If I Can't Have you

(17) Arthurs Pub

"Hello Mimi, my lovely." Arthur greets from behind the bar as she enters the pub with John and Max, who Arthur grants a nod, "boys."

"What you doing behind the bar, Arthur?" Max asks.

"I own the place, don't I?" Arthur smiles.

"Since bloody when?" John scoffs.

"Since bloody Thursday is when," Arthur says, "Tom bought it for me."

He looks at Jemima, "got rid off Daniels, he won't be round here any time soon."

"Especially if he wants to keep his limbs." John adds, placing an arm round his bestfriends shoulders.

"Always so violent." Jemima teases.

"You coming to the races?" Arthur asks as he places a vodka, lime and soda down for Jemima, knowing it was her favourite drink.

"What races?" Jemima replies.

"Cheltenham," John says, "and no, Arthur, obviously she's not going."

"Why would that be obvious, Johnny?" Jemima queries, taking a sip from her drink.

"Because we're not going for the horses," John states, "if we were, believe me, Jem, I would've invited you, but we're not, and you don't need to be getting mixed up in what we're doing."

"What exactly are you doing?" Max asks.

"We're catching some thieves," John says, laughing as he ruffled up Max's curls.

"Tom is speaking to Kimber," Arthur tells them, "he's taking Grace as his date, he hasn't got a ticket and thinks being with the posh irish woman will be able to get him in."

"If he's got the motivation to do something, he'll do it." John shrugs, "he'll get in somehow."

"What are we meant to do all day whilst you guys aren't here?" Max sighs exasperatedly.

"Not go and visit either of your exes," John retorts, and Jemima flicks his forehead, "we really don't plan to."

"I don't know- I was thinking.."

"Hell no," John says, "you're not visiting him, he's a prick and I will smash his face in."

"I was joking," Max chuckles.

"You better be, don't think we're playing about." Arthur states, "we've already given Logan a couple extra reasons to get some stitches."

"You've done what?" Jemima asks, "why?"

"Why'd you think?" John remarks.

Tommy couldn't have possibly told them about the incident the other morning, could he? How would he even explain his presence during that situation?

"He's a cunt, Mimi," Arthur says, "he hurt you, so we hurt him. It's nothing new."

"I told you not to touch him." Jemima states.

"Didn't say that to me, lovely," Arthur winks, adding unconvincingly, "John Boy didn't touch him."

"You said 'we', Arthur." Jemima replies.

"Yeah," Arthur nods, "we as in me and.. um Ada. Yeah Ada."

"Really? Ada is who you're going with?" Jemima questions.

"Yes, it was Ada and me," Arthur says.

"Right," Jemima laughs, turning to look at John who was smiling innocently at her, "you heard him, wasn't me, it was Ada."

-

"I can't do this again. Please... leave me alone." Jemima pleads, when she opens the door once more to see Logan standing there with flowers.