'if you weren't mind I'd be,
jealous of your love'

-

The moment Boxer's hooves thudded over that large bridge into Saint Denis, you felt yourself begin to worry about heading back into the city that had caused you so much strife.

When yourself and Arthur had first set out, you did not feel you would be so phased by it with the love of your life at your side – but still these feelings haunted you like a bad dream.

Phantom and Boxer walked side-by-side as they carried the pair of you into the city, the ground beneath you making the gradual transition from dirt to cobbles. It was strange, for the moment you heard the clip-clop of your mount's steps – your hands tightened fearfully on the reins.

This notion had not gone unnoticed by Arthur. His grey-blue eyes fleeted to his right, spotting your disconcerted expression and the way your whole figure had tensed in the saddle.

"You're thinkin' about it, ain't you?" Arthur's concerned tones rang through the blizzard of your thoughts. Swallowing hard, you hoped to be rid of the lump in your throat.

He was very right, you were thinking about it. Your lover did not even have to elaborate – you knew you were both of the same page.

Sighing, you shakily kept a clutch on the leather reins in your hands, your eyes fixated on Boxer's mane in front of you.

"I... I just hadn't expected coming back here to affect me so much." You responded truthfully, feeling Arthur's worried gaze on you. This forced you to look up and offer him a wry reassuring smile. The last thing you wanted him to be doing was worrying about you.

"But... I'm here with you. I know I will be okay." You affirmed, the final part of your statement was a hidden question that rang clear to Arthur – 'I will be okay, won't I?'

The outlaw's mind flashed back to all those times before: the wolf attack in Cumberland forest, Micah's exploit that had you exiled... all the times he had failed to protect you. A furious determination caused his gut to turn a little.

"Course you will." Arthur responded, is voice offering that blissful clarity and reassurance your rather felt you needed. Your mind retained the stead-fast tone of his words as the pair of you walked the horses up the long main street.

Viewing the city around you, you could safely say you were glad to be rid of it's clutches. The packed streets, with it's many windowed eyes and looming doorways only offered a sense of being watched – always expecting a danger or a strife to occur. The countryside offered so much peace; a haven and a retreat – with beauty that the city could not compare with. Saint Denis was the figure of a old worn out whore, who was still caking on her makeup in hopes for a new presentation – whereas the beauty of the untamed countryside was a young miss, a free spirit with an untamed sporadic nature and endless possibilities in her sky blue eyes.

The countryside was where your heart lay.

Carrying sweet thoughts of the fact you would be able to return to your home soon, yourself and Arthur tethered your horses on the street – just outside one of the many jewellers in town. Thankfully, it was not the same one you had procured the diamonds from.

Eyes gazing up to the imposing pretty building, your hand absent mindedly was fiddling with the buckle on Boxer's saddle bag. It was only when you realised exactly what you were doing, you were reminded of some important contents in the saddle bag. With an urgency, your fingers were unpicking the leather strap to find the thick stack of notes Arthur had given to you on that horrendous day where you had been forced to leave.

"Arthur-" you called, as he turned around quickly to find you offering the money over Boxer's back. An understandable frown of confusion bolted across his face, as Arthur's steely gaze fashed to meet yours.

"What's this?" he asked, taking the money gently from your grasp, holding it gingerly as if it was poison in his hands.

"The money you gave me when I was forced to leave all those months ago." You explained, feeling a sense of satisfaction you were able to give it back. "I didn't spend a fraction of it. I felt too bad. I wanted to find my own work, and return the money to you." You had explained, running Boxer's stirrup leathers' up whilst Arthur looked dumbfounded at the cash in his hand.

After a few moments, the gunslinger carefully looked back up at you.

"I... I... I mean, are you sure? I gave this to you for you to have-"

"Just, please – Arthur. Take it. I want you to have it." You insisted, touched when he took your hand that was resting on the seat of Boxer's saddle, giving your small hand a gentle squeeze.

"You're very sweet." He smirked, "Don't expect me not to spend this on you anyway." He started to chuckle, as you rolled your eyes and shook your head at his little jest.

"Whatever, it's your money." You snickered, pausing a moment to focus back on the task at hand.

"Do you have the diamonds?" you then asked, a question you had asked about 3 times previously – panicking they would've somehow magically fallen out of Arthur's satchel.

As expected, he gave you a playfully tiresome looking eye roll, and then flashed his little smirk at you.

"Yes, yes – they're here." He started, "Don't you worry about tryna' flog these." Arthur told you as he fished for the jewellery you had put into his satchel before the pair of you had left Shady Belle, "I'll handle it. I wouldn't want some fella' thinkin' he could muscle a young lady like yourself outta' her money."

Bless him, making sure you weren't caught short. A smile took a fancy to your lips as you reached up and pressed a chaste kiss to his cheek in thanks.

Withdrawing, you could see the smile on his face. Arthur did not need words to describe anything when he smirked at you like that.

"M'lady." He then offered with a jest to his tone, offering his arm out for you to take. You happily accepted, loving how dainty his strong arms made you feel.

"Ever the gentleman, Mr Morgan." You whispered, as the pair of you ascended the steps off the grimy streets to the Jewellery's which sat atop the rise of the steps.

The bill chimed in the ornate establishment as Arthur stepped in first, holding the red-painted door open for you in a considerate fashion.

Immediately, the clerk seemed to have his guard up when he caught one look at Arthur. Your man certainly cut a figure of the type this Jeweller was – should be – wary of.

"Can I help you?" the clerk behind the country said, his tone reflective of a polite manner that he was clearly having to put up in this very moment. Your (eye colour) eyes flashed up to Arthur, who approached the counter and scattered the diamond jewellery across the glass countertop.

"I got some diamonds you might be interested in." Arthur said coolly, clearing his throat as he rubbed his stubbled chin passively. You watched his stormy blue eyes narrowing at the clerk, who wasn't saying anything as of yet – but it was evident to see he was assuming Arthur had stolen these diamonds. You decided to step in – you hated when people looked at Arthur like he was some monster. You knew the man he was with you, and you were not letting some stranger discern him.

"They were my mothers." You stepped in, watching as Arthur looked across at you – surprised to hear you chip in. "She... she died recently. I asked my husband here to take to my old family home to collect them." You said, spinning your story that was half painful – when you did think about the fate your poor mother must've suffered. "...I could not bare the pain of seeing that house..." you sighed deeply, lifting your sorrowful (eye colour) eyes at the clerk who had seemed to of softened by this point.

" Oh... I am deeply sorry to hear that miss." The clerk responded solemnly, dipping his gaze respectfully before taking a closer look at the diamonds.

Not surprisingly, he was quick to notice the blood on the ring, and you could tell he'd spotted it from the moment a frown creased on his face.

"There is blood on this ring – in the diamonds. It can be cleaned, but it will decrease the sale value." He informed you both. Before Arthur could come up with anything, you were quick to spin another story.

"Ah – of course. I hadn't really noticed, but my mother did tend to get a lot of nose bleeds." Your voice detailed, remaining calm despite the fact you were internally reminding yourself with the reality that the ring was stained with Bronte's blood after that magnificent punch.

The clerk made a monosyllabic noise whilst he slowly examined each of the other pieces of jewellery with a fancy piece of equipment – a magnification thing of some sort that he placed over his eye.

Impatient Arthur as ever seemed to be fidgeting, he just wanted to get his valuation – get the money and go. You sensed him becoming tiresome and gave his hand a gentle squeeze of reassurance.

"The other diamonds seem to be absolutely fine – exquisite." He expert advised you both, flashing a small smile. "I can offer you 300$ for all of them." He informed you both.

You for one, did not really care how much money you received – you just wanted rid of the damn things.

"Sure, that sounds good." Arthur agreed, hands braced at the edge of the counter. He soon looked back at you, a warming smile in your direction as he looked at you adoringly from underneath the dark shadowing brim of his hat.

"Why don't you go make sure the horses' are okay while I finish up this deal, darlin' wife." He smirked at you, clearly making a little jab at the detail you had included in your story.

"Of course, see you in a moment." You responded, deciding not to make a jest back in front of the clerk – hence making yourselves look dodgy.

A sense of relief hung around you like a pleasant cloud when you walked out of the shop, stepping out of the silent ambience of the jeweller's and back into the bustle of Saint Denis. Your footfalls were light carefree as you made your way down those steps to where Boxer made a quiet little grumble-sounding noise upon seeing you.

You stood with the two horses in the last shine of the light, the sun veiled with the smog of this working city. You were grateful for everything you had in your life in that moment, so quintessentially dreamy – so elated to be out of that city and back where you belonged with your rightful family.

Your hand had been under Phantom's fuzzy snout, feeding the Warmblood a sugar cube when you heard Arthur's footsteps behind you.

"All good." He acknowledged, his smile appeared a little brighter. "How 'bout me and you go and enjoy the rest of our evenin' in peace?" the tone was suggestive of anything peaceful, and you were happy to oblige if it was anything like the night before.

"Sounds like a dream." You replied, smirking to yourself at the woman you'd become under the enticing lure of this man. Everything about him drew you in, set you alight with all sorts of feelings – you wished for this to never change.

You clung to these thoughts as tightly as a child with a doll, as the pair of your rode off by the fading light of the evening sun – headed to your hotel for the night.

-

Stepping foot on that plush carpet, your eyes were met with the view of a room that seemed hardly worthy of your person. This looked like a palace, with it's deep, romantic crimson red accents like the curtains and the bed set – contrasted with glimmering golds and dark wood furniture.

"It ain't Shady Belle, but it will do." Arthur joked from behind you as you heard the door shut, having carried your two small cases up after not letting you lift a finger – he was such a gentleman, which was oddly surprising from a man who robbed, killed and lied for a living.

"Oh hush up," you scorned with a laugh, removing your shawl from your shoulders and draping it over the back of the dark wood chair, your hands then reaching up into your hair to remove the ribbon securing it. "It's much better! And it means we don't upset Dutch anymore than we have done."

You'd barely finished your sentence before you heard Arthur laughing from behind you, slipping his chestnut brown riding boots off and then making the short distance to the bed – falling onto it with an exhausted groan of satisfaction.

"I think he's just upset 'cause Molly really ain't got the patience with him no more." Arthur detailed, laying on his back staring up at the ceiling momentarily before turning his head to the left and watched you from the other end of the bed, stood there by the long mirror whilst you untangled the ribbon from your (hair colour) locks. Even such a simple and mundane task had him hooked, just watching you was a simple sport of pleasure where he could mark and affirm his adoration for every inch of you.

"Maybe he should try looking at Mary Beth less instead then?" you remarked playfully, turning back and admiring your lover laying there, happily staring at you as if you were some kind of fantasy girl. Arthur's gaze unmoved, and despite everything the pair of you had shared it caused you to become bashful.

"What are you staring at?" you laughed nervously, covering your mouth a little. The girlish gesture caused Arthur to sigh nonchalantly, and he offered his hand out for you to take.

"Just... come here." He said, beckoning your grasp with his fingertips until your hand fell into his own calloused one. It didn't take more than a second for him to pull you onto the bed, pulling your smaller body close to his chest.

"You are just the best thing that ever happened to me." He confided in you, "And I'm still sorry it took me so damn long to act on it." You could still see an ounce of regret in his eyes from all the wasted times. You reassured him with a kiss, giving every ounce of meaning to it before you dared to draw away.

"Stop worrying about the past-" you cooed, laying your hand to the side of his face and caressing it softly, you loved the rough feeling of his stubble beneath your hands. "All that – it's over and done with." You continued, a smile growing on your face, blossoming like the first signs of spring.

"What matters is now – and what we want to do with our future." You said, your voice as soft as a feather whilst you whispered your sweet words to the love of your life beneath you, who was gazing up at you with wistful eyes – as if he was listening to a goddess.

There was a fairly long pause, and you were aware of the way Arthur looked at you so intensely. Little did you know of the way his heart seemed to be bursting in his chest, the way his eyes looked over every detail of your face like he was cementing the beautiful view in his mind.

"I love you so much." He then said after some seconds, pulling your lips down onto his with a longing kiss – feeling the way you smiled at his gentle words.

"And you know that I love you too." You responded – not believing how good it still felt to be able to say those three special words to him.

Inside his head, Arthur was going over everything that had happened – and oddly enough this setting, staying in a foreign room – send his memories reeling back to that eventful first night he had spent with you in Cumberland Forest.

"I wished I'da' just done this with you that night when you was attacked, when we ended up at that hotel in Valentine." He suddenly said, which you thought was rather random – but still incredibly adorable.

"Do what with me?" you asked curiously, tucking some of your hair behind your ear whilst you gazed down on him like he was the most beautiful thing in the world... (he was that to you anyway).

"Held you." He started, and you were aware of the back of his knuckles gently caressing your cheekbone. "Told you how I felt."

You couldn't help but scoff at the irony – that was far from what actually happened.

"It would've saved us a lot of bother." You remarked playfully, a jab that made him pull you down at his side, whilst he turned to face you.

"Well we both know by now that I'm an idiot," he joked with you, gentle fingertips moved some of the estranged strands of hair from your pretty face. "An idiot who knows he made some stupid decisions."

Once again, there was the flash of regret in his eyes. You felt like you would be repeating yourself very soon.

"Like I said, it's the past. This is now." You offered positively, relishing the softness of the crushed red velvet throw under your face and the closeness of Arthur. "And we have a whole lifetime to look forwards to together." You added, subtly starting to pick at the buttons on his shirt – making your first moves which seemed to of humoured him in some way. Clearly it filled his ego knowing you wanted to undress him and have your way.

"Mhm, we do." Arthur simply replied as your hands picked away at his blue shirt, quickly pushing the material apart and finding their way onto the exposed skin of his chest. You roamed your touch freely, only looking up when you could feel him smirking at you.

"Can you blame me?" you asked rhetorically, leaning in to kiss him with one of those tantalising kisses that really drove him crazy for you – not that you knew that.

The gunslingers eyes were hazed with a mixture of pure, unadulterated love – lust, and desire. All of this: the past events, the nights longing for you whilst you were gone – the extreme elation with you return – and this time he so savoured when he was with you – had Arthur feeling he had no better time to say something he so desperately felt he wanted to.

"W-wait..." he stopped you, his voice sounded breathless and shaky. All of a sudden the bed creaked a little with the speed at which he sat up, leaning over the edge of the bed. You frowned, unable to see just exactly what he was foraging for over the bedside.

"Is everything alright?" you asked, hearing rustling from what sounded like his satchel.

Moments later, Arthur surfaced again – with a flustered and desperate look on his face that spelled some alarm to you in the sense he looked as if he wanted to say something – and urgently.

"I just – I just need to ask you-" he fumbled, and now he appeared to be very nervous. "It just seems a good time..." he growled to himself in frustration, tumbling and gabbling over his words. After seemingly telling himself to get a grip, he stared you straight in the eye with an unbreakable stare that both enticed you and made you feel nervous all the same.

"All of this... talkin' about us, and our future," Arthur began, much better composed this time, "I... I realise how much I love you. I'd happily die for you." He declared, making your chest ache with affection for him.

"I... I don't ever wanna' lose you," he further detailed, his tone wavering back into nervous uncertainty. "I really do... want you to... to be mine." He was faltering again, and it was rather strange to see him in such a nervous state.

It was until that very second you saw his hand move from behind his back that it dawned on you – and you wondered how you could've been so bloody stupid to see what he was doing. Of course he was nervous.

Your eyes were already tearing up as that ring box appeared in front of you, you wanted to scream yes and he hadn't actually asked you yet.

"I know we was jokin' earlier in the Jewellers'" Arthur chuckled, his humour creeping in as a backup for his nervous nature. "But... would you marry me, (name)?" he asked you.

Your (eye colour) eyes stared wide at the clover green coloured emerald ring that sat nestled in the beautiful blue velvet of the box.

It was odd how the plain and simple arrangement of his words had you spinning in a crazed spiral, it took you a few moments before you exploded with your reaction.

Arms flung like an excited child, you crushed yourself against him and screamed down his ear.

"Yes! Of course I would!" you wailed now, unable to stop the tears. This felt so incredibly right, how happy you felt was a perfect measure for why you had to say yes... You would want nothing more than be Mrs Morgan.  It didn't take you long to work out that he must've picked up the ring earlier... tactfully asking for you to wait outside with the horses whilst he did so. The thought of him picking out such a beautiful ring just made you feel even more adoration for him, and everything he had done for you.

You were joyed to hear his sweet laughter of relief, his arms around you tightly in elation. For you to of made him so happy whilst he had made you so equally overjoyed – it was an indescribable feeling.

"Thank you." He whispered as he kissed your neck over and over, and aside from driving you crazy with lust – it also made you laugh questionably.

"Why are you thanking me? I should be thanking you." You giggled in response, as he pulled away and gazed into your eyes with such a deep and thoughtful look, a dazed smile on his expression from the rush of this perfect moment.

"No..." he started simply, his husky tones like music to your ears whilst a smile bowed on his lips.

"I'm thankin' you because you gave me another chance to feel I can be happy again."

The earth could've shattered beneath you at that very moment; the sky could open and rain fire – but you would not care. For everything settled in that hotel room; the love you felt, the completion and sheer joy – it shielded you from every ounce of darkness and cruelty the world had to offer.

You laid in your future's arms that night, dreaming pleasantries that would forever take you miles away from any hardship.

Life had been playing dangerous with the pair of you – but now, you really had found hope.

A/N: Writing this chapter made me highkey emotional. I love Arthur so so much and for me as an author to give him a chance to be happy makes me feel really wholesome. He deserved so much better than what he got in game ☹

Anyway – just a heads up this is the nearly the end of the story in the sense that the next couple of chapters will be centred on specific events in yours/Arthur's lives in the future/ what the gang is doing. So the story is still continuing for a couple more chapters – it just wont have the continuity of the rest of the story and will be flashes of their lives years later. (Hope that sounds okay with you guys? Please let me know)

So the story is very much nearly at it's end, and I hope the next couple of chapters will be the unadulterated fluff and happiness that Rockstar blindly robbed from you whilst you were playing Red Dead 2. At this point I am literally just patching up all the holes these Dev's made in my heart sksksks.

See you in the next chapter my sweet angels x