Arthur's POV- 1 Day Prior

"What have I done?" Arthur thinks to himself as he rides away.

The tears in his eyes stinging more than the dust kicked up from Bodecia's hooves. A foamy sheen of white sweat coats her flank from the pace Arthur has pushed her to. He feared that if he slowed anywhere close to camp he'd turn around and run back to her. He had no choice but to leave. Did he?

No.

No, he didn't.

He couldn't think straight as he galloped away. Going nowhere in particular but as far from camp as possible; he'd stop to plan his next steps when he knew he was far enough away. Knowing John would have taken her North East he continued West across the Heartlands, distancing himself from her and the temptation to turn back with each mile.

Seeing Dewberry creek pull into view he steers Bodecia from the road, finding a shaded spot that offers him some privacy to gather his thoughts. Tethering her to a nearby tree he wanders to the edge of one of the small pools of water and splashes his face, sighing deeply as he lets the cool water wash away the tears, sweat, and dirt. As the water settles, he sees his face, he looks old. Hell, he feels old. He'd just lost his world, his father figure.... dead. His fiancé... being protected by his brother... His unborn child...

Shaking his head of his thoughts he drops onto the ground in exhaustion, his elbows draped over his knees. Feeling too many emotions to think straight he reaches into his satchel, feeling for his journal in the hopes that writing will clear his head. Feeling it missing he yells in frustration, raking his fingers through his hair he shoots up, releasing his revolver from its holster he fires off into the distance roaring with anger until he feels the click of an empty chamber.

Bodecia snorts in fear, startled by the sudden gunfire, rushing over he grips her reins, holding her tight and keeping her from bolting.

"Easy girl, you're okay. I'm sorry sweetheart. I got a little mad there eh?" He feels her body tremble under his hands and he instantly feels guilty for scaring her. "Shhhhhhh, there's a good girl, how 'bout a treat?"

He produces an apple from his satchel, offering her his apology. As she nibbles gingerly from his hand, he rests his forehead on her neck, enjoying the grounding scent of her mane.

"Where to next girl?"

She ignores his question, instead, licking the last of the sweet apple taste from his hand. In the distance, he can see the roads that lead to Valentine and he knows it's probably the best place for him to start searching for Colm, knowing the O'Driscoll's usually hung around in the saloon causing trouble. Using whatever willpower he has left he pulls himself back into the saddle.

"Sooner we kill that bastard the sooner we'll be back with her." He whispers.

But he knows he doesn't believe it. This will never be over, never could be, there's always revenge. Someone always wants revenge and Arthur never wanted to be in the revenge business.

Present Day

A light knock wakes you from your restless slumber. Peeling an eye open, you frown in confusion at your unfamiliar surroundings. Charlotte's head pokes around the door, two cups of steaming tea offered in her hand. Taking a cup, you force yourself to smile weakly, not wanting to seem ungrateful for her gracious hospitality.

"Cal and I would always make tea first thing in the morning. It's a habit I'm yet to break."

You stare down at the warm welcoming liquid, realizing Charlotte had made this out of habit for a husband that was no longer there. It suddenly dawns on you that this woman was living your nightmare too, her partner taken from her as she's forced to face the world alone. At least Arthur wasn't dead you reminded yourself. You still had that to cling to.

"Would you stay and drink with me?" You ask, scooching over on the bed as best you could with your swollen belly.

She takes the seat beside you and you both sit in comfortable silence, sipping tea and enjoying the soft sounds of the forest thriving outside.

"Have you thought about names?"

Her voice startles you from being lost in your head, you reflexively touch your belly at the mention of your unborn.

"No, we never got the chance to talk about it." You reply sadly.

Feeling she spoke out of turn Charlotte shifts uncomfortably on the bed, regretful of bringing up a painful subject. You smile at her, hoping to ease the awkwardness, Arthur would kill you if he knew you were moping around like an old widow.

"...But Arthur's mother was called Beatrice and I like that name. What do you think?"

"Beatrice." She repeats, feeling the name on her tongue. "I like it."

"Now if it's a boy I was thinking Alfred, Alfie for short."

"Alfred Morgan, now there's a strong name."

"Alfred Hosea Morgan." You correct her. "After Arthur's second father."

You both fall into easy conversation as you finish your tea, enjoying Charlotte's company as a welcome distraction from your pain. You almost forget your situation, simply feeling as if you were visiting with a friend but Abigail's voice shatters the illusion.

"John Marston you can't be serious!" you hear her yell and slam her door, their voices fading slightly as they move towards the kitchen.

"Abigail this isn't right, I've gotta go help him."

"But Arthur told you to stay here, you can't expect three women and a child to fend for themselves out here. Are you that dense!?"

You shoot from the bed at the mention of Arthur's name, Charlotte trailing closely behind you.

"Keiron's a man, he'll keep you safe till we get back. I have to- "John pauses when he sees you, his jacket half on as he's halfway out of the door.

"You're going to find Arthur?" you whisper.

"Y/N... I'm sorry, I know he said stay here but he's my broth-."

"-Don't go. Stay" You cut him off.

Everyone's eye's practically bug from their heads at your words. John's mouth hangs open as Abigail stares at you like an extra head was growing from your shoulder.

"I thought you of all people would want me to go find him?" He speaks softly.

"I know, but he made his choice. You and I both know Arthur would kill you if he knew you'd left us here."

Abigail crosses her arms across her chest, eyeing you cautiously. She's relieved you didn't encourage John to join the same fate as Arthur, but she can't say she would have done the same in your current situation...pregnant and alone she would have jumped at the idea of Arthur heading out to find John. Lord knows he already had done it enough times, dragging him back from the cliff up at Colter, and not to mention the numerous times Arthur had gone out in the middle of the night only to return with John slung drunkenly across the back of his horse.

"I can't knowingly let him walk into the O'Driscoll's alone, it's suicide."

You fight down the lump in your throat at his words as you continue. "Arthur isn't stupid, you know that he'll plan, he'll think ahead. Besides, Jack needs you here. We need you here."

He nods, defeated but conceding to your wish to stay. Shrugging off his coat he pushes past you silently, leaving Abigail to trail after him. She mouths a quick thank you before disappearing into their room.

You sigh heavily as you take a seat at the table, feet feeling heavy and your hips beginning to ache from your growing size.

"That was a pretty amazing thing you just did."

Charlotte's words make you jump as she sits beside you, you'd almost forgotten she was there.

"I know Arthur would have killed him for leaving us the minute he saw him." He always was- AH!" your words are cut short as a shooting pain crosses through your pelvis, causing you to double over in pain.

"Y/N what's wrong?" Charlotte is on her feet in seconds, taking your hands in hers.

"The baby...ungh! Oh god, it hurts." You squeeze her hands painfully whilst trying to breathe through the pain.

John, Abigail, and Keiron are in the kitchen in seconds, hearing your cries of pain they bolt into the room.

"What's going on?" John asks, paling at the sight of you in pain.

"Uh Miss Y/N. You're uh...bleeding." Keiron points to your lap where a crimson stain begins to spread.

The room is silent for a beat as everyone takes in the situation. You're miles from the nearest doctor and right now it seems that you could be possibly losing the baby.

Charlotte is the first to act, directing John and Keiron to lift you gently and take you to the wagon. Abigail is already heading outside to ready the horses. Each of them moving at lightning speed as you close your eyes and pray to whatever god would listen for your baby's safety.

Loaded into the back of the wagon as gently as they could Abigail goes to climb in, but you stop her.

"No..." you breathe through the pain. "You and John stay here with Jack."

"But..."

"I'll be okay with Keiron and Charlotte, they have guns, and no one knows us in Annesberg. Jack needs both of you with him."

Hesitantly, she steps down and watches the wagon pull away. Her hands clutching tightly to her chest in a wordless prayer for you, and your baby's safety. Her heart aches for you, at the loss and heartache you have already suffered, and it seems the world is still not done with you.

Arthur's POV

Arthur makes it into Valentine the next day having camped on the outskirts of the town to figure out his plan. He had decided the saloon was the best place to start, the O'Driscoll's liked to drink there and he figured he could pick off a drunk one easily enough and make him squeal on Colm's whereabouts.

Pulling up to the steps he draws his hat down low, he couldn't risk being recognized, by the law or by an O'Driscoll. The last thing he needed was the sheriff getting wind of the price on his head.

Stepping through the doors he surveys the room. It's a busy night, the music loud and the men already tipsy and distracted by the working girls. Making his way to the bar he orders a whiskey, keeping his head low and eyes covered.

"How about some company?"

A woman's voice causes him to raise his head. He takes her in, her bosom pushed up by a one-size-too-small corset, her hair loose and falling from her bun. A working girl, there's no question. He shakes his head, turning back to his drink.

"Not interested." He grunts hoping she'll take the hint and find a new target.

"But we could have some real fun. Heck, you're so handsome I'll give you a half-price deal."

Her voice is irritating to him, it's too high and whining, it only makes his heartache for you.

"I said I ain't interested." He says a little sterner this time.

"Well, then how about we just have some fun off the books? My shift finishes in an hour." Her hand slides up his arm and he has to resist the urge not to slap it away. Instead, he stands to his full height, towering over her small frame.

"I said, no. Now go bother someone else." He practically growls at her and doesn't miss the way she flinches at his voice.

Arthur Morgan was an intimidating man when he needed to be. Realizing she was getting nowhere she scowls at him and turns to leave, muttering angrily under her breath.

"I don't have to put up with this shit... Goddamn O'Driscoll...Don't get paid enough by him for this...Always a problem."

O'Driscoll? Did she think he was one of them? Realizing she may prove valuable he follows her through the saloon and up the stairs. Seeing her turn down an empty corridor he takes his chance and corners her.

"What the hell? Oh, it's you... You're not into some weird victim-woman fantasy, are you? Because if you are it's gonna cost extra."

"Wha-? God no! Jesus... Downstairs you mentioned the O'Driscolls."

She shrugs "Well yea, you guys are my best contract." pulling a cigarette from between her cleavage, she holds it out expectantly for Arthur to light.

Rolling his eyes, he produces a match, lighting the end and frowning in disgust as she blows the smoke back in his face.

"Whaddya mean contract?"

"You dense or something? Half the girls here are on contract to one gang or another, and your boss pays a pretty penny to make sure I'm always available for one of you."

"Colm pays you?" Arthur can't believe his luck; she was turning out to be more valuable than he originally thought.

"Jesus don't tell me you actually thought you were handsome enough for a half-price?" She barks out a laugh. "Colm pays me to say that to all you guys, says it boosts their confidence, so they fight better. Though..." She pauses, the cigarette half raised to her mouth. "Come to think of it...you're the first of his men I've seen here in weeks. He ain't got another girl on contract, does he?"

Arthur frowns...weeks? He knew the O'Driscolls came here at least four times a week, if they'd not been here for a while then maybe they weren't around here. So, where the hell were they?