The boys return from war

Age 9

With his hands shoved deep into his pockets, John steps through the gates of the school, hanging back from the crowd of parents waiting as he himself waits for his little brother and sister to leave the school building. He had left his own children, who had been home from school ill, in the care of Aunt Pol, volunteering to be the one to pick Edith and Finn up...volunteering being the key word; Arthur was already half way through a bottle of whiskey, Pol looked exhausted from 4 years of school runs, and Tommy had shut himself up in his office, leaving John the only sibling around to collect the youngest Shelbys from school. He had practically been talking to himself when he stood in the middle of the betting shop 10 minutes earlier, stating that the little ones needed picking up, and after a full minute of silence, had resigned himself to the fact it would be he making the trip down to the school. John straightens instinctively as the double doors open, children flooding out towards their parents who catch them in tight hugs, chatting away about their day. Chest constricting in momentary panic, John steps forwards as the crowds of parents disperse, leaving him one of the last adults in the playground, scanning around him for his younger siblings in case they had slipped past him some how. Just as he was about to step towards the school building again, intent on finding the youngest Shelbys teachers, the doors push open again, revealing two giggling Shelby siblings, dragging their school bags behind them.

"What are you two rascals giggling about?" John calls teasingly, letting out a laugh as Edith and Finn's heads simultaneously snap up, jaws slack as they freeze, taking in their big brother standing before them. "Well?" John prompts, opening his arms wide and dropping to his knee as Edith recovers from her shock first, leaping down the steps and flying into her brother's waiting arms. Finn follows quickly behind (glancing around first to make sure none of his friends were around and watching) before he too throws himself into John's arms, their older brother letting out a choked laugh as tears well in his eyes at the ability to hold his siblings close again. "God, I missed you." He breathes out, pressing his nose to the top of Edith's head, breathing in her scent as he presses a kiss to the crown of her head, repeating the action with Finn before pulling back to take them both in. "You've grown!" Edith laughs as she nods enthusiastically.

"I'm as big as Finn!" She coos, stepping back to survey her big brother. "Your hair is funny!" She observes, reaching up in her tiptoes to run a hand over his cropped short hair.

"It'll grow back." He assures her, pushing himself up to full height again, tucking Edith and Finn's hands in his as they turn and head for home.

Walking into 6 Watery Lane, John gently lays a hand on the back of each of his siblings, pushing them towards the kitchen where he had instructed they wash their hands before heading off to find their other brothers. Making a quick detour on the way to the betting shop, John runs his hand over the head of his sons, sleeping on the sofa, giving his daughter a small smile as she rubs her hands over her eyes, reaching his hands out towards her as she sits up, leaning into his touch. Lifting her on to his hip, John presses a kiss to her temple as he heads back through the house.

"Let's go find your uncles, eh, Katie?" He whispers against her hair, pushing through the doors to the betting shop. "You sober enough to see Edith and Finn?" He calls over to Arthur who grunts in reply, not moving from his slumped back position in his chair. Rolling his eyes, he walks past Arthur, over to Tommy's office, his older brother briefly glancing up at the knock on his door. "Edith and Finn are back."

"Good." Tommy states with a nod, ducking his head back down as he continues to run his finger down the ledger he was reading from.

"They're both fine by the way." He calls, looking back over his shoulder at Arthur who was swishing the remaining whiskey around the bottle. "Thanks for asking."

"John." Tommy snaps, lifting his head once more. "Just let them in. Jesus." Rolling his eyes again, John shakes his head once, moving back into the house where Finn and Edith were impatiently hovering by the double doors leading to the shop, eager to get in to see their brothers.

"Go crazy." John mumbles, holding the door open for the children, letting out a laugh as Edith emits an ear splitting shriek, making Arthur jump as she hurtles through the shop towards him. John watches from the doorway with a small smile as Edith throws herself at Arthur, scrambling into his lap.

"Ew! Arthur! You stink!" She exclaims, cowering away from the reek of sweat mixed with alcohol lingering around her older brother. "You need a bath!" She jokes, sliding off his lap and running back towards the kitchen. "I'll go tell Aunt Pol!"

"Hey, are you not going to say hello to Tommy?" John chides softly, catching her by the shoulder as she attempts to pass him, looking up at him with wide eyes.

"But Arthur! He needs a bath. I need to go tell Aunt Pol!" She protests, sighing as John turns her around again.

"I'll go tell Aunt Pol. Look. Tommy's waiting for you." And sure enough, Tommy had emerged from his office in the time Edith had had her back turned, hands deep in his pockets as he leans against the doorframe to his office.

"Hello, you." He calls, crouching down to Edith's height as she glances up at John once more, wide grin stretched across her face.

"Go on." He prompts softly, pushing her in the direction of Tommy, who had already gathered Finn into his arms. Not needing to be promoted any further, Edith runs back across the room, lacing her arms around Tommy's neck in a tight hug.

"I missed you!" She exclaims, squeezing him tightly as he hums in agreement.

"I missed you too, Edith." He states, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "And you, Finn."

"Missed you too." Finn mumbles against his chest, both children content to be held by their big brothers again.