Beautiful lies
Cover my eyes with your hands
Just pretend we're better
Turn out the light
There are no more surprises to come
Let's be numb together
-Beautiful Lies, Birdy

Chapter One

1921

Violet Palmer was perfectly content in her little town. It was so quiet and calm and beautiful. She would have been happy to spend the rest of her life here. To get married and have quite a few children. It had always been her idea since she was a child. When she was little, she would have pretend wedding, with her dolls and stuffed animals as guests, and when she would zone out in class she would scribble names for her future children. She was happy to be a housewife, and greet her husband with a warm meal. It would be just as it was for her mother, who always looked at her father with such adoration, and her father always looking at her mother the same way.

It all seemed so dreamy and romantic. But, of course, that, the quiet comfort of the countryside, was the only sort of life Violet had ever known. She had never traveled, never had any desire to, never had any need to. Her parents granted her quite a bit of freedom, and for someone who had that, she was so sheltered. To her, the world never went beyond the picturesque little village she called home. It was a simplistic life of routine, and one Violet was glad to continue throughout her entire life. The idea of leaving had never occurred to her. Why would it? It was a peaceful place where everyone knew everyone, and it was safe, and perhaps that's why Violet loved it so much. She never had the need to worry about anything.

Violet's boyfriend, on the other hand, had other ideas. Violet had known Henry Johnson for years. Ever since Rosemary Johnson had adopted him. He had been her next door neighbor and she had been very eager to welcome him, wanting him to feel as at home as she felt. Violet was only five at the time. That was just the sort of person Violet was. She was always eager to make people feel at home. She always tried to be a great hostess, like her mother was. It was one of the traits of a good housewife, after all. But, despite her good friendship with Henry, she always knew that he wasn't comfortable in the village. It was always too small for him. And no matter how hard Violet tried, she just could never make it so that Henry was comfortable in the village. She tried, though, she tried her hardest. But it always proved to be a futile effort. Still, it never put any sort of strain or damper on their friendship. And by the time she was fourteen and he was fifteen, the two of them were in a relationship. They would often sit and talk at the pretty white wishing well that was in the town square.

And that's exactly where Violet was now, waiting for him to show up. Her red curls were tied with a cream-colored ribbon and a her hair was resting over her right shoulder. She was dressed in a green dress with little buttons that went for the waist to the collar. She had a cloche hat that matched her dress with a cream ribbon that circled the hat, matching the one that was in her hair. Her shoes were also cream-colored. She was sitting up straight, almost trying to project an air of being older that her sixteen years. It was always something Violet did. She always seemed a little to excited to put her childhood behind her, and be seen as an adult.

Her mother always warned her about that, telling her daughter to savor her childhood and youth for as long as she could. She had warned Violet that she would not be so young forever, and that she would regret it if she didn't act like a child while she could. But after watching her elder sister, Lucy get married, that attitude only seemed to double down, and she doubled down even more when Lucy had her first child, a boy named Joseph. Violet had been thrilled to become an aunt, and even more thrilled to become godmother to the little boy, and it only made her all the more eager to grow up. But Violet had always been mature for her age. As had Henry. They had been mature in different ways, but they were mature nonetheless.

Violet was aware of what Henry's life had been like before Mrs. Johnson had adopted him, or at least she was just aware of a little of it. She knew that Henry's birth mother had turned to opium and gin and because she couldn't take care of him properly, he had been taken away, and adopted into the loving Johnson family. Violet agreed with the decision to take Henry away. Any mother who neglected their child was unworthy of having a child to begin with. Violet had always loved babies, and thought that they were just the most adorable things, and she couldn't understand how anyone could do them any harm. They were so sweet and innocent and just demanded to be cared for. If one's parents couldn't show their child love and affection, the child deserved to be put with someone who would and she was happy that Henry had been. It confused her, though, how Henry would often speak of wanting to find and meet his birth mother. How could anyone want to meet a parent who treated them so horribly at such a young age?

But Henry seemed determined that one day he'd meet his birth mother, if only to just ask her why she did what he did. Violet tried her best not to vocalize her opinions on this. She didn't approve of it, but she tried to be supportive of him. She wanted him to do what would make him happy, and if what would make him happy was to confront his mother, then she would put her own personal feelings aside and let him and encourage him to do what he thought would be best, even if she was afraid that him doing this would put his happiness in jeopardy. But if doing that did make him unhappy, she would happily sit with him and comfort him and listen to him without any "I told you so's." But she couldn't help but fear that it would result in unhappiness. But she hoped since her son had been taken away, his mother would have straightened out her act and got her life in order. If only in case her son ever sought her out. He would be eighteen in a few weeks, so he could make his own decisions.

Today, Violet had questions for Henry. Just yesterday, when his mother had called him home for dinner, she had seen a man approaching his house, and she could hear a commotion. She could hear Mrs. Johnson yelling at Henry, telling him to go in the house. Violet had wanted to go and see what was going on, to make sure that Henry was alright, as hearing Mrs. Johnson telling Henry to go inside had cause Violet some worry. But her mother had told her that it was none of her business and that it was almost dinnertime for her family. And so as desperate as Violet was to know what was going on, she reluctantly stayed.

Violet saw Henry approach her and a smile lit up her face, her dark green eyes sparkling brightly. She was eager for answers, and hoped that everything was alright with him. She had been more worried about him than showed, and she was glad that he looked alright. But as he neared her, she could tell that he looked serious, more serious than he had been when she saw him yesterday, only a few minutes before the man showed up. She wondered what it was all about. It was all so confusing. Nothing like that ever happened here. It was all so strange and out of place. Perhaps it had something to do with his birth mother. That was the only thing that Violet could think of. It was the only thing that made sense to her. Henry did often stick out here. It wasn't too noticeable, but it was clear that he didn't always fit in, in the small, fairly conservative village. He had adjusted just fine and loved his family the same as they loved him, but Violet always knew that he wasn't content here. Of course, that was never anything that he hid from her. For as much as she loved living here, she knew Henry wasn't and whenever he needed to complain, she would always offer him an open ear for him to complain about whatever he wished. Ever since their relationship began, though, Violet always hoped that she might help make the village more of a home to him. She wanted him to be happy, and she hoped that he could make him happy, she wanted to make him happy. She always hoped and she always tried to make him see the positives and the beauty of their little town. She always thought she could do that. She still thought that she might be able to do that. She hoped that the man she dreamed of marrying when she was a little girl would end up being Henry, and she hoped that he felt the same way about her that she did about him. He had to, didn't he? They had been together for two years at this point. Surely it hadn't all been for nothing. A few more years and perhaps they would be married. Both were interested in continuing their education, and once that was over, the two would be married.

"Hey," Henry said, sitting next to Violet.

As he sat next to her at the wishing well, Violet greeted him as she always did: a chaste kiss on the cheek, something that, when in public, made Henry's face turn red as a tomato. He didn't mind kissing her and her kissing him in private, but he was a little embarrassed by it when it public.

But that was all the affection there was between them in public. Just a kiss on the cheek to say hello and goodbye, and hand holding. But there was plenty more kissing when they were in private. It was passionate kissing, but that was all it was.

Violet would never allow it to go past kissing. She had been raised by a deeply religious and conservative mother. Any form of sex was not allowed until after marriage. Henry never pressured her. He had commented that he didn't like the idea, but that was that. He never tried to take it any farther than she was comfortable with, and Violet appreciated that.

"Hey," said Violet. "I heard some commotion at your house last night. Everything alright?"

Violet could feel Henry tense up, and he left her in silence for a few moments, as if he was trying to collect his thoughts, trying to figure out where to start, trying to figure out just how to say. Violet grabbed his hand and squeezed it gently, trying to offer him some form of comfort. It was her silent way of saying that he could say anything and she would listen. Not judge, not offer unwarranted advice, not tell him what to, or give him her opinion, just listen. She would offer him an open ear, and speak only when he asked for her opinion, asked for advice, ask for her input, and when he did, he would happily give it. But she was worried for Henry, and wanted to know just what happened last night.

"A man came to my house yesterday," said Henry. "He told me that my mum wanted see me. My birth mum."

Violet didn't know exactly what to say, how to respond to that. Was that good news? Bad news? She knew that Henry wanted to meet his birth mother, but know that he had to opportunity, he didn't seem to know what it was he was going to do.

"And?" Violet asked. She didn't want to press him, but she wanted to make sure she was alright.

"He said they took me by force," said Henry. "She wasn't on opium. She wants to see me."

Violet didn't exactly know what she should think about it. She felt like she could be so much more supportive of him finding his mother knowing that his mother wasn't some drunkard who was taking opium instead of looking after her son.

"Are you going to go see her?" Violet asked.

"I'm eighteen in a few weeks, I can do whatever I want," said Henry.

Violet sighed. She knew that Henry was excited to turn eighteen, and he'd finally be able to get out of this little town. Violet understood, even if that wasn't what she wanted, but she would support him in that, but she wanted him to come back to her.

"That wasn't my question," said Violet. "Are you going to see her? You know I'll support whatever you do."

"I want to," Henry said, after a moment.

"Well, where is she?" Violet asked.

Violet was a little nervous to have that question answered. What if it was too far? Violet would have followed Henry to the ends of the earth, if only he asked. It wasn't too far for Violet. She would find a way to get to him. But what really worried her was how long he would be gone. She would wait for him, without question, but she was afraid of how long he would be gone. She would turn down any other man who approached her, wanting to enter a relationship, all for Henry.

"Small Heath, Birmingham," Henry told her.

Violet let out a small sigh of relief. That wasn't too far. She didn't know how far it was exactly, but it couldn't have been more than a few hours by train. It wasn't like the two of them would be days apart. There were far worse distances and compared to all that, a few hours was nothing. She didn't know much about Small Heath, or Birmingham in general. Her whole world extended to the little village she called home. But any distance was too far for her, seeing as he had been so close to her since he was adopted. But she knew how important it was to meet his mother, and she was sure that knowing that his mother wasn't the woman he thought she was. She couldn't blame him wanting to meet her. And so she grabbed his hand and squeezed it again, in the hopes of giving him some more comfort. She would support him, and she hoped that he would come back one day, because she would be waiting for him to.

"You should go, Henry," said Violet. "I know how important it is to you."

"Really?" Henry asked. He seemed almost shocked at her agreeing.

"Yes," said Violet, giving him a smile.

"Do you want to come with me?" Henry asked. "Get out of here."

Violet sighed. She couldn't. As much as she didn't want to leave Henry. For starters, she was only sixteen. Henry could get away with it. He would be eighteen in a few weeks, and so long as he wasn't caught, he could stay there until his birthday without being taken home. Violet, could not. If she was found out after Henry's birthday, she could be taken back, and her mother would be furious.

And there was the fact that Violet actually liked the village. She wanted Henry to like it to. Perhaps it wouldn't be back. Perhaps meeting his mother wouldn't be like he thought it was. Maybe he would come back to the village, come back to her. And they would be married like they had promised. And things would go back to the way they were.

"I can't," said Violet. "What would Mum and Dad think? They'd be furious, and they'd be worried. I can't leave them. But will you write me? Call me? I just want to know that you're all right."

Henry nodded. It was so subtle that Violet just barely noticed it. But it was there. And with that confirmation, Violet felt content knowing that he was going to be doing something that made him happy, and she was going to hear from him on how things were going. And hopefully they would be reunited sooner rather than later. Violet wanted Henry to be happy.

"When are you going, Henry?" Violet asked.

"Michael," he responded.

"What?" Violet asked, clearly confused.

"Michael," Henry repeated. "That's my name. My real name-Michael Gray."

"Michael Gray," Violet repeated. That would take some getting used to. "Well then, Michael Gray, when are you leaving."

"Tomorrow," he replied. "I told my mum, well… I told her I was going to be with you. Just tell her you were with me, and I won't go home. Alright?"

He stopped and Violet simply nodded. It was far too soon. She didn't want him to leave so quickly. But she couldn't imagine being lied to about her parents, about what they were like. And so she wouldn't try to get him to stay, as much as she wanted to. She just hoped that this whole thing wasn't pointless, that it was for the better, not worse.

Violet felt terrible at the prospect of lying to Mrs. Johnson. Mrs. Johnson was a good woman and she loved her sons dearly. Even if Henry -Michael she reminded herself- wasn't her son by birth, she treated him just as she would if he was her biological son. She would be devastated to hear that he had gone. Violet was also worried Mrs. Johnson wouldn't believe her. Violet rarely lied, and when she did, it was so easy to catch her she was hopeless at it.

"Wouldn't you rather wait until you're eighteen?" Violet asked. "Won't it be easier? Suppose you're found out. What then?"

"They won't find me," said Henry confidently. "You're the only person I've told, and you won't tell them, will you?"

Against her better judgment, Violet nodded. She loved Henry and she would lie if what she was doing was for his happiness. She just hoped that she was able to keep her secret. She didn't know how long she could keep the lie going, but she would try, for Michael's sake. It was so weird to think. Michael. That would take a lot of getting used to. But that was nothing. It was just a name. A rose by any other name and all that, Violet thought.

"Alright," said Violet. "But, please write me when you're all settled in. Okay?"

"I promise," said Michael.

...

A/N: I hope you enjoyed it. If you did, please leave a review! Chapter two will pick up between seasons two and three, and it will be out soon.

Also, the faceclaim for Violet is Lottie Tolhurst. She's super pretty and underrated, and I hope she gets more work soon.

-Isla (a.k.a. Death In A Pretty Pink Death)