AN: Now, I know that RDR2 is an M rated game and all, but I'd say this fanfic has been mostly tame up until now.

That changes in this chapter, which consists of sexual content leaning towards graphic.

Just a warning!

Dancing in the Moonlight (It's Caught Me in it's Spotlight)

And I'm walking home
The last bus is long gone
But I'm dancing in the moonlight

The morning sun beat down on the cool ground, amber hues breaking through the trees as the white mustang Lillie blazed the trail, her shiny tan hooves clicking quickly as she galloped her rider towards his home.

Arthur's heart filled with excitement and regret. He pondered hard if he was doing right by his son. But his desire to see Charlotte again reminded him of the love Samuel showed little Morgan during his visit, his fatherly instincts outweighed Arthur's tenfold.

Maybe one day he could try this fatherhood thing again, and hopefully Morgan understood the decision his parents made, or would come to understand it in the future.

He'd still be in his life, he swore it.

The thoughts raced through his mind as he raced over the landscape, feeling the wind through his hair as the pale filly galloped onward. He only stopped once to take a cigarette break and get something to eat before he passed out in the warm sun.

Pale morning skies turned to dusk, the patter of hooves came to rest as Arthur stepped down from the saddle, heart racing with excitement as he ran to the cabin. He hoped she wasn't already in bed, but even if she was, he was sure she'd be happy to see him.

He raised his hand, but before he could knock, the door swung open, and he was greeted by the barrel of a gun.

A meek voice sounded out from the other end of the rifle, "Arthur?"

"In the flesh."

She put the rifle down and tossed her arms around him. "Oh, Arthur, I'm so happy you're back."

He held her close, his heart coming to beat in tune with hers as a happy smile came to rest on his face like a comfy cat.

He smelled her hair in their embrace, a sweet scent stuck through, like a baked apple pie.

But his blissful moment was cut short when he realized how frazzled and nervous she looked.

"Was everything alright while I was gone?"

She pulled away. "I wish I could say it was. This man won't stop coming to the house, I've scared him off a dozen times, but he just keeps coming. And when I go to sleep, he comes to the window and stares at me."

Arthur turned red, "I know that bastard, I caught him once. He comes around here one more time, I'll kill him, I swear I will."

She shuddered and closed her eyes, unsure if violence was really the answer. "I don't want trouble Arthur, but, I just want to be able to sleep again."

He placed his hand to her ear. "And you're gonna. I'm gonna protect you."

She ran a strand of hair behind her ear as she looked up at him, her hand touching his, butterflies erupting as she stared into his needful eyes. His gaze had changed, what were once the eyes of a friendly, lonely man in pain were now the eyes of a confident, sensual man who had finally admitted to himself that he loved her.

Without a word, Arthur made his way inside and closed the door, pulling Charlotte close and parting his lips as he prepared to tell her everything he couldn't find the courage to tell her through words.

Their lips crashed together in passion, she wrapped her hands around his neck and pulled him close, their bodies falling to the couch as passion erupted within them.

She came to lay on top of him, her lips never moving from his, their tongues intertwined as his hand grazed her hair, pulling and pushing in rhythm as he resisted pushing her further than she was willing to go.

She tore away softly, hands coming to rest on his heaving chest, his eyes darting from her lips to her breast. He couldn't help but feel drunk off the kiss and the affection, intoxicated by his own emotions as his heart became set on her.

It was ten times better than rum, for sure.

"The boy, Arthur, what's going to happen to him?"

Arthur sighed, he looked away, fearing a shameful glance. "I'm not a good father, Charlotte. He's got a good man looking after him, better than I could ever be."

"That is your son though."

"I know. And I like to think I did the right thing. I'm still gonna see him, just,-" he smiled, "-as an uncle."

Charlotte nodded; it was his choice in the end. "I think I'd like to meet him one day."

Arthur beamed. Half-jokingly and half-not, he proclaimed, "Marry me then, you'll be his aunt Charlotte!"

She giggled, but then shook her head. "Oh hon, I'm not ready for that. I don't know if I ever will be."

He rolled his eyes. "I can wait. I waited before. But I'll ask you every day until you tell me to stop."

She nodded with a tender look. "Well, I'll have to let you know then."

They kissed a final time, his lips quivered as they touched hers, he was powerless with her.

She rested her head against his, her parted lips begged, "I know it's so soon but, for my sake, sleep in my bed tonight."

"You don't have to ask me twice, darlin."

"No funny business though. I… I just want to be able to sleep tonight. I haven't slept in weeks, the garden is dead, that man is a menace."

"I'll hunt him down and hang him from a tree if you say the word."

"No." Charlotte rose from the couch and pulled a pin from her messy hair, letting her long black locks hit her shoulders. "Don't you'd dare go looking for him. He'll be back,-" she reached for his hand, pulling him up to meet her, "-and when he does, you do whatever you need to do to make sure he won't return."

She avoided the term kill, she still wasn't comfortable with the idea of a man killing another man just so that she could sleep in peace again. But this man had equated himself to a rat in her eyes, and troublesome rats should be dealt with.

Arthur couldn't help but swoon as he followed her into the bedroom, she was already in her nightgown, getting ready for another sleepless night when her savior had returned.

The gown hung loose to her figure, but as the moonlight shone through her window, blue hues dancing around her body like a ballet, and you could see the outlined design of her delicate form in nearly exquisite detail.

She closed the curtain and went to sit on the bed, waiting for him to come lay next to her. He felt himself stuck, unsure of what to do next, stunned by just how lucky he felt to be invited into her room like this.

"Do you need help getting undressed?" She asked.

He found it hard to say yes or no. Of course, he had managed to dress and undress himself by now, but he always did find it comforting when Charlotte assisted him.

He walked towards her, a cheeky grin as he said sensually, "I could manage, but, if you'd be so kind."

She reached out for his dress shirt, unbuttoning the top button, then the second, dragging on as a feeling of excitement coursed through her veins, her body ready to ravish him, but her all too logical mind taking a step back and reminding her that she wasn't ready.

Still, it had been so long. She fantasized about Arthur, shamefully. Even now, the images she had managed to conjure up returned to her memory as her breathing shallowed and she bit her lip. Images of him on top of her, fucking her, behind her, inside her, making love to her. Gently, harshly, a mixture of both, the violence of passion and the calm after the storm.

But Arthur remained unmoved by his own desires, despite doing the same, despite his fantasies feeling like they could finally come to fruition. He had all the time in the world to make love to her, he would follow her terms.

She looked into his eyes as she undid the final button, revealing his toned body, his skin damp with the sweat of riding in the sun all day. He smelled like trees, air, the scent of the morning sky clung to his hair like the sweetest perfume.

She rested her nose to the nape of his neck, holding him close as she dropped his shirt to the ground and wrapped her arms around his abdomen. He felt inadequate holding her back with nothing but five fingers, his face acting as the missing hand as he rested it against her head.

Even if they never had sex, this was enough for him.

Charlotte reached down to undo his pants, but he stopped her. "I think it's best if I leave those on tonight."

She understood and sat back down on the bed. He came to sit next to her, kissing her tenderly, a tiny sliver of moonlight shining through and illuminating the room.

He pushed her back gently against the pillow, kissing her neck and holding her as tight as he could as she moved to be on top. His fingers trailed along her back, running down the length of her spine, every nerve on his fingertips finding lightning in her movement.

She reached down for the buckle on his pants once more. She hadn't given herself the time she swore she would, she didn't care anymore.

"I want you." She whispered.

It was all he needed to hear.

His heart raced as he gave way to his emotions, no longer holding back.

He bit her neck as he oriented himself on top of her, his fingers moving down between her legs, evoking a moan of pleasure from his partner.

He struggled to undo his buckle in this position, so she pushed him away and assisted, soon revealing his excitement at finally being with her.

She pushed him down, her hands on his shoulders as she moved to rest on top of him. He still hadn't even seen her bare breasts, and yet here he was gasping in pleasure as she brought herself down onto him, their bodies fitting together like missing jigsaw pieces.

He reached out for her thigh, rubbing his thumb across it as her muscles tensed and released with every blow she brought down.

She let out a heartfelt moan, her body contracting with pleasure. Every fiber of her being felt the sensation, love and passion bringing her into a state of pure bliss.

Arthur held himself back. He always took charge during sex, it was the one time his animalistic tendencies could be called pleasurable for all involved. But he restrained himself this time, even though he was already so close to finishing, even though all he wanted to do was throw her down and thrust into her like his life depended on it.

Finally, he mumbled out, "if you don't wanna get pregnant I suggest you get down now."

Charlotte continued, looking a little sorrowed as she leaned down and looked into his eyes, "I'm barren, Arthur."

His eyes widened with surprise. There went any hope of having a family with her, but in the short term this was great news.

On the other hand, with the knowledge of knowing how close he was, she deliberately slowed her pace, letting him feel everything tenfold, his breathing sounding loudly as his hand grabbed onto her skin, pushing her down a little faster. She fought him off, grabbing his hand and forcing it above his head. They stared into each other's eyes, and she held his cheek softly, tickling his lips with her thumb and feeling his hot breath on her skin. His hips began thrusting as fast as they could until he felt the release wash over him, his eyes fading into pleasure as he let out a moan, filling her up from inside.

She pulled herself off of him, fingers traveling from his groin to his chest, her lips coming to rest upon his.

Arthur felt himself fading away into a deepening sleep, his eyes fluttering as the thought humorously flickered across his mind, was I just poisoned?

She rested on his chest, feeling his heart slow to a steady echoing beat. She rested easily, knowing he'd protect her, knowing she was safe to sleep with him in her arms.

The morning light shone through the window, pale pink skies welcoming the new day as they drifted across the features of the sleeping couple, the feminine one now resting towards the window, her figure covered by the pillow she held onto, while her partner rested on her shoulder from behind, his arm wrapped loosely around her waist.

She stirred from her slumber, feeling the comforting touch of Arthur by her side. She finally enjoyed a full night's sleep since his departure, and he surely assisted her exhausted state in more ways than one.

Charlotte turned to him, snuggling under the blankets and kissing his lids to open into the day. The sparkle of his ocean blue eyes in the shining sunlight brought in her first joyful moment that day.

"Good morning." She whispered to him.

"Morning." He stretched his arm and reached to grab her, pulling her in tighter. "That was the best sleep I ever had."

"And why do you think that is?"

"I can think of a few reasons." He snickered.

"I'm going to go get breakfast ready, could you fetch some water? I'd like to wash up." She said as she raised from the bed and touched the tips of her toes to the bare wooden floor.

"If you think I can manage it, Ms. Rest and Relaxation."

She tossed a pillow at him playfully. "Oh stop it, I asked you to get water, not get attacked by wolves."

"Knowing my luck it will end up the same way."

Charlotte rose from the bed and opened the curtains, letting in the full spectrum of the morning light. She made her way to her armoire, catching a glance as Arthur's eyes curiously danced around her body, anxious to catch a peek.

"We made love before you even saw me naked." She stated.

He lifted the blankets off of himself and said, "and yet you can't say the same."

He left the bed and walked over to her, leaning his hand against the wall as his other arm desired to caress her features. She leaned into the intended embrace all the same, and grabbed the side of her lengthy nightgown, pulling it up to expose her legs. She motioned for him to grab the other side, pulling it up together, above her legs, her hips, her porcelain stomach, finally to her breasts.

He tossed the nightgown on the ground and reached for her face, caressing it carefully, kissing her softly.

"You are the most beautiful woman in the world."

She smiled with a pleasured sound, and reached out to embrace him, feeling his strong muscles below her hands, the musk on his skin providing a comforting touch upon her nose.

"Without each other we'd both be dead, right?"

She still refused to believe his tale of immortality, so he amused her. "I would say."

"That makes us born-again soulmates."

He laughed.

She turned around and began picking out an outfit for the day, but she caught a glimpse of something in the window, sending her peaceful look into a state of shock.

"Arthur, he's back."

He looked at the window, not catching the glimpse as she had, but believing her all the same. He grabbed his jeans from the corner of the bed and slipped them on as fast as he could before running for the door, being stopped by Charlotte as she handed him a pistol from the armoir.

"If you can't make peace, don't hesitate."

Arthur shook his head. "I ain't good at makin' peace, Charlotte."

Arthur barged out the door, seeing the man running away towards the woods as he came around the back of the cabin. Arthur quickly outpaced him, and he fell down, pants around his ankles as Arthur shot him in the leg, the sound sending birds flying from the trees, the pain sending the pervert into a panic.

"Please! Please don't kill me!"

"I gave you a warning! And I never give more than one warning!" He walked up to the man on the ground, squirming and trying to grab at his leg, his undergarments soaked in the splatter of his own blood.

"If you got any last words you better say them now, because you're dying today, boy!"

The man's face turned from agony to rage, "I fucked her while you were gone! She'd have me again and ag-"

The final shot rang out, echoing along the hills. The man's blood splattered Arthur's jeans, bits of his brain laid upon grey leaves like a meal on a serving platter.

He began walking back to the cabin, he'd need help moving the body later, preferably before it began to attract scavengers.

Charlotte met him at the door, a mixture of relief and pity on her face.

Arthur looked at her with the expectation of disappointment. He was sure that deep down she wasn't okay with knowing a human life was just exterminated in her backyard.

But almost surprisingly, she smiled, and uttered, "Good riddance."