Polly chuckled to herself, as she listened to a rather defeated appearing John; the older woman replacing the cup of tea in her nephew's hand, with a glass of scotch.

She had heard what had happened the other night, at the Garisson. How (Y/n) had threatened to shoot John. Not that she was about to blame the younger woman for her actions. John was a blind fool and from what Polly knew, he deserved what he got. It had been the way that Polly, and (Y/n)'s grandmother, Ivy, had raised (Y/n). They had taught her to be strong, to be tough, to not accept anything other than being treated with respect; and most importantly, to not let her abilities be judged because of her gender. (Y/n) growing to become a woman that Polly was more than proud of.

From the first moment (Y/n) and Polly had met; Pol had quickly come to see the little girl as a second chance to be a mother to a daughter. Polly never forgetting the daughter that had been taken from her by the parish; but she had come to think that the beautiful little girl, was perhaps a gift from God. Her grandmother was already advancing in years when (Y/n) was a little nipper, Ivy unable to do many of the things that were needed to properly care for a young child, so Polly had stepped into the breech, as she had done with her brother's children; the little girl soon becoming as much a part of the family, as any that bore the name, Shelby. And given that, the sister of Arthur Shelby senior, had never been blind to the feelings that she had seen grow in (Y/n) for John. She and Ada there with her, when she would cry at night; not sure whether John was alive or dead, during those awful years of war. It obvious, even to a blind man, that (Y/n) was in love with the boy. Polly sure that the only one that couldn't see it, was her nephew. But from what he had just said, it would appear that John was no longer blind to the feelings that he had for her.

"Well.............?" John asked, as he looked up at his aunt. Polly picking one of her clove cigarettes out of the box on the mantel, and lighting it, before taking a seat across from her nephew.

Apart from telling her about his and (Y/n)'s night out, and what had happened at the Garisson after; John had also mentioned that (Y/n) and Arthur were now together. Polly not understanding why John couldn't see that the pair must have made up the whole thing; it not that Arthur and (Y/n) didn't care for one another, Polly knew that Arthur did indeed think that the younger woman was beautiful. But she also knew that her oldest nephew would only ever be like a big brother to (Y/n). That he and Tommy had treated her as though she was their second sister, for almost as long as the family had known her. That, and Arthur was not the right one for (Y/n). Polly knowing that the only one perfectly suited for the younger woman was John; and if her nephew could keep it in his pants for more than five minutes, then perhaps, sometime in the future, her little girl might finally get to bear the name, Shelby.

"Well............" Polly replied, as she picked up her own glass and took a drink. Mulling over her nephew's words, and his promises that he did indeed love (Y/n) and regretted having ever hurt her.

"I will go and talk to her............" His aunt's words bringing a smile to John's lips. Sure that if anyone could fix the mess that he had caused, it would be his Aunt Pol.

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

"He did what............?" Arthur asked with some amusement, as (Y/n) took a seat across the dinner table from him.

She had apologised for leaving Charlie's yard, when she had finally caught up with Arthur; and then, she had gone on to tell him what had happened when she had tried to clear her head with a walk.

"He comes up behind me, grabs me, putting his hand over my mouth and pushes me into an alley. I had no idea it was Johnny. Next thing I knew.........he was kissing me........and well..........."

"Well, what............?"

"I punched him. Like I said, I had no idea it was John and I just remembered everything that you taught me, and I punched him." (Y/n) explained. Not sure whether to join in the merriment, as Arthur let out a hearty laugh. Sure, that he could imagine the look on John's face, as he lay prone on the street.

"Then I refused to help him up from the floor and told him that I didn't want anything to do with him; that we weren't friends, and he should go and find himself some other fool, to look after him." (Y/n) added, before dropping her head into her hands. Arthur getting up from his chair and making his way over to her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"He'll be right. Johnny has had worse." Arthur tried to assure. He and (Y/n) turning their heads to the door, as they heard a knock. Arthur quickly making his way to the front door, opening it to see his aunt. Polly and her nephew smiling at one another, before he let her in. (Y/n) getting to her feet as the older woman entered the kitchen; the tough walls that she had built up over the years suddenly collapsing, as Polly held open her arms, and (Y/n) rushed into them.