Chapter is rated M for mature content of drug use and sexual relations.

Chapter 28: The Decision

It was a few days later and Arthur woke up with Lilly's side of the bed empty. "Shame," he thought to himself.

He looked up at the canopy of the bed and laughed, tucking his hands behind his head. The second Earl of Moycullen. It had a nice ring to it. The bedroom was very nice, too. This whole manor was nice. He laughed again, taking in the mahogany posters that held up the canopy. There were two oak nightstands, three windows, three benches for each window, a few pillowed chairs, two dressers, two armoires, and an oriental rug on the floor. All made of oak. Apparently the O'Callaghan's were fond of oak. Mahogany too, but definitely oak. Then he remembered an oak tree was on their family crest, so he reckoned that was why. He got up and dressed into a white shirt, blue jeans, suspenders, and black cowboy boots. Arthur left the room, went downstairs, and went outside...and there were children outside playing with the wolf pups and Lilly. The scene made him smile. Lilly laughed and ran around with two children on her back and one more child on her leg.

"Alright, ya chiselers! Ya ready fer somethin' special?!"

"Yes yes yes!" the children cried.

"Hang on!" Lilly started twirling and the two girls and boy began laughing with high pitched giggles. "Ya wantah go faster?!"

"Yes please milady!"

Lilly went even faster and the children laughed louder. Arthur crossed his arms and laughed as he watched them. Lilly would have made a great mother. Lilly spotted him in his twirling and stopped spinning. "Oh, ya little tykes havena met the earl yet! Go get 'im! He loves bein' tackled by monsters!"

All the kids got off and started running at him, roaring like animals. Oh shit. Arthur ran off the steps and through the courtyard. "You'll never take me alive!" Arthur shouted.

The kids squealed as they chased after Arthur. Lilly fell on her butt and pointed while laughing.

"Fergus! Girls! Come in fer breakfast!" Breena yelled from the door.

The kids ran in screaming and wailing like happy banshees and Arthur laughed as he went to Lilly. He picked her up and kissed her. "Friends of yours?"

"Breena's little sisters and brother. Visiting with their mum. Arthur, I...oh boy..." Lilly staggered into Arthur's arms and laughed. "I got dizzy, sorry."

"Do you need breakfast?" he asked, holding her up.

"I don't know. I wasn't feelin' too good this mornin', neither. I was supposed to go huntin' but Sean insisted I wait for you."

Arthur pouted a little and put a hand to her cheek, studying her face. Lilly did look a little sickly and felt a bit warmer than usual today. "Hmm, feelin' under the weather, huh? Well, I can go huntin' and you can get some rest."

"I'll let ya hunt but I'm comin' with. Ya gotta avoid kelpies and other creatures."

"Kelpies?"

"Beautiful horses that will drag ya into the swamps if ya ain't careful, me love," she giggled.

Arthir chortled happily. "Hmm, Irish superstition?"

"Ha! I saw one when I was a little chiseler. Almost got me once. I wanted tah ride it but me mum stopped me. Abhartach wanders these parts too. Think of him as a vampire. Then ya got far darrigs and cluricauns, those are like leprechauns. Far darrigs are red and help changelings, but cluricauns are just drunk little bastards that ride sheep and dogs. Those guys are funny."

Lilly seemed almost delirious as she talked. Now he was worried. "Did you smoke some of that Seven Dwarf stuff, mo stór?"

Lilly smiled from ear to ear. "I mighta done it, mo chuisle, or I might notta done it. Who can say fer sure?"

Arthur laughed and cradled her in his arms. "You took your pipe this morning."

"Yep!"

Arthur sighed and gave her a playful, chastising look. "Is that stuff really good for you, I wonder?"

"Hehehe, it really is, me love. It puts things in such a wonderful perspective and it sure as hell beats puttin' me tah sleep," she said with a sexy pout. "At least I can fuck ya when I'm on the Seven Dwarf herb!"

Arthur cackled loudly and walked to the house. "You silly girl. I outta spank you."

"Oh, is that a promise?" she said with an arched eyebrow and a suggestive smirk. "I might just like bein' spanked."

Lilly smacked his butt and Arthur growled into her neck. "It's a promise now!" He blew a raspberry on her neck and it made Lilly giggle furiously as he carried her into the manor and up the stairs.

"Will ya not be requirin' breakfast, milord?" Breena asked from the kitchen door frame.

"Later," Arthur said with a sigh. "My wife needs tendin' to. She had her nerve calmin' smoke again."

"Oh dear," Breena laughed. "I figured as much. One of the children asked about her trip to America as a child and, well..."

Arthur nodded knowingly. "I see." He stared at Lilly who was red faced with giggles. "Lilly, we really need you to deal with all your trauma right."

Lilly beamed as Arthur got to the top of the stairs. "And we will. But..." she put a mouth on his ear. "Give me a right good spankin' first?"

Arthur chuckled deeply as she giggled happily. "Of course, Mrs. Morgan," he said huskily. When Arthur put her down, he slapped Lilly's butt when they took a left down the hallway.

"Oh! Mr. Morgan!" Lilly laughed. He dragged her down the hall to their bedroom at the end and shut the door behind them.

Breena shook her head. "Such strange lovers, those two are," she said to herself. "So bloody strange."

Breena shut the kitchen doors. The kitchen was simple with a buffet full of china by the red side door. The middle counter was topped with various meats, vegetables, spices, and cutlery. There was an iron rimmed fireplace and the walls were white, the ceilings were oak, of course, and the three windows were large with oak leaves and wolf heads carved into the panes. There was a wooden servant table with eight wooden chairs. The table and chairs were the simplest looking pieces of furniture in the kitchen, save for the edges also having leaves carved in. It was a piece the first Earl of Moycullen never got around to finishing, according to Breena's knowledge.

"Sister," little Fergus asked. "Is m'lady in trouble with m'lord?"

Breena laughed and looked at Sean and Karen who were chuckling and giggling quietly amongst themselves. "Yes, but not the bad kind of trouble," Sean guffawed.

Breena grabbed a piece of bread and threw it at his head. "Shh! Don't ya be corruptin' Fergus with that sort of talk, Mr. MacGuire!"

Sean grabbed the roll that hit his face and giggled shamelessly. "I'm sorry, Miss Harington." He took a bite and smiled. "Ya gotta understand...those two kept themselves restrained from one another fer far too long. They got a lotta pent up frustrations tah get out."

Breena held back a smile. "How long?"

Karen interjected. "Four years. No. It'll be about five years in a month or two, I think. Yes. Five years in August is when Lilly started flirtin' with Arthur."

"She wasn't flirtin' with the Englishman," Sean giggled. "She was huntin' him. And boy, did she hunt him well."

"Oh good Lord," Breena said breathlessly, making a sign of the cross. "Heaven help 'em both." Sean, Karen and Breena laughed. Fergus, the short brown haired six year old boy, and the two blonde girls, Mary and Molly, ages ten and twelve, looked at them all with childlike puzzlement. Breena cleared her throat. "Are ya done with yer breakfast?"

Arthur and Lilly almost ripped their clothes off just to touch one another, collapsed on the bed together and immediately began necking, billing and cooing to one another.

"Arthur, oh Arthur, yer such a man!" Lilly giggled.

"And you're such a woman!" Arthur replied with a gruff voice.

Lilly smiled against his mouth as she rolled him on top of her. "Mmmm, ya...ya make me want ya all the time!"

Arthur put his elbows on the bed and kissed along her jawline and neck. "I can't keep my hands off you, Lillian. When you wouldn't have me after you came back, I..." he thrust into her with one rough stroke and she yelped out in pleasure. "I needed you so bad, Lillian, you have no clue how much."

"I needed you so bad," she whispered, putting her arms and legs around him as he shoved himself into her again and again. "Uh! Ah! Yes! Uh! Harder!"

Arthur slammed into her as hard as he could, though his rhythm was slow. Each time he grunted. "Mm, mm, mm, erm, Lillian, you're...so...hot...and tight!"

Lilly pressed her lips on his and he sat up on his knees. Lilly put a hand on the bed with her other hand on the nape of his neck. They pressed foreheads together as Lilly pivoted her hips and ground herself on Arthur. He groaned loudly.

"You like that?" Lilly asked, already out of breath and sweating.

"Yes. Do it more." Lilly's head fell back as Arthur kissed and licked her breasts, pressing his hands into her back to hold her upper body up. Her knees went to the bed and they both moaned as they continued to engage in sex. Their voices went up in volume, Lilly's lower body making more aggressive movements. "Yeah, Lilly, keep...yeah, yeah, just like that. Don't stop," Arthur growled deeply. "You feel so good, Lillian, I don't know how much more I can take until I come in you."

Lilly got off, turned around and went on her hands and knees. wiggling herself in front of his face. "Does your rooster need a break?"

"Hell no. But, ooohh, your honeypot...I gotta..." Arthur pulled her by the legs and pressed his lips against her pussy. Lilly cried out and squealed in pleasure. Arthur slipped his tongue in and flicked it around, making Lilly moan out more.

"Oh fuck, fuck, fuuuuuck!" Lilly pressed her face into the pillow, muffling her screams as Arthur began rubbing Lilly's clit with his tongue.

"Mmmm, you taste so good."

"Arthur, get on your back."

Arthur laid back and Lilly went backwards, hovering her womanhood over his face. When Arthur began to suckle her again, he groaned out when Lilly started sucking him off.

"Good God, woman, what...aaahh..." Lilly chuckled as she shoved his cock down her throat and Arthur hissed into her. "Aaahhhh...ah, ah, ah, ah. ah, don't, stop..."

Lilly's head bobbed up and down as her hands tickled his balls. Lilly felt herself coming closer to an orgasm and she bucked her hips once. Arthur began fingering her furiously and soon, her inner vaginal walls spasmed when her climax erupted and she moaned loudly. It wasn't long until Arthur reached his own and the warm, sticky liquid from his member spilled into Lilly's mouth. She gulped it all and rolled off Arthur onto her back. They were both breathing heavily and sweating.

"That was a, heh heh, wonderful position," Arthur commented. "I take it Karen told you about it?"

"Yes. You've never heard of it?" Lilly asked.

"I have."

Lilly crawled up to lay next to him. "You know, I've always been curious but never asked...how do you know so much about sex? You don't seem like the type to stick your rooster in just any ole' hen house."

A snort came out of Arthur followed by a loud belly laugh. "Hahaha! No, I'm not. I chose all my women wisely."

Lilly scrunched up her lips, her eyes full of feigned jealousy. She slapped his arm. "Bithiúnach!"

Arthur laughed again and pulled Lilly to his chest. "Women like to talk. I had a hard time havin' sex sometimes, so we'd talk instead. I had questions about what women like in bed, and, well..."

Lilly kissed his chin. "Why did you have trouble?"

Arthur puffed at her. "They weren't you."

Lilly blushed. "Liar."

"No, I'm serious. For the last...wow, almost five years now, ain't it? Since we started flirtin'?"

"Yes, I suppose so. It was a little after my 17th birthday."

"Yes, that's comin' up pretty quick here."

"Mmhmm. Ha! You remember what ya gave me?"

"Yes. Your bow. You had one but it broke."

"And it's lasted me to this day. Hehehe. Ya got good taste in weapons, Mr. Morgan."

"Yes. In women too, it seems," he said, smiling at her in a teasing way.

Lilly smacked his chest. "Yer an arse!"

"Oh you love it!"

"Do not!"

"Liar."

"Bithiúnach."

Arthur chortled and pecked her lips. "So, have you decided on selling the place or not?"

"...I think we should keep it and steal a lot of money back home to bring everyone here."

Arthur laughed. "Once an outlaw, always an outlaw."

"Yes, but here we wouldn't have to be outlaws no more. We'd be free. Really free."

He nodded his head. "This is true, but do you think they can behave themselves?"

"They better. All I have to do is shout and they'll behave, but I'll only use it as a last resort. Shoutin' makes things too easy."

"Ha! You love your challenges, don't you darlin'?"

"Yes. Why do you think I love you so much?"

Arthur smirked. "Am I challengin'?"

"Yes. And I love that about you."

Arthur kissed her briefly. "So, how do we convince the gang that this is the way to go?"

"Well, you still have that camera from what's-his-name, the Jim "Boy" Calloway book writer. Take pictures of the manor. We got enough rooms for everyone. It's huge. The acreage is beautiful. Jack will have other kids to play with here. And...we'd all be safe. Under the protection of not one, not two, but three nobles. You, me and Patrick."

"That is a very valid argument. And yeah, I still got the camera."

"Good. You know the Blacks leave for their tour today. I'm thinkin' we should leave, too. Go back home and make preparations," Lilly said, biting her lip. "But what is your say in it? I know a million dollars is a lot of money, but..."

Arthur chuckled. "You think I could give this all up now? Hell no. Besides, if Dutch and the rest don't want this place, we still could get Patrick to buy the land and manor, right?"

"Yes."

"Well, then it's settled. Now...how's about we stay just a bit longer? We could mail the pictures out."

Lilly nuzzled his cheek and kissed it. "You really are spoiled now, m'lord."

A deep and gruff chuckle escaped Arthur's throat. "Yes I am, m'lady. Speakin' of spoilin'..." Arthur put Lilly on her back and trailed his lips down her body. "This guy needs more honey."

After they got the pictures of Darach ar an gCnoc developed in Galway, the earl and countess sent the photos on their way along with a detailed description of their plan in a letter as well a saying they were going to stay for a couple more weeks. After those weeks, they decided it was time to go and the couples booked passage back to New York City. Lilly kept most the dresses at the estate, save for the dark blue dress and the crimson one. Arthur insisted she wear those a lot in their tent, so she obliged for his sexual fantasy. Arthur brought some of the suits and the tuxedo. They stayed in third class this time and the voyage went by smoothly. They partied every night, Lilly did a few renditions of "Seven Drunken Nights" while only slightly inebriated. The first and second night she got so drunk she threw up so she decided to take it easy the rest of the voyage. When they landed back in the States, Lilly was happy to set foot back on American soil. Lilly wrote a letter to Uncle Levi thanking him for his generosity and for taking the price off her head. She also wrote a letter to Patrick, asking him to keep an eye on the place and thanking him for everything he'd done for her and Arthur. They got tickets for the train and left when her wolves and the horses were loaded up. Lilly's train ride was not a pleasant one as she came down with some sort of illness of where she just threw up and didn't want to eat anything. Arthur was concerned but Lilly insisted it had to be the Irish cuisine that offset her. She was no longer used to it so Lilly insisted she'd be fine after a few more days. When they got back to Valentine, no one was there to greet them. Lilly got concerned as the luggage and horses and wolves were offloaded but apparently Dutch left a note for them with the ticket clerk. Lilly opened it and read it quietly to herself.

Hey kids,

The Pinkertons got wind of us at Horseshoe so we had to move again. We're south of it now in a place called Clemens Point, not that far from Rhodes. We bought a wagon for you and it's at the stables for your luggage. We got the pictures of the estate and the whole gang agreed the new plan is a great plan. I don't know why we didn't think of it before. We'll talk more when you get here. Hope to see you guys soon.

From your father with love,

Tacitus Kilgore

Lilly sighed with a laugh and showed the letter to Arthur. "You gotta be kiddin' me!" Arthur said. "God damn those agent bastards!"

Lilly hushed him. "It's okay. We'll get money soon and then we can all leave. Let's just get to camp. I'm still not feeling all that great. I think all this travelin' has gotten to me."

Arthur frowned and kissed her before they got the wagon Dutch bought for their trek. Doc and Liath were more than happy to drag them along after being cooped up for so long. During the trip south, Lilly had to stop a few times because she felt sick. Arthur doted over her but she insisted she was fine. By the time they got to Clemens Point, Lilly went straight for the tent and laid down. She heard Arthur explain that Lilly was pretty ill at the moment and had been since the first day on the ship back from Ireland, along with severe tiredness, a loss of appetite, headaches, and dizzy spells but he figured that was from all the nausea. Of course, he also mentioned Lilly refused to go see a doctor but if she wasn't better by morning, he was going to make her go. The 'Welcome Home Party' started nonetheless. Lilly puked and slept through most of it and by morning, she was still not better. True to his word, Arthur took her to the doctor in Rhodes. The doctor saw her immediately and made Arthur wait in the lobby.

Arthur paced back and forth in the lobby. He was very worried about Lilly's health. Was her resurrection only for a short time? Was she dying? He didn't know.

"I'M WHAT?!" he heard Lilly shout.

He ran to the door and opened it. "What's goin' on?" Arthur tried to ask calmly.

Lilly looked at him with a pale face. "Nothin'. Go back in the lobby. I'll be out in a minute."

"But Lilly, I-"

"I know. It's fine. Just go." Arthur sighed and shut the door but he tried to listen in. "...impossible! It's impossible, Doc! I can't be...that!" he heard Lilly say.

"I'm afraid you are, Mrs. Morgan. Mr. Morgan, does he..." the doctor's voice drifted off.

"...don't know. He..."

"...I see. Well, this is...here's some medicine...symptoms."

"...you. Do ya think he'll know...between the..."

"...he had children before?" Arthur tried to listen more closely. What did Isaac have to do with this? "...I see. My condolences."

"Yes, he...it was a horrible thing for Arthur. It almost destroyed him, Isaac and Eliza dyin'. He canna go through somethin' like that again." Arthur shut his eyes and frowned. Was Lilly dying?

"...see...well, this parasite of yours? I have...but I also have this in case you...but really, I think you should..."

"...I want it, you have no idea...but no, I won't do that..."

"Good. Now, let's get you back..."

Arthur heard shifting about and went back to the lobby chair. What the fuck kind of parasite was making Lilly sick? The door opened and Lilly looked deathly pale. The doctor came out with her and smiled softly at Arthur.

"She's goin' to be just fine, Mr. Morgan. I have medicine here for her symptoms. She just has a parasite, is all."

"A parasite is causin' all this fuss with my wife?" Arthur asked.

"Yes. I'm afraid one that she got on that boat to Ireland," the doctor said. Lilly shut her eyes and sat down. Arthur nodded and took the bag of medicine. "She has somethin' for her headaches, nausea and appetite. The rest should balance itself out once she has proper sleep. She hasn't been sleeping well because of the vomiting."

"But she's goin' to be okay?"

"She'll be fine."

Arthur sighed in relief. "How long will it take for this parasite to go away?"

"Eight months."

"Huh. Eight months?" He looked at the doctor suspiciously. "She's gonna have this thing for eight months?"

"Yes. It's not really a bad parasite. Oh, but it may cause a ruckus on her emotions."

Arthur looked at Lilly then back at the doctor. "Her emotions?"

Lilly stood up. "I can explain the rest, doctor, thank you."

Lilly paid the man, grabbed a bag from him and walked out. Arthur went after her. "Lillian, what kind of parasite is this?"

"Ugh, just an inconvenient one." Lilly stopped herself. "No, not inconvenient. Just...well...shite, I don't know what else to call it!" she snapped, glaring at the ground. "No, it's problematic. God, what am I goin' to tell Patrick? I told him I was-" Lilly stopped herself, keeping her eyes down. What was she not telling him?

Arthur lifted her chin. "What is it?

Lilly sighed. "I'd rather go take a nap. I don't..." Lilly almost dropped the bag when she slumped into Arthur's arms.

"Okay, let's get you home." He lifted her in his arms and carried her to Rose. He got her in the saddle and pocketed the bag of medicine before climbing up and trotting out of town. "Just hold on to me, okay?"

Lilly nodded and cuddling into Arthur's chest. "I'm sorry."

"For what, mo stór?"

"For gettin' a parasite," she said glumly. "It's just...Patrick might think I lied."

Arthur laughed. "Lied about what?" When Lilly didn't speak, he stopped the horse and looked at her. She passed out. Poor girl was so tired. He resumed Rose's gait to a slow gallop and eventually they were greeted by Brian and James just outside Clemens Point. "Hey boys. Lilly's fine, she's only got a parasite."

The boys 'arooed' at him and Arthur chuckled, padding into camp with them. Arthur carefully got Lilly down with him and carried her to their tent. When people asked questions, he explained it was 'just a parasite and she'd be fine after a while'. He got her settled and went back for her medicine.

"Arthur!" Sean asked. "Is Lilly okay?"

"Sure. She's just got a parasite, is all. It should go away after a while."

"A parasite? Is she contagious?"

"I...didn't think to ask, but if she was, doc would'a said so, I reckon." Arthur pat Sean's shoulder.

"Sure thing, Arthur. I'm just glad my deirfiúr is gonna be okay."

Sean walked away with renewed vigor. Lilly's husband got her medicine and saw instructions in the bag. He began to read as he walked back towards the camp.

-One bottle of aspirin for headaches; take one pill as needed.

-One bottle of liquid dramamine for nausea, take one teaspoon as needed.

-One bottle of cacao caffeine extract for fatigue, take one teaspoon every morning.

-Two jars of pickles for food cravings, free of charge. Also recommend ice cream.

-Exercise to stay healthy and prevent excessive weight gain during all trimesters.

There was more but Arthur stopped walking and reading because he was confused. "What in the hell? What kind of parasite would make her want pickles and ice cream? Weight gain?" Arthur read on.

"Trimesters?!" Suddenly it dawned on him and he looked up. "Holy shit. Sean?!"

Arthur looked around and ran after Sean, calling his name. Sean turned and came back to him. "What's goin' on?"

Arthur laughed excitedly and showed him the list. This was great news! Why didn't Lilly tell him? "She ain't got a parasite, Sean! She's pregnant!"

What a twist, folks! Don't worry, I will explain in the next chapter how Lilly suddenly became fertile! Let me know what you think of this plot twist! Review, fav, follow, and thanks for reading!