Dutch put his arm around young Isaac as he led him out of the tent. "All right everyone!" he called "Gather round." He and Isacc stood on the wood deck of Dutche's tent as Dutch began the impromptu 'welcoming a new member into the gang' speech.

It was all a bit surreal for Arthur but he looked on proudly as Javier and Sean clapped especially loud, showing their support for Isaac. Lenny grinned broadly and his eyes twinkled as he looked at Arthur. In response, Arthur ducked his head and tipped his hat to hide his own wide smile.

John caught him and slapped his back good-naturedly. He mumbled something but Arthur was so overwhelmed, John's words never quite registered in his dazed mind.

It felt like cotton was stuffed in his ears as Uncle shook his hand and passed a celebratory whiskey his way.

When the singing began, Arthur found himself humming and even singing along. They were on the second verse of the Ballad of Odis Miller when Arthur noticed a familiar silhouette walking away from the festivities.

It felt wrong watching Charles leave. Charles who had done so much to help Isaac already. So without hesitation, Arthur padded over to him. "Don't know if anyone told you but we are celebrating tonight, Mr. Smith." He joked.

Charles didn't even look at him. Just stared straight ahead, monitoring the world beyond the camp's firelight. "Someone needs to keep watch."

"Sure but-"

"Go back to the party, Arthur." Charles commanded briskly, cutting him off. His tone was cold, clearly unamused by Arthurs's invitation.

Taken aback, Arthur frowned. "Ah, is everything alright?"

Arthur took careful note of how stiff Charles became at his words. Charles turned to glare at him, shook his head and walked off. Just as Arthur thaught the conversation was over her heard Charles whisper, his voice dripping with disgust. "you were going to leave."

"Well, I had to." Arthur protested. To him, it was the obvious answer, one he figured Charles already understood but apparently not. "I couldn't just leave him. I thought you would have supported my going with him."

Charles spun around, eyes flashing with anger. "You are a fool, Arthur Morgan." Charles growled.

Arthur flinched involuntarily, surprised at the venom behind the words.

Undeterred, Charles continued. "How much protection do you think you would have had if you went off on your own?"

Arthur returned his friend's glare with matched heat. "I would have done everything in my power to keep Isaac safe," Arthur spat, his own temper getting the better of him.

"And who was supposed to keep you safe?" Charles challenged, voice climbing in volume as he clutched the shotgun in his hands. "When the Pinkertons inevitably come breathing down your neck and you sacrifice yourself in exchange for sparing Isaacs's life... who was supposed to keep you safe then?" Charles shout carried over to the fire and several of the gang turned to casually listen in.

Arthur was stunned into silence and Charles's glare intensified, building with each second that Arthur left silent.

Slowly Charles shook his head, his eyes never leaving Arthur's bewildered expression but eventually, his anger drained, replaced by sadness. "I recognize your duty to your son. I respect that... but you never once considered there are those who would give anything to protect you. How could you leave without..." Charles broke off, shaking his head sadly. "Go back to the party," Charles said, sad and resigned. Without waiting for a response he turned to continue the night's patrol.

Arthur could only watch him leave. Confused and saddened by seeing Charles so distant.

A few days later and things still hadn't improved between him and Charles.

'I didn't want to leave you'. Arthur thought at Charles as he watched the man tend to one of the wagon wheels. 'Leaving the gang was nothing compared to the thought of leaving you behind'.

Arthur scowled to himself. 'No, that's not what he should say.' Frown deepening, Arthur had no idea what to say or how to make things better. He just wanted Charles back.

Arthur shivered as he pushed himself up from where he sat by the fire. As he passed Charles, he bid a gentle and hesitant good morning but received nothing but fridged silence in exchange. Arthur cringed as he contemplated the wall that had somehow formed between them.

It made him feel sick with worry as Charles suddenly became so closed off. For the most part, Charles still treated Arthur fairly, like any other gang member... but that was the problem. Arthur didn't want to be an acquaintance, he wanted to matter more because Charles mattered more to him than that.

But somehow that was broken, lost like a message in a bottle at sea.

All he knew is he needed space. Some time away to think things through, clear his head, and figure things out.

"How about you and I take a little trip?" Arthur offered, walking up behind Isaac as he chatted amicably with Tilly, Sean, and Karen.

"Sure pa." The boy agreed happily.

It was only mildly surprising to Arthur he didn't mind being called 'pa'. Sure, it wasn't what he was used to but the boy seemed hungry to call him that and Arthur welcomed the title almost as quickly as he had welcomed Isaac.

"Where to?" the boy asked, waving over his shoulder at Tilly and the others, tho Sean and Karen were too engrossed in a lover's quarrel to notice.

"Not sure," Arthur said tipping his cap to Tilly as they left. "How about we figure that out on the way."

They rode quietly, each to their own thoughts as they traveled. The sweet morning breeze and the clip-clop of horse feet below them, calming Arthurs worries considerably.

'Some time away from camp was just what he needed' Arthur thought as they reached the dusty trail and turned westward. They fell into a steady walking pace, both content to stroll lazily to their unknown destination.

"Pa?"

"Yes." Arthur smiled fondly as he responded so naturally to Isaac.

"Do you like Mr. Smith?"

Arthur tried not to choke as his lungs seemed to stop responding. "What makes you say that?" he ventured, holding the reins a bit tighter.

"I'm sheltered pa, not stupid."

"That's up for debate after you tried to rob the FIB and the Saint-Denis police station," Arthur muttered.

"You're changing the subject," Isaac pointed out boldly.

Arthur tried not to fidget under the steely assessing gaze of his son.

"You should have seen Charles worry when he thought you were leaving the gang." the boy said conversationally. "Almost turned the arrowhead he was working on into a toothpick."

Arthur said nothing, he just directed his horse forward a bit faster.

"Pa?" Isaac asked again, tho this time Arthur only bothered to reply with a gunt.

"I think he likes you too."

Tho Arthur tried his best to stifle it, he felt his heart break a little. He found himself looking down at his hands and remained quiet.

"Pa, I know you don't want to talk about it but it's hurting both of you." Isaac stopped his horse and turned directly towards Arthur. "I never wanted to cause any trouble."

"You didn't" Arthur tried to console but Isaac just shook his head.

"I don't know what exactly happened but pa, you need to say something or do something before you lose him forever."

Arthur looked up when he heard Isaac sniffle and was shocked to see his boy with tears in his eyes.

"Pa, if there's one thing I've learned from all this, it's that you need to tell the truth while you can. Ma thought she was doing right by me when she took me away from you but she was wrong. And maybe it wouldn't have changed anything but it never gave me or you the chance to choose for ourselves what we wanted to do." Isaac brushed his hand over his eyes, drying them, and when he looked up, the boy seemed to have grown 10 full years. His eyes seemed darker, richer and held a pearl of wisdom beyond his tender years. "Charles deserves to know how you feel so he can choose for himself what he wants to do."

"I don't know what it's worth to you Isaac," Arthur said seriously. "but I'm proud of you."

New tears appeared in Isaac's eyes but the boy laughed in response.

"You're a good man, Isaac," Arthur said as they moved further up the trail aimlessly.

They rode back into camp several hours later, just as Pearson announced the stew was ready.