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February 12th

Each of the Shelby Sibling’s grieve different, a year after, you, their sisters death. 

Warnings:death, swearing, grief.

All Gifs belong to their rightful owners

One shot 2300 words. 

It had been 365 days around the sun without you and that dreaded February 12th came with the cold breeze of spring, a time when it was difficult to celebrate new life when you would never walk the earth again.

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The Night We Met

Written for @runnning-outof-time lovely challenge, based on The Night We Met by Lord Huron.

This is a part 2 to my fic February 12th which can be found here. It can also be read independently.

After his younger sister dies at the hands of Billy Kimber, Tommy wishes he could go back to the night they met.

‘’She was beautiful, your sister- she’ll be sorely missed’’ a local woman approached Tommy, her hand falling to his back in condolence. The local people were afraid of the blinders, but they would come out for you. After all you might have been the sister of heathens but that did not mean you weren’t kind. You’d babysit the local kids, you’d take round bread- and you’d show up at church even though you didn’t believe. Appearances were everything, Aunt Pol had taught you that.

Tommy was exhausted-and he carried the emotions of those around him heavy on his chest. Your death was his fault, even secondhandedly, even though Kimber had fired the bullet- it was his debt. They blamed him. He could tell from the way that Polly slammed his plate down a little harder in front of him. The way that John wouldn’t take direction anymore. He could see it in Ada’s eyes as she sat tearfully trying to nurse Karl. The collapse in Arthur’s knees as he drank one too many. Just like the war, they’d never come back from this the same.

It was Tommy who now, with your funeral smoke still latched onto his shirt found himself sat in your bedroom. It felt like you’d only been there a minute ago, in a way you had. ‘’I remember the first night I met you’’ he whispered, his finger trailing across the dust of the shelf to find a photo of you. A family photo, you rested in his arms- your favourite place to sleep.

He did remember that night clearly. The walk home from the stables on a crisp cold December night. Frost on his boots that glistened against the stones of Watery Lane. Back then he was a simple 19 year old stable-hand, his only ambition to own his own yard. ‘’She had a girl’’ Polly had whispered, her hand caressing eighteen month old Michael’s hair as he slept on her lap on the sofa. Ah yes, his mother was due today. Babies seemed to be born in abundance as of late in Watery Lane.

‘’Do we have a name?’’ Tommy had responded, shaking the snow off his hat as he embraced the warmth. ‘’Not yet, your mums been too tired to decide, and your dad hasn’t been home’’ Polly sighed, moving to make Micheal more comfortable. ‘’The baby is in your room- to let your mum rest’’

You laid silent in your cot. Hours old and already accustomed to the loud noises of living within the den. Michael’s chubby hands had already examined you, and your older sister had already pushed her dolls brush through your slight curls. John, at seventeen had given you a disinterested glance and Arthur had wriggled you over his shoulder. The only one left to meet you was Tommy.

‘’Hello, you’’ he had whispered, leaning over to get a glimpse at you. Your brown eyes peering back at his blue inquisitively. You were trying to make out this face you had not seen before. ‘’Sorry, I’m the last one to meet you’’ Tommy had lifted you, placing you into his arms as you let out a small cry. He was cold. ‘’Oh, I’m sorry’’ Tommy had whispered, placing his finger in your mouth as you suckled softly. There was nineteen years between you, and Tommy had become an older brother before but this time was different- this time he felt responsible.

‘’She’s a beauty’’ Arthur Snr had leaned against the door frame. His eyes glassed from the beer and his loudness causing you to lean into your brothers arms. ‘’She’s quiet’’ Tommy spoke softly, looking down at you. ‘’Wait til she gets older son, then like most of the women in this family- she’ll never shut up’’.

Who would you become? Tommy wondered. Where would you fit in the world that couldn’t secure its safety for even someone as small as you?. It was no secret that your father had other women he pursued, it was also no secret that your mothers schizophrenia was worsening by the weeks. Tommy knew that if the world were to crumble around you, someone had to protect you- and that someone would be him.

‘’I can move her, if she’s bothering you-‘’ Polly had asked, coming to the door to find Tommy sat by your crib, a book in hand. ‘’I was just reading to her, Pol’’ Tommy whispered, you weren’t asleep but you were enjoying the soft tones of his voice.  ‘’Don’t you think Alice in Wonderland is a bit much for a 12 hour old? Or is it more for you than her’’ Polly asked, amused as he lifted the book. ‘’Reading to her distracts me, helps me forget…about Greta’’ Tommy sighed, taking a cigarette out his pocket and lighting it. He needed your comfort as much as you did his. It was the first time his mind had been given a moments rest in weeks, he’d never forget the night you met.

And then I can tell myself

What the hell I'm supposed to do

And then I can tell myself

Not to ride along with you

‘’He won’t answer to me, to fucking curly, anyone Tom’’ Charlie had exasperated as the black horse screeched in the stable- handing the reign to Tommy who rested his hand down its side. ‘’You’re missing her, aren’t you boy?’’ Tommy kissed the horses side. ‘’I get you- I want to kick this whole fucking stable down too, but that’s not gonna bring her back’’

‘’You didn’t have to react like that’’ you had sighed, hand caressing your horse as you heard the footsteps enter the stable. You knew they were Tommy’s. You’d been caught kissing Harrison Lee down the canal and John had found out through Finn. The gossip had spread like wildfire and before you knew it you’d been summoned to the office. Accusations running wild about your purity and John had already headed down to the camp to threaten Harrison. It was a ridiculous response to a childish game of kiss chase. After all, you were fifteen- nothing had been on your mind except a swig of cherry wine and a kiss against an oak tree. It was a lot less than they had been doing at your age.

‘’I know’’ Tommy had responded, watching as your mouth closed- it was ready to protest, you were always ready to protest lately. ‘’Good, I’m glad you realise you behaved irrationally’’ You sighed, not taking the eyes off of your horse. Tommy knew that it had been an inflammatory response, but it had only been three weeks since he’d found out Ada was pregnant. He couldn’t bear to think of you ending up in the same situation.

‘’Is it wrong to want you to be my bonnet wearing little sister for a little bit longer, eh?’’ Tommy sighed, sitting against a hay bale, and lighting a cigarette. ‘’I hated that bonnet’’ You groaned, as he raised his eyebrows at you. ‘’I thought it looked cute’’ Tommy smiled, watching as your face wrinkled in response. ‘’Go easy on us too, we leave for war and you and Ada, you’re these little angels plaiting each others hair, playing with dolls- we come back and she’s pregnant and you’re out snogging lads on the lane’’ Tommy spoke softly, your heart softening slightly. He had missed so much, you both had. ‘’It wasn’t a snog Tom, more of a passionate peck’’ you teased, watching as his face grimaced as he dropped his cigarette and stamped on it. ‘’Alright, don’t make me bring up lunch’’ he groaned, as you grinned before turning serious. ‘’Tom, do you think Ada is alright?’’ you asked, as he closed his eyes for a moment. ‘’I’ll get Ada back’’

‘’I was going to go for a ride’’ you grabbed the reigns of your horse. ‘’Mind if I ride along with you?’’ Tommy asked. It would be the last time you rode together. He would never get used to not riding alongside you. God, he wanted to go back to the night you first met.

I don't know what I'm supposed to do

Haunted by the ghost of you

Oh, take me back to the night we met

‘’I think we should do something to celebrate’’ Polly spoke softly, looking over at Finn who was eagerly looking for their approval. ‘’Finn wants to bake a cake’’ . ‘’Finn, you have to fucking stop this now- she’s dead, Finn’’ John shouted, shoving his newspaper onto the table.

‘’John you’re hurting- we all are’’ Polly interjected, as Tommy dropped his fork. ‘’No, you’re right- we should do something to celebrate, she originally wanted a party at the Garrison to celebrate turning sixteen- so that’s what we’ll do-‘’ Tommy sighed, as Finn grinned in agreement.

‘’This feels wrong’’ Ada spoke tearfully watching as your friends all gathered in the Garrison. They had grown up so much in the last year- one day they’d grow up for good, get married, have children- all the things that you wouldn’t. ‘’I just want my annoying sister here’’ Ada tearfully spat, as Tommy reached for her hand.

It was good to laugh. They hadn’t for a while. It was good to hear music, your favourites playing on the gramophone. The same music they’d tell you to turn down, now louder than ever. Tommy’s eyes focused on his whiskey glass, spinning the ice around in thought. As he looked up, he was sure he caught glimpse of your red dress entering the bathroom.

‘’Button’’ Tommy had shouted- your nickname falling effortlessly from his lips. Entering the bathroom in instinct. His own belief desperate that somehow you’d be standing there. ‘’It’s just me, Mr Shelby’’ Anna, your school friend looked up from the basin confused. It wasn’t the first time Tommy had been haunted by your ghost.

He didn’t believe in spirits and spells, but he had seen you. He was sure of it. He had heard your footsteps in the next room as he tried to sleep. Seen your face in the reflection of his office doors. Watched as Karl followed nothing around the den but giggled in response.

‘’Sixteen eh?’’ Tommy knelt at your grave, the red roses that he placed in the pot that was shiny and gold. His hands reaching to behind the pot where a book lay drying in the sun from the rain. Alice in Wonderland, and as Tommy sat down by your grave as he did your crib, he found himself gently reading from beginning again. How he wished it was the night you met.

When the night was full of terrors

And your eyes were filled with tears

When you had not touched me yet

Oh, take me back to the night we met

‘’I forbid you from going-‘’ You had crossed your arms in defiance as you stood on the platform. Eleven years old, and you’d already said goodbye to Arthur and John. It was Tommy’s turn today. ‘’You need to help Pol and Ada take care of Finn’’ Tommy had sighed, throwing his cigarette to the ground and kneeling to your level. ‘’If you don’t come back-‘’ you had muttered, holding Finn’s hand tight. ‘’Who said anything about not coming back?’’ Tommy nodded, and lifted your chin.

‘’You listen here, eh, we are a family, whether we are in the same house or a million miles apart, anyways I have to come back because whose going to run the fucking office eh?’’ Tommy smiled as he swallowed a sob. He was scared, but more scared of never seeing any of you again.

‘’I was making sure Arthur was alright’’ you whispered, sat on the floor next to Arthur who was asleep on the sofa- Tommy interrupting the silence. ‘’He’s just drunk, Button’’ Tommy had sighed, watching as you relit the candle which had gone out. ‘’He’s always drunk’’ you rolled your eyes, as Tommy handed you a blanket out of the basket. ‘’Well, it helps with the night terrors’’ Tommy responded, sitting by the fire.

‘’He’s not the only one who gets night terrors’’ you swallowed a sob, as your brother looked at your dark eyes turning glassed. ‘’Why didn’t you tell us about them, if you’re having nightmares?’’ Tommy asked, a softness returning to him he hadn’t been able to show until yet. ‘’Because, I don’t matter- I didn’t fight at war, I have nothing to be afraid of’’ you whispered, watching as Arthur turned in his sleep. ‘’Of course you matter, eh’’ Tommy placed his hand out to yours and you flinched.

‘’I can’t touch you yet Tommy, if I do, I’m afraid you’ll disappear’’

I had all and then most of you

Some and now none of you

Take me back to the night we met

The sound of silence as Tommy held the gun to his head. Taking a deep breath as he processed his thoughts. His silence interrupted, by the sound of you in the distance. ‘’Tommy! Tommy!’’ you shouted, as he looked confused before exiting the vardo- him tumbling down the hill towards you as you clasped in his arms.

‘’Did Polly send you?’’ Tommy exasperated, his arms clasping around seven year old you as tightly as possible. In his last moments, his mind had gone to you. If there was life after this Earth, it was you he wanted to see first. Your curls falling down your back and the bonnet secured on your head. ‘’You’re little’’ Tommy looked up, him examining your face as you sweetly smiled before fading in his arms.

‘’That’s how you imagine me, when you think of me’’ you spoke, your now adult frame standing on top of the hill. ‘’Button?’’ Tommy questioned, as you nodded with a grin. ‘’29 this year, Tom, can you believe it?’’ you responded, as he looked at you with sadness. ‘’I’d have given anything to have seen it’’ Tommy sighed as you sat next to him. ‘’I see a lot of you in my children, in Charles and Ruby’’

‘’So why are you going to leave them?’’ you asked, as Tommy sighed. ‘’Because I’m sick, Button’’.  ‘’You’re not sick, Tom, do us a favour and relight the fire? You’ll see then that you’re not sick’’

‘’See, I told you!’’ you spoke brightly, watching as he examined the newspaper. ‘’By the way, Tom, I think I’m a little old to be going by Button now, I think it’s time I start going by my real name, Alice, since you named me’’ you whispered, fading as Tommy turned around.

His eyes sore from the smoke as he headed up the hill and faced his burning vardo. Everything burning, apart from underneath lay a pristine copy of Alice in Wonderland. He knew that would be the most important night, the night you met.

Home Again.

Based on a request by vikingsxf 

‘‘When the youngest Shelby sister goes missing as a child, the family are distraught. Twenty years later a young woman shows up at the police station claiming to be her’‘

This is the longest one shot ever (4000 words) but I couldn’t stop once I started writing! It was really fun to write for the Shelby’s mother (How I imagine her anyways) 

Elsie Shelby (I always imagine Carla Gugino as their mother)

Amelia Shelby

14th November 1923

The family had not spoken a word of her in twenty years. Not that they did not want too of course, but the memories were so painful that even her name could not be muttered without everyone exploding into tears and distress.

‘’What do you mean, they’ve found her, talk to me Thomas’’ Polly had demanded, snatching the whiskey out of her nephews’ hand.  ‘’She’s alive, Pol, at least that’s what Moss thinks’’ Tommy replied, sulking into the back of his chair, the news stirring up emotions he had not felt since before the war. ‘’Well, why aren’t we down there then, bringing her home, this is ridiculous Tommy’’ Polly rambled on, losing her train of thought.

‘’There are procedures Pol, I’ll be allowed to see her this afternoon, we don’t even know if its her, it could be anyone wanting to come into the family now we’ve got money on our side’’ Tommy sighed. He wanted to believe it, Tommy wanted to believe more than anybody that the girl sitting in Birmingham Central Police Station was his sister, but what if she wasn’t? Could he handle the screaming tears from Ada again, the silent pain from John who never said a word, the fits of anger from Arthur, and Finn, who was not even born when she disappeared, who wouldn’t begin to understand.

‘’She had a birthmark, on her left ankle, it was an almost butterfly shape, I told her it was a gift given to all Romani princesses’’ Polly’s eyes began to well up as she began to remember her baby niece. ‘’That’s how you’ll know its her, I’ll tell the others, but not until you give me the call you’re bringing her home’’ Polly nodded, reassuring herself.

Twenty years earlier, 11th December, 1903.

‘’Daddy, please can I go with you?’’ Three-year-old Amelia pleaded, tugging onto her father’s shirt. It was always hard to say no to Amelia, her raven haired curls, and her bright blue eyes made her look like a real life cherub, and even Arthur Snr, to who fatherhood did not come naturally, found it hard to resist the charms of his little girl.

‘’Why’d you wanna go to the Pub with Dad, aye, when you can stay home and play Whist with us’’ 14-year-old Arthur smirked, ruffling his baby sister’s hair. ‘’Tommy doesn’t let me win’’ Amelia sighed, pulling the meanest face she had at her brother opposite. ‘’If I always let her win, she’ll never learn to play properly’’ 12-year-old Tommy shrugged, returning to the game.

‘’I could do your hair, Mila’’ 9-year-old Ada suggested, removing the ribbon out of hers and placing it on the table. ‘’No, way, I looked bad last time’’ Amelia groaned, receiving a stifled laugh from 10-year-old John and an embarrassed look from Ada. ‘’Look, I’ll take her with me, you lot get cleaned and washed up by the time your mothers’ home from work, Arthur, you’re in charge’’ Arthur Snr patted his eldest on the head, before pulling his youngest onto his hip and heading out the door.

Amelia was beloved in the Garrison. When everyone found out that Arthur and Elsie were expecting their fifth child, everyone had put bets on a boy. The Shelby family was ruled by boys and even Polly was sure that Ada was destined to be the only girl, and in a sad way, Polly as always, had been right. He was to be Paul Shelby, or Harry Shelby, Elsie had not decided yet, and she was constantly worried about how she would manage to keep her four wild boys in check.

But to her surprise, on that brisk morning on February 14th, a little baby girl arrived, a sister for Ada. With no name to match her beautiful features, it had been Ada that had the final decision. ‘’Call her Amelia, like the princess in my book, Amelia Rosanna Shelby’’ Ada had smiled proud, placing a kiss on the top of her sisters’ head.

‘’I’m going to take a piss, you stay here on this stool and don’t move, you hear me’’ Arthur Snr sighed, staggering away from his small daughter who was perched on the bar stool with her doll.

‘’Where the fuck has Mila gone?’’ Arthur Snr sighed, as he made his way back to the bar, Amelia was no longer on the stool. ‘’I’ve not seen her, Art’’ Graham, the bartender questioned, cleaning up the glasses. ‘’I bet you she’s gotten bored and run back home, these fucking kids Graham, they rule the fucking roost, the lot of them’’ Arthur Snr groaned, slamming his penny on the bar for another pint.

It was only 6 hours later, when Arthur Snr staggered home that the family realised the severity of the situation. ‘’Where’s Mila?’’ Elsie asked, tidying up a basket of toys from the days activities ‘’Its past her bedtime you know’’ she smiled, leaning back up to meet her husbands confused face.

‘’She came home, she ran back home, she was bored’’ Arthur Snr asked, his head pounding from the drink. ‘’No, she didn’t, she didn’t come back home’’ Elsie began to panic, her hands slowly starting to shake. ‘’She didn’t come home Arthur, she’s not here, when did you last see her?’’

Elsie cried, in a full-on panic attack. ‘’Six hours, I saw her six hours ago’’ Arthur too began to panic, receiving punches to the chest from his wife. ‘’You fucking bastard, if anything has happened to her, I’ll fucking kill you’’ Elsie screamed, wailing and waking up every neighbour on the street.

’Mum’’ Tommy cried, as the siblings gathered on the stairs.  ‘’Ada, John, back to bed. Tommy, Arthur, I need you to go round all the neighbours, knock on every door, Amelia is missing’’ Elsie cried, grabbing the phone and calling the police.

There was not any news. There were no tips or information from the police, neighbours claimed to know nothing and soon carried on with business as usual. The missing posters that had been stuck with love on the posts around Small Heath were starting to fade out and the impact on the family had been detrimental.

Arthur Snr was hardly ever home, and if he was, he was either drunk or high. He could not stand the angry and heartbroken looks from his family still after all this time, and he hated himself a lot more than they could ever hate him. Elsie had tried to carry on as best she could, with help from Polly, but with each day, month and year that went by was a bitter reminder that her little girl would never come home.

Arthur was angry all the time, punching the walls of his bedroom, the bathroom door, anything that would fall with the weight under him. Tommy threw himself into the business, essentially replacing his father so they could at least keep the roof above their head. John never spoke anymore unless spoken too, and his laughter no longer filled the back room of the house.

And Ada, the one with so much belief and faith. She told everyone about her sister, anyone that would listen. One day her sister would come home again, and all she had to do was wait, keep their room tidy, say her prayers and God would return her baby sister, she was sure of it.

‘’I can’t have this baby, Polly, I just can’t’’ Elsie sighed, her head in her hands. It felt like betrayal. Mila would be 11 by now, and in the 8 years that had passed since she had gone, Elsie had not once considered another baby. ‘’Trust me, babies bring joy, they can repair families, spread love’’ Polly had reassured Elsie, rubbing a hand on her back.

Finn had brought so much joy. The perfect baby boy was so sweet and gentle, with the trademark Shelby frosty blue eyes and dark hair but his parents were lost. Elsie was struggling to feed him most days and would hand him over to Polly, her depression seeping through her like a wave of knives, piercing at her very being. As much as Elsie adored Finn, she was so scared of someone taking him from her that she felt she would never be able to love him properly. Arthur Snr had only ever held him once in the six months he had been alive, not trusting himself with the youngest again.

It had been a cold winters night when Elsie was dragged from the canal. Her body soaked, her white dress clinging to her body and her dark black hair falling to her waist. Charlie had desperately tried to resuscitate her but it had been too late. Suicide was not painless, and Polly had known then that she had to step up and take care of the children in Elsie’s place, that’s what Elsie would have wanted.

14th November 1923

‘’She’s in the back room Mr Shelby, but before you go in there, you need to know, she hardly speaks’’ Moss informed, Tommy following him down a long hallway that seemed to go on forever. As Tommy stopped at the final door, he noticed a slight murmur in his hand.

There she was. The dark-haired young woman was sat with her face turned away from him, her figure long and slender. As she turned to look at the opening door, Tommy was taken aback as her frosty blue eyes met his. He would check her ankle of course he would, for Polly’s piece of mind more than anyone’s, but he would recognise her eyes anywhere; they were his mothers.

‘’Lucy, someone is here to see you’’ Moss asked gently, not wanting to disturb the young woman who had just slept for the first time in the three days since she’d been at the station. She looked up at Tommy with a confusing look on her face which caused Tommy to feel a slight pain in his chest. He was her brother, he was her kin, but right now he had to remember that they were strangers meeting for the first time. ‘’This is Tommy Shelby, if your letter is correct, he’s your brother’’ Moss answered before she had even asked, noting the look on her face.

‘’Lucy, I know you’re scared, and confused, and so am I, I’m not going to hurt you, I just want to talk to you, okay?’’ Tommy smiled, leaning down to her level and reaching his hand out to her which she refused to take. ‘’I haven’t read the letter yet, I don’t know what it says but, I’m your brother, we are family, and we stick together. I’d like you to come and stay with us, if you want too, so we can help you get better’’ Tommy sighed, feeling overwhelmed.

The young girl just nodded with a slight smile at him. As Moss prepared to take Tommy to his office, Tommy got a glimpse of the girl’s ankle as she hopped off the bed to get changed: the butterfly, the Romani princess, his baby sister.

‘’We were called to a domestic incident at 4am, three days ago. It was a house outside Birmingham, more Coventry side. By the time we reached the home, the woman was there on her own. She refused to say what had happened but we brought her in anyways, as she was covered in cuts and bruises, and had blood on her. She had a bag of belongings on her, and in there was a letter, addressed to ‘Elsie and Arthur Shelby’. It hadn’t been opened, but we decided it was in her best welfare to open it. She said her name was Lucy, aged 23 and her birthday is February 14th’’ Moss informed, Tommy not taking his eyes off the letter in Moss’s hands.

‘’What does the letter say, Moss?’’ Tommy asked, attempting to remain calm and not get angry. ‘’It’s a letter of regret, your sister was taken on that day in 1903 by a married couple, Jean and Graham Barton. They were childless, and had recently lost a stillborn son. Graham was a bartender at the Garrison at the time. He knew your father had trouble with alcohol, and he was convinced that they could give Lucy….Amelia, a better life. They moved to Coventry afterwards which is where she grew up, according to the letter she had a good life, Tom. Jean and Graham died in a car accident when she was 15, and after that she was sent to live with an uncle, Peter’’ Moss finished, being startled by Tommy smashing his fist down onto the table.

‘’She’s coming home, Pol, we’ll be home in half an hour. I’m just waiting for her to get her things. She was ten fucking miles away the whole time Pol, ten fucking miles and we never knew, that fucking bartender, the one from the Garrison, the one that helped us search fields and empty fucking barns, he had her the whole fucking time’’ Tommy shouted into the phone trying to remain calm for his sister but wanting to murder anyone that came into his path.

The young woman had been quiet the whole journey home, looking out the window but at the same time trying to pay attention to the information Tommy was giving her. Lucy tried to feel comfortable with Tom, but as much as she tried to squeeze her mind back to being younger, she couldn’t remember him completely. She couldn’t remember any of them, and the bruises on her head weren’t helping the situation either.

‘’Right, your sister is going to feel overwhelmed, she just found out about all of us, so try not to bombard her’’ Polly asked, as the siblings gathered excitedly round the table. ‘’What’s her name again?’’ Finn questioned, stealing a biscuit off the table. ‘’Mum called her Amelia, but her name’s Lucy, so for now we have to call her that, okay’’ Ada smiled, ruffling her brothers hair.

As the front door shut, the siblings sat up at the dining table as straight as ever. As Tommy entered the room first, everyone peeked round him to see the slender brunette behind. Tommy had been right all along, with her long black hair and beautiful eyes, she looked just like Elsie.

‘’Lucy, I’m your Aunt Polly, I help with the business here’’ Polly smiled, reaching out and hugging the young woman who froze in her grasp. ‘’I’m Ada, your sister, big sister’’ Ada joined the hug. Arthur and John just sat there in disbelief. Arthur’s eyes had begun to well up, as John shared a smile with Tommy that said it wouldn’t be easy but thank god she’s home.

‘’I’m Arthur, I’m the eldest, your eldest brother’’ Arthur asked to hug her and she half smiled, letting him close. Planting a kiss on the top of her head, Lucy looked towards the table at the other two. ‘’John, I’m another one of your brothers, John’’ John smiled, ruffling her hair receiving a stern look from Tommy. ‘’Sorry, you used to like that when, when you, I mean when we were little’’.

‘’and this, this is the baby of the family, this is Finn, he’s 11, 12 on Sunday’’ Ada smiled, as Finn got up and shook the young woman’s hand. ‘’Lucy, you’re probably tired, let me show you to your room’’ Tommy smiled, nodding to the rest of the family as she followed him up the stairs.

‘’Ada likes to think of herself a fashion designer these days, so she’s filled the wardrobe of clothes you might like’’ Tommy smiled, looking around the room he hadn’t let himself stand in for nearly fifteen years. Although now modernised, the room had always belonged to Amelia. ‘’If there’s something in there for you to wear, Ada said she’d take you down to Browns on the high street and find you some shoes to match later’’ Tommy asked, not knowing really too much about women’s business. ‘’I’d like that’’ the young woman smiled at Tommy as he left the room, the first time he heard her speak.

‘’When do you think they’ll be back’’ Polly had paced, walking up and down the betting shop. ‘’Pol, I know its easy to think of Amelia…Lucy as collateral, but she’s a grown woman and we don’t want to scare her away her first day’’ Tommy sighed, reaching a cigarette out his pocket.

‘’Where do you think them bruises came from Tom, what the fuck did they do to her, the girl doesn’t speak?’’ Polly sighed, sipping down her whiskey as quick as she could to contain her nerves. ‘’I don’t know, but I’m sure, she’ll tell us in time’’ Tommy tried to remain calm, the last thing he wanted to do would be to lose his rag and his sister again forever.

‘’She’s beautiful Tom, that’s why I’m not telling anyone else at the shop about her, they’ll be like fucking piranhas’’ Arthur sighed, dragging his cigar out his mouth. ‘’Yeah, well, if anyone touches my sister, I’ll fucking cut em’’ John smirked, receiving a look from Arthur in agreement.

The hammering at the door was like no other, it was so loud that it even made Tommy reach for his gun. ‘’I’ll go’’ Tommy whispered, going to the door and opening it quickly gun in hand. Expecting to see an enemy, a drunken better or someone up for a fight, Tommy was surprised to see a young woman standing there. ‘’Sorry, I’m here to see Lucy, is she here?’’ The young woman asked, a panicked look on her face.

‘’and what’s it to you?’’ Polly entered the room, her motherly instinct wanting to battle anyone that came near her niece. ‘’I’m her best friend, Kate, she left a message at my house, but I was out of town, I asked around and was told she was here’’ Kate pleaded, looking behind Tommy to see if she could spot her friend. ‘’You’re her family, her biological one, right?’’ Kate asked, a half smile appearing on her face. ‘’You better come in’’ Polly sighed, hushing the woman in and slamming the door behind her.

‘’Lucy doesn’t speak, she has only spoken one word since she arrived, you are going to tell us what happened to her, we’re her family, we need to know’’ Polly demanded, giving the young woman a look of warning. ‘’I don’t know if I should say…’’ Kate replied, looking at Tommy for reassurance. ‘’Kate, that girl is our sister, we love her, we’ve only just got her back, so whatever you know, please just fucking tell us’’ Tommy pleaded, rolling a cigarette between his lips.

‘’We grew up together, our houses were next door. We’d play out all the time out by the horses and the stream. Lucy was always a handful though, getting herself into trouble, fighting and staying out all hours, she used to drive Jean and Graham mad’’ Kate laughed, receiving a smile from the boys and Polly, even away from home, Amelia had been a true Romani princess, a Shelby. ‘’It was about a month before they died, Lucy had come home late and her and Graham were arguing, that’s when he said she was poisoned with gypsy blood, she didn’t know what he meant at the time, but it stuck with her, you know, days before their death he told her, he told her who she was’’ Kate took a sip of the tea Polly gave her ‘’then she went to live with Peter, her uncle, and I barely saw her for a few years, he was abusive, would lock her in his room, starve her, beat her, but she would always fight back, no matter what he did, she’d give as good as she got. Quite a few times, she’d tried to run away, to find her real family, but he’d stop her, change his ways, tell her he loved her, he was sick in the head, twisted, but she had nobody else in the world, I’d tried to call the police, but Lucy wouldn’t admit to any of it’’ Kate began to well-up, her hand squeezed by Polly for reassurance.

Tommy felt physically sick. His hands shaking at the thought of his baby sister, living that life with that monster, so close to his doorstep. ‘’Where the fuck is he now, what did Moss say Tom, I’ll fucking drown him in the cut without his eyes’’ Arthur screeched punching the wall.

They were interrupted by Ada and Amelia returning from their shopping. As the girls entered the doorway, it was a relief to see her smile as she entered with her new clothes. Tommy would ensure that she had everything she ever wanted because that’s what big brothers do. ‘’Lucy, oh thank god’’ Kate jumped up strangling her friend in a tight hug. Shell shocked, Amelia stood not moving at all.

‘’What are you doing here?’’ Amelia finally spoke, looking around at her family and then her friend. ‘’I told them, I’m sorry, I’ve told them what happened, I was worried about you’’ Kate pleaded, her friend pushing her away. ‘’You’ve told them everything?’’ Amelia asked, falling into a flood of tears that could’ve drowned the whole house.

‘’Mila, Mila’’ Tommy pulled her into his arms instinctively, forgetting completely about her new name. ‘’We’re your family, we love you, and nobody in this world is ever going to fucking hurt you again, do you understand that?’’ Tommy sighed, lifting her head to look at him. ‘’Under my protection, no fucker will ever hurt you again, that man that hurt you, we’re going to kill him, he will die for what he’s done, I promise’’ Tommy kissed the top of her head, his hands still shaking with anger.

‘’You can’t kill him, I already did’’ Amelia sighed, falling into her chair. ‘’I didn’t want you to think I was a monster, an evil person for killing him’’ she asked, looking up at her family. Polly laughed, almost causing everyone to turn in shock. ‘’Oh my girl, when you learn what this family do, who we are, you too, are going to laugh for asking that question’’ Polly smiled, placing her hand on her nieces head.

‘’Look at me, we could never hate you, we could never hate a hair on your head’’ Arthur cried, kneeling to face her. ‘’You’re a Shelby, we work together, tell us where the body is, and John and Arthur will move it, we’ll dump the bastard where he belongs and forget his name’’ Tommy sighed, lighting himself a cigarette feeling emotionally exhausted yet extremely proud of his sister.

‘’Then we start a new, all of us, you stay here and we keep you safe’’ Ada smiled, brushing her fingers through her sisters hair like she used too. ‘’What about the police, I managed to drag him to the back barn before the police arrived, they never looked there’’ Amelia asked, panic setting in again.

‘’The police are on my payroll, I’ll deal with them. How about you go up and get some rest, Polly will run you a bath and Ada here will drive your friend Kate home. Arthur and John will head to the house to clean up’’ Tommy ordered, everyone beginning to move.

The house had been quiet since everyone had dispersed and Tommy had been given the call to say that the body had been destroyed. It would take a lot of healing to get his sister back to her best but Tommy was sure that she would get there- she was a Shelby after all.

‘’Can I come in, Lucy?’’ Tommy knocked on Amelia’s door but didn’t want to intrude. Ada had long moved out and Tommy would have to get used to having a younger sister again. ‘’Of course, sure’’ Amelia replied, brushing through her hair at her vanity.

‘’I know it’s going to take a while, and you don’t remember much, but I thought tomorrow we could discuss some old memories at dinner’’ Tommy asked, perching himself on her bed and looking around her room. ‘’Finn, he doesn’t remember mum and dad much either, so thought we could talk about them’’.

‘’I’d like that, but I do remember some things you know’’ She smiled, turning to face her brother. She really was so beautiful, and Tommy knew he would be in for trouble when the men of Small Heath began noticing her. ‘’You’d never let me win at Whist would you’’ Amelia sighed, pulling a similar face to the one she had when she was three. Tommy smiled, a small laugh leaving his throat, ‘’No, I always said you had to learn, games have rules and all that’’. ‘’I remember mum, she’d sing to us while cooking, she’d sing in Romani and it was so beautiful’’ Amelia welled up, a smile on her face.

‘’Mum loved you so much, she loved all of us and she never forgave herself for losing you’’ Tommy sighed, not wanting to get in too deep with his sister. ‘’I promised her, if you ever came back, I’d take care of you and I mean It Lucy’’ Tommy sighed, picking up a new lipstick she’d bought on her vanity. ‘’Even if that means I spend a cashbox a month on new lipsticks’’ he laughed, setting it back down and heading for her door.

‘’Tom’’ she asked, as he turned to look at her, ‘’call me Amelia’’ she smiled. For the first time in twenty years, with a house full of his five wild siblings, perhaps even Tommy Shelby’s broken heart could be healed.

MASTERLIST

MASTERLIST

PEAKY BLINDERS 

My Hollywood Darling- Tommy visits Ruby at her first ever movie premiere. 

All Too Well- Tommy’s daughter experiences her first heartbreak, in the person she least expected, Alfie Solomon’s. 

The Night Before PT 2- It’s the day of Tommy’s daughters wedding and its an adjustment for everyone.

The Western- After months of not speaking, Tommy’s daughter needs her father when she unknowingly falls into danger.

Under The Waves- When Tommy’s wife dies saving their child, their daughter is haunted by being the one who lived.

The Green Green Grass Of Home-  John, after surviving the attack from the mafia moves to the country with Esme and the children, leaving the Peaky Blinders behind.

The Littlest Of Things- When Tommy’s daughter returns from New York, she goes through changes of her own. 

The Bitterest Pill- Although now with Grace, Tommy can’t stop thinking about someone else.

Always Mine- After a one night stand, Tommy longs to have a relationship with the child he lost.

February 12th- The Shelby siblings grieve the death of their sister a year later.

The night we met- part 2 of February 12th

Mother of mine- A flashback to the Shelby’s mother, from her wedding to her death and time with her children.

The night before- It’s the night before Tommy’s daughters wedding and everyone is anxious.

Heart-Broken- The Shelby’s sister experiences her first heartbreak

Retributions- On Lizzie’s birthday, the night ends in tragedy for the youngest Shelby sister.

War- The youngest Shelby sister is enlisted to war.

Home Again- After going missing as a small child, the youngest Shelby comes home.

Little Things- Tommy’s daughter is moving away, and he looks back at his life with her.

Secrets (Part 1)- Ruby and Charlie Shelby have learnt to keep their secrets from everyone- especially their father.

Secrets (Part 2)- Continued

Secrets (Part 3)- Continued

Secrets (Part 4)- Finale

Thomas Shelby x Kidnapped!Reader

An imagine in pieces : Requested? I think so?

Tommy was always precautious when you went out.

Finn or John would usually accompany you when you went out

But now it was Isiah who kept you company when you where out

“Stop looking at women like that Isaiah, it’s disrespectful.”

He chuckled and shook his head.

What a bean.

You had been a big fan of reading.

Once and a while Tommy would send you out to find new books to read so you could tell him all about it when he tried to sleep.

The library was like a maze and being the clumsy person you are, you lost Isaiah.

As you read around the library, you would hear Isaiah calling out for your name.

You wandered around and slightly panicked when he stopped calling your name

Turning onto one of the bookshelve corners, you saw Isiah on the floor.

Then everything turned black

When Isiah went into the Garrison, it was late, he was bloody and tired.

Tommy could have almost killed Isiah if it weren’t for Michael, telling him that Isiah is the only person who knows what happened.

“Send a search team, every man, working or not, I want them searching everywhere for Y/n, now!”

Tommy not sleeping for days until he found the first lead to who might have taken you.

Drinking heavily because you aren’t there to stop him.

Him not admitting that he misses you.

“We’ll find her Tommy.”

“I asked you to do one thing for me and you lose her. You fuckin lose y/n, Isiah! Do you know what that means?! That means I’m fuckin’ lost to shit because she isn’t here!”

People not realizing how much you meant to Tommy until now.

Tommy still not sleeping because at night he would go out and try to find you himself.

Polly trying to calm him down but knowing she couldn’t.

Everyone knew you where his anchor- Everyone.

Arthur staying up with Tommy a few days, making sure his brother was in check.

Ada reassuring him.

But when he got a clear lead. Oh how he almost killed every man in that room until he got a straight answer.

When they had located where they were keeping you, a whole mission was set up second by second to make sure you would be safe.

When he walked into the building, you were set up like bait.

Tied up onto a chair in the middle of the room.

Beat up.

Cut.

Bruised.

Soaked in freezing water.

His heart shattered.

You looked up at him and smiled. “Is Isaiah alright?” God, you didn’t think he could ever look so upset. “Is he alive?”

“He’s alright.” He slowly stepped closer.

“No, don’t. Don’t come near me. I’m bait, Tommy. We both know it.” He hated that you where right. “Make them suffer Tommy. It’s not like I can go anywhere.” The light chuckle that came out of your lips scared him. He knew that if this was your last moments, you would be okay with it.

As you sat in the chair, your heart started beating slower. You had been starved, dehydrated and beaten. Your body couldn’t handle it anymore but you determined to stay awake. His name would slip out of your lips a few times, trying to warn him that your body was giving out. But then everything went black again.

You were safe at home when you woke Tommy was by your side with the book you had picked out at the library. You dropped it when they took you. “Don’t be angry at Isaiah. It was my fault.” He looked at you, his expression was apathetic but his eyes gleamed.  “I wandered off on my own. He called out for my name when he couldn’t find me, I found him on the floor. That’s when they took me.”

Never have you seen Tommy so heartbroken You knew he was looking at every ingury.

The cut on your lip

The bruise on your cheek

The rope marks on your neck

“I’m alive, Tommy. That’s all that matters.”

“You could have died.”

“But I didn’t. And don’t you dare give me some bullshit about leaving me because, “it’s the best for me” when it’s fuckin’ not. I knew what I was getting into and nothing will ever pull me away, Tommy.” You put your hand on top of his, as it rested on the lower portion of your thigh.“I made the most amazing mistake of falling in love with a Shelby and I’m never takin’ it back.”

Hail MAry im back, quick update on my life. 

Im alive, i still love tom holland and cillian murphy. I have fallen into the fandom of Sherlock and ¡ I have a boyfriend? Ill talk about that later. But I think i just needed some time to finally want to get back into writing. In two weeks its my spring break and i’ll be in france and Italy! My 11 hour flight will be for any writing and my inbox and request for anything is open 24/7!!! 

- Love, Me!

IM BACK! Watch the trailer for my new fic Safe and Sound coming on Friday

After months of dating in secret, Eve Shelby and Alexander Herrine’s lives are torn apart when their families declare war on each other.

Always Mine.

After a one night stand leads to a pregnancy, Tommy longs for a relationship with the child that’s out of his grasp.

This was requested by a lovely anon, I hope i’ve done you proud.This is a GIF IMAGINE. (All gifs belong to their rightful owners).

Word count: 3900      Warnings: Swearing, mentions of drinking/sex/loss. 

11th February 1914, The Garrison.

It had been Arthur that night who had insisted on going to the Garrison, determined to drag Tommy out of the heartbroken slump he had been in for six weeks straight. It had been six weeks since he’d lost his Greta, six weeks since he last held her hands in his and felt even a tiny bit whole.

There was whisky, and music, smoke, and ash. Arthur with his hand wrapped round the barmaid and a cigar in the another. John, who had barely even drank before, had found his place in a poker game in the back den. Every one had found their place but Tommy, whose eyes kept wandering over to the blonde in the corner- her face the same deflated expression as his.

Keep reading

IM BACK! Watch the trailer for my new fic Safe and Sound coming on Friday

After months of dating in secret, Eve Shelby and Alexander Herrine’s lives are torn apart when their families declare war on each other.

Powerful scene this was

he's gone now but he said he'll come back. but they all say they'll come back!

Since it’s Sunday here’s some Peaky Blinders text post to bless your timeline!! 💜

Tag yourself I’m Arthur and Finn, Esme and Johnny…

Peaky Friends 

more peaky friends and foes

Junior Peaky Boys

Tommy Shelby 

Tommy pt 2

tommy pt3

shelby siblings

shelby brothers

peaky women

Peaky friends pt.3

peaky friends pt4

peaky villains

Peaky Blinders Season 5 | Episode 4

Aunt Polly ✏️

Graphite pencil in my sketchbook

Behind the green door (Interactive fic) MASTERLIST

This is my second gift for you Lee and your celebration. @zablife

Summary: Poor Mrs. Shelby, she should never trust Polly. She shouldn't open the green door. But now it's too late. The horrors behind the doors await for her.

Warnings: Mentions of blood, kidnapping, guns and knives. Death, too. But none of the parts are graphic.

A/N: Why is this an interactive fic? Because I wrote this in a way you choose which door you want to open. At the end of every part you'll find a link to a new door. It's your choice. There're over 60 doors. There are almost 30 different endings. It's your choice which door you want to open. Be careful because in a lot of them you're going to lose. But you can play as any times as you want to discover the different doors and differents characters, too! It's a game, so enjoy. The goal is always try to find the green door back. Otherwise... GAME OVER.

I have only one requirement, do not follow the blog where I posted the links.

And please, tell me your thoughts or what you found in your adventure in Arrow House. I lost tons of braincells doing this.

Beginning.

Burning Desire

Chapter 1

Ruth sat in her office looking over papers and shipments, when her second-in-command and close friend, Leticia storm in with a sour look. Ruth didn’t need to look up to see that she is pissed.

“What happened now?”

“There was an accident again at the brothel, one of the girls got hurt.”

“Again? You have to talked to Talia about that I don’t run the brothel. “

“Who you think called me? She said she got a hold of it but the sound of her voice made seem she don’t. I told you should have gotten me to be in charge. ”

“The last thing we need is for our clients to walk out with missing teeth.”

“That happened once and he shouldn’t have gotten mouthy with me.”

“Yeah well because of your action, we almost got shut down and now he doesn’t have to pay whenever he comes by.” Leticia grimace.

“That was years ago, I changed now, I can control myself.”

“Leti...”

“I can. You and I know Talia isn’t meant to deal with shit like this anyway. “ Ruth sigh.

She thought for a moment before nodding, “Fine. Let’s go. ” Leti nodded in appreciation walking out of the room well Ruth grabs her coat and pistol. She walks out of her office to noisy factor, as the many women work making guns and bullets. Ruth down the stairs to her secretaries.

“Dotty. Pearl. If anybody comes tell them I will be out for a well.”

“When should we tell them you be back?” Sorry asked moving to look at her boss over her glasses.

Ruth looked at the clock on the wall and back at her, “Maybe 10. 15 minutes.”

“You got it, babes” Pearl said going back to her book.

Ruth and Letitia walked down the streets of Lambeth. They stopped in front of a tavern and knocked twice before being let in by a man. He nodded towards the women before going back to serving his customers, they went up the stairs to a door connected to the next building to find some of the half-naked women surrounding a crying girl.

“Where’s Talia?” Ruth said looking around for Talia.

“No idea, love “ One of the girls said holding a bloody cloth.

Leticia sucks her teeth, “TALIA!” Leticia shouted, a young woman stood from behind the bar and quickly made her way towards Ruth and Leticia.

“Ruth. W-what are you doing here? I said I had everything under control. ” She looked towards Leti than at Ruth.

“Yeah well we wanted to see how bad it was, we heard one of the girls got hurt,” Leticia spoke up

“Ye-yeah, I’m sorry you had come down here. I didn’t want to worry Annie since she’s on leave.”

“Yeah. The last thing we need is angry pregnant women coming down here. ” Ruth smirked at looked at the women.

“Yeah.” Talia chuckled.

“Where’s the rest of the women?”

“Up there...” she nodded towards the stairs, “...In the rooms.”

Ruth looked back at the ladies and turned towards Talia, “Thanks Talia, you can head back to the bakery.” Talia nodded not saying a word, she grabs her purse and walked out the door.

Ruth and Leti stood in front of the women, “So what happened?” Some of the women part ways to let Leti and Ruth take a look at the girl's arm.

“An odd bloke came in looking a little skittish, you can tell he was high.” One of the girls said. Ruth nodded and looked at the crying girl.

“Can you tell me, what happened next?”

“After Talia rin-ringed me, I took him to m-my room and-and...” tears fell down her face, as she threw herself in Ruth’s arms making her run her back gently.

“It’s okay, everything’s gonna be fine. “ she let go of the girl so she can get her to wound clean. She nodded to the side at Leti and another worker.

“Did you get a name?”

“Yeah, luckily he wrote it down.” The worker said handing Ruth a brown leather book, the women pointed at the time and date of the man came in.

“Does that name look familiar to you?” Leticia asked Ruth, the women looked closed, and before looking at Ruth again.

“Oh no.”

“What?” The worker looked at the book at the name, “Do you know him?”

“Yeah.” Ruth said closing the book, “Can you look after the girls for a bit, Leticia would be back to take over after we get back.” The girl nodded taking the book and getting back to work.

Ruth and Leticia said their goodbyes to the ladies. As they descended the stairs to the next building, both women went out the back door of the bar to not be seen.

“I need to finish some paperwork back at the factory. Remember. No fighting. ” Ruth said as they both walked down the street.

“Of course.” Ruth handed her the keys to the Ford, “ Call Cook to tell him what happened, and make sure she gets her arm look after properly.” She nodded before heading to the car. Ruth walked into the factory towards Pearl and Dotty.

“Anything happened well I was gone?” Ruth asked pulling out a cigarette.

“No, but there is a man in your office claiming he your 4:00.” Pearl lighted the cigarette.

“I thought I told you to cancel all my appointment.”

“Must have forgotten.” Ruth rolled her eyes and place the cigarette tip against Dotty’s lips, she took a drag before passing it to her sister.

“Did he give you a name?”

“I think it was, Theodore?” She looked towards her sister puzzled, “No, that wasn’t it, it was something with a T I think. ”

Ruth looked at both of the sisters, “You two are the worst. ” She says walking past their desk.

“But you still love us, right?.” Ruth shook her head walking past some of her employees, saying hello, and nodded towards them before getting to her office.

Ruth opened the door not paying attention to the man sitting in one of her leather chairs, she took off her coat and sat it behind her chair.

“Sorry for the wait Mr...?”

“Shelby. Tommy Shelby.” The man in front of her said.

“Lorena..”

“Wait, Shelby?.” She mutters trying to remember why that name sound familiar, “The Peaky Blinder bloke.” She leaned back in her chair.

“Yep.”

She hummed, “So, what do I owe the pleasure, Mr. Shelby?”

“I require some guns. ”

“What type of guns?” She said.

“Some Webley revolver and a couple of marlin models.” Ruth nodded.

“Well, Webley is about 3k well the marlin is 6k.”

“I give you 2,500 for both guns.” Tommy stared at the beautiful woman in front of him with a stone look.

“My guns are worth more than 2,500. Mr. Shelby. ” She laughs. She twists her pen in her hands.

“Thomas.” Tommy dug his hand into his pockets making Ruth's hand hover over her gun, “Pardon?”

“Mr. Shelby is my father. You can call me Thomas or Tommy if you like. “ he said.

“Well, as I said before Mr. Shelby, my guns are worth more than 2,500. “ she said ignoring his offer

He took a cigarette and put it in his mouth, “Can I smoke in here?”

“Sure” He looked at her gentle stare before lighting the cig and taking a puff, he continue talking, “I heard through the grapevines that you in need of men, so I’m offering you some. For concession on the guns.” Ruth took a minute before answering.

“Seem like you heard wrong, Mr. Shelby. I have enough men here.” She smiled.

“I can see, but not enough to be everywhere at once. “ he replied.

“How many?”

“Twenty. ” Ruth scoffed at the number.

“I need more than 20 men.”

“You get more men when I see how good your guns are.” He said standing up, “So we got a deal or not?” Ruth looked at his hand for a moment, having a mental battle between herself.

“Come with me.” She stood up and ignoring his hand, and walking out the door with Thomas following close behind. She guiding him all around the building towards the drawing-room.

As they walked down corridor after corridor, they finally made it to the room.

“Theresa?” They walked into the room to find a girl sleeping on her drafting table, “Theresa!” She snapped her fingers near the girl's ears, startled her awake. She looked around for a bit for her glasses putting them on before seeing her boss and some man.

“What can I make for you today, ma’am?” She yawns and stretches picking up her charcoal pencil.

Ruth looked at Thomas, “How many do you need?”

“Seven Webley revolvers and five marlin models.” The young girl started drawing different models of the guns showing Tommy which one he might prefer. After about an hour of them picking and changing the design of the guns. Ruth bid the girl goodbye as she left withdrawing in hand.

“Here.” Ruth handed the drawing to one of her workers back at the main area, the girl left to go receive the replica of the guns to test it out for him. The two stood quietly as everyone worked around them, Tommy would glance now and then towards her. Looking at her plump lips to her hips, sinful thoughts running through his mind as he imagines doing the most unholy thing to her body.

The worker came back with the replicas along with bullets and handed them to her boss. Ruth thanked her before she went back to work, “Follow me.” She and Tommy walked up a couple of levels before going to another part of the building to an empty room. Their holes all over the white grayish walls were painted targets were set up.

“Here. Try it out.” Ruth handed the revolver to Tommy with the bullets as well, Tommy looked at the gun then back at Ruth before grabbing it and shooting the wall. Finishing empty the chamber, he tried the marlin next. He does the same thing looking impressed at the kick it has along with the high velocity.

“So?”

Thomas looked up from the gun towards Ruth, “It doesn’t have that power like the Russians but it does.” She rolled her eyes as he continued to talk, “ Is 32 men enough. ” Ruth tilted her head to the side a bit and walked up closer to him, “...so do we have a deal?” he watched her closely as she stands in front of him. She stared deeply into his icy eyes before answering.

“ I know theirs a war brewing in Small Heath and I also know you barely have enough men to help you fight. Let alone give me, so I propose is I let you hold the guns and I give you some people... “ he was taken back by her knowing his solution but he didn’t show it.

“Exchange for?”

“Your assistance, I have a couple of business I would like to open in other areas like London and Small Health-“

“ As much as your offer sound promising, I have to decline. There’s too much going on in small health and throwing your drugs in the mix isn’t worth it...” Ruth clenched her jaw as he continued to speak, “...your not the only one, who has done their research.” He set the gun against the wall and looked backed at her.

Ruth rolled her eyes at his words, “We don’t run drugs, we run a legitimated business.”

“Listen, I’m not judging you. I’m the last person to but the evidence speaks for itself. “

“As I said, we don’t run drugs. People I work with doing but not my people. ” he nodded understanding as she cleared her throat before continuing, “So, now that we on the same page again, as I was saying I want to open a new business and I want my people to work there. “ he thought for a moment, his eyes drifting towards her lips wondering how they would feel against his-.

“Hello? Do we have ourselves a deal or not?” She whistle catching his attention, he nodded stiffly pulling his hand out in front of him, “We have a deal.” She shook his hand firmly, they both stared into each other’s eyes.

“Ma’am, someone in your office, said it an emergency.” A young man came in making the two pull apart. She nodded towards the man before watching him leave, she backed at Thomas.

“Come by tomorrow morning, so we can continue with our arrangements just so you know what you getting yourself into with me.” He gave her a swift nod before following her out of the room, the walk down to the main floor was silent between them. As they got outside of the factory, Thomas looked towards Ruth.

“You know what’s funny?” He said pulling out another cigarette and lighting it, “What?” She looked up at him.

“We gonna be working together and I don’t even know your full name.” As he exhales his car pulled up, she watched as he gets in. She smirked as she leans forward towards the window, “That is funny.” She said taking the cig from him and taking a drag. She blew it out to the sky and looked back at him, “Have a safe trip, Mr. Shelby.” She tapped on the hood of his car before stepping back.

After the car drove off she threw the cig on the ground before headed back inside to see Pearl and Dotty smirking at her, “What?”

“He's cute.”

“Very cute.”

“He's our new client, so whatever you two are thinking get out of your head. ”

“I wonder if he has a brother?” They said in unison, Ruth rolled her eyes before commenting, “Get back to work.” The girls giggled as they go back to their magazines. Ruth makes her way up the stairs to her office, she takes a seat in her chair.

“What you doing here, will?” She didn’t look up at the man as she continued her paperwork.

“What can a man see how his baby sister is doing?”

“Not if it is to spy on her.” Will rolled his eyes at his sister.

“You know I do it out of love.” This time it Ruth turn to roll her eyes.

“What you want I’m working.” She said looking back down at her paperwork.

“I heard Augustine talking....” he stopped looking for a reaction at the mention of their other siblings.

“And?....” she kept writing, she didn’t want to give her brother the satisfaction of seeing her nervous at what he was gonna say next. “I heard him talking about an arranged marriage, and...”

“And...?” She said again looking up from her work.

“They want to give Isaias to an Italian girl in London, so they gonna set up a meeting and I need you to vote no. “

“Do Isaias know?” Will shook his head no, Ruth rested her chin in her fist looking worried.

“What’s wrong. “

“I don’t know, something just doesn’t feel right. Augustine wouldn’t suggest something like this unless it was serious, you know.” Will took in what his sister said.

“You think someone in our faction did something to piss off the Italians.” As Will was talking a boy walked in and handed Ruth a paper, “Only one way to find out.” She turned the paper to show her brother.

I Got You

warning attempted rape

Faith with her siblings talked amongst themselves as they waited for their father to show, “What you think he called us in here for?” Faith asked her brother, Jordan.

“No idea, but I heard he been in a mood lately. ” He said inhaling the cigarette, Reina waved the smoke away from her as she sat in the leather seat between Jordan and William, “I thought the whole point of you working with daddy was to watch over him, all this time you been around him. You have no idea what going on?” She asked.

“Yeah, well it’s hard to make sure his okay if he always sending me off to do something else. And when I do try to follow him I always end up losing him, that man really knows how to throw people of his trail....” Reina rolled his eyes at her brother excuses.

“Maybe it’s good news this time?...” Will said fixing his glasses, Reina gave her brother annoyed look, “There’s never good news, when your a Shelby.”

“I wouldn’t say that....” Jordan put out the cigarette as him and his siblings stood up as their father stood by the door with a lady by his side, Tommy walked to his seat behind the desk with Grace by next to him. He waved his children to seat as he linked his hands together in front of him, he watch as they slowly took their seat.

Faith elbowed Reina as she was giving Grace the third degree, “How have you been, daddy? It feels like we haven’t seen you in days. ” Tommy smiled.

“It been a busy few months. But I’m fine, sweetheart.” Before faith could ask her father something else, Reina cut her off, “Daddy, who is this?” She stared the women up and down with distaste.

“This is Grace. Grace these are my children, my oldest Jordan and Faith...” Jordan tipped his cap towards Grace with a smile, as Faith smiled.

“Hello...” Grace shook both of their hands, Tommy looked towards Reina and Will, “These are my youngest Will...” Grace watches as Will stood up on crutches, making her stare at his legs. Will shuffle in his spot as he felt her staring at his bad leg making Grace look up apologetic.

“I-I’m sorry-.” Will shook his head as he shook Grace’s hand as he balance on his crutches, “Don’t be people always stare at it, I’m use to it...” He chuckled fixing his glasses, Grace smiled apologetic again as she turned to the girl, “...And Reina, she baby of the family.” Reina brows snapped together the way her father called her “the baby of the family”.

“Now that we all meet and got acquainted, I have great news. ” Thomas laced fingers through Grace’s making her lean in to him, “Me and Grace are getting married. She gonna be your step-mom.” He looked at her fondly as she does the same, Faith and her brothers looked shocked at the couple well Reina looked disgusted.

“I’m sorry, what?” Reina said, making her father and his fiancé turn toward her, “ I thought I heard you say you gonna a marry her.” Faith looked nervously between her father and sister.

“I did, me and Grace are getting married.” Faith spoke up before her sister could say anything stupid, “Don’t you think you moving too fast, dad. I mean we barely know her.” Jordan nodded in agreement, Thomas sighed.

“You all are still young, it’s complicated..” Will glanced towards his sister as she  glared daggers both at their father and Grace, “...But It would mean the world to us to have you all be part of the wedding.” Grace quickly says, Reina tried not to roll her eyes at Grace trying to play perfect wife.

“ Is this really what you want, daddy?” Faith said, Thomas asked himself the same question since his wife died, “Yes..” Faith knows her father like the back of her hand and even through his answer wasn’t convicting, she care too much about her father ‘s happiness to call him out on it, “ If you’re happy, we’re happy. Right?” She look at Reina with a hard stare, making her roll her eyes, “Right..” Faith gave her that look that only mothers can conjure up.

“Happy wife, happy life.” she said sarcastically, Faith rolled her eyes.

“Close enough..” She smiled towards Grace, “Welcome to the family, Grace.” Grace happily pulled Faith into a hug catching her off guard, Faith looked over Grace’s shoulder to her dad smiling at them.

A knock came from the other side of the door making them break apart, “Come in..” one of the maids walked in telling them the food was almost finished and the rest of Shelby’s have arrive, he nodded telling her they be out, making her leave. He held out his arm to Grace as they made their way out the door with his childern following behind. 

William lean against the door frame of his father office making his family stop and look worried at him, “You go without me, I’ll catch up with you all soon, I just need to rest for a bit..” 

“Is your leg bothering you again?” Thomas asked walking towards his son, Will  nodded with pain written all over his face making his father rub his hair, “Why don’t you stay in my office for a bit and we call you when the food ready.” Will nodded.

“I’ll stay with him..” Reina offered moving towards her brother, “Are you sure, I can watch over him...” Reina waved her sister in dismissal.

“Yeah, its fine. Consider it a sorry for earlier.” she said to her sister, making Faith look at her suspicious, “...and I kind of don’t want to be anywhere near Aunt Pol, when she finds out dad’s getting married.” Faith grimaced at the idea of her great aunt might cause a scene at the news, Thomas kissed the top of Will’s head before moving to kiss Reina temple as he walked back to his soon to be wife as they walked down the corridor with Jordan and Faith in toe.

Reina helped Will inside their father office, closing the door behind them. Will sat down in the leather seat as Reina went behind her father desk, “ Hurry up! I don’t want anyone coming back and finding us snooping through dad’s stuff.” Reina looked at the paper on his desk before moving to opening his draws.

“Who knew you were such a good liar, you could be the next Chaplin. “ Will ignored his sister was he looked through folders that his sister passed to him, he never liked lying to his dad expectably about his condition.

“Damn it...” Reina slammed the draw closed, making Will glare at her, “Try slamming it a little harder, I think everyone didn’t hear you.” He hissed.

“There’s nothing, here.” Reina said putting everything back, “Well, we tried..” Will shrugged.

“Maybe it’s at the betting shop.” William shook his head as he saw the wheels turning in his sister head, “Nia, no!”

“Why not, I’m telling you that women rubs me the wrong way. I don’t trust her.”

“You don’t trust anyone that isn’t part of this family.” Reina folded her arms in defeat.

“I’m telling you, Will. Something just ain’t right with her.” Will could tell this new of their father getting married isn’t taking a good troll on Reina.

“Nia, I love you. I really do but, you have to get over it. Dad is going to marry Grace and she gonna be our step mom, that is that. All we can do is be their for dad.” Reina played with the necklace her mother gave her, she hated when her brother was right. She sighed and nodded.

“Your right...”

“I know I am.” He smirk

She rolled her eyes as she helped William up as the bell ring signaling the food is ready, they closed the door behind them before walking to the dinning room. Everyone was there waiting on them, “Hope we didn’t keep you all waiting.” Will said as he sat next to Arthur, he laid his crutches against the table.

“Nope, you actually on time.” Thomas said as he watch his brother mess about with son, Reina took at seat between Faith and Finn.

“Did I miss anything.” She asked watching Faith take a sip of her wine, “Only Aunt Pol ripping Tommy a new one.” Fine said digging in, she gathered as much as Polly glared daggers at Grace.

“At least I’m not the only one who hates her.” She whispered turning to her food.

“So Tommy, when is the wedding?” Ads asked taking a sip of her wine, Thomas cleared his throat.

“In three days...” Polly slammed her glass down on the table making everyone freeze, “Why so soon?” She asked.

“You know with the business growing fast, why not do it sooner rather than later.” Polly scoffed before going back to her food, sending glares at Grace and Tommy every now and then.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“There’s no way in hell, I’m wearing this..” I looked at myself in the mirror, trying to adjust the dress.

“What’s wrong with it?” Polly asked. I walked out of the bathroom and stood in front of my aunts and Faith. I watched my sister cover her mouth, “Everything...” I groan as I walk the crystals poke me.

“It poking the shit out of me, and I look like a goddamn chandelier.” A giggle escape from Ada and Faith making me glared at them.

“Well...” Polly walked around me, before glancing at me, “It’s not too bad, we may have to close the church windows. We don’t want you blinding the guest, now do we.” The women bust out laughing as I glared angrily at Polly.

We glanced towards the door as my father walked in with his suit, I couldn’t tell if he was surprise or happy. When he saw me in the dress his wife picked out for me.

“You look-umm shining.” He joke making Faith and Ada giggle behind me, I grab the nearby pillow on the couch and threw it across the room at them making them giggle even more, “Daddy, I can’t wear this it doesn’t fit and it keeps poking me.” He walked up to me and examined the dress. 

“The wedding starts in a few hours, maybe you can wear the other dress she brought you.” I looked towards Faith.

“I thought you said she only brought the one.” Faith shrugged.

“ I thought so too, I guess she had a back-up. Just in case...” I look back at my father.

“I take it...” my dad left calling for the maid to bring the dress, “It can’t surely be worse than this one, right?” The ladies in the room wrinkled their nose at the chances of the dress being even worse than the one I got on.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I clenched my jaw as we rode in the car to the church, I pulled at my dress for tenth time since i walked out of the house. My head feel against the window as a familiar song came on making me close my eyes and remember a memory with my mother.

I remember walking into the kitchen to find her cutting up potatoes and carrots for supper, she was swaying in her blue dress as the music from the radio plays.

Goodness knows what the end will be

Oh I don't know where I'm at

It looks as if we two will never be one

Something must be done:

She swirl around the kitchen like a princess, singing along to the tune.

You say either and I say either,

You say neither and I say neither

Either, either neither, neither

Let's call the whole thing off

I adore her beauty from where I stood, her dark skin shining from the sun coming through the window. Her beautiful black curls bouncing as she dance, sometimes when you stand very still it’s feels like time stops.

You like potato and I like potahto

You like tomato and I like tomahto

Potato, potahto, tomato, tomahto.

Let's call the whole thing off

I giggled as she use the wooden spoon as a microphone, she stopped and looked at me. She covered her face in embarrassment and laughed as she got caught, she waved me over making me run into her arms. She picks me up and swirl me around, I remember giggling as I held ion to her tightly. She sat me back on my feet as our favorite part came on making me sway to the music like her.

You like vanilla and I like vanella

You saspiralla, and I saspirella

Vanilla vanella chocolate strawberry

Let's call the whole thing off

We sang together as she held my hands in hers as she swirl me around and dip me, all in the while my father walks in on us. He watches us in amazement as we try to hit the note like Ella, as I continue dancing I didn’t realize my mother stopped and notice my father. Her smiled lured him into her hold, he danced slowly with her.

I smiled as I saw the love in their eyes, the unbreakable bond between my father and mother. I stood off to the side as they had their moment together, trying to spend as much time as they can before my father would be pulled away for work.

For now we know we need each other so,

Let's call the whole thing off.

The car door slammed closed jumping me from my dream, I looked out the window to see the church. I sighed before getting out of the car before the man could open it and shutting it, I walked up the steps of the church with my heels clicking with every step I took. The moment I walked in I felt all eyes were on me, men in uniforms with their wife’s stared at me, walking further in I saw Grace talking to one of the men in uniform.

I guess Grace’s side of the family, they looked at me shock and with distaste probably thinking I was the help that walked through the wrong door. Only if those fool’s knew.

Ignoring them I continued my walked to my seat with my family, Faith held Esme’s baby in her lap as Esme dealt with one of john’s youngest. Finn handed me s pile of paper asking me to pass it down, I looked at the other side of the room to Grace’s family as they look annoyed at us. All things considering we were the loudest in the church, I looked at my father as he looked agitated at us which only made me try not to smirk.

As the Organ starts playing we all got up with the help of Ada we got William up so he can see. We all watch as Grace walked down the aisle with her father, we sat down as the minister starts to talk after about what felt like hour my father kissed Grace making her his wife. I clapped as everyone around me got out of their seats and cheered happily, they walked down the aisle to the church doors. After congratulation were said for both side, we gathered around and took a picture.

Faith stood next to me as we got our picture taken with my dad and Grace, after pictures were taken. Everyone got in their cars and went to the ceremony, dad wanted me and William to ride with him and Grace since we were the youngest. The whole car ride there was spent with silence, Grace would try start a conversation with me but I would reply with short answer making it quiet again.

The ceremony like the wedding was the bore, the only entertainment was hearing Arthur and John tell stories of dad in his baby years or teen years. Luckily the ceremony ended early so the real fun can start, this time dad wanted to ride with William and Jordan as he wanted to talk them. So i was riding with Faith.

“How was the car ride with dad and Grace?”

“Awkward. She kept trying to start a conversation with me, but I wasn’t in a mood. ”Faith side eye me as she sighed.

“Nia, I know you don’t like her. You made that clearly on several occasions but she’s-.”

“It’s not that...” I played with my necklace, “It’s not that I don’t like her, it’s the fact that it feels like he trying to replace mom with her.” I looked down at my hands.

“I had another dream about her, y’know. This time she was dancing around the kitchen with that blue dress she loved so much, and dad walked in on us. As a child I never knew how much two people can love each other until I watched them danced slowly in kitchen. ” I looked up towards Faith hearing her sniffle she had tears falling down her cheek.

Her smile didn’t reach her as she looked at me, “Mind handing me a tissue.” She chuckled as I pulled out a couple from her purse, giving it to her. She thanked me as she dab tissue under her eyes so she didn’t mess up her make up.

“I remember that you know, you ran into my room like the house was on fire. You pulling me from my room with my camera and having me take a picture, but you wouldn’t believe how many similar pictures of them is in my room until this day. ” i was surprised to hear that she still have pictures of mom and dad, I thought e she hide them away in a dusty room like dad.

“You don’t have to worry about forgetting her, whenever you need a reminder of her love just come to me and I tell you stories you haven’t heard it. If you need a reminder of her beauty like I said my door is always open and I show thousand among thousands from pictures of her with us.” I moved closer to Faith laying my head on her shoulder, she rest her head on mines as she drove to the party.

We finally pulled up to the reception, the moment we walked in Faith was swish away by Grace to meet some of the women in her family. Leaving me to roam the place until one of my father’s man told me he wanted to talk to me and  lead me to the kitchen, couple of men stood around talking as they waited.

 I leaned against the shelf away from the entrance, I watch Isaiah walk towards me .“I don’t think I ever seen you in a dress before Nia, it looks good.” Isaiah said getting all in my personal space, “But it looks so much better on the floor of my room.” He whispered close to my ear and smiled, I move my hand up his chest before giving lopsided grin and muttering.

 “Or mines...” I winked before moving away from him as my family came into the area, I stood next to Michael. My dad started going on a rant about how everyone have to be on their best behavior since Grace’s family are here.

“ I can’t stretch this enough. No fighting...” I rolled my eyes as he told everyone of his men and brothers what they can’t do or say. He turned to me and pointed, “And no back talk, their gonna be part of this family. So you treat them with the same respect you give me and your uncles, you hear me?”

 “Got it...” he walked close to me making Michael move out the away, “I mean it, Reina. I want you and your attitude in check, today is important to Grace....and me.” 

“I said I got it.” He stared down at me as if I was a child, he huffed in frustration before finally telling everyone not fuck this up for him. I glared at my dad as he pushed waiter on the floor leaving the man to pick up the broken the glass. After the last man got out of the kitchen, I helped the server up and apologized for my father action trying to help him with the mess. “It’s alright, you should go enjoy the party.” I apologized once again before leaving out of the kitchen.

I walked into the main room towards the mini bar, I tapped on the counter catching the bartender attention, “ Whiskey,” He nodded putting a glass in front of me and pouring my drink, I thanked him and down it without a thought. I gave him a tenner for the whole bottle which gladly oblige, not too long I was joined by Jordon, Finn, Isaiah, and Michael.

We spent hour and half taking shots and laughing at the bar at one point I’m pretty sure I was dare to drink from the bottle but I can’t remember, soon we ended up almost drinking the whole bottle. We kind of had to cut things short since Finn couldn't hold his liquor for shit, me and Jordan watched in disgrace as Finn was carried away by Isa and Michael to the car.

“And he call himself a Shelby.” We chuckled as we turned forward again taking another shot, before can take a second William limped behind us, “Have any of you seen, Faith.” 

‘“Not since she was dragged away by Grace.”

“Why? You ready to go?” Jordan asked taking a shot before getting off the stool, we looked at each as we saw the worried all over William’s face as he looks around the room for Faith. 

“She was suppose to take me home, but she had to go fetch her purse. That was thirty minutes ago.” I got off the stool and stood next to Jordan, “She’s probably just got lost, come on we look for her.”

“Shouldn’t we tell dad first just in case.” I looked around the room to find my dad talking with some of Grace’s family with her by his side, “No, we don’t want to worry him on his special day.” I walked to the stairs with William and Jordan in toe as we looked around, we looked through every room upstairs and didn’t find her.

“There’s like a hundred rooms in here, there’s no way we be able to find with only three of us.” Before we can go and tell our dad we heard a crush from down the hallway, we ran and down the hall and took a right before we heard sounds coming from a room.

“Get off of me!” Without thinking Jordan kicked the door down and making the man and Faith look towards the doorway giving her a chance to knee the bastard in his nuts. She pushed him off her making him fall to the ground, Faith got off the bed and went towards into my arms. 

Jordan ended up tackling the man to the ground making him drop his gun, we watched as they brawl around over the floor. I looked in fear as the man got on top of Jordan beating repeated in the face, scared I couldn’t stop William in time as he swung his crutch at the man knocking him off Jordan. William kept repeatedly hitting the man, until he got kicked in the stomach knocking the air out of him. Faith held us behind her was the man started walking told us.

“Don’t you fucking touch them..” He grits out clenching onto the man pants leg making the man kick Jordan in the face causing him to spit out blood, the man grabbed Jordan by the collar and started hitting him again. 

I quickly grabbed the looked at the gun under the bed, I clocked the gun and pulled the trigger without a second thought. I dropped the gun in shocked. Jordan holster the gun and kicked the body to see if he was still alive, he moved to the bed and took the putting sheet over the dead body. 

“We have to wrapped the body up.” he said before grabbing a another white sheet from a chair.

“We need to get dad.” William said as Faith help him up, “ He know what to do.” 

“With uniforms downstairs, no way. They arrest us before we can even get a word out.”

“You don’t know that..” Jordan threw down the sheet and looked towards us, “ You right I don’t but what I do know is there are four black kids and a dead white man on the floor. You do the math.” He went back to pushing the person onto the sheet.

“Not if we leave and pretend that none of this ever happened.” Jordan rolled his eyes.

“Yeah how are we suppose to do that when my face is busted up, Reina has blood all over her clothes. And Faith arm is bleeding.” I looked at Faith and now noticed her arm, she looked down.

“Oh shit...” he said just before he helps her sit on the bed, William took his tie off and wrapped it around faith to stop the bleeding, “I didn’t even feel it.” He looked at her.

“You were in shock.” He was he stopped the bleeding, by the looks of the wound it wasn’t deep cut. She got luckily. Somewhat.

“We need to be quick before they come, there’s no doubt someone heard that gunshot. “ he finished wrapping up the body, “Nia...” I look at him.

“I need your help with carrying him down.” I nodded, he turned to Faith and William, “Faye I need you bring the car around the back near the alley, alright.” She nodded as he handed her the keys, “Wait...” Jordan stopped her at the door putting his jacket around her making sure not to touch her arm and wiped the stained tears away.

“Be careful.” She gave him a weak smiled as he kissed her cheek, Jordan turned looked at Will.

“I need you to be our look out make sure the uniforms or any of our people, don’t suspect us.” Will nodded as he grabbed his crutch and limped towards the door looking down both hall ways, Jordan have me nodded and we left the heavy bastard. We walked out to the hall and we went for the stairs, luckily we didn’t run into anyone and got out of there unnoticed.

“Wait, hold on.” Jordan and Will stopped as I dropped the body, I took off my heels and gave them to Will. We walked out to the alley towards the car, we threw him in the back of trunk Jordan went to the driver seat. We hoped in the back seat and pulled off, I looked Faith as her head leaned against the window.

“Where are going to dump the body?” Will asked.

“I know a place.” I sat back as I replay what happened in the room, my heart beats fast as I remember the gun going off. I couldn’t help the tears fall as the image of his blood splatter all over the room, I can’t even imagine how Faith feels right now. I dig my nails into my palms to stop of myself from imagining what would have happened if we didn’t get there on time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The car came to the stopped as Reina looked out the window finding their were at the canal. They all got out of the car, she looked around at the stables and mill. Her and Jordan started to put rocks into the sheets and pockets of the man, after Jordan keep it was enough her and others pushed him into the waters.

They stood there as the sun was slowly raising, Reina looked at Faith as she started to sob before her legs can give out Jordan caught her slowly being her to the ground. The moments from before started took a troll on her, she cried in her brother chest as the horrid memories flooded back.

“I got you, it’s okay I got you. His gone, okay. His gone.” He repeated, she rocked her as she held on tightly to him. Reina and Will join them on the ground as they wrapped their arms around each other.

“It’s alright we got you.” Reina whispered.

POLLY GRAY PEAKY BLINDERS S03E05

S5.04 - PEAKY BLINDERS

Peaky Blinders Masterlist

(wattpad: wordless-writing).

Also, if for some reason some links look odd or are missing, then please notify me because for some reason they keep deleting.

Requests are open!

Thomas Shelby

Gun Metal and Daisies (full story on Wattpad)

The Anya-Margaret (coming soon)

One shots

Ozymandius (x femm!reader)

Polly Gray

One shots

“In the garden I will die. In the roses, they will kill me. I was going, mother, to pick roses, to find death.”

“In the garden I will die. In the roses they will kill me. I was going, mother, to pick roses, to find death.”

Polly Gray Story

Anonymous request

Warnings: period typical racism, swearing, mentions death and disease, angst.

Inspired by the poem: To this Day

Masterlist

She has been through hell.

So believe me when I say,

Fear her,

When she looks into the fire and smiles.

Polly looked down through her glass, past her cigarette, to the folded piece of paper on her desk.

Thomas had put it there. Walked in, slid it across the desk and left. Leaving with the feeling he’d just cursed his aunt to eternal turmoil.

She knew what was in the note. She knew exactly what it was about. She took a final swig of her drink and ripped open the folds.

Maybe if Polly’s God smiled down on her more, then she’d know the colour of her daughters hair.

She read the lines twice before taking her cigarette and pushing it into the words. Leaving it to smoke in the ash tray.

Without another word, she got up and left.

——

Polly approached the brown door with skittish feverance. The weather was humid and suffocating, the people of Small Heath always walked like zombies, but today you could just smell the rotting.

Polly put a bright smile on her face, today was the day that she got her life back. The other piece of her whole world.

She knocked on the door and on the other side she heard calls and lovesick giggles.

The woman who opened the door had dark brown, unruly hair. Her eyes were wide in warm brown doe eyed shape. Polly smiled at the woman, taking in her features. Lastly, the woman had a long scar, that covered the left side of her face, from her temple to her chin.

“Anna Gray?”

The woman sniffed, “Anna Clive-Wright.”

Polly pursed her lips to surpress a smile, she was married.

Maybe she didn’t recognise Polly?

“You’re my daughter, I’m Polly Gray. You were take-“ Polly tried.

“I know who you are. I know exactly who you are.” Anna sighed exasperatedly.

“I heard... you were taken to... Australia? You had spring fever?” Polly attempted to gain traction in the conversation.

“Yes. Yes I did have spring fever. I remember during my recovery- I remember the time I put my feet on the ground for the first time in weeks. I threw roses into the abyss and I’d say: ‘here is to the monster who didn’t succeed in swallowing me alive.’Some days I wish I’d died.

“I wish something would have taken me away. ‘Cause some nights, Polly, some nights; all I wanna know is that I’m not fucking crazy for feeling the way I feel, after going through all that bullshit that I’ve been through!” Anna slammed her fist against the doorframe.

“What are you talking about, Anna? They aren’t nothing but savages over there. Killers.” Polly furrowed her brows with concern.

“It’s Mrs Clive-Wright, thanks. They aren’t savages, not really. And killers? Really Polly? That’s rich coming from a Shelby. We’re all killers. We’ve all killed parts of ourselves to survive. We’ve all got blood on our hands. Somewhere, something had to die. So we could stay alive.” Anna looked down at Polly with a glare to send a vipers nest fleeing.

Polly matched her stare. One might think the two were related if one looked hard enough. They were, but only one party believed so.

“You have a family here, Anna. Us Shelby’s stick together. They’ll love you- I’ll love you. Like I’ve done for all these years! You were taken, I never got the chance to love you properly.” Polly’s eyes widened in pleading while Anna’s squinted in disgust.

“Family, eh? How dare you talk about family in front on me. How many sons and daughters have you Shelby’s cut? Huh? How many family’s have you torn a part? How dare you come here and talk about family.” Anna snarled.

“...What did they do to you over there?” Polly shook her head. She didn’t know what went wrong. Where did she fail?

“This isn’t ‘bout what they did to me! This is what you- you and your Shelby- Peaky bastards did!” She had strong features that looked like they’d never broken once, “somedays I wish I’d have died. I wish the sickness had devoured me whole, or at least in my head, so I could pretend all this- all this SHIT- wasn’t really real.” She waved her arms around flamboyantly, scoffing at the irony. “However, if I’d have died, I’d never have met my husband; and if I’d never have met my husband, I wouldn’t have had my son... But then again, I wouldn’t have lost my son, either.”

Polly understood now. She put the pieces together and felt a new sense of guilt. There was low-hanging tension in the air. It was held down by sorrow and weighted with tears only a mother could cry.

“How do we forgive ourselves for all the things we never became, Polly?” Anna was staring past Polly. She didn’t want to see the tears in her mother’s eyes, nor the tracks they’d leave down her face, no. “That’s right. We don’t. So don’t come here, knocking on my doorstep, invading my home. Don’t come here raving about losing sons and daughters and love, all the while you’ve created losses in others. This world isn’t a meritocracy. You can’t kill mothers sons until no one has any left. Leaving you to finally take the crown of the best mum of the year.”

The sound of heavy footsteps on floorboards invaded the silence, “everything alright here Anna?” A big burly man with a slight limp and kind face appeared next to Anna, kissing her chastely on the cheek.

Anna places a hand on his chest “of course, James. Go put the kettle on for me will you?”

“For how many?” James looked up at the Shelby woman, taken aback by the celebrity appearance.

“Just us, love.” She kissed his cheek and he limped away slowly.

The silence crept in again, “Husband?” Polly asked.

“Husband.” Anna confirmed. “Y’know Polly, life can be cruel. I don’t believe Michael and I should have been taken, but I do believe you should never have parented us. I have this mark that takes up a little less than half my face. Kids at school used to say I looked like a wrong answer someone tried to erase, but couldn’t quite get the job done.” Anna scoffed.

“Anna, I love you and I just-“ Polly was near sobbing at this point.

“I remember growing up and believing that I’d be lonely forever. That I’d never meet someone. To make me feel like the sun was something they’d built in their work room, just for me.”

Anna sniffed again, her breathing was jagged and wavering. Her voice was rising slowly, “I emptied myself of everything I held dear. So I felt nothing- don’t tell me that hurts less than a broken bone. That an ingrown life is something Doctors can cut away. That there’s no way for it to metastasise? Of course, it does!” Her voice was scratchy and feral, she snarled like a wolf who saw a bear take its food.

“Anna, I just want my daughter back.” Polly pleaded.

Anna roared, “and I want my FUCKING son back!”

The door slammed shut, and Polly was left to wilt on the other side. She put a hand to her mouth but made no attempt to stifle her sobs. She placed her hand on the door like she could reach through and touch her daughters face.

The fight was over and the matriarch lost. For years onwards, insomnia would plague her mind, as it romanticised the idea of the stars and made the moon seem like perfect company.

Polly was tougher after that. Smiles rarely spouted and her eyes never twinkled in the sun. She screamed and screamed at Thomas that day. Cursing him for the business and all he had to say.

Years on, she’d never forgive herself, she though of her daughter as her head went through the noose that her nephew placed.

...and when I greet death; I hope it’s gentle. I hope it’s like going home.

——

Thanks for the request! They really keep me motivated and give me something to do.

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The Anya-Margaret

(Thomas Shelby)

A brief description

Florence Kent.

Or should I say Dr. Florence Kent.

She is a woman well aquatinted with death. So familiar in fact, that the only obvious line of work she could go into was business with death itself.

She is a morgue worker. A diener. A pathologist. An embalmer. She does the whole lot in the downstairs of her home.

She chain-smokes and lives on a healthy appetite of cocaine, nihilism, and all abandon of self-preservation.

She's not necessarily looking for death, but she'd certainly have lunch with the man.

And some would say that she eventually did- except death in this scenario wasn't a reaper, nor an omen, not Satan, or even God itself.

This deathly figure was Thomas Shelby.

And for the first time, the devil wanted to make a deal with her.

Florence Kent can seem quite boring to the naked human eye, but soon, you'll learn like most- that it takes a lot more than a simple description to really know a person.

-CONTENT WARNING- ⚠️

This book contains very dark themes such as: Death, substance abuse, poor coping mechanisms, nihilistic conversation, traumatic events, angst.

THIS IS THE ONLY WARNING IM GOING TO PUT IN. Putting one at the start of every chapter will just be repetitive and will probably fall on deaf ears. So if any of the warnings previously mentioned bother you in any way, then I advise you step away and find another book.

Thank you!

*I don’t own anything but Florence Kent and her storyline*