"Uhhhh.." Anastasia, still sitting in Arthur's lap, under the massive oak tree, stares at the new presence with her mouth open.
Arthur finally snaps to his senses after the three all stare at one another with shocked and blank expressions. He quickly stands, lifting the girl with him and placing her on her feet.
John stands with his mouth open as well, mirroring Anastasia's expression except his almost has a hint of amusement.
"I uh—" John scratches the back of his neck awkwardly, looking for words, "Sorry for.. interrupting—" he begins chuckling, with almost an evil grin having discovered this new, and obviously secretive, relationship.
"John—" Anastasia breathlessly looks from the younger man and back to Arthur. "Th-this isn't what it looks like?"
She realizes that came out more like a question.
"Suuuure.." John smirks, crossing his arms and glancing at Arthur who stays quiet trying to think of an excuse.
The more Arthur thinks, though, the more he realizes there is no possible way to innocently explain what the other man saw.
John chuckles and shakes his head with a smile, "This is pretty bold Morgan.. what the hell is Dutch gonna sa—"
Arthur quickly grabs John, realizing the only way he is gonna keep this man quiet is doing the one thing he's best at.
"One god damn word and I'll kill you in your sleep with my bare hands!" Arthur shoves John against the tree, threatening the man with his teeth clenched tightly.
"Alright!" John holds his hands up as Anastasia looks at him with a helpless, sympathetic, look.
"We just aren't ready to tell anyone yet.." she reasons. "Please just keep this a secret, will you? Just until we want to let people know."
"Okay, I understand! Now get your hell hound off me!" John tries to push against Arthur who just continues to stare at the dark haired man dangerously.
Arthur finally releases John but doesn't let up in his attempt to turn him to stone with his glare.
"Thanks." Anastasia sheepishly rubs her arm with a chuckle.
John rubs his neck where Arthur had a death grip on him.
"Mark my words, Marston." Arthur growls before roughly brushing past John and back to camp.
"Well you sure picked a real ray of sunshine." John rolls his eyes at the grumpy man walking away before looking over to the girl. "Honestly, Princess, what is your old man gonna say?"
She just smiles, though, almost in a daze, cocking her head as she watches Arthur walk back. Her smile turns to a more serious expression, as she finally processes Johns question.
"I don't know.. I think he'll be fine." Anastasia shrugs, "I mean, he trusts Arthur, and already loves him like family, right? Shouldn't be a big deal."
"I guess.." John stands beside the girl, staring off at camp as he thinks as well. "He's pretty protective, though, and I think that's more so because he's really more scared of you growing up.. so he could react badly too.."
The two stand by the tree for a second, both deep in thought before John finally speaks up again, very hesitantly.
"You guys haven't—"
Anastasia's cheeks heat up, tinting pink as she finally peels her gaze from the camp and to the man beside her. Despite the words being cut off in his throat, she already knows what he means. John also doesn't even have to hear her reply, already able to guess the answer by the guilty and innocently embarrassed look on the girls face.
"Oh my god.." he laughs at the helpless girl. "So who should I pay for my wager on Morgan being castrated?"
Anastasia rolls her eyes as she shoves John lightly with a tiny smirk, "Oh shut up.."
She shakes her head, hiking her skirt up and trudging back to camp. She trusts John to keep her secret and isn't too worried about him spilling. If anything they were actually quite lucky it was him who had found them and not someone like Bill or Sean. Aside from that, she has much more pressing matters to be filling her mind right now. Like the party tomorrow night. She's heads off to find Hosea and Trelawny somewhere in camp. The two have been planning non stop for the past couple days for this party. It's going to be good, Anastasia knows it. Plus, since they're expected to dress up, she's going to get the chance to see Arthur in a suit. He's quite easy on the eyes all the time, but almost especially when he dresses up. She smirks to herself at the thought, knowing he also absolutely despises being in a suit and is super adorable when he gets grumbly about it.
She just knows it's going to be good. Either that or she is reading the feeling in her gut all wrong and it may turn out a complete disaster..
♛
Short chapter again hfhjdlfjfsk ahh I'm sorry.
I'm thinking the next one is going to be long so I didn't want to do it quite yet.
Also I found this picture (that freakin made my little day) on another writers story and like..
fr tho..
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