Playing Dangerous ? ||RDR2 // Arthur Morgan X Reader||

epilogue; part one

Looking to your right, you smiled at the man giving you away – dear Hosea. He had always been such a father figure to you, and the pride on his face in that moment as he took up that makeshift aisle was something that filled your heart fit to burst.

Waiting beside Arthur in the shelter of the wood structure was John, who looked as if he was beaming with pride to have been selected to play the part of Best Man. John and Arthur hadn't always got along, but their recent friendship was something you loved to see.

You watched as John gazed over at Arthur with a pure smile that seemed to read just look at how beautiful she is as you glided like a swan across a crystal lake towards the structure. Arthur's face alone as he looked at you was an image you wanted to treasure forever in your memories, and he looked so irresistibly smart in his black suit which clung to him perfectly – a far cry from his usual attire.

"(name), you look.... Well, you are –" Arthur fumbled, tumbling over his words whilst he tried to find something to fit how he felt in that very moment about how you looked. "There ain't no word worthy enough for how you look." He eventually settled as he took your hands tightly, guiding you up those steps.

Blissfully aware of the loving audience of eyes on the pair of you – the ceremony began. It was very much tailored to the pair of you, aptly decided by Dutch who saw fit that he lead the ceremony in marrying the pair of you. Arthur had been with Dutch longer than most others in the gang, and therefore he had always taken upon Arthur like a son. In that sense, Dutch felt it was only proper to be the one to tie things between yourself and Arthur.

It was not exactly the situation you had imaged yourself to be in as a little girl; you had always imagined marrying some rich Englishman maybe in a quaint village church but instead here you were in a gang of outlaws, tying yourself in with a gunslinger. You would not have it any other way.

'I Do'

The pair of you had uttered in turn, the most loving of looks exchanged along with those wedding rings. You had taken great care and savour in sliding that ring onto your now husband's finger, relishing the sense of completion you felt upon doing it. Your heart was only melting further once he too, put that ring on your finger, below the pretty green engagement ring he had proposed to you with all those months ago.

"I pronounce you man and wife," Dutch declared with all the gusto of a deep south pastor, "You may kiss the bride!"

The pair of you wasted no time in acting on those words, the uproar of joy prevalent from the others in your ears as you met lips with your now husband. The thought of being his at long last, officially – after all you had been through – felt beyond perfect. You weren't actually sure when – or if – this feeling would end. It seemed for months all you had been doing is waking up and pinching yourself in disbelief that for once – reality wasn't so cruel.

That night the festivities continued, as usual the gang threw one of their best parties – with lots of alcohol, singing and dancing. You had drank yourself silly and danced with pretty much anyone you could drag up to the floor, even the likes of reserved Kieran who seemed bashful by the way the alcohol seemed to bring out the brash version of yourself.

"You're crazy when you touch that alcohol, you know-" Arthur had said to you, pulling you aside from your current course of loud wailing that was a sad pass attempt at singing. You sniggered drunkenly as he pulled your back against his chest.

"Your loss cowboy, cause you're stuck with me now." You reminded him, your girlish giggling filling the air as you suddenly felt his warm kisses on your neck.

"I know I am, and it's the best feelin' ever." He remarked back in turn, arms held fast around your waist as the pair of you just watched the smiles and laughter of the gang for a moment.

"It's going to be alright from now on, isn't it?" you suddenly asked with a soft slur to your voice, gazing back over your shoulder at Arthur who smiled down at you with loving reassurance reflected in his eyes.

"Course it is. Couple more days, and we'll be up in California – setting up our farm." He started, sounding hopeful in his voice. It was the first time in a long time Arthur didn't sound sceptical about something Dutch had planned.

You smiled at the image of it all – a new space, new home and somewhere to start really settling down. You could not wait.

"I reckon Mr and Mrs Morgan will be the best ranchers." You stated, sounding coy in your tones. Arthur's laughter rung sweetly in your ear, as his arms squeezed around you softly, guiding you both back towards the life around the campfire.

"We sure will." He uttered, nothing but positive relief raining from his softly elated tones.

This was more than a fairy tale ending for a man who was convinced he had no chance for a happily ever after.