*Author's Note*

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

Admissions & A Move

Jessa POV:

It's been a few days since the festival and Tolbert was still flying high from winning his fight with Shaw. Too bad he only won cause Shaw threw it. I wasn't stupid, I knew by the pleading look he gave me as my husband was punching him that he was letting himself be beat cause he was afraid I'd end our deal about our son's visitation. Since Tolbert's ego was still puffed up, he sent me over to Mate Creek to buy some beef for a stew. Since I was in the area, I decided to bring Silas over to see Shaw.

After buying the stew meat I drove a few yards down the road and parked my wagon in front of the livery building. Carefully, so I wouldn't drop Silas, I got down from the wagon and rounded it to make my way up the plank walkway. I walked up to the door and opened it, causing the doorbell to ring as I crossed the threshold. "Jessa, I wasn't expecting you to visit so soon after the festival." Shaw remarked, his head popping up to look at me, as I shut the door behind me.

"Tolbert sent me to get some stew meat so I figured I'd bring Silas by to see you." I explained, making my way deeper into the office.

"I'm glad you did, considering I got both my face and honor busted up for him." Shaw smiled, backing his chair an inch or so away from his desk, as I made my way over to him.

Stopping right next to him and passing him over our son, I sighed, "You should've hit him back or at least got out from underneath him."

"What?" His honey eyes went wide. "If I would've done that you wouldn't be letting me see my son right now." He told me in a solid tone as I rounded the desk and took a seat at it.

"That's not true, Shaw." I felt a bit bad that he thought I'd keep Silas from him because he was defending himself. Starting a fight and defending yourself are two very different thing. "You would've been acting in self-defense since Tolbert attacked you; not the other way around." I told him, trying to make him realize that I approved of self-defense. I mean its kind of stupid to just let somebody beat the shit out of you, at least try to push them off or something.

"Oh, so I'm allowed to fight in self-defense, but I just can't provoke Tolbert and start shit with him is what you're saying?" Shaw asked me, opening up his desk and pulling out a candy stick for our son to gnaw on.

"Yea." I nodded, watching him give Silas the stick of hard candy.

"Okay, but next time that crazy ginger starts shit with me he's gettin' his ass beat." Shaw deeply chuckled, even tho his words were dead serious and not something to be taken lightly.

"How are you so good at fighting? Did you take kick boxing classes or something in Tulsa?" I asked, curious about why he seemed to be a scrapper.

While our son gnawed and sucked on the cherry red candy stick, Shaw answered me with, "I worked part time at a ranch after school and in the summers as a cowboy. I also competed in the amateur rodeo circuit as a wild bronc rider and let me tell you that whiskey and beer mixed with cowboys always equals a fight."

"Oh, I didn't know that." I told Shaw before quickly, and a bit dumbly, adding in, "About the cowboys fighting I mean; I already knew you competed in rodeos." God, I hope he didn't think I sounded stupid or something. I don't want to be that stupid dumb baby mama in his eyes.

"I think I saw you once at one." Shaw told me, taking me aback since I didn't even know that he noticed me back then.

"Yea." I nodded before going on to say, "I went once with Allie and her boyfriend at the time, Steve. They were bored out of their minds, but we went cause my dad got a discount on tickets since he was a professor at Tulsa University."

"You should've come over to me and said hi or something."

"Um no, I wasn't really your type back then." I told him, reminding him that he was in the popular crowd back in Tulsa while I wasn't.

A little smirk appeared on his face. "Well, honey, let me tell you a secret. You were my type back then, hell you're still my type now too."

"What?" Fell off of my lips in a shocked whisper like whoosh.

Looking between me and our son, who was happily gnawing on his candy, he revealed, "I had a bit of a crush on you when we were in school, but my dad had this no dating rule cause he wanted me to focus hard on sport and school so I could get a college scholarship."

"But you decided to come back here instead of going to college tho."

"Yea, cause I got homesick. I hadn't seen my mom since I was like 12 so…"

"You miss her." I stated, not asked, since that's the impression I got from him.

"Yea, I do." He sadly sighed before going on to say, "I know she wasn't perfect and had her faults when it came to raising me, but she was still my mom." His honey eyes got a bit misty as he told me, "She like you a lot. I just wanted you to know that, Jessa."

I liked Peggy too, but we barely even knew each other. "But I didn't know her that well. I only talked to her a few times." I sadly smiled, hoping that I wouldn't offend Shaw with my truthful words.

"I know, but she talked to me about us a few times. She approved of you for me, but she was just always worried that Tolbert would try to hurt me or do something to split us up." Shaw revealed with sadness heavy in his deep drawn out timbre.

"Oh…"

Shaw's honey eyes softened as he pleaded, "Jessa, honey, I need to know why you're with Tolbert. After everything we've been thru, I need to know why you picked him."

"You don't need to worry about why I'm with Tolbert. I'm not asking about why you're with Olga." I countered back as a way to keep the reason why I became the common law Miss McCoy my secret.

"I'm not with Olga. She's my housekeeper." He bitterly spat as if he'd just eaten an undressed arugula salad.

"That you had a baby with." I reminded him with a pointed look.

"I slept with her a couple of times, but only cause I was torn up over you and she just happened to offer me some comfort at a tough time." He admitted, his timbre breaking a bit. Oh… He took a deep breath before admitting, "She seduced me, thinking she could get a proposal or something to cement her stay in West Virginia." I just nodded while letting what he said sink in. I knew Olga was from the Five Points and from what I know about that area I suppose she could've been cunning enough to seduce Shaw. I mean she was raised by Amsterdam and Jenny; those two aren't exactly saints… "So, honey, since I told you about Olga it's only fair that you tell me why you settled with Tolbert." Shaw told me, breaking me out of my mental reverie.

"I'll tell you, but you won't like it." I sighed, causing him to just nod his head in a motion for me to just spill out what he wanted to know. "When I realized I was pregnant we weren't together anymore and I was so scared of what people would think about me being knocked up with a bastard. I was afraid that Randall would throw me out and that you wouldn't believe it was yours so, since I knew Tolbert was seeing whores in Pikeville, I went to him the night before Christmas Eve to ask him if he knew a whore that could tell me how to get rid of my problem." Shaw just stared at me, no trance of emotion on his face, as he took the candy stick from our son and started to bounce him on his knee. I swallowed a lump trying to form in my throat before revealing, "Tolbert told me that he couldn't let me risk dying or being infertile and offered to take me on as his common law wife; raise Silas as his own."

"I understand now why you feel some type of gratitude or loyalty for Tolbert, but he lied to you about not wanting to risk your health." Shaw told me, tossing the candy stick onto his desk. My brows furrowed, causing him heave out a deep sigh before telling me, "Truth is, he knows, just like everybody does, that late on Sunday and Monday nights Doc performs abortions in the backroom of his office with the old wire hanger trick. Tolbert knew if he told you 'bout Doc that either I would've seen you going over there and stopped you or Doc would've told me and I would've stopped you." Shrugging he added in, "Either way we would've talked and gotten back together."

Shaw's words hit me like a ton of bricks. I didn't know what to think or say. "I better get going."

"Okay, but can you bring him by a day or so before his birthday so I can give him a present?" He asked as I stood up from his desk and went over to where he was sitting.

Shaw POV:

"Yea, I can do that." She lightly smiled, bending slightly to take Silas from me after stopping next to me.

Before she could take him tho, I placed a hand on the back of her neck and pushed her face into mine only to capture her lips in a kiss. The kiss took her by surprise and for a minute she was just frozen as I moved my lips languidly against hers, secretly praying that she'd respond in a positive way. When her body relaxed and her lips moved against mine with soft brushing strokes, I swear I could hear a chorus of angels singing Hallelujah. I nipped and lightly tugged on her lip, but I guess I shouldn't have done that cause it made her realize what we were doing and she pulled away from me, breaking our kiss.

Her indigo eyes were blown wide with lust as she slightly stuttered, "Shaw, I…I'm with Tolbert. We can't be doing this."

"I understand, Jessa. I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me." I apologized, even tho it wasn't worth a good shit, before adding in with a soft tone, "I guess talking 'bout us just brought up some feelings."

Jessa nodded, chewing on her bottom lip, as a thousand emotions flickered in her indigo eyes. Good, I'm slowly wearing her down and giving her something to think about. Hopefully she'll let me bang her by Halloween. I just looked at her as she adjusted our son on her hip. Looking between me and Silas, Jessa told me, "I'll bring him by right before his birthday."

Allie POV:

I decided to visit Olga today and see how she was doing. I did that often since she had baby Lydia, who she wished was named Imogene, since Olga had fallen into a bough of post-partum. Today she was doing great, she was out of bed and was tending to not just the baby, but the kitchen too. I'm glad that she seemed to be doing better and getting out of her funk.

We were sitting at her kitchen table with our babies perched on our laps and a pot of coffee set on the table between us. A few worry lines appeared on her face as she sighed, "Shaw threatened to send me to San Francisco t'stay wit' the Vallons."

"What? When did he do that?" I asked, taken aback that he'd do that to the mother of his child. I knew that he wasn't in love with her and that he was struggling with her having post-partum, but I never thought he'd threaten to send her clear across the country to get rid of her.

"Day of the 4th of July festival, right 'fore he took the chil'ren to it." Olga answered with a sad sigh.

"Oh…" I sighed before giving my friend, who doesn't deserve to be treated so badly, a sympathetic look and telling her, "I'm so sorry to hear that. If you want me to, I can see if Cap can talk to Shaw and try to soften him up to the idea of keeping your family together."

"I'd like that, very much, Allie." Olga told me with a soft smile. Suddenly, her face fell and she told me with a heavy heart, "I'm 'fraid Shaw's gonna two-time me or at least try to wit' the McCoy's wife since I've been hesitant t'lay up wit' him cause I don't wanna risk pregnancy."

"I doubt he'll do that, Jessa's not the type to cheat." I firmly told my friend since I knew my ex-best friend very well; knew she'd be the type to stay true blue to Tolbert even tho Shaw was her baby's daddy.

"Are ya sure? Shaw's upset that we haven't, as he vulgarly puts it. 'fucked' since 'fore Lydia was born an' I'm sure he'll try t'go after the girl he's obsessed wit'."

"Olga, Tolbert beat Shaw's face in pretty good just for looking at Jessa so I doubt he's going to be trying anything with her." At least I hope he's not dumb enough to try anything with her. Deciding that I needed to change the subject to something less depressing, I pointed to Lydia and smiled, "She's getting so big."

"Yes, she is." Olga smiled before her face fell and she sighed, "At least Shaw loves her an' is a good da."

Oh god, seems like I'm stuck listening to my friend whine and mope over a man that's a piece of shit.

Abel POV:

After a hard and grueling day of working at Devil Anse's sawmill, I rode up to my cabin only to see that Nancy's wagon was parked by my stable. I wasn't expecting her to come over, but I wasn't complaining since I did enjoy spending time with her. After dismounting my horse and setting him up in the stable, I walked up to my door and opened it only to be assaulted with the smell of pork and greens cooking on the stove. "By the smell in here I take it you're cooking dinner." I told Nancy, walking inside of my house and hanging my hat up on the nearby hook.

Nancy was standing at the small potbelly stove, cooking. She looked at me and nodded, "Yea, I'm hungry.", while I walked over to my small kitchen table.

Taking a seat at the table, I told her, "Well, so am I since I worked all day." Leaning an elbow on the table, I went on to say, "I wasn't expecting you to be by tonight."

"Actually, I've decided to move in." Nancy nonchalantly told me as she stirred the food sizzling the cast iron skillet on top of the stove.

"What? Why?" I nearly shouted; my eyes wide with shock.

"Why?" My girlfriend rhetorically spat before telling me, a bit vehemently, "Cause of tired of workin' as a laundress an' rentin' a tiny apartment over the tailor's shop, that's why."

I watched her cook while letting out a long and hesitant sigh of, "I like you here, don't get me wrong, Nancy, but my sister's not going to react well to this."

"Allie doesn't need to know." Nancy stirred the skillet a bit quicker than necessary. "Hell, not like she ever comes over; you always visit her at Cap Hatfield's house."

"I don't want to make this feud any worse by you living with me." I admitted since I didn't like feeling stuck between sides. I loved my sister, but I also loved my girlfriend too. I didn't want to be forced to pick sides cause my private life came up to the surface. I mean these hillbillies were nuts. Between the McCrazie and the Hatefilleds, if my relationship with Nancy came to light it'd cause a big stir.

"Us livin' together won't make it worse." Nancy assured me, giving me a soft look over her shoulder. "Hell, Shaw and Tolbert fightin' over that hussy, Jessa, is what's makin' the feud worse and you know it."

"I know, Nancy, I know." I let out in a heavy sigh, leaning back in my chair.

"Don't worry none, Abel. We don't gotta tell nobody 'bout us unless we get married."

"Married, oh sweet Jesus I'm not ready for that yet." I blurted out, causing Nancy to just look at me with her lips pressed into a thin line. Oh no, I didn't insult her did I? I hope not.

"Neither am I, but one day we'll be ready. One day you'll be able to stand up for what's right 'gainst your sister's in-laws too." Nancy assured me before going back to cooking our dinner.

Goddamn, I hope so. I hope one day we'll be able to deal with the backlash our relationship'll create.

Tolbert POV:

"That stew sure does smell good, darlin'." I told Jessa, who was at the stove stirrin' the stock pot, as I hung up my hat on the hook by the door.

"Thank you, Tolbert." She simply told me as I walked into the main room, where our son was sitting on the floor playing with some toys.

"Ya didn't have too much trouble ov'r in Mate Creek buyin' the beef did ya?" I asked, walkin' by Silas and into the kitchen.

"No." Jessa shook her head, makin' her dark curls bounce 'round her shoulders, as she stopped stirin' the cook pot.

"That's good." I simply told Jessa as she placed her wooden spoon onto a counter by the stove. "My day wasn't too bad; the deliveries went well." I told my wife while she went over to the cabinet to grab a glass for me. She didn't say a word, just nodded while taking the glass from the cabinet and shutting the door. That's odd, she's usually a bit chattier than this. "Is somethin' botherin' ya, darlin'?" I asked as she walked over to the table.

"No, I'm just a bit tired." Jessa told me, grabbing the pitcher off the middle of the table and pouring me a glass of milk.

"Maybe you're pregnant." I suggested, hopin' that was indeed the case, as she placed the pitcher back onto the table and set the glass in front of me.

"I'm not pregnant, my flow cam this afternoon." Jessa shook her head, walkin' back ov'r to the stove.

Too bad she wasn't pregnant since I'd like to have a child that's truly mine. "Ah." I lightly sighed out, watchin' my wife grab her wooden spoon off the counter. Quietly she stirred the pot, makin' sure the stew didn't stick an' burn. "I'm sure we'll be expectin' soon tho." I assured my wife, not wantin' her to feel bad that we weren't pregnant yet.

"If it happens it happens, I'm just happy that I got Silas." Jessa told me, shockin' me a bit. My god, I weren't expectin' t'hear that. I was sure she'd want more chil'ren, but o'course she's happy 'nough t'have the one.

Hell, lord better bless us wit' a child o'my own soon or I'm gonna be punchin' the Vance Bastard in the face next time I see him.

AN:

And once again Shaw's at it with his manipulations and head games. Do you think he's going to wear down Jessa or will she keep pushing Shaw away and stay faithful to Tolbert (like Allie told Olga)? What do you guys think about Nancy moving in with Abel, is she up to something? And of course, Tolbert longs for a baby…

Anyways, next chapter will be both Silas and Captain W's birthdays. YAY! We're just two chapters away from Johnse and Roseanna meeting and sneaking off together at Election Day.