the delicious wolves

5: what a woman

1924

"I'm going to become mayor," Sam announced awkwardly as he helped Pat dress in his best suit.

"What?" Pat, already stressed and anxious about his wedding day, looked at his best man with surprise. It was nice to suddenly have something other than seeing his bride-to-be walking down the aisle to focus on. "You're running for election?"

"Well," Sam blushed, putting the finishing touches on Pat's tie and smoothing out his collar. "Not this year, or even the next I imagine, but yeah. Rosie and I have been talking about it since Fred... Well, we thought it would be lovey to continue the work Fred never got to."

"Lord Mayor Sam Clarke," Pat said thoughtfully. The two men looked at each other, and their grins quickly turned into laughter.

"You think it's silly," Sam sighed, smiling at his own foolishness.

"No less foolish than me wearing this suit," he tugged at the tight collar. "I think you would be a great mayor."

"If I can find the time. Did I mention Rosie was expecting again?"

Pat chuckled. "Yes, you certainly did."

"Honestly, the more children you have the less memory you keep. Soon you and Diamond will understand, what with your own little ones, I'm sure." It was meant to comfort him, but the comment only brought all of Pat's anxieties rushing back.

"Did uh, have all the guests arrived?" Pat looked at the grandfather clock ticking away. It was almost time.

"Last I looked there wasn't an empty seat in sight."

"Did Will...?" his question faltered as Sam gave a frown and a quick shake of his head.

Of course Will wasn't there. It still hurt though. As he stepped out of the chapel's back room and went to stand at the altar, he knew it was a pain he would carry for the rest of his life.

1929

The three men sat around the table together laughing as they reminisced about times long forgotten. Sam, Will and Pat were all at the Crown pub once more. Summer had nearly come to the West Midlands and the idea had come up that they should all get together.

Matters between Will and Pat had lightened a great deal from their two weeks together and the two seemed able to stand each other's company, to the point that when Will sent Pat a letter asking if he wanted to meet with Sam and him at the Crown, Pat couldn't see any reason not to.

When Sam got the letter asking if he wanted to see Will and Pat he was ecstatic. Between being elected mayor and having five kids; Goldie, Sam Jr., Rose, Martin, and Eleanor (and Rosie was pregnant with yet another one), he barely had time to make visits to his friends, and his friends barely ever came to Birmingham anymore.

"Has it really been six years since we've all been together then?" Sam asked.

"Maybe a bit longer even," Will said.

"Well that's a right shame, we ought to try and see each other more often. Though now I'm thinking I'll be seeing even less of you Will, or rather Master William," Sam added with a friendly smile.

"I think I'd rather spend more time at the pub with my friends now, 33 indeed - I feel only 17! I don't feel like an adult at all."

"And you don't act like one either, one would think you'd have matured past your teens by now," Pat interjected. "I feel like I'm the older one more often than not."