what would happen between a romanced Maxson and F!Sole after she returns from the institute the first time?
This ran away with me. I really hope you don’t mind that this became a 1.5k drabble full of fluff. - wooops.
___________________________
Jackson’s excitement outshone her nerves on the morningshe’d left for The Institute. A weight had settled in his stomach though,unsure and unhappy about her going in alone without a clue what awaited her oreven if it would work. But in a flash of blue light she was gone and he took asteadying breath before continuing with his duties. She didn’t return thatnight and he tried not to consider any bad meaning that held.
He did however find himself smoking on the flight deck inthe early hours of the morning, mulling over the fact she could be returningwith a child. Her child. Arthur wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do in thatsituation. Would she want to stay with the boy on the Prydwen, or live in oneof her settlements down in the wasteland? He didn’t know. For a woman so openlyexpressive, he could never quite anticipate her reactions to some things.Paladin Danse was struggling with it too, he’d been up to see the Elderrepeatedly just to ask if there was any news. Arthur knew better than to be jealousof Danse, so it didn’t bother him too much.
It was during an evening brief a couple of days later withKells; that the door opened and in slunk Knight Jackson. Difficult as it was heremained focussed on the Captain until the end of the talk. With a snap of asalute the elder man marched away.
“Knight,” Arthurs voice may have betrayed some of histrepidation.
She was alone. Either she’d left the boy at one of hersettlements – something he couldn’t imagine a mother doing after reuniting withher kidnapped son – or he wasn’t there. He stepped closer to her, as close aspropriety would allow.
Her eyes were rimmed red when she looked up at him, thepicture of exhaustion, “Elder. I’m here to report my findings from my missionto the Institute.”
The young womans voice broke on the last word and he achedto comfort her. His eyes darted above her head, checking who was withinearshot. A couple of paladins milled about hoping to get his attention.
“Hit the showers and mess hall first, Knight. You can give meyour report in my quarters later,” he gazed down into her tired eyes.
She knew what he was doing, and she knew it was reallysweet. But her head was spinning and her heart was breaking. Nora did howevermanage to give him a grateful nod, not missing the worried look in his steelyeyes, and turn away.
Standing in front of his door later, she felt sick. How doyou explain to your relatively new boyfriend {Christ that sounded ridiculous}that when you went to find your kidnapped son, whom you’d thought was a baby,then a child, you found a gray old man. One who had been twisted soirrevocably, into something cold that his father with all his caring wouldnever recognise. Her heart wrenched at the thought of Nate. Was it awful to beglad that Nate didn’t live to see what happened to their son? Her skin crawledat the memory of being spoken to like Mary who brought the Jesus of theInstitute into their lives. She realised she’d been standing there unmoving inher thoughts for a long time.
“Come in” his gruff voice answered her gentle knock throughthe steel.
He got to his feet as she entered his room, closing the doorbehind her. Maxson wasn’t sure what to do, stepping toward her then haltingnervously. Would she want physical comfort? He desperately wanted to hold herin his arms and tell her sweet lies about how everything is ok, but maybe sheneeded to be left alone? He remembered the rage he’d fought with when the poorProctor who informed him of Sarah Lyons’ death had tried to give him acomforting hug. She seemed to sway in the charged silence.
“Nora,” his voice was uncharacteristically quiet.
The way she looked at him told him all he needed to know.Spurred into action he enveloped her in his arms, burying her face in hischest. Her hands fisted in the furry parts of his battlecoat and he felt morethan heard her start to cry. He held her tight and let her get it all out.Which she did, dissolving into weak sobs right into his jacket. When he thoughther legs would give in, he guided her over to sit on his bed, keeping her cagedin his big arms and stroking her back lightly with one large hand.
Eventually the tears subsided and she pulled away, rubbingangrily at her now pink and puffy face.
“Sorry,” she mumbled, looking anywhere but him.
His eyebrows shot up at that, “No apologies,” he cupped hercheek in his hand and ran his thumb along her cheekbone.
She dragged her eyes up to meet his, and he wondered ifshe’d discovered the worst. Had her son been killed? His heart ached for her.
“You don’t have to talk about it tonight, Nora. We can dothis tomorrow after you’ve had some rest.”
Nora pulled her legs up onto his bed with a familiarity shewould usually be mortified by. He stayed on the edge of the bed, watching herlike a wounded animal that might lash out any moment.
“No it’s ok,” she replied after some thought, “With you.”
He nodded encouragingly, though he wasn’t entirely sure hewas ready for what she might be about to tell him. Her arms wrapped around herknees and she hunched over, launching into a blow by blow of her timeunderground. The Elder couldn’t help but reach out and take her small hand inhis large one, holding it reassuringly. She squeezed it gratefully. As she toldhim the story, a few stray tears rolled down her cheeks. He was struck by herstrength, that she was even managing to be here today after everything that hadhappened to her. She was so impossible in almost every way.
When she’d finished she watched him, trying to gauge hisreaction. He thought deeply for a moment, wanting to ask what she was going todo but not knowing how.
“I can’t be a part of what he’s doing, Arthur,” her throatfelt raw.
“So what are you going to do?”
“I-“ she began but she felt sick at what she really wanted.
Nora wanted to destroy it, totally and completely. To freethe synths and reduce the Institute to rubble. She was horrified at herself,after everything she’d done and been through to find Shaun she now was all butplanning to wipe him off the face of the earth.  Arthur could see the turmoil in her eyes, tornbetween her son and… him? Was she deciding to leave the Brotherhood? Join theinstitute and fight against him? What was he supposed to do in that situation?
“I want to end what he’s done.”
It was so sure even in her tiny voice that it completelyshocked him out of the spiralling thoughts in his head.
“I can’t bear what he’s part of, what my son has created,” she was shaking, and he shrugged his coat offto place it around her shoulders.
“Are you sure, love?”
“I have to. I brought him into this world and I’mresponsible for what he’s done.”
“You’re going to help us fight against The Institute?” hedidn’t know if he could put that pressure on her shoulders.
How could he ask her to do the things he was going to needof her in this battle? She snuggled into his coat and his heart warmed, thisimpossible woman who had the strength of an army boiling under the surface.
“I am.” Her dark eyes locked onto his gaze with a warriorsdetermination.
“Then your brothers and sisters will stand with you,Jackson,” he clasped her hands in his, “And me.”
“Thank you, Arthur,” she squeezed his hand.
“Now you need to rest. Elder’s orders,” he gave her a smile.
When she went to get up he raised an eyebrow at her,scooping her up and placing her under his sheets before she could argue. Shesighed, happily he hoped, and wriggled into the mattress and pillows. On hisway back from flicking the light off he stripped out of his flightsuit andjoined her, pulling her scarred back against his chest. With arms like treetrunks she was held tightly to him, head safely nestled under his bearded chin.
“Goodnight, Nora,” he pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
She’d already drifted off, feeling the safest she had indays.
