Chapter 2

"John?" Eleanor calls groggily as he moves slowly, easing himself out of bed. "Fuck. We..."

"We did." He confirms, sinking back down on the bed to look at Eleanor.

"Fuck." She repeats, head falling back on to the pillow.

"Exactly." John teases, Eleanor letting out a laugh as she playfully slaps his arm.

"John!"

"Do you...regret it?" He asks slowly, trailing his fingers over her palm.

"No! Jesus, no!" She exclaims, smiling up at him. "It's just been a long time, eh? Didn't expect this when I went to Polly yesterday and she sent me to the pub to find you." John laughs at this, brushing his fingers through her hair.

"Fucking missed ya love." This time it's Eleanor's turn to laugh, raising her hand up to catch his hand in hers, pressing a kiss to his wrist.

"I missed you too." She says softly, pulling his body towards hers. John chuckles as he lays down beside her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Come here." Eleanor pulls his head down to hers, wrapping her arms around his neck as the kiss deepens. Before the couple could continue, a loud knock sounds at the front door. Eleanor groans against John's lips, pulling back slightly. "You should get that."

"Ignore it." He replies, pulling her head back to his and reconnecting their lips.

"John!" Comes a voice from behind the door, the banging continuing. John groans this time, shaking his head as he digs his fingers into Eleanor's hips, pulling her closer.

"Ignore them." He repeats. "They'll leave in a minute." Little did John know, that his older brothers had decided to let themselves in, fed up of having to wait.

"John! Get up!" Tommy shouts, John quickly jumping up from the bed and rushing out of the room, slamming the bedroom door shut behind him.

"Fuck sake Tom!" He yells, bounding down the stairs and entering the kitchen where Tommy and Arthur were stood.

"Who's shoes are they, hey John? Got a new girl around?" Arthur teases, punching John on the shoulder.

"Fuck off Arthur." John grunts, unaware that Eleanor had slipped out of the bedroom behind him, slowly making her way down the stairs to the doorway of the kitchen.

"Hello Arthur," she greets quietly, leaning against the doorframe, clothed in her dress from yesterday. "Tommy."

"Fucking hell," Arthur breathes out, Eleanor letting out a laugh at the similarities between John and his brother's responses. "Eleanor fucking Taylor."

"Come 'ere." John says, tone softening at the sight of Eleanor in the doorway. Eleanor smiles at this and the gentle nature he had always adopted around her; she pushes off the door frame, wrapping an arm around his waist, as he tucks her under his arm.

"You're back." Tommy comments, brow furrowing as he remembers the pain his younger brother had gone through when the young girl had left. "For how long?"

"Forever." She replies, stepping forward to give Arthur a hug. Tommy nods at this as Eleanor stands before him, waiting to see if he too would accept a hug from her.

"Does Polly know?" He asks instead, Eleanor internally rolling her eyes as she steps back into John's arms.

"She does," Eleanor states. "I went to see her yesterday, got a hell of a warmer greeting from her just so ya know."

"You've been gone for years Eleanor," Tommy starts, John quickly cutting him off.

"That's the past Tom." He states, Tommy and Arthur raising their eyebrows at each other. "We talked last night, a lot. Everything's sorted. Finished. Got it?" Tommy nods, holding his hands up in surrender.

"Got it." He repeats, clearing his throat before continuing. "We need to get going, got a meeting in London."

"Nah Tom, not today..." John says, this time being cut off by Eleanor who lays a hand on his chest.

"It's ok, I'll go and catch up with Pol and Ada." She says, smiling up at him.

"You've just got back love." He protests, ignoring his older brothers who were waiting impatiently by the front door.

"And I'll still be here when you get back." Eleanor assures him. "Promise." John sighs, turning her gently in his arms to face him.

"I'll be out in a minute." He says to his brothers, motioning for them to leave the house. As soon as they had shut the door behind them, he leans down to kiss Eleanor who smiles into the kiss.

"One more for the road." She whispers, pushing herself on to her tiptoes to kiss him again.

————————

The minute John walked through the door that evening, Eleanor flew into his arms, John catching her quickly with a laugh.

"Blimey, if this is the reaction I get from being gone for a day, I'll go to London more often!" He jokes, tightening his grip on Eleanor as she presses kisses to his face.

"Mmm, no! I don't think so!" She laughs as John captures her lips with his. "Dinner's on the table." She says softly, pulling back from the kiss, running her fingers through his hair.

"You didn't have to do that." John says, cupping her face in his hands, stroking his fingers over her cheeks.

Eleanor shrugs, smiling up at him, "I wanted to." She replies, taking his hand to lead him into the kitchen.

"Did you go and see Pol and Ada today?" John asks as they settle at the table, dinner plates in front of them.

"I saw Pol again, Ada wasn't around." Eleanor says. "It was nice to catch up with her. I was in a bit of a rush yesterday."

"Were you now?" John teases, taking her hand across the table. "And why would that be?" Eleanor rolls her eyes at him, lifting his hand to her lips, pressing a kiss there.

"You know why, John." She replies, shaking her head as he winks at her. The pair sit in silence for a while before Eleanor speaks up again. "I met up with Jessie today. Do you remember her? From school?" John hums in reply, nodding his head. "She's offered me a job, at her dress shop. I'm going to take it. I start tomorrow."

"That's great Ellie." John says, rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand. "You know we would have found you a job, don't you? In the company."

"I don't want to be a burden, John." She replies softly, smiling at him. "I'm good at sewing, and Jessie needs the help. The last girl that worked for her is pregnant, she's moving away with her new husband. I'd be no good in a betting den John, I wouldn't know where to start!"

"I could teach you!" Eleanor let's out a laugh at his enthusiasm, pushing her chair back to move around the table, dropping lightly into his lap.

"John." She laughs, resting her forehead on his. "It's a lovely idea, but we'd get sick of each other. And while we're on the topic, I'll start looking for a house tomorrow too-"

"No." John states with a shake of his head. "Absolutely not." He cups Eleanor's face in his hands. "Stay here. Please, love?" Eleanor leans into his touch, tilting her head to press her lips against his, leaving light kisses there.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive." He states, pulling her in for a lingering kiss. "You'll stay?" Eleanor nods her head, wrapping her arms around his neck in a hug.

"I'll stay." She replies, pulling back to look him in the eye. "But I'm working for Jessie. Earning my own money. Ok?" John nods reluctantly, pressing a final kiss to her lips.