*Author's Note*

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The Backup Plan

Allie POV:

My kids were napping this afternoon while I was cleaning the house. Even tho we rarely had any visitors (well sometimes Skunk Hair and Vera would sneak over and bring us some of their leftovers or give us a few bucks here and there) I still wanted to maintain a clean house. I mean nobody wants to live in a dirty nasty house or at least nobody sane that is. I usually cleaned while the kids napped cause it was easier that way (no distractions and what not).

I was sweeping the floor whenever a knock sounded at the door. I set my broom against the kitchen counter before going over to the door. Whenever I answered it, I was surprised to be met by my mother-in-law standing on my porch with a basket looped on her crook of her arm. Since I was in a state of shock, Levicy gave me a warm smile and announced, "I brought over some canned goods for you. Figured that ya must be tired of survivin' on a chest of meat my son's been huntin'."

"Oh, thank you so much, Levicy." I gratefully told my mother-in-law before stepping aside and letting her into the house. Closing the door and following her into the kitchen, I honestly admitted, "Cap hunts and is managing to bring in some money, but cause I'm pinching pennies I'm forced to pick and choose carefully what I buy from the store so I'm grateful you brought over some canned goods for us."

"Well, Anderson might be fine with his son's family starvin' and strugglin', but I'm not." Levicy told me in a clipped tone, placing the basket on the table while we sat down. "It's a new year, time to let things go in my opinion."

"I couldn't agree more."

"Did Sully ever find any of your distant kin or no? If so, have they help ya'll any?" She asked, sounding genuinely concerned about the matter.

"Yes, he found my uncle, but Cap refuses to write him and ask for help." I answered in a slight sigh as I started to unload the basket Levicy brought over.

"My son's so much like his father. A proud man that wants to fend for his family on his own." She told me in a knowing sigh as I placed some cans on the table.

"Yea."

"I'll talk to my Anderson, get him to see that this disownment's been goin' on long 'nough." Levicy assured me with a motherly hand pat.

Oh god, I hope Devil Anse listens to Levicy and accepts Cap back into the family. We can't keep on living like this, hand to mouth cause we're out on our own without any family support.

Tolbert POV:

I had to make a few shine deliveries in Logan County t'day so I decided t'pay Jessa a visit. See my son too. I was dyin' t'see Endor, so much that I couldn't stay 'way no more an' was just usin' my deliveries as an excuse t'see Jessa an' the baby. I was eager t'see what Endor looked like; t'hold him an' just see for myself that he was healthy an' happy.

I felt a bit nervous as I walked up Jessa's front porch an' ov'r to her door. Truth be told, I didn't want her rejectin' my visit or shooin' me 'way cause she didn't want Shaw findin' out that I was hangin' 'round. I knew that comin' ov'r was risky, but I didn't care. I wanted t'see my boy. Only lord knows when I'll be able t'see 'im 'gain. My palm was sweaty as I curled my hand into a fist an' knocked on the door.

After a minute or so the door opened, but standin' in the doorway wasn't Jessa, but her sister-in-law Mary. Instead of shooin' me 'way, the blonde girl smiled. "You here to see Endor?"

"Yes, I am." I answered, a bit taken aback that the girl sounded so sweet as she asked me why I was here instead o'tryin' to bite my head off.

"Jessa's changin' and feedin' him in the other room right now, but ya can come in and I'll tell her you're here." She told me 'fore slidin' to the side; givin' me room t'pass thru the threshold.

"Okay." I simply nodded, walkin' into the house. My eyes fell upon a fancy whiskey bottle an' matchin' glass by an armchair; makin' me get the impression that the Vance Bastard was drinkin' too much 'gain.

"I'm friends with your brother, Billy, so I won't tell my brother you came by." Mary told me, closin' the door and leadin' me into the kitchen. What, she was friends wit' Billy? Since when? He nev'r told me that. Lil shit's got a lotta explainin' to do next time I see him. "Do you want coffee? There's some in the pot, but I can always put fresh on."

"The already made coffee's fine." I assured the girl while I walked ov'r to the kitchen table. "The chil'ren nappin'?" I asked Mary, takin' a seat at the table while she got me my coffee, since I didn't see Silas or Lydia anywhere.

"Yea, they're takin' their mid-mornin' nap." The blonde confirmed what I was thinkin' as she handed me ov'r my coffee. Wit'out 'nother word, the girl walked a few feet ov'r to the door on the other side of the room. She opened it an' went inside to tell Jessa I was 'ere. After a minute or so, Mary walked into the kitchen an' smiled, "She'll be in soon. She's just finishin' nursin' Endor."

"Okay." I simply nodded since that's all I could really do. Seein' the whiskey by that armchair was naggin' at me, so I inquired 'bout it. "Yer brother drinkin' bad 'gain?"

"Shaw drinks a few glasses of whiskey almost every night." She told me before grabbin' her books from the table an' leavin' the kitchen. Hmm, I was 'fraid of that. As I sipped on my coffee (a bit stale might I add) Mary went upstairs to her room. Reckon she wanted t'give me an' Jessa our privacy; let us have a moment alone wit' Endor.

"Hi." Jessa greeted me wit' a soft smile as she walked out of her room wit' Endor ov'r her shoulder. She was pattin' an' rubbin' his back, attemptin' t'burp him, as she made her way ov'r to the table.

"Hi." I smiled back, sippin' on my coffee. Placin' my cup down, I made the observant remark of, "He's a big boy, ain't he."

"Yes, he is." She smiled, takin' a seat next to me. "Endor was at least 10 pounds when he was born. I'm sure of it." Jessa remarked as Endor let out a loud burp. Oh god, he was that big?... As if she could read my mind, she assured me, "The birth was fairly easy. He came out naturally in a few pushes."

I nodded 'fore pointin' t'his hair an' sayin' wit' an edge t'my smooth tone, "He's a redhead."

"Yes, just like you." Jessa smiled, seemin' not t'understand how bad that boy bein' a redhead was.

"I was 'fraid of that." I sighed a bit solemnly as my stormy eyes locked onto my son. Goddamnit, he looked just like me. How Jessa was gonna hide his heritage, well I dunno? No way t'hide it, I reckon.

Jessa POV:

Hearing that Tolbert was afraid that Endor would look like him, dreaded it even, took me aback. I thought that he'd be happy our son favored him, but I guess I was wrong. "You'd preferred it if he looked like me." I stated, not asked, as I rocked my son in my arms.

"Yea. It'd be less trouble for the both of ya." Tolbert told me, his stormy eyes giving away that he was worried for both my safety and Endor's.

"Don't worry, Tolbert, we'll be fine." I assured my ex before asking him with a small smile, "Do you wanna hold him?", as I looked between him and our son cradled in my arms.

"Yea, I would." He answered me, a large grin spread 'cross his face.

Right after I placed Endor into Tolbert's arms, the little baby looked up at his daddy and made a cooing sound. In his own little baby way, he was saying hello, was acknowledging the redhead he looked like. "He likes you." I warmly smiled while Tolbert was just looking at Endor with awe.

"Well, I like 'im too." Tolbert smirked, smoothing back our son's bright coopery patch of hair. Rocking Endor, Tolbert mused in a slight chuckle, "Goddamn, he looks just like me. Hair, nose, chin, reckon eyes too in time."

"Yea. He's gonna grow up to be a dead ringer of you."

Tolbert nodded before turning his attention to me. A sad look was in his stormy eyes as he told me, "Promise me you'll bring 'im up right." Looking back at our son, he continued on with, "I don't want him drinkin' an' makin' shine. Don't want my boy gettin' into fights an' trouble either."

"Don't worry, Tolbert, I'll raise Endor John to be a model citizen. He'll be a good boy that'll grow up into a good man." I assured Tolbert, wanting him to know that our son wouldn't end up like him or Shaw. That Endor would become something and be successful.

"I saw the whiskey by yer husband's chair. Yer sister-in-law says he's drinkin' bad 'gain."

"You've got no room to talk, Tolbert. You're a shiner and you drink a lot too."

"I know what I am, darlin', but I ain't no bad drunk like yer Vance Bastard husband. I've nev'r been locked up t'get sober, that's for sure."

Before I could say a word, I heard the pitter-patter of feet descending the stairs. I looked towards the staircase only to see Silas walkin' downstairs. He's learned how to open doors now, so I'm not surprised that he took it upon himself to exit his room and come downstairs after waking up from his nap.

"I need to tend to Silas. Just bond with Endor." I told Tolbert before rising from the table and rushing over to Silas, who was just a few steps away from the main floor of the house. "I see you're up now, honey." I told my son, picking him up and balancing him on my hip.

"Yea. Me up now, mama." Silas nodded with a smile. "Mama, me thirsty." He informed me as I walked away from the staircase. "Hungry too." He added in as a loud afterthought.

"Well, we'll get you some milk and leftover oatmeal. Okay?" I suggested while bringing my eldest son into the kitchen.

"Okay, mama." Silas simply nodded, seeming happy to be getting something to eat and drink. "Hi, Tol." My son greeted Tolbert as I set him down in a chair at the kitchen table.

"Hi, Silas." Tolbert kindly responded even tho he never took his eyes off of the baby he was holding. "Ya been good boy for yer mama?" He asked Silas while I was pouring Silas his glass of milk.

"Yea, me good boy for mama." I heard Silas tell Tolbert as I grabbed a bowl from the cabinet. While I went over to the stove to scoop some leftover oatmeal into the bowl, I heard my son eagerly ask, "Ya bring me candy?"

"No, not this time." I heard told tell my son while I placed a large spoonful of oatmeal into the bowl. "I didn't think 'bout gettin' ya candy cause I came ov'r t'see yer baby brother, Endor." Tolbert told Silas while I picked up the milk glass off of the counter; bringing the oatmeal and milk over to the table.

"Maybe he'll bring you some candy next time." I suggested while placing the milk and oatmeal in front of Silas before taking a seat at the table.

"Thank you, mama." Silas told me before grabbing his spoon and digging into his bowl of oatmeal.

"D'ya like bein' a big brother, Silas?" Tolbert asked my eldest son as I took a seat at the table.

Silas shook his head. "No, End'r cry too much."

"Honey, that's what babies do. They cry cause they can't talk yet and it'd the only way they can communicate." I explained to my son for the millionth time as he ate his oatmeal.

"Sarah 'Liz'beth no cry too much." Silas said matter-of-factly, in the same pain in the ass tone his daddy uses too.

"Sarah Elizabeth?" Tolbert asked with an arched brow.

"She's your niece. You know, Roseanna and Johnse's daughter." I dryly reminded Tolbert. Dear lord, I would've thought he'd heard about his niece by now considering the Tug River Valley's a small place to live.

"Oh…" He trailed off a bit awkwardly.

"Maybe you should pay them a visit?" I leerily suggested since I didn't know how good or bad of terms, he was on with his sister, but thought that Tolbert should visit Roseanna tho.

"Maybe." Tolbert simply nodded.

I hope he does see his sister, but I'm not going to push it. Tolbert seeing Endor was a big feat in itself.

Tolbert POV:

After leavin' Jessa's house I decided to take up her advice an' pay my sister Roseanna a visit. Last time I'd seen her was months 'go when she visited me at Aunt Betty's t'warn me 'way from Jessa an' Endor. Hell, that was back in October an' it's January now so it's been a while. I didn't approve o'my sister's husband an' she didn't approve o'me still bein' in love wit' my ex-common-law wife.

Oh well, it was what it was I reckon.

When I rode up t'my sister's house I saw that it was small, but suitable 'nough for newlyweds' wit' a newborn. Reckon Johnse put some thought into the cabin he made for him an' my sister, but I think he could've planned better an' made it a bigger. Guess he'll just be addin' rooms on as more chil'ren come.

After pullin' Eldorado to the hitch-post, I dismounted 'im an' tied him up. The front porch o'my sister's cabin was small an' only had a couple steps t'climb up, unlike how I'd built my porch of my house 'fore that Vance Bastard burned it down. After walkin' up the porch an' ov'r to the door, I knocked an' waited for my sister t'greet me.

After a moment or so the door opened an' Roseanna appeared wit' a small baby in her arms. Her blue eyes went wide as she asked, "Tolbert, what're ya doin' here?"

"Heard 'bout Sarah Elizabeth; came by t'see her." I honestly told my sister.

"Oh…" Roseanna's sweet voice rang out. She seemed shocked that I'd heard 'bout her baby let 'lone come t'see it. Steppin' aside, she invited me in wit' a simple, "Well, come in then."

"Where's Johnse at?" I asked as I walked into the cabin since I didn't see the fool anywhere.

"He's makin' a delivery up in Boone County." Roseanna told me as she shut the front door.

"Ah, course he his." I remarked, goin' ov'r to a char in the main room an' takin' a seat.

"I'm touched that ya came by t'see your niece." My sister admitted while coming up to me. Placin' the baby into my arms, she added in, "I must say I nev'r thought ya would."

"Nev'r thought I'd be here either, but Jessa suggested I should pay ya a visit." I told me sister as she took a seat in the chair next to me.

"You saw Jessa?" Roseanna gasped her blue eyes poppin' outta her head.

"Yea, 'fore comin' ov'r I paid her a visit cause I was in the area makin' a delivery." I answered my sister while rockin' my niece. Gosh, she was so small. How was it possible for her t'be so lil? Hell, Sarah Elizabeth had t'be the smallest baby I've ev'r seen an' I've seen many o'babies.

Roseanna shook her head and sighed, "Tolbert, you shouldn't 've done that." She couldn't just leave it at that. She had to chastise me wit', "No good can come of it; she's married t'Shaw."

"I know she's married to that Vance Bastard. Ya don't gotta remind me, Roseanna." I deadpanned in an irritated tone as my niece drifted off t'sleep in my arms.

"Then leave her be. She's happy wit' him an' they have a family." I doubt she's truly happy. Bless Roseanna's innocent naïve heart for thinkin' that.

Lookin' up from my niece t'look at my sister, I shrugged, "I just wanted t'see my boy. Nothin' wrong wit' that."

"Tolbert, it's wrong cause that boy's bein' raised by Jessa an' Shaw as theirs. Endor can't grow up wit' ya comin' an' goin', won't be right especially wit' this feud goin' on." Roseanna lectured me in one o'those motherly tones. Damn, guess motherhood's befittin' her, huh? She's sure t'be one helluva mother to Sarah Elizabeth wit' 'em lectures she can give. Reminds me of our mama in a way. Reckon mama rubbed off on my sister, huh.

"I ain't gonna be comin' an' goin'. I know my place an' it ain't in his life." I told my sister 'fore goin' on to sadly say, "I just wanted t'see him's all."

My sister stood up an' took her baby from my arms. A thin, but sad line of a smile appeared on her face as she told me, "Endor resembles ya in the face; has your hair too."

"I know, Rosie. I know." I sighed, watchin' as my sister sat down wit' her baby cradled in her arms. Standin' up, I announced, "I'm gonna head back t'my still." Truth was I needed t'get outta the house cause I didn't wanna talk 'bout how my boy (who I'd most likely nev'r see 'gain) looked like me. I didn't wanna hear it. "I'll be by 'gain sometime." I told Roseanna 'fore headed to the door.

"Okay. Goodbye, Tolbert."

"Bye, Roseanna." I told my sister 'fore walkin' out the door.

Shaw POV:

"Where's Todd at?" I asked, hanging up my hat, jacket, and gun belt on the rack by the door as soon as I entered the house. Todd should be home by now, so there better be a good reason for why he ain't.

"He's over at the main Hatfield house." Jessa answered me from her spot in the kitchen setting the table.

"Why's he over there?" I asked, making my way out of the entranceway and into the main room.

"He wanted to hang out with Robert E. and asked if he could stay there for dinner. I said he could since I didn't see any harm in it." Jessa told me while her and Mary continued to bring food platters over to the table.

"Oh." I simply nodded. Well, I couldn't argue with that. Todd hanging out with his step-cousin and staying at his house for dinner was fine.

Suddenly, Silas jumped up from his spot sittin' and playin' with his sister only to run over to me. He crashed into my legs while loudly chanting, "Daddy, Tol came ov'r. Didn't bring me candy."

"What? Tol Came over?" I loudly asked in shocked tone, making my wife flinch from her spot putting a pitcher on the table. Mhm, Tol was Tolbert. I knew it, I just knew it in my gut.

"Yea, didn't bring me any candy. He visited End'r." My son confirmed my suspicion, causing my blood to boil and my insides to twist painfully.

I just nodded and told my boy, "Go play with your sister.", before going over to my side table and grabbing my decanter. Pouring myself a drink, I asked my wife, "Why was Tolbert over seeing Endor for, Jessa?"

"I dunno, Shaw. He just heard 'bout him and wanted to visit." She told me as I took a long sip of my whiskey. Yea, I wasn't buying into her innocent babe in the woods routine. She knew, oh she fucking knew why that pain in my ass was over.

"Really?" I dryly asked, giving her a pointed look. Looking at my sister, I asked her, "Mary, where were you when this was going on? Hmm?" Oh god, please tell me she was outside milkin' the cow or something. Please…

Mary chewed on her bottom lip before answering me sheepishly with, "Um, I let him in cause I'm friends with his brother Billy." Looking between my and my wife, she wrung her hands together and quickly added in, "It's my fault he was in the house, not Jessa's."

"What? You're friends with Billy McCoy? What the fuck's wrong with you?" I yelled at me sister as I stormed into the kitchen to confront her on how stupid she was.

"Shaw, leave her alone. She's just a girl." Jessa ordered me, jumping in between me and Mary.

"She's not just a girl. Far from it." I told my wife. Shaking my head, I added in, "Mary knows why we don't like McCoys, but she goes ahead and stupidly befriends one anyways."

"Billy befriended me." Mary had the nerve to say. Hell, like that made it any better? I don't care who approached who, they shouldn't be friends. It's unnatural, ungodly even.

"Shut up!" I barked at my sister. God, the fact that she was defending Tolbert's brother (who was also a fuckin' redhead) was disgusting. How the hell could she be friends with Billy?

Jessa cut her indigo eyes at me as she snapped, "Calm down, Shaw. Stop yelling at Mary."

"Of course, you're takin' her side in this considerin'…" I scoffed, letting my thought trail off.

"Considering what?" My wife probed even tho she already knew what I meant.

"I'm not blind or dumb, Jessa." I deadpanned. "Tell me the truth, is Endor mine or not?" I asked my wife, causing her to let out a heavy sigh. My sister on the other hand scrambled out of the kitchen and over to my kids in the main room. I take it she already knew the answer and how I'd react, which is why she was tending to my kids. Mary knew a fight was brewing between me and Jessa. I'm sure she did considerin' she prolly saw a few between mom and Peter when she was little.

"Honestly, Shaw, I'm not sure." Jessa revealed with a pitiful look.

"You're not sure? What the fuck does that mean?" I asked in a growl, my eyes narrowing into slits.

"It means that there's a two-week window from when we were together to when I was with him." She admitted, her eyes falling to the floor in shame.

"Jesus Christ, Jessa, you were fuckin' him in our bed when I was locked up detoxin'? Really, how could ya do that to me?" I asked her incrediously, shaking my head and scoffing in disgust.

Her indigo eyes flew up to meet mine as she desperately told me, "I didn't mean to, Shaw. Believe me, it just happened."

"Okay, it just happened, but then you lied to me about it." I took a sip of my drink before asking in a hurt tone, "Damnit, why didn't you tell me the truth?"

"I dunno. I reckon I thought-" She began only for me to cut her off with, "I don't care what you thought, you should've told me that there was a 50/50 chance Endor wasn't mine." I took a large gulp of my drink and sarcastically asked, "Didn't you think I'd know somethin' was up when he came out a fuckin' ginger? Hmm?"

"Don't you dare throw one discretion I had when I was lonely up in my face. You of all people don't have that right. Not with how you knocked up your 'housekeeper' when we were supposed to get back together." Jessa spat at me, her lip quivering in angrily. Yea, she would throw that in my face.

"Don't compare my situation with Olga to yours with Tolbert. I wasn't in a loving an' caring relationship with the bitch, unlike you and that ginger fucker." I tossed back at my wife, taking another sip of my whiskey.

"You're right, I was in a relationship with him, but it didn't work out. It'd never wrk out between us cause unlike you he won't fight for me. Hell, that's why I went with you for in the first place."

My brow quirked curiously. "What do you mean by that?"

"What I mean is that when I first got here I had it bad for Tolbert, but he always pushed me away. You didn't push me away so I went with you. Even after I got into a common-law marriage with Tolbert, he still held back from me, but you never did so I left him for you." She explained, causing my blood to run cold. Oh my god, was she saying that I wasn't truly her first choice?

"So, what, I'm the backup plan?" I asked, earning me a quiet look from her. "Hmm? Gonna answer me or not, babe?"

Jessa POV:

Before I could think better of it, "Yes, you were my backup plan.", came tumbling out of my mouth. As soon as my secret was revealed my indigo eyes went wide and my husband's honey eyes turned a deep angry shade of amber.

"Oh, I see." Shaw seethed thru gritted teeth. He downed the rest of his whiskey and slammed the glass on the table before pivoting on his heel and storming out of the kitchen.

Oh no, he was mad.

"Where are you going?" I asked Shaw as he made a beeline for the door. Oh god, this ain't good. This ain't good at all. He ignored me tho, just went over to the wall hooks by the front door. "Shaw, answer me. Please." I pleaded with my husband as I rushed over to his side.

"I'm goin' to do somethin' I should've done years ago." Shaw answered me, his voice rough and raw, as he buckled his gun belt around his waist.

Oh my god, he was going after Tolbert. Oh god, it's all my fault too. "You're gonna kill him." I stated, not asked, as Shaw put on his jacket.

He didn't say a word, just took his old black Stetson off the wall hook and placed it onto his golden-brown haired head. His face was cold and hard as he brushed by me and out the front door. At the sound of the door slamming shut, Endor woke up with a loud cry. Looks like I can't stop Shaw from going after Tolbert and killing him cause I need to nurse and care for my son.

Oh god, Shaw killing Tolbert in a jealous fit of rage is going to be a hard bump in our marriage to get over. Seems that everything's just gone to hell.

AN:

Well, hope you guys liked this chapter. Oh, the angst just got turned up a notch. Yikes.