(Un)Likely Valentine

Chapter 17 - Molecular Relay

*word count : 1039*

~Honey's POV~

I lay awake in bed, unable to sleep. I'm rubbing Dogmeat's ears to try to self soothe, but it's not working too well. I worry about Nick, Shaun, and myself.

I still haven't heard anything out of Nick. I don't know if he's hurt, dead, or just decided to skip town. And with Shaun, I don't know if he's even still alive. They could have killed him and made a synth baby, or something. As for worrying about myself goes, I worry that everything is becoming too much.

I'm going through a lot of shit right now. I lost my husband and my son, I was frozen for 210 years, I survived a nuclear war, and now I'm in love with a synth, among risking my life every day for everyone else.

I roll over on to my back and stare at the ceiling before Dogmeat is alerted to something outside. I quickly grab my Deliverer off of my nightstand and head down the stairs.

"Honey, it's me, Nick. You awake?" I swing the door open and could almost cry upon seeing my synth. He immediately wraps me in a tight hug, the smell of cigarettes and old books filling my nose. "You had me worried sick, Valentine." I pull back, "Where the hell have you been?" "I told you. I hung out in Sanctuary all day." He lies. "That's funny, because I checked and no one had seen you there."

I see him growing guilty. "Yeah, I lied. I'm sorry. But if I told you what I was really doing, you would have wanted to come with me and it was way too dangerous for you." I scoff at his words. "That's not your decision to make. Where'd you go?"

We head inside the house. I light a lantern as Nick takes a seat and begins telling me about how he heard about an escaped Institute scientist in Kellogg's memories. "You knew of someone that had the way in and out and hid it from me?" "Honey, listen. He's holed up in a cave outside of the glowing sea. The radiation would have killed you. Not to mention the wildlife is insane down there." I shut my mouth and let him continue speaking.

"They use something called molecular relay. I have the schematics for it, we just need the parts and someone to help us build it. And you may or may not also owe a favor to a scientist turned mutant." He basically raps his last few words. "So you're telling me I'm going to be evaporated and have to help a mutant other than Strong in the same sentence? I feel like this is a weird ass dream." He chuckles at my joke before continuing, "This is incredibly risky, Y/N. They could hurt you, Shaun could be gone, or you could be killed before you even get there. I need you to be sure that you're ready to move forward.

"Nick, I've never been more willing to risk everything. I have to find Shaun." Tears threaten to spill out of my eyes. The synth looks into them, "Alright. Get some rest, and we'll start preparing tomorrow. Goodnight, doll. I love you always."

Nick and I head upstairs to bed and he spoons me, even though he doesn't sleep. I quickly fall asleep under his touch, though I feel like I'm vibrating with how anxious I am.

~Nick's POV~

I lay down beside Honey, letting her fall asleep. She's quite literally shaking like a leaf, but anyone in their right mind would be. She's about to risk everything for her son. I want so badly to go with her but I would die if I showed my face in the Institute.

My mind is racing with different possibilities of what could go wrong, but when I look at Y/N sleeping so peacefully it all seems to melt away. She's the first thing I have that I can call my own, and that makes for a pretty damn calm mind.

****Time Skip****

~Nick's POV~

Honey and I gathered all of the materials and parts we'd need for the molecular relay. Sturges is the one that ended up helping us build it. "She looks pretty good to me. Y'all just let me know when you're ready." He says, walking away to give Y/N and I some time alone.

"Nick, make sure you feed Dogmeat every night. He really likes mirelurk meat but will eat literally anything. And make sure Codsworth stays relatively sane. He needs someone to serve and or something to clean at all times. Oh, and Curie. She's really trying to expand her research, so take her out with you every once in a while." "Honey, slow down. I promise I will do everything you said and more, but you're going to come back to me." She starts to cry and I can feel my eyes becoming damp themselves. "None of that, doll." I reach up with my intact hand, wiping her tears away. "You are the strongest woman I know, my love. You're going to make it in there and kick ass. I know you will."

Honey hesitantly steps on to the platform. "I love you so much, Nick Valentine. Don't forget me any time soon." "I love you too, Honey. Go get your boy." And with that, she's gone. I wipe the tears from my own face, before turning around to see everyone offering me their support. Even Strong, which is strange.

She'd better make it through this.

~Honey's POV~

I see a bright flash, then nothing. 'I'm dead. I died.' I feel oddly relieved for a moment, before realizing my vision is coming back. In front of me is what looks to be a control room, "Holy shit. I'm here."

I travel through the control room and a hallway, until I reach a room with a glass enclosure, and a little boy. "Shaun? Is that.. you?" I ask. "Father says not to talk to strangers." The boy says, before going back to playing with his toys. "Such an intelligent model, don't you think?" A voice speaks up from behind me, startling me.

"Who are you? Where's my son?"