This is currently in the process of being updated and changed so if things dont make sense that is why! This is the first chapter that has been updated, I will update the story bio when its complete :) - S

She didn't know whether to laugh or cry at his words, they stung and made bile rise in her throat. Anna sipped her whisky, the burning easing her anger. How dare he write such words, she had not imagined the words he had sent her. She knew he felt the same as her and if he didn't he did not need to speak to her in such a cold way. I won't have time for you let alone all of your love. She scoffs and shakes her head as she takes a sip of her whisky, three o'clock comes around the landlord tells everyone that the men are safe, that they will be home soon. He had started added the last part a few weeks ago, probably to keep us all going, clearly, if you were in the room at 3 pm then the Shelby boys meant something to you. Despite her anger, Anna releases a breath she had not realised she was holding.

Anna grabs her coat and necks the rest of her drink, she makes her way towards the door of the garrison when a hand grabs hers. Snapping her head up she pulls her hand away roughly. "Come with me," Polly mutters, grabbing Annas hand once more she pulls her into the private room, the room is empty, Polly sits down and nods towards the bench next to her as she pours two drinks and slides one to next to her, Anna does not move towards it. "Sit." Polly raises a perfectly sculpted eyebrow at Anna. She does not speak as she takes a seat, wrapping her cold fingers around the glass.

"I have to go home," Anna whispers, taking a sip of the whisky. Oh how times had changed, she felt as though she was no longer herself. Drinking whisky in pubs with a woman who scared her half to death.

Polly ignores her comment, lighting a cigarette she offers one to Anna, she accepts taking a long drag, inhaling the smoke into her lungs. For all her nicety's Anna had always smoked, despite her Mothers warnings that it would do her no good she could not help herself. "I got a letter from my John today."

"And what did he say?" Anna questions, flicking the ash into the ashtray on the table, she looks Polly directly in the eye through the cloud of smoke.

"So you are the girl writing to Tommy." Polly nods, looking towards the hatch she stands the close it. "See Anna, anyone else would ask who John is, but you already know him, don't you." Anna gulps, its loud enough for Polly to snap her head up to her. "I don't know what you want from him but"

"I want anything from him!" Anna hisses, pulling his letter from her pocket. "and he clearly wants nothing from me." She slides the letter towards Polly, taking a big gulp of her whisky she shakes her head. "He wrote to me first." Anna sighs, pressing the stub of her cigarette on the glass ashtray.

Polly reads her nephews words for a moment, she begins to chuckle and shake her head. "I see John got to him."

"What?" Polly slides the letter back towards Anna. "It doesn't matter anyway, I won't be writing to him again."

Polly leans across the table and grabs Anna's face in her hand, forcing the small girl to look her in the eye. "Listen here." Anna tries to pull her face out of Polly's hand but this only earns her a slap to the back of her head. "You write to him, tell him that you aren't like the others." She pushes Anna's face away and watches as she hits her head on the wall. "John says he has been different since the letters started. More like the old Tommy." Anna rubs the back of her head, she could feel a headache starting, either from the knock she just took or from Polly's words.

"You saw what he wrote he doesn't want me to." Anna sighs, taking a swig of her drink.

"What a man wants is not always what he needs." Polly watches Anna as she puts on her hat and heads for the door. "I'll see you tomorrow then?" Polly laughs, Anna does not look back at her as she storms out of the pub.

Her mind feels cloudy like the smoke in the pub, she could feel the sweat dripping down her neck, making her hair stick to her skin. The summer was coming to an end now but it felt as though the sun was not going anywhere anytime soon. It was the hottest summer they had had in years and most of the women rejoiced in it, letting their children run around naked, having water fights and filling the streets with there laughter. Today was no different, she could see little John walking down the street with his Freddie's sister. Anna raises her hand to wave but she turns her head away, not wanting to speak to Anna today. She understood why the family had distanced themselves from her, she had been the one to take the letter that day. To tell them that he had passed, even if it hadn't actually been her that said her words. Now, whenever they saw Anna they thought of Freddie alone in a ditch.

Anna unlocks her front door, the unusual silence brings a wave of relief through her body, she didn't want to have to explain her bad mood to the whole house. Hanging her coat up she makes her way towards the kitchen, she places the kettle on the stove and sits at the table, she reads his letter again. Polly had said that Johns words had gotten to him, were the words on the letter even from Tommy's own mind? She had said that he was more like his old self because of her letters, they had given him hope. Sighing she takes a piece of paper from the drawer and begins to write, the words do not come as easily, each word is thought over. She writes the letter, again and again, the crushed up paper filling the small table by the time she is finished her hand is aching. Anna licks the envelope and puts it into her coat pocket before heading out of the front door. This was one letter that could not wait to be sent.

Dear Thomas,

I hope this letter finds you well, I imagine you are not ready to be reunited with your family and I would like to advise that your Aunt as well. We had a conversation about you today, she said that John had told her about our letters. I don't know what your brother said to you Thomas but you have to get something straight. I never sent that first letter with any other intention besides saying my thanks but yet here we are.

Your aunt says that my letters have brought you some hope and joy once again, that tells me, Thomas, that you feel somewhat the same about me.

How dare you say you will have no time for me when you return when I have spent months, days and hours worrying about you and your family! You should be thankful that I am even writing you this letter, without your Aunt, I doubt I would have written to you again.

But here we are Thomas, here we are.

You can decide what you want this to be on your return but for the time being Thomas, here it comes.

I love you,

Anna.

Tommy puts the letter into his pocket, his heart pounding in his chest he marches across the field to where his brothers sit playing cards, grabbing John by the collar he lifts him up and punches him square in the jaw. Arms wrap around Tommy and pull him away. "You bastard!" John moans his dirty hand to his face, flexing his jaw up and down.

"You told POLLY!" Tommy yells, his eyes wide.

"I thought she could knock some sense into her!" John pushes Tommy's chest. The hands around Tommy loosen, he grabs Johns face with both hands leaning his forehead on his.

"She fucking loves me, John!" Tommy hisses, pushing Johns head away. His brother stares at him as he walks away, a smirk playing on his lips as he watches Tommy sit on the grass, a smile playing at his lips as he re-reads the letter.

She loves me. Tommy smiles as he runs his fingers through his hair. He wanted to run around and scream it in all of the men's faces, Anna loved him! Guilt washed over him, he could not do that. This was another man's fiancé dead or not, she did not belong to him yet.

Dear Anna,

I am well and your letter reached me quicker than it usually does. How is the weather at home? The only good thing about France is that when it rains the ground is that hard it does not soak the water up, which means there is not a lot of mud.

You are probably thinking, what is he doing? Talking about the weather. I know, I am sorry.

I want to apologise for my last letter, my words were not justified and I am sorry if they upset you. My Aunt Polly is a smart woman and she is never wrong with matters of the heart and if she told you to write to me then she must approve of you.

Have you really spent all that time worrying about me? You should be enjoying your life and concentrating on your studies. I will need a nurse to look after me when I get home and I have a feeling you will fit the bill perfectly. I will find time for you Anna but I can not make you any promises.

You said here it comes, well there it goes Anna, away it goes.

All my love,

Tommy.

Dear Thomas,

I have continued to meet with your Aunt over the past week. Every day we sit and talk about you and your family. We have discussed what you were like as a child and the work that you are doing for your country in France.

For you to assume that I have not worried is particularly naive on your part Thomas, did you think that I would not? It is only natural from the friendship that we have formed that I would.

You are correct, your words are unjustified. I am not that type of women, need I remind you once again that you wrote to me first. It is only natural for one to respond to a letter that they receive.

I hope that you are keeping well,

All my Love,

Anna.

Dear Anna,

I want to start this letter by once again apologising for my harsh words.

I am pleased to hear that you have found a friend within my Aunt, she has written to me also and advised that she is fond of you. She has told me she hears the wedding bells ringing in the distance. I am not sure if she really understands the friendship that we have formed or understands that you were engaged to Frederick.

Please talk to her about this so that she stops sending me letters asking for a wedding date.

She is only kidding of course. It does please me to hear that you enjoy each others company.

How is your nurse training going? You haven't spoken about it in a while.

All my love,

Tommy.

Dear Thomas,

I showed your letter to your Aunt as I was in disbelief over what you had said, it is very sweet that you would entertain the idea of marrying me one day, even as a joke.

Maybe we should start with a drink first?

It dawned on me today that I have no idea what you look like, your Aunt took me to her home and showed me a photograph of you and your brothers. I must say, Thomas, you are a very handsome man.

There is talk in the city that you will be home soon, I know that the war has been over for some time and we are all waiting for her patiently for your safe return.

My training is nearly complete and I can not wait for it to be over, I have been taking night classes so that I can continue to work during the day and I am ready for it to be done.

Be home soon Tommy, I am ready to see you.

All my love,

Anna.