Chapter Text
Nora was laying in bed with Hancock, leafing through an old library book she'd found the last time they went scavenging out in town. Hancock was staring at the ceiling, coming down from whatever chem high he was on that night. He grabbed Nora's hand and pressed it to his lips, earning a giggle from Nora. He rolled onto his side and looked at his lover, her dark brown eyes sliding down the pages quickly, her light brown hair thrown haphazardly in a messy knot on top of her head. She glanced in his direction, a smile creeping onto her lips.
"What's wrong, John?" She asked, her widening grin crinkling the corners of her eyes.
"Oh, don't mind me. Just admiring the view." He planted another kiss on her hand while she laughed, setting her book aside and wrapping her arm around his waist.
Nora kissed Hancock's cheek before nestling into his chest. He breathed in the smell of her hair, always sweet from the flowered soap she made herself. He kissed the top of her head and sighed.
"I love you, John." She whispered into his neck, her warm breath sending tingles through his body.
"I love you too, sunshine." He tightened his grip around her waist, pulling her closer to him. They laid this way for a long time, just enjoying holding each other. They'd been an item for some time now, but he still couldn't believe she was his. He knew he didn't deserve her, but he would never give her back.
"Hey, can I ask you a...slightly awkward question, doll?" He leaned back, looking down at her face. Nora looked like she had been falling asleep, and he felt bad. She blinked a few times and nodded, looking into his face with a lopsided smile. "Do you not get your....uh...'lady time' anymore?" Nora raised an eyebrow at him and he cleared his throat. "See, I keep fairly constant residence in your, uh, nether regions." Nora choked back a laugh and Hancock smiled. "But I can't remember the last time you...had a cycle." Nora sat up slightly, suddenly wide awake.
"No, I'm certain I just had one, babe. Hang on, let me grab my Pip-boy." She jumped out of the bed, her bare feet jetting across the floor to where her Pip-boy rested on the dresser. She clicked it onto her arm and was mashing the controls, her nerves obviously shaken.
"Are you okay, Nora?" Hancock walked to her side, more than a little nervous. He was a ghoul. She couldn't be pregnant, right? Hancock was regretting bringing the subject up.
"That...no, that can't be right. That can't...What?" She ran her hand through her hair, shaking it loose from its knot. Her golden brown curls fell down her back. Hancock tucked a loose tendril behind her ear and noticed his hand was shaking.
"Nora, talk to me please. You're freaking me out over here." His voice was hoarse, more so than usual. Nora lowered the arm holding the Pip-boy and placed the other on the side of her face. Her usually rosy skin was pale white.
"Three months. That can't be right. I need to go see Amari." She jumped forward then, grabbing her coat from the chair next to the bed. She wasn't even wearing pants, let alone shoes as she bounded down the stairs.
Hancock knew he should follow her, but it felt like he was glued to the spot. She can't be. He wasn't able, he was a ghoul. Scars, no nose, decelerated aging, it was all a package deal, right? The dark thought entered his mind before he could stop it. Had she slept with someone else? MacCready? Deacon? That giant power armored eyebrow Danse? Hancock punched the wall beside him, breaking the skin on his knuckles. He threw on his coat and hat and stormed out of the state house, slamming the door behind him.
His vision was red the whole walk to the Memory Den. He barely noticed the townsfolk greeting him, then recoiling at the anger apparent on his face. He slammed open the entrance door and stormed past Irma, not hearing her greeting as he passed.
Nora was sitting on a small stool in the middle of the doctor's office, her head in her hands. Her face was hidden behind a curtain of light brown curls. Doctor Amari was rubbing her shoulder, which was shaking. He heard Nora sniffle softly and the red faded from his vision.
"Ah, good to see you, Mayor. You're just in time. It seems we need to talk." Doctor Amari greeted him, her voice low. Nora looked up, her chocolate eyes tinged with tears, her small round nose a soft pink.
"It's not...She can't be. It can't be mine." The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. Nora's eyes hardened and she balled her hands into fists.
"What are you saying, that I cheated on you?!" Nora stood quickly, knocking the stool onto its side. Hancock couldn't handle the pain enveloping his chest. He straightened his shoulders and turned away from her, unable to utter the cold words while he could see her face.
"Well, I don't really see any other possibility, sister. You're a smart girl. Tell me how else you managed to knock yourself up?" The words tasted like poison on his tongue, but it was like his mouth had a mind of its own. Nora made a strange, choked sound.
"Fuck you, John McDonough." She spat at him before shoving past and up the stairs. Hancock scoffed and shook his head, biting back the emotion threatening to swell up out of his throat.
"Mr. Mayor. If I might have a moment?" Doctor Amari seemed reluctant to speak. Hancock turned to face her; her eyes were cold as they watched him. "I've been curious about your...special condition for quite some time. If I may conduct a few tests?"
"What do you mean, my special condition?" Hancock almost whispered, his voice stuck somewhere down in his throat.
"Considering the circumstances of your...transition, it is completely possible for you to be the father of that child Nora is carrying. If I could take a few samples from you, I can tell you for certain." Hancock righted the stool Nora had knocked over in her storm off.
"Sample away, Doc." Hancock took off his jacket and sat down.