"but I'll protect you."

"I cant put you or anyone else in that position." She muttered sadly.

"I'm not letting you out of my sight again." He growled

"I'm sorry. I don't want to leave you again." She reached up and slowly stroked his cheek. " I need you to keep an eye on my kids." She pled. "treat them like your own. I wish they were yours." Blink held her hand to his cheek.

"let me come with you." His eyes started to fill up with tears.

"I need you to stay here and watch over the boys for me."

"No. your staying here, I wont let them hurt you again."

"Please Patchy, I wont be gone forever, I'll be back before you know it I promise."

"If your gone for more than a year then I'll come looking for you."

"Ok." She promised.

"Ok." He sniffed. She sighed

"I love you." She muttered looking up at him.

"I love you too." He smiled down at her, his tears drying and leaving marks down his face. He leant down and grasped her mouth in his gently. "I will always love you no matter the length of time."

"MAMA!" Joe wailed from the next floor down. "Em needs changing! And Sue has hurt her leg!"

"it was good while it lasted." She sighed looking up at the storm that was drawing nearer. "you never get any peace when you have kids."

"I'll see to Sue if you want." He offered.

"thank you." She reached up and kissed him on the cheek then hurried down the stairs to find Nathan holding Emily and Sue sitting on a bunk with tears streaming down her face clutching her shin. Alex relieved Nathan of his little sister and took her into the bathroom to clean her up till she was squeaky clean. When she came out Blink was kneeling in front of Sue putting a cold rag on her leg, underneath she saw a dark purple splodge.

"see its not that bad." He told her. "be more carful when you try and steal things from the boys, trying to hurdle the beds isn't a very good idea is it." he tried to stop himself laughing. "its lucky you didn't smash your head open." He explained. Sue slid off the bed and hugged him knocking him over.

"you're the greatest." She jumped up and hobbled up to Alex once she noticed her. "he made my leg feel better." She told her. "he's magic!"

"he certainly is." Alex smiled sadly at him. She put Emily in her makeshift bed then hurried downstairs to prepare the next mornings breakfast, she planned to give the boys two good meals a day so that they because big strong boys which would open up more job opportunities for them.

Joe woke up slowly, for a moment he was confused, he was used to waking up to his mother shouting at them, it was normally pitch black outside, the smell of breakfast drifting up the stairs but this morning it was light outside and there was no sweet smell drifting up the stairs. Maybe she let him sleep in, no she knew he had to sell. Maybe she was ill, he sat bolt upright and looked round him, the bunk room where he slept with the other boys was empty, everyone else was out at work, the house was silent , then he heard his sister crying softly from where she slept with their mother, she must have woken him up, why wasn't his mother seeing to her? He slid off of his bed which was the top bunk and padded softly to his mothers room, he knocked and listened, nothing, he slowly pushed the door open and saw Emily sat in her draw which was her bed crying.

"Hey Em, where is ma?" he walked over to her and picked her up, she didn't smell so she must have been hungry, they went downstairs to where Joe thought they would find their mother, on the kitchen table was a small pile of envelopes, the one on top was addressed to him, placing Emily on the table he picked it up and slowly opened it.

My darling baby,

I am really sorry, I am doing this to keep you and your brother and sisters save, I would do anything to keep alive and I have to leave you to do that. Blink will look after you, do as he says and I will be back as soon as I can.

I love you

She's gone? She left us, she promised she wouldn't. rage, confusion and sadness flashed through him. He didn't know what to do next, looking down he saw the other letter was addressed to Patchy he guessed that was what she called Blink.

"come on." He muttered at his little sister. "we're going to go see Uncle Blink.

"Dada." Emily giggled.

"looks like he will be." He grumbled as he picked her up and made his way to the front door with the letter in his other hand. It didn't take them long to reach the apartment where Blink slept. After a second of panic where he couldn't remember if Blink was at work or not he walked up the steps and knocked on the door.

Blink lay on the settee enjoying his day off when there was a knock on the door, sighing he heaved himself up and staggered to the door.

"mmmmm." He muttered opening the door.

"Blink." Joe replied looking worried.

"Hey buddy, what's up, why aint you at work? Wheres your mum?" Joe handed him an envelope in reply. "Come in." he added seeing Joe was holding Emily, turning he lead the two kids into the living room.

"im sorry." Joe muttered. Blink sat down on the settee and looked at the letter, it was addressed to him in Alex's writing. Slowly he opened it, his stomach sinking with every second

My darling Patchy,

I'm sorry, I couldn't out it off any longer. I saw Oscar and Morris in the market yesterday, luckily they didn't see me but since they are in town it means I have to get out of town, I have told Joe to do everything you say in the letter I wrote him. Could you keep an eye on them for me, especially Emily, she needs a father and I know your perfect for the job, there is a bag of money for emergencies in my hiding place. Its not much but its enough to call the doctor out a couple of times. I cant tell you where I have gone as I don't know myself but please remember that I will always love you and I will be back when I can, once I have settled I will send you an address to reach me by.

I love you and I will see you soon I promise

Yours always

Storm

Blink gasped, she'd gone? She'd left him with her kids, why didn't she trust him to protect her, did she really love him, as soon as they got close she'd disappear.

"what we going to do Blink?" Joe interupped his thoughts.

"I don't know." He muttered "I really don't know."