"So where has ye dad been fighting? Luke asked. The girl crossed her legs over, leaning against the tree. "France, i think"

"That's where our Ron was as well, i think" Reg spoke, biting into a piece of bread.

Delilah looked up at the sky.

They sat and talked for hours, laughing with each other until it was starting to get dark. "I'll walk you home" Reggie said, standing up and offering her his hand. "No it's okay," she shook her head.

"What kind of lad would I be if i didn't walk Delilah Shelby home when it was dark, eh?" he laughed.

She smiled and took his hand, pulling herself up.

"Goodbye Delilah," the other boys dismissed as Reggie and Delilah walked down the hill.

They arrived outside her house on Watery Lane quicker than they anticipated. "Goodnight, Lilah" he smiled innocently. She looked up at him. "Goodnight, Reggie. Thank you for walking me home" she said quietly.

"Anytime" he nodded, waiting till she was safely inside before he left.

"Who was that?" Ada asked, moving away from the window. "Ada," she smiled sarcastically. "Hello to you too" Delilah huffed.

"Who was that boy, Lilah" she teased, placing her hands under her chin.

"Reggie Smith" Lilah sighed. Ada's eyes widened. "Reginald Smith?" she asked in a high pitched voice. "Keep your voice down" Delilah hissed.

Ada covered her mouth. "Sorry," she whispered. "What the bloody hell is Reginald Smith doing walking you home" she asked.

"Ada, no one calls him Reginald anymore. It's Reggie" the young girl corrected.

"And i was out with him and his friends today, he offered to walk me home"

Ads nodded, suspicious. "So, what are you and this Reggie?"

Lilah rolled her eyes. "Friends" she said bluntly, placing her boots beside the door. "Friends?" Ada hummed. "Yes, Ada. Friends. Now if you'll excuse me, i'm going to bed"

Delilah dragged herself up the stairs, avoiding anymore questions that could come from Ada's mouth.

She was back to thinking about the return of her uncles and father. Delilah lay on her back, staring at the cracks in the ceiling. She wasn't sure if she was prepared to see how different they'd be. The thought scared her slightly.

The fright that was masked over her was exchanged with excitement when she realised she would see John again.

John was her favourite uncle, although she knows she shouldn't have favourites, it was hard not too.

Lilah glanced at the gap in the curtain, watching at birds flew past, blocking the light coming from the moon. "Just a few more days, Lilah, then you'll be a family again" she whispered to herself.

"You okay?" Francis asked, leaning on the door frame with a cup of tea in her hand. Lilah hummed, pulling the white sheets up to her chest.

"Well, get some sleep, we'll be up early tomorrow" Francis touched Delilah's hair. "Night mum," she whispers, laying down.

"Goodnight."

-

"Delilah Jane Shelby get your arse out of bed" Polly shouted from the bottom of the stairs, causing the girl to jump up and rush around her bedroom. Francis laughed at the older woman who rushed around the house, cleaning.

"Pol, i'm sure they won't care if you miss a spot" she spoke.

Delilah wanted to visit the sweet shop before they went to the train station. Partially because she wanted to see Reggie and partially because she wanted to buy the boys some sweets, a welcome home present?

She quickly braided her hair and pulled on her boots. "I'll be back soon, mum" she shouted, leaving the house before Francis or Polly could argue.

Lilah rushed down through the lanes, arriving at the sweet shop and pushing the door open.

"Morning, Mr Smith" she greeted, placing her hands on her hips trying to catch her breath.

"Miss Shelby" he smiled, "what can i do for you?"

"Can i have one bag of jelly beans, a bag of sherbet lemons and then a bag of that white fudge, please" she asked, placing the money on the counter. The man nodded, turning to fill up the bags.

Jelly beans for John, Fudge for Arthur and Sherbet Lemons for Tommy.

"Delilah" Reggie appeared, leaning on the door frame behind his father. "Hello, Reg" she smiled.

"You off to the station?" he asked.

"I am, yeah" Lilah smiled. "Just getting the boys some sweets"

Mr Smith turned back to her and handed her the paper bags. "Thank you, see you later Reg!" she shouted, rushing back to Watery lane.

"Where the bloody hell did you go?" Polly asked as she buttoned up Finn's coat.

Lilah held up the bags. "For John, Arthur and dad" she panted. Polly shook her head. "Right, come on, we're going to be late" Polly said, holding the boys hand and dragging him out the house.

Delilah walked with a slight skip in her walk beside her mother and Polly.

"You two, behave at the station, last thing we want is to annoy them" Polly warned as they walked up to the Train Station.

"She needs to relax" Lilah whispered to Ada. Ada let out a laugh, pushing the girl forward.

"Can you see them?" Finn asked, standing on his tip toes. Lilah bit her lip, looking over the crowd at the carriage that had opened its doors.

"Is that Arthur with a moustache" Lilah scoffed, watching as John and Tommy followed after him, looking around.

"Don't..run-" Polly sighed as Delilah had taken off.

"Dad" she shouted. Tommy looked over, dropping his bags and picking up the girl who had threw herself at him. He held the back of her head, squeezing his eyes shut. "Hello Lilah" he whispered.

"I've missed you" she said, keeping her head on his shoulder. "I've missed you too" he placed her back on the floor. "I got you some sweets" she smiled, handing him the bag.

He grinned at his daughter, ruffling her hair, looking over at Francis who was slowly coming to them.

"Hello, you" Arthur said, hugging the girl quickly. "Got you some too" Lilah handed him the bag and he nodded. "You're a good girl, thank you Lilah"

"Ay, av you forgotten about me?" John asked, picking the girl up off the floor and spinning her around. "Hello John" she whispered. "You look old" she joked.

His mouth parted as he put her down.

"Jelly beans" she nodded. "Thanks Lilah, girl" he pushed her jokingly.

Tommy wrapped his arms around Francis tightly. "You're back" Francis whispered. He nodded, placing a kiss on her forehead.

Delilah scowled at John and returned to Tommy. "My little girls not so little anymore, eh?" he asked. She looked down. "I turn fifteen soon" she nodded.

"Yeah, we celebrated your fourteenth in the trenches" Arthur spoke, throwing his bags over his shoulder whilst they walked over to Polly.

John draped his arm over his niece's shoulders, laughing at the fight she put up to get him away.

"Hello, Pol" Tommy said, nodding at his Aunt. "Ada," he finished, smiling at his sister.

"Did she behave?" he asked, half jokingly. "She was perfect" Francis smiled, holding his arm as they walked up Watery Lane.

John threw himself onto the couch beside Delilah, closing his eyes.

Lilah sat on the couch beside the window, watching as they all sat at the dining table.

She glanced out the window, looking at Luke Cray who was laughing loudly, kicking a ball into Reggie's back. Reggie looked over, sending the girl a small wave from outside. She waved back, smiling.

"Delilah get away from the window" Polly scolded. Delilah sighed and joined them at the table.

"What was it like, Tom" Finn pulled at his sleeve. "Oh, Finn" he sighed, lighting a cigarette. "That's something i hope you never have to experience"

Lilah bit her lip, leaning on her hands. She could tell something had changed, she just didn't know what. There was a cold look in his eyes, they weren't as welcoming as they used to be. His eyes showed that he had been through hell.