Chapter 1

This story is set in 1920-21 at the start, John was never with Martha for the purpose of this story, and won't be marrying Esme, I'll be following some of the storyline from the series but will probably include more scenes that would happen between episodes.

"John?" A quiet voice from behind John, sat alone at the bar, interrupts his internal thoughts.

"What?" He barks, not turning around, eyes still glued on the glass of whiskey on the bar in front of him.

"John." The girl behind him repeats, wringing her hands together nervously.

"What?" John all but shouts, swiftly turning in his chair, pausing, eyes widening as he recognises the girl stood in front of him. "Fucking hell. Elle?"

"Hi," she says softly, smiling at him. "How are you?"

"Fucking hell." John repeats, slowly raising from his chair. "Eleanor Jane."

"John Michael." Eleanor replies with a teasing smile.

"Fucking hell."

"You've said that already." She jokes, touching her hand to his. "I'm back John."

"It's been a bloody long time Ellie..." He mumbles in reply, the young girl in front of him shuffling closer to him.

"I know. And I'm sorry. I didn't think I would be gone this long, you know that. I wrote to you to tell you that. You didn't reply though..." Eleanor explains, perching on the stool beside him.

"I didn't know how." John says quietly, arm resting on the bar, his glass of whiskey still in his hand.

"Can we go somewhere to talk?" She asks, gently laying her hand on his arm; John glances down, slowly nodding before downing his whiskey as he stands, taking her hand in his and leading her from the pub.

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The walk back to John's house is silent, Eleanor not letting go of his hand the entire way from the Garrison to Watery Lane. Once they reach the house, John drops her hand, instead resting his hand on the small of her back, leading her into the living room. "You want a drink of anything?" John asks as he pours himself another whiskey, Eleanor quickly shaking her head, throwing him a grateful smile. She watches as he lights the fire and begins to pace in front of it, "John, will you come and sit down, please?"

"Two years Ellie. Two fucking years you've been gone!" He booms, Eleanor wincing slightly at the volume of his voice. Tears begin to well in her eyes in shock, the conversation not playing out the way she had assumed it would; John had always been gentle, especially around her, voice barely ever rising to a shout.

"But I came back," she says weakly, ringing her hands together. "I promised you I would." John doesn't respond to this, continuing his pacing, her eyes following him across the width of the room. "Are you..." she pauses, trailing off. "You don't have a wedding ring..."

"There's no one else." John confesses, cutting her off. "There never was Elle. Only you. Only ever you."

"You were always the only one for me too, you know that John..."

"That...Eleanor..." He stutters, groaning in frustration as he rubs at his forehead.

"John, please come here?" She holds her hand out for him, eyes locked on his as he pauses, considering her request. "Please." He takes a second more to think, quickly deciding to cross the room, dropping to his knees beside her; Eleanor reaches her arms out, John falling into them as her arms encircle his body, forehead resting on her chest, hands gripping her sides lightly.

"You left Ellie." He says, tone softer this time.

"I had to John, you know that," she replies, her tone matching his as she runs her fingers through his hair. "Maggie needed me." They sit in silence for a few minutes, John breathing in her familiar scent, Eleanor still running her fingers through his hair.

"How is she?" John finally asks, running his fingers up and down her sides. Eleanor had left two years earlier, following her older sister out of Small Heath after the death of her husband during the war. Maggie Taylor had struggled to come to terms with the passing of her husband, her own health and well-being deteriorating until her Aunt had suggested she leave Small Heath for a while. The two sisters had packed up soon after and headed to the countryside to move in with their relatives until Maggie got back on her feet, which took longer than either had expected. John had been devastated when his girlfriend of just over four years (family friend since childhood) had decided to leave, just after he had returned from the war, throwing himself into the family business as a result. Eleanor had kept in touch with her first love, writing to him regularly to keep him up to date while she stayed, helping her Aunt and Uncle with her younger cousins at the same time as bringing Maggie out of herself and eventually back into work. After not hearing from John in over a year, Eleanor had decided to stay with her family for a while longer, until she felt ready to return to Small Heath and reconnect with John.

"She's ok...better." Eleanor replies, John finally pulling back from her embrace to sit back on his heels, his eyes searching hers. "You stopped writing back John."

"You were gone Ellie. I was angry. I didn't know what to say, you seemed so happy being away from here, away from me." He says, Eleanor taking his hands in hers as a single tear slips from her eye.

"I wasn't happy being away from you John!" She assures him, cupping his cheek with one hand. "If I could have taken you with me, I would have! But the company was taking off, and your brothers needed you here." She pauses before continuing again. "I was only trying to be positive in my letters so that you didn't worry. I loved being there with my family, but I missed you. God John, I missed you so much." John turns his head in her hand, pressing a kiss to her wrist. "I know we can't pick up where we left off, but John, please, can we try again?" John takes a minute to consider her question, reaching up to cup her face in his hands this time, pushing himself up to press his lips against hers. Eleanor takes a second to respond, her brain tired from all the travelling she had done that day. "Is that a yes?" She teases as they pull apart, letting out a small giggle as he rolls his eyes.

"Of course it's a fucking yes!" He laughs, pulling her into his lap as she laughs along with him, winding her arms around his neck.