She looked out of the train window, as the town drew closer. She had never been here before, in fact, a part of her didn't know what she was doing here now; but when she had heard the name, she had felt the need to find out. She had felt the need to see if it was him.

"SMALL HEATH!" A voice called out. The conductor making his way down the corridor. Her heart beating a little quicker, as the train began to slow and she got to her feet, taking her bag from the parcel shelf above her. The station slowly appearing at the side of the train.

"SMALL HEATH!" Came the call again, as she opened the door to the carriage, and set her foot out onto the platform, finally being hit by the realisation that yes, she might be here, but where to find him.........now that was a different matter. The notion that she should really have thought about this more, before deciding to make the journey, becoming all the clearer, as she became aware that she didn't even have the slightest idea about where to start looking for the ex-sergeant. A heavy sigh leaving her lips, before she made her way to the station building.

"Miss.............." The man behind the counter said, as she made her way up to the small window.

"I........I was wondering if you had somewhere I could leave my luggage..........?" She enquired, the man nodding as he got to his feet and opened the door to the room.

"We have some lockers if ya like, or if ya not gonna be long, ya can leave it in the office..........." The old man told her, giving her a really rather sweet smile.

"I........I am not sure how long I will be. It all depends...........I don't........I don't suppose that you have heard of the Shelbys, have you..........particularly Tommy Shelby.............?" She replied. The smile on the man's face dropping a little.

"The Shelbys? Everyone knows the Shelbys, Miss. But what would you be wanting with them...............? If ya don't mind me sayin, those boys can be trouble.............."

"I.........my brother knew Thomas during the war, and I need to speak to him about something.............About their time serving together......."

"Well........if he isn't at the Garrison at the corner of Garrison Lane and Witton Street; then you'll probably find him at the bettin shop on Watery Lane." The station master told her. The older man watching as she bit onto her lip and seemed to think for a minute.

"I tell ya what..........why don't ya leave ya bag with me, it'll save ya a few pennies. Ya shouldn't be payin fa the locker if ya don't need it. You go and do what ya need to do, and it'll be waiting for ya when ya done. I'm an old soldier too, ya know, served in the Boer War. Did my bit in the last one as well. So, if its for a fellow soldier............" The man continued, before taking the bag from her hand and gesturing for her to follow him inside the office.

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

Small Heath...........it was......... grey. The rows of dark coloured terrace houses stretching out in front of her. All towns looked the same to her, be they cotton towns or mining town. Street after street of side by side houses, built by the wealthy in order to house the workers that spent their days toiling in the factories or pits. But no matter how dark it all looked; no matter how dreary, it was better than the place that she had first met Thomas Shelby. But there again, anywhere would be better than that living hell. Anywhere was better than the trenches.

Despite the time that had passed, she had never forgotten about the man. But Thomas Shelby was one of those kinds of people that you could never forget. He just had that kind of effect on you. And those eyes.......oh those eyes. Even though it had been a few years, she could still see them. She could still see the concern, the desperation that had been behind them, the last time that they had spoken in the dugout. When he had told her not to go over the top with the others. The resignation that had appeared within those striking orbs, as she had told him that she would not have her brother's name associated with cowardice. That, no matter what, she would be joining her friends, her comrades; that she would be doing her duty.

She had finally been able to locate Watery Lane, thanks to the directions she had been given by the station master. Her feet feeling as though they were sinking deep into mud, as she stood at the end of the street. What if he didn't remember her........what if he didn't recognise her? What if he didn't want to know her..........? Not sure what she would do if he were to turn her away. But she wouldn't know that unless she summoned up some fuckin courage and went to find him. Slowly making her way to the house that she had been informed was the Shelby's betting shop.

"Can I help you...........?" An older, dark haired woman asked, as she made her way into the building.

"I er........I hope so. I'm looking for Thomas Shelby.............."

"Oh yes.............." The woman continued, as she pulled out a dark cigarette, and lit it.

"Yes........I um.............I........served with him during the war............."

"You served.........?" The woman scoffed, as she got to her feet.

"Yes, I served under the name George (Y/l/n). My brother's name............."

"George...........you're George...........?"

"Yes. And I was just hoping to be able to speak to the Sarge.............." She continued. The woman making her way over to her and looking her up and down.

"We all thought that Tommy had made you up. That his angel of the trenches had been a figment of his imagination." The woman chuckled, before taking her arm and pulling her further into the building. Stopping as they got to a door, gesturing for her to wait, as she opened it.

"Tommy........."

"Pol........" She heard an all too familiar voice reply from inside the room. Her heart thumping violently against the inside of her chest.

"There's someone here that would like to see you. Say's they knew you in the war................" The woman continued, before moving out of the way and letting her enter. Her ears filling with the sound of the blood rushing through her veins, as she saw Tommy getting to his feet and stare at her.

"(Y/n)..............?"

"Hello, Sarge.............."