//TW: Mentions of character death//
"War never changes…" He said as he looked at himself in the mirror. The green orbs stared back at him in agreement. His facial hair was properly kept, only a bit of stubble rather than a whole beard. That was the way Evelyn liked it, speaking of her, she stood next to him smiling.
"You are going to do great at the veterans hall tonight, honey."
"You think so?" He questioned, bluntly.
"Oh I know so." She said giving him a reassuring peck on the cheek. Her dark ebony skin compared greatly to his own pale tone. But his hair was just as dark as hers, black as the dead of night. They smiled at one another lovingly. They had been married for only a year, newly weds, but their love for one another never faltered. As he left the restroom he was greeted by a familiar sound. A turbine spinning and one happy butler robot speaking to him,
"Good morning, Sir. Walt! It is lovely to see you so gussied up." The Mr. Handy said affectionately.
"Morning, Codsworth." He said smiling, though his hands reached for his favorite comic book, Grognak the Barbarian. He quickly sat down at the nearest stool where his coffee and toast were sitting. He cracked open the beloved comic starting to read. He imagined the actions, places and everything in his head; which enveloped into images. Broken by one shrill sound.
Shaun. Shaun had begun crying as he reached towards his toast. He looked up to see Codsworth.
"No worries, Sir. I will hush the fussing little one!" The robot said as he jetted his way out of the room.
Walt was just about to start reading again when a loving hand was pressed to his shoulder.
"Are you nervous?" Evelyn asked standing to his left. After the incident he could never hear as well as before in his left ear.
"Hm?" He began to ask her to move to the other side, but she already knew.
"Sorry about that, love. Are you nervous?" She asked once again, full of affection.
"I don't think so." He said sipping on his coffee. Codsworth had made it just the way he liked it, two shots of cream and three lumps of sugar. Sweet and hot. He allowed the warm liquid to roll down his throat as he looked at Evelyn.
"Your knee is shaking." She observed giggling slightly.
He joined into the laughter for a moment until Codsworth entered, Shaun still crying in the background.
"Oh, I am so sorry to interrupt the mood, but young master Shaun seems to be far to fussy for me. I was thinking maybe dad could help!" The robot said concerned.
"I'll get him." Evelyn said quickly starting to move towards the nursery. Just as she did, he grabbed her by the shoulder softly.
"No, I will." Walt said smiling at her and giving her a gentle kiss on the lips, it lasted a bit longer than he intended. He parted the kiss and walked to the nursery.
"Why so crabby today, son?" He questioned the baby, with a resting smile.
He couldn't imagine life without Shaun anymore. He was everything and more in his life. He reached into the crib allowing the young baby to grab his first finger. He hushed the child softly, rubbing his thumb on the back of the small hand.
"Everything is going to be alright." He whispered as the baby calmed down.
"How are the two most important men in my life doing?" He heard Evelyn say from the doorway. He peered over his shoulder, smiling at her. Her cheeks were still slightly flushed from the kiss only moments before.
"I think we are doing better." Walt said looking past her as the door bell sounded.
"I'll stay with Shaun, you go check who it is." She said reassuringly. He left their side for a moment heading to the door. He answered it, seeing a man dressed in mostly yellow standing on their doorstep.
"How can I help you?" Walt asked the man who held a clip board in his hands.
"Why, hello, Mr. Sullivan. I am here to give you amazing news. It seems since your family has served for our country you have been selected a spot in the nearest vault! Vault 111!" He said excitedly.
"Um, what?" He replied.