Miss Orléans / Arthur Morgan x OC

3: Adapt

The whiskey scorched her throat in the most pleasant of ways as her body was filled with warmth. Gently placing the glass down on her wooden desk, she let out a shaky sigh as her gaze went back to the window and at Saint Denis, "you can stay if you want. However, bring the slightest trouble to this household and I will turn all of you in to the Pinkertons."

"We need to talk Eliza," Arthur spoke as he refused the whiskey that Timothy offered him.

"There really ain't nothing to talk about," Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders, ignoring the intense glare of Arthur as she pulled out another cigar and lit it. Somewhere she knew she was being selfish for denying Arthur this, but then again she managed to raise them for nearly 7 years now, and she likes to think she raised her kids right. Elizabeth knew Arthur since he was in his teens, knew that his heart belonged with the gang and wouldn't leave it, even if it were for his children's sake. The most she would have gotten out of him would have been a few visits here and there, but that wasn't enough for her. It was either the four of them a family or only three.

However, guilt still edged on her consciousness as she knew about Arthur's son Isaac. She was there to comfort him when he returned to the gang the same day, distraught and angry at the world. With open arms she allowed Arthur to grieve the lost of his family, with no judgement or any comforting words. Just silence and company that the man needed. Elizabeth couldn't even imagine loosing either of her kids, just thinking about it tore her apart in the inside. That was the reason why she left the gang, to get away from the trouble that comes with riding with them. To raise her kids right, so they can do right.

"Do they even know about me?" Arthur asked, desperate for answers as he stared at Elizabeth who refused to meet his gaze.

"They know their father is alive, just don't know who it is and I intend to keep it that way," life wasn't fair and Elizabeth wasn't being fair. However, if it was to keep her children safe she would become the most selfish person in the world.

"So what, I'm just gonna act like I'm not their father?"

Sighing exasperated, Elizabeth whirled around to finally meet her gaze and her mind wandered as she silently admitted to herself that Arthur Morgan was still as good looking as ever, "Look what you got yourself into Arthur! You have a 5 thousand dollar bounty on your head! You're wanted in several states and you're a murderer, do you expect me to be all willing to let you into their lives? Next thing you know Rosie will be wanting to join your gang, then what? She gets a 5 thousand dollar bounty and I got to watch my daughter hanged? I told you this world is changing and I'm adapting to make sure my children stay alive and they live a good life and they are good people. The question here Arthur, are you willing to adapt? Because I certainly don't think you are. Me agreeing to talk to you is putting their lives at risk."

Arthur didn't know how to reply, couldn't reply because what she was saying was true. He was a bad man, and he's undeserving to anything good that comes his way and that applies to Elizabeth and her children. She was doing something he couldn't do for the sake of his children. Unlike him, Elizabeth knew where her loyalty lied and left the gang. Some people would have saw it as betrayal, but she was doing the right thing, and Arthur didn't quite know if he would have left with her if he knew.

He couldn't even be angry at her anymore as he took a look around the room. His children is living in a life of luxury but he knew they weren't spoiled because Elizabeth would make sure they weren't. The world is changing and Arthur couldn't adapt in time to be there for his family, even if he didn't know he had one. All his time was spent foolishly going after a women who could never love him, only wanted him because he was a challenge. The one person who was willing to accept him for all his flaw was Elizabeth and he went ahead and left her. It was his biggest mistake.