At The Precipice Of Something New

Something Glittering

Diamond City
February the 3rd, 2288
19:28

Something about stepping through the gates of Diamond City for the first time in well over two months felt surreal, just as it had the first time.

While the feeling subsided when they reached the top of the stairs into the city, it was replaced all too quickly with the same painful shock of remembering the place she had once known as Fenway Park would never be the same. Somehow, the greatest reminder of how much things have changed is a place where so many people have been able to rebuild. It's a good thing, and it's been here for well over a century, still standing. And...it's where I have to start. God, Shaun, Nate...wherever you are, I need you to be safe...I need you to know I'm coming for you. Shaking herself out, Nora glanced every so often at Derek, who was walking beside her and waved warmly to some of the city's residents who waved at or greeted him when they reached the bottom of the second set of stairs. Stepping into one of the city's many large markets, Nora found she couldn't help but smile when the young girl waving and selling papers outside her sister's office paused to smile at her. Following after Derek towards where he, his wife, and their children lived in the upper stands, Nora tightened her jacket around herself, the wind more than a bit uncomfortably sharp and frigid. Still, when they reached the home and Derek unlocked the door, holding it for her as she entered, knowing the journey was over, for now, was a relief. She smiled when she saw Hadley, but her face fell when she saw the way Derek tightly embraced and then kissed her once he shut and locked the door, a feeling of loneliness clawing at her again.

"I hope you don't mind Piper's here too," Hadley said when she came over to Nora and guided her over to one of the couches, handing her a blanket when she sat down. "Her and Lissy's friend Cait is also here. A bit of a celebration, if I'm being honest."

"A celebration?" Nora eyed her strangely. "For what?"

"For mom getting Piper's ass out of jail," The unfamiliar voice of a teenager with messy dark hair and a lab coat on said, stepping out from the kitchen. "McDonough locked her up for about a month because he knew mom and dad would be out of town. When mom got back last week, he let her go, but only after what I'm sure was a very loud argument with mom. She's a really scary bitch sometimes."

"Emmett, don't talk about your mother like that," Derek chided, taking off and hanging up his coat. "She did the right thing. McDonough has been escalating things with Piper recently, and –"

"Escalating is putting it mildly. He let security push Nat around too."

Nora laughed a little when the young writer slid down the banister of the stairs, followed Lissy and, then, by a woman in a corset and ripped pants with shoulder length, messy dark hair, whom she assumed to be Cait.

"McDonough probably would have sent Nat off with you if he'd been given the chance," Emmett reminded her. "You're lucky Vadim was there to help protect your little sister. Nat's sweet but I wouldn't put it past her to try and bite security or McDonough himself to try and keep you from getting arrested."

Piper scowled at him. "Nat isn't a feral ghoul, Emmett. She doesn't bite people, God."

"You two may be proper enough not to do that shite, but I will," The dark haired woman turned to Nora. "I don't think we've ever met, but the name's Cait. Been a friend of Piper's for years, and like to think I'm a good influence on her."

Emmett snorted. "Yes, because you of all people are a good influence."

"Enough, Emmett," Hadley said, sending her son a pointed look. "If you're going to be sarcastic, you could at least do so after introducing yourself to our guest."