So, wish on the moon
And someday, it may be tomorrow
You will suddenly hear chimes
And you'll have your happy, happy time

MACCREADY

I wiped the sweat from my forehead with one quick motion before looking up at the sky in disdain. The sun had been beating down on us all day, and my skin was burning beneath its relentless rays. Needing to take a rest, I got up off my knees and began to survey the land around me, a feeling of pride resonating throughout my body. I had just harvested the last of our Tato plants, the Mutfruit bushes next on my list. Our Brahmin had already been milked and Shaun was in the middle of collecting water from the purifier. He was helpful enough, always doing his part on the farm. These last few months had been pretty tough for the little guy, but he was managing to pull through. You see, it hadn't taken too long for him to figure out what he truly was.

Veronica had wanted to tell him eventually, but with everything that had happened, she didn't know how to say it without upsetting him. It was bad enough that we had to explain to him that Father – the real Shaun – wasn't around anymore, we didn't want to lump another life-changing bombshell on him. However, everyone was talking about synths, even more so than before. The Commonwealth was now trying to figure out if they wanted to welcome them or shun them, starting a whole new divide for the public to fight over. Then, Shaun had asked to go to Nat's birthday. We had been wary at first, but didn't want to shelter him from a normal childhood. He'd had a great time, ate sweet rolls and played with the other kids.

On the way back to our island, he'd asked when his birthday was. Veronica had told him without thinking, no hesitation. Shaun had frowned, confused as to why his birthday was the same as Father's. And then he asked what happened on his last birthday? Why could he not remember his last birthday? Why did he not know when his birthday was? Why couldn't he remember anything from before?

A few days later, I'd caught him on the beach, staring at his hand. He'd fallen and gashed it on a rock, exposing the wiring underneath. He'd looked at me, no emotion in his eyes, and asked me that dreaded question.

"I'm a synth, aren't I?"

Still, after figuring it out, he had taken everything in his stride, showing off such maturity for a ten-year-old. Veronica explained to me that his systems would always advance, even if his body didn't, so he would become incredibly intelligent as time wore on. It was pretty normal that he would learn to accept his situation. If anything, he was simply grateful that we had adopted him. I cared for him like he was my own son, and I told him every day how much I loved him.

I glanced back at the make-shift house, which had become a little bigger than when I had first built it, to where the love of my life was stood in the doorway. Her auburn hair stuck to her forehead from the heat. She was wearing a flannel shirt and a pair of biker pants that she'd cut into shorts, her once pale skin now darkened from spending so much time in the sun. Veronica had been troubled all morning, and no wonder; it had been a year to the day since the Institute was destroyed. I waved at her and lifted the bucket of Tato's beside me, making my way over to where she stood. I could hear our song drifting from inside as I got closer, so I started to hum.

#####

VERONICA

I couldn't believe it had been a whole year since I had blown up the Institute. A whole year since I had spoken to the real Shaun. Over a year since I had awoken in the future. The Commonwealth was a scary place, but I now knew it as my home. The island that MacCready had secured for us was perfect, protecting my new son from synth-haters and other dangers. We'd made a deal with Preston wherein the Minuteman gave us caps for food that we grew on our farm. Every month, we would set sail to the Castle to do trading and go hunting for meat. It was good, honest work and it made me feel content to know that we would always have them on side.

The Minutemen were a force to be reckoned with these days. Strongholds were scattered across the whole of Boston, so now Preston could live his dream of protecting the public at a minute's notice. I was so happy for him. Piper had caught up with the young soldier she'd bumped into during our infiltration. Her name was Ivy and she was the perfect match for my reporter friend. It wasn't long before she had moved into Piper's home in Diamond City and they visited us often so that I would always have the latest copy of Publik Occurrences. I loved them both dearly and was overjoyed that Piper had found someone to spend her life with.

Nick was still taking cases at his detective agency, with his trusted secretary, Ellie, always at his side. Last I heard, they were investigating a missing persons case that had filtered down from up north, a young girl gone missing from her parents. Sometimes I took a trip to the Great Green Jewel of the Commonwealth so that I could be kept up to speed on their adventures.

I had finally caught up with the Railroad again, who weren't overly pleased to see me. Desdemona was annoyed that I hadn't included them in my plans, but happy that I'd saved as many synths as possible. If anything, it gave them more work to do, now that there were so many synths out there that needed homes and new lives. Deacon was angry that I'd let them believe I was dead, but also happy that I wasn't. The whole reunion had been uncomfortable and I couldn't wait to put that part of my life behind me, though I was thankful for their input – I couldn't forget how integral they had been in me finding Shaun, Tinker Tom especially.

During my visit I had remembered my promise to Virgil, which meant venturing to the Glowing Sea again. This time, MacCready came with me, as we had the foresight to buy radiation suits from a travelling caravan on our way over. Virgil was so happy that we'd brought him the serum and injected it straight away. Unfortunately, he'd asked if I'd managed to get into the Institute, so I'd had to tell him that it no longer existed. Even after what they had done to him, he was furious with my actions and kicked me out of the cave. He didn't want to see me ever again, which was totally understandable. That place had been his whole life, and now he didn't have anywhere to go. At least he would get to be human again.

The Brotherhood of Steel weren't moving on as much as we would've liked them to. Apparently, they were not happy about so many synths evading the blast and were trying to hunt them all down to exterminate, which meant they often fought with the Railroad. They were also not too thrilled that the Minutemen had been the ones to take the Institute down – it was embarrassing and unprofessional. Luckily, they didn't want to make an enemy of another faction, and so had made a deal with Preston that if neither group got in each other's way, they wouldn't have a problem. It seemed to be working so far. During their strained visit to the Castle, I had asked the Paladin in charge of that group if they'd had any word from Danse. The news I was given was not what I had expected.

It seemed that the Brotherhood had uncovered damning evidence that Danse himself was a synth. I couldn't image how badly he would have taken that. He'd gone on the run and was still out there somewhere, but Elder Maxson had sent out troops to locate him. They were going to kill him. I wanted to find him myself and set everything straight, but I didn't want to start anything with such a large force. So, I silently prayed every night that Danse would find safety and be able to come to terms with his new life. God only knew how much this news will have shaken him.

Things were… different now. Between the public fighting over whether synths deserved to integrate with humanity and the Brotherhood clashing with the Railroad, things were still pretty heated in the Commonwealth. The world was far from saved, but at least there was one less thing to worry about. Our island was our fortress and no one was coming in. We were going to survive this hell after all.

I leaned in the doorway of my new home, watching the boys as they worked the fields. I would usually be out there with them, or out hunting on the mainland, but recently I had not been in the right state to do any of that. MacCready turned to look at me and gave a wave, so I waved back as he walked towards me and receded into the living area. The fire was lit, sending a warmth throughout the space. I had the radio on; it was playing our song. I twirled the metal band on my finger, fondly remembering the day that we had decided to become husband and wife. And this song had been playing, and we had danced. Happy, happy times…

"Well, hello beautiful." MacCready hugged me from behind now, humming that tune softly in my ear. He reached down to my stomach and began rubbing it in circles. I glanced down at the small bump that was growing there, unable to control the smile that crept on my face. Our little family was growing. I guided him towards our room so that I could gaze upon the crib that was proudly standing by the bed. This had been Shaun's crib – MacCready had scavenged it from the wreck that had once been my pre-war house and brought it back for me. Now it could be put to use again, no longer a painful reminder of my tragic past, but a hopeful representation of the wonderful life that was to come.

Things were peaceful for the first time since I had thawed. I began to sway to the song with my lover, letting myself fall into the moment, no longer afraid of what my future might be.

This was my future.

THE END