Author's Note: Alright. I kinda rely on reviews and critiques to ensure my writing is good, so the fact that I haven't gotten reviews since Chapter 7 makes me think either nobody cares or they're too scared to critique. If my writing is too stiff and formal, please tell me. If it's the wording, the flow, or the pace is bothering people, I need to know. I know my writing style had changed significantly since my first published fic, and I am not sure why my brain has decided to act like I can't write beautiful pieces of work anymore, but I am trying to remember to do that. It is hard to because I am an air head. This is why I need reviews. Please remind me to...double check my stuff so I can keep pumping out chapters that wow people instead of shitty chapters that make people go "meh". I know it sounds pitiful but I do need the encouragement. So please review, fav, and follow, and thanks for reading.

This chapter is rated M for sexual content.

Chapter 20: Uncle Levi

Lilly and Hosea rode into town on Doc and Silver Dollar. They went to the smaller saloon to meet up with Dutch. As they got up the steps with her wolves, though, Lilly heard an Austrian man.

"Ah, that must be Strauss," Hosea said.

"Oh, yeah...um...I remember him."

Lilly, Hosea, Brian and James strolled on in and Dutch waved at them. "Ah, Lilly! Hosea! Come! Have a drink!"

Lilly sat by Dutch with her pups and Hosea sat by Strauss. "How are you feeling, Miss O'Callaghan?" Strauss asked.

"Viel besser, Danke," [Much better, thanks] Lilly said. She blinked. "Oh. Do I speak German?"

Hosea and Dutch gaped at her while Strauss laughed. "And Polish."

Lilly smiled. "Well I'll be damned. Mówię też tym językiem?" [I also speak this language?] Lilly put a hand to her mouth. "Ha! Isn't that something?"

"How do you know those?" Hosea asked curiously.

Lilly shrugged. "Hell if I know."

"You know any more?"

"Again, hell if I know."

The four drank and talked and laughed as time went on. While the three men were getting drunk, Lilly was still pretty sober. Leave it to the Irish to hold their liquor well. Dutch ordered another bottle of whiskey and poured more shots for everyone. Eventually, they started talking about things of a philisophical nature. Which brought about Strauss' change of heart with which clients he chose.

"I have been trying to find less desperate people to give loans to, but I'm afraid it has been rather difficult looking for different clients. However, the way you handled the last batch, Lilly, I think we could come to an agreement."

Lilly quirked a brow. "...The last batch? Oooohh, I remember now. I collected debts for you in Arthur's stead. Yes, but...that last fellow, I...I couldn't help it, Herr Strauss. I paid his debt. He had nothing...except a watch. A watch of sentimental value and, well..."

"I figured as much, Lilly, but don't worry. As long as the debt is paid, I won't worry about how it was done. That was the job Arthur was given, and ultimately, the job you were assigned with."

"Tell me Strauss, which perspective do you hold true? Relativism or absolutism?" Lilly asked. She was finding the conversation quite stimulating.

"I believe I have more of a relative perspective, Lilly."

"Do you feel like the ends justify the means for everything?"

Strauss chuckled. "Not everything. But, in the end, I don't believe in absolutes. Only shades of gray. Compromises."

"Compromising?" Dutch interjected.

Lilly looked up as Arthur and John approached. "Gentlemen," Strauss said.

"Dutch, Leopold, Hosea, Lilly," greeted Arthur.

"Where have you been?" Dutch asked accusingly.

"Workin'. Marston's thing."

"Good. And?"

"We're just waitin' to get some pay on...a few sheep."

"Leopold, my good friend," Dutch announced. "As long as you're here, why don't you and John go make sure there ain't no funny business?"

"Of course," Leopold replied as he stood up.

"Gentlemen, Lilly," John said before exiting with Strauss.

"Drink?" Dutch asked Arthur.

"Sure." Arthur sat next to Lilly.

"Nothin' like talking to Old Strauss to make you want to blow your own brains out. I should have left him where I found him all those years ago. Bookish little Austrian fresh off the boat, his eyes out on stalks..." Dutch ranted jokingly as he poured them all a drink.

"Ah, he's not so bad," Hosea said.

Arthur grabbed his glass. "Well, I guess the Dutch Van der Linde finishin' school has some strange graduates."

Dutch smiled. "That it does." They all raised their glasses. "To your good health, all of you."

"Sláinte," Lilly said.

They clinked their glasses together. They tapped the glasses on the table, then they all downed the liquid down their throats.

"Van der Linde!" someone outside shouted. "Get out here!"

Brian and James' heads lifted as they were woken from their little afternoon nap at Lilly's feet and she dropped her glass. "Oh fucking Christ on a biscuit!" That voice. She knew that voice.

"What the hell?" Dutch spoke as all four gang members stared at each other.

Lilly stalked over to the window with Arthur. "Van der Linde!" the stranger shouted again. Lilly stared at an older, bald, but rich looking man on a horse with several bounty hunters by him.

"Son of a bitch!" she laughed.

"Why are you laughin'?" Arthur asked.

"I know who that is, that's why!"

"You don't know me, but you keep robbing me! My name is Leviticus Cornwall! I am not a man to be messed with by the likes of you! Get out here, before I have these men killed!"

Two more bounty hunters showed up with Strauss and John in chokeholds. Lilly laughed again with glee. She couldn't believe her eyes. It had been so long and the man was older, but Lilly recognized him straight away. "Well I'll be...hold on, I'll handle this." Lilly walked over to the door and her pups followed but she made them stay.

"Lillian, no!" Arthur snapped and went after her. "Lilly!"

"What the hell are you doin'?!" Dutch shouted at Lilly. "You get back here, young lady!"

Leviticus kept yelling. "And if Miss O'Callaghan is in there, bring her out now! I will not negotiate for her safe re-"

Lilly walked out the door. "As I god damn live and breathe!" Lilly yelled happily. "Uncle Levi, is that you?"

Cornwall looked at the door and smiled with delight. "Lillian! You little doll face!" Lilly laughed and ambled over to 'Uncle Levi' as he got off his horse. They embraced each other and laughed joyfully. Levi held her at arms length. "I haven't seen you in what, sixteen years? Seventeen?"

"I think seventeen years."

"Lillian, what the hell is goin' on?!" Dutch shouted.

"Is that Mr. Van der Linde in there? When did he kidnap you? Those agents told me you were a member of his gang but I couldn't believe it!" Levi said.

"What? Heavens, no! Him and Hosea adopted me when I was seven!" Lilly explained. Leviticus gaped at her. "Wait, is that why you put a price on me?" Lilly asked incredulously. "So you could 'save me' from big ole' mean Dutch Van der Linde?"

"Yes!" he laughed. "Are you telling me you were never taken hostage?"

Lilly cackled. "No, ya silly man! They saved my life! Da! Athair! Arthur! Come on out, Uncle Levi won't bite!"

The three men came out with their hands up. Levi ordered his men to lower their guns and let go of John and Strauss. "So, Dutch and Hosea are your adoptive fathers, huh? He's been robbing from me."

"Well, had I known it was you we were robbing, we would have steered clear of anything with your name on it! God, I should have known it was you! All those books you had in your private car had your name written all over 'em! Speaking of names, what the hell kind of name is Leviticus Cornwall?"

"Leviticus is my real name, you crazy child!" he laughed gleefully. "But, oh, you were so young, you could never quite pronounce it. And Cornwall was my mother's maiden name. I'm so glad to see you!"

"Lilly?" Arthur said behind her. "I'm a bit lost here. I thought you didn't have family left?"

Lilly rolled her eyes in amusement. "He's not a blood relative, just an old friend of my late father and mother. He came overseas every Christmas and Easter to visit and, well, he ended up being Uncle Levi." She looked behind her and saw Dutch and Hosea looking wary but Arthur looked dumbfounded. "Uncle Levi, I'd like you to meet Dutch Van der Linde, Hosea Matthews, and Arthur Morgan. Da, Hosea, Athair, Arthur, this is Leviticus Cornwall."

"Hello, Mr. Cornwall," Dutch said with little confidence. "Um, well, this is a bit awkward, ain't it, Hosea?"

"A bit, yeah," Hosea replied.

"Well yes, quite," Levi chuckled. "Lilly, I assume you know Sir Patrick and An-"

Lilly cut him off. "Yes, 'I know all about that." Lilly made a face that said, 'do not say anything else about it'.

Leviticus inclined his head in understanding then he looked at the three men. "Well, Mr. Van der Linde. You've been robbing from me, but it seems like we should have a civilized discussion about that. Boys," Levi said to the bounty hunters and guards. "You may go. Your services are no longer required.

Lilly's eyes widened and she smirked at her fathers and husband. "Told you I'd take care of it. Now!" Lilly grabbed her uncle's hand. "How's about a drink or two?

"I'd be delighted!" Leviticus said.

Arthur, Hosea, John, Strauss, and Dutch stared at the casual and happy reunion with wide eyes and open mouths. Arthur thought this was the most awkward and weirdest circumstance he'd ever witnessed. "Well," he said to the rest of the gang. "Drinks?"

"Yes," they all replied at once.

All of them except Arthur followed Lilly and 'Uncle Levi' into the saloon and he shook his head. Arthur didn't know if he should be glad for, confused with, or a little peeved at Lilly. Yes, Lilly's memory had huge gaps, but she never mentioned that she recalled a god damn 'Uncle Levi'. Lilly kept her past private but she could have mentioned a god damn 'Uncle Levi'. Lilly's blood relatives were all dead and she had Dutch and Hosea and the rest of the gang as family for fifteen years but not once did she ever mention a god damn 'Uncle Levi'! Arthur shook his head again, let out a furious puff of air, and walked into the saloon. He went to the counter and ordered a whole bottle of bourbon.

After discussing an agreement between Dutch and Leviticus about the gang staying away from all things that was Leviticus Cornwall's stuff, it was now early afternoon and Lilly and Levi were copious with laughter in their drunken state, as was Dutch, Hosea, and Strauss, but not Arthur. Lilly could have paid attention but she decided not to. She was too happy.

"So, wait...wait...you only realized it was me because of the men we sent back with it?! How?" she asked.

"I believe one of them said, "Sir, we were accosted by a loud but very polite Irish girl who scared the shit out of us by shouting and threatening to hang us from a mountain by our entrails" and when I asked how that compelled them to open the god damn door, well, they had no god damn clue," Leviticus replied.

Lilly slammed her palm on the table and broke into a fit of giggles. "That sounds about right."

"So Lilly's always had that shout?" Dutch asked.

"Oh yes. She was born with it. You should have heard her as a baby. Scared the hell out of all the staff and her family and me whenever she cried. And when she started talking, oh good god...I think the O'Callaghans went through so many maids and butlers and other staff members because Lilly frightened them with her temper. I've never seen a child so talented in making an adult shit their pants."

More laughter filled the building. Lilly stared over at a drunk Arthur who was over at the bar and she sighed. "Excuse me for a minute, I must go see to my darling husband. I think he is quite cross," she whispered.

Lilly got up and walked over. "Husband? That man is her husband?" Levi asked in surprise.

"Yes. Couldn't find a better match, either," Hosea said. "Similar temperments."

"Well I should certainly hope so! I wouldn't expect Lilly to choose anyone meek and mild."

"Yes, Arthur is quite the opposite, I assure you," Dutch laughed.

The conversation went out of ear shot as Lilly sat next to Arthur. "Husband. I assume you are angry with me and I would like to discuss it without having a fight so can we please do that, Arthur?"

Arthur eyed her and scoffed. "I'll try."

"Is it because I never mentioned I had a non-related uncle?"

"Yes."

Lilly put a hand on his. "Please don't be mad at me. I should have mentioned it but, well, I'm recalling more of myself and I know I was a very secretive person, although I don't really know why."

"Because of Papa's men. They're still looking for you."

"Well, we know that now. You heard those agents."

Arthur looked at her and smiled softly. "I'm not tryin' to be mad, darlin', and I know I shouldn't be. I suppose I was caught off guard and-"

"We've both had a long day?"

Arthur chuckled. "Yes. Yes we have." He gripped her hand and kissed it. "But you do realize we got a train to catch tonight?"

"Yes, you are correct. We need to go get the wa-."

"Where have you shites been?!" Sean came in laughing. "Gettin' drunk without me and my lady?!"

Karen walked in after him. "Yeah! What's the idea?!"

Lilly and Arthur laughed. "Sorry, Sean. I uh, got caught up with an old friend," Lilly said while aiming a finger at her Uncle Levi.

"Isn't that Leviticus Cornwall?" Sean asked. "How do you know him?"

"He's my Uncle Levi. Not a blood relative, but an old friend of the family."

"Sean! Karen!" Dutch yelled drunkenly. "Come 'ere please!"

Sean and Karen walked over to the table and Lilly smirked at Arthur. "Ha. So, I knew somethin' before Sean did?" Arthur teased.

"Yep. Feel special yet, mo fear álainn?" [my beautiful man?]

Arthur stared at her lovingly. "I do now, mo bean álainn." [my beautiful woman.]

Lilly put her elbow on the wooden bar, knuckled her cheek, and gazed at Arthur as he was about to take a drink. "Is mian liom nár chaill mé mo chuimhne. Ansin ní bhraithfinn chomh dona sin faoi bheith fliuch thart timpeall ort." [I wish I didn't lose my memory. Then I wouldn't feel so bad about being wet around you.]

Arthur almost choked on his bourbon. It made Lilly laugh. "You god damn vixen!"

"Sea, sea. Would you have me any other way?" [Yes, yes.]

Arthur smiled at her. "No. No, I love you just the way you are, m'lady."

Lilly smiled and bit her lip. "You don't have to call me that anymore, you know."

"But I want to. It's growin' on me."

"Why?"

Arthur closed in and brushed his lip along her earlobe. "Because when we resume certain activities," he spoke low and soft as his hand settled on her inner thigh and it made Lilly take in a sharp breath. "And we will, I will tell m'lady how much I've missed eatin' from her honeypot, I will tell m'lady how much my cock has been achin' for her mouth, and I will tell m'lady how hard I am gonna fuck her." He gripped her thigh and put a finger to the area of which he was referring to. He stroked it once and it made Lilly shudder. "Does this please m'lady?"

Lilly's cheeks were flushing hot red when Arthur was done talking. She stared at him wide eyed. Holy shit, he was an animal. And she found that she loved it. Then a memory hit her mind, one that made her love and want him more than ever.

Arthur, with his head between Lilly's legs, was licking and suckling on her womanhood while sliding two fingers in and out. Lilly's back was arched, her head was back, and her hands were enveloping Arthur's hair to help direct his mouth.

"Oh God, Arthur, yer gonna make me come. Dunna stop," she begged with a strained whimper.

"Tell me you love me, Lilly," he said, only stopping for a moment.

"I love you."

"Na uh uh...in Gaeilge, mo grá. Tell me..." he licked again and it made Lilly's will crumble. "In Gaeilge."

"Tá mé i ngrá leat..." [I am in love with you...]

"Again. Keep sayin' it until you come, Lilly."

Lilly repeated it over and over as if it was a mantra. And when she came, her whole body spasmed and he moaned into her before crawling up and sliding himself into her. "Tá mé i ngrá leat, Lillian," he chuckled as he thrusted in and out of her. [I am in love with you]

"Why do ya like it when I speak Gaeilge? Ya dunna even know what I'm sayin', Arthur."

"One day I will tell you I know it, and I will make you mine forever when I do."

"What do ya mean?"

"You'll know when I tell you, my dragon."

Lilly blinked at him and took a quiet but deep and shuddering breath. "Cén fáth gur dragan mé?" [Why was I a dragon?]

"What?" Arthur laughed.

Lilly smirked and grasped his groin. It made Arthur groan out softly. "Tá a fhios agat cad a d'iarr mé, mo chuisle." [You know what I asked, my pulse.]

"Tá do chroí tine. Dónn do ghrá dom. Seasann mé sna lasracha go sona sásta," he said lovingly. [Your heart is fire. Your love burns me. I stand in the flames happily]

It was at that point in time Lilly realized she had to have him. She was going to pay for the drinks, drag him out back and have her way with him when she saw Uncle Levi walking up. She moved her hand away and cleared her throat. Arthur caught on and removed his hand from Lilly's thigh. "Uncle Levi, are ya havin' a good ole' time?" she asked innocently.

"I am." Levi sat beside Lilly. "So, I hear you are going to Ireland. What for?"

"Several reasons. One, a man stole my father's pocketwatch and I am going to retrieve it. Two, I am going to see the state of the old house and possibly sell it...if I even can. Three, I want to show Arthur my homeland."

Levi looked taken aback. "You want to sell Oak On the Hill? Why?"

"The gang and I want to stop being outlaws. We want a fresh start somewhere, and for that, we need money."

"You could ask me for help, you know."

Lilly pat his arm a few times. "I appreciate the gesture, but...well, I couldn't ask you that and we have many other members to bring with us. We're a large group and you've only met a very small percentage of the Van der Linde gang."

Leviticus smiled at her brightly. "You are so much like your father, you know. He treated all his tenants like family and they were always a high priority."

Lilly smiled back. "Thanks. But I do appreciate the offer, Uncle."

"Well, I can tell you myself the condition in which Oak On the Hill is in. I've been paying for its upkeep."

Lilly gaped at him. "You what? Why?!"

"Sentimental reasons. Couldn't let my old friend's legacy go to rot. So there are people living there, but they are mostly just staff. Save for one woman, a Breena Harington. She's been holding things together so that blasted Patrick Nolan can't get his grubby paws on it."

"Patrick's trying to get my estate?! On what grounds?"

"As part of your dowry."

Lilly slammed her fist on the counter. "Mother fucker!"

Levi laughed. "Couldn't have said it better myself. But here, could I at least help the trip go by nicely? I can get you on a much faster ship with better quarters."

Lilly sighed. "I do appreciate the offer, I do, but I wouldn't feel right about accepting-"

"Help? Lilly, you've always been like that."

Arthur laughed. "I second that!"

"Shut up," she giggled with a nudge to Arthur's shoulder. "Alright, thank you, Uncle L...wait a minute..." she said and looked at Levi. "My dowry is the estate? How much is that worth?"

"Yes. The estate itself and the acreage is worth...hmm, let's see...it hasn't been appraised in about five years but it was about, oh...almost a million in US dollars."

All the blood rushed out of Lilly's head. "A...almost a...a million...dollars? My...oh my God. Arthur, I am not one to faint, but I think I might faint."

Levi poured her a shot of whiskey. "Here, drink this," he laughed heartily.

Lilly gulped the drink down. "Dutch!!! Hosea!!!"

The men got up and came over. "What's wrong?"

Lilly got up and grabbed Dutch's shirt collar. "My dowry, my family estate, is almost one million feckin' dollars..."

Dutch and Hosea began laughing. "We know. He told us already," Hosea said. He looked at his watch. "Hey, you folks got a train to catch."

Lilly sighed. The shock of how much money she was actually worth would have to wait until later. They all left for the train station. Karen and Sean had already brought the wagon. Uncle Levi said he'd make arrangements for the four of them, and Lilly's Da and Athair gave them the seventeen thousand dollars for their journey. After kisses and hugs were exchanged and the horses and luggage were loaded on the train, they all said their good byes and left on the automotive headed for New York City.

It was maybe half a day later on the train and Lilly was reading a book about Ireland. Much had happened since she left Ireland almost two decades ago. She was in one of the passenger seats when Karen came and sat down next to her. "Whatcha readin'?" she asked.

"Stuff about Ireland from the last two decades. I want to update my knowledge," Lilly explained.

"Ah." Karen took a gander. "What's black pudding?"

"Blood sausage."

"What's the difference between that and regular sausage?"

"Black pudding is boiled pig's blood."

"Gross!"

"Not that bad. I kinda miss it."

"Do you have haggis?"

"That's a Scottish dish," Lilly giggled.

"Ah."

Lilly looked at Karen. "Alright, what is it?"

Karen grinned. "Sean asked me to marry him."

Lilly's jaw dropped. "Really? Oh my God! What did you say?"

Karen held up her left hand. There was a gold band with a decent sized diamond on it. "What do you think?"

"Oh, that's a beauty, that is!" Lilly took her hand and examined the ring. "He musta been saving up!"

"Yep! Hey, what about your ring? I never got a look at it!"

Lilly looked at her own engagement ring. "Oh yeah. I forgot I even had this on."

Karen yanked on Lilly's hand. "Wow. Ain't no diamond but I love the idea! So original!" She studied Lilly. "Do you still love Arthur?"

Lilly shrugged. "I don't know. My memory is still pretty shot."

"Oh come on. I see the way you look at him. Clearly you do!"

Lilly chuckled in amusement. "If you're so convinced, then why ask me?"

"Wanted to hear what you had to say."

She rolled her blue eyes at the woman with the curly blonde hair. "As I said, I don't know. If I'm looking at him in any way, it's a look of curiousity."

"Why?"

Lilly frowned. "Arthur's a handsome guy and he can have any woman he wants. Why the hell does he want...someone like me?"

"Lilly, Arthur had two other women. Mary broke off the engagement, and Eliza..." Karen paused.

"Eliza? Who's Eliza?" Lilly asked.

Karen frowned. "Eliza was a waitress he had a child with. Isaac. Don't you remember?" Lilly shook her head. "Well, he'd go visit them every few months, stay a few days, give them money for support, and leave. One day when he came a-callin'...there were two gravestones. Eliza and Isaac got robbed and killed over a few bucks."

Lilly's heart became heavy and she sighed. "That's awful. He's never...oh." Lilly thought back to the day she asked Arthur to teach her to shoot. She'd said something about him having his own children walking around and it made Lilly feel like the most ghastly, most horrible person in the world. "Does he ever talk about it?"

"No. It's a very bad subject for him, much like your own past is a bad subject for you."

Lilly raised a brow. "My whole past? From before Arthur and I met? Why?"

Karen shrugged. "I don't know. No one knows much. All I know is that your whole family died and your brother got shot over a debt." Lilly blinked as yet another memory hit her.

"Brian!" Lilly shouted. "Leave my brother alone!"

Brian getting kicked and punched in a dark alley way. A storm. Rain pouring down. One man aiming his gun and shooting Brian in the head. Little Lilly screaming.

Lilly dropped her book. "I...I need to..." Lilly cleared her throat and picked up her book. "I think I need some fresh air." Just then the train wheels started squealing and the train came to a stop. "What the hell?" Lilly and Karen looked out the windows. "Shit. Fecking outlaws." Lilly was surprised at her own mouth. "Well, looks like we're getting robbed."

"Shit! Give me one of your guns!" Karen said. Lilly laughed and handed her a revolver.

"What's going on?" one of the other passengers asked. It was a balding man in a green suit.

"Criminals," Lilly said nonchalantly. "Outlaws. Probably want to rob us. Come on Karen, let's go deal with them."

"Two women on their own?" the man gasped. "Preposterous!"

Lilly and Karen laughed and a bandit came into their box car. Lilly and Karen shot him down, then Karen looked at the passenger with a smug expression. "You were sayin'?"

Lilly went running to the next box car. There were two men stealing money from people and Lilly quickly shot them down. "I think they're O'Driscolls, Karen! Where the hell are Sean and Arthur?"

"They were up further, I think!"

Lilly raced through to the next box car. Two criminals lay dead in the aisle. Gunshots were fired ahead of her and she kept running. Lilly was motivated, but fearful for both Arthur and Sean. The next box car wasn't a passenger one so she jumped up on top. She saw Arthur fighting four other men in hand to hand combat and he was holding his own. Lilly watched with a smile as he knocked one man out, shoved another off the train and gave the third a few punches and an uppercut into unconsciousness. The fourth went to run but Arthur tackled him and began beating him to a pulp. God, what a man Arthur was. Seeing him fight made her insides warm and her cheeks flush. With an amazed giggle, Lilly closed the distance as Arthur finished the guy off. He stood up and when he saw his wife ambling over, he smiled broadly.

"It was nice of you to show up, Lilly!" he laughed.

"Oh, you had it handled," she said while clearing her throat. "I felt like spectating."

Arthur seemed to notice the redness in her face because he grabbed her and pulled her in. "Do I detect some sexual tension?" he asked in a teasing voice.

"I have no idea what you are referring to, Mr. Morgan."

"Liar."

"Bithiúnach."

"Lovely round assed tart."

Lilly cackled at him. "Someone likes my arse, hmm?"

Arthur pinched her bottom and Lilly let out a hysterical giggle. "I love your arse, Lillian. Sometimes I could just-"

"Are you two lovebirds done up there?!" Sean shouted. "We need to get the train movin'!"

Lilly waved at Sean. "Yeah yeah, as if ya couldna get it started yerself, ya feckin' buzzkilling vulture," Lilly snarled loudly.

Arthur cackled and walked with Lilly to the edge of the box car. They got the train back on its route and Lilly went back to reading her book. Arthur sat next to Lilly and put an arm around her shoulders as he bit into an apple. "Whatcha readin'?"

"Ireland history from the last twenty years."

"Catchin' up?"

"Mmhmm." Lilly looked at the apple and snatched it with her teeth.

"Hey!"

Lilly bit into it and handed it back to Arthur. "Thanks," she said while chewing. She grinned at him. "Sorry. I thought we did things like that."

Arthur laughed. "We do now." He took another bite of the apple. With a childish giggle, Lilly went back to reading. When she turned the page, her heart sank. The Emerald Star. It was in the book. "Maybe you should take a break from readin', mo grá."

"Yep." Lilly slammed the book shut. "Drink?"

"Yep."

Lilly and Arthur got up and went to the car with a bar. Lilly and Arthur ordered whiskey and began drinking heavily. They conversed about what Arthur knew of Lilly's past and she was able to recall most of it. The missing pieces, though, was everything before he met Lilly. She remembered very little of it, but Lilly now remembered her life. Her adoptive family. Her husband and their life together. Lilly pressed her chin into her palm and stared at Arthur happily with glazed eyes.

"You look drunk, babe."

"I am drunk, ya silly man. And..." Lilly giggled like an idiot. "I think ya wanted me drunk."

"Well, it's not that hard to get an Irish woman such as yourself drunk. You got whiskey in your veins anyway."

"Ya know somethin', Arthur? I, um...ya know I'm hammered, right? Was that yer idea? Gettin' me drunk and then..." Lilly made a motion with her hands. She slid a finger in and out of her fist.

Arthur leaned toward her and jerked his head to the side. "Yes, that was my plan the whole time. As if I needed to get my own wife drunk to have sex with her," he said with a wink and a smile.

Lilly leaned to him and smiled brightly. "I see. Well, ya sure as shite ain't havin' sex with her right now."

Arthur sighed and leaned back. "So hard to ple-"

"I mean why aren't ya havin' sex with your wife right now? What's stoppin' ya?" Lilly asked with a twinkle in her eye. "Ya think I dunna want tah get fecked by ya, Arthur? I damn well do. So..." Lilly got up and walked around him with her fingers walking along his shoulders. "Pay the man and meet me in the caboose." Lilly giggled and went stumbling to the floor.

Lilly woke up in one of the private cars with a huge hangover. The girl's head was banging harder than the drums of the ancients, and as she sat up, the drums got louder. Lilly held her forehead and growled. It was bright out. Too bright. Lilly kept her dark blue eyes closed tightly.

"Rough night, my wife?" she heard Arthur whisper next to her.

"I don't remember. Was it?"

"For you? Yes. Never thought I'd drink you under the table. Here. I brought you coffee."

Lilly reached out and felt nothing, but then Arthur touched her fingers and put the mug in her palm. Lilly coddled it like a wee bairn and blew on it before taking a sip. "Mmm, thank you."

"You're welcome."

After a good drink, Lilly opened her eyes so they could adjust to the light. Her nose caught a whiff of food and her stomach raged with hunger. "I'm starving."

Arthur chortled lightly. "I brought breakfast, too. Breakfast of champion drinkers, m'lady."

The word sent a shiver through her whole being. "I think you can reserve that name for special occasions. You ruined it for me," she said jokingly.

"Did I?" he said while handing her a plate of oatmeal. Lilly took another drink of coffee before handling the bowl. "Are these special occasions goin' to be in the bedroom?"

"...I haven't decided yet."

"Liar."

"Bithiúnach."

"You love it."

"Shut up." Lilly started eating and felt better immediately. The warmth of the coffee and oatmeal spread throughout her body and provided comfort from the headache she was suffering from, and soon it went from pounding drums to a dull ache. "Thank you for bringing me sustenance, my husband."

Lilly felt lips on her neck and the pain in her head automatically flew away. "Lillian. Do you remember anythin' from last night?"

"Not really." Lilly's eyes went wide. "Did we have sex?"

"I wish," he groaned as he nibbled on her shoulder. "You wanted to but then you passed out."

"...Oh." Lilly shut her eyes and took in a heavy breath. "Would you have?"

"Maybe, maybe not. Guess we'll never know."

That was unfortunate. Lilly knew she wanted her husband, but there was a part of her that felt it was paramount to reject Arthur. "Arthur, I...I know we've been flirting, but...I..."

"Say no more." Arthur got off the bed and put on his tan jacket and hat. "I waited four years. What's another four years?" he said almost bitterly as he left the room and shut the door.

Lilly scowled. That was it. She jumped out of bed and jerked the door open. "Arthur!"

He stopped walking and turned around. "What is it, Countess?" he spat.

Lilly narrowed her eyes. "Yer bein' an arsehole again! Why? Just because I wilna have sex with ya?"

"Yes! You're my wife and we're supposed to be happy! We're supposed to be-"

"Well, excuse me fer not rememberin' most of me own life! Or me life with you, ya god damn pig!"

"You need to stop sayin' that!"

Lilly stormed over to him. "It's not a god damn excuse! I'm not happy about it either, Mr. Morgan, but ya canna expect me tah give intah me baser needs just because yer tryin' tah pressure me intah it!"

"I'm not pressurin' you!"

"Well it feels like it!"

"Well, my wife wouldn't feel pressured! No one could make her do somethin' she didn't want to do!"

"See?" Lilly threw up her hands. "That's the fucking problem. Ya keep insisting I'm yer wife and then ya turn around and tell me I'm not yer wife! So stop fucking with me head and heart, ya stupid, unfeeling bastard! Comparing me tah yer perfect warrior wife hurts me more than ys will ever know! And that's all ya been doin' since I came back from the grave! 'my wife' this and 'my wife' that...I canna live up tah yer expectations of someone who isna alive anymore!" Lilly stormed back to the private room, slammed the door, and locked it.

She heard Arthur knocking. "Lilly! Open the door!"

"Go away!"

"No! We are goin' to talk about this! Don't make me break down this door!"

"Ha! As if ya could!" The door flew open from Arthur kicking it open and Lilly backed up. "Get out!"

Arthur slammed the door shut and got in Lilly's face. "You want to know what's been hurtin' me, Lillian? Havin' my wife die before my very eyes because I wasn't there to protect her. Blamin' myself for it, then havin' her brought back to me not knowin' who her husband is? It's the cruelest joke anyone could play on a grievin' widower! And I see you in there sometimes, but you never see me! Talk about playin' with someone's head and heart! And you're not even doin' it on purpose! That's the worst of it! I can't help you remember who you are and I should be able to do that but I'm...I'm..." Arthur bowed his head. "I failed you in that regard too. I have failed you. That is what hurts the most."

Lilly blinked. She'd thought about how hard it was for Arthur, but she didn't know the extent of his grief. Then she thought about what Karen said earlier. About Eliza and Isaac. Lilly sighed and lifted his chin. Seeing the sadness in his eyes almost brought her to tears. "You didn't fail me, Arthur. And you didn't fail E..." Lilly backed up and fidgeted with her hands while looking down at them. "You didn't fail Eliza and Isaac, either."

Lilly didn't dare look at him. She could feel the anger coming off him just from mentioning his dead family. "You...why would you bring them up, Lillian?"

"...I only meant...their deaths weren't your fault and neither was mine. And you should believe me. I have first hand experience in that regard."

Arthur raised her chin. "You mean Brian? You blame yourself for his death?"

"I did for a very long time. It wasn't just a debt, Arthur. It was my debt; it was punishment for my disobedience."

Out of any expression Arthur could show, surprise was the one he had on his face. "Christ, Lilly..."

"Don't ask me what I did. I don't remember what. I only remember P-"

"Hey guys? What happened to the door?" Sean asked behind them.

"Door broke," Arthur responded without taking his eyes off Lilly. "You need somethin', Sean?"

Lilly spotted Karen behind Arthur as well. "They're gonna stop at a station soon. The horses should be walked for a bit," Sean replied cautiously.

Lilly walked by all of them in a hurry. "I'll walk Doc. Karen, you can walk Liath."

Karen went running after Lilly. "Lilly, what happened?"

Arthur bowed his head. "Sean, you need to tell me about Lilly."

Sean tilted his head. "What do you need to know?"

"Everythin' you know about Papa and Saint Denis. About this...Siren business in New York City. Everythin' I don't know."

"Arthur, it's not my place to-"

"I can't keep walkin' on minefields with her. It's been happenin' too often lately. Please tell me what you know." Arthur was desperate. He hated hurting Lilly and he was tired of doing it. At least he could know what not to mention.

Sean sighed. "Fair enough. We'll take Ennis and Rose separately. I'll tell you everythin' I know, but you cannot let Lilly know I told you."

"I won't."

"Okay." Sean put a hand on his shoulder. "So, let's start with The Siren of New York."