Gawyn's POV

I helped the lads in there armor as the prepared for their next show down, "Knights in shining armor!" said the Great Orlando.

I handed each of them a pistol, stopping at Joe whom after I held his hand as Ned came forth, "Curnow stopped the train." he said solemnly.

"Oh, Jesus," said Steve.

"What does this mean?" asked Dan.

"Hare's on his way." he replied.

"You mean we didn't get any of 'em?"

"Not a soul."

"There'll be a hundred of them," said Joe, giving my hand a squeeze, "At least."

The waiting was the worst of it. We all sat together, Ned, Dan, Steve, Joe, and I, Joe's arm around my waist and my hands, one on my stomach, the other touching his hand that rested on my hip, "You okay, Dan?" asked Ned.

He nodded, "Yeah, I'm okay, Ned."

"Steve?"

"Short life. And a merry one." he said, offering us all a sad smile.

"Bryne?"

"We're gonna give them a good ole fight, aren't we?"

"Lass?"

I didn't know what to say. Four men that I loved were about to die, die for reasons that they weren't guilty of. I looked Ned right in the eyes, the man whom I loved as if he was my own brother, "Give 'em what they deserve and nothin' less, but mind you all be careful."

He smiled sadly at me, glanced at my stomach, glanced at Joe and said, "So, that's that then."

He offered us another smile before turnin' to the crowd, "All right, everyone, listen to me," he said, "We're getting you outta here."

"You must leave with the others," Joe told me, "I think you know as well as I that I will not be makin' it outta here alive."

I didn't want to believe it, but deep down I did know this. I felt tears roll down my cheeks as we kissed and once and then twice, not satisfied with just one, "I don't want to leave you." I said, wrapping my arms around his neck.

People were already making there way out of the building, their hands raised above their heads, "Gawyn, now is not the time to be stubborn. Please, do as I say, for me." he begged.

I knew he said what he did because he loved me and did not want me to die along side him. I knew it was just as hard for him to say this as it was for me to hear it. It was all so hard.

Seeing the sincerity in his eye I nodded, "As long as ya promise to not go down without a fight and a good one at that." I said, smiling sadly.

He returned my smile and hugged me. Every touch seemed precious. I took in every sense every texture of his warm skin against mine. I will remember always the scratchiness of his beard on my cheeks as we shared another long-lasting kiss. He smelled of gun power and dirt, maybe not the loveliest of things, but I wouldn't forget it for the world. Before he bid me off he leaned down and kissed my stomach before giving me another hug and kiss on the cheek.

As I began to walk out of the building I kept looking back to see if Joe was still there. Every time he stood there his eyes on me. I was approaching the doorway when I turned back again to meet his gaze. I can still taste the saltiness of the tears as they silently crept down my cheeks down to my neck as wrapped Pa's tartan around my shoulders before walking out into the cold night.

Everything seemed to be goin' well until they began firing upon us! The innkeeper had been shot dead. Everyone was in a panic and rushed inside. In the hurry I was pushed into a table which I toppled over. I cringed in pain, holding my stomach in hopes that I hit it in no way.

"Gawyn!" I heard from behind me.

Ned hurried to me and helped me to my feet. Taking me by the waist he led me to the front where Dan, Steve, and Joe stood between the windows, guns at the ready, "Get down on the floor." Ned told all of us (with the exception of the Kelly Gang).

I slumped down to the ground were Ned had taken me, my breath quickening from fear. Joe met my gaze, "You alright?" he asked.

I nodded and then shook my head. I didn't know what to be at the moment, all I knew to do was pray that everything would turn out okay, "Let's give it to 'em." said Ned, "Hit the lights."

I hoped to God that that armor worked as they went outside to start the chaos. I was so worried that I didn't realize I was holding my breath until I let it out in relief when the lads returned. Joe sat next to me, "You would mind helpin' me would ye? I figured you have enough experience dressin' and undressin' me, anyhow."

I smiled slightly, "Sometimes I think yer too bold for words." I said, trying to yell over the gun-shots.

How could he keep this humor at a time like this? I wondered as I removed his helmet, "Oh! Dan, reload me pistols!" I heard Ned say, "I got the B****** that shot me. I'll give him that anyways. Rifle! Bullets, come on!"

Dan tossed him the rifle and Joe tossed the bullets as I helped Joe reload his pistol, "God help us." I muttered.

"Aw, the monkey's been shot." Joe said with a smile and chuckle, "Poor little bugger!"

People all around us were being shot. I watched in horror as a boy around my age (seventeen or eighteen) was hit, "Stay low to the ground!" Ned continued to yell.

Tears continued down my expressionless face as I loaded and reloaded Joe's gun, occasionally jumping at the sound of a gun shot, "Ned!" called Joe suddenly, "Where the hell are you goin'?"

"Take this lot out back." he said, putting on his helmet. Even though he said nothing else, we knew what he meant.

"Ned?" said Joe in disbelief as he watched him shoot on his own from the broken window.

I knew what Joe was going to say. I shook my head as he turned to me, "Before you even say it, no. I left you once, I am not gonna do it again," I said, "Call me stubborn all you want, I cannot bring myself to do it again."

"Now's your chance," he shouted to the others, "Quickly! Out that back door, there!"

By this time I was crying (I still do not if it was because of hormones due to my pregnancy or not). He held me close again, trying to comfort me, "Just promise me you will save yourself if anything goes wrong." He whispered in my ear.

I nodded, "I promise."

"I got him!" we heard one of the men scream, "I've gotten Dan Kelly!"

Dan cringed and shot the man from the window, "No you bloody well haven't."

"Jesus Christ, lads," muttered Joe, looking around at all the dead bodies layin' in the room, "Gawyn, you must get out, now."

He stood and helped me up with him. We were just passin' the bar when I heard him grunt and become limp in my arms, "Joe?" I said. I didn't even have to finish that sentence, I knew he had been shot, "Joe!" I cried as I let his head lay in my lap, "Ya can't leave me, not now."

He smiled at me, "You will be fine, go now, while you still can." I didn't want to hear it, but I knew he was right.

I felt his wound. His blood stained my fingers. I cried as I looked in his eyes one more time while he was alive, I took off his ma's ring and tried to put it in his pocket, "No," he said, "You keep it, you are my wife and I love you."

This made me cry even more, "I have always loved you." I said, kissing his cheeks.

He smirked weakly, "I thought so...Gawyn..."

Those were his last words to me. I wept and wept, clinging to his lifeless body, staining my hands and part of Papa's tartan with Joe's blood, "Gawyn!" called Dan, "Go, before it's too late. He would have wanted it."