Chapter Text
It’s been a year since he ran away from the gang. He knows what he did was terrible, and he may never be forgiven, but he can’t leave it all like that. After traveling with a lovely man for the past year, he’s had time to think. long and hard about him and Abigail and their relationship. About him and Jack, If he's even his kid. And he's thought about Javier, a lot. He’s determined to make things right with them.
John slaps the reins on Old Boy, in a rush to get back to camp.
“cmon boy, just a little while longer.” he lulls to the steed.
As John is trotting into camp he’s met with ugly looks and a few gasps from the women. John expected a little backlash for leaving camp for a year but what he didn’t expect was for him to be pulled down from his saddle, hitting the ground hard, and met with a barrel pointed to his head.
“what the hell d’you think you’re doin here?” a familiar voice growls.
“Arthur? Arthur it’s me, John? Listen just, just let me explai-“
he exclaims, getting cut off by a hard punch to the chin. Head hitting the dirt, John drags himself to make distance between him and the larger man.
“What is there to explain John? You left us. You left your wife and kid? Where the hell have you been?” Arthur gets closer, closing the gap between them. Putting his revolver away, and getting ready to throw another punch before he’s interrupted by a soft voice Arthur’s known all too well this past year.
“Pa?” Little Jack gasps in excitement. “Momma! Pa’s back! Pa’s back!” Jack says, pulling on Abigail’s dress. Directing her attention to the man shielding himself on the ground, preparing himself for another punch to the face.
Abigail stands there, stunned. Everyone thought he was either dead, or captured by the law by now. Abigail starts to shift, stomping her way towards the two men and getting between them.
John pulls his arm down, and is met with an angry gaze he didn’t miss. He tries standing up but in trying, gets a stern slap to the face. His bottom meeting the dirt again.
“John, what the hell is wrong with you? Leaving me and the boy? I thought you’s was dead!”
John goes to defend himself but catches a glimpse of the child in the corner of his eye, watching as this unfolds. His heart twinges at the sight. John goes to say something in return but gets choked up.
“A-Abigail, listen, just please let me explain.” he pleads.
Another pair of footsteps stomp towards the scene, followed with a clink of a spur. “Now what do we have here.. John? Is that really you?”
“Dutch? Please let me explain..“ he manages to get out before a hand is offered out to help him up. He takes his found father’s hand and lifts up with ease. Dutch throws his arm around him patting his back, dusting the dirt off of him. They walk quietly to Dutch’s tent, leaving Arthur and Abigail glancing at each other in confusion, but both ultimately coming to the conclusion that Dutch has it handled. Hopefully.
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Javier was attempting to tune his guitar once again after letting Jack play with it, feeling bad because he doesn't have any toys to play with. ‘But I'm not his father, I shouldn’t have to give up my stuff to let him play with, his dad should be here taking care of him. And Abigail..well I don’t think she wants anything to do with him now and I can't say I blame her.’ Javier is broken out of his thoughts, hearing a commotion towards the entrance of camp.
He sets his guitar down to walk over, when suddenly he hears a name, ‘John Marston’. His heart drops. He assumes he can’t be hearing things right so he pushes the thought down and continues to investigate. He sees Jack and he's watching the camp entrance as well, Javier stands behind him when suddenly he sees him, on the ground, pleading. Javier jumps, he couldn’t believe it. He was back? After all this time? Why?
Javier steps back, mind flooded with questions as he sees Dutch start walking towards the camp entrance alone with most of the other gang members following behind him, curious as to what's happening. Not Javier. He walks back over to grab his guitar and walks to his tent as calmly as he can, hoping no one can notice the boiling anger building inside him.
“Maldito sea, ese estúpido hijo de puta.” he mumbles under his breath.
Javier mumbles all kinds of profanities sitting down inside of his tent. He rubs his eyes and lets out a deep sigh. He quietly decides he'll take a nap. He wants to talk to John as little as possible, if ever.