#GreatWar | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

saintsir4n · 1 year ago

Text

WARNINGS: MENTIONS OF WAR

1914

IT was time.

Today was the day everything changed for Small Heath, Birmingham really, lads being sent off, promising their families they would return. Trimmed and shaven hair made them all look the same, no individuals just soldiers going off to war.

The journey to the station was gruelling, barely anyone said anything, just small talk as a way to calm their nerves.

Crowds of people were saying goodbye to their loved ones.

First Eden stood by her mother, both ready to say goodbye to her father, who put on a brave face. Neither of them had slept, Celestine sobbed through the night, clinging to her husband, fearful that if she didn't take in every detail of him, she would forget.

"Edie come 'ere," he tugged his daughter to his chest, feeling the shakes emitting from her body. She breathed him in, smelling the cigars and smoke as he spoke, "You are everything to your mother and me. We did the best with what we had to make sure you're set for life. You may be a nurse now, but I doubt that's gonna last with the way you jot down anythin' that comes to mind. You're gonna be somethin', don't let this city hold you back, don't let anyone of these fuckers, hold you back, alright?" he tugged on her chin and saw the tears pooling in her eyes, "Check you're room when you go home, got you a present – well it's for my grandchild more than you," he nodded down to her stomach and softly patted it, before embracing her once more, "keep savin' lives until I get back."

"I love you, Dad."

"I love you too."

Soon she reluctantly left her mother and father alone, trying to push past the swarm of crying mothers and wives, before stumbling into her godfather and godbrother.

Jeremiah had a sad Isaiah in his arms, the preacher's locs were still intact, and his son gripped them ever so tightly.

"Edie," Isaiah quietly waved at the pregnant woman, who pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"You're a blessing child," Jeremiah mumbled after pulling her in for a hug and kissing her forehead, "Stay safe, the devil is lurkin'."

"He's never stopped," she replied with a sad smile, "Look after my dad please,"

"I will," he nodded, then tightened his hold on his son, "You do the same with my boy."

"I will."

Eden soon spotted a familiar face, one that had healed from the scars that had been slashed and thumped, her breath hitched when he smiled at her and walked over.

"Well doesn't pregancy suit you," Enzo grinned down at the woman, after pulling her away from his family, knowing they weren't going to be welcoming.

"He told you," she beamed up at him, the sides of his hair were shaved, it made him look older, more mature.

"He told me," the ring on her finger caught his eye, "suppose I should congratulate you on the wedding," he teased with a knowing look that she giggled at, "oh how I pray your daughter gets your face and not his beady eyes."

They pair laughed.

"Oh and look," he pulled out something from his uniform pocket, showing off the picture she gave to him more than two months ago, making her tear up all over again.

"Enzo..."

"Should've brought the flower crowns ey?" they heard a voice behind them, smiling when they saw Dorris standing not too far away, "how did we get 'ere? One pregnant and the other a soldier."

"And what are you Dot, The brat?" Enzo joked, folding up the picture and putting it away.

"No that's Edie," she nodded to the pregnant woman, who feigned offence.

"Oi! So what are you then?" Eden teased, "The princess?"

"Got that right," Dorris nodded making them chuckle, as her eyes drifted down to Eden's slightly swelling stomach, "so what are you gonna name the little one then, can I suggest Dorathy?"

"Or Chiara?" Enzo suggested.

Eden raised a brow, "Italian yeah? That's gonna go down well."

"Well, I better find out soon and so what if it's Italian, you're the one carrying the kid," he muttered, then reaching out his hand, "Can I?" he waited for her to nod, then pressed his hand to the bump, blinking back his shock when he realised how real it was, "fuckin' ell, shit's real."

"'Course she is," Eden playfully smacked his hand away, whilst Dorris shook her head.

His eyes shot out of his head when he caught a familiar spot from where he stood, he motioned for them to turn around, pointing to their special place. They spent hours looking down the hill, watching trains go past and now here they were, how times have changed.

"Promise me one thing Mrs. Shelby, Miss Martin," they both waited for him to continue, "When she's born, take her to our old spot," neither of them had been they since the breakup, it was still too sore, "it'll be good for the troublemaker."

"I promise," Eden didn't hesitate and threw her arms around them.

"So do I," Dorris muttered.

"I love you," Enzo mumbled against their heads, it sounded like a proper goodbye and neither of them liked it.

He'd been coming back right? Right.

Pulling away from each other, they each caught the eyes of various people, Eden smiled when she saw Luca staring at her from the distance, and he smiled back. Dorris flirtingly blew Angel a kiss, which he caught without his mother and father seeing. But when Enzo met a pair of pale blue eyes, all he could do was nod.

To his surprise, he revived a nod back.'

"Someone's waitin' for you," his words caused Eden to spin around, seeing the Shelby clan all huddled up many yards away, "Go Dawkins, trains gonna be taking off soon."

With one last hug, she sprinted off, cautious of the time.

"Thought we wouldn't see ya before you left," Arthur steadied her with a grin.

"Couldn't 'ave that could we? A Shelby not sayin' goodbye to a Shelby, fuck that," John teased, keeping his arm wrapped around a teary-eyed Martha who passed a wide-eye Katie to her father.

"John," Polly playfully scolded her nephew, trying to prevent more tears, she said goodbye to Arthur first, leaving Tommy to hug his youngest siblings, Ada wouldn't let go of him and Finn was starting to cry again.

Freddie pressed a kiss to her cheek, even shooting a small smile at the Shelby girl, then went off to his mother.

"Johnny, don't die," Eden joked despite herself.

"Us Shelby's are hard to kill, especially me."

She sighed, "I'm serious."

"I know you are, come here."

After hugging him, she turned to Arthur, who brought her into a warm embrace, "By Arthur."

"Goodbye sister," he pressed a kiss to her head then turned to his youngest siblings, "Come 'ere you lot."

Taking a deep breath she took a few steps and came up to Tommy.

Eden gripped Tommy's hand, determined to not let go, wanting, no, needing him to stay with her, now and always, but it wasn't possible, they both knew it and yet neither relented. Fearing that if she let go, he would disappear, from her vision and possibly her life, she kept holding on, and they both did.

"I'll be back before you know it," he whispered.

She sniffled, "Don't keep me waitin'."

"I know how you get when I'm late, the whole of Small Heath does."

"I love you, y'know that right?" she felt bad for not saying it enough.

"And I love you," he said, feeling his arms hooked around his neck, he responded by holding onto her waist, "Both of you," he could feel her small bump against his stomach. "Make sure to not take that off, need you to stay safe," he gestured to the necklace she wore.

"I promise Tommy," and she meant it, he could see it in her eyes.

It seemed that they were searching each other's faces, to commit every detail to memory.

"You called me Tommy," his heart swelled and threatened to burst from his chest.

She cheekily smirked, "'Bout time right?"

"'Bout time," he paused, "Until we meet again," he vowed, blocking out the world around them, it was just her, only her.

"Don't say that. You'll be different."

"But I'll still be yours alright?" he dared to ask, feeling his throat dry up and his eyes sting with tears.

Eden nodded with hesitation, "And I'll still be yours."

"My wife," he muttered against her lips.

"My husband," and with that a kiss was shared, passionate and devoted. The love she felt was so powerful it would knock her off her feet, and the hope she gave him was enough. Everything she did for him was enough.

His Eden and Her Tommy.

"Last call for the five o'clock train! Boarding will end shortly!" the ticket-taker announced, as the couple pulled away from each other, drawing their foreheads to meet as they collected their breaths.

"It's time," Tommy whispered, closing his eyes, trying to live in this moment. He had everything he wanted in his grasp, but he needed to do this, for his country and his people.

"I love you, Tommy" she breathed out, whilst sadly running a hand over her bump. "Make sure that horseshoe stays on you," she mustered up a teasing smile after patting his behind.

"Watch it," he playfully scolded, "and I will Edie. I promise," he assured her, cupping her teary cheeks and staring into the brown pools he would miss ever so much, "I love you, so much."

And with one final kiss, she was the first to pull back, falling beside Polly, Ada and Finn, Martha softly grabbed her daughter's hand and waved it at the Shelby men's retreating figures It wasn't long before Dorris approached reaching for her hand, with Celestine and Isaiah not far behind.

Until we meet again, Eden mouthed to Tommy, who struggled to look away, but with one pat from Arthur, he turned to bend down and pick up the duffel bags they were bringing with them.

They all made their way over to the ticket-taker who, punched their tickets just as the conductor called out all aboard and blew the train's harsh whistle.

Eden caught glimpses of various faces through the windows, her father, her godfather, Enzo, Luca, Angel, then Freddie, Arthur, John and finally her Tommy as the train car vanished from sight.

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

a/n:

anyone else crying? no just me okay.

originally i was just going to post the epilogue after this, but I'm gonna add a bonus chapter also.

that manip is so cute Omg, also the fact it room eden so long to call him tommy again was hilarious and I loved that she did it just before he was leaving.

#wattpad #fanfic #black reader #black girl #tommyshelbyfic #tommy and eden #tommyshelbyx black reader #tommyshelbyxedendawkins #edendawkins #edenshelby #peaky blinder fanfic #peaky blinder imagine #tommyshelby x black!reader #birmingham #1914 #greatwar

8 notes · View notes