No Time To Die- ARTHURMORGAN x O/C

part 40- Fantasies

The pale light of dawn creeps through the trees surrounding Beaver Hollow, casting gentle shadows across the camp. Claudia already awake, taking a moment to let her eyes adjust to the dim light filtering through the canvas of her tent. Despite her fatigue from the previous night spent sleepless, she feels an undeniable urgency to check on Arthur. After gathering herself, Claudia steps out into the crisp morning air and makes her way to Arthur's cot. The camp slowly stirring to life, the smell of coffee wafting from the main fire pit, mingling with the morning mist that wraps around her like a curtain.
She approached his cot, he is sitting on his bed, his head in his hands."Arthur?" she calls softly, her heart pounding slightly in her chest.
Arthur looks up,  "Hey there, beautiful," greets her with a small, tired smile. He looks like he hasn't slept much either, his skin a little paler than usual and his eyes bloodshot.
"How are you feeling?" she asks, her voice edging with concern as she takes a small step closer, scanning his face for signs of struggle.
He rubs the back of his neck, visibly trying to shake off the fatigue, "I'm alright. Just a little rough around the edges, you know?" His attempts to brush it off feels too casual, her heart aching to delve deeper into his mind, to see the struggles he carries, "And you? How did you sleep?" he asks, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
Claudia hesitates for a brief moment, guilt threading through her chest, "Oh, I slept great. All night," she lies, forcing a bright smile even as fatigue tugs at her eyelids, "How about we go for a walk? Stretch our legs a bit? It'll do us both good."
"Sure," he replies, raising an eyebrow at her enthusiasm, but he doesn't press her for more details, which she appreciates. They step away from the tents, walking side by side towards the outskirts of the camp, the morning dew glistening on the tree stumps beneath their boots. They walk as a peaceful silence envelopes them, marking only by the gentle sounds of nature, the soft rustle of leaves swaying in the breeze, the distant calls of birds welcoming the dawn.
Arthur looks at the woman beside him, her bright blue eyes, her long dark curls at the bottom of her hair bonce as she moves, some scars across the side of her face. He hesitates, trying to get the conversation going, "If you weren't here, if you weren't in this gang, what would you be doing?"
Claudia pauses, the unexpected nature of the question catching her off guard. She has to think about it, the life she could have had if circumstances had dealt her a different hand, "I'd love to have a house," she starts, her thoughts spilling out as a warm smile spreads across her face at the daydream, "Maybe a little ranch where I could work with some horses and have a garden. I've always wanted to raise a family, maybe two kids. Three feels like too much chaos," she laughs lightly, the sound cutting through the heaviness of their reality.
Arthur smiles alongside her, genuine warmth radiating from him, "Two kids, huh? That sounds perfect. Enough to keep things lively but not overwhelming."
"Right?" she replies, her eyes shining as she imagined the scene, "A happy family, sitting around the dinner table, laughing and talking about their day. It sounds... nice, doesn't it?"
"It does," he agrees, "You'd make a great mother. I can see it."
Claudia feels a mix of joy and a deep sadness wash over her in the moment. Arthur's words makes her heart swell, but they also lacing with reality, she has always wanted that life, but the world they live in paints a starkly different picture.
They continue to walk, slipping into a comfortable rhythm as they speak about mundane things, small dreams that feel so fragile against the backdrop of their chaotic lives.
"So, what about you?" Claudia asks, curious about his response to her earlier musing, "What would you want if you weren't living this life?"
Arthur looks out into the distance, the weight of her question lingering in the air. She could see him thinking deeply, her her heart tightens as she notice the flicker of sadness in his eyes, "I don't know," he finally says, his voice less vibrant, "A quiet place, maybe. Somewhere to work hard, away from the law and all... this." He gestures to the woods around them, the shadows of their lives flickering just outside of view, "If things were different, I can't help but think I wouldn't mind a little place like that. Just peace."
Claudia nods, understanding the bittersweet longing that colours his words, "You deserve that, Arthur," she says softly, hoping her words could cradle some of his newly found burdens.
"Claudia," he says, the tone of his voice softening, drawing her attention back to him, "I know there's nothing I can do to change things... But whatever happens, you need to know I wouldn't trade this, us for anything. I care about you too much."
His sincerity reverberates in the air, enveloping her in warmth,
"I care about you too, Arthur," she replies, fighting to keep her voice steady, "But we need to think of you... You need to promise me you'll take care of yourself."
Arthur reaches out, placing a hand on her shoulder, grounding her amid the chaos of her worry, "I will. I'll do everything I can. We've faced worse, haven't we?"
"I suppose so," she says, the ghost of a smile touching her lips despite the tumult within, "But this feels different."
"Yeah, well, we deal with whatever life throws at us, right?"
Claudia nods, drawing courage from his words but struggling to connect them to the reality of their current situation, "I just hoped to live my dream with you Arthur."
"So do I, Claud. I promise you, that in another life we will have a ranch of our own, have two kids running about and have peace" Artur tightens his grip on her hand. They stop walking and stand in front of each other, his gaze staring at hers.
"Oh Arthur.." Claudia voice breaks as starts walking again pulling him along. He wraps his arm around her waist keeping her close, "I love you."
"I love you, forever."