Casino stood at the door, shuffling his feet and trying to find the courage to knock. He had a complete fool of himself, not for the first time, but somehow this time seemed to matter more .

He was sure that eventually Angel would forgive him for scaring her, and he was in no doubt that she would make him pay for taking his anger out on her, the person that worried him more right

was Sylvie. He knew that if she wouldn't forgive him, then the chances of him ever seeing his child were none existent.

He steeled himself and knocked on the door and as he heard her footsteps on the tiled floor, he hoped that for once he wouldn't mess things up more than he had already.

`Hi`, he said as the door opened.

`Hello Casino`, said Sylvie.

`Can I come in? he asked.

Sylvie just looked at him.

`So long as you promise to behave`, she said, and stood aside to let him walk past her.

`I brought flowers`, he said , stating the obvious.

She nodded , and took them from him.

`I must remember to thank Actor next time I see him`, she said smiling.

`That obvious, was it? He asked.

She smiled at him and nodded once again.

`Where's Angel? He asked.

`She's upstairs , sleeping, and I don't want to wake her unless I have too, she's not as well as she would have you all believe`, she said quietly.

`Guess last night didn't help any, did it? He asked.

`No Casino it didn't`, she said. You want some coffee?

`Would be good`, he said with a sigh of relief.

`She pointed to the sofa ,

`Why don't you sit down? She asked.

Casino did as he was told , feeling more on edge than if he was facing a firing squad.

Sylvie came back and sat opposite him and poured his coffee.

`You not having any? He asked.

`Hate the stuff`, she said smiling at him.

`Why didn't you tell me? He asked quietly, `I would have worked something out, I wouldn't have let you go through this alone, you didn't have to go and marry some one you didn't love , I would have

taken care of you, both of you`.

She looked at him , with tears threatening, and realised that Casino would always have a special place in her heart.

`It would never have worked. I'm not strong like Angel, I couldn't live day after day waiting until the day they told me you weren't ever coming home. It was bad enough last time, that's why I left, I

can't live the rest of this war being afraid`, she said in a whisper. `When I found out I was having your baby , I almost came to tell you, but I only got as far as the train station. I knew that you would

want to take care of us, and let's be honest Casino, that's not really possible just now, is it?

`I hate this damned war`, he said.

`We both know it's not just that, if you weren't fighting you'd be in prison, either way it wasn't going to be any sort of life for our child, so I came home , told my mother , and she said we'd muddle

through an our own, make a home for the baby, she was truly wonderful,` she said.

`Then one day at the hospital I met Steve. I tried to stay away from him, but he wouldn't take no for an answer. I fainted one day , the Doctor thought he was the father and told him it was just

because I was pregnant, I expected him to run then, but he didn't. He sat down with me one evening and asked me to tell him what happened, I didn't tell him you were a con, just that you were with

a special unit, that there wasn't any certainty that any of you would make it through the month, never mind the war, and that I couldn't live with that, told him I was just a coward, and that he should

just go away and leave me. He said that he loved me, that even though he knew that I didn't love him that he would be honoured if I would be his wife, and that as far as he was concerned, any child

of mine was his child too.

Sylvie looked at him.

`I was a coward again Casino, and I said yes. I wanted a home for us , and Steve offered us that, A home back in the States where no-one would know that the baby wasn't his, somewhere that we

could start a new life as a family, and I wanted that so much. So I said yes. But you are wrong about me not loving him, because I do, and he will make a wonderful father`, she said.

Casino stood up and started to pace the room.

`You expect me to give up my child ,just like that? He asked angrily. Let some stranger raise him?

`I'm asking you if you love us enough to do just that Casino? She whispered.

`I love you`, he said, you must know that.

The tears rolled down Sylvie's cheeks.

`I know that, and I love you too, but I have to do what's best for our child, and I know Steve will take good care of both of us, and I do love him no matter what you think. It will never be the same

way that I love you, but I know that we can make a good life together, if you'll let us Casino. I know that asking you to walk away is unfair, but I have to do it for all our sakes. I cannot take the chance

that you'll walk back into my life one day and everyone will see how much this child looks like you, that maybe someone will guess he's not Steve's. I won't let this child pay for our mistakes. I'm going

to put Steve down as his father, he's going to have no ties to you at all. That's the way it has to be Casino, please try to understand.`

Casino looked at her , unable to speak.

`This woman , this child , they were the family he had dreamed of, and now she was sitting in front of him asking him to walk out of her life forever, asking for his blessing to let another man bring up

his child.

He blinked away the tears that were threatening.

`Do you have any idea what you're asking? he said.

Sylvie sobbed.

`I 'm asking you to love us enough to let us go`. She said simply.

She stood up and put her arms around him, and he put his head on her shoulder.

`I love you`, he said.

She held him tighter.

`I know`, she whispered.

He let her go , wiped her tears away , and without another word walked out of the room.

Sylvie sat down and sobbed quietly , knowing that this man had just given her the greatest gift she would ever receive.

….

Casino walked back to the hotel and hoped that none of them would see him come back. He had started to walk when he had left Sylvie's and hadn't realised that he had been gone so long.

Damn, the Warden was going to kill him. He entered the hotel lobby and found the place deserted, except for one army cap left on a table.

`You're late`,

`I know`, he said. `Needed to walk, okay?

A glass was pushed towards his side of the table and he watched as it was filled with whiskey.

`Where are the others? He asked.

`Sent them back to the Estate, thought I'd better wait and make sure you were in a fit state to travel`, he said.

Casino sat down and picked up the glass, draining it in one go.

As he put it down it was topped up again.

`You trying to get me drunk so I'll talk? Casino asked.

`Never thought that talking was one of your problems Casino`. Said Craig.

Casino chortled. Yeah, you're right there.`

The glass was put on the table and once more refilled.

`You alright? Craig asked with genuine concern.

`Will be Warden, just feels like I've lost everything that matters right now, you know? He asked. `Of course you don't know, how could you, not like you ever lost everything, now is it? He asked.

`I'm talking to much aren't I ?

`Just a little, and I do have some idea of what you're going through. Felt the same way when Sarah died, felt that I'd lost everything that mattered.

At least you know that your kids going to be cared for, and maybe they'll find a way to include you someday, who knows, stranger things have happened. He said .

Casino drained the glass.

`You want to get going? He asked

`Don't you want to see her again before you leave.? Asked Craig.

Casino shook his head.

`Naw, said my goodbye's, no point in doing it all again.` he said. `We picking Angel up on the way?

Craig shook his head.

`Sylvie suggested that I leave her here until they move next month, says she can get her to slow down more than I can`, he said

`She okay ? He asked

`Think she just needs to rest, but I'll have a talk to Peter when we get back, just to be sure`, he said.

`Never got to say I was sorry`, said Casino. `Think I should do it before we leave?

`It will do just fine when she gets home Casino, and besides it will do her good to have something to do to take her mind off Sylvie leaving`, said Craig.

Casino liked puzzled.

`You don't really expect to just be forgiven, now do you? Craig asked him.

`Suppose not`, said Casino smiling

Payback will be sweet, you know`, he said.

Casino smiled. Thinking of something that Sylvie had said.

`Why does she stay Warden? He asked.

`What? Asked Craig.

`Well I mean, she could stay at the cottage and just see you when she wants too, why'd she say with us, why'd she care so much?

`Heaven only knows Casino, maybe she sees something in you bunch of rebels that no one else sees`, he said.

`Sylvie says we're lucky to have her, never thought about it much, guess I just get used to her always being around, always being there when we need her`, said Casino as he staggered from his

chair.`Never think that she just hangs about and worries about us`.

`Yeah , guess we all take her for granted Casino. Maybe we ought to do something to change that, what do you say?

`Think we ought to got home first`, he said swaying, `Don't think I should have drunk all that on an empty stomach Warden`,

Craig smiled.

`Come on Casino , I'll drive and you can sleep it off, okay?

`Good idea Warden, and thanks for not yelling`, he said.

Craig put Casino in the jeep , and looked at him as he got behind the wheel. He was already sleeping.

`Well at least I'll get a nice quiet trip home`, he said to himself.

Casino stirred

`Night Warden`, Casino slurred

Craig laughed.

`Goodnight Casino`, he said as he started the jeep and drove away.

`Pleasant dreams`.