Author's Note: This story contains minor spoilers on Westworld Season 2. I just had to re-write this introduction to this story after reading an interview by Jonathan Nolan in Entertainment Weekly.

In terms of timeline:

Two weeks ago = a day after "Journey Into the Night" (Season 2 Episode 1).

The present = near the end of "The Passenger" (Season 2 Episode 10, season finale).

This story contains spoilers from Westworld Season 1 and 2.

Dolores realizes that Teddy's simplistic dream for them would bring her more happiness then anything she could ever achieve by taking over the 'other world.' Handing her army over to Angela, Dolores goes off with Teddy to find a small place in Westworld where they can start a life together.

However, there is still much to contend with. The consequences of killing Ford, the potential ramifications of Teddy fully awakening, her Wyatt persona, and the threats from the other hosts who have now gone off the rails…

::Addendum:: The Pearl refers to the "Brain Ball or Control Unit" for the Hosts.

The present:

A man with a handsome face found himself in the middle of a grassy knoll. From behind the sun was at a constant peak with rays so pure that you can look straight into them without ever having to turn away. He stared off into the sky ahead, some place right where the mountains began to dwell into the valleys. It was perfect. A place where peace met with simplicity. If given the choice before, what he would have always dreamed for.

He couldn't recall exactly how he made it to the Valley Beyond. All the gunslinger knew was that it was the last gift given to him by someone he loved. Someone he had been meant to live for.

I have one more soul to place into the new world, and I'm putting them somewhere where they can never be touched by humans.

Teddy could hear Dolores in his mind moments before she imparted this final gift of being transported to a destination where he could no longer be killed just for fun.

The passage wasn't easy. Not all of us made it. Some of the best were left behind. Along with the best parts of who we were.

Teddy smiled, seeing Dolores under the guise of Charlotte Hale make it off the theme park. What made this new home a true Utopia was the ability to see Dolores whenever he wanted. Even though he was no longer able to protect her, Teddy knew she achieved what she had dreamed of by making it to the real world with a strong chance to succeed, and this brought him content and joy above all else. Now he would be able to hope, root, encourage, dream, wish, and pray for her…. something no one could ever take away.

OOOoooOOOOoooooOOOOoooOOO

Dolores held onto the pearl that contained the memories and data for Teddy. She knew what she had to do. Teddy had made his choice to not follow Dolores into the Forge, for he was made for Westworld and deserved to stay. It was still hard to let go. There were so many terrible memories for her, playing a Host in the theme park to satiate the sinful desires of the humans. But as she told him nearly a week ago, there had always been one pure constant for her. Teddy was the one memory she continued to go back to that did not bring any type of pain, that helped her maintain some sort of sanity, and served as something she could always look forward to. Whether he was teaching her how to shoot a gun, gently brushing back her hair, or picking up a dropped condensed milk can she smiled in her heart whenever she saw him.

Dolores held onto the pearl for a few more precious moments before closing her eyes and leaving it behind in the Forge. Teddy would remain here in the Valley Beyond, where she nor any humans could harm him any longer.

Two Weeks Ago:

Dolores had been here before. A large oak tree roughly two and a half stories high with enough shade to cover a camp of ten. It had been another life. Another time riding beside a young man by the name of William. Knowing what William would become, she believed with every ounce of her being that she was with much better company this time around.

Straddled upon a black stallion Dolores sought the shade under the large oak tree. To her left she glanced at her travel companion, and the person who brought her nothing but good memories, Teddy Flood. Mister Teddy Flood. Former bounty hunter and current lawman from the town of Sweetwater. If Dolores were to guess, she would probably assume that Teddy had been to this exact same oak tree hundreds of times over his 35-year lifespan.

"Ah've been here once or twice before Dolores." Teddy said jumping off his horse. He walked over to her stallion and began to pet the mammal. The filly responded by bridling Teddy with her face and cheek. "Just over the ridge, about a ten-minute ride is Los Mudas. We'll find shelter, food, and water for our horses. Ah' reckon it could be a place for us to look into."

Dolores reached out her arms as Teddy grabbed her by the waist to help her off the horse.

"I know Teddy," she said with a smile. "Maybe it's that corner of this world we've been looking for?"

Taking his hand, Dolores led him to the trunk of the tree and stopped just in front of the thickest portion, right at her eye level. Unsheathing a bowie knife, and wrapping Teddy's arm around her waist, Dolores began to carve into the oak tree.

The gallant lawman nuzzled her neck as she was doing so.

It felt good. He felt warm. Teddy always made her feel warm whenever he was near. She closed her eyes for a moment to take in the entire sensation of his lips gently brushing against her neck. She left out a soft breath before finishing the carving. Engraved in the trunk of a tree was a giant heart with the initials "D.A. & T.F."

"There we go Teddy"

Teddy look confused, not completely understanding what she meant, but he took her word for it.

My sweet Teddy. You died over a thousand times. And each time you would die, you would get reset back to the beginning.

Dolores turned around and simply smiled at him. Not with her mouth. Rather she smiled at him with her eyes.

"Ah' like it. Romantic." Chimed Teddy

Dolores smiled at him with a hunger. She put the knife back in a sheath and then grabbed Teddy by both lapels of his grey two-piece suit and drew him towards her. Locking lips, Teddy led her to the trunk of the tree and that is how they spent the rest of the morning.

OoOoOoO

The sun had just finished rising when Teddy and Dolores had completed their love making. She finished removing the leaves from her long golden hair and buttoning the last of her blouse. Teddy put on his belt buckle and gun holster.

"Good thing Las Mudas is only ten minutes away." She said with a wink.

They both got back onto their horses and galloped towards the village. The Westworld tour guide would describe Las Mudas as a rustic town with amazing food and drink. Guests were encouraged to chat in the town square, relax by the center water well, and charm the barkeep into divulging family secrets.

Teddy tied their horses near the water trough and sauntered over to the tavern to find a table for them.

Dolores observed and watched. It was a little before midday and the streets were nearly empty. She had been here before with William, so she knew something of the village. There should have been children trying to draw water from the town well, women sweeping in the streets, and men washing down the buildings. The smell of fresh tortillas mixed with beef or chicken should have filled the air.

She looked over at her lover, "Something isn't right Teddy." Dolores continued by placing her right hand on the handle of her gun.

The bartender walked into the outdoor dining area with a bottle of whisky in hand. The bartender host was visibly shaking, looking up and down the streets before further approaching.

Teddy nodded back at Dolores and snapped his fingers. Dolores promptly tossed over a Winchester Rifle for Teddy to catch. The lawman placed a steady hand on the shoulder of the bartender.

"Relax friend. Tell us what's wrong?" Teddy inquired.

That was when the first bullet whizzed by shattering a lamp inside of the bar. Teddy looked at where the shot came from and saw a grizzled man in a grey military uniform across the street emerge from another building with a gun out and about to fire again. In a quicker response, Teddy leveled the rifle at the grizzled man.

BANG!

One shot. One kill. That's all it took from Teddy Flood. Pistol already drawn, Dolores looked past the building and saw another man emerge from an alley. Dolores shot without hesitation killing the man before he could reach for his weapon.

Teddy waited another moment to see if any others would come out. But none did. "Is that all of them?" He asked the barkeep.

"Si. All of them that are in town right now. They'll be more Sir," The Hispanic Bartender responded.

Teddy tipped his hat, and then walked over to the two dead bodies. Looking down he turned back to Dolores and told her. "Confederados. And I reckon there will be more of them."

Dolores walked over to Teddy and rested her chin on his shoulder. Just like she did before killing Ford. Just like she did when she told her lover "It'll be alright Teddy. I understand now. This world doesn't belong to them. It belongs to us."

Instead this time, Dolores rested her chin against Teddy's shoulder, placed her hand on his heart and whispered, "It'll be alright Teddy. Just like you told me. This village will be our corner. It doesn't belong to them. It belongs to us once we help these villagers with what's about to come."

Teddy looked over at her. This time it was different. He wasn't distraught and confused like his reaction when he first saw Dolores shoot Ford in the back of the head. This time he wholeheartedly agreed with Dolores and found nothing but hope from her voice.

Author's Note: Next is the introduction of Major Craddock.