#this is sort of a spiritual sibling to my Adrift fic

[imladris-soldier]

Many Happy Returns

Fem!Reader and Dutch reunite in Lakay

In this house, we support gang happiness for at least one night before the Pinkertons show up. So, slightly timeline deviant.

Dutch x Reader

Micah showed up first. Said he'd found the letter left at the post office. Abigail and Sadie asked what happened. He gave a brief summary of his time on Guarma with Arthur, Javier, Bill, and Dutch. Then said they'd split up. Hadn't seen them in a couple days. Didn't know where they were or if they had found any of the other notes left.

Your heart sank slightly at that. Sure, Dutch was alive when Micah last saw him, but that was days ago. He could've been captured by now, or even dead if he'd run afoul of the wrong people. You pulled away from the circle to go sit on your bedroll.

It was Tilly who noticed your withdrawal, and she quietly came to sit with you. “Don't you worry none, Y/N. He'll be back,” she murmured, taking your hand.

You pursed your lips into a grateful half smile. “You're probably right. But it don't make me miss him less.”

The other woman smiled, squeezing your hand.

A few days later, Arthur showed up. A cheer went up all around. “Arthur's back!!”

He made his rounds saying hello, and when he got to you he paused. “What's that look for? Y'ain't glad to see me?”

“It's not that, Arthur,” you replied, laughing softly.

He smiled. “I know. I ain't Dutch.”

“Nah, you ain't, but I am glad you're back.” You raised to your toes to wrap your arms around his shoulders. “It's not the same without you around.”

“Well, I'm back now. And don't worry yourself. He'll find us.”

“I know.”

Javier showed up the next day. He hadn't seen Dutch or Bill since they split, but he had dodged some Pinkertons outside Rhodes.

You couldn't help it. The thought of Pinkertons caused something to get stuck in your throat. Arthur pat your shoulder with reassuring conviction. It really was good to have him back around.

Two nights later, the rain was just pouring down onto the tiny settlement the gang had confiscated. What was already mud became puddles that squelched if you looked at them wrong. It was miserable, and you felt every bit of it.

You were huddled on your bedroll, absently eating your share of a can of beans, when the door rattled open. For a second, all that came through the door was the darkness and rain from outside, but then Dutch van der Linde walked through it, looking like a drowned rat. And you had never seen something so wonderful in your entire life.

“He's back!” Sadie cried.

The whole cabin erupted into happy calls, whoops, and questions. And you just... stood there. You'd been waiting and waiting and waiting for this moment, and all you could do was stand there, staring at him. How else were you supposed to react to the level of joy in your chest? It felt like your lungs might burst.

Your heart almost followed suit when Dutch's eyes did a quick survey, missing you in the dark corner. “Where's Y/N?”

Everyone got quiet, then turned to look at you. You suddenly realized that every single eye was on you now, so you stepped up into the light, wringing your hands in your jacket. “Hi, Dutch.”

His overgrown mustache twitched as he held back a smile. “I disappear for weeks, and all I get upon my return is a hi?”

That did it.

You let out a laugh that was just a little too much of everything – a little too loud, too happy, too relieved, too reflective of the pain you'd felt in his absence. That laugh propelled you forwards and into his waiting arms. The cheers started up again, and you felt every bit of ice that had taken hold of you since Saint Denis melt away.

Dutch was damp and frankly smelled terrible, but his hold on you was so familiar, so safe, so warm that it was easy to forget. He was home now, and everything felt right again.

In a moment of privacy caused by the noise of everyone talking around you, Dutch leaned back to catch your eye. “I missed you,” he murmured. “So very much.”

“I knew you'd come back to me. Eventually.”

He laughed softly out of his nose. “You know me so well.”

“I do, don't I?”

He leaned in to press a kiss to your lips, smiling when you melted into him.

“WELL, HERE YOU IS!”

You jerked back from Dutch in fright and the room fell silent again as Bill Williamson slammed through the door. “I asked everyone I could find,” he chastised. “And eventually someone knew. Said you fools was out here! Someone get me a drink!”

“Get your own damn drink!” Sadie snapped back.

The tension in the room was palpable, and you instinctively drew closer to Dutch. Everyone waited to see what Bill would do.

He finally grumbled, “Yeah, alright.”

And just like that, you were laughing again. Everyone was. Dutch squeezed you closer, nuzzling against the side of your head. You wrapped your arms around his waist, linking your hands together. Someone would have to pry you away from him. And good luck to them.

The night was passed in merriment. What food and drink was available was passed around while everyone updated Dutch and Bill on what had happened since they'd been gone. Dutch listened thoughtfully as Abigail explained John's situation. “We will get him back, Abigail,” he assured her. “I promise you.”

He seemed impressed with Sadie and her leadership qualities, even going so far as to toast her accomplishments.

You sat, mostly just staring at him, watching him take in the information. He had ridden into many a dangerous situation since you'd first met, but he had always come back in a timely manner before. And none of them had ever gone quiet so badly as Saint Denis.

Well. Except maybe Blackwater.

In any case, the prospect of losing him had felt more real than ever before, and you were faced with the question of what you would do without him. The answers had all been dismal.

When the gang broke for bed, you led Dutch back to your corner. He kicked off his boots, climbed into your bedroll and sighed heavily. You scooted in next to him, happily accepting his silent invitation to lay your head on his chest.

His heartbeat was strong under your ear, and you listened to it for a long while. His fingers dragged up and down your back for a time before coming to rest in your hair. As the sounds of sleep began to take over the room, you whispered, “I was real scared, Dutch. Thought I'd lost you for good this time.”

He sighed. “I know.”

It wasn't exactly an apology, but it felt like one.

“I love you.”

His hold on you tightened, and you heard the smile in his voice. “I know.”

#my writing #red dead redemption #red dead redemption 2 #dutch van der linde #dutch van der linde x reader #arthur morgan #bill williamson #sadie adler #micah bell #javier escuella #this is sort of a spiritual sibling to my Adrift fic #rdr2 spoilers