Arthur had watched and listened, as (Y/n) and Charlie had walked in front of him. The pair hand in hand as they made their way through the small drifts of snow. It was strange, but the pair looked right together. Charlie telling his former teacher all about school and the other children; all about Christmas, and that he wanted her to help him put up the tree and decorations, just like a child would say to their mother. It obvious, even to him, that his nephew saw something in the woman that he needed; the something that he didn't have because Grace had been taken from him. That just like him, Charlie had become a new man now that his ex-teacher had come back to Small Heath.
Tommy's words were still ringing in his ears........ Don't fuck this up...............but that seemed to be easier said than done. Arthur believing that if there was one thing that he could do well, it was fuck up anything good that might come into his life. Not that (Y/n) had given him a chance to talk to her, never mind not try to fuck anything up. But at least he was with her, rather than sitting in the darkest parts of some pub somewhere, already three sheets to the wind and hoping that he could snort something soon, so that he could try and completely forget. Though Arthur had to admit that he wished that it he could be holding the former school teacher's other hand.
"Will Hector be missing you............?" Charlie suddenly asked, as he and (Y/n) continued down the path. His uncle's ears picking up at the sound of a man's name.
"I think so, I certainly miss him. I like seeing him every morning. We always have a lovely talk, before breakfast." (Y/n) explained, neither she nor Charles seeing the rather unhappy look on his uncle's face. Arthur not liking the notion that there was a man in the beautiful woman's life. That, as Tommy had told him, she might still care; but anything else might be out of the question, if some other geezer was sniffing around.
"I am sure that he will be missing me giving him his oats..........."
"I bet he is............" Arthur grumbled under his breath; his voice low, but not low enough that (Y/n) didn't hear.
"And what do you mean by that..........? He has had a long life, and making sure that he has his oats in the morning is the least I can do. The poor old horse............."
"Horse..........? Hector is a fuckin horse............?!"
"Yes, he is my grandfather's old cart horse. What did you think........? And please don't swear in front of Charles............" (Y/n) chastised, as she covered the young Shelby's ears. Her brows furrowing as Arthur smiled broadly and made his way over to them.
"Believe me luv, he's heard worse from our John. Ain't that right, Charlie lad?" Arthur explained, before ruffling his nephew's hair.
"Now, what about that snowman............?" The oldest Shelby continued, chuckling as Charlie nodded enthusiastically.
>>-----------------------------------<<
(Y/n) watched the two Shelby's from where she sat on the drystone wall. Unable to stop herself smiling as Arthur instructed his nephew on how to build the best snowman in the world. It was such a sweet interaction, a charming scene; but that was what the Shelby's were good at............being charming. The charming rogues that you couldn't help but love. And she couldn't help but feel as though she was being drawn in by that charm, once more.
There had always been something about Arthur's eyes, and the way that he would smile, that had made her feel weak at the knees, had made the breath catch in her throat; and despite trying to drink and drug himself into oblivion, the smile that was on his face at the moment told her that he had really lost none of his power, as she felt her heart beat at a pace. That, and he had called her 'luv'. The simple term sounding so sweet to her ears, when it had come from his lips.
A part of her chastised herself. She was falling for him again; he was making her fall in love with him once more. She was a moth to his flame, and no matter the fact that she could find herself burnt again, she was feeling this irresistible urge to give into it. To sacrifice herself to the fire.
"Hey!" (Y/n) exclaimed, as without warning she was hit in the chest by a rather large snowball. Her dark coat now covered in a dusting of fine, white snow.
"Which on of you did that?" She continued, as she got up from the wall; her hands moving behind her back and forming a cold projectile of her own. The two Shelby's doing their best to look innocent, before Charles pointed at his uncle.
"So, Athur Shelby, going for a sneak attack? Well........two can play at that game.........." (Y/n) called out, before the newly formed ball of snow appeared from behind her back and made its way, through the air, toward the older Shelby. The frosty ether filling with laughter, as Charles decided that it looked like fun and proceeded to throw his own frozen sphere at his uncle.
>>-----------------------------------<<
Her ribs hurt from laughing, she couldn't feel her nose or her fingers; but she had to admit that she didn't care. The former teacher led on her back in the snow, looking up at the sky from which a fresh flurry had begun to fall. She hadn't had this much fun in a long time; even though she loved the farm, and her grandparents, her days were normally taken up with work, no time for such silly fun. So, this, this was what she had needed; a little silliness to help her forget about why she was there. To stop her worrying about Arthur and his health.
"You look cold.............." Arthur said, as he came to stand over her.
"I am............." Came a chuckling reply. (Y/n) accepting the hand that the older man was offering her. Her eyes widening, as she was pulled to her feet and into his arms. Arthur holding her close, as he brushed some of the snow from her hair.
"I better get you two back home then. Don't want Tommy thinking I've run off with the pair of ya............." Arthur added, as he reluctantly let her go. (Y/n) nodding in agreement, as she felt Charles take her hand. The three of them slowly making their way back through the snow; hoping to find a nice warm fire when they got back to the house.
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