Chapter 01 – The New Mitchell
The taxi pulled up into Albert Square, he black haired girl sighed as memories came flooding back to her at the sight of "The Queen Victoria" sitting comfortably between the flocks of shopping people.
"Thanks it's just here." She told the driver, pulling open the door as she took her small suitcase out with her. She thrust some notes into the driver's outstretched hand and looked up at the pub, the taxi driving away.
"Well...home sweet home." Rubbing her hands together, the young girl pulled her suitcase behind her – heading for the pub's double doors.
"I still don't understand why we can't get a place of our own." Suzy growled folding her arms as her bald fiancé ignored her, searching their room for his belt. After a short pause, the blonde woman spoke again this time her tone was more frustrated and demanding.
"Don't ignore me Phil!" The older man then lashed out back at his wife-to-be.
"Not now Suzy alright? I'm already late!" He buckled up his belt, closing his suitcase and zipping it tightly shut. Suzy pursed her lips and tapped her fingers against her crossed arm, clearly not impressed.
"Then at least tell me how long your little 'daddy son bonding time' will take." When she said 'daddy son bonding time' Suzy motioned quotation marks with her fingers, leaning against the door frame attempting to get Phil's attention. She failed.
"BEN?" Phil yelled across the landing – he again was ignoring Suzy. She clenched her jaw angrily, then turned on her heel, flicking her hair and slamming shut the bathroom door. Phil sighed and pressed his temple tightly. Ben entered the room.
"All packed?" Phil asked hurriedly as he snatched up his own suitcase, moving onto the landing.
"Yep, all packed." Ben chirped excitedly, his own suitcase clutched in his hands. Phil grinned and ruffled his son's hair, dragging his case down the stairs as Ben followed behind. Suzy narrowed her eyes in the bathroom then opened the door, waiting till she heard them both reach the bottom of the stairs before following too.
The pub bell rang as another customer entered; Shirley looked up to see a young girl of about seventeen. She had a suitcase tagging behind her. She was beautiful, making Shirley wonder what the hell she was doing in Walford. The pretty girls usually didn't last long here, they came stayed a while then left fast pace. This would be interesting, she thought, to see how long this girl would last here.
The black haired girl seated herself in the nearest corner and sat staring around the pub as if she'd never been in one in her entire lifetime. Phil came rushing into the front of the pub, Ben following behind and Suzy too. Shirley was brought back down to Earth as he came in. She nodded to him and Ben. The boy came running behind the bar and hugged her tight.
"Be good for your dad." She grinned. He laughed.
"I won't."
"That's my Ben." Shirley laughed too, hugging him again then smiling at Phil.
"Have a good time." Phil smiled firmly then nodded; Ben left the pub with his suitcase as Phil kissed Suzy on the cheek goodbye. He didn't say a word to her and she folded her arms again before going behind the bar and back to work.
The young girl seemed more confident now she'd admired the pub a little more closely. Getting to her feet she pulled her suitcase with her over to the bar. She turned to Shirley.
"Excuse me, can you tell me where I can find Ronnie Mitchell?" Shirley opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted.
"Oh my God...Grace...?" Came a voice from behind the new girl. She turned around and saw the blonde Mitchell sister standing in front of her.
"It IS you!" She was grabbed into a squeezing hug as Ronnie snuggled into her shoulder. Grace's eyes widened as she struggled to breathe. "I missed you!" Ronnie sobbed into her shoulder making a damp patch.
"I...m-missed...you too!" Grace chocked out then Ronnie let go of her instantly as she realised she was strangling her girl. Suzy raised her eyebrows at Ronnie – it was so out of character for her to cry so easily. She was usually so together. Curiosity about this new girl began to bubble inside the blonde woman, but she continued to serve, trying to watch discreetly and not failing at this.
"G-Grace..." Ronnie whispered, stroking the girl's cheek softly. Grace smiled weakly, her eyes glossy. "Is it really you?" Grace grinned.
"No I'm a man in disguise. Of course it's me, mom!" Shirley almost inhaled her glass as she sipped her drink. Unable to smirk at this, Suzy had almost done the same on a peanut and she began to cough with Shirley – both women trying to be as quiet and casual as possible.
"Ronnie what is all the fuss about-" Roxy stopped dead in her sentence as she clapped eyes upon Grace.
"Gracie?" She gasped, stepping closer to the girl as Ronnie grinned stepping back slightly to give them room.
"Auntie Roxy?" Grace asked in the same hushed voice. Roxy giggled excitedly, rushing forward and embracing the girl tightly. Her strength lifted Grace's feet off the floor as Roxy kissed her cheek. Grace squealed happily as Ronnie began to babble about being careful. Suzy (having recovered by now) rolled her eyes grumpily. She hated expressing her human emotions, as anyone who knew her would know from past experience.
Some of the people who everyone knew well were watching fascinated – none of them knowing the girl's relation to the Mitchell's yet. The word would spread soon that Ronnie's only daughter Grace had returned home. As Roxy loosened her grip, Peggy entered the pub and saw the black haired girl too.
"Well I'll be..." She whispered. Grace beamed as she spotted Peggy at the same time.
"My...you look like you're mother. Grace. So...so beautiful." Peggy was finding it hard to speak as she stroked Grace's face. "I haven't seen you since you were a toddler...! Look how you turned out!" Grace pulled Peggy into a hug.
"I'm so glad I'm home." The girl smiled happily as Peggy took her in the back to keep nosey customers out. Ronnie slipped her hand into Grace's. The four women going upstairs to have an almighty catch up.
For the first time ever and most likely the last, Shirley and Suzy were talking to each other in normal un-bitchy tones and both with curiosity dripping off their tongues.
"How old do you reckon the girl is?" Shirley asked, gob-smacked still.
"She looked about seventeen, eighteen..." Suzy returned, her voice was quiet and her brain was processing how old Ronnie must have been when she had her.
"How old is Ronnie?" Suzy asked now.
"Thirty-three." Shirley replied and they both fell silent as they calculated the math. The hubble and bubbe of the pub's sound didn't bother the two women as they stood in silence figuring it out.
"God..." Suzy whispered as her brain finished working. Shirley stood staring at the wall as she too had finished the math.
"She was sixteen when she had her..." Shirley murmured. Suzy blinked a few times then shook herself out of her thoughts, returning to her work behind the bar and resuming her hate for the other woman. Shirley rolled her eyes and went around tables, clearing up empty glasses.
Grace was leaning against her young mum as she told her story. Roxy was listening intently and Peggy looked saddened by the seventeen year olds words. Ronnie had asked Grace where her partner Kimberly was.
"Kim...Kim's dead." Roxy gasped then covered her mouth trying not to sound rude. Peggy closed her eyes tightly and Ronnie stared at the carpet, her eyes swelling up again. "She went to Iraq with the other soldiers not to long ago. I received a telegram two weeks back to tell me she was killed in action." Grace was rubbing her wrist as her voice became quieter with each word. Ronnie pulled Grace closer so that the young girl's head was comfortably under her chin.
"That's why I wanted to be home again. I know I didn't really grow up here, but I wanted to be with my family...my real family. I couldn't bare being alone. I needed Kim, but if I'm with all of you I knew I'd feel somewhat comforted knowing my true self. I'm sorry to put such sudden pressure on you." Peggy stood up and Roxy dabbed her face with a tissue before passing her sister the box.
"No not at all Grace! Don't worry one bit. You were right to come home to your family. We'll have a room set up for you straight away. You're not staying in a hotel or any bed and breakfast – you're staying right here." Grace smiled.
"Thank you Peggy." Ronnie kissed the top of Grace's head then stood. Roxy stood too and so Grace followed suite.
"We'll introduce you to everyone in a bit. If you want. Are you hungry?" Grace shook her head.
"No no, I had something to eat on the train; I'm not hungry at all." She managed a firmer smile to show Ronnie that she was okay. Roxy rubbed Grace's shoulder as she passed her and went downstairs to see who was in the pub to introduce the girl to. Peggy hugged Grace tightly then followed Roxy, leaving Ronne with her daughter.
"Don't worry about me. I'm alright now. I know Kim is being looked after wherever she is, and I know she's always with me. So I'm okay. Stop worrying." Ronnie smiled.
"I won't worry. I promise. You're a Mitchell. A fighter." Ronnie kissed her head again before taking her hand and bringing her down into the pub.
Ronnie suddenly had an idea as they moved over to the bar.
"We'll have a welcome home party! I'll get Roxy to help me go round the Square letting everyone know!" Grace grinned excitedly.
"That would be fantastic. Thank you so much." Ronnie smiled happily then rushed off to find Roxy. Suzy had been watching and was about to lean over the bar and talk to the girl, but Shirley intercepted and had already beaten her. She pouted in annoyance and moved to the other side of the bar to serve a grumpy looking old guy.
"Shirley. Nice to meet you." She put her hand out towards Grace. The black haired girl smiled.
"Thanks. Grace, same goes." She took her hand and shook it.
"So another Mitchell, eh?" Shirley grinned and Grace laughed.
"Yeah, I'm one of many. But, I'm nothing like my family really." Suzy had been eavesdropping and she turned her head slightly upon hearing this. Shirley looked slightly surprised.
"Oh. Why's that Grace?" Grace tilted her head and stared at the bar counter before looking at Shirley. Shirley found herself gazing at the girl's amazing eyes. Anyone would get lost in the purple-ish swirls that were barely visible in the green of her eyes.
"I'm not entirely sure. I'm not quiet or shy which is a definite Mitchell trait! I think it's because I show my emotion. I'm not afraid of my human emotions... Usually Mitchells all act hard and butch. I'm kinda sensitive and always show how I feel. I guess that's it." Shirley nodded in agreement.
"Definitely. Hiding behind the hard butch shield is a Mitchell trait alright. Wow, then you must be the first Mitchell I've met who had a soft side! When's your birthday?" Grace looked a little puzzled by the question but answered all the same.
"March the 17th." Shirley grinned in understanding.
"Ah, you're a Pisces. Sensitivity is a characteristic." Grace laughed. The listening Suzy smirked; her mind began to plan out how she could use the girl's sensitivity to her advantage. Ronnie came running back over to Grace.
"Roxy and I are gonna go spread the news; we'll have the party tonight. It'sss..." She checked her watch. "Half three now, the party's at seven till whenever you get tired!" Ronnie grinned. "Make yourself at home sweet, we'll be back soon." Ronnie grabbed her bag, linked arms with Roxy and left the pub.
"Well Shirley, nice to meet you. I'm gonna go have a kip now, if I'm gonna make it to seven I definitely need a nap!" Shirley laughed and nodded as Grace headed upstairs. Suzy's eyes followed the girl as she left the pub and went up the back. She was shocked at herself because for a second, she'd looked at the girl and checked her body out. Slapping herself in her mind, Suzy massaged her forehead. Why did I think that? That is so wrong...and perverted. Ugh...I must have some sort of Mitchell magnet in my mind...