Taking in a deep breath Estelle brushed her hands down her skirt as she paced in front of the terrace houses. The sky was a dark grey, threatening rain at any moment, and she was beginning to wonder why on earth she hadn't brought her coat. There was a shiver running up and down her spine, though she wasn't sure that was totally down to the weather as she reached up to nervously smooth down her hair and noticed her shaking fingers.

She wasn't sure why she was feeling as though her stomach was swirling up into tight knots. It was just Henry!

Michael.

She sighed and shook her head before she leaned it back and stared up to the swirling, angry looking, clouds above. He wasn't called Henry anymore…he was never supposed to have been called Henry. His name was Michael and she'd have to get used to it.

Clenching her fingers into a fist she raised her hand to knock…and dropped it back down to her side again.

Her mother had told her not to come and she was beginning to think she should have listened. The man who had showed up to tell Hen-Michael, his biological cousin apparently, about his family had ended up the talk of the village…and not in a good way.

People gossiped in the local pub that he had threatened Rosemary, that he had turned up with violent intentions and that he was a dangerous man from the big city. The whispers had passed from person to person, unable to be escaped and invading Stella's thoughts so often she found it hard to concentrate on anything else.

The worry had overtaken her, her nails bitten down to nothing and her sleep pattern disturbed.

It hadn't helped when Rosemary had confessed that she hadn't heard from Henry since she had waved him off on his adventure. She didn't know if he had arrived safely or if he had been welcomed with open arms...or if he had been shunned, lost or was dead at the bottom of a ditch.

The decision to leave, to follow in his footsteps and make sure he was alright, had been a quick and simple one for Stella. She'd always looked out for him; whether it was patching him up when he fell off his horse or making sure he made it home on time for food, and she wasn't going to let that instinct go easily. She had packed a bag, told her mother that - despite her concerns - she would be fine and got onto the next train to Birmingham.

She raised her hand to knock once again.

And it swung back down to by her side.

Now she was here, stood outside the address Rosemary had given her before she left, she felt the concerns push their way into her mind. What if he didn't want to see her? When he had left to meet his biological mother in Birmingham he had assured her he'd keep in contact, that she wouldn't even get chance to miss him because he would be right back.

'Right back' seemed like forever now a few weeks had passed.

"Is there a reason you're hanging around my front door?"

Stella hopped backwards in shock as the door she was stood in front of swung open to reveal an angry looking older lady. Opening her mouth she wished she could come up with something profound to introduce herself yet "Hello." was all that escaped her lips.

The woman leaning against the doorframe, cigarette in hand, narrowed her eyes and let out a sigh "Which one is it you're after? Because they're all out at the sales and I don't accommodate their women of the night for them."

"Wh-no," Stella choked out holding her hand to her chest in shock at the insinuation "I'm-" but before she could get a better explanation out the door was slammed shut in her face.

"Uhm," stepping up to the door once more she knocked lightly "You must be Polly Hen-" stopping herself she let out a frustrated sigh "Michael's birth mother? He's wondered about you a lot since he found out where you lived," she continued before rapping her knuckles on the door once again "I, uhm, I lived just down from his foster house…I could answer any questions you have about his life? I know he's not one to-" her eyes widened and her hands clutched together in shock as the door swung open once again "-open up."

"What did you say your name was again?"

A sweet smile came to her face as she held her hand out to shake Polly's "Estelle…well Stella…whichever."

Polly glanced down to her outstretched hand before she let out a chuckle "Come on in. You smoke?"

"Oh!" Stella exclaimed, her eyes wide, as a tin of cigarettes were shoved into her face "No, no. I don't smoke."

Pausing, Polly's eyes narrowed for a moment as she looked over her, a small smile coming to her face before she pushed open the door and nodded her head for Stella to follow.

Her boots scuffed on the floor slightly as she obeyed, her hands clutched in front of her nervously. Her eyes scanned the homely looking kitchen, not something she had been expecting when she had made her way down the street toward Polly's home, and she smiled gratefully as she accepted the seat Polly pulled out from the table for her.

"Tea?"

"Yes thank you," Stella said wringing her hands in her lap as her eyes continued to dart around the room. It was so different to their lives back in the village and she couldn't help but wonder whether Michael preferred it. She wanted to ask where he was, her heart pounding heavily in her chest with the worry of not seeing him yet, but instead she cleared her throat and threw one last glance around the room. It was better to stay on the good side of Henry's biological mother so she plastered a smile onto her lips and asked the only other question her brain would generate "So, was there anything you wanted to ask?"

"Well I-"

Polly was cut off with an almighty racket and Stella sat up straighter in her seat when she picked out the sound of Michael's voice floating in from the other room, relief flooding her veins but her nerves gathering in a lump in her throat. She found herself holding her breath as the voices edged closer and closer and it was almost as though she couldn't hear whatever Polly was saying to her as the door swung open.

He didn't notice her for a second. Only two had wandered into the room which meant her attention was immediately drawn to Michael. There was a smile on his face and he was deep in conversation with the man to his left Stella recognised as his cousin, the man who had been the talk of their village for the past couple of weeks.

Her heart swelled, a blush coloured her cheekbones and she couldn't help but smile to herself at the sight of him. He looked well, dressed in one of his suits with his hands tucked in the pockets, and there was an air of comfort around him, as though this was where he fit.

Until his eyes raised and his face fell "Essie," he breathed "What are you doing here?"

"Michael don't be so rude," Polly said in a clipped tone as she got to her feet and brushed her hair from her face. Turning to the icey eyed man regarding Stella with contempt she nodded, her hand reaching out as though she was going to rest it on his arm before she thought otherwise and let it drop back down to her side and raised her chin defiantly "Thomas thank you for bringing him home safely. I think we need to have a few private words."

Stella shrank further down into her seat and clutched her hands together in her lap as the icy blue gaze of the older Shelby man left her to look at Polly, looking as though he was about to argue against her "Alright Pol," he said slow and reluctant tone as he tucked his hands into the pockets of his trousers "If you need anything you know where I am."

In any normal circumstance she and Hen-Michael would have exchanged amused glances and conversation about how terrifying his cousin was. She recalled a time when her grandfather had come over to stay with them for a while, a large and foreboding man he had terrified the two twelve year old friends but they'd made sure to make light of the situation up in Henry's tree house. He would do impressions that made Stella scream with laughter, placing a light atop a visit which would have otherwise gotten her down.

But in this different setting, different situation, all they did was fall into an awkward silence as Polly kept her hands busy pottering around the kitchen. With the only noise between them being the clatter of mugs and cutlery Stella chewed on her bottom lip and kept her eyes down to the floor, keeping her head lowered to hide the blaze of embarrassment crossing her skin, while Michael stood leaning against the wall opposite where she was sitting. Out of the corner of her eye she could see that his arms were crossed tightly over his chest and, with a sinking heart, she knew he was irritated with her turning up.

"You are lucky I was in here Estelle," Polly spoke up, breaking the crowd of silence as she placed a fresh cup of tea in front of the young girl "Thomas has recently set me up with my own house," she continued, a hint of pride in her tone as her shoulders straightened "But I had said I would watch this place while they were out. It will be where we will head for tonight though."

Michael's head whipped around to look at her "You're staying?"

"Of course she is staying," Polly spoke before Stella could get a word in "Not only is it late in the day now but she has come a long way to see you!" she continued plucking the teacup from in front of Stella even though she hadn't had a chance to even glance down to it let alone take a sip "Any friend of yours is a friend of mine and is more than welcome to stay in my home," she continued and Stella spotted, in quiet amusement, that the hard faced lady she had met earlier was nervous.

Polly paused for a few seconds as Stella awkwardly got to her feet and shuffled over to where Michael was standing. She glanced between the two of them fondly before she spoke again "Come on. We can go back in my car," she said plucking her long jacket from where it had been draped over the back of one of the chairs and pulling it on.

Michael had his hands in his pockets as he stepped in line with Stella and the two of them followed Polly out of the house "You can't be here," he said beneath his breath, leaning across to her.

She frowned and threw a glance to him out of the corner of her eye "I'm sorry, okay?" she hissed, the burning disappointment in her chest replaced with an anger at his attitude. What had he expected after just disappearing without another word? That she would just forget about him? "I was worried about you. Rosemary hadn't heard if you had arrived safely or anything."

Michael let out a long sigh but before he could open his mouth to answer they were standing beside Polly's car and he was tugging the door open for her to climb into the back seats.

"This car is grand Mrs Gray," she said as she settled into her seat and watched as Michael slid into the passenger side in front of her, without even a glance back, and Polly hopped up into the driver's seat.

"Thank you Estelle but please call me Polly," she smiled her reply turning in her seat for a second to flash Stella a glance before turning to Michael and tapping his arm with the back of her fingers "I like her," she said in a loud whisper and Stella ducked her head to hide her blush and her grin.

She was used to being the one the older generation seemed to be drawn to. Her shy smiles and soft tone of voice made them soften in her presence, most of the people in the village had known her name and would invite her over for tea and cake. They'd fuss over her and she'd run errands for them, nipping to the shop to get their groceries or talking Henry into helping her dig up their gardens when needed.

It had been her own age group she had struggled with, her mother had called her an old soul and tried to tell her not to worry when she complained about not fitting in with the girls at school. They'd talk about her behind her back, analysing her relationship with Henry and putting all kinds of pressure on her to tell them they were having some kind of love affair. They were obsessed, giggling behind their hands whenever he met Stella at the school gates to walk back with her, but he had never been interested.

If it hadn't been for him Stella was convinced she would have grown up alone.

The drive to Polly's place wasn't too far but, sitting in the backseat without much conversation, it felt like an age to Stella. Sitting low in the comfortable cushions she watched the passing of rooftops out of the window, the grey sky above them only getting darker, until they were turning into a street lined with black and white painted houses.

"Wow it's beautiful," she said taking Michael's hand once they were parked up and he helped her out onto the path. She stood for a couple of seconds, clutching her small bag in her hands, and looked up to the pretty red bricked house, decorated with stripes, before her. It was so different to their annoyingly picturesque village with its views and white bricked cottages.

She felt refreshed.

"I think so," Polly said standing at her side "I was concerned Michael would be used to better views."

"No this...this is super," Stella said as she moved forward to wander up the front path, missing the smile Polly was sending over to the eye rolling Michael.

"Okay now come here," Polly began, grasping onto Michael's attention once they were in the door, it was locked behind them and she had turned on him "So how'd it go?" she asked taking his face in her hands and looking him over, almost as though she was checking him for injury like Stella herself had done when his mare back home would dump him in the rose bushes.

He smiled, broad and excited, "Well, it was cold in the van but it was super. Really," he insisted, another roll of his eyes as his mother glanced across to Stella; their use of the word 'super' seeming to amuse her.

Before Stella could ask about what he had been up to Polly's finger was under his chin and her dark eyes were narrowed "Let me smell your breath," she said and smiled as her suspicions evaporated "And did they behave themselves?"

"They were amazing, Mum," Michael said and across the room Stella couldn't help but glance over quickly, she hadn't been expecting him to be calling her mum already and she couldn't help the twinge of sadness in her stomach for kind hearted Rosemary back home. Though, almost as quickly, she put her own feelings aside and nearly smiled when she spotted that Polly's eyes were filling up as she patted his arm. She obviously hadn't been expecting the name either "They were really amazing."

"Well I'm glad you had a good time," she said as she stepped away from him, her eyes wandering over to where Stella was awkwardly standing. Clearing her throat she straightened her back and brushed her hands down the front of her skirt, turning back into the brisk woman Stella had been slightly scared of earlier "I'll sort us all something to eat, leave you two to catch up," she said with a smile "Estelle please, take off your coat and make yourself at home."

Smiling politely as she slipped her coat off Stella turned to hang it up by the front door "Thank you again Polly," she called after her host before she turned to face Michael and put on her most innocent looking expression, her brown eyes big and her lashes fluttering "So. Have you not even missed me?"

Without even answering he pulled her into a hug, burying his nose into her hair and holding her tightly, enveloping her in his familiarity. His eyes closed and he rocked her from one side to the other for a couple of seconds before he pulled away, his expression more serious than she had ever seen it "I meant it Essie; you shouldn't be here."

"I know you said you needed time to get to know Polly and I have just turned up selfishly unannounced but I just...well I - I really missed you," she said with a shrug, raising her hand as though she was going to touch him before thinking better of it and dropping it back down to her side once again.

"Honestly it is so good to see you," he said smiling but shaking his head at the same time "It just, well, it is a bit different here."

"Oh I noticed," she said, glancing around the modern looking room with wide and wonderfilled eyes "Birmingham was always on our list of cities to choose from."

"You aren't eighteen yet."

Stella frowned and folded her arms over her chest, regarding him through narrowed eyes "And did your birthday move this year?"

He ducked his head down as his hands ended up in his pockets once again "It's different for me Essie," he said with a sigh "They're my family. I was mixed up in this life before I had even arrived here."

"This life?" she repeated glancing around once again "We didn't have the worst of lives back in the village but this is great! Not only is the house amazing but it's the city H-Michael," she paused at her slip and winced, pressing her hand against her lips and shaking her head "I'm sorry."

"Still getting used to it myself," he admitted quietly sending her a smile for a quick second before he ran an exasperated hand down his face "They...they have a family business," he explained quietly, gesturing for them both to move around and sit down on the sofa "Bookmaking. Import and Export. We...we actually went and bought a racehorse today for over two thousand."

Her mouth dropped open and her eyes became wide "You did?" she asked in amazement thinking back once more to the two hacking horses she and Michael had shared back in the village, how they would spend most of their days in the stables and exploring the countryside with their two bay mares "Well that sounds even better! I never expected there to be horses in a city like this maybe I could help."

But Michael was shaking his head again "It isn't safe for you here," he said reaching out for her hand, the roughness of his skin feeling familiar against her own "I can't tell you why because I'm not even sure myself but what I do know is that it is dangerous," dropping his voice he leaned closer to her "I lied, to Polly, when I said they had behaved at the sale."

Furrowing her brow Stella turned on her seat to face him properly "What do-"

"Come along you two, time for food," Polly interrupted her breezing into the room with the nervy smile back on her face "I asked the maid to do up the guest room for you Estelle," she explained as they each sat in a chair at the table "And I know you've brought along a small bag but Esme and Ada have offered some of their old clothes for you. They're back at the Shelby house."

"That's very kind," Stella answered with a small smile, not looking up and across to where Michael was sitting as she reached for her cutlery. She wasn't sure how long Polly was expecting her to stay, though she herself didn't know what she would answer if she was asked "So when do I get to meet the rest of the family?"

The only noise for a few moments was the scraping of their knives and forks on the plates in front of them.

"Soon," Polly said glancing up and sending her a smile "But for now I'm on holiday."

Stella sighed as she sat down on the bed. Shuffling backward she tucked her legs beneath her and picked at the cotton poking out of the stitching at the side of her nightgown. The noise at night was different in the city and she found her ears pricking every time an unfamiliar one echoed through the darkness of the night.

The stars didn't shine as brightly either. Standing at the window she's felt a slight disappointment weigh down in her belly as she stared out to the dark sky before closing the curtains and turning back to her bed.

Polly had given her the smaller room just down from Michael's, many apologies passing her lips as she showed her where she was staying, made up for her while they were eating. Stella had smiled as she had wandered in, insisting it was perfect, homely and not to worry because it was exactly what she needed.

Storing her bag, unopened and still packed, in the large wardrobe opposite her bed - a generously sized double despite this being what Polly had called a 'small' room - Stella had quickly changed into her nightwear. She had felt exhausted before she'd finally been left alone and now the thoughts buzzing around her mind kept her from laying back and getting some rest.

She couldn't help but wonder if turning up on Michael's biological mother's doorstep had been the best idea. Sure she had been able to check up on him, to see that he actually was alive and well with her own two eyes, but all in all it had been, what could only be described as, a weird day.

Just as her mind was beginning to race and the doubts were kicking in as to whether or not Michael even wanted her around, a soft knock at her door caught her attention.

"Oh, uhm, hello?" she called out in a whispered tone unable to stop herself from fixing her hair and wishing she hadn't taken her makeup off already.

"Essie?" Michael whispered back as he slowly opened up her door and leaned his head just inside.

She smiled over to him fondly as he raised his eyebrows "Come in," she said patting the space beside her. She hated the fact that she was so conscious of her burning cheekbones as he stepped inside and wrapped his robe around himself. There were so many times over the years that he would stay over at her place or she would end up staying at his so late Rosemary would just expect her for breakfast.

She wasn't even sure when it had all changed for her, when her heart started to swell if his hand touched hers or when her cheekbones began to burn when their eyes met. He had been her best friend for so long, they had always been so close and she had never even entertained the notion that there could be something more between them. Until one day something had shifted and everything had changed for her.

And then there had been the kiss just before he left which had sent her thoughts and her feelings over the edge.

The kiss neither of them had been able to bring up again as of yet.

"So," he began as he hopped up onto the bed beside her and sent her a warm smile "This is all…"

"I know," she said with a knowing nod when his sentence trailed off "And I know I probably should have stayed away…" it was her turn to leave a sentence open ended as she gently bumped her shoulder against his.

But he was shaking his head "I know I didn't give you the warmest of welcomes when I saw you in that kitchen but I was really happy to see you," he said reaching over to give her hand a squeeze "I just remembered how different life is here and it scared me."

"I've always wanted to come to a big city," Stella answered in a small voice, keeping her eyes lowered to the floor as her fingers went back to playing with the stray piece of cotton. She found herself feeling as though she sounded childish. She shouldn't be feeling jealous of him and hoping he wasn't about to send her packing but at the same time she couldn't help it.

"I know," he said with a sigh. He still had a hold of her hand and she found her brain focussing on that over anything else, watching as his fingers traced patterns along her skin and trying her best to remember to breathe "-killed a man today."

Taking her hand back she shuffled away from him and looked at him with wide eyes "Sorry, say that again?"

Michael let out a sigh and reached up to brush his hair further over to one side "I didn't want to tell you," he said in a strained voice as he shuffled uncomfortably "But you're you and I don't keep secrets from you," he said, though his smile seemed a little forced and Stella couldn't help but remember the days back in their village when she was convinced he was holding something back "My cousin. Arthur. He gets angry, some of their rivals were at the sales today and he almost killed a man with his bare hands."

"Oh," Stella answered in a whisper as she slumped slightly, not overly sure on how she was supposed to act to such information. A slight fear gripped at her heart but she didn't want to release it, if he knew she was scared he would send her back. Back to being alone in a village she'd never really fit in. Clearing her throat she glanced back up to him "And would Polly not have let you see them again if you would have told her?"

His look of slight shock at her reaction told her this hadn't been what he was expecting "Well...no probably not," he said shuffling further onto her bed and crossing his legs beneath him as he turned to face her properly "It isn't like she doesn't know what they're up to, she's pretty high up in the Shelby company, I just don't think she'd be too happy if she knew they had me involved in something like that."

"Well this isn't how we thought our adventures in a big city would go," Stella said with a slight, worrisome chuckle as her eyes fell down to where her fingers were nervously entwining in her lap "Has this been a lot for you to handle on your own?"

He took in a deep breath as his dark eyes flickered up "Quite the opposite," he said in a small voice as the side of his mouth turned up into a smirk she didn't quite recognise "I feel like this is what has been missing from my life. This family, they're in my blood and all of this...it just feels like second nature to me."

Swallowing the lump in her throat she wished the smile on her lips wasn't as forced as it was as she looked over to him "I'd love to meet them," she said in a quiet and, what she hoped was, convincing tone.

Michael seemed to hesitate for a second before a grin came to his face and he nodded his head "Okay," he said still nodding "Okay, I think we could convince Polly it's a good idea," he said as he hopped down from the bed, Stella noticing his change in name for his biological mother "See you tomorrow?"

Before she could get a chance to reply he had pressed a kiss to her cheek and she was alone with her thoughts.

Her thoughts which continued to race through her mind and kept her tossing and turning throughout the night. Dreams of what Michael's family were like, what could possibly happen when she met them and blood, lots and lots of blood, plagued what little sleep she managed as she tossed and turned in Polly's spare bed.

There had been nothing in the plan which could have possibly prepared her for this.

"You look exhausted," Polly looked concerned once Stella had made the journey down the stairs and into the kitchen the next morning "Is there something needing changing in your room?"

"Oh no," she answered with a wave of her hand before hiding her yawn behind her palm "It was just trying to settle in a different bed," she explained with a shrug as she smiled up to the maid plonking a plate filled with breakfast goods down on the table in front of her.

Polly regarded her for a second before she raised the paper back up to where it had been hiding her face "I know I said it would be a while," she spoke without emerging from behind her reading material "But I need to go back to the Shelby house for something today if you and Michael would like to join me?"

Stella tried her best to not choke on the piece of toast she'd been chewing, instead washing it down with a sip of her tea "Yes," she replied with a nod of her head "Yes of course, I would love to meet the rest of the family."

I hope you enjoy this chapter and it isn't as terrible as my mind is telling me it is haha! To see more Stella visit my tumblr page - sgtbuckyybarnes :)

thanks for reading! xo