Honey couldn't believe what she was leaving in her wake, pure and unadulterated hope for all of them. The walk would have taken her ten minutes, but the run took her four. She barged into the leaders quarters uncaring of what she might find.
"Buck, guess what?!"
Buck had been sleeping. He came awake fast, the gun he kept by his bedside in his hand and pointing at the door before he worked out who it was.
"Fuck. Honey?" He lowered the gun and frowned at her as he now sat upright. "What the hell? It's late." Wasn't it? He was usually an early-riser, despite how late he went to bed.
"Put the gun down and stop fucking swearing. Daniel and Jess are here!|"
Buck set the gun down on the side, the safety back on. "Daniel and Jess?"
"Her people. THE PEOPLE!"
"Her people? Her.... Wait. You mean An.. Shine?" Buck asked, the name slipping. Most of the time he managed the name thing well but there were occasions with those he had known by their pre-fallout names. Especially if he had just been woken up suddenly. "Do I need my gun?"
"He pretty much fell to his knees and declared undying love, so not so much. Must be fun, being loved so much."
Buck grunted and got up to put a shirt on. "They came in near the hives? Is Shine with them?"
"In my shack."
Buck frowned. "How long ago did they arrive? It's late to be travelling, especially with a young child."
"About an hour, I took them in fed and watered them, found Shine, the kids are sleeping."
Buck turned to her, doing his buttons up. "Kids, plural?"
"Two," Honey watched him, her head tilting
"I thought he only had one?" He sat on the edge of the bed to pull his boots on.
"A lot of people have taken people on...like you do."
"I guess. You're right." He grabbed his holster and secured it to his belt. "You better take me to them. How bad off are they?"
"We're going to kids and the love of Shine's life, why the gun? And they're hungry and tired"
"Saga. We have no idea whether any chet saw them arrive."
"And they didn't rock up when it was just me?"
"You think I don't normally patrol or get someone else to?" Buck pointed out. "I'm not going to use a gun on a kid, Honey."
"Hasn't stopped them attacking me before, three times!"
"Which is why I don't like you being up there by yourself."
"What have I said about that?"
"I'm sure you'll remind me on the way," he said, moving towards the door.