I know, many many stories to update, and theoretically this'll create more work but the plot bunny was hopping through my head and I wanted to see what you thought.
I said chapter but this entire story is dedicated to WeeLamb who is such a wonderful friend and was kind enough to proof read this for me.

"It's not my fault!"

"How can it not be your fault!"

"It's yours, you've driven me to do this!"

"I don't want you here anymore!"

"You can't kick me out!"

"I bloody well can! Get out!"

"Fine! But it's your loss! I put up with a lot from you and I doubt anyone else would!" With that Joe Burns, slammed the door, muttering something vaguely sounding like 'Stupid Bitch.'
Elsie Hughes, his now 'ex-wife', sank down the wall sitting on the stairs, her head in her hands, tears pouring down her cheeks.

Their marriage had been a mistake in the first place, but she and Joe had been childhood sweethearts. It had been expected of them . She never even dreamed he would be unfaithful, and it hurt, hurt more than anything she'd ever experienced.
They'd begun to grow apart, he'd begun to drink and she to suffer depression. He was angry and she unhappy - their whole lives were a disaster.
She had to protect their children, force them to believe the facade that everything was alright. It really wasn't. She kept them calm, sent them upstairs when Joe was drunk. They'd listen through the bannisters - they heard every word, every insult, every threat, never beatings though. That was something she was eternally thankful for - he never laid a hand on her or the children, threatened to more times than she liked to remember but they were empty threats. Instead he stabbed her in the back by bedding every willing floozy he could find.
She'd recently begun throwing herself into her work when she first noticed things were going wrong but it didn't occur to her that that would give him the time to be out sleeping around.
'Why did I marry him in the first place?' Her mind screamed at her, she pulled her hair into her fists to counter the pain in her heart.
She felt herself begin to hyperventilate, so she wrapped her arms around herself and pulled her knees up to her face. She wanted to feel as small as possible, like she didn't exist. Joe'd already made her feel like that - now she wanted to live it.

Her reverie broke by her phone ringing - no doubt joe trying to grovel his way back home, or simply to insult her. She glanced over to the screen but instead of joes picture there was herself, being hugged by her smiley red-haired sister.
Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she picked up the phone;

"Hello Beryl..." She spoke in a quiet voice, she was pretty much able to hear her sister frowning.

"Elsie? What's the matter? What's happened?"

"I...he...he's gone Beryl…he's really gone." She could no longer hold back the second wave of tears, they broke through and she sobbed out incoherent words to her sister, who was none too surprised at the news.

"Oh Elsie, my dear, I'm coming over… no don't argue, you're my sister and you're upset." With that she hung up.
Despite the tears Elsie smiled, that was typical Beryl, fiercely loyal to those she loved.
She should move, usually she would tidy up in anticipation for a visitor, but she didn't want to move, suddenly the stairs felt very comfortable. She leant her head back against the wall, closing her eyes as she waited for Beryl.

She heard the car pull up, then running footsteps, followed by the door being opened with her spare key and within seconds she was in the arms of her sister.

"Oh Elsie, Elsie don't cry, everything's going to be alright, I promise, just, don't cry."

She rubbed circles on Elsie's back, gently soothing her sorrows. When Elsie tried to apologise she shook her head, refusing to listen, instead, she tightened her arms around her and laid her chin on her head.

"I wanted to protect you from this kind of thing, I never wanted to see you get hurt like this."

She felt Elsie shake her head and mumble something about inevitability. She hated to see her baby sister so hurt, hated it. She swore to god if Joe Burns had the nerve to walk into her restaurant she'd gladly slip something into his food!

They sat there for hours, in companionable silence as Beryl eased the tension from Elsie's trembling body. As the shaking began to subside, Elsie's head lolled onto Beryl's shoulder. She raised Elsie to her feet and lead her into the living room where she helped her onto the sofa and covered her with a blanket.
Once Elsie fell asleep and final tear hand rolled down her cheek, Beryl drew one of the curtains casting a shadow over Elsie. Beryl glanced at her watch, she didn't want to leave but she had to, she had her own family to see to. She sent Isobel a quick text, leaving a note for Elsie to call either of them when she awoke.
She placed a soft kiss on her cheek and quietly made her way to the door. However, when she heard a creak and a figure swiftly move at the top of the stairs she spun on her heel.

"William?"

The boy in question appeared around the bannister, his eyes red and his cheeks stained with tears.

"You heard, didn't you?"

He nodded as he came down to hall to stand with her. She noticed that despite him towering over her, with his devastated face and slumped shoulders he looked so vulnerable and so like his mother. She reached a hand to his shoulder, patting it before pulling him into her arms. He was still a child despite his outward appearance being that of a full grown fifteen year old but still her nephew, still Elsie's boy.

"It'll be alright m'lad you'll see, we're all here for you, and your mother, you'll take good care of her now won't you?"

"Of course," he leaned back and stood at his full height, he could pass for a man yet his face gave away that he was a boy, and a scared one.

"Good lad," she sniffed, but she wouldn't cry, she needed to be strong for all of them. She did so hate to see this family go through turmoil. "And if you ever need anything, or a friend to listen to you, Daisy'll be there for you."

He nodded and smiled sadly, he was a shy lad at the best of times but had always been close to his cousin.

"Tell your sister, she may want to come by, but tell her at least."

Again he nodded silently, she squeezed his hand before turning to the door, repeating that everything would be alright as she closed the door.

Please take the time to tell me what you think ^_^ still have some mince pies left if you do.

xXx