Fallout: Born Unto Trouble

3. Confessions and Escapes

The transition from depressed sixteen-year old to slightly less depressed nineteen year old was a long, hard journey which resulted in many relapses and suicide scares. But Gloria pulled through, somehow, and finally made it to her nineteenth birthday.

Amata was with her the entire way. Holding her hair back as she threw up, gently rubbing her back as Gloria cried on her shoulder, trying to cheer her up and helping her eat.

It was hard not to fall in love with her. Young love was something so pure and innocent; she never wanted to leave her side.

But she had to do this alone.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Amata asked as they neared the clinic. Gloria avoided her eyes, staring straight ahead at the endless grey hallway, nodding. "He needs to know I'm gay. Even if it ends badly, he needs to."

"Gloria," Amata pulled her arm, then twirled her into a soft hug, "I'll be outside, okay? Good luck."

James was humming an old sea shanty when Gloria walked into his office. She smiled, a bit nostalgic and sang "daddy's gone to sea and now he's gone" to finish the verse.

He looked up from his work and smiled back, "It Came from the Sea. Remember when I used to sing it to you?"

"Yeah, you had a pretty terrible singing voice." She crossed her arms and leaned against his desk, "What're you working on?"

"Oh, nothing," His smile seemed a bit sad, and she wondered what was wrong, "Just cleaning up a bit."

"Is there an inspection tomorrow? Shit I didn't prepare-"

"No, no sweetheart. I wanted to start anew."

Gloria laughed, "That's going to be pretty hard since we're stuck here until we die. Where do the dead bodies even go? Do they throw them outside?"

"I don't know, maybe you'll find out when you're older."

"Is it part of the Vault Physician's job to throw away dead people?"

He chuckled, "No, luckily it's not," He paused, then shut the terminal screen off and turned to face her, "Was there any reason why you wanted to come see me?"

Her face fell. This was it. She was going to tell him.

She had to tell him.

"I..." She looked away from him, taking in a few deep breaths, "I'm..."

"Gloria-"

"I-I'm gay." She stuttered out, grasping at the ends of her sleeves. She sniffled a few times, then furiously wiped at her eyes. "I'm a lesbian, Dad. I'm sorry I don't-"

James stood up and pulled her into a hug and kissed her on the top of her head, "Don't you dare apologize."

She pulled away, staring at the floor and wiped her eyes and nose, "Please don't kick me out of the Vault."

"Gloria Louise Hill, don't you ever say something like that again. I love you, sweetheart, and I would never let that happen."

She wiped her eyes, finally looking up at him. "Thank you, Dad."

He pulled her in for another hug, then ruffled her hair, "Now get to bed, it's a big day tomorrow."

She pulled away and nodded, and before she turned around and said, "See you tomorrow."

He smiled, trying not to cry. He had to leave, and Gloria couldn't come with him. She would be safe here in Vault 101. She had to be.

"James," Jonas snapped him out of his thoughts. It was around three in the morning and he had to leave soon.