Ronnie Mitchell lay awake staring at the ceiling as Jack Branning slept beside her. This bedroom brought back so many disturbing memories for her, memories of James, of Tommy, of a time before she was sent to prison. She just couldn't shake all the ghosts that haunted her nightmares.

She got up and slipped back into her clothes, glancing down at Jack as he slept soundly. Tying her hair back into a ponytail, she briskly walked into the kitchen, rummaging around in the kitchen draws for something to write on. Grabbing a pen from inside her jacket pocket, she turned over a water bill that was sitting on the side and jotted down a note for Jack:


Whisking her phone off the counter Ronnie headed out of Jack's apartment and out onto the Square, the door slamming shut behind her. It was the early hours of the morning and no one was up and about just yet.

(Feel free to join!)

Roxy Mitchell sat in the living room of the Queen Vic with just a silk dressing gown wrapped around her body. The TV was on but Roxy wasn't really watching it, more aimlessly staring into space. She knew something was up with Alfie but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. There was a sinking feeling in her stomach as even though she loved seeing her sister, she couldn't help but feel guilty, particularly as she knew that Alfie would be furious if he found out.

If only things were simpler, she thought to herself. Ronnie wasn't the monster that her husband perceived her to be! She could understand his feelings, what Ronnie did was terrible but she didn't do it to hurt Alfie or Kat for that matter.

Ronnie was sick, she wasn't thinking straight. That's what she had to keep telling herself.

Ronnie walks across the Square and looks over to the Vic, seeing flashing images from the television from the living room window. She glances back to Jack's apartment before walking towards Bridge Street as she takes her mobile out of her pocket and begins making a phone call.

Sneaking into the alley behind the Vic, Ronnie enters the barrel store and waits.

"Hey, it's me. I'm in the barrel store!" Ronnie tells the person on the other end of the phone.

Roxy rushed to the living room door and pushed it shut to avoid Alfie overhearing her conversation. "Ron, what are you doing? It's 4 in the morning!" Roxy exclaimed, turning up the volume on the television.

"I saw that you were up and about. And I needed to talk to you!" Ronnie replied, peering out of the barrel store before pushing the door shut.

"How did you know? Alfie could have answered this while I was sleeping!" Roxy told her as she pulled back the curtain and took a peak out of the window.

"I saw the TV on, I knew it was you. You always did get up and watch TV when you couldn't sleep" Ronnie replied.

"Did anyone see you?" Roxy questioned.

"No, of course nobody saw me! Roxy please, I'm downstairs, it's important."
"And my relationship with Alfie isn't?"
"I thought you were going to tell him."
"I can't, I just can't do that to him!" Roxy moaned.

Ronnie sighed, rubbing her forehead as she realised what her presence on the Square was doing to Roxy. She had rekindled her relationship with Jack that much was true but she only came back to the Square to find her sister and now all she was doing was causing trouble for her. "I know, I know. Alfie's never going to accept me, not after what I did."

"He will, he just needs time. We just need time!" Roxy cried, throwing herself back into the settee. "Now what was so important?"

CREAK!

Roxy turns as the living room door opens, Alfie stands in the doorway with a look of disappointment on his face.

"It can wait." Ronnie replied, not realising Roxy had been found out upstairs.

"Alfie I can explain." Roxy begged, dropping the mobile onto the seat next to her.

"Rox? Roxy!?" Ronnie echoed through the phone.

"How could you possibly explain!" Alfie replied, turning his feet with tears in his eyes.

"Alfie wait, please, just let me..." Roxy exclaimed darting after her fiance, grabbing him by the arm. Alfie turned very suddenly and grabbed her arm, clutching it tight causing her to wince and stop her speaking. "Alfie please, you're hurting me!"

Alfie released his grip and dropped her arm, his lip quivering. "I gave you a choice Roxy and you chose me!"

"And I'd choose you again. But she's my sister!"
"She stole my little boy. She ruined my life, she ruined my marriage."
"Ronnie didn't know what she was doing, she never set out to hurt you!"

"I know, I know, she was sick. And she still is Roxy, don't you understand!? She's doing it even now, don't you see? She's coming between just as she came between Kat and I. She's poison Roxy! Poison!" Alfie yelled, his voice echoing throughout the whole building.

Ronnie slumped against the wall as she overheard the argument from within the building.