A Fenton through the Fallout

by SreznoJIG

Danny and his girlfriend Ember escape the safety of Vault 101 to find his parents after they suddenly disappeared into the radioactive wasteland of Washington DC. Now in the wide open, Danny and Ember will have to learn to survive in the dangerous Capital Wasteland where they will encounter many dangers and share many adventures together during their search for Danny's parents.

War. War never changes.

Since the dawn of humankind, when our ancestors first discovered the killing power of rock and bone, blood has been spilled in the name of everything, from God, to justice, to simple psychotic rage.

The Romans waged war to gather slaves and wealth.

Spain built an empire from its lust for gold and territory.

The Nazis shaped a battered Germany into an economic superpower.

Then, in World War 2, The United States of America, committed to defeat the evil Axis Powers and free the world from tyranny, put Robert Oppenheimer in charge of a very classified project to develop a new kind of weapon that would change the shape of warfare forever. The Atom Bomb.

With two atomic bombs dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing hundreds of thousands, Japan surrendered. America and its allies had finally put their final enemy into submission.

But despite the success in creating such devastating weapons of mass destruction, capable of wiping out entire cities, the entire world, people began to fear the killing power of Petroleum and Uranium.

But, as the world awaited Armageddon, something miraculous happened. Mankind began to use atomic energy not just as a weapon, but also as a nearly limitless source of power. People began to enjoy luxuries which were only possible in science fiction. Domestic robots, fusion-powered cars, portable computers.

As the atomic age sets on, 'The Red Scare', fearing that communism would spread to them, never went away in American society, sending generations into an era of paranoia and mistrust of the Eastern Block. An era where the Soviet Union lost their great power status and the People's Republic of China took its place to spread 'The World Revolution'. An era where the Cold War went on.

But then… in the 21st century, people started to awake from their dreams of a perfect society, as years of consumption had led to shortages of every major resource. The entire world unraveled. Peace became a distant memory as the world fought on controlling the last remaining resources on Earth. For this reason, China would invade Alaska, the United States would annex Canada, and the European Commonwealth would dissolve into quarreling, bickering nation-states.

Many horrors and crimes had been committed across history, but a few matched the desperate and violent acts that nations would commit in the name of claiming as much as they could for themselves. Some optimistic souls thought that these 'Resource Wars' would be the steppingstones for a miraculous turning point for humanity, which would forge a future of peace. After all, how could things get any worse?

They were wrong…

With the global superpowers being tooth to nail, standing on the edge of destroying the world, it would only take a single spark that would ignite a fire like none has ever seen before.

No one knew who started it. But in the end… little did it matter.

On October 23rd, 2077, after millennia of armed conflict, the destructive nature of man could sustain itself no longer. In a mere few hours, the world was plunged into an abyss of nuclear fire and radiation, nearly wiping the Earth clean of all life. Continents were swallowed in flames and fell beneath the boiling oceans. Human civilization and its glory erased from the face of the Earth.

However, it was not, as some had predicted, the end of the world. Instead, the atomic apocalypse was simply the prologue to another bloody chapter in human history.

For man had succeeded in destroying the world. But war? War never changes.

The capital of the United States of America, Washington D.C., was before the war a shining example of freedom and democracy. But in the earliest hours of the Great War, it was reduced to a hollow, radioactive shell of its former self. The land saturated by the fallout of countless bombs, poisoning its ground and waters. The seat of the American government had been reduced to a ruin, bleached by the sun and covered with ash.

For the people of what is now the Capital Wasteland, life is suffering. Raiders, mutants and wild animals pick off those who stray from the safe regions of the few civilizations that have risen from the ashes. Food and clean water became scarce, something that the people fight and die for every day.

However, underneath its lifeless and bloodstained soil, a different story is told.

In the early days, thousands of peoples were spared the horrors of the nuclear holocaust by taking refuge in huge underground shelters known as Vaults. But when they emerged, they had only the hell of the wastes to greet them. Their inhabitants set out across the ruins of the old world to build new societies, establishing new villages and form new tribes.

All except for those in Vault 101.

For on that fateful day, when fire rained from the sky, the giant steel door of Vault 101 slid closed, and never reopened.

It is here you are born. It is here you will die.

Because in Vault 101, no one ever enters… and no one ever leaves…

---

A FENTON THROUGH THE FALLOUT

CHAPTER 1

GROWING UP UNDERGROUND

Inside in what appears to be a small clinic, a female scientist named Maddie Fenton was about to give birth to her second child.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Maddie yelled in agonizing pain as she gave the final push.

A baby cry was heard.

A male scientist, named Jack Fenton, Maddie's husband, took a closer look at his infant child while another woman cleaned the baby "Let's take a look here. Are you a boy or a girl?" as he checked a few seconds, his smile grew as he told his wife "It's a boy! A boy! We have a son, Maddie! A healthy baby boy!"

Though terribly exhausted because of the difficult labor, Maddie formed a sweet smile, feeling happy to hear that they had a son "Oh Jack… We did it. A son… We have a beautiful son…"

After cutting the umbilical cord and wrapped the baby boy in clean towels, a female doctor handed over the baby boy over to Maddie, who smiled to see her infant son for the first time while tears of joy formed in her eyes.

"Hey…" Maddie softly said, "Oooh… You look a lot like your father…"

Jack joined his wife, kissing her on the forehead, being so happy to have a son and looked at him "Look at you, little champ. Look at you. Yes, I'm your daddy. You have a bright future ahead of you, son. I'm sure of it…"

That was when the female doctor noticed a red-haired two-year-old girl slowly approached "Jasmine? What are you doing out here so late? You're not supposed to be here right now."

But as she was about to take the little girl out, Jack ensured her, "No, no, Madison, it's alright. I'm sure that little Jazz just wants to meet her baby brother, right?" he smiled at his little daughter, raising her up so she can have a closer look "You see that, Jazz? You have a baby brother."

Jazz took a look at her infant brother, forming a smile as she was happy to have become a big sister.

"Yes. That's your big sister, Danny," Maddie softly said to her newborn child, naming him Danny.

The infant boy looked at Jazz, seemingly forming a small smile, with Jazz softly stroking its cheek.

But despite this was a happy moment for the Fenton family, there was something that has bothered Maddie for a while. She looks at Jack with a worried look on her face, and said, "Jack… I… We need to talk about something… something important."

Jack raised an eyebrow at his wife. But seeing the look on her face as it seems something important, he nods at her before asking the doctor named Madison, "Can you… bring the kids out?"

Madison gave a nod before taking baby Danny and offered little Jazz her hand, "Come on, Jasmine. Let's go back to bed. Your mother needs to rest now."

-:- One year later -:-

His vision was blinded for a moment, making him shut his eyes tight.

"Don't look straight into the light, little champ," Jack told his one-year-old son. He stood in the playpen in Danny's room, wearing a Vault-101 jumpsuit and a lab coat over it.

Little 1-year-old Danny was wearing a Vault 101 infant Sleepwear, being blue-yellow and the numbers 101 at the back, just like every Vault resident.

"Dada." Little Danny said.

"Yes, very good." Jack said as he crouched and clapped his hands, encouraging Danny to try to walk "Come over here, son. Walk to Daddy."

At first, little Danny wanted to crawl over to his father. But as he crawled only a bit, he tried to get up as he'd been practicing by himself for a few months.

After a short minute, he stood straight.

"Very good, Danny!" Jack proudly said, "Come. Try to walk over to Daddy."

Little Danny took a few careful steps. And then walked happily over to his father "Bubaba…!"

Jack smiled and hugs his son "There you go! My goodness. Just a year old and you're already walking like a pro. Your mother will be so proud at you."

Little Danny giggled as Jack raised him high.

But knowing he had to go and help Maddie, Jack puts little Danny down and told him, "Listen, kiddo. I know you don't like it when me or your mother leave you alone, but I need to take care of something or a minute." He walked out of the playpen and closed it.

"Baba?" Little Danny walked over to the little door, wandering where his daddy was going.

Jack ensured him, "Don't worry, little champ. I won't be out for long. I just need to go to my office and help your mother. I'll send Jazz over to watch you, okay? Me and your mother will be back in a bit."

After jack walked out of the room, he closed the door as it slides down.

Little Danny watched the door for a short moment before looking at the playpen door. He'd seen his parents and his big sister opening and closing it numerous times. He pulls the little handle up and opened it, much to his joy as he clapped his hands "Boobapa!"

As the little 1-year-old stepped out, 3-year-old Jazz came into his room, surprised to see her baby brother out of his playpen. But having no issue with it, she happily walks over to him "Hey, Danny. Wanna play?" She asked while holding his teddybear.

Little Danny happily clapped "Baba! Baba!"

Jazz and little Danny played together with some of his toys for a little while. Jazz even showed him a little book called: YOU'RE SPECIAL, revealing it had several pictures of the Vault Boy, telling all about Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility and Luck, with Jazz showing every detail and telling him how important each one was as how smart she is at her young age.

Little Danny didn't really understand it as he's only a toddler, but smiled and loved looking at the pictures.

Just then, the door slides up, revealing to be Jack and Maddie, with Maddie wearing and identical Vault-101 jumpsuit and a lab coat, but hers was designed for women.

Jack looked surprised to see Danny out of his playpen and asked his little daughter, "Jazz. I thought I told you to leave your little brother in the playpen?"

Jazz shook her head and stated, "I didn't take Danny out, Daddy. He was able to get out himself, I swear."

As little Danny slowly stood up and happily walked over to his mother, Maddie chuckled and sat on her knees, seeing that Jazz wasn't lying and said while hugging her infant son, "Hahahaha. You're quite the little explorer, are you? And able to walk already when you're just 1 year old?" She said proudly "That's so wonderful, Danny."

Little Danny hugged his mother back.

Maddie then looked at Jazz and asked with a smile, "Jazz, come over here for a second. I want to show you and Danny something."

Jazz walked over to her and sat before her as Maddie took out a picture frame with a quote from the Bible written on it.

"You see this?" Maddie asked them both "It's my favorite passage from the Bible. Revelation 21:6 'I am Alpha and Omega. The beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water life freely'."

Little Danny just cooed while he touched the picture, with Jazz asking her mother with a raised eyebrow, "What does that even mean, Mommy?"

Jack sighed while looking away, while Maddie softly stroke Jazz's head and said, "Well, to me, It means that those who do good and find redemption, will never be athirst. It maybe hard to understand now. But someday, the both of you will understand."

Jack collected himself and told his kids with a smile, "We also have good news for you both. The mechanics have finally fixed all the leaks and resorted electricity to the Childcare department. Meaning you two can finally go there and don't have to be at home the whole till we're done with work."

Jazz was happy to hear that "Really?!"

Jack nodded "Yes."

Maddie then rose up and asked them, "Would you like to go now? I'm sure your little friends are down there too."

"Yes!" Jazz said with little Danny only clapping.

As Jazz was about to go out with her father, little Danny tried to follow them and walked slow, almost losing balance but Maddie held on to his hand in time.

"It's okay, sweetheart," Maddie ensured him and walked slowly with him out of their quarters "Come. Let's see if your little friend Ember is there too and wants to play."

A few minutes later, having walked down a few floors till they reached Floor 7, the Fenton family had reached a hallway with at the end the Vault's daycare.

A few families were there already, having brought their small children as soon as they heard the 'Daycare' had finally been reopened.

As they walked inside, Maddie said, "Wow. Looks like a whole lot of parents are very excited to finally bring their parents again to the Daycare." She chuckled while she puts little Danny down who watched the place with curiosity and wonder.

While Jazz looked around together with the children around her age, she saw Allen Mack and his wife Gloria entering the Daycare, carrying their 1-year-old twin children Wally and Susie, and another 1-year-old girl, who was their foster child, Ember.

Little Danny, seeing little Ember being placed in the play area, receiving a kiss from her foster mother, cooed happily as he began walking to her slowly. "Baba. Baba. Baba."

Jack saw this and smiled. "Looks like Danny found his little friend."

Jazz thought it was cute as how much Danny likes Ember. She offered her hand to her little brother and walked together to her "Come on, Danny. Let's go see her."

Little Ember was chewing on a little toy before she saw little Danny and became happy. "Baba! Baba. Baba!" she cooed while clapping before slowly walking up to him and share a hug.

"Awww… That's so adorable. She's always so happy when she sees our little boy." Maddie said with admiration for this cute display.

Gloria Mack smiled, agreeing with Maddie, "Yes. It's like they're inseparable, like they've known each other for years."

Allen, her husband, who was looking for some toys for his twin children to use, groaned with annoyance as his wife was treating Ember as their own daughter "Give me a break!"

Gloria however had clearly heard it and stared at her husband with a glare, causing him to roll his eyes while checking on their own kids.

Gloria sighs as her husband still didn't want anything to do with Ember. Truth be told, when Ember's mother, Emily, who was her best friend since childhood was slowly dying as a result of complications during childbirth, she'd promised her to take care of her daughter as her own. Though she was willing to honor Emily's last wish, Allen was against this from the start. She formed a bit of a sad face, knowing that Allen had always loved Emily but lost his chances when marrying Nate Peterson, who sadly died in a construction accident in the lower levels of the Vault only a few months before Ember was born.

Deep down, Gloria hoped that her husband would see the error of his ways and would in time accept Ember as a part of their family.

"Are you okay, Gloria?" Maddie asks her, having noticed her bit of sad state.

Gloria stated, "I… It's Allen you see and…"

"He still doesn't agree with you taking care of little Ember." Maddie guessed.

Gloria gave a sad nod.

Jack ensured her "Ah, don't worry about it, Gloria. I'm sure Allen will eventually accept this. Besides, you are the only one who has a calming influence on him, right?" he said with a smile, knowing of Allen's hot temper and never liked him and the Fenton family but thanks to Gloria's calming influence on him, he would rather ignore them instead of getting physical on them.

Gloria formed a small smile "Thanks, Jack. I sure hope so…" she said while looking down at little Ember, who began playing roll the ball with Danny.

After the parents had left the children, Maddie told Jazz, "We'll come pick you guys up later, Jazz. In the meantime, you and Danny have fun."

"Hahaha. That won't be a problem for Danny." Jazz said before giving her mother a hug and waved them goodbye and joined the other 3-year-old kids who were placed in a separate group.

As they hours passed, Jazz had fun playing at the daycare and with the other kids around her age, but also kept an eye on little Danny, who was still having the time of his life with little Ember as she even joined them in some of their games. But then, two other kids about their age, a black boy named Tucker and a Caucasian girl named Sam who was the Overseer's daughter came up to them, wanting to play and the two little ones were actually overjoyed before they sat in a circle and played pass the ball, with Jazz having her own fun with a 3 year old boy as they made together a replica of a solar eclipse.

When lunch was being served by the few assigned female childcare workers, Danny, Ember, Sam and Tucker shared some of their lunch together, sitting at a small circle together.

Seeing that, made Jazz form a smile, thinking that the four of them would become the best of friends when they grow older.

-:- Six years later -:-

Danny, Ember, Sam and Tucker, all being 7 years old now, sat in class together, listening to their 61-year-old second grade teacher, Lucy Palmer (nicknamed Old Lady Palmer) who was writing down some calculations on the chalkboard. They were sitting in class consisting of 17 children. In their class were Paul Hannon Jr., Christine Kendall, Freddie Gomez, Dash Baxter, Paulina Sanchez, Valerie Grey, Kwan, Dale, Star, Ashley and Brittney, including Ember's foster siblings Susie and Wally Mack.

Dash Baxter, along with his friends Dale and Wally were the bullies of their class. Kwan, though part of their group, was the friendliest and less bullying type among them and only went along with his friends' way of picking on other kids just for the sake of their friendship, but most of the time would apologize later on, much to Dash, Dale and Wally's disgust

Paulina was the most beautiful and popular girl of their class, being friends with Star, Ashley, Valerie, Susie and Brittney. Though they distanced themselves from Danny, Ember, Sam and Tucker, deeming them 'uncool' to hang out with them, Valerie was actually nicer to them as her father works together with Danny's parents in the Vault's lab.

"Now tell me, children," Mrs. Palmer kindly asks her class as she shows a calculation on the chalk board, "Who can tell me how much is 133 minus 101 and minus 20?"

This was a bit of difficult calculation, and everyone was in deep thought, while Danny used a pencil and paper to try to solve it.

Mrs. Palmer looked around to see if anyone wanted to try, seeing nobody was raising their fingers. She said with a smile, "Now, don't be shy, children. Just give me your best shot."

Kwan slowly raised his finger.

"Yes, Kwan?"

"Uhmm… 31?" Kwan asked with a nervous smile.

Old Lady Palmer shook her head "No, I'm sorry, Kwan, but that's not the correct answer." She looked at the other children "Anyone else want to give it a try?"

Nobody said anything.

"Nobody?" the teacher asked with a raised eyebrow.

Then, Danny raised his hand while standing up "I think I know the answer, Mrs. Palmer!"

The elderly teacher formed a small smile, wandering what answer Danny has.

"I think it's…" Danny said before quickly checking his piece of paper, saying, "…12."

Palmer nodded, forming a proud smile as she wrote the answer on the chalk board "Yes! Very good, Danny."

"Nerd." Dash said under his breath, causing him, Paulina and his friends to snicker at that remark.

Hearing that from Dash made Danny look sad and sat down.

Ember and Sam glared at them.

Tucker whispered to Danny "Just ignore them, Danny."

Danny sighed while looking away "Yeah… I know."

Truth be told, Danny was always Dash's favorite target ever since kindergarten. Even though Danny's friends tried to tell Dash and his gang to back off, even with Valerie trying to deescalate the situation by politely asking them to leave Danny alone, it wouldn't stop Dash and his friends to keep bullying Danny.

Danny never understood why he was always picked on. Maybe the reason was because he never tried to stand up for himself, which made him both sad and angry at himself.

---

Later, after class…

As the clock struck 3 PM, a small buzzer went off in the classroom, signaling that school had ended. While the children collected their Vault 101-school bags, Mrs. Palmer told them with a smile while clearing the chalk board "Okay, class. Have a great weekend and I'll see you back on Monday."

Danny, Ember, Tucker and Sam took their blue-yellow Vault-school bags before leaving class with the other kids.

"You know," Ember told Danny as they headed into a hallway together "I'm surprised that you didn't fell asleep during class this time, Danny."

Danny sighed "Yeah, well… my mom and dad made me to go to bed earlier this time."

Tucker chuckled, figuring out why Danny always goes to bed late, "Maybe it's because you love reading Grognak the Barbarian too much."

Danny shrugged "I can't help it, Tuck! Grognak is just too cool to keep me from reading them."

Ember smiled before taking out something from her bag as they walked up the stairs to Floor 3, revealing to be a comic book of 'Grognnak the Barbarian' issue number 12 "Speaking of which," she said as she handed Danny over the comic book "Here's your comic book back. Thank you for letting me read it."

Danny took it and put it back in his bag, "No problem, Ember." But was surprised to see there was a tear in one of the pages.

Ember sighed as she explained "Sorry. Wally stole it from me last night. I was lucky to take it back before he tried to put it in the incinerator."

Danny was shocked to hear that Wally almost destroyed his comic book just to tease Ember, making him angry, "He's still being mean to you?"

"Yeah…" Ember said with a sad look on her face as Wally, his twin-sister Susie and their older brother Stevie still won't treat her as a part of the family, with her foster father Allan being the worst whenever her foster mother Gloria wasn't around.

Sam and Tucker too felt bad for Ember that she had to live with a foster family who, apart from Gloria, aren't being nice towards her.

As they went into another corridor when having reached Floor 3, Sam noticed there were some wedding decorations hanging around the corner close to the chapel.

"Hey, look. There's a wedding today." Sam said.

Tucker, Danny and Ember looked around the corner too, seeing there were more decorations at the entrance of the room with the name above it saying: CHAPEL.

"Oh yeah," Tucker said, remembering who was getting married "I heard that Bradley Summers and Lucy Koch are then ones getting married. I forgot it was today."

Sam checked the clock, seeing it was 3:45 PM. She suggested, "Well, we still have a bit of time. Let's go and check it out."

"And watching two newlyweds make out?" Ember asked, feeling a bit disgusted to watch two grownups kiss "Yuck!" she said while sticking her tongue out.

Danny and Tucker shared a glance, feeling the same as they thought it was gross to watch people kiss.

Sam, teasing them while forming a smirk "What's the matter? Are you guys scared to watch?"

"Aren't you?" Ember asked.

Sam shrugged "It's only natural for two people being in love and share kisses."

Tucker protested "Pff! I'm not scared!"

"Yeah, me neither!" Danny added.

"Alright," Sam said, still smirking at them, clearly challenging them "Prove it."

Danny, Ember and Tucker shared a glance before looking back at Sam, waiting for an answer while she formed a grin.

"Okay. I will!" Danny said determined and walked over to the chapel, with Ember and Tucker following him before Sam went after them, rolling her eyes in amusement.

All four children peeked around the corner, seeing inside the chapel sat a few dozen people, being either family or friends of the bride and the groom.

The groom, named Bradley Summers is 20 years old, having short brown hair, ocean blue eyes and was tall build, being 6,5 inches tall.

The bride, named Lucy Koch, is an astounding 21-year-old woman beautiful woman with long blonde hair, green eyes and is average build with C-cup breasts and good curves.

Lucy was wearing for the wedding ceremony the traditional white Vault wedding dress, while Brad was wearing his normal Vault jumpsuit, with the only difference that he was now wearing a black bow tie.

After the bride and the groom after they put on their wedding rings on their partners ring finger, the Vault Chaplain, who is a 43-year-old African American man named William Luthor, told with a happy smile as he closed his Bible, "By the power invested in me, in the name of the Father, of the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I now pronounce you… husband… and wife," he chuckled as he told Bradley, "You can kiss the bride, Brad."

Immediately, both embraced into a passionate kiss.

Though the crowd happily clapped, Danny and Tucker looked away in disgust while sticking their tongues out "Eeeew! Gross!"

Ember was still watching along with Sam. But instead of looking away in disgust, she was surprised to see that it wasn't as yucky as she thought it was, giving a shrug as she told Sam, "Hmph. You were right, Sam. It does look pretty normal to me."

"Told you so." Sam chuckled while gently elbowing Ember.

"And what are you kids doing here?" a bit of a stern voice asked the four children, causing them look with shock for a moment, but saw to their relief that it was Officer Herman Gomez, Freddie's father.

Despite nearly all of Vault 101 security are harsh and stern against the people of the Vault, even being tyrannical as they obey the Overseer's orders without question, Officer Gomez was showing a great example of being a 'good cop'. Being the only officer that was friendly towards the people and wasn't too harsh, Officer Gomez was very popular among the Vault residents as he would help out those who'd been ignored by other Vault security because they only obey the Overseer's commands. Even though his 'good behavior' did cause a few disagreements with the Overseer, Gomez never lost his position as he was the only friendly face that would work in the Overseer's advantage.

Officer Gomez chuckled while putting his hands on his hips, telling them, "I don't think it's very polite to spy on other people, does it?"

Danny, Ember, Sam and Tucker sighed with relief "Oh, Officer Gomez. It's just you." Trucker said.

"Yeah, we thought for a moment you were Sam's dad, the Overseer." Danny added.

Again, Officer Gomez chuckled, "Really? Do I sound that much like the Overseer?" he then mimicked the Overseer's voice in a bit entertaining way "All hail the Overseer! We're born in the Vault! We die in the Vault!" he then amusingly shook his head "Nope. Don't sound like him at all."

All four children laughed.

Sam shook her head "Yeah, you don't sound anything like my dad."

Ember then told Officer Gomez after her laughter had died out, "We're sorry, Officer Gomez. We were just a bit curious to the wedding."

"I see." Officer Gomez said before asking, "Well, if you wanted to see the wedding so much, then why won't you go in and join them?"

"Really?" all four asked.

"Of course." Officer Gomez ensured with a smile "Besides, I know Brad and Lucy well. And I'm sure they don't mind at all, that is as long as all four of you are polite to at least congratulate the newly wedded couple, right?"

Danny, Ember, Tucker and Sam shared a glance, before they nodded to Officer Gomez. They walked inside the chapel with the friendly officer.

After they congratulated Brad and Lucy, which they dearly appreciated, each of them was even allowed to have a small piece of the wedding cake during the small wedding reception in the chapel.

After a few pictures were taking of the newlyweds along with their family, Lucy smiled seeing how much the four 7 year old children have grown up since she was babysitting on them a few times whenever the Daycare was closed whenever there was a Radroach infestation and the children were not allowed to leave their parents' quarters, with Lucy keeping the children busy with fun games, coloring or baking cookies.

"They've grown so much," she softly said as she watched them.

Brad nodded before forming a small smirk "Yeah…" and puts his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him "But I bet you can't wait till we have some kids of our own, huh?"

He squeezed her butt, making Lucy gasp before forming a similar smirk but told him, "Hmmm… I can hardly wait, my dear husband. But, best to wait till our wedding night, okay?" she kissed him on the cheek, politely asking him to be patient.

Brad smiled at her, and both shared a kiss.

However, the newlyweds were interrupted when Officer Gomez walked up to them and cleared his throat "Hey, there. On behalf of Overseer Manson, I want to congratulate the both of you on your wedding."

Both smiled at him, with Brad telling him, "Thanks, Herman. We deeply appreciate that," but when looking at the bit of seriousness Officer Gomez showed, Brad knew what this meant, making him sigh with disappointment "I take that the Overseer wants us to keep the ceremony short and go back to our jobs?"

Officer Gomez nodded, feeling sympathy for them, "Look, Brad, I too wished I would let you and Lucy enjoy this special day longer. But I'm afraid the Overseer made it very clear. Only one hour, and no exceptions. And, though I would allow you to spend some more time with your wedding reception with your family and friends, the last thing I want is for all of you getting into trouble with the other officers."

Lucy sighed with some sadness but nodded to Officer Gomez "We… understand."

William Luthor, having heard Officer Gomez's conversation with the bride and the groom, ensured him, "I'll notify all the guests and make sure we'll have the chapel clear before the hour passes."

Officer Gomez nodded to William, "Thank you, Reverend," he turned back to Brad and Lucy, apologizing that his boss' rules wouldn't let them have their wedding longer "And… again, I'm sorry."

Brad and Lucy both gave a nod to Officer Gomez before they and along the guests began to leave and clean the chapel of any decorations.

---

After 10 minutes, everyone had left, with Danny, Ember, Tucker and Sam made their way to their family's living quarters.

"Ah man!" Tucker said disappointed while licking his fingers of any traces of Brad and Lucy's wedding cake "Wish they would allow the wedding party to go on a bit longer,"

"Yeah," Ember agreed with him while adding "Better yet, they should just allow Bradley and Lucy to spend their wedding party all day long."

Sam nodded "Yeah. It sucks," she groaned with annoyance "Why can't my daddy just stop being a control freak?"

"Beats me," Danny said with a shrug "At least the cake was good."

All four shared a laughter.

As all were into different hallways, each heading to their family's quarters, they said their goodbyes.

"Bye, guys!" Tucker said.

"See you tomorrow!" Sam said.

Danny turned to Ember and said, "Well… see you later, Ember."

But while Danny was going, Ember asked him with a raised eyebrow, "You don't want me walk with you back home?"

Danny stopped and turned back to Ember, saying with some awkwardness, "Uhm… no, I'm okay. I can go myself alright."

"But… but we always walked back to your place together."

Danny shrugged while going back to her, "Well… I… I just…"

But seeing the awkwardness on his face, Ember asked, "Wait," she then formed a little grin on her face "is this about you seeing Brad and Lucy kissing just now?"

"Uhh…" Danny's face turned red "…no." he shook his head, clearly hiding the truth.

He and Ember always walked back together to his family's quarters after school hand in hand, like their deep friendship was almost close to puppy love.

"I…" Danny took a few steps back, blushing even deeper "…I gotta go!" and ran into the hallway leading to his family's quarters, leaving a confused Ember.

"But…" she said, baffled by his reaction, which made her a bit sad. But thinking he was starting to be embarrassed, Ember wasn't going to give up on him and ran after him, ready to tease him more "C'mon now, Danny! Don't you wanna be around a girl anymore?"

But as she about to run into the next hallway, she stopped when seeing Danny lying down on the ground with Dash, Dale and Wally Mack surrounding him while they laughed, clearly being the ones who pushed Danny to the ground.

As Danny tried to get up, Dash pushed him again while laughing with amusement "Hahahahaha! C'mon, Fentoast! Be a man and get up!"

Danny however was shaking, like he was on the brink of crying.

"What? Are you gonna cry now, you little baby? Awww. Hahahahaha!" Dale said.

"HEY!" Ember angrily called as she appeared, surprising Dash, Dale and Wally "LEAVE DANNY ALONE, YOU JERKS!"

Wally glared at his foster sister, warning her, "Hey, beat it, Ember. This doesn't concern you."

"Yeah, go back and play with your dolls, McLame! Hahahahaha!" Dale added.

Ember clutched her fists tight and marched over to them "I said… Leave. Him. Alone!"

Dash, not being intimidated by Ember's threats, seeing her as an easy mark, crossed his arms as she stood before her "Oh yeah? What you gonna do about it, huh?" he leaned closer to her face, thinking she wasn't tough enough to face him "Huh? Huh? Whatcha gonna-"

But suddenly, Ember punched him hard in the face, causing him to fall backwards!

Dale and Wally gasped in shock.

Dash groaned as he sat straight, rubbing his nose that hurts, seeing to his surprise it was bleeding.

Ember held up her fist, warning Dash "You want another one, Dash Baxter?!"

Dash was on the brink of tears, but, trying to look tough, he slowly stood up, grinding his teeth "If you weren't a girl…" he then turned, telling his two friends "Let's go."

Dale and Wally, still surprised, followed their leader, but not before Wally glanced back at Ember, glaring at him, "You really are a freak."

Once the three bullies were gone, Ember sighed and walked up to Danny, offering her hand "You okay?"

Danny nodded and took her hand, helping him getting back up his feet.

"Oh, Danny. You really need to stand up to yourself and face those… jerks." Ember told him, while the last word came with venom as she hated it whenever Danny was being bullied.

Danny sighed, "I know, Ember, but… they're bigger than me."

"So?" Ember said with a raised eyebrow "You saw Dash was bigger than me and I still punched him in the face."

"Maybe," Danny said.

Ember then teased him, asking, "Well? Aren't you gonna rewards your knight in shining armor?"

Danny looked at her surprised "Knight in shining armor? Isn't that supposed to be me?"

Ember laughed "When the time comes you save me. But now…" she held her hands behind her back, stepping a bit closer to him while forming a sweet smile "I think it's fair you would reward your dear knight… with a kiss."

Danny felt a bit scared at being asked to do that "A… kiss? With you?"

Ember stepped forward "Well, I did just saved you, so you owe me, Danny."

Danny still felt nervous and scared, but knowing Ember was right and finding some courage, he slowly leaned forward and their lips touched in a kiss that lasted for about a minute before they separated.

Ember blushed, feeling a bit awkward at her 1st kiss 'Wow. So that's what a kiss feels like? It's actually... kinda amazing.'

But Danny, who also blushed, felt like he was gonna explode, especially since he had just shared his 1st kiss with Ember 'I don't believe it. I... actually kissed Ember. I… kissed her on the lips.'

After a little while, Ember gave a small chuckle.

Feeling awkward, Danny chuckled too while scratching the back of his head and said, "Well… that was… something."

"Yeah…"

But as Danny checked the time on a clock that was at the ceiling, he realized it was already 5:30 PM "Oh, shoot! It's that late? I gotta go home!"

Ember sighed before she nodded, "Okay… be careful, okay?"

Danny nodded as he ran back home "I will! I promise!"

Ember too started going back to her foster family's quarters. But as she neared the front door, she began to giggle as she thought back of her first kiss with Danny.

But as the front door opened, she was surprised that it was her foster father, Allen Mack, who looked angry at her.

"Where the hell were you?!" he demanded.

"I…" Ember said with some fear as she stepped inside "Me and…"

"Wally just told me that you punched his friend Dash a bleeding nose!" he angrily called "Is that true?!"

Ember frowned as she stated "Dash was bullying my friend, Danny! I couldn't just let him-" but her words were cut short when Allen slapped her face hard!

Ember held her cheek before looking back at Allen with teary eyes.

"Girls like you need to behave." Allen angrily said before grabbing Ember by the hair and dragged her into her room.

"Aaaah! Stop! NO STOP! YOU'RE HURTING ME! STOOOOP!" Ember cried out before Allen tossed her into her room and she crashed on the floor!

"Maybe going to bed without dinner will disciple you, you little twerp!" Allen said before closing the door, locking it.

Ember sobbed while sitting in the corner of her room.

---

However, this wouldn't be the first time that Ember was punished for simple standing up for her friends or doing something which in Allen's eyes that went out of line. By this point, the abuse only got worse.

Gloria wouldn't know a thing, as Allen warned Ember if he would ever speak about his ways to discipline her, he would hurt her friends really bad and also Gloria. Scared, Ember didn't spoke about Allen abusing her, not even her foster brothers and sister knew about it.

As a result, she became more distant and afraid. Danny, Sam and Tucker grew worried about their best friend, but because Ember had become so afraid of her foster father, she avoided giving any answers any time when they asked if she was alright, with Danny mostly getting suspicious what has been going on with Ember as she sometimes had these wounds he knew deep couldn't have come from a small accident or falling from the stairs.

---

-:- Three years later -:-

Now 10-year-old Danny, walked through an empty hallway on Floor 4, looking for Sam and Tucker as they were playing hide and seek.

"Okay, where are you guys?" he called as he looked around, before spotting Sam quickly entering the cafeteria "Gotcha!" he said before quickly opening the door, finding to his surprise that all the lights were out.

"Come out, Sam!" Danny called "I know you're in here."

Suddenly, all the lights turned on!

"SURPRISE!" everyone inside called while they clapped or blew birthday horns.

Officer Gomez, who was also at the party, called to Stanley Armstrong, one of the Vault Technicians and father of Ember's foster mother "Stanley, you turned the lights on too fast. You blinded the poor kid!" he said with amusement.

Danny was shocked for a second before smiling brightly as he realized they'd organized a surprise birthday party for him, with the cafeteria being decorated with birthday ornaments. His parents, his sister Jazz, Sam, Tucker and his parents, Valerie, Kwan, Star Bradley, Lucy and Stanley all clapped for him, except for Paulina, Brittney, Susie, Wally, Dale and Dash who were also invited.

"Happy birthday, Danny!" they called.

Old Lady Palmer, who was also at the party, smiled as she said "Can you believe it? He is growing up so fast."

Maddie hugged her now 10-year-old son, "Happy birthday, honey!" And kissed him on the forehead.

"Thanks, mom."

12-year-old Jazz gave her little brother a hug "Happy birthday, little brother!"

Jack then proudly said, "I can't believe you're already 10. We're all so proud of you."

That was when Sam's father, Overseer Jeremy Manson stepped inside, followed by his wife and mother of Sam, Pamela Manson.

Overseer Manson and his wife stepped forward to Danny, with Pamela holding something special in her hands for him, with the Overseer saying professionally with a smile "Congratulations, young man! I don't have to tell you how special this day is, do I? Down here in Vault 101, when you turn 10, well, you're ready to take on your first official Vault responsibilities."

Pamela then showed what she had in her hands, handing it over to Danny, which made him smile "So, here you are, young man. As the Overseer's wife, I hereby present to you your very own Pip-Boy 3000!."

As he took the Pip-Boy, which was a portable wrist-computer with a green screen, which showed a person's condition, radiation and also had a map of the Vault installed and even an extra function to receive messages, listen and store recorded messages, storing notes, a cable to access or hack a computer if necessary, a built-in radio and had even some video games for entertainment.

Danny wasted no time to put on the Pip-Boy on his left wrist, seeing it fitted perfectly. He thanked the Overseer and his wife, "Thank you."

Overseer Manson chuckled "Well, get used to it, young man," he then finished with a little joke "And sure be ready getting your first work assignment tomorrow. Hahahaha!"

While Sam's parents took their seats, Maddie told Danny, "Enjoy your party! You're only 10 once, so have fun."

Danny nodded while Sam and Tucker approached him, with Tucker saying with a disappointed look on his face "Ah man, you got a Pip-Boy. I wish I was 10 already."

Sam gave Tucker an elbow while saying with a grin "You're only 2 months away from turning 10, Tuck. So be patient." She then happily told Danny, "Happy birthday, Danny! We really surprised you, didn't we?" she chuckled "Haha. Your mom and dad were afraid you were onto us. But we told them not to worry. You're so easy to fool."

Danny smiled at them "It's great, guys. Thanks for doing this for me."

Tucker shrugged while he smiled, "Hey, you're our best friend. It's the least we could do."

"Yeah, but your parents and your sister did most of it. We just helped with the decorations and stuff." Sam said before taking a packed birthday present and asked before planning to hand it over to him "I bet you can't guess what I got you for your birthday. Go on, guess!"

Danny tried to guess, "Uhm… a… book?"

Sam laughed, "Hahaha, close, but not just any book. It's something you love the most. Who's you're favorite barbarian? That's right, Grognak!"

Danny was surprised to hear that as she gave him his present. He teared up the paper, seeing to his surprise it was indeed a Grognak the Barbaria comic book "Wow!"

Sam chuckled "Yep, it's issue number 14, and with no missing pages!"

"This is great, Sam! Thanks."

"No problem, Danny," Sam said before telling him, "Truth be told, I found this in a box of my father's old things," she began to laugh "Hahahaha. Imagine my dad the Overseer reading comic books? I guess everybody was 10 once."

Tucker than gave Danny his birthday present "Here you go, Danny. Happy birthday."

Danny took his present, which was another book, but being a pirates story book for children above 12 years old called: Pirates of the Seven Seas – The adventures of Captain Jack Vulture.

Danny sure was amazed by this gift "Wow, a pirates book and… for children above the age of 12?"

Tucker hushed him "Shhh! Don't tell anyone, okay?" he gave him a wink.

Danny nodded, ensuring him, "Sure, Tuck. No problem. I think I'm gonna enjoy this book."

Tucker gave him a wink "Oh, trust me. You will."

Sam and Tucker then left, with her telling Danny, "Go and talk to the rest of the guests, me and Tucker have to do something else, but we'll be back shortly, we promise!"

Valerie then approached Danny, giving him a friendly handshake "Hey, happy birthday, Danny."

"Thanks Valerie."

"I… know this isn't much, but I hope you like this little present anyway?" she said.

Danny looked what it was, seeing it was a miniature bobble-head of the Vault Boy giving his iconic thumps up.

"Oh, wow. Thanks, Val."

"No problem," Valerie said with a smile.

But that was when Paulina and Brittney approached them, with Paulina asking Valerie as she narrowed her eyes, "What, are you two best friends now?" he teased her by telling Brittney "Hey, Britt, I think Valerie is in love. Hahahaha!"

Valerie, being annoyed while she blushed, told her "Shut up, Paulina! I'm not… I'm just being nice to him, that's all."

Brittney now mocked her "Yeah, I figured you rather wanna hang out with Fenton and his loser friends instead of us," she then narrowed her eyes at her "Seriously, why the hell are we even hanging out with you anyway? You always embarrass our group by hanging out with Fentonia and co."

Valerie, finally having had enough of her 'so called friends' constant negativity of hanging out with Danny, Ember, Sam and Tucker, told them both, "Well, if that's the way you both see it… fine! Then I rather hang out with my 'real friends'."

Paulina and Brittney both shared a surprised glance, before both glared at Valerie and headed out "Fine! Suit yourself, Valerie Gray. Have a lot of fun destroying your social life. Happy birthday, Fenton." Paulina coldly said while she and Brittney left.

Feeling bad for what just happened, Danny said with sympathy to Valerie, "Geez. I'm sorry for you, Valerie."

But Valerie shook her head, ensuring him, "Nah, no worries. It was about to happen one day or another anyway as I wasn't hanging out with them anymore as much," she then smiled at him "You and the others are way better friends than they will ever be."

Danny smiled back at her.

As Valerie left to get a Nuka Cola for herself, Star and Kwan came up to him.

Kwan started saying, "Hey, uhm… thanks for inviting me. Really cool party and everything."

Star nodded "Yeah, happy birthday, Danny. Sorry that we hadn't gotten you any gifts," she apologized as she and Kwan neither had any presents to give to Danny.

Danny ensured them, "That's okay, guys. At least you come, so that's at least good enough."

Star smiled as she joined Valerie to get a Nuka Cola too, while Kwan added and told Danny, "Look, uhm… I know that Dash and I can give you a hard time, but you don't take that seriously, right?"

Danny was unsure how to answer.

Kwan then patted his shoulder "Anyway, uhm… happy birthday and everything." He glanced to Dash, Dale and Wally, sitting at a table, waiting for him to join them "I better get back to, you know…" he then left and sat together with his three (bully) friends.

Danny gave a simple shrug.

After putting his presents on a small empty table, Danny walked over to his old teacher, Old Lady Palmer, "Hi, Miss Palmer." He said with a smile.

The 64-year-old woman smiled back at him "Well, hello there, you little birthday boy. 10 years old, my my my. Seems like only yesterday when your parents came…" she stopped for a moment as Overseer Manson glared at her while he shook his head, like warning her she better not share that part with Danny, which scared the retired Vault teacher. Old Lady Palmer cleared her throat, changing the subject while smiling again "Goodness, listen to me ramble! You're waiting for your present, aren't you?"

Danny nodded "Yes, ma'am."

As how polite and kind Danny is, Old Lady Palmer chuckled "Such a nice polite young man you are! Just like when I was still teaching you. It's a pity though I don't teach anymore because I'm now officially retired, but you will always be one of my favorite students. Such a brilliant one you were. Don't ever lose your gift of speaking your mind so directly. We could use more of that down here."

Danny nodded again "Of course, Miss Palmer."

Old Lady Palmer then took her small gift to Danny "Here you go, Danny, a nice chocolate muffin that I baked for you just this morning."

Danny had always loved Old Lady Palmer's muffins, especially when she made some for her class to reward them whenever they performed well or had been well behaving. "Thank you, Miss Palmer!"

"All for you, Danny. You're the birthday boy, no sharing required today! Hahahaha."

Danny couldn't wait to eat Miss Palmer's freshly made chocolate muffin. But just as he was about to take a bite, he saw the robot, Andy, floated inside holding a birthday cake with 10 candles on it.

Andy is an artificial intelligence Mister Handy robot used to serve and maintenance, having 3 optical sensors on its head, having 3 long mechanical arm tentacles and is able to move around using a jet-powered propulsion system. Though Andy was sometimes a great help when it came to helping around with maintenance or even taking care of wounded people in any of the Vault's clinics, the years had not been kind to the robot as being working in the Vault for over 200 years, causing some of his systems to deteriorate, creating some clumsy incidents.

"Attention everyone!" The Mister Handy robot called with its British accent "The birthday cake has arrived!"

Everyone clapped as Sam and Tucker carefully took the birthday cake from Andy and placed it on the cafeteria counter, not wanting the aging robot to spoil the cake.

Danny safely puts the chocolate muffin inside one of his pockets and walked up to the birthday cake and everyone began to sing for the birthday boy (except for Dash, Wally, Susie, Dale and Sam's parents)

"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Danny. Happy birthday to you."

Jack took his camera and took a picture as Danny blew out all the 10 candles.

"Now make a wish, Danny!" Lucy said.

"But don't say it. Think it." Old Lady Palmer said as she chuckled.

But as Maddie put the candles away, she realized that there was no knife around to cut the cake "Oh. Did anyone see the cutting knife anywhere?"

Jack looked around the cafeteria, looking through the drawers, but seeing it was gone "Huh. I could've sworn the knife was here."

That's when Tucker remembered, "Oh, hang on. I saw one in the kitchen. I can go there now and get it."

That was when Andy approached and said, "No worries, young Tucker Foley! I got this." The robot was about to use the buzzsaw on one of his mechanical arms.

"Andy, wait!" Sam tried to stop him, but the robot cut the cake too hard, causing it to splatter all over the cafeteria counter!

Everyone gasped.

"Oh no…" Valerie said, feeling bad for Danny now that his birthday cake is ruined.

Andy apologized, "I am… mortified about the cake mishap. Simply mortified."

Jazz patted her little brother on the shoulder, "I'm sorry about your birthday cake, Danny."

Danny was a bit disappointed that the cake was ruined.

Maddie ensured her son, "Don't worry, Danny. Me and your father will make sure a new cake will be prepared later back home."

That made Danny form a smile "Thanks, mom."

While the rest of the party went on, with Danny even getting a few gifts from Brad and Lucy, being a baseball and a baseball glove, and receiving from Stanley Armstrong a baseball cap of the New York Yankees, the birthday boy began to wander why Ember wasn't among the guests.

Tucker then told Danny, "Hey, now that you got a baseball glove of your own, we can really play some baseball if we want to."

"You mean with your…" Danny asked before being quiet so that Sam's parents wouldn't hear them "…baseball bat?"

"Of course, dude!" Tucker said with a big smile "How else are we supposed to play baseball? Hahahaha."

Sam narrowed her eyes at Tucker, asking while crossing her arms, "Hey, don't forget about me! You boys are not the only ones who can do sports, we girls can too!"

Then Danny asked them both, "Speaking of which, do either of you know where Ember is?"

But just as Tucker was going to answer, they were interrupted when 10-year-old Dash marched over to them "Hey, Fenton!"

All three looked at Dash, who demanded "I'm hungry and that stupid robot destroyed the cake! Give me that chocolate muffin you got from Old Lady Palmer!"

Tucker took a few steps back, not wanting to receive some punches from Dash while Sam just narrowed her eyes, not being intimidated by Dash's threats.

Over the years, as Danny had been the usual victim of either Dash or his friends' bullying, he had been scared of him. But as he thought about Ember, telling him he should one day stand up to himself, Danny glared back at Dash.

"No." he said without a single thought.

That surprised Dash for a moment before he glared "Excuse me?"

"You heard me, Dash! This muffin is all mine and you can't have it."

Dash however smirked while cracking his knuckles "Oh yeah? We'll see about that." he quickly grabbed Danny by the collar and attempted to go into his pocket and grab the muffin from him by force.

But then… Dash was met with a punch at the cheek, making him almost trip backwards while letting go of Danny!

Tucker and Sam gasped, seeing that Danny had just punched Dash in the face.

Dash glared with fury at Danny "You're gonna be sorry for that, Fenton!" and lunged at him, trying to punch him several times but Danny was able to block his attacks while he fought back, having had enough of Dash's bullying!

The fight caught the attention of some party guests, with Valerie calling to him "Dash, stop it! Leave him alone!"

Then Officer Gomez appeared, holding Dash by the back of his Vault jumpsuit and pulled him away from Danny "Butch, what the hell do you think you're doing?! Starting a fight at a birthday party?! What's wrong with you?!"

Dash got loose from Officer Gomez's grasp and said with an angry face "Let go of me! I didn't start it, sir."

"Liar!" Sam angrily called.

Officer Gomez gave Dash a stern look "You get back to your seat, Dash. I'm dealing with you later." The friendly officer then turned to Danny, who lay on the floor with only a few bruises on his face "Are you alright, Danny?" he asked as he offered his hand to help him up "Do you mind telling me what that was about?"

Danny, while standing up after taking Officer Gomez's hand, stated, "Dash was trying to steal my muffin I got from Miss Palmer. I said no and he then started to attack me."

Tucker and Sam both nodded, with Tucker taking a bit courage to tell the truth, "It's… it's true, Officer Gomez. Dash was the one who started it."

Officer Gomez frowned as his suspicions were confirmed "Why that little…! That boy has been nothing but trouble since the day he was born!" he ensured Danny "Don't worry, Danny. You just leave it to me."

"Thanks, Officer Gomez." Danny said while forming a smile.

After Officer Gomez left and was about to have a serious talk with Dash about what he just did, Sam told Danny, being disgusted what Dash did to him, "What's Dash's problem anyway? I can't believe he would start a fight on your own birthday party! What a jerk!"

Danny, while rubbing his shoulder, said with a small grin on his face, "It's a good thing that Officer Gomez intervened before I was gonna hurt Dash really bad."

Sam, amused by his joke, but seeing that Danny wasn't going to take any shit from Dash again, formed a proudly smile "Right. That's exactly what I was thinking. Hahahaha."

When Danny, Sam and Tucker went to have a bottle of Nuka Cola for themselves, Jack asked Danny "Are you okay, son? Is Dash giving you a hard time again?"

But Danny ensured his father, "Don't worry about it, dad. I can handle Dash."

That made Jack smile at him "I'm glad to hear that. It's good that you're standing up to him like that. Trust me, Danny, when you give bullies their way, you'll never see the end of it." he then gently patted his shoulder, "So don't let his actions ruin your birthday, okay?"

Danny nodded "Sure, dad." After Jack left to talk with Maddie about something, Danny asked Sam and Tucker about Ember, "So, do any of you know where Ember is?"

Sam explained to him, "I'm sorry, Danny. But Ember isn't feeling all too well."

Tucker nodded "Yeah, me and Sam went to her place this morning to see if she's ready to help us with organizing your surprise party, but Wally and Susie's dad told us that Ember is too sick to come and help."

Danny was confused when hearing that "Sick? You mean, she has a fever or something?"

"I don't know. Mr. Mack didn't say much and just shut the door as soon as he told us that Ember's sick." Tucker stated.

"But that doesn't make any sense!" Danny said, getting skeptical "I mean, she was alright yesterday and wasn't sick at all." He was about to go to her place and check on her.

But just as Danny was about to leave, a buzz came from the intercom near the exit of the cafeteria, with Jack walking over to it, seeing it was Damon Gray, Valerie's father, who contacted them.

"Damon, is everything alright?" Jack asked.

"Everything is alright, and all set down here, Jack." Damon said through the intercom.

"Okay, I'll send him right down." Jack said before breaking contact and turned to Danny "Hey, champ, that was Damon on the intercom. We have been cooking up a little surprise present."

That put a big smile on Danny's face, "Really? What kind of surprise?!"

Maddie chuckled while rubbing Danny's hair "Now, now. You don't wanna spoil the surprise now, do you? Go on and meet Damon downstairs at the Reactor Level."

Tucker and Sam gave Danny an approval nod.

"Go ahead, Danny. We don't mind if you slip out for a few minutes." Sam said before giving him a wink.

Danny nodded and left his birthday part, heading to the nearest stairs to go down to Floor 5 where the reactor was.

But as he reached the stairs, he noticed that Sam's parents were a few stairs up, talking with Officer John Kendell.

"Enjoying the party, sir?" Kendell asked the Overseer.

With a stern and disgusted look ok his face, Overseer Manson said, "Bah! Me and my wife only showed up because Samantha is friends with that Fenton brat."

"Indeed. I hate every moment to watch Samantha hanging out with those people, Jeremy." Pamela said, feeling the same about Danny and her friends "I don't understand why Samantha would even hang out with the Fenton's son or even with that, that… no good twerp named Ember. They're nothing but a bad influence on our daughter."

Hearing this made Danny angry of them daring to insult his best friend and how heartless they are of not wanting Sam to hang out with whoever she wants.

Overseer Manson then instructed Officer Kendell, "Give them a few more minutes and then I want that place cleaned up and everybody back to work.

"Sure thing, sir!" Officer Kendell nodded, obeying the Overseer's command without question.

Danny couldn't believe his ears. Though knowing how strict Sam's dad is, he'd hoped that at least he would give him an exception because he's her friend. But seeing he still remains his usual control freak self, Danny began to despise the Overseer even more as how oppressive he can be when it comes to 'keeping order in the Vault'.

Leaving it for now, Danny headed down, going into another hallway till he'd reached the Reactor room where Damon Gray, who was also wearing a lab coat over his Vault jumpsuit, was working, writing some calculations he'd read on the monitors.

Danny knew the way by heart as his parents sometimes took him and his sister with them to teach them some about computers and science.

When Damon saw Danny entering the Reactor Room, he stopped what he was doing and walked over to him while putting his hands on his hips, raising an eyebrow on him "What are you doing here, young man? I thought kids weren't allowed down on the Reactor Level."

It looked like as if Damon was about to send him away, but knowing him from making jokes once in a while, Danny formed a proudly smile and said, "I'm not a kid! I'm 10 years old now!"

Damon chuckled "Hahahahaha. You sure are. Pip-boy and everything, look at that!" he then told him "Now, if you can wait just one more minute, I think your parents want to give you the surprise themselves."

Not long after, Jack and Maddie walked inside the Reactor Room, with Maddie carrying a long birthday present, almost looking like a small fishing rod covered in birthday paper. Jazz was allowed to come too.

Danny could hardly wait to see what the surprise was.

"So, are you ready for your surprise?" Jack asked his son.

Danny nodded "Yes, yes! Just tell me already!"

Maddie chuckled before she told him, "The Overseer gave you your Pip-Boy, and you're old enough to do some work. So, me and your father figured you're old enough for this."

Maddie handed over the present to him.

Danny, eager to see what special surprise his parents had for him, he immediately teared up the paper, to see to his big surprise what it was. A BB gun.

Danny's eyes went wide and formed a big smile "WOW!"

Jack nodded "That's right. Your own BB gun! It's a little old, but it should work perfectly."

Maddie then added "Damon found it down here. It was in in pretty rough shape – took us like three months to find the parts to get it working again."

Remembering how difficult it was to fix the BB gun, Damon said, "Yeah. You know how tough it is to find a spring that small?" he showed with his fingers how small the spring was they had to use, but then smiled as he said jokily, "Good thing that Dash 'misplaced' that switchblade of his. Hahahaha!"

Jack and Maddie began to laugh too.

Jazz was unsure if it was a wise idea for her parents to give a BB gun to Danny as a birthday present, but seeing how happy Danny was with it, she let him enjoy the moment.

Danny couldn't believe what an amazing present his parents gave him, which exceeded far beyond anything he'd ever wished for on his birthday. He instantly hugged his parents "Thank you, mom and dad. It's… awesome!"

"You're welcome, son," Jack said before suggesting, "So, what do you think? Wanna give it a try?"

When his father suggested that, Danny raised an eyebrow as he looked around the Reactor Room, worrying he might damage any of the equipment, or worse. "In here? But I can't shoot in here, right?"

Seeing that her little brother was responsible enough not to start shooting at anything he wants, Jazz formed a proudly smile.

Jack nodded, agreeing with his son, "You're right. Unless we want the Overseer and his officers to knock on our doorstop," he then smiled "That is why we've found a nice spot for you to try out."

Damon gave a nod and opened one of the sealed doors in the Reactor Room, which was restricted for anyone without any clearance.

As Danny stepped into the 'secret room', he saw that a little shooting range was made up at the end of it, which was perfect to use a BB gun for.

"Well, what do you think?" Maddie asked Danny with a smile "You can come down here and shoot any time you want."

Danny was so happy right now and hugged her and his father again "This is awesome! Thanks!"

"We couldn't have done it without Damon's help. Be sure to thank him too." Maddie said.

Danny nodded and told Damon "Thank you, Damon for doing this for me."

Damon chuckled "No problem, Danny. Besides, you only turn 10 once. Now, come on. I want to see you shoot something."

Jazz gave a shrug, seeing it was okay for Danny to use his new BB gun safe in his little secret 'shooting range'. "Well, as long as you're only using your BB gun in here, I guess there won't be any problem."

Jack and Maddie both glanced at their daughter.

Jazz corrected them, "Like what you said, dad. After all, we don't want Danny or any of us being in trouble with the Overseer, right?"

Maddie nodded.

Danny took the BB gun in hand, with Jack giving Danny a small box of 50 tiny iron balls to load the BB gun.

After Jack shortly explained his son how to load the BB gun, Danny confidently stepped over to the shooting range, taking aim at the first small target. He missed a few times. But after Danny figured out how to exactly aim, he hit a bullseye!

After Danny hit a few more targets perfectly, Jack nodded with proudness "Nice shooting, Danny. You're a natural at this. Now let's see if you're up for a little 'challenge'." Jack pressed a button on the wall, which made the dozens of targets to move around the shooting range.

Danny was a bit surprised at first, but seeing this made his BB gun shooting range even more fun, he took aim, taking his time to shoot.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

Danny was able to shoot almost all the targets.

"Very good, Danny." Damon said.

Jazz nodded, being impressed as well "Got to admit. For your first time, you're a decent shot."

But through the moving targets, something else 'crawled' through. It was a cockroach the size of a cat, called a Radroach. Because of the loads radiation from the atomic bombs nearly 200 years ago, had caused the cockroaches from the old world to mutate to grow in size and were now as big as a cat and could even take on bigger prey, including humans.

Maddie and Jack noticed the Radroach crawling through the BB gun shooting range, worrying them.

"Danny, careful! It's a Radroach." Maddie said.

Jazz fearfully took a few steps back, being afraid of these big bugs.

Danny saw the little intruder, making him scared for a moment. But realizing he was now carrying a weapon to deal with it, Danny bravely took aim and shoots the Radroach, hitting its body a few times, causing it to make squeezy noises.

As the Radroach looked at the little boy that was shooting him, it was about to take charge to attack him. However, Danny remained calm… breathed easily… and shoots, hitting the Radroach's head, making it pop open as green liquid flew out.

The Radroach squeezed for a moment and shook uncontrollably on the floor till it went limp and its legs bend. It was dead.

Danny sighed with relief, followed by Jazz as she was near to grab a tool to smack the Radroach to death if it dared to hurt her little brother.

Jack laughed with proudness "Excellent work, Danny! That's one last Radroach to deal with."

Damon nodded "Well look at you. Only having turned 10 and already showing you're very skilled in hunting big radioactive bugs. Hahahaha."

Maddie then suggested, knowing this was a special moment, "Hey Damon, get a picture of us with the 'big game hunter'!" she took out a picture camera she kept in her pocket and handed it over to Damon.

Damon was happy to take a picture of the whole Fenton family.

As Danny put on a pose with his new BB gun, Jazz, Maddie and Jack all stood behind Danny with Jazz putting an arm around Danny's shoulder.

"Smile!" Damon said and took the picture.

After Damon handed back over the photo camera to Maddie, Danny then began to think again about Ember, wanting to know why she wouldn't make it to his birthday party as this story of Allen Mack that 'she's sick' didn't make any sense.

"So? Want to give it a try again?" Jack suggested his son, wandering if he wanted to shoot again with the BB gun.

However, Danny told him, "Actually, dad, I… I think I want to go and see Ember. She wasn't at the party and I just… want to go and check on her. If that's okay, I mean?"

Jack and Maddie both looked a bit surprised as they shared a glance, but gave an approval smile, with Maddie saying, "Sure, sweetheart. Just don't get lost, okay?"

Danny nodded but then wandered as he looked at his BB gun in his hands "Uhm…"

Jack ensured him, "Don't worry, Danny. I'll put this safe and sound in your room. But promise you only take it down here at your 'shooting range' and not for anything else. Understood?"

Danny nodded again "Yes, dad. I promise."

After giving his BB gun to his father, Danny ran out to look for Ember.

When Danny walked up the stairs, he noticed a few of the guests of his birthday party already leaving after Officer Kendell ordered everyone to leave and clean up the cafeteria. Danny didn't care as all he wanted now is to see Ember.

He'd reached Level 2 after 10 minutes, which was one of the Living Quarters levels of the Vault. When making it to the quarters of the Mack Family, Danny pressed the buzzer.

Not long after, Gloria opened the door and smiled at Danny "Oh, well, hello there, Danny. I hope you had a great birthday party downstairs?"

Danny nodded "Mm-hm. It was great!"

"Wonderful," Gloria said before apologizing "I'm sorry that I couldn't make it to the party. I tried to get some time off but the Overseer refused as maintenance work was too important to ignore."

Danny gave a nod of understanding "That's okay, Mrs. Mack. I understand." He then told why he'd come "Uhm… I was wandering how Ember's been."

That made Gloria raise an eyebrow at him "Ember? I thought that she's with you. Didn't she came to your party?"

Danny was even more confused and shook his head, feeling even more worried "No! Ember wasn't at the party at all! I thought she was here."

Gloria shook her head "No. My husband, Allen told me that Ember had left early for your birthday party."

"But… but…" Danny stuttered, feeling his worry for Ember getting nearly the best of him.

Gloria puts her hands on his shoulder, calming him down "Danny, easy now. Easy. Let's go and find Ember."

Danny nodded as he left with Gloria to look for Ember, asking anyone if they'd seen her. But with many of the Vault residents at work, nobody had seen her.

While checking on Floor 3, Gloria saw her twin children, Wally and Susie talking with Paulina and Dale. She quickly walked over to them.

"Mom? What's going on?" Wally asked.

"Have any of you seen Ember?!" she worriedly asked her children "Nobody has seen her!"

Wally frowned while he shook his head "Nope. Didn't see her."

Susie only sneered while she crossed her arms "What? Do we look like we're Ember's caretakers?"

Gloria couldn't believe what her own daughter was saying "What? How could you say something like that, Susie?! Ember's a part of our family."

Susie almost burst into anger "No, she's not, Mom! Why the hell did you even took that twerp into our home in the first place?! GAH!"

Gloria was very disappointed how heartless her daughter acted when mentioning Ember. She'd hoped that in the years that by now her children would've gotten used to Ember and treat her as their own, but seeing how cold they're acting about her, she was getting angry herself and send her back to their home "That's it, young lady! Go home!"

Susie gasped in shock.

"Now!"

"Why, mom?! Just because I speak the truth of you forcing us to like that twerp! Damn you!" Susie angrily said and pushed her mother aside while leaving.

Wally gave a shrug, not feeling any interest in Ember being missing.

Gloria wanted to have a serious talk with her children over this later, but now was more focused on finding Ember.

Meanwhile, Danny had informed Tucker and Sam of Ember being missing, making them worried and informed Officer Gomez.

Seeing this could be serious, Officer Gomez nodded, ensuring the children, "Alright, don't worry. I'll inform the other officers and we'll conduct a search. You just contact any of us if you find your friend, okay?"

All three nodded and went out to look for Ember.

But after almost an hour of searching, there was still no trace of Ember.

When Danny made it down to Floor 8, which was the central heating of the Vault, he heard something and heard it was sobbing, making him to quickly run around a few corners before finally seeing Ember.

"Ember, there you are!" he said in relief.

But when he got close to her, Danny saw that Ember was all bruised up and had a black eye, making his eyes widen. "Ember? Ember! Oh my God, what happened?!" he asked, rushing to her.

Ember, seeing Danny, embraced him "Hi, Danny…"

"Ember what happened to you?" Danny asked with concern "Why do you have those bruises and that black eye?"

But Ember, not wanting Danny to get into trouble as well, only told him "I… I don't want to talk about it."

But Danny was determined to get her some help and got her on her feet. "Come on, Ember. Let's go to the clinic."

Danny quickly took Ember to the Vault Clinic and Wellness center, quickly finding a doctor to take care of her, all the while avoiding asking any questions about how Ember had gotten hurt this much until she was taken into the room for treatment.

The Vault doctor, named Maurice Lavander, examined Ember's bruises and black eye while his assistant, Vera Howard was there too.

"Ooch! That hurts." Ember said as the doctor touching the big bruise on her left side hurts.

"I'm so sorry, dear. But… how did this happen to you?" Doctor Lavander asked as Gloria and Allen Mack entered the clinic and quickly came into the room.

"Ember! Oh, my God, Ember!" Gloria cried as she carefully embraced her foster child.

Ember embraced her back but looked at Allen, who gave her a fierce look, suspecting her of telling anyone what happened.

Gloria looked at Danny and hugged him too. "Oh, thank you, Danny, sweetheart. Thank you so much for finding Ember."

Dannu hugged her back and smiled a bit. "You're welcome, Mrs. Mack. Ember would've done the same for me."

Gloria then looked at the doctor and asked him "How is she, doctor? Is Ember going to be okay?"

"Well, the bruises and the black eye should heal about a week or so, and I'm going to give her some medicine for the pain." Doctor Lavander answered honestly.

Gloria nodded and asked Ember, "Ember, sweetie, what happened? How did you get so hurt?"

Ember, seeing Allen with his fierce angry look, fearing for her foster mother and especially Danny, quickly lied, "I fell down… some stairs. I wasn't looking where I was going and accidentally fell."

Danny became confused. In his mind, something told the 10-year-old boy that something wasn't right, feeling deep down that these kind of injuries and black eye just couldn't have come from falling down the stairs as he fell from a pair of stairs 2 years prior and only had minor injuries, even though he had to deal with a painful sprained ancle for more than a week. Many thoughts ran through his mind, thinking how she really could've gotten hurt.

After Gloria received the medicine against the pain for Ember, she told her as s eh carefully helped her off the bed "C'mon now, sweetheart. Let's go home."

Ember gave a small nod to her foster mother before looking scared at Allen.

"Yes. Let's go." Allen said coldly while putting his hand on her shoulder as they left, holding it too tight, hurting Ember but she held herself in.

Danny saw what Allen did, making his eyes go wide as he realized how Ember maybe really could've gotten hurt, and also previous in the past 'No… Mr. Mack wouldn't do that… Would he?' Danny thought, not wanting to believe that Allen Mack would be the person who would hurt Ember like that. Despite that Allen Mack was a bit of a jerk, Danny wouldn't believe he would be that heartless.

Danny left the clinic, watching Ember leaving. She looked back while leaving with her foster parents, giving a small wave to him "Bye…"

Danny sighed and gave a small wave back.

---

That same evening, at the Fenton family quarters…

Danny, sitting at the dining table with his family, sighed while simply looking at his food.

For his birthday, his family had prepared his favorite dinner: Cheeseburgers.

However, despite his family enjoying tonight's dinner, Danny had barely eat anything. His thoughts were constantly about Ember being hurt, thinking that Allen Mack could've possibly beat her and has maybe done that before in the past. Danny felt stupid of not realizing it sooner, but still… he couldn't prove it on just suspicion.

Maddie, noticing that Danny hadn't eaten much, asked him concerned, "Danny, dear, why don't you eat anything? It's your birthday after all and you really wanted cheeseburgers for dinner."

Danny sighed as he shrugged and rested his head on his elbow, "I'm sorry, mom. I'm just…"

Jazz, figuring what bothers Danny, asked him in an understanding sisterly way, "You're worried about your friend, Ember, right?"

Danny was quiet for a moment before he gave a small nod "Yes."

Jack ensured his son, "Ah, don't worry, Danny. Well, despite she's hurt badly after falling from a stairs, she'll be fine in the end. In fact, I went by their home just before dinner and Gloria told us that though it takes some time for Ember's wounds to heal, the medicine do help against the pain."

Danny sighed. Though he wanted to believe that, he still was in his thoughts imagining the horrible things that Allen Mack has been doing to Ember, blaming himself for not seeing it.

"It'll be alright, honey," Maddie tried to ensure her son.

Then, Danny asks them, "Mom, dad? Can I go and see Ember after dinner?"

Maddie smiled at him, "Of course you can."

"But first eat your cheeseburgers, son," Jack said while pointing at his partly finished meal "they're getting cold." he said while taking a big bite from his own cheeseburger.

Danny formed a small smile and resumed eating his favorite birthday meal.

An half hour later, when everyone had eaten their stomach full, Danny was about to leave as soon as he'd finished. But Jack stopped him and told him, "Hang on, son. You know the rules. After dinner we all help each other with the dishes. No exceptions, not even on your birthday."

Danny sighed and turned back, going to help Jazz clean the table "Okay, okay."

While everyone helped with the dishes, with Danny and Jazz each cleaning some plates, Jazz wandered about something and asked her parents, "Mom, dad?"

"Yes, honey?" Jack asked while using a sponge to clean the frying pan.

"I was wandering about something," Jazz started "Uhm… we don't own any animals in the Vault, right? We don't have cows or pigs or chickens, right?"

Maddie nodded "Yes, that's right. Why do you ask?"

"Well, if we don't have any cattle deep in the Vault, like the ones in some books, then how are we supposed to get meat when we have to… kill some of them?"

Jack and Maddie shared a glance before both smiled and answered their daughter's question, with Jack saying, "Well, sweetheart, that's simple."

"In the Vault, some scientist create this thing called 'cultivated meat'." Maddie added.

"Cultu-whata?" Danny asked confused.

"Cultivated meat," Maddie told "Some scientist here in the Vault use special samples of many cattle and chickens that had been kept safely long before the bombs dropped nearly 200 years ago. Using it, we create this 'artificial' meat called cultivated meat. It tastes the same like real meat and yet it's made differently."

Though it sounded a bit confusing to Danny, it did made some sense as why there was always enough meat in the Vault for all the residents, besides all the vegetables and fruit they grow in the big greenhouse section of Vault 101 he and his class went to visit last year.

"And they can even make Nuka Cola using these… samples?" Danny asked.

Jack nodded "Yes, even the ingredients to make Nuka Cola and many other drinks, including samples to make milk," he then chuckled, making up a little joke "I mean, if we hadn't, then we only had to drink fresh water and nothing else. Hahahaha. Kinda boring, is it?"

Danny gave a small chuckle "Yeah, that kinda sounds boring, alright."

After 10 minutes of helping his family with the dishes, with Danny cleaning the last knife and fork, Maddie nodded as he puts them in the designated drawer "Alright, Danny. Of you go."

Danny instantly went out and ran towards the quarters of the Mack family.

Jack shook his head while smiling seeing Danny go "He and Ember. It would take an atom bomb to separate those two."

Maddie hit him gently with a dishrag "Jack!" But she did suppressed a smile.

"What? It's just a joke." Jack said while he shrugs.

Back with Danny, he ran fast through the steel hallways. But as he made it to the Mack family quarters, he saw the main door getting open, causing him to hide for around the corner.

Gloria exited the quarters together with Allen, telling him, "I'm sorry, Allen, but I have to go. You know that I can't escape these night shifts."

"It's okay, sweety, I understand." Allen ensured with a smile.

"You sure I can trust you taking care of Ember?" she asked him "I mean, she's still hurt pretty badly and none of our children are here tonight to watch over her. Steve is having Security training, Susie is staying with Paulina tonight and Wally with Dash."

He formed a small grin "Don't worry. She just finished dinner and will go to bed soon. I'll keep an eye on her."

Gloria sighed, forming a small smile, trusting her husband "Okay. I'll be back by 3 AM, so you don't have to wait for me. And be sure Ember takes her medication before going to sleep, alright?"

"I will." Allen ensures his wife and both share a kiss "See you tonight."

Gloria nodded "Okay. Goodnight, honey."

"Night, Gloria." Allen said as his wife left.

Danny grew more increasingly worried, knowing that Ember is now alone with her foster father.

Allen then looked around, causing Danny to quickly hide.

Seeing nobody around, Allen nodded while looking angry and headed back inside, closing the door and forcefully closed all the curtains.

Danny slowly approached the Mack residence, hearing some muted scream inside, hearing it's Ember!

+WARNING: THE FOLLOWING SCENE INVOLVES SOME DISTURBING MOMENTS OF CHILD ABUSE. FOR THOSE HOW DON'T WISH TO READ THIS PART, YOU CAN SKIP IT TO THE END. VIEWER DISCRIPTION IS ADVISED+

He tried to peek inside but the curtains were too well covered. Luckily, he managed to find a hole peek through, seeing to his shock Allen grabbing Ember by her hair and dragged her through the living room before forcefully pinning her against the wall.

"Who did you tell, huh?!" Allen interrogated her before slamming her against the wall again, hurting Ember "WHO DID YOU TELL?!" he asked again.

Ember while crying, heavily shook her head "I didn't tell anyone!"

"You better, you little bitch!" Allen yelled before throwing her down on the ground before kicking her hard in the stomach!

Danny was in complete shock what he was seeing. All his fears had been confirmed, showing it was Allen being responsible for Ember being hurt constantly. Some anger grew inside him.

After Allen hit Ember again in the stomach, hurting her again, he sighed before grabbing her by the collar and held her up, looking fierce at her "Now you listen to me, you little shit! When I'm trying to… teach you some manners, you don't ever run away from me, you understand?"

Ember sobbed.

"YOU UNDERSTAND?!"

"Yes! Yes…!" Ember nodded, being so scared.

Seeing her so obedient, made Allen form a grin on his face while softly stroke her cheek "Your momma was just like you when she was your age, Ember… Always fighting back… Neglecting me… Ignoring me! Rebellious…!" he formed an insane smile on his face "But not you… No, no, no… cause I'm gonna make sure you won't turn out like her. I will teach you respect… and obedience."

Ember's eyes widen, knowing what he was about to do "No… please…!"

As he puts her down on her knees, he said with an insane smirk "If you be nice… you'll get some… dessert." He then began to unbuckle his pants.

What followed next, what Danny saw… shocked him to the core, watching something a kid at his age should never have to witness, watching as Allen was forcefully having his… way with his dear friend Ember.

So much anger and sadness grew in Danny 'Ember…!' he wanted to go in and stop him, but he was scared.

As tears fell from his eyes, he ran away as fast as he could, going back home.

+END OF DISTURBING SCENE+

Danny ran into his family's quarters and ran straight to his room, closing the door behind him and jumped on his bed, covering himself as he covered his ears and panted. Those images he saw what happened to Ember would forever be scared on his memories.

"Ember…! Ember…!" he sobbed while growling with anger as he saw what kind of evil person Allen Mack truly was "Damn you…!" Danny cursed "Damn you…!" he just kept crying and panted, being so sad and angry.

---

The next morning…

Danny hadn't eaten any breakfast. His mind still on what he'd seen last night. Both Jack and Maddie had no idea what bothered their son so much, but Danny wouldn't talk about it.

As it was a Sunday, there was no school for Danny or any of the kids. Except that the adults would have to work their shifts properly. Jack and Maddie both put on their lab coats while Jack told their son and daughter, "Alright, your mother and I will be working until 4. So please be at your best behavior and don't leave our quarters unless absolutely necessary."

Right on that moment, Danny's Pip-Boy beeped. He looked and saw he had received an assignment to do some work "Huh?"

Jazz checked his Pip-Boy, saying, "Oh. Looks like the Overseer sure wasn't kidding to expect your fist assignment after your birthday."

Danny sighed while opening the message. As Jazz told him how to use his Pip-Boy last night before dinner, Danny knew how it all worked and read the message.

That was when Jazz also received a message on her on Pip-Boy. She checked and read it "Hmmmm. Looks like I'm gonna have to help at the daycare till 12. What about you, Danny?" she asked her little brother.

Danny gave a shrug "Greenhous duty."

Jazz checked his message, ensuring him "Ahh, don't worry, little brother. At least you don't have to help maintenance or anything."

"Yeah…" Danny gave a weak nod.

As the Fenton family all left their home, Maddie planted a kiss on both Jazz and Danny's forehead before she and her husband left for their work in the Vault Laboratory.

While walking down the stairs, Jazz said her goodbye to Danny as she went down to Level 7 where the Vault Daycare was located, while Danny went into Level 6 where the Greenhouses were located.

As he was only 10 years old, the staff didn't gave him a too much of a job and only tasked Danny and the few other children at his age that also had Greenhouse duty to go and pick the strawberries and carry boxes filled with freshly picked vegetables, being sprouts.

Danny tried his best to help around, despite his feelings told him to go to Ember, wanting to be there for her.

Each time, Danny looked at the clock on his Pip-Boy, begging for time to go faster so he could see his best friend.

At long last, when the hours had gone by, the clock struck 12 PM and the head of the Vault Greenhouses, 31 year old Bessy Waller called, using an old microphone "Attention, everyone! It's now 12 o'clock and your 30 minute break starts. For all the children who'd helped today, thank you for your services and have a nice day."

As everyone left to go to the nearest cafeteria to eat lunch, Danny rushed back up the stairs, with nothing else in mind to go and see Ember.

When Danny made it to the quarters of the Mack family, he stopped in front of the door, begging that Allen wasn't home and pressed the buzzer, waiting for someone to open.

The curtains were now all open, but the images of last night when he peeked inside and watch Allen's horrible act on Ember was still fresh in his mind, making Danny fill with anger.

But as the door slide open, revealing to be 16-year-old Stevie, Wally and Suzie's older brother.

The hotheaded teen looked at him with a nasty face "Yeah. The hell do you want, Fenton?"

Trying to keep his cool, Danny asked, "Is Ember there? I wanted to see her."

Stevie crossed his arms as he leaned against the door "Yeah, she's here. But what do you want from her anyway?" he questioned Danny.

Danny shook his head "I just want to see my friend. It's not a crime to visit friends."

"Oh, it will be, Fenton," he threatened him "Once I've become an officer, you better watch your back when you break the rules, kid. And let me tell you something: You and your damn family are an embarrassment to the Vault, a disgrace to the Overseer's rule. Your parents may have the favor of many of the vault's residents, but I can see through the act. One misstep, and there's a hell to pay when facing me. Understood?"

The way he was threatening Danny, clearly not holding himself back, even if he was a kid, made Danny only glare at him. After having to deal with Dash for years, he wasn't going to let another bully like him walk over him.

"Nothing to say, huh, kid?" Stevie asked with a grin on his face, thinking that Danny was too scared to stand up to him. But he gave him a gesture, allowing him inside "Whatever. You can enter, but keep it down, will ya? I need to be fully prepared as I plan to be the best officer of the Vault Security force, got me?"

As Danny entered, Wally went back into his room. There was no sign of Gloria or that bastard Allen, so Danny figured both had left for work and headed to Ember's room.

After Danny knocked on the door, he pressed the button, allowing the door to slide open, seeing Ember sitting on her bed while holding her legs, looking depressed.

Ember slowly looked, seeing it was Danny "Hey…"

"Hi…" was all that Danny wanted to say. He felt like he was on the brink of tears, but tried hard to hold himself and quietly asked her as he walked up to her "Hey, uhm… do you… wanna hang out or something? I know that… you're still hurt, but…"

But Ember nodded, not minding to go and play with Danny. She got out of bed and took her boots. She took her time to put her boots on as her side still hurt after Allen's abuse yesterday and last night.

Danny wanted to hug her… and tell her she's not alone anymore. But he held himself, not wanting to give Stevie an excuse to kick him out.

What seemed like forever, Ember had put on her boots after 5 minutes and both left the Mack family's quarters.

"So, where are we going?" Ember asked, wandering where they were going to play.

Danny paused for a moment, thinking quick of a place where they could talk private with nobody disturbing us. He then remembered his secret BB gun shooting range at the Reactor Level, seeing it was the perfect spot.

"I know a place where we can… have some fun." Danny said but asked her "But, please, promise me that you won't tell anyone and… you take that secret into your grave."

Ember was a bit surprised by that request. But as they've been friends for as long as they could remember, Ember nodded "Okay, I promise I won't tell."

Danny nodded and took her hand "C'mon." and both walked together hand in hand down to the Reactor Level.

But as they arrived, Ember was confused and asked "What's so special down here, Danny?"

Danny used the special key he got from his parents and opened the sealed door.

"Danny?"

"Come. In here." He gestured.

Trusting him, she followed him inside.

Ember was amazed that she saw a little shooting range was in here "Oh, wow, Danny… but… what is-" but before she could finish her sentence, Danny instantly hugged her, but not too tight as he didn't wanted to hurt her.

He sobbed "Oh, Ember…!"

Ember was confused "Wha…? What's wrong?"

Danny broke the hug and with teary eyes looked at her "Last night… I…" words failed him, wishing he could've tried to protect her sooner "What Mr. Mack did to you…! And… and that he…!"

Ember gasped in shock what Danny said, trying to say he'd seen it happening "You… you saw…?"

Danny nodded heavily "Everything! The beatings, the… what he then…!" tears fell from his eyes "Why, Ember? Why hadn't you told me?!"

Tears began to fall from Ember's eyes and cried as she hugged him "Danny…!" she cried her tears out on his shoulder while he returned the hug "He… he told me he would hurt you… and Gloria if I told anyone!" she heavily shook her head, as if all the pain and suffering she had to endure was finally released and could finally share it to someone "He made me do…! He…! What he did to me and…!" she cried even more.

Danny was in shock, hearing that she hadn't told anyone as she feared it would bring him and her foster mother into trouble and would gotten hurt by Allen.

With hatred fueled in his mind, his eyes frowned while tears fell from his eyes, looking at her and vowed "No more, Ember. I'm not gonna let him near you! Never again! He deserves to pay! That…! That… bastard deserves to pay!"

Ember gasped, not having seen Danny so angry before. The look in his eyes, though it frightened her a bit, she felt a big load away from her shoulders that the truth had finally been revealed to her best friend.

He held her cheeks, promising her, "I'm gonna make him suffer… just as how much you've suffered! I swear I will…"

But Ember stopped him, not wanting this to escalate even more or lose anyone else she loves "No, please, Danny!"

Danny looked at her surprised.

"I… I know you mean well, but… please… Gloria is the only person in whole Vault I consider close to a mother and… You can't face Allen alone, Danny! He will hurt you and… I won't be able to bare it to lose you too!" she begged him.

Danny, despite his hatred and courage wanting to desperately protect his dearest best friend, knew she was right and go after Allen now wouldn't solve anything and only bring more trouble for Ember.

He took a big sigh, trying to calm himself and looked back at her "You're right, Ember…" but then said determined "But still, we can't let him get away with this and not allow him to… to… touch you like that again!"

"But how?"

Danny thought deep, trying to control his emotions and think straight, thinking of some sort of strategy.

After some minutes of silence and thinking, he got an idea "I know what we gotta do, but… we're going to need some help."

---

Though she was unsure, Ember trusted Danny and both managed to get Tucker and Sam over to Danny's secret BB gun shooting range, where they, despite it was very hard for Ember, told them about the constant abuse that Ember had to face under Allen Mack and the other cruel stuff he does to her whenever he's alone with her.

Sam and Tucker were shocked to the core. The first thing that Sam thought was to report this to the authorities immediately, but Ember begged her not to as she doesn't want Gloria to be harmed.

After Danny explained what he had in mind for some well-deserved payback on Allen Mack and make sure he won't tell anyone, Tucker was all aboard on this, while Sam was a bit harder to convince. But after some minutes of talking, Sam agreed to Danny's idea.

---

Some hours later, at 14:30 PM…

Allen Mack was working on some leaking pipes down below an opened floor section somewhere on Floor 8. There had been reported some lost of steam pressure from the Central Heating of the Vault, causing some sections having lost of heat.

After he was able to fix the leak using Wonderglue and seal it with duct tape, he used a wrench to release the pressure, seeing no steam was flowing out of it.

Allen wiped the sweat of his forehead, satisfied with the results, "Finally. I thought that pipe would never get fixed."

But then, a different part of the pipe began to leak a big amount of steam!

"Shit!" Allen quickly used his wrench to seal the pressure again "For fuck's sake!" he annoyingly said, irritated that the pipe was still not fixed. He took the Wonderglue and duct tape, working on the newly created hole "If another leak is coming out of it, I'm gonna smack that fucking pipe to bits!"

Once he'd put Wonderglue on it, he reached on the floor for the duct tape. But to his surprise, it was gone.

"Wha…? Where the hell is it?" he wondered while looking around.

"Hey!" a child called from across the hallway.

Allen looked, seeing it was Ember, looking angry while holding up the duct tape she managed to steal from Allen without him even noticing.

"Looking for this?"

Allen angrily frowned at her "You give that back to me, RIGHT NOW!"

"You want it? Come and get it!" Ember said before throwing the roll of duct tape hard on Allen, hitting his head!

Allen Mack exploded with rage "Why you…! THAT'S IT! YOU'RE DEAD!" and ran towards her but Ember quickly ran away.

Ember quickly went into one hallway to another with her abusive foster parent after her.

"I'M GONNA BREAK EVERY BONE IN YOUR BODY, YOU LITTLE BITCH!" Allen yelled, trying to grab Ember, but she was too fast and quickly escaped through an air shaft.

Allen tried to grab her but the air shaft where Ember escaped too was too narrow for him to go through.

"GET BACK HERE, YOU UNGRATEFUL GIRL!" Allen commanded.

Ember looked back at him, forming a smirk "Come and catch me, if you can!"

"AAAAARGH!" Allen yelled out in anger while kicking the wall. But knowing where the air shaft would lead to, he ran into a different hallway while a smirk grew on his face "When I get my hands on you, you'll regret the day you were born!"

He opened a door, heading into a narrow passageway that was filled with nothing but pipes and electronics. Allen squeezed himself through it till he made it to the end. He heard Ember laughing from the hallway to his left.

"I got you now!" Allen then ran where he'd heard Ember, spotting her going into a small room "Nowhere to hide now, Ember!"

Allen forcefully opened the door, coming inside "Time to teach you a lessen you'll never-" but his words were cut short as he was suddenly hit on his legs by something long "AAAAAAH!" Allen yelled before collapsing on the floor.

"YOU LEAVE HER ALONE!" Danny appeared while holding Tucker's baseball bat in his hands.

Allen looked, looking fierce "You!"

Danny attempted to hit him in the face, but Allen grabbed his bat and threw it away!

He slowly rose up, looking at him with an evil smirk "You think you can take me on, kid?"

But then, he was hit in his leg by something hard, breaking his kneecap!

"AAAAAAAAAAAH!" Allen cried out as he fell on the ground, holding his broken left kneecap.

It was Tucker that had hit Allen using a hammer. He looked a bit scared while also looking shocked as he couldn't believe he'd just hit someone like that.

"YOU LITTLE SHIT! AAAAAH! MY LEG! OOOH! OH, MY LEG!" Allen cried out in pain, glaring at Tucker "When I get my hands on you, I'll kill you!"

But as Allen tried to grab the railing to try to stand up, Danny quickly took the baseball bat on the floor and hit Allen hand hard, breaking almost every bone in it!

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Allen cried out even more in pain, holding his now mostly useless right hand "AAAA-AAAAH! FUCK! My hand! You… you broke my hand!"

"Serves you right after what you did to Ember, you bastard!" Danny said with nothing but anger in his voice, wanting to teach Allen so badly for what he'd done over the years to his dearest and closest friend.

Allen looked at him confused, though still groaning with pain "What?"

"I saw you! I SAW EVERYTHING WHAT YOU DID TO EMBER LAST NIGHT!"

Tucker then stepped in, trying to build some courage and told him with a bit of fierceness "Yeah! When the Overseer hears about this, you'll be throw into prison for the rest of your life!"

Allen was a bit shocked, but then laughed "Ha… Hahahahahaha! You honestly think that the Overseer is gonna believe you?" he then stared at Ember "Seriously? You thought you could get me back by asking your friends to hurt me and then report me to Vault Security? The Overseer is never going to believe what you little shitheads say. After all, you just broke my knee and my hand!" he then laughed, thinking he had them at that point and was going to get away with it.

But then Sam appeared, telling Allen with her hands on her hips "Maybe my father won't believe my friends, but he will believe me."

Not expecting the Overseer's daughter to be present, Allen looked in shock, trying to look tough "Nobody is going to believe you!"

"I wouldn't count on that, Mr. Mack." Sam said, not moving an inch "You see, despite my father and is self-centered, a control freak and kind of close to a dictator, there's one thing in the whole wide world he cares about more than just the Vault: His family. AND me being the Overseer's only daughter and child, he will do anything to protect me, even when it comes to bend his own rules."

This send a sense of fear into Allen, knowing he couldn't hurt Overseer Manson's daughter without facing the hard consequences of it.

"So let me ask you this, Mr. Mack, who's my father going to believe at this point? Hm? You, a abusive adult who picks on his own foster child and molest her in ways that would make your stomach turn? Or me, his own flesh and blood who he will protect with his life and wouldn't dare to let her friends being hurt despite he doesn't like them?" Sam questioned him with a small grin on her face.

Allen knew he was screwed and held up his hands, as fear had overcome him "Okay! Okay…! What is it that you want?"

Danny warned him, looking down on him with a face that even scared Allen "From now on, you will never lay a hand on Ember ever again! And get this into your head, Allen. You make one wrong move, one misstep, and the whole truth will be revealed. Understood?!"

At first, Allen was about to nod, but thought that they wouldn't have any evidence against him, making him form a smirk "Either way… it's my word against yours. You can't prove that I ever lay a hand on that… fucking…" he glared at Ember "…CUNT!"

Ember was scared, exchanging glances with Danny and Tucker.

"I Should have put you out of your misery the moment your bitch mom gave birth to you!" Allen said with words of evil and hatred "I should have beat your ass in the moment Gloria took you into MY HOME!"

"And now, you've just delivered the evidence." Danny said with a smirk.

That surprised Allen "What?"

"If you had paid close attention, you would've noticed that I…" Danny held up his Pip-Boy, showing he was recording everything from the moment Sam warned Allen that her father would believe her more than anyone "…had been recording everything!"

Allen gasped with his eyes going wide.

Danny stopped the recording and took out the small record disk out of his Pip-Boy before handing it over to Sam.

"So, unless you don't want my father to hear this," Sam said while holding up the small disk "You do as we say. Understood?"

Allen gave a small nod "Okay… Okay!"

"Consider yourself lucky, Allen," Danny said as he looked down on the child molester "And mark my words. If I find out you are laying a hand again on Ember, or anyone else…"

Scared, Allen nodded heavily "I won't do it again…! I won't do it again! I swear I won't do it again!"

"AND!" Danny added "If you tell anyone else what happened here or how your knee and hand really got broken, Sam will show the evidence to her father. And if something happens to me, or any of my friends, we'll show the evidence!"

Ember then walked over to Allen, looking down at him. Her fear was now replaced by anger. She spit in his face and warned him "You don't ever touch me again!"

Allen nodded.

All four children then collected their things and left, closing the door behind them, letting Allen Mack lay on the floor.

While Danny, Ember, Sam and Tucker walked up the stairs, Ember then suddenly embraced Danny into a tight hug, shedding tears of joy "Thank you, Danny…! Thank you so much…!"

Danny returned the hug.

"Hey, don't forget about us!" Tucker said.

Ember chuckled before she hugged Tucker and Sam for what they did for her.

After they broke the hug, Sam ensured everyone as she held up the disk "Now, don't worry. I'm gonna hide this baby at a place where nobody else would ever look, besides me." She gave them a wink.

"Where?" Tucker asked.

"If I told you, someone else would find out about it. Duh." Sam said while she amusingly rolled her eyes.

"Good point." Tucker said before suggesting as his stomach growled "Speaking of which, I'm starved."

That was when Danny's stomach too began to growl, embarrassing him a bit "Yeah… you're not the only one."

All four shared a laughter before Tucker suggested "Well, my place is the nearest, so we could go to my place and have some lunch?"

They seemed to be okay with it and together went to Tucker's place.

"Danny…" Ember said as they continued walking to Tucker's place.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you again for what you did." Ember said softly "I just…"

Danny held her hand "I know… but I'm here for you. Always."

Ember smiled at him and planted a kiss on his cheek.

Danny blushed while both shared a smile.

After a few minutes, when reaching the Foley family quarters, Danny told Ember "Guess this makes me your knight in shining armor this time, huh?"

Ember nodded as they entered the place "Yeah…"

---

That same evening, at the Mack family quarters...

Steve Mack, having coming back home after a long day of Vault security training, entered, but saw to his complete surprise his father laying on the couch while his right wrist and left leg covered in cast while watching TV with his wife and his twin children Wally and Susie

"Oh my God, Dad! What the hell happened to you?!" Steve said in shock, never having seen his father this hurt before.

Allen looked at his older son before looking at Ember, who was sitting on the front table drawing pictures. She gave him a fierce look of better not telling anyone, making Allen really nervous.

Gloria sighed and told her son, "Your father had-"

"I can say it myself, Glora." Allen interrupted his wife and told Steve "I had a bad accident at work. Some stupid pipe got lose and hurt both my leg and hand."

"Oh, geez, Dad." Steve said with sympathy for his father "You should be more carefull."

Allen nodded, hiding his nervousness "Yeah, I know."

A/N: Despite the child abuse was difficult for me to write, I still hope you people like the rest of the chapter.

I intended to put more into the chapter which includes Danny and Ember going into their teens and grow up together, but not wanting to make this first chapter too long I'm gonna stop here and put the rest in the next chapter ;)

As it was never shown in any of the games how the Vaults would keep supplying their residents with food while remaining sealed shut underground, I began to theorize that they use science to make all kinds of food and ingredients for other stuff and would have some sort of greenhouse section to grow fruit and vegetables.

Compared to what was shown in the game about Vault 101, I'm planning to add some more stuff as well, making it look more bigger than what the game Fallout 3 showed, including the other Vaults.

The story is not a complete copy of the Fallout 3 game, but will have some elements of it in here while adding some of my own stuff, including other Danny Phantom characters.

And if there are any other 'disturbing scenes' coming up, I'll put a warning so you people can skip them, and I'll also put warnings on the too sexual scenes.

Expect the next chapter within a few weeks.

See you then!