Alfie's hands went to his wife's face, cupping her cheeks and kissing her mouth desperately, not caring that she was covered in blood. Ruthie kissed him back, just as desperate reveling in the metallic taste of blood and salty tears and Alfie.

"Where are you hurt?" Alfie said, reluctantly pulling away from their kiss to look her over.

Ruthie's nose was bloody, she had a large knot and purple bruise on her forehead, and her wrists were bruised and cut from trying to free herself.

"I'm fine, just take me home please! Just get me out of here!"

Without another word, Alfie put his arms under his wife and lifted her. They walked up the stairs and paused when Ruthie's eyes found Simon's body.

"He's dead. He's not coming back this time." Alfie told her.

"I want to watch." Ruthie said, knowing what they planned to do with his body.

"I don't-" Alfie started but Ruthie looked at him imploringly.

"I NEED to watch Alfie. Or he will always come back. When I close my eyes, when I sleep, when I'm alone. I need to watch."

"The chest downstairs." Alfie told Tommy who instructed John to bring it up as an easier way to transport Simon's lifeless body.

"The children?" Ruthie inquired.

"They're safe. They're in Birmingham with your fucking aunt." Alfie shook his head, humor playing at his lips.

"You left them with a bunch of gypsies?" Ruthie asked in cheeky astonishment.

"Yeah. We are going to have to take out their nose rings before we get back."

Ruthie laughed and curled her body into her husband's.

Once they had walked to their house and Alfie had placed her on the sofa, Ruthie said, "I heard Maggie crying."

Alfie's jaw clenched. "They're alright, Love."

"My heart broke into a thousand pieces because I knew that she needed me." Alfie's heart constricted when he saw tears welling in her eyes.

"It's not your fault." Alfie said as he cupped her face again.

"It is!" She argued desperately. "I should have- I should have told y-you. I-I thought that the letters would stop, and we were so happy. I didn't want that to change." She began to cry, pressing her face into her husband's chest.

Alfie couldn't deny that he was angry she hadn't told him that things were getting out of hand with some mad man sending her letters but knew that wouldn't help her pain. Instead, he pulled her into his lap and kissed her bruised forehead.

"Why would a letter from a mad man change that?" He asked.

"I don't know. I just- they were so odd, and they implied that I had been disloyal. I would never do that and I didn't want you to have even a small amount of doubt." She said with a sniffle.

"I know you would never do that." He said as he stroked her hair. "But it's over now. That fucker is dead."

"You aren't angry with me?" She asked sheepishly.

"Of course, I'm fucking angry with you. I am your fucking husband, it is my responsibility to protect you and our children. You should have told me the minute you got the first one." He admitted at her question, his voice harsh.

Her eyes dropped to her hands, which were folded in her lap. "I was too late, I know."

"Yeah, well, Benjamin is another matter that I am going to deal with." Alfie's jaw clenched as he thought of the man who hadn't heeded his wife's orders.

Alfie exhaled a breath and examined his wife, who was gently rubbing the cuts on her wrists.

"Ruth…" He started and she looked up at him through her wet lashes. He stared at her momentarily, trying to find out if he really wanted to know the answer to his question. "Did-" He ran a hand over his beard. "Did he-?" The moment he asked his partial question he knew he didn't actually want to know, but he didn't want her to carry that around with her forever.

Her eyebrows cinched slightly before she understood his question. "No!"

"Because if he did, it won't change anything in our marriage. You can tell me, I-"

Her eyes went wide before she put her hands on Alfie's face. "He-He tried but I fought back and so he broke my nose. Alfie, he didn't."

Visible relief swept over Alfie's features and his body relaxed slightly.

"I fought him here and he forced me to write that letter. He hit my head on the table when I went for your gun. Then he shoved me in that fucking trunk." She said as a chill ran up her back and Alfie wrapped his warm arms tightly around her. "Then he left me tied up. I tried to escape which is why my hands are cut. Then I-" Ruthie blushed. "I relieved myself right there where I stood after John and Arthur walked by the basement window and couldn't hear me yelling for them. That's why Simon had a tub of water. He wanted me to bathe and he intended to watch."

Alfie's relaxed body tensed as she began telling him of her experience and when she mentioned Simon watching her bathe, she felt his arm shake in anger.

"I made him think I would be good and when he freed me, I screamed for you."

"I heard you." He told her.

"You did?"

"Yeah." He said softly, his dark blue eyes gentle. "I did."

She smiled at him, thankful that her attempts weren't fruitless when Ruthie's stomach gave a pang of hunger accompanied with a loud growl.

"Did he feed you at least?" Alfie asked.

"No." Ruthie admitted, swallowing hard, her throat thick and dry.

"Fucker." Alfie mumbled under his breath as he stood, holding her easily in his arms. "Let's draw you up a bath and I will make you something to eat."

"A bath? You mean you don't like my stench?" Ruthie asked in mock offence.

"Oh treacle, I love everything about you." He said, his eyes twinkling.

"Uh huh." Ruthie said as she rolled her eyes.

Alfie placed her feet on the floor and turned to fill the large marble tub with hot water while Ruthie slowly undressed from her stiff and sticky dress. She couldn't help but lick her lips as she heard and watched the water run. Without thinking about it, she went forward and cupped her hands under the faucet, catching water and bringing it to her lips. She was so thirsty and her body craved the water, regardless of the temperature.

"Ruthie?" She could hear the worry in his voice as he came to her and put his hand on her back.

"I'm sorry." Ruthie said as she leaned up, licking the extra drops from her lips. "I haven't had a drink since he took me across the street." She said this as if she were ashamed, like it was her fault she was parched.

Alfie's throat constricted at her desperation for water "Do you need help?" He asked as his eyes scanned her, looking for damage to her beautiful body.

"I'll be alright." She said as she held tight to the side of the tub before stepping in shakily.

Ruthie let out a moan as the hot water touched her sore, tired body. Alfie watched her for a moment as she leaned her head back and closed her eyes, releasing a content sigh before wincing as her damaged wrists fell into the water.

The last thing he wanted to do was let her out of his sight but watching her drink hot water from the faucet of her bathtub made a tight knot rise in his throat, so he left her to rest and relax. Walking into the kitchen he put a hand on a low cabinet door and dropped to his knees, the relief of having her home safe combined with the many emotions her story and desperation brought overwhelming him. Allowing himself a moment to think about her experience, Alfie's emotions turned into bitter anger at what his wife had experienced. Wiping away the stray tears that had escaped his control, Alfie got to his feet and walked to his telephone. After making a call to Ishmael and warming some soup, he walked back into the bathroom to find Ruthie asleep. The smell of the soup brushed past her nostrils and she snorted as her stomach woke her.

"Well, if that wasn't the most attractive snort I've ever heard.." He trailed off with a cheeky grin.

Ruthie gave him a look of playful contempt before she reached out her hands. "Give me whatever is in that bowl, now!"

Alfie held out the bowl to her carefully since the contents were still hot. Ruthie pushed the spoon aside and started drinking the hot soup from the bowl, liquid running down her chin.

"You'll make yourself ill, slow down." Alfie said, knowing from his experience in the war what going hungry could do to the body.

Ruthie pulled the bowl away from her face for a breath and then moved it back, gulping the last bit down.

Alfie shook his head and took the bowl from her before saying, "I have to go to the bakery to take care of something. I'll only be a moment."

Ruthie's eyes went wide in panic. "No! Please, Alfie. Don't leave me here alone!" she said as she began to stand.

"I'm not." He said as he put a hand on her shoulder to calm her. "You stay here and take as long as you need. Sarah will be in the sitting room. Yell for her if you need anything."

Ruthie searched the room as she thought. Ishmael's wife had always been a part of her group and that comforted her, but only a bit.

"Where are my brothers?"

"They took the trunk back to Birmingham. We will go there once I return and you are done here."

Ruthie's heart rate increased. "I'm afraid." She confessed in a whisper.

"You don't have to be. You won't be alone. But if you really don't want me to leave, I won't. I can bring the business here."

"What business?"

"When you give a fucking order, they will learn to follow it." Alfie clenched his jaw.

Benjamin. "What will you do to him?"

Alfie didn't answer her question, he simply stared at her with a tight jaw.

"I won't be alone?" Ruthie asked.

"No. Just one shout and Sarah will be here to help you."

"Alright." She conceded shakily.

Ruthie began to scrub at her body, removing the urine, dirt, and blood. The knowledge that Alfie was gone sat at the forefront of her mind and she wished he hadn't told her he was leaving. She would have preferred for him to leave without telling her. She looked at the window and images of Simon watching her rose to her thoughts.

"He's dead." She told herself, but her eyes flickered back to the window. "Sarah!" she finally yelled.

Within moments, her dear friend and loyal worker was there. "Is everything alright?"

"Um, will you pull the drapes please." Ruthie asked shakily, pulling her knees to her chest and Sarah did without question.

Sarah looked at her for a moment before offering, "Would you like me to help you wash your hair?"

Ruthie smiled thankfully and Sarah sat behind the tub and began washing Ruthie's hair.