A/N: Almost reaching the end now – the next part will be the final instalment of this book.

I am super stoked to start writing Gods and Monsters, although I have to finalise the story's plan before I do anything... oops.

Anyway, pleased enjoy this fluffiness!

-

Shady Belle and all it's elations and troubles soon became a memory lingering in the back of everyone's minds once the gang reached their new prosperous plains at California.

Admittedly, the first few weeks when you had all rocked up there were a nightmare; the plot of ranch land was run down – a baron, sandy wasteland with decrepit old outbuildings that needed pulling down and building from scratch. It was in need of a lot more work than everyone had thought.

So you were all crammed into the old farmhouse for weeks – and seeing as it was approaching the beginning of fall, it could become rather chill sometimes at night with the smashed windows and draughty big cracks exposing you all to the outside elements – whatever that may've been.

Immediately it became clear some serious money had to be pulled in – the money collected from before was enough to secure materials for the various barns, stables and machinery needed – but even more cash was then required for livestock, and proper lodgings for everyone in the gang. For some time you felt utterly enraged that things appeared to be going back to the way they were – Dutch having the boys risk their necks on stupid jobs to get enough money in.

Those 6 months through the fall and the depth of winter were the worst you had felt since coming back to the gang. Yourself and Arthur's marriage had been fine before all this, but in the bitter jaws of a ruthless winter, crammed into a house with other frustrated and exhausted people – the seams in your previously idyllic marriage began to fray.

The pair of you fought a lot. Screaming and shouting, storming out of rooms and slamming doors. However, you could not help it, you were so pissed off with this whole set up. This new life was promised to be a new one, one that glimmered and gleamed with opulence. Right now it seemed to be bleak – you often wondered whether this was right, and spent many nights' sleeping alone after another row with your husband.

In these disconcerting times, Hosea offered the best counsel possible. Without him, you were sure you would've almost been at breaking point. The wise older man was so good at making you think about all the toils you had been through already just to be here – to be married to Arthur. He reminded you of the feelings you two had shared, making you recollect how you had been feeling when you were without each other. It helped you see clearly, calm the flaming fire in your gut that burned brightly every so often when Arthur sided with Dutch time and time again. You learned to cool off, withdraw and give both yourself and Arthur time.

This was no easy task or a quick fix – there were days where yourself and Arthur barely even spoke, but to you – that was better than spending all those nights hating each other's very existences'.

--

By at the end of the 6 month struggle, around February time – things picked up.

Enough work and funds had been put into the gang's growing ranch to be able to set up lodgings across the acres. The members of the gang not tied to a significant other had began to set work on making the farmhouse a more habitable environment – whilst yourself and Arthur, John, Abigail and Jack – as well as Dutch and Molly – all got a lodge built for yourselves. It meant that for the first time in what seemed like forever, you finally had some privacy once again with your husband.

The uneasiness began to fade now money was stable, and the gang was able to work the land and the newly acquired livestock for money rather than do stupidly dangerous crimes. It offered you a sense of stability and peace, you didn't have to spend every moment worrying what the next risky job would be.

This of course, naturally – significantly improved your married relationship once again. After what was seemingly an eternity, love and affection became a priority again. There was many a night you had spent in an earth-shatteringly passionate tangle with your one and only, and it made you feel as if nothing had ever been wrong. You were beginning to see the brilliant opulence that was first promised to the gang by Dutch back at Shady Belle.

-

Winter faded into spring, and with it's summer light brought new joys such as delicate lambs springing in the dusty paddocks, fresh new crops and an overall sense of relief that this was the end of what had been a dark and dreary old winter – but physically and emotionally, for everyone.

It was mid April, and it had not been long since your 24th birthday when things had started to change for you. Many sunny mornings you had awoke feeling turbulently ill, dizzy, hot – and running out to throw up. This persisted and prolonged on, and had not seemed to be getting any better. Rather worried, you had confided in Abigail – who was rather like your elder sister as well as your best friend. From the moment you had described what had been happening to you – the sickness, the dizzy feeling and the fact you had not bled for quite some time – she immediately and quietly took herself out into the nearby town with you to seek some medical attention from the local doctor.

It had been nice for Abigail to go with you, for when you had been assessed by the doctor he came to the very clear conclusion that you were expecting a child. You recalled the sense of panic and flurry of thoughts following the doctor's words, Abigail clutching your hand tightly as your empty eyes stared out at nothing – worrying over it all. You were going to be a mother – which was a terrifying and amazing thought itself, but you were scared as to how Arthur would react.

Oddly enough, there had been various times the pair of you had been laid up in bed, or talking over the table at dinner about your futures'. You often mentioned how you would like a family one day, and Arthur always constantly put himself down. He would say he was not good enough to be a father, after what had happened in the past with Isaac, (a story you had been very sad to hear) and made himself out to be this huge disappointment that he totally was not. It hurt you to see him be so negative – because you had seen him so many times with Jack and he would be such a perfect father.

-

None the less you panicked yourself all the way back to the ranch that night, yourself and Abigail arrived as the sun was setting, so naturally you weren't surprised to see a rather worried looking Arthur pacing the lodge's main room when you opened the front door.

He immediately had pulled you into his arms.

"Where've you been?" he exclaimed, "Is everythin' alright?" It was clear he had then seen the washed out look on your face.

You could recall it all so clearly, as the pair of you sat down at the pine wood table set, facing one another. Arthur was still dressed in his work attire for the day, a tan brown and off white plaid shirt, the first few buttons undone –  sun-scorched brown leather hat on his head and workman's gloves thrown carelessly on the kitchen table. You remembered how shaky your hands were when you took his own, feeling like a fragile mouse taking hold of a bear's paw.

"I am pregnant, Arthur."

You could hear the uneasiness in your voice, the shock and the fear of what sort of reaction you were to be met with from your darling husband. The moment you dared to lift your eyes to meet his, you remembered and cherished the most doting, beautiful smile that captured his expression.

For a man who seemed so bleak, so downbeaten of himself about the prospect of becoming a father – the way his face lit up was golden and instantly caused your previous doubts to scatter like a passing thunder cloud.

Arthur later confessed to you that night that he had actually been thinking over the past few weeks or so, pondering over what you mentioned about a family – how you had wanted one so badly. He told you he knew he wanted to provide for you in that moment, to be happy with you and give you everything you wanted. From this alone, he said, he knew he was beginning to feel like it was about time for him to have a family with you.

-

And therefore, over the coming months – not even the morning sickness, the aching back pains and your growing bump could stop your sense of utter elation and excitement.

Abigail had forewarned you that it would be a gruelling time, particularly as you were going to be pregnant all through the hot summer.

She was not wrong in some ways, as your baby grew more and more – you found some jobs became less and less tolerable. The summer season expelled heat that you could not stand, your temper became terrible at tiems and even someone as apparently 'tough' as your Arthur often backed off when you were having one of your hormonal spats.

By the last few months of your pregnancy, winter closing in once again – you were near enough ready for this bay to arrive.

Not that you did not enjoy the tender moments too, especially at night when you were waiting to drift off to sleep. Arthur seemed to like talking no end to his unborn child, his hands wandering all over your stretched stomach, whispering sweet nothings against the side of your bump.

"You gonna be good tonight? Not kick your mother so much...?" he whispered to the bump that had all of a sudden started shifting, causing you to laugh sleepily. It was such a strange sensation, but a magical one all the same. It seemed to be that the baby loved to wriggle, kick and make a fuss whenever Arthur started to talk to them.

"I don't know... they're never still all through the night." You replied, your hand absently reaching down by your side where Arthur was resting his head near your tummy, and your finger's tangled sleepily through his ashy brown hair.

You felt his lips on your bump, causing you to break into a dreamy little smile. Already he was so doting, he seemed so in love with his son or daughter to be already and he hadn't met them yet.

"Well that ain't fair now is it?" Arthur then added against your skin, you could hear his laughter upon the moment the baby had obviously kicked out and nudged the area of skin in your stomach where he had his cheek placed to your bump.

"Kickin' me now too? Think you're tough?" he joked, his tone causing you to break up into a bout of tired laughter.

"Oh they're super tough... and super stubborn, kicking non-stop despite what we say." You whispered in the dark, "Must take after their daddy."

In the pitch black you felt shifting and heard the bed creak a little, and soon enough Arthur was right behind you again, his lips on your neck lovingly.

"Or is it that they're a goddamn fidget, like their mother?" he teased you, wrapping his arms around you and resting his hands protectively on your bump. You cherished the sensation so dearly, not to mention the perfect relief when he had slipped his hands just underneath – relieving the pressure you felt on your pelvis from the weight of the baby. He knew too well and cared so much.

"A combination of both." You hummed some minutes after, feeling his smile on the back of your neck as his thumbs passively and tenderly caressed over your stretched skin.

"I love you both, so much." Arthur's sleep rich tones hummed, husked with adoration and exhaustion entwined.

"We love you too." You were very quick to reply through the dark, pushing your back against his chest and relishing the closeness of him and the warmth and sense of protection he provided.

All those worries that had engulfed you those months ago... about becoming a mother, not being good enough or letting your baby come to harm ... they all faded away in those tender moments late at night, tucked up in your bed and cradled in the arms of the man you loved more than anything on this earth.

And now your heart was growing even bigger to fit room for one more soul to adore.

-

A/n: I have been thinking about writing this for so long because it's just so soft! Obviously (if you are aware of Arthur's backstory) he did have his little family, but they were taken from him. I didn't want to really expand on this within this little chapter because I wanted to try and keep these last few chapters as fluffy and as satisfying as possible whilst I wrap stuff up.

See you guys in the next - and final chapter. x