THE GROUP HAD SUCCESSFULLY MADE IT into a small village that Belle soon realised Chevez would be staying in. Many villagers ran up to the six regulators with excitement and happiness, to see a familiar face. 

Billy dragged Josiah into the bathing area so Billy could wash while Doc wrote a letter for him. Belle thought it was an odd request but it got two things done at once, so she couldn't argue with its efficiency. 

Belle and Steve were talking to each other by the donkeys. They discussed Steve's life before John rescued him, Belle's life in England, their futures after all this mess was over with - if they were lucky enough to have one. 

"You know, Stevie, I don't think I've ever been more terrified in my entire life than I am now for what lies ahead," Belle admitted, leaning her head back to rest against the brick wall behind her. 

"I know how you feel, Belle," Steve uttered. 

"We could die in a second, a few hours, or a few years. It's so exhausting to fear every single second of your life. Fearing you won't see the light of the next day," Belle continued, after taking a large swig from Steve's beer. "I'm afraid that I'm gonna die after everyone else. That's probably the worst thing. To be the last to die. You've watched every single person you love die and craving to be in that position, but too chicken enough to do it yourself and praying for someone to do the job for you instead. That's the worst thing."

Steve hesitantly nodded, concerned by his friend's words as he allowed her to continued. "I'm afraid of not marrying Doc before either of us dies. But I'm almost afraid to marry Doc if one of us dies the next day. I'm scared to feel incomplete and unsatisfied, really," Belle admitted after another gulp of alcohol. 

"Well, Belle, that was a hell of a lot to take in there. But if you're scared to fell incomplete, why not," Steve began before looking around. He leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Do the deed with Doc, if that's not too bold of me to say."

"You mean have sex with him? Before marriage?" Belle whispered. "What if I get pregnant? Then it'll be a race to get married because no-one wants a bastard baby. And what if he leaves me if I do get pregnant? Not only would no other man ever want me, but I would be crushed -" 

"It was only a suggestion, Miss Belle," Steve interrupted Belle's nonsense. "Plus, Doc would never leave you. He's been dreaming of being with you ever since I remember coming to the ranch. You ain't gotta be scared of losing Doc."

Belle smiled at Steve's words. But her thoughts still spiralled. If she were to sleep with Doc soon, her fears of feeling incomplete would be abolished, but her nagging thoughts from before still lingered. 

Before she could console in Steve any longer, Chevez strolled up to the two. "Hiya, chivato," Belle greeted with a gentle smile. Chevez smiled back, while Steve remained silent. Belle noticed and nudged him slightly.

"It's been damn good ridin' with ya, Chavez," Steve muttered, genuinely. 

"Many nights, my friend," Chevez began, seriously. "Many nights I've put a blade to your throat while you were sleeping. Glad I never killed you, Steve. You're alright," Chevez held his hand out to Steve, waiting for a handshake, which Steve hesitantly returned. 

Belle smiled at the scene but soon diverted her eyes to a happy looking Charley that was walking their way.

-------

Belle and Steve ran as fast as they could to the bathroom where Doc and Billy were. Steve pushed open the door, revealing a naked Billy in the tub and a laughing Doc on the chair beside him. 

"Charley's getting married!" Steve and Belle both declared with happiness.

Billy stood up out of shock, exposing all of himself. Belle gasped and covered her eyes immediately. Doc chuckled and shot up to escort Belle out of the bathroom. 

--------

After Charley's wedding with a young Mexican girl, Belle and Josiah sat away from the party. Doc was reading Belle some of his poetry as her head rested on his shoulder. 

"Doc?" Belle asked, raising her head gently, once Josiah finished his poem.

"Yes, doll?"

"I was talking to Steve earlier about life, and I discovered something. I discovered I'm afraid to be incomplete."

"What do you mean?" Doc asked, scanning Belle's face for answers. 

"I fear one of us will die before our wedding. I fear one of us will die the day after the wedding," Belle continued before lowering her voice. "I fear to die without being with you."

"You're already with me-"

"Not like that. As in, sleeping with you," Belle whispered, shyly. 

"Oh. Oh. I see," Doc flushed red and choked on his words a tad before regaining his composure. 

"I was hoping you would help me overcome this fear tonight, Doc," Belle continued, running her fingers through Josiah's blonde locks. 

"Really?" Doc seemed shocked by her request. "I mean, I'd love to, but do you honestly want this? Dirt Face didn't put this in your head or anything?"

 "Doc. If I die tomorrow knowing I didn't get to marry you or sleep with you, I will not die happy," Belle gently persuaded. 

"Are you positive?" Josiah asked once more. Belle nodded, confidently. That was all Josiah needed to see before he picked her up in a bridal manner, carrying her off into the small house that the villagers had lent to them for their visit. 

Once they were safely inside and in private, Josiah crashed his lips to Belle's, pinning her body up against the wall. A choked gasp escaped from Belle's lips but was swallowed by Doc's kisses. 

"Sorry about that," Doc rasped out against Belle's lips. "Got a bit excited there," he chuckled.

Belle giggled too, out of breath. "No, it's fine, I quite liked it actually."

Josiah grinned before roughly kissing Belle again. Josiah wrapped his arms around her waist as Belle linked her around his neck. The couple began to waddle backwards until Josiah's leg hit the edge of the bed, sending them both toppling over. Belle landed on Josiah's chest with a thud and a laugh. 

Josiah swiftly twisted their bodies around, until he was hovering over Belle. The blonde man carefully peppered small pecks down Belle's jaw, causing her to burst into a fit of giggles. Josiah raised his head from her neck, smirking down at his fiancé. "Are you a tad bit ticklish, sweetheart?"

"Shove off," Belle snorted as Josiah pressed another cluster of kisses on the side of the strawberry blonde's neck. Josiah breathed a laugh onto Belle's hot skin, sending a shiver down the girl's spine. 

Belle gazed dreamily as Josiah pulled his shirt over his head. While the cloth was covering his eyes, Belle sat up from beneath him and gingerly ran her hands across his chest. Josiah removed his shirt quickly at the feeling.

Belle ran her warm hands up to his shoulders and around the back of his neck, pulling him down for another passionate kiss. Belle felt Josiah toying with the hem of her blouse absentmindedly. Not removing her lips from his, Belle began to unbutton her shirt. Slipping it over of her shoulders, she revealed her white bra. 

"You're perfect, Belle," Josiah growled against Belle's skin. Josiah laid Belle back down on the mattress, letting his palms linger on the hot skin of her bare torso. "Everything I've ever wanted in life is laying right under me."

Josiah began to slowly unfasten Belle's trousers' buttons, pulling the thick brown fabric down her slender legs. Belle was left only in her underwear, and Josiah in only his trousers. "You're wearing too much," Belle half moaned, half giggled as she slid her hands down his chest, lingering her fingertips over the skin just above his belt buckle. The couple burst into another fit of giggles at Belle's whine, but Josiah obliged nonetheless. 

After a few extra moments of shuffling out of clothes and trying to find the comfiest position of the hard bed, the couple were both fully naked and both fully nervous. 

"We don't have to do this if you don't feel ready?" Josiah proposed once more. Belle glanced down at their bodies. she noticed how Josiah's hard member was merely inches away from her entrance. She slightly winced at the potential feeling of him being inside of her. She knew it would hurt. It was going to be a foreign feeling: something she had never experienced before, and something she could probably never feel if she didn't go through with this now. She did want this. She was just scared of the feeling. 

"Will it hurt?" Belle whispered after a moment of mental deliberation. 

"I won't lie, I've heard it might. But it soon goes, and it feels nicer after a moment or two," Josiah soothed, smoothing down the dishevelled hair on her head. 

Belle nodded, taking a deep breath. "Can I hold your hand as you do it, please?" 

"Of course, darling," Josiah linked his fingers between Belle's, holding it beside her head on the mattress. When Belle felt calm enough, she gave Doc the all-clear to go for it. 

Josiah slowly slid between her folds, her wetness causing the job to go smoother than expected. Belle's eyes scrunched closed and her entire body tensed at the sharp stretch that Josiah's erection caused on her entrance.

After a moment, the pain hadn't left, but Josiah was doing his best to keep his self-control and make sure Belle was comfortable.

"Move," Belle whimpered quietly. Josiah nodded, setting a slow pace so Belle could easily transition from the pain into the pleasure. Long nails dug into Josiah's shoulders as he steady pounded into Belle. Soon enough, Belle's gasps turned into moans. "Faster."

Josiah obeyed, increasing his thrusts. Belle choked on air as Doc buried his face in the crook of her neck, nibbling hungrily at her collarbone. 

"Jesus Christ, Belle," Belle melts at the feeling of Josiah's warm breath fanning against her ear. "You feel so amazing."

Belle can hardly speak, the euphoria that she's experiencing had rendered her speechless. Instead of verbal responding, Belle instead wraps her legs around Josiah's waist. The new angle caused Josiah to move even deeper inside of Belle, sending moans and groans to escape their mouths. 

A sudden knot begins to rapidly form in Belle's stomach, causing her walls to clench around Josiah. Belle's green eyes rolled back into her head and the spring in the stomach finally snapped as she released onto Josiah, him following shortly after.

The two laid there for a few moments, not daring to move or release the other from their touch. Soon enough, Belle began to chuckle. 

"What's so funny?" Doc asked, his brow furrowed, only causing Belle's laughter to grow louder and more uncontrolled. "What?" Doc persisted with a chuckle, sliding out of Belle, but still stayed hovering over her. 

"That was amazing," Belle grinned, her breath still jagged. "It's just such a weird situation, we, an unmarried couple,  just slept with each other on our friend's wedding night, who is still a virgin. That just struck me funny, is all!" Belle laughed again.

Josiah rolled off of her, landing beside her. He pulled her small frame into his side, running his fingers up and down her bare back. "Charley's not a virgin, remember he paid that prostitute a few days ago,"

"I don't think he slept with her though. I think he was just scared to not feel a woman's touch before he died," Belle proposed, glancing down at her blinged-up ring finger that rested on her partner's chest. 

"Ya think so?"

"Yeah, I reckon he probably had the intentions to have sex with her when he first went in, but most likely chickened out last minute," Belle shrugged gently, burying her face into Josiah's neck, growing more and more tired by the second. "Anyway, thank you, Josiah."

"Whatever for, doll?" Josiah smiled down at the strawberry-blonde girl nestled in his side.

"For helping me overcome my fears," Belle mumbled, her voice thickened by fatigue. 

But before sleep could finally take over Belle's mind, a gunshot blared through the air. The couple sat up at the sound, hearing a distant Billy yelling for the Regulator's to mount up.

With a sigh and a groan, Belle flopped back down onto the bed, covering her eyes with her hands in annoyance. Josiah huffed and began to get up and get dressed. 

"Doc," Belle groaned at the loss of the warmth. "Why don't we just stay here?"

"We can't do that, darling," Josiah sighed, turning back around to see Belle had not moved from her spot on the bed. "As much as I'd love to stay here with you, this whole situation with Billy will all be over soon, then we can finally settle down," Josiah buckled up his belt before sitting back down on the bed. 

"You promise?" Belle questioned, sticking out one of her pinky fingers.

Doc smiled at the sight, linking one of his pinky fingers around her own. "I promise."