As I stood on that building, feeling the ground rumble beneath me, I'd never felt so cold.

If you'd asked me how it came to this, I honestly wouldn't know where to begin. I was living an impossible life, one that I'd never asked for, one that love and desperation had carved out for me. Why was I so special? Why did I excel in a world where others fell and faded? Love; I had risked it all time and again, while forging myself into what I believed to be necessary, on a journey driven by love.

And now here I was - tall and terrifying, the very landscape changed by my will - with no love left to fight for. I'd done it all for a world that I no longer cared for, for a world that I truly felt apart from - more strongly than ever before.

I felt to my knees and I started to weep.

"Eh, General?" said Preston, as he approached me. He crouched down and put a kind hand on my shoulder. "I'm so sorry Gene-, Nora."

His sad, sympathetic smile shook me. I wiped my eyes, collecting myself. I'd have plenty of time to mourn. But for now I had to hold it together, I was in front of my men and I was the General.

I stood up, slowly, shakily, and returned the smile through still wet eyes. "It's over. Done." I said, and it was barely more than a whisper.

"We've freed the Commonwealth!" Said one of the soldiers.

"It's all thanks to you, General." Added another, beaming.

"There'll be drugs and booze and dancing tonight." Croaked Hancock, with a wink.

There would be dancing, across over the Commonwealth, and beneath it all would be the charred bones of my son.

"C'mon Boss, you look down!" said Hancock, interlocking his arm with mine and leading us, side by side, to the elevator. "You did what you had to, what was right."

He pressed the button and we stepped inside. The door closed swiftly behind us and we headed down, just the two of us, illuminated by my pip-boy's glow.

"Look Nora," Started Hancock, looking into my eyes. He stared long and deep. "Keep it together – for morale. The Minutemen, they're soft without you, be strong - just until we're back." He took my hand and gripped it tight.

He knew me well. I liked to think that I had the perfect poker face, but when it came to friends, I was an open book. I meant to say something reassuring, something that a General would say, but before I could stop myself the truth poured out of my lips.

"I have no reason to live." I breathed, fearful that speaking might loosen my facial muscles and that I would start crying again.

Hancock looked shocked, then sad. "And they call me crazy...You got the Minutemen, Nora. You have the Railroad, Nick, Piper, Danse... Jeeze, you've got half the Commonwealth to live for."

"I don't care about any of that." I said, quickening my pace, eager to spill the truth before sanity could interfere. "This isn't my world. This isn't my fight. The only thing that tied me here, to this time, is gone. I killed him. I killed my reason for existing." I looked to the ghoul, desperate for him to understand.

"You're grieving, Nora," he sighed, brushing me off. "This'll pass."

"There's nothing to pass onto. The Institute is finished, and so am I." I finished just as the elevator reached its stop.

The minutemen had taken the stairs and I could hear them approach as we walked towards the door. Hancock had told me to keep up a strong front, for them, but he needed it too. So I cleared my face of emotion and nodded to them as they arrived.

Hancock offered me a cigarette, just like he always did, just like it was any other day. But it wasn't, so I accepted.

I gave orders robotically and we all began our march to the Castle. Hancock eyed me all the way, as I puffed on the old tobacco, but I ignored him - and for that I'm sure he was grateful.

This was quick and veeeery spontaneous but I have some big plans for the story...

Nora's a bit critical, I know! (For the record I love the Minutemen and Hancock)

Anyway.. Thanks for reading :) & reviews or suggestions are always appreciated!