"Do you believe Mrs. Gillan to be capable of raisinh Sylvie and provide her with a safe and loving home?" The lawyer Elliot hired and who introduced himself as Christian Sanders, like he was some mysterious prince rather than a lawyer, looked at the person occupying the witness stand.

Elliot looked away from the person defending him and looked at the people who were all sitting in the courtroom. Tom followed Elliot's gaze when it finally stopped after it wondered so aimlessly.

He saw Kitty visibly tense under her ex-husbands gaze. Her shoulder straightened, while she breathed in. Elliot had made his blood boil ever since he found out what he really was like. It took all of his self control not to walk to Elliot and wipe that devious smile of his face, so that he could never smile like that again. The only thing that stopped him from doing that were the words of Mr. Fox, their lawyer. He said that he needed to control his anger, that it never got the better of him. It wouldn't help the case at all.

He always wondered what Elliot Vincent would look like, what kind of man he would be in person. It was a few months after their first kiss in the French woods when he found out about the nightmares. After their evening shift he decided that it would be nice if they watched the stars together. He always found stargazing the most fascinating thing ever and he wanted to share that with Kitty. They were both tired from their shift and Kitty fell asleep in this arms.

He was watching the stars when he heard her talk. First he thought she was talking in her sleep, but then she started to move, trying to get out of his grip. Not a few moments later she rose up, breathing heavily while sweat beaded down her face. That was when he found out about the real Elliot Vincent. A person he started to hate even more after that.

And now, now he was sitting there like he was God Almighty, like he controlled the world. The way he was talking to his wife made the anger rise even more inside of him. He just wanted this to be over. He didn't want Kitty to relive every moment and detail of her previous marriage, but he could do nothing to stop it.

"No", Elliot Vincent said. "No, I believe not. They live in a very rough neighborhood in Glasgow. It will never be good for a young and vulnerable woman like Sylvie to be exposed to that."

Tom gritted his teeth. They were living in a rough neighborhood? That was absolutely ridiculous. He grew up in a rough neighborhood because his parents couldn't afford anything else, but he… He provided his family with a decent home, in a decent part of Glasgow.

"I'm very concerned that that environment will have a damaging effect on Sylvie in later life", Elliot continued, his gazed still fixed on Kitty, like it was some personal message to her. "She deserves to be raised in London, like she had been her entire life. I don't think it's good for her to be moved from her current home, where she has all her friends and family close by."

The lawyer nodded. "Are there any other elements that would make her unfit to raise Sylvie?"

"Yes", he said, folding his hands together, letting them rest in his lap. "When we were just married for a few years, she had an affair with another man. A year later she had signed a confession, admitting the adultery."

Tom breathed in. It was expected Elliot would bring in every element to make Kitty look bad in the eyes of the jury. The affair wouldn't be a subject that would've been left untouched.

"I believe her to be setting a bad example for Sylvie. She should be surrounded by people who set a good example, so she can learn what is the best for her."

"And you believe there is no other explanation for her behavior?"

"No, I don't. She always did what she wanted, never once considering that it could affect other people."

He wanted to stand up and yell in the courtroom, telling them that Kitty was the most unselfish person in the world. She would do anything, literally anything for the people she loved and cared for. And now, now Elliot was making her look like an egotistical woman who never once put someone else's needs before hers. He was hoping his testimony that he would be giving after Elliot's would convince the jury otherwise.

The lawyer adjusted his wig before looking at the judge. "I have no further questions, Your Honour."

The judge nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Vincent. You were very helpful. You can go back to your seat."

Elliot stood up behind the witness stand and smiled at the judge: "Thank you, Your Honour." He walked back to his original, appointed chair and sat himself down, but not before he looked at the jury. The different men and women, who formed the jury looked at Elliot as if they were completely convinced Sylvie should be left in his care.

No, Tom thought. He was not about to let that happen. Kitty had blamed herself a very long time for losing Sylvie, because she made one foolish mistake. She just wanted to be loved by someone, someone who didn't want her to accomplish something great in her life.

"Mr. Gillan, if you would come to the witness stand." He stood up from his seat and started to walk towards the witness stand, even more determined to convince everyone that Sylvie would be better off without the element of Elliot Vincent in her life.

-####-####-####-####-####-####-####-####-####-####-####-

The clock stroke midnight. The words of Elliot Vincent echoed in her mind, making her relive everything he said in court today. She felt the hope she had been cherishing the moment Sylvie stood on her doorstep, gradually leaving her, like a float of tears that once left her.

She turned around, facing her husband. He breathed in rhythmically, his chest moving at the same time he was breathing in. She never realized how much she depended on him, how much he was her rock. When she enrolled in the training for the VAD's, which was a new start for her, she promised herself never to depend on someone. She had depended on her friends, her family, but more important she had depended on her mother. But her mother had turned her back on her the moment she found out about the affair. And now she saw that she had been depending on the wrong people. She wouldn't have survived without the love of Tom and her friendships with Rosalie, Flora and Miles. Maybe even Matron contributed to her recovery.

Kitty swallowed, trying to prevent the tears to show themselves to the world. She wiped the tears from her rose coloured cheeks before her hand reached out for the person sleeping next to her. His eyes were closed, like there was nothing going on in the world out there. Like he had nothing to be worried about. She touched his skin, feeling the stubbly beard tickle against her fingers. She followed his jaw line before ending her journey to his pointy chin.

Her touch must have startled him, because not a few moments later his eyes met hers. He took her wondering hand in his and kissed it. "Sorry", she said, apologetic. "I didn't mean to wake you."

He smiled. "It's okay. Couldn't sleep?"

She shook her head. He spread his right arm, inviting her to curl up against him. She always slept better when she was snuggled up against him, breathing in his scent and feeling him as close as it could possibly be. It always had a relaxing affect on her. "Tom?", she asked, her voice so quiet, like it was a whisper, only to be heard by the person closest to her.

"Hmmm…?" He must have closed his eyes when he pulled her close.

"Do you think I'm selfish?" It had been the only thing that she could think off when she left the courtroom. The question that had kept her awake all night.

The way Elliot was telling the story to his lawyer from his perspective, it almost sounded like he was telling the truth. Was she really a selfish person to search for love and found that, even for a short period of time, in the arms of a man called Francis?

It was her weakness. Of course Elliot would know how to play the mind games, trying to make her feel like it was all her fault. He knew she would be blaming herself for not seeing Sylvie grow up to the woman she was today and he would exploit that.

Tom opened his eyes again and sat up, before cupping her face with his hands. "No", he said, trying to transform his love for her, the love she felt when he was looking and smiling at her, into the words he was about to say. "You are the most unselfish person I've ever met. Don't let Elliot's words convince you otherwise."

"You really believe that?" Her words were supposed to be a statement, but they ended up being a question she wanted to ask.

He kissed her softly, before providing her with an answer to his question. "Absolutely", he said, his gaze of love and affection still fixed on her. "You already proved that. You were the one that went to France. On voluntary basis, nonetheless. You gave those soldiers your free time and helped them as much as you could."

Kitty looked away, letting Tom's words sink in. He was right. She did volunteer to come to a strange land, helping people whom she never met. But that wasn't out of duty, but this was her way to escape. To start over, the one thing she longed for at that time.

Tom must have noticed her inner battle because his hands moved from her face to her shoulder. "Kitty, look at me." She looked to him, finding his endless ocean filled eyes looking at her. "You are definitely not selfish, ok?"

She smiled weakly, trying to believe his words. "I came to France for myself, to escape, not because I wanted to serve my country."

"Kitty, you had a choice. You could've moved to Ireland or someplace else to start a new life, but you didn't. You choose to become a volunteer. That choice is unselfish, very unselfish."

She smiled at him before kissing him softly. "Thank you, Tom."

"Now", he said, while laying down and pulling her close. "Let's try and get some sleep." She snuggled up against him, feeling his arm protectively around her shoulder and waist.

She was happy she could talk to someone like Tom, who would tell her she wasn't selfish, that she wasn't doubting herself. Elliot had played those mind games when they were married, but she didn't have someone to tell her she was beautiful, that she was worth it to be loved. When she tried to talk to her mother or sister about this, they would say that there were more important things to worry about. It was normal a husband would be busy working, trying to earn the money so she could buy everything she wanted. No one ever told her how empty that live would be.

And now, now her life was filled with joy. The laughing of her two beautiful children was the only prove she needed. She had the marriage she had dreamed off ever since she was a young girl. Her dream did come true. She was so happy she made the decision to trust Tom in France during the trail of Sister Joan Livesy. It had given her so much in return.

She closed her eyes, her head rested against his chest. She made a promise to Sylvie that she would fight, fight like she hadn't before, fight like she should have. Now, she would doing anything to stick to that promise. She was not going to let her daughter down.

Slowly, she felt that tiredness pulled her down, letting her fall asleep.

So, my lovelies. What do you think? I hope you all liked it and a review would really, really make my day. So, please push that little button below!