They had yet to get used to it. The house was still a little bit colder, a little bit sadder. But the letters made everything better. Heidi putting on a smile for them made it better, Alex and Evan bickering like a married old couple made it better. But it was still there in their hearts. He wondered what it would be like for Heidi when they had to go, no doubt they would. She would be so lonely, so sad. They would have to change that. Heidi, as he learned to call the witch and realised she wasn't such a witch, continued to teach him English. He caught on to the speaking and listening to people the best, the writing was still a bit difficult. She said his accent would be the hardest thing to cover up, Canadian would be his best option to say when people asked him.

He realised that Evan loved animals, always cooing at them or bringing in sick ones, birds, strays, wild ones. He really had that instinct to protect and help. Whenever Alex saw him with an animal he would make it his job to call him 'princess' just to annoy him. Roussel had a feeling it would become Evan's 'freckles' quickly.

He wasn't wrong.

Whenever Tommy wrote to them he would always have a small sketch for Roussel, he had been keeping them safe in their room in the drawers, but always kept the first one folded up and one on his person. Alex had been given one at some point too since he complained Tommy was picking favourites. The one he got was a small sketch of some sheep and a light house, always folded up much like Roussel's and kept on him nearly all the time.

It was a slower day at the rail works than usual, the stripping back almost done and the train had finally stopped burning. It was about the end of May and they had heard in the newspapers that the end of the Blitz had finally come, the RAF taking the victory. They were thankful, though they had a feeling that wouldn't be the last of the rogues trying their arms. They were done for the day and grabbed some beers on their way home, the cool liquid soothing his aching bones.

They passed a pet shop and he remembered that both Heidi and Evan liked animals, and she would be lonely eventually. There was a box of kittens in the window, he stopped and looked at their small furry faces, peering at him with large eyes. Alex noticed and moved back to look in the window with him.

'What? You a Cat lover now?'

'For Princess, and the Witch' Alex barked out a laugh but seemed to get where he was coming from as he stepped into the shop, Roussel following behind. There was a middle aged woman with dark hair and harsh lines, a displeased expression on her face.

'What do you two want? I don't want any mishap here, if you're not buying then get out' She was grumpy and looked at them with spite. Alex took over, knowing his English was still in the works.

'Well Ma'am we were wondering if you had any cats or kittens for sale? We wanted to get on for our friends' She seemed to brighten at his words, her whole demeanour changed.

'Well! Why didn't you say so! Come I'll show you them' She moved to the window and brought the box over, putting it down a little too hard. There were eight kittens in there, he spotted the runt immediately.

'Part of the last litter that one, useless. Can barely walk'. She spat at it in her words. Roussel really did not like this woman. Alex picked the runt up and it went straight for his touch, anything to be warm he guessed. The others looked at them with bright eyes. The cat was black with one grey foot and a grey patch on his face, striking blue eyes. He didn't look like he struggled but he probably had weaker bones than the rest and was under fed. When Alex placed him on the table the kitten wobbled and whined, too tired to walk. Picking him back up Alex asked,

'How much?' she looked aghast at them,

'You want that one!? Well, I mean. Sod it. You can just have him, he's never going to sell. But you'll need to buy him some things'

Just like that? Alex looked at her questionably but nodded anyway. They bought him a bed and some cat toy, a little ball and feather on a stick and string. They could probably buy him some canned meat. They left quickly, the woman already annoying him. The little kitten was nuzzled in his arms, Alex carrying the rest of the items. They grabbed some canned meat at the Grocers and made their way home. When they entered and took their shoes off, Roussel was gentle due to their new friend and entered the lounge, Heidi was already in the kitchen making dinner and Evan was sat in the lounge, reading one of Tommy's books.

As he looked over he jumped up at the sight of the kitten. He was like a nine-year-old at Christmas.

'You got a kitten!?' he moved to take him out of his arms, holding him so light. Worried he would break them.

'You got a what!?' Heidi was bellowing in the kitchen.

'For Princess!'

'Al, don't call me that. We've been over this'

'Never going to happen' They were all grinning at each other, laughs bordering their lips.

Heidi came out from the kitchen, smiling at the small bundle of joy in Evans' arms.

'Only you two could come home with a Goddamn cat.' and she was back in the kitchen, the smell of beef Ale strong.

He turned to Evan,

'We noticed you liked animals and Heidi could do with some company'.

Evan was ecstatic while he played with the kitten on the sofa, the little animal mewing in joy. Alex moved to the kitchen and came back with a small bowl of the canned food, the kitten wolfing it down. They stood by the door while Evan made a strong and quick bond with the kitten.

Heidi called them for dinner and the kitten managed to join them, albeit with Evan helping him slowly into the dining room. The beef was good, but never as good as Tommy's, and the room felt a lot happier than it had been in a while.

'So Princess, what you gonna name 'im? He's basically yours'.

Evan took a while to think before he looked at the kitten sitting on the table, he had insisted that he needed to be close to them and not where they could stand on the poor thing,

'Hmm, I know! Tom!' The kitten looked at him with bright little eyes, falling over his own paws.

Definitely a Tom.

They all had a feeling about where Evan got the name but didn't interfere. Tom joined their little family that night. And grew up with them to be such a mischevious little piece of work.

(AN - I love dogs but I love cats so- both will be featuring as support characters, I hate this woman btw :( also sod is like referring to a man who you find unpleasant, nowadays we just call everyone sods:'D )