Had it not been for Sadie and Charles, Arthur would have ridden through the night. They'd ridden far in the remainder of the afternoon since meeting up but were still a day's ride from the cabin.

"Arthur, you need to rest. How long have you been riding now? You're no use to Y/N if you're dead from exhaustion."

At the sound of your name, Arthur drops his head and nods; Sadie was right, he was exhausted and so was Bodecia.

"Sure, let's get off the road for the night." He pulls ahead, slipping into the treeline as Sadie and Charles breathe a sigh of relief.

The three of them finished setting up camp just as night fell and Sadie wasted no time in retiring to her tent, completely drained from their travels. Charles however, lingered, sensing Arthur may need a friend now more than ever. Tapping the tired outlaw on his shoulder he hands him a bottle and drops beside him.

"She's going to be okay Arthur; you know that right?"

Arthur doesn't answer, instead, he stares at his boots, nudging a nearby rock with his toe. Charles watches him and decides on a different tactic.

"Have you thought about baby names?" Charles asks nonchalantly and takes a swig from his own bottle, acting as if they were just two friends back at camp and not three outlaws riding to potentially rescue their friends.

"Don't." That is all Arthur says, his eyes boring into Charles'.

"Arthur I was-."

"Just don't Charles. Don't try to act like everything is going to be fine. I screwed up Charles, I know I did. I left her when she needed me most and now she's in trouble."

"We don't know for sure that she is." Charles tries to calm down his friend but he knows it's useless when he's like this. "John and Keiron are with her, they'll keep her safe."

Arthur freezes, the words he was about to spit lost as he realizes what Charles had just said. "Keiron's with her?"

"Uh, yea I thought you knew? He left with them."

"You mean to tell me she's hold up in a cabin with a goddamn O'Driscoll!?"

"I don't think he's – "

"Jesus Christ." Arthur spits and pushes himself to his feet, his beer thrown to the ground and shattering.

"Arthur where are you going!?" Charles jumps up and follows after his friend.

"I'll rest when I know she's safe." He mutters, not looking back as he gathers up his bedroll and satchel.

Charles wipes his hand tiredly down his face, he didn't have the strength to argue with Arthur about Keiron's supposed loyalty, but he also didn't want to see his friend ride off alone. Sighing he grabs Arthur's arm, dragging him up to meet his eyes.

'"Get yer hand off-" Arthur begins to growl but Charles has had enough.

"Listen here, you ain't as dumb and stupid as you look." He's spits back, their noses practically touching as each of the men stand off against each other. Charles was typically a passive person, but when it came to his family, he didn't hold back. "Y/n needs you more than ever right now, but you go charging in there without a plan you're gonna get yourself, and probably her too, killed. Now we don't know for sure she's in trouble, but we do know she's pregnant, and I sure as hell ain't gonna let her raise that baby alone. So, my job..."

He shoves Arthur back who just stares in shock, he'd never seen Charle's like this before.

"...Is to keep your goddamn ass alive long enough to raise that kid. Then I don't care how you get yourself killed." His finger prods painfully into Arthur's chest as the man's mouth hangs slack. "But I ain't gonna let you die a day before that kid turns eighteen."

The air is thick with tension as the men stare each other down, only the sounds of the night can be heard. Arthur is the first to break the silence.

"We ride out at first light." He concedes, pushing past Charles and rolling out his bedroll.

Charle's shoulders drop with relief when he realized he's finally gotten through to his friend.

"Sure, first light it is." He sighs and begins to prepare his own bedroll before settling on his back and letting sleep finally wash over him.

____________________________________

Your cheeks are tight with dried tears and your head begins to pound, you were right back where it started, only now you were pregnant, and your friends were in danger too. The bindings on your wrist rub painfully from your struggles, but the sting is nothing compared to the betrayal you feel. Dutch had sold you out to Colm and seemingly had plans for your baby too, the thought causes a cold shiver up your spine.

You raise your head to glance at John and Abigail, both of them have their eyes locked desperately on Jack who is being carried into a nearby tent sound asleep, no doubt drained from his constant crying. Your heart aches for the pair, only able to imagine the fear and worry they were feeling right now. Keiron sits to your left trembling violently with fear, and you didn't blame him, as scared as you were for your own position, his was worse. He'd fled from the O'Driscolls and warned you of their coming, Colm was surely going to make him pay. In an attempt to soothe him, you slide your fingers into his hand as best your restraints allow, and he immediately grips you back.

"Oh god they're going to kill me, aren't they?" Keiron whimpers and you don't have the strength to convince him otherwise, because you were pretty sure he was destined for a fate worse than death.

You had heard rumors of how the O'Drsicolls treated traitors and if there was any truth behind them poor Keiron was going to wish he were dead.

"Shut your goddamn mouth will you, you're scaring Abigail!" John snarls, his eyes flicking between yourself and Abigail. "Don't listen to him, if they wanted us dead, they'd have killed us back at the cabin."

Abigail doesn't respond, instead, she draws up her knees and sobs into them, her neck craning uncomfortably against her bonds.

You flinch away from the sight and your eyes land on the face you'd been dreading to see. Colm and he was walking this way, a shit-eating grin on his face making him look like a cat who'd just caught its mouse.

"Now there deary, don't cry. Ol' Colm won't hurt you, as long your good, you and yer family will walk away just fine." He leans down and pats Abigail's head, causing her to sob louder and John to growl protectively beside her.

"Get your filthy hands off her. I swear to god Colm, I'll kill- "

THWACK.

Colm's fist connects with John's jaw, snapping his face to the side. John spits blood on the floor and gasps.

"Ah, Dutch's other son. You've got a mouth on you like Morgan's." he turns and winks at you before grabbing John's jaw roughly, forcing him to meet his gaze. "Tell me, how is it Dutch's boys managed to get such fine women? If I hadn't already caught my little rabbit here, I might be inclined to take yours as a runner up."

His sneer is cut short by John spitting blood on his face, and you hold your breath in fear as Colm slides his revolver from its holster. When he spins it, cracking John's temple and knocking him sideways and unconscious, you breathe a small sigh of relief, thankful John would just be nursing a headache and not a bullet wound.

"Now." He straightens wiping his face and turning to you and Keiron. "My dear, it's been so long. I'm looking forward to us getting reacquainted, but first..."

He raises his gun to Keiron, and before you can scream, he pulls the trigger.

Keiron's hot blood splatters across your face and noise, not unlike an animal, leaves your throat. You scream until your lungs are raw. Colm lowers himself to meet your eyes and covers your mouth, silencing your screams.

"Shhhh, dear. It's not good for the baby to get stressed."

His face is blurred through your tears and you're aware that somewhere in the background Abigail is vomiting, no doubt traumatized from Keiron's lifeless body beside you.

"What...What the hell...the hell did you do!?" you sob as he crouches before you, shushing you gently.

Fumbling in his pocket, he shakes free a white handkerchief and tenderly wipes it along your jaw, rubbing away the blood and coo-ing as he goes.

"Shush shhh. I did what I had to little rabbit, it's not safe for you to have a traitor around the camp. Not when you're in such a..." he licks his lips and eyes your swollen belly, his hand hovering inches from your skin. "...such a delicate condition."

Nausea rolls over you and you fight the urge to vomit. Colm was truly insane and the way he eyed your belly had your stomach turning.

"Dutch thinks he can use the baby to cheer up Morgan after your supposed death, but I have plans for it myself. This baby I going to be my heir.... our heir."

You've no idea what came over you, hormones maybe? But the way he tried to claim Arthur's and your baby as his own stirred you into a fit of rage.

"You're insane. You are actually insane! This baby has nothing to do with you, this baby belongs to Arthur and me, our baby will never belong to you!" you spit through your teeth.

A scowl flashed across his face at your sudden confidence and his fingers grip your chin painfully.

"Listen here little rabbit don't test me, or I'll cut that baby from you. Now you're going to behave, be quiet, and give me an heir, or I'm going to misplace that little baby tonic and we'll see just how strong Morgan's genes really are. So, what's it going to be?"

Your mouth snaps shut in fear. You were caught in a hopeless situation, you wanted your baby to survive more than anything, but the only way to ensure its best chance of survival was that tonic, which Colm had quickly realized he could hold over you as a bargaining chip to get you to do whatever it was, he needed. Swallowing your fear, you lower your brow, scowling with pure rage at the man threatening your unborn child.

"I'll be quiet."

His face softens instantly, and he releases your chin. "I knew you'd see sense." He kisses your temple and leans close, his hands making quick work of the knots holding your wrists in place. Dragging you to your unsteady feet, he grips your arm painfully, guiding you away from Abigail and John's unconscious form. Abigail is still sobbing and retching, begging John to wake up and your heartaches.

Steering you to his tent he leans into your neck, so close you can smell the tobacco on his rotten breath.

"Just because you're pregnant, don't think I won't get what I want."

✌🏻