The Last Love Of Arthur Morgan

Murfree Country

*NSFW*

The next morning, tired and sore, Arthur woke shivering. He pulled the scratchy blanket up to his chin, though it did little to keep him warm.

There was some folks milling around their small impromptu camp, but everyone was still mostly asleep. 

With a grunt, he stood to his feet, his knees cracking - reminding him of just how old he was getting. He shook out the blanket and folded it neatly, laying it back where he found it on the wagon.

He quietly pulled open the canvas and saw that Lorna was awake, her arm wrapped protectively around Lily as she slept beside her.

"You can come in." She whispered.

He was surprised by the invite, but decided not to give her any room to change her mind. So he carefully hoisted himself up into the wagon and closed it behind him. He sat there rubbing his gloved hands together, trying to get warm.

"You didn't come to bed last night." 

"You locked me out."

She frowned."I'm sorry."

He nodded and draped an arm over his knee."I get it, Lorna. This shit get's to me from time to time too, I just learn to deal with it in different ways."

She sat up and pulled her hair from the confining braid she had, raking her fingers through her brown mane.

He watched her from where he sat, missing the feeling of her hair and skin - it'd been a while for him, for them both. But there wasn't any privacy to do anything about it, they would just have to wait like the rest of them.

"H-How do you deal with it? Honestly."

Arthur sighed."I hunt. I ride Walker. I fish. Anything to keep my mind occupied."

She nodded as she pulled her hair back in a clip."I'm sorry if I made a mess of things."

Her bottom lip began to quiver and she buried her face in her hands. Arthur carefully maneuvered his way through the many blankets and crates, to wrap his arms around her. She buried her head in his chest, crying silently into his vest. 

"Shh." He whispered into her hair, his hands rubbing circles over her back."It ain't your fault. We all get crazy from time to time."

She pulled away wiping her eyes and smoothing her hands over her hair."I'm not okay, Arthur. I've tried to be for some time now, but every time I get comfortable, something bad happens. I-I can't continue to do this."

He took her hands in his and ordered her to look at him. She obliged, slowly lifting her head to look him in the eye. She sniffled, as fat fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.

"If ya didn't act like this, I'd think somethin' was wrong with ya." He breathed a laugh."This ain't for the weak, babe. This is hard livin' and ya know what? You lasted a lot longer than I expected you to. I knew it'd be hard, especially now with the baby. But you did it and there ain't no one woman in this world to date, that has done what you done for me. I respect that and I love that you love me so much, you're willin' to go through hell with me."

She pulled her bottom lip in between her teeth.

Arthur's eyes dropped down to the blanket covering her."When I said I chose you, I meant it. I really did - do. I want all them pretty things you dreamed up, I want the house and the farm, the kids - all of it."

"But." She exhaled a shaky breath.

"But." He emphasized."I have to see my friends out of this mess. At least get John out of Sisika before we make a move. I can't even think about leavin' if he's not with us."