Lintwood Farm Chapter 20

And also Chapter 20 x

Chapter 20 March 1943

Ellie was lied on the sofa, a cool wet cloth over her forehead, only days away from giving birth

"Louis stop it" Chrissie shouted at her brother as they walked into the living room,

"I'm not doing anything" Louis continued to punch Chrissie as he did before

"Louis" Chrissie shouted

"Stop it you two" Ellie said

"Come on Chrissie, fight back"

"Louis stop"

"That is enough" Ellie raised her voice and sat up "I am exhausted, I am over heated and I don't need any of this right now, so no more arguing and no more fighting. Now I am about to have a baby and you two are driving me crazy. Enough is enough" Chrissie and Louis looked at each other

"Sorry Ellie" they both said

"That's Ok, now I'm going to lie down upstairs" she got up and headed towards the stairs,

"Ow, oh god, oh my god, ahhh" Ellie screamed in pain

"Ellie, Ellie are you ok" Chrissie and Louis came running out of the living room

"No I'm not, ow, ow, ow" Ellie breathed heavily "I think, I think I'm in labour, ow"

"You're having the baby now, this is so exciting" Chrissie jumped up and down excitedly

"Ok, Ok Chrissie stop, ow" she breathed in and out several times "Chrissie I need you to go get Ian, oh, ow, Louis call the doctor...number on fridge...ahh" Ellie screamed in pain. Chrissie ran out the door to find Ian running towards the house,

"Chrissie I heard screaming, what's going on" he asked

"Ellie's having the baby now" Chrissie said, Ian ran into the house, Ellie was still on the stairs

"Ellie breath ok, that's it, let's get you upstairs" Ian helped Ellie up the stairs,

"Hello this is Louis Pickard, my sister Ellie Dinsdale is having her baby" Louis said down the phone,

"Ellie's having the baby now, yes" Lindsey said standing on the doorway,

"Louis is the midwife on her way" Ian shouted from the top of the stairs

"Yes they are" Louis put the phone down

"Ok bring them straight up when they get here" Ellie screamed from the bedroom.

The midwives arrived half an hour later and were shown straight upstairs. Three hours later they left, Ian came into the living room.

"So who wants to meet the new baby" They all looked at each other, smiled and ran upstairs, Ian followed.

They all quietly walked into Ellie's room. She was sat in bed her hair still damp from sweating whilst giving birth, in her arms laid a little baby starring up at her, wriggling a little and making cute little noises. They all gathered around her bed,

"So cute" Chrissie said

"Is the baby a boy or a girl" Lindsey asked

"A baby girl" Ellie replied smiling down at her daughter

"I'll send a letter to your mother and let her know and I'll find out where Martin is so you can send a picture and a letter to him" Ian left the room

"We don't have a camera" Lindsey stated

"Actually we do, there's one in Dads old study" Ellie replied

"Dad has a camera" Louis looked surprised

"Yes, it will need cleaning but it should still work, Dad always looked after it" The baby started to cry "Lindsey past me a cushion will you"

Lindsey pasted her a cushion and Ellie placed it under the arm that was holding the baby, undid her top and started to nurse her baby,

"Come on sweetheart it's dinner time" after a few minutes her daughter started feeding,

"Why is she sucking on your breast" Chrissie asked

"Because it how you feed a newborn baby, I can't believe she's latched on so quick" Ellie smiled

"Why" Louis asked

"The midwife told me not every baby latches on first time, sometimes it's takes a few tries" Ellie answered

"What are you going to name her" Lindsey asked

"I don't know yet, I'm still thinking" Ellie said smiling down at her daughter

        "I'm home" Jennifer yelled walking through the door, the house was silent "Hello, anybody" the house still silent. She wondered around looking for everyone then went upstairs. She heard voices coming from Ellie's room, she walked in, Ellie was sat at her dressing table whilst everyone else sat on her bed,

"Hello, I was wondering where you all where" she said walking over to Ellie "What are you writing" she asked

"A letter to Martin" Ellie put down her pen and stood up,

"How's the baby" Jennifer asked

"Fine, in fact" Ellie walked over to the bed and picked up the little baby Chrissie was holding "Say hello to your little baby niece"

"Oh my god you had the baby, oh she is so cute, can I hold her" Jennifer's voice went all high and squeaky

"Of course Jenny" Ellie handed the baby over to her

"Aww, she is so beautiful, what's her name"

"I haven't got one yet, I don't know what to choose, there are so many names like Brenda, Dorothy, Pamela, Mary, Alice and I don't like any of them, are you listening" Jennifer had been cooing over the baby as Ellie had been talking

"Yes of course I'm listening, you don't like any of the names"

"Can I hold the baby now, I was meant to be next" Lindsey asked

"In a minute sweetie" Ian told her

"I may have a name for her" Jennifer said rocking the baby back and forth

"What names that" Ellie asked

"Bonnie"

"Bonnie" Ellie thought about it for a minute "Bonnie Dinsdale, I like it" She looked up at Jennifer "how did you come up with that" she asked

"Well it was the name of Mrs Latham's daughter, here you go Lindsey" Jennifer handed the baby to Lindsey

"How do you know that Jenny" Chrissie asked

"She came into the shop today after teaching at the other farm, I asked, she told me"

"Well I like the name Bonnie and now I have the name she kind of looks like a Bonnie, Hello Bonnie" Ellie leaned over to talk to her daughter who smiled when she heard her name.

"Look at this mess, we're never going to find the camera in here" Chrissie said as she stood in the doorway to her father's study with Lindsey

"This is worse than the mess Dad made when the doctor told him Mum had died" They both stared at the mess

"Well don't just stand there girls, the cameras not going to find itself. I've finished my letter, all I need now is a photo to send...Whoa I forgot how messy it was in here" Ellie joined Chrissie and Lindsey at the door, Bonnie in her arms,

"You think" Chrissie and Lindsey said together

"This is certainly no place for a new born baby, good luck girls" and with that Ellie turned and walked to the living room

"We're never going to find the camera in here"

"I know Lindsey I've already said that"

     "How's it going girls" Ian entered the study. Lindsey and Chrissie stared at him unimpressed "not good then" he continued

"You try looking for a camera in this mess" Lindsey put a pile of papers on the table whilst Chrissie was looking though draws,

"We've been looking for two hours and found nothing but papers, oh I found it" Chrissie held up the camera. A hour and a half later Ian and Louis had locked themselves in the darkroom Patrick had created years ago,

"I didn't know Dad had a darkroom" Chrissie said as she sat on the sofa holding baby Bonnie

"Dad created it when we first moved here at the end of the twenties, just before Louis was born. Dad always had a keen interest in photography, Ooo look at this picture of Louis as a baby" Ellie showed her a picture of Louis as she looked though the photo albums that had been found in the study,

"Haha he was chubby. Why did we move here in the first place" she asked

"Dad inherited the farm when his Dad died"

"Dad grew up here"

"Yes he did and the village we know today didn't exists when dad was a kid just a little shop in the middle of nowhere. Granddad was a big softy you know, didn't have the heart to kill his animals for meat so he turned it into a dairy farm, it was Dad who started selling to the meat farm to make a bit more money, after Granddad changed the farm they barely made ends meet, we use to have lots of animals, pigs, horses, lots more chickens but granddad sold them on to make money and only left us with cows, sheep and the four chickens" Ellie was looking at photos of the farm in its former glory "It took Dad years to get the farm to the way it is now then he went to war, we don't even grow corn or wheat in the fields anymore"

"I didn't know any of this" Chrissie said sadly

"It's ok, you are young after all"

"I know but dad's not here to tell me the rest of it"

"I know but I know most of it, I can always tell you, I know it's not the same as Dad but at least you get to hear it"

Chrissie smiled.

Lintwood Farm Chapter 19

Here is Chapter nineteen of Lintwood Farm x

Chapter 19 1943

Christmas came and went so fast that year, same with new year and soon it was the night before Martin had to leave. He made sure he had everything ready and waiting by the door waiting to go so he could spend his last evening with his family.

"I remember the night before we came here" Lindsey said starting to reminisce "me and Jenny cried the whole time"

"Don't you'll make me cry again" Jennifer said sitting on the sofa

"I think tonight should be a happy night, we can do all the crying and that tomorrow, Chrissie where's your gas mask" Ellie asked her sister

"Upstairs in my room, I'll go and get it"

"Good, you need it on you at all times you never know what might happen" Chrissie got up and ran out the room. She returned a few minutes later with a small brown cardboard box with a piece of string around her shoulder,

"Can we play Monopoly please" she said as she sat back down

"Of course" Martin got the game out of the cupboard and set it up, they played for the next few hours, some of them in pairs, Ellie cuddled up to Martin before they all went to bed.

"It was a nice night wasn't it" Martin said as he and Ellie got ready for bed

"Yes it was, goodnight Martin" Ellie kissed him and went to get into bed

"Ellie I know you're still upset, I wish you would talk to me"

Ellie sat on the bed looking out of the window she turned to look at him,

"There is nothing left to say, I've said everything I have to say on the matter, nothing can change it, It's something we have to live with" She looked at Martin "Lay with me" she said

"What, but Ellie the baby..."

"The baby will be ok" she took his hand and lead him to the bed.

Everyone gathered at the front of the house the next morning to say goodbye to Martin. He gave both his sisters a hug each,

"You both look after each other and behave yourselves"

"We will" Jennifer said

"Don't die" Lindsey said tearing up, Martin hugged her again

"I'll to my best, I promise" he replied, he then said goodbye to Louis and Chrissie, then to Ellie,

"You have to promise you will do whatever it take to survive" Ellie said kissing her husband,

"I will, I will return, this war can't last any longer, it just can't" He kissed her again, the knelt down and kissed her bump

"Be good for mummy. I will be back to meet you I promise" he stood up and said one last goodbye to everyone before heading up the drive with Ian who was accompanying him to the train station. Everyone went back into the house. Ellie collapsed on the stairs in tears. Jennifer also in tears put her arms around her,

"It's ok Ellie, he will be back, he promised" She hugged her sister-in-law as the others sat on the step in front of them to comfort her.

    Ian returned home a few hours later to find the house very quiet. Lindsey, Chrissie and Louis were sat in front of the fire doing their homework whilst Ellie and Jennifer sat at the dining room table going through paperwork for the shop, they looked up as he stood in the doorway,

"Did Martin get off ok" Ellie asked

"Yes he did" Ian replied, Ellie nodded and turned back to the shop paperwork. Ian went back into the living room and put another log on the fire,

"There you go you three, keep warm"

"Thanks dad" Lindsey said "was Martin ok" she asked

"Yes, he was a little teary but hey who wouldn't be. Oh and the butchers son was also off to war as well"

"Who Charlie Brook" Chrissie asked

"Yes, though he kept giving Martin mucky looks"

"That's because he's jealous Martin's married to Ellie and not him" Louis said

"He's had a thing for Ellie for a few years now" Chrissie put in

"But he never did anything about it" Louis bounced back "Snooze you lose" Chrissie and Louis laughed.

"Don't be mean you two" Ian laugh a little himself  "feelings can't be helped, you will realise that when you are older and also that sometimes you don't always get the person you want" Ian sat down on the sofa with a book " Louis once you are finished we are going to tend to the cows, ok"

"Yes Ian, I'm nearly done anyway" Louis replied.

     "Are you sure you get this Jenny"

"Yes I'm sure"

"Good I'm going to hand things over to you now so if there is anything you are not sure of you can ask me before I get too busy and tired" Ellie and Jennifer finished going through the paperwork of the shop,

"That's great, thanks Ellie. I think I know everything  now, it's just time consuming" Jennifer replied

"I know but unless you know or have anything to make it all faster and easier then let me know, until then we are stuck with the written hand and our heads" they both gave a little laugh

"There probably will be one day" Jennifer said

"Yes, most likely after we're long gone" Ellie said in reply

"Most likely yes" they both smiled

      "My god, it's cold out" Louis said stating the obvious as he came in from the barn,

"Well what do you expect, it is winter Louis" Ellie said trying to get up "Can I have some help please" Jennifer and Louis rushed to help Ellie get up

"You can't be that heavy already" Ian said walking into the room

"You're not having twins are you" Jennifer asked, Ellie stopped dead and stared at her,

"I bloody well hope not" she finally replied

"Sorry I was just curious"

""Well as far as I'm aware I'm only having one, so please don't scare me again thank you" and she went into the kitchen.

Ellie laid awake that night staring at the ceiling, her arm stretched out over Martins side of the bed wishing he was lying next to her. A tear ran down her cheek. Elsewhere in the house Jennifer, Lindsey and Ian were also wide awake. Meg the dog lied at the end of Chrissies bed looked up as Lindsey got out of bed and walked towards the window. She got up and followed sitting down against her leg. Lindsey patted her on the head,

"I hope Martins going to be alright Meg" Lindsey said sitting down under the window, she cuddled up to Meg who cuddled back.

"Lindsey, Lindsey" Chrissie shacked Lindsey

"What" she replied

"Why are you sleeping under the window" Chrissie asked

"What, I've been here five minutes" Lindsey relied

"It's morning, you've been there all night " Lindsey jump up, throwing Meg off her. She looked out of the window to find it was indeed morning and the sun trying to peak through the clouds . She looked at Chrissie,

"I was worried about Martin"

"We all are, Ellie's not even awake yet, I guess she was awake most of the night with worry"

"I miss my brother" a tear rolled down Lindsey's cheek

"I know, I miss him too" Chrissie gave her a hug.

The next few weeks were quiet ones, everyone got on with what they were meant to be doing, no complaints, rain or shine. In lessons Lindsey, Chrissie and Louis had asked Mrs Latham to teach them about life on the front line so they knew how Martin would be living and soon had notes full.

"Life is very hard, constant watches on the enemy, guns always at the ready, all the mud and water that is collected in the trenches, Chrissie" Chrissie had raised her hand,

"Mrs Latham, how do you know so much" she asked

"Because I have already lived though one war, the Great War, both my brother and fiancé fought for our country, we wrote to each other every day, they detailed every bit of their lives and the lives of others on the front line, though things may be different now, you will have to ask Ian about that"

"What happened to your brother and fiancé" Lindsey asked

"They died, my brother in battle, my fiancé in a Prisoner of War Camp, I never saw them again after they left" she started to cry

"I'm sorry I asked Mrs Latham" Lindsey apologised

"It's ok" she replied "anyway after the war I married my dear Arthur's best friend who survived the prisoner of war camp but died before this war started" she had to sit down

"Did you have any children" Louis asked

"Yes but she died as an infant" more tears rolled down her cheeks as she remembered the pain she longed to forget

"Mrs Latham I'm so sorry" Lindsey gave her hug.

"Why so quite you three" Ellie asked as they ate dinner that night,

"Oh nothing, just got nothing to say" Chrissie replied

"Ok, how was school, what have you been learning about" Ellie asked

"Life on the front line" Lindsey said trying to cut her lamb "why is this so hard to cut" she stressed

"Give it here" Ian said and Lindsey passed her plate to him

"You know if you wanted to know about life on the front line Ian could have told you" Ellie said

"We know but Mrs Latham's brother and former Fiancé fought in the Great War" Chrissie replied

"Did they now"

"Yes, they both died too"

"What a sad story" Ellie put her cutlery down "is that why you've all been so quiet"

"Yes it is, remembering made Mrs Latham cry, it was very sad" Chrissie told her sister

"What happened to her husband, I'm guessing she married seeing as she goes by Mrs and not Miss" Jennifer asked

"Yes she did but he died just before this war started" Chrissie explained "Another loss she's suffered as well as her daughter as an infant" 

Arazona Chapter Eight

Chapter 8

"No way you're both together, that's amazing" Maybelle celebrated at the news that Antonia and Luke where now a couple "and it only took you six months, seriously what's up with that"

"Maybelle will you keep your voice down" Antonia asked

"What it's not like Fifi's here" Maybelle took a sip of her drink "So how was training" she asked

"And that she whispered about" Luke laughed

"It went well, I've got so much control now, there is just heat I can't do. I needed to be in some sort of simulator or something" Antonia said

"We have something like that at base, it's just getting in to use it, we would risk exposure if we did" Luke told them both

"I really hope you learn to control it, it seems the only part not controlled"

"It is Maybelle, I really hope we can work on it soon, I don't want to hurt anyone" Antonia looked worried, Luke took her hand.

In the next few weeks Luke taught Antonia how to use her powers with in battle, she also learnt skills in hand to hand combat which helped her jump out of the way of oncoming attacks whether it was by weapons or powers.

"That was so much fun" Antonia told Luke kissing him, he kissed her back,

"So off to the bar" Luke asked

"Not this week, Maybelle's not feeling well but you can come back to my place if you like" Antonia offered

"What about your Mother"

"She's on that Galactic Spa trip to the planet Archstone with my Auntie Ida. She won't be back till Wednesday night" Antonia told Luke as they got into his Hover Craft

"Then yours sounds good"

     Luke parked down the side of Antonia's building and she led him up to her apartment,

"It's only a two bed, enough for me and Mum, so not much really" she told him as he looked around. The kitchen and living room where all one room and there were three doors that led off to the two bedrooms and a small bathroom,

"I think it's cosy" Luke told her "have you always lived here or did you use to live in a house" he asked

"We use to live on the Rhinestone Estate till I was five, when my Dad died they forced us to move here, to Centre City, Mum was relieved she didn't think she could cope with the up keep of the house on what she earns" she looked at Luke

"I wish they didn't do that, it's not fair" he told her "just because someone in your family who is in the military dies doesn't mean they have the right to force families out of their homes, they should help support them"

"It's ok Mum was planning on giving up the house anyway, the government just unexpectedly helped us out" Antonia reassured Luke. He stepped towards her took her in his arms kissed her,

"I have something for you" he told her, he reached into his pocket and took out what looked like a picture and handed it to Antonia, she looked at it, it was a picture of a man stood with the desert in the background in military uniform, at the bottom read the name 'Major Iford Birch'

"My Dad" a tear rolled down her cheek "where did you get this" she asked

"I found it in the Archives the other day and snuck it out. I thought you might like it" Luke told her

"Like it, I love it" Antonia kissed Luke and hugged him tight "thank you Luke, it's been a long time since I've seen my Dad. I'm very grateful, thank you so much" they held each other tight. There was a knock at the door,

"Who could that be at this time" Luke asked

"I have no idea"

"Antonia are you home yet" a muffled and drowsy voice came through the door

"It's Maybelle" Antonia answered the door "Hi Maybelle"

"Do you have any cough syrup we've ran out" Maybelle coughed into a tissue

"Of course, come in" Maybelle wrapped in a duvet walked into Antonia's apartment

"Hi Luke" she said as she saw him, Luke pulled out a chair for Maybelle to sit on, Antonia brought out the cough syrup

"Have you Parent's gone to bed already" Antonia asked giving Maybelle the cough syrup,

"No, my Dad and brother have gone on a tour on the Senate Dome and my Mum went and that Galactic Spa thing with your Mum and Auntie Ida" Maybelle coughed again,

"OK you're staying here tonight" Antonia told her friend

"No, it's ok you have Luke round" Maybelle protested

"Belle you ill and home alone, you can sleep in my bed and I'll sleep on the camp bed"

"Ok, but I'm going to bed now, I don't feel too good" Maybelle got up to go to bed,

"Ok hang on Belle" Antonia turned to Luke "Can you please get the camp bed off the top of my wardrobe" she asked him

"Of course, which one's your room" Luke asked

"That one over there" Antonia pointed to the door in the corner of the room. Luke set up the camp bed for Antonia and Maybelle went to bed straight away. Luke and Antonia settled on to the sofa for an hour before Luke went home.

    As he left a posh Hover Craft sat on the other side of the road. Luke pulled out of the side of the building and left to go home. The window of the posh Hover Craft rolled down to reveal Fifi sat in the driver's seat, she looked angry, like she was ready to kill someone,

"What the hell was Luke doing at her place" she said rudely to herself, she rolled her window up as she looked up at Antonia's bedroom window and drove home.

The next Friday Fifi waited outside the department store Antonia worked at. As she came out of the staff entrance Fifi started to follow her

"What are you up to Antonia" Fifi said to herself. She stopped a few yards away from the warehouse, she saw Luke greet Antonia with a kiss and take her into the warehouse,

"That bitch, I knew she liked him" Fifi got out of her Hover Craft and marched towards the door. She found it locked and ran round the back to where there was stairs leading to a fire escape. She climbed the stairs to the door to find it also locked. She looked up to see a window just above her head. She stood on her tiptoes to peer in and saw Antonia using her power,

"Oh, she's gifted. How the hell did that happen?" Fifi ran back to her Hover Craft and raced back up the road.

    "That was a fun session, I really enjoyed it" Antonia told Luke as they came out of the warehouse, arms around each other,

"I'm glad you enjoyed it and I know something else you will enjoy" he leaned in to kiss her,

"So  it's true you have a girlfriend"

"Father" Luke and Antonia looked up to find President Homestead, General Alcatech, Fifi (grinning immensely) and five members of the AMF standing in front of them, Antonia knew she was busted

"Did you really think you could hide your relationship from me" President Homestead said

"No, I was going to tell you but in my own time. You'll never split us up, no one will" Luke replied

"I don't want to split you up, but that's not why I'm here, apparently your girlfriend is Gifted"

Luke started at his father, he had no idea what to say,

"Well is she" President Homestead asked

"Father I..." Luke struggled to talk

"Don't try and deny it, I saw that bitch with my own eyes" Fifi snarled. Luke stepped towards her in anger but Antonia stopped him,

"Miss Epson shut up" President Homestead shouted, he turned to Antonia "Antonia Birch isn't it" he asked, Antonia nodded "Now be honest with me, tell me, are you Gifted"

Antonia sighed

"Yes I am" she finally said. President Homestead looked at her whilst there was chatter from the five soldiers who stood behind him, they couldn't believe there was a Gifted woman among them,

"Please don't hurt me" she pleaded

"Why would I hurt you" President Homestead asked

"I don't know, no one know what happens to a Gifted Woman these days" Antonia replied

"The same as any other Gifted person my dear"

"What! you're not going to imprison or even kill her" Fifi interrupted

"You bitch" Luke stepped forwards again, fireball in his hand,

"Luke don't, she's not worth it" Antonia told him

"I am too worth it"

"Enough" President Homestead ordered "Luke control yourself, Mason escort Miss Epson home make sure she stays there" President Homestead said to the nearest soldier, he turned grabbed Fifi's arm and walked off with her.

"So what will happen to me" Antonia asked once Fifi and Mason were out of sight

"You will join the Special Agents Unit at the AMF, if that's what you want, it's been a very long time since we have had a Gifted woman upon us, over 5000 years. It was the president 3000 years ago that wanted all Gifted women sectioned, said it was a man's job" General Alcatech said but before Antonia could reply to anything he had said, Seraphina showed up with Crystal

"Arnold, Arnold don't hurt her, don't hurt her" she ran up to her husband

"I'm not going to hurt her, why would I hurt her" President Homestead said to his wife

"Good, it's not her fault she's Gifted" Crystal said

"I know, it's not anyone's fault" President Homestead said

"Arnold there is more to this woman that just being Gifted" Seraphina said

"How do you know she's Gifted" Luke asked his Mother

"I had Lieutenant Broderick spy on you" Seraphina confessed "I know it's an intrusion of your privacy but I just wanted to know you were safe" she told her son, Luke looked surprised but knew it was a one off

"Seffy what is it you have to say" President Homestead asked

"Antonia Birch is a descendant of Ludivine Hawthrow"

"What" President Homestead looked shocked

"Definite" Luke said

"Yes, I know her powers are weather and nature, so were Ludivine's and the Definite before that and the Definite before that one"

"How do you know I'm a descendant of Ludivine Hawthrow, she lived 5000 years ago" Antonia asked

"I had the historian track your family tree and he triple checked. The evidence is there" Seraphina told her

"But I can't be Definite, I don't have wings like the others" Antonia told them

"Yes, but they all developed them over time, by the age of 25 at the latest, some by the age of 20" Luke informed her

"How old are you my dear" Seraphina asked

"20, I'm 21 tomorrow"

Well you have plenty of time, you never know it could be any day now" President Homestead told her "So what will it be, Joining the AMF or returning to your normal job" he asked

"AMF definitely" Antonia smiled

Luke brought Antonia home to break the news to her Mother

" I can't do it" she said standing outside her front door

"Yes you can and I will be right there with you" Luke reassured her, he kissed her and held her close

"Antonia, are you ok, you said you where coming straight home. Hi Luke" Maybelle came running up the stairs

"Fifi saw me using my power, she told President Homestead" Antonia told her friend, the door to her apartment opened

"Inside now" Jasmine told her daughter, " Maybelle go home, you too" she told Luke and Maybelle

"Luke's not going anywhere" Antonia said to her Mother

"Don't talk to me like that Antonia, I found this in your room, where did you get it" Jasmine showed Antonia the picture of the father

"Luke gave it to me" Antonia replied

"Where do he get it"

"From the Presidential Archives" Like told Jasmine

"That's impossible, only authorised personnel can enter that place"  she looked at Luke

"And I'm one of them" Luke told her

"I don't know who you think you are but pictures like this bring back some very painful memories and I will not allow them in my home" Jasmine told Luke

"I already know, Antonia told me everything" he looked at Jasmine who looked like she was going to cry

"This picture is going in the bin and I do not want to hear another word about it, it is still very painful for the both of us" Jasmine turned to walk back into the apartment

"No, it's mine" Antonia snatched the picture out of her mother's hand "it may still be very painful but I want to remember my Dad and what he looked like, you act as if he never existed and for me that's the most painful part" everything fell silent for a minute or two

"Now I have something to tell you and I know you are not going to like it" Antonia told her mother what had happened and that she would be joining the AMF. She also told her about her relationship with Luke and who he really was "I hope you understand Mum, this is something I really want and Luke will be there to look after me and he won't let anything bad happen" Antonia finished, Jasmine sat there not knowing what to say, she turned to face her daughter and gave her a hug,

"Please be careful, I don't want to lose you too and your right I don't like it, but of it's what you want then so be it"

"I knew you wouldn't and you won't lose me, I promise"

Lintwood Farm Chapter 18

Here is Chapter 18 of Lintwood Farm

Chapter 18

Ian returned home a few days later,

"How did it go" Martin asked as he sat at the table

"The office said that you have to go, they also said they wanted to call you up when you turned eighteen earlier in the year but because of the wedding they left it a little longer" they looked at each other

"That was nice of them, I wouldn't expect them to do that" Martin said "I'm going to go, it was only a matter of time before I was called up anyway, I've been expecting it but also hoping it wouldn't happen"

"And Ellie" Ian asked, Martin sighed

"She doesn't like the idea, she got upset but it's only to be expected same with Lindsey and Jenny" There was a long pause, then Lindsey walked in to the room

"Dad you're back" she gave him a big hug "did you get Martin out of going to war"

"No unfortunately, but it's not just Martin that's been called up, a lot of eighteen year olds have whether they are going to the front line or not" Ian looked at Martin "so you're not the only one"

"I know" he looked at his father "Promise you will look after Ellie and the baby" he asked

"Of course I will" Ian hugged his son

"I will too" Lindsey said

"I'm sure you will" Martin hugged his sister

Jennifer appeared in the doorway

"Dad, welcome home"

"Hello sweetheart" Ian went to hug his daughter, but before he could she stopped him.

"Dad, I've decided I'm going to go work in the shop full time, I've given it a lot of thought and it's what I want to do"

"Jenny, darling are you sure"

"Yes, I'm fourteen dad, anyway I will be needed there full time when Ellie gives birth as she will be out for at least a few months" she looked at her father who wasn't sure of what she wanted to do,

"Dad it's ok everyone at the age of fourteen leave school and go to work" Martin reassured Ian

"Ok, if it's want you want to do" Ian looked at his daughter

"Yes it is" she smiled

"Wait, am I going to have to do the same thing when I turn fourteen next year" Louis asked standing in the doorway

"Yes Louis you are" Ian replied

"Ok, just don't send me to a factory ok" Louis asked

"You won't be going to a factory, you will be working full time on the farm" Ian told him

"Yes" Louis celebrated

"At least one person's happy around here" Martin smiled at Louis dancing in the hallway. Ellie walked in to the dining room as she and Chrissie dodged Louis's dance moves

"What's going on" Chrissie asked

"Louis is celebrating the fact he won't be going to work in a factory next year when he turns fourteen" Ian said

"Well of course not, we need him here on the farm" Ellie looked at Ian and smiled "Welcome back Ian, any luck" she asked

"No, I'm afraid not, but Martin isn't the only person who has been called up" Ian replied

"Really"

"Yes, about 200 odd 18 year olds have, some to factories, some to the front line"

Ellie looked at both of them  "Ok, well he's already said he's going so that's that then. Right I'm going to put dinner on"

"I'll give you a hand. Jennifer followed Ellie into the kitchen. 

Arazona Chapter Seven

Here is Chapter Seven of Arazona x

Chapter 7

There was a knock at the door,

"Come in" Seraphina said. A tall man in military uniform entered the room, "Ah Lieutenant Broderick"

"You wanted to see me My Lady" he said

"Yes, I need you to do me a favour" she told him "My son is up to something on a Friday evening and I need to know what it is. I need you to find out what he is up to, follow him but do not make yourself known" Seraphina told him

"What time does Luke usually leave the house My Lady"

"About 5:30 at the latest, sometimes 5:15, Crystal knows where he goes but she will never tell me, she will never betray her brother"

"Of Course My Lady, please consider it done, I will start this Friday" he turned to leave

"One more thing Lieutenant , you are not to tell anyone what I have asked of you, not my husband, not Luke, not your friends, not even your commanding officer, this is strictly between you and me. I just want to know my son is safe. Report back to me every three weeks" she told him

"Yes My lady"

"You may go know" Lieutenant Broderick gave a little bow and left the room.

Over the next few months Antonia gained more control over her powers, they started to alternate between the weather and nature parts. Lieutenant Broderick followed Luke every Friday to the warehouse but without being inside he couldn't be sure what was going on. He reported this back to Seraphina and told her he would have to find a way in without being seen,

"I may be able to get you an invisibility booster but it will take some time" she told him,

"Yes My Lady until such time I will try to find another way in" he bowed and left the room.

    Another Friday arrived and after six months of training Antonia had managed to control most of her powers. She left work and turned the corner towards the warehouse when she was approached by Fifi

"Where are you going" she snapped

"None of your business" Antonia snapped back

"You're going somewhere and I want to know"

"Leave me alone Fifi" Antonia carried on walking

"If you don't tell me then I'll tell Daddy you're up to something and get you into a lot of trouble"

"Then I'll tell Daddy you've been sleeping around" Antonia stopped

"I have not" Fifi snarled

"Yes you have and I've got the proof" Antonia showed Fifi the pictures, she stood shocked

"You wouldn't" Fifi asked

"Try me, two can play at this game" Antonia told her

"Ok, ok please don't tell Daddy, if you don't I promise to leave you alone forever" Fifi panicked

"Ok"

"What"

"Ok, but if you brake you promise, just once, these pictures are going all over the Arizonian Internet System"

"Deal" Fifi ran off. Antonia raced to the warehouse and asked Luke if there was anything to stop phones from being hacked

"You still have those pictures of Fifi don't you" he asked

"Yes, I'm sorry but I needed something to bite her with" Antonia replied

"It's ok I understand, here take this" Luke took a little device out of his phone and put it in Antonia's "it stops people hacking your phone, I'll get another one when I get home" he gave her a hug which turned into a kiss,

"Oh my god, Antonia I'm so sorry, please forgive me" Luke stepped back after the kiss had finished thinking he had taken advantage of her,

"No need" Antonia grabbed him and kissed him again, he kissed her back and pulled her in close

"I like you Antonia, I really like you" he told her in between kisses

"I like you too" she ran her hands through his hair. There was a loud bang, they both looked towards the door to see it banging against the frame,

"Must be the wind" Luke said arms still around Antonia

"Well it wasn't me" Antonia replied

"I'll go lock the door" Luke walked over to the door, locked it and walked back to Antonia. He kissed her again before resuming her training. Lieutenant Broderick who had acquired an Invisibility Booster watched from the corner.

    Luke gave Antonia a ride to the bar again after their training session had finished,

"So are you going to join Maybelle and me tonight" Antonia asked him

"Sure, why not" Luke accepted her invite and pulled into the Craft Park next to the bar,

"Antonia before we go in I need to warn you about something" he took a deep breath "I can date you but with the way things stand if we ever got married, it wouldn't be until I'm President" he told her, Antonia looked at him "I'm crazy about you, I have been for a while and I'm doing all I can to change the marriage law but I wanted you to know the score before we got into anything serious" he took Antonia's hand,

"It's ok, I know the law and I'm willing to wait that long if necessary, just being with you is going to make me happy" Antonia gave him a little kiss on the side of his lips, Luke smiled

"Can I ask you just one  little thing just so I know I'm not wasting my time. Do you want children in your future because I do" Luke asked her

"Of course I do, I've always wanted children and we're not like those Earthling women we can have children up to the day we die, so there's no rush" she kissed him again " come on I don't want to keep Maybelle waiting" they got out of the Hover Craft and walked in to the bar.

Lieutenant Broderick went to report back to Seraphina straight away,

"He's meeting a woman there you say" Seraphina replied to Broderick after he had started to tell her what he saw,

"Yes My lady"

"Are these meetings professional or of a personal matter" she asked

"Both, they have fallen for each other and this woman isn't of Nobility either" Broderick replied

"Why should that be a problem, I feel strongly the marriage law will be changing soon" Seraphina poured herself a drink

"There is something else you need to know My Lady"

"What is it"

"She's Gifted"

Seraphina spat her drink at the wall shocked at what she had just heard

"She's what" she asked

"Gifted, Luke had been training her"

"Well this is wonderful it's been a long, long time since there has been a Gifted woman" Seraphina said delighted

"But what would President Homestead do to her if he ever found out, my lady"

"I have no idea but I will make sure he does not hurt her. What are her powers"

"Weather and Nature" Broderick told her

"No, it can't be" Seraphina stopped still, she had no idea what to say, it couldn't be, she couldn't be. She turned to Lieutenant Broderick, "what's her name"

"Antonia Birch" he told her, Seraphina wrote the name down

"Bring me the historian" she told him