A/N Thank you to the readers, reviewers, followers and favourites! Definitely feeling the love from the reviewers! ; ) Made you cry, evil, mean spirited... well I did try my best! I'm really pleased the previous chapter had the desired affect because I actually had to listen to some certain songs that really upset me and watch a music video that really upsets me to be able to write it, haha!
Well I'm feeling like that last person at the party who doesn't know when to leave, so I'm going to get this all wrapped up.
Apologies for taking so long to post this chapter, I had several endings to choose from and I hope I have gone with the right one.
You are going to need attention for detail in this chapter as something is not quite what it seems. Please read the A/N's at the end, but don't go there yet! Read the chapter first.
...
The Tower of London, One Month Ago
Fin paced the room listening to the way her heels clicked on the stone floor. There was no more to say and no reason for her to stay further.
"They've given up?"
"You're a good agent, they know they're wasting their time now with the interrogation, the court martial found you guilty and you know the Treachery Act only carries one sentence" Fin replied bluntly.
"Hanging or firing squad?"
"You're military, firing squad 0900"
"What happened to Edie? You can tell me now"
"She was sectioned"
Mason sighed "and Charles?"
"We found his father who has taken custody of him" Fin replied "Edie was lucky to have picked a gentleman to father her child, his name is Paul Winchester, Lord Winchester's eldest son and also the Prime Minister's top aide, he has said he will take care of Edie as well"
"Thank you for the information Agent Loralie, you've done well to stomach my face and interrogation, you must be nearly full term?" Mason asked as he rolled his neck, muscle stiffness had set in long ago.
"I've seen worse than your face" Fin stopped and stood behind the wooden chair she had spent a lengthy time in, she looked down at her civilian clothes covering her bump, she had given up on expanding her uniform some time ago. She lifted her head towards the traitor, he was tied securely to his chair. They had got all what they could out of him, which wasn't much. They were good, but they trained their men better. The traitor's interrogation had mainly been carried out at Chelsea Barracks, but his execution would take place in an indoor firing range at the Tower of London. Ron had been completely opposed to Fin's involvement, but as soon as she had recovered she immediately travelled to London to be part of it as well as being a witness to Mason's confession as a double agent. Hugo Mason had betrayed his country and had murdered or lead many of her countrymen and women to their premature deaths. Fin needed to see this to the end. Ron would turn up in London over the weeks it took to rush through Mason's Court Martial and execution. He constantly worried about her and Fin didn't object after everything the both of them had been through. She stepped away from the condemned man.
"Loralie!" Mason called as a soldier from the Scots Guards went to open the door for her.
Fin stopped and turned, taking in the last sight of the cold, dank holding cell.
"The note you carry... as a Churchill you'll have clearance..."
Fin raised her eyebrow at Mason, he had never let on until now that he was aware of her true identity.
"Baker Sugar Roger Fox Charlie six times nine minus two plus twenty minus thirty Able thirty three times seven plus five minus ninety nine" Mason said extremely rapidly knowing that Agent Loralie would follow, but hoping the Scots Guard wouldn't. "Tare King three times six minus forty, four times five plus ten minus twenty divided by two minus fifteen Oboe"
Fin nodded in appreciation for the gen she had just received. The soldier proceeded to open the door and Fin immediately set out for Baker Street.
...
Aldbourne, Present Day
"Enter"
Nix tentatively opened the door to Speirs' office to see the man slumped behind his desk, he immediately noticed the smashed mantel clock on the floor too. Nix frowned. "I see you've just about broken everything in here then!"
Ron scowled, but said nothing.
Nix closed the door and perched himself on a table well out of the firing range of Captain Speirs, who still had a glass paperweight on his desk. "Look, you've got to snap out of this, she's fine, she was lucky, incredibly lucky, but it's gone, in the past."
Ron lowered his head "I know, I just can't get the image out of my head, it's a recurring nightmare"
"Look, I know, well sort of, if anything had happened to Eve, I'd be a mess too."
"It's not just that, I'm going to have to leave her here and she won't even have Eve!" Ron sighed "The only man from Easy left in England after tomorrow will be Shifty, but he's bedridden still, who is going to get her to the hospital?" Ron shook his head, it should be him, he should be staying and caring for her, rubbing her aching back, massaging her feet, feeling the baby kick. He closed his eyes for a brief second imagining his hand on her bump, the baby kicking knowing it was the protective hand of daddy, but he wasn't protecting her, she still had to give birth. He opened his eyes.
"Fin will be fine during childbirth, it really will be no challenge to her." Nix read the look in Ron's eyes, the man should be allowed to stay and be at the birth of his child, it was a very cruel situation and there was nothing anyone could do, they had all tried. Winters tried desperately to find a way for Speirs to stay behind, but Sink still refused, reluctantly, but refused. "Come on, look at everything she has dealt with during this war! Do you really think a little bit of discomfort and a baby is going to beat her?!"
...
"Oh dear Lord! Bugger!" Fin screamed in the back of the jeep as it bumped over the road at speed. Tab and Luz were taking no chances with Fin giving birth on them.
"Come on Fin you can do this!" Luz winced as Fin squeezed his hand tighter.
"I can't! I can't!" Fin wailed as the contraction eased although making her feel no better knowing the next wasn't far away. She grabbed Luz by his shirt collar with both hands and pulled him in close "You've got to get Doc! I need morphine! God damn it Luz I NEED MORPHINE!"
Luz looked scared, Fin was scary were all women scary in labour? "Don't you want Speirs?"
"SPEIRS?! FUCKING SPEIRS?! He doesn't have morphine!" Fin growled "For Fucks sake! Don't be a fat head! I need painkillers, anything, everything! You can get stuff Luz! I know you can!"
"I'm not sure Fin, it's drugs, not easy things like alcohol and lingerie!"
"This is all your fault!" Fin seethed "Stop getting useless things like lingerie that got me in this mess in the first place!"
Another contraction grew.
"Oh God This can't get worse!" Fin groaned as she grabbed Luz's hand again. Luz wished she picked the other hand, he was sure she was going to break some bones. His knees buckled slightly and he desperately held in his silent pain.
"CAN IT?" she snapped when she didn't receive a reply
"You're not just asking the wrong person here Fin, but also the wrong gender!" Luz exclaimed as he seriously felt his hand crushing.
"Should have kept your legs shut!" Tab laughed from the driver's seat.
"Come closer and say that, you git!" Fin threatened.
The contraction eased again and Luz felt the blood rush back into his hand, he quickly whipped it away from Fin. "Are you even allowed morphine?" he questioned
Fin shot him a death stare
"Ok, maybe you'll be allowed!" Luz leaned over to Tab "Where the fuck is Captain Speirs?"
"I sent Christenson when I got the jeep, he should meet us at the hospital"
"He needs to take over, my hand really hurts!"
"Don't say that too loudly!" Tab replied as Fin started to groan again.
...
Ron leaned back as Nix left to get them both a coffee. Nix was right, he really needed to let this all go now, she was fine and would always be fine. Did she need him though? She was perfectly capable of looking after herself, he brought bad things to her that threatened her life. Oh how he almost lost her Ron looked around the room for something to chuck the paper weight at again, but Nix was right there was nothing left to break, he needed to find something else to relieve his stress. He looked at the glass paper weight, it was like Cara, made of something delicate, but apparently unbreakable in itself, although there was a slight crack on it. Cara had a slight crack, a new scar to add to her others. This one directly caused by him though. Her ankle, it had caught the flames and left a large scar. Ron shook his head, it would forever remind him of what he did to her. He leaned back and his mind drifted back to that horrifying day, he couldn't control his thoughts, as much as he tried to, he just couldn't.
She was about to jump, his heart leapt as she went, but the roof caved in and her weight hadn't left the tiles, she disappeared down. He ran forward to be stopped and tackled by several men, he didn't even know who. He shouted and screamed her name all the while he fought the men off. As he broke free, he ran forward again and by some miracle, some beautiful miracle she rolled off the roof and into his arms. He held her tightly, turning and running from the building until Doc stood in front of him and eased him down to place her on the grass. Doc then pushed him out of the way, she was unconscious. He could see the burn on her ankle, her skin sooty and black from the smoke. She needed to cough, he needed her to cough, to clear her lungs. She lay there limp on the ground, her clothes charred and matted against her skin. Her beautiful blonde hair dull and her eyes closed, he couldn't even see if her eyes had returned to their blue.
It had felt like an eternity watching Doc work on her until the ambulance arrived. His only saving grace was that she was breathing, but very faintly.
She woke a few days later in the hospital, she told him that as she fell, she threw her hands at the roof scrambling for anything to hold onto. The flames nipping at her feet, she had yelped as they caught her ankle. Her left hand found a small ledge and she gripped it. With all her strength, she hauled herself up and found something else to hold onto with her right. She threw her body up and out of the partially collapsed roof and rolled off, too exhausted to rise and jump. He was horrified and equally in awe of her strength and fight for life.
The doctor didn't think she would have any lasting affects from the smoke and they didn't know if the baby would be affected. It would be a waiting game. He begged for her forgiveness and she was confused as to why he needed it. That beautiful woman, his woman would put up with anything that came her way and she didn't blame him one little bit. He wanted to be punished though, she nearly lost her life and they nearly lost their child, he wanted her to shout and scream at him. She didn't, she just held him and he could have stayed in her arms forever. She laughed off her ankle burn, but he knew she was troubled. They were both worried about the smoke inhalation and what it might have done to the baby. The baby didn't move for a while. They worried although his wife put on a brave face. Then one day as Ron lay next to his wife in bed his hand resting on her bump, the baby kicked.
"Ron!" the door burst open snapping Ron from his thoughts. "Fin's gone into labour" Nix blurted out as Christenson shifted about nervously behind him.
Ron jumped from his chair knocking it over, he rounded the table and was out of the building in a flash. Nix hot on his heels raced with him towards a jeep.
...
Tab pulled the jeep up right outside the hospital entrance and jumped out to find a wheelchair, there was no way either of them were going to walk a very possible violent Fin in.
"Where's the morphine!" Fin hissed at Luz
"We only just got here Fin, I've been with you?" Luz replied very confused.
"I don't care!" she hissed again "Get me some morphine!"
Much to Luz's relief, Tab returned quickly with a wheelchair and a nurse. "Come on Mrs Speirs let's stop this nonsense about morphine because you are most certainly not getting any!" the nurse said as she looked up at Fin leaning on the seat, panting.
Fin shot her a dirty look and Luz thought about throwing himself in front of the nurse to protect her.
"Luz?" Fin asked calmly
"Yeah Fin"
"Would you be a dear and get my knife, I can't reach with my bump in the way"
"Okaaaaay!" Tab grabbed the nurse and spun her around "I'll find another nurse" he called back.
...
Ron and Nix pulled up outside the hospital and jogged in. Ron slammed his hands down on the reception table "Delivery room" he stated.
"Are you here for Mrs Speirs?" the dark haired nurse asked through her pink lips.
"That's right"
"Oh thank God, end of the corridor, turn left, to the end again, last door on the right"
"Thank God? What's wrong?" Ron demanded.
"Oh nothing, she's just a little well... erm... we're getting her some gas, see if we can calm her down a bit" the nurse replied a little smugly, she wished she was a fly on the wall when Mrs Speirs' husband would walk into that delivery room.
Speirs cocked his head before Nix placed a hand on his shoulder to remind him to get moving.
...
"Where the fuck is he?" Fin screamed as Eve entered the delivery room.
"On his way!" Eve replied calmly walking over finally seeing her friend in a vulnerable state through pain and glad it was childbirth and not being wounded in the war for once.
"Where's the gas?" Fin demanded from the nervously twitching nurse looking at her clipboard "On its way Mrs Speirs" she replied quietly as she moved to remove anything Mrs Speirs could use as a weapon. She had come across lots of different types of women in childbirth, but Mrs Speirs was something else, she did not want to piss this lady off.
Eve was finding the whole thing very amusing. The natural things in life were what Fin couldn't handle, childbirth and marriage, oh she'd have fun teasing her bestfriend afterwards.
...
Speirs came to an abrupt halt in front of Luz and Tab "Is she ok?" he demanded.
"All depends on whether you have brought painkillers Sir?" Tab grinned
Speirs looked at the two men confused at their odd reply "Why would I bring painkill..." Speirs was interrupted
"What the actual...FUCK!... Ahh!
The men turned to the sound of the profanities coming from the closed double doors in front of them.
"Bloody buggering..."
"Shit! Bollocks!"
The men all looked at each other...
"God damn it!"
Speirs turned a paler shade of white.
Just then the door opened and a very sheepish young nurse poked her head out "Captain Speirs?"
"Yeah"
"Your wife would like to see you" she replied "but make it quick, men aren't really allowed in the delivery room."
Speirs turned and looked at Nix, he grinned under the impression Cara had given birth after that outburst. He followed the nurse through to where his wife and child were.
Ron stopped and the nurse moved off to the side of the room. His beautiful panting wife, her forehead glistening with sweat was on all fours on the bed, she looked up.
"Ron!" she growled
"Cara?" Ron replied sweetly, glued to the spot, something telling him to stay where he was.
"WE ARE NEVER HAVING SEX AGAIN! YOU BLOODY BASTARD!" Cara screamed as another contraction grew.
Ron stood shocked at his wife's lack of control "Baby...you've been shot, several times, this can't be as bad?"
"Can't be as bad? CAN'T BE AS BAD?" Cara spat "Have you been fucking shot?"
"yeah"
"Have you ever been in labour?"
"Er...no"
"Then don't fucking tell me it can't be as bad Ronald Charles Speirs!"
"Uh oh! Full name being used!" the young nurse chuckled.
Ron backed into the door
"Can't be as fucking bad!? Eve get me something to throw at him!"
Eve grinned.
"You'd better go now!" the nurse said grabbing a speechless Ron's shoulders and turning him back out the door.
Ron was pushed through, a look of bewilderment across his face, he looked at Luz, Tab and Nix "Yeah she hasn't had it yet"
"We heard" Nix replied as Luz and Tab chuckled.
Seeing the shocked expression on a killers face that he thought he would never see, Nix offered some comfort "Yeah, Eve was pretty scary too, don't worry, nature will make her forget the pain of labour, just maybe agree with everything she says until then!"
Ron took a spot and leaned against the wall, his finger hooked his chin she'll be ok he reassured himself.
"Out of the way!" A middle aged nurse called as she wheeled a gas canister towards the men. "Are we all the father?" she joked on her approach.
"Just me" Ron replied
The nurse chuckled "Don't worry, she'll be a different woman very soon!"
...
"Captain Speirs" the door opened again and the young nurse poked her head through "Your wife would like to see you"
"Has she had the baby?"
"Not yet, but she's very close"
"I think I'll wait here then" he replied twitching and shuffling his feet on the smooth hospital floor, now a little further up the corridor than he had been before.
"Please Captain, she's a lot calmer now"
Ron looked at the men who all grinned urging him to go, once again he went through the door. Cara was on her back now, propped up with pillows, her knees raised and her legs parted, a sheet covering her modesty. She was sucking on some pipe. "Ron darling!" she announced, briefly removing the pipe from her mouth.
Ron smiled in relief at her greeting, but staying firmly by the door, for one thing he was aware of about his wife were her quick reflexes "How are you doing baby?"
"It's all gooood!" Cara replied, the gas giving her the feeling of being very drunk "but you need to get the baby a squirrel." She replied quite seriously as her voice got unusually deeper, a side effect of the gas, making her laugh hysterically with the pipe still in her mouth.
Ron looked at Eve "A squirrel?" he questioned.
Eve laughed "Yes a squirrel!" she reaffirmed as the two nurses also laughed. The older nurse approached him and walked him back through the door "they say all sorts on that gas!" she chuckled.
"Everything ok Sir?" Tab asked as the door clicked shut.
"I think so" he replied relieved at Cara's new calmer state, but worried about whether she really wanted a squirrel for the baby. He decided to play it safe "Can you go find a toy squirrel" he asked Tab and Luz to their now equally confused faces.
...
Ron paced the corridor as he listened to his wife groan every time a nurse told her to push. The bright lights were starting to give him a headache, he lowered his head in the hope of his eyes avoiding the artificial glare.
"Cara if you don't start pushing properly, I'm going to take that gas off you!"
"I'd like to see you bloody try!"
"I'm tougher than you young lady!"
"Don't fucking challenge her!" Nix muttered under his breath listening to the female voices.
Ron could now hear words of comfort and motivation from Eve. He wanted to hold Cara's hand, help her through it, but they had categorically denied him. His baby was on its way, he almost felt like he was holding his breath, daring not to breathe until he heard his child's first cry. He had never been so confused in his life, a mixture of fear and excitement overwhelmed him. He wiped his forehead as a bead of sweat made its way down.
Ron froze.
Cara had stopped, there was silence. He couldn't hear anything from the room. Nothing. He cupped his face and looked at Nix. Nix walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder. Still nothing. He walked towards the door, but Nix held him back and shook his head.
"We got the squirrel Sir!" Luz happily announced as he approached with Tab, he held out a grey knitted toy..
They stopped short of Captain Speirs and Captain Nixon. Neither of them knowing what was going on. The looks on the officers' faces telling them that something wasn't quite right. They realised in a matter of seconds that they were surrounded by a deathly silence. No panting noises, no moaning noises, no more odd profanities being shouted from the delivery room and most of all the absence of a baby crying.
The four men stared at each other. Ron was now subconsciously holding his breath. He held out his hand and took the knitted squirrel from Luz and held it tightly to his chest.
Just then a cry came out. They all looked at Speirs, waiting for his reaction.
It was a baby's cry.
"Congratulations!" Nix smiled patting Ron on the back.
...
Look darling! Look what we made!" Cara spoke softly cradling their new born baby wrapped in a white blanket in her arms.
Ron was speechless, he had never felt such happiness before. She had done it, she had safely delivered their baby. He couldn't think of the right words to express his feelings, he hoped Cara could see what he was feeling instead. He had his beautiful wife and now they had a beautiful baby. "Can I?" he asked his beaming wife, holding out his hands.
"Of course you can" Cara replied raising the baby to her husband.
Ron carefully slipped his arms under the tiny human's body, feeling hardly any weight and gushed at the sight of his first born. "I can't believe it, you've made me so happy and proud Cara" Ron cradled the baby and looked down at the little face. The baby was snoozing under its full head of dark hair. He held the baby up and kissed the little button nose, breathing in he closed his eyes and sighed in relief. His child, his baby
"Daddy's here" Ron whispered to his child.
"Do you want to know?" Cara asked amused and more in love with her husband than she had ever been before.
Ron looked down at her puzzled.
"If you have a son or daughter!" Cara laughed.
Ron's lips broke into a smile, he nodded
"You have a son my darling"
...
"Well?" Nix asked his wife.
"Sorry darling I was waiting for Fin to tell Ron first" Eve replied listening through the delivery room door. "They have a son!"
"That's great news!" Luz commented next to a nodding Tab "Let's go wet the baby's head!"
"Not without the dad you don't " Eve warned through a grin.
The door opened and Ron stepped through holding his son "I'd like to introduce you all to my son...Franklin Winston Adolf Speirs" he announced in an authoritive manner.
"You what...what?!" Nix stuttered
Ron immediately laughed "Cara thought it would be funny! Meet Robert Ronald Speirs!" he announced again proudly.
Eve laughed "Much better!" she stepped forward and took the baby as Luz and Tab leaned in making cooing noises.
"A son hey Sparky?" Nix said walking forward and shaking his hand. "Considering your track record with women, turning one crazy and nearly getting one killed, best you keep your son away from my daughter!"
Ron glared at him.
Nix loosened his collar "Too soon?"
Speirs smirked
Eve handed the baby back to the father and walked in to check on her best friend. Cara was asleep. Eve smiled at her exhausted friend. She walked over and picked Fin's dress up off the floor, as she draped it over a chair, she noticed the familiar envelope that held the note she had read. Eve sighed, should she get rid of it? Fin couldn't possibly need it, she got through years of war without it. It wasn't her decision to make, only Fin could decide. Eve reached out and tucked it safely back in the pocket of the dress. The door opened and Luz and Tab crept in.
"Ok if we sit with Fin?"
"Of course" Eve replied walking back out into the corridor where Ron was gently bouncing the knitted squirrel in front of his son. Eve smiled, Fin had her family, she didn't need that note, she would live a long life, Eve was sure or hopeful, but she made the decision there and then. She would talk to Fin and make sure she burnt that note...
...
"I think we'll just have the one child" Ron muttered as he placed his son in the hospital cot.
"Why?" Cara questioned sitting herself up in the bed.
"Why?!" Ron raised an eyebrow "I don't think I'll survive another one of your labour coping mechanisms!"
"Why ever not?" Cara leaned over the cot to make sure Robert was snug in his swaddle.
Ron raised his eyebrow at the mother of his child again.
"Poppycock! I handled labour just splendidly!" Cara pouted as Ron stepped in and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"If you say so baby!"
Cara settled herself back into the bed and closed her eyes, her dreams were welcomed, fantasies of her new family and their new life in America. She would buy her son red dungaree shorts and a white blouse.
As his wife slept, Ron stood over his son. It was unbelievable that he had them both with him safe and sound. He never thought this day would come. He glanced at his wife, she was sleeping peacefully.
"Son we are going to have a wonderful life, me, you and your mom. It won't be perfect, we'll argue sometimes, but mostly we will laugh. Always know that I will love you no matter what. I will be there to support and guide you as much or as little as you want me to, but I will forever be there for you. You will always have a special bond with your mom, more so than me, for you know what her heartbeat sounds like on the inside, but I will do my damn best to equal that bond somehow. I haven't always kept you and your mom safe, but that changes now. I will never let either of you come to harm again. I can't tell you in words just how much I love you son."
Cara smiled, but kept her eyes shut, this was their moment.
...
Cara waited and pretended to come out of her sleep to see her husband sat in the chair beside her bed "What are you reading there?"
Ron looked up from the documents he was holding and smirked "A wedding present from your Uncle"
"What is it? It better be something bloody useful!"
"Well let me put it this way, you have some explaining to do baby! What the hell were you doing taking on an armed German with a bicycle wheel?"
Cara laughed, a little too long as Ron's patience grew thin even though he was finding it all amusing as well.
"Please don't tell me you took the bike apart to use as a weapon instead of using it to get away?"
"Oh darling as if I could outrun a rifle, read on!" Cara laughed
Speirs lowered his eyes back down to the typed document.
Cara stood up as the baby stirred, she was eager for them all to return to their cottage and finish packing. Tonight would be Robert's first and last night in England, as Cara gathered up her hospital bag, she turned to her husband "What you should be asking me is what was I doing wearing a cocktail dress, standing in a bath tub, holding a bicycle wheel in the middle of a French cow field!"
Ron snapped his eyes at Cara, he took a moment, then smirked "With a Nazi pointing his rifle at you!"
"Yes with a Nazi pointing his rifle at me!" Cara chuckled as she leaned over for her dress. As she turned around she was met by the serious expression of her husband "what?" she questioned.
"You can put these back on now" he replied taking Cara's wedding and engagement rings off his dog tags chain. "Still don't see why you wanted to remove them" if he was honest with himself, he was very disappointed when she did so, despite her concerns, he wanted her to wear them always.
"Oh Ron, I was afraid my fingers might have swelled with the pregnancy and the last thing I wanted was to have them cut off!" Cara reached over and promptly returned the rings to their proper place. Cara felt her heart flutter, he was so protective and she loved that quality about him.
...
Ron felt overly proud as he pushed the door of the cottage open and stood aside to let his wife and son enter first. They would be finishing the packing together and Cara would be packing her stuff, he couldn't ask for more right now. He placed his hand on his wife's lower back, eager to get her inside and packed, he needed to see her bags next to his to know that this was really happening. Cara turned and smiled at him as she ascended the stairs.
Ron lifted one of Cara's bags onto the bed and clicked it open, ready to throw her things in. He stood back, a grin spread across his face.
"Cara your bag is literally full of tea!" Ron exclaimed "We do have tea in America!"
"English tea?" Cara replied as she lowered Robert into his cradle.
"Yes!"
"Decent English tea?"
"Yes!"
"Oh well, more the merrier!" Cara smiled as she looked up to her husband. Ron walked over and wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in tight. Over her shoulder he watched his son sleep, this time tomorrow they'd all be on that ship heading for a new life.
"Are you going to tell me what you did with Hitler's pistol and ring?" Cara murmured as she enjoyed his embrace.
Ron chuckled "Yeah ok, the pistol I gave to a former prisoner, thought they could get a fair price for it. They needed money to help lots of displaced people"
"Oh Ron!" Cara gushed "You're so sweet darling!" she squeezed her thoughtful husband tighter. "The ring?"
"Immediately sent home to a bank safety deposit box, thought it would be a good down payment on a new home for us"
Cara pulled away and placed a passionate kiss on her husband always looking after us
"Seen as though Edie got a lot of my loot!" he added.
...
Southampton
A few whispers circulated among the men standing easy on the dock. Why were two women joining them? Shouldn't they be travelling with the war brides? Another whisper circulated and all soon hushed when they found out one was Captain Speirs' wife, although most thought it would be down to the fact the women were military as well.
Cara soothed her son as she watched the men say their final good-byes, she was lucky there was no one for her to say good-bye to. Vera hung off Doc not letting him go. Cara felt a wave of sadness for the newlyweds. They'd be together again soon though.
Luz approached Fin and Robert as she skipped about gently waiting to board the RMS Queen Mary, soothing her son. He laughed as he got closer, listening to her rhyme
Don't step on the cracks or you'll walk round the corner and a bear will get you!"
"Isn't it, don't step on the cracks or you'll fall and break your back?" Luz corrected
"My grandmother always said you'll walk round the corner and a bear will get you"
"It doesn't rhyme Fin, plus the likelihood of a bear in England is nil"
"Stepping on a crack doesn't necessarily mean you'll fall and break your back either Luz!"
Luz laughed "True, but ya setting up the poor boy for bullying with your wrong words!"
"My son bullied?!" Fin shook her head "Oh Luz do you not know me at all?"
Luz laughed again "Yeah ok, touche doll, touche!"
"Men!"
Captain Speirs interrupted the chatter and embraces amongst the Easy men. It was time to go home. Cara stood back with Eve and watched as the men boarded the ship first. Fin wanted her feet on British soil for as long as possible, not knowing when she would set foot on it again. She would miss England dearly. As the men filed onto the ship receiving a grand farewell indeed from the British, Cara looked at the crowd, flags and bunting everywhere and a few tears from girlfriends, wives and children unable to travel yet. She felt for them, she was very lucky to be joining Ron straight away, she had been a soldier in Easy company after all. Luz had received a letter from Bill just before they had departed for Southampton, he would be waiting in New York with Toye to greet them. Cara was excited to see them again although sad to be leaving Shifty in England.
"You ready baby?" Ron asked placing a loving hand on her shoulder. Cara nodded. "Are you ok?" he added.
"Yes" she smiled
"Are you sure? Are you well enough to travel so soon after giving birth?" a question Ron didn't really want to ask in case she wasn't and needed to stay behind.
"Of course, my labour wasn't difficult!"
Ron coughed and turned to hide his grin.
"Just because I was vocal! Doesn't mean I didn't handle it!"
Ron coughed again "If you say so baby"
"You keep saying that!" Cara protested as Ron guided his wife and son up the gangplank.
...
The ship set sail and Cara could no longer see the British coast. She had watched her home until it had faded away. She felt a little sadness, but turned her thoughts quickly to the exciting adventure ahead of her.
Eve watched her beautiful friend leaning against the metal railing on the deck of the ship. She shouldn't have a worry in the world, but that note would always burden her. It certainly played on Eve's mind over and over, those words. What if Ron read it?! Eve shuddered at the thought, reading the words knowing or not knowing what they meant, either way, he wouldn't like it. Who would blame him? If he didn't understand, he'd question why she carried it as it was. Eve stepped back until she was against the door and replayed the moment she read the note, she knew it off by heart, they had been trained to remember every detail after one look.
Eve sighed and approached her friend, it was time to go against orders again.
"Fin darling, you need to get rid"
Fin turned to see her best friend, she was ecstatic, not only was she moving to America with her husband and baby, but with her best friend as well. Life couldn't get better, although the States was a big country and Fin wasn't sure where they would be settling. Boston was first on the agenda to meet Ron's family. "Get rid of what darling?"
"That note you carry"
"You know what it is?" Fin asked a little surprised by Eve's knowledge.
"Yes, I found it in your wedding dress, I read it thinking it may have been there from your Aunt"
Fin grabbed Eve's elbow and pulled her in close "Shit! You read it?!"
Eve cocked her head "So how did you find out about it's contents?"
"Mason informed me"
"Jesus Fin did he know exactly what it says?"
"No, just knew what it was, told me where to find the file on it and gave me the key" Fin released Eve's elbow and looked out towards the ocean taking in the sea breeze "Being a Churchill has its advantages, the name alone gives me high level security clearance."
"Why do you think Taylor gave you it at the end of the war?"
"He was retiring and didn't want the burden, at a guess"
"Why at the end of the war though, I don't get it." Eve grew a little angry.
"I was doing fine though, maybe I exceeded expectations and changed their minds?"
"Will you be speaking to your Uncle about it?"
"No, I'm no different to any other operative SOE agent"
"Still, I can't believe he would let his own niece have one" Eve snapped "I can't believe you are in this position"
"Illegitimate niece and I had to be treated like everyone else" Fin sighed "Bedsides it would have been important at the right time. My circumstances have changed, that's why it seems wrong now"
"Doesn't matter, you went above and beyond for your country and the family name"
"He probably wouldn't approve of it being in my possession now" Fin replied. Her Uncle and Aunt were her only family after Ron and Robert, she wasn't going to throw that away.
"Why did Taylor give it to you then and why did he keep hold of it, he could have destroyed it and you'd be none the wiser" Eve questioned.
"He's a military man and followed his orders all the way, you could ask me why I've kept hold of it since finding out and it's because I'm military and will follow orders when the time comes"
"No you fucking won't Fin! We're destroying it now!" Eve snapped "Only me and the person who wrote it know the exact words and I will never breathe them, you're safe round me"
Fin sighed, she should really follow orders but she had Ron and Robert now and they were all she wanted. No more war, no more fighting. If she was going to die one day, maybe soon, maybe in old age, that would be it. She would lose everything with or without the note. Fin decided, she didn't want to follow these orders if the time ever arose. "Yes, let's destroy it"
Eve smiled, but frowned as she took her lighter from her pocket. She couldn't help but recite the words in her head, she must always keep the words in her head, Fin could never know...
...
19/4/42
My Dearest Cara, fifth week here has been the hardest yet. I hate being apart from you.
I stay hopeful that I am capable enough and strong for this darling, you are eternally in my heart, mind, world, my precious woman, someday soon you and me shall marry again. Please know I'll never stop trying to win back everything I gave away and destroyed, propelling you against me darling. We will have our time again, better. Promises can be made again and meant truly Cara, marry this man honey, and sunshine will fill this man's days making minutes more passable. Now, I'll tell you about prison days darling. Gardening, mending, sewing, your man domesticated! Marriage material finally! I work hard, it leaves current times easier, war days harden oneself maybe, perhaps soften some men also, men differ.
Toby Harris is here, he's a big sleeper! I am in the knowledge that maybe it's because he can block it out, except when storms came and a window broke open and a gust of wind literally knocked the man off his bunk!
Harry Porter knows Eve. He wishes her well, penpal maybe? Please ask darling. I have thirty three paperback books to read! Numerous books about gardening and plants, very valuable gen. I'm trying my hardest not to starve! You won't even realise how different your man seems already. Anyway, my superior praises all, making sure morale is high, keeping the fellas in check with following edicts. There will be a tournament soon, poker, blackjack and Kings, I'll win positively easily taught by you! Alas darling, missing you always.
I hope you forgive in good time and I will always, always of course love you with all my heart void of the past and present. I will be your loyal, trustworthy, humble agent of hope. I am but an ordinary man dreaming of life with you.
Forever in my heart
Your Freddie
...
Fin took out the note and ran her hand across it. She turned it over and over making sure she was doing the right thing. She still couldn't open it and it was something she couldn't open until the time was right. If she ever got to that point, what would she rather? Death or the contents of this note? Either way, she would lose everything. She looked up as Ron came onto the deck holding their baby. She needed to destroy it, Ron would question the contents either way, he was an intelligent man.
Fin held up the note and moved it close to Eve who snapped open her lighter...when suddenly the breeze picked up and lifted the note out of her hand. Fin and Eve watched in horror as it floated towards Ron. They both lunged for it, but missed. The envelope floated through the air lifting higher and then dropping as the breeze carried it. Panic swept over Fin's entire body.
Eve scrambled forward after it, at first glance, Ron would see it simply as a letter Fin had kept from Freddie! But it was more than that, much more!
Seeing the two women grab for the letter, Ron held out a hand, securing his son in the other and caught the note. He looked down at it, instantly curious at the dramatic reaction it had caused. Noticing the glue had lifted, he flicked open the envelope and then with his teeth pulled the note out...
"NO! DON'T READ IT!" Fin and Eve screamed in unison.
...
A/N
I hope you're not here too prematurely, if so, go back and read the chapter! If not, please read on.
Ok, so I have but haven't told you what the note says. It's a simple love letter, but those eagle eyed of you will have noticed the way the date was written in numerical form and not in words and that the signature was underlined. These were indications to MI9 that a letter was coded. The real message is embedded in the love letter from Freddie to Fin. It's a coded letter. I have based the code on genuine British WW2 secret codes. It's not a hard one because I am not a mathematician nor am I particularly good at puzzles. When you break the code, you'll see that it still doesn't make any sense, that is because it's a code within a code, but the second code is a very simple one, one I actually used as a child with my friends and actually makes it easier by separating the words. If you don't know much about British WW2 secret codes, there is stuff on Google, although I haven't used an exact copy of one because then it would be too easy for you ; )
When you crack the code and want to check you got it right, please pm me rather than in a review, so that we don't spoil it for anyone else.
If you don't want any help or spoilers, maybe don't read any reviews in case someone posts their results in there.
I can't imagine it will go unsolved, but I could write an epilogue with how to crack the code, if that's what is requested. You are also welcome to pm me for clues.
So, if you're curious enough to know what the note really says and want a little challenge, put your Bletchley Park hat on and get cracking!
...
Thank you all so, so much for reading, favouriting, following, adding me to your alerts and for all the reviews. I never thought I'd get many readers but have truly been taken aback by how many there are of you. All your support has given me the confidence and motivation to get the two stories I have about Fin finished.
My inbox is always open and I'll be hanging around to read and support other stories on here.
Thank you so much.
