*Author's Note*

Thank you for all the follows, faves, and reviews.

Here's another chapter since the muses were being loud and demanded that I write more to this story. Well, hope you guys enjoy this. Read on!

Easter Revelations

Jessa POV:

The ride to my in-laws' house after church was very tense. Tolbert was embarrassed that he lost a fight to Shaw in church while I was rattled that the fight even occurred. I was even more shocked that Shaw had figured out the main reason why I was with Tolbert (other then having feelings for him). The baby… How he even figured out the correct number of months I was pregnant baffled me. Hell, he must have not pulled out on Thanksgiving on purpose or something to know for sure that the baby was his. Oh hell, what did I do when I agreed to let Tolbert take care of me and my baby (Pull a Peggy)? Seems like hell hath no fury like Shaw being denied his rights as a father…

We were nearly to our destination whenever Tolbert gave me a nasty side eye and asked, "How the hell does that Vance bastard know 'bout the baby? Ya get word t'him 'hind my back or somethin'?"

"No, of course I didn't tell him behind your back." I quickly defended myself, feeling appalled that he'd even accuse me outing our lie, the very lie our common law marriage is founded and based on.

"Then how'd he know, Jessa?" He asked in a loud gruffy shout that slightly made me flinch.

"I think he's smarter than we gave him credit for and just figured it out."

"Hmm…" Tolbert's gaze was set on the dirt road that was lined with spring green foliage and lush leafy green trees. "Ya better not be lyin' t'me, darlin'. It'd break my heart if ya were."

"I'm not lying, Tolbert." I honestly and sincerely told my common law husband, softly looking at him and hoping he'd believe my words.

Tolbert POV:

God, I wanted t'believe my wife so badly, but I just didn't know if I could. How else could that shifty bastard've found out that the baby was his? I weren't tellin' nobody. Hell, I waited til late January near February to tell my family 'bout the baby. So far everyone was buyin' that she was due sometime in September instead of August, so how'd he know? Hell, Jessa says he's smart an' figured it out, but no way in hell is he that smart. He sells livestock for a livin', ain't nothin' bright 'bout him.

"Better not be." I snapped; a bit harsher than I should've. I could see outta the corner of my eye that Jessa's shoulder's slummed and her face blanched wit' a startled look. Lettin' out a long sigh, I looked at her to see that she looked crestfallen an' hurt. "Darlin'..." I let linger off my tongue, hopin' that my velvet timbre callin' out her pet name would calm her a bit an' show her I didn't mean t'upset her.

She didn't say a word, just looked out at the green woods we were passin' thru on our way t'my folks' cabin. Shit, I really messed up. She's upset wit' me for doubtin' her. Hell… Goddamnit, I can't help, but feel slighted. The baby belongs t'another man, my rival, an' suddenly he knows 'bout it an' confronts me in church 'bout it. Wants to whisk her off to talk too. Yea, that don't make me feel too good. I know Jessa begged him t'stop chokin' me, but she didn't tell 'im not t'kill me. Hmm, that don't set right wit' me. She's s'posed t'love me, but she ain't pleadin' for my life. Do I gotta worry 'bout Shaw puttin' a bullet in my heart cause I'm takin' his bastard on as my own?

Sad truth is, the baby's gonna be better off wit' me as a poppy then wit' him. Hell, is it worth it tho? Is it worth riskin' my neck t'raise a baby that ain't even mine? Months 'go I thought it was, but now that Jessa's roughly 5-months 'long I'm not too sure anymore. I love her, more then anythin', but I don't know how t'deal wit' the baggage that bein' poppy t'her baby's bringin'.

"Ya know I love ya; didn't mean t'snap at'cha. I'm just-" I began to apologize only to get cut off by Jessa's flat, but swift retort of, "You're feeling concerned and overwhelmed about the commitment you made to me 'bout raising the baby as a couple."

"Jessa…" I sighed, wantin' to correct her, but not knowin' what words t'use. She was, sadly, right in what she told me. I was feelin' that way; strugglin' wit' my decision.

"Tolbert, I don't want you to wake up one day resenting me and my baby. If this is too hard for you-" She never got to finish her sentence cause I whipped my head 'round and told her thru gritted teeth, "Don't ya dare say you'll leave me an' go t'him, that shady Vance bastard." My stormy eyes were flarin' wit' heavy emotions as I told her, "I love ya an' I can handle raisin' yer baby. I'd do anythin' for ya, just please don't leave me."

"I won't leave you, Tolbert." Jessa assured me, her tone soft and mellow. Suddenly a sad look crossed over her face as she added in, "I love you, but if I feel you can't handle this, I might have to leave one day. It all depends on how well you can keep your temper in check cause I refuse to let myself or my child be treated badly; forced to live walking around on eggshells."

Really, she just had to add a I love ya, but I will leave if speech after assurin' me she wouldn't leave? Dear god almighty, this woman's gonna be the death o'me. If I didn't love her, I wouldn't be puttin' up wit' this bullshit.

"I won't give ya no reason t'leave, I swear it, Jessa." I promised her as the path juttin' off the main road leadin' t'my folks' appeared up just 'head.

Allie POV:

Nobody said a word to Shaw whenever he arrived at the main house once the church service was over. Hell, nobody even took a second look at him. Truthfully, everyone was avoiding him; just letting him sit and brood on the far-left side of the large front porch. Sully was outback, smoking like a chimney and avoiding his son. The teacher was so mad that it wasn't even funny. Can't say that I blamed him, the church fight's bound to stir the pot when it comes to the Hatfields and the McCoys.

After helping Levicy, Vera, and Jane (Wall's common law wife) make bread dough and put the ham into the oven I went out back to have a word with Sully. I used the excuse that I needed some fresh air so that the women wouldn't find me going outback to talk to him instead of helping in the kitchen odd.

"Sully, we need to talk about Shaw." I told the teacher, causing him to give my an arched brow look, as I stood next to him by the dinner bell that was a few yards from the back door.

"I already yelled at him. He needs some time to cool off, then he'll be ready to go drinkin' and lookin' for whores." Sully assured me in a flippant tone before bringing his cigarette up to his lips and taking a long drag off it.

"I don't think he's going to actually hook up with a whore. He's too wrapped up in getting Jessa back and having a family." I told him as he let out a large billowing cloud of smoke out of his nostrils and mouth.

"Jessa's married to Tolbert and expecting, my son doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell."

"Sully, the baby belongs to Shaw."

"No, it doesn't, Allie." Sully told me, clearly in denial since he saw the same fight that I did and heard the same things being shouted that I did too, while shaking his head and looking out into the vast backyard. "Shaw'll meet somebody, forget all 'bout Jessa, and have a son." Sully recited as if he was reading a paragraph out of a book. God, now I think I know where Shaw gets his jackass gene from, Sully…

"During the fieldtrip I was stopped by Shaw's future great-whatever-grandson, who gave off some serious Elliot Grey vibes, and was told that S.E. Livery was historical cause the guy that found it married a woman after making her a feud widow." I told Sully, causing him to just roll his ocean blue eyes at me while letting out a silent huff of disagreement. "Sully, he's not going to leave her alone from what I was told. You need to talk to him, tell him to just let her and Tolbert be so that the feud doesn't get worse than what it's supposed to." I begged my cousin-in-law, my voice desperate and raw.

"I know more about my son and the feud then you do, Allie, so trust me when I say that he's not going to win over Jessa or raise her half McCoy spawn." Sully spat at me with a arrogant tone hidden in his firm words.

Okay, well, looks like I'm not getting anywhere with him. I just nodded and walked off, deciding that I needed to have a long talk with Shaw and find out from the horse's mouth what the hell was going on when it came to his feelings for my ex-best friend.

Shaw POV:

I was sitting on the edge of the front porch, leaning my shoulder against a wooden post, as I smoked and stared out into the distance. My mind was reelin' with everything that happened this morning at church. God, I wanted to rip Jessa away from Tolbert so bad I could taste it. She was pregnant with my kid, I wanted her back now more then I did before. Damnit, I felt that if Tolbert didn't punch me then I would've been able to convince Jessa to get back with me so we'd be a family (her, me, and the baby). God, my life was so messed up right now. I had a kid on the way and an ex that was settling for the craziest McCoy in Kentucky outta fear of bein' rejected by me. Hell, only god knows what bullshit lies the McCoys filled Jessa's head up with 'bout me. Bet they're laughin' their asses off over this. Wouldn't surprise me one bit if they found raisin' a Vance blooded baby up to hate his family as funny.

"Hey, Shaw." Allie's voice sounded out as she walked over to me from the backyard, causin' me to just give her a nod before bringing my cigarette up to my mouth and takin' a drawl from it.

"Hey, Allie." I told her, blowing smoke out of my lungs.

"Can we talk about you and Jessa?" She asked me, crossing her arms over her chest as she stood right in front of me.

"What about us? I'm sure you know the jist of it cause Cap prolly told ya I knocked her up." Hell, my cousin and his wife were attached at the hip like Siamese twins so I know he blurted out the good news last night once he got home. Especially since my baby's mama used to be his wife's best friend.

"Um, are you sure it's yours?" She hesitantly asked.

"Yes, I'm sure." I snapped, tippin' some ashes over the end of the porch. "We slept together on Thanksgiving." I confessed before taking a quick drag of my smoke and adding in, "I can do math, I know she's 5-months 'long."

"Sully's in denial about bein' grandpa and insists it's Tolbert's. He's convinced you'll meet somebody else, settle down, and then have a kid."

"Sully's not as smart as he thinks he is." I scoffed, slightly shaking my head and rolling my honey eyes, before takin' a drag off my smoke.

"Would you kill him to get her and the baby back?"

I mulled over her words for a few minutes, staring at the ashes growing at the end of my cigarette. When I finally came up with an answer, I looked at the pregnant blonde with honesty in my honey eyes and told her in a deep, but straightforward tone, "If I had to, yes I think I would."

"I was afraid of that…" Allie sighed out heavily, her voice drifting off into the air like dandelion seeds blowing in the wind. "Look, I can't stand the crazy ginger, but you hurting or killing him'll just make the feud worse."

"I don't care about the feud, only about Jessa and our baby." Allie just nodded, her lip in a thin line as her sapphire eyes portrayed that she wasn't surprised by my remark, while watching me tip some ashes off the side of the porch. I took another drag off my smoke before shaking my head and sighing, "And to think if I would've just gone after her when we first met none of this bullshit would be goin' on."

The blonde's face skewed up as she asked, "Um…what're you talking about? Didn't you ask her out after election day?"

"I met her before election day." I revealed, causing my cousin-in-law's sapphire eyes to widen a bit. Before she could ask how, when, and where, I expanded on my remark with one of, "I met her on my first day of my senior year. We had drama together."

Allie's jaw dropped to the floor in utter shock. "Are you shitting me?"

Rollin' my honey eyes, I spat, "No, I ain't shittin' you."

"Okay, so then if you liked her back then why did you ignore her?"

"My dad didn't want me to do any serious dating, just wanted me to do the flavor of the week since he wanted me to focus on my studies and sports." I bitterly spat out, feeling like a fool for listening to my dad instead of doing what I wanted to do. "Sully thought that by getting straight A's and being a star cornerback that I'd be able to bag a scholarship." Taking a drawl from my cigarette, I muttered, "I missed my mom after 7-years of not seeing her, so I decided to come back here instead of accepting a free ride to some university."

"Oh…" Allie trailed off, looking like she didn't really know how to react to what I'd just told her since she kept chewing on her bottom lip.

"Jessa's a nice girl, you know the kind you bring home to mama, so I had to just ignore my crush on her." Which I know now was a stupid thing to do. Shrugging, I took a quick drag of my smoke and mused, "In hindsight I should've just told Sully to shove it up his ass and asked Jessa out. If I did, we'd be together right now and I wouldn't be tryin' to figure out how to win her back from Tolbert."

"You really think you'd be here right now with her if you would've asked her out back in modern Tulsa?" My cousin-in-law asked with a skeptical look painted on her face.

"Yea, I would've been on that on sinkin' fieldtrip bus too as the chaperoning boyfriend/teacher's son whenever Sully beamed ya'll up here." God, when she told me about that field trip and how she nearly drowned when my dad portaled them into the Tug River during that wagon train accident I swear my blood boiled. I was so pissed; how could Sully be so careless. Like he couldn't have poofed them all on the riverbank? Whatever, it's already said and done. Eh, I guess I should be thankful that he even brought them back here instead of just letting them drown with the others on that sinking bus.

"You really love her, huh?" Allie asked, or maybe she stated, but I couldn't really tell, as she looked me over with studious eyes.

A smile crossed over my face as I nodded, "Yea, reckon I do."

"Does she love you too?" Allie countered, her voice holding a bit of curiosity in it, as she stared me down with a slightly arched tawny brow.

"She gave me her virginity even after I told her we could wait til another time to go all the way, so she must love me since that's not something a nice girl just gives out lightly." Was my answer since I couldn't say yes cause Jessa never told me that she loved me, only showed me with her actions of kisses, touches, and well choosing me to be her first. I was supposed to be her only, but that fucker Tolbert just had to swoop in and fill her head with lies; turning her 'gainst me.

Allie's sapphire eyes turned into the size of quarters as the weight of my words hit here. I just stared at her, taking one last drag off my smoke, as I waited for her to make a remark about my answer. Finally, after maybe half a minute, she blinked and let her shock fade away. "Your love life's complicated and dramatic." She sighed in disbelief while slightly shaking her head.

"My entire life's been complicated and dramatic ever since I popped out of my mom's oven." I quipped while tossin' my cigarette butt into the yard. The blonde didn't saw a word, just nodded and walked off. I could pick up that she was starting to feel some kind of pity for me, so I was glad that she decided to leave me alone instead of telling me some sympathetic bullshit line.

Allie POV:

I just gave Shaw a nod before turning around and leaving him alone to brood on the porch. Slowly, I made my way into the backyard. Sully was still standing by the dinner bell, just staring out into the vast landscape of the Hatfield patriarch's homestead. Boy oh boy, the teacher new nothing about his only child. If only Sully would talk to Shaw; listen to him instead of assuming things.

After talking to Shaw, I couldn't help, but to feel empathy for the dick. He was right, he got dealt a shitty hand of cards from the beginning due to his parents. I felt for Shaw too when it came to his bad romance with Jessa. I had no idea that they had drama together at Will Rodgers High and just assumed that they recently meet a few months back in this timeline, in 1878. Now I guess I understand why Shaw hates Tolbert and claims he stole his girl, it's the whole I saw her first thing. Basically, Shaw was entering a pissing contest with Tolbert over Jessa. One he intended to win. Sadly, whatever I said wasn't going to stop him from going after her. Yea, he's so going to make this feud go from bad to worse. Hell, I bet the updated history books are going to chuck full of crazy shit.

I silently walked by Sully and thru the backdoor, stepping into the kitchen of the main Hatfield house. Putting on a fake cheerful act, I closed the door behind me and asked the women gathered at the table, "What do you need help with, peeling potatoes or shelling peas?"

"I could use some help shellin' peas." Vera told me as I made my way over to the table.

"Ya feelin' refreshed, sweetheart, after gettin' some fresh air?" Levicy asked me, never faltering in her fast-paced potato peeling, while giving me a look that could only be described as one a concerned mother could muster.

Taking my seat next to Vera, I smiled and answered my mother-in-law with the white lie of, "Yes, I feel much better. Guess the heat in the kitchen was just getting to me."

Jane shook her head knowingly, causing a few brunette curls to fall the bun pinned high up on her head, as she told me, "Oh, dearie, you'll be miserable come a couple more months since you'll be heavy with child in the thick of summer."

"I guess I'll be miserable come Christmas time cause that's when me and Tom'll be expectin'." Vera blurted out with a large smile on her face, taking all of us at the table by surprise.

"Oh my God, Vera, that's wonderful." I gushed, dropping the peas I was just starting to shell only to pull my best friend into a side hug.

"Oh, Granny Rue, God bless her soul, would be so happy if she was here." Levicy warmly told Vera as she placed a peeled potato into a bowl.

"Reckon they'll be another generation of Hatfield-Wallace best friends." Jane stated with mirth in her eyes as she finished peeling her potato, placing it into the large bowl with the others.

Jessa POV:

After arriving at my in-laws' place, I quickly went to work helping Sally in the kitchen while Tolbert took off with Pharmer and Bud to check out the new litter of hound pups that're almost old enough to be given away. I think he wanted one, but I wasn't too sure since he never said anything. Roseanna, my closest friend since arriving in Kentucky, wasn't at the house since she was actually with Perry and Brenton spending Easter weekend in Frankfurt visiting Nova, who had given birth a couple weeks ago to a daughter named Rihanna Elsbeth, and Senator Billings. So, we were a woman down in the kitchen today, especially since Jim didn't bring his girlfriend over, but went to her house in town instead. Alifair was juggling both kitchen and little one watch duty, so it was up to me and Sally to do all of the holiday cooking.

For hours we cooked in silence. I was thankful for the silence since I was a tiny bit afraid that Sally might say something crazy if she did open her mouth. I mean after what happened this morning at church, let's just say I was thankful that Sally wasn't very talkative.

"He's kickin' ain't he?" Sally asked upon seeing my hand fly to my belly as I felt kicks.

"Yea, the baby's kicking." I confirmed with a nod as a soft joyful smile crossed over my face. Truthfully, when I first found out I was pregnant I didn't want to be a mother, but now every time I feel my baby move and kick, I'm excited to be a mom. I know I still have 4-months to go til I give birth, but I already love my baby with all my heart.

"It's a boy and he's gonna get my Tolbert killed." Oh, hell, of course she just had to open up her mouth and spew out something crazy. Sally's warm nutmeg eyes hardened, turning near black like freshly brewed coffee, as they fell on my rounded belly. Her eyes remained hard as they drifted up to stare into my startled indigo eyes. I could feel chills go up my spine as I grabbed some peas; snapping them with shaky hands. While shelling peas with an elegant ease, she told me in an unnerving certain filled tone, "Your boy's father's gonna have a protective streak worse than a papa bear. He's gonna kill Tolbert to take back his deemed family."

"Sally-" I started, intent on talking her down and calming her, only to be cut off with, "I've seen it, it'll happen." Great, she would be losing her mind sooner than she was supposed to.

"No, it won't." I firmly told my mother-in-law, giving her a hard look as I stopped shelling peas. My chest heaved with frustration as I slammed my hands down on the table. "Just because Shaw and Tolbert got into a fight in church doesn't mean he'll kill him."

"Your foolishness is gonna be the death of my son." Sally hissed in a panicked high-pitched tone. Her eyes were narrowed at me in eerie dark slits, reminding me of an angry dragon.

"Stop it, Sally, or I'm gonna tell Tolbert I'm not feeling well and want to go home to rest instead of staying here for dinner." I told her, not threatened, as she shelled peas as if she wasn't acting creepy and spewing out scary things.

Before Sally could say a word, the door flung open and in walked Tolbert, his velvety timbre sounding out with, "Jessa, darlin', how'd ya feel 'bout us havin' a pup?"

Turning to look at my husband, who was making his way to the kitchen, I smiled, "I'd like a puppy, if you want one."

"Good, cause there's this red pup I like." Tolbert beamed as he came to a stop by the table, standing right between me and his crazy mother.

Pausing in shelling her peas, Sally looked up at her son and made the remark of, "Tolbert, do you think it's wise to have a pup when you'll be dealin' with a newborn in a few months?"

Tolbert POV:

"Ma, I'm a grown man wit' a family now so I can have a pup if I want; don't need no permission from ya." I told my mama, lettin' her know that I didn't care that she didn't approve of me havin' a hound pup. Ma bit her lip t'keep from makin' a remark as she shelled peas. "I'll be on the porch wit' poppy." I announced, earnin' me nods from both my ma an' wife, 'fore leavin' the kitchen.

Once I walked out of the house an' onto the front porch, I took a seat in the open rocker next t'poppy. He took a sip of his coffee 'fore turnin' his head t'look at me. "Wife give ya permission t'have the pup?"

"Yea, she did." I nodded as I started to lightly rock in my chair.

"Good, that's good." Poppy nodded his head 'fore takin' 'nother long sip of his coffee. "Some folks don't like dogs." He set his mug on his armrest. "Perry don't."

"Figured I'd let Jessa name 'im."

"Talk 'bout names, ya come up wit' any yet for my first gran'baby?"

"No, figured I'd let her name it whatever she wants." I honestly told poppy, pullin' my flask outta my pocket an' uncorkin' it. Truthfully, I didn't even have the slightest clue what'd be a good name for the baby. I mean I couldn't name it nothin' startin' wit' T since it weren't really mine…Goddamnit, I needa stop thinkin' like that. That shady Vance bastard would start shit an' plant seeds o'doubt in my head.

"I'm sure she'll pick out somethin' nice." Poppy assured me 'fore smirkin' an' tellin' me, "Ya know yer mama picked out yer name."

I took a swig from my flask 'fore tellin' him, "I didn't know that."

Poppy shook his head, lettin' out a low chuckle of, "I nev'r understood how she came up wit' it either since it's uncommon."

I took another sip from my flask as poppy lifted his coffee mug up to his lips. As I set my arm down of the rocker's armrest, my flask clinked 'gainst the wood. Lookin' out at the woods that surrounded my folks' cabin, I made the gruff assumption of, "Let me guess, ya named Jim an' let her name me cause I'm second born?"

"Actually, I was out tendin' the cornfield when yer ma birthed ya an' by time I got home she named ya Tolbert." Poppy informed me wit' a twinkle in his eyes as he recounted the memory of comin' home an' findin' out I was born an' named. "Seein' her holdin' ya in her arms, cooin' an' tendin' t'ya when I came home, well I knew I'd lose any protest I made 'bout yer name." Pointin' his mug at me, he told me in a wise know-it-all tone, "Once ya see how happy Jessa is wit' yer newborn ya won't deny her the name she picks when the time comes."

"Yea…" I nodded, givin' my poppy a slight indirect glance. I sure do hope he's right, cause I don't think I'd take it too good if Jessa names the baby somethin' that sounds like a West Virginian name. I swear when the time comes, she better name it somethin' normal cause I don't want t'raise a kid wit' a name that ain't fittin' t'be paired wit' the McCoy name.

"Ya'll expectin' sure did rile up that Vance bastard." Poppy told me wit' a keen look. "Stay 'way from him an' don't provoke him. He's 'bout as sane as his uncle Jim Vance is." Was the advice poppy gave me 'fore bringin' his coffee mug up to his lips.

"I can handle myself, poppy." I gruffly blurted out, a bit ag'vated by his remark. I was a grown man; could take care o'myself 'gainst any fired up Hatfield fool.

"Yer Uncle Harmon thought so too, til one day Jim Vance showed up at his still an' gone done murdered 'im."

"Poppy, I ain't Uncle Harmon. I throw punches as good as I throw insults."

He just nodded his head, givin' me a long look that silently portrayed that he hoped I was right. I just tipped my flask back, takin' a long drink of my homebrewed shine. Silently, me an' poppy rocked an' stared out into the woods 'round the cabin as we awaited the call that Easter dinner was ready.

AN:

I hope ya'll liked this chapter, even tho it was chuck full of heavy stuff. The father-son bonding between Randall and Tolbert over naming babies was suppose to lighten up the chapter a tiny bit at the end. Also, since Roseanna is Randall's favorite child, I decided to make Tolbert Sally's favorite. Tolbert's struggling a bit with Jessa's pregnancy, but don't worry they're not breaking up or anything. So, what do you guys think about what Shaw told Allie about Jessa? Was he being sincere or just hoodwinking her?

Anyways, next chapter will be another small time jump into summer. 4th of July to be specific.