Cloaked by the morning mist of the forest, Arthur had managed to slip past Miss Grimshaw. His breath billowed out around him as he sunk low to the ground. Peering out over at Bill on parole. He was almost out of camp, he just had to wait fo-

"And where do you think you're going?" A low voice whispered in his ear.

Arthur swallowed back his shout of surprise and looked to glare at Charles.

"I've been sleeping all day." He spat in a harsh whisper, tugging Charles into a lower, more discreet, couch.

"You've had good reason to be sleeping Arthur, you've been sick."

"I just wanted to stretch my legs. That's healthy, right?" A bit of unintended defensiveness seeped into his tone and he turned back to monitor Bills path on watch duty.

Charles sighed. "I understand it's frustrating. You've been cooped up. But you've only been awake for two days. We just want to make sure you're alright. You gave us quite a scare."

"If you want to make sure I'm ok then come with me." He offered, extending an olive branch without taking his eyes off Bill. "Now's our chance." Without waiting for a response, Arthur darted out, prowling deeper into the forest.

Arthur paid close attention to the second set of footfalls behind him as he left the camp behind.

They had only wondered a short distance from the usual parole path when Charles started in on encouraging Arthur to sit and rest for a bit. He motioned to a large tree but for whatever reason Arthur just didn't feel secure leaning against it, so they compromise by stopping to rest just beyond a large boulder.

The morning air had a nice chill to it, the waving breeze not uncomfortable but refreshing. The sweet air wrapping around them leaving them feeling young and satisfied as the crickets sang for the rising sun.

They sat comfortably, shoulder to shoulder. Arthur fiddled with his hands briefly, a nervous gesture Charles had seen on occasion but was still rare. Tho Charles didn't want to, he considered leaving to give Arthur some space but finally, he spoke...

"Eh, Charles, I've been meaning to say 'Thank you', since you saved my life."

Charles pondered the weight behind those words. "Arthur, You didn't even have TB. So in the end, I didn't do anything."

"Actually you did. Far more than you know." Arthur said somewhat hesitant. "... you see, the reason I was in Saint-Denis was to... well, ransom myself for my own bounty. I was in the process of arranging to have the money sent back to camp." He looked down as if ashamed. "If it wasn't for your kidnapping Dr Koch." he trailed off, eyes going a bit foggy. "I would have made a terrible mistake, I know that now. I just want to say thank you, for all that you did and tried to do. And not only that, Hosea said you really went above and beyond for me."

"I don't know if I'd say-"

"You kidnapped a doctor, broad daylight in Saint-Denis and became the camp doctor in less than two months... and that's just the stuff I saw."

Arthur looked up at Charles, eyes catching the veiled moonlight from the fog in ways that made them appear to glow. "Lenny told me you had the entire camp working for you. Even Dutch." he teased. There was a softness in his eyes and Charles did his best not to gasp.

"Would'a loved to have seen that." Arthur whispered fondly. "Thank you. I've never known someone to go to such lengths for me."

"How do you mean?" Charles asked, "surely Dutch, Hosea and John have-"

Arthur leaned further against the bolder, stretching his back as he suppressed a yawn and shook his head. Charles scowled suspiciously, mentally preparing to convince the stubborn outlaw to go back to bed.

"Of course they have done more for me than I ever expected or deserved-"

"You do deserve it." Charles chastized gently. "and someday we will make you understand, you deserve happiness."

Arthur looked lost as he swallowed, "What I mean is, when you found out I was dying you, you... I don't know, you didn't give up. You got books and you studied, you found ways around to... Charles, for god's sake, you found the cure to TB! Even if it wasn't real, it was the closest thing we have to one on the entire planet. I'm confident that even if I had TB, you would be there for me in ways the others wouldn't be able to."

Arthur was leaning forward, eager to make Charles understand where he was coming from. "Sure the others would try to help me but you are the one that did. I just want to say, Thank you."

Charles returned the soft smile and Arthur glanced down to watch the movement of his lips. The air around them grew tense and that lost expression came back into Arthurs eyes. "I just want you to know," he licked his lips as he continued. "I'm very grateful. If there is anything you need, all you have to do is ask, alright?"

"I know Arthur." Charles said softly, his heartbeat sounding loudly in his own ears.

Arthur forced himself to lean back.

"Besides, John can't keep a secret for two seconds. You kept my secret for an entire month. Whether I was right or wrong is debatable-"

"No it's not, you should have told us." Charles interrupted, seriously. He didn't want Arthur to feel guilty but it wasn't right that he continues with this flawed reasoning. "It was your right to tell them but it was their right to know. You are our family, Arthur."

Arthur looked sufficiently chastised. Perhaps thinking on his conversation earlier with Dutch and John, Charles didn't know. "We all care for you, Arthur. Very much."

Arthur smiled at his words. "You do?" he asked as he turned to Charles, something important hanging on the edge of those words. An unspoken meaning that made Charles nod encouragingly.

"I-"

"ARTHUR MORGAN!" Susan Grimshaw shouted, not caring she was waking up the entire camp.

"Shit." Arthur cursed and Charles laughed. Arthur could face down Pinkertons and O'Driscolls but have him face a rabid Miss Grimshaw and the large man turned into a feral cat on the run from a coyote.

"We should probably be getting back."

Arthur nodded, hanging his head and that garnered another chuckle from Charles. He leaned over and rested a hand on Arthurs' shoulder. "Come on, we'll tell her you needed to go for a walk." he smirked.

"You wanna tell her this was your idea?"

Charles just laughed loudly, his mirth infectious Arthur continued. "I'll pay ya, Charles."

"You don't owe me anything, Arthur. I'll always help you." There was a sweetness to his voice that left Arthur glad he decided to go on this little morning expedition, Miss Grimshaw be damned.