This chapter is my attempt to answer why Dutch was trying to steal chickens in 1895, since that's how he met Javier apparently!

Also, I know I'm rushing events a little and skipping over many months/years at a time. I don't want to spend hundreds of thousands of words getting to the "RDR2 events" of this story haha! But hopefully everything flows nicely.

Chapter 24: Parents

When Arthur found John on the edge of camp, his younger brother didn't bother to look up before snarling, "You here to yell at me, too?"

Arthur overheard the long arguments between John and Abigail, followed by one between John and Dutch, and didn't think John needed another one. He sat down on the log with him and said, "Well, I'd give you a lecture about getting a girl pregnant, but I think that would make me a hypocrite. You doing alright?"

"I didn't get her pregnant. That baby isn't mine!"

"So you pulled out every time?"

"Yes! Well, there was one time, things kind of happened fast," John said, embarrassed. "But it was just once!"

"Sometimes once is all it takes," Arthur said, patting John on the shoulder. "Trust me, I know."

"But that doesn't mean… I know she was sleeping with other people."

"Not recently," Arthur said.

"You can't know that I'm the father for sure. No one can."

"Look, if Abigail says you're the father, you probably are. She hasn't worked in town in a long time." John and Abigail had been getting pretty close over the last few months, and Abigail was doing chores in camp and not… that.

"Then what if it's someone in the gang?" John asked.

"Like who?"

"Sean or Bill maybe. Or Uncle, seeing as he's the one who brought her back here."

"God help that baby if Uncle is the father," Arthur joked. "And between us, I ain't sure if Abigail is Bill's type."

"This isn't funny!" John said. "How am I supposed to be a father if I don't even know the baby is mine? How did you know Isaac was yours?"

"I mean, look at him," Arthur said. Isaac had a bit of Eliza's face, but the rest of him was all Arthur.

"Yeah, but what about when Eliza told you she was pregnant?"

"I don't know," Arthur said. "I guess I just believed her. Couldn't see any reason why she'd lie about it. Do you really think Abigail would lie?"

"What if she's trying to, I don't know, lock me down or something? I don't want to get married."

"Hold on, hold on," Arthur said. "No one said you had to marry her."

"She said she doesn't want to raise a baby alone."

"Well, of course not! She needs help, and I'm sure she wants you involved. You two do seem to like each other."

"But I don't want to be a father!" John said.

Arthur sighed. "Why not?

He learned to ask that question with Isaac. Whenever his son was adamantly against going somewhere or doing something, Arthur was sure to ask why. Usually, the answer was fear or uncertainty, and Arthur could try to help him through it. He had a feeling John's reluctance to accept his kid was from something similar.

"I- she- how am I supposed to be a father?" John stammered. "I don't know how to raise a kid!"

"Listen, John, I know how you feel."

"No you don't. You're great with Isaac, always have been."

"That's not true. I had no idea what to do when Eliza told me. I tried to do right, but I had to learn a whole lot."

"Really?"

"I was terrified," Arthur said. "I didn't know what to do, and I was sure I was going to mess up. I swore I would help Eliza financially, but fatherhood? I wasn't sure I could do that. But when I held Isaac that first time, I knew I had to learn."

"I don't know, Arthur," John said, staring down at the grass and kicking a small rock down the hill.

"Listen, just talk to Abigail. We're all going to support and help you both, but you and Abigail need to figure out what will work for you. I'm sure she's just as scared as you. Probably more. She doesn't get to ask if the kid is hers."

"Okay," John said. "I'll talk to her again. But if that kid is a redhead…"

Arthur laughed, "In that case, you have my permission to force Sean into parenthood."

"I'm still don't know how that kid could be mine. I- I just don't know. I shouldn't be a father."

"That's why you need to actually talk to Abigail. Talk, not yell. Go on, now," Arthur said, giving him a slight push.

Arthur crossed his fingers that the second conversation between John and Abigail. He couldn't hear them, so that was an improvement. After a minute, Hosea slid into the spot John vacated. "Thank you," Hosea said. "I know Dutch means well, but he really wasn't helping."

"Yeah, shouting at him about responsibility was not the way to go," Arthur said.

"I talked to Dutch after, and calmed him down a little. Abigail is, of course, welcome to stay with the gang whether she and John are together or not," Hosea said. "And I reminded him of some of the conversations we had when you were trying to figure out what to do with Isaac."

"About leaving the gang? And living honest?" Arthur asked. "I don't see John doing that. Not right now."

"No, but I felt it best to remind Dutch that we will not discourage our kids from taking that option," Hosea said.

"Besides, aren't we all heading in that direction with the ranch?" Arthur said.

"Sure, but we still have a long way to go. And a lot to buy for a baby."

"I wish I'd kept some of Isaac's old clothes, but I didn't think we'd ever need them. It wasn't worth packing."

"It would have been a lot of stuff to drag around these last few years," Hosea joked.

Arthur looked over to Isaac, watching John and Abigail from afar with a confused expression. "I'm going to have to give him the talk, aren't I?"

Hosea placed a hand on Arthur's shoulder and said, "I think he's overheard enough to have some questions. Good luck, Arthur. Call me if you need any help."

Arthur sighed, and walked over to Isaac. "You doing alright?" he asked. "I know there's a lot going on."

"I guess," Isaac said. "Why does everyone keep saying the baby is an accident? I thought people have babies because they want to."

"That's a bit complicated," Arthur started. "You see, when two people like each other, they sometimes do something called sex."

Arthur launched into a simple explanation of the mechanics involved, and how it could result in a baby. At the end, Isaac raised an eyebrow and said, "That sounds kind of gross."

"Yeah, I guess just talking about what goes on, it does sound gross," Arthur chuckled. "But when you're with someone who wants to have sex with you, and you want to do it with them, it can be fun. And feel good. So, people do it even when they aren't trying to have kids, and they try to be careful, but that doesn't always work."

"Was I… never mind."

"What?"

"Did you and Ma want to have me? Or was I…"

"Oh," Arthur said. "Well, we, uh, weren't planning on having a kid."

"So, I was an accident?" Isaac whispered.

"Hey, come here," Arthur said, wrapping an arm around Isaac and pulling him into a hug. "I don't want you thinking that your ma and I didn't want you, because we did. Finding out she was pregnant… it was confusing and unexpected. But we wanted you, and loved you before we even met you."

"Really?"

"Really. And John and Abigail? They're just as confused, worried, and surprised as we were, but with a little help and support, I think they'll be happy to have a kid, too."

Isaac nodded, leaning into Arthur's hug.

"What do you think about there being a baby here? You excited?"

"I guess."

"Babies need a lot of care and attention," Arthur said. "And since I'm the only one here who knows how to care for babies, I'll probably be helping them out a lot. But I promise to keep spending time with you, and if I'm not doing enough, you let me know, okay?"

"Okay, Pa."

"That's my boy," Arthur said.

Over the next few months, Abigail came to Arthur more than John with her questions and concerns. Arthur figured she wanted the advice of another parent, but he could tell it annoyed John. Despite Abigail reassuring John again and again that the baby was his, that he was the only one she was having sex with around the time she got pregnant, John still couldn't wrap his head around the idea that he was going to be a father. And the more he ignored Abigail, the more she went to Arthur, and the more John grew suspicious that Abigail wasn't telling the truth. That there was a mistake. That he wouldn't have to raise a child.

At the same time, Arthur suspected that John liked Abigail more than he was letting on, and was jealous.

"Arthur, do you have a minute?" Abigail asked. John sent Arthur a glare.

"Sure, Abigail. How are you feeling?"

"Okay, I guess. A little tired."

"What's going on?"

"I need some new clothes. These are getting a little tight," she said awkwardly.

Arthur sighed. "Did you ask John about it?"

"No, not yet," she said. "He always seems so bothered when I ask him for help."

"I'll talk to him," Arthur said, pulling a few bills from his satchel. "And here, take some money for new clothes."

"Thank you, Arthur," she said.

Arthur watched her leave, then went over to John, who was chopping wood. "What?" he asked.

"You can't just keep ignoring Abigail."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard."

"She's the one who keeps going to you for everything."

"She keeps coming to me because I help her. And I can answer some of her kid questions," Arthur said. "Why are you avoiding her?"

"Look, I promised I'd do her share of the work so she can stay with the gang," John said. "What more am I supposed to do?"

"Care for her, maybe?" Arthur suggested. "Listen to her concerns? Spend a little more time with her? Come on, I know you like her."

"Yeah, I like her, okay?" John said. "But I don't want a kid!"

"Well, she kind of comes with one now. And it's yours."

"I can't have a kid, Arthur. I know you and Dutch and Hosea want me to be a father, but I can't. I'm going to screw it up!"

"You ain't gonna screw it up," Arthur said. "How many times do I have to tell you? We're all here, we'll all help you."

John turned away and went back to chopping wood, the logs splintering and almost exploding under the force of his ax.

"John, stop," Arthur said. "This kid won't grow up like we did, I promise."

"What the fuck do you know about how I grew up?"

"I know my biggest fear with Isaac was becoming just like my daddy," Arthur said. "And I never got the feeling yours was much better."

John threw down the ax, collapsing onto the stump. "Yeah, he wasn't good. But after he died? That was worse sometimes."

"John, your kid is going to have so many uncles and aunts helping out. You won't ever have to worry about him being alone or messing up." John didn't look up, so Arthur continued, "And being a father? John, you are good with Isaac, too. You've always looked out for him. In fact, I seem to recall you taking care of him when I was laid up with my leg."

"I didn't do much."

"You made him feel safe," Arthur said. "I know it being your kid is different, but you've got to trust me on this. Kids ain't too complicated. Love them, care for them, listen to them… and I promise you'll be fine."

Arthur wondered if he'd gotten through to John, because it looked like John was starting to think. And then John said, "When you got hurt, everyone was real scared. Isaac thought you were dead, and I had to go into town to see you for him."

"I remember Dutch telling me that," Arthur said, nodding along but not sure where this was going.

"When I got there, Dutch was… what if that was me?"

"If you're worried about being in danger and your kid losing you, then talk to Dutch and Hosea."

"I know, but… the way Dutch was talking to you, he's like our father, Arthur. What if my kid got hurt like that? Aren't you ever scared for Isaac?"

"Of course," Arthur said. "All the time, but you can't let that keep you from having a relationship with your kid. And like I said, your kid is going to have so many folk looking out for him. We'll keep him safe."

John nodded, attempting a joke. "I'm being an idiot, aren't I?"

Arthur laughed and said, "I think you're being a father. And you thought you'd be bad at it."

"I still don't know what to do," John said.

"You can start by driving your woman into town to get some new clothes. Maybe buy her dinner, have a proper date."

"Okay."

"And trust me, John. Your kid is going to be just fine."

John glanced over to Abigail, who was asking around for someone to help take her into town, and rushed over to her. He paused, calling over his shoulder, "Thank you, Arthur," before grabbing Rory and one of their other Suffolk Punches to hitch to the wagon.

As the gang settled into an abandoned homestead for the winter and Abigail got closer and closer to her due date, Dutch and Hosea started looking into land just over the border in California. They were stuck in Carson City, unable to start the journey over the Sierra Nevada until after the snows began to melt. Most folk out west knew the story of the Donner Party, and considering that Dutch planned to travel by Lake Tahoe to get to the fertile valley in central California, where they hoped to find their ranch, they figured they'd work Carson City for a while.

At least, that was the plan, since most of the heavy snowfall in the Sierra Nevada stayed in the Sierra Nevada. But just after the new year, a few heavy clouds made their way a little farther and dumped two feet of snow on the ground, effectively trapping them all in the house and burying all the chickens they kept for eggs and emergencies.

"What are we supposed to do?" John asked. "We need food!"

"Calm down, everyone!" Dutch said. "We have food reserves, we are going to be fine."

"We have plenty of canned food to last us a while, and I'm sure the storm will clear enough to make it to the general store soon," Annabelle added.

They really did have enough food, especially since Hosea, Karen, Mac, and Davey were all stuck out in Carson City on a scam they'd been running, but cabin fever was setting in fast, and as the storm continued, so did the complaining. Everyone decided that the solution was fresh meat, and within a few days, Dutch had enough.

"Fine! You want to eat chicken so bad? I'll find us some chickens." And he stormed off into the snow.

"Well, at least we don't got to listen to his complaining anymore," Arthur said to Isaac. He and his son were having a great time, going sledding and having snowball fights. It was a nice break from hunting, even if folk were begging him to go hunting for the game that was probably hunkered down to wait out the storm, too.

"Arthur?" John called from the doorway.

"Hey, have you heard the good news? Dutch is going to save us!" Arthur said, before taking in John's pale face.

"It's, uh, it's time," John said.

"What?"

"Mr. Morgan!" Susan shouted, bursting into the room. "Do you think you can make it to town? We need that midwife, now!"

"Yeah, Bo can make it, I'm sure," Arthur stammered, checking the snow out the window. The wind had slowed, at least. "Now? You sure?"

"Yes, now! And fast."

"Okay," he said. In the other room, Abigail was calling for John again. "Keep an eye on Isaac for me, will you?"

"I'm fine, Pa," Isaac said.

"There's a whole house full of people, Mr. Morgan," Susan said. "Go on now!"

With one last look at Isaac, then Abigail and John, Arthur ran out into the snowstorm, tacked Boadicea, and started towards town. Even pushing as fast as he was, it took him over an hour to get to town and to the house of the midwife Susan had selected in preparation for the birth. They were prepared, after all. The weather, however…

"John's kid would decide to come in the middle of a blizzard," Arthur grumbled as he trudged to the house. "Isaac had the decency to choose a nice day."

He pounded on the door for at least two minutes before a woman opened the door. "Miss Torres?"

"Oh, don't tell me," the woman said. "You have a baby coming in this weather."

"Yes," Arthur said. "We're at a homestead about an hour out of town."

"Good lord," Miss Torres said.

"I've got a horse. You can ride with me."

"I should hope so, young man," she said. "Let me get my bag."

Arthur pushed Boadicea even more on the way back, reassuring her that she would get all his peppermints when they were back at the barn. As they rode through town, Arthur caught sight of Hosea leaving the general store. "Hosea! Abigail's having the baby!" he shouted across the road.

Hosea jumped, but a smile spread across his face. He yanked the saloon door open and shouted, "Mac! Davey! Karen! You can handle things here, right?" Whatever they said was lost in the wind, but Hosea was mounting Silver Dollar and following Boadicea down the road towards their homestead.

When they got back to the house, John was sitting in the middle of the living room, his fingers shaking around his whiskey glass. "Everything okay?" Arthur asked him.

"She kicked me out," John said.

Arthur laughed as he sat down next to John. Annabelle escorted the midwife to Abigail's room, and he heard Abigail let out a string of curses when the door opened. "Everything will be just fine, John."

"She says it's all my fault and she's never having another one," John groaned.

"I'm pretty sure Eliza said something similar about me when she was having Isaac," Arthur said. "Speaking of which, I'm going to check on him real quick. Tilly? You mind keeping John company?"

"Sure," she said.

"And don't let him drink any more than that, in case Abigail let's him back in."

Abigail eventually did let John back in the room, though the midwife was adamantly against the father being present during the birth. "You fathers are always so nervous," she explained. "So keep it together, or I'll be the one kicking you out!"

Everyone else nervously waited on the first floor, playing card games. Isaac started yawning but wanted to wait with the family, so Hosea began teaching him how to cheat at card games, a technique that everyone watched with great interest. But the labor continued on, and Arthur put Isaac in bed around midnight.

"Is it supposed to take this long?" Mary-Beth asked at one point.

"It can," Hosea said. He looked around the group suddenly and asked, "Where's Dutch?"

"He went a little stir crazy and went off to find us some fresh meat," Arthur said.

"We'll give him until morning, then send out a search party," Hosea grumbled.

At the rate they were going, Abigail would still be in labor come morning. Arthur didn't want to think about that. John's kid would make this difficult.

And then they heard it, the soft, newborn cries. Everyone looked up to Abigail's room, smiles spreading across their faces.

The front door opened.

"I'm back, and I brought chickens!" Dutch announced. "And a new friend, Mr. Javier Escuella." He pushed the thin, shivering man towards the fire, looked around all the happy faces and said, "Well, you all must be excited about these chickens."

Then he heard the cries too, sinking into a chair as he realized what was happening. Hosea grabbed Javier and wrapped him in a blanket. Mr. Pearson seemed to be the only one who cared about the chickens, but only so he could make a good meal for the new parents. Annabelle appeared on the second floor landing, announcing to the celebrating crowd, "It's a boy!"