Arthur couldn't help but stare in shock as Josiah Trelawny approached him, accompanied by Dutch.

"Making new friends again I see, Arthur." Trelawny fixed his steel blue eyes on Arthur.

Arthur leaned on the General Stores wall for support, body aching from his fight with that huge feller Tommy. Mud seeping into his clothes and causing him to shiver.

"Josiah Trelawny. I thought you'd gone to New York?" Arthur questioned. From his last 'encounter' with Trelawny the man had stated that Arthur wouldn't be seeing him for a while.

"And miss all your glamour… Dear boy, you must be joking?" Trelawny said, flashing Arthur his dazzling smile.

Trelawny greeted Charles, Javier, and Bill as they walked up. While Dutch and Trelawny spoke Arthur finally sat down and started working his jaw out from where he took an especially powerful punch.

Trelawny's eyes met his for a moment and Arthur noticed the concern hidden in them, but Trelawny quickly turned from him with a smile and followed Javier as Dutch had told him.

"Arthur, get yourself washed up son." Dutch stated, putting his hands on his hips and turning a glare to Bill.

Arthur stayed for a moment to hear Dutch yell at Bill about how useless he was then headed to the Inn across the street, he was dying to soak in a hot bath and soothe his wounds.

Arthur entered the bathroom and slowly took his jacket off, careful of the bruises that were forming. Once the task of getting his clothes off was done he opened the sack he brought with him that held his extra clothing. He dumped the contents on the floor, stopping when a small rolled piece of paper fell out with his clothes.

Arthur unrolled the small note, confused as to how it got there and who put it there, but as soon as he saw the handwriting on the note he knew who it was from.

"Damn magician." Arthur grumbled.

The note was short,

My dear boy, I wholeheartedly apologize for my absence,

for if it had been my choice you know whose side I

would have picked to be at. I will explain all things later.

If you'll still have me? I guess we shall see, room 3B.

Love, Josiah

Arthur wrinkled the note up and put it back in his bag. As he sunk down into his hot bath all he could think about was Josiah Trelawny. It was supposed to be a one time thing. Him and Josiah. That's what they said in the beginning at least, but now… now was different. They met whenever chance called for it. They talked each other through problems and hard times and rants. He never expected any of this but now, now he couldn't stop. Josiah was starting to make him happy... And it scared the shit out of Arthur.

Arthur finished washing up and dressed in his usual attire. It had been at least two months since he last saw Trelawny alone and it bothered him that not seeing or talking to Trelawny had been taking its toll on him. He had become more grouchy and quick around people, Arthur thought as he headed up the stairs of the inn where the rooms were. Arthur was careful this time to mind he was going through the right door, didn't need another incident like last time.

Arthur found the door labeled 3B and pushed it open to find Trelawny staring out the window. He was leaning against its frame with his hands tucked in the pockets of his lavish clothing. Arthur would never get over how perfect Josiah looked, he had always thought he was a good looking man but now he sees just how beautiful he is. The way his mustache was always trimmed with just the right amount of stubble and how his suits always seemed to hug him in just the right places. Everything about this man was just right to Arthur.

"Not normally my taste dear boy but accommodating on my unexpected arrival." Trelawny said turning towards Arthur, looking him over for any serious injuries from the fight. His jacket and hat lay over the bed leaving him in his blue shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows.

"Well I usually sleep in dirt, so it's a damn manson to me" Arthur replied, finally moving from the door and walking to Trelawny. They stared at each other for a moment before finally embracing. Arthur tucked his head into the curve of Josiah's neck, He breathed in his scent deeply, remembering just how much he had missed him.

Arthur leaned back to look at Trelawny, his hands moving to lightly grip his hips, "You've been gone for a while? Wasn't expecting to see you." He grumbled, his voice low and rough.

Trelawny sighed, then smiled "Well, dear boy, as much as I love dodging the law and sleeping in the dirt with you, I do have other business to attend to. Alas, I missed you. Mirabelle wanted to visit family in New York.. she even tried to get me to stay there. Move in with her family, drop my fabulous life of crime. Once we arrived back and I heard of Blackwater, well I didn't think I could move fast enough to find you." Trelawny gently placed his hand on the side of Arthur's face, noticing the way Arthur's face dropped. "I'm still not entirely aware of just what happened there?"

Arthur looked to the floor, "It's because she knows about this.. A'nit? Whatever this is. Ain't nothing for a wife to know of... And I still don't know myself, only that Dutch got us out." Arthur had pulled away from Trelawny. His tone clipped.

"I told you my dear boy, she's known of me for many of years, before we even married. Mirabelle is my best friend. It was a mutual understanding that I would support her and give her children and my social standing would not be questioned. Little people trust a man who hasn't delved into the great American Dream of wife, children, and money." Trelawny reached out to Arthur, grabbing his hand. Noting to ask Dutch about Blackwater.

"I know this is new, and I can't say I know of what this is.. Between us. What we do, I just know that i'm happy and for me that's enough for now, okay?"

Arthur's eyes wore a look of fright for the unknown as he looked up into Trelawny's." I just don't want someone finding out. That's all. Not to sure about your wife knowing, don't trust her much if she married your weasley ass." Arthur said cracking a small smile.

Trelawny closed the distance between them, stopping with his face inches from Arthurs, "Well well well my dear Arthur, we'll just have to see how much trust," he slid his hands up Arthur's chest, " you have for me, now won't we?" Trelawny whispered, before finally kissing Arthur deeply.

Arthur stumbled back a bit until his back hit the wall and he pulled Trelawny flush to him. His hands traveling up Trelawny's back. The heat between them grew as Trelawny deepened the kiss with his tongue darting out to pull at Arthur's lower lip. A low moan escaped Arthur before he could catch it. Trelawny pressed Arthur harder against the wall with his body, letting his hands roam over his toned arms.

Arthur's body tensed when Trelawny went over an extremely tender part of his arm from the fight. He knew Trelawny felt it because within seconds he stopped kissing and touching him.

"What is it? Did I hurt you?" Trelawny asked with concern.

"No, no. It's from the bar fight, i'm sorry." Arthur admitted, feeling bad for ruining the moment because of some sore spots.

"Ah, don't be sorry my boy, I got carried away. We shall have plenty of time for other activities later. But for tonight I think it best if we just rest, hmm?" Trelawny said, slowly leading Arthur to bed.

He helped Arthur into bed with much protest of "I'm not a damn child Josiah" before finally Arthur curled under the covers beside him.

They laid there for the rest of the night, just softly talking about the last two months of each other's lives.