Charon wasn't impressed with the smoothskin. This was the man Hel was pining over? He reeked of alcohol and body odor and couldn't stand on his own until the day after Charon had smuggled him out of the damn tower. The one thing Charon could give him credit for was that he truly seemed to want to know if Hel was alright.

"No," Charon wasn't about to sugar coat any of it, "She's committing slow suicide thanks to you and daddy dearest."

Burke followed behind him as he crossed the Wastes. They had a long way to go. Charon wasn't looking forward to it, but if he could break Hel out of her self-destructive cycle by bringing Burke to her, it was all worth it.

"I didn't mean to hurt her," Burke said.

Charon turned on him, disgusted, "What, you thought she'd be happy with more abandonment issues piled on? You're just as big of an idiot as her father." He shook his head. "You know why she chose me as a partner? She bought me. The kid thinks she can't trust anyone unless she owns them. You did that to her."

Burke didn't argue. They walked on in silence for several miles before he asked, "What makes you think she wants to see me?"

"Nothing. For all I know, she wants you dead, but it's a risk I'm willing to take. Either way I'm hoping it's cathartic and she snaps out of the nosedive she's in." He eyed the smoothskin sideways, "If you cared so much for her, why'd you leave her in the first place? I read your stupid fucking letter. What was that bullshit about setting her free?"

Burke shook his head, "You already said it. I was an idiot. I thought she deserved better."

"That, we can agree on."

Silence fell between them again. Night started to fall and Charon found a decent place for camp.

"Can't we just keep going?" Burke asked.

"Oh sure, if you want to end up walking right into a Deathclaw nest." Charon lit the fire and pocketed his lighter. "She's another two days away, Burke. Sleep. I'll get you there. I can't risk you dying before she decides whether she wants to kill you or not."

The smoothskin laid down on the opposite side of the fire. Charon shook his head. You sure picked a winner, kid. He hoped this worked. If reuniting her with lover boy didn't go well, Charon was at a loss of what he could do besides let her destroy herself.

"You'd better think of a better response to her questions than "I'm an idiot." "

Burke turned to look at him.

"She's going to want answers. You better have some."

…

Burke stared up at the stars. He couldn't sleep. All he could think about was getting to Hel. He had no idea what he was going to say to her. How could he make up for what he'd put her through? He hadn't even been able to argue against the big ghoul. Nothing he'd done warranted her forgiveness. He wouldn't blame her if she killed him on sight. It would be easier than having to face her.

It had been over a year since he'd walked away from her. I love you, Helen. His last words to her echoed in his head. She had no reason to believe him. He'd done nothing but take from her. Every moment they'd spent together, he'd been the one benefiting. He put an arm over his face. You stupid, selfish fucking asshole. Dad was right, you're a waste, not even worth the dick sweat that brought you into this world.

He'd get to Hel. He'd stand in front of her and welcome whatever judgment she passed over his worthless soul. It was the least he could do.

…

The past few days had been hard, but Hel had managed to take better care of herself than she had in a long time. She was a little stronger today, and she decided to go for a walk around the satellite dishes. Standing and looking out over the wastes, she spotted two figures coming towards her. Shielding her eyes from the sun, Hel tried to make them out, but at the distance they were, she could only tell that one was significantly taller than the other.

Her sniper rifle was stored in a footlocker down below her, so she could do nothing but wait until they came close enough for her to make out their faces. Charon was in front and became clear first. Shocked to see him, Hel had a second to wonder why he would be coming back of his own accord when she looked past him to the other man.

"No," she breathed.

Diving for the hatch in the middle of the satellite, Hel slid down the ladder and ran for her bedroom and the footlocker. Snatching up her rifle and a box of .308's she stormed back up the ladder and took aim.

…

The earth in front of Burke's foot exploded into the air as a shot rang out, "Jesus fucking Christ!"

"Hold still!" Charon flung out one arm to Burke and the other into the air, "Hel!" he called, "It's me, Charon!"

Another shot zipped between the two men in answer.

"Looks like she doesn't want to see you as badly as I thought," the ghoul said.

Following his gaze up to the top of the satellite tower, Burke could see the shape of Hel's head and shoulders and the glint of the sniper rifle that she had trained on them. Both shots had been warnings. Both Burke and Charon knew she could have killed them already if she really wanted.

"Hel!" Burke called to her, holding his arms out to his sides, "Hel please!"

"Fuck off Burke! You can't hurt me again! I can't take it! Go away!"

The high-pitched panicked note to her voice ripped him in two. She really was terrified that he was going to come back only to leave her again.

"Hel, I swear-" another shot silenced him.

"I told you to fuck off!" she screamed, choking on a sob at the end.

"Burke," Charon turned to him, "It isn't happening. She'll never let us close."

Shaking his head, Burke set his jaw and took a step forward, "Hel, I'm sorry I left you. I never meant to hurt you. I love you."

"STOP SAYING THAT!" this time, the shot ripped through his shoulder. Crying out, Burke fell to the ground.

Charon stood over him and handed him a stimpak as he dragged him behind a nearby rock for cover, "This isn't really how I thought it was going to work out," Charon admitted.

Gasping as the stimpak mended his flesh back together, Burke nodded his agreement, "You and me both."

"She hates you, you know."

"Yes."

"Are you gonna give up?"

"No."

…

Hel hid her face in her hands as she cried. For one sickening moment, she thought she'd killed Burke. Seeing him fall to the ground from her bullet had snapped her back into reality. That's Burke down there. He's right there!

Running for the hatch again, Hel slid down the ladder, pelted down the stairs, and out into the open, "Burke!" she cried.

He stood from behind a rock in a flash, face gaunt and looking as horrible as she knew she did. Seeing him, she couldn't get her legs to run fast enough. Meeting her halfway, he reached for her and wasn't prepared for the fist she crashed into his face. He sprawled backwards in the dirt, stunned.

"What the fuck are you doing here?!" She stood over him, rage flowing through every fiber of her being. Underneath it all was longing and a raw, aching pain that only fueled her anger.

Burke held himself up on his elbows, hands raised and open, "Hel, I'm sorry. I never should have left you."

"That's not what I asked. Why are you here? You think I'm just going to let you back into my life?"

He shook his head, "No. I hope you will, but I don't expect it."

"Hel," Charon took a step forward but froze and went silent when she turned her glare on him.

"You brought him here? After I left Megaton so he couldn't find me?"

"You were dying, kid. I had to do something."

Hel shook her head, fists clenched at her sides. Burke sat up and she returned her attention to him.

"Why-" Hel's voice caught in her throat, "Why did you leave me? I lived for your letters. Just a word from you and I would be floating on cloud nine. Then you just…let me go." She scrubbed at the tears at the corners of her eyes, turning sideways to not have to look at him.

"I felt so lost," she whispered, her voice lacking the strength to be any louder, "You were my everything, and I thought you felt the same. You promised we'd be together. You told me you loved me. But it was all a lie. I just wanted to know why? What was so terrible about me that you wouldn't move heaven and earth for me the way I would for you?"

Burke didn't meet her eyes when she turned to look at him. He stared at the ground, slumped with his elbows on his knees. Taking a deep breath, he said, "I was a fucking fool. There's no better answer than that. I could tell you all my excuses, how I thought you deserved better than me, how I hated myself. But none of it would make up for what I did to you," he ran a hand over his head and scratched at the scruff on his chin, "There was never anything wrong with you, song bird. I'm the weak one. Too fucking weak to believe I deserved your adoration. Too fucking scared to fight for it," he looked up and met her eyes, his shining with unshed tears, "I won't make that mistake again. I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you."

Biting her lip, Hel shook her head, "How do I know you won't just break my heart again? You promised things before. Why is this time any different?"

He nodded, "That's fair. My track record so far doesn't warrant your trust," he leaned forward and brought his legs under him. He knelt there in the dirt, "I don't have the right to ask, but…this selfish asshole is going to ask anyway. Please, love. Give me the chance to be the man I should have been for you since the beginning?"

Hel hesitated. She wanted to believe him, to be able to trust him and love him openly. She looked at him on his knees, pleading her to give him another chance, to risk her fragile heart all over again.

She glanced at Charon. He stood watching them, arms crossed over his chest. He shrugged when they made eye contact.

Hel took in a shaky breath, "This is your last chance, Burke. Break my heart again and it will be the last thing you ever do."

…

Burke barely recognized her. She was so thin, and she had cut her hair into a short Mohawk. The sweet girl with the easy smile was nowhere to be seen. Even after she said she'd give him a chance, her eyes watched him like a beaten dog would watch an abusive owner. Burke cursed himself. He'd destroyed her. No wonder the ghoul had been so afraid for her and so angry with him.

He got to his feet. He wanted to touch her, to hold her, but she took a step back. He stayed where he was and held his hands out again. He couldn't help but keep apologizing, "I'm sorry for what I've put you through," he said, voice husky with emotion, "I was so selfish. I thought you'd be better off without me and I made the call without stopping to ask you. It took meeting your father for me to fully realize just how fucking stupid I'd been."

"My father?"

"Oh yes," Burke gave a hollow laugh, "A real charmer. Seeing his disregard for you made me realize what I'd done to you. How I must have made you feel. I'm sorry for everything, love."

She backed up another step. This wasn't how he'd hoped it would go. You thought she was just going to welcome you back with open arms?

Hel glanced at the ghoul, "Come on," she waved for them to follow her in, "Let's get inside before some Raider finds easy pickings."

She turned her back to him and walked back towards the satellite dish. Charon came up next to him, "Well, lover boy, looks like you got your second chance." He waited for Burke to look up at him before leaning close, "Don't. Fuck. It. Up." He straightened and followed after Hel. Burke sighed and nodded. He had a lot of work ahead of him.

…

"You can pick a room," Hel said as Burke stepped through the entrance.

He stared for a moment, mouth half open as though he were going to protest. He clicked it shut and nodded. He moved past her to the stairs and headed up. For a moment, she wanted to reach out to him. Instead, she wrapped her arms around herself and turned to Charon who was lowering his pack into the corner.

"Thank you for coming back," she said quietly.

He shrugged, "I was sort of hoping you'd just shoot him." He glanced up towards Burke's retreating back, "He was really falling apart, kid. Not saying he didn't deserve it, but I didn't expect him to care so much. I was expecting to find some rich smoothskin living like he'd never had a fling with you. Instead I found that mess. Soon as he realized where I wanted to take him, he couldn't get here fast enough."

Hel didn't say anything, just stared at the floor, arms wrapping tighter around herself.

"Do you still love him?" Charon asked quietly.

She blinked up at him. Did she? There wasn't a day that went by without a thought of him. The memory of his arms, his lips, his body. How he'd been the only person that seemed to understand her. Even Charon judged her in his own way. Burke accepted her.

"Yes," she said finally.

Charon nodded, "Then what're you standing around down here with me for?"

Hel swallowed. She felt raw, like everything that she'd built up between herself and the rest of the world had been scraped away. She wasn't sure she was ready to be near the man that knew how to get through her barriers when they were at full strength.

"Kid," Charon put a hand on her shoulder, "Get going." He turned her round to face the steps and gave a gentle nudge.

…

Burke heard her coming up the stairs behind him. He'd found a small, out of the way room with a mattress on the floor. More than you deserve. He stood in the doorway and turned when he heard her reach the landing. They stared at each other across the short distance. She was folded in on herself and he inwardly cursed.

She cleared her throat, "You look awful."

He blinked and let out a short, surprised laugh, "Yeah. I haven't been too worried about keeping up appearances."

"Charon helped me set up a shower up on top of the second tower. The water's cold, but clean."

He nodded, "Alright. Thank you."

She shifted her feet, "You- I can cut your hair."

The thought of her touching him at all set his feet in motion, "I'd like that," he stopped within arms length of her, but she was still wound up so tight he didn't dare reach for her.

"Come on then," she turned to head higher up into the tower.

Burke followed. They came out on top of the satellite dish and crossed over a wooden beam to get to the second tower. A makeshift shower stood at one end. A folding chair sat a little to the right of it next to a toolbox. Hel bent to retrieve a pair of scissors from the toolbox and motioned for him to sit on the chair.

Burke pulled his jacket off and hung it over the door to the shower. He sat down and Hel came up behind him. The feel of her hand raking through his hair was bliss. He closed his eyes as she combed through it, savoring the simple contact. The scissors started to snip away and to his surprise, she started to hum quietly.

Neither of them spoke. Burke opened his eyes when she moved to stand in front of him, meticulously evening out the sides. He watched her gnaw at her bottom lip as she compared the left to the right. When she caught him staring, she straightened and cleared her throat.

"I have a straight razor too if you want to shave."

"That would be nice."

She rummaged in the toolbox and pulled out a razor and a bar of soap, "Here. I'll bring you some clean clothes. The Raiders that were here are bound to have something that'll fit you."

Burke took the razor and soap and stood, "Thank you, love."

She froze and turned to look at him carefully. "Please…don't call me that," she said and turned away. He watched her cross over to the other dish and disappear down the hatch.

He stripped and got into the shower. Hel hadn't lied about the temperature. The freezing water made him think twice about shaving and he put the razor back. When he came out of the shower shivering, he saw his suit was gone and a pile of clothes were stacked on the folding chair. Dressing quickly without drying, he tried not to think about who the previous owner of the t-shirt and faded jeans might have been. The clothes at least smelled clean, but you could never be too sure with Raiders. Clothes sticking to his damp skin, Burke descended into the satellite dish and smelled food. He followed it to a kitchen where Charon sat at a picnic table, Hel stood behind him at the stove cooking three Brahmin steaks.

Charon glanced up at him as he entered, then over to Hel. The ghoul stood and reached over Hel to spear one of the steaks with his fork.

"Hey, they're not cooked yet!" She tried to snatch it back but the big ghoul easily evaded her and slapped the meat onto a plate.

"I like 'em rare. Besides, it's a bit too stuffy in here for me." He squeezed past Burke with a pointed look and disappeared upstairs.

Burke turned back to find Hel staring at him, the two remaining steaks sizzled behind her. "Do you need any help?" he asked awkwardly.

"No," she turned back to the stove.

Burke rubbed the back of his head and moved further into the room, "Thank you for the haircut. I feel better."

"You're welcome." She didn't look at him.

"Hel-"

"How do you like your steak?"

He sighed, "Medium rare."

She nodded. He wanted to grab her and turn her around, wanted her eyes on him. He settled for coming up and leaning against the counter to her right so he knew he was at least in her peripheral view.

She spared him a glance, "You didn't shave."

"No."

Another glance. "I'm glad the clothes fit."

"Yes, thank you for those too."

She gave a short nod. This was driving him mad. He'd take the violent anger she'd displayed earlier when he'd first arrived over whatever this was. At least she was speaking to him but this cold, one sentence small talk was unbearable.

"I missed you," he said.

She flipped the steaks over.

"Helen."

"These are almost done. Do you mind grabbing some Nuka-Colas from the fridge?"

He sighed, "Sure." Retrieving the drinks, he took them over to the table as she plated the steaks and brought them over. She sat across from him. They ate in silence. He noticed she picked at her food more than actually ate it. Half the steak was still on her plate when she pushed it to the side.

"The beard suits you," she said into the silence.

Surprised, he said, "I'll keep it then."

The ghost of a smile pulled at her lips. Please smile, love. You used to have so much light in you. Don't tell me I completely killed it. You're stronger than that.

"Charon told me you didn't want to make camp on the way here," she was picking at a splinter on the table, "You wanted to march right on through."

"Yes."

She raised her eyes to his. Their hands were only inches apart on the table. He wasn't sure if she'd pull away, but he desperately needed to touch her. He slid his hand closer and she dropped her eyes to it but otherwise didn't move.

"I couldn't wait to get to you. I've been trying to find you for months." He raised his fingers up and slid his hand up and over hers. She let him curl his hand around hers, staring at it all the while. His heart beat faster. Physical contact with her seemed a dream.

"You really went to my dad?"

"I hoped he had an idea of where you were. You're too good at evading my eyes and ears out in the Wastes." He squeezed her hand gently.

"Did you get your work done?" Her eyes found his again.

"No. But it doesn't matter anymore."

"Really? I thought you were a man of responsibility?"

"Responsibilities change."

"Hmm," she pulled away slowly and stood as she gathered their plates and took them to the sink. She leaned against the sink, head bent, hands splayed out as though she were going to push the thing through the wall. "I can't decide whether I want to punch you or kiss you," her voice was shaky. She turned and wiped at her eyes. "Having you here in front of me… I never thought you would-" she bit her lip.

"I'll do anything you ask of me," he said.

She looked at him and said in a small voice, "Can you hold me? Just…just hold me."

He was already on his feet and rounding the table before she'd finished. He slid his arms around her and pulled her against his chest. At first she left her arms at her sides, but slowly they raised up and embraced him. She felt so thin underneath her clothes. Her head rested against his shoulder and he felt a tremor go through her body. The next thing he knew she was sobbing against him.

"Shh," he squeezed a little tighter, "It's alright," he barely stopped himself from calling her 'love'. He desperately wished he could take back the past year and a half. If he'd just taken her with him that day in Megaton. But it had never done him any good to dwell on the past. He had to fix this problem now. Fuck the rest of the world. She's my world now. He wasn't wasting his time saving faceless others anymore. The fragile girl falling apart in his arms was the only thing that mattered.

…

Hel clung to Burke as she cried. It felt so good to be in his arms again. She felt like if he let go she'd shatter into a million pieces. He made soothing noises and rubbed a hand along her back. It had been so long since she'd received any kind of positive human touch. He'd been the last one to touch her, now he was the first to make contact again. She began to calm and go still. He continued to hold her, his chest and arms strong, his hands gentle.

"I missed you too," she said at length.

He gave a short laugh and bent his head to kiss her on the top of her head. His lips felt soft against her shaved skin. She felt self-conscious about it suddenly. She'd done it after finding her father. She'd wanted to turn into someone else. Now she wished for her old hair back so he could run his fingers through it.

She tilted her head up to look at him, "It's pretty pathetic, huh?"

"What?"

"Us. We only spent two days together and forgot how to exist without the other."

He looked down at her, "They were two very intense days."

She gave a laugh, "Weren't they just?"

"I've never felt about anyone the way I feel about you. Two days, two lifetimes, it doesn't matter," his eyes drifted down to her lips, "I don't want to spend anymore time without you."

She shook her head.

"Can I kiss you? You can punch me afterwards if it'll make you feel better."

She couldn't help but let out a laugh. She sniffed and gave a short nod, "Yes."

He made it soft and gentle, his lips pressing down on hers as though he were afraid to hurt her. The scruff of his short beard was the roughest part of the kiss. He kept his mouth closed and pulled back to breathe against her. He rested his forehead against hers. "Thank you."

They stayed like that, holding each other, breathing in the other's breath, for a long time. Hel was afraid to pull away from him. It felt right, being in his arms. Despite everything, she couldn't imagine not letting him back into her heart. She hoped she wouldn't regret it.

Happy Fallout on Prime premiere day! I actually watched the fan premiere last night because I couldn't wait. I'm honestly impressed. Of course my favorite character is The Ghoul so far. My husband wants to only watch one episode a night even though I'm ready to binge the whole thing. Lol. I hope if any of you have watched it that you enjoyed it as well!

Anyway, to celebrate, here's the next chapter for this fic!

Love you all, thank you for your continued support! Comments literally make my day, you guys have no idea how good your views and comments are for my morale.

Much love!

Meg