Too late for apologies, [Duke].

[vee4]

She had finished her shift early, which came as a surprise, even to her. She had only come here on a hunch, after hearing countless whispers from travelers while she tried so hard to run from her past. Finally, she couldn't run anymore. She had to face the very man she had tried so hard to escape so she could raise her daughter, Rachel, in a safe environment where she wouldn't be surrounded by loose women and drunken men. Duke had been her first and her last. She had joined him when she felt like a lost cause and had nowhere else to go.

As the years passed and she regained her confidence, two things occurred. The first was she became stronger than she had ever imagined. Men quaked in her presence, and she took pride in that. She had insisted on just pouring drinks because she had some sense of pride, even though she was arguably a bottom feeder, so to speak. The second thing to occur was that she wound up knocked up by the very man that had given her some sense of purpose. From there, it had been a downward spiral. Afraid for her child, she faked her own death.

She stuck around long enough to watch her life literally go up in flames and as curious people began to drift toward the scene that had been unfolding before her very eyes like a bad dream, she made a break for it. She went from place to place but never stayed long. When she gave birth, it was to two children: a boy and a girl, whom she named Samuel and Rachel. Unfortunately, Sam had some health problems and died around the time he was a year old, leaving a grieving mother to care for her remaining child. As her daughter grew older, curiosity took hold of her. Why wasn't her father around? Each time, Sapphire tried to avoid the question and each time, she felt as if another piece of her fragile heart was being ripped from her chest.

The last time her daughter asked, she caved. Even though she didn't want to admit it, she wanted to become Duke's once more. She wanted to have that feeling of false security returned to her. Certainly, she could handle herself but the more time went on, the more she realized how heavily she had relied on the man. Her individuality had been stripped from her and though she could hit as hard as the next person, drink as much as any man, work as hard as an ox, and shower her daughter with all the affection and attention she would ever need, she was lacking that feeling of belonging that Duke had given her. She didn't have to hide from him and knew that she'd always have somebody to turn to when she could no longer shoulder the proverbial burden on her own. She had been watching the saloon and had caught the occasional glimpse of him, along with some brunette that wound up showing up, staying for a day or two, and leaving.

It made her curious and a pessimistic part of her didn't want to find out what it was about. She had a feeling she already knew. She had been replaced. It was only fair, wasn't it? She was 'dead,' after all. That was the sound logic that came from her brain yet her heart said something entirely different, leaving her bitter and in pain. She wanted to lie to Rachel and tell her that her father had already moved on from this town.

Could she have been that cruel to her own child, the only reminder she had of the time she had cherished with Duke? No, she could not, but she could continue to stall. At least, that was what she told herself until her daughter finally prodded the woman into action. Now, with Rachel balanced on her hip, she made her way toward the saloon. Maybe if the brunette truly intended to take Duke from her, she could show her a thing or two about fighting. The thought alone brought a smirk to her lips. Oh, how she would enjoy beating the pretty replacement to a bloodied pulp that was far from attractive.

She felt her daughter's arms wrap around her neck and closed her eyes, sighing softly as she chewed thoughtfully on her bottom lip. When she finally pushed her way into the saloon, she spotted Mogawan, a man she remembered easily from her time spent with Duke. He was a man that was hard to miss, considering his size. She wanted to wave or give some indication that she was there but there was no need. She watched as he sauntered toward her, trying to mask some look of dumbfounded disbelief. "Hey to you, too." She chirped, trying to sound somewhat chipper.

He shook his head and gritted his teeth. "You were supposed to be dead." He growled, clearly not seeming pleased. "Yeah, I'll explain later. Where's Duke?" She queried abruptly, getting straight to the point. He eyed her warily, puffing on his cigar.

She couldn't blame him. She had just risen from the dead with a little girl on her hip. "Busy." He said finally, crossing his arms over his chest. She rolled her eyes. "Bull!" She snapped, brushing past him.

He made a move to grab her, but she ducked out of his reach and marched to Duke's office, slamming the door in the bodyguard's face. "Daddy?" Rachel queried sleepily, rubbing her eyes as she finally roused from her nap. After a moment of silence, she shifted the girl to get a better hold on her. She didn't know where to begin so she went for the best option she had. "Surprise, Duke, miss me?" She queried innocently, the fiery light lurking within her pale gaze as windblown wisps of blonde hair framed her tanned face.

[Duke]

Looking over paperwork with his bookkeeper, Mr. Fitshugh, he was upset with the little wimpy looking man with a high pitched voice.

"Then you tell me where the thousand dollars has gone," he barked at him. "The only way it could have left is in the pockets of some of the employees or the girls. I'll have Magowan ransack every room looking for any hidden cash, if that's what it takes."

His office door opened and Duke looked up at a ghost. Not just any ghost. A ghost with a little girl on her hip.

"Surprise, Duke, miss me?"

Duke sat there, his mouth open in shock. He looked but his mind wasn't registering what his eyes were seeing.

"Fire?" he questioned, his face going white as his forehead furrowed.

Fitshugh seemed grateful for the interruption, having faced the wrath of his employer in the past. "If you will excuse me, I have business elsewhere," he said as he gathered the paperwork and hastily shoved into a briefcase and bolted from the room. He had no idea who the woman and child were and the less he knew the better he liked it. Before leaving the Blackbird he bought a shot of strong whiskey, gulped it down and quickly left, hurrying down the boardwalk back to his office.

It was as though time had stood still in Duke's office. Duke could have sworn his heart had stopped and he had somehow been transported to some sort of bizarre world where up was down, in was out and dead was alive.

"Daddy?" the little girl had spoke. Sleepy eyed she looked at him as her head laid on her mother's shoulder.

Just as quickly as he had been in shock he now began to get angry. he had this sort of thing happen to him before. Some woman with a kid claiming to be his would show up and demand money.

"MAGOWAN!" he shouted for his bodyguard and stood up. Moving towards the woman he planned on having her thrown out into the streets like an urchin. Reaching out to grab her arm and push her out of his office he looked into her eyes and stopped, his eyes wide. And then he looked at the little girl and saw the same eyes.

The door flew open and there stood a mountain called Magowan. "Sorry, boss, I tried to stop her when she came in. I'll throw her out, now."

"No," he raised his palm at the bodyguard. "It's alright. Never mind." Magowan grumbled but left.

"Fire? I thought you were dead," he voice was soft now. "What happened? Where have you been? Is this my ...," he didn't know what to say. "Is she mine?"

[vee4]

When he grabbed hold of her, not only did she flinch and freeze up, but Rachel suddenly let out a battle cry and bopped him as hard as she possibly could with her small, balled fist. "Don't you hurt my mommy, you bully!" Feeling mortified, she shooed her daughter's hand away and gave her a glare that could cut any man down to size in a quick minute. "Rachel, enough." She warned in a low tone, meeting his gaze finally. "Yes, she is why I left." She hedged, attempting to wriggle free of his tight grasp.

It was about the only time she could recall that he had ever physically hurt her. "Her name is Rachel, and I didn't want her to grow up around..." There was a pause as she gestured around them. "This. I wanted her to know she had more, that she could amount to more than I ever did." The words were spilling faster than she could think to stop them. As she spoke, Rachel adjusted herself to peer warily at the man while her head tucked against her mother's chest.

She took the silence to collect herself. "She's four. There was a boy, but he..." Just as it always did, a lump formed in her throat and tears trickled down her tanned face. "died in 1867, one year after they were born. His name was Samuel, and he caught the flu." She explained quietly, averting her gaze to look at anything but Duke.

She felt so much shame and so much guilt. Why couldn't it have been her? She had lived a longer life, granted it had been anything but happy, save for the forbidden moments she had shared with Duke. "I missed two of my...cycles and when I started to get sick, I just knew. Before the third one was scheduled to hit, I made a run for it." There was a brief pause as her daughter started to play with the collar of her mother's dress. The girl hated to see her mother upset and the small gestures were meant to try and make her feel better.

Sniffling, she found herself trying to regain her composure once more. "Look, I don't want your money. I got a job at the inn. All I want from you is for you to be there for Rachel." There was another pause as she set the girl down, who immediately clung to the ends of Sapphire's dress, which was somewhat tattered from constant use. "I can't begrudge her the chance to know you." Every fiber in her being screamed at her to run before she became ensnared back within his web, but it was too late.

His web was one she couldn't ever escape. "After I left, I took an oath of celibacy. One of the commitments I made was not to commit adultery." A weak smile graced her lips as she glanced down at her daughter, running her fingers through the girl's curly, golden-brown mane. It was almost an even mixture between her hair and Duke's, but the eyes were definitely Sapphire's. "Rachel kept asking me to bring her to you and the last time, I caved so here I am." Like her own want to see Duke again wouldn't have won out eventually.

[Duke]

When he grabbed hold of her, not only did she flinch and freeze up, but Rachel suddenly let out a battle cry and bopped him as hard as she possibly could with her small, balled fist. "Don't you hurt my mommy, you bully!"

Duke was caught off guard when the girl bopped him on the head. "Hey now," he backed off putting his hand to his head. "You'd make a good replacement for Magowan," he grinned at her.

"Her name is Rachel, and I didn't want her to grow up around... This. I wanted her to know she had more, that she could amount to more than I ever did."

"Rachel?" he frowned at Fire. "You named her after my mother?" he looked at her for a moment but then grinned. As far as he was concerned his mother was a saint. "It's nice to finally be able to meet you, Rachel," he looked at the child.

"She's four. There was a boy, but he...died in 1867, one year after they were born. His name was Samuel, and he caught the flu."

"Twins? I had a son?" he sighed sadly and looked down, not knowing what to say. "Samuel. Good name."

I missed two of my...cycles and when I started to get sick, I just knew. Before the third one was scheduled to hit, I made a run for it. Look, I don't want your money. I got a job at the inn. All I want from you is for you to be there for Rachel. Rachel kept asking me to bring her to you and the last time, I caved so here I am."

He listened her to explaining her life and her reasons why but it left an empty place in the middle of his chest and filled him with so many questions.

"After I left, I took an oath of celibacy. One of the commitments I made was not to commit adultery."

He looked at her. His bride had remained faithful to him even after all these years and he never was faithful.
"You both need a bath and a good meal. Stay here for the night. I promise no one will bother you."

[vee4]

Her jaw worked slowly as she tried to figure out what to do. Normally, it would have been an easy decision: leave. Still, it would be a nice change to not sleep in the same place she worked. She also didn't want her daughter sleeping around loose women and drunken men. It was bad enough she had brought her in this establishment to begin with. "Actually, I have to get back to the inn, my shift starts soon." She lied easily, something she had picked up from being around Duke for so long, and it was something she hadn't ever unlearned.

Rachel's nose scrunched as she peered up at her mother, confusion sparking in her soft gaze before she looked toward her father and tilted her head. "Mommy, you just finished." She protested softly, not wanting to go back to that depressing room. Sapphire sighed and took a small step away, chewing on the inside of her cheek. While she tried to think, Rachel used the opportunity to use her father as a jungle gym, attempting to clamber up into his arms. It would have been comical, had Sapphire been in the proper state of mind. Even though she was strong in her own right, it was a little more than obvious that she was at her breaking point.

Finally, she seemed to consent for the second time in the span of a few weeks. "Okay." She said finally, nodding slightly. She was silent a moment, looking down. "Let me just get our things." She murmured, scurrying away so that Rachel would, at least, have something to wear after her bath. Now that the girl was alone with her father, she decided to talk to him.

Despite her age, she was a smart cookie, perhaps too smart. "Mommy always acts that way. Uncle Tommy said it was 'cause after Sammy passed, she went mad, but I didn't believe him. Not for a second!" She sank onto her bottom and crossed her arms over her chest as she glowered up defiantly up at him. "It's your fault, ain't it?" She paused and thought for a moment, prodding experimentally at his ankle.

Children were to be seen and not heard? Ha ha, yeah right, try telling Rachel that. "Mommy acted all mopey in the inn and kept callin' you a good-fer-nothin' dog whenever she saw that lady with the brown hair then she started cryin' and then..." She paused and thought for a moment. "She told me stories of how you met an' how she wanted it to work but she got scared when the stork came. When I asked about who my daddy was, she'd get this sad look an' say he was a good man but misguided an' couldn't tell love from lust." She didn't understand the words, but she did a good job of parroting her mother, granted she stumbled over herself more than once, trying to pronounce some of the larger words.

Rubbing her eyes, she yawned softly and crossed her legs, blinking up at him. "She said she was gonna put that lady with the brown hair in 'er place an' make her wish she'd never laid with you but then, she started cryin' again and told me to never wind up like her, pinin' for somebody that didn't give a hoot 'bout her." She began to play with the ends of her dress, humming softly as she looked around curiously. She didn't know what was beyond these walls, as she was napping when her mother stormed past the bodyguard and into Duke's office. "When Uncle Tommy died, mommy finally agreed to come here but with the look in her eye, people said it wouldn't be long 'fore she stopped making excuses and went to embrace what she really wanted." She explained, shrugging lightly. She hardly understood a majority of what she had just said, but she thought it was only just for him to know because after all, she had seen the way he looked at her mother and the way he had sounded when he spoke to her, almost like he was feeling that pain deep within his very soul and in a way, it almost made little Rachel sad, which was indicated by the subtle way she tried and failed to brush away her tears like she had seen her mother do countless times before.

[Duke]

"Actually, I have to get back to the inn, my shift starts soon." - "Mommy, you just finished."

Duke grinned as he held his daughter, "Good, then it's settled. I'll put you both up in my room. It's the nicest room in the whole place," he tickled Rachel.

"Let me just get our things."

"We'll be right here in the office. If you need help take Magowan with you," he told Fire.

"Mommy always acts that way. Uncle Tommy said it was 'cause after Sammy passed, she went mad, but I didn't believe him. Not for a second! It's your fault, ain't it?"

"Is that what Mommy told you," he squatted down and asked her.

"She told me stories of how you met an' how she wanted it to work but she got scared when the stork came. When I asked about who my daddy was, she'd get this sad look an' say he was a good man but misguided an' couldn't tell love from lust. Mommy acted all mopey in the inn and kept callin' you a good-fer-nothin' dog whenever she saw that lady with the brown hair then she started cryin' and then..

He realized that Fire had seen Angie from outside the saloon. Angie. This was the first time he'd thought about her since Fire walked back into his life. What was he going to do about Angela.

"She said she was gonna put that lady with the brown hair in 'er place an' make her wish she'd never laid with you but then, she started cryin' again and told me to never wind up like her, pinin' for somebody that didn't give a hoot 'bout her."

"Your Mommy thinks I don;t give a hoot about her?" he asked looking at the girl in shock. "Dammit! She's the one that ran off and pretended like she was dead. How was I suppose ...?" he stopped in mid-sentence seeing the child's reaction.

... she had seen the way he looked at her mother and the way he had sounded when he spoke to her, almost like he was feeling that pain deep within his very soul and in a way, it almost made little Rachel sad, which was indicated by the subtle way she tried and failed to brush away her tears like she had seen her mother do countless times before.

Sitting now on the floor he opened his arms to her. "Come here, Rachel, let me hug my little girl," he gave her a soft grin.

Looking at him for a moment she had never been hugged by her Daddy. He was not like she thought he would be but he was tall and looked strong and smelled nice. Daddy," called him and jumped into his arms and cried. Duke lovingly embraced his daughter. "It's alright, my precious girl. Daddy here now."

[vee4]

Sapphire had some liquid courage at the inn, courtesy of one of her coworkers before returning to the saloon. When she returned, she saw a sight that made her insides knot. Her husband and her daughter were bonding. She debated on walking out and giving them their privacy but wound up clearing her throat to announce her arrival instead. Rachel wriggled free from Duke's arms, giggling as she ran up to her mother. "Mommy!" She cried, burying her face into the woman's dress as she clung tightly to the aging fabric.

Chewing on her lip, Sapphire did the only thing that made sense. She lifted her tired child into her arms and held her close, not sure what else to do. She wanted things to go back to the way they had been before but knew they couldn't and probably wouldn't. Rubbing her daughter's back, she closed her eyes and just held the girl as she began to doze off. She supposed the bath would have to wait. It didn't take long for the girl to get tired out during exciting events. It also didn't take much for her to fall asleep, which Sapphire was oddly grateful for.

It made her job as a parent less stressful. After laying the girl down and tucking her in, she returned to Duke and leaned against the wall, not sure what to say. She knew sorry was a far cry from covering what she had done. "I thought I was doing the right thing and after I was gone, I realized it wasn't the right thing..not by a long shot, but I was too prideful to go crawling back to you...until recently." She chuckled weakly and pushed her blonde hair away from her face. "I see you've done well for yourself...again." She teased, her pale gaze sparkling faintly with mirth.

[Duke]

"I thought I was doing the right thing and after I was gone, I realized it wasn't the right thing..not by a long shot, but I was too prideful to go crawling back to you...until recently." She chuckled weakly and pushed her blonde hair away from her face. "I see you've done well for yourself...again." She teased, her pale gaze sparkling faintly with mirth.

He could tell she was tired from a days work and gave her an understanding grin.

"It's alright," he tenderly tucked one of her blonde tendril behind her ear. "Come here," he took her by the hand, "no monkey business, I swear. Just sit on the edge of the bed and let me rub your shoulders. It'll help you to relax. After a short nap you can have that bath I promised you."

[vee4]

She opened her mouth to protest but then snapped it closed. After attempting to lean into his touch, his offer sounded like music to her ears. Against her better judgment, she perched on the edge of the bed and sighed heavily. "So, how is life for you here, Duke? Is it better than it was in Chicago?" She queried softly, wanting to know how he had been since she had, for all intents and purposes, dropped off of the face of the earth. It wasn't his fault she oftentimes got as scared as a fainthearted rabbit, although when it came to confrontations that weren't emotional, she wound up knocking a few heads together.

It was natural to be concerned about him, wasn't it? Just because she had left, it didn't mean she didn't care about him. Truth be told, back in Chicago, he was the only person in her life that actually gave a damn about her. She hadn't been afraid of the environment that her child would grow up in but rather, she had been afraid of the way Duke would react to the news that he was going to be a father. She figured it'd be best to leave him before he had the chance to leave her. At the time, it had sounded logical but now, all she felt was foolish. She had ruined one of the best things in her life and for what?

[Duke]

"So, how is life for you here, Duke? Is it better than it was in Chicago?"

"Much better," he answered her as he rubbed her shoulders. Her muscles were so tight but he knew how to rub them out. "The gambler's circuit that comes out of New York has added my place to their list of approved places to follow. Now many of the high rollers come here and put down big money to play poker. Even have the famous Doc Holliday on my payroll, so to speak. People come from all over to try to best him. He's good for business."

[vee4]

As he began to rub her shoulders, a quiet whimper rose in her throat. Why did he have to have such a good touch? Sighing, she rolled her shoulders and rested against him, tucking her head against his shoulder. "It almost feels normal..." She whispered, trying to will herself not to break down right in front of him. "I can't believe how much I missed you." She admitted, chuckling for a moment as she idly traced the impression left by the ring that she hadn't removed since the day they had been married.

Peeking up at him, she bit her lip lightly. "What happens when the circuit moves on, or do they just migrate from place to place and revisit each location?" She queried, wanting to know more about it. She had always been an inquisitive thing, especially when it came to the way she ran his business. She was able to strike up easy conversations with the men when she poured them their drinks, and she wound up taking whatever information she gathered back to Duke. Men had loose lips when they were drunk, especially when around a pretty woman. A quiet sigh left her lips as she began once again reflecting over the past few years.

[Duke]

"It almost feels normal... I can't believe how much I missed you."

"I missed you, too," he answered her. 'You don't know how much,' he thought as he continued massaging her shoulder but as she laid against him he wrapped his arms around her enjoying the feel of her next to him.

"What happens when the circuit moves on, or do they just migrate from place to place and revisit each location?"

"It all has to do with where the money is," he explained. "You sure are pretty," he told her as she looked up at him and placed a small kiss on her nose.

"A high roller is a gambler who has made his fortune at the games and will wander from place to place plying his trade at what is called a high stakes game. For them betting a thousand dollars is nothing. They win and loose thousands every game, but they also spend thousands around town on lodging, food, women you name it, and then they move on to the next place. From here they head to San Antonio and from there they can go to either Santa Fe or Denver or on westward. Every so often a new place, like the Blackbird, will open up and become part of the circuit. I consider it an honor that my place is part of the circuit. "

[vee4]

The way she felt around him was indescribable. He was the half that made her whole and a pessimistic part of her told her two things. One, the emotions only ran so strongly because they had a child together and two, he lied as part of his profession. Still, she couldn't help but reach out and cup his face gently between her quivering palms. What was she doing? "You're mighty handsome, yourself." She murmured, her voice having the slight drawl she had picked up over the years, more specifically the years she hadn't been around him.

Before she could stop herself, her lips found his. It felt just like old times, the way the fire slowly built like a rising crescendo whose finale would be grand, indeed! Initially, she had come here with the intentions of demanding a divorce and staying just close enough to allow him visitation rights. In the end, she decided against it. She didn't have the resources nor the heart to do it. "For...for Rachel's sake, let's pretend everything is fine and dandy 'cause I don't want her stressin'." She whispered, a single tear traveling its way down her suntanned cheek.

[Duke]

"For...for Rachel's sake, let's pretend everything is fine and dandy 'cause I don't want her stressin'."

"Alright," he told her, kissing her neck. "I like that very much. I have my family back," his hands roamed her body as his mouth found hers and he laid her back onto the bed. "Oh, my beautiful Fire. My beautiful wife."

He laid down with her and, in no time, he was making love to her. She was as precious as she had always been and he took his time pleasuring her.

[vee4]

When they had finally finished, she reached up to brush her lips along his. Before long, her arms had wrapped around his neck, and she was attempting to catch her breath. "I'm grateful we have such an inquisitive, stubborn daughter." She mused aloud, her pale gaze searching his darker one. She could feel her heart thundering in her chest and her insides melting as she breathed in that familiar smell of his. It was good to know that in five years, he hadn't really changed much, if at all. It certainly did give her something to come back to, she had to admit.

She nipped playfully at his bottom lip and managed to roll the two of them over so she was on top. "Surely, you don't have to babysit your little wenches tonight." She teased, running her fingertips along his chest. "Magowan might not be the brightest, but he knows what to do to keep things running smoothly." Leaning down, she rested her cheek briefly against his. "I think we have a spell to make up for, don't we?" Her eyes twinkled faintly as she dragged herself to a position where she was straddling his lap.