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MacCready:
Oh Lucy, you’d be so proud. I think of your smile as you told me your dreams for our family. I called you crazy and you weren’t fazed. You just kept smiling. Daisy told me people used to believe that dead people went to a special place high in the sky, and when I see your smile in his I think that’s true. I know you’re in everything we do, your smile protecting our home from everything outside.
I was far away from Duncan, sleeping with one eye open as he stayed awake with shivers and itches. Until I met that vault dweller. Now we sleep soundly. Winlock and Barnes were nothing but a bad dream in no time at all. I reached the heart of Med-Tek and got Duncan what he needed almost as soon as I managed to bring it up. All the caps in the wasteland couldn’t pay off what I owe them. Her name is Murphy, and I thank her a thousand times.
I also managed to stop cursing. Kinda. Unfortunately, Duncan's already heard… a couple. Yeah, brings me back to my lamplight days. But it’s cute when he does it! I can’t scold him. If only he’d stop begging Murphy to bring her dog around. It’s not like I’m scared, but he takes me by surprise sometimes. It’s only a matter of time before Hancock and Murphy gang up on me.
I don’t know if everyone before the war just sat around reading Grognak the Barbarian all day, but I’m pretty sure I’ve come as close as I can to pre-war life. When I close my door, the wasteland disappears. No more mutants, no more gunners, no more fighting. Except for when I try to get Duncan to clean up after himself. That unleashes all kinds of ugly. Not that I’m one to talk, the house smells like a brahmin did it’s business in it, not to mention I’ve lost issue #47 of Grognak in the smallest house ever. Honestly, I should buckle down. But where’s the fun in that?
I taught Duncan to shoot with perfect aim. He’s too frail to handle the real thing, but he does a damn good job of hitting targets with his little slingshot. Murphy picks up all kinds of junk and I didn’t really get why until I found myself all this time. I made Duncan his slingshot, patched up my gun and even made a tiny Dogmeat out of tin cans. Before you say anything, it does look like him. I hate to think about what kinds of urine and disease touched tiny Dogmeat before I made him, but I think I’m fine.
I’m watching him now, flicking through a comic on the other end of this couch, giggling as he puts on a new voice for each character. He usually lets me play one or two, but this time he’s taken pride in doing it all alone. I wonder how he feels about everything?
Duncan:
Dogmeat, are you coming over today? I hope so. I can show you my comics! They’re silly because Grognak is very strong and always saves a pretty blonde lady, but my dad is just as strong as him and is always being saved by a pretty blonde lady. Well, Grognak isn’t scared of dogs. Don’t worry, he doesn’t hate you. He just thinks you look strong. You do, but you could be friends with Grognak and help him stop the monsters.
My dad says I need to clean up before Daisy and Hancock come over, maybe you too, but I don’t wanna. You don’t mind, right? My dad is no frickin’ fun. Plus, you can eat the rest of my cram. It tastes nasty.
Ooh, a knock at the door! I hope you’re behind it. See ya, Dogmeat.
Daisy:
Murphy, hon’, what would we do without you? Mac’s house looks more like a home than anything I’ve seen for 200 years. I don’t know what we did to deserve you marching into Goodneighbor that day, but I sure am glad you did. You made a town full of sinners feel like a realm of angels. Sure, I still gotta work my boring old job all day, dealing with demands of our fellow riff-raff, but when I step inside this house I feel like I don’t have to do anything. I’ve never complained about my job, but that was only ‘cause nobody has what he has. We have you to thank.
I wouldn’t want anyone to give up, definitely not Mac, but I was getting worried about the hospital. He’d gone there a few times, shying away at the sight of his old comrades, poor thing. One time he got shot so badly that Hancock sent a group of guys to find some traveling doctor instead of our usual weird team efforts. Long story short, Med-tek seemed off bounds until you showed up. I knew you had charisma, but you backed it up with a strength I wish I had. I’m not sure what’s going on between you kids if anything, but if it were back before the war I know I’d give you my blessing. He could definitely use a wife like you to whip him into shape.
The room is dimly lit ‘cause we don’t have a lot of power, but it takes me back to casual evenings and I half expect my husband to come out of one of the rooms. I wish you were here to see the way Duncan runs over to pet your dog as I open the door, but if you and Piper have business then I have no doubts about it being worthwhile.
Even when he was sick, the kid had a light in him that was so rare for this world and Mac knew how to preserve it. He showered him with love, surrounding him with comics and blankets and anything cute he got his hands on. The grin across Duncan’s face grew wider and wider as he ran his hands through Dogmeat’s fur, letting him lick all over his face in a pretty nasty way. He might now have those blue boils anymore, but having a dog’s tongue on ya mouth can’t be helping the recovery.
Mac runs towards me, thanking me and you for our parts in his boy’s recovery and I hand him the sweetroll I got from a trader. He deserves a treat for himself and I tell him that, but the sweet boy still tears it in half and gives some to Duncan who he orders to thank me. The boys wolf ‘em down and lick their fingers. I think it’s lovely that they can enjoy dessert in the middle of the wastes.
Hancock is here with me and, within a second of entering, has placed his hat on the kid’s head and lifted him into the air.
“What d’ya think, Mac?” Says the mayor, grinning. “Ya think I should step down now and hand this place to your boy?”
Hancock:
MacCready, it looks like your heart will burst, ya sap. Really though, I’m proud you got something nice. You’ve earned it. Much as I hate to admit it, you work harder than most of us. You’ve never disappointed with your services. Hell of a gun you are. I wasn’t sure at first, but you can’t look at what I’m looking at right now without knowing you’re a good man.
I love when I hire a guy ‘cause I like his style and he proves himself to be the most genuinely good guy I’ve met. It’s happened only once but it sure as hell was good.
You’ve created a sanctuary, my friend. I was glad enough ya stopped sleeping in the back room of The Third Rail, but you actually made a place where I don’t feel like I need a hit of jet to relax. The sight of your son’s smile, cheesy as it is, is enough to keep me going. Funny, I never thought I’d be the kinda guy to feel this happy ‘cause of a kid. Hell, I wasn’t sure I liked ‘em.
I look into Duncan’s eyes as I tickle him and his squeals melt me down to nothin’. I know I’m not the first ghoul to meet him, but I’m still amazed that he looks at me no different than he looks at any smoothskin. He lets me play silly games with him until we’re both in stitches. Whatever the Brotherhood of Steel have up in their massive tin can, they’ll never have what we got in this ugly little house. Daisy told me a story ‘bout a girl helping a tin can without a heart. I think he got one in the end, so maybe that’s why Murphy hangs around that Danse guy.
Things will get even better, yknow. I think our heroic vault dweller is close to finding that institute. That means she’ll get ‘em back for my brother, hit ‘em where it hurts for all out fallen. They won’t take anyone ever again and we can be even safer than we are now.
“You wanna go for a walk, boy?” The kid grins as he scratches behind Dogmeat’s ears. “I think you do! Good boy!”
I know that will be fun.
MacCready:
Hancock turns to me with a playful grin.
“How ‘bout it, man? I think he could use one.” My heart stops at first, thinking all sorts of thoughts about Duncan getting hurt. I trust Hancock, though, most people wouldn’t think it but I know he’s smart. Duncan couldn’t ask for a better uncle. I agree, ruffling my son’s hair and hearing the very laugh that keeps me going.
You see, Luce, losing you was the hardest thing I had to do and I’ll always love you, but I’m lucky enough to have a group of people so near and dear to me that makes me think everything’ll be okay again. Tough bastards they are, you’d love ‘em. Duncan does. When I look at them I wonder what in the world someone like me did to deserve all this, but it’s not like these people are saints either… minus our son obviously. I hope maybe I can find a love like ours, I think I’m ready.
“For the record, Dogmeat gets enough exercise already. I’m not complaining, it makes me feel young again.” Daisy says as she picks up her jacket from the chair next to me.
“Did you have a dog?” I reply and she laughs.
“No, no. I wanted one, though. I saw kids walking ‘em and thought it was the most precious sight I’d ever seen. Me, I just stuck to my books.”
“That is kinda depressing, Dais. But what do I know? I only look like I was there for that.” Hancock contributes.
Daisy takes the lead so Duncan isn’t out first, but he might as well have been with the way he sprinted. Poor lady had to run after him.
Hancock stops me as I step towards the door but his eyes look kind, perhaps concerned. He nods towards the holster he’d pushed his jacket aside to reveal.
“It’s okay, man. We’re tough shit.” I didn’t know my fear was visible, but now that I think of it it might be the sweat dripping from my brow. Dang it. He pats my back as we step into the night.
Duncan:
Oh man, this is so cool. I needed fresh air when I was sick, but I never got to run through the night like this. I hope you’re having fun too, Dogmeat. I feel strong with you by my side. My dad, Hancock and Daisy are strong too but they’ll have to catch us. Uh oh, she’s getting closer, boy, run!
I feel her arms on my shoulders, trying to catch me in a nice way. She’s very polite for someone who looks so scary. I like walking with her, even if it’s not as fun.
Daisy:
That little rascal is difficult, but I’d never seen a kid this happy for a long time. Maybe I’ve never seen one at all, it’s been a long time. All I know is I’m glad to be around him now.
He looks at me like I’m the most interesting lady in the wasteland. That could be true and I like to say it is, but it’s quite something to have him look at me like it is. I tell him all about the kinds of dog I’d seen, probably with some missed details. How much do you remember?
It sure is refreshing to have met you, Murphy. We have all the same memories, I just wish you looked a little worse. I’m not ugly, but my skin is all melted and that gives you an unfair advantage. Really, though, you are a looker.
Hancock:
Thank you, MacCready. Thanks so much. You trust me where a lotta people wouldn’t and I’ll be damned if I let ya down. I feel like I got a place here that ain’t just a leader mold. Don’t get me wrong, I got balls, but everyone likes a break and it’s nice to have one without being high as shit. Besides, it takes balls to look after a kid. Never doubt yourself, okay? You’re great. Greater than me by far.
I’m smiling at you now, would ya look at that? We’re a real family. I think we've found our place in this world.