Arthur groaned as he turned over in the bed; pulling the pillow over his head, as the sun creeped through the curtains and bathed his face in a bright glow, which could only mean one thing.......that he was another year older. Another year fucking older, just what he needed. And if it wasn't bad enough that he wasn't getting any younger, it was that he was stuck in London with Tommy and John, having to deal with that smarmy bastard, Alfie Solomons; it was that his girl, the one person that he wouldn't mind spending today with, was over one hundred miles away, still in fucking Birmingham. He and his brothers not due to return home, until the end of the week. Arthur suddenly pulling the pillow off his head and throwing it at the curtains, then telling the sun to fuck off.

"Bout fuckin time ya woke up. Get outta bed, ya old bastard........." An amused voice came from the other side of the door. Arthur propping himself up on his elbows, as he heard his younger sibling. The oldest Shelby boy wondering how much trouble he would get in if he were to dangle John from the second storey window for his cheek.

"Come on. We got stuff ta do. Just cos its ya birthday.........." Johnny continued. It obvious to Arthur, that John was not going to forget about the day, and that he was going to rub in the fact that he was getting old, every chance he got.

"Yeah, I heard ya. I ain't fuckin deaf............" Arthur growled back, grabbing another pillow and throwing it at the door to his room. Rolling his eyes, as he heard John laugh.

Slowly, Arthur reached out for his pocket watch that sat on his bedside table; opening it so that he could see the small picture inside. His fingers brushing over the image of the woman that was waiting for him in Birmingham.

(Y/n). She was beautiful, and far too good for him. Fuck, even those people that claimed to love him, had all told him that she was far too good for him. She was younger than him by a number of years; nothing that would cause people to raise an eyebrow, but just enough so that his brothers could tease him about it. Though, to Arthur at least, she always seemed far more mature. She was an old head on young shoulders. A woman that was, as his aunt Pol had once put it, an old soul. A soul that kept him in check; that helped him not only control his excesses, but also his temper. The calm in the storm that had been his life, before she had rescued him. Arthur sure that if it was not for her, he would have killed himself in one way or another, a long time ago. To be found in a gutter somewhere, rotting. Yet now, with (Y/n) by his side, he had actually come to believe that he had a real future. That he had something to look forward to. The eldest son of Arthur senior bringing the watch up to his lips and carefully kissing the image that looked back at him.

"Arthur........." Another, softer voice came. Arthur closing the watch as he recognised it as Tommy.

"We need ta be goin soon, Arthur........." Tommy continued. The tone telling his brother that it was time for business. Arthur slowly getting to his feet before making his way over to the washbasin, emptying the water into it from the jug. The chilled liquid shocking away whatever sleep still fogged his mind, before he made his way over to get dressed.

                                                  >>-----------------------------------<<

Arthur looked around the club, letting out a heavy sigh, before he picked up his drink from the bar. Tommy and John had convinced him that going out to celebrate his birthday, would be better than him mopping around the hotel room all night. And though part of him agreed, another part of him just wanted to be back in his room, talking on the phone to (Y/n).

He had tried, on a number of occasions already, to call her, once they had finish doing what they had needed to get done. Yet each time he tried, there would be no answer. Arthur ending up phoning his aunt to make sure that everything was alright at home. Pol assuring him that all was well, and that (Y/n) had just gone out with Ada and the children for the day. Telling Arthur that she would get (Y/n) to call him when she got home; yet he had still heard nothing, before he, Tommy and John had made their way out for the night.

"Arthur........" Arthur nearly spilling his drink as John nudged his elbow.

"What.......?"

"Look over there. That one's been eyeing ya all evening........." His younger sibling continued, gesturing over to the back of a woman on the other side of the club. Arthur following John's finger, the older Shelby having to admit that the woman was shapely. That she would probably be beautiful when she turned around. But...........

"I ain't interested........." Arthur replied curtly, before turning back to the bar.

In the past, it would have been a different matter. In the past, if a woman had even looked sideways at him, he would have done all he could to charm himself into her knickers by the end of the night. And he had made charming himself into a woman's underwear, into quite an artform. But that was before (Y/n). Arthur sure that not even he could live with the guilt if he were to betray her like that.

"If ya sure........" John and Tommy smiling at one another, as the lady turned and made her way towards them.

"I told ya, I ain't interested. I got (Y/n) waiting fa me at home..........."

"Oh, I don't think (Y/n) would mind........." Tommy said, causing Arthur to furrow his brows, before he heard a familiar voice from behind him.

"Hello handsome. Fancy showing a girl a good time.........." Arthur turning to see (Y/n) smiling back at him. The older Shelby holding her tight, and she rushed into his arms.

"(Y/n), sweetheart. What..........?"

"Tommy said that I should come down for your birthday. He told me that you would be like a bear with a sore arse if I didn't......." (Y/n) chuckled, as she finally pulled away, and looked up at him; her fingers gently caressing his cheek.

"Right........" Arthur suddenly said, as he grabbed hold of her hand and began to pull her across the dance floor, towards the exit.

"Arthur what..........?" John called out.

"I'm goin ta get my birthday present from my girl. So don't fuckin come knocking on my door in the mornin, cos I'll be getting it again then, an ole........." Arthur called back, making even Tommy laugh. The oldest Shelby pulling (Y/n) to his side as they left the club, and he hailed a cab. And as they stood there in the cool evening air, his lips pressed to (Y/n)'s; Arthur had to admit that being another year older, wasn't all that bad, after all.