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boogiewrites · 6 years ago

Text

Choking On Sapphires 76

Characters: Alfie Solomons x Genevieve (OFC)

Title & Song: You’ve Got The Love

Summary: Alfie's Birthday Party. Genevieve's plans a lovely and humble (for her anyway) celebration of her favorite man. But little does she know she isn't the only one that has their own plans for the evening. Song is You've Got The Love by Florence + The Machine.

Warnings/Tags: Fluff. Dancing. Giving Alfie gifts. Some Cyril. Lotf of cute affection.

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Genevieve’s pointed leather heels kick up dust along the well walked pathway towards Alfie's office. The navy shoes in their cool tone set apart from the sepia-toned expanse of dirt and wood as the employees of her future husband, the formidable gangster Alfie Solomons politely bowed their heads in greeting as they dare not do anything that could be read as anything but. A trip to Solomons office for even the bravest of men was a nerve-racking experience. But for Genevieve, it was always a journey of excitement and delight. This trip was no different.

She dusts her flowing, floral spring dress as she stops just short of bumping into Alfies second, Ollie. The tall and always slightly nervous looking young man had a curious bead of sweat on his brow as his body language gave away his hesitancy for her unannounced appearance.

“Bonjour Ollie darling!” She greets with a very pleasant smiling face, an envelope clutched in her hand over the small purse she carries that matched her shoes. She did always look very put together, and most always the opposite of her love Alfie as his appearance, particularly when he was at work. He was unkempt and old fashioned at best. She had brought many new things into his life but a complete shift in his wardrobe wasn’t one of them.

Ollie as always enjoyed hearing the sweet melodic greeting of his boss’s charming love interest, but not even his fondness for laying eyes on her could distract him from his anxieties as she cheerfully trotted towards Alfie's office door.

“Shalom Miss Durand.” He sputters with darting eyes and a face that only half turns to her as it nervously glances to the half glass door she could hear Alfie shouting from. He’s relieved when she takes a few steps back as he approaches her with outstretched arms.

“I DONT FUCKIN CARE IF ITS THE BLOODY QUEEN WHAT NEEDS SEEIN' TO MATE!” Alfies gruff and almost slurred thick Camden accent in its usual loud and booming delivery makes its way through the wooden door to their ears.

“Oh.” Genevieve says with puckered, painted lips, her dark brown eyes wide and understanding of the man before her and his unwelcoming body language.

“Yeah he’s uh...” Ollie stutters.

“YEAH 'N I FUCKIN' PAID YOU YEAH? NO ONE ELSE,FUCKIN YOU!”

“Poor man.” She sighs. “His birthday and he still can’t enjoy himself.” She tsks and opens her mouth to speak but his words interrupt her.

“YEAH 'N IF I DONT FUCKIN' 'AVE IT BY NOON, RIGHT? I 'ONT CARE HOW MUCH FUCKIN' MONEY I PAID YOU I'LL FUCKIN' SHOOT YOU! DO YOU UNDERSTAND? EITHER IT IS IN MY HAND AND PERFECT OR YOU WILL BE FUCKIN' CUT INTO LITTLE PIECES 'N NO ONE WILL EVER FIND YA MATE!”

“He’s going to die from a heart attack before the party.” She shakes her head and shrugs. “I apologize if he’s been poorly to you Ollie. I know a party isn’t really his sort of thing and he’s probably well miffed about it.” She responds apologetically. “He seemed rather pleasant this morning.” She reflects thoughtfully with a slight tilt of her head, her half pulled back hair shifting as she did so, the ends of it swishing across her lower back as she shakes her head out of the thought. “But maybe he’s only saving face because he knows I love a good party. Bless the poor lad.” Her hand rests on her ample chest that was still noticeable even in the humble neckline of her pink and blue floral dress. “I’m afraid I have one more thing to add to your to-do list today Ollie.”

“PISS OFF!” Alfie's voice interrupts again, hearing his hand hit the top of his desk.

Gen sighs and continues on despite the usually charming deep gruff she experienced from the man being replaced with a rather unpleasant gravelly growl full of threat. “I need you to put this envelope in his desk for me, please. It’s extremely important and no one, including you sees what’s inside. Trust me.” She hands the envelope to Ollie who’s shaking hands tentative lift to meet it between them. He takes it, looking at the sealed folder with question as it slides from her manicured fingers. “After he leaves put it-“

“WHAT PART OF I WILL FUCKIN' KILL YOU DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?”

Unphased she continues, “Put it in his desk where he will find it. No one else but he needs to see what’s in it. It’s important.” She said a stern nod of her head. “Put it in your jacket and keep it a secret from him and place it after he’s gone.”

“May I ask what’s in it?” Ollie cautiously asks.

“It’s for his birthday. It’s from me. It’s a letter and a gift and I want him to find it when he comes into work tomorrow. I want it to be a surprise.”

“Oh.” He says with a quick nod and slides it into his pocket. “I can certainly do that Miss. No worries.” He gives her a polite smile.

“What the fuckin' hell are you doin here love?” Alfie's voice without the door blocking it comes unfiltered to both their ears as it makes Ollie jump and Gen perks up and almost floats over to him at the sound. She must be the only person that responded that way to hearing that tone from the man Ollie estimates.

“I wanted to see if everything was on schedule for you to come home early.” Her voice is soft and sweet as her hands move across the gritty and rough fabric of his shirt that was in a loose style that made him look far older than he was.

“Ya don't know how to use a fuckin' phone now?” He laughs.

“I had to come to town to pick up a few things for tonight and I wanted to see the birthday boy.” She bats her lashes and leans into his chest, giving a peck to his chin as she does a little lift to reach him.

“Who?” He laughs heartily and leans in to kiss her on the lips.

“Don’t be daft now, Alfie.” She sways her head and beams at him.

“Don’t know no boys I’m afraid mate. Only know old, old fuckin' men yeah?”

“Wel lucky for you I happen to love me a cheeky old man hmmm?” She chuckles and he grumbles as she coaxes another kiss out of him. Ollie watches the display of affection, which was nothing new for him to see but the softness he showed to Gen always caught him off guard.

“I’m the luckiest old bastard in all of England love.” He says with a quieter voice as he hums into another affectionate kiss from the small dark-haired woman who held his heart in her painted, soft, deadly but well-manicured hands.

“Maybe you will be tonight after the party.” She giggles against his full lips and he lets out a single loud laugh of amusement for her cheekiness.

“It IS me birthday.” He shoots a charming grin her way as she steps back and gives his chin an adoring squeeze.

“Oh is it?” She chuckles.

“Ah ya silly bird. Get on wif ya now. I gotta work to afford to pay for ‘is party.” He teases.

“I’ll see you at three darling?” She says, stepping away but her hands still holding his shirt.

“Yes, you will pet. Now I do ‘ave to get caught up so I can leave dunnit I? So you go and get ready and I’ll be in later. On time. Promise.”

“Alright darling.” She coos, stealing another kiss from the older man.

“Love you Ari. Happy Birthday.” She chirps.

“Love you too Genny bee now get on.” He says giving her bum a little pat that she acts offended by but she giggles and tucks her hair behind her ear as she quickly trots away back down the corridor.

Alfie watches her leave with fondness in his eyes. He saunters towards Ollie, his broad and more experienced shoulders turning faster than the younger and taller man could comprehend as he grabs him by the shirt collar after knocking him in the stomach after he’s sure Genevieve is out of sight.

“Did she fuckin hear anyfin'?” He growls into the younger man’s face. So close he could feel the spit leave his lips as he demanded an answer.

“No.” He whimpers out, avoiding Alfies intense steely blue gaze.

“Then you should make sure ya go to temple then eh? Because you got real fuckin lucky dinnit ya?” He says with a taunt to his voice as he lets him go roughly, shoving him backward a few steps. “If you’d gone and let her hear me plans I would’ve killed you along with this fuckin twat of a jeweler.”

“She didn’t. I swear it.” He stays slightly hunched with a hand over his stomach as he rapidly shakes his head back and forth.

“Well, then what’s wrong lad? Stand up, we got fings to do! It’s me birthday! Didn’t ya know?” He asks with a hard slap to Ollie’s back as he turns and moves back into his office.

----------

Genevieve sits with glistening freshly oiled skin on the end of a sweeping, velvet canopy bed. Her pink silk dressing gown a sweet contrast to the black curtains that surrounded the bed and the windows on either side. Behind her rests a previously disgruntled Cyril. The poor pup didn’t care much for the new people and movement in the house while everyone readied for the party. Gen had taken some of Alfie's shirts and laid them on the bed for him to have a cuddle and settle down and it had worked. She sits leisurely stroking the large brown slobbering sweetie as he snorts into a sleep shirt of his owners.

Alfie enters into the room, the attention of his two favorite creatures sitting on the bed now focused on him. Cyril tail thumps loudly against the duvet and if Gen had a tail it’d be doing much the same. “Aren’t you two just precious?” He says throwing his jacket onto the same chair by the desk that he always does. “Ya havin’ a cuddle without me?” He asks, grunting and sitting on the edge of the bed as Cyril slides on his stomach towards him to greedily receive his head pets from his favorite human.

“He was missing his papa. With all the noise in the house he's been upset poor baby.” Gen coos, stroking the beasts back as Alfie take his face into both his hands.

“Ya like me innit ya? Don’t like all these people 'round do ya? Two old men need their peace dunnit they?” His lips pooch out as he skirts on the line of baby talk with the snorting dog as it licks his palms.

“I gave him some of your shirts to lay on and he’s been a good boy while I bathed.” She says with an affection tone.

“‘Ats cause he is a good boy innit ya Cyril?” He coos and lets the dog put his head in his lap where he quickly shuts his eyes.

“I have your suit pressed and hung for you darling. No rush of course, it’s still hours 'til the party. We can’t all be as fortunate to be as handsome as you and only require a quick comb and new suit and be public ready.” Gen teases, giving him a kiss to his temple.

“I know it’s me birthday but ya don’t gotta lie to me.” He chuckles.

“Shush.” She scolds with a tap to his strong nose. "Come and have a look at it." she says, her confident stride dragging the long gown behind her, cinched at her waist tightly and only accentuating her curves. There were plenty of up and downsides of dating a baker, and for Alfie, the softness she'd put on since they'd been together was an up side in his opinion. She'd been such a slight thing when they'd first met, hip bones and ribs just under the surface of her warm toned skin. But now her hips matched the swell of her chest, her thighs a perfect soft frame for the black hair that rests between them under a soft stomach with no protruding bones in sight. Only a real-life illustration of a woman with curves he'd seen as a young man that had most likely sparked puberty within him.

"It's a suit, love, why I gotta look at it?" his usual cantankerous grumble comes out.

"Because it's the first of your birthday gifts, darling." she says with an authoritative tone, one hand moving to her hip, her painted nails tapping against the arch of pink satin underneath it.

"A gift? Ya buy me a suit? I got plenty of 'em, Genny." he says with a less angry tone, toeing off his shoes and giving Cyril a good ruffle between his ears before moving towards her with a sigh heavy in his chest.

"No. It's from Freddie actually." she says with a more charming smile, removing the protective covering she'd been keeping it in her closet.

"Oh! Ol' Fred's at it again, eh? What is it? A chartruese three-piece with coattails?" he chuckles, amusing only himself as Genevieve gently handles the soft fabric.

"No, silly." she says with a shake of her head, presenting it to him. A lovely soft fabric in black for the coat and trousers, the inside a silken sapphire blue with a matching vest.

"Well this innit bad at all." he says with pursed lips in consideration for the good taste the usually flashy best friend of Genevieve's had.

"The buttons are all solid gold and look like little old coins." she says excitedly. "Touch it, darling, it'll feel fantastic on your skin." she says hanging it on the handle of the armoire. He does as is suggested as he uses the back of his still dirty hand, still smudged from work on the other side. He nods in consideration, thankful the two hellions had, in fact, kept his preferences in mind while making this for him.

"It is rather nice." he mutters, examining the little gold buttons.

"And there's also this. He designed the suit and we both decided on these." she says, returning with hurried feet in her little maribou tipped slippers as she holds a square velvet box open to him. Inside rest two sapphire cuff links with gold bases.

"Now 'is. 'Is is well good." he says taking the box from her hands. "This is lovely innit?" he says more cheerfully, holding the box in one hand and pulling her close with the other. She's rewarded with an affectionate kiss to the temple. "I am more than pleasantly surprised love. Well chuffed 'bout it." his more charming and smooth voice comes out as he beams down a smile that makes her slump and gaze up at him with adoring eyes.

“Very glad to hear it. I’m happy you like them, he had them made for me so they’d match the fabric exactly.” She says with a precise annunciation as she taps the deep blue vest with one pointed finger.

“Thank you my most thoughtful flower. I’ll wear it all with pride tonight.” He says politely, placing the box on top of the dresser for later.

“Perhaps you’ll use one of my other gifts for you tonight.” She says with a mischievous smile as she moves away towards her closet.

“More? And what would that be?” He asks with a dipped chin her way.

“I’ll give them to you before the party.” She says with a playful shake of her head. “Right now I need to throw something on to go do rounds to check everything.” She says as she holds the archway into her large closet, body posed as she speaks.

“I can do it for ya love. I’m sure you’d rather take ya time gettin' ready, yeah?” He says adjusting his shirt before shuffling over to his side of the bed to slide on his slippers.

“There’s a list on the desk. Just finalizing that everyone is where they should be really.” She says dismissively. “I was going to do it with Ags.”

“I can do it. Let me have some part in this party.” He grins. “Aggie can help me. She could handle it herself the old girl.”

“She could but you know how particular I am.”

“'N 'ats why I'd be a good man for the job, eh?” He says convincingly as he looks over the list written down in her dramatic and looped handwriting.

“Thank you darling. I appreciate it. I’ve been hopping about like a little rabbit all day with this party planning I’d love a little rest so I could have a nice time dancing tonight.”

“Then have yaself a little lie down yeah? I’ve got this.” He says shaking the paper in the air.

“You’re a lovely and thoughtful man Alfie.” She falls out affectionately.

“Now what I’d say 'bout lying on me birthday?” He shouts out in his usual gruff tone but she knows he’s only teasing. What she didn’t know was his ulterior motives for wanting to speak to the hired staff.

“There’s just the girl I was looking for!” Alfie booms in a warm voice as he sees Aggie fussing over flowers.

“There's the birthday boy!” She says with a face that beams only happiness his way. She grabs him by his cheeks and give him a sturdy pat and shake. “Gen is in her room I believe.”

“I know I’ve already spoken to her, thank you.” He gives her a curt nod. “But I actually needed to speak with you for a moment.” He says dipping his voice low.

“I’m all ears.” She chirps with her eyes hidden by rounded flushed cheeks.

“May we do so in private?” He asks with a gentlemanly disposition, his hand to her upper back as he shows her towards his study.

“Of course.” Her tone shoes her worry. A turn to her words Alfie was very used to hearing by now. “Is something the matter?” She whispers with large eyes that follow him as he moves to shut the door to his study behind him. He moves into the wooden, red and golden decorated room with its large bay windows and intimidatingly sized dark stained desk in front of them. He sits he list down as he rests on the edge.

“Nothing is the matter.” He says with a swipe of his hand. “I just needed you to be privy to my plans tonight and now was an ideal time to discuss them.” He clears his throat and lifts his chin high in a proud stance with his arms crossed. “You’ll want to sit Agatha.” He adds with a grin.

Her face still reading worried dispute his reassurance, he studies her as her fingers fidget, hands clasped in her lap as she lowers herself into one of the plush leather chairs in front of the desk.

“I need you to promise to keep ya voice down, yeah?” He says leaning forward slightly. “Because you’re going to want to make noise when I tell you this and I need to keep it a secret, right? I’d hate to have it at all ruined this close to the party wouldn’t I?” He speaks to her as if he were a child. Under normal circumstances, he would be much more respectful to dear old Agatha as she was the glue that held the house together but he knew her well enough to know she would squeal like a pig once he shared his news.

Aggie answers by turning a pretend key by her mouth and tossing it away, making Alfie chuckle, eye wrinkling at the corners with fondness for the woman who took care of him and Genevieve without complaint.

“Tonight I have some plans of my own in place after the birthday party she has planned, right? I’ve gone over with the band and the florist and everyfin' is set. Now's all’s left is you.” He says with raised brows. He moves to grab the matching chair to the one Aggie sits in, turning it towards her and taking both her hands into his after settling with a grunt from both him and the leather seat. “Tonight. After everyone clears out from the party. Which will be dismissed promptly at ten Genevieve assures me...I am going to formally ask her to marry me.” he speaks slowly and purposely, wanting to make sure his words were heard and processed.

Aggie's eyes grow wide as he speaks his final sentence, her mind trying to comprehend what was being said to her. She stares blankly at him for a few moments, She thought she could feel her heart rising into her throat. She thought to ask him to pinch her because she wasn’t sure if she was in a dream or not, she’d only been waiting for around 15 years now to hear of this sort of news for her Genevieve. And before he had shown up she had almost given up hope of hearing them at all. But here she was, her pride swelling up like a mother hen and her chest doing the same as she took a deep breath to compose herself.

“Are ya alright?” Alfie asks with laughter in his voice. “I thought I would have to hush ya or get flogged by ya to be honest.” He grins.

“I’m not doing anything so I don’t do either of those things.” She says with her knuckles turning white from squeezing her hands together. “You’re going to propose to my little Gen tonight?” She asks with her voice a whisper in her excitement for being able to ask him.

“I am.” He nods. “I’ve got the flowers bought 'n paid for that’ll be put in the ballroom once it’s cleared out and the bands been informed of the song to play. I know she’ll head out to the garden for a little nightcap before bed like always and she’ll come back in, and with your guidance she’ll go to the ballroom. And there I’ll be waitin'.” He says with confident nods as he explains.

She squeezes his hands. “You’re going to marry my Genny?” She says with her eyes now gathering tears.

“I have every intention in the world of it.” He says and takes out his handkerchief and hands it to her preemptively.

“You’re going to propose and she’ll say yes and you’ll get married and have children and I... I....” She starts to cry as it all finally breaks loose. All the years of worry about Gen after she was gone we’re no longer valid. She could breathe and enjoy her late years with the sounds of children in the house and dare she even wish she helps deliver the babies of the woman she helped deliver herself.

“Oh c’mere Agatha, sweetie.” He says wiping her face and giving her back a friendly rub. “This is more what I expected.” He chuckles and it causes her to laugh. “I know ya worried 'bout her yeah? But know I’m gonna take care of her best I can. I’ve been workin' on the ketubah and setting her up even if something happens to me. So no worries, eh?”

“Oh bless you Mr. solomons” She says with a shake of her head.

“Oh come now, off with that nonsense, it’s Alfie. You’re basically me mother at this point innit ya?” He gives her another charming grin.

“Oh heavens! Alma!” She starts to sob more loudly. “She’ll be so happy my God she’ll be in pieces! Her baby girl marrying a Jewish man. Oh my lord.” She gasps and holds her chest.

“I’m hoping we can have her family for the wedding. I’ll be talking to Altar bout it as soon as she says yes.”

“Oh Altar!” She wails And throws her face into the handkerchief as Alfie holds back a laugh at her dramatic delivery. Perhaps Gen had taken more of Aggie's traits than either of them knew.

—————-

Alfie completes all the things on the list, being stern with the specifics and not shying from cursing at the people who were being paid. He's sure they'd be far nicer to Gen this way now and avoid him for the rest of the night. He was paying the ones that mattered enough to where it didn't matter if they liked him or not, they'd do that job right.

With a now crumpled up piece of paper in his balled fist from shouting at the idling young girls on the staff, he saunters back into the bedroom he shares with the enchanting woman that is sat perched and in her knickers in front of her vanity table.

"Happy Birthday to me indeed." he says with a cheeky growl, bending to place a kiss on her bare shoulder as she reaches up to gently caress his bearded cheek with a loving smile.

"You should get in the bath, dear." she says turning to give him a kiss to the cheek as his hands run across her soft stomach. "It will be time to greet our guests before you know it." she states with her proper posture and posh matter of speaking and holding her face as she slowly transforms into the hostess of the year and the woman that caught his eye in the first place.

"As you command sweetie." he teases, another grunted smooch to her cheek as she leans into it with a content smile before he shuffles into the marble bathroom.

After a good scrub it's his turn to sit in front of the vanity as Gen works her magic on him. Rubbing different concoctions in her hands and slicking his hair back and making him look like a proper gentleman. She only fusses with the untamable piece of hair at his crown that always insists on misbehaving before sighing and pouting her lips in amusement at it. She'd given up the fight against it long ago, she now only found it an endearing reminder of his boyish stubbornness with his looks.

"Now mind your hair and get into your suit, I'll need you to button me up." another kiss given to his now waxed and smoothed beard as he watches her sashay into the closet in her pants and bra, watching her hips and peachy bum wobble as she trots like a little show pony across the room.

He's working on the buttons of his vest as she emerges, the sapphire blue sequined gown hanging loosely off her feminine frame as she holds it up and watches the ground while tiptoeing towards him. Wordlessly she turns, his fingers know intimately how to latch her up at this juncture in their relationship with so many dresses having been done up and undone by his hands.

"Thank you darling." she says with a sweet voice at almost a whisper, as she always does. She turns and he gets to take in the perfected fit of the gown he's certain Freddie made her. It was stunning, but she always was to him. Fitted to the hip then sweeping out, a slit up the thigh to accommodate her dancing legs later in the evening. The shoulders hung excess loose fabric, flowing over her strong upper arms as the deep V neckline was held together by flesh-colored fabric, keeping the pieces of her he enjoyed oogling like a boy the most in place. She wore his mother's necklace, a simple understated piece with little diamond stud earrings sparkling through the heavy veil of thick almost black hair that she had pulled to one side. Tiny combs with diamonds holding one side of her hair back and a single ring of sapphire.

"I thought you wouldn't be caught dead matching." he smirks at her, seeing her lips curve into an enticing smile before she tilts her head and smiles, putting his watch into his pockets properly.

"If the vest were made of sequins I would say it was too much. But a nice deep blue and this shifting fabric are different enough for me to accept." her eyes never leave her hands, her lips painted and poised as they smirk at his teasing. "There are so many things I never said I would do before I met you Alfie. Is us both wearing the same color really the one you want to pick on me for?" she gives him a charming soft laugh and takes his hands.

"Well what else is there?" he says with a knowing grin her way.

"If you want me to list off all the things for you I will because it is your birthday. But they are mostly terribly sentimental," she says with a roll of her eyes and a shake of her head with her sarcastic delivery. "About how I said I would never love a man as I do you. Or never trust one with power. Never let one lie to me and get away with it." she smiles and sticks her tongue out just slightly through her pearl-like teeth as she gives his chin a pinch.

"Alright, alright." he says loudly, deflecting from the tenderness as she fusses over him.

"How about we get to your presents, hmmm?" she chirps with an adorable tilt of her head. "I want to give them to you before the party. As is tradition it seems."

"It's a good tradition." he says in support with pursed lips.

"Alright. The first one..." she begins, tugging him to the bed and having him turn and stand facing away from it. "I need you to close your eyes." she says with her hands on her hips as he must give her a stubborn glance before residing to do as she asked. "NO peeking!" she says as she moves to pull both of the presents he'd be receiving tonight out of their hiding place in the closet. One she sets on a chair in front of him.

"What the bloody 'ell are ya doin'?" he asks at the sound of the scratching chair across the floor.

"Don't you dare open those baby blue's Alfie Solomons! I meant it!" she says continuing on with her task as he sighs and obeys. "Alright." she says proudly, moving next to him and clasping her hands together. "Present number one. Open!" she says, holding her hands up in celebration as he twitches his nose and bats his eyes before focusing on the painting that sat propped against the back of the chair, sat in the seat in front of him.

His posture straightens and his chin pushes into his neck at the realization. He steps closer, hands in his pockets as he studies the depiction of himself. "You do 'is?" he asks with a slow pace of words.

"I did." she says with great pride.

"Fuckin' 'ell love." he says shaking his head. "You managed to make an old 'orse like me look handsome. Dare I say it 'bout myself. Awful 'fing to say 'bout oneself."

She laughs and moves to take his arm into both of hers. "Don't be silly. You ARE terribly handsome and it's a lovely thing to say about yourself!" she insists with a genuine sincerity in her voice that makes his stomach flutter just slightly. What had he done to have someone like her see him in such a way? "I merely painted you as I see you." she says with a hand motioning to the portrait. "I thought it could hang next to mine in the hall." she suggests. "I know you wouldn't want it in your office or at the bakery." she says as an afterthought.

"HA!" he lets out his gruff and loud burst of a laugh. "Who the fuck am I? Tommy Shelby?" his broad smile captures her attention as his eyes light up and crinkle at the edges.

"Oh hush." she chuckles and smacks his chest lightly. "Having a portrait of yourself if a sign of stature." she enthuses.

"If ya innit got taste." he murmurs and she pinches his arse. "Hey now there little kitten with the claws." he says moving to pull her hip to hip with him. "I'm not sayin' I don't think it's brilliant, pet, because it is. You just know it innit really... my way of doin' fings to have pictures of meself hung up everywhere."

"I know that, darling. That's why it'll hang up next to mine. To show who the owners of the house are. You know, so people know exactly who they're messing with when they come in." she gives an amused chuckle.

"Now 'at I can agree too." he nods. "Am I an owner of the house?" he smirks. "I innit signed my name to no deeds last I recall." he says playfully with a rub of his chin.

"You silly beast." she teases, a poke to his stomach that he acts like harms him. "You live here as well. The staff answers to you just as they do me. This is where your things are and where you sleep and escape from the city. This is your home just as much as it is mine. I mean... you have seen my secret room and safe so..." she shrugs and gives him an adoring smile.

"You're as a sweet as a sufganiyot, Genevieve." he coos and gives her a gentle caress to her cheek. "What about you schedule a double portrait then, eh? The man and lady of the house together, yeah?" he insists with a nod of his chin.

"I had planned on doing such a thing after we were married." she says bashfully as her big brown eyes look up at him almost sheepishly.

"Well you should call and schedule it." he says with a confident nod. "Make sure ya get the person ahead of time that you'd like to do it booked. I think it'd be a lovely gesture for us don't you think?" he asks, a kiss to her forehead that lingers a moment and makes her close her eyes with contentment.

"Certainly, darling." is her quiet reply.

"And what is this here, eh?" he says loudly, moving towards the bed where she had sat the final present.

"Your other present." she says with a happy sigh.

"Lookit 'is! Proper fancy that is, mate!" he says with more enthusiasm for this gift than the previous one, but it was to be expected. He held up the black patent cane. It was gold tipped and had the head of a lion on top, as was his Hebrew name. It had an open roaring mouth, large enough for his palm to rest on it and two impressive sapphire stones set in its eyes. "You've given me so many jewels tonight love I fink you might be buttering me up!" he laughs his dry and coarse haw of a laugh. It was rough and abrasive but she knew it was more importantly genuine. She would never tire of watching the way it carried up his chest in a burst, his chin bobbing and eyes closed in surrender to it.

"A cane fit for a Jewish King named Ari." she says affectionately.

"Oh she IS tryin' to butter me up. What am I? A bloody biscuit' to ya love?" another coarse laugh as his hands move lightly over the detailed and expensive piece.

"You are a biscuit." she chuckles to herself, shaking her head and taking it from him. "There's a little extra thing here..." she says, pushing it down and twisting the head, her finger pressing down on the tongue in its mouth as she unsheathes a sword with a melodic, metallic swipe.

"Fuckin' 'ell!" he says impressed and a boyish grin on his face of excitement. "Ya outdone yaself Gen." he says almost a mumble as he looks it over. "Like the captain's swords from the war." he murmurs to himself.

"Exactly." she says with a knowing smile.

"You brilliant little thing." he says sheathing it and holding it in one hand as he moves to give her a single press of their mouths. "How am I supposed to out do ya if ya keep givin' me 'fings like 'is! Makin' me art... both for the wall and meself." he shakes his head and gives her a tap to the bum with the cane. "Ya perfect you know that my little flower? Ya bloody brilliant." he insists with a bite to his words, his lips so close to hers as he grazes their noses together before planting another kiss on her, this time dipping her back as she shrieks in surprise, her arms clinging to him as he laughs into the kiss. "Now 'at's better. Prefer ya with ya holdin' me like 'at." he gives her a cheeky wink before letting her go as she moves to adjust her dress and hair, a flushed and amorous, giggling smile on her face at his antics. That's how he liked to see her. His stone-faced warrior queen looking more a blushing bride with her softness on full display for him. Only he got to make her giggle and blush pink as the flowers in her garden and tonight he was going to assure it stayed that way.

------

The party was much more understated than Genevieve's birthday had been. She knew what Alfie would prefer it and she had certainly delivered. A modest spread of food in the dining room, the band playing much more timid choices in songs than at her bash. The guest list was small and only had the most tolerable of Alfie's friends and acquaintances. The decor was also gentle on the eyes, just enough to show there was a feminine touch in the planning of it with small flower centerpieces. With the drink flowing and the less obvious drug use, the dance floor grows heavier with bodies and the music reflected that. Gen as always, found people to dance with between rounds of networking, setting up future meetings and kissing cheeks with praise as she moved alone and with Alfie at her side through the party. She was a brilliant host and as the night started to go on, Alfie knew there was one small thing he was willing to do to make her night a little more special before he gave her what he'd wanted to for what felt like forever now.

She laughs with her hand to her chest, her skin dazzling as the sheen from sweat sat atop it and made her shimmer in the low light of the chandeliers. He moves through the crowd, everyone parting for him as they always did, even with a friendly face his body language was always clear that he was the one in charge when he was going somewhere.

"May I have this dance Miss Durand?" he says with an outstretched hand as she turns quickly, her hair falling into her thrilled face.

"Yes you may Mr. Solomons." she giggles and hops towards him.

He takes her hands, their rings knocking together with interlaced fingers as he keeps her chest to chest with him. A large bejeweled hand, more so than hers so far this night rests on her lower back possessively. "This is much easier than the last time I recall it." he speaks quietly to her, leaning into her ear to cause goosebumps to break across her skin.

"Certainly is." she chuckles, resting her head on his chest. "There's no hiding anymore." she says with a content sigh.

"No there is not." he says with a certainty that makes his eyes soften as he watches her smile against him. They hold each other and sway, a slow song into another slow song as per his orders to the band. "Might the birthday boy get a kiss?" he says playfully into her ear and she laughs with her head thrown back and a big lovely smile.

"He doesn't even have to ask." she says with large eyes batting up at him, chin already lifted to answer his request.

He takes her off guard, as he did love to do. The hand he held was placed to his chest, moving to her face to keep her close as lipstick be damned while he kissed her with purpose. He kissed her in front of everyone like he'd wanted to all those months ago on her birthday. Wanted to whisk her away and make her feel like the only woman in the world. It's what she deserved he thought. A unique man such as himself, an educated but unhinged, controlled but an animalistic man never thought he'd find the same qualities in a woman. Certainly not a woman who wanted him the same way he wanted her. But here he was, with his match, the other half he'd been lectured about looking for his entire life by his mother, sisters, every older woman that knew him. They all told him she existed but he wasn't sure he ever believed them. He supposed he owes them all an apology.

This time when he dips her, she doesn't squirm or squeak. She keeps her lips fast to his, her foot popping as he swings her with his strong arms, never fearing she would fall. And wasn't that a perfect example of how she felt about him now. Even after he raises her, she doesn't part from him, kept chaste but passionate, his hand never reaching below what would be thought indecent of lovers in public, they held close and kissed. Only parting to breathe and murmur into each other, affectionate turns of phrase as they danced forehead to forehead, both of them sharing an intimate moment in a room full of watching eyes. The onlookers finding it either jealousy inducing sweet or a rather uncharacteristic behavior of a powerful man seeming as if he might be showing weakness. Either way, no one but them understood the significance of it, and they preferred it that way. Both onlookers were correct in their own right. The women had every right to be jealous. The men did see a weakness in Alfie, his Genevieve. But what most didn't know was that she was stronger than they could ever imagine and that with them together, they should have all been scared. ----------- As he knew she would, Genevieve moves out after dismissing everyone to the garden to cool off. She saunters out, a moment to gather herself as she sighs and watches the moon in the sky over the hills that show the line of her property in the distance.

"Thank you, dear." she says to a girl that brings her the last flute of champagne for the night. Her fingers fumble with the diamond placement of Alfie's mother's necklace, thinking of him as she held it to her lips, wondering what the future had in store for them. She sips away, the drink loosening her up for what she was certain would be a rather wild night ahead. She yawns and stretches, wandering on the dimly lit garden path through the now blooming flowers when she started trying to shake the sleepiness that was creeping up on her. She certainly wasn't the party animal she used to be, she muses.

----

Alfie stands in the now full ballroom. Hand holding the box in his pocket tight.

"She's just gone out dear. Should be back in any moment. I'll be cleaning up." Aggie grins broadly.

"Thank you, love." he says with a nod that to anyone else would seem business as usual, but Aggie could see the nervousness in his eyes. But she was thankful for its existence. A man should be nervous when proposing she thought. No one should ever think something was guaranteed, even though she knew when he asked that her little Gen would certainly say yes.

He stands in a room full of flowers, a band on wait with their Debussy sheet music. He'd bought every flower in London again it seemed. More lavender with large bows tied around the bundles, Iris's dotting the mostly purple floor, a path clear for her to walk through to him a circle to dance in the middle. Hanging flowers from the columns fell down, ribbon and lace wrapped around the so very French decor in its gold filigree. He stood and waited, his jaw tight and trying to think of what he'd say. He'd been over it so many times in his head. But now in the moment, it seemed that as it was still yet to be proven wrong, Genevieve was the only thing that truly made him a nervous mess.

So he waited. He stood there for what felt like forever. "How long's it been?" he asks out loud, looking down at his watch. It'd been nearly half an hour, which was usually the maximum amount of time she'd stay outside before coming to join him. "Aggie!" he shouts, and she trots in with a confused look on her face.

"She still not come in? I thought I saw her." she says with a quick darting of her head down the hall.

"No." he states obviously. "She's usually not out there this long. Could you go check please?" he asks with a controlled voice but his mind felt anything but.

So he waits again. And Aggie returns empty handed. "I couldn't... find her." she says with a confused look on her face.

"Did ya check the lily pond?" he asks with a rush to his words.

"Oh! No I didn't! I'll go-"

"Nah. Let me." he says with a dismissive swipe of his hand. "She loves that place, not a bad place to start the 'ol speech." he says with a pat to Aggie's shoulder. "You stay 'ere and I'll be back with the little minx." he instructs her politely. "And you all stay, right? Be ready!" he points to the band.

He takes a deep breath of the cool night air, slowly making his way into the bushes to her little hideaway. "Genny love, what ya doin' hidin' out here? Ya gonna freeze." he says affectionately, turning the corner to meet her but she wasn't there. This is went he felt a terrible pang in his gut. This is when he started to worry.

He moves quickly in and out of the rows of the garden, checking the barn, the greenhouse, the pond and back again. And nothing. As he's about to shout, his foot crunches on something in the pathway. He looks down and his heart drops. His mother necklace lay broken in the dirt path, the latch clearly having been jerked from its place around her neck. He holds it, knowing what it meant and his mouth goes dry. "Not tonight." he whispers, moving to run back into the house.

"AGGIE!" he shouts, breathless and sliding into the main hall where she stood with worried eyes.

"What is it?" she asks, knowing now something had to be wrong.

"Genny." he pants out, holding up the necklace. The one thing they said they'd do if one of them was ever abducted. Leave something behind. "Someone's taken her."

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