𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭

SHE REVERENTLY RUBBED HER FINGERS ALONG THE SILKEN MATTRESS, as she pressed her cheek to the cool, velvet pillows. The comforter was thick and irresistibly soft, like a billowing cloud as she lay beside him.

"We have to get out of bed eventually, John." She whispered.

John hummed before looking down at her while twirling a piece of her hair between his fingers. "Why? I'm pretty comfortable."

"Because we've been lying here all day." She didn't know why she found herself laughing, but all of the sudden, she couldn't stop. Maybe it was just the overflow of immense happiness she felt in that moment. Her breath came in quick gasps between her unstopable giggles.

John leaned down and kissed her, setting his hand on the side of her face. He smiled against her lips and Marie couldn't help but continue with her laughter however, after a moment she stopped and pressed her hand to his chest to stop him.

"Do you hear that?" Her still scrawny legs dangled over the edge of her bed as she sat up, just like they had when she was small, but now her toes tapped the dusty boards.

"No, I dont." Suddenly, she could feel his hot breath on her neck, then the tender brush of his lips. Burning as they made contact with her neck.

"John, listen! What the bloody hell is that?" Throwing the quilt off her body she grabbed her dressing gown from the rocking chair and made her way down the stairs before opening the front door and looking down the street. John following close behind while attempting to pull his trousers on as he walked.

"Pol? Whats going on?" She spoke, as she leaned against the door frame.

"Ada's having the baby!"

"Right now?"

"Yes right now. Come on I need your help."

Suddenly, John appeared from behind Marie, peaking his head around the door as he placed his coat over his shoulders. "Where's Thomas and Arthur?"

"They're at the Garrison." Polly told him, barley paying attention as she lifted her things from the car.

"Right," He began, grabbing his cap and giving Marie a quick kiss on her cheek. "Good luck with Ada!"

"John!" She shouted after him, as if she was shocked he was leaving while his sister was giving birth to his niece or nephew.

"See you later, sweetheart." He looked at her with a smirk.

Yes, it was a mocking smirk however his eyes were filled with nothing but humour and love as he gazed at her. Leaving Marie to chase after Polly to help Ada.

...

After Ada had given birth, Marie wasn't looking her best. Her hair was coming down, as she had dispersed of her hairpins as she ran around the house, and her face lacked powder and lipstick. She looked hot and tired, but happy nonetheless.

"Oh, Ada. He's perfect." Tiny fingers curled around Adas finger. Marie watched the newborn peer through brand new eyes at what must be such a strange world after life in the womb. His legs kicked in a tiny jagged motion, looking for that resistance they are used to, but finding nothing but air.

"Will he be getting a little cousin soon to join him?"

The question caused a frown to appear on Maries face and lines to appear on her forehead as she furrowed her brows. She often thought about having a family with John. Would their children have his blues eyes or her green eyes? Would they have John's laugh? She prayed they would.

However, before she could truely think about the question she dismissed it. "My life's already full looking after Katie, Simon, Rosie and Harry."

Just as Ada was about to respond Polly entered the room after cleaning up, gently sitting at the table. "Oh, he's beautiful."

Hearing the front door open close, Marie raised from her spot thinking the men had finally come home to see their nephew. However, she was happily proved wrong when Freddie Thorne entered the small room. "Freddie?"

Newborn cries fill the room as Freddie burst into tears of relief and joy. He turned his glossy eyes to Ada, and in a voice that's almost broken she spoke, "It's a boy, Freddie. It's a beautiful baby boy."

Through her exhaustion she smiled, and she let her eyes leave Freddies face to take in her sons.

Placing the child gently into the arms of its father, Freddie spoke softly. "Welcome to the world, son."

Then a knocking was heard. It came quietly first and then there was silence. The knocking was louder and faster the next time, as Marie stood next to Polly who stared at the door, unmoving.

"Is that the boys?"

"I doubt it."

The person on the other side was furious now and hit the door with all of their strength, now shouting.

"Open up! Police!"

"Stop! Stop it! You can't come in a baby's just been born! Alright, stop!"

As much as she tried to hold it in, the sense of panic came out like an uproar from her throat in the form of a silent scream. The beads of sweat started falling down one after another, without a sign of stopping as the police entered the room.

"Don't hurt him. Freddie! You're hurting him leave him alone."

Maries dark lashes brimmed heavy with tears; her hands clenched into shaking fists, in a desperate battle against the sadness as watched the scene in front of her, unable to stop it.

"You're taking me away from my baby?" She refused to look away as Freddie was taken, even as her lips trembled and her shoulders heaved with emotion, unwilling to back down.

"You don't understand, his sons just been born!"

Her body shook as she brought her hand up to her mouth, trying to hold back a sob that was yearning to be set free.

Wrapping her shaking arms around Adas quivering figure she tried her best to console her. "Ada, Ada calm down. We'll get him back home."

The words spilled from her lips without even considering what she was telling the sobbing new mother.

"Pol?" Words left her. She stared into those bright brown eyes of Pollys that were burning with anger, and her heart fell silent. "Pol, don't!" She screamed as she watched her leave through the front door.

Turning back to a shaking Ada she spoke, "Ada I'll be right back, I'm coming back, alright?"

Closing the door behind her a lone tear traced down her cheek, and just like that, the floodgates opened. She wept, tears streaming from her deep blue eyes, loud, heaving sobs tearing from her throat as she walked across the empty street, chasing after Polly.

She rested her hand on the rough paintwork that coated the door and pushed. The hinges squealed as though they were a warning. A warning to stay away from the anger that waited patiently for her at the other side.

If Marie could have melted into the bar she would have. She would have done anything to escape from the tention created only by the eye contact of Thomas and Polly.

"But the police came and took his father away!"

Moment by moment, Maries tears fell. Salty drops falling from her chin, drenching her dress.

"Don't you dare look at me like that." There was a static in her head once more, the side effect of the constant fear, the constant stress she lived with as she stared at Polly, watching as she spat at him before turning. "You liar!"

Her burning blue eyes darted back and forth as she took deep breathes as Polly marched past her. Her pink lips trembling as she mumbled something over, and over, indecipherable.

"John..." The tears burst forth like water from a dam, spilling down ger face. She could feel the muscles of her chin tremble like a small child.

He marched forward and wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, gently rubbing her arm. Despite the heaviness in her stomach, it fluttered at the feeling of her body pressed against his. She sunk into the warmth of his side, appreciative of the simple gesture.

The simple gesture that offered her more comfort than anything else.

...

The fire crackled as Marie gazed at it numbly. She watched as thick clouds of grey smoke billowed up the chimney, while the sparks of red and orange remained flickering. She felt heartbroken. For Ada, Freddie and the baby.

"And then he was just gone. Ada and the baby all alone." She whispered, as if speaking any louder would cause chaos in their peaceful moment of tranquility.

"God, you should have seen his face John. Everything just changed so quickly."

"I know."

Marie frowned, thinking back to the events of earlier. John, catching sight of her frown, took her smaller hand in his larger one, entwining their fingers together, and gave her a quick, reassuring squeeze.

She looked up at him and was met with a smile.

Marie sat up a little. Her hand rested below his ear, her thumb caressing his cheek as their breaths mingled.

"I'm glad to have you, John." He looked at her. Gazing into her eyes with such a rare intensity it almost made her shiver.

His heart beat faster and faster as Maries white face came up to his own. "I'm glad to have you too."

And then they were kissing. Something exploded within her chest burning away the tension and confusion and fear. Burning away the hurt of earlier. For a moment it felt like nothing mattered anymore. Like nothing would matter ever again.

Every time he kissed her it felt like the world stopped, leaving just the two of them to wander the earth together. Every time she held his face between her small hands it felt like she was untying all of his knots. Holding him for eternity in the arms he had grown so accustomed to. When he looked at her it was as if every ounce of breath was taken from her lungs floating into the air like midnight smoke. She knew this was what falling in love was like.

A story you never wanted to end.

I hate this. Its horrible and I'm sorry.
- Kate