#cometoceantrenches

But yes Declan and Kieran absolutely know each other! During Kieran’s time with the O’Driscoll’s him and Declan took comfort in one another’s company; they had both ended up in the gang against their wills, and neither of them were anything like the rest of Colm’s boys. They had a brotherly bond and confided in each other about everything. Kieran knew Declan’s past, Declan knew his, and they both acted as each other’s shoulders to lean on. So you can imagine that when Kieran vanished after being captured by the Van der Linde’s, it hit Declan rather hard. He had felt so alone for years, and it seemed like when he had finally found a friend, he was gone just as soon as he had arrived. After that, things were business as usual for Declan. Go out on a job, risk life and limb for his tormentors, and get smacked around again before going to bed hungry and sore. But things finally turned around for him during a botched coach robbery that left him wounded and the other O’Driscoll’s that had dragged him along dead in the dirt. With no other O’Driscoll’s around to stop him, Declan pocketed the cash from the coach’s lockbox and fled the scene. Declan shed his black duster and forest green scarf in favor of attire that didn’t mark him as one of Colm O’Driscoll’s men, and spent some time allowing his body to heal before he decided where he was heading now that he was free. When he felt he was up for the journey, he bought a ticket for a train headed west and kept going until he could find some honest work. His search finally came to an end when he found himself in a little town somewhere out in Central California. The owner of the general store was in need of a helping hand; an older man who was starting to feel his age, with no children of his own to help him run the business. Declan was employed to help do some of the more physically taxing jobs around the store. It was a place to start, and he figured it would help him build his own strength back up in the process. Declan had only worked in the store for a week when a wagon pulled up outside, and a familiar face stepped in through the door and stopped him in his tracks. “Declan?!” “Kieran?!” Needless to say, it was a tearful reunion. :’) The two captured each other in a hug, both of them in disbelief seeing each other alive and well. Declan considered the situation, calling upon a memory he had of him and Kieran exchanging life stories beside the campfire back when they were still with the O’Driscoll’s. “So, you finally made it to California after all, huh? I bet ‘yer Pa would be real proud of ya, Kieran.” (X)You know Kieran invited Declan back to the ranch that night for dinner to catch up, and imagine Declan’s surprise when he walks in and sees that Kieran’s got a wife!!! And a little baby girl!!! (Brayden hadn’t come along yet.)Ariadne absolutely adored Declan, and her and Kieran were more than happy to have Declan stay with them for however long he wanted to. But, it was pretty clear early on that his stay was more than likely going to become a permanent arrangement. He continued to work in the town’s general store but also pitched in with the work around the ranch, and the three of them worked together to build Declan his own little cabin on the property. And yes, he was more than happy to take on the role of Uncle Declan. <3