October 12, 2282

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I was high off my ass in the State House after takin' two hits of Jet and some Calmex. Fahrenheit was already passed out on the couch across from me. Today was a lazy day for sure. I was enjoyin' my quiet time when there was a knock on the door of my office.

In walked one of my neighborhood watchmen and Nick Valentine behind him.

"Someone to see you, boss," said the watchmen.

"Thank you, my man." I stood up from the couch carefully because I was so damn dizzy. "Nickie! How are ya?"

"I'm just fine. Better than fine. Got myself a new partner recently. Old friend of mine by the name of Marty Finch. Makes work a little easier when you can split the workload."

"What brings you to Goodneighbor? Workin' a case?"

"I had heard that there was a new mayor in town, actually."

"You're a few months late, there, pal. I've been in charge for a while now. But don't tell me you came all the way here just to talk about me, heh heh."

"Seems like this newfound power has really gone to your head," he said with his arms crossed. "A far cry from the John McDonough I remember."

"Hey, that's 'cause I ain't John McDonough. It's John Hancock now." I glanced at Fahrenheit who snored loudly from the couch. "Let's go for a walk, Nick."

"I would, but I brought someone with me."

"Oh yeah? Someone else who wants to pay their respects?" I joked.

"Actually, you'd be lucky if she doesn't punch you in the face."

My stomach turned. I knew exactly who he meant now. Nick walked across the State House, past the spiral stairs, and into the next room with the door that led to the balcony. There sat Piper in a chair, arms crossed, a press cap on her head, wearing a red coat and black boots. She looked uncomfortable or out of place.

Nick sat down beside her. "We came here to visit, see if the rumors were true. I was gonna congratulate you on your new position, but Goodneighbor's still in sort of a sorry state. I figured someone like you woulda done more good for the community."

"'A sorry state?' You didn't live through the abuse that we lived through under the rule of Victor Van Buren. You never knew who was gonna wind up dead next."

"That was your choice," said Piper. "Why didn't you just come back home?"

"I — I couldn't. Let's leave it at that."

"Yes, you could have! And now... look at you! You wouldn't be allowed within ten feet of the Wall!"

"I'm gonna give you two some time to talk." Nick stood up from his chair and walked toward the stairs. "Piper, catch up with me outside when you're ready."

I took Nick's seat. "Why did you come here? To lecture me? After all this time?"

"No. I came here for the same reason I go anywhere: the truth. I want the truth, John. Why didn't you come back?"

"Is the answer gonna go in your newspaper?"

She reached over and punched me in the arm. "Why in the world would something so personal go in my newspaper?! This is between you and me, you jackass!"

"Ow, I'm just askin'..." I rubbed my sore bicep. "Piper, this is the last time I'm ever gonna think about this, so pay attention 'cause I'm only sayin' it once. I wanted to die. I lived day after day in a literal hell. You have no idea how many times I wish Mayor Vic's boys would find me next and just end it. I was such a coward, I couldn't do it myself. Finally, I took an experimental radiation drug, and it turned me into this instead of killin' me. I figure this was how I could start over. I re-invented myself. Whoever I was before this, just forget about him because I sure as hell would like to."

She shook her head. She looked angry. "Everything you did for me and Nat, all the moments we shared together — you'd just erase them? Just like that? We were chosen family, John."

"If I had to give up the few good memories I had of my old life in order to forget the hundreds of bad ones, yes, I would. I'm sorry, but I'd throw it all away. That's not to say that I didn't think about you and Nat a lot after comin' here. I thought about you two often, wonderin' if you were okay, regrettin' my decision to turn tail from Diamond City. The shitty thing is, most of the ghouls that I tried to save wound up dying in the ruins or dying by Vic's hand. Some even gave up and killed themselves."

"My God..."

"I've been through enough in my forty-one years of life to regret nearly everything. Please don't be offended, Piper. You and Nat were a part of the few good memories I had. And I'm damn glad that I got to see you today."

"So that's it, then? It really is over for us?"

I nodded. "Yeah, kid. It's over. John McDonough is no more."

____________________

Piper stood with her arms crossed by the gate, waiting on Nick to join her. Nick stood with me by the shops, talkin' in hushed voices.

"When are you gonna clean this town up, John?"

"What are you talkin' about?"

"It's still a mess. You've got drifters sleeping in slums, and I'm sure I spotted at least three addicts on the way in. Your city guard doesn't exactly look friendly, either."

"Half of the city guard are remnants of what's left of Vic's boys. They ain't exactly sunshine and rainbows, but I've taught 'em different and even killed my fair share of 'em when they got outta line. As for the drifters and addicts, that's what Goodneighbor is for. Goodneighbor is a place of the People, for the People. They can be whatever they want and do whatever they want. No judgments."

"So you're gonna let this town continue to be where all the Commonwealth garbage filters in?"

"Nick, no offense but the day you're in charge of Goodneighbor is the day you can throw people out on their asses just because they choose to live differently than you, but until that day, I'm runnin' the show, and I say that Goodneighbor is for everyone. So long as they play nice and remember who's in charge, I don't care who the fuck they are."

He nodded and gave me a small smile. "Leave it to you to turn the Commonwealth's nastiest settlement into a refuge for the lost. I hope you know what you're doing, John. Good luck."

"Thanks, Nick. And hey. Keep your nose outta my affairs, and I'll keep mine outta yours. You're welcome in Goodneighbor anytime, brother."

We shook on it.

"Goodbye, old friend. I'll see you again sometime."

I gave Piper a sad wave. She gave me a non-responsive look and left Goodneighbor with Nick.

Goodneighbor became my home. These people needed someone to look out for 'em. After all this time, I could finally hang my hat on something great. This was my calling — to be a shepherd of black sheep.

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