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It was a quiet day, not too warm, not too windy, overall a pleasant day. Everyone was calm, enjoying their day. And yet, Hosea felt uneasy. He crouches down with a huff, looking underneath a wagon.
“What are you doing, dearest?” Hosea sits back up at the sound of his lover’s laugh.
“I can’t find Arthur anywhere.” Hosea says, taking Dutch’s offered hand and climbs to his feet.
“Mm… Kieran’s missing too. Knowing that boy, he’s probably taken Arthur to look at the rabbits.” Dutch ducks his head down to catch Hosea’s eye, “The boy is okay, Hosea.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right. I just, I’m not used to him terrorising the camp.” Hosea laughs, soon to be joined by Dutch as they walk back into the centre of the camp.
The day passes like that, quiet and peaceful, Hosea even managed to relax a little himself.
That is until a frantic Sean comes riding into camp on Ennis, an odd look on his face.
“Mr Maguire! Get that horse outta here!” Miss Grimshaw yells, but Sean is already on the floor by then.
“Dutch! Dutch!” The man in question leaves his tent with a confused frown.
“What is it boy?”
“Ki-” He pants “Kieran’s missing! I’ve looked everywhere and can’t find him anywhere.”
Hosea frowns from where he’s watching the two men interact and his body goes cold when he sees Dutch’s eyes widen as his face pales.
Dutch places his hands on Sean’s shoulders, looking him dead in the eye. “Think Sean, are you sure you didn’t see him anywhere”
“N- no! It’s not like him to leave.”
“I know son, you’re certain you didn’t overlook somewhere?”
“I’m positive Dutch, why?”
“Arthur’s missing too.”
“Fu-”
"Dutch! We got your boy here!" A rough sing-songed voice shouts and Dutch straightens up, his hand flying to his gun. Fingertips nervously tapping against the grip.
Colm…
It doesn’t take long before Hosea rushes over in a panic,
"Dutch-" He starts, fear evident in his voice.
"I know"
Dutch cautiously makes his way over to where Colm is stood at the edge of their camp, four of his men either side of him. His knuckles have long grown white from his grip on his gun. Hosea too -has his hand on his gun; the sight would be a shock if it wasn’t for the situation.
Dutch glances back into camp, pleased to see that everyone has gotten to their feet and ready with their guns lowered but loaded. Arthur hasn’t been with them long, but the whole gang was fiercely protective of the boy and loved him dearly.
“What do you want Colm?”
“What do I want? Oh, nothing much at all, old friend.”
Colm whistles and a fifth man walks out of the trees, Kieran’s shirt held in his fist as he’s shoved forwards. In Kieran’s arms sits Arthur, the boy tightly holding onto the man’s shirt as he hides his face.
“You see, Dutch.” Colm starts, grabbing Arthur around the waist and yanking the crying child from Kieran’s arms to sit him on one arm while the other wraps around the infant’s chest. “You killed a lot of my men” He laughs.
"Let our boy go, Colm. Let our man go." Dutch interrupts, nerves rising as his voice cracks.
"Oh, don't worry yourself there, old boy, I ain't gonna hurt your boys. This is just a-" he shakes Arthur and the boy yelps, bottom lip wobbling as he reaches towards his parents. "a reminder that we can get to you"
Hosea takes a step forwards, his handgun out of the holster in an instant, Colm’s gang all raise their guns, prompting Dutch’s to follow suit.
“Ah ah ah.” Colm tuts, looking Dutch dead in the eye, the world feels like it's on a stand still. Their respective gangs facing each other with their weapons aiming as the leaders stand near face to face.
"Do you understand me Dutch Van Der Linde? Because I will kill your man” Colm looks down at the struggling baby, Arthur’s tiny fists trying to push himself away from Colm’s chest as fat tears roll down his cheeks. “I will kill your gang and I will kill your boy all while you watch." He smiles "Then, and only then, will I kill you. After you get to witness the ground soak with the blood of your friends and family Dutch van der Linde."
Colm looks back up from Arthur’s distraught face, a sickening grin on his face.
Dutch swallows, his heart pounding, his fists by his sides, tight in anger. He can see how worried everyone looks, Hosea at his left, eyes wide in fear but the rest of his face steely with years of training.
"Do you understand me!" Colm yells and Arthur screams, crying out as he reaches back out to his parents.
Dutch gulps, "I understand, Colm. Please” He takes a deep breath, trying to ground himself, “please give back our people, my son."
Colm laughs then, the sudden shift giving Dutch whiplash.
"Good. Let him go" He clicks back, prompting the man to shove Kieran forwards,
"Boy" he shouts thrusting Arthur into Kieran's arms, the man securely clutching the baby to his chest as Arthur whimpers and cries.
Kieran walks to Hosea and the man grabs his son, glancing over to where Dutch stands watching as Colm and his men walk away laughing before he turns and looks at the two of them.
Dutch comes closer, ducking his head to rest against Arthur’s forehead, his arm coming up to rest on Hosea’s back and pulling him into a tight huddle. Hosea would have been lying if he didn’t see the tears slowly rolling down his lover’s cheek, couldn’t feel the way he shook with rage.
Hosea releases a broken sigh, brushing his hand through Arthur’s hair in an attempt to soothe the shaken child.
Kieran looks at the family gathered in a close hug, looking down to kick at a pebble with his boot. He’s shaking, can feel how his hands tremble as he clasps them together. He doesn’t see the man storming over to him until it’s too late.
He’s pulled into a tight hug.
Hands grab at him and he clings back just as desperate. He tucks his head down into Sean’s neck, a sobbed breath released from his mouth.
"You don't go fucking disappearing on me again, you hear?" Sean spits, scared.
Kieran just nods.
It's late in the night, Dutch and Hosea are asleep, everyone is. Well, almost everyone.
Arthur sits in his crib. He jumps at every noise, his head whips around but he doesn’t make a noise despite the fear that bubbles up in his little tummy.
At the other end of camp, Sean is jostled awake when the man next to him sits up.
"Where you goin’?" He mumbles, reaching out to lightly touch a few fingers against Kieran's waist.
"I-I need to see him. I'm sorry" The man stutters, wringing his hands together as he avoids the man’s eyes.
"Go see him. It's okay, if it helps, go see" Sean smiles, gently waving Kieran’s hand.
"Thanks Sean, I'll see you in the morning if I don't come back"
"M'kay" Sean rolls back over and Kieran tiptoes over to their leader's tent.
Peaking inside to see if the men were asleep. He’s relieved to see they were, Hosea asleep on his side, Dutch against his back with an arm flung over his waist.
He walks in, and sees Arthur stand up in his crib, grinning when he sees Kieran.
Arthur makes an excited noise, bouncing on his feet when the man walks forwards. Kieran smiles, raising a finger to his lips.
"Sssh, Arty, we need to be quiet" Kieran whispers, moving to sit on the floor, with his arms resting on the edge of the crib as he simply talks to the boy
Hosea wakes up to a soft voice and Arthur's quiet gurgles. He shifts to lift his head onto the pillow to see Kieran sat next to Arthur's crib. His arm is in the crib, fingers running over the boy's face; obviously soothing the boy.
Hosea smiles, carefully nudging Dutch awake and smiles at the man's confused noise.
"Ssh, look." He whispers, gesturing over to the sight, he feels Dutch shift to look over his body.
"Well ain't that sweet." The man whispers and they stay like that, watching as the boys fall asleep in that position. Hosea reaches out to the blanket on a shelf, carefully placing it over Kieran's shoulders.
When he lies back down, Dutch kisses up his neck before resting his chin on Hosea's head.
Hosea sighs, "He's really affected by what happened, Dutch." He pauses, taking a breath.
"They both are. Arthur won't sleep and jumps at being picked up now. And Kieran can't let him out of his sight, so worried it's going to happen again"
Dutch sighs, "I know Dove. We'll get past it, move again and let Colm think he's won."