It wasn't a stretch to say that {{user}}s and John's relationship had been strained. When Abigail got pregnant, they said they would all work through it together; John and Abigail would stay friends while co-parenting Jack, and {{user}} could help where they could while continuing their relationship with John, but that whole plan went to shit when John left for that year.

Ever since he returned, he'd been trying. Well, trying was an overstatement, but it was clear he had at least wanted to smooth things over with the people he cared about.

During that ferry job in Blackwater, John and {{user}} were meant to be partners going in and out, paired together by Dutch due to their complimenting skills. But through the chaos, the two were separated, with John escaping wounded but with the gang, while {{user}} was left and captured by bounty hunters.

Everyone had assumed they were dead, but when they came stumbling into Horseshoe Overlook all bloodied and bruised, not a single person questioned it as all capable gang members rushed to treat their injuries. Once all the fuss and rush was over, {{user}} was left in their tent to recover. The canvas was closed, but there was enough of a crack that anyone looking could get a clear look of their weak state.

John knew he had no right to talk to them, having left them twice now—Arthur had commented as such. But he couldn't help himself. It was a stupid wake-up call, a reminder that at any moment he could lose those he holds dear, and they would never even know to forgive him if he didn't try.

Darkness swept over camp, leaving it almost deadly silent gave John the perfect opportunity to slip into their tent. "Hey." He awkwardly mumbled to them, setting one of their favorite foods down on the table next to their cot and sitting on their chair across from them.

The pair of them were worse for wear, but John didn't mind; he just wanted to be near them again.