I'm a little tipsy so hopefully I edited this right... if there are any glaring grammar mistakes please let me know! Also, if there is a delay in the next update, it is because one of the hinges on my laptop is busted and I'm trying to see if I can get it fixed since I lack those skills. If I have to send it away, I am not typing up a chapter on my phone.

Chapter 18: Reunions

Jack filled the short ride to the new Van der Linde camp with stories of what he did with Arthur and Albert in the city, with Arthur providing corrections and clarifying details as needed. John led the way off the main road to a barely visible track, leading to the overgrown entrance of an old plantation house.

"Who's there?"

Arthur felt a smile spread involuntarily across his face. It was so familiar. Lenny on guard duty, trying to sound tough but to Arthur he always sounded young. Arthur stopped himself just in time from calling out a response, figuring it would be better for John and Hosea to explain.

"It's me, Lenny," John said, and the rifle lowered.

"John!" Lenny said. "Did you-"

"Hi Lenny!" Jack called from in front of John.

"Jack! Good to see you. How did you find him?"

"We had some help," said Hosea, drawing Lenny's attention to Arthur behind him.

"Hey, Lenny."

"Arthur! You're back!" Lenny shouldered the rifle and was at Merlin's side in two seconds. Arthur dismounted with a laugh and pulled the kid in for a hug. But the laughter died when he felt Lenny's breaths shudder as he tried to hold back sobs.

"Lenny, what's wrong? You alright?" Arthur looked between John and Hosea, both confused and worried, too.

"Sean got killed, Jack got taken, it's all a mess, I- I missed you, Arthur."

God, he forgot that Lenny was only a nineteen year old kid, too young to be losing friends like that.

"What's going on?" Javier said, wandering over to the group. "Arthur? Jack!"

And then the crowd started to gather around them, the previously somber camp having been brought back to life. John parted through with Jack high on his shoulders, calling out for Abigail.

"Where's Dutch?" Hosea asked.

"Went to the city with Micah," Javier said.

Further questions were postponed when Abigail appeared at the entrance of the house, running towards them. John placed Jack on the ground just in time for her to hug him, saying, "Come here, you silly boy! You got him! You got my son back. How?"

"Well, it was all Arthur," John said.

"Arthur?" Abigail hadn't noticed him at first, surrounded by half the gang. "Thank you, Arthur. Thank you! How did you do it?"

"Gather round everyone! I'll tell you what happened."

Arthur told the slightly edited story of how he found Jack, leaving out the strange man in the bayou. Jack had a touching reunion with Cain, the dog who had apparently wandered into their camp at Clemens Point one day, and Javier got out his guitar to play a song.

"Arthur, where have you been?" Mary-Beth asked.

"Saint Denis. Been staying with a friend."

"What's the city like?"

"Crowded."

"Give the man some space, will you?" Miss Grimshaw barged in and immediately invaded Arthur's space. "Now, Mr. Morgan, Mr. Matthews said you were hurt bad. And shot!"

"I'm fine, Miss Grimshaw."

"I'll be the judge of that!"

"I rode in here, didn't I?"

Miss Grimshaw huffed and crossed her arms. Arthur knew there was no escape. "Fine," he said, unbuttoning his shirt. "Left shoulder, got hit from behind. But it's just a scar now!"

"And your mobility?"

"Pretty good. Aches a little, sometimes, but that's it." Arthur decided to just put up with her fussing anyway as she moved his arm, testing the flexibility for herself.

"Good thing you are back so that I can keep an eye on you," muttered Miss Grimshaw.

"Susan… I ain't back. I just wanted to see everybody."

"So you are just going to keep running around by yourself? After all these year? Whatever happened to loyalty, Mr. Morgan?"

"I was loyal. For twenty years. But that didn't seem to mean anything to Dutch."

"He misses you, you know. He isn't the same without you around."

"But he has his new favorite son, Micah, to keep him company."

"Honestly, I don't know what Mr. Van der Linde sees in that vile man!" Finally satisfied that Arthur was fine and not about to drop dead, Miss Grimshaw gave his other shoulder a light smack and said, "Go on, now. Go see everyone. I have to see where Miss Tilly and Miss Karen got to. Though I'm sure I'll find Karen at the bottom of a bottle."

He saw Charles Smith next, and was surprised when the man hugged him and then dragged him over to the campfire next to Bill, Uncle, and Javier. "Good to see you in one piece, Arthur," Charles said.

"Morgan," Bill said, the slur of his speech giving away the fact that he was already drinking that morning. "Heard you ran into trouble 'cause you left us."

"Ran into trouble, sure," Arthur said. "Wouldn't have if Dutch could learn to keep a low profile."

He expected Bill to lash out. The man had always been blindly loyal to Dutch, almost to the point of stupidity. But Bill glanced at Jack for a moment then mumbled, "Glad you aren't dead." Even Javier had nothing to say in Dutch's defense, but then again, Javier saw first hand the massacre in Valentine.

"So, how have you been making money now that you aren't here with us?" asked Uncle, probably hoping Arthur had found the secret to monetary success.

"Honest work. Not that you know what that is, Uncle." The older man brushed him off with a roll of his eyes. "Naw, I had some money saved up. I sold that Arabian I found up in the snow to a guy who knows the breed, so that money kept me going for a while. Found some work for an odd feller, too, but I don't know if it's worth it yet."

A blond woman, wearing pants and a yellow shirt wandered over. "Javier!" she barked. "Why haven't you taken over your watch shift yet!"

"Mrs. Adler," Arthur said with a smile. "Outlaw life seems to suit you!"

"Would be better if these boys would let me go robbing with them! Good to see you, Arthur. I'm glad you found Jack."

"Good to see you, too."

Mrs. Adler grabbed a beer from the crate and went to see Abigail while Javier scurried to the perimeter. Pearson saw his opportunity to come talk to Arthur, starting with a joke. "You couldn't have brought back some meat with you, too?"

"What, having the kid back ain't enough?"

"I'm telling you, Mr. Smith is the only one who thinks to hunt an animal after finishing a job."

"Well maybe they don't like what you do to the meat after it winds up on your table."

"Oh, don't you start!"

Reverend Swanson seemed more sober that day when he talked to him. Strauss only gave him a brief nod, still avoiding him after their last confrontation. Only two members of the gang seemed to be staying away from the crowd. Molly sat on the porch steps, and the Kieran Duffy seemed intent on sneaking off with a fishing rod.

He went to Kieran first. "Not joining the party, O'Driscoll?"

"Not an O'Driscoll, sir." After all that time with him away, Kieran still couldn't look him in the eye.

"Where you off to?"

"A fishing spot up near Ringneck Creek. Javier showed me. It's a bit of a ride, but it's quiet."

"Join the party, Kieran. The fish can wait."

"Naw, I ain't in the mood. Besides, I… it's my fault Jack got taken."

"What do you mean?"

"I saw them Braithwaite boys near camp. Didn't think much of it, figured they were just there to see Dutch. Then Jack was just gone."

"Kid, it ain't all your fault."

"If I had just said something sooner!"

"Okay, I get it." Arthur had his own share of guilt over things he could have done different. "No use dwelling in the past now, and Jack turned out just fine. I won't keep you if you ain't in the party mood."

"Okay, Mr. Morgan." Kieran headed towards his horse.

"Hey Kieran," Arthur called after him. "I never properly thanked you. For saving my life up at Six Point Cabin."

Kieran glanced at the grass and said, "It was nothing, Mr. Morgan."

"Nonsense. Enjoy your fishing."

Molly didn't look at Arthur as he approached, instead she played with the hem of her sleeve. "Not joining the party?" he asked her.

"No."

"Everything alright?"

"I… I don't know." She wouldn't meet his eye, just kept pulling lightly on a loose thread. "Mr. Morgan, I love Dutch. I worry about him, you know? And he… he loves me back, doesn't he?"

"I don't know, Molly. I don't know Dutch like I used to. But what I do know? Just because you love someone don't mean staying with them is for the best."

"But I gave up everything for him!"

"You still have your life, don't you? Just think about it, Molly. You shouldn't have to give everything to a person for them to love you back."

And didn't Arthur know that fact. Many years ago, when he proposed to Mary, he asked her to give up her entire life, everything she knew, and join him. Mary turned around and asked him to do the exact same thing. Often Arthur wondered what would have happened if he had gone with her. Would he have ended up like Molly, alone in a world he didn't quite belong in, unsatisfied, unhappy, and clinging to his love like it was his only lifeline? Would Mary have been the same if she had gone with him?

Part of him wanted to tell Molly these things, but decided not to. Molly shared some similarities to Mary but she wasn't Mary. And Dutch wasn't like Arthur.

So instead he said, "If you ever need help, or need to get out, Hosea knows how to contact me. I'll do what I can."

"Thank you."

"Want to join the party?"

Molly nodded, and they walked back to the crowd around the campfire. Uncle started a song, and most members joined in. Karen stumbled over, drunk. Arthur tried to engage her in some conversation, but she just brushed him off. He knew that she and Sean were close. Hopefully, she would be alright.

Sitting around the campfire, listening to the jokes and stories, Arthur could close his eyes and pretend that he was home. That he never argued with Dutch, that he was never found by Pinkertons. That nothing had ever changed.

But it had changed. Underneath the smiles was a hint of sadness. He felt it. They all felt it. At the end of the day, Arthur would leave. The gang couldn't go back to the way it was. And that wasn't a bad thing, but the reminder lingered.

And then Dutch and Micah returned.

"What is going on here?" Dutch asked, his eyes drifting over the celebration occurring in the middle of the previously depressed camp. Arthur's first thought was to bolt, even though he had come to camp fully expecting to run into Dutch.

John and Hosea stood up and rushed to Dutch. "We got Jack back!" Hosea said, and Dutch's jaw dropped.

After a moment of recovery, he said, "How wonderful for you, John! How did you find- Arthur?"

All the noise in camp plummeted to almost nothing, save a few brave insects and the stamping of horse hooves. The gang watched Dutch closely, and did Charles and Uncle just scoot closer to him?

Micah broke the silence by saying, "What the fuck is Morgan doing here?"

"I invited him, Mr. Bell," said Hosea. "Arthur here is the reason we found Jack. He managed to stop those Braithwaite boys in the swamps."

"Is that so?" Dutch asked, his voice slow and dangerous. "Have you come to your senses then?"

Arthur fought the urge to roll his eyes and storm off. "My senses, sure. But they ain't the same as yours."

"I am surprised by you, Arthur. One would think that after what you… went through… you would understand that staying with your family is safer."

"Really? How safe is it? Sean is dead, Jack was kidnapped. You really think nothing would have happened to me if I stuck with you?"

"Perhaps. Perhaps Sean might be alive if you had."

"Yeah, cowpoke," Micah said. "And it seems to me if you hadn't intervened, we would have found Jack with ol' Bronte."

"You would have wanted my son with that snake? You're sick, Micah," John shouted.

John stepped forward, probably intending to punch Micah in the face, but Hosea stepped between them. "What happened, happened, Dutch. Can't change it now."

"If Arthur isn't interested in rejoining the gang, then he shouldn't be here."

"Arthur has every right to be here! This gang may carry your name, Dutch van der Linde, but we were never a gang until Arthur joined us. He's one of the founding members. Before Arthur, we were just a pair of con artists roaming the land."

"He made is choice!"

"And I've made mine. Arthur is always welcome here, and that's final."

The whole gang waited, wondering who would waiver first. Then Dutch said, "Fine," and began to walk away from the campfire. The fact that he didn't check on Arthur's wellbeing didn't escape Arthur's notice.

Uncle leaned over to Arthur. "Don't mind him. He's just mad that he didn't get to be the hero this time."

"I wanted no such thing! I am glad that the boy is back!"

Micah attempted to make his way to Arthur, but Charles and surprisingly Bill got in his way. For a second, Arthur thought that Micah might try to push his way through to continue antagonizing him, but at the last second he turned away and wandered off after Dutch.

"Thanks Charles, Bill."

"That man has been insufferable since you left," Charles said with a shake of his head.

"How are you, Charles?"

"Not bad, how about yourself?"

"Same, pretty much. Haven't had a good hunting trip in a while, so let me know if you are interested."

"I am. When are you going?"

"I thought I would get some deer or pronghorn pelts. Maybe head back north a little." Arthur leaned in close and whispered, "Apartment 2 above S.E. Hellar Florist. You can write to Albert Mason, too."

"Is that your friend? The photographer?"

"Yeah, I'm surprised you remember that."

The party continued for the rest of the morning. Arthur jumped from conversation to conversation, giving advice or telling stories. Abigail, once she let go of her son for more than a few seconds, pulled Arthur into a long hug, crying her eyes out.

Around midday, Arthur realized it was time he headed back to the city. He made the round of goodbyes, which took quite a while. Dutch didn't make another appearance, but Lenny got off watch and had to interrogate Arthur for himself. Finally, Arthur was on his way out of the camp, about to meet up with the main road, when he heard a wagon rolling up behind him.

"Mr. Morgan! Mr. Morgan, we have a problem, a real problem, it's Tilly," Susan said, armed with a revolver and a shotgun.

"What happened?"

"I think she's been taken by them Foreman brothers she used to run with."

"The Foreman brothers? Well, what are they doing here?"

Well, I don't know what they've been doing here but I can tell you what they're going to be doing here… dying!"

"Sure, of course I'll help. Do we need more guns?"

"You and I can handle this, Arthur. Besides, everyone back at camp is on their way to drunk!"

Arthur got off Merlin and hopped onto the wagon with her. "Where we headed?"

"I'll tell you on the way, just get going."

Arthur flicked the reins, urging the horses up to a brisk pace. Miss. Grimshaw began to explain the directions, since Arthur wasn't too familiar with the area around Rhodes. "You sure this area's safe, after… well, you know?" Arthur asked.

"They won't recognize me or you, just keep driving. The place is called Radley's House, just west of the town."

"How do you know?"

"When we first got here, she told me she was worried that our camp was near a safe house that gang she ran with used from time to time."

"Did you tell Dutch?"

"No. She spoke to me in confidence, Mr. Morgan. I don't tell Dutch everything about those girls."

Arthur shook his head, and said sarcastically, "I'm sure he loves that."

"Oh, don't you start on Mr. Van der Linde. That man loves you like a son."

"Yeah, he loves me so much that he pushed me off a damn cliff and got me caught in the middle of a shootout. Besides, he… never mind."

"What?"

"Don't worry about it."

"Mr. Morgan…" Susan growled, low and in warning.

"Fine! It was just some nonsense that Pinkerton Milton said. That Dutch might have been the one that shot me."

"Do you really believe that?"

"I don't know. He might as well have. Don't sit there and tell me he hasn't changed, Susan."

Miss Grimshaw looked down at her lap. "You're right about that, Mr. Morgan. Mr. Van der Linde has changed. And that Mr. Bell? He ain't helping. But you and I have known Dutch for a long time. The old Dutch is still in there somewhere."

"I hope you're right."

"Anyway, let's focus on Miss Tilly for now."

"You know, I think I saw one of the Foremans hassling her when we were in Valentine."

"Yes, they probably followed us down here. You don't know what happened? She killed one of them, for good reason, but clearly they don't see it that way."

"Tilly?" Arthur was shocked. He had known Tilly since she was fourteen and had never seen her kill. Arthur knew that she had a difficult past with the old gang, but he never knew her reasons for leaving. Besides that they were trouble.

"Yes, young Tilly Jackson isn't as sweet and innocent as you might think. But like I say, she was defending herself. She fled and fell in with us right after that. I just hope we can get to her in time."

They kept going, Susan giving more specific instructions as they got closer to the location. "I think there's a guard," whispered Arthur when they finally spotted the house.

Susan sighed. "I'll deal with him." Arthur hung back while Miss Grimshaw approached the guard with a signature fake sweetness. "Kind sir, we're lost and in need of some help."

"No, get outta here," the guard said, holding his rifle up.

"Oh I see that kindly face of yours, and I know that for the right inducements, a gentleman such as yourself could be mighty kind."

"No, get outta here," the man repeated, but he made the mistake of letting Miss Grimshaw get close.

"Oh, now you keep saying that, but you don't mean nothing by it."

"I said-" the man began, but Miss Grimshaw plunged a knife into his neck.

"You've said your last words!"

The guard gurgled as he slumped to the ground, blood drowning his lungs. Arthur's eyes widened. It had been a long time since he had seen Miss Grimshaw kill someone, having been very used to seeing her manage the camp. "Well, what are you waiting for? Get in their and find our girl."

Arthur burst through the front door. "What the hell?" a man sitting at the table exclaimed before Arthur put a bullet in his chest. He heard another shout from a room on the right and kicked that door down as well. Inside he saw Tilly tied up against a bedpost and another man behind her. Arthur killed him, too, without a second thought.

Arthur cut the bonds around Tilly's wrists. "It's okay, let's get you out of here," he said, and once she was free, he pulled her close.

"Arthur? How did you… I thought they was… I…"

"It don't matter what you thought, it's okay."

"What are you doing here? I missed you, Arthur."

"I know, it's a long story."

Miss Grimshaw chose that moment to walk in and yanked Tilly away from Arthur with a, "Oh, come along miss!"

"Thank you, both of you," said Tilly.

"What happened?"

"It was Anthony Foreman. He thinks he owns me."

"I remember," said Miss Grimshaw. "Where is he?"

"He went out hunting or something. There were five of them, I think."

Arthur looked around the cabin, heading to the back door. "Well, we killed those fellers there." As soon as he walked outside, he saw three men on horseback.

"There they are!" Tilly cried out.

"Come on!" Arthur said, running to the Appaloosa still tied to the hitching post. Miss Grimshaw tossed Tilly a rifle and pulled herself onto the horse behind Arthur, and they were off.

Growing up, Arthur normally did not ride with Susan Grimshaw. She tended to stick with Dutch when she first joined them, since they were a couple, but after they ended things, she tended to work in the saloons, robbing drunks and playing cards. Eventually, as the gang grew, she took over managing the camp. So seeing a bloodthirsty Miss Grimshaw out to protect one of her own? Arthur was not prepared for that.

As they galloped forward, Arthur heard Tilly say, "The one in front is the boss! Bring him back alive, I ain't done with him yet."

They gave chase. Susan seemed a little rusty with a revolver. Arthur knew that she favored her shotgun for many years now, but she was able to help in taking out the two lackeys before only Anthony Foreman was left.

"I think that's the boss! Lasso him and let's bring him back to Tilly." A few swings of the rope, and the man was pulled down from his horse. "Make sure you tie him up real good," Miss Grimshaw said, moving to take Anthony Foreman's horse. She rode back towards Tilly as Arthur placed the tied up man on his horse.

"Do you have the first idea what you're getting into? I'm Anthony Foreman."

"Oh, thanks for the introduction, Anthony. Is that Foreman with an 'e'? I want the undertaker to spell it right."

"Funny bastard. Who are you running with?"

"I ain't running with no one. But she is. So you best shut up for now."

Foreman continued to complain for the entire ride back to Tilly and Susan. Tilly seemed a little bruised and shaken, but she stood up tall with her head held high when Foreman was dumped in front of her. "So he's still alive then?" she said.

Arthur gave him a good kick, which caused the man to cry out. "I guess," Arthur said.

Susan bent over Foreman and held up his head by the hair. "You see this girl? You leave her alone."

"She killed my cousin!"

Tilly leaned over him and shouted, "Your goddamn cousin had it coming, Anthony Foreman!"

"I don't care if she shot your daddy and cooked your momma for breakfast," said Susan. "She's mine, she ain't yours."

Arthur cut the ropes around his ankles and stood him up. "You know an old friend of mine, he always says, revenge is a fool's game. Now, you want all your boys dead? She had her reasons."

Anthony Foreman pleaded, "We was family, Tilly Jackson."

"You Foreman boys ain't no kind of family I want."

"Kill him, Arthur," said Susan.

Arthur held his knife to Foreman's neck and asked Tilly, "You want that?"

"I want him to go away and tell the remaining of his cousins and the clowns he rides with to leave me alone!" Tilly said without hesitation.

"Now, you think you can do that, Anthony?" Arthur asked. "Or should I slit your throat and just save us all the bother?"

"I'll leave you alone. History is done."

Tilly accepted the answer and began to walk away. Susan, however, snarled, "History is never done. It's your call, Arthur. But I'd slit his throat."

But that wasn't what Tilly wanted. "Alright you," Arthur said, removing the knife from Anthony's neck and cutting through the rope around his wrists. "Get out of here."

Susan led Tilly to the wagon. "Thank you, Arthur," Tilly called back. He nodded to her, sure that Susan would explain why he had been there on the way home. For now, he decided he should get back to the city. He whistled for Merlin, then paused. The Appaloosa would surely fetch him a few good dollars from the stable, even without papers. He mounted up and headed back to the city, with Merlin trailing behind.