Finding Peace & Glory Chapter 34

AN1: Ok so sorry I didn't get this out sooner. But Job hunting and other things kept me away from this. After some consideration I think for now at least I will finish off this arc, then in the future down the line return to maybe do Far Harbor, right now I just don't think the full original far harbor story will fully fit the ideas I have so I need more time to flesh that all out into a workable format. That said while this is the last chapter don't fret as I plan to do some reworking of my other stories. Given Neverwinter Nights 1 just got the enhanced touch I may rewrite my self-insert for a Linu/OC pairing in some way.

AN2: Anyhow thanks for all the love and reading in our journey to get to know my take on Nora and Glory! Also to note I'm going to try my hand at writing a more risque love scene for this chapter. Still Pg-13 I think but just giving a heads up for any younger readers. R&R please!

==Sanctuary Hills – 5 Days Later==

It was five days later, in that time the Minutemen forces around Sanctuary Hills had helped the non-memory wiped Synths move into the hastily renovated Vault 111. With the arrest of the Railroad's leaders. The remaining forces had after some explanations either been absorbed into the Minutemen Militia for their talents, or returned to their families and settlements for a peaceful life. The remaining Brotherhood of Steel units found had thankfully after some brief skirmishes surrendered and after discussion by their leader Danse left the Commonwealth to return to the Capitol wasteland. Danse though after Nora had taken him aside revealing his own Synth nature had turned over command to one of his subordinates and without exposing himself agreed to remain as an 'adviser/diplomat' to represent the Brotherhood of Steel in the region.

Danse as a result aided by Piper soon uncovered from information Nora had gotten from the Institute, that Mayor McDonough was exposed as an infiltrated Synth. Using Nora's influence on the area and her own charm Piper pushed publicly that McDonough was corrupt. As a result mayoral elections were called and in an almost landslide victory Piper was elected the newest Mayor. Danse in his humiliation quietly left and had not been seen from since. Though those with the Minutemen knew the truth higher up, the general public had not avoiding thankfully any more back lash for other Gen 3 Synths. Also done in this time were the various other planted Synths. Which one by one were quietly approached and once exposed either retained in their current lives, or resettled to better conditions for their talents. The various spy merchants the Institute had used too soon realized their controllers and masters were also gone as Nora made her rounds to them.

The last five days then had also seen Desdemona and Carrington and their followers put on trial. As agreed Piper was their defense councilor and Nora presented her case. With Preston and a jury of peers listening in. After almost a full day of deliberation the jury and in turn Preston ruled that Desdemona and Carrington would face either banishment from the Commonwealth for a period up to a year, or military service with the Minutemen Militia in appropriate areas of talent for up to six months. Carrington in a huff had chosen exile. Given a week's worth of supplies he had been last seen heading south west out of the region and had not been heard from since. Desdemona and the other core followers though agreed to military service. The followers were put into various settlements under a simple guard for the work to come, while Desdemona assisted by Tinker Tom and some others were to go through the mass of salvaged Institute data and other computer core dumps in the Commonwealth Region looking for future supply points or other important data to consider in the future. She would also function as a semi-leader in what Nora termed military intelligence endeavors.

All in all the nearly past week had been a peaceful one. Nora when she was not busy or in trial arguments, had spent the time teaching Shaun the workings and care for his BB rifle and .22 handgun. As well as other simple self-defense training. The Synth boy had to it fairly well though still seemed intent on the idea of a peaceful life without fighting. But thankfully also recognized not everyone believed the same. Nora also spent much of her free time with Glory who after her own trial had been judged to be Nora's personal 'body guard' for a term up to 6 months per her term of military service. The two as a result were a common sight around Sanctuary often trailed by Mighty in many cases.

Now with the evening hours coming after all this time Nora and Glory were nestled just north of Sanctuary among an isolated hill top overlooking Vault 111. Glory was propped up against a large oak tree wearing her usual combat flight jacket and heavy leather armor with padding underlays. Though had foregone her usual combat webbing to simply keep Honor her laser rifle nearby in a folded up sling. Nora for herself was wearing her Minutemen General's uniform with heavy leather armor for more freedom to relax and padding underneath. Deliverer was still in a sling pocket under her jacket. With an old H&K MP9 10mm SMG near at hand, a combat knife in both of there boots finished off their armaments.

But combat wasn't there main focus right now, Nora nestled with her back into Glory's chest with the Synth woman's arms wrapped around her waist were simply enjoying the last rays of the sun's setting. Having come here two hours previous the two had shared a small dinner picnic after a recent snow fall. With a large campfire nearby, and their warm clothes and blankets, and a thermal blanket to sit on the two were still fairly comfortable despite the colder temperatures elsewhere. "..Last day of 2287. Any thoughts what will happen come 2288?" Nora asked adjusting the blanket around her shoulders then returning her hands to grasp both of Glory's own under it.

"..It is hard to say in some ways. The fact that the issues with the Railroad had so far been easily handled, as were those with the Brotherhood remnants, and in dealing with the Institute agents and Synth spies, makes the coming year one hopefully of relative calm. Certainly there will not be peace all around, but I truly think this coming year will see a large boom in settlement growth. Provided no major problems occur with the Gen 3 Synths here or around the region, the skies could be the limit it what will come up.." Glory replied returning Nora's held embrace under the blankets.

"..It feels so odd to me. To look out over the Commonwealth seeing the twinkles of settlement lights. With the expansion of electrical power coming to more and more settlements it almost looks for a moment like…..like pre-war times." Nora reflected. Looking at how even now down in Sanctuary house lights came on, street lights flickered to life, and here and there even a few children were at last minute play in the small park in the old rotunda of Sanctuary Hills. Tears began to brim in her eyes as she saw all this distantly.

Sensing her sadness Glory gave a reassuring hug from behind. "..Nora, you are right that the expansion is a return to some ways pre-war times. But it is also something else. It is a promise of a future, of rebirth. The Commonwealth is far from perfect, but it is learning and growing, under the guidance of the Council you are forming from the major hub settlements and later more you are showing all of us how to learn from the mistakes of the past..." She said pointing down where Nora's gaze still lingered on the jostling figures of 5 children. "...those children for the first time can grow up in a world in relative safety. In a world where there is reliable food, clean water, warm blankets, and even electricity to make their lives easier. This all wouldn't be possible without you, those children would have instead grown up in a world of poverty, fear, hunger, and barely scrapping by. Instead, they can thrive, they can become more then what they would have been otherwise. To me that is a future worth seeing and fighting for.." She said.

Nora wiped the tears from her eyes, then leaned back tilting her head to lightly kiss Glory on the cheek. In the past months she had found since their time in the Minuteman Missile Silo to the South, she was more comfortable in gestures like this. It never was the fact of their shared gender, it was the perception what others might think knowing the truth of Glory. But in more recent weeks leading up to the final exchanges with Shaun in the Institute she found when Glory had been captured she no longer cared. Human, Synth, Robot, male, or female, or gender neutral. None of it seemed to matter to her. As she gazed into those deep rich brown eyes, she found the last visages of guilt she still held onto from her pre-war life and service melt away. They always would be a part of her true, but they no longer felt like shackles.

After getting a receiving kiss from Glory on the lips for a long moment, Nora settled back into silence to gaze out over the darkening region. "..You are right. It is a rebirth, and….and it is so worth fighting for." Then twisting around to get up on her knees and let some of the blanket fall off her shoulders to her waist, Nora embraced Glory more fully gazing once more into the Synths deep rich brown eyes, and gently running her right hand through her bright white hair and down her neck. With emphasis she said, "..but more to the point YOU and Shaun are especially worth fighting for.." A final welling of passion, warmth, and yes even love finally made Nora claim Glory's lips with her own with an almost slow yet wild tone to it.

Pressing herself tighter to Glory's chest, not breaking the embrace, Nora felt her heart and chest begin to jackhammer with the exchange of passion, and to her delight she felt Glory's own heart and chest beat in kind. Feeling warmth lighten both their cheeks and skin Nora gave a soft gasp of delight as she broke the heated kiss and arched her head back to the dark sky feeling Glory's lips kiss and nibble down along her neck. Suddenly, the uniform and armors both had on just felt far too constricting. Feeling the warmth spreading further then her face and chest to other lower parts of her, Nora panting some looked again to Glory's own eyes. A moments pause passed between both as if questioning further things, before Nora took the lead in shrugging out of her Minutemen Uniform and armor at least above her waist. In reply, Glory shrugged off her bomber jacket and peeled out of her own leather armor and shirt.

With the chill winter's air warmed a bit by the nearby fires, both took a long moment to savor the sight which came to both. For Glory the kiss Nora had given had been a delight, and some surprise then in how passionate it had gotten. Not even the one exchanged in the Minuteman Silo in the Glowing Sea had been with such fervor. Getting wrapped up in the moment Glory had thought she had crossed a line too far when Nora had looked skyward with what seemed pleasure and then a heated gaze again. But then recognizing it for what it was, and then seeing the pre-war woman's exposed upper body. So strong in both strength, containing the outlines of many battles, and yet still being so feminine was a sight to see. Feeling a questioning challenge once she had finished from Nora, Glory had soon followed suit.

Nora once having given that questioning look to Glroy watched as she got out of her jacket and armor. The now Gen 4 synth woman was a sight to behold. Having always been wearing her body length bomber jacket and heavier armor much of Glory's skin tone was paler then most. It was a body that told a tale of enslavement, of cruelty, of sorrows, of struggles, and battles. While it may not have been the most feminine by any measure it was a body that lit something inside Nora, a body and personality that drew one in with promises of more. A body and personality that she knew would never leave her, that would protect her and Shaun at any cost and welcome the same in return from her.

Finally both gazes and thoughts from the two was broken by the chill still seeping through by the winter around them. Pulling up the large blankets Nora pushed Glory back till she was lain across the Synth woman. Running her hand gentler now up from her stomach while straddling her waist. The rise in passion and heat now running through her cooled somewhat in their moment of clothing discard saw a slower savoring exchanges of kisses and roaming hands from both.

Finally after nearly an hour of this both still nude from the waist up Nora gingerly laid next to Glory in a tight embrace under the blankets. The fire fed by more wood just now by Glory was burning bright and warm still as flakes of snow began to fall about the rest of the area. But that beauty was lost in the flickering light of beauty that Nora now gazed upon. "...Your hair is like a flash beacon in this fire light you know.." She said warmly running her right hand through Glory's hair again.

Smiling a bit in reply Glory ran her left arm up Nora's spine making the human woman shiver a bit. "..So I'm blinding you then eh?" she replied.

Chuckling softly Nora kissed Glory's cheek. "..Indeed you are.." she said.

Shifting Glory rose and straddled across Nora's waist kissing her slowly and gently along the neck and shoulder. "..Do you know how many others you've gotten to know would probably be so jelaous to know I am here with you like this right now?" Glory said in between exchanges of affection.

Arcing her back and shoulders or neck Nora groaned softly, "..Mmm….well I know Piper is likely one, probably Preston too, given some looks I've seen by him.." She said in a breathless tone gazing up into Glory's face before pulling her in for another deep tongue exchanged kiss.

Breaking it again much to Nora's disappointment Glory smirked and continued. "..There were least two settlers in Sanctuary, Tinker Tom, Preston yes as you suspected, and I'm sure some others too around the Commonwealth who wouldn't mind a one night stand.." Glory answered.

Feeling the desire build in her again, Nora shifted her waist and hips and pulled Glory down to her again and rolled on top. "..I'm not really a one night stand kind of woman though..." She said then with a teasing tone she followed with, "..is that all this is hmm? A one night stand? Two ships passing in the night? You seducing the fair 'General' as a notch on your jacket belt?" she teased.

Glory took a moment to adjust to the change in position then let both her hands cup Nora's sides near her breasts, letting her thumbs roam around and her strong hands massage the soft warm flesh, she embraced Nora once more as the woman gasped and moaned her approval in delight. "..Now that I've seen the delights beneath you, Nora. I want to keep seeing them every night. I want to hold you this night, and each night after. I want….I want to love you..." After a pause Glory amended her words. "..I DO love you. You've shown me what that is. You've shown me what that there can be passion with love, lust with love and everything in between.." She said.

Squrming under the feelings of Glory's soft yet rough textured thumbs work their magic on her body and her strong arms and hands support and knead her flesh Nora just groaned and moaned her approval again. Freeing herself though so both now laid again together, she tried to steady her heart rate for long moments. "..I'm glad then Glory. But you were my beacon in all this since we first met. I don't….I don't think without your moral guidance unseen or unintended as it was. I would have kept the path I was. I think…..well it doesn't matter anymore what might have happened when I had met Shaun the first time otherwise." She said closing her eyes to rest her cool left cheek on Glory's chest.

Glory smiled and kissed Nora's forehead, not replying. Her right hand rest on the woman's back but her left, and drifted down to her left pant's pocket. Where she became aware of the small item Piper had given her the day before. "...For when the time is right..", she had said. Pulling it out by two fingers. Glory felt the ring in her grasp. Her now formidable simulation matrices ran through the countless outcomes that might happen if she revealed it. Within a matter of several seconds though she threw those all aside, and despite every percentage variance telling her 'now' was not the 'right time'. She pulled her hand out with the ring in question. It was a spiraled silver and gold ring engraved with military icons of service which she knew matched Nora's own. While the original owner's name had long been worn off, the rest was still bright and evident.

Shifting Glory sat up bringing Nora with her. Sensing that there was something up, Nora looked to Glory's eyes for an answer. "..What's up?" she asked.

Glory took Nora's hand in her own, and opened her own hand. "..Nora, I know that while every simulation I could in the past 2 seconds tells me this could go wrong in so many ways. This….this moment with you in the last minutes before 2287 ends, is one I never would wish to end. But it is this same idea like you said before of a future and new opportunities that makes me wish that with 2288 we see what lies ahead together." She said holding out the ring, for Nora to see who let a gasp of some surprise escape her lips. "..To that end would..." she began but did not get a chance to finish as Nora interrupted.

"..Yes! Glory I...yes I will, whatever it was that you intend with that last sentence if it means we're spending our lives together from here out, yes..." Nora said smiling brightly.

Nodding mutely at a loss for words Glory slowly slid the ring over Nora's, the ring actually fit much to her relief. The rest though got lost as Glory found herself pinned back against the cool Earth as warm lips embraced hers. As a few shouts of celebration echoed up from down in Sanctuary Hills as the New Year of midnight occurred, Nora said. "...Happy New Year Glory. I love you, now and forever.." she said.

AN3: Annnnd scene! Hope you all enjoyed and I hope this nicely wraps up Finding Peace & Glory for now. Again I may do Far Harbor in the future but no promises quiet yet! R&R please!