Love In A Fallout Shelter

A/N: Wow! Just, wow. Thank you guys for your kind reviews so far, it really means a lot.



Eloise: I agree, WW2 although a tragedy, was also a very romantic time to some people. I have a beta at the moment but keep in touch, you never know what the future holds.



Missyxxmicha: I know! I know! Only two chapters up just now. I have a horrible, horrible time with procrastination. Please, take this chapter as my apology for neglecting the story. Oh, and I’m flattered like you can’t believe at your review. The whole telling your story to another thing is similar to Titanic isn’t it. Maybe I was channelling the movie at the time, none the less, a very good movie that makes me cry every time.





"As the sound of the playgrounds faded, the despair set in. Very odd, what happens in a world without children\'s voices."

- Children of Men







Chapter Three: Soft Smoking Ash



The distant rumblings of a storm kept Nate awake during the entire ride back to training camp Sigma X32. He always hated thunder storms. He remembered back to his childhood, being in the woods close to his town, he was about eleven years old. He and his father went picking for mushrooms when the weather was right some days in those woods. This particular day a storm hit his small mining town, the black clouds stalked him through the green growth of the woods, he did not even notice the sun being blocked out behind their thick cloak.



Soon came the rain, then the lightning. The rain was so fast it seemed like he was underwater, he could barely see past the tip of his nose. He burst out into a run, not thinking about which direction he was going, just wanting to get back home. The bright flashes of light instead of illuminating his way only succeeded in momentarily blinding him. After ten minutes of running without destination Nate twisted his ankle falling over a tree root. He called out for his father, his mother, anyone but his calls were silenced by the rumbling thunder. He began to cry then, cold and alone in the forest he thought he knew so well. Crawling as close to the bark of the tree as he could, he curled up and closed his eyes, trying to wish the storm away.



He heard a familiar voice and blinked open his eyes to see who it was. The storm had passed and the forest was once more it’s lush green colour. Crouched over his body with a worried expression was Rosie. The sun always seemed to be attracted to Rosie’s soft red hair. It always knew just the right angle to make it dazzle like the hair of an angel. Maybe Rosie was an angel.



“Are you okay Nate?” she said, brushing the damp hair away from his face.



“Hmph…My ankle, I think I broke it.” He began pulling up his trouser leg to show her, but she pushed away his hand lightly, pulling his sock down to inspect it.



“Nathaniel Robertson, you, my dearest friend are full of crap,” the corners of her lips twitched into a sly smile “it’s only little bit swollen. You’ll be up and about in a day or two.”



Nate grinned back at Rosie, “Damn, I thought I could have gotten a good month out of the mine there.”



“Nice try,” she scoffed “but they’re ain’t no foolin’ me.” She got up off her knees and offered him her hands out stretched. “Come on, I’ll help you get back home.”



Nate took her hands and pulled himself up onto his feet, careful not to put pressure of the one that was hurt. “What time is it?” he asked, unsure if it was even the same day.



“Little after five, as soon as the storm hit your dad went looking for you with my dad. They are still out here somewhere. They will come back home eventually and see that you’re okay.” She pushed a low hanging branch from out of their path “Why were you out here anyway?”



Nate shrugged “I…It doesn’t matter, you will laugh.”



“Okay, how about a deal, I will only laugh if It’s funny.” She smiled that infectious smile.



“Fine, I had a dream last night,” he hopped over a rock, trying not to put to much pressure on Rosie’s shoulder “my mum told me to meet her here…”



Rosie was silent for a minute, “Why would you think I would laugh at that? I know you want your mother back. I would never make fun of you for it.” She stopped the walk and embraced Nate tightly, Nate wrapped his arms around her back and buried his face into the side of her neck. She smelled like honey and soap. He had a funny feeling he smelled like “boy been left out in the rain all day“.



“I dunno, it is silly though. It was only a dream, I don’t know why I believed it.” he suddenly felt very foolish, wishing Rosie never found him in such a predicament.



“Come on, you need to get warmed up. Ill make you a nice cup of tea when we get home.” she smiled.



“Sounds great.” he smiled back.



“Everybody out! Home Base!” the driver shouted back to Nate and the other twelve men in the back of the dark green army vehicle, knocking him out of his reverie. The other soldiers started piling out, getting into formation for the Captain, he joined them.



“At ease men. Your help alongside the Home Guard was invaluable, we drove back the Germans from East Beach with finesse. The rest of the day is yours to do as you please. Dismissed! Except you cadet Robertson. I would like a word with you.”



Nate’s heart was pumping. What did he do wrong? He couldn’t think of anything. Maybe he left the toothpaste uncapped this morning, “Great,” he thought “that’s a two mile run.” After all the other soldiers left he stood at attention in front of Captain Livingston, his face was unreadable.



“I said at ease soldier. You’re not in hot water, so you can stop sweating so much.” Nate felt blood rush to his cheeks in embarrassment. “You see, the thing is, we have a new cadet coming in to the camp. He’s a transfer from 36K, you know, the one that got bombed in the blitz last week. Only him and a handful of other survived, I need to show him around. He will be bunking with you.”



Nate was relived that he would not be running any laps in the rain this afternoon but wondered what would be worse in the long run, a little run or an annoying cadet from 36K following him around like a helpless puppy.



“His name is Bartholomew Myer, I expect you will do me this favour.” Livingston’s eyes told Nate that this was not a favour at all, so much as a chance not to be doing the next weeks worth of assault courses naked.



“Of course Sir. I will be happy too. Um…where is he?” he glanced past the Captain trying to see someone, but the rain and fog made it next to impossible. The Captain gave a loud whistle and waved at a nearby transport vehicle.



The doors opened and a silhouette of a man started walking towards them. Nate cursed himself for not wearing his glasses often enough. He was startled as the man walked closer into his line of sight. He was tall, taller than Nate by an inch or two. His blond hair was wet and the water dripped onto his face. He had a kind face, the face of a fallen Olympian god. Adonis, Apollo, someone like that.



“Hi, Call me Bart” He smiled and held out a hand for Nate to shake, Nate just looked up spellbound. It took him a second to remember to shake his hand. Bartholomew just snickered and smiled wilder. “I don’t know about you, but I’m freezing my ass off.”



“I will let you two get acquainted, dismissed.” The Captain turned his heels and headed towards his office, Nate and Bart just stood there in the rain looking at each other.



“Um, y-yeah, it is pretty cold out here. I just noticed. Do you want to get something to eat before we go to the barracks?” Nate said, he found it very hard to keep his voice from quivering.



“Sounds great,” they started walking in silence towards the cafeteria. “your eyes are brown?” Bart asked.



“Yeah, why do you ask?” Nate looked up into the other soldiers eyes, they were an ocean blue.



“I like brown eyes.”



Nate smiled.