Al's been trying to hold together Diamond City, the Minutemen, and the guards. Sulli especially." Cait smirked, "Even had Yuki here… and that twat Carrington. We needed doctors to fill in while you lot laid about."

Piper stopped mid-chew. "Seriously?" She covered her mouth as she spoke.

Cait gave her a nod, "With Curie and most of the doctors out, Al said she needed someone as bright as the Egghead to fix everyone up. So, she sent Dez a message. That's why the Queen herself came… that and Diamond City is her big investment." Cait tucked both her hands behind her head and fully appraised Piper, "That git, Evelyn, has Diamond City tucked in now too. Everyone's followin' her around like she's some kind of mother hen."

Piper chuckled at the analogy, taking a drink of water to wash down her food. Evelyn was tough as nails, and she didn't doubt she'd corralled the entire city into getting things done. "How are the rest of the council taking to her, um, leadership?"

Cait pursed her lips, once again appraising Piper before speaking, "They're all dead. She's the only one left."

"Oh my god…" The news hit Piper like a sledgehammer. Her entire body felt the blow. "All of them?"

Cait gave her a shallow nod, "Gunners planted bombs all over the city. Took out everything from the water pumps to the city offices to the pubs. Every business was hit, there not much left out there." She tipped her head towards Al, "She's been neck-and-neck with Evelyn and Sulli, though he's been mostly useless. I've been with 'im to get the guard shifts covered." She nodded towards Nat, "Junior's been helpin' me along with the other nuggets."

"What's wrong with Danny?" Piper figured the stress of the attack was getting to him.

Cait unfolded her hands from behind her head and sat up straighter in the chair. It squeaked in protest at the sudden movement. "Didn't Curie or Jo tell you anythin' at all?"

Shaking her head, Piper felt her stomach starting to drop. She wondered how much worse things could get.

"Sami was gunned down by her squad. She was keepin' an eye on those guards, not knowin' they was Gunners. Sulli's like Al, can't hold it together without her." Piper looked back down at Alex as Cait kept talking, "Docs did everythin' they could but… Now he's got Theo to look after… then them other kids…"

Piper's face felt numb, and the sensation was spreading through her body, "What'd you mean? What's happened to the kids' parents?" Cait shrugged and looked away. For a second, Piper wondered if she'd answer. The feeling of dread at what her answer was going to be made Piper shiver. The numbness mixed with a feeling of cold water dripping down her neck. She was terrified something terrible was about to come out of Cait's mouth.

When Cait looked back over at her, "They got nowhere else to go. Sulli's been takin' care of them all. Gave them all jobs and took them to his place. The Minutemen and city are strippin' what's left of their empty homes for resources to patch up what's left."

Diamond City's youngest child, Sarah, was six years old. Piper wasn't friendly with her parents since they viewed her as nothing more than a snoop. But after school, Sarah would try to get the older kids to play with her. Looking back down at Nat she shook her head, "They used the school as bait, didn't they?" Piper felt sick. The shiver that ran through her was involuntary.

Cait nodded with a disgusted look on her face, "Like I told you, the parents went runnin' for 'em. The Gunners were waitin'. Shot the parents like it weren't nothin'. They blew the Salon when they saw us." Cait rubbed her arms and paused for a second, "Then they came after us when you went down." She nodded at Nat, "Junior killed them and saved our lives. When Jo got to us, she carried you toward the Dugout, and then that blew. All the doctors and Curie were already inside startin' to set up." Piper closed her eyes trying to contain her anger. "They took everyone out in minutes. The rest were scattered 'til Al got everyone to regroup," Cait was staring at Alex's sleeping form on the bed.

Next to Piper, Nat moved with a small groan.

Piper set her fork down, then brushed her sister's hair from her face, watching her sleep. She looked up at Cait and held a finger up to her lips. Cait nodded, staying quiet. Together they sat there in silence, while Piper stroked her sister's hair and back, to lull her further into sleep. On the other side of Piper, Alex lay asleep, her right hand still touching Piper's side, unmoving. Piper sat further back into the pillows and pulled the tray closer. Bandit lifted his head, sniffing the tray with renewed interest. Piper slipped him a piece of brahmin. She covered Alex's hand with her thinking about how much had happened. Questions flittered through Piper's mind. Both Piper and Cait looked down at Nat when she moved again. Piper put her hand on her sister's back, gently soothing her in her sleep.

"It'll be a rough night for her," Cait mumbled watching Nat in her sleep.

Piper looked up at Cait and nodded in acknowledgment. She didn't say a word otherwise. Her sister being out of Diamond City, fighting Gunners, and saving people's lives was enough to think about. Drug addiction was too much for Piper, it was a reminder of things Piper didn't want to remember about Cait and Piper's mother. She was indebted to Joanna for her help and concern for her sister.

"You know Junior did one of them magic tricks for Dez?" Cait put her feet back up on the bed, focusing back on Piper.

Alex slowly stretched out still asleep, turning her face into Piper's hip. Piper smiled, glancing first at Alex, then at her sister. She ran her hand lightly over Alex's arm, "No, I didn't." It amused her that Nat would think to do a trick for Desdemona of all people. "Was it impressive?" She pushed Nat's hair over her shoulder.

"It was…" Cait chuckled, "She got herself in with the Railroad like the rest of us."

"Cait! You let my sister join the Railroad?!" Piper didn't realize how loud she had gotten all of a sudden.

"Shhh," This time Cait stood up, half panicked, looking at the stairs, "Piper, shut the fuck up!" She was almost just as loud as Piper was. "Al's aunt will kill both of us." Cait snuck over to the loft stairs and looked down them, Ruby was standing at the bottom of the stairs with a shotgun.

"Oi, Ruby, where's Auntie?" Cait whispered her question almost panicked.

"She's outside, but you guys need to quiet down cause she's coming back soon," Ruby called back up the stairs.

Cait wiped her sweaty hands on her pants and walked quietly back to Piper, "That old ghoul will kill us if we wake them, so you need to keep the volume down." Cait sat back down in Piper's office chair.

"Are you afraid of Tante Florrie, Cait?" Piper found how nervous Cait was amusing.

"You haven't seen that ghoul fight. She's terrifyin'. I ain't never seen someone so ruthless. I love her to be honest." Cait smirked back at her, "'Sides, that ghoul has been shamin' the residents too. It's been fun to watch."

Piper looked down at her food and the cat that was patiently waiting for her to share. She was still really hungry, "How so?"

"Gunners booby-trapped the lake knowin' we'd be makin' repairs after they blew half the city to Hell. If anyone would have gone in with power armor on, they wouldn't have come out. The ghouls… including Al and that Doctor Chase feller went in and disarmed all the bombs. Auntie was right there, tellin' 'em how it was… without tellin' 'em, ya know? Said they'd be fucked if it weren't for the ghouls who can't even live in their city." Cait laughed quietly.

Piper stopped chewing, suddenly feeling sick all over again, "They know Blue's a ghoul?"

Cait nodded, "She had to tell a few people. No way, 'round it with everythin' goin' on. It's just the ones in our normal group, Evelyn, Dez, and Syd, but not everyone. Some might have figured it out. Her and… Isaac Chase, that's his name, are the same kind of ghoul. Different than the others though. Curie mentioned it when Al had him checked by Edna after they finished at the lake. Edna's been on about it with Curie wantin' to do more research and check the vault dwellers is what she said."

Piper swallowed her food, it felt like lead going down her throat. She loaded up her fork again, watching the cat eat the buttered bread and roasted brahmin she'd given him.

"They also were the first to be tested when Junior figured out the Gunner's poisoned Diamond City." Cait sat back in the chair, letting her legs rest on the corner of the bed near Alex's feet.

"Blue and Doctor Chase were? Or the ghouls?" Piper shoved instant mash into her mouth.

"Ya, Al and Chase. The rest volunteered too. Ghouls ended up havin' to spray neutralizer on everythin' in the city 'cause it was all toxic as far as Edna was concerned. Humans and synths were affected by the poison. Ghouls were the ones to do all the work and standin' watch," Cait crossed her arms watching Piper eat, "Evelyn has been quietly makin' it up to them. Makin' sure they're gettin' fresh food, clothin', caps, chems, booze, you know, the creature comforts."

Piper stuffed the food in her cheek, "How'd Nat figure out they were poisoning everyone?"

"She was talkin' to Alex, askin' questions like always," This time Cait's face bloomed a smile. "Then said something to Al 'bout how she saw the new guards sprayin' chems on everythin' 'round the city for days before the attack. Tried to take Al there, but the ghouls went instead on the count of it makin' everyone's brains swell."

Piper couldn't help but smile, she put her hand on Nat's face and brushed her hair over her ear. "She's my natural… our future investigative journalist. She's so smart, she makes me so proud. I just hope she knows how much I love her."

"Piper," Cait leaned forward, "She ain't a kid anymore. She's been with us through everythin' and she didn't back down when we needed her. She's saved me arse at least three times last night alone. You got to stop treatin' her like she's a delicate flower like Alex. She's an adult now."

Piper sat quietly thinking about it, "Cait… I don't know how to…" Piper swallowed. Her head was thumping. Looking at her sister, listening to Cait tell her the same thing Alex had told her days ago was difficult. The reality of it physically hurt.

"Doesn't matter if you know how to treat her different or not. She's not a little kid anymore. Ya can't keep treatin' her like one."

"She didn't get emotional?" Piper stuffed more food in her mouth and chewed.

"Not 'til she saw you a bit ago. Don't blame her though. That poison took out a few people. Al's had the docs workin' on all of you. We've been defendin' the city from Gunner attacks in the meantime." Cait turned the chair toward the opening again, "Dez and Al want to mount an offensive against the Gunners. So, we're leavin' the city soon."

Piper stabbed a piece of brahmin heatedly, "Are you fucking kidding me? Diamond City needs us right now."

"You just aren't gettin' it." Cait pulled her feet off the bed and moved from the chair to the bed, "The Gunners want the Commonwealth as part of the deal with Riley." She pointed at Nat, "The kid blew up on Al for shootin' the Gunner that squealed. She was beatin' Al over the head with a load of questions Al never bothered to ask. Dez thinks the kid's wicked smart and agrees with her. She thinks the Gunners have wormed their way in everywhere includin' in the Minutemen. We got to go. Ain't nowhere safe and we got to shut them down."

This time Piper let out an irritated sigh. The thought of leaving Diamond City appalled her. There was too much going on and she knew that Cait was only giving her part of the information she needed. That bothered her. Swirling the Instamash with her fork, and staring at them, she thought about it. Cait was being ultra-protective, more so than usual, even if she tried to play it off. Piper lifted the processed goodness to her lips. She needed to get more from Cait, she didn't want to wait for Alex to wake. "Can you be honest with me about something?"

Piper fed the brahmin to the cat, while Cait watched, before she finally answered, "Yeah, alright. What about?" She slipped back into the chair.

Piper looked up at her while Bandit licked her fingers and then groomed himself. "I want to know about Blue and Sydney."

Cait crossed her arms with a huff, "I knew this would come up." She waved at Piper, "Go on then, ask."

Thinking of how to word her questions was difficult. There was so much she didn't know. "Why didn't Blue ever tell me about her?"

A smile instantly captured Cait's face, "You're jokin'. Right?" It was a mix of confusion and amusement which made Piper realize she'd worded the question badly. They had talked about her in the past. "Everyone talks about Syd, includin' Al. I've listened to her tell you about Syd before and so have I."

It was true both talked about her quite a bit. But it wasn't in a way that ever-implied closeness or a family connection. Nor had they ever mentioned that she looked nearly identical to Alex or was a reproduction of Alex's sister Madison. "No, that's not what I mean." Piper shook her head, peeved she didn't word her question well enough. "I mean why didn't she tell me how close they are, or she thought of her as her sister?"

The smile that had lingered on Cait's face disappeared with Piper's question. For the moment that Cait was silent, Piper watched her emotions shift. There was a deepness to it her expression that Cait didn't usually show. Cait sat scrutinizing Piper for a long moment, "I don't know what Al's told you 'bout her past or Syd. I don't want to be the one sayin' anythin'."

Piper was exasperated with her answer, "Cait, please!" She watched as Cait shifted uncomfortably in the chair. "You both avoid saying anything about your families. I don't know how she didn't mention she's got another person out there she considers family."

Cait shifted uncomfortably in her chair, "You lot are the only family I've got. Ain't no one else alive."

Piper swore quietly, she hated when Cait avoided a conversation. "How do you expect me to help when no one tells me anything? Because neither of you is exactly open!"

"Piper!" Cait hissed, wheeling her chair around to look at the stairs, "Christ, will you be quiet?" Piper took a deep breath looking at the stairs. Cait looked back at her, first glaring, then it softened. Her eyes fell on Alex, "Alright, you keep it down, and I'll tell you." She rubbed her hand over her jaw, staring back at Piper, "You tell Al I told you anythin' and I'll call you a liar."

Piper crossed her heart, "I swear, I won't say a word. But you shouldn't lie to her, and you know I won't."

"I'll deal with Al in me own way. Now shut up so I can tell ya." Cait looked down at her, "She tells you everythin' 'bout her son?"

Piper nodded, "I think so. It was really emotional for her."

"That's 'cause he was a right cunt," Cait sighed sitting back hard in the chair causing it to creak loudly. "Thought me parents were bad…" Piper's eyebrows climbed toward her hairline. Cait never talked about her family or mentioned them. "But him, I've never heard of someone so bent on his own ideas that he was willin' to murder innocent people by the hundreds." Piper gasped at Cait's admonishment of Alex's son. "That courser that Al beat to death, Z-whatever-the-fuck, killed hundreds of people chasin' that synth, Jenny. Al said all the others were brainwashed like him. The ones that weren't… that son of hers got rid of them and had more lethal ones made to replace 'em."

"Z2-47," Piper's hand found Alex's again. She laced her finger into Alex's loosely. She shivered remembering his coldness and casual cruelty, "I'll never forget him…" Piper took a breath before finishing her thought, "The way he looked at me when he tried to kill me."

"Real predator 'til Al beat his head open with her fist," Cait smirked. "After she killed him, she went to the Institute, fessed up to it she told me. Her son was miffed she killed him." Piper gave her a quizzical glance, and Cait shook her head. "Not that Al killed him. Nah, that'd show he cared 'bout somethin'. No, he was mad a human could kill a courser." Piper's shoulders drooped. "He had more lethal ones like Savannah and Ruby made to start replacin' the older ones."

Piper took a drink of the water, thinking. Cait did the same before she continued, "You know that arsehole liked to experiment on her?" Piper was instantly curious and horrified. What Cait knew was a mystery to her and Cait wasn't just being protective, but also open. She shook her head quickly for Cait to continue. "That's why he made a synth of himself as a lad and her sister." Looking down at Alex on the bed, Cait shook her head. The sad expression she was wearing now told Piper how deeply affected she was. "When she found me a couple of weeks later, she told me what they were up to. Al was goin' out of her mind. She was angry like I had never seen her before. That's when I noticed her actin' different."

Piper studied her, wondering why Cait was being this open. Piper let herself take all of Cait in, this time in detail, taking in everything about her. She was relaxed and no longer guarded. With Piper, Cait never let her guard down unless Alex was there. The way the two meshed, was so very unlike Cait. Cait had never been known for her civility. But around Alex, she was so much more… Piper struggled with her thoughts trying to put her finger on it. Probably because two words stuck out the most to her, humane and attractive. And Piper didn't know how to handle that. As Piper studied Cait, a thought formed in her head. Cait nodded as if answering Piper's unasked questions, "Yeah, some of her sister is in there, I reckon, like Nick, just like she said. Syd knows things about Al that no one else knows. They even have their own language, and I don't get it. Haven't heard nothin' like it before." Cait was staring at Alex, "She tried to send Syd up North, but Syd refused. Said she'd never leave Al again, so Al let her stay close."

Piper let her hand rest on Alex's shoulder, "How much does Syd remember?"

"Syd has Alex's memories of when her little sister died." Cait didn't move anything other than her eyes as they caught Piper's gaze. "The mother fucker gave Syd Alex's memories of Madison's and their dad's deaths… with it, Al's fears, loss, and pain." Cait took a breath before continuing, "That's why Syd didn't say anythin' earlier. She knows how Al feels."

"God damn." Piper exhaled. She was desperate for a private conversation with Alex.

"You heard Syd, she was with her when Alex destroyed the Institute. The boy…" Cait looked away seeing the red in Piper's cheeks and her watery eyes, "Was with me. Al made me promise to take him to the doc in Goodneighbor. She'd take care of him Al said." Cait leaned forward, rubbing her palms on her knees. "They wanted to go out together, they didn't even get that for themselves."

Piper wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

"Then they showed up together where I was, we took the boy to Goodneighbor. The doc offered to help Syd, but she refused and walked out. So, we went to Dez again… she promised to take care of Syd and send her North, but Syd refused and stayed on as a heavy. Al and Dez decided that it was best if she was working outside of the Commonwealth with everythin'. But the whole thing at Nuka World fucked that up."

"Why though? If they're close…" Glancing down at her food, she thought about having a cigarette. Immediately she nixed the idea because she didn't want to wake them up by moving.

"Because Al knew how you and other people felt about synths. Replacement synths and coursers were terrifyin' to people. She thought if people saw them together, it'd cause problems 'cause everyone knows she's a vault dweller. 'Sides, Al wasn't plannin' to come back here. She was goin' to leave the Commonwealth with Syd." Piper's jaw fell and it finally made sense. "And after Nuka World, Syd, and the others went to a Railroad safe house to wait for Dez. Al and I went to get me clean, then she walked back with me."

Alex had purposely left out so much detail when they had talked that Piper was hurt. Sighing quietly, she tried to look at it from Alex's point of view but failed miserably.

Cait didn't pause, "After I gave you this place, I was goin' to catch up to them, I just didn't tell 'em. They were goin' to see if they could find other family and Syd wanted to see the places she remembered."

Piper couldn't believe what she was hearing, "You're telling me she and Syd stayed separated all this time because of me?"

"I'm telling you they did it to protect Syd, it wasn't about you," Cait sat up straight, flipping her long, red hair back over her shoulder. "Your face when Syd took off her mask said it all. Al and Dez were right to keep her away."

"That's not fair, I was shocked is all!"

"Shut it!" Cait quickly stood and ran to the stairs as she spoke. "Ruby, did she hear Piper?"

"She's still outside." Ruby shook her head at Cait and Cait wiped her brow. Piper wondered if Ruby was offended by their conversation. She decided to apologize to her later.

"Thank Christ," Cait tiptoed back over the chair, sitting down with a small creak. "You need to be quieter," Cait hissed at her through her teeth. "You get that ghoul up here and Al will go mental. Now I told you, it's not about you, so don't look at me like that."

"I know it's not about me," She was deeply hurt by Cait's comment. "It's never about me. I don't need you to tell me that, Cait! What I need is a way to help Blue. And I need to understand what's wrong, and everything that's involved to do that!"

"Shhh! For fuck sake, Piper." Cait threw a look at the loft entrance again. "Be quiet!"

Piper glared at her, knowing she did need to keep it down unless she wanted to wake them up. Rubbing her head with her hand, she took a deep breath, "I've been out for a couple of days. In that time my city was destroyed, my family attacked, and I couldn't help because I was out. And I just found out that the person I'm in love with has a synth sister that she felt like she needed to hide her from me and oh, tried to commit suicide with her." Piper let her hand drop, "So you'll need to forgive me while I try to understand what the hell is going on around me."

Cait shook her head and waved her hand dismissively, "Fine." She kicked her legs back up on the bed and watched Piper.

"Really?" Piper scoffed, "Just like that, huh?"

"What else you want me to say, for fuck sake?" Cait crossed her arms defensively, "I don't know what she's told ya and I'm not supposed to be sayin' anythin' to begin with."

"Why not?"

"'Cause she told me not to, that's why." Cait let her hands drop into her lap, "Besides, it was after Nuka World when we were in the vault and…"

Piper cut her off, "Damn it, Cait, she tells you everything!" She whispered fiercely.

Cait's eyebrows threatened to leave her face, "No she doesn't."

Piper gave a frustrated sigh. Either Cait was being obtuse, or she was trying to wind Piper up. "Yes. She does."

Cait blinked at her for a second before recovering, "I really don't think she does. I'm not takin' the piss."

Piper took a calming breath, "She does. Whether you want to believe me or not." Piper couldn't help but look down at her sleeping lover. "I don't fault her for it." She looked back up at Cait, "Or you for that matter. I know she loves you." Cait instantly opened her mouth to speak, but Piper cut her off. "I know you both love each other and…" Piper swallowed watching the emotions on Cait's face, "That's ok too." Cait's eyes trailed back down to Alex, then she opened her mouth, but Piper cut her off again. "Cait, you don't have to say anything. I understand and it's ok, really."

Cait looked back up at Piper, closing her mouth. It was clear she was thinking about what to say in response. Piper decided to take the opportunity to say the things she'd wanted to talk to her about from a few days before but never got the chance. The cat looked over the edge of the tray at the brahmin, poking at the piece with its paw. Piper pushed it at him with her finger and he quickly snatched it, disappearing under the tray again with his prize.

"Cait," Piper said a bit more gently. Piper cleared her throat seeing the tense look on Cait's face. Threading her brows together, she had to wonder at what Cait was thinking. For the moment, neither said anything. Finally, Cait opened her mouth, "Why'd you let me near the kid?"

That wasn't the question Piper was expecting. Of everything she thought Cait might ask, that wasn't something she'd even considered. She had no idea how to answer her, so instead, she shoved a for full of brahmin and vegetables into her mouth and chewed slowly.

Cait watched her, without saying anything. It was like she was trying to gauge Piper while pulling the answer out of her wordlessly. Swallowing, Piper weighed her words, then decided to be honest, "Because you changed." When Cait didn't react, Piper wondered if she'd heard her.

For a few seconds longer, Cait just stared at her. Tilting her head, Piper went to speak, but Cait beat her to it. "Changed? How'd you mean?"

Piper was almost amused by the direction the conversation had turned. Almost, because it was so unexpected. The cat popped back up from under the tray and pulled another piece of brahmin off, disappearing back into the blankets. "You finally showed your heart," Piper said quietly.

Cait gave a shallow nod, again mutely.

Piper sighed looking down at the tray. Maybe now wasn't the time for that conversation she'd been putting off. Listening to Nat snore quietly, Piper brushed her sister's hair from her face. Sometimes Nat reminded her of an old picture of a doll she had next to her bed when she was growing up. She didn't know what happened to that picture, but there, in that moment, Nat struck her as being like that doll. Pretty, delicate, and fleeting.

"I'm sorry, love."

Piper looked up, confused. "Sorry? For what exactly?"

Cait cleared her throat, shifting with another moan from the chair. "Everything."

Piper looked down at the glass, realizing she was thirsty. Taking a drink, she tried to think what Cait could be apologizing for.

Cait leaned forward in the chair, causing it to creak a little louder this time. She crossed her arms in her lap as she watched Piper. "For how I treated you when," Cait paused momentarily. "For when I acted the way I did when we were… you know."

Piper nodded. There wasn't much else she could do. "Thank you," Piper finally breathed out. Cait gave her another shallow nod in acknowledgment but didn't say anything else. Piper was silently thankful for Cait's uncharacteristic silence. Picking up another forkful of food, Piper ate quietly for a few more minutes, helped by Bandit who freed her of her excess brahmin and mac and cheese.

After finishing her fill, she handed Cait the tray. When she returned, back up the stairs, she found her place on the chair, handing Piper a fresh glass of water.

"What about the paper?" Piper pet Bandit as he nestled back into her lap, after a stretch. "You haven't said anything about it yet." She gave the cat scratches on his ears, waiting expectantly for Cait to answer.

Cait simply shook her head, "You should be restin' with them. We can save talkin' bout the paper 'til later, love."

Piper could feel the look she was giving Cait. Never, since founding Publick Occurrences, had Piper not wanted to talk about the paper. It was more important to her than her life… it was her life. The truth and finding the truth had consumed her the moment the guards had told her that her father had been murdered. The only two things that were more important than the truth or the paper, were Nat and Alex. They both supported every endeavor she'd run with the paper, no matter how dangerous.

Cait shook her head again, "No." She crossed her arms, sitting back against the chair back, "Not a chance. You need to rest, and Al will kill me."

Piper could feel her blood pressure rising, "Why would you say that?" She was more confused by her answer than anything, but it was the way Cait said it that made her worry. Again.

"Because it can wait a few hours."

"No, it can't. I want to know."

Cait rolled her eyes in response, shaking her head. Piper waited, but Cait was quiet for too long. When Cait was quiet that meant Piper wasn't going to like whatever, she was doing or going to do. When Cait didn't say anything, Piper decided to. "I mean now, Cait."

Cait closed her eyes, "You just don't let things be ever, do you?"

Piper could feel the air changing between them, "I want to know what happened to my paper. Why won't you tell me?"

Cait opened her eyes, but her expression had changed becoming sadder, "Because it's gone."