𝐞𝐠𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 · 𝐚𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬

𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐱

"Then why didn't you come?" She sucked in a deep breath. "When I fainted, Pol sent Tommy to collect you. You didn't come. Why?"

Evelyn instantly noticed the way that Alfie began to think – swearing that if she looked closely enough she would be able to see the mental cogs turning in his mind. A silence settled between the pair, but Alfie's hand moved to cup her cheek – brushing a few baby hairs away from her pretty face. 

"I thought that if I made yer' hate me, it would be easier when I go," he settled on responding with, the statement causing Evelyn to become confused.

"You're leaving?" She spluttered, not quite understanding the true meaning behind his words. "Where to?"

"To the big white pearly gates," he huffed, watching as Evelyn began to send him a confused look. "Or to the fuckin' under-pits of hell, since we know that's where I'll truly be goin'."

"What on Earth are you fucking talking about?"

With a slight huff, Alfie dropped his hand before gesturing to his pealing skin – removing his white scarf to show the inflammation on his neck.

"Cancer," he muttered, watching Evelyn lift her hand to hesitantly hover over the scaring. "I found out, right, I found out about a month after I thought yer' were gone. Been gettin' treated for it but no sayin' that it's workin', innit?"

"Alf," Evelyn inhaled a shaky breath, her crystal blue eyes shining with unshed tears.

Alfie was quick to lean over and pull Evelyn into his arms as she began to cry, letting her cling to his coat – not daring to let go as if she would disappear again if he did. He wasn't quite sure how to comfort the woman who was crying over his diagnosis, but he thought it was time to talk about the thoughts that had been running through his head since they last saw each other in his office.

"I understand why yer' did it, Eve," Alfie mumbled into her hair, rubbing his hand up and down her back. "I don't think, yeah, I don't think that I will ever forgive yer' for it. But I can move on."

"I am so sorry, Alf." Evelyn sobbed as Alfie cupped her cheeks between his palms to have her look at him, his thumbs wiping away her flood of tears.

"Yer' goin' to ruin yer' makeup," he teased, letting his tone turn sincere. "I look at you, yeah. I look at you, Eve and I know I still love yer'. All those women in that fuckin' hall don't stand a dime against you. Yer' walked past me, back there, right. You walked past me and it was like time fuckin' stopped. I didn't fuckin' belong in there, with them fuckin' posh folk – so I followed yer'. And now standing here with yer' I feel like I belong." 

Alfie's voice became weak towards the end of his sentence, causing Evelyn to raise onto her tip-toes to rest her forehead against his – and she couldn't help but feel like everything was going to finally be alright. She was in the arms of the man she loved again and although they were both messy, rough around the edges and had a lot to work through – they made a beautiful disaster. 

"We'll get you tests," Evelyn whispered, tightening her hold on Alfie's vest. "We'll make sure the treatment is working, and if it isn't we'll go see another fucking doctor."

Alfie's voice was barely above a whisper as he questioned her. "We?"

"We." She confirmed. "I'm with you as long as you still want me."

"Yer' the only one I'll ever want, Evelyn. Nobody is ever going to be you, are they?"

With those soft-spoken words, Evelyn tests the waters by placing her lips upon Alfie's. She pulls away a second later when he doesn't reciprocate, her lips brushing against his – their breathing fanning across the others face. Evelyn shuts her eyes as she goes to pull away, only to have one of his hands grip the back of her neck – placing his lips back onto hers. 

It was a kiss full of passion, catching both of them slightly off-guard. It says everything that they both were thinking but couldn't find the words to speak. 

I miss you. I'm sorry. Please, let me love you again. Love me again.

Pulling away for air, Alfie traced Evelyn's swollen lips with his thumb, his eyes darting between her own and her mouth. He could see the way the world had forced the innocent girl he had met her as to change into someone who didn't let herself show weakness.

He knew that his girl now held fire in her heart and ice in her veins – but he knew that deep down she was just as broken under the surface as he was. He had fallen for a woman who was lionhearted. A woman who has had a life that was never fair and kind to her, yet she still made sure to protect those who she cared for more than anything – especially her family.

Alfie Solomons loved Evelyn Shelby and it was the beginning and the end of everything he thought he didn't deserve.

"We're going to be okay, Eve," he promised her, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "As long as I've got you, right, I know that it's going to be okay. All of it."

"Can I come back home? Just for the night," Evelyn whispered. 

She was vulnerable, standing in front of the love of her life – handing him her heart in her hands. Evelyn placed her open palm over Alfie's heart, finding comfort in the steady beats – he pressed another kiss to her forehead, before nodding to the curtains they had both exited from.

"What about yer' business deal?" 

"I already stayed far longer than I was supposed to," Evelyn grunted. "Was meant to just sit and mingle for an hour before I went home. Plus, I don't belong in there either – they all shunned me as soon as they heard the name Shelby."

Evelyn couldn't help the smile that grew when Alfie offered her a hand, relishing in the feeling of his calloused skin against her own – a contrast compared to Richards soft palms. She preferred Alfie in every way, ten times over. 

"Right," the man beamed from beneath his ginger beard, trying not to blush when Evelyn tucked herself closer to his body. "Let's go fuckin' home, yeah?"