Love

Will drove in silence as Erica sat next to him. She hadn't wanted their youngest child to move to London. The War had made it unsafe to be there. The children were being evacuated in their droves but her child. Her baby had insisted that was where she was going to be.

"She's alive." Will stated, unable to stand the silence any more.

"Yes." She nodded. "Yes, she is."

"And by tonight she'll be home. Erica, she's a hero. Three children are alive because she was there."

"She's a good girl."

"Yes. Yes she is."

"Not like Laura. My youngest is injured. Waiting for us and all I am doing us worrying about Laura. She's physically fine but I'm not sure she is mentally. I mean, all this business with the dishonourable discharge. Adultery! My daughter!"

"She's not entirely to blame." Will paused. "It takes two."

"I don't blame her. I blame us!"

"Erica!"

"We brought them up! We raised them. Kate is a already a widow! Laura! Well, I've no idea where I went wrong."

"Jack dying was all due to this blasted war. Not anything we can blame anyone for. And as for Laura. The worst thing we did was teach her to trust people."

"Adultery." Erica shook her head. "Deception, lies, secrets. That isn't the child we raised. And you can't blame the war for that."

"I don't." Will paused. "I blame him." He pushed his foot to the accelerator as Erica sighed.

Cxxxxxx

Marek washed his face before shaving. Deep in thought he barely concentrating on the image in the mirror he tried to imagine how someone, anyone could be violent to Pat. He didn't understand it. She was bright, funny, intelligent and lit up the room the moment she walked in. Even the air raid shelter! He winced as the razor caught his skin.

"Jealousy." He whispered as he sapped the blood oozing from the small cut on his chin. He decided Bob Simms was jealous of the woman he had married. Marek shook his head. At best the man was an idiot. At worst a violent bully. He certainly was not a man. Marek decided with certainty. Men, real men would never lay a hand on any woman - and would protect the woman he loved with his life. He rinsed the razor, knowing what he had to do.

Xxxx

Pat stared at the bookshelf. She loved reading. Books had always been the best way she had found to escape the world she was in. Now Bob was taking that from her. She could no longer choose what library book to read! It was ridiculous.

"I liked that book." She mumbled. Her thoughts wandered to the army captain she was falling in love with. He had done as she had asked - kept away. Part of her was relieved. He wouldn't see the bruise on her arm or the bruise around her wrists. Bob was aware something was different- she thought he suspected her of having an affair. Running a hand through her hair she scoffed. He had always suspected her. Hadn't she just lived up to expectations? Standing she vowed to go to the library. She's find the book; read it there and take it to the telephone exchange. Somehow she'd keep hold of who she was. Bob wouldn't destroy her. Not completely- she wouldn't let him.

Xxxx

A/N please review