She watched from behind the shelter, as her twin made his way into the large building. Doing her best to quiet the big animal by her side. She hadn't spoken to him since that day; in fact, she would not even have his name mentioned in her presence after she had heard the news. Of course, he had tried to justify his actions; telling her that Alfie had betrayed him........betrayed the family. That he had sold his services to the highest bidder. But she knew that her brother was wrong, that the Londoner might have indeed have betrayed him, betrayed her other brothers; but he would never betray her. He loved her. The ring that she had had to hide from her family, proof of that. Proof that big, bad Alfie Solomons had been hers, just as much as she had been his. And since that awful day, it, and Cyril, were the only things that she had left of her lover. The man that had promised to marry her, once he had done what he had to do.

She had of course been upset that Tommy had been hurt; and if it had been anyone else, she would have been to first one to go out and find the man that had hurt her brother; happily taking their life, with her own hands in revenge. But it had been Alfie, not some Italian, not some fascist or communist; not someone that wanted to destroy everything her family had built up. No! It was her Alfie, the most wonderful, handsome man that she had ever met. And that was one thing that she could not forgive him for. The one thing that had put a wedge between the two, previously close siblings.

She and Tommy had always been close, they had grown together in the womb, so no one had expected anything else. But what they hadn't expected was for (Y/n) to enrol as a nurse when Tommy, Arthur and John had gone to war. The older female Shelby stating that if they had to do this, then so did she; (Y/n) seeing as much death and devastation as her brothers had seen. And though she had never had to kill someone, when she retuned to Birmingham after the war, she had most certainly been equipped with the knowledge of how to do it. Her skills in not only saving lives, but taking them, proving handy to the family, as the Shelbys had risen in prominence.

And then, into her life he had come Alfie Solomons. (Y/n) unable to conceal her smile, as he had looked at her. Tommy making it clear that he didn't like the looks that were passing between the pair, as he had told her to leave the Jewish gangsters office. Alfie winking at her, as Ollie had escorted her out into the bakery. Yet the disapproval of her twin had not stopped her from seeing the Londoner, again; and again........and again. (Y/n) taking every opportunity she could, to meet with Alfie. The younger twin never happier than when he had placed that ring on her finger and asked her to be his wife. Never more devastated than when he had informed her of the cancer that had taken over his body.........well, that had been until she had heard that the man she loved, was dead.........and dead by the hand of her own twin brother. The oldest female Shelby, sure that she had also died that day on the beach. That Tommy had taken her life too. (Y/n) sure that the only reason that she had gone on, was because of the big, silly, drooling beast by her side. Cyril the only one that could make her smile; the hound taking his place next to her on the sofa and dropping his head into her lap, any time that she would remember Alfie, and the tears made their way down her cheeks.

But recently, she had heard rumours; her brother not the only one with connections. Not the only one that had people with information. The news that her twin was going to be making his way to Margate, making her wonder. And so, she had followed him; (Y/n) and Cyril moments behind her brother, as he had made his way to the seaside town. The pair mixing with the other people, as they had followed her twin down the promenade. The duo only stopping when she had seen Tommy go inside the building.

"So............" (Y/n) began, as she looked down at Cyril. The big bullmastiff looking up at her, as she brushed her hand over the fur on his head.

"Should we go and see what Tommy is up to.........?" She continued. The female Shelby chuckling to herself, as Cyril let out a bellowing bark.

"Well, that is decided then.............." (Y/n) replied, as she gripped Cyril's lead, and took him over to the apartments.

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

"Find him................" (Y/n) whispered to Cyril. The mastiff sniffing at the floor and pulling her along.

"Miss, you can't come in here........not with that, anyway..........!" A man called out, as Cyril pulled her up the stairs.

"He is not a 'that' this is Cyril. And if you want to try and stop us, I wouldn't recommend it. Cyril hasn't had breakfast this morning, and you look like something this old boy might just like to chew on." (Y/n) called out in reply; Cyril leading up higher and further into the building. Her heart beating faster and faster, as they went. A woman dressed in a maids outfit, staring at her in disbelief, as she opened the door to a room; her hands filled with plates. Doing her best to not spill them, as the big hound went to push past her.

"Miss, you can't..............."

"Save your breath, sweetie. He and I are going in this room, whether anyone likes it or not. So, I would suggest that you just go about your normal business." (Y/n) advised, as she pulled the woman from the doorway and made her way into the rooms.

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

"(Y/n)......what...........?" Tommy began, as his twin ventured into the room. The female Shelby unable to do anything but stare in disbelief, as she looked at the man that she had been told was dead. (Y/n) not hearing anything else that her brother had to say, as she made her way over to the big man, slowly reaching up and placing her hand on his cheek. Her head spinning as she felt that he was real. That Alfie, her Alfie, was not a ghost.

"You...........you're alive............." Was all she could say, as Alfie placed his hand over hers. The edges of her vision beginning to blacken, as she felt her knees fall from under her. Alfie catching her before she could hit the floor. Cyril pushing his way through the two men and barking loudly, as Alfie carried the woman that he loved into the bedroom, and placed her on the bed.