Author's Note: Fancied writing a story about Thomas' background, I hope you enjoy this :)

Since the day he was born, Thomas Barrow was the apple of his mothers eye, with his lush ebony hair, skin like snow and lips as red as rubies he was perfect in her eyes. She wrapped him in cotton wool from the very start, making sure he was always treated like a prince, her little prince. His father however felt quite differently, he felt the indifferent towards the boy and never attempted to bond with his only son. Thomas resembled his mother Alice in many ways, she was undoubtedly beautiful, dark flowing hair, striking cheekbones, ivory skin, full red lips and piercing blue eyes, his father Jack couldn't believe such a stunning woman had married him, Jack himself was not a bad looking man, his hair was dirty blonde and always kept short, his eyes an emerald green and his skin always tanned and swarthy, he was nothing like Thomas to look at however their personality's were very similar, the same cool exterior and temperament and a cunning fox like side that could usually work to their advantage as had been shown by Jack when he had used his charm to win over women who came into his shop, they would swoon at his feet because of his charisma and good looks and undoubtedly purchase something. It was cunning but clever, just like Thomas. Thomas' mother and father didn't have much, the clock shop his dad owned was based in the centre of the village, a small rickety old place with bags of quaint charm, the place was magical to Thomas' father, filled to the brim with cogs and clock hands, Thomas also found it blissful to sit there tinkering away, even as a toddler. As the boy grew older, Jack still had not formed a bond with his young son, he wished so much to love him like any normal father would but found himself struggling because of how his own father had been, a useless lazy drunken lout that cast him aside from the very beginning. How could he love a child when he had never known love as a child himself? Alice was told the reason why not long after Thomas was born so she never pressed Jack on it, realising the hurt he had been caused by his own father. The house they lived in was above the shop, a small 5 roomed place that was cosy and snug, always spick and span due to Alice great pride in her home, every night she would make supper, a warm, hearty meal that pleased all their stomachs. Alice loved her role as a mother and wife and always made sure that Jack and Thomas were taken care for extremely well.

However when Thomas was 9, Alice became ill with consumption, she spent most of her days in bed, too ill to go outside or cook and clean for her two boys,

"I love you so much my boy, you make us proud and always be happy. My beautiful baby boy" she said to Thomas one night when he visited her while she was tucked up in bed,

"I love you too ma, you'll be alright won't you?" he asked softly,

"Of course I will" she answered not wanting to worry the boy,

She died the next night and Thomas and his father were distraught. After her death their lives were very strange without the love she gave them. Alice had been 27 when she died, Jack was still young aged 25, he didn't have any idea about raising Thomas, the child was a mystery to him, he didn't understand him, he knew he couldn't do right for him as Alice would have been able too, Thomas had loved Alice dearly and had really gone into his shell since she died. One day he ran down the garden and climbed up the tallest tree and just sat there sobbing,

"Thomas, what are you doing up there son?" his dad asked,

"I hate it dad, I just want Mam back" he sobbed,

"Me too" said the Dad climbing the tree to join his crying son, "but I'm afraid she's not coming back"

"Why?"

"Because she's gone to a better place and one day we'll go there to and we'll all be together again" Jack hoped,

"I hate her not being here" he stressed,

"I know son, me too, but your Mam loved you and she wouldn't want you to be sad and you know…cry" Jack was so unused to emotion; the tears that Thomas were crying unnerved him and were alien to him. He had never been the crying sort himself and saw it as a weakness.

"Do you hate me Dad?" Thomas asked,

"What? No son"

"It's just, you don't really talk to me, you ignore me a lot" Thomas explained,

"I love you, but sometimes I don't understand you, you and I we're very different people, but I do love you very much and never forget that"

"I'm sorry Dad"

"What on Earth for?"

"For not being more like you"

"It's probably a good thing that you're not like me. You're just like your ma and that's great. From now on I'm going to do my best for you son. Now why don't you and I go and fix some clocks aye"

Thomas looked up and smiled, he felt sorry for his father, he was struggling now that Alice had gone, he was useless at cooking and couldn't afford to hire a cook so it was always the most simple meals, the house was never very tidy and his father was terribly lonely, his father was still young himself, to young to be a widower and miserable. The one thing his father excelled at however was fixing and making clocks, Thomas always observed his work in the upmost fascination, taking in every swift flourish and everyone tool he used, it was like magic and Thomas dreamed of one day being as talented a clockmaker as his father. Jack liked the fact that Thomas looked up to him in his work and strived to teach the young boy all the tricks of the trade. It was just them now and he knew he would have to make more of an effort with the young boy as he had previously failed to do in his 9 years of existence.

Review please :)