***Adult content in this chapter***

A fresh afternoon breeze was stirring up the surface of the water, sending little icy waves to lap at Olivia's legs. Although it was still cold, the fresh air was a welcome respite from the smells in the camp. For the past couple of weeks she had been feeling unwell and tired all the time, enduring waves of nausea throughout the day. She hoped that she wasn't catching something, though there was an unpleasant thought in the back of her mind that was telling her this wasn't a case of the flu she was developing.

She was knee deep in the river washing the day's dirty clothes for the camp; it was a good excuse for her to use so she could continue her communication with the NCR snipers, though she had to be careful as she knew that volunteering for the same duties was bound to get the wrong kind of attention. A series of light flashes from the top of the canyon cliffs signalled her a message of gratitude from her watchful guardians and to keep safe. Their brief communication for the day had come to an end, and Olivia sighed as she finished her chores and stuffed the wrung clothes in a large basket at the shore. She was ready to make her way back to the camp when a persistent flash of light caught the corner of her eye; it was the snipers again.

She murmured quizzically, shielding her eyes from the harsh afternoon light so she could focus on the patterns.

"Activity at gate", she interpreted the message, "Be careful".

Olivia dropped her basket on the ground and raised her arms above her head as if she were stretching, though in reality it was her signal to them that she had received their message.

Sure enough as she walked back into camp, all the men were gathered close to the gate and there was a buzz of activity and orders.

"What's going on?" Olivia asked one of the women hauling a heavy load.

"One of the men came back from a man hunt", she grunted as she re-positioned the rope around her shoulders and went back to her labour.

Olivia saw two men carrying someone on a stretcher and she had an urge to see what was going on. Moving stealthily behind the crowd to a spot she could get a better view, she saw the two men carry the injured soldier up to Caesar's tent. When she saw the state of him she could barely suppress a stunned gasp; his clothes were in tatters, face and body peppered with dried blood, cuts and bruises, and his cheeks and eyes were so gaunt she could tell the outline of his skull, but it was undeniable who it was.

"Aurelius", she said under her breath, following his path up until he disappeared in Caesar's tent followed closely by Vulpes.

After two months of being free from his grasp she had come to think that he'd perished on some scavenging mission. Although he was one of her kinder captors, he was still a Legionary and the thought of not seeing him ever again did bring some joy to her. But now he is back, alive and would undoubtedly make a full recovery. What this meant for her though was still uncertain. He had claimed her for himself before he left, and even though Caesar himself had gifted her to Vulpes, her instinct told her that he wasn't about to let her go that easy.

When the crowd dispersed, she quickly made her way back to the women's tent to finish her chores and to help Elizabeth. Going back to the river to send a message to the snipers about what had happened inside the camp would be suspicious now; she would have to do that next week when they would be back and waiting for an update from her. For now, Olivia took solace in the knowledge that the war was going badly for the Legion; for the first time in many years, the NCR was gaining the upper hand. Now more than ever she had to remain vigilant, for if she got caught, she and her family would all be put to death…nailed to a cross for crows to pick at.

A cold winter breeze coming through one of the windows in their bedroom woke Joshua from his slumber. He groggily got out of bed and, with eyes half open, stumbled to it and pulled it shut. During the winter nights they were having some very strong winds blowing up the cliffs from the canyon lands and sometimes it was so strong it managed to push the windows open just enough to let the warmth out. He was going to have to fix it soon or suffer having to wake every dawn to close it again.

Gently pulling it shut so he didn't wake Mary, he turned to go back into bed and stopped in his tracks when he observed her enticingly exposed half naked body. The bed linens were draped just barely enough to cover her buttocks, with her back and legs exposed. He felt an urge in his core and his underwear begin to feel tighter. Over a month had passed since their wedding and he still couldn't get enough of her. Sliding stealthily back under the covers, he slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him.

"Good morning wife", he whispered in her ear, giving her sensual kisses on her earlobe and down her neck.

She stirred slowly, taking a deep breath and exhaling as she wriggled against him, spurring his member to swell even more.

"What time is it?" she mumbled sleepily.

"It's early, not even dawn break", he spoke between kisses.

"Why are you awake?" she asked, pulling his arm tighter around her waist, interlocking her fingers with his.

"The window opened again", he murmured, stroking her jawline, down her neck and shoulder, "But when I went to get back to bed, I saw you; your half naked body peeking out of the covers… And I thought in wonder; we're married".

"Mhm… You keep saying that", she grinned sleepily, "Uh… Joshua", she blinked her eyes open as she felt his member pressing between her buttocks, catching her by surprise, "You wouldn't happen to be… aroused, would you?" she asked playfully.

"I'm always aroused around you", he answered, gently directing her lips to his in a passionate embrace. He found himself unintentionally pressing his hips against her buttocks in a gentle thrusting motion, and his arm that was around Mary's waist instinctively slide between her legs.

Mary moved her head back and moaned in pleasure as Joshua's fingers explored her soft lips between her legs while his mouth hungrily tasted her body, kissing her neck and moving down to taste her breasts. He could feel she was already prepared for him and every cell in his body was telling him that he wanted nothing more than to turn her hips up and feel her embrace; but he pushed that instinct to the side. This was about her more than him; her pleasure was his duty as her husband and it brought him a thrilling joy to know that he could make her feel this good.

Sensual moans followed by intermittent deep breaths that she held in for several seconds; her body was talking to him, urging him to carry on his circular stroking between her legs. After a few more minutes her thighs shivered… she was close.

"Josh…" she whimpered, her fingers stroking the back of his head and neck. She opened her eyes and locked them with him, an almost primal sensation in the depths of her gaze. This was it!

With a final exhale of the breath she had been holding in, her back arched and her hips rocked in short back and forth motions as she climaxed, biting into her pillow so she wouldn't scream and wake the whole settlement up.

"Oh Mary", Joshua's voice purred next to her ear. He held on tightly to her as her body writhed with pleasure, continuing to rub in circular motions gently until her breathing slowed and her body's movement calmed.

"I want you", she sighed, turning her body to face him and giving him a passionate kiss. He was more than happy to indulge her wishes. He turned his hips towards hers but before he could do anything, she pushed herself up and straddled him, sitting seductively on top of him with a mischievous grin on her face.

'Alright Mary, you're in charge' he thought with a grin, admiring the view he was getting of her upper body. She took his hands and placed them on her breasts, instructing him on how she wanted to be touched while moving her hips back and forth in a slow motion over his member.

Joshua sighed with pleasure, savouring the sensation of her lips stroking the length of his member, from tip to base. He loved it when she teased him, using him for her own pleasure; and he could sense that she loved it too. She was so wet that with one twitch he felt his member slide inside her.

"Oh!" she gasped, clutching his hand and biting her lower lip as she felt him slowly move up inside her. All that mattered to him in his very moment was Mary. He followed her subtle queues, the way her body moved, the expression on her beautiful features and her breathing. Slowly moving his hands down her hourglass waist, he stopped at her hips and started gently squeezing and rubbing, encouraging her to move in a more forward and backward motion rather than up and down so she could get more stimulation. It was working.

She gazed into his eyes, a primal look about her as he felt her muscles pulsate rhythmically to his movements. If he could keep this motion up… If he could just last a little longer…

His breathing quickened, his heart was racing in his chest, and as soon as he felt that familiar warmth spreading from between his legs, he knew he couldn't hold back. With a groan he surrendered to the otherworldly pleasure, grabbing on to Mary's hips and pulling her even closer to him,

"Mmmm…that was amazing", Mary murmured lovingly, resting her body on top of his, her head on his chest listening to the thumping of his heart, "Thank you".

"I'll do better next time", Joshua panted, stroking a finger up her spine.

Mary laughed and looked up at him, her eyes sparkling in the early morning, "Always trying to challenge yourself, huh?"

"For you, always", he turned his head so he could look at her better, giving her a kiss on the top of her head.

"I wish we had all day to practice", she said, running her hand delicately over his torso and giving him slow kisses up his neck to his lips.

"Me too", he lovingly wrapped his arms around her as Mary pulled the covers over them both so they would stay warm. They stayed in this position, relishing the intimate touch and feeling the warmth of their bodies as they slowly drifted back to sleep.

Aurelius stared at his reflection in the mirror of the medical tent, disgusted with what he saw looking back at him. He was a shell of the man that left over two months ago in search of the scouting party's survivors. Not only was his body severely weakened, but he had failed in his duty as a Legionary soldier to bring the traitor, the woman with her child to Caesar, and for not choosing death when faced with defeat… But he couldn't change his story, not now when he gave Caesar Aelius' gold coin and lied about his actions.

'And what good did that do you?' he thought bitterly to himself as he pried away from the mirror, packing his bag, 'You lost your conquest to the likes of Vulpes, and have been given an assignment outside the safety of the camp. Caesar knows…he knows you're a liar'.

As soon as Aurelius was well enough to get back on his feet, Caesar sent for him with news of a new assignment. He was to be…promoted… though in actuality he was being relegated to the position of a glorified babysitter. Caesar had given him the slave camp at Cottonwood Cove and charged him with running it and the operation of obtaining useful slaves for the Legion; though experience had taught Aurelius that this decision was the doings of Caesar's advisers. No doubt Vulpes had a say in the matter. Whatever the case, he had no choice. Slinging his leather bag over his shoulder and securing his machete on his belt, he left the tent and started making his way to the gate. Not long after he heard the unpleasant voice of Vulpes calling behind him.

"Aurelius, you leaving so soon?" Vulpes asked, walking up to him.

"Come to delight in my departure, Vulpes?" Aurelius stopped and turned to face the man he'd come to hate over the years.

"I admit, not having you around will be a lot easier", a smirk crept up on Vulpes' lips, "The competition around here for promotion with you gone will be child's play".

"Don't get comfortable. I will be back".

"Hmm… We will see about that", Vulpes looked him up and down with an air of indifference and walked away to the training grounds, disappearing in the crowd of men.

Aurelius' heart was beating uncomfortably in his chest. He wanted nothing more than to take his machete and thrust it through Vulpes' heart. The thought of watching him bleed out gave him a sick pleasure, but death would be too easy and quick for him. Another thought came to mind that gave him giddy hope; if he wanted to hurt Vulpes, he would have to do it piecemeal.

Changing his direction, he walked quickly towards the women's section and demanded to know the whereabouts of the slave called Olivia. After terrifying several of the women, one of them finally relented and pointed him in the direction of the river.

He found her standing by the river's edge, sorting through wet linens in a large wicker basket. She was still as beautiful as the day he'd left her, and he felt the familiar yearning stir in his loins.

"Hello again", he said as he approached, surprising her.

"You!" Olivia gasped, "What are you doing here?"

"I have come to say goodbye, for now", he said, stopping a few paces in front of her, "I couldn't leave without seeing you again".

She stood there uncertain of what to do, her eyes wide and jaw clenched.

"I thought I would see you in the medical tent", he spoke, breaking the silence between them.

Her gaze dropped to the ground and she shifted uncomfortably on her feet, refusing to respond to him. She just stood there, mute and submissive.

"Well, aren't you going to say something?"

"What do you want me to say?" her eyes shot up at him, a blind anger burning from within.

"Anything", he answered earnestly, "Are you alright? Have you been treated well in my absence?"

Olivia's body shivered and her hands turned into fists, "No, now go away and leave me be".

"I know that Caesar has gifted you to Vulpes; but I'm going to do everything in my power to get you back", he moved closer to her, placing a hand gently on her shoulder.

"I don't want you, I don't want anyone", she jerked her shoulder back and moved to get her basket, but Aurelius caught her wrist and held her until she stopped struggling.

"Haven't I been kind to you?!" his voice rose angrily, "Haven't I fed you? Clothed you? Kept you safe from the other men?!"

"Let me go! You're hurting me", Olivia demanded.

"You would rather be with that mongrel, Vulpes? Huh?!" he pushed her back hard and into the river, making her stumble into the water. He could see the terror in her eyes, but he didn't care. Something had snapped in Aurelius and there was only a blind rage that overpowered any rational thought.

Olivia struggled to get back on her feet and screamed in a desperate attempt to call for help before Aurelius knocked her back down and dragged her to the deeper part of the river.

"Please! Please, stop!" she begged, "Let me go!"

"You left me no choice", Aurelius' words seethed bitterly through his teeth.

"I'm with child!" she yelled, clawing at his arm.

"What did you say?" Aurelius stopped dead in his tracks and turned to her, his eyes wide in shock.

"I'm pregnant!", tears streamed down her beautiful face and it was as if he'd been kicked in the gut.

He pulled her up to her feet gently and his gaze fell to her lower abdomen, a stupid look on his face as if he had no idea what to do with this information.

"You… You're… pregnant?" he asked.

"Yes. Now let me go!", her eyes still burned angrily.

At first a wave of joy crept through him at the thought that she was going to bear his child, but he still held on to her. Something in his gut was telling him that there was more to this.

"Is it mine?" the words came out of his mouth instinctively, the joy he felt just moments ago replaced with a cold and calculated decision he knew he had to make if her answer wasn't satisfactory.

Her eyes widened and she took just a little too long to answer.

"Yes".

"I don't believe you", he answered coldly and grabbed her neck, shoving her underwater. The fear in her eyes, and the realisation that dawned on her that she was going to die, seared in his mind as she struggled beneath him, frantically clawing at him and around her to try to get away; but there was nothing and no one that could help her.

Even when she stopped struggling and he could see her eyes wide and staring in the distance beneath the clear cold water, he didn't let go of her throat. His whole body shook and he felt a wave of nausea spread through him like wildfire. What had he done?...

'She's dead… you killed her', a voice unlike his own spoke in his mind.

His hand jerked open and he let her go stumbling back and falling in the water as he watched her lifeless body rise from the depth and bob down the river, following the fast current.

Killing a pregnant woman was a guaranteed execution in the Legion. He frantically scanned the area around him to see if anyone had witnessed his actions, though he needn't have worried. He was completely alone and no sign that anyone had heard what had just happened. Eyes still wide with the realisation of what he'd done, he got back up onto shaky feet, running his hand through his sodden hair. It wasn't the first time he'd killed a woman, but for some reason he was finding it difficult to cope with what he'd done to Olivia. Perhaps it was in the way he killed her.

'Stop thinking about it', he thought as his mind swam in the images of her drowning, wading through the water to the shore where he dropped his belongings, 'Get out, get out while there's no one around'. With a deep breath to help steady himself he left the river without looking behind him, and on his way to his new post.

"No!" Aelius yelled in his sleep, his body jerking awake and with enough force to startle Ash who was sleeping next to him.

"Hey! You alright?", she asked frantically, her wide eyes looking him over.

Aelius blinked and shook his head, looking around him with dazed confusion, "Fine… I'm fine", he panted after a moment. He moved to sit on the edge of the bed and cupped his hands over his face, rubbing the tears out of his eyes.

"Another nightmare?" Ash asked quietly behind him, placing a reassuring hand on his back.

He nodded without saying another word and got up to get a drink of water from the kitchen. Ash's gaze never left him; she watched him with sad eyes as he fussed over some cutlery in the dark. Over the past couple of months their friendship had blossomed and, although they hadn't taken the next steps for that friendship to become something more, Ash had developed deep feelings for him.

"You can talk to me" she said when he walked back and sat on the bed, handing her a glass of water too.

"I know", he nodded, taking a sip of cold water, "But there's nothing to talk about. It was just a nightmare".

Ash exhaled, still worried that he was reluctant to talk about it.

"It might help", she tilted her head, "Even if you think it's stupid to talk about".

Aelius nodded curtly and Ash could see his body relax slightly, his shoulders slumping a little. "I was back in the Legion… In the training grounds with some of the other soldiers", he took a deep breath, "My mother and sisters were there. They… Their bodies were bruised so badly and their hands and shoulders bloody from carrying heavy loads all day…".

"Go on", Ash encouraged him to speak after giving him a moment to compose himself.

"I was a kid again, and the Centurion who captured my family came up to me and handed me his whip to use on my mother and sisters… But I wouldn't", Aelius' body shivered, "They killed them".

"Oh Aelius", Ash hugged him gently, resting her chin on his shoulder and holding him until he calmed a little.

"It's just a dream", he shook his head and wiped his tears away.

"Even so, it does help to talk about it", she said softly, "You've been my confidant when I was going through my struggles, listened to every detail of every dream and thought. I want you to know that I'm here for you; you can talk to me about this anytime".

Aelius nodded and gave her a weak smile, "Thank you"

She took their empty glasses and returned them to the sink in the kitchen, sliding back into bed next to him and running her fingers softly through his hair. It was something that seemed to help relax him and put him at ease when he had nightmares before. Sure enough, a few minutes of caressing and he was sound asleep, his breathing easy and steady.

Ash wiped her tears away, wishing that there was more she could do for him. Wriggling closer until their bodies were touching, she hugged him close and kissed the back of his head, listening to his rhythmic breathing until the sun came up.