𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤
- 𝟎𝟐𝟕 -

Robert had been looking after his granddaughter when Valerie entered the new home. The sound of her heels against the floorboards was what excited Francesca. She jumped down from the chair she had been sat on and ran through the house.

"Mum!" She called out, her bare feet moving quickly.

Valerie smiled at the sound of her voice. "My darling," she called back, opening the door and being met with the same face she had left earlier that day. "How has your day been?" She asked, lifting the girl from the floor.

"Grandad took me to the sweet shop!" She exclaimed.

Robert tutted and shook his head. "That was supposed to be a secret," he joked.

Valerie laughed and put the girl back down before moving the let the dog inside from the garden. "Hello, Bailey," she sighed and leaned down to run a hand over his back.

The dog ran in between Valerie's legs before nudging his head into her knee. 

She dismissed him gently and hung up her coat before going to light the fire in the office.

"Oh— there was a phone call." Robert told her, "they said they wanted you to call them back once you were available." He explained. Valerie raised a brow and began wondering who it was that could have been calling her.

Her fingers brushed over the telephone and she lifted it to her ear. It took her directly to the telephone exchange girls. "I received a call earlier today but was not here to take it. Can you direct me to the number?" She asked.

"Just a moment."

And within a few seconds, it began to ring.

She waited patiently and fiddled with her wedding ring that still sat on her finger. She glanced at the calander. It was September. The execution was scheduled for the end of January.

"Hello?" She finally spoke.

"Valerie."

It was Tommy Shelby.

"It's a relief to hear your voice." He spoke.

She bit down on her tongue and contemplated putting down the phone. The last time she had spoken to that man was the day he had gotten her husband sent away.

"You have a few seconds to tell me why you have called before I put the phone down." She threatened.

"Their execution has been brought forward," he got straight to the point. Valerie's heart dropped and she sat up. "Excuse me?" She breathed.

"It has been brought to today—"

"Thomas Shelby, I swear—"

"It won't go through." He assured her, "things have been down, evidence has been given in against the people who wanted us finished." He said.

"And?"

"And now we just have to hope that it gets to the judges in time."

"You've got to be kidding me." Valerie pinched the bridge of her nose. "If my husband isn't freed and I am told he died today, I have a revolver and I will come over to your home and shoot you." She said through gritted teeth.

Tommy grinned slightly at her threat. "I wouldn't put it past you."

She shook her head although he couldn't see her.

"How is Francesca?"

"You have some nerve." She hissed, "go and fuck yourself." She said before slamming the phone back down into its place. She ran her hands through her hair and sighed. "Tommy fucking Shelby."

She leaned back and placed a hand on her chest to feel her heart which was beating much faster than she had realised.

Valerie hoped that somehow, in some way, Tommy would fix this all. That he would clean up the mess that he caused.

—

Valerie sat anxiously beside the phone after putting Francesca to bed. She bit at the skin around her nails, her eyes darting across the room whilst she waited for the phone to ring.

All she wanted was to be told that John would be coming back home to them.

But when the phone finally did ring, Valerie jumped and hesitated. Her hands hovered above the telephone and part of her didn't want to answer it. She was unsure what she would do if she was told that the execution had gone ahead.

With a final deep breath, she brought it to her ear.
"Hello?" Her words escaped as a whisper.

"It worked— they're all being released." Tommy said proudly. Her eyes widened and she cupped a hand over her mouth. "When?" She mumbled.

"Before the end of the week."

And then she put the phone down and placed her head in her hands. Valerie couldn't believe it. He was coming home — he was coming back to them.

"Dad—" Valerie jumped from her chair and rushed through the home to find Robert who she assumed to still be in the kitchen with the dog. "Dad, John's coming home! They're all coming home." She said.

Robert, with wide eyes, stood and held her arms. "What about the execution?"

"They've been pardoned," her voice trembled with relief.

Robert laughed and clapped his hands together. "That's amazing— oh, my. Francesca will be delighted." He fixed his glasses. "Didn't I tell you that everything would work out in the end?" He asked proudly.

—

Those next few days were torturous. Valerie decided not to tell Francesca that her father would be returning — she wanted it to be a surprise.

With them residing in a new home, she hoped that somebody would be able to get the news to John and have him go to the correct place.

Valerie was wearing her best dress and her hair was pinned back neatly. She had even bought an expensive bottle of gin for his return as a celebration.

Valerie had it all planned.

That was why she stood in the front garden with Bailey and Francesca. Bailey was running wild as Francesca chased after him, unable to keep up. Valerie heard the sound of feet crunching against the gravel and she tensed up slightly.

She crossed her arms over her chest and looked over her shoulder.

And there he stood.

It was as if she was staring at a dead man.

"John.." she tutted, walking to him with her arms out. He wasted no time to wrap his arms around Valerie. He breathed into her shoulder and held her close as though he were going to disappear again. "You're home."

John pulled back and kissed her, his hands cupping her face. "I'm still coming to terms with it all."

Before either of them could say another word, Francesca finally noticed who had been stood at the bottom of the garden. She stood with her hands cupped over her mouth and her eyes watering.

John looked over to her and took a few steps forward. He kneeled down and Bailey soon invaded his space. "Hello boy," he whispered. He looked at her again. "Are you not going to come and say hello?" He joked.

She slowly crept toward him and he put his arms out.

She didn't say a word. Instead, she burst into tears. John pursed his lips together and embraced her, rocking her slightly. "Don't cry," he tried.

She pulled back and stared at his face. "Is it really you?"

Valerie chuckled lightly and John just stroked the back of her hair. "It's me, sweetheart." He reassured her.

Francesca wrapped her arms around him tightly and he kissed the top of her head. "Are you going to leave again?" The girl asked her father. John's heart clenched. "No, no i'm here to stay now. I'm not leaving you again." He said to her.

Valerie pressed her fingers to her lips when feeling herself well up at the sight. She turned away and took a deep breath, blinking away the tears.

"I cooked dinner— why don't we go inside?" She offered.

John stood and held Francesca's little hand. "I'd love that," he nodded and followed her inside where he finally got a look of the new home that he was yet to see. "This is lovely— all of it." He complimented, noticing the pictures hung on the wall.

"I had some help from Ada." She said with a grin, not caring to act like it was all her own work.

"Dad—"

"Franny," he answered in the same tone.

"Can I show you my bedroom.. and all my toys and my pretty dresses." She rambled on. John laughed slightly. "Of course you can." He said, placing her on her feet and allowing her to take his hand, practically dragging him up the stairs.

Valerie allowed herself to have a moment to realise that it was all real and that they were now allowed to be a family again.

He was back and she wanted nothing more.

©-shelbysecret-
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Authors Note:
- Shortish chapter
- I think you know what's coming next.