Ruthie woke up, her eyes springing open and her ears tuned into the silence. She began to throw her legs over the side of the bed when Alfie put his arm around her waist.

"Where do you think you're going?" Alfie asked groggily with a cheeky smile.

"Maggie needs me." Ruthie grinned back as she swept the hair from his forehead.

"Margaret is fine. The house is quiet." He pointed out.

Almost as if their six-month-old daughter could hear them, cries sprang from down the hall.

"I don't know how you do that." Alfie said as he kissed his wife before releasing her to care for their children.

"Gypsy magic." She winked before donning her robe.

When Alfie had showered and emerged for breakfast, Ruthie, Maggie, and Alfred Solomons III were all eating.

"Dad!" Little Alfie yelled in greeting, his two-year-old mouth full of toast while his sister squealed in excitement at seeing her father.

"Why is it, I am the one that gave birth and brought them into this world, yet they don't get this excited when I come into the room?" Ruthie laughed.

Alfie laughed and kissed his children on their heads before kissing Ruthie's cheek and Edna put his fresh plate of breakfast in front of him.

"Tell me again why we are doing this?" Alfie groaned two weeks later as he drove his family to Birmingham.

"Because they're my family."

"They can still be your family if we don't visit."

Since their marriage three years ago, Alfie had been to Birmingham more than he wanted. He couldn't stand John or Arthur and rolled his eyes at Ada's political conversations. Other than Tommy, the only one he could stand to be in the same room with for an extended period of time was Polly. He respected her strength, but he would never admit it out loud. Ruthie was a lot like Polly, but also so different. His love for his wife had only grown over the years, falling in love with her all over again when she gave birth to his son. Her sweat slicked face staring at their baby with tears in her eyes. And then came Margaret. From the moment he saw her beautiful Shelby blue eyes, Alfie was wrapped around her little finger. He decided that very day that he would kill any boy that broke her heart and that he would never allow her to marry, which Ruthie laughed at.

"The problem is, she is too beautiful. Like her mum." He told Ruthie.

"Flattery will not get me on your side." Ruthie laughed.

That was why he came to Birmingham, for his wife. She knew he hated it and as a reward, she always gave him the best sex of their marriage when they arrived back in Camden Town, which is how they conceived little Maggie. It also worked in Alfie's favor that allowing them to see his children, the Shelby family grew to love them, which meant more protection.

Ruthie rolled her eyes. "You love my family. You just won't admit it."

Alfie looked at her as if she had grown three heads.

When they arrived, Alfie exhaled a deep breath after ringing the doorbell.

"HEY!" John said to his sister when he opened the door. "It's about time you got here!"

"SOMEONE" She paused as she stared intently at Alfie. "Took their time on the drive."

"I was merely looking out for the safety of my family." Alfie shrugged.

"Uh huh."

Alfie followed her inside and Ada ran forward to pluck little Alfie from his father's arms while Polly grabbed Maggie from Ruthie with a smile.

Ruthie took off her coat as she watched her family love on her two children.

"Alfie." Tommy greeted. "Drink?" he offered, and Alfie grunted a nod before taking the glass from Tommy's hand.

They stood a moment listening to the chatter of familial updates before Tommy motioned to his office.

Ruthie watched the two men walk toward Tommy's study and chuckled to herself.

"So, how are things down south? The fucking wops still giving you trouble?" Arthur asked.

"Arthur." Polly chastised. "Language." She said motioning her head to the children.

Ruthie laughed. "Polly, their father says "fucking" at least a hundred times a day. It was Little Alfie's first word."

Polly smiled at her great nephew who ate a biscuit while his sister waved around a spoon, slamming it on the floor in delight.

"We haven't had any trouble. It's been very quiet lately. I'm not sure if that is good or bad." Ruthie said answering Arthur's question as she stood to walk to the drinking cart.

"Yeah, well. Fucking Sabini knows there is no point." John said as he grabbed his sister while she attempted to walk by, putting his arm loosely around her neck rubbing his fist on her head, messing up her hair. "No one is going to mess with the queen of Camden Town AND a fucking a Shelby!"

"JOHN!" Ruthie squealed. "My hair!"

Before John could release her, he felt an object hit his knee.

"NO!" Little Alfie yelled angrily. "No hurt Mummy!"

John looked down to see his nephew's arm reared back with a spoon in his fist, ready to strike again. Before the spoon could collide with John's knee once more, Ruthie snatched it from his hand.

"I'm not hurt, Alfie." Ruthie said as she picked up her son. "Uncle John was only having a laugh."

Alfie wrapped his arm around his mother's neck lovingly before his eyes squinted at John in a way that was so reminiscent of his father, Ruthie couldn't help but stifle a smile.

"What's going on in here?" Alfie asked as he and Tommy re-entered the room, no hostility found in his voice.

"Alfie protect mummy!" Little Alfie said, his voice ringing with pride.

"Did you?" Alfie asked his son.

"He tried to stab John with a spoon." Ruthie explained.

"That's my boy!" Alfie said as he scooped his son from Ruthie's arms. "We must always protect your mummy and little sister." Alfie explained to his son, who nodded vehemently before looking at John and squinting his eyes again.

"My sweet boy is doomed." Ruthie joked as she watched him with his father.

"Oh, Fuck!" Ruthie moaned as she slammed her hand against the wall above her husbands' head. "Alfie… Alfie!" She cried out as her back arched in pleasure.

Feeling her tighten around him, Alfie couldn't hold back. He exploded inside her, his body shuddering while he gave her everything he had.

"Fuck." Alfie said as he attempted to catch his breath. "You go at me like that again and you'll end up pregnant with our third kid."

Ruthie chuckled before she kissed her husband and got off him, laying on the bed her legs and body spent.

"What were you discussing in Tommy's office today?"

"You know Tommy. Always has a new fucking plan. He will never have enough." Alfie answered with a shake of his head.

"Do you have enough?" Ruthie asked teasingly.

Alfie turned his head to look at his wife, a softness in his eyes. He cupped her face, running his thumb gently across her cheek. "I have everything I've ever needed, right here in this house."

Ruthie's eyes lit up at his words and she kissed him before the two fell asleep in each other's arms.

The following Monday, Edna brought Ruthie the post.

"Will Mr. Solomons be out for breakfast, Madam?" Edna asked.

"No. Alfie has already gone to do business." Ruthie replied absent mindedly as she plucked out an envelope with her name on it.

Using the letter opener, she tore through the ivory envelope and pulled out a folded sheet of paper.

Ruthie,

Though it has only been a short time since I have seen you, I feel your absence in my heart. I miss seeing your smile and soaking up the sounds of your laugh. The smell of you still lingers on my pillow, causing your presence to cloud my dreams. I cannot wait until we are able to be together again.

Yours forever,

S

"What the fuck?" Ruthie exclaimed before she flipped the envelope over to read the return address, but not finding one.

Ruthie's mind raced. Who would be writing her letters like this? She hadn't slept in another man's bed since well before her marriage. She would never betray her marriage. Alfie is the only man she has ever and will ever love. Her eyes went wide, Alfie…. He will go mad if he sees this letter.

"Edna." Ruthie called. "I want you to bring any more envelopes that look like this to me straight away from now on." She said as she held up the envelop for the maid to see.

"Yes, ma'am."

Ruthie stood and walked to the fireplace, looking over the letter one last time, her eyes stopping on the signature.

Yours forever,

S

Her mind instantly went to Simon, but he was dead…. Wasn't he? "No. He is dead. Alfie killed him." Ruthie whispered to herself before throwing the letter in the fire and watching it turn to ash.