Home.......Alfie grateful to be walking through the front door of the house. A smile coming to his lips, as the scent of roast beef seemed to surround him; that, and duck fat roast potatoes. Alfie chuckling to himself as he took of his coat and hat; sure, that if (Y/n) kept feeding him like this, he was going to be a rather rotund man, very soon.

"Alfie.........?! I'm in the kitchen. Dinner will be about another thirty minutes. Oh, and your slippers are at the bottom of the stairs......." (Y/n) called out. Alfie combing his fingers through his hair, as he looked over at the steps, sure enough finding his old pair of carpet slippers. The big man having to think that not even his dear old mum had looked after him this well. Alfie unbuttoning his waistcoat, as he slipped his feet into the warm footwear, before heading towards the kitchen.

"What tha bleedin hell...........?!" Alfie looking at the kitchen table that was groaning with full wicker baskets and boxes.

"Last time I send you out on ya own ta do some shoppin........."

"Don't you dare blame me for any of this, Alfie Solomons.......this is all the things you sent me out to get........" (Y/n) countered, as she pointed a wooden spoon in his direction.

"May I remind you that the list you gave me was nearly as long as the bible. Poor Amos looked like a pack mule by the time we were finished. But if you don't like it, perhaps next time you should have it all delivered. Now, make yourself useful and move all of it off the table, while I make sure that your gravy doesn't have lumps in it........" She added. Shaking her head as Alfie rolled his eyes. Her attention turning to the pot on the stove, so she did not notice the smile that had come to his lips, as he took basket and box off the table, before making his way to the draw next to her and found the cutlery. The Londoner fighting the urge to kiss her neck, as he looked over her shoulder at the bubbling pot. Her now familiar perfume, drawing a soft contented sigh from his lips, before he managed to drag himself away.

He had never been happier that Tommy Shelby had fucked off out of his office, as he had been when finally the man from Birmingham had got to his feet and Ollie had shown his out of the bakery. The Londoner glad to hear that he would be making his way back home, that afternoon.

Of course, everything he had promised Tommy earlier that day, well, it was never gonna fucking happen was it. He had no intention of telling anyone but Ollie who (Y/n) really was. No one at the bakery even knowing her last name. So, he was just gonna string Tommy along and make out he had tried to find his missing sister, before making him pay for his efforts.......or in this case, lack of them. Alfie placing the knives and forks on the table, before taking a seat.

"And what do you think you are doing........?"

"What's it bleedin look like.......? I'm waitin fa my tea........" Alfie replied, as (Y/n) poured the gravy into the gravy boat.

"You are waiting for your dinner, and you are waiting for it without having washed. Now, go and clean yourself up, and then you can cut the joint......" (Y/n) told him. Once again pointing the wooden spoon at him.

"Who tha hell died and made you a fuckin General......? Worse than being in tha bloody army is this........" Alfie grumbled, as he got to his feet. Giving her a salute, before making his way to the door. Neither seeing the smile on the lips of the other, as Alfie left the kitchen.

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

Happy, fat and full......that was what he was. Alfie undoing the top button of his trousers and letting out a contented sight, as he sat in his favourite chair next to the fire. The beef (Y/n) had cooked, was some of the best he had had; but it was the steamed treacle pudding that had actually made him think that he better marry her quick, before someone else did.

"What's that.........." He enquired, as two arms holding a long package wrapped in brown paper, appeared from over his shoulders. Alfie taking it, before (Y/n) moved to sit in the other highbacked chair.

"Well, while I was out, I did get one thing. Ollie told me that your birthday was coming up............"

"Oh, he bleedin did, did he.........?"

"Yes, and don't you dare be angry at him........So, I thought I would get you a little something........well......open it, open it........." (Y/n) told him, as she sat forward in her chair. The bright smile on her lips making Alfie chuckle, before doing as he was told. The Londoner pulling the brown paper from his gift; his eye widening as he saw the cane.

Cane.......he called it a cane, but it was nothing like the old plain one that he normally used; no, the shaft of this one was made from ebony, and the collar, handle and ferrule of silver. The handle itself, shaped like a prone lion.

"I had Amos take me back to Mayfair, and as soon as I saw this in the shop, I couldn't help but think of you. It may sound silly, but you sort of remind me of a lion. It as if Camden Town......the whole of London is a jungle, and you are its king........the master of all you survey." The younger Shelby explained, as Alfie stared at it, getting a feel for the handle in his hand. (Y/n) watching nervously, as he got to his feet.

"If......if you don't like it..........." (Y/n) also getting to her feet and coming to stand behind him.

"I......I could always take it back and get you something else. I............" (Y/n)'s eyes widening as Alfie suddenly turned and clashed his lips into hers.