Sorry for belated updating. I got busy with uni projects and work in general. And i generally got stuck with a storyline too and had to go scheme...


51

"It's called a Zeppelin." Dot announced and then pulled a face. "God grief Arthur what have you done to yourself?" She exclaimed and pointed a finger at her brother. She looked him up and down and let out a disbelieved sound.

Arthur looked at himself, he had honestly got in a worse state as the day progressed. Along with the muddy shirt and torn trousers there were other stains and holes on his clothes.

"I thought you had grown up Arthur? You seem to still be a little kid playing in the dirt."

"Haha," Arthur laughed sarcastically and dryly while rolling his eyes. He sat down slowly on his bed and ran a hand through his hair.

"How'd it go?" Dot jumped and sat next to him.

"...Not to bad I guess." Arthur said slowly and looked up at her. "A Zeppelin?"

"Big balloon," Dot held her hands out. She pulled a face and looked at him. "Obviously it's a bit bigger than this."

"No joke." Arthur shook his head. "Where'd you learn that from then huh?"

"Harry." Dot smiled, Arthur smiled too and leaned back in his bed. He tilted his head to the side slightly, Percy looked at him oddly.

"You're lucky."

"Lucky?" Percy questioned and frowned. "You're a idiot."

"I've been telling him that for years." Dot grinned and pulled a face when Arthur had reached over and hit her over the head with a pillow. "Hey do you mind?" She grabbed the pillow from his grasp and hit him back.

"Stop beating up your hard working brother." Arthur defended himself by blocking the pillow with his hands, he laughed at his sisters efforts though.

"You didn't hurt yourself at all did you?"

"No," Arthur peeked out from behind the pillow and up at her.

"What's it like down there?"

"Do you honestly need me to tell you?" Arthur shifted on the bed and sat up slowly. "Don't look like that, no one was hurt." With this information Dot smiled relieved by this. Arthur rolled his eyes and put a arm around his sisters shoulders. Pulling her close he rocked slightly and rubbed a hand up and down her arm.


Winter gave way to spring, standing cross armed in front of the manor Dot watched with indifferent eyes as Alice said goodbye to Matthew.

Alice had long since returned back to Cardiff, but hearing that Matthew and his group were to get sent off, she had travelled back down. Since leaving the two had been in contact, nearly once a week a letter arrived for Matthew at the hospital.

Dot recognised the writing as Alices', it saddened her. It was strange, it felt like slightly misguided sadness. Matthew and his group were espionage agents, that meant they were likely to be put in the most dangerous situations that anyone could ever think up.

Did Alice know?

That was where Dot's sadness laid. She didn't want to see her friend get hurt, nor did she like the fact that her mind was already coming to the inevitable for Matthew.

"Now I know we never saw eye to eye."

"We eventually saw eye to eye, you're just being dramatic." Dot answered while looking up at the tall American in front of her. "Be careful."

"Aw, you starting to worry about me at last hm?" Dot rolled her eyes at Matthew's usual cockiness. "I will."

"I've heard many people say that," Dot admitted bitterly. "But I believe you." She quickly glanced at Alice who was saying bye to Matthew's friends. "You will continue to write to her if you can won't you?"

"I will try. But I have to admit I highly doubt either of you will ever hear from me again."

"Now who's being pessimistic?"

"I'm going undercover," Matthew stated while pointing to the German uniform he was standing in. "How can I write back to Alice without getting caught, or without endangering her in some way?" Dot nodded slowly understanding his words, she hadn't got a answer. "Farewell Dorothy, it certainly was interesting meeting you." Matthew held out his hand.

Rolling her eyes Dot put her hand in his. "Good bye and good luck Matthew." That was it, with that said Matthew turned and leapt up into the truck which was awaiting for him.

Alice joined her side after the truck had disappeared down the driveway. Turning and looking in Dot's direction with teary eyes she flung her arms around the dark haired woman and cried. Dot sighed quietly and put a hand on her back.

"Shh Alice, come lets get inside." Dot said quietly while leading her friend into the building behind them.

Alice stayed in the manor for a few days before she left to get back to Cardiff.


"I have good news." Dorothy proclaimed while appearing in between James and Arthur's bed. The two of them looked up at her confused.

"You seem to be grinning like a Cheshire cat Dot, what's this news?" Arthur questioned while putting down his book.

"You two are free to go! How good is that?" Dorothy clapped her hands together.

"You're finally getting rid of us eh?" Arthur pulled a face.

"Where do we go?" James asked sensibly, at least one of them had the sense to ask that question.

Dorothy let out a slow sigh and put her hands on her hips, nodding slowly she looked up at him. "There's a halfway house, we're meant to call it that but it's really just a B 'n' B," she laughed. "It's in the town, Charlie and Jamie are in a 'halfway house' near to the one you're to stay in."

"When do we leave?" Arthur questioned.

"When you're ready, transport is all sorted out for you, I need you to sign these though." Dorothy put discharge notes in front of them and watched as they both quickly scribbled their signatures onto it.