Julie stared down, pensively watching the sleeping bundle in her arms. The baby squirmed in his sleep and shifted, not opening his eyes. The doctor simply watched him, a twinge of anxiety poking in her stomach. She sighed heavily and set the little bundle down on a nearby cot, making sure the grimy blankets were wrapped up tight around him.

"You call for me?"

Julie looked over her shoulder, still fiddling with the blankets. She had called Six over two days ago.

"Where have you been? I was worried."

"Ah, sorry. I was…. Wait, you have kids?"

Six let his backpack drop to the dirt floor and walked up behind the small woman, peering over her shoulder. A little red haired boy laid there, bundled up. Julie turned to him and shook her head slowly, averting her eyes from Six to the baby.

"He's not mine. Or anybody's, from what I can tell."

"Ooooh boy, I can smell the favor coming."

Six cocked an eyebrow, watching Julie's thin face. The Followers were like in-laws to the young courier. Every little request they gave he obliged, Arcade breathing down his neck the whole way. He understood The Followers were trying to clean up Freeside, but they were just so fucking needy.

"So, what do you need? Caps or something? We have some spare medical supplies up at the suite, too."

Julie's eyebrows rose slightly as she smiled, her lips pressed tightly together like a shut door. She reached down and scooped up the dirty bundle, bringing it to Six. The teenager stared down, head tilted as the baby made a few gurgling sounds in his sleep. He could feel that favor coming. The favor that was most likely going to fuck him over somehow.

"S-so, what do you need?"

"…. I need you to take this baby off my hands."

"….. Ha… ha…. No fuckin' way."

Six didn't think it was possible for Julie's face to soften anymore, but she managed it. Just then the baby stirred and opened his eyes, looking around curiously. The thin Follower shifted the bundle in her arms and laughed gently.

"He's so full of life."

Six felt his eye twitch. Oh yes, he will be fucked.

"That's…. nice."

He suddenly felt so awkward. Julie looked up at him and offered the bundle, still smiling. Six shook his head and sighed, putting his hands up as some type of weak defense.

"Look, Julie, I'm so fucking sorry. I just can't…. I'm not…."

Julie, gently bit still, forced the baby into Six's arms. The courier groaned and accepted the little bundle, looking down nervously as the baby reached up and grabbed at his NCR dog tags.

"Someone left him outside the gate a few days ago, in a crate." Julie murmured quietly "We can't find the mother. Whoever left him isn't coming back. I'm sure of it."

Six nodded and shifted clumsily as the baby continued to stir, now fully awake. He stared up at his holder with clear green eyes, making incoherent sounds as he reached up again for the tags. Six couldn't help but smile, entranced by those eyes as he unhooked the chain around his neck and let the baby have the tags.

"He's really fucking cute…." Six shook his head, looking back up. This was a baby, not a puppy. "Julie, I can't take him. I can barely take care of myself! How can you expect me to…?"

Julie's eyes brightened slightly, seeing the perfect opportunity to haggle.

"Arcade has plenty of experience in child care! He always takes care of the children who run around Freeside…. Please, Six. You see them, don't you? Those children that run around chasing rats and wearing rags? I don't have the resources or the time to care for this baby. If I did, I would never ask this of you. Please?"

Six felt guilt build up in his stomach, just as Julie had intended. The woman had more than a point. He found himself struggling for words, shifting the baby in his arms as he fumbled for an excuse.

"I… Ah…."

XXxxXX

"You two ever think about having kids?"

If the cup he had been drinking out of wasn't made of metal, Boone probably could have crushed it. He remained silent, the question floating around in his brain. He turned to Cass, who was laughing drunkenly. His cup was full of water. Hers whiskey.

"What?" Veronica asked, pulling up a chair and sitting down. She leaned her elbows on the table, watching Boone squirm with interest. "You guys never thought about it?"

Boone's jaw locked. He let a long breath rush from his nose and took a sip of water as Cass calmed down, tears in her eyes.

"I tried that before, remember?"

Veronica shook her head, smiling warmly. She turned to Cass and tilted her head curiously, watching the fiery haired woman take another gulp from her glass.

"Awww, come on Sharon. No kiddies?"

"Pffft, fuck no. I ain't poppin' out any brats. Besides, Skipper hates kids."

"Boone loves kids."

Boone had to stop himself from scoffing on impulse. Veronica laughed as she stood, heading for the kitchen door. She grabbed the snipers beret off his head as she went by, twirling it on her finger.

"Oooh we'll see Skipper, we'll see."

Sometimes Boone worried that Veronica could read his mind. Sometimes he wondered if she could somehow manage to see into the future. Most of the time he figured she was just fucking around with him. Cass finished her whiskey and turned to her lover, eyebrow raised.

"You love kids, eh?"

"…..Um…."

"Nice answer."

Both turned as the door was practically kicked in, the thin metal bouncing off the wall behind it. Just before the doorway stood Six, leg still outstretched with a bundle in his arms.

"Ey ass-hats, I got a present for you."

Instinctively Boone figured it was explosive and slid his char a few inches away, letting Six drop the bundle into Cass's arms. She moved away the blankets, her watery green eyes widening. Was it really a bomb?

"Okay, I'm pretty sure it needs water and food, like, once a day. Have fun."

The small courier turned on his heels and strode back out, hands buried in his pockets. Boone blinked a few times and slid his chair back into place. He stood and peered apprehensively over Cass's arm, his own stony eyes going wide.

"Is…. Is that a baby?"

"I think so."

Cass poked carefully at the baby's cheek, causing him to gurgle and smile as he grabbed her finger.

"Oh yeah, definitely a baby."

"….. Aw fu-"

"Good morning you two."

Cass and Boone looked up, both still wide eyed and slightly confused. Arcade stumbled into the room, hair in tangles and missing his glasses. The doctor was still recovering from the flu. He stood wearily at the end of the table, a pair of baggy sweatpants and a shirt hanging from his thin frame. He ran his fingers through his mangled hair and raised an eyebrow, looking over the bundle still squirming in Cass's arms. He seemed to come to some kind of conclusion, because his eyes were now wide.

"H-how long was I asleep?"