Silence. That had been the overriding theme since Tommy had come back to the farmhouse and picked (Y/n) up, the morning after they had had their conversation. The snow covered countryside of Cumbria rolling by, as the creaky car had made its way back to the nearest town and then to the train station; the pair on the last leg of their long journey back to Small Heath. It was obvious that the former school teacher was apprehensive about the whole thing, and Tommy couldn't blame her; but he was glad that she had agreed to come back with him. That she had agreed to speak with Arthur.

He couldn't help but look at (Y/n), as she sat across from him in the carriage. The time in the country had been good to her, she looked stronger, a ruddy glow kissing her cheeks. The light of the setting sun picking up the subtleties of her gentle features. Tommy had found himself a little jealous of his older brother when he had walked into the Garrison that night. She had looked quite stunning, the dress that she wore, complimenting her figure, completely. Any man that had ever seen the school teacher, would agree that she was a beauty. That she was charming and quite a lady, and the eighteen months that she had been away, had certainly not changed that. (Y/n) holding herself with pride, and her smile still oozing with a gentle charisma.

Since she had been away, Tommy had found himself thinking about her. When she had been at the school, he would enjoy going in and speaking to her when he would pick up Charlie; talking to her, like Polly would, about whether the children needed anything, if she needed anything. Tommy realising that he was doing so, because he had grown to like her. That he liked to see her smile. But given how busy he had been, Arthur had been able to say something to her, before he had. And he had to think that given what had happened to Grace, he didn't want to see that happen to another woman. He didn't want to put (Y/n) in that same danger; though that didn't mean that thoughts weren't going through his mind.

"Small Heath..............." A voice called out. The conductor making his way down the passage. (Y/n) gulping at the lump that had instantly formed at the sound of the name.

Apart from her letters to the children, she had done her best to forget about the Birmingham town. To forget about that unfortunate moment in her life. She had been doing well, the thoughts of Arthur, that night, slowly getting less and less. The former school teacher able to think about a future again. It was going to be a hard future, her grandparents wanting to hand over the running of the farm to her, as she was their only living relative; and she had agreed, though stating that the place would always be theirs. She had even begun to think about men again; that was why she had agreed to go out with Albert. He was sweet, handsome, admittedly not the smartest, but he was a good man, and he was trusted by her grandparents; so why not? She had a life, and she wasn't going to let Arthur continue to ruin it. Yet here she was............back in Small Heath; back to see if she could help Arthur.

"Here, let me get that for ya............." Tommy said, as he helped (Y/n) get her bag down from luggage rack above their heads. Shaking his head, as she tried to take it from him.

"Are ya alright...............?" He continued, as the brakes of the locomotive screeched loudly. The lights of the still all too familiar station, appearing in the windows, as the train stopped.

"I'm fine, thank you..............Its just.............No, I'm fine. Shall we get this over with............?" (Y/n) said, looking at Tommy before opening the carriage door.

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

John leant against the car; Tommy had given him a call from Sheffield station telling him that the school teacher had agreed to come and help, and that they would be home by 8pm. His brother telling him to meet them with a car, at the station. John standing up straight and throwing his cigarette onto the floor, as he saw Tommy and (Y/n) make their way over to him.

"Miss (Y/l/n)..................." John said, as he took the bag from his brother's hand and placed it in the back of the car, before opening the door and helping her up into the automobile. Tommy then pulling him to one side.

"Where's Arthur....................?"

"I don't know. I tried to tell him that he shouldn't go out, but he wouldn't listen. He could be anywhere................."

"Then we should go and find him..............." (Y/n) called out from the car. Both brothers turning to look at her.

"I'm not staying here for any longer than I have to. So, the sooner we find him the better.............she continued. Tommy and John looking at one another, before making their way to the car.

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

(Y/n) looked at her watch, as John pulled up outside yet another pub. It was ten o'clock, and still no sign of Arthur. They had been told that he had been in places previously, that he had been staggering, angry, causing no end of problems. But no matter what they did, a highly inebriated man, that probably had his far share of drugs in his system, was still one step ahead. Quietly, they all got out of the car; Tommy opening the door to the pub after the school teacher had protested that she was going into the place despite its rather unsavoury character. (Y/n) bringing a handkerchief up to her nose, as a fetid stench filled her senses.

She had got used to the smell of animals, their dung; all the other things that came with life on the farm. But this............this was disgusting. (Y/n) fighting the urge to vomit as she moved further into the establishment. Tommy and John making their way over to the bar to ask about their brother.

Suddenly she heard something. It was someone sort of.........singing. The tone seeming familiar. The school teacher pushing her way through the broken stained glass door; her eyes widening as she saw what was in front of her.

Arthur, or at least the shadow of him, sat, slumped in a chair. His hand shakily reaching for the bottle of scotch that sat on the table. He looked terrible, and even from here, and above the already awful odour, she could tell that he smelt even worse. (Y/n) wondering how long that it had been since he had bathed. She found herself feeling guilty, part of her wondering whether this was in some way down to her. But no...........no! She was not going to take responsibly for this. She was not Arthur Shelby's keeper; whatever he had happened, he had brought on himself. Though she couldn't leave him like this.

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

"Arthur................." Arthur heard through his clouded mind. Part of him telling himself that he had heard the voice before, as he poured another drink; most of the scotch spilling out onto the table.

"Arthur Shelby............." The voice came again. Arthur doing his best to focus, as something moved in front of the light and cast a shadow over him.

"What have you done to yourself...............?" The voice continued. The oldest Shelby boy scoffing before shakily bringing the glass to his lips.

"Fuck off...........unless ya know where my girl is.........then fuck off and leave me alone. Can't a man drink himself ta death around here..........?"

"And what girl would that be...........Mister Shelby..............?" The voice asked. Arthur looking up again, at the figure before him. Struggling to his feet, as whom the person that was talking to him, finally sunk in.

"(Y-y-y/n)? Is..........is that you..............?" He asked, as he stumbled across the floor, before falling flat on his face in front of the school teacher's feet.

"I've found him!" (Y/n) called out, quickly finding herself joined by the two other Shelby boys.

"I think you'll have to carry him out..............." She continued, taking one more look at the unconscious Arthur, before making her way out of the pub and back to the car.