𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤
-𝟎𝟏𝟗-

Christmas of 1921 was something Valerie never would have seen coming. She was still living at Arrow House and Tommy was under strict instructions that Grace was not allowed there until Valerie had found someplace else to live.

As some form of apology, he offered to buy Valerie a property of her own where she could raise Francesca properly.

Valerie had distanced herself from the family, not knowing what else to do. It was just her and Francesca in the new house for Christmas. It felt so empty.

"Mummy," the young girl said. "Yes, love?" Valerie said whilst she helped her daughter walk down the stairs. "Has Father Christmas been?" She asked, full of excitement. Valerie smiled slightly and laughed. "Well, have you been a good girl?"

Francesca nodded her head quickly.

"Then I don't see why he wouldn't have payed us a visit." Valerie gently pushed open the living room door to reveal the pile of presents that sat beside the tree. A gasp escaped Francesca's lips and she toddled over to the presents, kneeling beside them and lifting one to show Valerie.

"That's lovely, go on, open them." Valerie said. There was a knock on the door and Valerie frowned before going to open it. "Tommy.." she whispered as he stood in front of her.

"Merry Christmas," Tommy breathed nervously, a bundle of flowers in hand. "These are for you,"

She looked at them. They were beautiful. "Thank you." She took them but not without hesitating slightly. "Do you want to come in?" She asked. Tommy nodded. "If that's alright. I've got some things for Frances."

"Come on," Valerie stepped aside and he entered.

Tommy walked to the living room and Francesca turned. "Daddy!" She squealed, dropping the half unwrapped present and running to him. Tommy kneeled to the floor to catch her and he squeezed her. "Hello, Betts."

Valerie felt a pit of guilt in her stomach as she went to put the flowers in a water filled vase. They still hadn't told Francesca a thing.

"John and your father are coming later." Tommy said when taking a seat. Valerie nodded in understanding and sat opposite him to watch Francesca open the rest of her presents. "How is Grace?"

Tommy leaned back. "She's alright." He said. "She sends her apologies." He said honestly.

"I appreciate that." Valerie said. "I want you to be happy, Tommy. And if that means you're with her then so be it." She said. Tommy nodded. "I want to still be around for Francesca. If you'll let me."

"Tommy-" she sighed and looked down.

"Not as a father figure but at least as her uncle. Of course, once she can understand the situation slightly." He cleared up.

Valerie looked at the wall for a moment.  "And when your child comes along?"

"It won't change anything. I raised Francesca as my own for all these years. I love her just as much as I would love my own son or daughter." He said honestly. "Except in a different way."

"I'll allow it." She said. "But i'm not sure when we will tell her, Tommy. I don't know what to say." She admitted. Tommy looked down at his pocket watch. "When the time is right, you'll know."

He cleared his throat. "Betts, come 'ere." He nodded. The girl walked to him carefully and he placed a box into her hands. "That's for you."

Francesca smiled and began opening it up. She covered her mouth and looked to Valerie with pure excitement in her eyes. "What is it, love?" Valerie asked. Francesca held up a golden horse figurine. Valerie's eyebrows raised. "You can afford a golden horse?" She said to him.

"Although we may not deserve the luxury of gold, she certainly does." Tommy mumbled.

"Thank you!" Francesca climbed onto the couch to give him a hug.

Soon enough, John and Robert strolled into the house. John clapped his hands together as he walked through. "Merry bloody Christmas!" He shouted. His face twisted into confusion at the sight of Tommy but he said nothing about it.

"Uncle John!" Francesca jumped up from beside the fire and launched herself at John. He groaned and picked her up. "Jesus, Franny." He laughed.

"It's Christmas!" She exclaimed.

"It is, you're right." He walked to the spare chair and sat down with her on his lap. Robert said a quick hello to his own daughter and offered Tommy a gentle smile.

John pulled out a small velvet box from his pocket and placed it into her hands. "Open it, go on."

Francesca, with force, opened up the box and let her eyes fall on the silver chain that held a small ruby connected to it. She looked at John with the widest smile ever and just laughed.

"Oh, John, that beautiful." Valerie said when peering over at the gift.

"Here, let me put it on you." John said, putting Francesca on her feet and taking the necklace.

"Say thank you, Franny." Valerie reminded her daughter.

"Thank you," she said to John. John smiled. "No problem." He said. Tommy put his hands on his knees to push himself up. "I'll be off then." He said. "Wouldn't want to ruin a family Christmas morning."

John looked down, contemplating what he was about to do.

"Stay, Tom." He said.

Tommy was taken aback by his brother's sudden words to stay. They hadn't spoken since the races and Tommy was sure that John hated him.

"It's your family too." John said. Valerie nodded. "Arthur is coming down soon and I think Polly is bringing Micheal and Finn when she comes." She added.

Tommy looked at them all with his hands in his pockets.

Valerie took a deep breath. "I'll have a car go and get Grace from Arrow House. She can join us." Valerie said, feeling no need for hostility anymore. Tommy furrowed his brows together. "She's carrying Francesca's cousin after all," she whispered to him as she slipped out into the hall.

"Very well.." Tommy sat back down. "Thank you, Valerie." He said to her before she was fully out of the room.

-

Although it was a strange Christmas, it was definitely one of Valerie's favourites. It was her first Christmas with her father since she was a little girl. It was the first Christmas she had with John.

Grace walked in to the drawing room with Tommy where music was playing and everyone was drinking. Finn was laying on the floor, lifting Francesca up into the air as laughs fell from her lips. Valerie was watching happily. Arthur and John were messing about as Polly and Micheal drank peacefully.

When noticing the new presence in the room, Valerie stood. "Grace," she greeted with a smile, being able to sense her nerves.

Grace smiled at her.

Valerie offered her a hug and she took it. "Thank you for inviting me, Valerie." Grace said. Valerie pulled back. "Of course.. I couldn't have Francesca's future aunt miss out now, could I?" She said, putting everything behind her.

Grace felt a relief flood through her. "You have a beautiful home."

"Thank you." Valerie smiled.

Tommy waited for Grace to go and sit before gently grabbing Valerie by the arm to prevent her walking away. Valerie spun around to face him. "I had a call." Tommy said. Valerie nodded. "The divorce, it'll be done before the month is out." He said. "It's been taken care of."

Valerie nodded in understanding.

"Which means that once that is over, you and John can get married, if that's what you want." Tommy said. Valerie took a deep breath. "He'd have to propose first," she joked, looking back at the family. "Thank you, Tommy." She said. "Without your help I wouldn't be here." She said.

Tommy had saved her in a way. Although she would never tell him that because his ego was far too big already. She told herself that though. If it hadn't been for him, she would still be working as a whore and likely wouldn't have custody of Francesca.

Valerie returned to her seat beside John and he automatically wrapped an arm around her, kissing her forehead and smiling. "Merry Christmas, sweetheart." He said. She smiled. "That reminds me," he stood and held his hands out for her to grab, "i've got something for you."

She frowned and they went out into the living room where John had left her present.

She furrowed her eyebrows together and carefully opened it, revealing a collection of canvases and water colours. Her eyes widened. "John.." she whispered. "How did you—"

"I saw your paintings at Arrow House. And I think I remember seeing one back when I first met you." He leaned against the wall. She shook her head and laughed. "Thank you, this is amazing." She said truthfully.

Valerie hadn't touched a paintbrush in a long time. She lost her passion for it when she lost John.

"I didn't get you anything." She said regretfully.

John pushed off the wall and stood in front of her. "I got my Christmas wish already." He said. She tilted her head. "I've got you back." He leaned down and kissed her softly. Valerie's eyes fluttered closed and she smiled into the kiss. He pulled back for a moment. "And I have a daughter."

"The divorce will be finalised thing month, Tommy said." Valerie placed a hand on his chest.

John leaned his forehead on hers. There was a nervous look on his face.

"It's all been figured out. No drama, no troubles. Just... no marriage." She said.

"Will you marry me?" John blurted out, holding her face. Her eyes widened. "I want you to marry me, Valerie." He admitted. "And i've wanted that ever since I saw you." He said.

Her heart began beating rapidly.

John's thumbs brushed against her skin as he waited for her to reply.

Tears seemed to brim her eyes and she took a breath. "Yes-" she finally said with a happy sigh, closing her eyes and leaning into him. John let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding. "Thank fuck because I don't know what I would have done if you said no." He laughed.

"Oh, John Shelby." She sighed.

John grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the drawing room again. He burst the door open. "She said yes!" He called out. Everyone turned to him and began cheering. He wrapped an arm around Valerie and pulled her in happily. She turned red in the face ever so slightly and Polly had gotten up first.

"Congratulations!" Polly hugged her, holding her face for a moment.

"Thank you, Polly."

Tommy watched from a distance with a proud and genuine smile on his face.
Francesca, on the other hand, didn't have a clue what was going on. She just sat with Finn who was clapping his hands loudly.

"John boy!" Arthur shouted, going to the pair. "I don't know what the fuck happened between you two but i'm happy for ya." He said, arms in the air.

"Thank you, Arthur."

Arthur quickly went to get his whiskey glass. "To Valerie and John!" He toasted. Everybody raised their glass. "Valerie and John!"

©-shelbysecret-
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Authors Note:
- Here's a short, cute little chapter to finish off Volume 2

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