*Author's Note*

Thank you for all the follows, faves, and reviews.

Christmas, 1878

Allie POV:

The tree in the corner of the living room was decorated in all kids of ribbons, bows, popcorn garland, and paper chains. A few gifts were under it, but I reckon next year they'll be more considering we'll be having a newborn. I was sitting next to my husband by the tree as he fished our presents out from under it. We were in our nightclothes since Cap wanted to hurry up and open presents, insisting that we'd have plenty of time to properly dress later.

"Here, darlin'." Cap told me, his deep rolling timbre having a hint of mirth in it, as he plopped a couple of small packages on my lamp. Holding his package, that was from me, he smiled and waved his hand at my gifts. "Go 'head, open 'em up."

Quickly, I grabbed one of the packages and slide off it's simple red ribbon before tearing into the wrapping paper. With a smile I held my first gift in my hand, a copy of Pride and Prejudice. Oh I remember seeing this movie growing up, it had Colin Firth in it (swoon), and I really liked it. I'd never read the book, but I'm very excited to get the chance too.

With a huge smile on my face I jumped up and attacked Cap with a happy and grateful hug. "Thank you for the book, I love it." I told him, my sapphire eyes shining with joy as they penetrated his lone icy eye and its milky twin.

"I'm glad you love it, darlin', but ya still got another gift to open." Cap chuckled, slightly pullin' back from my tight embrace so that he could look at me with a wiry expression.

"Oh, yea, I sorta forgot bout that. I was excited about the book."

With a chuckle, he shook his shaggy blonde head and smirked, "Open your other gift, then ya can crush me in bear hugs again."

I just broke away from my husband, but not before giving him a playful look. I sat back down next to Cap and grabbed my unopened present. It felt a little weighty and was square in shape. Maybe another book? Quickly I unwrapped the present, only to reveal a beautiful hand-crafted jewelry box. Warmth filled up my heart as I realized how much time and devotion Cap put into making my gift. I didn't have any jewelry, other then a few old pieces Levicy gave me, but I was sure in time Cap would buy me things to fill the box up with.

Placing the box down on the floor, next to my book, I looked up at my husband with a sincere and loving look. "That you so much, Will. I love both my gifts."

"I knew you would, Allie." My husband cracked a smile at me, his eyes twinkling with a mix of happiness and pride. Holding up the package the was from me, he announced, "Let me open this 'fore we unwrap anythin' else."

I shook my head at him, biting back a smile, as I playfully swatted him on the shoulder. Cap didn't say a word, just chuckled and unwrapped his present. A smile crossed his ruggedly handsome face as he looked at the simple silver money clip in his hand. "Thanks, darlin', I really needed a new one."

"I know, that's why I got it for you." I simply told my husband, a slight self-assured smile on my face. Cap's current money clip was badly bent, reason why he got the new silver one for his Christmas present.

Jessa POV:

There was no Christmas tree in our house since Tolbert was living alone up til yesterday and didn't see a reason to have one. Not having a tree on Christmas felt a bit Scrooge-like, but it was what it was. I woke up before Tolbert did, so I dressed and went into the kitchen to start a fire and make breakfast. I was putting food on the table, which also had two packages perched on the corner, whenever the bedroom door squeaked open. "Merry Christmas, Jessa." Tolbert's velvety gruff timbre echoed out into the air as his boots scuffled across the floor as he was making his way into the kitchen.

"Merry Christmas, Tolbert." I smiled, looking over my shoulder at my redhead.

"What'cha make t'et?" He asked, coming up to the head of the table and taking a seat.

"Toast with eggs. I made some bacon too, but nearly gaged doing it." I told him, walking over to grab some mug from the cabinet.

"Well, glad ya didn't tho cause I ain't goin' wit'out my bacon for breakfast." Tolbert said, most likely grabbing a boatload of bacon from the platter and tossing it onto his plate.

Oh, I'm so glad that he's more concerned about his bacon then my morning sickness. I didn't say a word, just grabbed the coffee mug out of the cabinet and set it on the counter. Quietly, I went over to the stove and grabbed the coffee pot while noticing out of the corner of my eye that Tolbert was digging into his breakfast. God, he's such a hearty eater. No wonder he's so broad… Quickly, I poured him a cup and brought it over to him.

"Thanks." Tolbert said around a mouthful of food as I set the mug down by his plate.

"Your welcome." I simply smiled before taking my seat next to him. My tea cup was already by my plate, since I set it there after taking a few sips of it. Since my stomach was rolling from the smell of the nearby bacon, which smelled god awful and pungent to me, I just grabbed some toast to nibble on.

"Ain't ya gonna et?" Tolbert asked, pointin' his egg covered fork at me.

"Just some toast, my stomach's flippy." I honestly told him since I didn't think I could handle anything else this morning.

"Ya need'a et, flippy stomach or not. Yer pregnant, need'a et for the baby."

"I'll eat some more later."

"Ya better cause I don't need ya turnin' yer nose up at Christmas ham supper cause yer stomach's flippy an' givin' us 'way. Ya know we can't tell no one 'bout the baby til late next month at least."

"I know, Tolbert." I sighed out in between nibbling on my toast.

"When it do come we're just gonna say it come early. Babies come early all the time so it won't be a stretch." Tolbert added in, explaining the fool proof plan of passing the baby off as his, before shoveling a large amount of scrambled eggs into his mouth.

Up until last night I felt confident about the pact I made with Tolbert, but once I got home and went to bed my mind was racing with the seeds of doubt. What if Shaw wasn't lying and did want to get back together, would he want to raise a kid? Was I being horrible to keep his baby from him, to do to him what his mom did to his dad? I know Sully left Peggy when she was pregnant with Shaw, knowing she was pregnant too, but was my situation with Shaw any different. I know that I was the one to walk away from him and only just figured out that I'm pregnant, that he doesn't know about it, but in a sense ain't I doing the exact same thing Peggy did when she married Peter Eldridge. Hell, Shaw said Peter hated and resented him; that he hated the man right back. Would my child grow up to hate Tolbert and would Tolbert be spiteful and hateful to the baby he was pretending was his? All of these thoughts ran thru my mind last night as I laid next to Tolbert as he slept peacefully.

Hell, right now those thoughts are trying to creep back into my mind.

"Don't worry, when we do tell everyone they'll be happy." Tolbert assured me as he reached for his cup of coffee.

I just nodded, forcing a lined smile to my face. How did he know I was worrying was beyond me. Changing the subject, I pointed to the presents on the far side of the table and asked, "When can we exchange gifts?"

"Now if ya want." Tolbert shrugged before taking another sip of his steaming hot coffee.

I grabbed the presents off the corner and placed them in front of us, eager to open mine up and see what I got. Tolbert just took his package in his hand a bit lazily as he watched me quickly pick mine up and open it. After tearing into the wrapping paper, I found myself holding a bookmarker. It was a violet ribbon with a silver moon charm dangling at the end that'd be hanging out of the book. Really, a damn bookmarker? Really?

I was broken out of my semi-pissed and shocked daze by Tolbert's smoothly gruff voice asking, "Ya like it?" Not even giving me a chance to speak up he went on to point out, "I thought since ya read ya could use it instead of creasin' all the pages down in my books."

Since when is he worried about the pages in his books having doggie ears on the pages? He doesn't even read, he detests reading. "Thank you, Tolbert." I told him with a tight smile.

Whether or not he picked up on my disappoint over my gift I didn't know. The redhead just opened up his gift, one that I handmade for him. Tolbert's brow rose as he looked at the cloth in his hand, turning it over a few times. "Ah, ya made me a hankie." He nodded, his lip in a firm line as he examined the cotton hankie. It was white with emerald green shamrocks bordering it; in the corner was a large T with a lone shamrock vining up the letter. "So, is this what ya do for gifts, make all yer men hankies?" Tolbert asked, a bit of malice tinting his gruff tone, as he placed the handkerchief down on the table.

I blinked, taken aback with shock. I didn't think me giving him the hand stitched handkerchief was a problem. Yes, I made one for Shaw's birthday, but what does that have to do with me making one for Tolbert's Christmas present? I'm good at cross-stitch and I don't have much money to buy gifts with, why wouldn't I use my skills to make something useful with?

My chest heaved up and down as hot anger coursed thru me. I narrowed my indigo eyes into his stormy ones while snapping, "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Never know when that hankie'll come in handy, like on a hot sunny day tending the fields."

"Ya like sewin' so much ya could've made me a shirt or a coin pouch, but no ya made me the same present ya gave him." Tolbert ranted, his voice oozing out a biting sneer at the last word as he referred to my ex, Shaw.

Oh god, if Tolbert was going to throw Shaw up in my face then I didn't need to be here. Staring him down I locked my jaw and told him in a steeled tone, "Don't throw Shaw up to me anymore. Next time you do I'll leave and I won't be back."

Tolbert made a funny face, as if he had just swallowed his teeth, as my words washed over him. "I-I won't hold 'im 'gainst ya no more, darlin'." Tolbert stammered out, fear laced in his velvety Appalachian accent, as a startled look shone in his stormy blue eyes.

"Okay." I nodded, forcing myself to give Tolbert a thin smile. He better keep his jealousy and his temper in check cause I refuse to walk on eggshells with him no matter how much I liked him.

Shaw POV:

I was sitting in my chair, watching the flames dance around in the fireplace, as my siblings eagerly gathered their presents out from underneath the small Christmas tree that was in the middle of the floor, marking where the main room ended and the kitchen began. The smell of sticky buns baking in the oven filled up the house as my siblings tore into their gifts. I reckon the pastries will be ready soon by how good they're smelling. I've been up since the ass crack of dawn making those things, carrying on my mom's tradition of having sticky buns for Christmas morning's breakfast.

"Didn't Santa get you anything, Shaw?" Mary innocently asked me after tearing into another one of her gifts.

"Nah, I'm too old for Santa, but he sure did bring you and Todd a good haul." I told my sister, forcing a cheerful tone to my voice, as I pointed to all of the presents surrounding my siblings.

"Santa Clause could've kept the wool socks…" Todd mumbled under his breath, tossing the socks he just opened up over his shoulder. Typical kid, only wants toys and candy.

The sweet warm cinnamon smell filling up the house from the kitchen skirted up my nose, letting me know that the sticky buns were done. "Finish up with your gifts, I gotta take the sticky buns out of the oven." I told my siblings as I stood up from my chair.

"Okay." They told me in unison, shaking their heads, before I took off to the kitchen.

Today was my last day in this apartment, tomorrow I'd be moving all of the stuff out into my new house. Thanks god there was a buyer lined up for the diner and the apartment too. I couldn't wait to dump this place and use the money to buy the plot of land on the outskirts of town along the road to build my livery with. The last thing I'd ever cook in this kitchen would be my mom's sticky buns. Damnit, I missed her so much. It was so hard bein' strong for my siblings when I just wanted to crumble and cry, but I couldn't.

I went into the kitchen, grabbed the oven mitts from the counter, and opened the oven door. As I was taking the cast iron pan out of the oven, I heard a knock sound at the door. "I'll get it!" Mary's sweet little voice echoed loudly before the sound of her feet pitter pattering over to the door bounced off the walls. I was placing the pan on the counter as I heard the door creak open accompanied by my sister's greeting of, "Hi Sully, Merry Christmas."

Great, he's here. Wonder why? I mean I'll be seeing him tonight at the Hatfield's for dinner so I don't see why he's here unless it's to drop off gifts. Yea, maybe that's it.

"Merry Christmas." I heard my dad tell my sister as I went over to the oven and shut the door. "Here's your gift and here, give this one to Todd." I heard him tell my sister, handing her some packages, as I went over to the counter and tossed the mitts on it.

"Okay, thank you." Mary told Sully as I shuffled slightly and opened up a cabinet to grab some plates.

"Thanks, Sully." I heard Todd tell my dad after Mary sat down next to him and gave him his gift as I grabbed the plates and closed the cabinet door.

"Hell, cupboard's bare. You only got three plates in it." Sully's voice sounded out from behind me.

"Everything else's boxed up for the move tomorrow." I told him, turning around to see him taking a seat at the kitchen table.

"Ah, I see."

"Sorry I don't got a plate or cup for ya, I wasn't expecting anybody to come over." I told him as I grabbed a serving spoon from the countertop.

"It's fine, son, I'm not here for coffee and sticky buns." He waved off my offer of food and drink.

"Then why are you here, to give out gifts?" I asked a bit sarcastically, motioning to the package in his hand. I knew damn well it wasn't to just bring over gifts, not this early in the morning. My dad always had something up his sleeve, that much I learned from the few years I spent living with him. Hell, I remember the Christmas when I was 16, he gave me turtle wax and I thought that meant I got a car. Well no, I didn't get a car and the wax was so I could use it to buff and shine his car when I washed it. Yep, Sully was always up to something. My dad was a fucking troll, but he was still my dad…

"Yes and no." My brow rose at this. I crossed my arms over my chest and gave Sully a pointed look as he set the package down on the table. With a sigh he asked, "What the hell was that outburst last night with you 'bout Miss Jessa coming into church with Tolbert McCoy?"

Cocking my head to the side I gave him a dark look and scoffed, "Dad, you know what it was about so don't be askin' me that."

"So, it was about the ring she's sporting on her left hand."

"Dad, drop it." I ground out thru gritten teeth, my one hand tightening so hard around the handle of the serving spoon that it was about to cut into the palm of my hand.

Instead of dropping it he continued to pry with his simply sounding question of, "She married Tolbert then?"

"No, they're not married." I spat out, uncrossing my arms and tossing the serving spoon onto the counter. Stretching my hand to regain feeling in it, I elaborated my previous remark with a flat one of, "It's just common law, prolly cause Ole Randall don't want no gossip 'bout his son shacking up with the girl that was a ward in his house."

"Well, your reaction turned a lot of heads. You seemed pissed, hell I thought you were gonna start fighting with Tolbert in the middle of the church."

"I would've if Jessa didn't agree to hear me out; explain what was going on with her and that fucker."

"Language, son. There's little pitcher's nearby." He warned me, reminding me of the mother from A Christmas Story.

I rolled my eyes, shook my head, and scoffed incredulously, "We're in the Tug, I'm sure they've heard that and other bad words before."

"Anyways, I assume Miss Jessa told you that they're common law and you had a conniption fit about it." My dad told me, sounding more like a therapist right now then an actual parent, as he leaned an elbow on the table and looked at me with know-it-all blue eyes.

"No, she told me and I begged her to dump him and take me back." I corrected my dad's assumption, causing his eyes to go wide right before he did a facepalm. Great, I just made him facepalm. Now I'm never gonna hear the end of his bullshit lecture 'bout how I'm not thinkin' straight or whatever.

Sully POV:

Upon hearing my son's words, I did a facepalm. Oh, dear god, I can't believe this stupid boy came from the fruit of my loins. I dragged my hand down my face before blowing a frustrated breath out. "Are you serious? She left you for the McCoys cause you're a Vance, therefore Hatfield kin, and you want to get back with her?" Shaking my head, I let out a deep sarcastic chuckle of, "Boy, you got shit for brains or something?"

"No, I don't got shit for brains." Shaw spat at me, his narrowed honey eyes burning angrily at my insult. Jutting his chin up haughtily he scoffed, "If you'd remember correctly, I was a straight A student and model athlete."

I rolled my blue eyes at my boy, who in every essence was a man except for his brain. In a deeply unamused tone I strongly told him, "Well, wouldn't know it by how you're acting a fool over a woman."

"I ain't actin' a fool over Jessa." Shaw spat in protest, his tone deep with denial. Squaring his shoulders, looking at me with a newfound resolve, my son declared, "Just cause I got the sand to fight for my girl don't make me a fool. I think I'd be a fool if I'd just burry my head in the sand and let her make the mistake of being miserable with Tolbert."

"Shaw, son, I hate to say this, but Jessa's not the girl for you."

"Don't you dare say that, Sully." Shaw seethed; his deep timbre eerily low. Great, now I just pissed my lil shit son off. He loves to call me Sully when he's pissed. Only other time he ever calls me Sully is out in public, during the 19th century of course, but that's barely happens anymore since the cat's out of the bag about his paternity. "She is the one for me; I'll never give up on her." Oh boy, he sounds too dead set in his mind and that frightens me. Oh, and I don't frighten easy either, only when it comes to my son. His honey hued eyes softened a tinge as he admitted, "I tried to leave her be, but I just can't." Of course, he can't.

"Shaw, I know this is hard to hear, son, but you'll find a good girl one day. One day you'll marry and have a son, just be patient and stop trying to chase after a fleetin' moment." I pleaded with my stubborn son, trying to will him to see that he had his whole life ahead of him and didn't need to waste it on some girl.

Hell, if I would've known she'd twist my son up so bad I would've just left her on that damn sinking charter bus. Allie was the one that had to go back to the Tug River Valley since she's destined to be with Cap. Jessa, hell she's Tolbert's girl…I should've known bringing her back was gonna cause trouble. Yea, I thought if the girl stayed with me, she'd be immune from Tolbert, but that didn't pan out since she went downstream in a current and got found by none other than Tolbert. Jessa's no damn good for my boy; Shaw can do better.

"Goddamnit, Sully, save your bullshit for somebody gullible 'nough to fall for it." Shaw barked at me; his jaw locked as if he was a Pitbull ready to strike. "I'll see ya later at Anse and Levicy's for dinner, but as for right now I think you've out grown your welcome in my house."

I didn't say a word, just nodded my head since I didn't want to fight with Shaw. I stood up, feeling his hard honey stare burning a hole into my being, and walked away from the table. As I made my way out of the kitchen and into the main room, I noticed that Mary and Todd were subtly eyeing me up with their brown eyes, the same honey shade that their older brother had. Lord almighty, these kids are observers huh? Without a word I made my way over to the door and exited the apartment.

I hope my boy's in a better mood come diner time cause I don't want to deal with his snot-nosed ass during my holiday ham supper.

Jessa POV:

Tolbert brought us over to his parents' house before diner time so that I could help his mom and sisters make diner. Currently, Tolbert was socializing with Pharmer out on the porch while Randall was in the main room with Perry Cline, who seemed to be a stable in the McCoy house for holiday and Sunday dinners (hell he even dropped by mid-week to eat too). The other McCoy boys were scattered all around the house whether they be inside or out. Roseanna and Alifair were at the far end of the table peeling potatoes, giving me and Sally plenty of space to make and knead dough with.

The ham was in the oven baking and ever one in a while I got a sudden whiff of pork smell and felt an urge to gag. Doing what Tolbert strongly advised me to, I pushed on and ignored my instinct to gag. Even tho I was nauseous, I was carrying on in the kitchen and trying to act like nothing was wrong. Unfortunately for me pork meat seemed to trigger off my nausea and morning sickness, turning it from morning sickness to anytime sickness once I got a whiff of the meat's aroma.

Sally looked at me, her lips in a thin line, as understanding reflected in her brown eyes. She subtly leaned over next to me, making sure to look like she was just kneading her dough a tad bit close to me, and whispered, "Heed my words of warnin' from last night. Go back with the one that's responsible for the bastard in your belly."

Her whispered words shook me down to my core and sent terror down my spine. How could she know I was pregnant by Shaw? What the hell? I gave the round-faced woman, who I've come to think of as a mother figure, a look full of shock as my hands trembled a bit kneading the dough. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Alifair and Roseanna peeling potatoes and heavy in conversation, not noticing what was transpiring between me and their mom.

"Your upturned nose an' green skin at the smell of cookin' meat gives ya 'way t'me, sweetheart." Sally whispered while never breaking a sweat in her kneading. "If ya truly care 'bout my boy leave so he can live."

"Stop it, Sally. You're acting crazy." I ordered her in a snap no louder then a mere whisper as my indigo eyes flared warily at her.

Sally just gave me a hard look before hanging her head close to her chest and working her dough for the dinner rolls a bit harder than what was necessary.

Sometime Later…

Everyone was crowded around the tables that were covered inch to inch with food for Christmas dinner. I could see out of the corner of my eye that my redhead's mouth was watering as he took in the feast set out for the family. Personally, I wasn't that hungry, but I was glad that Tolbert was chomping at the bit to eat dinner since I did have to help make it. I noticed that Pharmer, who was sitting next to Tolbert (and was his fav bro), looked like he was in heaven as he eyed up all of the platters crowded on the table.

"Let us say the blessin'." Randall announced, grabbing the hands of Sally and Jim while bowing his head. Everyone held hands and bowed their heads, waiting for the head of the table to bless the holiday meal. Randall's voice loudly broke the silence that befell the room with, "Dear Lord, we ask ya t'bless this food we're 'bout t'receive. We thank ya for the birth of yer son our savior the sweet blessed baby Jesus on this day. Also, we ask ya t'bless the relationship my son Tolbert an' Miss Jessa have chosen t'partake in. In yer name, O'Lord, amen."

"Amen." Everyone repeated, lifting their heads and breaking the hand holding chain that was linked around the table.

Randall began the meal by carving the large ham while Perry Cline's eyes drifted from the bands on me and Tolbert's hands up to our faces while remarking, "Well, I see you two are wearing Daniel and Margaret's rings." Randall was placing meat on the plates that were beginning to be passed over to him while Perry Cline mused with his lawyer's smile, "Ole Rand'l told me you two settled down, as common law for the moment, but I just had to see it to believe it."

"What's hard to believe? We get 'long an' decided t'live as man an' wife."

"Oh, Tolbert, I didn't mean any insult or harm. I only meant that I was shocked that you finally settled down since last month doing that seemed the s lightest bit on your mind." Oh boy, Perry was referring to Tolbert seeing that whore at the Pikeville saloon. Damn, the family lawyer didn't miss a beat. He knew that subject has to be a sore spot and was candidly bringing it up. What the hell's with this guy? I used to think he was nice, smart, and a more dapper version of Rhett Butler, but now I don't know what to think. Why would he be taunting Tolbert for?

"Well, looks like I'm ready t'settle down this month now don't it?" Tolbert sarcastically countered Perry as he waited for our plates of meat to be passed down to us.

Randall's head popped up and his eyes left the ham he was carving to bore into his second eldest's eyes. "Tolbert…" He warned in a low tone, causing Tolbert to just swallow an invisible lump in his throat before hanging his head down low.

Well, I'm glad that Randall's able to defuse Tolbert's temper since a Christmas dinner squabble isn't on my holiday to do list.

Silence fell over the room as Randall finished cutting the meat and placing it on plates. The silence wasn't broken until Sally spoke up with the loaded question of, "Are ya'll wantin' chil'ren?", while everyone was finishing up passing around the bowls and platters of side dishes.

"Yea, ma, of course we want chil'ren." Tolbert nodded as he tossed a roll onto both my plate and his before passing the bread basket over to Roseanna, who was sitting next to me like always.

"Right away or are ya waitin'?" Sally asked in a sweet motherly tone (even tho she already knew the answer cause she confronted me in a way about it) as she cut her slice of ham into bite sized pieces.

"Uh, s'pose right way."

"Son, I'm barely acceptin' this common law marriage you've got goin' on cause I feel it should be legal bound by a preacher." Randall told Tolbert, staring him down with a hard look. Furrowing his brows and pointing his greens covered fork at my redhead, he went on to say, "I'd advise ya t'wait 'fore bringin' any chil'ren into the world. Wait til ya'll are legal bound, don't need no bastards in the family."

Oh my god, Tolbert warned me that Randall wasn't going to be too fond of us being common law, but I never thought in a million years that he would refer to his future grandchild (okay passed off as his grandchild) a bastard. I knew that Randall was a very religious man, but I didn't think he'd act the way he was acting right now.

I felt myself flinch slightly as a reflex to my father-in-law's harsh words. In an instant Tolbert took my hand in his, giving it a reassuring squeeze. Looking at his father with steel ingot burning in his eyes, Tolbert spat out defensively, "My chil'ren ain't gonna be no bastards. They'll have my name an' me 'round raisin' 'em, so watch yer words poppy."

Randall didn't say a word, just nodded at his angry son. Everyone was so quiet that a pin dropping could be heard. Oh god, this Christmas dinner was just getting started and it was already so dramatic.

Too bad I'm not back home in 2018 Tulsa. All of this drama wouldn't be happening back home in modern day Oklahoma. Bet if I was in Tulsa, I'd have a normal boyfriend (with normal parents, family, etc.) right now and wouldn't be knocked up since in the future there's condoms and birth control.

Hell, things are so complicated in 1878.

Allie POV:

I was so excited as I sat next to Cap at the large table in his parents' house for Christmas dinner. I knew that he was going to announce our good news to the entire family, so I was bursting with joy. I was happy that we were going to have a baby come late summer (somewhere around August if I calculated right) and I wanted everyone's support too.

Everyone had just finished getting their ham and putting it onto their plates whenever Cap cleared his throat and announced, "I got somethin' to tell everybody."

Everyone turned their attention onto Cap, waiting on baited breath for my husband to reveal his news. Abel, Skunk Hair, and Vera (the couple managed to get away from the ailing Granny Rue to eat Christmas dinner with the rest of us. I'm sure they'll be bringing home a plate for her.) were biting their cheeks in order to hide their smiles since they already knew the news my husband was about to share. Shaw had a look on his face that was both slightly jaded and resentful. Yea, I don't think he was too thrilled about our big news. Whatever, after his little show out last night in church I didn't care too much about what he thought. He made himself look like an ass freaking out at Jessa and Tolbert when they walked into the service together. God, and I thought Johnse was the family's jackass…. Oh, how wrong I was about that since it turns out that title belongs to Shaw.

"I'm gonna be a pa. Allie's pregnant." Cap blurted out, his deep waving timbre full with joy and happiness, a large smile spread across his rugged face.

"Woo-hoo, I'm gonna be Uncle Johns." Johnse beamed, pulling his little brother into a side hug right at the dinner table. Oh, that sight just warmed my heart.

A thin smile crossed over Anse's lips as he looked at us and said, "I'm glad to hear that." His thin smile suddenly disappeared as his deep stony timbre broke out in a slight chuckle of, "I didn't think it'd take long 'fore I became gran'pappy with how ya'll are so taken with each other."

"Oh, sweetheart, this is wonderful news." Levicy gushed at me, her eyes twinkling with a mix of pride and a mother's love. I just smiled back at her, feeling grateful that she was happy for us.

Lias just raised his glass to us and gave us an approving nod. A big grin was plastered on his face too. Uncle Jim patted Cap on the shoulder while telling him in his loud brash timbre, "Congratulations, pappy." Moving his blue eyes onto me, my crochety uncle-in-law (who I've come to love and respect during my time with the Hatfield family) smirked, "You're gonna have your hands full with Cap and a baby who'll be just as ornery as him."

"What's goin' on?" Cotton asked innocently, looking up at Ellison with curious wide blue eyes.

Giving his son a soft look, Ellison told the slow minded boy, "Allie and Cap are gonna have a baby."

"A baby?!" Cotton exclaimed in awe, looking at me and my husband with a soft look. Suddenly excitement filled him up as he blurted out, "I can't wait for the baby. I'll be its friend. Teach it how to pick dandelions and how to swim."

Everyone just smiled and chuckled at Cotton's enthusiasm. It was so cute. Well, everyone except for Shaw found it cute, amusing, or refreshing. Shaw on the other hand rolled his honey eyes and just ate his diner. I noticed that my brother was about to open his mouth up to say something, but clamped it shut whenever Sully swatted his son on the ear with the flick of his finger while ordering him to, "Lose the attitude, Shaw."

"Ain't got an attitude, dad." Shaw sneered with a sourness laced in his timbre as he cut Sully down with a look.

Great…Shaw's about to show his ass and be a dick tonight at dinner. Okay, no wonder Jessa was with him. I'm starting to think that her type's moody jackass. I mean she's with Tolbert now and he's a crazy cruel asshole and she was with Shaw before that and like I said before he's a pissy dick. Hell, now I feel a twinge of sadness at the thought of my ex-best friend, Jessa. It sucks how we're not friends anymore cause she's with Tolbert and the McCoys. Too bad she broke up with Shaw, even tho he's a dickweed at least I would've been able to be her friend if she was still with him.

Everyone, including myself, had their eyes transfixed on Sully and Shaw, waiting on baited breath to see what was going to transpire (whether good or bad) between the father son duo.

"Hate to break it to you, son, but you've got an attitude." Sully countered his son, starting him down with a stern look that only a father can muster. "I'm sick of it. Get over yourself and congratulate your cousins so we can enjoy the rest of our holiday meal."

Sour and aggravated didn't even begin to describe the look that was currently plastered on Shaw's angular scruff covered face. His jaw twitched painfully with disgust and anger as he took a few deep breaths. Shaw's teeth gritted slightly as he looked at me and Cap, a bit insincerely might I add, and told us a bit tightly, "Congrats on your baby."

Cap narrowed his mismatched eyes at Shaw into deadly little slits. Cleary he wasn't too pleased with the forced and faked words that came out of his cousin's mouth. I, on the other hand, decided to give Shaw a fake smile along with the false appreciation of, "Thank you, Shaw."

Shaw just nodded before doing a Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde; looking at all of us with a neutral expression while saying in a pleasant tone, "I'm moving into my house tomorrow. Ya'll think you can lend a hand; help me out?"

"Tomorrow's a workday, but I'll give Abel, Johnse, Cap, and Skunk Hair the day off to help with your move." I noticed that Abel, Cap, and Skunk Hair all shaired a look that silently screamed, 'Damn we gotta deal with that prick tomorrow'. Shaw nodded his silent thanks to Devil Anse. The Hatfield patriarch directed his icy blue gaze onto Skunk Hair and Vera before asking, "So, what's the plan for the wedding?"

And for the rest of dinner Skunk Hair and Vera gave us all of the details about their upcoming wedding.

AN: I was going to put some New Year's stuff in, but the chapter got away with me and I didn't have room. So yea next chapter will have that in it. Vera and Skunk Hair get married on New Year's Eve so yay! Oh and I plan on a Tolbert/Jessa lemon in the next chapter too so…

Oh and about what Jessa said about having a normal life/boyfriend and not being pregnant in 2018 Tulsa if she was still there...do you think she's right or do you thing that shady bastard Shaw would've always found his way to her, etc. Just wondering on your opinions, thoughts, and theories.