It was not safe for to remain in one place for too long, so, unfortunately, their stay with Miss Julia Cook was short-lived. However, seeing as they were so close to Ned's old homestead, he couldn't resist paying his sisters a quick visit, even if it was only for the night. He had no notion of when the opportunity would present itself again, nor if it ever would.

Kate and Grace were kind to them, offering them a warm meal, bed to rest their heads, and a warm seat by the fire; luxaries which seemed harder and harder to come by these days. Kara ate her stew soundlessly as Ned chatted with his sisters, rehashing all of the adventures and hardships that they had endured over the years. Even as he spoke, however, it did not pass her notice that Kate's eyes continued to drift to her, watching her as she ate. Her gaze wasn't that of malice, but rather confusion and genuine interest.

When the opportunity arose for her to speak, Kate wasted not a single breath on voicing her thoughts. "Beggin' yer pardon brother, as much as I've enjoyed yer stories an' am relieved to have you safely home, I must admit that I've been most anxious fer you to introduce me to yer lass." Her lips broke into a bright smile as she reached across her rather bemused brother. "Pleased to me ya, Miss." She said happily, extending her hand to Kara who took it reluctantly, looking helplessly to Ned.

"Well, actually, you see-"

"No need to be shy about it, Miss." Kate assured her, cutting her off mid-sentence. "'Tis always a pleasure to have more women folk around, ya see. We always knew that someday Ned would fiind himself a fine lass like yourself, settle down an' have a family...of course, we thought that all this outlawin' would delay that quite a bit, but-"

"Kate," Ned began, attempting to put an end to her ramblings, "You don' understand, she-"

"What I don' understand, Ned Kelly, is why you didn' write me sooner! God knows we need some good news in this family!" Her expression softened as her eyes returned to Kara. "Ned always was a shy one, ya see. Never brought home any girls or nothin', so this truly is an exciting moment for me, havin' ya. Tell me, has he married ye yet? Oh, that would be awful romantic!"

"Kate!" Ned near shouted. "For the love of Christ, will you please shut up?"

Narrowing her eyes at her brother, she crossed her arms over her chest angrily, slumping back into her chair, but clasped her lips nonetheless.

"Thank ye." He said, sighing briefly before looking between the two women between whom he was sandwiched. "Now, Kate, this is Kara. Kara Wallace. We came about her some years ago when her stagecoach had been robbed; we rescued her from a band of robbers and escored her back home a few weeks after."

Kate's eyebrows knit together in confusion, and before Ned could continue, she interjected: "Then how are ye here now, if this happened years ago?"

"I wasn't expecting them, but they happened to be riding through town one morning when I was supposed to be leaving Austrialia for London..." Kara said, unable to help herself, her lips curled into a smile as she recalled the memory. "I thought I had left this part of my life behind me, I was ready to begin a new chapter of my away from it all, where I could forget everything and everyone...but try as I might, Joseph Byrne wouldn't allow me to leave, and I came to realize that I couldn't leave him, not again."

Ned waited patiently until he was certain that she had said her peace before he spoke. "So, Kate, as I was trying to tell ye, Kara, unfortunately," he added, grinning at her jokingly, "Has been claimed by another, but she has been a welcome addition to our company."

Kate nodded absentmindedly, but her face had long since fallen into a somber frown. She had grown up knowing Joe, knowing the kind of man he was, and, upon realizing that it was he who had claimed the lady's heart, immediately felt pity for the poor girl, knowing very well that he would never be the kind of man to give offer what a proper lady deserved. Joe was the type of man to enjoy the chase, but did not care to stay to tend the relationship any farther after it had been obtained. "I certainly wish you the best." Was all that she could bring herself to say.


Against his better judgement, Joseph Byrne found himself ambling about town, a bottle of rum held loosely in his hand as he wandered aimlessly amongst the dark, quiet shops which had long since been closed for the night. Unaware of where his feet were leading him, he was rather surprised to find himself standing in front of the very pub where he had, once upon a time, spent his nights with Maggie. It felt natural to him to come here, because he had for so many years. Before Kara, Maggie had been the closest thing he'd ever had to a steady relationship and, now more than ever, he was certain that he could never care for her in the same way she cared for him.

Before he could do anything about it, a hand extended to him from within the dark establishment and pulled him inside by his collar. He distinctly heard the door close behind him before he was shoved into a chair, a figure situating themselves atop his lap and proceeding to attack him with kisses. "M-Maggie?" He managed between kisses. "Is that...is that you?"

A feminine voice sighed pleasantly. "Who else would it be?" She asked, wrapping her arms around him, pressing her body closer to him whilst she continued to plant kisses down his neck. "You've been gone fer so long, I was wondering when ye were gonna pay me another visit." She moved her hips against him in a way that made him begin to feel uncomfortable. "I've missed ye, Joe."

"Maggie, I-"

Pressing her finger to his lips, she returned her lips to his neck, proceeding to unbutton his shirt. "Please, let's talk later." She almost begged. "I need you."

Shaking his head, he grasped her hands, stopping her progress. "No, Maggie." He said firmly, waiting until he was certain that he had gotten the message across before he began to button up his shirt. "I can't be with you anymore. I'm sorry."

"I-I don' understan'..." She said, her voice almost a whisper. She looked at him, almost frightened, collecting her skirts and removing herself from his lap. "I...I though' that...ye always came back...I though' that maybe ye would grow ta...grow ta love me."

"I'm sorry, Maggie, truly." He sighed, resting his hand upon his knees. "If I am honest with ye, I think there were times I almost believed that, myself. Yer a great woman, Maggie, ya really are, I hope ye know tha', but...she's somethin' special." Unable to help himself, his lips curled into a smile. "She make me crazy... she's beautiful, an' stubborn, an' smarter than I'd ever hope to be..." He shook his head. "I don' deserve her..."

"I...I understand." she said, slowly. "I am a woman...I know when a man is not in love with me...well, at least I know when a man is obviously thinkin' of another woman while kissing me. I...I think I knew from the moment I brought you in here. You were...so distant. It's unlike ya."

Smiling, he stood, straightening his clothes before he turned towards the door. He paused a moment before making his way back to her, bending forward and planting a kiss upon her forehead. "Thank you."

She smiled a bit, lowering her head in a bad effort of concealing her blush. "Well, if ya love the lass so much, why are you here and not with her?" She asked, placing her hands on her hips playfully. "Now get on with ya! I'll not have ya keepin' her waitin'."


In the faint light of the lantern glow which hung above them, Kara appeared like a dark silhouette as he watched her dress from where he lay upon their makeshift bed of worn blankets and straw. He was captivated by the way her long hair fell messily down her back and over her chest as she fumbled with her corset strings. The soft candle light seemed to illuminate her skin in a way that made it almost impossible for him to fight off the urge to attack her again.

He was drawn from his thoughts when she stopped suddenly, her hands falling to her sides in frustration, her gaze shifting to him. "What should happen if something should come out of this?" she almost demanded. If he didn't know better, he might have thought that she was angry with him, but he knew by the look in her eyes that it was fear which compelled her, not anger.

Reaching his arms out to her, he pulled her to him, cradling her close to him, allowing her body to mold with his as she rested her head upon his chest. "Whatever happens, we will face it together, like we always have." He assured her. "We can overcome anything, you an' I."

"But..." He could feel her nimble fingers playing with the collar of his shirt as her words faltered. "W-would you grow bored of me?" Her voice quivered as she spoke, her grip tightening on his shirt. "I do not regret being with you. You make me feel safe, and wanted, and...loved. Every time together...I can't help but fear that they day will come when you will not want and desire me anymore." He could feel wetness through the fabric of his shirt. "It only takes one time, Joe...and I'm scared."

Squeezing her into a tight embrace, he kissed her forehead with so much fervor that she sighed between her sniffles. "I lost ye once, I will not let tha' happen again." Brushing her hair from her face, he gazed upon her tear-stained eyes before capturing her lips in a gentle kiss. "I have met many women in my days...had many in my days, but I hope ye believe me when I tell ye tha' I've never loved any of them...until you." He traced a finger over her cheek and over her jaw. "And I will say something that I've never said to anyone before...I love you, Kara."


When finally he had returned to the homestead, the night was as black as ink. Kara had long since went to bed with Kate and Grace in the room which they shared with their mother and Dan, Ned, and Steve had retired in the loft which used to be Dan and Ned's bedroom. He prepared to make his bed with them when a voice spoke to him through the darkness. "Joe?" It was Ned. "Where have you been?"

His lips curled into a smirk. "Was I really that long?" He was suddenly thankful for the darkness of the room as he felt heat rush to his cheeks, a strange phenomenon to him. He had never been embarrassed about his ventures before, but with Kara he felt sheepish as a little boy caught in childhood mischief.

"Aye, just as I thought." He said, his voice low so he didn't disturb the other sleeping men. "I'm glad for you, Joe, I really am...I wan' ya to be 'appy, I haven't seen ya so giddy since yer first time, but I still worry...Joe, she's just a girl."

Joe shrugged as he continued to lay out his bed. "I didn' pressure her. She wanted me to. Besides, she's nineteen now, she's not a child anymore."

Ned chuckled softly. "Aye, that's true, but I jus' want ye to be careful. She's a good girl...I care about her a lot, as if she were my own kin...I care about both of ye." He sighed, running his hands over his bearded chin. "I just don' want her to be hurt. I know she loves ye, tha' I don' doubt...I'm just worried that this life...running 'ere and there...she deserves more than this...she had more than this. I worry that she might come to regret leaving behind all that she had...especially if the day comes that she's not enough for ye anymore."

"That will NOT happen." He sneered. "I love her and she loves me. That will never change."

"I...I believe ye mean tha', Joe. I just...just worry about the future sometimes. We can' run forever you know, and sometimes...sometimes I fear our day of reckoning is approaching faster than we would like."

Joe shook his head dismissively. "Enough of this talk, go to sleep, Ned. Ya get paranoid these days when yer tired." He said, stifling a yawn. "I reckon we both could use some rest."

Ned nodded, retreating to his own make-shift bed. Joe sighed, laying down and rolling on his side. He wanted to believe that there was no truth in what Ned had said, but in the back of his mind he too knew that it was only a matter of time.