#Greta Jurossi

[staiyn]

Small peaky thought

About that whole Lizzie vs Grace drama, on who he really loved and whatsoever...

Most people forget the ORIGINAL DIVA and that makes me sad..

I fully believe this QUEEN had that man on a leash.

Also her Fashion sense is what Grace wanted to be. But you can not out-do the OG!

[heeahheeya]

Guess whether Ruby Shelby is Greta Jurossi's reincarnation

Here's an interesting comment from Youtube I found as below:

"There is someting poetic about how Ruby got in that day Tommy was thinking about his first love Greta Jurossi who died of consumption Lizzie pregnant with Ruby who also died of consumption-"

Can you imagine a man's first love can be reborn as his last love? During making Ruby, Tommy Shelby regarded a woman in front of him as Greta, not Lizzie. Memories of his first love caused birth of his lastly beloved woman. I think these two young ladies have a parallel theory, which is that both of them had shared pure love with Tommy Shelby. No matter how Tommy was judged by people around, they still believed he is a sweet and nice guy. Left him 'cause of the same illness they suffered from.

The most important point is their existance have much as big presence as Grace in Tommy's heart...

[saintmuses]

❝𝙨𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙗𝙖𝙗𝙮❞

Pairing:

Thomas Shelby x Jurossi!Reader

Summary:

When he courted his first love Greta before the Great War, he met her younger sister; Y/N Jurossi. He took her under his wings after the war and she was the best thing that could have ever happened to someone like him.

Warning(s): Soft SMUT. Somewhat dub-con. Fluffy. Implied age gap (everyone’s grown). A pinch of dark theme, but it’s consensual. Implied minor corruption. Minor power imbalance. Fingering. Thomas being extremely soft towards Y/N. Daddy kink (so sorry). Minors, dni!

Word Count: 2.5k

“Bad day?” She asked quietly into his ear while wrapping her arms around his chest from behind.

"Hectic," Thomas said with a sigh, leaning back against her. Her warm breath caressed his ear. He would never tell anyone, but it felt nice to be held and comforted. "We're gettin’ more trouble at one of the factories. I've been tryin’ to straighten it out, but it seems nothin’ works," he muttered, shaking his head in frustration.

“You’re Thomas Shelby, you’ll figure it out.” She said soothingly, rubbing her hands on his shoulders to ease out the tension.

Thomas chuckled under her touch and relaxed into her embrace. “I know, but sometimes the weight of all this responsibility gets to me,” he admitted, “It’s nice to have someone here to keep me steady.”

She was confused because he had a family who could support him every step of the way. “What do you mean?” She asked. He looked up at her before dragging her into his lap making her yelp in surprise.

Thomas laughed softly. His hands wrapped around her frame, pulling her close. His chest rose and fell, his heart pounding against her.

“I just mean that you’ve been keepin’ me sane and grounded, keepin’ me from losing my mind ‘n all this mess.” He said softly, stroking her hair.

“Other than whiskey and cigarettes?” She asked, eyeing the Irish whiskey on the desk next to them. 

Thomas shrugged, “That helps too, but I prefer you.” He murmured, leaning in closer. His hands trailed down her back, pulling her body flush up against his. “You’re my favorite thing.”

She giggled, “well I hope you would choose me as number one over whiskey as your favorite thing on the list, it would be terrible if I’m number two.” She pouted with mischief in her eyes 

"Oi, I'd always choose you over any bottle of whiskey." He said with confidence, almost playfully. She was his favorite thing, his whole world. His hands caressed her soft skin, tracing their way up and down her body. He couldn't help it. He was intoxicated by her beauty. He craved her in so many ways. "You're my everythin’."

She blushed, “not even your siblings?” She questioned softly.

"Never," Tommy said firmly. He leaned in closely and stared deeply into her eyes. "No one could ever take your spot in me heart. I would never choose anyone over you. You're too special."

He had met her when he started courting Greta Jurossi before the war. He had thought she was a sweet little thing, but he had never saw her as anything other than Greta’s sister who was quiet and meek. 

It wasn’t until he received a letter from her in France during his days and nights digging and shoveling dirt to form tunnels underground and he had been surprised to see a letter from his past. 

She lost her parents to influenza that took over Europe and she had nowhere else to go. He did tell her after Greta died that if she needed anything, send him a letter and he would make sure she was taken care of.

When he came back as a different man, he knew he needed to take her under his wing because she was one thing in his past that was undamaged, untouched by many things.

Somewhere along the line, he fell in love with her.

She grinned at him before turning her head to see the dark liquid in a bottle and grabbed it before unscrewing the top. Raising the bottle to her lips, she took a delicate sip, swallowing it. 

Thomas’ heart skipped a beat as he watched her take the first sip of whiskey. Her eyes twinkled as she swallowed the liquid and licked her lips, her face brightening with a mischievous grin.

He had never seen anything so beautiful and so arousing. She was so bold, so daring, so alluring. His hands clenched into fists as he watched her.

He then reached for the bottom of the bottle, knowing she could handle as he tilted the bottle towards her lips, guiding the liquid into her mouth and watching her swallow it down flawlessly. He couldn't take his eyes off her. Every move she made was perfect, enchanting, and irresistible. The way she drank the whiskey down so easily, gulping it as if her life depended on it was so incredibly arousing.

He eased up on the bottle before putting it aside, placing it back on the desk, and collected her back into his arms. She mumbled unintelligible as he pushed her head into his neck.

He cradled her in his arms as she nuzzled against his neck. His grip tightened around her body as he pulled her closer. She was sleepy, and her words were nonsensical, but his embrace felt so right. It was as if it was where she belonged.

He buried his face in her neck and let out a sigh of contentment. The smell of her hair sent a jolt of pleasure down his spine. He couldn't get enough of her.

She giggled, trying to edge away from his face, “Tommy, that feels ticklish.” Her words slurred from exhaustion that flitted on her face as well.

He reluctantly pulled away from her neck and laughed softly. She was slightly tipsy, but she sounded cute when she was like this. He cupped her face in his hands and looked into her eyes.

“Are you tellin’ me you’re lightweight, eh?” He asked, grinning, wanting an honest answer.

She hesitated before nodding. “I think so?” She giggled once more. “I mean I had two glasses of gin before checking on you, but you know what alcohol does to me.”

She seemed so adorable when she was exhausted like this. Thomas couldn't help but chuckle, enjoying her adorable tipsy and sleepy mannerisms. 

She did not get tipsy in the shape of getting drunk. Whenever she had too much, she would get sleepy.

He brushed back her hair, his hands roaming over her soft skin. "I think you are, my little sleepy baby," he whispered, trailing his fingers up her arms. Once he reached for her neck, he then chuckled and brushed her hair behind her ear, loving the way her eyes opened up, and she whimpered slightly.

"Is something wrong?" Thomas asked softly, his voice a little huskier than before. He was enjoying this way too much. His hands cupped her cheeks, slowly caressing her face. His touch was gentle but firm. "Are you not a sleepy little baby?"

“What would you call me if I’m not sleepy?” She pouted, eyes blinking innocently.

His lips twitched as he tried not to smile. He liked her when she was being sleepy, but he also loved it when she pouted. She was so cute and innocent, in total contrast to his fierce and powerful personality.

"You'll always be my baby." Thomas murmured, kissing her forehead. his hands slowly traced up and down her back, wanting to give her some sort of comfort yet also seeking something more from her.

Her pout shifted to a smile in response. Her eyes slowly blinked, lulling her head forward onto his shoulder. Her head rested on his shoulder, and for a moment, she seemed so innocent and sweet. He could tell she was a little tipsy, but something else was stirring within him. She was so vulnerable, so open to him. 

His hand ran across her cheeks softly, playing with her hair. His other hand rested firmly on her thigh, caressing the soft skin.

He lifted her onto the desk in front of him. She grumbled slightly when she felt a hard surface under her, but he laid her down on it gently before sitting down in the chair again.

Thomas couldn't help but chuckle again when she grumbled slightly after he laid her down on hard furniture.

Her presence next to him was so inviting. She smelled so intoxicating and she was so delicate. Her body was just begging to be touched, and he couldn't refuse.

“You are so pretty,” he whispered in her ear, his breath caressing her neck.

She felt his hand trailing from her shoulder, down between her sternum, down her abdomen until he reached the hem of her night gown. He dragged the fabric of her night gown up her thighs until her abdomen was revealed, exposing her in her underwear. 

Thomas’ fingers trailed along her body, exploring it in such intimate and bold ways. It felt so good to be able to touch her without any limitations. 

Her body was so fragile. He had never felt anything soft as her. His fingers glided along her skin, his hands rubbing up and down her sides and down her thighs. Curling his fingers around her calves, he gripped them to maneuver her legs until they were propped on the wooden arms of the chair with her feet flat on the surface, the position made her thighs spread apart. She gasped when his hand ran from her calves towards her thighs then ran over her underwear, trying to feel her through the fabric.

Thomas’ hand caressed her thigh, his fingers brushing against the soft fabric covering her skin. He loved the way she would gasp whenever his hands touched her. 

He wanted to see how much it would take to make her lose her restraint. He pulled back slightly, caressing everything but the skin under her underwear. He made her sweat a little before finally sliding his fingers underneath it.

She felt him curling his fingers to pull the fabric aside, exposing her cunt to his hungry gaze.

“What are you doing, Tommy?” she mumbled the question.

"What does it look like, eh?" Tommy's voice was low and husky as he looked her up and down, studying her body with his eyes. She was so vulnerable and innocent.

He was taking advantage of that. This was his girl, and he was going to let himself enjoy her.

"Just lettin’ myself enjoy every inch of your perfection," Thomas said softly as his fingers began to trace her folds, feeling the slickness of her arousal on the pads of his fingers.

She whimpered as she felt his fingers parting her folds and slid a finger excruciatingly slow into her. “Da-“ she cut herself off, feeling embarrassed through her sleepy-addled brain.

"Did you just try to call me daddy?" Thomas asked softly, although he was a tad bit surprised by the name, but he enjoyed watching the look of embarrassment on her face. She was so easily embarrassed, and it gave him a deep sense of satisfaction. 

He was loving the way that she was responding to him. It was as if her drunk sleepy body was submitting to him, letting him explore every inch of her.

“N-no.” She lied, flushing slightly as she began to mumble incoherently under her breath.

"Don't lie to me, sweetheart," Thomas said, smiling. He moved closer to her face. If she was too embarrassed to speak, he would read from her body. Her facial expression gave away everything she was feeling right now.

His index finger joined his middle finger, and his fingers explored her more deeply as he looked into her eyes, wanting to see how much she could handle.

“Would you honestly like it if I call you that?” She asked quietly, arching her back slightly.

"Oh, I would love that," Thomas said immediately, not even wasting a moment to think. He didn't care about his pride when it came to her. She gave him the opportunity to take care of her, and she was so submissive to him right now. ”Do it, my girl," he softly commanded, running his fingers along the walls of her cunt before curling up to touch the spongy surface.

She gasped, looking up at him with wide eyes. “Daddy,” she breathed, swallowing inaudibly.

His lips curled into a satisfied smile; he was pleased to hear that particular word coming from her. He leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose, his fingers continuing to explore her intimately.

She whined, her eyes were still unfocused, but she had a semi strung out look on her face before biting down her lip to hold back noises as he continued to touch her.

His fingers slowly traced between her folds, exploring every inch of her there. His fingertips ran up and down, making her squirm and whimper. She was so sensitive, and so easily aroused. His touch sent a jolt of pleasure to the tip of her pleasure spectrum, and she couldn't contain her body from writhing.

She whimpered. “Daddy,” it was almost in a slur in response to his ministrations.

"That’sa good girl," Thomas muttered softly, his voice huskier than before. He couldn't get enough of this. Her submission to him had awakened something dark and devious within him. He wanted to take advantage of it. "Do you like this, my naughty girl?"

“Y-yes.” She whined. He looked down at her slick cunt and praised her.

"It's so perfect," Thomas whispered, taking a moment to look her in the eyes, his fingers slowing down just a little. He was enjoying her responses to his touch, but he wanted to prolong this a little longer so he could explore every single inch of her.

“What is?” She whimpered.

"Your pretty cunt," he answered softly, trailing his fingers along her thighs again. The way she squirmed and whimpered with every touch gave him a rush of adrenaline.

Thomas had never felt this turned on in his entire life. Every sound that came from her mouth turned him on even more. Her responses drove him over the edge. Her whimpers were like music to him. The music he thought he did not want to hear since the war.

His fingers glided back and forth between her folds, tracing the skin of her cunt softly.

Her eyes rolled into the back of her head at the feeling. 

"You're so pretty when you get like this, my girl," Thomas whispered. He couldn't help but look down at her face to see her expression. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head, and she looked so vulnerable. She couldn't resist him in this tiredness mind of a state, and he was enjoying every moment of it.

She felt him lean in closer to her, his breath on her face as he rumbled softly at her. 

“Daddy,” she whimpered when she felt his nose nuzzling her nose.

“What is it, baby?”

“I love you,” she whined softly to him, sighing at his closeness.

His breath caught in his throat at her words. She couldn't have said anything nicer or better to him. Her words made everything more real, and he couldn't stand it because he knew he did not deserve her. However, he was a selfish bastard after all, and the war had taken too much from him. He deserved this one thing.

He brought her face closer to his, his breath still trembling, his voice sounding softer. "I love you too, baby," he whispered softly.

He saw her head lolling back on the surface of the desk, and he couldn't resist the urge to lean in and kiss her lips gently. His fingers brushed against her cheeks tenderly as he caressed her face with his hand. It was as if she was the only thing that mattered in this fucked up world.

[editorandchief]

Relays Of Information | Shelby!Daughter

Summary: Tommy founds out he has a daughter he never knew about. Or The long lost Shelby daughter raised as a widow comes face to face with her father.

Request: Nah

Warning: description of violence

Walking into the club in downtown London, Tomas Shelby let his eyes scan the crowded establishment in search for the young woman he had seen earlier that day.

Flashback:

"Mr. Shelby," Devlin called as her entered the office. "Your next meeting is here." He informed. 

"Alright, send 'em in Devlin." Tommy replied putting away the paperwork her was been working on in her time between meetings. 

Entering the office once again, this time with a woman following close behind. "Ms. Kitty Jurossi." He introduced causing Tommy to halt in his movement for a moment before looking up at the woman.

"Thank you Devlin." Tommy says continuing to put the papers away. 

Once the two were alone they sat in silence for a few moment, through it felt equally as eternal for them both. 

"Hello Tommy." Kitty greeted the man nervously. "Or do you prefer Mr. Shelby now?" She asked with a slight chuckle. 

"Tommy is fine, Kitty." He answered with a close lipped smile. "Please have a seat, feel free to have some tea." He offered gesturing to the seat at the end of the table with a fresh pot of tea sat in front of it. 

"Thank you." She replied shuffling over and taking a seat in the wooden chair. "It's been a long time, how have you been?" 

"I've been fine Kitty and yourself." Tommy asked squinting his eyes at the sister of his former lover, a sense of unease creeping in. 

"I've been fine as well Tommy," She replied. "It took me awhile after Greta passed on and I think I can just about put it behind me and move on. Which is why I've come here." 

Remaining silent Tommy sustained his gaze in the woman allowing her to continue with her story.

"I've wronged you Tommy a great deal, before  you left for the war Greta confided in me that she was pregnant." Kitty revealed. "She didn't have the heart to tell you knowing you may not have made it home to meet your child. She knew she was sick and that she most likely wouldn't have that chance either. She asked that when she died I take care of the child and if you returned that the child should be with their father." she continued tears began filling her eyes.

"But that didn't happen." 

"No that didn't happen, Tom." She confirmed. "It was hard after Greta passed, I had just lost my sister, I had this baby I had no idea how to raise and no one knew how long the war would last or if you'd even make it back." Tears falling down her cheeks.

"I have no idea how they knew about the babe or why but about a month after it was born some people came to me, they said they would pay me a lot of money to let them have the baby, they said they would give it a good home a good family." She explained wiping the tears from her face. "I was skint and couldn't provide for it, so I said yes and I took the money." 

"I have a child." Tommy stated. 

"After I heard that you had returned from war it was too late, the child was already gone and I felt that it would do no good for you to know about it seeing as Greta had passed on, knowing you had also lost a child might have broken you."

"But I didn't loose a child did I Kitty?" Tommy asked shaking his head. "You sold 'em."

"I know I've done an awful think Tommy, its been eating me alive all these years." Kitty said now sobbing quietly in her seat. "Which is why I've come here today, to confess, I only hope that one day you... and Greta, may she rest in peace, can find it in your heart to forgive me." 

"where is he now?"

"I don't know Tom, But I heard of you, I know you have money, connections things that would make it a hell of a lot easier for you to find them." She answered. "I know most men have no interest with raising a child and I'm not asking you to, I have myself together now, a job and house and they deserve to know about their family about Greta. I can raise 'em take care of 'em now, I just need your help to find the child Tommy, please."

For a while Tommy sat simply staring at the crying woman in his office, a woman who he would have once been his sister-in-law but had sold his child, a living breathing legacy of her sister, her own blood.

"Alright Kitty." Tommy finally spoke breaking the silence. "I'll look for the my child and I will find 'em" 

"Thank yo-,"

"And you'll not come anywhere near him." Tommy interrupts. "This will be you first and final warning Kitty, I'll let you walk now, but if you ever come near my family again. I will kill you." 

Hanging her head Kitty Jurossi gave a slight nod before standing from her seat heading to the door. "Tommy," Kitty called as she opened the door turning to face him once again. "You should know, the baby...it was a girl. You have a daughter." 

It took longer to find her than Tommy would like to admit, but there was obviously no paper trail for the deal Kitty Jurossi had made. Tommy sent men out to search hospitals on any record of Greta giving birth, one came back the all records of the birth and the child itself was taken by a man claiming he was from a home for orphaned girl in London, though he spoke with a Russian accent. 

More digging and with the help of his friends (Alfie) in Camden, Tommy found the was one girls home that received many shipments to and from Russia.

‘The Red Room Home For Orphaned Girls.’

Four days Tommy waited outside the home, watching, waiting but for what he didn't know. Yet on the forth day all his waiting paid off as he spots a young woman walking down the street, his breath caught in his throat as he stared at an almost exact replica of Greta Jurossi. She shared nearly every feature with her late mother save a few her and there, but the one thing that wiped away any doubt was her eyes, even from across the street Tommy could see the deep blue color of them. His eyes.

With confident strides she walks up the stairs of the building before entering the door. 

"Where have you been for four days?" Tommy muttered to himself never taking his eyes off of the building as he reaches into his breast pocket pulling out a cigarette. What also caught his attention even more was that an hour later she was once again walking through the door and heading off down the street. "What the hell kind of girls home is this?" 

With a quick honk of his horn Tommy caught the attention of the blinder down the street, nodding in the direction of the girl, a second later the man began following the unknown Shelby down the street. 

[<_>}

Irina sat in the club, small smile on her face, enjoying a glass of champagne as she watched the people around her dance, do drug, have sex and more. 

She casually scanned the crowd waiting for her eyes to lock on the man she had followed here. Paul Lipton, he was in the middle of the dance floor, dancing with a pretty blonde women that most definitely not his wife. She knew that for a fact because that was the exact reason she was here, turned out Mrs. Lipton wasn't the type of woman to just set back and let her husband cheat on her.

Downing the rest of her drink Irina stood from her seat heading straight for the dance floor, Spinning and twirling as she attempted to blend into the crowd, making her way toward the unfaithful man she reached for the knife that was strapped to her upper thigh. Getting closer and closer to Paul she raised her arms, doing once final spin as she passed the man quickly dragging the knife across his throat. 

It took Paul a few second to realize what was happening to him, she watched as the smiles slowly slipped from his face before his hands shot up to his throat in an attempt to stop his blood from spilling out of his wound. It wasn't until he fell to his knees that his partner noticed that something was terribly wrong. Seeing the red spill from his neck and down the front of his suit drew a scream from the blonde that pierced the ears of nearly everyone in the club. 

In an instant the panic started as everyone began to scramble in all directions to what they hope would be safely. 

Getting the feeling she was being watched Irina once again scanned the, now panicking, crowd. She had to admit she didn't expect to lock eyes with a man standing on the other side of the club dressed on a long black trench coat, blue eyes nearly completely covered my the peaky cap sat on his head.

After a few seconds of eye contact she took a step back disappearing into the crowd. 

[<_>]

Pulling up to the large house 'Arrow' as it was called, Irina took note of the men standing causally outside. Guards, though not very good ones she would say. 

 "Ne nuzhno derzhat' mashinu v rabochem sostoyanii, ya chuvstvuyu, chto eto zaymet nekotoroye vremya." She said to the driver as he opened the door for her to exit the vehicle.['No need to keep the car running, I have a feeling this will take awhile.']

As she approached the door one of the men broke from the group stepping in between her and the door. 

"Can I help you ma'am?" He asked looking down at her.

"No, I don't think you can." She replied rolling her eyes as he blows smoke in her face. "I have a meeting with a Mr. Shelby." She informed trying her best not to punch the man in the throat. 

Looking over to one of the other men a bit away her nods his head in the direction of the door before turning back to her as the other walks inside. The man in front of her stares at her for awhile scanning her body ever once and a while. 

"You know if your going to see Mr. Shelby, I'm afraid I'll have to search you for weapons." He smirked at her flicking his finished cigarette away.

"Touch me and it will be the last thing you do." She smirked back at the man already prepared to take him out. Her smile only grew as the man took a step forward.

"Mr. Shelby will see you now." The man from before announced sticking his head outside the door. 

"Oh lucky me." She says sarcastically, side stepping the man in front of her, coming shoulder to shoulder with him she stops. "And extremely lucky for you." She states before walking up the steps and entering the home. 

"Right this way ma'am." An older women in the other side of the door directed her though a hall that came to a large door way. On the other side was a dining room with a large table occupied by a approximately 13 people. 

"Mr. Shelby, your guest has arrived." The woman says gesturing over to you. "Shall I take your coat?" She asked causing you to shrug it off allowing her to take it as she exits. 

"Irina," The man sat at the head of the table greeted. "Thank you for coming, please have a seat."

Walking over to the table she approaches the seat Tommy had gestured to next to him. Across from her was a blonde woman who she noticed was in a very large portrait above the fire place, she sat next to a small child, obviously her son. 

"Mr. Shelby." She greeted back taking a seat. "I have to say when I saw you at the club this isn't the exact way I pictured we'd meet again." 

"No?" 

"Well most of my clients don't usually introduce me to their family." She informed. "It's not really a family friends profession." 

"Are you a whore?" The blonde woman asked looking at you from across the table. 

"No...well, maybe." Irina smirked. "I like most people offer a unique service for a price, everyone is a whore is you think about it, just selling different parts of themselves." 

"And what service do you provide?" A ginger haired boy a bit down the table asks. 

"Finn." 

"No its alright Mr. Shelby," She assured. "Well, Finn to put it simply. I kill people." 

"Are you serious?" Finn asked looking around the table with a nervous chuckle. 

"Deadly." She smiles. "Which is why I was wondering why Mr. Shelby called me here, its no secret that the Shelby family tends to handle grudges on their own." 

"So you've heard of us?" A man sitting next to Finn asked with a smirk. 

"I prefer to know who I'm working for." She replied. "I asked around about you 'Tommy Shelby the man who could make an enemy out of god himself', So Mr. Shelby who is it that now even the all powerful Tomas Shelby can kill?" She smiles excitement shining in her eyes.

"I'm afraid you may be quite disappointed," Tommy says looking away from the young girl and over to the woman sitting next to her. "I haven't asked you here to have anyone killed."

Slowly the smile slips from her face as she turns her attention to the head of the table, leaning forward with a glare on her face.

"So you've wasted my time?" She asks staring down the blue eyed man. 

"I've called you here to offer you some...information you may find interesting." Tommy corrected. 

"If I wanted interesting information, Thomas." She started leaning forward some more. "I would have went to a fucking library." 

"Not this information love." The older brunette sitting to he left states. 

"I don't know how to say this so I'll just come out with it." Tommy started.

"Please do." 

"about sixteen years ago, before I went off to war, I was involved with a woman by the name of Greta Jurossi." He explains. "She died while I was still in France, but before that she had a child. My child." 

"Is this what coming out with it means to you?" 

"A few months ago, her sister came to me to let me know of the child." Taking a moment to clear his throat Tommy finally 'came out with it.' "That child is you." 

All eyes were now on Irina as she looked down at the table cloth in front of her. Tommy took her silence as a sign to continue speaking and began introducing the various members of the Shelby family to the newest member.  

Having gone down the table Tommy finishes looking back over to his daughter, after a few moments of silence a small chuckle was heard as her shoulder began to move more and more as her laughter became louder. 

"I'm sorry," She apologizes as she looks around to see no one else laughing. "I just find this whole story a bit ridiculous."

"You think we’re lying." The younger brunette with a short hair cut asked seemingly offended.

"Yes...No...well, weather I believe it or not doesn't really matter." Irina said waving her had dismissing the topic. "But you were right Mr. Shelby this wasn't a waste of time after all. Because I have some 'interesting' information for you as well."

reaching down in a small pocket in her skirt pulling out a bullet setting it upright on the table. On the bullet a name, crudely etched into the side. 

‘Thomas.’

"I'm sure you are familiar with a name by the name of Sabini?" She asked rhetorically. "Well it seems you have offended him in someway seeing as he contacted me sometime ago with the request that I end your life." 

"Imagine my surprise when I not only spot you in London, alone, unprotected, but then you invite me to your home." She laughed in disbelief. "So I guess the question now Mr. Shelby is, Mr. Sabini paid a lot of money to have you killed, How much are you willing to pay to stay alive?"   

Part 2(?)

[vivianleighwishesshewasme]

Study Buddies-7 *re upload*

A good smacking

Polly smacks John with a broom and tells him what he needs to do now.

________________________________________________

John woke up with a sharp painful smack over the head. It felt sharp and brittle. After a few good wacks he sat up startled, ready to fight. What was going on!

“Oi, stop it.” He yelled his eyes slowly opening. His arm was raised to defend himself from the upcoming attack. He was sitting up in bed, his disheveled Aunt still in her nightgown had the broom raised ready to whoop him again.

Polly looked fierce, thunder rolling in her eyes. She was livid.

“You stop it, what are you two thinking!?” Polly’s voice was raised and high pitched. She was concerned and upset. Whatever he’d done had been incredibly stupid to get that reaction.

“They aren't thinking Pol, they are children.” Tommy’s stern voice boomed into John’s room causing the younger to scowl. His brother stood in the doorway peeling an apple, knife paused momentarily to shake his head in disapproval. John scoffed. He knew his brother had slept with his girl friend Greta, so who was he to judge, besides, nothing but innocent cuddling had happened.

“Oh, John Shelby, you better not have gotten her pregnant.You better marry that girl.” Polly looked distraught at the thought of another child to care for in this house. John rolled his eyes. He made his own money. If they married, he’d get her a place to live then get her pregnant. He’d take that on, not Polly.

John turned behind him, she was gone, no trace of her at all. How did Polly know then? He looked at his Aunt and Brother, giving them a puzzled expression.

“She’s downstairs, making us a proper breakfast. When she leaves the house this morning John they’ll be gossip.” Polly warned. He told Martha that last night and tried to get her to leave. She was a mess.

“John, Pols right, you should marry her after graduation in a few weeks.” Tommy added.

“Will you please not help Tom, Jesus, just because her bread is better than mine doesn't mean you should marry her. Still, her reputation will be in shreds after today.” She added. “What were you thinking?” John had tried, not hard enough apparently. He could have woken Polly and she probably would have chased Martha off…but he just couldn’t do that looking at her red spotted face last night. She had been hiccuping because she’d been crying so hard. And by the time he’d gotten the whole story from her…we’ll have fallen asleep in his arms. He honestly hadn’t wanted her to leave.

It felt natural to have her sleeping peacefully next to him.

“Everyone shut up. She climbed up last night and I let her in because she was hysterical. I didn't trust her to make it home safe, not that it was an option. Mum kicked her out or sumthin. I’ll talk to Martha, if the neighbors gossip just say she came by this morning for breakfast or she’d been locked out or sumthin.” He rubbed his eyes. Truthfully he was awake since the broom smacked, he now had a headache however.

He tossed off the blankets and sheets letting the cool morning air hit him.

“Wake up and get ready for work John. You can walk Mrs. Anderson home first.” Polly walked out almost bumping into Tommy while she walked down the hall, muttering about bloody kids being her death.

“ Do you love her?” Tommy asked John. Tommy was becoming something of a romantic with his engagement to Greta Jurossi making the papers in wedding announcements.

“Yeah, so much it scares me sometimes. I’m always thinking of my future now.” They both chuckle at John’s confession. He wasn’t known for long term planning. “I can’t see a day in those thoughts without Martha being a part of it somehow.”

“Then I expect to be your best man, yeah.” John smirked at Tommy. He nodded his head. He and Arthur would definitely be standing up for him.

________________________________________________

@thomaslittlegirl

[chillian-murphy]

🥺 and 🙈 for Thomas, Jonathan, Robert and Neil pls?

🥺 first time headcanon

Tommy lost his virginity to Greta Jurossi when he was 16. It was very gentle and sweet.

Jonathan didn't lose his virginity until college, due to his social awkwardness. However, once he realized that most of the young women in his class were scared and vulnerable, having left home for the first time, he quickly took advantage of that.

Robert lost his virginity at 15 rather unceremoniously with a girl from his all boys' boarding school's sister school at some kind of fancy shared social event that somebody had snuck booze into. His adolescence was more about being groomed to take over his father's company and adhering to social pressure than it was about normal adolescent experiences, so it was fairly quick and anonymous. Much like Jonathan, Neil didn't lose his virginity until college, due to his social awkwardness. However, unlike Jonathan, this was less about taking advantage of people and more about meeting people who actually shared his interests, and the number of aspiring film students who always fantasized about fucking a weird skinny guy who's pretty like a girl.

🙈 something they’re shy about asking for

Tommy is shyest about asking for anything that makes him vulnerable or involves genuine displays of emotion. He has no problem telling you that he wants his asshole licked, but god forbid he openly admit that he wants to cuddle.

Jonathan is shy about asking women for their used panties, so he just takes them when they're not looking.

Robert's not shy about asking for stuff. He's used to getting what he wants, when he wants it, and doesn't have a reference point for what's an odd/unreasonable thing to ask for. He's spoiled, he's bratty, he's going to throw a tantrum if you tell him no. SO I guess if there's anything he's shy about asking for, it's Consequences to his actions.

Neil desperately wants to try CNC but with himself as the "victim," but has no idea how to bring it up.

[evita-shelby]

Not so different

For @peakyswritings and their fic's first anniversary!

Luca x Eva ft Nina Ferrante x Tommy

It was considered improper in Luca’s family to wear black to a wedding, but Eva’s husband had not said a thing about it, so she continued her custom.

Besides, the dress was a work of art and Eva had cultivated that image of otherworldly being thanks to the high pedestal Spinietta had placed her on.

A living saint who will be interred in the Vatican with her godfather and the lucky man she chose as her husband.

The Ferrantes were allies, possibly distant kin on his mother’s side and when Riccardo was told what Stefano had been up to, the Boss had to send his witch and his most promising Capo.

“Leave it to Shelby to make trouble.” Luca shook his head with a laugh after she regaled him the full story the jilted ---but relieved--- bride and her sisters had told her as they welcomed them to their home. “He always had a thing for Sicilian girls, when I lived in England everyone knew he’d marry Greta Jurossi, God rest her soul, no matter how much her father tried to drive him away.”

Luca knew the groom, a Romani gangster from his father’s city whom Luca and his brother had grown up with. It was Tommy Shelby’s own aunt who had been Luca’s sweetheart when he was a young man, something that Eva did not mind.

Not because the witch has overcome her jealousy ---the day Eva no longer wants to wring a woman’s neck for getting near her man will be when she is dead and gone--- but because Luca knows better than to trifle with her. Much like Birmingham and New York, there were quite a number of women here he’d slept with, but Eva’s baby fever ensured her husband barely even registered his exes were there.

“How did you manage to sleep with so many women in this village, if you have only been here twice?” the witch asked knowing he’d have nowhere to run sitting here in the pews as they waited for the mystery bride.

“Good girls like bad men, pussycat.” He smirked with his olive-green eyes sparkling with pride. “Why do you think Tommy is marrying his host’s daughter and not the one selected for him?”

They don’t continue speaking about Luca’s irresistible charms when the bridal procession begins. Even with the veil covering her face, Eva knows the girl is a beauty, one with a soul to match it and more than met the eye.

There was also that Nina had a spark of rebellion, something that set her apart from her cousins even if they shared looks and traits. Men like Luca and Tommy seek someone who challenges them, who intrigues them and cannot simply conform to the standard their societies have for women.

Italy is not so different than Mexico.

Though Eva had a vastly different upbringing, she was still expected to marry and have children and have no other dreams than keeping tradition. Eva was lucky that her family flouted convention and ensured she had the same education as a man and that she had as much freedom as a son would.

Nina Ferrante had her parents who loved and protected her even when she went against the grain, Shelby will be the man to let her have the independence a spirited woman like her desires.

As long as the Changrettas and the Shelbys remain tenuous allies, Eva would wish them all the happiness in the world and the fortitude to survive its troubles.

It is not until much later when they are properly introduced.

Luca takes the lead knowing he is being sized up by Shelby, and yet as they stand there viewing each other as potential threats, Luca’s congratulations hold a note of sincerity. They weren’t always enemies, once upon a time the Changrettas and the Shelbys were friends and neighbors before they were rival gangs.

“My family sends their congratulations as well. My stepmother was very happy to know you were able to find happiness after Greta’s passing, especially with someone more deserving than the barmaid and the whore your brother tried to marry.” Luca has two intentions with his words, the first was to hurt Shelby for sport and the second to give the bride a heads up should Shelby take up old habits.

A different person could tolerate infidelity, but in families like theirs an infidelity could cost the offender their life. Even if the bride forgave him, the Family would not.

“I have seen the two of you will be happy together, the two of you were meant to find each other. I hope you can visit us in New York soon, though not as lovely as Sicily, it has its charms.” Eva smoothed things over with the newlyweds or did what she could to assuage Nina’s fears.

The bride thanks her, though still unsettled by Luca’s words and Tommy Shelby’s change in demeanor.

They do not meet again until John Shelby leaves Angel beaten and bleeding on the shop floor. And all because Shelby’s secretary had become involved with Luca’s younger brother.

Shelby did not rein in his brothers when asked and now this was escalating to something no one wanted. You would think this business with the Russians would give Tommy Shelby a chance to keep his family on a leash until it was over.

“He wants your father-in-law’s territories; Lizzie is just an excuse. I fear he doesn’t understand the scale this war could be.” Nina, now older with children, an Oxford education and accustomed to her role as Mrs. Shelby, does not beat around the bush as they meet for tea in Birmingham’s city center.

“Your husband is as resilient as a cockroach, dear, he has cheated death so many times he and his brothers think they will do so again. If this war happens, I will be forced to take part for my husband and children’s sake and I promise you, it will wipe the Shelby name off the face of the earth.” The witch would give up her soul for Luca’s victory, if this war came to pass, there is nothing she would not do to ensure their enemies are all dead.

Luca has no qualms killing children, and whatever feelings he had for Polly Gray won’t save her either. If Angel or his father were hurt or killed in Shelby’s pursuit of power, no one, not even the family cat would be spared.

“What can we do to stop it?” the Italian woman asks swallowing her fears and seeking a better course forward. She has not lost her spark of defiance, or else she wouldn’t be here behind Tommy’s back.

“The same thing our families have always done to secure peace and prosperity, we bind our families through blood.” The witch sips her tea as if nothing out of the ordinary were happening there. Eva’s grown too used to negotiating truces with her status as the deity advising the Spinettas. “Though it will be a while until our children are old enough to marry each other, you have a young brother-in-law and I have an English cousin worth her weight in gold. Lizzie’s marriage to Angel will be part of bargain, or Shelby will have no allies when the Russians fuck him over.”

“They used to call me a witch back home, you know.” Nina takes it all in stride. “They ate their words when they met you and saw all that Stefano and his family had said was all true. The Spinettas are right to fear you, you and Luca could easily take the crown from them.”

The witch smiled, “Oh these mortals have a way of branding what they don’t like as witchcraft and when the real thing arrived at their doorstep, they found themselves too scared to speak.”

She’s the strega who will curse them to the deepest pits of hell or the benevolent santa who will make all their wishes come true. She is not Eva to anyone save her family these days.

“But, yes, we do plan on taking their crown. Your husband can have England if he helps us take America.”

[tommyshelby87]

Boys, what was your biggest heartbreak? And how did you react to it?

~ jellybean 💙

Thomas:  Greta Jurossi, she passed away while I was off to war.

Jackson: A lover of mine betrayed me to get ahead at our job, it sickened and hardened me. Now I do worse to others.

Jonathan: My highschool crush made fun of me instead of returning my feelings.

Robert: My fathers disappointment.

Neil: When Violet pretended to have used me.

[awakeningnostalgia]

Peaky Blinders

Season 4, Episode 3

Jessie Eden:

"You know, when this business began, I did some research on you. It turns out I know someone who used to know you very well. Kitty Jurossi. You were in love with Kitty's sister, Greta Jurossi, before the war. Do you remember Greta Jurossi? Her parents were Italian. They didn't approve of a Watery Lane Gypsy . ."

"But you won them over. With your charm. Sweetness."

Thomas: ..

"Very...Very thorough research."

Jessie Eden:

"Greta died at the age of 19. Of consumption . ."

"And Kitty said you were at her bedside for three months. Every day. Holding her hand . . "

"And after she died, you went away to war. Kitty said that the sweet boy who left never came back. "

Thomas:

"No-one came back."

Jessie Eden:

"Here's the funniest thing. She said, in those days, you believed in things. In justice. Fairness.

"Once you saw a man beating his horse, and you fought him. He was twice your size, but you beat him . ."

"And then you beat him with his own whip."

Thomas:

"Kitty always liked to tell tall tales."

Jessie Eden:

"She's a party member now. She swears before you enlisted in the army you joined the Communist Party yourself. Is that true?"

[saintsir4n]

4

___

1914

BEING a nurse was harder than Eden thought.

It'd been two years since she started at the hospital and because her mother was a matron, they rarely worked with one another.

Instead, she regularly saw a sea of white long gowns, that never stayed white for long.

She was exhausted, but she promised Tommy a date and she always came through on her promises.

So she told him that she would meet him by the bridge not far from the canal, knowing he would wait all day outside her house as if he didn't have a job of his own. God that man knew how to obsess over things, sometimes she didn't know whether or not he wanted her or loved her.

She would drive herself mad trying to understand the mind of Tommy Shelby.

Coming up to the canal, she removed her bib and placed it into her purse and discarded it, not wanting to be covered in any more bodily fluids since there was a cold going around and she heard that Ada and Finn already caught it, she'd been working hard to prevent it from spreading, but it was inevitable.

Eden already dropped some soup off at Dorris' since her mother was under the weather. Luckily Eden's father brought a new bedframe by the Martin's home so Dorris could have a good night's rest.

Eden tugged on her coat as she neared the spot, she was surprised they were having a date there because that is where Tommy, Freddie Thorne and Greta Jurossi hung out and sometimes even just Tommy and Greta.

Eden couldn't help but feel a bit uncomfortable whenever she heard that they were alone together, away from the prying eyes of Birmingham. She's a friend, was what he always said in response, but she never truly believe it.

Putting aside those feelings, she took out her miniature mirror and checked her hair she had curled using a hot comb, but it had unfortunately gotten slightly messy because of the caduceus she wore.

"Fuck," she quickly moved some strands and applied the red lipstick she took out.

Smacking her lips, she put away the mirror and rolled her eyes at the passers-by.

She internally smiled at the thought of seeing Tommy, it even made her heart skip.

Readjusting her coat for the second time she rounded the corner, coming closer to the bridge.

But when she saw something, Eden's head spun.

The sight she stumbled upon had her rapidly blinking.

It was Tommy and Greta...

Hugging under the archway.

He whispered something in her ear, making her laugh and push him away.

Eden narrowed her eyes when Tommy playfully nudged her to the side.

The two friends were brought out of their bubble until Eden stepped closer, the sounds of her shows slapping the cobblestones made them turn towards her.

Greta immediately waved at her, though her smile faltered when Tommy grinned. Eden forced herself to wave back at the Italian woman, whose alluring eyes and winning grin made pretty much anyone flock in her direction.

Quickly saying goodbye to her best friend, Greta went the opposite way, revealing the picnic laid out by a table that was dragged there by the Shelby man.

"Look at you," Tommy was quick to pull Eden in, wickedly racking his eyes up at now her appearance, oh did he love her nurse's outfit, similar to how she adored how effortlessly he wore a suit. He locked onto her red lips, even biting down on his, trying to stop the impending thoughts go straight to his slacks. "Bet your patients loved this eh?" he asked, trying to sound more jovial than irritated, but she read him with ease.

"Yeah whilst they were throwin' up on me, they were really captivated by all of this–"

He smashed his lips onto hers, silencing her sarcasm and drawing her in. Her hands latched onto his lapels, while her purse dropped near the picnic table. He cupped the back of her head, careful not to mess up hair her, God, he knew better than to move a strand out of place and that he needed to control himself. He wanted to just show the effort he went through for her, but she looked so... riveting.

Just as their tongues lapped over one another, he reluctantly pulled away, leaving her to wipe away the lipstick from the corner of his lips and he did the same for her, despite how much he wished he didn't.

Her breathing went back to normal, but he took a little while longer, causing Eden to realise how worked up the man was. It'd only been a day or two since he told her about their impending date, whilst she invited him into her house so he could apologise for being so aggravating. He sure was on his knees for most of that...discussion.

"Here you go," he picked up the flowers he picked from some florist Polly forced him to go to after he just said he would pick them out of Mrs Granberry's yard, "remember you sayin' you liked flowers that grow in the cold, 'cause–"

"--if they can survive English weather they can survive anything." she grinned at the primroses he gave her. "They're beautiful Tommy."

"Glad you like them," he watched as she smelled them, then turned to see the picnic setting,

"Like it? Etta helped set it up, didn't want me to tell ya though," he asked, picking up her purse and nodding over to the table, full of some fruits, some sandwiches he made under Polly's guidance, some squash and even her favourite cake.

"She helped?" Eden tried to not sound too irked by the mention of the woman who was only heard a couple of moments prior, she's his best mate, just like Freddie is...but why wasn't Freddie there also?

Tommy beamed, "She did, so you like it?"

He made sure to help her down onto the stool that was next to his, even pressing another kiss to her hand and winking went she sat down, causing a blush to kiss her already heated cheeks.

He slowly pulled the table in front of them, hoping the checkered cloth he borrowed didn't shift because that was all he needed. Then he took the flowers and set them down, so she grab whatever food she wanted.

Eden nodded, smiling when she noticed her treats, "I like it Tom, you even got my favourite cake."

His smile widened at her squeal, "' Course, I did."

Her brows suddenly furrowed, "But the bakery it's in Little Italy?" and the Shelbys tended to stay away from there.

"And don't I know it? Told Etta to get it."

He asked his best friend to get it for him because it was close to where she lived and he wanted to avoid getting a mean bruise just before his date with Eden. Even though it was a quarter piece of cake and he spent more than five bobs for this - usually for a couple of pennies he could get it half anywhere else - but for Eden, he spent it because she deserved it.

He didn't see her smile slightly falter, "Oh, that's lovely."

"Your hair is curled." he noticed, smiling and hoping he didn't say the wrong thing.

A chuckle escaped her, "Like it?"

"Always," he responded in a slight daze, before nodding to the table in front of them, "Tuck in, want me to tell you 'bout my day?"

Reaching for the slice of cake she nodded, "Yeah."

So he did, informing her how he and John took little Katie to the Garrison because she wouldn't stop crying, even rubbing gin over her gums when they noticed she was teething and that's what worked with Ada and Finn. shortly after he mentioned Shadow and how doesn't shake as much anymore, but he occasionally does when they have to remove his shoes.

He was adamant about her telling him about hers, so she did, even letting him know that the cold that everyone seemed to be getting was merely seasonal and nothing harmful, only a few could risk something far worse if it wasn't treated. She informed him that another one of her patients succumbed to their illness shortly after they were admitted, and he tried his best to comfort her.

He brushed off the crumbs around her endearing lips as she relaid her day, drawing a begrudging smile from her when he consumed some.

Eden quickly realised that he wasn't eating, he smoked more than ate she thought, but he prepared a spread for them and he hoped he would have at least something.

"Have some Tom, you said you didn't eat much today."

"Already ate earlier..." he quietly admitted, noting her narrowing eyes.

"With Greta?" her tone lowered.

"Yeah, just before she helped me set this up."

He caught tensing of her jaw, which confused him.

Soon Eden turned away from him, placing down the cake, making Tommy question if he did something wrong.

"What?"

She waved him off, still avoiding his eyes, "Nothing, keep telling me about Shadow, does he miss me?"

Grabbing her chin, Tommy made sure her eyes were on his, "Eden. Don't, don't do that."

"Do what?"

"What's the matter?" he didn't understand why she was off with him now.

"Nothing."

Groaning, he let her chin go, "Here we fuckin' go."

"What?" she asked, recoiling when he huffed.

"Tell me what's wrong. Is it the flowers? they'll die soon but I'll just buy another."

"It's not the flowers they're lovely," she replied, itching to scratch at the skin around her nails out of pure discomfort.

"Spit it out, I don't want the date ruined because of your mood," he said, finally having enough.

She tossed her arms up, "Fine. Do you like Greta?"

"What?" his sudden laughter made her turn and get up, but he pulled back down before she could, "Come here, I'm laughin' because I was shocked alright."

"Answer the question," he raised a brow at the seriousness of her tone.

"Fuck, I don't like Greta. Why do you think I do?"

"You're close," she stated like it was obvious.

"So you have a problem with me being friends with a girl? But I can't with you and Enzo?" he asked, starting to get more and more frustrated.

Eden averted her eyes at his point. Enzo wasn't interested in her or any girl for that matter, but she couldn't tell Tommy that, that would go against their friendship and she wouldn't risk that, not even to win some stupid squabble.

"That's different," she mumbled, earning a scoff from him.

"And why is that? You keep saying it's different but it's fuckin' not."

Tommy disliked Enzo for a multitude of reasons, one being the fact he was a link that would always pull Eden back to Luca and the thought of her being in proximity to her ex-boyfriend drove him to tug at his hair and reach for a shotgun.

Eden shrugged, "It is."

His nostrils flared, "Is it, fuck."

"It just is. Forget I ever asked you," She said, returning to the food and nodding, but Tommy wasn't having it.

"You want me to be more open and you won't be," he stated definitively, much to her annoyance,

"I am," she lied.

"It's about communication Tommy, you have to communicate," he mocked her by imitating her voice and Eden couldn't help but laugh.

She shot him a glance "I don't sound like that."

"Sure you don't," he playfully rolled his eyes and tugged her closer, softly grabbing the back of her neck, "I don't like Greta, because I fuckin' love you."

Her mouth gaped open at his confession, he said what? She blinked a few times, to try and come to terms with what he said, even her eyes darted all around to make sure she was really there. Tommy caught her pinching her arm a few times and he thought it was adorable.

"You what?" she whispered.

He let his emotions show, usually, he would trace the words over her hands without her noticing but he wanted her to know.

"I was gonna write this down, Pol was gonna make it look all fancy but –"

"You love me?" she asked again, wanting to hear it roll off his tongue.

"That I do," he answered, swiping his thumb over her cheekbones, feeling them grow as she grinned.

Wanting him to repeat it a few more times, Eden played dumb, "What?"

"have gone deaf or what?"

"You love me?"

"I love you," he confessed again, slightly growing nervous when she wasn't returning the sentiment, nevertheless he grabbed her legs and placed them on his before his hands dropped to her sides, gripping her waist after she's snaked around his neck, despite the table sides digging into them.

"Why?"

"Why? Fuck sake, why? Because you make my fucking head spin Eden Dawkins that's why."

Butterflies took flight in her stomach. Her nerves were all over the place, just like his.

"And that's why you love me, how's that?" she teased, despite herself.

"The bloody thing hasn't spun before, my heart beats faster with you, told Pol I thought I was having a stroke and she laughed at me."

She feigned offence, "So Pol told you that you loved me?"

"Now you know no one can tell me to do or say a single thing that I don't wanna do."

She clicked her tongue, "Except for Polly."

"And you," he murmured, pressing his head against hers.

"And Ada... Greta..."

"Eden it's you. I love you, gonna make me lose my mind if I have to explain more, now are you going to say it back or what?" he asked, impatiently.

Her happiness was undeniable.

She launched forward and pressed her lips to his.

Tommy cupped the back of her head, feeling everything all at once, all the love, affection and care spread over his body as he held his woman in his arms. He never looked at a girl the way he looked at Eden, he didn't think it was possible, knowing that never once had he ever been in love before, despite what he claimed to his past flings. He knew she looked at him with the same adoration, even how her brown pools glistened whenever he neared.

Eyes never lied.

Eden felt like crying when she felt all the tingles shooting down her spine.

"I'll take that as yes, you love me?" he mumbled against her lips.

"I love you, Thomas Shelby," she giggled when he gulped at the sentiment spilling from her lips, "Cat your tongue ay? When have you ever been speechless?"

He said nothing and instead pressed his head to hers once again, breathing in the anaesthetic on her clothes and the cedarwood emitting from her neck, my haven. In all honesty, Tommy was surprised her could confess his feelings without needing a glass of whiskey. Deep down he knew Eden was better than him, that she deserved better than him but he was selfish and he wouldn't let her go, he would be an idiot if he did.

"All those days goin' to church finally workin'."

"You prayed f'me to be with you huh?"

He huffed out a chuckle, "Is that a problem now, like some sort of a curse?"

"Blessin', it's a blessin'," she quickly corrected himself.

"I'm a blessin' am I? I would say it's the other way around, you're a haven you know that?"

She playfully shrugged, "I've been told."

"Well not by me you 'aven't, so I'm telling you, mark my words... you Eden Mary Dawkins are my fuckin' Haven."

She sniffled, "Oh, Tommy..."

"Wait a second would ya?" He said, pulling out a box from his pocket, drawing a wide eye expression, "It's not a ring, not yet anyways," he chuckled at the relief flooding her face, "somethin' I think you'll like more but just wait."

"O-Okay." her heart was hammering against her chest.

Swiping a cigarette against his lips, he waited for her to light it, which she did, before he blew out a large cloud of smoke, that drifted away like the water in the cut.

"Listen, I've got you somethin' and it's special, it's an heirloom alright?"

"Then what are you givin' it to me for?"

"Because you, my darlin', are my future, so when we go off and get hitched, you'll pass this down to our kids and so on."

Her eyes glistened, "Tommy...I... what is it?"

Taking another drag, he placed the box in her quivering hands and once he threw an arm around her shoulder, making some of her nervousness fade.

She opened the box with one last look at him before a gasp escaped her lips.

"Pol saved a bunch of things of mums, made sure we never touched 'em and she was right to keep them away, they would've been fucked in seconds if we got over hands on anythin' like this."

Eden hadn't taken her eyes off the necklace of the black Madonna. The dark features of the virgin Mary holding a baby Jesus. When she was younger she was told by her godfather Jeremiah how the black Madonna could grant special blessings when she was evoked by prayer. Now she wasn't religious, and Tommy knew that, but to him and his Romani culture, the Black Madonna had other great significance even going back to the tenth century.

Tommy continued to explain, "It's the Black Madonna, for protection, Mum used to wear it before she had Finn, and when she stopped, she got bad, sick, never left her bed until..." Clearing his front he moved on, "Ada had no interest in it," and she told me to give it to you. "Wanted you to 'ave it, somethin' pretty to go with that pretty neck."

Growing up as travellers, his parents were on the road until they finally settled in Small Heath, but that didn't stop the trouble following them. Polly told them it was part of them, that they would always be at a disadvantage until they did something about it. The betting shop was only the beginning.

"Tommy," she choked back a sob, getting his attention.

"Yeah? You don't like it."

"Me likin' it ain't the matter, it's beautiful, I bet your mum did it justice," she said, her thumb stroking over the metal.

"That she did." he put out the rest of the cigarette.

"I can't accept this," it was far too special to her and although she knew they were in love, she didn't think he would give her something like this.

"You can and you'll wear it," he wiped away the tear that escaped her eyes as he left no room for argument. Plucking it from her hands, he gently placed it around her neck and smiled, it looked perfect to him, "there you go."

"I'll never take it off then," she promised, glancing down at the necklace.

"You better not," she detected the seriousness and slight fear in his voice making her nod.

She allowed him the rest of her cake, whilst she ate some berries. He glanced at the necklace a few times, since it hadn't been worn in years, it would just take him some getting used to.

"Good?" she asked, noting him enjoying the taste.

"See why you like it," he muffled.

"You never told me your favourite flavour of cake y'know?" she paused, "just so I know for your birthday."

He smirked, "Ain't it obvious?"

"What is it?" she leaned forward, wiping the crumbs from his lips.

His eyes glimmered with lust, "chocolate."

Eden rolled her eyes and tried to turn away from his piercing stare, "Don't look at me like that," but he grabbed her face, staring deep into her eyes which made her sheepishly laugh. "Christ Tommy, stop."

"Why would I when you look like that?"

Ignoring his compliment, she shook her head, "I can tell what that look means."

"And what does it mean then?" he teased, cocking his head to the side.

"You know what, but if you think we're 'avin' sex here, you're out of your mind."

"You think I would strip your clothes where anyone can see you? See my lady, you're out of your fuckin' mind."

"Oh, that's right I forgot how much jealousy is confined to such a small frame," she blurted out.

He scrunched up his face, "I'm not jealous – wait a minute did you say small?"

"My short man," she poked his cheek and attempted to escape his grasp.

"Eh? The fuck did you just say? Eden, come here!" he pulled her back in, "I'm short, is that what you're tryin' to say to me? Well, I'll let the whole Lane know which short man's name you love to scream and moan, I'll do it."

"Go ahead, I'll wear like like a badge," she said, getting up in his face, "you're mine just as I'm yours, Tommy Shelby."

"Got that fuckin' right."

He did not doubt that because he thought now they were in love, it would make things a little bit easier.

"That I do," she tried to imitate him, even lowering her voice, earning a deadpanned looked from him.

"I don't sound like that."

"You do," she nodded.

"Let me stick to doin' voices, whilst you save lives, deal?"

"No deal, but there is one more thing I wanted to ask you."

"What?"

"I want to learn how to use a gun, properly."

He snickered, "Bout time you asked, whole of Birmingham knows you can't shoot."

"Oh fuck off."

—

"You love me..." Eden spoke to Tommy now they were back at his home, luckily John and Arthur were at the betting shop, Finn was over at the Jesus', Martha had taken Katie to her mother's and Ada was helping Polly with food shopping. "So you're goin' to get up and dance with me."

Tommy ran his hands through his freshly trimmed hair, he had the sides shaved for the date, despite Eden liking it grown out. Now that they were inside their coats were off, his cap was on the table and their shoes by the door.

Eden skipped across the room, pulling out the gramophone that rested on the side of the living room.

Tommy prayed no one came home at this very moment.

"Now you have to ask me," Eden insisted, turning to him when My Heart Still Clings to You by Albert Ketèlbey started to play much to his chagrin. Tommy wished he took a hammer to that thing years ago.

Truthfully he hadn't danced with a woman he loved since his mum.

He huffed, "I don't dance."

Eden gave him a pointed look, "But you know how to, don't ya? Or should I ask Pol if she taught ya?"

Rising from the couch he shook his head, "Don't ask her."

"And why shouldn't I?"

"Fine let's dance," he took her hand and wrapped an arm around her waist, attempting not to feel her up, he was just too tempted.

She pouted, "Not until you say it."

"I know how to dance," a grin broke out on her face when he took her hand, "Come on you brat."

She smacked his chest, "Thomas."

"Sorry, I forgot to add 'beautiful' to that."

A smile graces her face, "Just how I like it."

"I bet you do," they started moving to the beat.

"But you still haven't properly asked me."

"We're already dancing," his words made her halt her movements and frown, "Miss Eden Dawkins, would you do me the honour of havin' this dance?"

"Yes, yes I will."

She dramatically gasped, taking his hand once again. Tommy couldn't stop smiling at her. He would only dance for her.

They swayed to the rhythm which caught her off guard because she was surprised he knew how to stay on it.

Laying her head on his chest, he began muttering things in her ear, making her laugh which in turn made him chuckle.

Moments like this mess were special to him and her.

In their hectic life, they rarely had moments that resembled peace.

All the noise that was Small Heath, the smoke and tediousness that came along with it.

They were so engorged in each other and the melody that had become their bubble they hadn't noticed the front door open.

"Oi John boy, little Edie's got Tommy dancin', she has!" A loud voice that belonged to none other than Arthur caused them to freeze.

"Should've locked that fuckin' door," Tommy sighed, resting his head in the crook of Eden's neck.

John came around the corner, laughing at the song playing, "Give him a minute he'll be skippin' and singin' songs."

"Don't you lot have anythin' better to do?" Eden groaned, turning in Tommy's hold and facing the smirking pair.

"They'll be dancin' in the rain next," Arthur joked.

Tommy glared, "Fuck off!"

John settled his gaze on Eden, "Aren't you a sight Edie, don't know what you see in my brother."

"Oi!"

"Well I'm with 'im," she spoke, grimacing at the way John was letting his eyes wander up and down her body, she could feel Tommy tense behind her. "and you have a wife."

John winked, "Not if you wanted a go."

Arthur shoved his brother backwards when he caught the glint in Tommy's eye after he moved around his girlfriend.

"Run Johnny!"

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

a/n:

thought this was a cute little chapter for Tommy and Eden, despite the minor angst between the two. they are both jealous people, well Tommy more than her, but oh well.

i was looking long and hard for multiple meanings behind the black Madonna, if I made any mistakes just let me know, also the necklace does play a big part in their story.

[shelbydelrey]

I just had another thought to add to rhe juiciness of it, Lee! What if Mrs. Changretta was née Jurossi? That would make Greta and Luca cousins from his mother's side and the resentment between him and the Shelbys would have been born all the way back when Greta died (it was in a car crash and since Tommy was driving everybody blames him). Is this anything? 😁

Hello! Here are some Professor Shelby pics to start your weekend! 👀✨

Well thank you for these lovely images, Jessyca!! 😍 they’re perfect to start off my weekend (which came a day early thanks to some snow) and they’re definitely giving (screaming) Professor Shelby vibes!!

May I return some gifs that also give off Professor Shelby vibes to me…?

So maybe season 6 is the season of Professor Shelby…🤣🤣

[divinekangaroo]

falling - pettiot - Peaky Blinders (TV) [Archive of Our Own]

PART ONE - DAY ONE

Ch 1 | Ch 2 | Ch 3 | Ch 4 | Ch 5 | Ch 6 | Ch 7 | Ch 8 | Ch 9

PART TWO - MONTH ONE (Or Maybe Month Two, Or Three)

Ch 10 | Ch 11 | Ch 12 | Ch 13 | Ch 14 | Ch 15 | Ch 16 | Ch 17 | Ch 18

PART THREE - A YEAR (Or So)

Ch 19 | Ch 20 | Ch 21 | Ch 22 | Ch 23 | Ch 24 | ??

A Modern AU take on Tommy's immediate return from military service, and the period between his demobilisation and the start of S1.

(Tags shall be progressively updated)

.

Tommy Shelby/Lizzie Stark, Tommy Shelby/Freddie Thorne, Arthur Shelby, Polly Grey, Ada Shelby, John Shelby, Johnny Dogs, Various Lees, John Shelby's Children, Zhang, S1E1 Red Dust Girl, Sergeant Moss | Alternative Universe, Modern AU (ish), No iPhones (yet), Awkwardness, Age Difference, Disassociation, Miscommunication, Banter, Fast Food Vendor of your Choice, Pre-Season, Past Trauma, Flirting, Have I Met You Before, Heckling, Cars, Drug Use, Past Childhood Trauma, Mrs Shelby Lives, Gender Role Dynamics, Small Neighbourhoods, Past Greta Jurossi, Brotherly Dynamics, Sibling Dynamics, Class Issues, Attraction, Casual Sex, Car Sex, Military Transition Program, Wilful Medical Noncompliance, Melodrama, Illegal Bookmaking, 90s Fashion, 2000s Fashion, Slow Reveal, Slow Burn, Coming Home, Dysfunctional Family, Lasting Legacy of Catholicism, Bad SMS Etiquette, Gang Activity, Domesticity, Booty Call, Guilt, Shame, So Much Marijuana, Arms Dealing, Crimes & Criminals, Ill Informed Economic Theorising, Wanking, Ethnicity, Stereotyping

.

[saintmuses]

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐛𝐲

𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙮 𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨

𝗌𝗆𝗎𝗍 = ✞ | 𝖺𝗇𝗀𝗌𝗍 = ♤ | 𝖽𝖺𝗋𝗄 = ☾

❝𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙗𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙤 𝙄'𝙡𝙡 𝙜𝙤❞ (︎♤)

Thomas’ wife died in his arms that fateful night, so how was she standing in front of him years later? Too much time and space led them to having a conversation that was long overdue.

❝𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝙝𝙪𝙢 𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙣 𝙜𝙪𝙣 𝙡𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙗𝙮❞ (✞)

When Oswald Mosley flirted with Thomas’s political advisor, he could not hold back the green monster thus crossing the boundaries he had sworn was set in place between themselves for her sake.

❝𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙡𝙨, 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚𝙣❞ (✞, ☾)

Y/N couldn’t stand Thomas Shelby, she could see him for what he was. A devil in disguise despite her heart went pitter patter with lust rushing in her veins whenever she saw him.

❝𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨❞ (✞)

Lenny came home from a long trip to America, only to catch Thomas with Y/N in her bed and decided to cross the line of friendship to have what was being offered to him.

❝𝙨𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙗𝙖𝙗𝙮❞ (✞, ☾)

When he courted his first love Greta before the Great War, he met her younger sister; Y/N Jurossi. He took her under his wings after the war and she was the best thing that could have ever happened to someone like him.

❝𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜❞ (✞, ☾)

Thomas had successfully convinced his older brother to end the relationship with her so he could have her all to himself.

❝𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙂𝙤𝙙, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝❞ (✞, ☾)

“There’s no such thing as ghosts.” Those were the last words before her lack of knowledge of them ceased. You. Just one simple word for what the shadow of a man in her childhood’s home, Arrow House wanted.

𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐚𝐧 - mini series

❝𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙣❞ (☾)

Ada’s best friend had been much of a family. When she was requested for her hand in marriage to another, perhaps she was too much of a family.

❝𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙮𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙣❞ (☾)

Thomas was alone in his office with his thoughts, his regrets and desires after the night she was gone.

❝𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙❞ (☾, ♤)

What started out as a fantastic night out at Eden club in London ended tragically for her.

[vivianleighwishesshewasme]

Study buddy's Part 7

Polly wakes John up with a broom after finding Martha downstairs.

______________________________________________________

John woke up with a sharp painful smack over the head. It felt sharp and brittle. After a few good wacks he sat up startled, ready to fight. What was going on!

“Oi, stop it.” He yelled his eyes slowly opening. His arm was raised to defend himself from the upcoming attack. He was sitting up in bed, his disheveled Aunt still in her nightgown had the broom raised ready to whoop him again. 

Polly looked fierce, thunder rolling in her eyes. She was livid. 

“You stop it, what are you two thinking!?” Polly’s voice was raised and high pitched. She was concerned and upset. Whatever he’d done had been incredibly stupid to get that reaction. 

“They aren't thinking Pol, they are children.” Tommy’s stern voice boomed into John’s room causing the younger to scowl. His brother stood in the doorway peeling an apple, knife paused momentarily to shake his head in disapproval. 

John scoffed. He knew his brother had slept with his girl friend Greta, so who was he to judge, besides, nothing but innocent cuddling had happened. 

“Oh, John Shelby, you better not have gotten her pregnant.You better marry that girl.” Polly looked distraught at the thought of another child to care for in this house. John rolled his eyes. He made his own money. If they married, he’d get her a place to live then get her pregnant. He’d take that on, not Polly. 

John turned behind him, she was gone, no trace of her at all. How did Polly know then? 

  He looked at his Aunt and Brother, giving them a puzzled expression.

“She’s downstairs, making us a proper breakfast. When she leaves the house this morning John they’ll be gossip.” Polly warned. He told Martha that last night and tried to get her to leave. She was a mess. 

“John, Pols right, you should marry her after graduation in a few weeks.” Tommy added.

“Will you please not help Tom, Jesus, just because her bread is better than mine doesn't mean you should marry her. Still, her reputation will be in shreds after today.” She added. “What were you thinking?” John had tried, not hard enough apparently. He could have woken Polly and she probably would have chased Martha off…but he just couldn’t do that looking at her red spotted face last night. She had been hiccuping because she’d been crying so hard. And by the time he’d gotten the whole story from her…we’ll have fallen asleep in his arms. He honestly hadn’t wanted her to leave. 

It felt natural to have her sleeping peacefully next to him. 

“Everyone shut up. She climbed up last night and I let her in because she was hysterical. I didn't trust her to make it home safe, not that it was an option.  Mum kicked her out or sumthin. I’ll talk to Martha, if the neighbors gossip just say she came by this morning for breakfast or she’d been locked out or sumthin.” He rubbed his eyes. Truthfully he was awake since the broom smacked, he now had a headache however. 

He tossed off the blankets and sheets letting the cool morning air hit him. 

“Wake up and get ready for work John. You can walk Mrs. Anderson home first.” Polly walked out almost bumping into Tommy while she walked down the hall, muttering about bloody kids being her death.

“ Do you love her?” Tommy asked John. Tommy was becoming something of a romantic with his engagement to Greta Jurossi making the papers in wedding announcements. 

“Yeah, so much it scares me sometimes. I’m always thinking of my future now.” They both chuckle at John’s confession. He wasn’t known for long term planning. “I can’t see a day in those thoughts without Martha being  a part of it somehow.”

“Then I expect to be your best man, yeah.” John smirked at Tommy. He nodded his head. He and Arthur would definitely be standing up for him. 

____________________________________________________________

I probably have about 2 more chapter before I finish up this series. Thank you for reading

[xxblackballoonxx]

The Heart Underneath: Chapter 9

***This fic is being posted simultaneously on FanFiction.net and Ao3. I originally began it in 2016, and then life was life, and now I’m bringing it back because it deserves to be finished! I intended this story to be canon, but I cannot accept the events of the beginning of Season 4, so I’ll write it with the ending that I intended. ***

Well, this was a tough one. Get a drink and some sad songs, friends.

Chapter 8 Chapter 10

The Heart Underneath

Chapter 9: 15 and 16

It was a perfectly ordinary spring Tuesday evening when Arthur came through the Shelby front door, face ashen. He burst into the kitchen, nervously folding his hat in his hand, as the family looked up at him in surprise from the table.

“Arthur, what is it?” Polly asked as calmly as she could, seeing the shock on his face.

“It’s Greta.”

“Arthur, where’s Tommy?” John asked, dreading the answer.

“She’s got consumption, Greta does. Fuck … Tommy got word to me, he said he’s not leaving her until she’s better. But it’s not safe from him to come home either.”

Polly stared at Arthur in horror. There hadn’t been a close case of consumption in Small Heath for several years, and Tommy was obviously highly exposed. Which meant the rest of them could have been as well.

Ada and Martha looked at each other with tears in their eyes. They had both grown close to Greta in the past year. She hadn’t been feeling well for several weeks, and Tommy had finally persuaded a doctor to make a house visit. Now the entire Jurossi household, plus Tommy, could be sick as well. Not to mention the rest of the Shelbys.

Polly ushered Arthur into a chair and stared out the kitchen window for a few minutes. The rest watched her in silence, even Finn. The air was heavy with fear.

“Right,” Polly said as she turned back around, “this is what we’re going to do. Arthur, you’ll take over the betting business, John will help you. Ada, Finn and I are going to leave tomorrow morning and head out of town, stay with the Lees. Martha, I want you to come with us, but I know you’ll probably want to stay with John. I’ll allow it if that’s your choice.”

They all nodded in shock, John putting his arm around Martha’s shoulder as she leaned into him.

“And most importantly, Tommy is not to come in this house until we know more. We’ll figure out a way contact him. Now, everyone up. Open the windows, air out the house. Tommy’s door stays closed.”

********************************************************************

Early the following morning, a crying Ada, confused Finn, and stern Polly prepared to leave the house. Uncle Charlie and Curly were outside with a carriage to take them out of Small Heath.

“I expect this house to look the same when I come back, yes?” Polly said to John and Martha as they stood stiffly side by side, nodding quickly.

After a moment of making sure she’d scared them sufficiently, she nodded back, smiled and picked up her bag.

“We’ll run messages through the Lees and you run messages through Uncle Charlie. Whatever happens, we will get through it as a family.”

John picked up Finn and hugged him tightly, passed him to Martha for a hug, and then settled Finn carefully into the wagon. Ada and Martha whispered to each other, tears flowing, and John helped Ada into the carriage. Polly sat in front with Uncle Charlie.

“We’ll see you soon.” Martha said, trying to be upbeat.

The horse started walking and the wagon made it’s way slowly down Watery Lane, with John and Martha waving goodbye. They watched the wagon turn around the corner and walked back into a very quiet house.

********************************************************************

That had been nearly 3 months ago, and Greta was hanging on but the outlook wasn’t good. Every couple of days Tommy would get an update to Uncle Charlie, who would pass it to Arthur and then to John. Polly, Ada, and Finn remained out of the city, and all of the Shelby clan seemed to be healthy.

Despite the strange and worrying circumstances, having the Shelby house to themselves had put John and Martha into a comfortable daily routine.

After finishing her school requirements several months early, Martha had taken up some work as a seamstress and proved to be quite talented. She spent most of her days working on projects and doing housework while John still worked for the grocer and split the betting duties with Arthur. He usually came home late afternoon and the pair would spend the rest of the day together. It was an unexpected look into what their future would be and only served to bond them even more.

Martha had just finished sewing some trim onto a dress hem when she heard John come through the front door, whistling to himself. She was full blown in love, and treasured every moment they spent together, even as she worried about Greta and Tommy constantly.

She got up and met John at the kitchen doorway, both smiling at each other. In the weeks they had spent together alone, something inside him had quieted down. Whatever teenage urges he had to run around town like other boys, drinking and flirting with girls, had been put away for good. He had always felt settled in what was between them, he never needed anything else, but even the teenager in him was committed now.

“Hi, love.” John greeted Martha, taking her into his arms.

Martha hugged him tightly and they both relished in the fact that no one was home. For a few minutes, all their worries and fears went away as they stood intertwined, appreciating the quiet moment.

John pulled back a bit and kissed her, walking her back a few steps until she was against the doorframe. Everything in his body wanted more, but he restrained himself, moving his hand down to her waist to bring her closer to him. He made his way down her neck to her collarbone, taking advantage of the skin her dress neckline made available to him.

Martha gripped his hair and untucked his shirt, desperate to touch John’s skin. She ran her hand up his side and he moaned quietly against her collarbone, feeling like he was on fire. He lifted one of her legs and held it around his hip firmly, running his hand up her stocking and gripping her thigh. It was always a question of how far could they go before neither could stop themselves.

The tea kettle hissed suddenly and Martha laughed as John groaned at the interruption. He gently put her leg back down, and kept his head resting against her chest for a moment, as she laughed even more.

“Come on, Johnny, don’t want you some supper? You must be hungry.” She said, giggling as he wrapped his arms loosely around her waist and shook his head.

“I just want you, Mar.” He whispered, trying to control the lust and desire still coursing through his body.

“How about we have supper and then we’ve got the rest of the night to do whatever you want.”

“Fine.” John pouted.

Martha kissed the top of his head and fixed his hair, let her fingers linger on his face, remembering how he looked in the moment. He stepped back and let her lay out the supper she’d made on the kitchen table. Martha was a far better cook than Polly or Ada and John had been spoiled with having Martha’s cooking everyday.

********************************************************************

John helped Martha clean up after supper and then tended to other daily chores. Martha carefully put away the dress she had been working on and then settled in the parlor, slipping off her shoes, and picked up the book she’d been reading.

John stood in the hall for awhile, watching Martha read. The flames in the hearth flickering off her golden hair, her legs tucked underneath her dress as she propped the book on the arm of the chair. The way she read the words intensely and turned the pages gently. God, I love her.

Martha looked up and smiled as John walked over. She stood up to let him sit in the armchair, and then sat on his lap, with her legs dangling over the side of the chair.

“Reading ahead without me?” He asked as they settled into each other.

“A bit, yeah. Ready?” Martha replied, flipping back several pages.

He nodded and rested his head on hers as she started to read the story out loud. They were halfway through the book, and John closed his eyes to imagine the story as Martha’s voice gave it life. She had been reading to him since they were young. But like this, with her wrapped in his arms, it was incredibly intimate.

John was nearly asleep when he felt Martha kiss him softly and he opened his eyes to hers. He always could see exactly what she was feeling. Always love. And right now, desire. They held each other’s eyes a few moments more, and then Martha closed the book and put it on the side table. She stood up and waited as John rose to check that the doors were locked.

Once satisfied that the house was safe for the night, John turned and took Martha’s hand, leading her up the stairs to his room. There had been no pretense in the months alone, they slept in his room every night.

In the dim light, John undressed down to his underclothes, and then helped Martha unbutton her dress, which she laid over the back of a small chair. He unhooked her corset and removed her stockings and other layers until she was just down to her shift.

They both knew that the living situation was temporary, and silently agreed to take advantage of it. In the darkness, they explored each other’s bodies in a way that they hadn’t been able to before, without fear of being caught. John pulled his undershirt off and raised Martha’s shift over her head, his hands trailing across her breasts and down to her hips with his mouth following. Martha quietly called out his name.

********************************************************************

The sun had just started to rise as John came out of a deep sleep. He held Martha under his arm, her bare back against his chest. He moved his head closer to hers, inhaling the scent of her hair, and kissing her shoulder before trying to go back to sleep. But there it was again, the sound that must’ve woken him up.

He shook Martha gently until she opened her eyes.

“Johnny? What’s wrong?” She asked groggily, turning to face him.

“Heard something in the back yard. Need to go down and look.”

John climbed over her and threw on his pants and shirt, and then handed Martha her shift. He took a quick look out the window, but didn’t see anything towards the front of the house.

“You stay upstairs, ok?” He said quietly as he grabbed the pistol off of his dresser.

Martha nodded and he kissed her quickly.

“Love you.”

“Love you back.” Martha replied and watched John creep out the door and start for the stairs.

He made his way down both flights of stairs and then turned quickly into the kitchen. The outer door was still locked. Stepping carefully he walked over to the window and looked out. Besides some birds chirping it was completely still. And then he heard it again.

“John?” Came a tired voice and John nearly had a heart attack.

Placing the gun carefully on the table, he climbed up onto the counter below the window to see better.

“Tommy?” He said cautiously.

“It’s me, John boy. Don’t open the door, it’s not safe for you. I’m not safe.” Tommy responded slurring heavily.

“Tom, what’s going on? What’s happened?” John asked carefully but the dread was creeping up from his stomach.

“Greta’s gone, brother. She died in my arms a few hours ago, coughing up blood before she was taken to the next world.”

“Tommy … I am so, so sorry. What can we do? I’m worried about you.”

“I’m going to stay down at Charlie’s yard for a few weeks, make sure I’m not sick, too. He’ll send word to Pol.”

John could hear Tommy quietly sobbing and his eyes welled up with tears. Jesus, Greta Jurossi, dead. He knew Tommy had been planning to propose, had finally won her parents over. He’d have to tell Martha and it was going to break her heart, too. Not just for Greta, but for Tommy.

“John you still there?”

“Yea, Tom, of course.”

“I’m leaving now. You take care of Martha, alright? Tell her I’ll be ok. Just have to … have to drink it out of me.”

John could see Tommy slowly push himself up from the ground and stumble as he made his way to the back alley. John knew Tommy would never be able to drink it away. Not all of it.

He rubbed his face and took a deep breath before heading back upstairs. He found Martha sitting on the corner of his bed, looking worried, and then pale white as she saw his face.

“Come here to me, my love.” He said quietly as he sat on the edge of the bed, took her hands in his and pulled her into his lap.

“Tommy was outside … Greta’s gone, sweetheart. She’s gone.” He said, his voice shaking with his own sadness.

Martha sat still for a moment in shock, and then the tears started, her shoulders shaking with her grief. John scooted both of them back towards the wall, and they cried together, Martha sobbing into his chest.

********************************************************************

The Shelby family and half of Small Heath turned out for Greta’s funeral the following week. Tommy, still worried about his exposure, stood at a distance for the burial, propped up by Arthur, who refused to leave his side.

Polly had her arm tightly around Ada as tears flowed down both their faces. John held Martha against him, her sadness displayed as quiet shock. She looked up and caught Tommy’s eye in the distance. He could feel it, feel Martha reaching out with the soulful way she had. They had always connected in their sadness.

For those that knew Tommy Shelby before the war, they knew that his heart had already broken twice by 1914. Once when his mother passed, and the second when his first love Greta had died in his arms. He’d already entered the war with a fractured heart. It would be nearly shattered by the time he returned.

[evita-shelby]

maybe you could write some headcanons for Tommy in The Hunger Games. y’know, it’s cool-

Thanks for the idea!

So in my mind it would take place like right after the 10th games(the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is the 10th games) when they make enact Coryo/Snow's plan to make the hunger games go from necessary but unpopular televised hunger games where the victor gets jack shit to the Hunger Games we see in the trilogy.

It would also be very angsty as that universe is much darker than peaky blinders by a long shot.

Approach with caution as its very dark

The Shelbys would be in the Hunger Games after Lucy Gray's when they become closer to the ones the characters we see in Hunger Games were they get money, food and at least get a nice meal and clothes before getting sent to the slaughter

They'd be district 2 as the industries of District 2 align with Small Heath and be in the villages or at least part of the city that were not loyal to the capitol

Tommy and Arthur would have their names submitted into the reaping bowl more than once to bring food for their siblings after their parents death

They lived through the war, arthur sr feels like he'd be part of the Covey or convinently escaped to greener pastures leaving mrs shelby with five kids during the war and the first year after

Arthur and Tommy have both survived their games, Arthur being perhaps the victor of the 9th or 8th games in his late teens and Tommy being the first career victor after volunteering in John's place in the 11th or 12th games

Greta Jurossi gets reaped along with Tommy queue tragic romance that fucks up Tommy even more

Arthur has his same truama but doesn't get the fame Tommy does while Tommy hates the fame he's gotten from his

They use bribery to keep John,Ada and Finn's names out of the reaping bowl

Tommy is pimped out to the capitol as finneck was, arthur too

Meets Capitol Citizen Grace who is like his escort

They have a fling but grace is punished for being with a district person and also much like book 1 effie doesn't see the games as wrong

Grace somehow manages to smuggle Charlie to the Shelbys but is never heard from again (either made into an Avox for going against the rules or murdered because the Capitol would never want people to see the citizens from Districts as humans just like them)

Esme is a Covey member seperated when travel between districts ended from the first rebellion

Mrs shelby and arthur sr were too

Arthur sr cons people by claiming he can take them to district 13

Lizzie is forced into prostitution as her parents were killed for being rebels and her clients are mainly peacekeepers

Tommy uses his new wealth and influence to find rebel cells and aid them

Eventually becomes mayor of District 2 and then buys his way into the Capitol to keep his kids from ever being reaped

The og Shelbys live to see the fall of panem and the end of the games 60 years later (tehy would have been in their mid to late teens at the beginning)

Bonus: Ruby and Charlie die when the rebels bomb the capitol children when Snow uses them as a human shield