"Hello, who am I speaking to please?"

"Dad? It's Alex."

"Alex? You're alright? I was worried I would never see you again."

"Well, I'm ok dad. I have Em with me. We wanted to find you. Could you perhaps come to us. I can tell you where we are, and there's someone I'd like you to meet."

"Um....I'm not sure that's possible Alex. I'm not able to get out of bed."

"Oh, god. Are you ok?"

"That's a stupid question Alex. I watched your mother die in an explosion when I was right outside the house. I was lucky to not be killed myself. I can't....well you'll see when you get here. "

He gave them his address again and Alexander and Emily went back to Mrs Evans and Alice.

"Our dad needs us to go to him" Alexander explained and repeated what he had said.

"Oh my dear, you should go to him" Mrs Evans replied.

"I don't think Em should see him like this," Alexander said "he can't get out of bed. I don't want Em to see him in pain."

"I'll look after her, you two should go," Mrs Evans told them "your dad will want to see you."

Emily wasn't happy about staying behind "Allie I want to go. I want to see daddy again."

"I know you do Em, but dad isn't well at the moment. When he's better I'll take you to see him. How does that sound?" Alexander asked.

"Ok," Emily replied "What can we do while they're gone Mrs Evans?"

"Well we could play some games? Or I could read you one of my favourite books I had when I was a little girl, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland."

"I don't think I've read that one before. Let's do that. But you have to do proper voices."

Mrs Evans laughed "alright I will. I promise."

"We'd better get going Mrs Evans," Alexander said "we'll be back as soon as we can."

"There's no need to rush dear, we'll be alright. Spend some time with your dad."

"I will, we'll see you soon. Thanks for looking after Em."

"You're welcome" Mrs Evans replied as they walked out the door into the cold evening.

Alexander and Alice wandered down the street and headed for the underground station. Luckily, they both had some money from their time in Edinburgh. They now could use the trains properly.

They headed into South Kensington station and boarded a train for Whitechapel.

"I don't see why we couldn't have just walked there" Alice said.

"It's miles to Whitechapel though? We wouldn't get there until tomorrow if we'd walked there."

"Still I don't see why we couldn't have waited until tomorrow. This train is rather busy."

Unfortunately, due to it being past 6 o clock, the train was very busy with people returning home from work. Alexander and Alice were being pushed around and were unable to get a seat.

When the train did pull into Whitechapel Alexander got off first and turned around to give Alice a hand getting off the train. She didn't take his hand and jumped off instead, falling over in the process.

Alexander caught her. "I know we're dating but you don't need to fall for me" he teased.

"Oh, be quiet," Alice snapped as Alexander smirked. God she loved when he did that. "Now where do we go from here?"

"It's only a few metres down the street" Alexander replied.

They climbed the stairs and came out of the station into the open air. The night was warm and the sky was full of stars. Alexander pointed at one "that's you" he said.

"Why that one specifically?"

"It's the brightest star in the sky."

"You can be that one over there then" Alice replied, pointing to a small star which was miles away from her own star.

"Why are we so far apart?"

"Because I'm cross with you for laughing at me when I fell off the train."

Alexander smirked again. "Well I apologise. I didn't mean to upset you. You didn't hurt yourself so I thought you might find the situation amusing as well."

"Well I didn't. Now let's go and find your dad."

"Certainly My Lady, shall I escort you to the right place" Alexander offered her a hand.

Alice smiled and took it. It was impossible to stay cross with him for long.

When they reached the right house Alexander knocked on the door.

"Key's under the mat" a voice called from inside.

Alexander lifted the doormat and found a key. He put it into the lock and turned it. As soon as he opened the door he stepped back in surprise. Alice did the same.

The place smelled of beer. Strong beer, and lots of it.

Alexander lifted the corner of his jacket over his nose and stepped inside, Alice did the same with the collar of her coat.

They stepped over several beer cans and empty bottles before they found Alexander's dad on a rather dirty looking mattress.

"Dad, what kind of place are you living in?" Alexander asked.

"Hey at least I've got a place to call home" his dad replied.

Alice was shocked by how little he looked like Alexander. Alexander had brown hair and blue eyes, his dad had dirty blond hair and deep brown eyes. He also had a large beard which had seen better days. He also looked much too old to be a dad to someone who was only 19.

"Dad, this is Alice. She's my girlfriend." Alexander explained, gesturing to Alice.

"Oh so that's what you did when you ran from the army. Got yourself a girlfriend to live off of. That's nice." Alexander's dad turned to Alice "he's using you sunshine. Get away while you can."

Alice couldn't believe what she was hearing. "I love Alex, actually Mr Stuart. I don't care who he is or what he's done."

"What he's done, what's that supposed to mean?"

"He um, well...."

"I killed a man in the army dad, a German man" Alexander explained.

His dad smiled "well done my boy. That'll show 'em. The war's over now of course. You helped us win the war. But why'd you run anyway?"

"I felt guilty for killing him dad, knowing that I was the reason he was dead, it was too much to take. I couldn't do it again."

"Where's Em?"

"She's staying with a friend of Alice's. She's alright. Why haven't you taken better care of yourself dad?"

"Better care of myself? These right here are all I need to forget my worries." He held up a half empty bottle, he took another swig before Alexander reached over and grabbed it from his hand.

"Dad, you've had enough. Come on, you need to get some fresh air." 

Alexander's dad stood up "give that back," he said. Alexander moved and held the bottle out of his dad's reach. "I SAID GIVE IT BACK!" His dad shouted.

Alexander continued holding the bottle out of his dad's reach. He handed it to Alice, she took it and poured the remaining contents out of the broken window beside her.

Alexander's dad became enraged. He stared at Alice and began walking angrily towards her. Alexander stepped infront of her. "Dad, leave her alone. She's only trying to help you, we both are."

Alexander's dad then did something unexpected. He shoved Alexander hard against the wall.

Alice shouted for him to stop but he didn't. "You listen here, I need this stuff to stay alive. If I didn't have this stuff I'd be lying dead in my grave. I need this Alex. You don't understand. I feel like it's my fault your mother's gone."

"I killed someone, dad. I actually pulled the trigger on my gun and watched him die. I feel guilty too, but drinking is not going to help. It doesn't bring her back. It doesn't make things better. You need to find someone who can help you, dad. Someone who can help bring you back from the dark place you're in." Alexander paused for a moment. His dad let go of him. Alexander continued "if you're anything like me you have nightmares thinking about mother, thinking about how much she hates you. She doesn't. She knows that you couldn't do anything. I could have. I didn't have to pull that trigger, but I did. And I ended up in a really dark place. I thought I deserved to die. But then I found someone who could pull me out of that place and into the light. I found Alice. She helped me and I want to help you. But dad, alcohol isn't the way out. I promise I'll be here. For whatever you need me for but you need to let us help you first."

"Alright," Alexander's dad replied "let's tidy up this place, then we'll talk."

After a couple of hours cleaning the room was clean. Cleaner than it had been before at least.

Alexander's dad had a wash in the sink and changed his clothes. When he was done he looked a lot better than before.

He sat down on the mattress and looked up at Alice and Alexander. "I'm sorry for what I said before. I was being stupid."

"No dad, you weren't. Now talk to us, tell us what you're going through and what we can do to help?" Alexander replied.

"I can't."

"Dad, you can tell us anything."

"Not this. You don't want to hear what I have to say."

"Of course we do. Tell us."

"There's no point saying you'll help me Alex, you can't help me. No one can."

"Well, we can try."

"No, you can't. No one can do anything to help me. It's over."

"What's over?" Alexander asked.

"This, talking to you. All of it."

"I'm still not sure we follow Mr Stuart" Alice replied.

Alex's dad burst into tears. Alexander placed a hand on his shoulder and tried to comfort him. "Dad please, tell us what's wrong?"

"I'll never see her again. I won't be able to say goodbye."

"To mother?"

"No. To Em."

"Why do you need to say goodbye to Em? Where are you going?"

"Hell most likely," his dad replied "I'm dying Alex, the doctor said I've only got a few more days if I'm lucky. That was four days ago. He said it'll be my heart, it's too weak. It can't take much more. Just remember to tell Em that I love her."

"Dad, I'm so sorry. I don't know what to say." Alexander replied. He sat down beside his dad and his dad rested his head on Alex's shoulder.

"I love you dad," Alex said "I'll always be your son. I'll take care of Em, I promise."

"Just, make sure you're both happy," his dad replied. He looked at Alice "make sure you take good care of him."

"I will" Alice replied.

"Alex?" His dad said.

"Yes, dad."

"I love you too." His dad said before he closed his eyes and fell into an everlasting sleep.