Reckless Moments

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Thank you for your reviews, it is very kind. I know there is not a lot of Charles and Molly yet - but there will be. A bit more in this chapter and more in the next.

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Chapter 4 – Hurts like Hell

The years were moving slowly inside for Dave. It didn't take long to get into a routine. They were let out in the morning for breakfast, got to go outside in the yard and if they were lucky, they got on gardening details which kept them outside for longer, he even took to going to the library at least reading passed time. He made use of the gym to try and keep his fitness up, with all this stodgy food they were feeding him he would look like a beached whale if he didn't, he had even found himself a sparring partner with Joe. Reg had recommended him, a bloke from South London doing a stretch for demanding money with menaces. He was built like a brick shithouse, hands like coal shovels and certainly big enough and strong enough to keep Dave fit. But he was under no illusion, he wouldn't be getting back in the ring professionally no matter how much Reg tried to boost his morale. He had had another operation on his ankle and now he had a permanent limp one leg was shorter than the other, he probably had more metal holding his leg together than bone. There were days like today when it was cold and damp that he could feel that nagging pain and his limp got worse. Guess it won't just be the boxing that's finished, he could hardly go on a job with Fred and Sam, he wouldn't be able to run fast enough. Might have to be the get-away driver he smirked to himself that would probably piss Derek off. He always thought he could have been formula one with his driving skills.

He thought himself quite lucky in some ways, stuck in here, at least he had plenty of people to come and visit him, got letters from Belinda and his cell wall was covered in photos of her and the kids and their school projects. But he was missing a lot too. He couldn't help but chuckle over Belinda's latest letter, Gary and Jack were in the school play. What possessed his dickhead of a teacher to put them both in the end of year play of Romeo and Juliet, she wrote. It was a bloody good job Gary was leaving this year as he would probably have been expelled for the stunt he pulled.

No matter how many times he re-read her letter he couldn't stop laughing at the way she had written it and his imagination playing out the scenes in his head. Gary must have planned it for months he thought. He brought in a couple of bottles of vodka which the whole cast drank as Dutch courage or so Gary said, most of them were wasted when they went on stage. Belinda had no idea what they were meant to be singing during the balcony scene but telling Juliet to jump might not have been what Van Halen had in mind when he wrote it and certainly not what the drama teacher had in mind judging the sour expression he had on his face at the time. They sang Wake me up before you go go when Romeo killed Paris. Jack was pushed off the stage because he was laughing, a lad called Tom threw up, Gary walloped the boy who hit his little brother and the bloody Drama teacher finally decided to bring the curtain down when they all started singing Relax by Frankie goes to Hollywood. The whole thing was bloody chaos Dave, she wrote.

"Come on Dave, let's go down to the rest area and play some snooker or something" said his cell mate, he could see that Dave was getting a bit maudlin reading his letters again. They all knew they had done the crime so had to do the time, but it didn't stop you missing the outside and your family. The monotony of endless days that were all the same gave you far too much time on your hands to think.

-OG-

Belinda's life was also changing as she adapted to being on her own with three kids. She had Fred and Sam that came round from time to time to take them to the football, even little Molly was included. Now that they were getting older, they continued to take them down their old boxing gym and the boys were starting to learn. As Fred said after having gone with Belinda to watch them in that now infamous play, when he finally stopped laughing, he said "If he's gonna be finishing school, he may as well learn control and get some discipline"

"You shouldn't be encouraging him Fred" sneered Marge, Belinda's mum who was yet again visiting them "It was bad enough their father not being right in the head without you making the sons like it an all" taking a sip of her tea, she had never liked boxing as a sport, far better to watch the wrestling at least that was all staged and no one seemed to get hurt, she loved watching Big Daddy and Mick McManus and that bloke who always wore a mask "Far better after that behaviour you send him for fucking ballet classes, teach him a lesson he can't go round hitting people"

"Shut up Mum, it's hardly that he does it all the time is it and he was looking after Jack"

"Looking after Jack was he, is that why he gave them all Vodka was it and after that little Tommy spewed up, half the bleedin audience was gagging after that"

Gary and Jack were standing in the doorway listening to their Nan ranting again both of them giggling

"Uncle Fred please can we come down the gym with you" asked Jack, while he loved his Nan he didn't want to stay in the house when she was on one of her rants, he expected that it would somehow end up being his Dads fault at some point.

"Yes course, we'll go now" answered Fred glad to get out the house and desperately trying not to laugh at the thought of the scene Nan had conjured up for him again, he winked at the boys as he passed them.

-OG-

Molly wasn't asked to be in any plays at her school either, some of the teachers still remembered her brothers and were already realising that her sense of fun was the same as her brothers, unfortunately the teachers didn't have the same sense of humour. Sticking her friends plait to the desk with glue probably hadn't helped. Telling the teacher that she had wanted her to do it so she didn't have to eat the school dinner, didn't endear her either except to her friend Mary who spent the next hour or so having the end of her plait soaked in warm water to get it off the desk.

She was regaling all the events of the week to her friend Beth down in Bath, who was laughing like a drain at the audacity and planning of the two girls. Mary completely unperturbed at being face down on the desk giggling while her teachers tried to unstick her without having to cut the ends of her hair off.

"I think I need a job Beth" sighed Belinda "Give me something to do other than running around after those bleedin kids"

"Had you got something in mind" replied Beth stopping her laughing as she listened. Belinda had only worked for a short while before getting married and Dave always felt he could earn to keep them all, so it had never come up before

"I do actually, Doris mentioned it, thought it might be something I could do" she was a bit worried about telling Beth, would she think she was stupid and couldn't do it. Taking in a deep breath "I thought I could be a teacher's assistant; the hours would suit and I would be home when they came home" giggling "The school wouldn't need to send out letters anymore I would be there to make sure she don't get up to mischief"

"Ohhh! Good plan Bells, not sure how your Molls will feel with you being at the same school to keep an eye on her"

"Serves her bleedin right then don't it, Beth, should've behaved herself"

"Have you told Dave yet?"

"Nah, will tell him next week when I visit him"

"Well best think up all the reasons why you want to do this Bells, he won't like it, you know he's a bit old fashioned and thinks you should be at home looking after him and the kids"

"Can't look after him can I" sniffed Belinda her eyes filling with tears, she still missed him not being there "He ain't here and it's still years before he is"

The two women carried on talking for another hour coming up with reasons for Belinda wanting a job and Beth filling her in on her boys and what they were up to these days, both still at school and doing well, Charles had even joined the Cadets. Belinda was a little envious, Andrew and Charles didn't seem to give Beth sleepless nights like hers did. Maybe having an Army Major as a father helped, even if he was away a lot. The war in the Falklands had only lasted a couple of months but she had seen the newsreels at the time, her mate must have been bricking it while he was away. But at least her kids hadn't been adding to her worries unlike hers. She had arranged that Fred would bring her and the kids down the following week and she could tell her how it had gone on the prison visit and when she was starting her new job. There was a lovely lady called Shazza that had shown her around and it looked like she would be with the 5 year olds so wouldn't actually be in Molly's class.

-OG-

Belinda had spent days rehearsing what she was going to say to Dave. She could feel her heart racing while she was queuing outside Maidstone prison with the other wives and girlfriends. As she looked around, she could see some of them had brought their kids, maybe she should have another word with Dave about bringing them in sometimes. Gary and Jack were getting older and understood where he was and why.

The doors opened and they filed in single file, it always took a while to get through the security before they were led into the visiting room. She always found this emotional as husbands and wives greeted each other and kids sat on their dad's knees. No privacy as guards walked round the edge, a cacophony of noise from everyone, not all meetings were joyous some had blinding rows and children cried.

She saw Dave at the table and smiled, waved at him as she walked over.

"You're a sight for sore eyes" he grinned at her and winked. She could see he had filled out over the last few years; he had been telling her about his training down the gym. But as she looked into his eyes there was something missing, that sparkle for life he always had, the same one their Molls had, that was gone and his green eyes looked dull, sad. She grabbed his hand across the table and squeezed "It will be alright Dave" smiling at him and he nodded lowering his eyes to their joined hands.

"So how is everything at home Bells, kids all OK not playing up at school"

"I wanted to talk to you about that" she stammered and watched as Dave's face paled and he removed his hand from hers bringing his hands to his side of the table. "I want to tell you something"

Dave nodded in resignation "Do I know him?"

What?"

"I said do I know him" said Dave again through gritted teeth and unable to look at Belinda, it had to happen, he'd been here four years already and there was still no sign of parole. When this visit was over, he would go to the gym and beat it out of the punch bag. Belinda and him had been together since they were kids and he could almost feel his heart shattering at the thought she wouldn't be here anymore. He slowly looked up at Belinda who still hadn't said anything, her mouth clamped tight and her eyes wide in shock before narrowing and turning icy

"Me mums right about you Dave Dawes, you really are a fucking twat sometimes aren't you" she spoke through gritted teeth trying not to shout at him aware of where they were "I can't believe you said that, can't fuckin believe you even thought it"

"Look Bells, I understand, it's not been easy for you with me in here, you're a good woman any man should consider themselves a lucky bastard to be with you"

"Well, it's a good job you are still the lucky bastard then ain't it" still angry at him "I wanted to tell you I've got a job" raising her hand to slap him on the arm "You really are a plank sometimes Dave, what made you even think that?"

Dave shrugged "Don't know Bells, prison changes you, makes you see things that aren't there, everyone's an enemy and you gotta look over your shoulder all the time, too much time to think I s'pose makes you paranoid"

"Bit late to start thinking now, if you had then maybe you wouldn't even be here"

"Sorry Bells, I mean it, I'm really sorry" he said leaning forward to whisper his apology to her, couldn't have the rest of the inmates in the visiting room thinking he was going soft. "I know I'm a bit of a twat sometimes"

"So, you ready to listen now?" asked Belinda raising her eyebrows at him and he nodded in return "I've got meself a job at the junior school, I can keep an eye on our Molls, stop her and her mate mucking about" drawing breath "The boys already blotted Molly's copy book at the junior school before she even got there, you should see some of the letters I get from her teachers"

"I mean gluing Mary's hair to the desk" and he burst out laughing "It ain't funny Dave and do you know what the pair of terrors did this week" he was shaking his head laughing "One of the little boys didn't want to do PE, only asked our Molls how he could get out of going, so her and Mary went and hung him up by his jumper on the coat pegs, up there a fucking hour while they were having PE"

"The lad didn't grass up our Molls did he, how did they know it was her"

"Oh no he didn't grass her up, he was over the moon he didn't have to do games, quite happy up there by all accounts spent his time playing Pacman whatever that is" desperately trying not to laugh along with Dave "Silly mare couldn't stop laughing so the teachers pretty much knew it was her" shaking her head again "and to cap it all the lad paid her and Mary a bar of chocolate to do it"

"Sounds like she is gearing up to join the family firm" laughed Dave but instantly put on a straight face as he saw the dangerous look in Belinda's eyes "You don't need to work Bells, wouldn't you rather be at home"

"Dave its 1986 not 1886" she huffed "I need to do something, Gary finished school, Jack not far behind and don't really need me for much anymore, just to do their bleedin washing, there's only Molly left and she's been pretty independent since the day she started school"

"You got enough money ain't you" he asked just in case this was the reason for her wanting to work and looking around him carefully "You know where it all is don't yah"

"Course I do, I just want something else to do, I can't sit about the house all day and me mum drives me up the wall at times" drawing breath "it gets me out the house Dave and meeting new people. Made one new mate already a lady called Shazza, bit of an odd ball really if truth be told, makes her own soup" she grinned across to Dave "Don't know why she bothers when Campbell's do a pretty good job of it and hers does pen and ink a bit."

"Well, it's up to you Bells, so long as you know you don't have to" he would rather she didn't but could understand the need to keep occupied and stop thinking negative thoughts like he had just done

"Look there is something else as well" carried on Belinda and Dave rolled his eyes "The kids are older now how about they come and see you with me next time I come; Gary's been asking for ages how he wants to see you?"

"Well, the boys OK" he shrugged "But our Molls is only 8" looking around the visiting room at the families, the noise he wasn't sure he wanted her to see him locked up like this.

"Look Dave apart from me reading her your letters she ain't seen you since she was 4 years old, I think you should let her come with the boys"

"Ask her Bells, but don't make her come if she don't want to"

-OG-

Time kept ticking by but finally the day arrived that he would be released. Tony and Fred had come to see him once the date was set. Tony telling him that Doris was organising a big getting out party at his house in Epping and he couldn't wait to see him back. Fred leaving a new suit and shirt for him to come out in.

He was in his cell gathering what few possessions he had. Letters, photos, drawings the kids had done for him, putting it all in a shoebox. Eight years of his life he sighed and it all fitted in a shoe box.

"Big day tomorrow, Dave, you looking forward to it" came the voice behind him and he turned to see Reg. Christ he was starting to look gaunt now. Dave had only been in here for 8 years, crikey Reg had done, bloody hell it must be nearly 20. How he had managed it, some of those dark lonely nights he had thought of topping himself and it was only reading Belinda's letters that had stopped him. Dave nodded at him and grinned as Reg sat down on the bed opposite

"You watch yourself Dave, I still think there was something a bit suspect about that job that got you sent here and so does Tony." Dave sat on his bed looking at Reg "Really"?

"What you never thought about it, that it was a bit odd how the filth were there"

"What with it being a wages heist, thought the Sweeny had been there"

"Exactly it was just the plods, why weren't the Flying Squad" Dave couldn't help but grin "Maybe cos they were all bent and being arrested"

"We had a few on the payroll" shrugged Reg "Which is why I would have expected a warning, to hear whispers that the job would go tits up" Reg stood up pointing to Dave "Someone on your firm is a fucking grass"

Dave looked down at his leg, rubbing it subconsciously although it wasn't hurting today "Well if there is and I got this bad leg as a result he's dead mate"

"Glad to hear it" said Reg standing up and starting to walk to the door "One thing I can't stand is a snake" turning in the doorway "Be careful Dave, a life sentence ain't a lot of fun" and he was gone out to the corridor and lost in amongst all the other prisoners leaving their cells.

He had wondered when he was in hospital but dismissed the idea, he couldn't believe that any of his mates would have done something like this.

-OG-

Fred arrived early at Maidstone ready for the gates opening and that day's prisoner release. He was stood against his Jag smoking a roll up waiting on the doors opening and second through was Dave. He was wearing the new shirt and suit for his release and he was carrying a plastic bag with all his possessions. He smiled and waved as Dave spotted him and started walking towards him.

"Now you know that Tony has organised this big party for you don't yah" he said as he walked around to the driver's door "That is unless you want to go somewhere else first" he grinned "Have a pint down the Earl perhaps"

Dave sat in the car "Well I wouldn't mind a quick detour to the house first, have a shower and get the stink of prison off me" he shook his head "Thanks for the whistle and that mate but I can still smell prison"

"No sweat Dave, Belinda and the kids have already left to go to Epping and will be there waiting"

An hour and a half later Dave was back in their home, he looked around and apart from the fact it looked like it had been re-decorated and the sofa had been replaced it all looked the same, smelt the same as if he had never been away. More pictures of the kids lined the shelves all virtually grown up now. He walked up the stairs to the bedroom he had once shared with Belinda, more photos, some of the kids and some of them from years ago. He put his plastic bag of meagre possessions on the bottom of the bed and started to empty it. The shoe box with all Belinda's letters, pictures she had sent him and a stack of letters he had written to her that he had never sent. When he was trying to sleep, listening to other men snoring or crying he had written to her, telling her things, how he felt, how he missed her. Things he would never say to her because that wasn't the sort of man he was. He put the lid back on the box and hid it in his old hiding place under a loose floorboard under the bed in their room. Maybe one day he would pluck up the courage to show her, let her read them.

He went across to the bathroom and saw that Belinda had already got in his favourite toiletries, he showered, shaved and put on his favourite aftershave before dressing in his suit and going back downstairs to Fred who was patiently waiting for him. "Quick cuppa before we leave" asked Fred lifting the mug of tea he had been drinking while he was waiting for Dave. Dave shook his head "No mate, let's get this party started"

-OG-

Everyone was already at Tony and Doris's place in Epping. It was a sunny day the weather warm so most of the guests had gone outside. Doris had got someone to help her make a playlist of music for the stereo, she made sure there was plenty of Frank Sinatra on there, she knew Tony and Cos liked that, well so did she, but added some of the new stuff she thought the kids would like, she had heard Molly playing a band called Madness, what a pile of shit, singing about baggy trousers. Doris had even hired a chef to do the BBQ and a couple of waiters, so that Tony and she could mingle with the guests. It was a big day and she knew that while Belinda was pleased that Dave was finally out, they were going to have to adapt again, their relationship changing as they got used to him being about again, living with them again. She looked down the bottom of the garden to see Molly sulking on the swing chair and she shook her head grinning, Dave was going to go bloody ballistic.

She walked towards Belinda who was standing with Beth holding a glass of wine. "You OK Beth" asked Doris, "Your lovely husband and boys with you"

"Yes Doris, somewhere" grinned Beth "It's a lovely house and garden Doris, and so many people here" Doris nodded and patted Belinda's arm "Popular bloke our Dave, he deserves this" pointing towards the bottom of the garden "Molly in the doghouse again Bells"

"I haven't seen Molly, is she here somewhere" asked Beth looking around

"That's her" huffed Belinda pointing in the same direction Doris was looking, the swing chair with a sulky blonde haired girl looking daggers at everyone who came near her. "Dave's going to go fucking mad"

"Shit" said Beth before she could stop herself her eyes opening wide as she clamped her hand over her mouth "what happened" Looking at the young girl with a mop of blonde hair that looked like she had left the plaits in too long.

"That bloody friend of hers Mary, said blondes have more fun"

"Wouldn't know Bells being dark myself" giggled Beth

"Well can't say I've noticed having lots of fun, not only bleached it but then proceeded to iron it with one of those curling tongs that make it wavy like that" shaking her head "Looks like she's been dragged through a hedge backwards. Eleven years old, her Dad's going to go ape shit when he sees it, her lovely hair ruined"

-OG-

Molly could see the three women looking at her out the corner of her eye, she wasn't going to look at them her head down as she felt tears threaten. Her and Proud Mary had been talking and she had told her about the visits to Bath and how she liked Charlie but last time she had seen him he was walking down the road talking with a blonde girl and he was laughing and looked really happy. Mary had told her that blondes always had better luck with the blokes than dark haired girls and the pair of them after a bit more of a chat about things and a couple of vodka's from the bottle they had found in Proud Mary's mum's sideboard, had decided to bleach their hair. Her mum had gone spare when she got home and even her Nan had said she looked a bit of a tart. Her brothers had just laughed their heads off.

"Hello Molly" said a voice from her right "I nearly didn't recognise you"

"Do you like it Charlie" she grinned up at him. Charles had to bite his lip as he thought about it "Well it's a bit different"

"That's what I thought" nodded Molly placated and assuming he did like it.

"Why are you sitting by yourself Molly, isn't your Dad due here soon, shouldn't you be up there with your Mum?" She just shrugged looking miserable and he didn't think he had ever seen her without a grin on her face apart from that time Andrew put her up in that tree.

"Can I ask you something Charlie" she started as she leaned back on the swing "Of course you can" he grinned lifting his own legs off the ground so the swing rocked back and forth. He watched and he could see fleeting expressions crossing her face as she thought about what she wanted to ask.

"Your Dad goes away a lot, doesn't he?"

"Yes"

"Do you remember who he is when he comes back?"

"Of course, I do, are you saying you can't remember Dave"

"I know what he looks like silly, Mum took me in to see him a few times" she sighed "I just can't remember him living with us that's all" he watched as she took another deep sigh looking up at the sky her eyes huge, like she was desperately trying not to cry "I can't remember him ever being there, it's just been me brothers and Mum, what will it be like when he's there?"

"My dad has never been away for as long as yours Molly" he squeezed her hand "It will all be OK Molly, give it a couple of weeks. My Dad takes Andrew and I out and we do things together when he gets back off tour, then we remember and it's as if he was never gone" he couldn't help but stare at her worried face, those awful blonde strands hanging down "Honestly Molly, give him a chance, it will be fine" Molly looked across into his calm dark brown eyes, that had little golden flecks as he smiled at her and she nodded she loved listening to his voice it was so posh and quiet, made her feel less worried.

"You left school then Charlie"

"I wish you would call me Charles" he snorted a laugh and shoulder bumped her "No of course not, I'm doing A levels, then Uni before joining the army"

"What do you want to do that for?"

"It's all I've ever wanted to join the army, you know that, but mum says I have to go to Uni first so I have something to fall back on, Dad says I will need the degree if I want to go to Sandhurst"

What's that?"

"It's a place Molly, where the army train their officers"

"You wanna be like your Dad then?" Charles shrugged "Yeah I do, I know people think that the army just go off to war and kill people, but they don't, they try and help, you know people who can't help themselves, try and stop people killing each other" he shrugged again "look after people who need it"

"Have you got a girlfriend Charlie?"

Charles felt himself go scarlet at the question as he shook his head "No Molly"

"When I'm older can I be your girlfriend?" Charles swallowed hard just as a roar went up in the garden; Dave and Fred had arrived.

-OG-

Molly was still sat on the swing as everyone moved forward towards Dave and Fred, everyone patting him on the back or hugging him. She couldn't take her eyes off him, broad chested, light brown hair, and those green eyes. Even her brothers had told her stories about their Dad, they remembered him, all she had was her Nan telling her he was a twat and a criminal who robbed people. Perhaps Charlie was right and she needed to give her dad a chance.

Dave looked across the garden and saw a pair of green eyes just like his staring at him. Last time he saw Molly she had beautiful long dark wavy hair and here she was with this bird's nest on her head, he looked across to Belinda who shook her head at him, her look brokered no argument and that it would wait until they got home. He returned his eyes back to his young daughter and he smiled. She stood still staring at him as he smiled at her. A rolodex of memories started coming back, hazy snippets of time, but there none the less. Her dad coming home as he swept her up into his arms, him tucking her into bed and reading her a story. That stuffed dog of hers, Bennie. She wondered now where it was. She grinned back at him as she moved forward and he picked her up hugging her close "Cor girl you've grown some," looking over at Belinda and smiling at her nod of approval that he hadn't kicked off. But that hair, fuck it was horrendous.

Charles was watching from the side-lines as his brother walked up "So the famous Dave Dawes is out. Is that Molly, talk about jailbait, she's going to be a right tart when she grows up?"

"Shut up Andrew" Charles retorted quietly "She's only a kid"

"You always did have a soft spot for her didn't you, looking after her whenever that brood came to stay, you should have left her up that bloody tree it might have taught her a lesson, now look at her" Charles swung round to look at his brother to see him smirking as he walked away to talk with their Uncle Fred.

-OG-

Dave had missed a lot in the intervening years, it wasn't just Belinda and not seeing his kids grow up it was all his mates. He had missed both Fred and Sam's weddings. Unable to be best man to Fred when he married Josie back in 84 and there was Sam carrying his four year old son Sean, same age as his Molls when he went away, his arm round his wife Chloe. Derek sidled up to him patting him on the back "So the old team is back together again, what you got up your sleeve then Dave"

"Nothing mate, only go home to the wife and kids, have a few pints with me mates and get to know everyone again" a shiver of dread ran down his spine as he remembered the parting words of Reg, there is a snake on the firm.

William James came up to greet him while he was standing with Fred and Sam, his hand on the small of his wife's back as he joined them. "It's been a long time Dave" he grinned putting his hand out to shake which Dave did. What with them both having children living miles apart, his tours and Dave's incarceration it was hardly surprising they hadn't seen each other in must be nearly 20 years. "Our wedding I think" he said still grinning as he looked down at his wife "Probably is" nodded Fred in affirmation and grinning himself as he thought back to his sister's wedding

"Think that was the night that two of my mates, army Captains no less ended up in hospital" he raised one eyebrow looking between Dave and Fred

"Really" replied Fred looking innocent and Sam smirking with Dave

"What happened" asked Dave innocently

"Seems they were set upon by three men" said William shaking his head and looking at Beth "No reason for the attack that we could fathom" he continued

"It's a mystery but that's London for you, some right dodgy characters" grinned Dave

"Too true Dave, but good to see you out and about Dave" he smiled before guiding his wife away and towards their sons who were only a short distance away.

"He knows don't he Fred?" laughed Dave

"Sounds like it don't it" replied Fred laughing "Don't seem he's that bothered about it though, does he?"

"Why should he be" added Sam "They were slagging off his wife"

-OG-

Between Fred and Sam, they got the Dawes clan back to Stratford, the party having gone on late into the night.

Belinda almost felt like a newlywed again as they started to prepare for bed. The kids went off without any fuss, they said goodbye to Fred, Sam and their wives after having a cup of tea. Dave felt like he needed to be a gentleman "I can go sleep on the sofa Bells if you want" noticing her reticence, it had been such a long time and they had both changed, weren't the same people they were. "No Dave, I've spent far too long on me own" she grinned glad she had a few Gins with Beth and Doris giving her a bit of Dutch courage, show him that nothing had changed for her, while it all felt a bit strange, she still loved the silly bugger.

As he held her during the night, he felt some of the darkness of the last eight years leaving him, he was home with his wife, his kids sleeping in their rooms. No matter what the future held no matter what happened, he would never do a stretch again, he was home and he intended on staying here, he would do whatever it took to stay here. He hugged his sleeping wife tighter kissing her on the shoulder, he just needed to be shrewder, find out who the snake was. But before all of that he needed to build bridges, with his kids and Belinda. Molly had certainly gone a bit wild, that bloody hair of hers. Belinda had already told him that she wanted her ears pierced and a tattoo next, over his dead fucking body. Like it or not he would put his foot down on that score.

-OG-

Fred came to collect him the following morning and he joined them for breakfast. "Well first things first Dave" said Fred finishing off the last of his toast, he was being reminded of what a good spread Belinda laid on for breakfast at the weekends, sets you up for the day she had always said and she wasn't wrong there, it was blinding, "think we better sort you out with a car, you got anything in mind Dave"

"I liked that old Merc I used to have" grinned Dave "Maybe another newer one"

"Can I come to Dad" asked Gary hopefully, he wanted to spend some time with his Dad especially as he had started on the firm, he may not have passed his test but he wouldn't mind a car.

"And me" chipped in both Jack and Molly

"We're only going to look at bleedin cars" laughed Dave "What about we all go to the match this afternoon, the Irons are at home, we won't be gone that long" Jack and Molly nodded in acceptance, they loved going to the match, they loved the crowds and they always got a burger at half time and if they were lucky, they went to the pie and mash shop after for tea.

"Dad can I still come" asked Gary "I might gonna need a car"

"You learnt drive then son" grinned Dave "Yeah you can come but don't think you're getting a car until you can drive and pass your test" Gary's face broke out into a huge grin, it should only take a couple of lessons to do it, his Dad didn't need to know he had been driving since he was 15 and he was really careful, now his dad was out he may as well take the test and get his dad to buy him a car. Fred raised an eyebrow, he knew most of what Gary got up to, even if Gary thought he had kept things close to his chest. He'd been driving the cut and shuts round the yard for years and got his brother into it. No need to let Dave know right now; it would all be part of the learning curve for Dave as he found out new lines of business they had developed. The scrap yard they purchased before he went inside being one of the businesses that had expanded greatly. There must be over 20 men employed down there. Security cameras replacing the old boy and his dogs, although they did keep a couple of dogs there as an added incentive for people not to jump the gates.

They got in the car to drive to the Mercedes garage, Fred had heard good reports of one out Epping way, it's where Tony had got his. Dave looked out the window as London sped passed the passenger window. He barely recognised half the streets, shops, people, fashion, and buildings all changed or gone. He felt a bit worried about how he was going to pick up the pieces of his life. How Bells and the kids felt about him being back again. Molly had been quiet, kept a watchful eye on him, but he wasn't sure if that was because she expected him to kick off about her hair. He wanted to, he really did want to, she was only 11 for god's sake trying to look 18. Belinda had told him to leave it, it would only make it worse, and she'd answer back. If they just tried to ignore it maybe she would change it back when she didn't get the reaction she was expecting. He hoped Bells was right, "this is only the start Dave, you wait till she hits her teens" she said as she laughed her head off at his worried expression.

-OG-

They had bought the car and it would be a couple of weeks before it was due to be delivered to Dave's, meeting his specification. As promised they had all gone to the football and Molly seemed to come out of herself more, he was dead proud of his sons that they obviously kept an eye out for her, how they seemed to be so close.

Fred had taken him to the Earl of Wakefield for a pint a few days after his release and he had caught up with all his old cronies. The landlord still the same and putting a pint on the bar for him with a smile, "This ones on the house" welcoming Dave back. He sat in their familiar booth, him, Fred, and Sam. Derek was joining them later, he had some business to see to apparently. They laughed and talked about the past, Fred and Sam filling him in on people they knew that were inside or moved to Spain. Slowly filling him in on some of the new workings of their business. Dave almost felt like his brain was going to explode with all the changes.

Derek came in about an hour later with two other men "This is Jim and Tom Barton, they're brothers from over Bow way and work with me at the bookies, help out a bit at the casino" he said introducing the two men to Dave, both Fred and Sam had met them many times over the last few years once Derek had introduced them and vouched for them. Although Fred and Sam had never invited them into the inner circle any more than they had invited Derek.

Over the coming weeks they would take him round to all the businesses and told him that Tony was up for a meet at his place once he was up to speed.