*Author's Note*
Thank you for all the follows, favs, and reviews.
I wasn't planning on getting this written so fast, but I did so here's a back to back update. Yay!
Spring Has Sprung
Shaw POV:
I was sitting in bed, bored outta my mind, munchin' on a stick of jerky. I had no idea how long I've been locked up in Uncle Jim's room for since the days ran together, but I do know that I'm so sick and tired of being kept in a dark room with only jerky and water to keep myself alive with. Hell, once when Jim came into the room to bring me more water and food, I tried to escaped my running by him, but that didn't work out since the old goat whacked me upside of the head; knockin' me out.
I missed Jessa and our kids. Hell, I missed my siblings too. It was hard being locked up and separated from everyone. Honestly, this is worse than my stint in jail. At least in jail I had real food and light, windows too. I hate this, I fuckin' hate it. I want out so bad I can taste it.
I took a bite outta my jerky whenever the door squeaked open, sending a ray of light into the room. "Reckon your sobered up 'nough t'come out now, boy." Jim's rough crochety voice rang out as he appeared in the doorway, lookin' me over with his cold icy eyes.
"Thank god, I'm tired of being in here." I told my uncle, tossing my jerky onto the bedside table before pushing myself off of the bed.
"You'll be comin' to work wit' me at Anse's sawmill for a while." Uncle Jim informed me as I made my way over to him.
I arched a brow at him. "Why? I got a livery business to run."
"Todd's been runnin' the business just fine while you've been soberin' up." My uncle waved me off. Placin' a hand on my shoulder, Jim told me, "Your workin' wit' me so ya don't fall off the banwagon head first into a goddamn whiskey bottle. Ya gotta stay sober for a while 'fore Jessa'll consider gettin' back wit'cha, boy."
"Goddamnit, she's bein' difficult." I muttered under my breath, shakin' my head.
Removin' his hand from my shoulder, Jim defended Jessa's outrageous demands with a crochety toned, "She ain't bein' difficult, Shaw. She's doin' what she thinks is best for the youngins; I have t'agree that tho they need their pappy they can't 'ford a bad drunk for a pap either."
I just rolled my eyes at the large man before walkin' by him and into the main room. Low and behold my dad was sitting on an armchair reading the paper, actin' like everything was normal. Like I wasn't locked up for god knows how long by our uncle. Upon hearing my bare feet smack against the hardwood floor, my dad looked up only to say, "Shaw, I see Jim deems you sober enough to come out."
What the fuck?! What the fuck, did he really just say that to me?! He's actin' like me being locked up to dry out was normal. He can time travel, could've gotten me into some bullshit AA program if he thought I had a real big problem, but he lets Uncle Jim keep me locked up away from everything and everybody so I'll get sober. What a fuckin' prick.
Before I could think it over, I barreled over to my dad and ripped his paper out of his hands, startling him. "You're a fuckin' piece of shit father! You let Jim lock me up when you could've gotten me help, you prick!" I roared, tossin' the paper to the ground and getting into Sully's face. "I hate you. I hate you so goddamned much that it ain't funny, Sully."
"You might hate me, Shaw Hector, but you're my son. Nothing'll ever change that." Sully told me in a scholarly tone, reminding me of our shared DNA as if I didn't already know. Bastard can't be a normal dad; can't tell me he loves me or what not. "Hate me all you want, but if it wasn't for me, I'm afraid you'd be scarred for life by Peter. If it wasn't for me you would've lived in hell the last few years."
Oh no he didn't! Oh he fuckin' didn't just say that shit t me! He didn't save me from shit. Rage boiled in my blood as I loudly barked, "Newsflash, dad, I'm already scarred for life by Peter. You came back too late." Shakin' my head, I continued my rant with, "He beat the shit outta me and smacked around mom. Hell, he shoved one of my sisters so hard that she hit the floor and broke her neck. Bethany died when she was 3 and I was 7. She fuckin' died cause Peter pushed her an' it was just marked a freak accident." My honey eyes were blazing with anger as I lowly seethed, "So, no, dad, you didn't fuckin' save me from Peter. Savin' me from that drunk bastard would've been you takin' me as a toddler before his drunken anger reared its ugly head." I shook my head in disgust at Sully before turnin' my back to him and stalkin' off.
"Son-" My dad began to call out only for me to stop, look over my shoulder, and snapped, "Don't son me, Sully. Not today."
Coming up to my side, Jim placed a hand on my shoulder and led me towards the front door while saying, "Come on, son, let's get to work." I didn't say a word, just walked with Jim. His dog, Mr. Howls, was already at the dog waiting for us. Jim just chuckled, "Looks like Mr. Howls is ready for you t'work wit' us too." I just nodded, a small smile forming as I looked at the dog wagging its tail at the site of my uncle.
Jim just opened the front door and pushed me thru it before following me onto the porch with his dog hot on his heels. We quietly made our way to the hitching post which had some horses saddled and ready to ride waitin' for us. "See you groomed my horse." I pointed out as we stopped at our horses.
"Course I did. Just cause ya were in a bad spot didn't mean your horse had'a suffer." Jim told me as we mounted our horses. "Put new shoes on 'im too." He added in as we trotted off away from the house.
We were trottin' down the road (Mr. Howls was keeping in step right beside my uncle's horse) whenever Uncle Jim looked at me and said, "Shaw, ya gotta put to rest your demons 'bout how you were raised or you'll lose your family. Miss Jessa, now she ain't playin'. She don't want no unstable man raisin' her chil'ren."
"I ain't unstable, Uncle Jim, and I've accepted how I was raised." I countered my uncle, feelin' that he was worryin' 'bout too much. I was only his great-nephew; he didn't need to be so concerned.
"Cleary, that ain't the case by how you went off on your pappy." Givin' me a quick tilted look, Uncle Jim added, "Also, if ya were more stable minded I wouldn't 've had to lock ya up for a month t'sober you up wit'."
My eyes bulged out of my head. "A month? Damnit, Jim, ya had me in that room for an entire month."
"Yep." Jim popped his tongue. "Only way t'get'cha sober." Yea…right…bet it was…
"Oh my god, Jessa and the kids-" I began only to be cut off by my uncle telling me, "Jessa and the kids are fine, boy. Hell, just the other day they planted a garden."
"They planted a garden and I missed it." I sighed, felling sad that I wasn't around to help with the garden. It wasn't fair that I couldn't help; be apart of things and make memories with my family.
"Hell, Shaw, if ya keep a level head on your shoulders then they'll be plenty of gardens you'll be plantin' wit' your family."
Looking at my uncle, I told him, "I wanna go see them."
"It's plantin' season, we can see them on our day off." He told me, trying to brush off the fact that I needed to see my family.
"Can't we go see them before work? I mean it's on the way." It really was on the way, in fact we'd be coming to my house in a few minutes since it was off of the man road.
Jim let out a deep sigh and rolled his eyes before relenting with, "Fine but we ain't stayin' long. We gotta get to the timber yard."
Jessa POV:
We were all sitting at the table eating breakfast whenever the front door opened accompanied by Shaw's voice askin', "What's everyone eatin'?" When I lifted my eyes towards the door, I watched him walk right on inside, followed by Jim. A smirked appeared on his face as he remarked, "Whatever it is, sure does smell good.", as he walked into the living room.
"He's really gonna waltz on in here actin' like nothin' happened?" Todd asked me in a low whisper before eating a forkful of eggs. I just cut my eyes at him, silently letting him know to just drop it.
"We were on our way t'work an' he wanted to see ya an' the youngins." Uncle Jim explained, standin' by the door with his dog while Shaw made his way into the kitchen.
"Daddy! You 'ere!" Silas exclaimed, jumping off of his chair and running over to Shaw.
"Yea, Silas, I'm here." Shaw scooped up our son. "By god, buddy, you've gotten so big since the last time I saw you." Shaw mused, looing over our son as he held him close to his chest.
Silas crinkled up his nose. "Daddy stinky."
"Yea, well, daddy wasn't able to take a bath cause mean ol' crazy Uncle Jim had me locked up in a room for a goddamned month."
"Shaw, you watch your mouth around my son!" I commanded while at the same time Uncle Jim defended himself with a loud, "I'm not mean and crazy. Did what had'a be done for ya, boy."
Shaw just rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed by both me and Jim. "Well, at least you're not stinky."
"No, me not stinky." Silas agreed with a slight shake of his head.
Shaw just chuckled before bringing Silas over to the table. After placing him back int his seat, he went over to the highchair to see Lydia. "Hey, Lydia. It's daddy." Shaw smiled at the little girl who was nibbling on a biscuit.
The little girl just tilted her head at him and parroted, "Daddy.", in a tone that was void of any excitement. I guess since he's been gone for so long that she's either forgotten him or in a way doesn't care. Whatever it was, Lydia didn't seem too thrilled to be seeing her daddy.
"Are you movin' back in?" Mary innocently asked her older brother as she reached for her glass of milk. She wasn't aware of all of the problems between me and Shaw or of his personal ones, so I understand why she'd be curious about his living situation.
"God, I hope not." Todd muttered under his breath, causing me to give him a swift kick under the table to keep him quiet.
Smoothing back Lydia's hair, Shaw looked over at Mary and told her, "Not yet, but soon."
Soon. Hell, he was so certain that I was going to welcome him home with wide open arms. He had a lot of groveling and proving himself before I'd even consider reconciling with him. At the moment I was fine with being single. Less stress and headaches.
"Shaw, we better get a move on. Don't wanna be late." Uncle Jim told Shaw, gesturing to the door with a nudge of his head.
"Okay, Jim." Shaw nodded before pressing a kiss on top of Lydia's head. "I'll be back soon." He assured us before walking a few steps and stopping by me. Pressing a kiss to my cheek, he added in, "Maybe even for dinner."
"God, I hope not." I heard Todd mutter under his breath, causing me to give him another swift kick under the table.
"You and Uncle Jim can come over any time you want for dinner and to spend time with the kids." I told Shaw as politely as I could. I pointed my fork at the door and gave Shaw a look. "You better get going."
Shaw just nodded before walking over to Uncle Jim, who had a hand clutched around the doorknob. Jim opened the door and walked right on out the door with his dog hot on his heels. Shaw followed right behind the crochety mountain man, leaving me and the kids to finish our breakfast in peace.
Allie POV:
Even tho I was ready to pop at any second I was still active. So much so that I was helpin' Levicy wit' the wash while visitin' her this mid-mornin'. Cap was inside wit' his baby brother Detroit 'Troy' cooin' over the lil thing while I waddled over to the clothesline with a laundry basket full of freshly washed clothes. My son, Captain W., rushed by me and over to the chicken coop the was a few yards away. "That boy sure does love chickens." Levicy mused, looking over at my son as he stood by the fence surrounding the coop (watching the white hens), as I came to a stop next to her and set the laundry basket down.
"He loves animals period." I smiled, grabbing a shirt from my basket.
"Wait til he learns how the chicken gets to the supper table one day." Levicy told me as we hung up some shirts, alluding that my son would be shocked to learn that his precious chickens get their necks chopped off so he can have a full belly at dinner time.
"Yea, I dread the day he finds out." I lightly chuckled, shaking my head before going to grab another piece of laundry from the basket.
"How're ya feelin'? Must be gettin' close to your time."
"Honestly, I'm dog weary tired and my back hurts, but that ain't gonna stop me from runnin' my house."
"Course not, the house would fall into shambles if my son had to cook and clean." Levicy knowingly smirked, hanging up another sheet. "Men might think it's easy t'run a household, but in truth if they had to do it it'd never get done."
"I couldn't agree more, ma."
"Ya hear that Jim finally let Shaw outta the house; had my Anderson set him up with security work at the loggin' camp too."
"Yea, Cap told me 'bout it the other day." I nodded, pinning a shirt on the line.
Levicy grabbed another sheet from the basket while stating, "All this trouble so Shaw'll be sober; be able to get his family back." She shook her head while hanging up the sheet. "Deep down I do believe that Jessa and Shaw are meant for each other, but I don't believe that he'll stay sober for long." I just nodded at my mother-in-law, even tho I only halfway agreed with her. I felt that Shaw was going to slip up and drink again, but I didn't think that he was Jessa's other half. I'd rather have my best friend with Tolbert, but only if he can get her to Oklahoma. If he ain't going, then I don't want her with anybody. Walkin' around the sheet and comin' closer to me, Levicy sighed, "I also believe that boy has the ability to make the feudin' an' fightin' 'tween the families even worse."
"How so?" I asked, no doubt with a confused look on my face.
"The hate that boy's got's like slow poison. Over time it kills, painfully." Shaking her head and looking at the sheet she'd just hung up, she declared, "Both our family an' the McCoys'll suffer for it."
Oh… I just nodded since I was a bit startled at Levicy's revelation. If Shaw's hate for Tolbert was enough to send the feud into overdrive then we all had a big problem on our hands. I need talk to Sully, convince him that the only way to put a damper on the feud is to get his son back to the future and to leave him there forever.
Suddenly, I was pulled out of my thoughts as I felt my water break. Lookin' up at Levicy, I told her, "My water just broke."
Meanwhile In Pikeville, KY…
Devil Anse POV:
I meant to go confront that Pinkerton Mr. Phillips a couple weeks ago, but I found myself sidetracked wit' the Easter holiday, the birth of my son Troy, and some changes at work. Changes bein' that Uncle Jim had Shaw runnin' security with him (in order to keep an eye on the boy so he wouldn't go back on the bottle) an' I had t'move Cap t'wood board stackin' duty. Well, I also cut Abel's hours much to Cap's urgin', so the was 'nother reason why I had him stackin' boards.
But since I had some free time today I was finally headin' ov'r t'Pikeville's whorehouse to confront Bad Frank. Uncle Jim was join' me, much to my lil brother's dismay. 'Fore we left the house Ellison expressed his concern 'bout me goin' after Frank Phillips since our kin, the LEvingers in his opinon were jackasses that most likely had it comin'. He didn't care 'bout the risk Phillips posed t'us. He took down the Levigners, what's to say he wouldn't hunt the rest of us down. Ellison, ever the goddamned pacifist, begged me t'find 'nother way t'settle things wit' the Pinkerton.
His words of 'All I'm sayin' is as smart as you are maybe ya can figure out another way' ran thru my head the entire time I rode t'Kentucky. They ebbed 'way at me, made me think that perhaps I could solve the Pinkerton problem peacefully. By time we rode into Pikeville an' up to the whorehouse posin' as a saloon I made the decision to offer the man $100 to leave town instead o'takin' him outback an' blowin' his brainpan out.
"Come on, Uncle Jim. Let's get this ov'r with." I told my uncle, earnin' me a nod, 'fore I pushed the swingin' doors to the smoke-filled whorehouse open. Me and Jim walked in side by side while his dog moseyed on in front of us. The place was busy, with whores hangin' all ov'r men while a man played a tune on the piano. Me an' Jim stopped in the middle of the room an' looked at eachother, silently communicatin' that we needed t'find Phillips and quick.
As I looked 'round the room, Jim pulled out his pistol an' shot it into the ceilin'. Reckon a whore just shot in the ass while workin' on her back. Oh, of course Jim just had to shoot his gun. Everythin' ceased an' all eyes were on us since the saloon patrons were startled outta their wits. Jim just shrugged at me as I sgave him a narrowed look. Takin' my pipe outta my mouth, I loudly announced, "Lookin' for a gentleman named Frank Phillips."
"What's your business wit' him?" Asked a voice from over in the back of the room, where the bar was.
I turned 'round only to see a man walkin' 'way from the bar an' the redhaired whore the was on a stool next to him. Lookin' between the man makin' his way ov'r wit' a walkin' stick an' me, Uncle Jim concluded, "That there must be Bad Frank Phillips with that limp."
No shit, Dave did say the man got shot in the ass by Ed. God, I should've just left Uncle Jim at home. I see he's gonna get us into a fight when I need to pay off Mr. Frank Phillips. Goddamnit, Shaw would be visitin' Jessa an' the chil'ren today, givin' Uncle Jim some free time 'way from the boy.
"I go by Frank Phillips, not the other part, so if I was you I'd mind my tongue." Bad Frank warned my uncle in a low-edge of a voice as he hobbled his way over to us.
"Well, ain't you ornery for a cripple." Uncle Jim deadpanned.
"I'd give you a lesson in manners, but the house required I check in my guns before goin' upstairs wit' Jenny-Lou."
Oh, bet she just loved that. He could barely walk, poor whore was workin' extra hard for her two-bits from him. Maybe he had a sense of gratitude an' tipped her a lil extra.
"Well, that's too bad. Given your attitude I liked t'seen how good yu can use 'em." Uncle Jim sarcastically told the Pinkerton, cockin' his head at the man to future get under his skin.
"Well 'nough t'shoot dead your relatives, old man."
Okay, this ends now. Before Jim could utter another word, I told the Pinkerton, "I've come to talk t'ya, not get into a shootout in a damn whorehouse. After I'd killed ya I'd have to explain it to my wife an' I wouldn't much look forward to havin' t'do that." Jim just let out chuckle as he imagined the fight that'd ensue if I had to explain such a thing to Levicy. "So, how 'bout I buy you a drink instead?" I offered the Pinkerton.
"You buy me a bourbon whiskey straight, Mr. Hatfield." Frank Phillips ordered me before lookin' over at Jim an' sayin' "But you'll have to leave your dog outside." Pointing to Mr. Howls, who was sittin' by Jim's leg, he added, "But he can stay."
"Hmm…" I nodded 'fore walkin' by the crippled Pinkerton an' over to the bar.
"You girls better leave, we've got business t'discuss." Bad Frank told the whores sittin' at the bar as we came to a stop at it.
The girls just nodded and left, in turn causin' me to tell the barkeep, "Two bourbon whiskeys straight."
Quickly, the barkeep placed some glasses on the bar an' poured us our drinks while I took off my hat, settin' it down. Reachin' for his whiskey, Mr. Phillips asked, "So why'd you make a special trip to parlay with me?"
Takin' my money clip out an' removin' some money, I explained, "I've come t'give ya $100 to leave these parts."
"I killed your kin, why the pay off?" He asked, lookin' at the money in my hand as he sipped his drink.
"Wasn't my first idea, believe me." I placed the money on the bar. "The longer you stay people's gonna expect me t'do somethin'." I warned him. "The Levingers were always damned fool idiots at best, but don't make me raise my hand 'gainst ya Mr. Phillips cause I would kill you." Slidin' the money ov'r to him, I ordered, "Take my money an' ride on out."
"I'll take your money." Mr. Phillips shrugged. Pickin' up the $100, he looked at me an' sad, "Just don't think I'm runnin'."
Of course he doesn't want to skip town. Pickin' up my shot o'whiskey an' downin' it, I told the man, "You took down the Levingers so didn't expect ya louse it out."
"Your peck shootin' relatives gave my bad leg." Narrowin' his eyes at me, he accused, "Your land claim and kin cost me my job."
Placin' the money down on the bar for the drinks, I told him, "Skunk's profession." 'Fore walkin' off I advised, "Get yourself into somethin' useful."
Levicy POV:
Allie's been in the birthin' bed for endless hours now. All of the men and the chil'ren were outside, waitin' for word. Vera was outside too, tendin' to the chil'ren since she was too far 'long to be of any help to Allie. The only one's in the bedroom wit' my daughter-in-law was me, Jessa, and Doc. Doc, as he was wit' every birth he presided ov'r, was just sittin' an' readin' while waitin' for his patient's time t'push. Me an' Jessa were by Allie's side, wipin' her head with cool washcloths and keepin' her mind off the pain by talkin' to her.
On and on it went til finally, Doc deemed Allie ready to push. The first few pushes she made were fine, but now she's startin' to tire out. "Come on, Allie, just a few more." I encouraged, rubbin' her back as I helped her sit up.
Allie weakly shook her head. "I can't, I'm too tired. I need to rest."
"You can't rest, sweetheart. The baby's ready t'come out." I told her, pushing a stray piece of sweaty hair behind her ear.
"I'm too tired to push." She admitted as her arms shook in an effort to hold herself upright.
"Baby'll crown wit' a few more pushes, Allie." Doc assured her from his spot at the bottom of the bed.
"I need to rest. I'm too tired." Allie protested, shakin' her head an' sendin' some hair tumblin' out of her messy, matted, sweat soaked braid.
Squeezing Allie's hand, Jessa boldly told her with a firmness I've only ever seen in one other person in my entire life (Granny Delize), "Allie, you listen to me, the baby needs you to fight on and push. You might be exhausted, but Levicy needs you to push her out. You're her mother, you need to be strong for her and push."
Allie just nodded before bearing down and pushing with all the strength she could gather up. When she grew too tired, she stopped, which caused Doc to say, "I see the head. One more big push oughta do it."
"Okay." Allie nodded before biting her lip and pushin'.
Suddenly, Allie stopped pushing and Doc sat up with a cryin' baby in his arms. Lookin' 'tween us an' the baby, he announced, "It's a girl." Oh my goodness, baby Levicy's here.
Cap POV:
I felt a sense of excitement an' pride well up in my chest as I heard the echoin' of newborn cries comin' from the house. I was so happy that my second child had come. All of the men sittin' wit' me on the porch smiled, happy that a new Hatfield had entered the world. Well, all but Shaw that is. Even sober he had a pissy face on. Hell, think he was only here cause both Jessa an' Uncle Jim were. Family rumour had it that Shaw got into it wit' Sully an' avoids him if he can. Most likely the reason why Sully wasn't at the main house waitin' on Allie t'give birth I reckon.
"That gran'baby of mine sure does have a set of lungs." Pa beamed proudly, his pipe danglin' in the corner of his mouth.
"That it does, big brother." Uncle Ellison nodded in agreement from his spot next t'pa.
"Reckon in a few weeks we'll be doin' this 'gain 'fore my Vera."
The front door opened and out walked Doc. Comin' up to me, he announced, "You've got a baby girl, Cap." A daughter. Wow. "Allie's tired, but you can go in and see her and the baby." Doc told me while both ma and Jessa stepped out onto the porch.
"Thanks Doc." I shook his hand 'fore goin' over to the door.
Right 'fore I set foot into the house, I heard my ma tell everyone out on the porch, "Allie had a girl; named her Levicy Ann."
I knew that it meant a lot t'my mother to have a gran'baby named after her by how much joy filled her voice durin' her announcement. I just smiled to myself an' walked into the house. Quickly, I made my way upstairs to the spare room and walked inside only to see my wife holdin' our newborn daughter in her arms.
Lookin' up at me, Allie smiled an' said, "We've got another Levicy in the family."
"Yea, I heard." I nodded with a smile as I went over to my wife's side. Takin' a seat at the edge of the bed, next to her, I gestured to our daughter in awe and declared, "She's one might cute baby."
"Yea, she is." Allie mused, gently rockin' Levicy Ann in her arms. "Are you gonna let Abel see her?"
"In a week or so after you heal and adjust t'motherin' two chil'ren." If it was truly up to me I wouldn't let him see my daughter, but my wife did express an interest in the fool seein' his niece. Softly strokin' Allie's cheek, I asked, "Okay?", to make sure she accepted my terms.
"Okay." She nodded with a weak smile. "Do you wanna hold her?" She asked, offerin' me the baby.
"Course I do." I smiled 'fore takin' my daughter wit' a gentle ease only an experienced father possesses. Gently rockin' my daughter in my arms, I cooed, "I'm your pa, lil Levicy Ann."
AN:
So, Shaw's back and is being babysat by Jim to keep him sober. How long do you guys think that's ging to last for? Also, how do you guys feel about Shaw lashing out at Sully? Is Levicy right, will he make the feud worse? Anyways, Allie had baby Levicy Ann, yay!
Next up somebody figures out that Jessa's pregnant. Any guesses on who?