Just Like a Mitchell

'Do you think I should start playing the music now, or when he gets here?' Roxy Mitchell asked an uninterested looking Shirley Carter.

'Hello!' Roxy cried snapping her fingers in front of Shirley's face. Shirley slowly raised her head to look at Roxy before getting up from her stool and walking behind the bar to pour another drink.

'Great help you are! Erm, you can put that down too,' she shouted and grabbed the glass from within Shirley's grasp.

The bold as brass blonde faked a smile and strode over to the music player and hit the play button.

'His dad's on crack and his sister's been taken into care, but I'm sure that whether 'You're The One That I Want' is playing or not is the most important thing on his mind,' Shirley remarked sarcastically.

Roxy glared at her but just as she was about to say something, someone started yanking the door handles vigorously.

'Alright, alright, Auntie Peg, I'm coming!'

'That's not Peggy,' Shirley stated coolly, 'unless of course she's been working out at the gym without us knowing.'

Despite Shirley's suspicion, Roxy unlocked the door anyway, only to find herself being pushed out of the way at full force by Phil Mitchell.

'Phil!' both women cried simultaneously.

'Where's my son! Ben! Ben!' He slammed his fists down onto the wooden bar, causing the glasses to rattle as they shook.

'WHERE IS HE?' he boomed.

Roxy gulped and looked outside, hoping someone would come in and be her saviour.

'Gimme my son.' It was most definitely a demand and although his tone was menacing, he had lowered his voice which calmed Roxy's fears slightly.

'I think you'd better go. For now.' The voice came from the doorway to The Vic but Roxy did not recognize the voice and she could not see the face.

Phil let out a patronizing chuckle, but he did not turn around to face whoever was speaking to him. Instead, he picked up his arm and swivelled around launching his arm towards the person behind him.

The boy stepped back and ducked – just to be precautious. The fist was never going to make contact but he had learnt not to risk anything. Phil merely laughed at his own pathetic attempt at a punch and looked at the person he had been swinging out for the first time.

'Ben?' he grumbled, his gruff voice laced with a tone of disbelief.

'Dad.' Ben looked close to tears as he observed the state his father was in. Peggy had told him about some of the stuff that had happened while he was away in preparation for the inevitable reunion between father and son. Ben just wished he could've been allowed to fully digest the information before he had to witness this.

'Please go. I can't see you right now.' Peggy and Ronnie were now standing behind Ben, but just as Peggy was about to interrupt, Ronnie stopped her.

'Let him have his moment,' she whispered simply into her aunt's ear, reflecting upon her own difficult relationship with her father.

Phil looked around deliriously, before bringing his gaze back on to his son. Noticing the fear in the young boy's eyes he nodded his head before stumbling out of the door.

'Later,' Ben whispered. 'We'll talk later,' he said, only just loud enough for his father to hear.

Ronnie shut the door of The Vic and gave Ben a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

Ben took in a deep breath and upon observing Roxy and Shirley's bewildered expressions he managed to find himself laughing.

'I'm having that kind of effect on everyone today,' he joked.

Roxy and Shirley found themselves both cracking a smile.

'Let's get this party started!' Roxy roared, before bouncing over to her cousin and giving him a warm hug.

Half of the square had now turned up to the party, and the place was buzzing. Some people had arrived simply because they were nosy and were keen to spread any gossip they could find. Others had arrived for the free food and the hope of getting a free drink. Then, of course, there were the few close friends and family who were genuinely pleased to see the once innocent young boy back where he belonged.

Ben sat in the corner of The Vic, tired of answering questions. Everyone was surprised to see the change in the boy and Roxy had simply laughed when she found the Grease CD lying in two pieces on the bar. He sure wanted to get rid of his old image.

'Quite a catch now, ain't he,' a tall flame-haired woman commented, while talking to her husband.

Who?' her husband asked gormlessly.

'Ben!' she cried, despairing at how slow Ricky Butcher could be. Still, she thought to herself, she loved him all the more for it.

'I didn't know you were into younger men, Bianca,' her mother replied wryly, joining in the conversation.

Bianca looked at her mother in disdain.

'I was looking for Whit. She needs another man in her life, to get over Billie.'

'That's your answer to everything, isn't it? Go find yourself the first man in sight and go off with him,' Carol once again spouted, looking at her daughter shamefully.

The sound of something metal being tapped against a glass swept throughout the pub causing everyone to fall into silence.

Peggy Mitchell opened her mouth to speak when suddenly, someone barged through the door.

A tall, very handsome man fell through the doorway and made his way to the bar, waving cockily (a trait that suited him well) at those who were staring at him. For those who didn't recognize him, his rugged charm and good looks caused their eyes to fall upon him. For those who did recognize him, the look on his face informed them that he was back for good.

'You know when I heard that Ben Mitchell was in prison, my first thought was what the hell. I mean, this is the boy that thought badass meant not going to bed on time. Then, I thought, getting banged up, well, just like a Mitchell. Finally, I thought let's crash the welcome back party because it will be fun to see everyone's faces. And I was right,' the man finished off saying, pleased by all the attention he was receiving.

'Sean,' Roxy whispered, her voice taken out from beneath her at the sight of her ex-husband.

Sean Slater looked at Roxanne Mitchell for the first time in nearly two years and found he was quite happy to see her.

'Hiya Rox,' he smirked, before casually picking up a vodka shot and downing it in one.