Prologue

The small bundle in James' arms had been still and silent since they left the project. He still found it hard to believe that he was a father now. His eyes drifted closed, a single father. Catherine's death… it still didn't feel real, only a horrible dream.

A nightmare he still hadn't woken from. He should of, considering the world that they all were doomed to dwell in. It should have been an easier pill to swallow. Part of James wished he could trade places with her, she deserved better. Though he wondered if death wasn't a blessing at this point. She wouldn't suffer anymore; the struggle was over for her.

He glanced around at the scrap metal walls of his room in the Megaton Saloon. It was only a stop before his final destination. Catherine didn't have to worry about safety anymore, but he still did. If he learned one thing from the project, it was the danger in being so close to the ruins.

And he would be damned before he let some lumbering, halfwit mutant take his son. Even with the Brotherhood progress on the project was slow. They were hesitant to help beyond protection, despite their advanced technology. According to Catherine that was nothing new for them. He couldn't risk his son's life for that damned hunk of scrap.

There was a place though, somewhere he could ensure his son's safety.

"I still can't believe you named him after the Devil," Cross' voice interrupted his thoughts.

"I can't believe you're still dwelling on it," James fired back.

"Most would honor their loved one's choice."

"Well, I'm not most. And I wasn't a very good husband."

The stoic woman turned to him, "That's not true."

"I don't think you're the one to render judgement on my performance. The woman who could do that is-" he hesitated.

'James, what-', Catherine couldn't finish as she struggled to catch her breath and clutched at her chest. The fear in her eyes, pleading with him. He moved without conscious thought, his voice barking orders that he didn't hear. Sound had fallen away, except for Catherine, her gasps and begging his name.

Her voice grew weaker.

"Hold on, Catherine! Hold on!"

Lucifer was awake when the memory faded. The small boy blinked as his deep blue eyes looked around. Despite knowing that his eyes could end up changing James expected they wouldn't. He had Catherine's eyes.

'Please, James.'

James grit his teeth, he couldn't let it take him now. His son's life, his safety came first. He needed to get to that vault. Though it was long before his own time in the Capital, it was well known that two vault dwellers lived off and on in Megaton. Ever since the meeting between their expeditionary team and the citizens.

He hoped to meet them and convince them to get him in. James couldn't think of a safer place in the Capital Wasteland. Not even Rivet City could offer the security of a vault. It would be even safer if they didn't open the door, but searching for something better with an infant in the wasteland was practically a death sentence.

He'd make this work, no matter what it took.

"Catherine was a good woman, I'm sure she would agree with me," Cross assured continuing where he left off and breaking him from his thoughts.

James choked down the lump that wanted to form in his throat. 'Son first, self-pity later.'

"Are they willing to talk?"

"The woman agreed when I mentioned Lucifer. But the man seems far less interested in listening. He may cause trouble," Cross reported.

"I can handle trouble," James assured.

"She said to meet her down at the Brass Lantern tomorrow morning."

"Good, thank you."

Glancing up at her again he noted the uncertain look on her face. She'd had it ever since he made his decision to leave the project. And it only grew in strength when he chose to go for the vault. 'And, here we go…'

"I believe you are making a mistake," she stated.

"That's been a running theme in my life," he stated dryly. "So, what's this one?"

"I think you can do more good out here than in there."

"No amount of good I could do out here is worth the risk staying would pose to Catherin- our son." James quickly corrected.

Cross' eyes lit up at that, he'd gone the direction that she wanted him to go. He knew what she wanted, she was kind but not very clever. Part of him wondered if she was before the cybernetics. He doubted it.

"Then come to the Citadel, join the Brotherhood. Elder Lyons would certainly make an exception for you. And your son could one day join the ranks-"

"I would sooner traipse across the country than take him to your people. Catherine told me what you were like once. And I won't have you brainwashing my son into being one of your tech fetching tin men," James hissed attempting to not startle the babe in question.

Cross visibly flinched from his attack. The last thing James needed was Catherine's ghost haunting him because he let her son become a puppet to the Brotherhood. Keeping technology from people was the last thing she'd want for him to die for. She wanted to help others, more than anything, it was what she'd devoted her life to.

What she'd died for.

It was silent as Cross failed to make eye contact with James. He knew that he was being harsh, Cross had made it her mission to get Lucifer and himself to safety. She didn't deserve it, but he also knew she wouldn't drop it otherwise.

"Elder Lyons is changing our ways. But I will refrain from this if that is how you feel."

"Please do, I've made my decision."

The next day he was early to the Brass Lantern, it wasn't much more than a lean-to with tables. The beginnings of a structure were there but it would be some time before it was done. The family in charge didn't mind though. But with the children they had running around James could guess why. Just having walls to protect them was more than most got in the wastes.

He cradled Lucifer as he watched the children of the Stahl family stare up at Cross in wonder. For two little boys the power armor she wore was probably the most impressive thing they'd ever seen. Cross was good with them, answering all of their questions and even demonstrating what her armor could do.

They were in awe and James had to wonder what they'd think if they knew she was half machine. A baby's cries jarred him from his thoughts, but his son wasn't the source. He looked around and noted a young woman with dark auburn hair holding the offender.

The baby she held was a year old at least, a girl if his eyes didn't mistake him. Her mother bounced her as she tried to shush the cries. Lucifer thankfully remained asleep, he'd been nothing but quiet unless absolutely necessary. A trait from him instead of Catherine. The woman glanced around for aid but finding none if her sigh was any indication.

James felt his lips quirk, he heard she had a husband so where was he? Lucifer didn't seem to be waking and Cross was no longer entertaining admirers. Standing, he moved to her and handed his son over. She raised a brow but a ghost of a smile appeared when she connected the dots.

Heading over to the struggling mother he had to push down the urge to supplant her visage with Catherine's. 'She's gone you fool.'

"Excuse me, Miss, do you need some help?" he offered in a soft voice to not make the baby worse. The little girl had sandy brown hair unlike her mother and brothers.

She turned to him, flustered, "Thank you but-" she paused as she realized she was only speaking to his chest. He had to have been almost a foot taller than the petite woman. She flushed when she looked up at him, "Sorry, you're taller than I expected."

He offered her a small smile, "It's fine, I get that a lot. But you looked like you could use a hand."

"I appreciate the offer but," she trailed off as she tried again to calm her daughter. She noticed Cross holding Lucifer then and her face softened. "I just need to feed her. If you wouldn't mind."

"That's why I offered," he stated heading to where she had gestured.

"Will you shut that kid up!" someone's voice shouted from above as James returned. He felt his jaw clench as he glanced up.

"Don't worry about it, please. He's not worth the trouble," the woman assured. A dirty man was nursing his head as he leaned against one of the scrap houses. A hungover drunk.

"If you say so," James muttered still glaring at the man.

"He's just a drifter, spends all his time in the saloon," she explained absentmindedly as she fed her daughter.

James looked back to her, the little girl was settling. "No need for all that fuss, huh?" he asked her with a smile.

"Thank you, really," her mother offered with a grateful one of her own.

"It was nothing, Miss…"

"Mrs. Stahl, Emily Stahl. You just call me Emily though," she corrected.

"Well then you can call me James. And this one?" he asked about the baby who was staring at him.

"Jennifer. She's a handful, just like her brothers."

"She sure sounds like it."

"And yours?" Emily asked pointing over to Cross.

"His name is Lucifer." She showed no reaction to the name. It would always depress him to see the lack of education. Though he couldn't blame them, learning to scavenge or shoot a gun were much more useful skills in the wastes.

"Is that his-"

"No, that isn't his mother," James felt his mood shift again.

"Oh, is she," Emily trailed off leaving it unsaid.

Again his jaw clenched, this time it wasn't in anger though. "His birth was difficult, and-"

He felt a hand on his shoulder, "You don't have to say it."

"But one day I will. One day I'll have to tell him." James dreaded that day. He wasn't ready to think about that though. He wasn't even ready to grieve yet. Ever since the birth he'd been moving, always something to do. He couldn't break down, not yet.

He needed to change the subject before this poor woman had to put him back together.

The missing presence mercifully dawned on him again. He cleared his throat, "I don't see Mr. Stahl. They say he's the cook, heard nothing but good things."

Emily's expression shifted, "Oh, uh, he's stepped out for a bit after the worker rush. H-He'll be back soon!"

She offered a wavering smile, eyes locking with his. Green eyes that pleaded with him to drop it. Whatever her husband had 'stepped out' for wasn't savory.

He took that as his cue, "I should get out of your hair now. You have things to do I'm sure." James turned to walk away, a man and woman were watching him from the table he'd occupied. They'd finally shown up.

"Wait," he felt her grab his sleeve. She seemed to hesitate when he turned back, "I- Thank you, James."

"Take care, Emily," he wished.

It seemed as if she had more to say, but James had to meet with the dwellers. Lucifer came first, he had to. He couldn't sacrifice his son's chance for what this woman left unsaid. Heading back to Cross for his son he eyed the pair at the table. Both were older than him, forties at least. They fit the timeframe he'd been told about.

"Best we get on with this."

"What if they say no?" Cross asked.

"I won't take no for an answer," James asserted without hesitation.

They appraised him the same as he did them. The man was nothing impressive, average size, plain looking. In the right hands he'd make for a useful agent. With a bit of work, he'd blend into any background chosen. Though this vault dweller didn't seem to be that type.

The woman though, she didn't appraise James. She was looking at Lucifer, the small bundle in his arms. A woman's maternal instincts were hard to kick. He'd use that against them, it was wrong to manipulate her like that but he could live with it. As long as Lucifer was safe.

"I'm glad you were willing to see us. I'm sure you two are busy," James began, his smile was a well-constructed fraud now.

"The woman, she claimed not to be the mother of your kid. So who the hell is she?" The man demanded, eyes narrowed and locked on Cross.

"She's a guard, protecting us until we find somewhere to settle. Hopefully that won't be much longer if you're willing to give us a chance."

"We don't need another drain. If it were up to me-"

"But it isn't, so why don't you shut your trap, Lewis," the woman suddenly barked. It became quite clear then who it would be up to. She now looked James over with a critical eye. "What skills do you have? You can't have expected to get into a vault without something to offer."

Maybe he wouldn't need to exploit her maternal side, "I have proper medical training and have devoted my entire life to science. Have you heard about the project at the Jefferson Memorial?"

"Bits and pieces. That's too far for us to travel and stay in contact with the vault. From what manages to reach Megaton it sounds like you've had a rough go of it. And if you're here it must be worse than we've heard."

James sighed, "We had begun to make real progress but then…" he glanced down to Lucifer, "Things have changed for me. I have a higher priority."

"If you quit before it was even finished then why would we want you?" Lewis spoke up again.

"My leaving had nothing to do with the project's success or failure. I schlepped across this godforsaken waste for my son. Adversity means nothing to me," James fired back.

"Lewis, if you open your mouth again without me speaking to you, I'll have the Overseer find me someone else to accompany me. Understand?" She was fierce, he'd give her that. Lewis meanwhile maintained a venomous glare but remained silent.

"I understand the desire to remain isolated. Believe me, I know it better than you'd think. But you'll need people, whether it's for supplies, skills, or just their genes. Afterall, two hundred years isolated and you're likely to soon be breeding with relatives. I can bring my skills, but it's my son who I want safe."

The woman was quiet, her gaze alternating between James and Lucifer. "We are in need of a doctor. Our last passed two years ago, and we've had a Mr. Handy filling in since."

James felt his eye brow raise, "You do know that their medical capabilities stop after scraped knees on children?"

Her eyes narrowed, "Believe me, I'm well aware." She then shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

"Well, it sounds like you need me as much as I need you."

"Our archives are rather extensive, we only need to have a new doctor trained."

"And who will provide an experienced hand to guide them? Education alone doesn't make a doctor," James argued.

"We don't even know if you truly have these skills," she fired back.

"You have a point, you don't know me. Can't confirm my skills, the words I say. But do you believe I'd have a member of the Brotherhood of Steel if I were incompetent?"

"We don't know much about them. So, sadly, their confidence in you isn't shared by us."

"I thought as much," James began, "This town has been lacking medical expertise for some time. I'm sure you can't just return to the vault without good reason. Except for whatever date you've chosen for return."

"You're suggesting to take on that role until we return. Prove that you're competent."

"One way or another, whether you took me at my word or not, I'd have to wait. I can prove myself now, and help these people. For the time being it's a win-win," James shrugged.

"I can't guarantee you entrance. Even if you prove yourself to be the best doctor the world has ever seen. The Overseer will make that decision, and he's not a soft man," the woman admitted with a hard look of her own. Likely to lower expectations.

But as he'd said, he wasn't taking no for an answer.

"I'm sure he'll make the right decision…" James held out his hand then, "Do we have a deal?"