Chapter Text
"Goodmorning, gorgeous~!"
How can a voice as firm and as rugged as rocks be so smooth and inviting?
This thought, along with that ruggedly smooth greeting, brings a smile to Liberty's freckled face as she enters the kitchen. "Goodmorning yourself, handsome. D'you leave any coffee for me?" She teases, kissing his cheek and leaning against the pristine counter beside him.
Augustus rolls his emerald-green eyes, but the goofy grin on his lips revealed his true feelings "Yes, dear. So full of creamer, you can hardly tell you're drinking coffee at all."
Liberty mirrors his wide smile "Mmm. Just how I like it."
As Liberty sips her brew and rests against her husband, Augustus skims the recently delivered newspaper. The morning was cozy, perfectly pleasant, and comfortably quiet---and yes, the prospect of their newborn's first ever holiday coming up was sure exciting, but none of that could change the fear-inducing tension in the air. Specifically, the looming threat of an attack by the formidable Communists across seas. It seemed whenever the television wasn't proudly promoting a newer, unhealthier Nuka-Cola flavor, it was filling every American with the unfathomable fear of nuclear annihilation. Raising an infant was hard enough, and now, Liberty spent almost every single day wondering if it would be her family's last.
Now a decorated war hero, Augustus had served in the Battle of Anchorage; 11 years of conflict. Had it really been that long? Liberty remembers it like it was yesterday. They had just recently graduated High School together and had only been dating officially for a month. At the time, Liberty knew Augustus wanted to enlist, so she must have fooled herself pretty well, because when he finally did at age 19, she couldn't believe it.
"Good morning, Sir! Mum!"
Augustus looks up from the paper and smiles at the Mister Handy that had just floated in from the hallway "Good morning, Codsworth." He replies warmly.
The robotic butler focuses its aperture eyes onto the married couple. "Young Shaun is clean, changed, and ready for this beautiful day!"
Completely forgetting that this robot had just inadvertently taken Liberty out of her internal worries, she shoots him an icy glare. A helpful, robotic butler? You could've fooled her. Those geniuses at General Atomics really know how to make their machines look... friendly. Those creepy, metal eyestalks, the constant flaring fire from its booster, their three arms accompanied by a claw, flamethrower, and buzzsaw!? Yeah, so friendly and welcoming indeed...
Despite her reservations however, Liberty had to admit that the thing---Codsworth, as Gus had named him---was actually pretty useful around the house. Though for the first week or two after Shaun was born, she didn't let that thing anywhere near him.
"Is there anything else you'd like me to take care of?" it asked in its default, automated British male voice.
Augustus keeps his content smile and goes back to skimming the paper "Not right now, bud. We'll holler if we need anything."
"Of course, sir!" Codsworth floats away and busies himself with various, menial chores, like dusting the shelves.
A small sigh escapes Liberty's lips as she leans her head against Gus' shoulder.
"Don't worry, Pumpkin. I've been keepin' an eye on him" He reassures, knowing how skeptical she is of Codsworth, and robots in general. "Just a week left, okay? And if you've decided you're not comfortable with him by then, he'll be gone."
"Thanks, hon." She mumbles with a worried, unsure tone, but finds the strength to throw in some hopeful humor "I think I'm just more disappointed that the thing's actually starting to win me over."
Augustus chuckles quietly "Ohh you two will be buddy-buddy in no time, I'm sure. Soon you'll be taken him out on girl's nights."
Liberty smirks at her playful spouse "Mhm. When pigs fly, dear."
Their peaceful little moment is interrupted by the shrill sound of Shaun's cry at the end of the hallway. The parents react instantly, standing up straight, but Codsworth cruises back into the kitchen. "Shall I attend to Young Shaun, sir?"
Augustus briefly glances at his skeptical wife and gives the Mr. Handy a sympathetic smile "That's okay, Codsworth." He turns to Liberty and sets his coffee down "I'll take care of it, okay?" His tone is soft and caring. He knows how uncomfortable she feels with a bunch of metal hovering around their newborn.
Liberty smiles and nods.
Just then, the doorbell rings. They both glance over, and their shared smiles instantly dissipate. A deep blue Vault-Tec van sits outside, and they can see the trilby hat of a salesman through the front door's window.
Vault-Tec... That lovely corporation so eager to get America's population underground. Sure, preparation for a nuclear attack in this day and age is wise, and probably unfortunately very necessary, but... the company itself doesn't have the purest reputation. There's just something rather shady about them, which is pretty typical for huge, well-funded corporations.
"Actually sweetheart, you take care of Shaun, and I'll shoo away the salesman. Sound good?" Gus proposes.
Liberty answers with a comforted nod, and the parents momentarily part ways to their respective tasks.
~
"Heyyy, Baby Bear," Liberty greets Shaun quietly as she steps into his room, closing the sliding door behind herself. "How's my little guy doing?"
The child sniffles but continues to wail. "Shh-Sh-Sh-Shhhh..." She coos, slowly approaching his crib and scooping him into her arms. She rocks him gently, thinking some attention is all he needs to calm down. He's already been fed and changed... perhaps he just misses his momma. The young mother lovingly observes her child, noting his faint tufts of auburn hair, round cheeks, and what appears to be... vitiligo? Inherited from his father, of course. "Did that big mean robot get'cha, darling? Touch you with his cold, scary claw?" She jokes, talking in a near-whisper, using a gentler tone akin to a baby-voice.
Shaun blinks up at her and sticks his tiny fingers in his mouth, slobbering on them with a little smile.
"Don't worry, my love. Mama and Papa Bear won't let mean ol' Cogsworth hurt you, okay?" Liberty reassures playfully as she gingerly sets him back in his crib, "or whatever its name is." She adds quietly with a roll of her eyes. She activates his rocket-themed mobile and carefully leans against his pastel blue crib, watching him stare at the spinning toy with curiosity and wonder.
Who are you gonna be, little one? What'll be your first words? What will you like? What kind of person will you be? Will you go off and change the world? Make a difference? Whatever it is, your dad and I are gonna love you forever, Shaun. No matter what.
Liberty stands there for a long moment, thinking about her baby, the upcoming holiday plans, and her life as a new mother. She straightens herself up a bit at the sound of the sliding door. She turns her head and sees Augustus walk in and stand beside her. He smiles lovingly down at his son, noticing his eyelids growing heavy. That sadness in his smile...
"Gus?" She speaks softly, staring at him with worry and alertness.
Augustus gently wraps his arm around Liberty's lower back for comfort. "It's alright, Libby. ...Just signed us on for the vault. It'll be good to have, y'know?"
Liberty's shoulders slump in defeat and she slowly turns her head away; her light blue eyes map out the floor in contemplative anxiety. "I know. It's just... impossible to think about."
"Well, it's all taken care of, so you won't have to anymore, okay? If anything were to happen-"
Liberty places her hand on Augustus', which was resting on the crib. She gives it a gentle, yet firm, squeeze. "It's not."
Augustus decides to leave it at that. He knew the topic scared her more than anything, and he couldn't blame her. It's not like the topic itself wasn't pretty self-explanatory anyway. She gets it. "Y'know, I was really hoping it'd be my Halloween costume at the door. Should be here any day." He changes the subject with warmth in his voice and humor in his grin.
Liberty smiles "Hmm~ the Silver Shroud handing out candy." She sighs wistfully and rests against him lovingly "I can't wait to see that." She giggles "Y'know, we could have just as easily made that costume, Sweetie. Just need the right scarf, coat, and hat."
Augustus shrugs, simpering wide "It wouldn't be as authentic though~"
"Perhaps. Wouldn't be so hard on the wallet either, dear." Liberty smirks at him with a teasing raise of one eyebrow.
"Ehh... yes well, what's done is done."
The couple share a quiet laugh and notice dear Shaun is sound asleep. What a relief. They decide to take in the peaceful moment and stay there for a bit, just admiring each other's company. It's nice to just relish this rare moment of comforting silence.
After about 3 or so minutes, the distant, yet unmistakable, noise of a siren fades in from the outside. As soon as the Nelsons both register what it is, they look at each other in shock.
"Uhh, Mr and Mrs. Nelson! You might want to take a look at this!" Codsworth announces from the Living Room.
Liberty already starts to feel a tightness in her throat.
Without a single word, the Nelsons hurry out of their son's room and into the living area where their TV sits. The monochrome screen shows a perturbed News anchor anxiously listing out the names of various American cities. He swallows hard and wipes the sweat from his forehead.
“We do have… coming in… confirmed reports. I repeat, confirmed reports of nuclear detonations in New York and Pennsylvania. ... M-My god.”
No, this can't be it. That's not what's happening. It's just not. As Augustus and Codsworth listen to the reporter, Liberty beings to panic. Her breath shortens and her legs feel wobbly as she slowly steps backwards, as if being further away from the broadcast will make its contents untrue.
Panicked chatter, hectic movement, and instructing yells from outside snatches the family's attention.
"We need to get to the vault.. NOW!" Augustus proclaims, only then noticing his wife on the verge of a severe breakdown. "L-Liberty! Liberty, sweetie..." He approaches her and gingerly places his hands on the sides of her arms, trying to look her in the eyes. "Libbie, it's gonna be okay. Just breathe, Pumpkin, breathe. I'm right here, okay?" His tender, loving voice was laced with fear and urgency. "We need to leave right now. Understand?" He carefully takes her hands, noticing they're shaking violently. "I-I'm gonna go get Shaun. You wait here," Augustus starts to hurry away to grab their infant "It'll only take two seconds."
With her husband now away, Liberty stands there alone shivering, eyes glued to the floor. Oh God, what's going to happen? Is it China? Are they attacking us? No, no no that is NOT what's happening. It's not, it just can't be. Not today, not ever! Codsworth attempts to comfort her, but through her panic, she can't hear him one bit. It's as if he's not makinh any sound at all.
However, Shaun's irritated cry snaps Liberty back to reality, and she whips her head around to see her husband carrying him. "Follow me, Pumpkin. It's not far." Liberty nods, and they rush out the door, but not before Augustus wishes their robot butler good luck and safety.
Outside, those distant sirens blare, military vehicles block the roads, vertibirds pass through the sky, and the residents of Sanctuary Hills run down the dirt path to Vault 111, guided by military officials and Vault-Tec security. There was yelling, crying, confusion, panic, and audible desperation, but Liberty could hardly register any of it. All she could do was watch her husband's back, closely following him as they sped to the bunker. Shaun's shrieking cry, as well as Augustus' encouraging shouts, easily broke through all the commotion---it's all she could really focus on.
After being checked off a strict list, the Nelsons finally made it to the huge, metal and concrete elevator that would act as an entrance to their salvation. Liberty couldn't help but glance back at the citizens left out to stand fearfully behind that gate. Some of them were close friends, some neighbors, all innocent residents of their cozy neighborhood. What's going to happen to them?
"Shhh shh-sh-sh, Shaun, shhh, it's okay" Augustus carefully rocks his son in his arms, attempting to soothe away his crying. He looks over to Liberty and stands close "Liberty, are you alright?"
She nods, tears in her eyes "I-I love you, Gus, ..Sh-Shaun" she whimpers, hugging her son and husband and resting against them, never wanting to be apart.
Augustus kisses her forehead and wraps a free arm around her "We love you too, Libbie. Everything's gonna-"
A bright, blinding, orange light paints the sky, followed by the horrific sight of a towering mushroom cloud. It's so gargantuant, it's impossible to even tell how far away it is.
"OH GOD!!"
"HOLY SHIT!"
"JESUS!"
"NOW!! BRING IT DOWN NOW!!!"
Finally, the earth shakes with a vengeance as debris and smoke desecrate and blanket everything. The vault elevator rumbles as it gradually sinks below the earth, leaving the fates of everyone, topside and otherwise, permanently sealed.